Putting on of the new self

[marks]

For the doing of righteousness puts on the new self and is death to the old.

I had to think about this part above for a good bit . . .

The local lumber company puts pithy sayings on their sign, also some good ones. Recently - I didn't like the source - one attributed to "yoda",

There is no try, only do or not do.

A true choice for righteousness is the choice of taking an action, whether that be thought or motion, and in making that choice comes the doing, or the choice is truly only the knowledge that such a choice is available.

I can know that I can walk through that door, and leave this terrible place. I can ask God, open that door, take me out of here! Or I can grab that doorknob, turn it, and open the door as I stride right through.

The living of the life of the New Creation supplants the life of the old.

Is that what you had in mind?

Much love!

 

[amadeus]

Hey John.

That brings us back to the discussion of The Overcomers...the Bride..and The Mature sons. Not a lost or saved thing....but a case of being called to being a kingdom of kings and priests and falling short of that high calling.

Oh Helen you forget, do you not, that in order to never die we need to eat of the Tree of Life and who is allowed to do that other than overcomers?

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" Rev 2:7

Jesus became an overcomer [John 16:33] before he died on the cross. Why would it be different for us? Has not God provided all that is needed for each of us to overcome? Whether we use what He has provided is always up to us.

Those that by faith and endurance inherit the promises....putting aside ( by choosing God moment by moment ) putting off the old man and living in His.
"...for we are saved by His life."
( "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." )

So with our eyes OF trying to mortify the things of the flesh, and our eyes ON Him wherein is our victory...we live in the new man.

The mortifying is the killing of the old man. That is the overcoming process which each of us must complete in order to eat from the Tree of Life. What must be overcome by us is not the sin itself, but the things within us which when followed will lead us back to sin again:

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" I John 2:16

No man can crucify himself , I can nail my feet to the cross, I can nail one hand to the cross...but the other hand must be in His Victory or the job can never be done ...not by anything we do. As I see it.

Blessings...Helen

And who was it that crucified Jesus? He did not do it himself, but he certainly allowed it to be done...

"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." John 10:18

As we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit with us, the Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen the new man of us to kill the old man of us. This is why Apostle Paul admonishes us:

"Quench not the Spirit." I Thess 5:19

"From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?" James 4:1

The battles rage within each of us to sin or not to sin. The power of God never loses, but we have authority over God within us. That is what men call "free will". We can keep hold of our reins [effectively giving to the old man] or we can surrender to God [giving the reins to the Holy Spirit within us]. Leading ourselves, we will lose. The Holy Spirit leading us, we will win. How many battles must we fight? Until all of those things which would lead us to sin have been finally overcome. When that is done, then the old man is dead and we with Jesus could say:

"And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father..." John 17:11 When Jesus prayed that prayer he had not yet gone to the cross but he had overcome the last temptation of his own old man [man of fleshly desires as per those listed in I John 2:16].

We are still in our own little world of temptation. When and if we have overcome the last obstacle fighting against the new man, we will be where Jesus even if we are still on planet Earth. Jesus was certainly still on planet Earth when he prayed that prayer.

 

[Not me]

I had to think about this part above for a good bit . . .

The local lumber company puts pithy sayings on their sign, also some good ones. Recently - I didn't like the source - one attributed to "yoda",

There is no try, only do or not do.

A true choice for righteousness is the choice of taking an action, whether that be thought or motion, and in making that choice comes the doing, or the choice is truly only the knowledge that such a choice is available.

I can know that I can walk through that door, and leave this terrible place. I can ask God, open that door, take me out of here! Or I can grab that doorknob, turn it, and open the door as I stride right through.

The living of the life of the New Creation supplants the life of the old.

Is that what you had in mind?

Much love!

Yes,

If you check the above posts I made to ByGrace on this thread you will see how I tried to expand on the thought.

I love it when the Holy Spirit teaches.

Blessings,

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[Anthony D'Arienzo]

While there is nothing essentially wrong with trying to improve oneself...as the OP is really suggesting...by acting with more righteousness, kindness, and love for others...it is very wrong to equate that kind of self-improvement with the "putting on of the New Man" as Paul testifies of in the bible.

