Run With Horses

How do you face your weaknesses? - Ep.212

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
 
How do you face your Weaknesses?
 
Weaknesses. Everybody has them. Nobody likes them in themselves or in others. But there they are, just waiting to embarrass you and make you feel guilty all over again. Weaknesses come in all flavors, mental, physical, emotional, and moral. And all of us have varying degrees of all kinds of limitations and weaknesses.
 
For most of your weaknesses, you either learn to work around it, as in physical handicaps, or try to find some way to build up that area, apply to a school to boost your job potential. But for a Christian, moral and spiritual limitations are the most critical because they carry a greater weight of eternal consequences. Not that the other limitations don’t have eternal ramifications, but the spiritual limitations are more directly related to our relationship with God and His Church.
 
What are some examples of spiritual weaknesses? First, let me clarify that much of our spiritual weakness comes from unaddressed sin in our lives. If you call unforgiveness a weakness and leave it at that you may try to shrug it off like the bad knee that keeps you from playing basketball. No need to address it and work to change it. But as a follower of Jesus, everything that hinders us from pursuing Him with our whole heart is a problem. So unforgiveness is suddenly a big deal. It isn’t just a little thing, but a massive stumbling block that threatens our unity with the church and our fellowship with God. It is sin and must be addressed as sin.
 
Now I am sure many of you will agree with that and already make a regular practice of confessing and repenting of known sin in your life. The problem comes in with areas we continually struggle with, a besetting sin some might call it. Most of us have a spiritual weakness that regularly shows up in our life and leads to sin of some kind. How do you address that weakness? Do you address it or just give up, admit defeat in that area and move on?
 
My challenge for you today. Don’t accept defeat, fight to the bitter end to be the person God is changing you into. He has already promised to finish the work He started in you. And if you have accepted Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross on you behalf through Faith, God says that He declares you Righteous! And that is amazing! You can’t work for that righteousness (Rom.4:5). It is God’s work on your behalf. And that work is why the battle is worth it. You will not lose this fight. You may lose a battle today, but God is using this fight in your life to build your reliance and trust in Him. He uses your weakness to make you more like Jesus. So don’t give up, ever.
 
So how do you approach the spiritual weakness in your life that so often leads to sin?
 
One, Embrace the TRUTH that the ultimate victory is yours, no matter how this battle turns out. God has never lost one yet, you won’t be the first.
Phil. 1:3-6 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ
 
Two, Prioritize Prayer. Don’t underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit and His ability to work when you have no strength left. Repeat with Paul, when I am weak, then You are strong.
2 Cor. 12:9-10 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong
 
The next few points are all part of using all of the tools available that God has given you. Don’t try to power your way through weakness, let God work in and through you.
 
Three, Use Your Mind. It may sound trite to you but spending time reading, meditating on and memorizing scripture is part of the process.
2 Tim.3:16-17 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Use all the tools available, God’s Word is an important one!
 
Four, Stay Connected to God’s Family. The church is an important part of the life of a follower of Jesus. When you are weak, the gifts that God has given the church are there to lift you up.
1 Thess. 5: 8-11 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
 
Some believer you know has the gift of encouragement. Someone has the gift of wisdom and can give you practical pointers to help you see your way forward clearly. You need support. God has give the Holy Spirit and His Church to support you through this life. Don’t leave it out!
 
Five, Physically Do Something Different. If you have been busy, get some extra rest, go to bed early. Stress makes you more susceptible to temptation. If you are a couch potato, get some exercise. Move you body in a good way. Get out and join people volunteering and serving in the community, do Something different.
 
Six, Pursue Godliness and Righteousness.
Flee from temptation and pursue righteousness. Be active and intentional in your pursuit and never give up.
1 Tim. 6:11-12 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
 
Seven, Look For Someone Around You Who Needs Help. As a member of the body of Christ you have gifts that the church needs. Don’t let your temporary struggle keep you from looking to serve others.
Phil. 2:4 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
 
Yes take care of yourself. But don’t let the enemy remove you from the war. Your gifts are needed. Others are struggling like you are and we can help each other persevere.
 
Our struggles are real. Our weakness is real. Our God is Great. If you know someone who needs this message, share it with them and Keep Running!

How strong are you? _Ep.211_

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
 
How strong are you?
 
The world is really concerned about at least appearing strong if not actually being strong.
Physically, emotionally, as well as mentally you are challenged to get stronger and, by the way, here is a product that will help you achieve that strength in record time with no effort on your part! Available today only for the special price of $19.99!
 
