Nailing the Passions and Desires of My Sinful Nature to the Cross

If you are a regular follower of this blog, then you will notice a bit of a change for the next 8 weeks. I am serving as a table leader for an 8 week Freedom Workshop. If you'd like to follow along, you can find the resources at the link directly above. Also, I will post here, the daily Bible reading assignment (heartwork) so you can read along. This workshop has been a life changer for me so I'm eager to share it with others. May you be blessed!

BIBLE READING HEARTWORK
Week 2 - Day 1
Galatians 5; Psalm 42

Galatians 5:24-25

Those who belong to Christ have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.

Lord, something dawned on me while listening to Debbie speak last night. I realized that whenever I am feeling sad, angry, frustrated, discouraged, depressed, defeated, out of sorts, or whatever the negative emotion, that should be a signal or red flag that I've been listening to the wrong voice and I need to cry out to you without holding back. By doing this I will be walking out Galatians 5:24-25.

It's not that you don't want me feeling negative emotions. But instead of wallowing in them, you want me to see them as a tool which you use to get me to you.

Lord, I praise you for your infinite wisdom! Thank you for giving me all these emotions as complex and crazy and at times incomprehensible as they are. I pray that you will help me to see them as the way you get my attention so I will come running to you. Help me to not wallow in them, but see the red flag and think, "Ah ha! Time to go cry out to God without holding back." In Jesus' name, amen.

FREEDOM WORKSHOP VERSES

Romans 8:12-14

So, dear brothers and sisters you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit, you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Romans 8:12-14

Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool."

Isaiah 1:18

MEMORY VERSES

Assurance of Salvation

John 5:24

Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

John 5:24

Assurance of Salvation

Assurance of Salvation

1 John 5:13

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 John 5:13

Assurance of Salvation

The Golden Calf

Exodus 32:3-4
All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, "O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!"

Lord, I wonder if the gold came from their ears because they were listening to the wrong voices. Rather than listening to the voice of truth, they were paying attention to voices that were saying things like, "Where is this fellow Moses?" and "We need gods that we can see!" If we allow our selves to listen to those other voices too often, then they can become the object of our worship.

Romans 6:16

Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.

Lord, please help me to be aware of what voice I am listening to. I only want to obey you! I don't want to fashion any false gods for myself. You are the only one worthy of all my worship and adoration! In Jesus' name, amen.

MEMORY VERSE

Salvation Not By Works

Titus 3:5

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:5

Salvation Not By Works

The Holy Spirit's Work in My Life

Romans 8:7-9

For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour and humbly submit to his authority over our lives, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. We switch control of our lives from the enemy of our souls to the lover of our souls. 

Those who don't know Christ may think that they are in control of their own lives, but that is not what the Bible teaches. If Christ and the Holy Spirit are not in control of someone's life then satan, his henchmen and their sinful nature are in control. They can only do what these taskmasters tell them to.

Try as we might until we are submitted to Jesus and have the Holy Spirit in control, we can never please God. It's the Holy Spirit who guides us and teaches us how to be holy and righteous.

That is why it is essential that we listen to and obey the Holy Spirit. When we ignore his voice, then we are quenching the Spirit and missing out on the holiness he wants to lead us into. He may want to correct us, empower us for some good work, reveal something from God's word to us, or simply have us sit in awe of the knowledge that HE is God.

Holy Spirit, have your way in me! In Jesus' name, amen.

MEMORY VERSES

2 Chronicles 16:9a

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

2 Chronicles 16:9a

Philippians 4:6-7

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Lord, What Do You Want to Say?

John 12:42-43

Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn't admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

 

John 12:49-50

"I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say."

Lord, I confess that there are times when I love human praise more than from you. Please forgive me for that and help me to care more about what YOU think of me than what mere humans do.

Jeremiah 17:5 

This is what the Lord says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord."

When I write or talk to anyone, help me not to speak on my own authority. Please command me what to say and how to say it. I know that your commands lead to life; so I want to say whatever you tell me to say. In Jesus' name, amen.

MEMORY VERSES

James 1:19-21

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters. You must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

James 1:19-21

John 12:49-50

"I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say."

John 12:49-50

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Listen to His Teaching

Hosea 6:6

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.

Hosea 6:6

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Matthew 13:12

To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge.

Lord, this verse comes on the heels of the parable of the four soils. I want to be one on which the seed fell on good, fertile soil. I want to listen to your teaching and put down deep roots. I want to know you and have understanding. Lord, may I always have a soft, teachable heart.

This listening does not come easily to me. I have to take an active part in this. I have to ask you to speak to me and then be willing to take the time to listen. I have to dig deep and go to the verses you bring to my mind. Sometimes I have to search for those verses when I don't know where they are. But you reward my efforts by letting me get to know you more intimately than I did before. You share secrets with me and leave me in awe of who you are.

Psalm 25:14

Friendship with the LORD is reserved for those who fear him. With them he shares the secrets of his covenant.

1 Corinthians 2:10

But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God's deep secrets.

Proverbs 2:1-9

My child, listen to me and treasure my instructions. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight and understanding. Search for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly. He is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of justice and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will know how to find the right course of action every time.

Actions to Take	Results
listen	understand what it means to fear the Lord
treasure	knowledge of God
concentrate	good sense
cry out	protection
search for	understand what is right, just and fair
	know how to find the right course of action every time