Drive Out The Old MAN.....

Hello Bloggville...(Waving).

So, yes I actually haven't  gotten deep on this blog before (the time is coming, lol). Ok, today after church I have decided to share the preaching that was inspired by my Pastor.

The idea of this topic is to just enlighten us on our journey with salvation and our relationship with God.

So after receiving the word preached today, I will explain (through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) with a less altered version.

I would encourage us to have a Bible, a pen and paper to take notes if we want..

In general, the purpose of accepting Jesus as our personal saviour is that we  believe he died for all the sins of men and for us to receive eternal life. In addition, this propels us to be born-again in other to see the Kingdom of God. John 3:3. Thus, to be born -again is to accept we now have a new life with Jesus and our old ways are passed away.  2 Corithians 5:17.NKV "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new" This  was what Paul wrote in the Bible. So if this case, that after receiving Jesus in our hearts, our sinful ways which is the old ways of doing things without law, conscience or responsibility  is now all in the past. But yet, many of us are born again and our actions are still very much the old way, i.e. we still have not changed in any shape, way or form. In fact, there is no difference at all in our character, attitude, perception, mentality and relationship with God. People i.e. our friends or general people that know Us cannot say we have changed at all or tell that we have JESUS in our Lives..

The questions is why:

  THE OLD MAN IS NOT GONE, In fact if anything we are still negotiating with the Old MAN, still playing 50:50.  In essence, some of are still feeding our desires that is against the will of God for our lives, we still live a life of deceit, unfaithfulness, cruel, anger, wrath, disobedience, etc. We fail to repent and receive redemption. If in fact we do ask forgiveness we fail to practice a second chance of saying NO and putting repentance into actions and avoiding the things   JESUS hates and has encouraged us not to indulge in. WE KNOW right?

Accepting JESUS and being born-again does not mean the battle ends, that you automatically change or you miraculously become a changed person (something I have come to know with my relationship with God). As we are all aware any change takes a process, its takes  stages of different antidotes we are exposed to, to create a shift of mentality and attitude. Hence, Romans 6:6 encourages us that NKV: "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be one with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin."  Now, if this is what must of us believe why are we still struggling with sin, if we truly believe the old man has been crucified with JESUS and the body of sin is dead... Why do some of us with our born-again claim still refuse to leave our old habits or precisely still living in it.

Three reasons WHY:
1)We are yet to actually receive grace and power to renew our minds
2)We are yet to admit we are not living the life God has called us to live
3) We are yet to stop feeding the old man and making a decision to accept deliverance and maintain it.

Colossians Ch 3: 8, NKJ,  But now yourselves, are to put  off all: anger, wrath. malice, blasphemy, filthy language, out of your mouth... ". My question is : How often do we practice this??

Vs 9: "Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds". Vs 10 "And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of  Him who created him". Another question, How much time do we spend with God and his word to gain strength and have knowledge of him and his love?

What is meant by the old man? The old man is that which dwells in us that makes us rebel against the will of God for our lives...Which is to live a sinful life without  confession of sins, repentance of actions and lack of cultivating a strong relationship with him to stand and conquer all that is negative..
In essence, the old man could be that thing that drives you away from experiencing the presence of God and to have a sincere heart with him.

Number 33:55 NKV, makes us understand that " But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides.  and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell." Note the word You, this suggest the responsibility lies on us to make a daily effort to drive out the old man. If we refuse to, we will reap the consequences. But, You and I both know we do not have to rely on our strength to do it or overcome,  there is grace, Mark 11-23-24.(simply google this).

Significantly, we need to understand that the the old man does not want to leave, inf act if anything it wants to grow and grow to kill the new man. But, you have responsibility to feed your soul, your spirit man to remain strong and say NO to the things that God rejects and it is not his will. I am still a work in progress, so you are not alone. Although, we are all at different stages in our lives and relationships with God, we should make effort to check ourselves and ensure we are living according to his will.

Ways  to Drive out  the Old Man.
1)1st Corithians Ch 5, Do not let the Old man negotiate with you, your flesh will negotiate with you, but you must stand firm,  believing the Lord God is your strength and you are doing it for a greater good.

2)Lets Kill the Old Man once and for all. Philippians 4:8. Whatever  things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report". We are encouraged to dwell on this things with a renewal of mind.

3) The application of the word of God and doing his word. We should not be hearers only, we should doers too. Mattew 13 (pls google it and read it all and let it minister to you).

4) You must also allow the Holy Spirit to help you. JOHN 16 (again google is there or you can simply grab your bible and please read it all).

In addition, you must not forget to allow God to reign in your heart, as JESUS encouraged us, when a man is delivered from an unclean spirit, he goes through dry places, seeking rest and find none... He says, he will return to the house which he came out from (Please read Matthew 12 vs 13 for the rest). Hence, the situation of a person is more worse than the first... God will continue to teach us.

Finally,  you will know your new man is growing when you begin to lose appetite in things you had pleasure doing and you cant bring yourself to do it any longer.

It can't be easy as we are all faced with different battles, challenges and situations but do not forget GOD is bigger than it all.

My mini testimony: I used to be a big malice keeper and I can make a decision  not to speak or say hello to people that offend me for years. Including my own mother and sister, it sounds funny we are close now. But, there was a time I was not a nice child to mum and I was quite a rebel.  But I am glad I am now longer that person, infact when people hurt me I will personally go and apologies and make peace. I cant stand malice FACT,  my SPIRIT rejects it.. I cant stand it,  even when the other party or person is in the wrong I will feel compel to make amends. I will tell you, that can only be GOD.

I also used to harbor alot of hatred and unforgivable, I was not happy child at all (in some cases, looking back around the age of 9 till about 11ish).  Back, then, I didn't even know how to smile, I was angry, went to bed angry, woke up angry and growing up in boarding school did not make things any better. Thus, people generally assume am a bully, but deep down, I was just confused I guess...

But I am no longer that person, I am not confuse, I still have my mouth ohh... (but I now you use it in a positive way, have actually forgotten how to insult except in a posh way.. lol). I smile every day and I am incredibly friendly (i like to think sha, I love making people laugh now, but I guess am more mature too and the spirit of God in me is more mature.. ) So, I am still work in progress but I have  come a long way to being who I am now and who I inspire to be... AMEN

SO.. pls feel free to drop anything on your mind and if you have any prayer point pls do not hesitate to let me know..

Am done Now.. Thanks for reading and stopping by.

God is LOVE, Love yourself and on others too..


Watch out for another inspiration story.. OUR LIFE, OUR STORY, OUR JOURNEY...... Be inspired.