hatchcreek.com Bible blog

We have discussed the secret of being a contented Christian in the previous post. We found that Paul says we are to be content in whatever situation we are in. Also, that we can be that way if we rely on God to strengthen us in all things. To accomplish this we must walk in the Spirit.

If you are a Christian and you are not content with your life perhaps you haven’t learned how to walk in the Spirit. It is so important for us to learn to live above our circumstances. We are in this world and it effects us all day long. We are pressured on every side, but it doesn’t have to get us down. We have problems at work, in relationships, with our families and spouses. There must be an answer for Christians to live a peaceable life in this world.

Do all the awful things you see on the news make you nervous? Do family problems drive you to distraction? Do health problems scare you? Then, read on and learn how to walk in the Spirit.

When we became a Christian we received the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:9 But you are not in flesh, but in Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ, this one is not His.

The question becomes, “How do we walk in the Spirit in our daily lives?”

Again, we turn to the Bible for the answer.

Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

It should be easy then to walk in the Spirit if he dwells in us. However, there is a conflict going on inside us. We still have our flesh to deal with. The flesh and the Spirit collide with each other at times.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

God has given us the option to walk in the flesh or walk in the Spirit. We have something to say about this. We must first decide that we want to walk in the Spirit and then take action. It doesn’t come to us automatically, but is something we can learn. We won’t be truly content until we master this.

We start out with prayer admitting we cannot do this in our own strength and that we need His help. We are like a little child learning to walk. We launch out, become shaky, stumble and fall. Then, we have to pick ourselves up and start all over again. This is how one learns to walk in the physical sense and also in the spiritual sense.

Here are some ideas to help you learn to walk in the Spirit:

• Pray and confess any known sin and ask forgiveness. God won’t hear our prayers if we are not right with him. (1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• Accept God’s forgiveness and ask to be refilled with the Holy Spirit.
• Spend some time each day with God in Bible study, prayer, and meditation on the Word.

Now start out your day as you walk in the Spirit. When we slip and sin we break our fellowship with God and fall back to walking in the flesh.

As soon as we realize we have sinned we need a spiritual shower. We need to confess and ask to be refilled with the Spirit.

As you practice your walk in the Spirit habit, you will find you spend more time in the Spirit. Also, at the same time you’ll find you become more satisfied with your life. You will be able to live above your circumstances and won’t be pulled in all different directions. You will actually feel contentment! This is not natural but is supernatural. You will live on a higher plane above your problems, and will depend on God moment by moment to handle everything.

Once you catch a glimpse of this new way to walk, you’ll be on your way to becoming the person God created you to be. You will begin to see the fruit of the Spirit in your life; such as love, joy and peace. You’ll be connected to God’s power which enables you to function in His power and strength and not your own. As you yield to Him and allow Him to live through you, you can be effective and victorious in your daily walk with our Precious Savior. Daily problems won’t seem as frightening because you can live above them in the power of the Spirit.

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If you are a Christian, allow me to ask you, are you content? By that I mean do you have a peace inside that transcends your circumstances? On a daily basis are you mostly happy and satisfied? If you can say, “yes,” to these questions you probably are a contented Christian.  However, if you say, “no,” then you need to read on to discover the secret to contentment.

Now, let’s look at the Word of God and see what Paul says about being content.

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. (Philippians 4:11)

Paul is actually shows us here the secret of being content. First, he says that he had learned to be content or satisfied no matter what his circumstances were. He learned to live above his circumstances. His circumstances did not dictate his happiness. Can you honestly say that is true in your life?

How many times have you thought “if only this or that would change I’d really be happy.“ I know people who seem to think their circumstances are the measuring stick of true happiness. One person I know believed if she could just have a new car she would be happy. Well, her husband gave in and even though they could not afford it, they got the car. She was thrilled, for a little while, but it didn’t last. Then, she thought she needed to repaint the house inside, and that would make her happy. That didn’t do it either. She had a pattern of thinking “things” would make her content. Others think happiness lies in a new job, or more money, or a vacation.

There are many people who think that way, but Paul said he could be happy no matter what the circumstances. It wouldn’t take a new mule or anything else to make him content. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be like Paul?

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. (Philippians 4:12)

He also said it didn’t matter if he was rich or poor, or what was going on in his life. We know that he suffered while he spent years in jail. He was beaten up several times and even left for dead. He was also in a ship wreak. Yet, he could say he was content? What’s the secret Paul?

Are you ready? The next verse tells us the secret of contentment.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

That’s it! Paul said it is because of the strength he has in Christ that he could do all things and still be content.

If a person is not a Christian they do not have this capacity to actually be content and strong in every situation. Our wonderful Savior has given us the Holy Spirit who lives in us to enable us live on a different level. Isn’t this exciting? Here is what the Bible says:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. (Ephesians 6:10)

Do you see it? Be strong, in the Lord. We need to have the Lord first of all and then he gives us all of his mighty strength.

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1)

And, he gives us his grace which he keeps pouring out to us over and over as we need it. His grace gives us strength.

…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, (Ephesians 3:16)

Here he is says that this strength and power we have in Christ is IN US. We have it! If we are Christians then we have the Holy Spirit IN US. He is already there! He is waiting for us to call on him in our times of need. When we do this we have peace and contentment. There is no need for us to live in disharmony, and have anxious and fearful lives. We can live above whatever is going on when we walk in the Spirit.

Walking in the Spirit will be the subject of my next post. We will look at how we can either hinder or help the Holy Spirit give us contentment.

