The Effects of the Flesh
Greetings sisters,
It's been a few busy days and we are joyful to be at our destination for the evening. Tonight we are blessed with some comfortable seats with a big table to work at. That's a rarity for us and we don't deserve it but are thankful.
We've had an interesting past few days and today was one that if we were living in the flesh, would have challenged us.
So they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)
I don't want to be in the flesh because if I am, then I am not in the Spirit and if I'm not in the Spirit then I'm not pleasing God. It's something we all have to work at not only when things aren't going well, but also when they are. The human flesh is so wicked and destructive. Today we were reminded of the remnants of disastrous fleshly issues getting in the way of brothers and sisters as we were traveling through an area; a town there are a brother and sister that have separated from the body for reasons of the flesh. We've reached out many times over the years to strive for unity but as of today it seems that is not what they are striving for. Brother Jim did reach out to say we love them, were thinking of them and that we would be in their town...but apparently unity was not to be. As we were leaving that town we were on the highway for not more than 5 minutes heading east when brother Jim looked to his left and saw a brother driving by the other way. A brother that is separated from us because of flesh and after reaching out to him just after we passed...it seems that unity is not to be there either.
It's strange to be on this huge earth and know brethren, pass by them closely and...
......nothing.........
It makes us sad for the glory of God. The world looks on and has more love for one another than many professed believers of Christ do for each other. Truth is not the goal, apparently because there's so much separation from it.
It's hard as we, ourselves mature in the Lord, see so many fleshly things that people themselves don't see, because we've already walked there. We try to warn them, show them, encourage them etc....but most won't dig deep and try to see what they don't see. Someday, if they do happen to move forward in the things of God, they will be totally grieved at what they've done and the destruction and division that was caused because of the flesh.
The old me would have been devastated and had to struggle through my tears of despair at the body of Christ claiming His name, claiming love of the brethren but living in fleshly disunity, but today (after having been beaten and battered so many times) I'm a stronger woman. It doesn't mean I don't feel anything, it just means I'm learning how to properly direct my emotions so that I can strive on and be a strong witness for Christ. It doesn't mean situations like this don't hurt deeply, but in order to be a fit worker and witness for Christ, we must keep moving on forward, we cannot look back.
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:62)
Not one day goes by that brother Jim and I don't think about those who have come and gone. Everyone gets a piece of our life and heart and we grieve for them because so many have gone right back into their vomit, the ways of the world. Some slipping slowly, some running straight back. It's like being on the battle field in the front line, seeing the death and destruction right up close and you can physically do nothing about it because it's a spiritual war.
We simply march on, hoping to be a beacon of the truth, a light to those who are seeking it and an example of strength to those who might be behind us. You need to do the same. You may not think you are strong but there is someone weaker than you that can see the strength you have but they don't. There's someone ahead of you in this walk of Christ, that you can learn and gain from because they've already walked where you are going.
We will all encounter such situations as well as other devastating times and we all need to learn to lean on the Lord and the power of His strength because we cannot carry on in our own. He will toughen us up and teach us how to redirect our emotions. He will give us the strength to march on when all looks hopeless. He will give us the joy and peace we need in the midst of any trial or tribulation, knowing that if we endure until the end, we will be able to rest from this wicked flesh with him in all of eternity.
We are thankful to be counted worthy to be workers for Christ and are willing to sacrifice whatever is needed to help those seeking truth. I know I've posted some really pretty pictures of places we've seen while we're on the road and one person once said it's like an exciting camping trip. On one hand they are right but on the other hand those type of sights are not the norm. This is:
That's pretty much our scene each evening. Sometimes we get to park by a tree or a tiny little piece of grass but most often not. Each night we park, get set up for the evening and then walk around, getting fresh air, a bit of exercise and being available for whomever might be interested in talking about the things of God.
It's a simple, uncomplicated life, one that helps us kill our flesh a LOT. I love killing my sinful flesh...
Do you?
I hope you have a joyous evening.
