Denying Self, Being New

My lack of blogging this week has not been due to power loss; though that would be a wonderful excuse. No, I've been sick and busy and when you're busy and sick at the same time, it's quite sad.

Earlier this week, we did a word study on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, including a paraphrase that was meant to minister to us. I learned a lot from looking at the key words of this passage.

Here's my paraphrase:
For the glorification of Christ Jesus, we are begging you, as dearly loved brothers and sisters, that you would live by the standards we taught you, so as to please our Master. You are doing this already, but we exhort you to examine your hearts and every aspect of your lives, so that you could gratify the Lord even more abundantly. Be assured that these standards are given in Christ's authority. For it is God's will that you would dedicate yourself to honor, purity, and transparent and unadulterated living. Set yourselves apart as witnesses for authentic grace and unclouded judgment. Renounce all sexual vice; debilitate and undermine them in Jesus' name. Claim, govern, and conduct your body as the home of the Holy Spirit. Deprave your body of the vulgarity of this world; flee corruption and do not be spoiled by the mundane. Do not use your body to give in to your longings, cravings, and weaknesses, so that you would not rob your brothers of the manifestation of God's grace in Christ. For the Lord will avenge all these things. Purity is for our God and the glory of His kingdom. He has given us the anointing to be spotless and undefiled in the blood of His Son. Let us not be distracted by carnality and greed. If you ignore this teaching, you are not disregarding us but your Owner and Master, whose Spirit is given to you for your innocence, righteousness, and sanctification. Honor your Lord in utmost purity. 

Purity is about forsaking yourself in order to show that you belong to Jesus. Walking in integrity shows the world that His glory is alive in your life.

Andrew Murray writes in A Deeper Fellowship With God, "As long as a man, a Christian, is under the power of the flesh, he is continually denying Jesus. You always must do one of the two, you must deny yourself, or you must deny Jesus"

Thank the Lord for the giving of His Holy Spirit to sanctify us.

Here's a paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 5:17 done after a word study
You are in Christ as an unused Divine work. Your previous moral condition has been crushed; a fresh foundation has arrived.