Ephesians 4:24
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Putting on the new man is putting on Christ, or the armour of light. It's wrong to see this as a gradual human effort towards divine grace. Rather, this is something that is given as a whole gift...as we seek the Lord for it. Grace is a gift of God...that is given freely as we bring our faith to God.

One does not walk "a little bit in the Spirit" or a little bit in the New Man....anymore than a woman can be a "little bit pregnant."
The New Man is the resurrection life of Jesus modeled for us in the form of the victorious humanity of Jesus.

We put it on or take it off. But we can't do this bit by bit. This is to confuse purity and nature with the maturity in it that is required to remain (abide) in Christ.

It is the same with the fruit of the Spirit. It comes as a whole. The fruit of being in the Spirit is all that the Spirit provides to us. You don't try to improve your walk by trying to emulate one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit at a time.

So then there is great misunderstanding here.

Yes. The old man has been crucified already.
We are new men In Christ.
The parallel passage in Col3:9-10 makes it very clear

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

 

[Helen]

in order to never die we need to eat of the Tree of Life and who is allowed to do that other than overcomers?

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" Rev 2:7
<snip>
Has not God provided all that is needed for each of us to overcome? Whether we use what He has provided is always up to us.

The mortifying is the killing of the old man. That is the overcoming process which each of us must complete in order to eat from the Tree of Life.
<snip>
The Holy Spirit leading us, we will win. How many battles must we fight? Until all of those things which would lead us to sin have been finally overcome. When that is done, then the old man is dead
<snip>
We are still in our own little world of temptation. When and if we have overcome the last obstacle fighting against the new man, we will be where Jesus even if we are still on planet Earth. Jesus was certainly still on planet Earth when he prayed that prayer.

Good thoughts . Thanks for your response. :)

Okay and what of those who are NOT overcomers?
They also are a group also.
Not everyone overcomes... 'weak in the faith' ....then what?
Agree, God has provided everything we need to overcome in the Spirit.
And Paul exhorts "Receive not the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in vain."

Do you believe those who don't are lost...and off to hell they must go?
Or are they just not among those who don't received "the Prize of the High Calling in Jesus Christ" that Paul pressed toward to gain?

Where you use the words mortifying flesh is an overcoming process which we must all complete. I would use the word choice , everything is a choice.

I don't believe that little by little we are getting better and better as a process of overcoming... been there, believed that...and 55 years later it does not work.

My choice is...When I get up in the morning which life do I live in, His or mine.

You said :- <We are still in our own little world of temptation. When and if we have overcome the last obstacle fighting against the new man, we will be where Jesus even if we are still on planet Earth. Jesus was certainly still on planet Earth when he prayed that prayer. >

I do not believe in perfection on this side of the veil ....only positionally "In Him".

 

[amadeus]

Good thoughts . Thanks for your response. :)

Hi Helen!

Okay and what of those who are NOT overcomers?
They also are a group also.
Not everyone overcomes... 'weak in the faith' ....then what?

Well anyone who never obtains Life is simply dead. Into the grave or the cremation process. The end!

Agree, God has provided everything we need to overcome in the Spirit.
And Paul exhorts "Receive not the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in vain."

Amen!

Do you believe those who don't are lost...and off to hell they must go?
Or are they just not among those who don't received "the Prize of the High Calling in Jesus Christ" that Paul pressed toward to gain?

Remember Helen that I am really more an annihilationist on these points than anything else. If I am wrong I seen nothing yet that was very convincing. Most people when they hear my view and they do anything... it usually to hit with the old clichés or traditional teachings or what their particular group believes. If I am wrong perhaps it is not important for me to know. I don't plan to die on the wrong side of God in any case. May God help me in that resolve.

Where you use the words mortifying flesh is an overcoming process which we must all complete. I would use the word choice , everything is a choice.

Yes, you are correct. The choices continue until we run out of time. Each of us has an allotted amount of time... but usually we don't know how much more we have. [Hezekiah was an exception to this last.]

I don't believe that little by little we are getting better and better as a process of overcoming... been there, believed that...and 55 years later it does not work.

Based on my own experience I would disagree, but I am not certain I would up to even discussing it and it may amount to a comparison that should not be attempted:

"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise" II Cor 10:12

My choice is...When I get up in the morning which life do I live in, His or mine.

