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PART V Ever ask yourself; --- "What are some of the ways I can change my life to make me a better Christian?" I truly love the Lord and would welcome some ways to help me understand how to best demonstrate that love by my daily living! Well we can turn to almost any passage in the Bible and within the context of that passage, God will have revealed some principle of which we can apply in our day to day activities that can help us to become more like Him. Therefore, more like the kind of Christian the very God of heaven would be well pleased . What a wonderful blessing God has given you and me; --- His eternal divine soul saving, life improving perfect WORD, we know as the BIBLE! And it gives me great pleasure to share with you just a few of those "Positive Principles For Godly living! Up to this point we've covered: 1. EXPEDIENCY: --- Are the places I go, the things I do and the people I choose to "hang out" with; Are these choices going to be PROFITABLE for me in my determination to please the Master? Are they going to help me on my way to heaven? 2. ENSLAVEMENT: --- The good news from God tells me that the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ is the POWER of God for my soul's salvation. (Rom. 1:16) Consequently, if I allow anything else to "rule" or have "power" over me which is in conflict with the pure gospel of Jesus Christ; --- Then I'm headed in the WRONG direction, and perhaps some changes in my lifestyle may be in order. 3. EXAMPLE: --- I might ask; --- "What is my purpose as a Christian?" Answer: "For you have been called for THIS PURPOSE, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an EXAMPLE for you to follow in His steps." (I Pet. 2:21) When I want to go some particular place, take part in some activity, do I say (Like those of the world); --- "I don't see any harm in it!" "It ain't gonna hurt ME!" Maybe not; --- But would Jesus do it? Would it hurt someone else? What kind of EXAMPLE will I be setting??? 4. EDIFICATION: --- Are you a "Build-upper" or a "Tear-downer" type Christian? We all are to strive to be the kind of Christian that, when others leave our home or leave our presence, they're going to be encouraged to love the Lord just a little more. __________________________________________________________________________ And today I would like to continue our six-part series with principle number FIVE. And number FIVE: --- Paul continues in his letter to the Corinthians; (I Cor. 10:31) "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD;---" So lets consider God's principle of: EXALTATION Does it EXALT the LORD?? Does it GLORIFY my GOD?? If what I want to participate in EXALTS and brings HONOR on the magnificent Name above all names; JEHOVAH GOD--- Then go right ahead and do it!! If it does NOT, then my friend, as a child of God, you have no business doing it! Would you do it if JESUS were with you? Well let me tell you; --- He is! You know, it hasn't been too many years back when, if a young man wanted to take a young lady out on a date; --- They always had some nice ole lady with a "hatchet" face to go along with them! They called her a chaperon. Well let me remind you; --- If you are a Christian, you DO have a chaperon. His name is the Holy Spirit!! And everywhere you go, He goes! (See Note: below) You don't just say to the Holy Spirit; --- "Now Holy Spirit, I'm going in here and you'll have to stay outside." like some little puppy dog. Oh, NO! Can you imagine how the Holy Spirit must be grieved by the places some Christians go?? How the dear Holy Spirit of God must weep at some of the things the child of God does?? BECAUSE those places and those things DISHONORS the name of Jesus Christ!! So the burning question I must ask; ---"Does this thing EXALT Jesus Christ?? Does it give HONOR and GLORY to my dear Father in heaven?? If Jesus were standing right here in His literal flesh and blood; --- looking at me with His literal eyes; --- WOULD I DO IT??? Look at the verse again; --- Paul's not talking about "churchy" things! He's talking about setting down at dinner, a common meal! "Whether, then, you EAT or DRINK or WHATEVER you do, -- do ALL (A-L-L) to the GLORY of GOD!" The Christian has no business doing anything that he can not do for the GLORY of God!! I'm afraid, sometimes, we fail to remember WHO we are! But not only WHO we are, but WHOSE we are!! Paul admonished those same Christians at Corinth; --- (I Cor. 6:19-20) "Don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is IN you, whom you have from God, and that you are NOT YOUR OWN??? For you have been bought with a price; --- Therefore GLORIFY God in your body!!" NOTE: Does the Holy Spirit dwell in us bodily? --- NO! He dwells in the Christian the same way Christ dwells in our hearts. By FAITH! (Eph. 3:17) Just as the "Spirit of TRUTH abides in us. (Jno. 14:23) So, when I refer to the Holy Spirit as a "chaperon", I have reference to KNOWLEDGE of the Holy Spirit revealed truth. The Psalmist said;--- (Psalms 119:9-11) "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy WORD. With all my heart I have sought Thee; --- Do not let me wander from Thy commandments. Thy WORD I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee." In the beginning of this study, we mentioned GOALS! Stop and think about it; ---The Christian, the REAL Christian does not have two goals, or three goals in this life; --- The word of God says that You and I have ONLY ONE GOAL and that is to GLORIFY God in our lives!! Nothing more, nothing less and nothing but!! And whatever act you do, whatever place you go, or words you speak; --- If it does not EXALT the name of your Lord and Savior;--- Then you have no business taking part in such a thing. You may CALL yourself a Christian; --- It reminds me of a story I once heard about Alexander the Great. Seems as though Alexander had a soldier in his mighty army whose name was also Alexander, and this soldier had dis-honored his name by some improper conduct. Alexander the Great told him; --- "Soldier you either change your ways or change your NAME!!" And I'm sure Jesus would have every right to say that same thing to many who call themselves "Christian" today. "You either change your ways, or change your NAME!!" It is the Holy name of Christ that has been dis-honored when Christians DO and SAY things that does not glorify God!! There is the TEST --- The PRINCIPLE of EXALTATION!!! Given in the love of our Lord; Earl Wilburn
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