Working Out What God Has Worked In by Sturgis Ryan

Author:Sturgis, Ryan [Sturgis, Ryan]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Life, Christian
Published: 2013-12-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

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Healing the Broken

“Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”

- 2 Corinthians 2:9-11

IF WE ARE ALL MADE BY the same God, created in the same image, and are able to receive the same grace, through Jesus Christ, what is behind the differences in each individual’s spiritual life? When asking about differences, I’m not referring to differing personality traits or various gifting, but rather being christ-like versus not. I’m talking about the reflecting of Christlike behavior, or the fruit of the Spirit. In the first half, we discussed what it takes to allow God to work continuously in your life, and last chapter, we discussed the importance of looking for God in every aspect of your person. Now, we will look at over-coming what prohibits the perfect expression of the Spirit’s fruit.

Sin has affected us all, albeit in different ways. The way you respond to sin determines the progress you make in becoming like Jesus. Let me clarify, God has made his gift of salvation available to all. However, it is the responsibility of the individual to accept this gift and partake in the forgiveness made available through Jesus’ death on the cross. In the same way, it is your responsibility, once you have received salvation, to choose life and not death.

You now have access to the Holy Spirit of God, and intimacy with the Spirit of God produces a life characterized by love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22). What allows you to fully express evidence of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling is your willingness to draw close to the Spirit and obey him, especially concerning sin. As we discussed in Chapter 3, this is the pathway to spiritual maturity and, as we’ll see in this chapter, is also the key to being healed from the hurts that leave us injured and not reproducing the life of Christ.

The Devil’s Schemes

In the second Book of Corinthians, Paul urged the believers to forgive a man who he previously urged be removed from the congregation because of sexual sin. The call to forgive is obvious, yet, what must capture our attention is the reason for Paul’s urgent request that they forgive, as he had forgiven. Paul explained that the believers should forgive so “that Satan might not outwit [them]. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” Paul was not unaware of the devil’s modus operandi, or the manner in which he planned to destroy the Believers, and neither should we be unaware of them. So, let’s take a closer look.

In examining Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, was the sin with the congregation or with the individual? Obviously, with the individual. Yet, who did Paul urge to act? The congregation.

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