45Rom006.mp3
Commentary
Father, I receive Your Word in Jesus' name, for the purpose of growing stronger in knowledge of You, in experience with You, and with communing with You. This Word is blessed, and I am blessed to receive it, that it grows within me, to help guide and direct me, to inspire and strengthen me, to restore my joy as I long to bring many to salvation. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
In Chapter five, I learned that sin is not the dominant of the forces we are driven by. Even as sin abound, grace does even MORE GREATLY abound. This means, even though I do not deserve it, and maybe even had caused it, God is here to forgive me, and to educate me so that I might not folly in this way again. Its a "win-win" right from the very first verse of this chapter!
I remember studying about the death and resurrection of Jesus. I remember that at some point, Jesus explained that He must go so that the Comforter (Holy Spirit) can come and enter us literally. This empowers us to do even more than that which Jesus had done! Here's the thing... Jesus gave up the Ghost at Calvary when He said, "it is finished!" and died. When we are baptized by water for the remission of sin, we physically acknowledge that Jesus had died to pay the sacrificial cost for the atonement of the sins we are repenting of. We submerge into water, and rise up again as cleansed of our transgressions, iniquities, sins, and even our health issues. So, our physical baptism brings into effect the cause by which Jesus had died... to save, deliver and to heal.
Next, we are baptized Spiritually. This can occur while we are all alone with God, or while being encouraged and prayed with in a congregation. In fact, the baptism of the Holy Spirit can occur anytime, anywhere. The scriptures only specifically state that it will be "not many days hence". We will speak in a tongue that is unknown. This is a language that not even the enemy can understand. Only God can understand what is communicated between our spirit and Him. This will edify us. We will be equipped with the power to accomplish absolutely ANYTHING for the Lord.
It was important to explain all that before I introduce this concept. As Jesus gave up the Ghost, so that we might inherent the power of Jesus, and that we might be able to endure without His physical presence. As He gave up the Ghost, and as we accept His sacrifice, we breath into us the breath of life, the Holy Ghost that Jesus had gave up, as He physically died on the cross. (vs 3-7)
In verse 12 it seems clear that even though we now have the Holy Ghost living in us, and fueling us with all power of heaven and of Earth, we must still CHOOSE to deny the flesh, and the lusts thereof. It is not because the flesh is a powerful thing that battles us continually, I mean that too, but not ONLY that. It also means that the battle has now become spiritual to us... in that we know now the origin of the mess we used to live in. We see the source of our resistance, as it really is; spiritual. The solution is in verse 13. Its very simple to deny the sins of the flesh. Simply yield ourselves to God, as instruments unto righteousness.
Literally and put in a practical way, this means when we want to do something that is appealing to our flesh drive, do something ministry related instead. Be about the Fathers business instead of the flesh drive. Verse 14 says that sin don't have any power or authority over us at all, now that we are saved, delivered and healed. Specifically, we do not suffer the brokenness of the "sin plagues" now that we are in God's Grace. Simply don't partake of those things that brought on those plagues in the first place. Deny the desires of the flesh and instead, be about the Fathers business. Just because we are Christians and we are not under the law anymore does not mean it is now alright to do the things that the flesh is driven by. I mean, the flesh is fully expected to be driven by the Holy Spirit now that He's living inside of us!
Monday, May 14th, 2012 - 9:09pm
