In Acts 10:15, Peter was told “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” Similarly, in our walk with Christ, if we are going to make any real progress, there should be things we no longer consider as we used to. The Scriptures teach that “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints” and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (Ephesians 5:3-8). Because we have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness into one of light, God requires that we no longer consider (think about and be drawn toward) our old ways of sin. To be lukewarm is to have a mixture of the good God expects plus an adherence to the things that should no longer be mentioned among God’s people (see Ephesians 5:3-8; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). If Jesus said He will reject the Christian who is lukewarm (see Revelations 3:16), what then will become of the one who is icy-cold?
To “no longer consider” is also to refuse to pay attention to or be overcome by things that are meant to stop us from inheriting the promises of God. That is what Abraham did: “Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead–since he was about a hundred years old–and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:18-21). We are no longer to consider the fiery ordeal that come our way, which comes upon us for our testing, as though some strange thing were happening to us (see 1 Peter 4:12). Rather, we are to consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds knowing that the testing of our faith produces perseverance; and we are to let perseverance finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4). Considering fiery ordeals and evil oppositions in the light of God’s Word makes all the difference between a life of defeat and one of victory, between failure and success, and between depression and joy unspeakable.
How do you practically not consider the things we are no longer to consider? Settle it in your heart and make up your mind to refuse to pay attention to them when they show up. The devil cannot force you to choose sin over righteousness, neither can he force you to think what he wants you to think. He doesn’t have that power. He can only present sin to you and bring thoughts to your mind, but you have the power to choose what you give attention to and focus on. Even so, we can only refuse what the devil presents to us to the degree that we know what God says. This is how Jesus- The Word- overcame when the devil tempted him: He looked to the Word of God. We must do same. When fiery ordeals and temptations show up, look to what the Word says and consider only that. This is the way to victory. This is how you make your way prosperous (Joshua 1:8).
Kwadwo Omari
© August, 2016.