Quote from Forum Archives on June 19, 2001, 12:13 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

The recent series from Neil Anderson has been full of useful
studies about the Holy Spirit and our response or lack of
response. Neil has been looking into some of the reasons why our
spiritual growth is either stopped or made ineffective. Looking
at it, much of the issues come out of a misunderstanding of who
we are and who God is, what we are capable of, and what God is
capable of.

It is important to have a view of ourselves that is neither too
lofty, nor too inferior. Both miss the point - more than that,
they miss what God says about Himself and about His relationship
with us. On one hand, we are people who are prone to go our own
way (that's called "sin"). On the other hand, we are deeply
loved, fully accepted, and completely forgiven - that's God's
Amazing Grace.

I encourage you, not only to read the message that follows, but
to make sure you know each of the scriptures that Neil cites in
his message. After all, it is not the word of either Brian (me)
or Neil, that matters, it is the Word of God - it is truth, and
it brings life.

Your brother in Christ,
Brian

Reply-to: Neil Anderson <neilanderson@lists.crosswalk.com>
Subject: Neil Anderson Devotional for Tuesday, June 19, 2001
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 04:23:10 -0400

N E I L A N D E R S O N D A I L Y D E V O T I O N A L
from Freedom in Christ Ministries

June 19

LIVING BELOW OUR POTENTIAL

The flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Sprit
against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so
that you may not do the things that you please (Galatians 5:17).

Are you stymied in your growth because of feelings of
inferiority? To whom or to what are you inferior? You are a
child of God seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Ephesians
2:6). Do you feel insecure? Your God will never leave you nor
forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Inadequate? You can do all things
through Christ (Philippians 4:13). Guilty? There is no
condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). Worried?
God has offered to trade His peace for your anxiety (Philippians
4:6, 7; 1 Peter 5:7; John 14:27). Doubt? God provides wisdom
for the asking (James 1:5).

Why is there often such great disparity between these two kinds
of Christians: spiritual and fleshly? Why are so many believers
living so far below their potential in Christ? Why are so few of
us enjoying the abundant, productive life we have already
inherited?

Part of the answer is related to the process of growth and
maturity as the individual believer appropriates and applies his
spiritual identity to his day-to-day experience. And yet there
are countless numbers of Christians who have been born again for
years--even decades--and have yet to experience significant
measures of victory over sin and the flesh, a victory which is
their inheritance in Christ.

Another part of the answer is due to our ignorance of how the
kingdom of darkness is impacting our progress toward maturity.
We have a living, personal enemy--Satan--who actively attempts to
block our attempts to grow into maturity as God's children. We
must know how to stand against him. Paul wrote about Satan: "We
are not ignorant of his schemes" (2 Corinthians 2:11). Perhaps
Paul and the Corinthians weren't ignorant, but a lot of
Christians today surely are. We live as though Satan and his
dark realm don't exist. And our naivet in this area is exacting
a crippling toll from our freedom in Christ.

Dear Lord, I stand against Satan's schemes to pollute my life
with deeds of sin and the flesh. I embrace my inheritance as a
child of God today.

-----------
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< devotionals.crosswalk.com >.
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