When God changes our heart and our spirit!

Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ... 

 

I Peter 4

 

1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

 

2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

 

3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

 

4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

 

5 Who shall give account to HIM that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

 

6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

 

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

 

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Beware!  God changes us greatly when we pray Psalm 51:10 over ourselves:

 

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

 

We are in for some real shocks!  Those sports teams we were taught to hate, we find they really aren't any worse than our team. They are, for the most part, "flesh" just like other people.

 

And those terrible politicians of the other party!  What happened to my feeling against them?

 

Everything changes when God is in control of my heart and my spirit.

 

Ezekiel 36  (God says)

 

23 And I will sanctify MY great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

 

24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

 

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

 

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

 

27 And I will put MY spirit within you, and cause you to walk in MY statutes, and ye shall keep MY judgments, and do them.

 

So when we pray, asking God to cleanse our heart and to give us a "right" spirit, we are shocked.  Because HE does and we are in total peace when we give up hatred!

 

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