Are You Living in the Flesh

 The Flesh Versus the Spirit

 Book of Galatians Chapter 5 Verse 19 through 26

 Many people will not like what I say, but when we die, we finally shed this flesh that has hindered our relationship with Jesus Christ.

 It is then buried till it returns to the dirt God made us from, or more so today it is burnt in an oven till it is nothing but ashes.

 What had Paul said in last week’s lesson?

 Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

 I believe our soul says "good riddance" to that sack of flesh at our death.

Our flesh is the cause of most of our pain!

 The works of the flesh show us just how strong the flesh is!

 Sin is first committed in secret, but by and by will work to the surface and advertise itself in shameless publicity.

 In the First Century all the Rulers such as Tiberias, Caligula, Nero, Domitian were monsters of vice and cruelty, and they only got away with it because the people they governed were equally corrupt.

 We can say the same about the Biden years he was not only corrupt and could not have gotten away with it, if all those around him were not also corrupt.

 Our nation will suffer for years because of this just as we do because of this flesh we live in unless we get the help of the Holy Spirit.

 *****Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 

Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 

Gal 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

 After we are "born again" into the family of God we are expected to be more like Jesus Christ and Jesus would never have done any of these things written in this Scripture.

 Adultery is being sexually unfaithful to a husband or wife. It can also be looking on a man or woman to lust after them.

It does not matter if it is in person, in magazines, in books, on the beaches or anywhere else, it is all adultery if you are married to a wife or husband.

 Fornication includes all forms of immorality and sexual acts. Premarital sex, adultery, and it also includes looking upon a man or woman to lust after them, in person, in magazines, in books, or anywhere else. We can be attracted to the opposite sex without lusting after them.

 Uncleanness is moral impurity. Doing things that dirty, pollute, and soil life.

 Lasciviousness is filthiness, indecency, shamelessness. Unrestrained evil thoughts and behavior. Giving in to lustful desires.

It is those who know no restraint. Those who have sinned so much that they no longer care to hide their wrong. They become slaves to filthy words, induced body movements and immoral handling of people.

 Idolatry is the worship of idols, whether mental such as false gods, or made by man's hands.

It also includes to worship of ideas and devoting time and energy to something other than God.

Now it does not include enjoying the life God has given to us as long as do not put things before our worship of Him.

 Witchcraft also known as sorcery, the use of drugs, or of evil spirits to get control over the lives of others or even over your own life. It would include astrology, palm reading, seances, fortune telling, crystals and any other form of witchcraft.

 Hatred is enmity, hostility, animosity. It is hatred that lingers for a long time, a hatred that is deep within. We have seen many express this hatred for our new president.

 Variance is strife, discord, contention, fighting, struggling, quarreling, wrangling against another person to get something such as a position, or promotion, or property, or recognition, doing whatever it takes to get what he is after.

 Emulation is jealousy, desiring to have what someone else has.

 Wrath is a burst of anger, indignation, a violent explosive temper with explosive reactions. Boiling emotions but these things do not usually last.

 Strife is conflict within yourself, struggling to cope and including a party spirit.

 Seditions are division, rebellion, standing against others, splitting off from others.

 Heresies is rejecting the fundamental beliefs in God, Jesus Christ, the Scriptures, the Church. Holding on to some teaching  which is not true.

 Envying goes beyond jealousy. It is wanting the things some other person has and begrudging the fact that they have them. That wants those things taken away from that person and wants that person to suffer because they have lost the things they cherished.

 Murders is to kill; to take the life of another person and it includes abortions for the sake of getting rid of that child.

It is God who made us and it is only He that has the rights to our living and our death.

When we take away God's right then we deserve God's punishment which is death.

We must still understand the Providence of God. Nothing happens without His knowledge, and He allows it to happen, or he does not allow it to happen for His own purpose.

 Drunkenness is taking drink or drugs to affect your senses for lust or pleasure. Intoxicated, using drugs seeking to loosen moral restraint for bodily pleasure.

 Reveling is carousing around, indulgence, and pleasure, wild parties, drinking parties, indulging in feeding the lust of your flesh. Orgies.

 And all such things that are like these things that are named!

 God has already judged those persons who do these things or take part in these things that they will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven less they come to Jesus and repent of those things.

 God is righteous and He expects us to live righteous lives to be accepted by Him.

 People say they are saved.

Some people even go to a church or some so-called church of false teaching.

They may even talk about Christianity and defend their beliefs.

 However, they go out and live their lives like they always have giving in to the flesh.

 They forget that being Christian is trying our best to be like Jesus Christ!

 Many of them feel that God will forgive them no matter what they do, and he will but there must be repentance.

 Many of them think they have already done enough so that God is pleased with them.

 Most people believe that God will just accept them no matter how they live their lives.

 God is not some Father who allows His children to do as they please.

