SELF-CONTROL
The fruit of the Spirit is…self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) It is possible to exercise self-control. It is not beyond our ability to do so. Remember that in Christ the original purpose of creation is restored–and that includes mastery. Self-control is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This is a popular passage of Scripture, but […]
WHO WAS REALLY THE MASTER?
In the Garden of Gethsemane, when the disciples panicked and tried to resort to arms. Jesus alone was calm and assured (John 18:11). When on trial before Pilate, Jesus, although evidently the prisoner, was really the one in control. If you had looked casually at the scene, you would not have thought so. Jesus wore […]
RESIGN IN LIFE, OR REIGN IN LIFE?
Sometimes we are faced with real opposition. It might be serious sickness, for instance. Or criticism. Or bitterness. Or depression. Or fear. We have a choice of giving in to the opposition–or taking charge of it through Jesus Christ. We can either resign in life or reign in life! The difference in spelling is minimal–only […]
REIGNING IN LIFE
Who calls the tune in your life? Are you ruled by what happens to you? Or do you rule over what happens? Is your life determined by your surroundings and environment? Or do you determine the impact of what happens around you? God intended us to have a sense of mastery. For many people, life […]
BEING GENEROUS
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8). This promise is given in the context of teaching about generosity and giving to the work of the Lord. God’s provision […]
LIVING OR JUST EXISTING?
So often we see life as a burden to be carried or a tyrant to be obeyed. It should be the other way around. God intends us to be in charge. It is possible to live the kind of life that God wants us to live. His will for us is that we live a […]
MASTERY OVER SELF
‘This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith’ (1 John 5:4). The word ‘world’ is clearly used in a metaphorical sense. In fact, John gives us a definition of what he means by the world– For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes and the […]
KING OF THE JUNGLE?
Often we are like the lion who went through the jungle confronting every animal with a roar and the question, ‘Who is king of the jungle!’ All the animals sat trembling and answered, ‘You are, O mighty lion.’ Then the lion met an elephant. He asked him the same question. The elephant did not say […]
INCREDIBLE POSSIBILITIES
Once we come to Christ we can never again have reason to feel ashamed, embarrassed or inferior. Christ came to retrieve us from our fallen state and to help us stand tall once again. No wonder Paul concludes Ephesians chapter 3 with these words — Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more […]
‘OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART, LORD.’
In one of his great prayers, Paul the apostle asks that God will give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ (Ephesians 1:17). In this way, we shall get to know Christ better. Indeed, without such help from the Spirit of God, there is no way that we can know […]