Thoughts for Life: #67 Relationships and Rules

C. Peter Wagner: The two major facets of Christian holiness are (1) relationships and (2) obedience.

Both are prominent in the book of Galatians, a book written for the express purpose of helping Christians live the Christian life in God's way.

The churches in Galatia were a mixture of believers from two distinct backgrounds. Some were Jews who had received Jesus as their Messiah. Some were pagans who had received Jesus as their Lord.

The Jews knew all about obedience to the law, and Paul had to admonish them not to revert to the idea that keeping the law would in itself please God..

"Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you
now being made perfect by the flesh?" (Gal. 3:3).

The Jews needed to be reminded that the basis of our holiness is our personal relationship to God as children.

The pagans, on the other hand, knew all about relationships to supernatural beings, in their case the principalities, powers and evil spirits.

Paul had to admonish them not to turn back to the demonic forces in times of need or crisis.

"But now after you have known God, or rather are
known of God, how is it you turn again to the weak and
beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in
bondage?" (Gal. 4:9).

The pagans needed to be reminded that the basis of our holiness is not only a relationship, but obedience to God as our master.

How, then, are relationships and rules brought together? I believe the answer to this crucial question becomes clear as we consider three vital aspects of our relationship to God:

1. God is our Father. We begin with a loving relationship to Christ. We are children who say, "Abba, Father!" (Gal. 4:6).

2. God is our master. We have a longing desire to obey Christ's will. We are slaves and we obey, even though we are children. "The heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave" (Gal. 4:1).

3. Jesus is our role Model. We want to be Christlike. Paul addressed the Galatian believers as "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you" (Gal. 4:19). Holiness is seeing Christ formed in us.

{Wagner goes on to explain that his own marriage is maintained by a quality relationship for more than 40 years. It is not maintained automatically...The sooner they learned the rules that applied to their relationship, the better they got along.}

The same thing applies to our relationship to Jesus. Holiness is not to love Jesus and do whatever you want. Holiness is to love Jesus and do what He wants.

The relationship is basic, but how do we know if we are correctly related to Jesus?

"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments" (1 John 2:3).

(Google image and emphasis added)

Warfare Prayer

#67 Relationships and Rules
By C. Peter Wagner

(pgs. 116, 117) Regal Books

Father, as I begin to understand my

position in Christ, and my relationship to

Him, may I come to realize that I have the

responsibility to obey and to serve Him.

If He is my Master, Lord, and role Model,

help me submit to His authority, and to see

that true holiness is walking with Him every day, doing what He directs.

I ask for Your help, in the Name of Jesus, that I may be an example of what true holiness is. Amen.

Today's quote: Lisa Buffaloe - "Move in God’s love and let God’s love move in you and through you!"

Today's Bible verse: “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.” ~Philippians 2:1-2 (NASB)

4 Easy Reminders to be a Great Parent - Ron Edmondson (Or the best parent you can be…)

Balancing relationships
will need God's help,
for sure!

4th- Thursday’s post: #68 Who Is Holy?
C. Peter Wagner

6th- Saturday's post: Hope Lives
Dave Branon

7th- Sunday evening's post: The Value of Church Membership
Jean Oathout

9th- Tuesday's post: #69 Maturing in Holiness
C. Peter Wagner

A popular post: A Legal Breaking of Headship Dutch Sheets says, "Power never was and never will be the issue between God and Satan.

But why would warfare ever be necessary if Christ defeated Satan and his demons? many ask. 'Didn't Christ take away his power, disarm him and destroy his works? Didn't He deliver us from Satan's power?'.."

jean-oathout.blogspot.com (save to check in sometime)

Samples of Jean's crafts

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Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse

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