All Of Jesus

In our study on the thinking of Jesus we soon realize that He KNEW His Father the way WE can know Jesus – as LORD, healer, savior, deliverer, encourager … Jesus told Philip in Jn 14:7-8 that he who knows Jesus knows the Father and John tells us that this is the true God and eternal life [1Jn 5:20]. But this knowledge requires a supernatural encounter and change through the Spirit of God.

Eph 3:14-19 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that (1) He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, (2) to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that (3) Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able (4) to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that (5) you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

To quote an anonymous saint: “Our problem is that we have all of Jesus we want. Not all of Jesus we need, but all of Jesus we want.” He was speaking for more people than his immediate congregation.

“We have all of Jesus we want”

Billy Graham knew how much he needed Jesus. He told a 1993 crusade in Portland, Oregon, “I can’t live the Christian life alone. I’m a failure. Billy Graham cannot live the Christian life. I’ve tried. I can’t do it. But with the help of the word of God and the help of the Holy Spirit, I can live the Christian life. But he lives it through me.”

Acts 17:28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Rev. Graham knew that we need Jesus as much as he did. In 1955, he said on “The Hour of Decision,” “The regeneration of the individual is much more needed than the revolution of society.” He stated that same year, “If I didn’t believe that the Bible and the gospel of Jesus Christ held the answer to this world’s baffling problems, I would go back to the farm and the rural life that I love and spend my days in peaceful solitude.”

He declared, “When our minds are on Christ, Satan has little room to maneuver.” And he knew that when we are changed by Jesus, everything about us is changed: “The transformed man loves when others hate. He is just when others are prejudiced. He is understanding when others misunderstand, and he is poised when others are frantic.”

I.        How does this happen?

Gal 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me.”

1.                    Desire

Psa 63:1-5 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. 4 So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.

Dr. Graham was convinced: “If Christianity is important at all, it is all important. If it is anything at all, it is everything. It is either the most vital thing in your life, or it isn’t worth bothering with.”

Paul writing to the Philippians lays out his pedigree and then discounts it entirely:

Phil 3:7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

Paul’s ultimate purpose and passion were clear: “That I may know him” (v. 10).

2.                   Pursue

We often seek after God the way a thief seeks after a policeman.

Phil 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Jeremiah 29:13 ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Knowing Christ is the purpose of the Christian life. Everything else about our faith is secondary and derivative. We were created for an intimate, daily, personal relationship with our living Savior.

So, let me ask you: How well do you know Jesus today?

The answer is simple: You know Him as well as you want to know Him. And knowing Him is by His Word and faith, not our opinions and ideas. Hear Paul on this:

Ro 10:2-8 For I testify about them [his own countrymen] that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it [the word of righteousness] say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART” — that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,

You can know him just as you can know any other living person, but with greater connection because He promised His Spirit would live in those chosen to be His sons and daughters.

1 Cor 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

2 Cor 6:17-18 “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. 18 “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.

3.                   Practice

James 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

You get to know Jesus just like you get to know anyone else: by spending time with him.

Read his word to hear His voice. Listen for His Spirit as He speaks to your spirit. See His hand in His creation (Col 1:16) and be thankful. Speak to Him through the day. Practice His presence by seeing yourself in His presence, and it will be so. Guard your heart against the assaults and lies of the enemy – Let His Word dictate your thinking.

Too many want a relationship with God AND a relationship with the world. This is impossible.

2 Cor 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

Ro 8:34 “Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Jesus is as close as your next prayer.

A final quote from Billy Graham: “My one purpose in life is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ.”

Matthew 6:33-34 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

 

Dystopia or utopia

Rev 22:3 “… there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.”

Frequently, Christians and non-Christians alike have a misconception about the nature of a perceived life in heaven. I do not see us merely “going to heaven” and sit around in some semblance of holy laziness.

2 Peter 3:13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

I.        a new earth and new heavens

While the exact nature of this new earth and heavens are not fully revealed -- we will be given jobs to do!

Just what those jobs may be, or what they may require, is not specifically revealed to us, but it is abundantly clear that the kind of job, or the degree of responsibility, will be a privilege based on what we do here on this earth now.

We do know that righteousness dwells there – I take that to mean that everyone allowed to go will do things correctly and godly. Believers are to be “practicing” [Phil 4:9] these things NOW in preparation for the “new earth”. Imagine this earth without the compounded ravages of sin since the fall. What would this earth be like? That seems to me the closest image I can envision for what’s coming. We’re in training now. [Heb 5:12-14; 1Jn 3:2; 1Cor 15:50-55]

II.     according to one’s labor here

 In the parable of the pounds (Lk 19:11-27), Jesus illustrates judgment based on productivity. The same amount of money was given to each of the servants, and only one general instruction was issued: “Occupy till I come” (v. 13). The reward that each servant received was in direct proportion to how much profit he had earned on the nobleman’s money.

In the parable of the talents (Mt 25:14-30), the nobleman gave differing amounts to each of his servants, “to every man according to his several ability” (v. 15). The reward was based on efficient use of abilities, not on amount of profit produced.

Both of these parables have a common thread: The rewards (analogous to our rewards when the Lord returns), based on their productivity or their effectiveness, were rewards of responsibility. To those servants who had proven themselves capable of leadership, the Lord delegated “authority over cities” and rulership “over many things,” indicating that there will be some sort of social order in the age to come. Imagine the “woke” among us learning that God’s order is not based on gender, race, or convenience.

