I hear Christians say regularly “I’m trying” Why are you trying? Is your walk with God about you?
Jesus said “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5)
He said “while I am in the world.”
Is Jesus in the world anymore? No, His Holy Spirit is
Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”
Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams
Look at those two verses, whose spirit? “My Spirit” this is God speaking. And there’s emphasis on “all”, “all” flesh. There’s a reason the prophecy of Joel was first fulfilled in the bible in Acts, Acts chapter 2 when the holy ghost came on Pentecost was the beginning of the church age. There was also a reason many reasons in the New Testament even many letters by Paul He emphasized about taking care of your body, the temple of the holy ghost/spirit. “The holy” spirit.
Matthew 5:15 “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Notice the emphasis on “that they may glorify your good deeds and praise your father in Heaven.”
How can they praise our father in heaven if they’re praising you? God does not share His glory! there’s only “One” God. I believe this is letting the light of the holy ghost in you shine and the changes and differences He’s making in you. And them seeing Him and not you.
It’s not about trying, people. It’s the opposite! It’s about dying to yourself and letting go and letting God. Letting more of God shine and less of you shine.
Matthew 10:39 “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Mark 8:35 “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
Luke 9:24 “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”
Luke 17:33 “Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”
John 12:25 “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
Do you think this is in the Gospels so much for a reason, maybe?
We can’t handle things, we don’t know how. Why don’t we start giving it to God? And letting God? God knows how to handle it, even our wants and desires and needs and hurts and pains. He knows how to handle it all!
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Why are we trying? Jesus said apart from you can do nothing. Nothing means nothing. Our righteousness is as filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6)
Why don’t we let go and let God and let God handle it?
Whenever you try tell yourself a ryme.
“It’s not about trying, it’s about dying”
(Of course not dying physically but to your wants and desires. And letting God. So, crucify your flesh, let His Spirit the light shine.) He’s called “The Lord of your life” for a reason.
I’ll leave with lyrics to two songs:
MercyMe – So Long Self
From the album Coming Up To Breathe
Well if I come across a little bit distant
It’s just because I am
Things just seem to feel a little bit different
You understand
Believe it or not but life is not apparently
About me anyways
But I have met the One who really is worthy
So let me say
Chorus:
So long self
Well it’s been fun, but I have found somebody else
So long self
There’s just no room for two
So you are gonna have to move
So long self
Don’t take this wrong but you are wrong for me farewell
Oh well, Goodbye, don’t cry
So Long Self
Stop right there because I know what your thinking
But no we can’t be friends
And even though I know your heart is breaking
This has to end
And come to think of it the blame for all of this
Simply falls on me
For wanting something more in life than all of this
Oh, can’t you see
Chorus:
(4x’s)
Farewell, Goodbye
Oh so long self
Warren Barfield-Mistaken for Jesus
From the album Warren Barfield
I shouldn’t have to tell you who I am
Cause who I am should be speaking for itself
Cause if I am who I, I want to be
Then who you see won’t even be me
Oh the more and more I disappear
The more and more He becomes clear
CHORUS:
Til everyone I talk to hears His voice
And everything I touch feels the warmth of His hand
Til everyone I meet
Sees Jesus in me
This is all I wanna be
I wanna be mistaken
For Jesus
Oh I wanna be mistaken
Do they only see who we are
When who we are should be pointing them to Christ
Cause we are who He chose to use
To spread the news
Of the way the truth and the life
Oh I want all I am to die
So all He is can come alive
Til everyone I talk to heart His voice
And everything I touch feels the warmth of His hand
Til everyone I meet
Sees Jesus in me
This is all I wanna be
I wanna be mistaken
For Jesus
Oh I wanna be
Oh I need to be mistaken
For You
Lord i wanna be mistaken
Mistaken
BRIDGE:
May He touch with my hands
See through my eyes
May He speak through my lips
Live through my life
I want Him to
I want Him to live