You said :- <We are still in our own little world of temptation. When and if we have overcome the last obstacle fighting against the new man, we will be where Jesus even if we are still on planet Earth. Jesus was certainly still on planet Earth when he prayed that prayer. >

I do not believe in perfection on this side of the veil ….only positionally "In Him".

Then you don't believe what Jesus said here:

"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:27

Then if you believe that Jesus is God consider this:

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" Col 1:27

The only things God in us cannot do are those things in which we according to our God-given in our choices set limits on Him. We can limit God even as the children of Israel limited Him!

"Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel." Psalm 78:41

To me that "positional" thing has never made any sense. To me it has seemed a way of bypassing what the scriptures do say. Admittedly I have never looked into it seriously. But, neither have I failed to regularly let myself go down to that "lowest room" so that God could change whatever He would deem necessary in me.

 

[Helen]

Most people when they hear my view and they do anything... it usually to hit with the old clichés or traditional teachings or what their particular group believes. If I am wrong perhaps it is not important for me to know. I don't plan to die on the wrong side of God in any case. May God help me in that resolve.

Hey John.

I'm with you on the hell thing...so we know where we each stands on that issue.

But it seems that you, like our friend @marks believes is the "one big glob" in heaven with everyone all the same . The faithful missionary that gave his spiritual life and literal life for the love of the gospel sitting there in the mob just the same as the man who faithfully just trotted to his local church every week , waiting to spending eternity in heaven.....so , no different level of rewards for faithful service. Be it Enoch, Elijah, Daniel or whoever....
( "the 10 talents", etc....one given 10 cities, one five cities, etc... )
So everyone at the End is just either saved or lost?

Lo ...these many years brother... ( Lord, open his eyes that he may see.)

If you get a night revelation John, you will know that my prayers have been answered! :)

Just kidding...( but hopeful ) ...love you lots brother. Take care... H

 

[amadeus]

Hey John.

I'm with you on the hell thing...so we know where we each stands on that issue.

But it seems that you, like our friend @marks believes is the "one big glob" in heaven with everyone all the same . The faithful missionary that gave his spiritual life and literal life for the love of the gospel sitting there in the mob just the same as the man who faithfully just trotted to his local church every week , waiting to spending eternity in heaven.....so , no different level of rewards for faithful service. Be it Enoch, Elijah, Daniel or whoever....
( "the 10 talents", etc....one given 10 cities, one five cities, etc... )
So everyone at the End is just either saved or lost? View attachment 6810

Lo ...these many years brother... ( Lord, open his eyes that he may see.)

If you get a night revelation John, you will know that my prayers have been answered! :)

Just kidding...( but hopeful ) ...love you lots brother. Take care... H

No, not all the same when we are finally and always with God. Remember the three of levels of the Ark that Noah built to the specifications of God. It had three levels of saved creatures, the unclean beasts, the clean beasts and the 8 of Noah's family at the top.
Those beasts are men at their conversion [unclean beasts];, with the Holy Ghost working in them cleaning out the garbage and replacing it with the good things of God [clean beasts]; and finally the Bride of Christ at the very top [Noah's family].
Then again remember this verse:

"There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her." Song of Solomon 6:8-9

 

[Helen]

No, not all the same when we are finally and always with God. Remember the three of levels of the Ark that Noah built to the specifications of God. It had three levels of saved creatures, the unclean beasts, the clean beasts and the 8 of Noah's family at the top.
Those beasts are men at their conversion [unclean beasts];, with the Holy Ghost working in them cleaning out the garbage and replacing it with the good things of God [clean beasts]; and finally the Bride of Christ at the very top [Noah's family].
Then again remember this verse:

"There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her." Song of Solomon 6:8-9

Amen , agree 100% then maybe I misunderstood what you were saying ...
( for @marks too)

BTW , Dave said, in ref to "Positional truth " being a cope out.

He said ... consider that the overcoming that the children of Israel didn't do was to believe God. They died in the wilderness because of unbelief. They did not overcome what they believe against God, that God had brought them out..to let them die. They could not believe that when God said they were going to the Promised Land , that God intended to get them there. They refused His voice.