Our heros are the winners who overcome incredible odds and win in spite of everything the enemy has to throw against them. Some of our favorite movies are the ones where the hero goes through this amazing mental and physical transformation to succeed in the battle they face. Rocky comes to mind as the model for many movies that followed after. The training scenes are motivational and show the intense desire that leads to intense effort that leads to a transformation that allows our hero to win in the end.
 
Not surprisingly many of us take this same approach to the spiritual life. If I am struggling it must be because I haven’t put in the hours yet. I need more time in the spiritual gym to build those spiritual muscles so I can defeat the sin in my life. One major flaw in this line of thinking. It isn’t anywhere close to what God has to say!
 
If you listen to me often you may think this is contradicting what I often say about putting time in reading God’s Word and applying effort to the spiritual life, but the focus is a little different. You don’t grow yourself, you allow God to grow you. You can’t defeat sin on your own no matter what you do. God has already won that battle for you. True spiritual strength is recognizing our weakness and inability to succeed on our own. Any efforts we put in should flow out of a knowledge that we desperately need God to work in us. I don’t read my Bible to gain spiritual insights to make me super spiritual and able to handle sin on my own, I dive into God’s Word to see more of the God who choose me and loves me in spite of my weakness.
 
God turns the whole idea of strength and weakness on its head. He chooses the weak and opposes the strong. Paul gives a good picture of the attitude we should have in 2 Corinthians 12. Paul realizes that his weakness is a gift from God, meant to help him maintain a proper perspective of life in Christ.
 
2 Cor. 12: 7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
 
Weakness is the perfect vehicle to display God’s strength. When we are strong we may be tempted to rely on our own abilities and turn away from God or boast about what we have accomplished. In our weakness, we see god at work everywhere, keeping us upright in the world and using us to accomplish His work.
 
God chooses not the mighty but the weak, and when they show their dependence on Him by attempting the impossible as He leads them forward, God gets all the glory. The story is told of a report who went to one of DL Moody’s meetings in England. He reported that there was nothing he could see that could account for the marvelous work that was seen as a result of Moody’s preaching. Moody was shown the article and replied, “Why that is the very secret of the movement. There is nothing in it that can explain it but the power of God. The work is God’s, not mine.”
 
So how strong are you? When considered in light of God’s work in and through us, that is really the wrong question isn’t it? The real question is how strong is God! With that fully answered and convinced in your own heart and mind, there is nothing you need to fear when you are following in Jesus’ footsteps. Because when you are at your weakest, He is able to reveal His strength in it’s fullest.
Pursue God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and trust in His strength to keep you going until the day He calls you home.
Keep running in His strength!

What is your story?

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
What’s your story?
 
Everyone has a story that they use to explain their life and the world around them. You may not think of it as a story but it is the larger context that you place your life in to explain to yourself and others who you are and what your actions mean. It is how you interpret the world around you.
 
You may play the victim in your story or you may be the hero. The world exists to keep you down or it is an adventure in which you act and react on the way to some meaningful goal.
Your story is how you give meaning to life. It is how you interpret trials as well as blessings.
 
You likely view life with one primary purpose and group of people that everything else revolves around. Many men keep career and work firmly at the center. They have meaning and purpose as long as they have work that is engaging, pays the bills, gives them coworkers to commiserate with or just takes so much of their time and energy that they don’t have anything left for other interests.
 
Maybe for you, your story revolves around family. If your children are taken care of, happy and productive, not trouble makers, etc, you may have a sense of wellbeing and contentment with life whatever personal trials come your way.
 
Sports fan, outdoorsman, baker, gardener, runner, artist or volunteer. You have a story and you have a role that you fill in your mind. These stories, unexamined by most of us, are in the background running our lives and directly influencing our motivations and interpretations of life.
 
Often we let the world around us define us and the meaning that our lives have. When we do that, the world is telling the story. There is one big problem with the story that the world tells, it is based on a lie told by the prince of liars!
Satan wants you to listen to the story he tells about you. He doesn’t want you to hear the message of God’s love and redemption. He doesn’t want you to know that God’s story is still unfolding and you are a big part of it. The story the world tells is godless and meaningless. You are only able to make sense out of things vaguely and with no confidence.
 
But these stories are powerful. They are traps that keep us from reaching our God-given potential and blind us to the reality of His work in the world and in our lives or they are anchored firmly in reality and help us see God at work behind the curtain that is the theater of life. If you want to see life change in a person’s life, help them change their story.
 
