Tag Archives: victorious living

Stay on the Path

May 12, 2018 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

“Enter through the narrow gate.

For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.” Matthew 7: 13-14 (NIV)

A few years ago there is a commercial for financial planning that features a wide green path and arrow to guide the investor along life’s path. As the investor strolls through the city, they are tempted to step off the path to pursue things that could hinder their ability to accomplish their long-term investment plans. The voice of the financial advisor coaches the investor to “just stay on the path.” The implication is that as long as the investor “stays on the path” they will realize their financial goals and live happily ever after.

This commercial reminded me of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. He told His listeners to, “Enter through the narrow gate.” The King James Version renders “narrow” as “strait.” Strait (stenos) refers to a narrowness created by obstacles standing close about. These obstacles could be the world’s view on how we are to enter God’s kingdom. Jesus’ point in this teaching is that the way to life is through a portal providing controlled access along a narrow way defined by God. In contrast, the wide highway represents the world’s “substitute” for the way of life. The end, of course, is death.

As I talk with believers about activities in their local churches, I am disturbed and heartbroken. The Church, which was created to be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13), is choosing to “get off the path.” Churches across this country have abandoned teaching and preaching the “full counsel” of God for “trendy methods” of ministry. The “fervent prayers of the righteous” (James 5:16) have been replaced with small group discussions on why the church should practice religious tolerance. Churches are more concerned with not offending others than with grieving the Holy Spirit. Peter reminded the early church, that Christ Himself was “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence” (1 Peter 2:8).

It is extremely difficult to stay on the path of God when the world, especially the Church, is encouraging us to do otherwise. It is critical and life affecting that we stand fast in our faith (1 Peter 5:12). We must resist being lured to “enter through the wide gate.” Do not be enticed by false teachings with their “faith-by-works, all-roads-lead-to-God” beliefs. Stay on the path until you reach your eternal goal of heaven. Remember, it is a narrow path that leads to life, and only a few find it.

SELAH: One of the inherent gift that is available with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is spiritual discernment. Spiritual discernment is “the ability to see life from God’s perspective”. It helps us to evaluate potential choices, options, and actions we may need to make in our life. Spiritual discernment helps believers to avoid potential “spiritual landmines” that might take us off path.

Read “The Power of a Discerning Spirit” then invite ask the Holy Spirit to heighten your discernment and reveal spiritual landmines currently in your life that might detour you from God’s desired purpose.

February 6, 2018 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3 (NKJ)

At the beginning of this series, I put forth the proposition that spiritual blessings, outlined in Ephesians 1:3-14, would result in victorious living by believers. Concluding this series, it is now time to share exactly how spiritual blessings accomplish that. What exactly does victorious living look like? While there is much written on “how” to live victoriously—often time a recommended list of spiritual disciplines and “do’s and don’ts”—it is often unclear what it looks like specifically.

For me, there are several biblical truths that contribute to understanding what victorious living looks like. In Christ, believers are “new creatures” (2 Cor. 5:17) and are continually “transformed by the renewing of their mind” (Rom. 12:2). It is God’s expectation that believers “be holy as He who called [them] is holy” (1 Pet. 1:15-16) with the ultimate objective to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). As believers are conformed to Christ’s image, they are to live out the purpose or “good works, which God has ordained” them to do (Eph. 2:10). This process of spiritual transformation is ongoing in the believer who confidentially trusts God and understands that “He that began a good work is able to perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6)—until Christ’s Second Return or the believer’s returns to Christ.

Victorious living is emotional confidence and spiritual contentment found by living in the reality and purpose of God.

Victorious living finds its genesis in the Triune God. In Christ. Chosen. Predestined. Adopted as sons. Accepted by the Beloved. Redeemed and forgiven. Gathered together. Eternal inheritance. Sealed until redemption.

Victorious living is about walking in the reality of the spiritual blessings “gifted” to us by God resulting in our new identity and capability. All these blessing are to the praise of God’s glory—lavish and abundant blessings on which to live victoriously. I once believed that living victoriously was dependent on me. I am so glad that God provided the “true secret to victorious living”. For it in In Him “we live, and move, and have our meaning” (Acts 17:28).

