Wow so I haven't done a blog update in about 2 months, my apologies for that. School has been kind of hectic, but this semester has been incredible. From the get go God has been challenging my worldview and how I live out my walk with God. We have had classes on 1st and 2nd Peter, 2nd Corinthians, Missions in Church History, and Galatians. I have come to grips with how much of a legalistic person I can be and how my view of other people's walk with God is measured by performance. It has been so good though to be sitting under the Word of God and have these things revealed. It has been cool to see how much God cares about the man I become, so much so that his purpose in my life is to conform me to the image of his Son (Romans 8:28).
Probably the most impactful class this semester has been our class on the book of Romans which we are still currently in. As I mentioned before I have a very legalistic attitude that has been revealed this semester and have struggled with the process of sanctification. I have a tendency to view sanctification as a process of works and therefore measure my own walk and the walks of others by their performance or adherence to certain things. When we studied through Chapters 6-8 of Romans, I learned about many truths about who I am in the person of Christ that I had already known or heard about but I have been learning so much about the implications that these truths should have on my life. In chapter 6 Paul talks about the believer's relation to sin now that he has been justified by Christ. We have been declared as dead to sin and alive to Christ. Therefore, sin no longer has authority and power over us, we have been set free! In Chapter 7 Paul talks about our relation to the law and we have been set free from law, not just the Mosaic law, but law as a means of life! We are under grace not a list of rules and regulations because the law does not sanctify but it shows sin and kills (7:7-13). Paul ends Chapter 7 talking about the reality of the battle that goes on within us all. We have been set free from sin and the law but why do we still struggle with sin? Paul answers and shows that there is a war going on inside his being, a law of the flesh which wages war against the law of his mind which desires to serve God. Paul exclaims "Who will save me from this body of death!" He knows he is free from sin but cannot seem to break free from the power that sin has on his life. In Chapter 8 Paul outlines all the amazing provisions that God has made for us to live free from sin. He has given us his Spirit to depend on to live the Christian Life. It is not our power by which we serve God but it is by the power He provides. God has provided me with adoption as sons, with assurance, with security, with confidence. I can now live the Christian Life from the perspective of a son because Romans 8 tells me that I am God's son and a co-heir with Christ. Romans 8 tells me that I have a future hope of glory with Christ Jesus, the redemption of my body! Therefore the sufferings I experience do not compare to my future glory. Romans 8 also tells me that nothing in all of creation can ever separate me from the love of God. NOTHING. If God is for me who can be against me? I can live with God with assurance and security knowing that I am secure in the love of God and he is for me conforming to Christ's image. So I ask you the question I have been asking myself: Since God has provided EVERYTHING we need to live this newness of life that he has given us, why do we rely on a list of rules or make up a Christian life, why do we try and live this life on our own power? He has provided the resources.
Prayer Requests
1. I recently applied for an internship here at school after I graduate in the maintenance department so please pray for the future in that and for the time period between Bible school and the next step of training.
2. Prayer for my legalism. As I sit under the Word I know God is desiring to use His view of me to impact how I view others. So please pray that the legalism would continue to be revealed and that grace would define how I view my relationship and walk with God as well as others.
3. Pray for prison ministry! We are halfway through Ephesians and it is going well. We have 12 new applications in to get cleared so please pray for fast clearances and for the new teachers coming in. Also for the hearts of the men being taught as well as for the Word to be penetrating our hearts as teachers.
You're partnership in my growth and time here at Bible school as well as in my prison ministry has been invaluable. I covet your prayers for they are always needed. If you would like to receive any mail in updates which should be coming in towards the end of this semester or my prayer card, please email me in jsheridan03@gmail.com. Grace and peace to you!
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