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RENEWING YOUR INNER MAN

THE LORD’S BRANCH CHRISTIAN CENTRE
THE BRANCH’S WAY-Isaiah 4:2 (A WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE) 



Text: 2 Corinthians 4: 16- 18 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
In our text of today we are going to look at things that make Christians to faint or lose heart. Paul said he and his fellow soldiers of the cross are not fainting (giving up) even though the roads had been very rough. Many believers have given up the race as a result of the hardships faced. Paul exhorted us in our text not to give up come what may. If anyone needed to have given up such person should have been Paul who faced serious afflictions in the ministry. In the book of 2 Corinthians 11 Paul listed some of his sufferings for Christ that included near death experience, being stoned, beaten with rods etc yet he did not give up. These sufferings Paul called light affliction (troubles) in verse seventeen of our text when compared to the awaiting glory for him in heaven. Our Lord Jesus also went through a great suffering (even the death on the cross) for our salvation (He payed the price for our sins) so that you and I would not face eternal death (Philippians 2: 5- 11).
In the cause of our serving God we are bound to face discouragement, pains, perils that would tell on our outer man which is our physical body. As our physical body is getting old or perishing let our inner man (our spirit man) be renewed daily as stated in our text.
Paul in our text showed us that man is principally made up of outer man and inner men. Both need to be nourished, the nourishment for the outer man is the physical food that we eat daily while the food for the inner man is spiritual food (our level of knowledge of God). However, it is unfortunate that many Christians pay more attention to the outer man to the detriment of the inner man. Most of our youths can hardly quote five scriptures correctly from the bible but they know all the players in the premier league and all the music celebrities.
The Scriptures advised “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NLT).
The day you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour should mark the beginning of the growth of your inner man and the perishing of the outer man. The Scriptures say “So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. It further states we should get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him” (Colossians 3:5-6, 8-10 NLT).
Becoming like Jesus is a process, the more we know of Him and His works the more we are being changed to be like Him. Since this process is lifelong we most never cease learning and obeying. For at the end of our life journey when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, we shall each receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away (1 Peter 5:4 ). “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory" (Colossians 3:1-4 NLT). For this cause "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience" (Colossians 3: 5- 6). To put our outer man to death requires a conscious daily decision to remove anything that supports or feeds evil bodily desires which we can only do by depending on the help of the Holy Spirit. Our inner man can only be renewed through the Holy Spirit who constantly gives us power that enables our minds, emotions, desires and behaviours to conform to the character of Christ.
For our inner man to continue to enjoy the needed daily renewal the following are important:
* We should constantly see ourselves to be dead to the world. A dead person is unresponsive to sorrounding activities.
* Refuse to engage in things that are tantamount to sinful habits- your mode of dressings, the company you keep.
* Feed your inner man with spiritual foods which are: reading the bible daily; praying; be involved in church activities; have Christian friends; render quality worship and praise to God.
* Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption.
* Focus on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
* Live your daily life with the hope of a glorious tomorrow awaiting you.
* Maintain your stand before God no matter what comes your way.
* Know that it is of the Lord's mercies that you are not consumed.
* Believe that the grace of God is sufficient for you and He will perfect your strength in your weakness.
* Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself.
* Know that God is always at work in your life, though you may not see it.
* Know that your inner man will flourish based on faith in Christ Jesus, and in obedience to His commands.
“Matthew 19: 28- 29 (NIV) "Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
Prayers:
1. Blood of Jesus flush out of my life every stain of sins in Jesus name.
2. Every bad habit pushing me to hell fire be destroyed in Jesus name.
3. Holy Spirit help me to live a pleasing life to God in Jesus name.
4. I will not miss the gathering of the saints in Jesus name.
5. Every danger awaiting me and my family members be scattered in Jesus name.
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