The second branch that should be implemented into your life to dethrone your own authority comes in two parts, and is represented by the Legislative Branch of the government, which also has two parts; the house of representatives and the senate.
The first part is the Church; (corresponding to the House of Representatives) After all the church is a house full of Christ's representatives. It is important that you have a home church where you are fed and taught the Word of God. Hebrews 10:25 tells us that we should not neglect meeting together. And why is that? What is so important about being around other people? First of all, it will be very difficult to distribute power away from yourself if no one's around you. The church is a place to receive guidance and encouragement. If you would be honest with yourself, you would agree that there will be times where you will encounter situations where the right decision is not clear; and it is in those times that you need godly counsel and wisdom. The church is also where we recharge our spiritual batteries, and refuel our motivation.
The second part of the legislative branch is the Senate; which helps us to remember to "Hate Sin". This is a huge step that many people overlook in their pursuit to be free of sin. The Bible tells us that all who fear the Lord will hate evil. (Proverbs 8:13) Paul tells us to hate what is wrong and cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9) The culture of the American Christians is one that embraces the world instead of shuns it; and skips around the fuzzy gray boundary lines instead of avoiding even the appearance of evil.
My wife hates snakes. Hates! I can't think of a stronger word, or I would use it. She won't go near even the cage of a snake at a zoo. She is a very compassionate person, but feels that one less snake on the earth is a step closer to heaven. You know, I think if Eve would have treated the serpent in the garden with the same type of hate and disgust, she would have avoided her sin. Her first mistake was not taking a bite of the fruit; it was talking to the snake; giving it her attention and her time. People in the church today treat sin more like a cute pot belly pig in a petting zoo, rather than like a deadly poisonous snake that wants to kill them.
2 Timothy 2:22 "Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust."
Ephesians 4:27 "Do not give opportunities to the devil."
There may be some huge holes in the walls of your life that you need to patch up, that the devil has been using to get in. What do those patches look like? How do you practically keep the devil out of your life city? Here's a great place to start: remove the access to immoral material. Filters on the internet, filters on tv, or no tv. We don't even consider that an option in America, but when it's all said and done, what is more important to you, your soul or next week's sidcom? No alcohol in your home. People get in long discussions with me about how the Bible does not condemn drinking alcohol. That's fine, but the difference between Joe Drinker and I will be obvious when we're both having a bad day, and Joe turns to his cabinet two feet away full of alcohol to give him relief, but I won't be able to do that; not because I'm better than Joe, but because I didn't allow alcohol to even be present in my home. I have eliminated my power to choose drunkenness as an escape by fortifying my home beforehand. Eliminate power to choose wrong decisions by narrowing down your available options to ones that are pure.
Last of all is the executive branch, which is one person; the president. There needs to be one person in your life that has veto power over your decisions. Someone who is close and knows your life and sees things from a different perspective. Someone who will ask you the tough questions, and give you a much needed slap in the face every now and then.
Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."
Ecclesiastes chapter four explains how two people are better off than one. They can help each other stand. We all have bad days and days of weakness, and the devil knows that. He won't attack you with temptation while your in a deep devotion time with God. He waits for the opportune time; and your emotions are raging the wrong way, and you are most susceptible to making a wrong decision. Your friend will probably not be going through the same emotional valley at the same time as you, and will be able to help you think clearly and steer you through the dark valley until you are back to normal. We all need it.
Distribute the power in your life to these different areas; the authority of the Bible, the encouragement and direction of the church, narrowing down your options, and an accountability partner. Do these and your life city will prosper.
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