Podcasts about god gal

     By promoting the gospel and biblical teaching, the church disrupts Satan's domain of darkness by calling out of it a people for God. By learning God's Word, Christians can identify worldly conversations and activities and either avoid them or seek to redirect them by interjecting biblical truth, which should never be done in hostility. When sharing God's Word with others it's proper to know that not everyone wants to hear God's truth, and even though we may not agree with them, their personal choices should be respected (Matt 10:14; Acts 13:50-51). We should never try to force the gospel or Bible teaching on anyone, but be willing to share when opportunity presents itself. At times this will bring peace, and other times cause disruption and may even offend. In this interaction, the growing Christian must be careful not to fall into the exclusion trap, in which the worldly person (whether saved or lost) controls the content of every conversation, demanding the Christian only talk about worldly issues, as Scripture threatens his pagan presuppositions. Having the biblical worldview, the Christian should insert himself into daily conversations with others, and in so doing, be a light in a dark place. He should always be respectful, conversational, and never have a fist-in-your-face attitude, as arrogance never helps advance biblical truth (2 Tim 2:24-26). The worldly-minded person may not want to hear what the Christian has to say, but he should never be under the false impression that he has the right to quiet the Christian and thereby exclude him from the conversation.      As we grow spiritually and walk with God, learning and living His Word (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17), we stand in opposition to Satan's world-system and sow the seeds of spiritual insurrection in the lives of those who live and walk in his kingdom of darkness. We disrupt Satan's kingdom when we share the gospel, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4). When anyone places their faith in Christ, trusting solely in Him as Savior, they are forgiven all their sins (Acts 10:43; Eph 1:7), gifted with eternal life (John 3:16; 10:28), and the righteousness of God (Rom 4:1-5; 5:17; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9). They are rescued from Satan's enslaving power, as God liberates them from the “domain of darkness” and transfers them into “the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13). The gospel is the only way a person can be delivered from spiritual slavery; “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). Once saved, we seek to influence the thoughts and lives of other Christians through fellowship (Heb 10:23-25), prayer (Jam 5:16), edification (Eph 4:29), encouragement (1 Th 5:11), love (1 Th 4:9; cf. Eph 4:14-15), and words of grace (Col 4:6). The Sin Nature Within Us      If the devil were a broadcaster sending out his signal through the world, the sin nature in every person is that internal receiver that is always tuned to welcome his message. The sin nature, sometimes called “the flesh” (Gal 5:17, 19) or “old self” (Rom 6:6; Col 3:9), has a natural affinity for Satan's values and his world-system. More so, the sin nature is not eradicated from the believer during his time on earth, nor is it ever reformed, as though it can be made to love God.       Everyone knows what it's like to walk in the flesh, according to the sin nature, but only the Christian knows what it's like to walk in the Spirit, assuming he's growing in his walk with the Lord. Paul wrote, “For the flesh [sin nature] sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you [the Christian] may not do the things that you please”  (Gal 5:17). Concerning Galatians 5:17, MacDonald writes: "The Spirit and the flesh are in constant conflict. God could have removed the fleshly nature from believers at the time of their conversion, but He did not choose to do so. Why? He wanted to keep them continually reminded of their own weakness; to keep them continually dependent on Christ, their Priest and Advocate; and to cause them to praise unceasingly the One who saved such worms. Instead of removing the old nature, God gave us His own Holy Spirit to indwell us. God's Spirit and our flesh are perpetually at war, and will continue to be at war until we are taken home to heaven. The believer's part in the conflict is to yield to the Spirit."[1]      The sin nature is resident in every person; both saved and unsaved, and is the source of internal temptation. According to Wiersbe, “The flesh refers to that fallen nature that we were born with, that wants to control the body and the mind and make us disobey God.”[2] Since the fall of Adam, every person is born with a sin nature, and it is this nature that internally motivates men to rebel against all legitimate forms of authority, both human and divine. At the moment of salvation, God the Holy Spirit indwells us and gives us a new nature that, for the first time in our lives, has the capacity and desire to obey God. Because the sin nature is not removed from the believer after salvation, the believer begins to experience conflict within (Gal 5:17; Rom 7:14-23). Chafer states, “The presence of two opposing natures (not two personalities) in one individual results in conflict.”