Likewise believer, in our present service for the Lord, we are now given the opportunity to earn both God’s commendation and His future greater stewardship. It would seem that God created productivity to be part of the human personality and those who won’t work won’t eat [2Thes 3:10-13]. The law was not made for the righteous man but for the unrighteous [1Tim 1:9], the lazy, the proud, the busybody, and anyone else who would see their personal agenda as greater than God’s purpose.

And God’s “equity” is based on one’s ability not some artificial standard where everyone lives as Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos. We need to be content and happy at what our hand finds to do and do it well. From the very beginning every human being was gifted toward a unique function within the body of Christ [Rom 12:4-21].

1 Peter 1:17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth: NASU

III.   What is Dystopia and Where Do We See it in Real Life?

Contrast this with the “utopian” idea of a perfect society as envisioned by man. The communists, socialists, and elitists have and are trying to move society toward that end. Look at any large city with the myriad of problems created by their social policies of “equality” and “equity”.

Here are some excerpts from an article I found regarding what secular writers are calling “dystopian” regarding the present direction of our world.

A dystopia is an imagined state or society in which the conditions of life are extremely bad, as from deprivation, oppression, or terror.

We see dystopias in books and movies all the time. But where do we see them in reality? There are many examples of dystopian societies throughout history, fiction, and even right in front of our eyes today.

1.                    Dystopian Societies in Fiction

There are many examples of dystopian societies in fiction. A few examples include The Hunger Games, 1984, and Brave New World. In each of these stories, the society is controlled by a powerful government or dictator who restricts freedom and imposes strict rules on the citizens. These societies are often characterized by poverty, oppression, and inequality.

The Hunger Games is a dystopia because the citizens are forced to fight each other to the death in an arena for entertainment.

1984 is dystopic because people are constantly being watched by “Big Brother” and their freedom of speech, thought, and expression is restricted.

Brave New World portrays a dystopia where people have no freedom or individualism; they exist only as part of society’s collective consciousness.

Fahrenheit 451 is dystopic because the government has banned books and reading. People are forced to live in a society where they cannot be educated or learn about anything new.

V for Vendetta: The government controls every aspect of people’s lives and oppresses them through fear and violence.

2.                   Dystopias in History

There are many examples of dystopian societies throughout history.

The Soviet Union under Stalin; Nazi Germany; China during the Cultural Revolution. All of these societies have one thing in common – they are repressive, totalitarian regimes where the government controls all aspects of people’s lives. People are not free to speak their minds or criticize the government. They are often poor and oppressed and live in fear of the authorities; they are constantly monitored for compliance and all levels of public communication are censored and filtered. Under such a regime, atrocities can take place under the noses of its citizens with very little protest. Consider the governments mentioned above. They are still among us and are manifesting everywhere.

3.                   Dystopian Societies Today

A dystopia, by definition, is a society that is characterized by the absence of individual freedom and happiness. In other words, it’s a society in which the citizens are not able to live a happy and fulfilling life.

While we’ve seen that such dystopian societies can be found in books, movies, and TV shows, they can also be seen in our world today.

a)    For example, the dystopian society that we see in North Korea.

In North Korea, the citizens are not allowed to have any freedom of expression or freedom of movement. They are also not allowed to own anything, and they are constantly watched by the government.

b)   Another example of a dystopian society is China.

In China, the government monitors all internet activity, and there is a great deal of censorship. Additionally, the citizens are not allowed to protest or speak out against the government.

In such a society life is extremely bad or oppressive due to deprivation, oppression, or terror. With the growing wealth gap, poverty level players in first world economies are progressively asserting that they too live in a dystopic world. One where a wealthy few control the masses.

In summary: A dystopia is a society that is characterized by its negative aspects. It can be defined as a society where the conditions of life are extremely bad, often due to poverty, war, or political repression. A dystopia can also be seen as a society that is in decay or decline. It’s important to remember that dystopias are not just fictional worlds; they exist all around us.

Matthew 24:12-13 “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. NASU

 

BLESS GOD FOR FURNISHING THE BREASTPLATE

Now through His grace you are able to defend yourself with the continual comforts which heaven sends to withstand Satan’s power.

People are destroyed by the devil every day because they do not have the breastplate of righteousness to defend their hearts against his murdering shot. If God had made you famous and rich in the world, but not holy, He would have given you nothing more than fuel for hell. How then can we forget to thank God for His precious breastplate of righteousness?

2 Cor 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

When an enemy approaches a city without walls or arms for defense, the wealthier the city the worse the destruction. And each time Satan comes to a man who has much of the world but nothing of God in his soul to defend him, he makes a miserable wreck of the person. He takes whatever he pleases and does whatever he wants with such souls. The devil’s plundering possession is so thorough that the captive would not think of postponing or denying a lust. Although he knows what this fulfillment will cost him in hell, he goes ahead and damns his soul rather than stand against the burning demands of temptation.

Romans 1:32 “… although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”

Herod threw down half his kingdom at the feet of a malicious wench; and when she decided this was not enough, he sacrificed everything he had. But if the blood of John the Baptist cost Herod his throne in this life, surely it was nothing compared to the wages of divine providence paid immediately when he met death.

But let the saints humbly shout “Hallelujah!” When God made you a holy man or woman He gave you gates and bars to your city. Now through His grace you are able to defend yourself with the continual comforts which heaven sends to withstand Satan’s power. Once you were a timid slave to him but now he is under your feet. The day you became holy God firmly planted your foot on the serpent’s head. Your lusts—mighty strongholds which gave him easy control—have been taken out of his hand.

