SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, it’s Monday; that beautiful first day of the work week where all our stress just bubbles over, after two glorious days off. (smile) Yes, I know it’s difficult returning to the common grind and daily task, but we don’t have much choice, so we might as well grin and bear it. Or as Bruh Paul wrote to the Colossians: ‘Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness.’ (Col.1:11) Yes Friends, we have to put up with some things in this world, and unfortunately, work is one of them. So to help ease the pain, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn without further ado: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ Now let’s all go out into the world and do as our Bit instructs: ‘This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.’ And that’s the true basis of Christianity in a nutshell Friends; not to be led by the lusts of our flesh and the world’s cheap, gaudy, flimsy baubles, but by the Spirit of Christ, in all that we do. Obviously we will do wrong some times, but hopefully as we grow and mature in the faith, our wrong doings will diminish. Now let’s hear some pertinent scripture on the topic. Bruh David said it this way: ‘Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great (much) transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength (rock), and my redeemer.’ (Ps.19:13-14) Meanwhile, Bruh Paul, in talking about freedom from sin’s power, told the Roman church: ‘Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield (present) ye your members as instruments (weapons) of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield (present) yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments (weapons) of righteousness unto God.’ (Rom.6:12-13) And finally, the psalmist pleaded: ‘Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto (as thy custom is toward) those that LOVE thy name. Order (Direct) my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver (Redeem) me from the oppression of man: so I will keep thy precepts. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. Rivers of water (tears) run down mine eyes, because they (men) keep not thy law.’ (Ps.119:132-136) Yes my people, it’s all about following God’s law, walking in the Spirit, and not in the flesh. And we can only do that successfully when we read, know, understand and put His statutes into action, since our faith is action based. Just keeping that valuable knowledge to ourselves won’t do us much good, we need to spread it abroad, re our great Commission. ‘Go ye therefore, and teach (make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt.28:19-20) And if by chance, you don’t know what the works of the flesh and the fruits of the Spirit are, check out Galatians 5:19-23, where Bruh Paul lists them. Then having read them, please follow the last two verses of that Chapter: ‘If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Because the Spirit gave us new life at conversion, we ought to stay in step with its leadings and promptings all our lives). Let us not be desirous of vain glory (deceitful), provoking one another, envying one another.’ (Gal.5:25-26) And that concludes the two-part sermon of Walking in the Spirit. (smile) Please, my brethren, let’s go forth and do it as best we can. Much LOVE!…walking in and with the Spirit…is the best way to counteract the enemy…