[3] Wiersbe adds: "The old nature (which has its origin in our physical birth) fights against the new nature which we receive when we are born again (Gal 5:16–26). No amount of self-discipline, no set of man-made rules and regulations, can control this old nature. Only the Holy Spirit of God can enable us to “put to death” the old nature (Rom 8:12–13) and produce the Spirit's fruit (Gal 5:22–23) in us through the new nature."[4] Lightner states: "Torn inside with desires to do that which we know is evil and new desires to please God, we experience the rage of the battle. The internal conflict manifests itself in everyday life as the believer is tempted to sin. The source of this conflict is the old sin nature, which is the root cause of the deeds of sin. In the conflict the believer is not passive. He has a vital role in determining to whom he will give allegiance—the old nature or the new nature. From the moment a sinner trusts Christ, there is a conflict in his very being between the powers of darkness and those of light. The one who has become a member of the family of God now faces conflicts and problems that he did not have before."[5]      As Christians, we are directed to “lay aside the old self…and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Eph 4:22, 24). Since we have been “born again” and given new life (1 Pet 1:3, 23), the sin nature no longer has domineering power over us, and we can choose a life of righteousness (Rom 6:5-13). As we grow spiritually, we will be transformed from the inside out and gradually become more and more righteous as we walk with God. Sinless perfection will not be attained until we leave this world, by death or by Rapture, and are “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom 8:29), who will “transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory” (Phil 3:21). Until then, we are commanded to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Rom 13:14). We do this by choosing to live according to the Spirit's guiding, and starving the monster that is our sin nature. To “make no provision for the flesh” means we stop exposing ourselves to the things of the world that excite the flesh and lead to sinful behavior. The positive action is to grow spiritually with biblical teaching (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18), Christian fellowship (Heb 10:23-25), selfless living (Phil 2:3-4), prayer (1 Th 5:17), worship (Heb 13:15), and doing good (Gal 6:10; Heb 13:16). It is only by spiritual growth and drawing closer to God that we learn to glorify the Lord and live in righteousness.      Though the Christian will struggle all his life with his two natures, he also knows the victory is already won. The sin nature has been defeated and its strength diminished because of the believer's union with Christ (Rom 6:6, 11). At his resurrection, the Christian is guaranteed a new body in heaven that is free from the sin nature as it will be just the like body of our Lord Jesus (Phil 3:20-21), for “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him” (1 John 3:2), and “in Him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5).      The believer's focus must be on daily—moment-by-moment—spiritual growth, allowing the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in their life (Gal 5:22-23) while resisting the flesh by making no provision for it (Rom 13:14). This includes guarding against worldly influences that stimulate the sin nature and choosing instead to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Pet 3:18). While sinless perfection will not be attained until the believer is glorified, we are called to continually pursue righteousness (2 Tim 3:16-17; Tit 2:11-14), relying on the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18; Gal 5:16), who supplies the power to overcome the flesh. Ultimately, the Christian's victory is secured through ongoing dependence on the Holy Spirit, a willing heart, and a steady focus on spiritual growth.      In conclusion, though the battle with the flesh rages on, we do not fight alone or without hope. God has equipped us with everything necessary for life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3). We have His indwelling Spirit (Eph 1:13), His inspired Word (2 Tim 2:16-17), the intercession of Christ (1 John 2:1), and the support of fellow believers to help us stand firm. Our sin nature, though still present, no longer reigns; we are no longer its slaves (Rom 6:6, 14). Each step of faith, each moment of obedience, each act of love, reflects the power of God at work within us. The war may be lifelong, but the outcome is certain. So we press on—not in fear or defeat—but in confident expectation of the day when the struggle will end and we shall see our Savior face to face, fully conformed to His image (1 John 3:2). Until then, let us walk by the Spirit (Eph 5:18; Gal 5:16), live by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38), and abound in the good works prepared for us by our gracious God (Gal 6:10; Eph 2:10). Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] William MacDonald, Believer's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1893. [2] Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament, Vol. 2 (Colorado Springs, Col., Victor Publishing, 2001), 18. [3] Lewis S. Chafer, He that is Spiritual (Grand Rapids, Mich. Zondervan Publishing, 1967), 112. [4] Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, New Testament, Vol. 2, 480. [5] Robert P. Lightner, Handbook of Evangelical Theology (Grand Rapids, Mich., Kregel Publications, 1995), 206.

