LIVING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD 3

14 THE sinners in Jerusalem shake with fear. Terror seizes the godless. “WHO CAN LIVE WITH THIS DEVOURING FIRE?” THEY CRY. “WHO CAN SURVIVE THIS ALL-CONSUMING FIRE?”
15 THOSE WHO ARE HONEST and FAIR, who REFUSE TO PROFIT BY FRAUD, who STAY FAR AWAY FROM BRIBES, who REFUSE TO LISTEN TO THOSE WHO PLOT MURDER, who SHUT THEIR EYES to all ENTICEMENT TO DO WRONG."
Isaiah 33:14,15 (NLT)

• Another area which is always hidden, and It is common among those who claimed to be spiritual—those who are adjudged spiritual in the sights of men or humans—is the area of dealing with the self or human nature.

• One may have succeeded in dealing with the flesh, but still be struggling to overcome the self, the human nature of the person.
• One can be doing good things which are not bad, and are biblical, but they are being done through the power of the self. Through the person's cleverness or ability. This also is detested by God, but those who are not spiritual or mature would not see any wrong in it.
• In a situation like this, the person, the believer, is still relying on the self. His or her own will, ability, power, strength, cleverness, or whatever. And, since the source of what is being done is the self, the soul, though a good and right thing (Luke 18:11,12; 1 Corinthians 13:3). But the fact that It does not emanate from God through the Holy Spirit, and not done by the love of God; It is still not welcomed or accepted by God!
• The glory of the success of such a thing would still be given to the self and not God. Such a person would still want to vaunt or brag because It was conceived, and executed and done or accomplished by the self ability.

• Thus, a number of believers who think they are spiritual are still being ruled or control by the self, their souls or human nature. And this also, being controlled or led by the self or human nature, is obnoxious and detestable to God.

• Such believers had overcome the flesh, the blatant sin, but they are full of egos. They are ruled and controlled by the dictates of the self—their souls—their wills, minds, and emotions.
• Such believers would think they are spiritual, since they are not commiting any blatant sin, and those who are looking at them outwardly would think alike also. But they are full of the self, they are egocentric!
• They submitted not to God's Will or His leadings through the Holy Spirit on the inside of them. Remember, they are not living in any blatant sin, but the self is still at the centre of all they do. It means they are not being led by the Holy Spirit in all their endeavours.
• This kind of life might be mistakenly thought to be a spiritual living, but it is still far from the standard or what God actually wanted or expected to be a spiritual living.

• This battle or wrestling is what the mature believers usually struggled with. Most at times, such would yield to the self and the other time to the Holy Spirit on their inside. What most of the so-called mature believers, even ministers, do, are being done by the self.

• They do things without being led by God to do it (Romans 8:14). They do things for self aggrandizement; to enhance or exaggerate their own self importance or reputation or significance.
• At this point or juncture the issue of blatant sin is not the problem of such a person per se, but they have issue with how to humble the self; the will, mind, and emotion, which are the three components of the soul.
• What God actually wants is, the flesh being crucified, and the soul, or the self, or the human nature, being completely made submissive to the Holy Spirit.
• Thus, the believer would have to depend on the Holy Spirit, God, for whatever to be done. That such a person would not be able to do anything without being approved or commanded by God through the leading, or the intuitiveness, of the Holy Spirit on the inside of him or her. The believer who lives as explained here is said to be walking in the Spirit, or being led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:25).

• Most importantly, you as a believer should know that you are created for God's pleasure. Everything about a believer should give God pleasure (Revelation 4:11).

• Believers are saved and kept in the world to serve God's interest. Serving God means serving His interest. Thus If your personal interest is contrary or at variance with His interest, frustration is certain.
• Every believer is saved that he or she might discover the purpose or plan of God for their lives and key into it; harmonize or come into agreement with it. Thus, a believer who could not discover God's plan or purpose would end up unfulfilled.
• Knowing the plan of God for your life gives you direction. And following It, or the pursuit of it, makes you a fulfilled person on earth.
• Thus, the room you give to God in your life, that He would occupy or stay. If you allowed Him to have His way, or have a say-so on every matter of your life, your paths would be made smooth (Proverbs 3:6).

• To live with God and receive the best of Him, and not the other side of Him, or not to court His wrath; you have to walk in the light of His Word (James 1:22-25).

• Be the person or someone who is HONEST and FAIR, who refuses to PROFIT by FRAUD, who stays far away from BRIBES, who refuses to listen to those who plot MURDER, who shuts his or her eyes to all ENTICEMENT to do WRONG (Isaiah 33:15).
• Follow His precepts; principles or commands, that It may be well with you.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, such is rebuked and uprooted totally in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• I declare that you are healed of any form of infirmity in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!