Paul wrote:These are some powerful questions to ponder.
I think one of the causes is really a lack of faith. When we focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, on His amazing Gospel and power, the enormity of His grace and love, then that faith will ultimately overcome the world, our own flesh and the devil, with all it's temptations and struggle, and bear fruit for Him.
But when we start looking at our circumstances more than Christ, worried about temporal cares, you name it - satan has a million different distractions - we move away from Jesus Christ, move away from Gods calling for our life, and our lives get more focused on self-preservation. And I speak from experience, it's really really easy to get distracted from Gods calling, and we are really really good in justifying our own fleshly will. But the [lack of] fruit for Gods Kingdom is basically the evidence that testifies against us - no matter how hard we try to justify our life - and is undeniable, to our shame.
Not last Sunday but the one before that, we had a new preacher in our congregation for the first time, and he had quite a strong sermon. One of the points he made was with a traffic sign of a roundabout and another sign with an arrow pointing up. His sermon was on 1 John, where John warns the believers not to deceive themselves that they have no sin, and that we should confess them to Christ and yet that when we live in wilful sin, we do not know Him.
He had the traffic signs as a visible aid, and said we are often 'roundabout' Christians, we might be true believers, but when we fall in sin, we go around and fall in the same sin again, and again, and again.. because we are trying to live - and to conquer sin - in our own strength and we keep going the same circle on that roundabout.
But when we look at Jesus Christ, when we look up, and we truly repent of sin and give our lives over to Him, then we can be freed from that vicious circle and enjoy that life of abundance through the power of His Spirit. Well just my thoughts.. God bless you all.
Underlining in your post is mine. I have many times had a renewed attempt to do what you said in your opening statement. I can't say though that I have always did this relying on the power of the Holy Spirit. So, I get on this roundabout that this preacher spoke about and often end up discouraged over my failures.
Could it be that the main cause of repeated failures is when we don't ask and expect to receive supernatural power through the Holy Spirit to live a victorious and abundant Christian life. Looking back I think my tendency was to depend quite heavily on my own resolve to change. My own resolve to be more holy. My own resolve to be more obedient. And often ending up discouraged over my failings. I can't say that I was putting my faith in the power of the Holy Spirit and humbly giving way to His enabling power. Not to say that I just sit back and let the Holy Spirit work everything out but rather to walk hand in hand with the Spirit and not daring to walk apart from Him. A personal relationship with the Holy Spirit whom Jesus prayed the Father to send to us in His place.
I do recall times in my life where this concept of walking in tune with the Spirit was foremost in my resolve and I recall that period of abundant living right through some times of trouble. I need to get back to that way of living.
Any personal testimonies here on how you relate to the Holy Spirit's enabling power is welcomed.