As stated in our previous lesson Biblical genealogies play a very significant part in the Bible story itself but most significantly reveals to us the faithfulness, wisdom, and power of God (Gal 4:1-7)…

Return of the Man-Child (7)  (audio) David Eells – 4/9/25  History happened once in the letter, and it is happening again in the Spirit. We've noticed a repetition of history on a larger scale in every type and shadow that we have looked at. The first revelation was according to the letter, but the way it is being fulfilled in our day is in the Spirit. Last time, we saw that Christ had been anointed with the power of the former rain, and we know that Jesus did not do a miracle or a sign or a wonder until after He had received this anointing of the former rain. It was power! I don't think a lot of people realize that when God gives you power, He tests you to see if you are going to use that power according to His Will or take it for your own use. In other words, you could abuse power and authority. Jesus was being tried here. The Bible says, He hath been in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin (Heb.4:15).  We'll continue our study in Matthew. (Mat.4:1) Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. So He had just been anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit to do all the wondrous works, and now He is being led by the Holy Spirit to be tempted of the devil. There is a purpose in temptation; there is a need for temptation, the Bible tells us. (Jas.1:2) Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; (3) knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. (4) And let patience have [its] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing. Temptation is a way to perfection, or as it's sometimes translated in the Scriptures, “maturity.” (Jas.1:12) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which [the Lord] promised to them that love Him. Even Abraham was tempted or tried. (Heb.11:17) By faith Abraham, being tried … The word there is peirazo, the same word for “tempted.” And the same word occurs again further down in the text, in verse 37 – “they were tempted.” So Abraham was tempted   Does God tempt anybody? No, He does not. Temptation comes quite naturally to us because of our old carnal nature. (Jas.1:13) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man: (14) but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. God tempts no man, but He does bring us through the trial to be tempted, so we can make a decision as to whether we're going to walk in the flesh or whether we're going to walk in the Spirit. The Bible says, if we walk in the light, as He is in the light … the blood of Jesus … cleanseth us of all sin (1Jn.1:7). Being tempted is a method by which you can have more of God because when you walk in the light or, in other words, when you walk after the Spirit, the Holy Spirit cleanses you of the very sin nature that you don't want anymore.   Temptation is God's method for giving you more of God and less of you. (Heb.11:17) By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promise was offering up his only begotten [son;] (18) [even he] to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called: (19) accounting that God [is] able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back. Abraham was tried and God said, Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me (Gen.22:12). Will God do these things with us? Will He try us? Yes, He will. First of all, when Jesus received power, He had to be tried before He started His ministry. I think everybody is tried. If God gives you a gift or power or authority, you are going to be tried to see if you're going to abuse what you've been given.  I'd like us to note the very next thing He speaks about. (Mat.4:2) And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered. (3) And the tempter came … What does fasting have to do with a trial? Remember, I'm not taking anything away from the letter. Jesus was fasting in the letter; He was physically fasting, denying Himself food. So far, we've seen that there is a spiritual manifestation now in the New Testament for the people who walk in the steps of Jesus. We are not doing away with the letter. We're still talking about literal fasting. But there is also a spiritual fast, and if you keep this spiritual fast, no matter how much the devil tempts you, you will win every time. Isaiah speaks about this spiritual fast.   