Most of us are deeply entrenched in a story that is only partially based in the real world. Our desires, tainted by the flesh and opposed to God, lead us to interpret life with a throne in the center that we sit on. Life revolves around us and the world owes us. The constant clash of this dream with the reality that the world cares nothing for you leads to depression, fear, internal crisis of all kinds and often keeps us stuck in situations with no way out that we can see clearly. We need a better story. One with God at the center, Jesus on the throne and all of life seen for what it is. A battle ground with men’s souls at stake. God is drawing you to Himself, preparing you for eternity with Him and He uses His mission of reaching the world as the vehicle for your life change. You have meaning and purpose, a life that matters, and a family of believers who are on the Way with you. You are not alone in the world with everything against you. You are part of a family with a purpose on a mission that cannot fail.
 
You walk through life with your story. God’s purpose is to draw you into His story.
Keep running!
 
 

What do you do when you see God? Ep. 209

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
 
What do you do when you see God?
 
Many people say they want to know God better and even have a vision of God. But do they really know what they are asking? Look at some of the people throughout the Bible who have seen God clearly and note their response.
 
 
Job –At the beginning - innocent , no iniquity in me – self-view
1:8 – Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”– God’s declaration
42:5-6 – “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.” -when confronted with God
 
Moses – all the training of Pharaoh's court, Exod. 3:2-6 – Burning bush - Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.
 
Isaiah – 6:1-5 – Saw God and then - “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.”
 
Ezekiel – 1;1 saw vision of God – 1:26-28 – This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.
 
Peter – Luke 5:8 – But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
 
Paul – overwhelmed Acts 9;3-6As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
6So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
 
When confronted with God throughout the Bible there is a common pattern. Theme – self-abhorrence, self-abasement, averted face, sense of own uncleanness, blindness, prostration, falling as dead. Do you still want to see God?
 
But that is not the end of the story. God wants us to see ourselves as we really are, and we can only do that if we see Him as He really is, not in the image we have created of Him in our minds. When we see Him as He is and see ourselves as we are, we are freed from thinking we have any standing on our own. Pride is gone, abject humility takes its place. With forgiveness and the love of God come the commission from God to serve Him.
 
God does not aim to humiliate us but to change us.
 
2 Cor. 4:6 – shown the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in our hearts in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Cor. 3:4-6 4And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2 Cor 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
2 Cor. 4:5-6 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
 
Really seeing the face of Jesus for who He is takes away our petty desires to succeed in this life. We lose our fear of death because we see life in His face. With a proper view of God and ourself, we are in the best place to be His messengers to the world. Keep Running!

Life Lessons from the Garden - Ep. 208

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
 
Life Lessons from the Garden
 
1) Commit to the process of gardening.
Commit to the work of the Christian life. It is not all cake and ice cream!
 
2) Know what you will grow before you begin.
What is the work God is preforming in you? What does it mean to follow Jesus?
 
 
3) Plan your garden space – row spacing, trellis, etc.
Live an Intentional Life!
 
4) Know what tools you will need.
What resources has God given you to succeed in Life and Spiritual Growth?
 
5) Prep the soil.
a. know what kind of soil you have.
b. know what kind of soil you need
Who are you? What does God say about who you are and what you need?
 
6) Pick a day and plant according to the season and type of vegetables you are growing.
Choose to follow Jesus and confirm it daily. It is worth it. Begin and continue till the end!
 
7) Water and wait.
Plant and water the seeds of the Gospel in your life as well as the life of those around you. Develop patience as you do your part and wait for God’s timing.
 
8) Weed.
Flee temptation. Keep a close eye on your spiritual life and choices. Be proactive in fighting sin.
 
9) Harvest when veggies are ready!
You will reap a bountiful harvest of righteousness in this life and the life to come!
 
Summary: Gardening can be hard. But the rewards of struggling through the difficulties are tasty!
A Life of following Jesus WILL be hard. But the rewards of standing before Him justified will be eternally worth it!
Keep Running!

What is your Life’s Message? Ep. 207

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
 
Your Life is a Message – What does it say?
 
First, How does it speak?
1) Word of Mouth
a) Yours – what do you say?
b) Other People – What do they say about your life?
 
2) Actions
a) What do you do?
b) Why? What is your purpose? Do you live intentionally?
c) What do your actions say about who you are and what you believe and value?
 
3) Personality/ Character
a) This is both the sum of your words and action and MORE than that. It is HOW you speak and Act.
b) Your attitude, emotions, etc all play a part in how your message is perceived and received.
 
Second, What is your life’s message?
1) Is your message important enough to be worth a life?
a) Have you thought about what you want your life to communicate?
b) Is your message intentional?
c) Is your message worth it? Life can be hard. Some things of value will cost you a LOT.
d) Are you committed to your message?
 