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In recent lessons we learned that God gives us help in our thought lives and cares about what we say. God also is very concerned about what we do.These three things are connected. Have you ever stopped to realize what we think about usually ends up coming out in our speech, and later leads to our actions? Here is one example:

An action starts in our minds. For instance, we think we’d like a new car. We start dwelling on that and pretty soon come up with all kinds of reasons why we need one. Finally, after thinking about it a couple of days we might just mention it to our spouse. Then we both dream about having a bright shinny new car. We talk it over and eventually stop by the car dealer to just look around. The salesman gets us to sign a contract and we have a new car.

This is the way God has made us and how we work. It is not necessarily bad but can be detrimental if our thoughts, speech and actions do not line up with the Word and will of God.

Here is another example which is not good. You and your spouse have an argument. Finally, one of you says, “Oh, let’s just get a divorce.” Whoops! That should not have been said out loud even if one of you thought it. What happens next is that thought of divorce is entertained by both of you. Eventually it comes out in speech again and seems like a real possibility when it never had before. You wind up in divorce court. This example is where our thoughts, speech and actions work against us and God’s will for us. We need to be careful of how we think, speak and act.

Here is a good verse that tells us how God wants us to act.

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (James 1:22 NASB)

People who merely hear the Word and think they are saved are actually kidding themselves. This kind of person might go to church every Sunday and even be involved with the inner workings of the church. They might look like a Christian on Sunday, but the rest of the week you can’t tell them from anyone else. Their actions and speech do not measure up. We must prove ourselves as we continue to do the Word of God.

The best way I know of being a doer of the Word is to have a daily personal Bible study where pray, read the Word and actually take time to think about what it says and how it applies to you. The Holy Spirit will guide you if you ask Him. If we actually obey what God tells us in the Bible, then we will be doers of the Word.

As a Christian we are new creations in Christ. We need to manifest the attributes of Christ in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. It is important to know we can not do anything on our own. We need to pray and ask for His help.

We are to put off the old and put on the new. Here are a few scriptures that help us see how God wants us to act.

But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. (Colossians 3:8 NASB)

Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, (Colossians 3:9 NASB)

and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him. Colossians 3:10 NASB)

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32 NASB)

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; Colossians 3:12 NASB)

bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. (Colossians 3:13 NASB)

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 0″>(Colossians 3:14 NASB)

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:17 NASB)

You can make a list from the above scriptures. On one side of the page write down the negative things mentioned and on the other side write down the positive things mentioned. You can then easily see how you can “put off” certain habits and replace them by “putting on” another better habit.

If you slip and do one of those things God tells us to put off, then go to God in prayer and ask Him to forgive you.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NASB)

When we do this we will walk with Christ and grow into a mature Christian. Be a doer of the Word!

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Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear. Ephesians 4:29 ASV

Earlier we talked about how God can help us control our thought life. He is also interested in our speech.

When we become Christians our talk should change. I know after I became a Christian it started to bother me to be around my old friends who talked rough. When anyone would take the name of Jesus in vain it smarted. I wasn’t really aware of it as much before, but after finding the Lord bad language jumped out at me and made me uneasy. Have you ever felt that way? I’ve discovered the reason is because the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us when we are converted and He causes that uneasiness inside us. The bad language is offensive to Him.

Throughout the years we acquire a lot of habits that we carrying along with us, but we need to recognize them and make a conscious effort to put them off. It is kind of like changing a dirty set of clothing. We take off the old dirty ones and put on nice clean fresh ones.

Here is what God says:

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice: (Ephesians 4:31 ASV)

We are to peal all that old junk off and put on the following:

and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 ASV)

We need to be careful with our speech and make sure it is graceful and kind.

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one. (Colossians 4:6 ASV)

Did you know our tongue can be our worse enemy? It can literally destroy us. God knows this and warns us in the book of James.

And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body,… (James 3:6 ASV)

We need to learn to control our tongues. Have you ever stopped to analyze what you talk about when with your friends and family? Our talk can actually do us harm as well as others. God is not in favor of idol talk, gossip, slander, or swearing and cussing. How do your friends talk?

On the other hand those who learn to control what they say are much better off and keep out of trouble. God will judge us on what we have said.

“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles.” (Proverbs 21:23 ASV)

God tells us that we are fools if we allow our tongues to rule us.

A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. (Proverbs 18:7 ASV)

Here are Jesus’ own words. He tells us that we have a heart problem. Have you ever said something and thought, “why did I say that?” Or, “that didn’t sound very nice.” The Lord says what we say comes from our heart. It reveals what is on the inside of us and shows us what we need to change. That is a scary thought. I don’t like to think the ugly things that come out of my mouth actually reveal the real me. Ouch!

Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (Matthew 12:34 ASV)

We need to clean up our speech. We need to build each other up and not tear each other down. We are to minister to others in love and kindness. It is so easy to fall into the trap of talking about others. We need to be on constant guard of our mouths. This isn’t a hopeless situation. There are several things we can do. We can pray and ask God to forgive us when we misspeak or when we fall into the trap of gossip. He will forgive us and give us another chance to get it right. We can ask God to put a guard on our mouth and alert us when things are getting out of control. If we are with others who are not speaking in a God honoring way, we can avoid joining into the conversation and sometimes we even have to stop being around certain people. I’ve had to do that too.

Another thing is that God wants us to be ready to tell others about our hope in Christ.

(Psalms 119:11 ASV) but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15 ASV)

We have clearly seen from the Bible how God is concerned not only about what we think, but also about what we say. Even though I’ve been a Christian for over 30 years I haven’t arrive at perfection.  I pray you will examine yourself along with me and try to speak in a way that is always pleasing to our precious Savior.

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