DISCUSSION FORUMS
MAIN MENU
Home
Help
Advanced Search
Recent Posts
Site Statistics
Who's Online
Forum Rules
More From
ChristiansUnite
Bible Resources
• Bible Study Aids
• Bible Devotionals
• Audio Sermons
Community
• ChristiansUnite Blogs
• Christian Forums
• Facebook Apps
Web Search
• Christian Family Sites
• Top Christian Sites
• Christian RSS Feeds
Family Life
• Christian Finance
• ChristiansUnite
K
I
D
S
Shop
• Christian Magazines
• Christian Book Store
Read
• Christian News
• Christian Columns
• Christian Song Lyrics
• Christian Mailing Lists
Connect
• Christian Singles
• Christian Classifieds
Graphics
• Free Christian Clipart
• Christian Wallpaper
Fun Stuff
• Clean Christian Jokes
• Bible Trivia Quiz
• Online Video Games
• Bible Crosswords
Webmasters
• Christian Guestbooks
• Banner Exchange
• Dynamic Content
Subscribe to our Free Newsletter.
Enter your email address:
ChristiansUnite
Forums
Welcome,
Guest
. Please
login
or
register
.
October 09, 2024, 11:55:36 AM
1 Hour
1 Day
1 Week
1 Month
Forever
Login with username, password and session length
Search:
Advanced search
Our Lord Jesus Christ loves you.
286982
Posts in
27572
Topics by
3790
Members
Latest Member:
Goodwin
ChristiansUnite Forums
Prayer
Answered Prayer
(Moderator:
admin
)
Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
« previous
next »
Pages:
[
1
]
Author
Topic: Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin (Read 8273 times)
Ambassador4Christ
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 2873
Are You GOING TO HEAVEN?
Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
«
on:
July 05, 2003, 07:19:05 PM »
Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
by Steve McVey
_________________
I spent the past month battling with a kidney stone – ever had one? A man should never wish one on his worst enemy. Some women have told me that it is similar to having a baby. I’ve told them that can’t be true or no woman would ever have more than one child.
After a month, I finally had to have surgery two weeks ago. Thankfully, the kidney stone is gone. I prayed for God to “roll away the stone,” and He did – He just did it through a doctor.
For a month I kept talking to my family about “what is wrong with me.” However, in reality, there was nothing wrong with me. Instead, something was wrong in me. I had a stone in my kidney, but I, myself, wasn’t a stone. It was in me, but not me. The stone didn’t define who I am.
That’s how it is with the power of indwelling sin. In Romans 7:23, the Apostle Paul says that the sin is in my body. At salvation, we received a new spirit. Our soul is being renewed. But we still live in the same old body we’ve always had. And in that body is the residual effect of sin.
One day we will be given a glorified body, but until then we have the power of sin within us. Paul said that “evil is present in me” (7:21). He didn’t say that he was evil. The fact that indwelling sin still is present in our bodies doesn’t give us the identity of a sinner.
You are a saint who sometimes sins. You have a new identity now. You should no sooner call yourself a sinner because the power of indwelling sin is in your body than I would call myself “Rocky” because a kidney stone was in mine. Of course we don’t live sinless lives, but it isn’t our behavior that gives us our identity. Birth does that.
You have been born into the family of God through Jesus Christ. Now you possess His very nature. (See 2 Peter 1:3-4) Don’t define yourself by sin. The essence of who you are is grounded in the union you have with Jesus Christ. You are a Christian. There may be something wrong in you and it may manifest some ugly symptoms at times. But there is nothing wrong with you.
I’ve been told that one way to avoid kidney stones is to drink plenty of water. Jesus is the River of Living Water that flows from within us. (See John 7:38) Drink deeply of His life everyday. He alone will keep us from becoming stuck down by debilitating sin.
Steve McVey is the President of Grace Walk Ministries, a discipleship ministry located in Atlanta, GA. If you have been sent this devotional by a friend and want to know more about Grace Walk Ministries, visit our web site at
www.gracewalk.org
.
This devotional may be duplicated if printed with no changes in its entirety and with the following acknowledgment: “Copyright, 2003,used by permission. Steve McVey, Grace Walk Ministries,
www.gracewalk.org
”
Note: I have had many kidney stones in my life A4C
«
Last Edit: July 05, 2003, 07:20:16 PM by Ambassador4Christ
»
Logged
Are You GOING TO HEAVEN?
http://forums.christiansunite.com/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=550
Galatians 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Whitehorse
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 1441
I'll think of something.