Galatians 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Satan has been dislodged and can never again set himself up as king of your soul.

Because Satan has nothing in Jesus with which to grab, neither has he anything in you who are in Christ. Christ is our righteousness.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption…”

Not only are we alive by faith in Christ, but we are also to LIVE by such faith.

Romans 1:17 For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.

 

KEEP YOUR BREASTPLATE ON

Faith is a shield. Will a soldier drop his protection unless he has been seriously wounded?

David expressed keen sorrow for the unholiness in his life: “O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more” (Psalm 39:13). He did not want to die until holiness ruled his heart again. Ungodliness is a poison which drinks up all serenity of conscience and inward springs of joy. If you throw a stone into a clear brook it will soon become muddy.

Psalm 85:8 “He will speak peace unto his people but let them not turn again to folly”.

Carelessness in the walk of holiness dangerously exposes your faith, which is kept in good conscience as a jewel is protected in a cabinet.

Faith is an eye, and sin casts a hazy mist before it. To faith, a holy life is like pure air to the eye; we can see farther on a clear day. Thus faith sees further into God’s promise when it looks through a holy well-ordered life.

Faith is a shield. Will a soldier drop his protection unless he has been seriously wounded? If faith fails, what will happen to hope, which cleaves to faith and draws strength from her as a nursing child takes nourishment from its mother? If faith cannot see pardon in the promise, then hope cannot look for salvation. If faith cannot claim sonship, hope will not wait for the inheritance. Faith informs the soul it has “peace with God” and then the soul rejoices “in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2).

Are you trying to use the sword of the Spirit? How can you hold it when unholiness has seriously maimed the hand of faith that must carry it?

This sword has two edges—one side heals but the other wounds. With one it saves and with the other it damns. The Bible does not speak a single kind word to the person who practices sin. Now—think and then think some more—is any sin worth all this confusion which will inevitably strangle and smother your soul?

 

 

Counting The Cost

Luke 14:28-32 “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 “Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 “Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 “Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. NASU

Counting the cost as Jesus commands requires a calculation based on what we’re willing to pay rather than what we expect or hope to pay.

Both nations and individuals get into trouble when they make decisions based on the latter of those prices.

One of the most indispensable helps in avoiding that mistake is the self-awareness to fully appreciate the fact that we often do not get to dictate what that price will be. And that self-awareness is especially difficult to maintain when one becomes accustomed to acting from a position of strength.

Throughout history, one of the primary reasons that nations fall from greatness is the inability to recognize when the reasons for their prior success no longer apply to their current situation. Allegiances can shift, strength can wane, opposition can grow stronger, and each can occur in ways that are easy to miss if we’re not paying attention.

What is true of nations can be equally true for each of us.

Whether it’s in our walk with the Lord, our relationships with other people, or any other facet of our lives, when we act as though past success guarantees success in the present, we’re setting ourselves up to fail.

1 Corinthians 10:11-13 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Fortunately, God stands ready to help if we’re willing to ask.

So, as Paul advised, pray for the “sober judgment” needed to make an honest evaluation of your life today (Romans 12:3).

Romans 12:3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any areas where you might be thinking more highly of yourself than you should, as well as any areas where that problem is reversed.

After all, God isn’t interested in false humility but rather, as Charles Spurgeon described it, “the proper estimate of oneself.”

A New Adventure

 It's been some time since my last post and for a variety of reasons. We'd all like to say we've been busy but in my case it's true. I've been reticent to enter into the realm of the internet and social media because of the learning curve. 

So I'm going to try and put some ideas, thoughts, on the edge musings. Perhaps some will read them, perhaps not. 

I'm praying for a way to reach the lost, backslid, discouraged, and mad at God here in Pekin, IL. 

Much of the reasons for such feelings is exactly that: feelings. 

God didn't do what they expected Him to do.

People didn't act the way they expected them to act.

God isn't like what they thought He was like.

Rom 1:16-32 give all the consequences of rejecting the knowledge of God and it is clear that Paul had the anointing of the Holy Spirit when he penned those words. 

I write a lot of stuff as it's a way for me to think things through. So if things here aren't exactly the way you think they are, make your comments. 

THE PICTURE IS FROM THE WINDOW OF OUR FIRST CHURCH BUILDING IN KATMANDU, NEPAL.

That's where I first started to try my hand at blogging. I've not been very consistent about it.

Later -- Keep serving Jesus.

Obviously, it's been awhile since I posted to this blog. Didn't know it was still up. Awesome. I'm no longer in Nepal but for the last 4 years have been laboring in Murrieta, Ca.

It's a small church with a big vision and great people.
Major difference obviously between Nepal and California. Like learning a whole new culture, language, and way of life.

All for now. Running out of time. 

TIME PASSES

I can't believe so much time has passed  since I last posted. No one reads these but me but there is some sort of outlet. We continue the work here in Nepal and are preparing for the India Bible Conference. We have 12 people going counting our baby work in Biratnaghar (?) on the border of India and Nepal. We're excited  about what God is doing here.
There is another couple, Gordon and Mary Porter, who have joined us in the work here. They have a church in the southern part of Kathmandu known as Patan. Beautiful building and some quality people.
So much has happened since our last post but here are some highlights and not in any order:

Went to Scotland on our way back from July Conference in Prescott. Beautiful time. Conference was excellent as usual and we got to see all our children and grand children. Great time.

Have learned to sing! This has been a great experience and here in Nepal I get lots of practice. Appreciate those who have worked with me and put up with my attempts.