2) Your life is saying something.
a) Is your message clear?
b) Are you making life choices that muddy the message?
c) Are you allowing others to determine your message, going along with the crowd?
 
3) Who is listening/ watching?
a) Family
b) Friends
c) Neighbors, coworkers
d) Strangers
e) God
 

What are you becoming? Ep. 206

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
 
“You will become what you are becoming right now.”
 
“Seek to be today, what you want to be known for tomorrow.” - Legacy
 
The Road Not Taken
BY ROBERT FROST
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, . ..
And looked down one as far as I could ...
Then took the other, as just as fair, . . .
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
This poem is both like and unlike life. You make choices not knowing the outcome, true. Those choices change you, also true. But in the poem, there is no goal or purpose. No end destination. The author isn’t trying to get somewhere. If there is a destination in mind, suddenly the roads aren’t equally inviting, I need to know which one takes me where I want to be.
Life is like that. If you are aimless and have no real purpose or even worse, have the wrong purpose, you will struggle to make meaningful evaluations of your choices.
Choices define us. Consistent choices identify us. Good choices give us opportunities to grow personally and in our relationships. Poor choices limit us in the same way.
Matthew 7:13-14
Choose Life. Sounds simple. And it is. It is simple but hard. Easy to understand but difficult to live out. The distractions and temptations of the world around you are Wide Gate and Broad Way invitations. Follow the crowd, join us. The invitation to allow others to choose for you is persistent and dangerous. The glossy images and HD video ads of shiny new toys being used by healthy smiling people obviously means that is the best path for EVERYONE, Yes?
No. Satan is able to disguise himself and his agenda in bright appealing colors and styles. But Poison will kill you even if it is sweet and tastes good going down.
So if you shouldn’t allow others to choose for you, How do you choose what path to take in life?
Again, Simple but hard. Easy to understand but difficult to live out consistently. Answer this question.
What would I do if I truly loved God with all my heart, soul mind, and strength?
Simple right? Small words, clear idea. Easy to understand.
Need help? Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” So do that.
And while you are at it there is one more.
What would I do if I truly loved my neighbor as myself?
Again, simple and easy to understand. But oh, so hard to do consistently.
Both of these questions are answered in our daily choices.
You will become what you are becoming. You will be shaped by your choices. You will be know by the pattern your choices make. Every choices adds a piece to the patchwork quilt of your life and has the potential to be a beautiful, meaningful design that warms others and glorifies God or equally has the potential to be a mismatched jumble of rags that are useless to anyone. In reality most of us live lives somewhere in between. We occasionally make good choices and often make poor ones. We seek God at times and take the Narrow path but other times are drawn to the lights and sounds of the Broad path.
This daily struggle is why we need each other. You need friends who will lovingly tell you that you took a wrong turn. You need to be that friend who loves those around them enough to speak truth to them and help them get back on the Narrow path.
It is simple, but hard. And always worth it. Keep Running!

Are you Content or Complacent? - Ep.205

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
 
Are you Content or Complacent?
 
I Timothy 6:6-10 NKJV
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
 
What is it?
What is contentment?
Merriam Webster
1: feeling or showing satisfaction with one's possessions, status, or situation
Satisfied
1: pleased or content with what has been experienced or received
 
What is complacency?
Merriam Webster
1: self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies
2: an instance of usually unaware or uninformed self-satisfaction
 
Why does it matter?
You can be content with the wrong things. (spiritual growth vs. stuff)
 
You can be discontent with the wrong things. (stuff in this life, not measuring up to others)
 
What makes the biggest difference? Your perspective! Eternal or temporal. God’s or man’s.
 
Is contentment with the right things your goal Or is it your goal to “succeed” in life, whatever that means.
 
How does death figure in your future plans and your ability to be content?
It affects work, family, hobbies, etc in the here and now.
It really affects your eternity!
 
Satisfied in Christ – What is this? Why is it worth pursuing?
 
Only path to real JOY!
 
You can never really be satisfied with anything less than God.
 

How Do I Walk In The Spirit? - Run WIth Horses - Ep. 204

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
 
How do I Walk in the Spirit?
 
Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
 
Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
 
 
Galatians 3:1–3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
 
Before we look at Walking in the Spirit, What is the flesh and what does it mean to live according to the flesh?
The Bible indicates that the flesh is human nature as it is now, tainted by sin. Sin has affected our thoughts, emotions, attitudes, desires, actions, relationships and physical being. Out total being is influenced by our sin nature.
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
 
 
“The Holy Spirit produces in us desires for God’s way that are stronger than our fleshly desires, and thus he causes us to walk in God’s statutes.” - John Piper [https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/let-us-walk-by-the-spirit]
 
 
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
 
How do we Walk in the Spirit?
Here are some ideas to help you down that path.
 
