Let’s take ours first. Isaiah 64:6 says, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags…” Here’s an illustration of filth. In the 60’s my dad had an old two story house converted into apartments.

One renter did not pay her rent so he went to talk to her. She had moved out. My dad took his key and opened the front door. He said the stench nearly knocked him over. 

She threw her clothes she had worn onto the floor of her walk in closet. Her cats used it for their litter box. He had to hire a man to pitchfork the clothes out the window, down into his pickup, and take them to the dump. They were filthy rags.

Jesus died bearing our sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Our eternal standing is in Him. Colossians 3:3 says, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Here are four more of my audiobooks available on Amazon or audible under J. Marilyn Adams

Displacing Fear

Proclaiming Victory

Face-Off Your Fears

Overthrowing The Fear Of Failure

NEWS FLASH!

Yesterday I received an email from Amazon saying I could publish audiobooks from my eligible ebooks. This is uncharted territory for me. If you are an audiobook person…here are four to begin with. Available in the Amazon store and on Audible.

When you listen to them, please let me know if there are any glitches ~ thank you

Please tell your friends

Persistent Faith
Emotional Freedom
Victorious Living
Power Of Forgiveness

Psalm 118:8 says, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Paul’s confidence to stand before kings came from his inner conviction to live by the Spirit’s direction.

He obeyed the Lord’s call to suffer for His name. If you need a refresher, I encourage you to read 2 Corinthians 11:23-33. He knew all along what his commission from the Lord was. Acts 9:15-16. 

Paul understood the power of Jesus’ resurrection was in him. In Ephesians 1:19 he wrote, “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.” Verse 20 says that the same power God used to raise Jesus from the dead is in us!

Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Our faith is in Him. We look to Him ~ not our human impossibilities. He is Faithful. He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13. He cannot lie. Titus 1:2.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Faith is an action word. James 2:26 says, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.” We are saved by faith, but we also walk in the Spirit by faith.

Mark 11:22 says, “…Have faith in God.” It is futile to put our faith in any one but the Lord. Man can only do so much, but only the Lord is in control of all things. In James 4:13-16 we read about folks who were boasting about what they were going to do. 

Verse 15 says, “Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” Alive and active faith looks to the Lord alone for clear direction. Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.”

Courage to stand is rooted in God’s absolute truth. Paul instructed his disciple Timothy, but we can make an application for ourselves. 2 Timothy 2:19 says, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: The Lord knows those who are His, and Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Psalm 119:144 says, “The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; give me understanding and I shall live.” Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Daniel 11:32 says, “…the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” Here is Paul’s faith, conviction and passion. Philippians 3:10 says, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” Our courage to stand is fortified through our intimate communion with Him.

In Acts 24:16 Paul said, “…I always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” Paul was a man of unswayable convictions. Remember when Festus said, “…Much learning is driving you mad!” Paul calmly answered, “…I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.” Acts 26:24-25. 

In 2 Timothy 1:12 he wrote, “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

When the Ephesians elders tried to persuade him to not go to Jerusalem, he stood firm in the courage of his convictions. Though he knew that chains and tribulations awaited him, he proclaimed, “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy…” Acts 20:23-24. 2 Timothy 4:7 says “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Ephesians 5:15 says, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Circumspectly in the 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary means: cautiously; with watchfulness every way; with attention to guard against surprise or danger.

Jesus went into the garden to pray. Peter, James, and John were with Him. He told them to wait while He went and prayed. They were not attentive because they fell asleep. Matthew 26:41 says, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Temptations have no visible signs of warning. When we are not walking in the Spirit, our flesh is seeking ways to exert itself. Galatians 5:16-17. James 1:14 says, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.”

A temptation is an enticement ~ not sin. Dialoguing with it, and playing it out in our mind is! We walk circumspectly first through our thoughts. Colossians 3:2.

Psalm 119:133 says, “Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.” David learned from his experience of iniquity. Psalm 19:13 says, “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless and I shall be innocent of great transgression.”

The Lord took me into a real learning curve back in 1975. He gave me specific instructions, but I fell for a tempting trap and disobeyed. I paid for it for 10 years. When He says ‘don’t’ and we ‘do’ then we will bear the consequences.

Children have to be taught what is right and wrong through course correction. Galatians 4:24 says, “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

We obey by faith even when we have no understanding. Temptations come, but view them as a teacher. Titus 2:12 says, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” O Lord, help us be students of Your word.”

Verses in Psalm 119 often say ‘teach me’ with the writer’s intention of learning. Verse 135 says, “Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.” Verse 66 says, “Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe Your commandments.”

Verse 68 says, “You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes.” Verse 124 says, “Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, and teach me Your statutes.” Note that the request ‘teach me’ was connected to the character of God.

The Holy Spirit is our Teacher. He uses our trials to direct us into God’s way which is perfect. Psalm 18:30 says, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”

Hebrews 12:11 Amplified says, “For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it…” Our trials take us deeper into the experiential knowledge of the character of Christ.