Untitled Sermon (29)

DISCOVERING MY INNER LIFE

INTRODUCTION:

SOME OF US ARE MORE INTERESTED IN APPEALING TO OTHER’S THEN LIVING FOR GOD. WE TRY TO KEEP UP WITH A IMAGE THAT DO NOT DEFINE WHO WE ARE. PAUL SAID BUT WE HAVE RENOUNCE THE HIDDEN THINGS OF DISHONESTY, NOT WALKING IN CRAFTINESS, NOR HANDLING THE WORD OF GOD DECEITFULLY; BUT BY MANIFESTATION OF THE TRUTH COMMENDING OURSELVES TO EVERY MAN’S CONSCIENCE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.

WHAT CAUSES US TO BECOME SPIRITLESS IS OUR INABILITY TO NURTURE OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.

WE NEVER TAKE THE TIME OUT TO DEVELOP OURSELVES , BECAUSE WE RATHER LIVE IN THE SHADOW OF OTHER’S, INSTEAD OF BEING WHO GOD CALLED US TO BE.

IF WE ARE HONEST WITH OURSELVES WE ALL HAVE A SENSE OF ATTACHMENT TO THE OLD SELF THAT DO NOT ALLOW US TO DISCOVER OUR INNER NATURE.

TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT 3 THINGS.

THE OUTWARD NATURE.

THE INNER NATURE.

THE SUFFERING NATURE.

A. THE OUTWARD NATURE IS THE BODY OR THE FLESH. IT IS THE PERSONS PHYSICAL NEEDS AND DESIRES.

THE OUTWARD NATURE HAVE SIGHTS ON THINGS THAT ARE MATERIAL. THEY RATHER DRESS THE PART, INSTEAD OF BEING THE PART. IT APPEALS MORE TO A PERSON APPEARANCE , INSTEAD OF A PERSON’S HEART.

THAT’S WHY MANY OF US MAKE WRONG CHOICES IN LIFE BECAUSE WE ARE MORE ATTRACTED TO OUTER BEAUTY THEN THE INNER BEAUTY.

AND WHEN THE OUTER BEAUTY STARTS TO WASTE AWAY, WE ARE READY TO MOVE ON. A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FLESH WILL NEVER LAST BECAUSE IT WILL FADE AWAY. BUT IF YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE SPIRIT, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOUR APPEARANCE CHANGE , YOUR SPIRIT WILL KEEP YOU CONNECTED.

WE ARE DYING DAILY AND THE OLDER WE GET OUR BODY IS GETTING CLOSER TO THE EARTH. BUT WE HAVE THIS TREASURY IN EARTHEN VESSELS, THAT THE EXCELLENCY OF THE POWER MAY BE OF GOD AND NOT OF US.

SPIRITUAL STRENGTH IS GOVERN BY ABUNDANT GRACE WHICH PRESERVES US IN TRIALS AND WORKS LIFE IN US.

PSALM 73:26 “My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”

B. INNER NATURE PROCESS STRENGTH WITHIN. IT TOTALLY DEPENDS ON THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERMENT. THOSE WHO PROCESS THIS NATURE WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT.

THE INNER NATURE RELATES TO THE MIND AND SPIRIT, IT IS THE SOURCE OF THE WILL, EMOTIONS, THOUGHT AND AFFECTIONS, BUT IF NOT PROPERLY FED IT CAN AFFECT THE HEART.

WHEN THE HEART IS AFFECTED WE WILL RELATE BACK TO OUR OLD NATURE THAT WILL GRATIFY THE FLESH.

YOU WILL NEVER NO THE REAL YOU UNTIL THE OUTWARD NATURE DIE, SO THAT THE INNER NATURE LIVE OUT IN YOU.

PAUL SAID THAT WE HAVE TWO PARTS , A OUTER NATURE AND INNER NATURE AND THE OUTER NATURE IS SUBJECT TO DECAY, WHILE THE INNER NATURE IS BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY

TO BE RENEWED MEANS THAT WE ARE BEING MADE LIKE NEW OR RESTORED TO FRESHNESS FOR THE SAKE OF PERFECTION.

EPHESIANS 3: 16 “that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”

C. SUFFERING NATURE

THIS IS A NATURE THAT IS SUBJECT TO PERSECUTION OR PAIN.

WHEN YOUR LIFE IS HIDDEN IN CHRIST JESUS YOU WILL SUFFER. THAT’S HOW WE AS CHILDREN OF GOD CAN BE IDENTIFIED IN HIM.

WE MIGHT EXPERIENCE TROUBLE ON EVERY SIDE YET WON’T CAUSE US WORRY, WE MIGHT BE TREATED WITH DISRESPECT, YET NOT FORSAKEN, BECAUSE GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH IN A TIME OF TROUBLE.

PAIN AND SUFFERING IS JUST FOR A MOMENT, IT’S NOT MEANT TO KILL YOU BUT TO MAKE YOU STRONG. BUT AFTER YOU HAVE SUFFERED AWHILE , IT WILL PERFECT YOU, STABLISH YOU , STRENGTHEN YOU AND SETTLE YOU.

SUFFERING AT TIMES IS GOOD FOR US , BECAUSE IT BRINGS THE LIFE OF CHRIST OUT OF US SO THAT WE CAN DISCOVER OUR INNER LIFE THAT LIVES IN US.

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.”

WE HAVE GOD’S SPIRIT IN US THAT MAKES US MORE THAN CONQUERS.