1) Accept God’s judgment of your nature -- lost, confused, and unable to make it right.
 
2) Spend time with God on a daily basis. Time in God’s Word and in Prayer helps you recognize the pull of the flesh and gives the Holy Spirit ammunition to fight it. The Holy Spirit brings passages back to your mind when you need them and gives you strength and wisdom to turn from destructive choices.
 
3) Develop honest, transparent relationships with mature followers of Jesus. Look for opportunities to encourage each other in the fight against sin and the hold it has on us.
 
4) Investigate the Spiritual disciplines. Fasting, solitude, and the like can be valuable tools in the struggle against the flesh.
 
5) Intentionally join others who are on mission with Jesus. Carrying out the work of making disciples is a worthy goal and is capable of taking all of the energy and focus you can give it. You will not find a more worthy way to spend this life than carrying out the commands of Jesus in a disiciple-making community.
 
It can be hard. It can seem like an eternal uphill climb. But the journey is worth it.
 
 
 
 

Who Do You Resent? - Run With Horses - Ep. 203

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
Who do you resent?
I came across a small old book in the church library today. The Prison of Resentment by Bob Mumford.
Subtitled: The Greatest Hindrance to Spiritual Maturity
First a foundation to build on. From Galatians 5:13-26. A quick summary- you are called to freedom. Love your neighbor as yourself to fulfill the law. Walk by the Spirit. Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Live by the Spirit, Walk by the Spirit.
An unfortunate truth - it is easier to love God than to love people! Surprise!
But Mumford says, "Righteousness is relational. If you want to be righteous before God, you must get all your relationships clear."
If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you are righteous before God. So NOW what are you going to do? Living out your faith in the world today is primarily about your relationships with those people around you. Six of the ten commandments are about our relationships with people. The beatitudes tell us about our attitude, heart focus and often relate it to people.
How important is our relationship with others? Check out Matthew 5: 23-26. It is so important that you should put reconciliation with another believer above your own worship of God. Relationships in the church, unity in the church, is important to God!
Mumford takes a slight curve and gives some good insight on why our relationships are such a mess. "When sin entered, it affected three areas: (1) it affected our relationship between us and God. (2) It affected the relationship between us and ourselves. (3) It affected the relationship between us and others."
God wants you to know and experience forgiveness from both ends. He has forgiven you, you can now forgive others.
Merriam-Webster defines resentment as a feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury. Oh, yeah it's personal!
Remember Naaman, captain of the Syrian army who went to Elisha to be healed. He was offended because he was told to go dip in the Jordan river seven times, by Elisha's servant! That is resentment. He felt slighted by Elisha.
Mumford tells us that resentment starts as a subjective thought known only to you and God. No one else can see how you feel or what you are thinking. But you dwell on it and begin to wallow in the mire of your own making, building up resentment that turns into a grudge against someone. Now you are stuck in the rut and we all tend to keep on going over it and making it deeper.
Mumford gives four things that help us as we think about resentment, both avoiding it and getting out of the trap.
First, Testing is a real thing. You will be tested in life in many small and large ways and God often brings the test through people you know.
Second, We all really need a large dose of the sovereignty of God! Nothing comes into your life that will hinder God's work in and through your life. Embrace the work He is doing as well as the method He uses to bring the spiritual growth you need.
Third, if you understand God's sovereignty, it is a little easier to accept the test with joy. This is where the rubber meets the road. Accepting with joy doesn't mean that someone else wasn't in the wrong or that you weren't hurt by them. It just mean you are learning to handle life by trusting God with the details.
Fourth, If you don't get a handle on your thoughts and emotions, resentment imprisons you and robs your relationships of the joy and value God intends. Little things become big things, are spiritual life suffers and we become bitter.
"Resentment comes when God, or another, doesn't do what you think He should." - Mumford
Our expectations of God and other people put us in the position of being disappointed often. The sin nature we struggle with causes us to desire things and believe we deserve them. We want attention, praise and recognition for every little thing we do and we want others to always treat us with respect and honor.
It makes sense when you think that we all see ourselves as the authority in our life. It is difficult to surrender to God's authority. We don't want to serve others or be treated like a servant. Humility is low on our list of traits we value in ourselves. And then there is Jesus.
Love Go with all your heart, soul mind and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself and really try to serve them. Resentment hurts you more than the one you resent. Ask God to release you and forgive you joy in Him today.