As believers in Christ, our way of living is different than other people of the world. Because we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus through our prayers and confessions, our sins are forgiven. We have found mercy and gained God’s acceptance in our lives. And because Jesus lives, our old life is done away with and we are been given newness of life. How amazing is this? Surely, we are unable to walk away from our fleshly desires on our own, but through the Holy Spirit we can do all things. This is when our sinful nature changes and people start seeing us in an entirely new light. This is because we are acting as Christians should act. And if you’d like to know the characteristics of such people, Paul explained that for us. He said, 1“be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12) So as Christians, we are not only a light unto the lost, but also the believers. People in the faith are encouraged when they see a brother or sister in the faith living out God’s will in their lives. This is because what they say is uplifting and not degrading. Having conversing with such people, there is much love and respect on display, instead of arguing. Their love is shown even outside of conversation but what they do to help others in need. Truly, their desire to serve God is shown in their service to others also. They are their when a homeless person is cold, hungry or thirsty and is able to supply their needs and pray for them. They are there when a person in a store or restaurant can’t pay for their bill, and are able to step in and pay their bill. As you can see, these people are generous, for all they have comes from God.
God uses people in the faith that not only believe in Him, but also love Him with their whole hearts. This means that a person has sought out God, in order to know Him. This leads them to be obedient to His will. Because of their desire to follow God, the Holy Spirit is able to reign in these people’s lives. Whatever the Lord wants to lead them in, they are honored and jump at the opportunity. Therefore, there faith is on full display. It is the Lord that has lit a fire in their souls to serve Him, for this reason they are unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and are willing to tell everyone about Jesus. This kind of faith leads us to receiving spiritual gifts like healing. Truly, our willingness to do things for God changes everything about us. Therefore, we start looking to Him for answers and our flesh is fulfilled by God. This gives us freedom from sexual sin. Because we are covered in God’s holiness, there is purity in our lives. So sex outside of marriage and pornography is done away with as we now desire to keep ourselves pure for God and our spouse. Therefore, our thoughts are in line with God also. So when an attractive person comes our way, we can stand strong and not give into our fleshly urges to look upon them with lust. You may think this is impossible, but nothing is impossible with the armor of God in our lives. So please do as Paul said and 1“meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.” (1 Timothy 4:15) Truly, if you believe in God, then your words, conversation, love towards others, and faith, will be God driven. This will allow you to be Holy Spirit filled and have pure thoughts. So please think about these things and start living for God today.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, may we, as followers of You in the faith, be more than just believers but warriors for Your cause. Help us to fight for what is right and not be deceived by worldly pleasures from the enemy. My desire is to live for You and I pray that others in the faith will also have the selfsame desire. We can go out in this world and be victorious for You, we just need to trust in You with our whole hearts. Then, can we be changed, and our wicked ways can be turned to doing what You love and not what our flesh desires. Lord, I know that all humility comes from You, so take our pride and destroy it, that we may be used for Your kingdom. Give us clean hands and a pure heart. May our minds be lifted up to godliness. That we may think as you think and be given over to what is righteousness. Holiness is what we need to walk faithfully, and I pray that You will move and shape us in this way. Give us over to purity and being morally clean in Your sight. Cast out any impure thoughts, that our minds may be fully given over to You. If pornography has crept into people’s lives, I pray that You will convict them of this abomination, that they may repent and allow You to cleanse them of these sins. Awake these people to be clean in Your sight. If people are in a sexual relationship with someone outside of marriage, convict them also of their sinful nature. I do not wish that they willfully follow temptation and die in their sins. You are our deliverer and I believe that You can change any person that desires to be saved. I love You Lord. I trust in You. I give You everything that You require of me. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
11 Timothy 4 (KJV)
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
11 These things command and teach.
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