Re:Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
«
Reply #1 on:
July 05, 2003, 10:27:33 PM »
Wow! That's a great story. I've had my share of kidney stones, too.
Logged
Ambassador4Christ
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 2873
Are You GOING TO HEAVEN?
Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
«
Reply #2 on:
July 06, 2003, 05:22:11 PM »
Quote from: Whitehorse on July 05, 2003, 10:27:33 PM
Wow! That's a great story. I've had my share of kidney stones, too.
The Pain
Logged
Are You GOING TO HEAVEN?
http://forums.christiansunite.com/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=550
Galatians 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Whitehorse
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 1441
I'll think of something.
Re:Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
«
Reply #3 on:
July 06, 2003, 08:46:52 PM »
yeah
i know
Logged
Brother Love
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 4224
"FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE"
Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
«
Reply #4 on:
July 07, 2003, 06:20:10 AM »
WHY GOD'S CHILDREN SUFFER
Contrary to common belief, the Bible does not teach that
all men are the children of God. Our Lord said to the re-
ligious leaders of His day: "Ye are of your father the devil"
(John 8:44), but to the Christian believers at Galatia
St. Paul wrote: "Ye are all the children of God by faith in
Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:26).
As the children of Adam, it is not strange that we should
have to bear suffering; for sorrow, sickness and death en-
tered the world through sin (Rom. 5:12). But some people
wonder why God's children, whose greatest desire is to
please Him, should have to suffer along with others.
There are several reasons for this. In the case of Job, God
allowed His servant to suffer to prove to Satan that Job did
not live a godly life for personal gain—and Job was richly
rewarded later for all he had borne.
Further, God's people could not be of much spiritual help
to others if they were exempt from the sufferings which
others have to bear. In such a case the unsaved would say:
"Yes, you can talk! You don't know what it is to suffer dis-
appointments, sickness and pain, as we do."
Then too, it must be remembered that even the most
godly saint is not perfect and must at times be disciplined,
"for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom He receiveth" (Heb. 12:6). This is done for
our good, to keep us from sin and its consequences.
Finally, suffering and adversity tend to make God's chil-
dren pray more and lean harder on Him, and herein lies
their spiritual strength and blessing. St. Paul said: "I take
pleasure in infirmities.. .for when I am weak, then am I
strong" (II Cor. 12:10).
But there is a great twofold advantage which the suf-
fering Christian has over others. First, his sufferings are
only temporary and, second, they earn eternal glory for
him.
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (II Cor. 4:17).
Brother Love
Logged
THINGS THAT DIFFER By C.R. Stam
Read it on line for "FREE"
http://www.geocities.com/protestantscot/ttd/ttd_chap1.html
<
))><
Ambassador4Christ
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 2873
Are You GOING TO HEAVEN?
Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
«
Reply #5 on:
July 07, 2003, 03:06:30 PM »
Quote from: Brother Love on July 07, 2003, 06:20:10 AM
WHY GOD'S CHILDREN SUFFER
Contrary to common belief, the Bible does not teach that
all men are the children of God. Our Lord said to the re-
ligious leaders of His day: "Ye are of your father the devil"
(John 8:44), but to the Christian believers at Galatia
St. Paul wrote: "Ye are all the children of God by faith in
Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:26).
As the children of Adam, it is not strange that we should
have to bear suffering; for sorrow, sickness and death en-
tered the world through sin (Rom. 5:12). But some people
wonder why God's children, whose greatest desire is to
please Him, should have to suffer along with others.
There are several reasons for this. In the case of Job, God
allowed His servant to suffer to prove to Satan that Job did
not live a godly life for personal gain—and Job was richly
rewarded later for all he had borne.
Further, God's people could not be of much spiritual help
to others if they were exempt from the sufferings which
others have to bear. In such a case the unsaved would say:
"Yes, you can talk! You don't know what it is to suffer dis-
appointments, sickness and pain, as we do."
Then too, it must be remembered that even the most
godly saint is not perfect and must at times be disciplined,
"for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom He receiveth" (Heb. 12:6). This is done for
our good, to keep us from sin and its consequences.
