Keeping Things New
11/03/2013
George Poulo
 Quench not the Spirit:  We can quench the Spirit...
  1. by sin,
  2. by neglect,
  3. by busyness,
  4. by overwork,
  5. by lack of awareness,
  6. by covetousness,
  7. by lack of stillness,
  8. by lack of study of God's word,
  9. by not doing things heartily unto the Lord
  10. by lack of love
  11. by rules and ritual
  12. by ignoring the inner witness
  13. by not living a spiritual life: not eating properly, not getting enough sleep, by not entering the quiet, by not being mindful of all we do, by not spending time with nature, by not listening to soft, spiritual music.
  14. by being only self-centered
  15. by not having a ministry to others

        We keep things new by being renewed.  Spiritual gifts do not come to us like apples falling off a tree.  They come through living a spiritual life and many Christians do not know how to live a spiritual life.  Consequently, the Christian life begins with joy, then when trials or persecution come, the joy leaves, and they forsake the call.  Or the Christian starts out good but they slip back into the world: the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things choke the word.  But if a Christian is patient and establishes good living practices he or she can be renewed and stay in the Spirit.  If we are made new, all things become new and we can find peace, love, and joy in our routines and bring those same qualities to others.  We must learn the art of living a sound Christian life and unless we do life will loose its freshness and we will become stale.

        Quench not the Spirit.  amen 

 
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