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.

FINDING YOUR PLACE

Rom 12:3-9 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, {each of us is to exercise them accordingly:} if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Ed McManus, editor of The Jokesmith newsletter, has put out a booklet of humor about folks in human resources. It's called What is a Human Resource? and in it he explains how people get assigned to particular jobs. You leave them in a conference room for four hours. Then, you go back to see what they're doing.

If they don't look up when you enter the room, assign them to the Security Department.

If they're counting the butts in the ashtray, put them in Finance.

If they've taken the table apart, put them in Engineering.

If they're screaming and waving their arms, send them off to Manufacturing.

And if they've left early, put them in Sales.

Bits & Pieces, March 4, 1993, p. 10.

In a very humorous we are led to understand that people should be typed to the job they’re called to do. Every major company tests for aptitude. I want to discuss Finding Your Place—dealing with the subject of what should I be doing in the kingdom of God.

I. each has a place

Romans 12:6 God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. …

Rom 12:6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, {each of us is to exercise them accordingly:} if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; (NAU)

From this verse we see that God has definitely called each of us to a place and a role in the kingdom of God. None are exempt…all are accountable.

"so each one of us should use our own gift in accordance with the way in which God has given it to us"

Ephesians 4:16 Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Paul proves this point by referring to our physical body in several related places.

Romans 12:4-5 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.

It’s clear then that we have a place in the body of Christ for service…that is serving in some capacity that would benefit the body of Christ. To serve means:

to wait on table, as a waiter; to render assistance; be of use; help; to go through a term of service; do duty as a soldier, sailor, senator, juror, etc.; to have definite use;

Mt 20:25-28 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and {their} great men exercise authority over them. 26 "It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (NAU)

Jesus is our example and we’re called to serve as He did. He gave His life. This is no doubt the theme of being a disciple and the foundation of any reward.

Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? NLT

Obviously the answer is No, it’s not too much.

II. each is equipped

Romans 12:3 As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.

Since each of us is called to serve in a place in the body, God has also equipped us for that place. Notice our text…Paul says the faith God has given us is designed to work in the place of service.

Verse 6 says in proportion to the faith given. “… we must do it with as much faith as we have," "we must do it with all the faith we have," "we must do it in proportion to how much we believe," or "if we believe much, we must do it much."

For example…in preaching …

Let every man who has the gift of preaching and interpreting the Scriptures do it in proportion to the grace and light he has received from God, and in no case arrogate to himself knowledge which he has not received; let him not esteem himself more highly on account of this gift, or affect to be wise above what is written, or indulge himself in fanciful interpretations of the word of God. (Adam Clarke)

So Paul outlines the various places we can serve in the body of Christ. He’s very specific:

Rom 12:6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, {each of us is to exercise them accordingly:} if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (NAU)

There’s preaching and teaching…pulpit ministry, bible studies, street ministry. We just finished a tremendous time where over 300 people were available to hear the gospel. Many prayed to receive Jesus Christ. We have the Christmas season coming up and that is always a great time of opportunity.

Perhaps you are better in serving. This is the office of a deacon and it is not to be confused with that found in the Baptist type churches. The deacon and/or deaconess in the early church took care of the facility where they met. They prepared the Lord’s Table. The women visited the sick and infirm women, children, and instituted prayer for such things. They had a hand in taking care of the poor, providing clothes and food for those in need. The deacons/deaconesses were to be prepared to preach, instruct, and teach as the need arose…each appropriate for their sex. Men are not to minister to women and women are not to minister to men. Etc. This was the practice in the early church and so Paul gave these instructions. Each according to the level of their ability to believe God.

Romans 12:8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

The exhorter is a person equipped to bring people into right relationship with God. They’re able to admonish and reprehend the unruly or disorderly; They support the weak and comfort the penitent—the newly repented, fresh from backsliding, and those who were under heaviness through manifold temptations. These are supernatural gifts exercised through natural human personality…

The giver is one who uses his resources and those of the church for helping the poor, funding the work of the ministry, helping the preacher and minister on his journey. They’re open conduits for the blessing of God and God is able to make all blessing abound in their life because He can trust them with large sums of money. Somehow they’re able and willing to see that resources are available to fulfill any need.

The one who leads is one who administrates so that things flow together. The organizer, the one able to manage the affairs of a project, business, or family. The exhortation is to be diligent about it. If you have a better way of doing something…let it be known…according to the faith God’s given you.

The final aptitude is the one who sees the need in showing mercy…the one open to taking care of the hopeless, homeless, wicked, etc. and they’re to do so with joy not grudgingly or with an attitude of “why don’t others see this glaring issue.”

One commentator pointed out that each of these aptitudes will have the tendency to look down on the others as less important. I believe he’s right because Paul implies that in verse 4 of our text:

Romans 12:4-5 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.

Paul addresses the same issue in 1Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 12:14-15 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not {a part} of the body," it is not for this reason any the less {a part} of the body. (NAU)

You can’t say you don’t belong just because you’re not doing what someone else is doing. That’s a lie from the enemy.

1Cor 12:21-23 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those {members} of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, (NAU)

Nor can we despise what someone else is doing or not doing just because we don’t see the need or relevance.

III. Each is rewarded

The reward is implied in the exhortation to finding out what we’re supposed to do.

Rom 12:3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. (NAU)

The idea is that ambition is good but can lead us to go beyond our talent, ability, call, or assignment. This can turn what would be help into a hindrance.

God is the judge of our labor. He determines what is rewarded or not. Notice earlier in Romans:

Romans 2:6-11 God…”will judge all people according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and practice evil deeds. 9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on sinning--for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good--for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

God rewards according to our deeds, not according to our beliefs. Belief without action is dead belief and carries no reward. It is NOT wrong to labor for reward. It’s the way of life and ambition is to be directed toward honoring God instead of self.

Mt 7:21-24 "Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven {will enter}. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

Notice that rewards come when fulfilling what the Father has called you to do and not what you want to do. This is a deception. IN an army every man must do his assigned duty and not just what he feels like.

Ephesians 4:16 Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

It’s under HIS direction that the body functions and Everyone benefits from it.

Revelation 20:11-12 And I saw a great white throne, and I saw the one who was sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to what they had done. NLT

Revelation 22:12 "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward {is} with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.