Prepared for Service

There is a competing force within us that yearns for the things of the flesh. Its the pride of life, the worldly things, material things, all the things that we think are going to satisfy us. 

Take inventory;

• What you spend most of your time doing? 
• Financially, where does the money go? 
• What are your goals? Do they include; winning others to Christ, deeper prayer, serving more, tithing more, etc.. 
• What are some of the things that you want? 

Are any of these activities, investments, goals,  producing fruit? God will either withhold things or take away those "dead" things in our life so that we can produce fruit. God has to prune and purify us so that we will do the work that he has called each one of us to do. God says; "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 

In the Old Testament specific animals were given as a sacrifice for sins and their blood was sprinkled on all the instruments used for the sacrifice, the people, and the priest, but it only provided the forgiveness of sins, it did nothing to transform the inside of a person. 

For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats,[i] along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. 20 Then he said, “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.”[j] 21 And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. 22 In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:19-22

The blood of Jesus cleans the inside and the outside. The purifying work that He does in a saint leads to fruit that is lasting. The work He does in us cleans our conscience so that when we make decisions we know to choose wisely. 

For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. 10 For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established.....Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. Hebrews 9:10 & 14 

I think that its interesting that Jesus called the Pharisees "whitewashed tombs" because they were clean on the outside but the inside was corrupt. They were hypocrites who lacked love, justice, and mercy. They really didn't know God or believe in Him and this was indicated by their legalistic deeds. 

James 1:5 says to ask God for wisdom, and don't doubt about what God has told you through his word, but trust in Him only, not in the wisdom of this world. The world will say to do things according to the flesh. When we yield to His ways, and His will we learn to walk in step with him. Our path may seem to narrow and that is because it is a narrow road! 

The cure for double mindedness;

• What does seeking the heart of God look like in a persons life? Prayer, being in the Word, Obedience, Waiting on Him, Sacrifice, Listening to Him. 
• Let the Holy Spirit work to control your mind. Take every thought captive and put on the full armor of God as protection against the evil one. 
• Ask God for wisdom to discern 
• Surrender to the work that God is doing. 

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. Romans 8:6,7

• God will not relent, he wants everything and he says "But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect Matthew 5:48