Romans - Are We Through?

In Revelation and also in the Lord's earthly ministry, these statements have been made a number of times. 

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear."  And, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches."

So what is it then, we should do?   "Listen up." 

This morning I asked the Lord if we were through with Romans.  (And I meant as far as writing devotions on it).  I truly got a reply.  "I'm never through with Romans!"

I read a newsletter from a ministry we deem so highly.  Guess what the theme was?  The truths of Romans, especially speaking of Romans 7.  AND about the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus versus flesh and blood "trying" to achieve by the Law the evidence of righteousness and holiness - THAT we ONLY first received by grace through faith.

They used the phrase "Receiving, not Achieving."

So I looked back on earlier devotions (which right now I call them teachings, because they are longer), AND I found that I was saying the same thing.

But is it me saying it?  Or is it the Spirit teaching, speaking to the churches - to the body, to the individual about the true way of the Lord in Christ Jesus?

For SO long, and I mean for SO long in my Christian journey I've heard the message of salvation - being saved by grace through faith.  AND I have heard the messages of what the Christian OUGHT to do and walk.  Haven't we all?

Yet the astounding message of Christ in you and me, the hope of glory - the Spirit of Life being the manifested righteousness, fruitfulness, and glory  THROUGH faith and continued faith in Him, is not a message that I have heard many times in my Christian experience.

Paul wrote in Corinthians that the letter kills (living by the law), BUT the Spirit gives Life.  The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of our Father and of His Son, ministers LIFE to us in all things.  (Please read these passages:     (II Corinthians 3:1-18; 4:6,7)

I for one, after ALL these years, do not understand why in the world we would trade the power of the Lord's risen life within our spirits for meager flesh and blood striving and effort to achieve "something" we are never going to achieve in and of ourselves.

Everyone who knows me, or really knows me - understands that I like to be silly and love humor.  Others do think I am serious all the time.  I really am serious about knowing the Lord and understanding the Christian walk, but I sure love humor.  So with the Lord, I make humor with Him, of course with all respect.

When I started truly discovering that flesh and blood performance was not the way of the Lord (a/k/a - living by the Law in Romans 7), I could laugh with the Lord at my silly and terrible performance in and of myself!  "So, how did you like that, Lord?" I would say.  And of course I do not ever mean I haven't been deeply sorrowful over anything sinful, because I truly have and always am.

Yet all the while, after these revelations, certainly mean with every fiber in my being that I wanted to know HOW He Himself could produce His glory and righteousness through this vessel/jar of clay with ALL dependence on Him through faith.  Truth is, if we do ever "see" what a sloppy job we are doing, not only will be deeply repent, but we will be eager students of our Lord to genuinely spiritually understand His way in the Christian walk.

The Spirit of God is speaking to the churches right now.  He really is.  He is saying for us to sincerely KNOW His risen Life within our spirits.  To KNOW what it means to have been crucified with Him, yet RAISED with Him.  To KNOW what it means to be in Christ and live the life of faith in/of the Son of God within the human heart.

If the Lord's Spirit is not the number one priority and His Glorious Word, oops - then I think we have fallen into the Laodicean church membership.  What is that?

Lukewarm. 

And we do not have to this at all.  For after the Lord spoke to this assembly some tough words, He tenderly speaks and offers these words of His:

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock (our hearts door): if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I WILL come into them, and will sup with him, and he with Me."  Rev. 3:20

As children of God, Jesus Christ lives in our hearts.  He really does knock - but it's not to come in again like when we received Him for salvation.  It's to make Him the love of our lives - the One who has promised to lead and guide us into ALL Truth.  The One who speaks by His Spirit and His Word - to make known the truths to our hearts that bring forth glorious fruitfulness that abides eternally.

"Dearest Holy Spirit, open our ears to hear You and Your wonderful Words of Life in God's precious Son, the Lord Jesus. You truly want us to know and understand.  So we open wide our hearts door to receive the living Word and allow Your Spirit to teach us all things.  Amen and to You be the glory forever and ever, dear Father and Lord Jesus Christ!"

Sue Gaither