Positional truth is believing when everything looks hopeless and the devil tells us that we will "die in the journey" ...( "If thou be the son of God turn these stones into bread") we agree that we ourselves are not worthy , but then we stand against him being who we are, in Christ.. (= our spiritual position) and tell him- "No, I am positioned IN CHRIST ..God will do what He said that He will do. "

We must overcome any unbelief and trust God 100%....that is the overcoming saint...not centring on the flesh...but on Him..

" Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ "

Thus saith Dave just now...and he sends loving greetings. :)

God bless and good night.... H

 

[amadeus]

Amen , agree 100% then maybe I misunderstood what you were saying ...
( for @marks too)

BTW , Dave said, in ref to "Positional truth " being a cope out.

He said ... consider that the overcoming that the children of Israel didn't do was to believe God. They died in the wilderness because of unbelief. They did not overcome what they believe against God, that God had brought them out..to let them die. They could not believe that when God said they were going to the Promised Land , that God intended to get them there. They refused His voice.

Positional truth is believing when everything looks hopeless and the devil tells us that we will "die in the journey" ...( "If thou be the son of God turn these stones into bread") we agree that we ourselves are not worthy , but then we stand against him being who we are, in Christ.. (= our spiritual position) and tell him- "No, I am positioned IN CHRIST ..God will do what He said that He will do. "

We must overcome any unbelief and trust God 100%....that is the overcoming saint...not centring on the flesh...but on Him..

Sorry, but that is as clear as mud to me. You will have to try an example why in your own case it would work . Until I can understand what you mean I really cannot say, yea, or, nay.

" Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ "

Thus saith Dave just now...and he sends loving greetings. :)

Give him greetings as well. It has been a long time since James' forum, I guess. I've gone there a couple of times and even posted once, but I was all by my lonesome.

God bless and good night.... H

I am having one of my sleepless nights. I went to bed at 10:30PM but could not go to sleep even though very tired. Now it a couple of minutes to 2AM. I feel sleep coming on soon... at least so I hope.

 

[Episkopos]

Yes. The old man has been crucified already.
We are new men In Christ.
The parallel passage in Col3:9-10 makes it very clear

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Having a doctrinal position isn't the same as being transformed by entering into His resurrection life. Putting on the new man is NOT a slow process of a gradually improving walk. What we can improve in is a maturity in righteousness. This is not a bad thing at all...in fact this is crucial to learn righteousness and become mature in it. It's just that we need to be clear what is available to us by grace...as is recorded in the bible.

Holiness isn't ours to improve ourselves into.
Holiness is a gift from God we receive by entering into He who is holy. We are to be partakers of HIS holiness...not our own.

That's why it says...TRUE holiness...not a human or flawed holiness. It is HIS perfection that saves us...not our own self-improvement.

This is how we can be perfect as the Father is perfect and holy as He is holy. NO effort required. Just being accepted by God by faith. By grace (His power) through faith. It is all about location. To be found in Him. That's where eternal life resides...in Him.

So there is a bait and switch going on in the OP.

If we are walking in His holiness, and not our own attempt or version of it, then we need our minds renewed in order to get used to that level of walk...a walk in HIS power (not our own). A walk in a heavenly place. But that kind of renewal in us is required only after we walk in a way we have never walked before. This renewal must be in Spirit and truth...not conjecture and misappropriation...through confusing a gradual improvement in behaviour with the walk IN Christ.

Why do our minds need to be renewed?
Because we are used to being in control of our own lives, doing our own thing, having our own theories and thoughts on everything.

But not so in Christ. When we put on Christ we put on the heart and mind of Christ. We put on His already perfected humanity...to walk as He walked. This is the gift of grace which is by faith that everyone is talking about but seems to never quite understand.

How can we tell if we are in the Spirit as opposed to just thinking we are?

Well, in Him is no sin...no trace, or spot or wrinkle of sin. Those who deny how perfect that walk in Christ is...have not yet walked IN Him.

That's how we know.

1 John 3:5 “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”

 

[Episkopos]

We need to be honest about our level of walk. Are we walking in resurrection power and life....a supernatural gifting that works miracles everywhere we go? THAT is the power that revolutionized the world at the time of the early church. The ministers of THAT grace were raising the dead, healing the sick...and just transforming the world around them.

Is that what we are doing? Really?

