Take Control!

When we think of warfare we think of soldiers, weapons of great power and distance, an enemy we may recognize or not, and fear of those who would destroy or subdue us. We are a people of freedom and democracy that cannot be made submit to slavery of any type. This is also true of our relationship with God. Through Jesus Christ we have recieved a freedom that surpasses even our nations freedoms. We live under a God who knows what we need because He created us. We have freedoms and rights through Jesus Christ that cannot be changed or undone by a elected or appointed group of self seeking individuals. We as Christians are the most blessed and provided for people any time any where. But there is one battle that God will not fight for us. We realize we cannot fight against sin, that battle was won on the Cross of Jesus Christ and is settled. Sin cannot dominate or enslave us ever again. But there is one battle WE must take control of and subdue to the authority of God through Jesus Christ. That battle is our human nature. Yes, we are new creatures in Jesus but the old nature is still within us to be controlled. We are to take control and bring under obedience to God our nature as human beings. That nature to be controlled is our philosophies, thoughts, motives, feelings, emotions, and self willed ambitions. We are to have the mind of Christ in all those areas of our human nature. I use the illustration of the graphics on the computer. If I want to illustrate something with a graphic and a journalistic writing, which is more important the graphics or the words. If I create the slide with the graphic in the front, say a picture of myself, the words may wind up behind the graphic. This creates the idea my image is more important than the words or thoughts. I must send the graphic behind the words, subject it to decrease and the words to the front and subject them to increase. This is the idea of taking control. John the Baptist says "He must decrease and Jesus must increase." Joshua says "choose this day who you will serve." Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:5 says "Bring all things under subjection to Jesus Christ." If we want to know the freedom and provisions of God we must take control of our lives with the tools of God's arsenal, the fruit of the Spirit, and the Armor of God, and subject them to Jesus Christ for the Glory of God the Father. God will fight all our battles but the battle of our free will, human nature, that has to be our part in the universal war in redemption. God Bless, keep praying continually and see you in worship. Pastor, Dr. B.