The Band is doing real well and with the holiday season on we will be sharing songs in the hotel like last year.

Bought a new phone. Most I've ever paid but it's like a mini computer. Samsung Note 2. Has all the bells and whistles except I don't know how to use most of them. Email, documents, PDF, note taking, dropbox, finances, etc. are all at my finger tips as well as the occasional phone call and text.

New house is large and we're the only occupants. Great landlord and we're taking the time to fix it up. We sold our old house in Hobbs. Didn't make any money because of the poor market but at least we're not making payments on it any more.

Learning some new things from God and writing them down. Have the time here to work on my book which may or may not be published. Has some controversial ideas in it.

This week is festival week, actually the whole month, and many are traveling to their village and home place for celebrations. Very ritualistic and traditional. Yesterday they "worshiped" mechanical things with thika and flowers.

Struggling with some personal issues but I refuse to allow them to keep me from serving God.

Later

James says we don't have because we don't ask, so I'm asking for disciples to train and my family to be saved and living for God. I'm asking for God's help to live holy and his strength to do the right thing. I'm asking to be a good pastor to my church and a good husband to my wife. I'm asking for healing my body and mental clarity in my mind. Rather than assume that I have it, I'm asking for grace and mercy to help me in times of trouble, temptation, and triumph. Trouble because I stress out, temptation because I fail too often, and triumph because I tend towards self pride. God, grant these petitions and forgive my sins.

Hard at work building a church in Kathmandu, Nepal. Haven't posted in awhile, but will start again. This will be my thought tank.

I've been thinking that since God is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent, there should be no problem understanding the conflict some have with His sovereignty and man's free will. God has designed the only world possible where the most people are saved, the least amount are lost, and man has the freedom to choose Jesus Christ or not.

Romans 9:22-24 (ESV) 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—
24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

The question always comes up about the lost tribes somewhere not hearing about Jesus Christ but I believe that God's benevolence assures every man, according to the light available to him, has an opportunity to know God. One suggested that those who are eventually lost are ones who would not have yielded to God regardless of the world they found themselves living in.

Acts 17:24-28 (ESV) 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,
25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
27 that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,
28 for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; ..."

Having examined all possible worlds in the logical moment before creation, this is the world that met all conditions and offered the greatest return.

The Main Thing

Jn 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (NKJ)

1Jn 5:19-20 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. (NKJ)

According to Jesus and the apostles, knowing God was the main thing regarding eternal life and being a disciple. Knowledge—revelation knowledge—not man’s wisdom which is what Paul is warning against in 1 Corinthians 8:

1Cor 8:2-3 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. (NKJ)

Too many reject all knowledge in favor of some sort of feeling or opinion elevated to fact. Because the Christian faith is supernatural in power most have the idea that it is not logical or rational. This leads to much deception and opens the church to strange ideas, doctrines, and teachings of demons. Paul warned us:

1Tim 4:1-2 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, (NKJ)

A lie spoken with authority and passion by a “learned” man is still a lie. Error never becomes non-error because a multitude believes it. Truth is not subject to society, culture, tradition, or belief. It just is. And truth is always logical and rational though not always easily understood. 2+2 = 4 is a simple truth statement that most have no problem grasping while E=MC² is not so easily understood. Truth contains no emotion but can be obscured by emotion. Passion and opinions are often confused for truth and this leads to deception. Preferences, expectations, hopes, and wishes are not truth although they can contain some truth. Knowledge requires truth, belief does not. Faith in God rests on the truth of who God is and what He’s revealed to us. Faith in anything else is subject to error. Paul writes:

Eph 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, (NKJ)

Col 1:9-10 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; (NKJ)

Knowing God and His will has caused some concerns over the centuries because of the fear of “missing His will”. Some are paralyzed by such a fear to the extent that they do nothing. This is wrong. The will of God is as broad and wide as the world—we are called to be witnesses unto the world. When Jesus said the way was narrow and difficult He meant that there was only one way to see and enter the kingdom of God. You have to be born again through faith in Jesus Christ. This will put you at odds with a world in darkness. Thus it is narrow and difficult. This does not mean that we are walking some tightrope with the expectation of falling in and out of the will of God on a daily basis. Once we are accepted we are IN, and only apostasy will cause us to be OUT. Apostasy is a very specific condition entered into with full understanding and comprehension.

Heb 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (NKJ)

Another thought on truth is that it is binding on all of us regardless of personal preference, belief, opinion, desire, or demand. Truth, being logical, is subject to the laws of logic which are, briefly: The Law of Identity, The Law of Non-Contradiction, and The Law of the Excluded Middle. Few people know these laws and violate them intellectually all the time. This is the fantasy world of deception and darkness.

I. How do they help us understand God?

God is logic—John tells us this (Jn 1:1). This helps us understand the way He thinks. The emotional references to God in the Bible are relative to His relationship with us and help us understand our own character and personality as we’re created in His image. He doesn’t make decisions based on them and neither should we. They add color to life and help us relate to one another. But we’re told to walk by faith and not by sight. This refers to walking by what we know to be true and not what appears, sounds, or feels to be true. This is a critical necessity because we can be moved emotionally away from the truth. To walk by faith, then, means that we walk, including the actions of thinking and behavior, according to what is true as opposed to what we think is true. God created our universe in accordance with His plan and it functions in a logical manner. We can know this because things are structured and interact in a cohesive and comprehensive manner which keeps life alive.