 Grace is not a license for God's people to do wrong!

 God's New Heaven is made for true believers.

 If we cannot do our best to live a pure and righteous life, we will not inherit the Kingdom of God!

 Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. 

 All those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior are then filled with the Spirit of Jesus and will live accordingly.

 There should be a great difference in a true Christian from their old life that is in the past.

 *****Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

 As Christians we cannot be perfect as long as we are in these bodies of flesh but having the Holy Spirit living within us we should be more like Him.

 He gives us the strength to repent of our old lifestyle and here He gives us this passage.

 Notice immediately He says the "fruit" and not the "fruits" of the Spirit.

 We should have not just one or more of the traits but all of these traits.

 Love: the Greek word used here is "Agape" .

This is brotherly love like that love our Heavenly Father shows to us. It also includes affection.

This love is not distinct but includes all the rest of the things that are mentioned here.

 One of the greatest problems in our nation, in our world, and even in our churches, is that there is no natural affection for one another anymore. Hatred is in far too many spots in our lives today.

 Rom_1:31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

2Ti_3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

 We should have a natural affection within us for all the people of our world and that should include goodwill and benevolence for one another.

 Joy: The Greek word used here means cheerfulness, calm delight, gladness, in fact exceedingly glad. This is not a selfish emotion but as the Sun whose rays warm gladden all people.

 We must understand that being a Christian is not a set of facts. It is not a list of good deeds.

Being a Christian is a disposition of the heart.

 Peace: The Greek word used here is being at true peace with us resting on the knowledge of our future and our true hope in the truth of God.

 Longsuffering: Brings us that dreaded word patience.

 One of the greatest uses of God’s patience was in the days of Noah that while Noah built the Ark that saved eight people Noah also preached to the world of that day around him for one hundred and twenty years and no one believed the Word of God.

We can also say the same for God today. There is really no other prophecy left that needs to be fulfilled before the "Rapture" of the Church, yet God patiently waits for that last soul to be saved before the return of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ to get His Gentile Bride.

 1Pe_3:20  Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

2Pe_3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

 If God can be so patient, then how can we not be the same?

 Gentleness: all these words describe our Savior, but this word gentleness is so wonderful. When we read the Gospels, we cannot help but see the gentleness that the Lord Jesus showed to all the innocent. He showed true kindness to those He touched with His life while He was upon this earth.

 Tit 3:3  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 

Tit 3:4  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 

 Faith: Faithfulness does not doubt God!

Faithfulness does not begin with God and then back off!

Faithfulness does not walk with God then give in to the lusts of the flesh!

Faithfulness begins with God and continues with God!

 We should ask ourselves are we trustworthy enough to get into God's New Heaven!

 1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 

 Meekness: Once we realize just how great is our God then we should have no problem submitting to God and realizing just how tiny we are in comparison. Meekness means we understand the "Providence of God", His preserving and governing of all things. If we are going through something we do not like, then God has His reasons and we need to learn from each event and come out stronger.

 Eph 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 

Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 

Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

 Temperance: Every time we see temperance everyone always goes to alcohol which the Lord says do not even look at.

 Pro 23:29  Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 

Pro 23:30  They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 

Pro 23:31  Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 

 Temperance here means self-mastery over all the indulgences of the flesh, self-control in all respects in this life.

 1Co 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.

 If we have read the Bible, we know that there are no written laws against doing any of these things.

 Laws are never made for those who obey the laws! Laws are written for those who break the laws. It seems our government is confused about this.

 1Ti 1:9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 

1Ti 1:10  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 

1Ti 1:11  According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. 

 What is the difference between a Christian and those in the world?

 *****Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

 The Lord Jesus Christ took our flesh with its sin and it was nailed to the cross with Him and we are now to wear His righteousness as our flesh.

 If we truly belong to Jesus Christ there will be a noticeable change from what we were!

 We become the property and the possession of Jesus Christ.

 We come to Christ to be delivered from our enslavement from sin, from death, and from judgment.

 We want to be saved from our flesh of this corruptible world.

 Paul says: Rom_8:13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

 To mortify is put our old flesh and the deeds of that flesh to death the day we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior.

 No Christian should be doing the same old sins they were doing before their salvation.

 This is the greatest problem in the church today along with many behind the pulpits who were never called of God.

 The seminaries have forgotten the truth of God and are become useless in the work God has given us to do.

 Crucifixion is a lingering mode of death, and it may take us all awhile to yield to the Spirit but it does not take long because the Holy Spirit is all powerful.

 We are to be dead to sin.

We are to crucify the old man.

We are to abolish the whole body of sin with its passions and its lust!

 This death is a condition of our New Birth!

 The Holy Spirit lives within each Christian and being a Christian is being like Jesus Christ.

 *****Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is a person of the Holy Trinity which is our God, so if we live to God let us walk in the Holy Spirit.

