WHAT MAKES THE CHRISTIAN LIFE WORK?
What is the number one key to make the Christian life work for us?
I am sure if I asked that question in a public gathering I may get one hundred different answers, like we must read the Word, we must pray, we must attend church regularly, we must witness AN THE LIST WOULD GO ON AND ON. You know I celebrate 66 years as a Believer in October this year. so I can speak from painful experience relative to my Christian walk, and I would suggest to you that the answers above and many more are supplementary to the MOST IMPORTANT KEY.
THE KEY IS SURRENDER
We know Romans 12:1 very well, “I beseech you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God which is your reasonable service” NKJV
I appeal to you therefore brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God to make a decisive dedication of your bodies (presenting all your members) and (rational, intelligent faculties) as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated), and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. AMP
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life- your sleeping, eating, going to work and walking -around life- and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is best thing you can do for Him MESSAGE
Paul’s words in the Greek is in the present continuous tense, that we must do this CONTINUALLY. As we are a living sacrifice, there will be the constant tendency to crawl off the altar. Paul as a Jew had probably seen many thousands of animals sacrificed on Jewish altars, but they were killed and had no problem staying on the altar.
I was brought up in a denomination that taught that a Christian could have the old nature plucked out of your life, and it was eradicated. I went forward for prayer many many times seeking such a blessing, but never experienced this, oh how I wanted it to happen, my biggest problem is ME, and my sinful nature.
I believe I have come to see that Paul was teaching that as a Believer lays on the altar in surrender the old nature is rendered powerless, but the moment I roll off the altar, the old nature rises up. SO HOW CAN I STAY ON THE ALTAR????? Here are some suggestions:
- Ask Jesus to help you Psalm 118:27 reads, God is the Lord, and He has givem us light; BIND THE SACRIFICE WITH CORDS TO THE HORNS OF THE ALTAR. NKJV I ask the Lord DAILY, to tie me down to the altar, with the “cords of Calvary love”,
- Throughout the day I am reaffirming that Jesus is:
- The Lord, the Boss, the Master, The King, The Ruler, and the Owner of my life.
- And when I go to sleep, I ask the Lord, to rule over my subconscious mind that my thoughts always line up to His Lordship in my life.
A simple definition of a Christian is someone who lets Jesus express His life, His nature, His purity and His power through the Believer, this can only happen if the Lord is in control of the Believer’s life.
The Scriptures use terms like:
GROW in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ
We are being CHANGED TRANSFORMED into the image of Jesus
So it is clearly a PROGRESSIVE PROCESS with sadly numerous ups and downs as we learn to live the SURRENDERED LIFE. I wish I could say I have fully learnt this truth and experience, I have many regrets, BUT I AM PRESSING ON AND LEARNING MORE EACH DAY. My past is under the blood and forgiven and forgotten,
So this blog has not been written to condemn or discourage you, we can live victorious holy and pure lives, may the Lord help us to CONTINUALLY SURRENDER TO THE LORD.