Love in Christ,
Sister Deb
The biblical gospel...
https://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html
It's been a few busy days and we are joyful to be at our destination for the evening. Tonight we are blessed with some comfortable seats with a big table to work at. That's a rarity for us and we don't deserve it but are thankful.
We've had an interesting past few days and today was one that if we were living in the flesh, would have challenged us.
So they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)
I don't want to be in the flesh because if I am, then I am not in the Spirit and if I'm not in the Spirit then I'm not pleasing God. It's something we all have to work at not only when things aren't going well, but also when they are. The human flesh is so wicked and destructive. Today we were reminded of the remnants of disastrous fleshly issues getting in the way of brothers and sisters as we were traveling through an area; a town there are a brother and sister that have separated from the body for reasons of the flesh. We've reached out many times over the years to strive for unity but as of today it seems that is not what they are striving for. Brother Jim did reach out to say we love them, were thinking of them and that we would be in their town...but apparently unity was not to be. As we were leaving that town we were on the highway for not more than 5 minutes heading east when brother Jim looked to his left and saw a brother driving by the other way. A brother that is separated from us because of flesh and after reaching out to him just after we passed...it seems that unity is not to be there either.
It's strange to be on this huge earth and know brethren, pass by them closely and...
......nothing.........
It makes us sad for the glory of God. The world looks on and has more love for one another than many professed believers of Christ do for each other. Truth is not the goal, apparently because there's so much separation from it.
It's hard as we, ourselves mature in the Lord, see so many fleshly things that people themselves don't see, because we've already walked there. We try to warn them, show them, encourage them etc....but most won't dig deep and try to see what they don't see. Someday, if they do happen to move forward in the things of God, they will be totally grieved at what they've done and the destruction and division that was caused because of the flesh.
The old me would have been devastated and had to struggle through my tears of despair at the body of Christ claiming His name, claiming love of the brethren but living in fleshly disunity, but today (after having been beaten and battered so many times) I'm a stronger woman. It doesn't mean I don't feel anything, it just means I'm learning how to properly direct my emotions so that I can strive on and be a strong witness for Christ. It doesn't mean situations like this don't hurt deeply, but in order to be a fit worker and witness for Christ, we must keep moving on forward, we cannot look back.
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:62)
Not one day goes by that brother Jim and I don't think about those who have come and gone. Everyone gets a piece of our life and heart and we grieve for them because so many have gone right back into their vomit, the ways of the world. Some slipping slowly, some running straight back. It's like being on the battle field in the front line, seeing the death and destruction right up close and you can physically do nothing about it because it's a spiritual war.
We simply march on, hoping to be a beacon of the truth, a light to those who are seeking it and an example of strength to those who might be behind us. You need to do the same. You may not think you are strong but there is someone weaker than you that can see the strength you have but they don't. There's someone ahead of you in this walk of Christ, that you can learn and gain from because they've already walked where you are going.
We will all encounter such situations as well as other devastating times and we all need to learn to lean on the Lord and the power of His strength because we cannot carry on in our own. He will toughen us up and teach us how to redirect our emotions. He will give us the strength to march on when all looks hopeless. He will give us the joy and peace we need in the midst of any trial or tribulation, knowing that if we endure until the end, we will be able to rest from this wicked flesh with him in all of eternity.
We are thankful to be counted worthy to be workers for Christ and are willing to sacrifice whatever is needed to help those seeking truth. I know I've posted some really pretty pictures of places we've seen while we're on the road and one person once said it's like an exciting camping trip. On one hand they are right but on the other hand those type of sights are not the norm. This is:
That's pretty much our scene each evening. Sometimes we get to park by a tree or a tiny little piece of grass but most often not. Each night we park, get set up for the evening and then walk around, getting fresh air, a bit of exercise and being available for whomever might be interested in talking about the things of God.
It's a simple, uncomplicated life, one that helps us kill our flesh a LOT. I love killing my sinful flesh...
Do you?
I hope you have a joyous evening.
Love in Christ,
Sister Deb
The biblical gospel...
https://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html