| OVERCOMING INERTIA: JESUS REVOLUTIONIZES AND MOVES THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM |
Acts 17:22-28 says: "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is
Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands, Neither is
worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all
life, and breath and all things, And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to
dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and
the bound of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel
after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us. For in Him we live,
and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are
also His offspring."
Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands, Neither is
worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all
life, and breath and all things, And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to
dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and
the bound of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel
after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us. For in Him we live,
and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are
also His offspring."
"Inertia" is defined as: "The tendency of a body to resist acceleration; the tendency of a
body at rest to remain at rest", American Heritage Dictionary. Human beings differ in
where they were born, genetics, upbringing, and religious environments. But everyone
has a need to move across any barriers between them, and their Maker. The key word
there is "Move."
body at rest to remain at rest", American Heritage Dictionary. Human beings differ in
where they were born, genetics, upbringing, and religious environments. But everyone
has a need to move across any barriers between them, and their Maker. The key word
there is "Move."
For some the barriers or obstacles may seem to be disabling disease. For another it may
be persecution by unbelievers, or it may be illiteracy. Or it may even be that obedience
to God through Christ has been dethroned by political pluralism. Now, civil freedom of
religion is great. (In my opinion, it has been the best thing about America, freedom to be
a Christian). Nevertheless, God did not intend for patriotic or cultural emotionalism to
replace scripture truth.
be persecution by unbelievers, or it may be illiteracy. Or it may even be that obedience
to God through Christ has been dethroned by political pluralism. Now, civil freedom of
religion is great. (In my opinion, it has been the best thing about America, freedom to be
a Christian). Nevertheless, God did not intend for patriotic or cultural emotionalism to
replace scripture truth.
God has given us help. Read again the scripture at the start. God made us all from "the
first man Adam" (1 Corinth. 15:45) and "Eve ... the mother of all living" (Genesis 3:20).
And then God determined who we should seek to solve our sin problems: Jesus Christ
(Acts 17:31; Acts 2:30; Matthew 3:17).
first man Adam" (1 Corinth. 15:45) and "Eve ... the mother of all living" (Genesis 3:20).
And then God determined who we should seek to solve our sin problems: Jesus Christ
(Acts 17:31; Acts 2:30; Matthew 3:17).
Jesus is the door to the answer for all man's problems. But the door opens only when a
person will overcome selfish pride and ignorance. Shall we now consider some of His
ruby and diamond studded liberties of truth? (2 Corinth. 3:12-17)
person will overcome selfish pride and ignorance. Shall we now consider some of His
ruby and diamond studded liberties of truth? (2 Corinth. 3:12-17)
From Matthew 5, 6 & 7
5:11-16. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all
manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for
great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before
you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be
salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot
of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do
men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick: and it giveth light to
all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for
great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before
you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be
salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot
of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do
men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick: and it giveth light to
all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Can you name one expert that can give better personal advice that?
5:43-46. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate
thine enemy. [see Lev 19:18; Deut 23:6] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully
use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of you Father which is in
heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on
the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do
not even publicans the same?
thine enemy. [see Lev 19:18; Deut 23:6] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully
use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of you Father which is in
heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on
the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do
not even publicans the same?
No other so-called religious founder of history did ever, or could ever, say such a thing,
and then back it up with deeds and doctrine. Just look at what is going on at home and
abroad in the name of man's religions. Look at confusion and contradiction and how
people are "stuck" and won't get unstuck. It is because, they will not move for Christ.
and then back it up with deeds and doctrine. Just look at what is going on at home and
abroad in the name of man's religions. Look at confusion and contradiction and how
people are "stuck" and won't get unstuck. It is because, they will not move for Christ.
6:24. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
How is that for simple, strong, mind-unifying advice to afflicted, conflicted,
schizophrenic souls everywhere? Either, or - who cannot grasp that? No complex carnal
manipulations to vainly please contradictory factions or philosophies. It is either God,
or else mammon [things of man, menpleasers, Colossians 3:22]. Christ is the answer,
Colossians 3:23-25.
schizophrenic souls everywhere? Either, or - who cannot grasp that? No complex carnal
manipulations to vainly please contradictory factions or philosophies. It is either God,
or else mammon [things of man, menpleasers, Colossians 3:22]. Christ is the answer,
Colossians 3:23-25.
7:21-23. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me
in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophecied in thy name? and in thy name have cast
out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me
in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophecied in thy name? and in thy name have cast
out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
Consider lesson #11 on Unhelpful Traditions, and #5 on Insufficient Religiosity. Any
religion will not do. It must be moving after Christ, "if haply they might feel after him",
Acts 17:27. It must be moved by Christ, John 6:44. Such momentum comes after denying
self/mammon, and obeying the word of Christ.
religion will not do. It must be moving after Christ, "if haply they might feel after him",
Acts 17:27. It must be moved by Christ, John 6:44. Such momentum comes after denying
self/mammon, and obeying the word of Christ.
At the beginning of this article, I left off part of the defintion of "inertia," saving the best
for last. Inertia also means, "... or of a body in motion to stay in motion in a straight line,
unless disturbed by an external force." (Ibid.) So the good news is that moving for Christ
can make inertia to be a positive force, and build momentum. The nearer one draws to
Christ (John 6:44; James 4:8) the quicker their spirit (Romans 8:11), the less they drag
(Hebrews 12:1), the stronger their power (Colossians 1:11), and the better it works out
(Romans 8:28).
for last. Inertia also means, "... or of a body in motion to stay in motion in a straight line,
unless disturbed by an external force." (Ibid.) So the good news is that moving for Christ
can make inertia to be a positive force, and build momentum. The nearer one draws to
Christ (John 6:44; James 4:8) the quicker their spirit (Romans 8:11), the less they drag
(Hebrews 12:1), the stronger their power (Colossians 1:11), and the better it works out
(Romans 8:28).
OvercomingSelf.net
Help Your Self article #1