This week, in Lesson 5, we are challenged to think about God's provision and our responsibility concerning holiness. Chapter 5 of The Pursuit of Holiness reminds us that Christ's atoning death has set believers free from the reign and rule of sin. In this way, God provided the protential to resist sin. To pursue holiness is our personal responsibility.
In Chapter 6 we delve into the believer's continued struggle with sin. As Bridges wrote, "We have an implacable enemy of righteousness right in our own hearts."
How do you guard your heart? How do you pursue holiness knowing that oftentimes the enemy is within? These are the questions we face in this week's Pursuit of Holiness.
We'd love to hear your thoughts as you follow along with us on our summer blog. As always, please keep your comments in line with the discussion thread.
We'll accept comments for this chapter through July 7. We will cover Chapters 7 and 8 during the week of July 8-14. We look forward to reading about your thoughts and insights.
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6 comments:
Chapters 5 and 6 are big chapters! I find my spirit jumping up and down, because of page 50.(I so relate) I can't tell you how long and hard I've struggled with these verses from the book of Romans. Countless others are looking for help and grappling with this very subject!
How and why do I, as a Christian still sin?!! Hurray for wonderful teachers like Bridges. Well ladies, hold on to your seats! The study is now poking into areas that hurt,but don't give up. There are answers and this is where it gets convicting, yet encouraging. When the Holy Spirit shines a light on areas of sin in our lives, it hurts and makes us want to run away from that truth. But in sticking with it, we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. That's when we will not only learn, but grow past where we've been. The study is getting harder in this way. But I want to be able to say "I'm being tried in the furnace, and when it's done I'm going to come out shining like gold, refined,
reflecting nothing less than the character of my Savior, Jesus!" I'm praying we'll all allow the work of the Spirit in our lives through these chapters and not run from, but embrace them, learn from them and grow!
I have to say, I am blown away at how this study is touching my very soul! I am having difficult issues answered for me. I found myself stopping in the middle of my study the other night raising my hands to Heaven and thanking our Father for feeding this to me!
Wow Leah! Awesome insight! It is great to see God working through this book in each of our lives. This lesson was another week of introspection and asking myself a lot of hard hitting questions about my walk. How often have I settled for "moral mediocrity" rather than striving for God's best? In my life am I abusing the grace that God gave through Jesus? It showed me again that God will never take away my choice to sin or not, He will always allow me to choose sin or holiness. Even though I am saved my habit of sin hasn't left me; I must fight it every day in my thoughts, my heart and my actions. It is my choice! I must look at sin in my life the way God looks at it, as unholy. Through the lessons in this book I am starting to view it that way and in the past few weeks my behavior has already changed. Praise His faithfulness!
It was such a great reminder how easily we can be deceived. I've personally been reminded to take my thoughts captive a and check them against the truth of the Scripture.
This Independence Day, it's so nice to remember the freedom we can find in Christ. We can be free from Satan's lies. Free from the accusations he lays at our feet. And free from evil desires of our own hearts when we turn them over to God. Isn't it liberating?
We praise God this study is taking you to a new places with the Lord. We pray that as we continue to study and pursue holiness this summer, God will blow your mind and shine even more light into your hearts.
Lesson Five
New insight: instead of victory and defeat, which seem so high and so low, obedience and disobedience.
These words give me a completely new way of looking at sin. I have felt so defeated in my attempts to overcome sin. I have felt like I am fighting an uphill battle. "Victory" seemed so unattainable. But, obedience and disobedience, I can do that! I think the "victory" I so wanted is now at my fingertips in obedience. I am not naive enough to think my battle is over, but now I can see, my sin is not something I can't overcome but is something that I have control over. I am sure I will still give in sometimes, because the fact that I am human does remain. But when faced with it now the battle doesn't seem so hopeless!
Also, knowing that I do not have to live in sin but I can choose to walk away from it.
I have had so many people tell me, "you are only human" but you know what? So what! I am human but it is not an excuse!
This study has definately humbled me and showed me that while I need to continue giving my problems to God, I need to then act in obedience to God's word to find His answers.
I feel my eyes opened in the past chapters to how I was allowing sin in my life and now I am learning how to deal with that sin so I too can walk in God's holiness.
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