Let me point out some things to you. (Isa.58:3) Wherefore have we fasted, [say they,] and thou seest not? [wherefore] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find [your own] pleasure, and exact all your labors. In other words, there is selfishness in there – selfish desire and ambition. The old man is not only living, he is thriving in the midst of their fast. You can refrain from eating food and still be a big sinner, but you cannot do a spiritual fast and walk in sin. I will point that out to you. (Isa.58:4) Behold, ye fast for strife and contention, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye fast not this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high. (5) Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? He is being rather critical of a natural fast that has no spiritual component, no spiritual focus.  Then Isaiah speaks about another kind of fasting. (Isa.58:6) Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke … What is “wickedness” and what is “the yoke”? It is the old man. Remember when the three Hebrews went into the fire and the only thing that burned up was their bonds (Daniel 3)? What do you think that means? It means the wood, hay and stubble, the old man, was burned up. That's what binds us; that's the “wickedness” and “the yoke” right there. Jesus came with the Isaiah 61 anointing to open the prison for those who were bound and to set the captives free. How does He do that? The old man has to die here. (Isa.58:6) Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? So there is a fast that breaks every yoke. God is about to tell you about His fast, not just their natural fast. They were failing to do anything but sin in the midst of their fast. (Isa.58:7) Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry … It is not just refraining from eating it; it is giving it to somebody who needs it. It is denying yourself.  First of all, a physical fast is to deny your physical self food. A spiritual fast is to deny your self food because “self” is a spiritual entity. It is a sinful, carnal entity, and if you do not feed “self”, “self” dies. How many of you know that you can refrain from feeding your body and still feed “self”? That's what God is talking to them about here. He is saying, “Okay, you are fasting, but it is not doing you any good whatsoever. Let me tell you about My fast.” It is a fast that actually does away with the bondage to the old man. It's not enough to not eat it; give it to somebody else. Deny your “self”; don't feed self. Instead, give.   (Isa.58:7) Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? We all like our privacy and our peace, but it is also a sacrifice to bring people into your house. For years, we have had people in need in and out of our house. It is a big sacrifice. You have to give up a part of you; you have to bend toward their needs. You have to resist your flesh, and that's a big temptation, especially if people come to live with you for very long. But the Lord is saying, “Deny yourself; don't feed the old man. Do something for the Kingdom here.”  Now let me say that there are a few verses in here that speak about the fast, and all the rest of the verses in this text are promises to those who do fast. Here is one promise: (Isa.58:8) Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy healing shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall by thy rearward. (9) Then shalt thou call, and the Lord will answer (That is an awesome promise!); thou shalt cry, and he will say, Here I am. (And then here is a part of the fast:) If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedly. Now that is a fast! It is denying feeding “self”. Self wants its way; self wants you to give it the reins and let it run. You have to pull back and say, “No. I deny self. I will not feed “self” today. I will not feed the flesh today.” Anytime you give the flesh its way, you are feeding it. When you are denying it, it is dying. Jesus said, Whosoever doth not bear his own cross (which is to die on), and come after me, cannot be my disciple (Luk.14:27). A fast is taking up your cross. It is not really something we should ever stop. In a literal fast, you have to stop, and it may not gain you anything. But it's good if you use it as a means to an end in the Kingdom. For instance, when you give your bread to someone else, it's good.  As we read on, we see another part of this fast. (Isa.58:10) And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry (In other words, in what your soul desires, make sure you are meeting someone else's need.), and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall thy light rise in darkness, and thine obscurity be as the noonday; (11) and the Lord will guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in dry places, and make strong thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. (12) And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations (Well, that's what we need today, folks; we need to go back and restore again the foundation that is fallen.); and thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. Here's another part of the fast: (Isa.58:13) If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day … Now we know that the Sabbath is not a day anymore, according to Hebrews 4. It is a sabbatismos, a continual ceasing from your works, which are the works of the old man, and entering the rest. In other words, it's denying the flesh; it's not feeding the old man. That is what the Sabbath is.  (Isa.58:13) If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, [and] the holy of the Lord honorable; and shalt honor it, not doing thine own ways (again, not feeding self), nor finding thine own pleasure (instead, attempting to please the Lord, meeting the brethren's needs and sacrificing yourself, etc.), nor speaking [thine own] words. That's an important one right there because the tongue [is] a restless evil (Jas.3:8), and the tongue can no man tame (8). Only the Lord can tame it if you give Him faith. (Isa.58:14) Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will make thee to ride upon the high places of the earth; and I will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. That is an awesome promise of God's spiritual fast! There definitely has to be a fulfillment in the Spirit, and we can look at Jesus or the Man-child ministry as showing us how to do a spiritual fast.   I believe that the Man-Child ministry's corporate body is going to be tried in this question about power and authority, and I do not think that they are all going to overcome it. I have seen dreams and visions about this. But I believe that if we do this spiritual fast, we cannot fail. If you do what the spiritual fast calls for – if you do not feed your old man, if you deny yourself in the midst of trial – then you're not going to listen to Satan, and you're going to be an overcomer. As you read the Book of Revelation, all of the promises to the churches are for overcomers. There is no promise to people who are not overcoming. What are they overcoming? They're overcoming self and temptation because they're overcoming self. Notice that God is not necessarily doing away with the natural fast. He is saying, “Look, if you don't eat food, give it to somebody who needs it.”  I want to share a revelation with you about fasting. It says the exact same thing about the spiritual fast, and it was given to Hermas, who wrote The Shepherd of Hermas, which you can read on our site. At the end of the first century, the Shepherd came to Hermas and gave him revelations in the way of visions to give to the Church, which was just about to go into great tribulation, as we are in our day. In fact, they were going to face the Beast and the Harlot of their day and many of them were going to lose their lives. The Lord gave them an exhortation through Hermas. That exhortation was then sent throughout the early Church, and he gave them a revelation on fasting. Notice its similarity to what we just studied. Let's begin in similitude 5, chapter 54. (My comments are in parentheses.)  While I was fasting and sitting on a certain mountain, thanking the Lord for all that He had done for me, I saw the Shepherd (the Shepherd here is the Lord) sitting beside me and saying these things to me: “Why have you come here so early?” “Because, sir,” I said, “I am on guard duty.” “What,” said he, “is the guard?” “I am fasting, sir,” I said. “But what,” said he, “is this fast that you are keeping?” “Sir,” I said, “I am fasting just as I have been accustomed to do.” “You do not know how to fast to God,” he said, “and this useless fast that you are keeping for Him is not a fast.” (He called this fast “useless.” I'm sure Hermas was refraining from eating food, but the Lord called it a “useless fast.”) “Why, sir,” I said, “do you say this?” “I am telling you,” he said, “that this is not a fast you are keeping, but I will teach you what an acceptable and a complete fast to the Lord is.” “Yes, sir,” said I. “You will make me happy if I may know the fast acceptable to God.” “Listen,” said he. “God does not wish such a futile fast as this, for by fasting in this way, you do nothing for righteousness, (It can be, as we just saw in Isaiah 58, that they were fasting diligently, but getting nowhere and doing nothing but feeding the flesh because they were leaving selfish ambition alive.) but fast to God in this way: Do nothing evil in your life. (He is talking about a spiritual fast here. In other words, do not feed the flesh.) But serve the Lord with a clean heart, keeping His commandments, following His orders. (Again, do not feed the flesh. The commandments of God crucify the flesh; they do not permit it to live. That's why there is so much emphasis on ear-tickling doctrines out there, because they all permit the old man to live. If you obey God, the old man dies. It's like you're starving him. You're not giving him what he wants, so he dies.) And let no evil desire arise in your heart. (Do not listen to him; do not feed him; do not let him live.) Believe in God, because if you do these things and fear Him and abstain from every evil deed (in other words, not feeding the flesh), you will live to God. And if you do these things, you will complete a fast that is great and acceptable to the Lord.”  