 2Co 5:15  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 

 Rom 14:7  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 

Rom 14:8  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 

Rom 14:9  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 

We only have a short time to be usable to God, we need to live as the Holy Spirit directs us to live and He will never direct us back into sin.

*****Gal 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 

We all stand on level ground at the cross. God will direct our lives for His purpose the remaining of our days if we are willing to giive Him contrrol.

If God does not call us to something specific, then we already have the Scriptures which gives us our directions.

We should be very careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit.

Envy is not a fruit of the Spirit but is a great sin that will tear us down and make us useless in the work of God.

In everything we do we are to give God the glory!

Amen

Can We Work Our Way to Heaven

 Isaac or Ishmael

Book of Galatians 4 verses 21 through 31

The way to Heaven is not by any work from us nor by any law; this must be clear to us.

 We are also very wrong if we think God needs our help to further the Gospel.

 God does not need us at all!

 In Luke 19 the Lord Jesus had these words: Luk_19:40  And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

 It is we who need our Heavenly Father and He offers us opportunities after He saves us.

 Our life becomes our testimony as we live to be more like our Savior.

 Jhn_12:26  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

 There are two words that we see in our lesson today that we need to understand.

 1) Promise.

2) Patience.

 First promise: It takes God's wisdom to understand His promise.

 1Co 1:20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 

1Co 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 

1Co 1:22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 

1Co 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 

1Co 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, "and the wisdom of God".

 We can have no wisdom without the Spirit of Wisdom which comes by the Holy Spirit and a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and in this we will have the power to work on patience and other important things.

 Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 

Eph 1:19  "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power", 

Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 

 There is no wisdom of God without a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ which gives us the Spirit of Wisdom which is the Holy Spirit!

 Now let's look at the word patience as it pertains to God.

 We already know that God is never late, but He is always on time.

 Patience:

 Listen to these words from the Apostle Peter:

 2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 

2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 

2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 

2Pe 1:8  For if these things be in you, and abound, "they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ". 

 Patience is something we will work on most of our lives because we live in this sinful and wicked world!

 God has promised Heaven only to those who believe in His Son and have patience till He returns!

 Now let’s look at our lesson today:

 *****Gal 4:21  Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 

 All those who approach God by the Law or by works of goodness or religion are legalists or religionists.

 Every one of them needs to understand what they are doing because they will never reach Heaven this way!

 They need to understand the implications of what they are doing!

 This is why the Apostle Paul was pouring his heart out to these churches in Galatia.

 This is also an example for us to not just push away those of legalism, nor those who are religious, maybe we need to show them the "love of Christ" that is within us.

 This will not be easy!

 We are never better than any of them, we are just better off, and they need to understand why.

 Paul's final attempt to win these souls he went back to the Scriptures.

 The first five books of the Old Testament were considered the sacred law to all Jews and Paul used these same passages to show these churches the error in their way of thinking.

 This is also a great example for us as we tell the lost about the truth of Jesus Christ.

 We must try to tell those who are lost how to escape the bondage they do not realize they are under.

 *****Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 

Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

 If we have read the Bible, we all know this passage of the Old Testament.

 Abraham, who is the father of all those who believe in the promises of God!

 It is by the same faith that Abraham had that we can be saved!

 We must just believe what God says and understand that God keeps His promises.

 Abraham had two sons at this time though he later had others after the death of his wife Sarah.

 The Jews understand that they are descendants of Sarah. This is still in effect today.

 Abraham had two sons before Sarah died.

 One was born of Sarah who was Issac.

 This was a great miracle of God because Sarah had been barren all of her years and far past the time when she could conceive, until the birth of Isaac.

 God had promised Abraham a son by his wife Sarah and Sarah just could not believe what God said, or she wanted to be sure that God's promise to Abraham was true.

 The greatest lesson we can learn here is that God does not need our help to keep His promises!

 It is still a sin to go against the Word of God and trying to help God is a sin!

 God does not need our help; God simply wants us to believe in Him as did Abraham.

 Isaac was the Son of Promise, but there was another son who came before Isaac and his name was Ishmael.

 Sarah had become discouraged from being barren and she had a slave girl who was bought or given to them by a Pharaoh of Egypt.

 Sarah had no patience and thought God needed her help and sent Hagar this young slave into her husband Abraham, and she conceived, and Ishmael was born to this bondwoman.

 This is the basis of Paul's message to these Galatians.

 Paul reminded us of all of this:

 Rom 4:17  (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 

Rom 4:18  Who against hope "believed in hope", that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 

Rom 4:19  And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 

Rom 4:20  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 

Rom 4:21  "And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform". 

Rom 4:22  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 

Rom 4:23  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 

Rom 4:24  But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 

Rom 4:25  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 

 Isaac was born after the order and the process of nature to fulfill the promise of God, just as our Lord Jesus Christ after the promised seed was planted.

