Did you know what "Christian" means? Yep, it means "little Christ"... Wierd eh? Or is it? Think... little Christ. That's what the early Christians were sometimes called: "little Christs". I'd be fine with being called that!
So why doesn't the Christian life work for you? Maybe, just maybe, it is because YOU are trying to live it out... YOU may be trying to live out your Christian life, when it is Jesus who needs to be living in and through you... Am I being ironic here or hyperbolic or playing with words? No! It's a paradigm shift, of sorts, it is a spiritual and mental shift as to what it means to be alive in Christ and walking in and by Holy Spirt.
Am I confusing you or is your spirit curious or intrigued? Romans 12:1 says it clearly, look it up in the Amplified Bible and The Message, they are great ways of communicating this message that we as believers in Jesus are to be "Living Sacrifices". Galatians 2:20 says it even more radically or bluntly: who is to be living in and through this "earth suit" (what Bill Gillham calls your body)? Jesus is! Or take a look at what Jesus confronts His disciples about in The Message's rendering of Matthew 16:24-26! Clearly there is a key point here to get in our hearts and lives!!!
So, if this kind of discussion intrigues you, let me add something that is a "downer", but very honest and real and needs to be said: If WE are trying to live our own Christian lives, even the best "performers" amongst us will fail miserably (you may do a good job of hiding the failure in the short run, but all who live the Christian life in their own strength are designed/destined to fail!)... bold words, eh? Well, come and learn why and how to get out of that "pit" if you find yourself there! This a key to many people's faith walk!
Come and take the course in January! http://www.pastoralprayer.com/webinars-and-training.html
So why doesn't the Christian life work for you? Maybe, just maybe, it is because YOU are trying to live it out... YOU may be trying to live out your Christian life, when it is Jesus who needs to be living in and through you... Am I being ironic here or hyperbolic or playing with words? No! It's a paradigm shift, of sorts, it is a spiritual and mental shift as to what it means to be alive in Christ and walking in and by Holy Spirt.
Am I confusing you or is your spirit curious or intrigued? Romans 12:1 says it clearly, look it up in the Amplified Bible and The Message, they are great ways of communicating this message that we as believers in Jesus are to be "Living Sacrifices". Galatians 2:20 says it even more radically or bluntly: who is to be living in and through this "earth suit" (what Bill Gillham calls your body)? Jesus is! Or take a look at what Jesus confronts His disciples about in The Message's rendering of Matthew 16:24-26! Clearly there is a key point here to get in our hearts and lives!!!
So, if this kind of discussion intrigues you, let me add something that is a "downer", but very honest and real and needs to be said: If WE are trying to live our own Christian lives, even the best "performers" amongst us will fail miserably (you may do a good job of hiding the failure in the short run, but all who live the Christian life in their own strength are designed/destined to fail!)... bold words, eh? Well, come and learn why and how to get out of that "pit" if you find yourself there! This a key to many people's faith walk!
Come and take the course in January! http://www.pastoralprayer.com/webinars-and-training.html
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