“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7)

SELAH: In your quiet time, read Ephesians 1:3-14. Feel free to read it several times using a different translation or paraphrase; then journal how this scripture can help you live more victoriously.

Victorious Living

The Boundless Gift of Grace

January 10, 2018 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence.

Ephesians 1:7- 8 (NKJ)

Grace was a song we often heard as children at Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church. I can still hear in my mind the Senior Choir, led by Mrs. Olivia Gentry, bellowing out the chorus which highlighted the richness and indescribable power of God’s grace.

Grace, Grace, God’s grace

His grace is sufficient for me.

Grace, Grace, God’s grace

His grace will give you

The victory.

As we continue our series on victorious living, we would be remiss if we did not take time to examine the source of our salvation and “crown jewel” of God’s blessings—God’s grace—without which, victorious living would be impossible. For it was the grace of God that would finally resolve man’s issue with sin—his personal sin that thwarted his relationship with His Heavenly Father. It would take extraordinary, boundless grace to reverse the downward spiral of fallen man.

In the Old Testament, grace (hen) generally referred to one finding favor and acceptance with God (Gen. 6:8; Exo. 34:9; Ps. 84:11). In the New Testament, while grace still infers the favor of God, grace (charis) is extended to include God’s good will and loving-kindness. This boundless gift of grace was and is extended to us through Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11, 14).

Jesus Christ made it possible for God to complete His plan of salvation, created before the foundations of the world (1 John 3:5, 8; 4:9). This “glorious grace” (Ep. 1:6), which actually characterizes the nature of God has resulted in God’s choosing us, adopting us as sons, and making us ”acceptable in the Beloved” or one with Christ (Ep. 1:3-6).

In Christ, man finds redemption and forgiveness of sin. Jesus satisfies the holy and “legal” requirements of God by paying the price for sin with “the shedding of blood” (Lev. 17:11; Heb. 9:22). When God’s people chose to continue in their sin, unable to keep His laws, God made actual the eternal blessing uttered in eternity. God sent His Son (John 3:16).

In Ephesians 1:8, Paul states that the riches of God’s grace abound toward us. The RSV translation builds on that thought, using instead, “lavished upon us.” Such extraordinary covering by God’s grace flows from the depth of His love (1 John 4:9-10) and includes with it the recipient’s understanding (wisdom and prudence) of “Christ’s purpose, to feel His heart of mercy, to approve and to concur with His redeeming plans, as men ‘made wise unto salvation’” [1]

One thing all men (and women) have in common regardless of time, space, or geography is sin. We see sin’s effects everyday—crime, civil strife, social injustice—all these find their root in sin. And there are “subtle sins” that are hidden from the visible eye yet still affect the behavior of individuals, churches, and society, in general—greed, jealousy, envy and hate. But “in Christ”, the believer’s identity with Christ and his position before God the Father, men now have access to the only thing that can reverse sin’s grip on hearts.

The issues of the 21^st century are in actuality “heart issues”. Hearts hardened and determined to live self-centered and disobedient lives. Neither money nor power can resolve humanity’s woes. Narcissistic or charismatic leaders cannot end political impasse. Better schools or larger jails won’t end generations of economic inequality. There is only one thing that can reverse the cycle of death set forth by sin in the Garden of Eden—it’s God’s boundless gift of grace.

Alec Motyer in this classic book, Look to the Rock, gives insight into the impact of God’s boundless gift of grace: “When God’s people could not rise to the height of His standard, God didn’t lower His standard to match their abilities, He transformed them.” This transformation is possible only through acceptance of God’s boundless gift of grace.

Grace, Grace, God’s grace

His grace will give you

The victory.

SELAH: Write down your thoughts on how the boundless gift of God’s grace has changed, is changing, or can change your life.

[1] Ephesians Studies, H.C.G. Moule