 Sarah had a miracle birth, and our Lord Jesus had a miracle birth both of by the "Promise of God".

 Ishmael was still a precious child as much as any child until influenced by his mother and rejected by Sarah.

 None of these things were the fault of Ishmael, and we know God made a promise to Hagar concerning Ishmael.

 Ishmael was conceived in sin when Abraham listened to his wife and went against God's Law.

 Exo_20:14  Thou shalt not commit adultery.

 This thing has broken up more marriages than anything else in this world.

 Again, we cannot help God keep His promises, and this is the basis of a works doctrine.

 *****Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 

Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 

Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: "for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband".Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 

Gal 4:28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 

 We should understand that these things the Apostle Paul is teaching are teaching in allegory and there are not many such places in the Bible where this happens. 

The Lord Jesus used typology in some of His teachings but not allegory.

 To allegorize is to say what is either designed or fitted to convey a meaning other than the literal one, or words adapted to another meaning.

 As believers, we accept the Word of God as the literal truth so we must be very careful if we try to do an allegory with the Scriptures

 It is best to leave these things to true Bible Scholars who know when to use them.

 We cannot ever change the truth of God to mean something else!

 The Apostle Paul was a Bible Scholar and He was speaking to mostly Jews who were once confirmed in Judaism and were trying to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and had received some false teaching from Judaizers who were trying to derail the Church.

 It is far better if we use typology rather than allegories!

 Paul was saying that in these two women Hagar and Sarah we can see the Two Covenants.

 The Covenant of Law and the Covenant of Grace.

 Some preachers might use the word dispensations.

 The one from Mount Sinai, which is the Law and applies to Hagar, and the other from Mount Sion which is the Covenant from Heavenly Jerusalem, bearing the children of liberty and this is Sarah.

 Mount Sinai is where Moses saw the burning bush and received his call to lead the Israelites out from the bondage of Egypt and represents the covenant of the Laws of Moses that were intended to lead all of Israel to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, but the Jews refused to take that step.

 Mat 23:37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 

 Mount Sion is a reference to Heavenly Jerusalem. 

 Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 

Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 

Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

 It is the New Jerusalem that is our home, the home of those whose chains of bondage are broken by Jesus Christ and are now the children of God!

 It is the New Jerusalem which is that Eternal Spiritual City that God promised to all who approach Him by "faith".

 God's "Grace" and the promise of our Heavenly Home are both free to those who have faith in the work of Jesus Christ for our salvation.

 Jerusalem on earth is a place of turmoil and laws and has never been at peace and will only see peace for a while when the Lord Jesus returns

 We have no work to do to get into our Heavenly Home but only believe in the Word of God!

 This is why the Covenant of Grace is such a wonderful thing that comes from our Heavenly Father through the Lord Jesus Christ!

 Isaac was a child of promise and every believer in the Lord Jesus is also a child of promise!

 God made a way for mankind to inherit the Promised Land, and this true Promised Land is not upon this earth.

 Rom 4:13  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 

Rom 4:14  For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 

 Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 

Heb 11:14  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 

Heb 11:15  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 

Heb 11:16  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 

 *****Gal 4:29  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 

 In the Book of Genesis chapter 21, we can read the story of how Ishmael had been mocking Isaac for some reason, and Sarah the mother of Isaac saw him.

 Sarah told Abraham it was time to send that bondwoman away with her son.

 Persecution is not specifically mentioned but any insult is considered to be persecution.

 Legalism persecutes and enslaves believers.

 We are mocked throughout this world because we accept the Word of God as the truth and believe God's promises.

 Ishmael ridiculed, mocked, and persecuted Isaac.

 When we try to approach God in the flesh, with our own energy and our own effort, we are rejecting the Grace of God as the means of righteousness.

 We cannot build credit with God!

We cannot try to get recognition from God!

We cannot work to get God's approval!

We do not have it in our power to gain acceptance and praise of God beyond "faith"!

 All persons in the flesh refuse to accept this fact and they will never make it to New Jerusalem.

 We are in that Age of Persecution today!

 2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

2Ti 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 

 What did God tell Abraham?

 Gen 21:12  And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. 

 *****Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 

 We can see that legalism was cast out and can have no inheritance with God!

 I believe that most of us in the Church know but not many Jews, that Judaism and Christianity are utterly and forever irreconcilable.

 The Jews must accept Jesus Christ in faith just as any other non-believer!

 The Law and the Gospel are two entirely different concepts!

 God will never accept anyone who approaches Him by law or by works!

 No matter how much good and how many good works we present to God on the Day of Judgment God will ask, "What about my Son Jesus" and they will be cast from God's presence.

 What has God done for our salvation?

 God loved us enough to send His own Son to die for us, in our place.