Finally, suffering and adversity tend to make God's chil-
dren pray more and lean harder on Him, and herein lies
their spiritual strength and blessing. St. Paul said: "I take
pleasure in infirmities.. .for when I am weak, then am I
strong" (II Cor. 12:10).
But there is a great twofold advantage which the suf-
fering Christian has over others. First, his sufferings are
only temporary and, second, they earn eternal glory for
him.
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (II Cor. 4:17).
Brother Love
Hey Brother I Love You Bro, GRRRRRRRRRREAT message
Logged
Are You GOING TO HEAVEN?
http://forums.christiansunite.com/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=550
Galatians 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Whitehorse
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 1441
I'll think of something.
Re:Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
«
Reply #6 on:
July 07, 2003, 06:51:26 PM »
This is so sweet, so helpful.
Thank you
.
Logged
Brother Love
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 4224
"FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE"
Re:Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
«
Reply #7 on:
July 08, 2003, 06:37:47 AM »
I have seen many people approach death and have seen some die.
Some, who knew Christ as their Savior, were ready, even
eager, to go to be with Him. Some passed from this scene
with songs or words of praise on their lips. Others, who had
failed to prepare, died in mortal fear, not merely of death,
but of what lies beyond.
These things do not always run true to form, however, for
I have also seen the most hardened unbelievers go out of
this life joking and seemingly unafraid, while, on the other
hand, I have seen sincere Christians cringe with fear at the
approach of death. These human reactions did not change
the fact that the unbelievers had reason to be afraid, while
the believers need not have feared.
The Word of God tells us that "it is appointed unto men
once to die, but after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:27,28). It is
the "after this" that makes men so afraid to die. They fear
the truth of Rom. 14:12, that "every one of us shall give ac-
count of Himself to God."
But wait: we did not quote all of Heb. 9:27,28. The full
passage reads as follows:
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment; so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time apart from sin, unto salvation."
This can mean only one thing: that Christ died for us and
bore the judgment for our sins, the "second death."
This is why Heb. 2:9-15 declares that "by the grace of
God" Christ "tasted death for every man.. .that through
[His] death He might...deliver them who through fear of
death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
Author C.R. Stam
Logged
THINGS THAT DIFFER By C.R. Stam
Read it on line for "FREE"
http://www.geocities.com/protestantscot/ttd/ttd_chap1.html
<
))><
Ambassador4Christ
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 2873
Are You GOING TO HEAVEN?
Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
«
Reply #8 on:
July 08, 2003, 05:33:19 PM »
Quote from: Brother Love on July 08, 2003, 06:37:47 AM
I have seen many people approach death and have seen some die.
Some, who knew Christ as their Savior, were ready, even
eager, to go to be with Him. Some passed from this scene
with songs or words of praise on their lips. Others, who had
failed to prepare, died in mortal fear, not merely of death,
but of what lies beyond.
These things do not always run true to form, however, for
I have also seen the most hardened unbelievers go out of
this life joking and seemingly unafraid, while, on the other
hand, I have seen sincere Christians cringe with fear at the
approach of death. These human reactions did not change
the fact that the unbelievers had reason to be afraid, while
the believers need not have feared.
The Word of God tells us that "it is appointed unto men
once to die, but after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:27,28). It is
the "after this" that makes men so afraid to die. They fear
the truth of Rom. 14:12, that "every one of us shall give ac-
count of Himself to God."
But wait: we did not quote all of Heb. 9:27,28. The full
passage reads as follows:
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment; so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time apart from sin, unto salvation."
This can mean only one thing: that Christ died for us and
bore the judgment for our sins, the "second death."
This is why Heb. 2:9-15 declares that "by the grace of
God" Christ "tasted death for every man.. .that through
[His] death He might...deliver them who through fear of
death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
Author C.R. Stam
Thanks Brother, I needed that.
Brother Love
Logged
Are You GOING TO HEAVEN?
http://forums.christiansunite.com/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=550
Galatians 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Whitehorse
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 1441
I'll think of something.
Re:Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
«
Reply #9 on:
July 09, 2003, 06:16:54 PM »
That's very nice! A good reminder.
Logged
Symphony
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 3117
I'm a llama!
