The New Life, Inc.

Anyone truly interested in spiritual growth should spend some time reading and soaking up the words of Jesus. One of the names of Jesus is the wisdom of God; I think this is very apparent in the incident where they caught the woman in adultery. It is so easy to be self-righteous and say; “I am glad I am not a sinner like that person!

What a profound statement Jesus made to these self-righteous, religious people; “You without sin cast the first stone”! It seems like we are always so eager to cast stones. We don’t like it so well when we are the ones being stoned.

“Give, and it will be given to you. They will ^?pour ^?into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.

What a remarkable thing Jesus did for the woman and for the people that were going to throw the stones. This woman had to be stoned for her sin of adultery; these people had to stone this woman to fulfill the law. Jesus had grace for all of them. Jesus said to the woman; “Go and sin no more!” He said to the people that were going to stone her; “You without sin cast the first stone!” I expect some of these people were relieved when they could drop their stones and walk away.

The point I want to bring out, we are both the sinner and the folks holding the stones. We are to stop sinning and drop all our stones. Sin destroys us and the letter of the law kills us. You will know the truth and it will set you free.

For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.

Beware Of Infections

Infections are a serious thing.  Many people die because they were not attentive to a small infection in their body. Infections can spread very quickly and other people can be infected also. Some infections are very slow spreading and others spread very quickly. You may wonder what do infections have to do with my spiritual growth? Infections can bring your spiritual growth to a stop!

Our bodies can be infected through a very small wound, through something we eat, even from bad air and also from other infected people. Our soul and spirit can also be infected not from the same infections that are so quick to attack our bodies, but they are just as deadly. Some people are carriers of infections and don’t even know it.

I don’t begin to know what all the infections are that can infect our soul, there are many. They are things like resentment, jealousy, greed, envy and anger. Maybe someone else is getting the credit for something I did; maybe I did something special for someone and they did not even acknowledge it or thank me. It is in all these little small ways that infections enter into our souls. The more sensitive we are, the more easily they enter in.  Someone makes fun of us, or ridicules us in public, all kinds of infections are just waiting to enter into our souls. These things are going to happen to us in our home, on the job, with our friends and family. It is totally up to you to decide in that moment to let the infection into your soul or keep your soul, your mind, heart and emotions healthy and infection free.

Our spirit can also be infected: we can have an angry, bitter, resentful, ugly spirit. Not every Christian has a sweet spirit. Where did all these infection come from? All around us!  The things we read and listen to; maybe from a member of our family or our church, or a public figure. I remember a comment my friend used to make; “When you eat fish or chicken; throw out the bones!” When we become wise and want to be healthy, we begin to pay attention to all these infectious things and we don’t allow them to enter into us anymore.

What am I to do?

What is the goal? I think the goal is a very important part of our spiritual journey; without a clear goal we flounder along. In the beginning of our ministry I prayed to know what our ministry was; the Lord gave me a vision of a little boy running around with a small keg under each arm; I did not have the vaguest idea what that ment. I prayed what does this mean I don’t understand what you are trying to show me. He said to me: “That is your ministry; you are a water boy, you are to give a drink of living water to anybody that is thirsty.” My response was; “that is not very important!” as time went on I realized how important a water boy is.

Maybe the goal He has given you is not important as you think it should be; is it to lowly; is the goal He has given you beneath you; instead of it being the biggest church and largest congregation in the world; does he want you to go and build a small shelter for someone that has no home. Maybe the goal He is giving you is to bring some measure of peace right in your home, church or community.

I think we all have several goals; some of these goals we set ourselves; some goals, other people try to burden us with; I think some come straight from the pit: it may be possible that you are centered in on the wrong goal and because of this you are missing the goal God has for you. Our enemy Satan can give you all kinds of goals that seem very wonderful; they are not; they only misdirect you and confuse you. 

Ask the Lord to give you a clear a vision of the goal He wants you to reach; a goal that will carry you on to the end of your life on earth and bear much fruit.   

Responsibility? 

I will start this session with two questions.

Am I responsible for what other people think, say or do? Am I Christ centered, self centered, church centered or they centered?

Luke 6:41 And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in that is in your own eye?

James 3:1 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

These two verses speak of the eyes and the tongue. Both of these, the eye and the tongue can have a drastic affect on my life. It can mean the difference whether I am victorious or defeated in my spiritual walk. Our eye can be filled with darkness, and our tongue full of evil. If this  is our condition we are not Christ centered or self centered, we are they centered.

I am not responsible for what they think say or do. There is not a whole lot that I can do about it and neither can you. The enemy can keep you totally defeated if he can keep you centered on them.

We have many responsibilities and the one I want to center on is our responsibility to our self. I have a responsibility to make sure my eye is filled with light instead of darkness. I have a responsibility regarding what is coming out of my mouth. I also have a responsibility regarding my actions.

I need to be Christ centered and I also need to be self-centered enough so that I know what I am doing and how it affects others. There are some things that I would like to say that I should not say.  There are some things I would like to do that I should not do.  There are some thoughts in my mind that I should not dwell on. You see I am not responsible for what other people say, do or think, but I am responsible for what I say, do and think.

Things That Are Obvious! 

If we pay any attention at all to our thoughts and emotions and what is happening there, it is very obvious that there is something inside of us that is able to play with our thoughts and emotions if they are uncontrolled or left unguarded. Whatever this is inside of us, it is able to rob you of peace, joy, faith and love. It can cause you to be distrustful of everyone around you and disrupt your spiritual life. You can’t cast it out, it is in us. The only thing you can do is not allow it any opportunity and be on guard against it constantly. When we finally come to recognize that our greatest enemy is not out there somewhere but is right inside of us, we now have the opportunity to defeat it.

I believe that this enemy that is in us is what Paul was referring to in Romans 7:21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good.  That evil entered right into our flesh when Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil and it has been with man ever since. It is able to trouble your mind, emotions and spirit. What a wonderful victory we have when we are able to discern what spirit is working or active in the people around us; and a still greater victory when we can discern what spirit is work through us from moment to moment in our speech, our thoughts and our emotions

When you get upset and angry and you are reacting to some situation, ask yourself a question; “Am I functioning in the right spirit or am I in the wrong spirit.” I expect your answer would be; “I am in the wrong spirit!” I remember when my kids were I their teens and they would get wound up. I would tell them; “You are in the wrong spirit; go in your bedroom and don’t come out until your face is lifted up!” It worked. One day I really got out of sorts, and I was tromping around the house like a bear. Pauline was washing the dishes, she spoke up and said with authority; “Why don’t you straighten out!” I went down the stairs mad as a hornet. Then I realized she was right. I was in the wrong spirit. You know what I did? I got in the right spirit. I got my face lifted up.