 A simple prayer would be: Father you are my Savior and Lord. I believe with all my heart that your Christ did die for me and I surrender all I am into His keeping. I know that it is your Righteousness and your death that paid for my sins. In Jesus’ name Amen.

 God's promise: Tit 3:4  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 

Tit 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 

Tit 3:6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 

Tit 3:7  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 And the results:

 *****Gal 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. 

The Lord Jesus Christ has freed every believer from the curse of the Law, which ends in death, and eternal separation from the God who made us all.

Amen

Changing Our Behavior

The Blessing of a Changed Behavior

Book of Ephesians 4:25-5:2

As Christians we must have a complete understanding of "sin".

**Sin is any transgression of the Word of God. In other words, if God said don't do it, then don't do it!

Joh 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

God gave the world the Mosaic Laws, so all humans could begin to understand "Sin"!

Rom 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

In America it is popular now to remove the Ten Commandments of God!

We live in a nation where half of the citizens do not want laws and do not want law enforcers and much of the world is the same.

**Sin is a failure to conform to the standard of God!

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

This involves the sins of commission but also the sins of omission.

Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Jas_4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

**Sin is a principle within us all!

Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

**Sin is rebellion against Jehovah God!

1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

As sin has grown significantly, it is also one of the signs that we are in the last days!

Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

There may not be another Scripture that describes this world we live now, than this one!

**Sin is the wrongful act against God but also against mankind.

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Exo 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.

Exo 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Exo 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.

Exo 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Exo 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

****Sin is the thing that God simply will not tolerate!

*****Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

We ended last week’s lesson we ended with Verse 24, but this is to be the dress code for all those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior!

If we are not dressed right, we certainly cannot do right!

Lying is untruthfulness, deception, and yes, even exaggeration is lying.

Why must we always speak the truth, because as believers, we are a member of the Body of Christ, God's building material He uses to build His church.

We are members one of another and "all deception hinders the work of the church"!

Lying can become a habit because lying is the sin of the Devil.

Lying defiles, us:

Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Mat 15:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

We should understand that God hates the liar and the worst of lies are those that are confirmed by an oath!

Those that lie are saying they are in the family of Satan!

2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

We could say that lying is spiritual suicide, because we are denying the new creation God has given to us!

*****Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

Unjustified anger is clearly wrong and clearly sin!

There may be times when anger is justified but when that time comes we must still avoid sin!

Justified anger is never selfish, nor does it seek destruction, justified anger will seek a remedy.

Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Anger can cause us to lash out at others to cause them harm and it is sin.

Anger that broods and harbors malice, will not forget, and seeks revenge, is sinful.

Anger that holds contempt and exalts your own pride, is sinful!

Pro 21:24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

Anger that seeks to destroy another person in any way, is sin.

Anger that curses, is sin.

Anger can cause hurt feelings between those we are the closest to. Such as husband and wife, or brother and sister, or our best friends. Those hurt feelings can linger for a great amount of time and even damage what was once a very good relationship.

Those that are the strongest in their relationships can rule their spirit!

Pro 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

It is foolish to hold onto our anger at any time.

Ecc 7:9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

And God says: "let not the sun go down upon your wrath".

Angry passion, is a fire that will burn down deep into the soul, if it is not soon quenched.

The longer anger simmers and stews in your heart the angrier you will become!

We will certainly be much better off if when we are already angry to not confront someone else who is angry!

We are fools if we do not know that Satan is doing his best to be the master of all mankind!

He studies our character. When we least expect it, he will try to interfere in our Christian lives. Anger is a place he can slip in unnoticed!

We must continuously resist the Devil and never let our guard down, even when we are angry.

Pro 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

It is always better to get over our anger and move on!

In fact, if we want to be angry then let's get angry at sin and do our best to lead every sinner outside the church to the Lord!

*****Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

That word "steal" means not only to take and carry away the things of others, but it means to cheat people wrongfully, legally or illegally.

Pro 20:14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

Pro 21:6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

Pro 21:7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

Those who commit theft directly.

Those who cheat in measures, weight, "quality" and "value" of goods and services.

Those who gain by unjust lawsuits, including unjust judges.

Those who contract debt and those who declare to be bankrupt dishonestly.

Those who charge illegal interest on items or loans.

What about those workers who take pay with doing any work.

What about those who allow damage that could have been stopped.

What about those beggars on the side of the road who are not what they appear to be.

There are many others who take from others in various ways!

The Bible teaches that any of these actions are sin not only against those people but most importantly, against God.

But there are also those who steal from God in various ways and one is in tithes and offerings.

Mal_3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

We also rob God when we do not worship Him in spirit and in truth! This is a commandment!

Joh_4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Joh_4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him "must" worship him in spirit and in truth.

We can call these things whatever we wish but God calls it stealing and all stealing is sin!

Fact: God has put within this earth enough resources to meet the needs of His people!