Re:Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
«
Reply #10 on:
July 09, 2003, 09:01:31 PM »
I hate sin. I hate kidney stones. BLEAHHHHH!
Logged
Brother Love
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 4224
"FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE"
Re:Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
«
Reply #11 on:
July 10, 2003, 04:29:33 AM »
Quote from: Symphony on July 09, 2003, 09:01:31 PM
I hate sin. I hate kidney stones. BLEAHHHHH!
Brother Love
Logged
THINGS THAT DIFFER By C.R. Stam
Read it on line for "FREE"
http://www.geocities.com/protestantscot/ttd/ttd_chap1.html
<
))><
Ambassador4Christ
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 2873
Are You GOING TO HEAVEN?
Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
«
Reply #12 on:
July 15, 2003, 05:11:57 PM »
Quote from: Symphony on July 09, 2003, 09:01:31 PM
I hate sin. I hate kidney stones. BLEAHHHHH!
I even hate them more Bro
Logged
Are You GOING TO HEAVEN?
http://forums.christiansunite.com/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=550
Galatians 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Brother Love
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 4224
"FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE"
Re:Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
«
Reply #13 on:
July 16, 2003, 05:28:05 AM »
Quote from: Ambassador4Christ on July 15, 2003, 05:11:57 PM
Quote from: Symphony on July 09, 2003, 09:01:31 PM
I hate sin. I hate kidney stones. BLEAHHHHH!
"THE PAIN"
Brother Love
I even hate them more Bro
Logged
THINGS THAT DIFFER By C.R. Stam
Read it on line for "FREE"
http://www.geocities.com/protestantscot/ttd/ttd_chap1.html
<
))><
The Crusader
Guest
Re:Kidney Stones and Indwelling Sin
«
Reply #14 on:
January 19, 2004, 06:31:38 AM »
Quote from: Brother Love on July 08, 2003, 06:37:47 AM
I have seen many people approach death and have seen some die.
Some, who knew Christ as their Savior, were ready, even
eager, to go to be with Him. Some passed from this scene
with songs or words of praise on their lips. Others, who had
failed to prepare, died in mortal fear, not merely of death,
but of what lies beyond.
These things do not always run true to form, however, for
I have also seen the most hardened unbelievers go out of
this life joking and seemingly unafraid, while, on the other
hand, I have seen sincere Christians cringe with fear at the
approach of death. These human reactions did not change
the fact that the unbelievers had reason to be afraid, while
the believers need not have feared.
The Word of God tells us that "it is appointed unto men
once to die, but after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:27,28). It is
the "after this" that makes men so afraid to die. They fear
the truth of Rom. 14:12, that "every one of us shall give ac-
count of Himself to God."
But wait: we did not quote all of Heb. 9:27,28. The full
passage reads as follows:
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment; so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time apart from sin, unto salvation."
This can mean only one thing: that Christ died for us and
bore the judgment for our sins, the "second death."
This is why Heb. 2:9-15 declares that "by the grace of
God" Christ "tasted death for every man.. .that through
[His] death He might...deliver them who through fear of
death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
Author C.R. Stam
Now that is good.
The Crusader
Logged
Pages:
[
1
]
« previous
next »
Jump to:
Please select a destination:
-----------------------------
ChristiansUnite and Announcements
-----------------------------
=> ChristiansUnite and Announcements
-----------------------------
Welcome
-----------------------------
=> About You!
=> Questions, help, suggestions, and bug reports
-----------------------------
Theology
-----------------------------
=> Bible Study
=> General Theology
=> Prophecy - Current Events
=> Apologetics
=> Bible Prescription Shop
=> Debate
=> Completed and Favorite Threads
-----------------------------
Prayer
-----------------------------
=> General Discussion
=> Prayer Requests
=> Answered Prayer
-----------------------------
Fellowship
-----------------------------
=> You name it!!
=> Just For Women
=> For Men Only
=> What are you doing?
=> Testimonies
=> Witnessing
=> Parenting
-----------------------------
Entertainment
-----------------------------
=> Computer Hardware and Software
=> Animals and Pets
=> Politics and Political Issues
=> Laughter (Good Medicine)
=> Poetry/Prose
=> Movies
=> Music
=> Books
=> Sports
=> Television