The only way to live a successful Christian life is to understand the makeup of man. According to 1 Thessalonians 5:33, the human consists of three parts: spirit, soul and body. When you are born again, it is the spirit of man that is changed from spiritual death unto spiritual life. Because of Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, we inherited his spiritual sin-nature. When you receive Christ, you simply exchange spiritual natures. You exchanged the spiritual nature of sin for the spiritual nature of God, which is righteousness.
I am a good example of this. For years I was a drug addict, alcoholic, and convicted felon. I hated what I had become and the lifestyle I lived. On many occasions, I had good intentions of never taking drugs or alcohol again, but I never succeeded. Usually within a few hours, I was drunker and higher than I had ever been before. When I got born again on my third escape from prison, I received the spiritual nature of God which empowered me to live a successful Christian life. In March of 1982, I was able to say NO to drugs, alcohol and crime, never again to return to them since that day. The Holy Spirit came into my spirit to help me live for Christ. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I can agree with Paul and so can anyone else who has been born again.
One of the first things you must understand is that your spiritual nature was changed, but your mind has to be renewed to think in line with God’s Word and your body has to be brought into subjection to God’s Word. The first desire that the born again person has is to please God with all their being: spirit, soul, and body. The Bible is God’s instruction manual on how to accomplish this feat. The first thing you have to do to please God is to read, study, and meditate upon God’s Word. The Bible tells us what to do with our mind, mouth, eyes, hands, feet, body and life. There is NOTHING that is left to question. Even though you may be able to quote the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and know exactly what the Bible tells us to do, you will never do what you know unless you add one key ingredient with it. This key ingredient is called prayer.
It is in prayer that you receive the strength of God, which enables you to live what you read in the Bible. In Isaiah chapter 40, it says that they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles and they shall run and shall not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
The Father sent Jesus, his Son, on a mission to earth to discover what it was like to live in a human body, as well as die for the sins of the human race. I believe that when Jesus got back to Heaven, He said, “Father, if you don’t send them some help, they will never live righteous.” Father God then sent the Holy Spirit to indwell each person who would receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. He never expects you to live the Christian life alone. That has been the downfall of many well-meaning Christians.
You will never successfully live for God until you spend time in prayer and the study of God’s Word. The person who thinks they can live successfully, without spending time in prayer, is only deceiving themselves. In John chapter 14, Jesus said He was going away, but that He would send another comforter to be with us forever. This comforter is the Holy Spirit. A simple definition of the word, “comforter,” is ‘one called alongside to help.’ He has been sent to help us live a Christian life. The only way you can help someone else, is to ask for help yourself and then allow the Holy Spirit to help you help them. He will help you if you will allow Him.
I would also like to encourage you, you may not become perfect overnight, but with continued Bible study, prayer, and diligence, you will become more Christ-like each day. The Lord is continually working in us who trust in Him to perform His will through our lives. If you make a mistake or fall into sin, do not quit or give up! 1 John 1:9 tells us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. All you have to do is apply this verse to your life, intending on never falling into that trap again. God wants you to be a success more than you do. He is doing all He can to assure your success. All He needs is a willing individual that will find out what His Word says for them to do, pray and receive strength from God to do it. I am going to list some scriptures which will help you on your journey to success. Read these aloud to yourself and confess that you are what they say you are.
Romans 3:24; 8:1, 2; 12:5
1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 15:22
2 Corinthians 1:21; 2:14; 3:14; 5:17, 19
Galatians 2:4; 3:26, 28; 5:6; 6:15
Ephesians 1:3, 10; 2:6, 10, 13; 3:6, 13, 14
Colossians 1:28
1 Thessalonians 4:16; 5:18
1 Timothy 1:14
2 Timothy 1:9, 13; 2:1, 10; 3:15
Philemon 1:6
2 Peter 1:8
2 John 1:9
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Make a conscious effort to allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in at least 5 decisions every day. Obviously, you want to grow to the point where everything you do or say is inspired by the Holy Spirit, but for now, let’s concentrate on at least 5 simple decisions a day. Example: Who should I talk to today and what should I say? What should I read? What table should I sit at during meals? Etc. Do this for at least one week and watch the wisdom and direction of God in your life.