Fact: God has given mankind the ability to have dominion over this earth!

Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Fact: Those who sincerely want a job can find a job!

Fact: God has given mankind the ability to develop the technology to control nature enough to explore this universe. Not searching for Aliens or other life but to improve things upon this earth!

Fact: mankind could feed, clothe, and house everyone upon this earth and it would be possible, if certain ones did not hoard the riches of this earth!

What's God answer? Those that stole, steal no more!

It is just that simple! If the theft of the riches of this world would stop. If those who had riches would give to those who are in need this world would be a much better place. If this world would then acknowledge the Word of God as the truth, it would be as if the curse has been lifted.

Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

God intends for those who have, to help those who have not, and God intends for His message to be broadcast throughout this world!

We live in a selfish world and this must end!

1Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Fact: we still do not know how to communicate properly!

*****Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

That word corrupt means, rotten, foul, and polluting in fact worthless may be the best description.

Psa 52:2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

Psa 52:3 Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.

Psa 52:4 Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

We could take most of the words used today as used in a worthless manner!

Psa 5:9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

We can also add cursing and unholy talk, as a worthless use of words.

Rom 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

Rom 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Words are used as an act or to forward a cause and if that cause is useless then, those words should not have been said.

Pro 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Pro 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Pro 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Pro 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

We should be careful that the words we say make a productive message to those who are listening!

God's answer is to speak those things that are good, those things that build up each other and especially the Christian, those thing that minister "Grace" to one another. Those words that prove we have been influenced from a power on high and above all this world.

Jesus Christ is still our example even in this. Remember the Lord Jesus never had even one sin!

Isa 50:4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

Isa 50:5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

We already know that as Christians we have the gift of the Holy Spirit who lives within us and if we go against any part of the Word of God we will certainly "grieve" the Holy Spirit.

Being a part in any of these things mentioned in this passage, will cause "grief" to the Holy Spirit.

*****Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

This passage is a very clear proof of the personality of the Holy Spirit of God. He can be "grieved"!

This passage is also clear proof that the Holy Spirit is truly connected to each believer!

The Holy Spirit has the same character of God because He is God!

We should understand the pre-flood days, where God used these words.

Gen 6:3 "And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man", for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

We should understand the time of the Jews 40-year journey.

Psa 78:40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!

Psa 78:41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

It should be very clear that when we "grieve" the Holy Spirit we certainly limit the blessings of God!

As Christians, we certainly grieve the Holy Spirit when we participate in anything contrary to His divine nature!

We have another very real reason we should not grieve the Holy Spirit because, He has sealed us unto the day of "redemption"!

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

These are valuable lessons for us all to learn.

*****Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

We are to be in total control of our temper.

We are to forever cherish each other as God's creatures having the same purpose, to acknowledge our Creator.

Those that do not, are not all our enemies! They are of that group of people we are seek out to tell them about a loving God who cares for them also!

Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

No doubt there are many who will show themselves to be the enemies of God, but God still loves them and if it be possible to reach them with the "Gospel" we owe them that opportunity!

Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

The word "kindness" comes from the word kinned which means one of the same, reminding us of the fact that we are all brethren in the sense of all being God's creation!

To be tenderhearted, is to show compassion, mercy, and understanding.

To be forgiving, means to show the same "grace" to them as the "grace" God has shown to you.

Being able to pardon them for anything they have done!

Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man has a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

When we refuse to do these things, we are showing God that we are still disobedient children!

*****Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

What must be our goal? To imitate the characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of the Bible.

To be truly at peace with God we must strive to be like Him!

The Lord Jesus Christ was always giving of Himself even unto His death and He was always forgiving of others.

To follow God, we must attach ourselves to Him and never let go!

We must surrender and devote our life to God just as He devoted Himself to all believers.

Jesus Christ said: Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Jesus Christ said:

Luk 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Luk 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

John wrote: 1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

God demanded: Lev 19:2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.

Paul declared: 2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Peter wrote: 1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

These things leave us no doubt what the Lord is asking of us, in fact demanding of all those who are His children.

We must forgive and forget!

We must have that loving spirit and it show!

In fact, we must show all the fruit of the Holy Spirit!

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

We must walk in the love of the Lord Jesus Christ! We see very little love for humanity in our world today!

The Lord Jesus Christ did not just die for us, the Lord Jesus Christ took our place on that cross, He was our substitute!

There is no one else that exist who could have done this thing for us!

Notice here, that love is something we must wear as a garment, but we must also be clothed in humility to be a true child of God!

Love is also a pathway; the walk of love, will lead us directly to our Savior!

What is the greatest problem with this world ? The world says love, but that love must flow from our loving God or it is not true love!

Love must be a genuine product from a genuine God, only then will love take on it's true meaning!

1Jn 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

The Christian life depends on love for one another with the same love that comes from God!

Amen

Let's Pray!

