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HeavenwithinYOU
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Full surrender of the heart, this is what the Gospel is about. We should not enjoy anything more than the Lord; treasures of divine wisdom are given to us to grow closer to the Lord through the influence of HIS truth. This starts with our homes first. Our homes are our bodies and we must train our bodies per Paul’s instructions. We all have our pleasures, as minimized and humble as we make then, we know the things that we all enjoy. And all things are clean in those who are in Christ Jesus, for He has declared this. But it is up to us to use the things that He has given us to enjoy to grow closer to Him. And the way we do this is to enjoy them in thanksgiving; as well as not enjoying them in times of fasting. Our pleasures become tools to grow closer to the Lord when we do not partake in them. Not partaking becomes sacrifice more so then enjoying them, even in times of thanksgiving; for each has their place. We cannot always enjoy a certain thing in thanksgiving without having another moment of not enjoying that same thing in the name of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 6:12 - "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. For partaking in our pleasures with thanksgiving and the surrendering of our pleasures in terms of fasting are both equally as important. One sows to the flesh (in its indulgence) as well as the Spirit (in terms of Thanksgiving) and the other sows strictly to the Spirit. I enjoy black tea and chocolate, but I noticed that I was not able to have perfect communion with the Lord when I drank cups a day for consecutive days. This became idolatry for me. Tea is not sinful; it is I who was not able to control my need for the tea that made me sinful. Nothing is better than the Lord, nothing should be needed daily except our daily bread which is the Lord and His word. Daily needs become daily habits and become hindrances to the sowing to the Spirit. But we can use these hindrances as advantages if we are able to resist them for a designated stretch of time. What we need to attain calmness other than the Lord become the things that master us. There will be a void; of course, once we resist these things for a time, this is long-suffering to the Lord. This difficulty created within us becomes the living sacrifice; the suffering for the Lord. And living sacrifices move on the altar and are uncomfortable. It’s this uncomfortable feeling that makes our sacrifice living and worthy of Spiritual gain rather than fleshly sowing.
We all have our likes, needs and enjoyments, but we must make sure they do not become wants. Habits are made and broken rather easily. Not partaking in something we enjoy, if done just a few times, will become a habit. And habits become easier and easier the more we do them; good or bad. For thou shall not want, says the Lord thy God. All things are good, but I will not let anything master me, except my Master, Jesus Christ.
Take Time to Be Holy, William D. Longstaff 1882
Take time to be holy, speak often with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.
We all have our likes, needs and enjoyments, but we must make sure they do not become wants. Habits are made and broken rather easily. Not partaking in something we enjoy, if done just a few times, will become a habit. And habits become easier and easier the more we do them; good or bad. For thou shall not want, says the Lord thy God. All things are good, but I will not let anything master me, except my Master, Jesus Christ.
Take Time to Be Holy, William D. Longstaff 1882
Take time to be holy, speak often with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.