FROM THE INSIDE OUT
By Rev. H. Leonard
Giving reverence unto God:
Pray:
SCRIPTURE:
2 Cor 5:17 17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Recently, while discussing this verse of scripture, I was asked this question: If I’m such a new creature, why do I still struggle with the same old issues, the same old temptations. My response was: The bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. The issues and temptations that we face each day remain the same, but the new man will respond to them in different ways. The old man when faced with temptation took a shower while singing joyfully about the pleasures of love, combed his hair, brushed his teeth, slapped on some old spice, and jumped in with both feet. However, the new creature, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, will resist temptation through prayer and praise, while anticipating the eternal pleasures of Christ our Lord. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”
PRAY
TOPIC:
I’M CHANGING
A NEW CREATURE: FROM THE INSIDE OUT
One of the most elusive concepts that a Christian must experience, is the biblical truth that “in Christ” we are all new creatures. But not only must we allow this newness to become the essence of our lives, we must embrace, experience, and allow it to change our lives. It is difficult, to say the least, for some of us to make this truth, a living breathing part of our lives.
One stumblingblock that we encounter is that, everyday as we dress to impress, we see that same old being that we’ve known all our lives. The back stabber, the gossiper, the drug addict, the alcoholic, the liar and the thief that we’ve become so accustomed to that we no longer recognize them for who they are. We dress them up, put on our best pretentions and tell ourselves that all is well with the world. Those same old thoughts and feelings that we had before we came to Christ just seem to jump up and take over before we have the chance to realize who we are.
I just want each of us to know, that even tho we are new creatures, we are still at war with the same old issues. From a physical perspective, nothing appears to have changed. Nevertheless, if Christ is now your Lord and Savior, then you must know, that the face that stairs back at you, and the body that you see in the mirror, is no longer alive. It is no longer who you are. Now death does not mean that something ceases to exist. Death means separation. In the old man, the flesh and the spirit are united in their quest for the pleasures of this world. But in the new man, the spirit and the flesh separate in the things that they desire in life. The flesh continues to seek earthly pleasures, but the spirit now seeks the things that are above . We are Changing..
Picture yourself being nailed to the cross, crucified along with Christ. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead we too may live a new life. Picture this old body, wrapped in burial cloth and placed in the sepulcher along with Christ. Now imagine, three days have passed, and you realize that it is time to get up. not that old body, but a new spiritual body. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--
When we invited Christ into our lives, we are given a new heart, and a new spirit. And it is through this newness of life that our soul is saved from the corruption and mortality of the flesh. Knowing this will cause you to change your whole outlook on life, from the inside out. We are not yet made new on the outside. But we are being made new from the inside out. {We are Changing!}The differences that are taking place on the inside are not at first visible on the outside; it’s a spiritual thing. My soul is changing. Little by little, day by day, minute by minute, I’M CHANGING!!!
Even Nicodemus failed to understand this newness of life, when Jesus told him that he must be born again.
John 3:6: Nicodemus, That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. This physical reality is temporal. But there is a spiritual reality that is eternal. Don’t get so caught up in what you can see, feel, and touch that you cannot embrace outwardly what is happening on the inside. YOU ARE CHANGING!!!!
Do you believe that you are a new creature? Even tho your answer may be yes, this still might be hard for some of us to understand, so let’s start at the beginning, and work our way through. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now if you believe that creation was accomplished through a big bang, that’s O.K. But what you need to know in addition to that is this. If there was a big bang, then it was God that set the charges and lit the fuse. (Can I get a witness?)
Now you have to be a new creature to believe this, but on the other side of the coin; you have to be a fool to believe otherwise. But are you new from the inside out? If your answer is still yes, then every choice that you make in life from now on must be moderated by the fact that there is a God and you have a creator. You know, I’ve heard it said that; if a person can get past Genesis 1:1, believing; (Do you still believe the bible after reading Genesis 1:1?) Then you should not have any problems believing anything that the bible has to say. And God said; let us create man in our own image. No my brothers and sisters, we are not the products of evolution. Now we already know that God created the heavens and the earth. Now consider the universe and the wonder thereof and reflect. If God could do all this, what unsolvable problems could he encounter in putting a few muscles and bones together?
Therefore, by faith, we know that God created man. Not perfect as some believe, but innocent and without fault he created him. No need to be ashamed, tho we’re standing naked before a righteous, just and holy God. Not just physically naked but more importantly, spiritually naked as well. For because of one terrible choice of disobedience; No church!!!!, it wasn’t just an apple. In reality it was a choice. And because of this choice, man lost his innocence and became accountable to God. From a spiritual standpoint, man died that faithful day. That’s why Christ told Nicodemus that he must be born again. For we are now accountable to God, not only for the apple, but also for all our behavior from that moment forward. Because of this one terrible choice, man destroyed the fellowship that existed between him and his creator.
