Maintaining our experience
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Obtaining the experience:
The Christian walk was never promised to be a “cake walk”, but one with trouble and difficult encounters and experiences (Jn 16:33). We deal with other people – some Christian and some not – and they live in bodies with temperaments affected by the fall just as we are affected. They experience similar circumstances and feelings as we do. They have bad days and experience moods the same as we do, so that inter-personal experiences can sometimes be less than great.
Seeking and obtaining the sanctified experience is the duty of every Christian (1 Thes 4:3-4; Eph 3:16-19) and can be seemingly difficult. Once we bring our wills into surrender we enter into this experience and keep on following and yielding our wills and entire self to God (Rom 12:1-2).
Maintaining the experience:
1. Secure and maintain an abiding attitude against any sin – if we lack a whole commitment to what sin is and committing sin, we will be less likely to be tempted to it.
2. Provide no nourishment for the old nature – If you feed a habit you’ll never break it. The same with any sin. If you make provision for it, you will be in constant battle (Ro 13:14)
a. Avoid unnecessary exposure to besetting sins
b. Avoid haste in speaking and action when under trial
c. Avoid loud, sharp tones of voice
d. Keep and guard your thinking about those who “push your buttons”. (2 Cor 10:4-5)
3. Our sanctified experience can be strengthened by reflecting upon God’s (Jesus) actions and words while upon earth.
4. Guard against repetition of actions, words, thoughts – fresh wounds are more easily healed than old ones (1 Jn 2:1; 3:6)
5. Seek a daily filling of God’s Spirit
6. Remember that God’s keeping power is equal to His saving and sanctifying power. (1 Thes 5:23-24; Jude 24).
7. Maintain proper thoughts, especially about all things (Phil 4:8)