Just a quick note to say that the work is progressing here. We're seeing young men coming in and are working with about six right now.
It's also beginning to warm up which is a very welcome situation. The houses have no heat and are made of concrete and brick, so whatever the outside temperature is, it is the same inside, sometimes a bit colder. It was around -1 to 5 C for several weeks. Not bad if you can go into a warm house, but when your house is that cold, it can wear on you. We were wearing all our clothes with several layers.

Our goods may be arriving this week or so we're told. It's been since April last year so we're resigned to believing when we see them. It's been a long and expensive process. One we will never repeat. Should we ever go into another nation we'll take what we can carry and buy what we need there. Too late to adjust that now. But we did learn a few things.

We need a new building as we're going to be out of room in the near future. We need to think about a nursery. Children here receive very little discipline and the concept of spanking is very foreign. We'll have to work on that in the distant future.

We'll there's so much more but the power just went off again. We're up to 14 hours a day without power so the generator is real handy. Can only run it max of 4 hours at a time, but between the generator and managing the power that is available we're able to keep things charged, and functioning.

Later.

God's Will and Our Desires

Mk 16:16-20 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. (NKJ)

A man I admire for his Christian character and thinking was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic colon cancer in September 2005. He subsequently received from strangers, friends, and acquaintances different opinions on the topic of God's will and healing. All of the opinions are offered by sincere people, but most sincere people are sincerely wrong. Only one opinion is Biblical. This should not be surprising, for there is an indefinite number of ways to go wrong, but only one way to go right. There is only one right answer to the question, "How much is 2 plus 2?" and an infinite number of wrong answers. That is why the Bible in general and Jesus in particular stress the importance of finding the narrow way and repeatedly warn against the broad way. But such is the human condition that everyone who is entitled to their opinion believes his opinion is the only correct one. But logic dictates that contradictory statements cannot both be true, and so not all opinions are created equal, nor are human beings.

The many opinions on healing he received distill to three.

The first is that it is not God's will that anyone - or at least any Christian - be sick. Being sick is being "outside God's will." By not getting well, a Christian is showing his rebellion against God's will that everyone be well. In this opinion, every Christian who is sick for any length of time (I suppose they make exceptions for colds), is not "submitting to God's will that he be well."

The second opinion seems to be the opposite. It is that a Christian must "submit himself to God's will," and if he is not getting better, God's will is that he remain sick, and perhaps die from the affliction. He also is told to "submit himself to the will of God," but to an opposite end, not to get well, but perhaps to die.

The third opinion does not speak of "submitting to the will of God," but tells us to seek and pray for the desires of our hearts. It certainly sounds like the least pious of the three opinions, doesn't it? But it is the Biblical position. The Bible is not a very religious book, as men count religion. There exists a wide latitude regarding the command for all men to pray and God answering their prayers.

1Tim 2:1-2 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (NKJ)

Jn 15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. (NKJ)

Mk 11:24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. (NKJ) “…what things so ever you desire, when you pray…” (KJV)

1Jn 5:14-15 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (NKJ)

It appears that while we are to pray with a fervent heart and seek God for all things, He is the ultimate arbiter of whether our prayer gets answered or not. This is not unlike an earthly father making judgments on the validity of their children’s requests. All prayers are not of equal value or rational.

A. Is it God's will that no Christian be sick or afflicted?

Of course not. If it were not God's will that some people are sometimes sick, no one would ever be sick, since nothing, not even the death of a sparrow or the fall of a hair from our heads, happens apart from God's will. God causes both sickness and health. This bothers some people because of a philosophical opinion about the nature of God rather than a Biblical position supported by scripture.

This is taught so clearly in the Bible that one must deliberately ignore and disbelieve scores of passages that teach it. Here are a few:

1 Kings 11:39 "And I [God] will afflict the descendants of David because of this, but not forever".

Psalm 66:1-12 "For you, O God, have tested us; you have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; you laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads".

2 Chronicles 6:26 "...when they pray toward this place and confess your name, and turn from their sin because you [God] afflict them....".

Jeremiah 31:28 "And it shall come to pass, that as I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to throw down, to destroy, and to afflict, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the Lord".

In the New Testament, Paul tells us that

1 Corinthians 11:30-32 "For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep, for if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged, but when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world".

These verses clearly show that it is God's will to afflict even his own people at times, even to the point of killing them. From many more verses, too numerous to list here, it is clearly God's will that whatever happens happen, for there is nothing outside God's will. He is sovereign and omnipotent, and nothing can happen apart from his plan and will. It is logically and theologically impossible to be "outside God's will."

What many consider to be “outside God’s will” is really on the negative side of God’s plan for them. The promises of God are conditional and when the conditions aren’t met adverse things can happen. This is still God’s will because none of us are open game for the devil. (Job and Paul)

B. Is it god’s will that we remain sick?

The second opinion is that sickness or affliction that does not go away in a relatively short period of time (I suppose these people also make exceptions for colds) indicates that it is God's will that the afflicted person remain sick, and perhaps even die from his affliction. This is made especially convincing if a medical professional pronounces the condition "incurable."

But there are many examples of suffering people in Scripture - commendable examples - that refute this notion as well. Take, for example, the woman who hemorrhaged for twelve years, spending all her money on physicians, none of whom could cure her. Did she submit to "God's will" and resign herself to being sick and perhaps dying of her disease? Of course not. She did not confuse the inability of physicians to help her with the will of God. She kept seeking the desire of her heart, and this desire led her to Jesus, who cured her and who did not upbraid her for refusing for twelve years to "submit to God's will for her life." Nor does he scold her for being "outside the will of God" for twelve years.

