by Phil Lapp

“But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives…” I Timothy 5:6
In this context of instruction, the Holy Spirit is speaking about widows who were being supported by the Church in their calling to the ministry of serving the Saints.

God has called all of His Children into a life of obedient service. Many Christians begin this journey whole-heartedly and sincerely, but somewhere down the road they begin to mix in some “fleshly” pleasure. The pleasure of getting their own way.

Selfish ambitions which appear spiritual and loving, but are fake, because they are motivated by Pride, jealousy, competition, envy, the fear of man, or for some other reason, than a meek and quiet submission to the Holy Spirit.

This will always bring about a death in our inner man, even though we keep living. Disobedient rebellion to God always brings a death to our Spirit. It may go unnoticed by many who live around us, but it is no joke!

“For if you live according to the flesh will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Romans 8:13

Are you dead while you live?

The opposite truth is to die while you live. This is the “living sacrifice” of my own will, crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

To die while you live means you are constantly putting to death the desire of pleasing yourself. This is not the self–immolation many other religions teach, rather it is the death to Sin, we are instructed into in the 6th Chapter of Romans.

If you have begun this walk of careful obedience to the Holy Spirit, do not try to perfect it in the flesh; ie…in the self-confidence of your own will and reason. This will surely bewitch you into a good feeling or soulish Christian experience.

“In the volume of the book it is written of me – I come to do thy will, O God.”

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