Freed from Bondage

 

As we contemplate the Lord’s glory, which comes from the Spirit of the Lord, we are transformed with ever increasing glory into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 12:2). In Him we live and move and have our existence (Acts 17:28).

He dwells in us and lives through us (2 Corinthians 6:16), being glorified in us (John 17:10). We are freed from the chains of bondage to this earth into the glorious liberty of the children of God (John 1:12; Romans 8:19-21).

Since we abide in Him, we now walk just as He walked (1 John 2:1-6). In our flesh, we are still able to fall into temptation; but in Christ all the fullness of the triune God dwells in us.

Nothing this world has to offer has any appeal to us any more (Titus 2:11-14). If we take the time to walk in the Spirit, we can enjoy the same spirit-led existence that Jesus and the Biblical characters and writers did (Luke 6:40).

We have fellowship with the triune God all of the time, just as Adam and Eve enjoyed in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8). There is an unbroken tie that transcends barriers of time and space.

As we walk in the Spirit, Jesus lives through us. We follow God's will for us in the smallest details of our life, seeing His Spirit's power and anointing lived out in our lives.

It is not a matter of legalism or dead works, but of abiding in the Spirit in our every waking moment. We listen and we obey and we see the salvation of our God played out in our life and in the world around us.

Prayer:

Father God, Christ, who dwells in us, is Your exact image, even though You are our invisible God. Jesus contains all of Your attributes and character, and since Jesus dwells within us by Your Spirit, then all of Your attributes and character dwell within us as well (Colossians 1:15; 2 Corinthians 4:4).

Your Holy Spirit sanctifies us throughout our lifetime until we are perfected according to the fullest measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ in us (Ephesians 4:13). We can walk in Your holiness and abide in Your Spirit every moment of every day.

Thought for the Day:

We are adopted sons of God (Ephesians 1:5), joint heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:17) and one with our triune God (John 17:22).

How Satan's Temptations Influence Us

Satan uses three aspects of our human life to tempt us into sin. The lusts aroused by what we see, the lusts of our human flesh, our pride and our rebellion against authority. Study the way Satan tempted Biblical characters such as Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:6), Jonah, Moses and even Jesus (Matthew 4:3). He appealed to fleshly gratification, power and recognition and self-interest.

Attempting to fulfill the lusts of our flesh always causes our moral demise and allures us from following God’s will for our life (Galatians 5:16-25). Satan is subtle and very good at what He does. In fact, at the end of the Millennium, God looses Satan from his chains in hell so he can attempt to deceive those born during the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ right here on the earth with us (Revelation 20:7).

Satan convinces people who lived in the presence of Christ during the Millennium, just as he did when Jesus lived on the earth for 33 years. He blinds their eyes and deafens their ears and appeals to the lust of their eyes and flesh, as well as to their pride and rebellious nature. As we follow after God and obey His will for our life (Ephesians 2:10), it is much easier to discern Satan’s deception from the start.

Only God and His Kingdom will last forever (1 John 2:15-17). If we recognize that this world is passing away and everything in it, then we can put into perspective the fiery darts of temptation from our #1 enemy. Relinquish all lust, pride and rebellion to Christ. Only those who depend solely on Christ as their life (Colossians 3:4) will believe to the end and be saved (Matthew 10:22).

Prayer:

Father God, when Satan tempted Jesus, he found no flesh in Him that He could appeal to. He tried, but Jesus was so united with You that He rose above Satan’s carnal appeals. Jesus also used Your Word to defeat the enemy. Remind us to drench our life with Your scriptures so that we too can withstand the enemy when he comes like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).

Thought for the Day:

Cling to the vine of Christ and draw your fulfillment from Him rather than from your flesh, the world or the devil. – John 15:5