There are many similar examples - even cases where parents of dying and dead children sought help rather than submitting to the "will of God." They sought the desire of their hearts, not even accepting imminent and present death as "God's will" for their child. Were they wrong to do so? Were they also - like the sick allegedly outside the will of God - in rebellion to the will of God? Of course not. Christ never scolds any of these people for refusing to "submit to the will of God."

In both these erroneous opinions - (1) God's will is that no Christian should be sick, and one is not submitting to God's will if one is sick; and (2) in cases of extended illness, one should submit to the will of God by recognizing it is his will that you remain sick and perhaps die of this sickness - the same serious theological mistake is being made:

The mistake is an error - a presumption - of knowledge: It presumes that we can know what the will of God for the future is by reading present circumstances, and therefore know how to "submit ourselves to the will of God."

This, I believe, is the mistake illustrated in the book of Job—the presumption of knowledge apart from revelation from God. Each opinion and there are many recorded in this book, states a position that could be true sometime but NOT true in Job’s case. We are not the seer nor the judge.

The second opinion assumes that one's present affliction indicates the ultimate outcome (which is false) - and that the Christian should submit to that anticipated outcome as if it were the "will of God." The first opinion assumes, contrary to Scripture, that the will of God is that every Christian be well, and that those who are not well are "outside God's will" and need to submit to it. In both cases - though they reach opposite conclusions, death and health - they share the presumption that one can know from present circumstances what the will of God is for the future. That simply is not true. Apart from divine propositional revelation, we cannot know what God's will and plan for the future is.

C. pray for the desires of our heart – leave the future to God’s plan

The third opinion is that one should pray for the desires of one's heart, not guessing or presuming what the will of God for the future is. That is the rule followed by the "incurable" woman, by the parents of dying and dead children in Scripture, and by many others, including Jesus himself, who prayed that this cup would pass from him, if possible. What makes Christ's case different, of course, is that, unlike us, who do not and cannot know the future, he could and did know the future - and still he prayed for the desires of his heart.

The notion that we should "submit to the will of God" when we do not and cannot always know the specific will of God for any one believer is not a Christian idea at all, but a Muslim idea. Islam means "submission," and it teaches the same error of presuming that the will of God can be known before God reveals it.

In our texts we can read that we are to pray for all people with all manner of prayer, including sickness, hardship, persecution, etc. and yet we are also to leave the future into the hands of God.

1Pet 3:17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (NKJ)

II. a proper perspective

In Christian theology, the proper verb is "obedience," not submission, and it is obedience to His revealed commands, not submission to an unknown (and apart from revelation, unknowable - see Deuteronomy 29:29) will of God.

Psalm 37:3-6 "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and feed on his faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday."

The Bible nowhere commands Christians to "submit to the will of God," precisely because we do not know that will. The closest we come to knowing the will of God directly is the commands to abstain from immorality and pursue holiness. Paul writes:

Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJ)

A living sacrifice implies obeying His commands. By changing the way we think and process information, understand knowledge, and apply wisdom, we take on the mind of Christ and learn the will of God.

The Bible commands us hundreds of times to obey God's commands. We must never confuse our guesses about the future with "God's will" and piously submit to those guesses - or more likely the guesses of clerics who think they know the future. God's commands we know, because they are revealed to us in Scripture, but apart from revelation, we cannot know his will, and therefore we cannot "submit" to it, nor need we try to do so.

His will is clearly presented in the Word of God—both sides, blessing and warning—and so even sinners are in the will of God.

Jn 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (NKJ)

Set your affection is one word in Greek. Arndt & Gingrich translate it "set one's mind on; be intent on." Godet notes that it is difficult to render the word phroneo (mind) into French or English "because it includes at once thinking and willing." Vincent comments: "The verb primarily means to have understanding, then to feel or think . . . to direct the mind to something" (from Earle, Word Meanings in the New Testament)

Amdt & Gingrich say that nous "denotes the faculty of physical and intellectual perception, then also the power to arrive at moral judgments."

Haven't posted in a long time because of relocation and changes in things. Now living in Kathmandu, Nepal and enjoying the work here. Truly a pioneering effort with less than 1% of the population "Christian" and that is a stretch. Good people, funny, friendly, enjoyable and for the most part very open. Of course, my approach to Christianity has been an appeal to the truth and not to changing beliefs.

Everyone believes, it's just that most believe wrong things which is my definition of "unbelief". No one is a blank mind. It's filled with facts, knowledge, opinions, desires and often many are at odds or contradictory to one another. This controlled "insanity" is one of the reasons Paul writes that we must allow God to change the way we think if we ever to prove His perfect will. This is the truth that Jesus said would set us free.

Learning to think correctly from correct premises is the true pursuit of Christianity. All religions are not equal and not true. There are many ways to be wrong but only one way is right. How many wrong answers are there to the equation 2 + 2 = 4? How many right answers? There we have the problem with the human mind. Jesus stated He was the way, the truth and the life. Then He died and rose from the dead. This, for me, validates His claim and gives me the correct premise from which the logical process of thinking leads to proper conclusions.

1 John 5:19-20 (ESV) 19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Have we ever noticed how often Paul uses "in Christ"? That phrase or its equivalent is found about 172 times in the New Testament. I believer there is some importance attached to it.

