Even when we are in Christ, what we do can lead to death. As we read in Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth, though the church was manifesting some amazing and wonderful gifts by the Holy Spirit (1Cor12), they had allowed these manifestations run or be lead by their heads rather than their hearts and obviously not by the Holy Spirit.
In the same way, we the church today, though manifesting spiritual things can be lead not of the Holy Spirit but by our heads and knowledge. How many times throughout my 32 years as a follower of Christ have I heard of this program or that program which for a time has great enthusiasm and the appearance of success only to go to the junk heap of lost dreams. Why, because though these ideas and concepts of new ways of winning the lost might be great ideas, but they are not necessarily God's ideas.
Again, I know I recite this verse a lot throughout my blogs, those who are led by the Spirit, Romans 8 tells us are the true sons of God. This obedience to the Holy Spirit and what He is saying to do is a true mark of sonship in Christ. And yet it is only when we rely on our own ideas or knowledge or wisdom, even that which we have gained through obedience and submission, that we cease to truly be effective for the Kingdom of our God.
Matthew 7:21 can be heard throughout the annals of time, 21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’…
Even the appearance of success, as seen by man or the world, if not subjected or submitted to God's will come to naught. How many times I have heard good minded believers say how their programs or ideas will make money for the kingdom and by it be a blessing. Yet our Father who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, who according to Psalm 23 causes me to "have no lack" and who is Jehovah Jirrah the Lord my provider says I don't need your money. This once again is a lack for our own disobedience to the Spirit and a working out of our flesh that justifies our ways.
Everyday we need to be submitting ourselves, including our minds and will, to that of Christ. Pauls tells us we need the mind of Christ Phillipians 2:5; 1Cor 2:16, again Paul instructs us to renew our minds in Romans 12:2. And this renewing must take place daily as we take up our cross, denying ourselves (that is our will, desires, plans, vision, kingdom etc) and submitting ourselves unto the Lord and His plans for us.
Being in the Kingdom of God requires submission and obedience of every part of our lives to that of the Kingdom and it's ways. It's only when we have done this that we can declare to be in Christ!
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