Christ Knows ALL Our Temptations!

Ok Ok... It's about time!

Gosh, I'm sorry. I suck at keeping up my blog! Please accept my deepest apologies!

So While is was in Israel I was reading through Hebrews and as I read Heb. 4:15-16 then, these verses just jumped out at me. I think maybe because at that time the fact that I definitely needed Jesus' help with my temptations to sin was clearly evident to me.. Something that as time goes in becomes even clearer. I was on a long bus ride so I had some time and decided to look a little deeper into these two verses. And that time is where I got the bulk what is in this blog. But then about a week ago, my Friend Isaac posted that verse on his status on Facebook and so I was prompted to look at it again.. And Now I guess I just felt like it's probably time to put it into a blog!

So, here's the verse- Hebrews 4:15-16:

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

1st: You notice that we have a promise of help when we are being tempted to sin.

Then we have the question: Wy does He have authority over sin?
1st: Because He IS God incarnate.
2nd: Because Christ humbled himself and became a man, he had to suffer every temptation like we do. He knows exactly what we are going through (you read this in Phil. 2), he knows our suffering because He has endured it! Since he triumphed over the temptation to sin, he has the authority over sin.

So the next question is: Jesus humbled himself to become fully man, so, being fully man, how did Jesus overcome sin?
1. As a man he had potential to sin. Some people think that it wasn't possible for Jesus to sin. in Latin the term is "Non posse peccare" but that isn't true.. It wasn't impossible for Jesus to sin.. But it is possible for him not to sin. The term is "Posse non peccare".. Meaning that he had potential to sin, but he was able to not sin.. He was able not to sin because he had direct communion with God the Father and was empowered and strengthened.
Now, because of Christ's death, resurrection and ascension we have received God's grace and The Holy Spirit who through God's grace welcomes us into the family.. Into relationship and fellowship with the Father. Through this relationship and community with the Trinity we too are strengthened and empowered by God to fight temptation.

Jesus stands holding our hand and he pulls us into this relationship and he makes it possible.

So, how are we supposed to respond to this?
1. Allow the Holy Spirit to work to empower us.. In John and Acts the Holy Spirit is talked about as a Helper.. He helps us.
2. Trust- Trust that God has given us authority over temptation. Believe it!
3. Act in this belief- Walk in God promise that we will find help to resist temptation... Put on the shoes and walk in them. Start living in a way that suggests that we believe what is written in this passage!
4. Take the practical step of having someone to be accountable with!

That's just how I worked through it.. A person could probably spend many many hours diving into these verses.. They're very rich verses! As is the whole book of Hebrews!

My trip was fantastic BTW! Keep me in your prayers as I prepare mentally, spiritually and financially to go out one more time! In the Fall I will be going back to Switzerland for another round of DTS(Discipleship Training School). This time I will be a staff member!!!! Woo.. But seriously.. pray for me. Haha

Thanks,

Josh!

The Fast.

So,

I've decided to do a 3 day fast. Today(Friday, July 24th) through Sunday, July 26th. Not a long one, cause I'm starting out small. I don't want to bit of more than i can swallow.

For the past month or so, I've been evaluating myself and my relationship with Christ. I've come to the conclusion that I have become to focused on things other than God. Such as: Friends(as much as I love them, they can't go before Jesus), food, facebook, girls and other such things. Not that friends or facebook or food is bad.

Hopefully, during this fast my walk with Christ will grow stronger as a result of leaning on God for support.

I am fasting food, other than like, soup and such. I'll be drinking water and juice. I'm also fasting Facebook and Twitter.

We'll see what happens. Please pray that this would be a beneficial fast.

Ice Cream Scoops.

I can’t think on one subject for more than 10 seconds! It’s been this way my whole life. It’s just now a problem. Maybe it is because I finally have something to say. Something that is important to think about for more than a fleeting moment.

I wish I could take an ice cream scoop to my brain, scoop out the mess that is my thoughts and lay them all out in from of you in a way that makes sense... But, I don’t want to risk the brain damage.

So, I pray for God to give me a clear mind and an unraveled tongue. If for even just one day I could have a clear and focused head, that would be a blessing.

I’ve been actually trying to make an effort to read my Bible everyday. Sadly, If this was for a grade, I’d probably have an even worse score than in school. When I DO read, I always pray beforehand. The reason being that most times I find the answer to my prayer, in the Bible. This is a newly introduced practice for me.

The other day I prayed that God would help me with what I would consider to one of my biggest struggles, right now... Lust.

For some reason I read through 1 Chronicles. (15:13-15) The part I read had to do with when David was having the Levites move the Ark to a new location. He says “Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the Lord our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly.” When I read this it hit me that I haven’t asked God how to remove this sin from my life properly. I have been trying to do it on my own. I failed to ask my Creator how to go about plucking out my lustful eyes and replacing them with pure, unwandering eyes. (figuratively, of course).

This is my "revelation" for the day.

Please, pray that God would show me how to pray. Pray that I could get my thoughts in order. If you think my speech sounds chaotic...please take a look inside my head. Pray that God shows me how to properly rid myself of my lustful spirit.

This is Really Happening...

I wish my words came out poetic, but they don’t. I wish I could write a thousand words and woo everyone reading. I can’t.

There are so many thoughts and feelings in my head that know no one will get to understand, because I can’t say them in tangible words. Most times I stumble over my tongue and I just sound chaotic... I hope that with this blog I can write it all out, and have it make sense. That’s my goal.

My life is going to be changing drastically in the next few months. I will be embarking on a life changing journey.

In September, I leave for Lausanne, Switzerland. Located on Lake Geneva. I will be part of an organization called YWAM (Youth With A Mission). This amazing organization has been impacting lives for decades. I am so excited to be a part of it.

While in Switzerland I’ll be taking part in a 3 month DTS (Discipleship Training School). Throughout this time I will be learning SO MUCH about the bible. I am so excited for how my relationship and personal walk with Christ will grow! There will be speakers every week, along with intense bible study and prayer. (I’ll also have chances to explore Switzerland and surrounding countries).

After my 3 month stay in Lausanne, I will transition from learning and preparing to actually putting that stuff to use. I have no idea where I will be for the next 3 months of my journey. All that I know is that wherever Christ takes me, I am so ready.

So, this is where I’m at. 2 months away. and I’m shaking in my boots. So scared, yet so excited... Still much to do.

Pray that I will be emotionally ready, spiritually ready, mentally ready. Pray that I will get to know people right away and build relationships that will last a lifetime. Pray for support to come in. Pray for a sound mind, for purity. Pray for my leaders and for my fellow YWAMers. Pray that I can put myself aside and serve others, without hesitation. Pray for my flight. Pray for the speakers. Pray that I can spread God’s love to EVERYONE I talk to. Pray for my public speaking. Pray for courage over my fears. Pray for me to love others.

This will be my attempt to articulate my thoughts, feelings, emotions, experiences, and things that I learn along the way. Hopefully I can paint an accurate picture of what it’s like to see the world and God through my eyes. Here it goes. This is really happening...