• Where is there refuge from emptiness of life? In Christ.
• Where is there passing from death to life? In Christ.
• Where is there freedom from all sin? In Christ.
• Where is there NOW NO CONDEMNATION? In Christ.
• Where are all heaven's spiritual blessings? In Christ.
• And in whom were we eternally elected? In Christ.
• And in whom was the creation created? In Christ.
• And where are we enriched in all things? In Christ.
• And where are the riches with which God will supply our every need? In Christ!

Get a concordance and see for yourself the centrality of the Christ and the importance of getting "into" Christ.
Galatians 2:20 It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

What I Believe?

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he was crucified, died and buried.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

I believe that on the third day he rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven, where He remains at the right hand of God Almighty.

Mark 16:6, Mark 16:19

I believe in Triune God, who is the Father, the Son who is Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3:16-17

I believe that after death eternal life begins immediately either in Heaven or Hell.

Luke 16:23

I believe that all have sinned and have fallen short of the Glory of God therefore; all are in need of salvation, which I obtain through Jesus.

Romans 3:23

I believe in the water baptism in the Name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit and the observance of the Communion.

Acts 10:47, Acts 8:34-38, 1 Corinthians 11:23-31

I believe that all Scripture in the Bible was given by the inspiration of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

I believe in the indwelling of and the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.

Acts 2:4

I believe that tithes and offerings should be given freely to your local church. The local church is the place of membership where God has called you to receive His Word on a consistent basis and grow spiritually.

Malachi 3:10-12, Acts 2:46-47

I believe that there shall be a personal, visible, imminent return of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 24:30

I believe that there shall be a bodily resurrection of the Just and the Unjust.

Acts 24:15

Living in the Spirit – just thoughts

Gal 5:16-25 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (NAU)

To be a Christian one must first be born again. This is to be born from above…God’s Spirit living in you and making you alive to the reality of God’s kingdom. Our life is no longer based on the biomechanics of flesh and blood, but that of the spirit.

Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (NAU)

Since our life is hid in Him to life we now live has to be lived by faith in Him and not in the principles and dictates of this world.

Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me. (NAU)

Col 3:1-2 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (NAU)

2Cor 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, {he is} a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (NAU)

2Cor 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight-- (NAU)

While the pseudo-spiritual gurus of this world speak words that have a resemblance to the truths of the Bible they lack the power of real change—God Himself—behind them. They offer nothing which delivers or controls the lusts and dictates of the carnal man.

Gal 5:19-21 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (NAU)

Even if the outward motions are not actively engaged in these things, the inward heart is consumed with thoughts, ideas, and schemes along these lines. The “imagination” of man is evil continually. Even “good” men battle with these things and realize with despair the helplessness of their condition to improve the nature of men.

Rom 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

I believe this is the natural condition of every unregenerated man because he lives under the law of God. Even if he is unaware of God’s law, that law is the standard of the universe. It is the measure by which every man will be judged fit or not before the bar of His universal court. By that standard none are righteous, not even one.

To argue for fairness and justice is to argue in the face of divine judgment and retribution, because since all have sinned, and the wages of sin is death, all have earned the judgment of God. All are living under the law of sin and death. Although the law is righteous and holy, its power is in revealing not in delivering. Thus we are made aware of our sin but not delivered from it. Enlightenment by the truth exposes our inability or perhaps unwillingness to keep the truth consistently. (There is a debate raging about the nature of man with regard to the term depravity which I may touch on but will not resolve to the satisfaction of anyone.)

Rom 7:25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. (NAU)

Rom 8:1-2 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (NAU)

By sincerity, humility, and a love for the truth man becomes accepted by God through faith in Jesus Christ. I say this because the modern idea of “accepting Jesus as personal Lord and Savior” generally lacks conviction and repentance as component parts of the process. Thus Christianity becomes cultural or psychological or philosophical rather than spiritual (reality is lost in the mazes of human understanding).

Fish out of Water 2

John 3:3-6 ^{3 (AMP)} Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God. ⁴ Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb again and be born? ⁵ Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

You are spiritual if you are born again. If you are not born again, then you are bound in the realm of the flesh and the physical limitations of this world. Those born again are born to function and live in the realm of God’s kingdom which is primarily spiritual in nature.

His kingdom includes all the universe and beyond but it is the realm of the Spirit that rules the physical world.

So what is the significance? Paul writes about the frustration of the natural man under the law and the carnal man (born again but living under the law):

Rom 7:14-25 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God-- through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. (NKJ)

There are two applications we can make from these verses:

1) This is the natural man “under the law”. Every person is born the first time “of the flesh”. He’s subject to the laws of the flesh. He’s physical. Now the physical itself is not wicked or evil but the physical is subject to corruption because of sin. He knows what is right but can’t faithfully do it. He knows what is wrong but can’t consistently stop himself from doing it. He has no power over anything in this realm.

2) A second application is that of the man born of God but living “in the flesh”. He’s indulging his carnal nature and wondering why he’s bound by sin and death. Simple, he’s a “fish out of water”. He’s a spiritual being living in a foreign element—the flesh. He’s designed, and equipped to live “in the spirit” by faith. He can’t survive very long “out of water”.

A. Here’s the dilemma many find themselves living in!

Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. (NKJ)

You can delight in the law of God after the mind but the law in your members will bring you into captivity. You can acknowledge that the law of God is good and right and of great value but the law gives you no power or ability to keep it. It shows you the right and wrong but delivers from nothing. That is a real delusion—to acknowledge the good of something but unable to appropriate any of the promises.

The first reaction of a person when confronted with his flesh is to deny it. “I’m a good person.” “I don’t hurt anyone.” Etc. But that’s not the issue! The issue is the world they’re living in.

