Acting out the faith may be the biggest challenge for Christians. Recently Rev. Si Duoyong, a house church pastor in Southen China, shares the message of how to win over temptation on a Sunday service.
How should Christian depend on God to overcome temptation? Don't grasp everything. Be simple.
"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." (Romans 7:15) Paul tells us that there are two laws against each other. The key to beat temptation is to rely on God's word. The pastor gives an example that a cat pays no attention to wine but is lured when fish is put beside a bottle of wine. A cat can sleep near wine that is tempting to drunkards, for the animal is not into it.
Likewise, a believer won't be tempted when he has no evil desire and he even loses interest when seeing "wine".
"I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." (Galatians 2:20)This shows life in Christ. So we must be dead to sins and let the life of Christ flow into us. To act out life must begin with death. A new life can't be born without the end of an old life.
There are two selves inside "me" in the verse of Galatians: the old self and the new one. Kill the old self and live out the new self. Be positive to any hardship, crisis or attack.
"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me --- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:9) When we put it into practice, God's power is with us. Living out life means action. Our deeds are not against the law "because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." (1 John 3:9)
But the real transformed life should be shown outside the church, to the world. Rev. Si witnesses that he helped a cleaner push a dustbin and the cleaner shared complaints with him while he was pushing. The pastor said, "Jesus loves you." Then the dustman felt happy after hearing his comforting and encouraging words. "Our 'deeds' should enter into our life." The pastor states, "A church co-worker was amazed at me when I volunteered in a hospital, saying, 'Why are you here?' I asked him, 'Why can't I stay here?' This requires living out life and serving others."
Genesis 1:28 says, "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'" God will us when we live out life in Christ. Vibrant believers can reproduce lives and their own lives are going to be richer.
Our lives should experience the presence of Jesus---- many people receive God's grace and are transformed after experiencing crises. So don't fear crises for trials, setbacks and difficulties are good to us.
The Bible records many people who lived out life in Christ. Zacchaeus who lived out the life of God gave money to others after his conversion. Joseph lived out a holy life. He left his cloak and ran out of the house when the wife of Potiphar was flattering him. Daniel prayed toward Jerusalem three times a day, not fearing being accused, who would like to die rather than follow the edict. Whoever wants to live out life should not fear death. Death won't come after us when we are not afraid to die.
We should learn to hear and see God's word then receive revelation. Obey the revelation and take action. An action becomes a habit, which acts out life in Christ.
Translated By: Karen Luo
