Coffee With The Lord

“The law of diminishing returns” – It argues that there are some things that negatively respond to investment… the more you invest in time, effort and money in those things, the less that is received in return. …Not a law you want to participate in and expect “return on investment!

”This “law” works in Spiritual things as well… I read about it this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” in Romans 6:15-23. It’s frankly a “scary” law and leads to greater and greater degrees of bondage. It works like this… the more you yield to what your “flesh” (the natural self under the control of sin) wants to do, the greater the degree of bondage and slavery to sin. It is counterproductive – It promises freedom, but delivers bondage!

But there is another “law” that works for devoted, obedient followers of Jesus… I call it the “law of increasing devotion.” It works this way… the more you respond positively and act upon the Holy Spirit’s promptings to please God (i.e. the Holy Spirit’s “nudge”), the greater the grace of God you experience, and your devotion for Christ increases!” Your “return on investment” is positive – it leads to greater and greater Spiritual victory!

Here it is in the words of Apostle Paul…

“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience which leads to righteousness… Having been set free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness! … Just as you once presented your members [the parts of your body] as slaves to impurity and too lawlessness, leading to more lawlessness, so not present you members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification… Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (From Romans 6:15-23 ESV)

Listen, I’ve tried both laws and they work – one is negative, the other is positive! I can tell what law I want working day by day – hour by hour – in my life! I want it to be the “law of increasing devotion!” I want nothing to do with the “law of diminishing returns!” Every “nudge” of the Holy Spirit that prompts me to do what pleases God is an opportunity for greater and greater victory and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ and abounding grace!

I’ve had a stream of people over the years who stopped by my office, or others who simply visited with me somewhere, or some, who during a prayertime at church, confided about their journey with Jesus. Everyone of them wanted to experience victory in their Christian life and overcome the challenges to that they were facing.

Gaining and sustaining Spiritual victory over sin is a big issue for Christians! How can it be experienced? Especially when we have to live every day of our lives in this old world and struggle with temptation, self, and sin…The passage I read today from the Epistles in the Necessary Food Bible reading plan is such an important one in this regard… Romans 6:1-14!3

Apostolic Principles for Spiritual Victory

1.Appropriate the Spiritual reality your BAPTISM illustrates! (Romans 6:1-10)

It’s more than just water that matters here! The reality of it is that we are “baptized INTO CHRIST!” (6:3-4) His death is somehow our death to self and sin! His burial is somehow the burial of our old way of life! His resurrection, and the power of the Holy Spirit, that brought it about is the dynamic that can transform our lives! Can you imagine standing at your own grave? (Guilty of terrible sin, sentenced, death, buried… then a miraculous resurrection to live a new life!)

2. CONSIDER (“reckon” or calculate) these realities as true in your life! (Romans 6:11-12)

The tense of the Greek verb here is such that the force of the verb used in verse 11 is “be continually considering yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (i.e. consider your baptism a spiritual reality in your life every day)!

3. Then OFFER YOURSELF TO GOD, as one who has been brought from death to life! (Romans 6:13)

Be presenting/offering yourself to God this way every day! Don’t let sin reign in your life! You don’t have to do what your passions tell you (or beg you) to do! Back to the Spiritual reality your baptism illustrates! Present yourself to God as one who has been brought from death to life and your body (yes, the parts of your body) as instruments to produce righteousness!” (6:12-13, 17-19)!

And the result? Apostle Paul’s declared, inspired by the Holy Spirit… “Sin will NOT have dominion over you!” You’ll be living by God’s enabling grace, not simply trying to keep a list of rules in your own human effort! (6:14)

I’m not Job, and I haven’t gone through what he went through as described in the Bible… The tragic death of his children and the loss of all his possessions and property in a single day… Incredible physical pain and suffering… loss of the support and understanding from his spouse… and then the ongoing, incessant criticism of former “friends” … an attack of Satan (a test, if you please) permitted by God but without explanation! Perhaps the silence of God was one of the most difficult things that Job had to endure!

This morning in my Bible reading, Job pours out his complaint and lack of understanding about what he was going through to God (Job 10)… (As you read it, I beg you to hear Job’s heart!)

Job cried out, “Your hands have made me and fashioned me, an intricate unity; yet You would destroy me? Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay! And will You turn me into dust again? Did you not…clothe me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews? You have granted me life and favor, and Your care has preserved my spirit… If I am wicked, woe to me! Even if I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head. I am full of disgrace; O see my misery!” (From Job 10:8-15 NKJV)

I don’t know if you have ever felt that way, but in my years of pastoral ministry I’ve had to offer help and support to good, godly people who were going through trials and voiced feelings and questions like Job’s… They could not understand what or why they were experiencing the pain and suffering that was coming their way.

I do not know who I am writing these words to today – but you may very well be going through similar trials. Listen closely… God is patient! He is understanding! He loves you and is big enough to process your pain, your suffering, and your questions with mercy, compassion and grace! The silence you feel does not mean He has abandoned you! He has His eye upon you – He has confidence in you – He cares for you! He did not abandon Job – and He has not abandoned you! Trust Him… cling to Him… draw on the strength He provides… Job 10 is not the whole story… Job 42 is in the Bible as well and tells the rest of the story (and it can be YOUR story)! God was with Job before chapter 10 and was with him from chapters 11-41… and He will be with you all the way through your trial as well!

Just know that I paused and prayed for you – whoever you are – today!