Or are we reducing the testimony of this revolutionary gospel to something that we are fitting ourselves into...but without truth and honesty?

There is nothing wrong with walking in one's own strength IF we are learning to be humble and to nurture the fear of the Lord.

But what we mainly see is the forsaking of righteousness (humility and the fear of the Lord) for a grasping of wind (pretending to be spiritual). Letting go of something we CAN do for a presumption at doing what we are in fact not doing.

A walk in the Lord that is NOT based on righteousness and honesty has no value whatsoever. It is based on a false premise. It is ready for the dung heap.

So we need to be wise on HOW we are seeking to build. We need to compare spiritual things with spiritual things...and righteousness things with righteousness things.

The bible is good for instruction in righteousness. But it does not instruct us on holiness...it is a testimony of holiness. Holiness is something we are to seek God about...in person. Face to face. But we can only know true holiness by walking in the same power that Jesus did. By putting on the real Jesus Christ. From there we overcome as Jesus overcame...in His perfected humanity. So we are to walk in Him.

 

[Helen]

Sorry, but that is as clear as mud to me. You will have to try an example why in your own case it would work . Until I can understand what you mean I really cannot say, yea, or, nay.

Give him greetings as well. It has been a long time since James' forum, I guess. I've gone there a couple of times and even posted once, but I was all by my lonesome.

I am having one of my sleepless nights. I went to bed at 10:30PM but could not go to sleep even though very tired. Now it a couple of minutes to 2AM. I feel sleep coming on soon... at least so I hope.

I hope you could get some sleep. The other night it was 4am for me, before I could shut my eyes. These bodies do strange things in our old age , they don't do as we want theme to do. :)

As for positional truth I don't think I can explain it any better.
I just know that Romans 7 Paul is speaking about the man of the flesh which dictates to him.
"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"
And into Chapter 8 when he is speaking on who he is in Christ.
" There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

When we know who we are in Christ..then we have confidence to stand against all the accusations of the Accuser.

When I fail, then I have no position of righteousness except His. All righteousness is His, all faith , is His, ...His Grace is our position, it is His ( God's ability in us , to do what we can't do. Strongs forgotten the # )

To have the mind of Christ and believe Him unto the end = I am who God says I am because I believe Him , not my short falls, is the overcoming.

Struggling daily to be a better, kinder, more righteous person to please God, and to put the old man to death is not overcoming...because it lacks the faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ....
If we could do it, and be all He desires us to be...then Jesus would not have had to die. He died because mankind could never be righteous enough.

So, when you get up in the morning, who's life do you live in...His, or yours?
I know that I can never, ever, ever, become better or good enough.

When is enough, enough? The Accuser will always say - 'that is not good enough, try again."

Maybe , once again I have misunderstood your post....it happens :)

 

[marks]

The faithful missionary that gave his spiritual life and literal life for the love of the gospel sitting there in the mob just the same as the man who faithfully just trotted to his local church every week , waiting to spending eternity in heaven.....so , no different level of rewards for faithful service. Be it Enoch, Elijah, Daniel or whoever....
( "the 10 talents", etc....one given 10 cities, one five cities, etc... )
So everyone at the End is just either saved or lost?

Saved or lost, one or the other, yes, but with rewards for service, those not to lord over others. Not sure if that's your idea, I know some are looking forward to that!

Much love!

 

[amadeus]

I hope you could get some sleep. The other night it was 4am for me, before I could shut my eyes. These bodies do strange things in our old age , they don't do as we want theme to do. :)

As for positional truth I don't think I can explain it any better.
I just know that Romans 7 Paul is speaking about the man of the flesh which dictates to him.
"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"
And into Chapter 8 when he is speaking on who he is in Christ.
" There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

When we know who we are in Christ..then we have confidence to stand against all the accusations of the Accuser.

When I fail, then I have no position of righteousness except His. All righteousness is His, all faith , is His, ...His Grace is our position, it is His ( God's ability in us , to do what we can't do. Strongs forgotten the # )

To have the mind of Christ and believe Him unto the end = I am who God says I am because I believe Him , not my short falls, is the overcoming.

Struggling daily to be a better, kinder, more righteous person to please God, and to put the old man to death is not overcoming...because it lacks the faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ....
If we could do it, and be all He desires us to be...then Jesus would not have had to die. He died because mankind could never be righteous enough.