Having a Renewed Mind

The Blessing of the Renewed Mind

Book of Ephesians 4:14-24

Last week we learned that God's plan is that all the Church join in "Unity" according to the Word of God and the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not only God’s plan but God's commandment.

So, let's all denominations lay aside the petty differences that have nothing to do with salvation and cling to a literal translation of the Word of God and go to war against evil in these last days!

If we have been "Born Again" into the family of God, we all have this in common.

Let's lay foolishness aside and become mature Christians.

After all we all a renewed mind that we are not using!

*****Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

When we are babes in Christ, we can be easily swayed by those who teach a false doctrine, but we must not remain babes. We must begin a growth into mature Christians!

The Word of God must be our compass in this life, for only the Word of God will lead us in the direction God has chosen for us!

There so many places of so-called worship today who deliberately will lead those astray who sit before them, by compromising the Word of God.

The means to defend ourselves from this is to study the Scriptures ourselves and we can defend ourselves against false doctrine.

1) It's sad but there is still such a thing as "sleight of men". These are deceivers, cheaters in the faith, men and women who will cheat us out of the truth of God.

2) There are still those who use cunning craftiness. These are also deceivers who act cleverly and have great sounding new ideas that are treated as the truth, but these things are only deceptions of the truth of God.

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

We must obtain ourselves a sound doctrinal knowledge of the truth as it is in the Lord Jesus Christ!

We must be established in the truth!

We must see that our hearts are conformed to the truth!

We must walk in the truth!

It is Jesus Christ that is the head of the Church, which means that He is the only Head of true "believers"!

As we observe this world we see great evidence of those who deny the Lord Jesus and His truth!

2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

If you have kicked Jesus Christ out the doors of the church by ignoring what He has said, then you are no longer a church and cannot be part of the "Body of Christ"!

We must follow the Lord by "faith" in His promises, not the promises of some deceiver that teaches a false doctrine!

There are even those who say that the Messiah has not yet come. Yes, such fools still exist!

2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

There is more evidence of the first coming of the Messiah than you own birth!

We can see that we have been warned and we see these things today just as the Scriptures say.

We must grow up in the Lord.

Our Pastors must proclaim the truth.

Our Teachers must proclaim the truth.

We as believers must proclaim the truth and reject all those who compromise the Word of God!

Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

We can only be sanctified by the truth!

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Our souls cannot be purified without the truth.

1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

The church cannot be in unity, until we know and claim the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our God!

If Jesus Christ is not your God, then you serve a false god!

We already know that God deals with us individually so as individuals it is our job to press for unity in the church.

There is only one Church!

There is only one Word of God!

There can only be one "Faith"!

We must speak the truth of God with love because it is the love of God that came to us in the form of Jesus Christ, the true Messiah.

And make a note, The Lord Jesus Christ is coming back, and it may not be very long.

We should never forget this truth!

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that (insert your own name) whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

The promise of His return:

Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you (insert your own name), I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church and this can never be changed!

*****Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

We must understand the Church as a united body and if your place of worship is not, then this must be the first goal of your place of worship.

An actual body of Christ.

The church is not to be some material or tangible body, but the actual Body of Christ, with Jesus Christ the Head!

The Holy Ghost, Christ filled Church is a Spiritual power upon this earth that will soon return to Heaven, it's home.

The Church is alive with the Head, Jesus Christ supplying, the nourishment to each and every part of its body.

Col_2:19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

The Church is best described as the "Body of Christ"!

1Co_12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

As we learned from other lessons, each member of the Body of Christ is to be specifically placed by the Lord.

Each member must have the proper work assigned to him or her.

Each member is to perform that work according to the measure of faith that God has supplied to them.

Each member is to be coupled together so that everyone plays their own part without causing harm to the whole unit.

Each member is to be governed by one Will and one Intelligence which is from Heaven and is the Lord!

Each member is indebted to the Head and the Head lives for the body!

The Church is to work in harmony as the voice of God by using the Words that He has already given to us.

God's Word will never change, and neither should anyone try to change it!

Isa_55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

The best example of the church is the human body that cannot function properly without each part doing what is was intended to do.

1Th 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

1Th 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

If we know all these things, then we also know that we are not to walk like we are part of this world!

This is where we fail the most today!

*****Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

When we were lost we walked in this world searching for anything and everything that would satisfy our desires. Some may disagree, but this is the truth.

You can ask those you meet today who do not know the Lord, especially our young people and you will find that the majority will say this today.

They are all searching for things that satisfies their own desires. Much of this is immoral. Much of this is depraved. All of it is foolish!

When we walk like those out in the world we are walking against the Word of God!

We will lose contact with our Father in Heaven if we walk like the world walks!

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

A new creature of God the Father, will not be out in the world!

When we push God out of our minds, our mind become empty and void of the truth and be easily filled again with the evils of this world.