It was more than just a choice to have lunch. It was a choice that was abominable far beyond Adams ability to understand. Even today, some will ask. What was so terrible about eating an apple that God could justify so much misery and suffering?
· Because of that apple, hatred and hunger abound in the world.
· Because of that apple, hospitals are full of sick and dying people.
· Because of that apple, Adolph Hitler was allowed to murder millions of God’s chosen people.
· Because of that apple, drugs, alcohol, gangs, and parental abuse are murdering our children.
But where is our just and merciful God? Why doesn’t he step in and put an end to so much suffering. Does he have the power? Yes he does. Can he do it? Yes he can. Then why doesn’t he? Many a preacher will tell you, I don’t know. But in my life, God has given me an answer. It’s because the gain is greater than the pain. Mothers have you ever taken your child to the doctor for a polio or measles shot. You know that your child is afraid, and you know that the shot’s are going to hurt. Yet you put your child in an arm lock and hold it still so the doctor can push that needle into your child’s arm. Why! It’s because the gain is worth the pain.
Romans 8:18: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory, which shall be revealed in us. Adam could not see the consequence of his actions, and even today, neither can we. Word to the wise, when it comes to our relationship with God, not only is obedience better than sacrifice; it is even better than understanding. For the true consequence of Adams disobedience resulted in the total depravity of man.
Genesis 6:5-7 tells us that:
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. However God did say; I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; but in Genesis 6:8 the bible says: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD”.
For your information, we’re on to something wonderful now; for this is the first time that the word “grace” is used in God’s plan for humanity, but not the last. 137 more verses of scripture will tell us of God’s amazing grace. By the grace of God, we’re changing!!! For unto us a child is born, Oh yea! We’re changing!!! and his name shall be called:
(A) Wonderful: If he is Wonderful, the new creature will seek his presence.
(B) And his name shall be called “Counsellor”; the new creature will seek his council
(C) And his name shall be called “The mighty God”; the new creature will praise and glorify him.
(D) And his name shall be called “The everlasting Father”; the new creature will honor him. (E) And his name shall be called “The Prince of Peace”. And the new creature will find rest in his arms.
2 Cor 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. {We’re changing!!!} Ezek 36:26 26 A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh. [OH PRAISE GOD, WE’RE CHANGING.] Matt 15:8 Are you ready for a new heart? The old one is broken beyond repair.
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. Lip service is not good enough. We need to change from the inside out… We need to learn love from the inside out. Your soul has to know, your spirit has to understand:
That love is patient, That love is kind. Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Love is patient.
· If you are impatient with me, don’t tell me that you love me. {Are you changing}
· Love is kind. If you’re talking about me like Christ doesn’t love me, don’t tell me that you love me. {Are you changing}
· Love does not envy. If you’re after my job because you think it looks better on you, then don’t tell me that you love me. {Are you changing}
· Love does not boast. If you’re bragging about you do more in the Church than I do, then don’t tell me that you love me. {Are you changing}
· Love is not proud. If you feel that everything that you are, is better than anything I am, then don’t tell me that you love me. {Are you changing}
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· Love is not rude, (if your conversation is loud, obnoxious, boastful, and/or disrespectful, then don’t tell me that you love me.) Love is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. (I don’t like sister Susie, cause on Christmas day in 1995, she hurt my feelings.)
· Love does not delight in evil. Rev Leonard thinks he somebody, but he ain’t nobody, but one day, he gonna get his. Love rejoices with the truth. Even if it hurts, love finds joy in truth. Even if it hurts, tell me the truth. I’ll get over the pain of truth long before I get over the deception of a lie. 7 Love always protects. Do you have my back, or do I need eyes in the back of my head because you’re not in front of me. Love always trusts. Do you still believe that we can work things out? Love always hopes. Do you still want to work things out? Love always perseveres. Are you still trying to work things out?
If the love that you have for me is in your heart, but your heart is not in control of your actions, it ain’t love. You can fool yourself in to believing otherwise, but until you fool God, all is vanity. God said, I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit. Ps 16:9-10: Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: (my glory is Jesus Christ) my flesh also shall rest in hope. (Why? Because of the resurrection) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Oh yes! There's one thing you need to do:
Rom 10:9: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, (in the beginning was the word and the word was with God, and the word was God. And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Do you confess the only begotten Son of God? Adam was the first created. Christ is the first and only begotten. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
I've been born again. Got a new heart. Got a new way of living. My soul is anchored in the Lord….. I’m Changing…
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