So, when you get up in the morning, who's life do you live in...His, or yours?
I know that I can never, ever, ever, become better or good enough.

When is enough, enough? The Accuser will always say - 'that is not good enough, try again."

Maybe , once again I have misunderstood your post....it happens :)

Thanks for your effort here, Helen. I read it through twice and none of it penetrated. I'm still foggy from a very bad night. I was only in bed about 5 hours and I was always half awake. Hopefully tonight my exhaustion I'll be able to relax and sleep. If I can remember and find it I may try to re-read it tomorrow. Keep me in your prayers.

 

[Helen]

Thanks for your effort here, Helen. I read it through twice and none of it penetrated. I'm still foggy from a very bad night. I was only in bed about 5 hours and I was always half awake. Hopefully tonight my exhaustion I'll be able to relax and sleep. If I can remember and find it I may try to re-read it tomorrow. Keep me in your prayers.

No sweat over it John. its not life or death for sure .

Just get some sleep.
You do well to get 5 hours sleep.
Most often I get 4 and I am quite happy that I got that much.!
And like you...I kind of drift in and out , I seem to never sleep 'heavily' any more. :)

 

[marks]

Struggling daily to be a better, kinder, more righteous person to please God, and to put the old man to death is not overcoming...because it lacks the faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ....
If we could do it, and be all He desires us to be...then Jesus would not have had to die. He died because mankind could never be righteous enough.

Amen!

 

[amadeus]

No sweat over it John. its not life or death for sure .

Just get some sleep.
You do well to get 5 hours sleep.
Most often I get 4 and I am quite happy that I got that much.!
And like you...I kind of drift in and out , I seem to never sleep 'heavily' any more. :)

When I am like that I do better by just getting up. Usually I will read the Bible, talk to God and play the piano. Eventually when I start falling asleep I will press a little longer and then head for bed. Sometimes it works. Sometimes I will suddenly be wide awake again lying there waiting for daylight. But... I should not complain so much.

I am thinking of people like our old friend Nancy who have it so much worse. Her husband is a complete invalid now, but she as the surviving caretaker has it worse than him because she has to deal with all alone. She contacts my wife almost daily now texting. She really has no one else that is willing to talk and listen to her. At least I mostly have the Lord's peace in my heart. Give God the glory!

 

[aspen]

Ephesians 4:24 (NASB)
and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

The doing of righteousness is that that kills the old self. For the old must die so the new can live. For as much as we were free from righteousness before we became regenerated, just the same we are to be free from unrighteousness with the putting on of the new self. As before regeneration sin could be done without the heart being pricked and know that it had done wrong. Now when unrighteousness is done the heart gets pricked and it is shown what good and bad behavior are. What righteousness and unrighteousness are. Now as regenerated persons we are to choose the good and righteous action. Whereby by that action establishing peace.

For the doing of righteousness puts on the new self and is death to the old. It is by faith do we reckon the old dead. It is by faith we reckon the new alive and as that faith is never to no avail we are told to put on the new man. Which was created in righteousness for the manifestation of righteousness. For righteousness pleases God and the doing of righteousness we are all called to. So today let us put on the new self a little more than yesterday. Let us walk in a little more righteousness than yesterday. For God’s eyes are always searching for the heart that is willing to do righteousness so He can be present and bless the heart with a joy and a peace that is beyond measure. So as those that want the blessings of God in our lives, let righteousness be the hallmark of our doing.

Many blessings to all that would strive after the marks of putting on the new self which is the manifestation of righteous actions in all things.

Much love in Christ, Not me

Well, I tend to think of it as taking off your Old Self and living through your True Self. Shedding your Old Man, your Pharaoh or false God. It is living by the light of faith in God’s love for us and our emerging ability to share that love with others.

I think we are saying similar things

 

[Not me]

Well, I tend to think of it as taking off your Old Self and living through your True Self. Shedding your Old Man, your Pharaoh or false God. It is living by the light of faith in God’s love for us and our emerging ability to share that love with others.

I think we are saying similar things

I think we are !!

But we are searching after this same God, so it’s not surprising.

Blessings as we search into Him a little more, a little harder, a little longer.

Much love in Christ, Not me