These will seek worldly pleasures, worldly possessions, worldly religion, and worldly gods.

Psa 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

As Christians we must never be afraid of being singular in this world!

We must understand that where there is ignorance of the truth, there will be no life, their understanding will be darkened.

To understand this is to begin to grasp hold of the truth.

A darkened mind is blind and unable to see God!

The darkened mind will give itself over to the world!

As Christians we are only better than those who are lost by the "Grace" of God.

As Christians we must still live our lives above those out in the world.

This is not thinking we are better than but just avoiding those pitfalls of sin that we have left behind for the Lord.

The unbeliever is spiritual dead and then doomed to eternal death, cut off eternally from God.

The unbeliever will always have hostile feelings toward the believer, no matter who they are!

It is not God that causes this, it is their own ignorance of the truth!

Remember what Jesus said just before He gave up His life:

Luk_23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

They have chosen to be ignorant of the things of God.

They have chosen to harden their heart against the truth.

They will be responsible for their own eternal death!

God has provided, through His Son and the power of the Holy Spirit, the only means of eternal life!

Those that depart from the truth of God will only grow worse.

Mat 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

Mat 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

Mat 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

*****Eph 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Without God the more callous they will become!

They will no longer live by God's standards of morality.

Lasciviousness is shameless conduct of any kind, wantonness, in most cases being completely vulgar, as far from "Grace" as possible.

In another place Paul wrote:

Rom 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

They no longer feel the pain of their sin and consider it just another acceptable way of life. What a travesty.

We see this all over America today.

We know that sin is contagious, but it also multiplies. The more we walk in sin, even more will we walk in sin!

Lasciviousness also brings "greed".

A craving, a desiring to have more and more, hoarding all they can get and still craving more.

I believe this is what rules our world today.

But they are in fact in bondage to the things of this world, this has become their god!

2Pe 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

2Pe 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

2Pe 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

Enough of the unbeliever, we know a lot about them because we were once a part of them.

*****Eph 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, "as the truth is in Jesus":

What do we do as Christians after we have accepted Christ?

1) We repent; we renounce our previous lifestyle. This not partial but complete. We cannot have one foot in the world and one foot in Christ.

This is to be a complete moral revolution that can only happen by the Holy Spirit and our "Faith".

To be honest, we need to daily examine ourselves to see if we are complying with the Word of God and the Commandments of Jesus Christ.

From time to time, we need to look in the mirror and see what we look like.

2) Self-discipline. To be a Christian is not always easy, it takes a personal effort but more important we must rely on the "Grace" of God.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We must realize that we are renewed every day by the Holy Spirit and it is by the Holy Spirit that our mind is restored, and our vision cleared to see our Savior for who He is! The Greatest gift God could send to us!

3) We must wear the robe of righteousness of our Lord! It is very important that we know all we can about Jesus Christ, but it is even more important that we learn all we can from Him!

We must strive for that personal relationship with our Savior. He wants this relationship much more than we do so, our part is very easy.

The Lord Jesus is truly waiting with open arms to receive us!

We are to literally walk in Christ and not as men walk!

We must have a living spiritual union with the Lord Jesus Christ!

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

We are to put off the old man and put on the new man!

*****Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

That old man is that person we were before we accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior.

In this sense, our old man has already been put to death and we are made alive by Christ Jesus.

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

You see to put on Christ means that our Father in Heaven counts us buried with Jesus Christ and united with Him in the likeness of His death.

This is the true meaning behind baptism!

The deeds of the old man are put off.

Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

The power that evil had over our body of flesh is gone and we are no longer in bondage.

And notice it is our job to put off the old man, we are to exercise our own will because we have realized the truth.

God says the old man is dead, so we must also count our old man as being dead.

Rom_8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

It is now our job to reject temptation just as the Lord did when He walked upon this earth to become the perfect new man!

Even our mind will be made new and we will no longer have a reprobate mind.

We live in a world full of reprobate minds.

We are governed by many who have reprobate minds.

Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

It is only by the presence of Jesus Christ that our mind can be renewed. There is no other way!

When we receive the Lord Jesus Christ into our life, we receive His mind also. We truly have the power to reject temptation!

We truly have the power to focus on God and His Word.

We truly have the power to allow the Holy Spirit to work within us to make us a new creation of God!

2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

The new man has been regenerated, renewed, "Born Again" when we become Spiritually minded!

We will be in fellowship with God through His Son.

We will be obedient to God's will because we will realize the safest place for us to be is in the will of God.

We will be devoted to God's service and work within the calling we will receive from God!

None of these things can happen without the power of God in our lives by the Lord Jesus Christ.

As the children of God, we can stand before God in the righteousness and the holiness of His Dear Son, Jesus Christ.

To put things as plain as we can, we can say we are now alive to God when we were once dead to God!

Amen