The world of sin, darkness, death, disease does not lead to life and never will no matter how good a person is. And there are lots of good people living in that world. It takes a death and a birth to change worlds.

Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, (NKJ)

Sin is condemned in the flesh and the law cannot deliver through the flesh. You can’t “try harder” to serve God. That is the way of the Pharisee, the lawyer, the legalist. To walk “in the flesh”; “after the law” is to walk in the midst of sin’s strength.

1Cor 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (NKJ)

Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (NKJ)

Till a law is given no wrong can be done. Till the law is declared by an authority it has not power to condemn.

Rom 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (NKJ)

Rom 7:8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.

The law is spiritual and holy but without power to control the flesh! All it can do is condemn. The flesh is at enmity (hatred, antagonism, hostile) with the law and not subject to the law. The mind that serves the flesh is not subject to the law of God.

Rom 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (NKJ)

Rom 7:1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?

So because Jesus died in our place, He satisfied the demands of justice from the law and we are, therefore, no longer bound by it.

II. Dead to Sin, Alive to God

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (NKJ)

If you refuse to believe then you are under the law and not under grace. You will die in your sins because you’ve rejected the only payment for them—Jesus Christ. Your life is doomed to frustration, etc.

This event took place long before you and I were born and is the real condition of all men since the cross. For a man or woman NOT to believe that—is to bring the wrath of God on them.

A fish out of water!

James 1:12 Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12-15 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (NKJ)

A popular buzz word found in Christian circles today is the word “happy”. All of us want to be happy. And to seek happiness is not a sin or a bad thing. Parents want their children to be happy and God as our Father wants us to be happy. However, we should never trade holiness for happiness, nor righteousness for happiness.

James says that happiness comes by enduring the temptations and trials that come your way. After the test, we receive the crown of life—eternal life as a reward for standing and staying.

I want to encourage you tonight on overcoming temptations… on living a spiritual life…on understanding the realm of godly happiness. I can’t finish tonight so we’ll continue this same subject on Wednesday. No cutesy story tonight only this dead fish because he was removed from his environment! He was not equipped to handle a world without water.

Mt 24:11-13 "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 "But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (NKJ)

I want to walk through some spiritual realities that will help us survive the enemy, even overcome him in the days to come.

2Tim 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: (NKJ)

2 Timothy 3:1 BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].

WE live in the microwave generation and have a hard time with the marathon—the long term—the endurance and yet that is essential to see the end of our faith—our salvation.

Gal 5:16-25 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. …22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (NKJ)

It is clear that sin enters through temptation. Temptation is an enticement to meet an illicit desire or a legitimate desire in an illicit manner. Temptations are not outside of us, but inside. It’s not our circumstances but our heart that is the issue. By heart we mean the inner man, both emotion and intellect directed by our will.

Walking in the Spirit is being led by the Spirit and not our carnal mind—a mind given to making decisions on information gleaned from the world—senses, emotions, opinions, ideas derived from the darkness of this world.

1Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (NKJ)

This means walking in spiritual understanding and knowledge! This is opposed to mere physical input.

Col 1:9-10 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; (NKJ)

The secret to walking “worthy of the Lord” is being filled with spiritual knowledge and understanding. This is received only by those whose minds have been renewed to the reality of the spiritual world around them. A world that supersedes the physical world of the flesh.

One must be born again to enter this world.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (NKJ)

Once the new birth takes place we are to renew our mind to the rules, customs, standards, behaviors that are consistent with God’s kingdom not the kingdom of darkness. We are ruined for carnal life because we can’t unlearn what we know to be true.

We either comply or are miserable. We’re like a “fish out of water”. We’re spiritual in nature and will die if we continue to live in the carnal (Rom 8:1-9).

This renewal requires a new way of thinking, speaking, seeing, and living.

Col 3:9-11 “… put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. (NKJ)

Col 3:1-4 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (NKJ)

Ephesians 4:22-24 throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. 23 Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. 24 You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness--righteous, holy, and true.

Romans 12:2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. NLT

Thought about the issue of "one person on the whole planet". Since the Bible says that Jesus died for the whole world, then if there was only one person on the world then he would have died for them. My reaction to the individualistic "personal savior" mentality probably extends over the top a bit because I believe it stems from the "gooey grace" idea. I believe in grace, more now than when I first got saved. The longer I live, the more I know, the more I need His grace because the more I think I don't need Him. I have a tendency to rely on my strength, try harder not to sin, keep the rules, etc. and Paul says these things have a semblance of godliness but are not good in controlling the flesh.

Question: How much pressure was Jesus under as he was walking about Israel with 12 guys when thousands were going to hell?

I've been examining the peace of God exhibited through Jesus. I believe we take too much on ourselves and labor under a false premise sometime. Not in a Calvinistic way but God saves those who want to be saved, draws those who draw near to him...ala Cornelius. I can't be held responsible for those who don't respond or who don't want to know. I'm responsible to tell them, and teach those who are teachable. I've spent too much energy chasing down dead people, taking blame for messed up families, etc.

"If I was a better pastor..."; "Why did they leave? What did I do wrong?"

I've been an unwitting pawn of the enemy..."If you were a better Christian..." "...or a disciple" "or a real believer." While I've not preached such things it sometimes comes across as a subtle attitude. In our zeal do you think we miss God's moving?

He's not willing that any perish but some are. Jesus didn't heal everyone, save everyone, feed everyone. He said the poor you'd always have. His priorities seemed at odds with His church at times.

Just some ideas to banter about.