Wow! That is a spiritual fast! He didn't touch on the physical fast, but in one of the next chapters, he does talk a little bit about the physical fast and how it can tie into the spiritual fast. You can see here the spiritual fast, which was the most important. You can fast for the rest of your life for selfish ambition, and you will not do anything for the Kingdom. Your sacrifice is worthless before God. But, if you do a spiritual fast, you are going to grow in God. I am not denying that you can mix this with a physical fast, but if you do a spiritual fast, you will conquer the devil every time. The only thing in you that he can use to conquer you is your flesh, so if you do not feed your flesh, your flesh is not going to be able to conquer you. Let me go to chapter 56.  I said to him, “Sir, I do not understand these parables, nor could I comprehend them unless you interpret them to me.” “I will interpret everything to you,” he said, “and whatsoever I tell you, I will explain. Keep the commandments of the Lord and you will be pleasing to Him and be enrolled in the number of those who keep His commandments. If you do something good beyond the commandment of God, you will gain greater glory for yourself. (This is an important issue here. You can go beyond what God commands and God will give you good credit for that.) And you will be more honored before God than you would have been. If then, while keeping the commandments of God, you add also to those services, you will rejoice, and you will keep them according to my commandment.” I said to him, “Sir, whatever you command me I will follow, for I know that you are with me.” “I will be with you,” he said, “because you have such zeal for doing good, and I will be with all,” said he, “who have the same zeal. This fast,” he said, “is very good, if you keep the commandments of the Lord. So observe this fast which you are going to keep in this way: First of all, guard against every evil word and every evil desire. (Do not feed “self” and do not give “self” permission or the right to give in to evil thoughts or evil words. Otherwise, you are wasting your fast.) And cleanse your heart of all the vanities of this world. (In other words, there are a lot of things in the world that have no point in the Kingdom. The Bible says to lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race (Heb.12:1). And the sin? Some weights are not sin, but they hold us back. They themselves are not sin, but they keep us from doing things that are important in the Kingdom.)  (Many people do not take the Great Commission seriously. They figure they hired their preacher to do that, so they just live their lives the way they want to all week long and then at the end of the week, they go to church and call that “service.” No, actually we're called to be disciples of Jesus Christ and we're called to keep and to do the Great Commission and do the works of Jesus. (Joh.14:12) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. We are called to do His works, and if the Church had been doing that all along, just think how much of the world would have been taken into the Church by now. The Lord says to avoid the vanities of this world, which are not necessarily sin, but have this uselessness. There are so many things that Christians do that are useless. If you are really devoted to God, your hobbies ought to be His hobbies. Your loves ought to be His loves. You ought to be doing the things that are pleasing to your Father. Even as a child, Jesus said (Luk.2:49) Knew ye not that I must be in my Father's house? In other words, “be about my Father's work”? That's right; that's what we are here for.)   If you observe these things, this fast will be complete. And here is what you will do: When you have finished the above-mentioned, on that day when you are fasting, (Now he is talking about a physical fast.) you will taste nothing except bread and water, and you will be aware of the cost of your food you would have eaten on that day which you are going to keep. Having set it aside, you will give it to a widow, or an orphan, or someone else in need. And in this way, you will be humble-minded, so that from your humility, the one who receives may fill his soul and pray to the Lord for you. (So, here's a way that a physical fast can actually be a spiritual fast in denying yourself and then furthering the Kingdom, by not only refraining from eating, but giving it or the monetary equivalent to someone who needs it, or through sacrifice.) If then you complete the fast in this way, as I command you, your sacrifice will be acceptable to God. And this fast will be recorded, and the service done in this way is good and joyous and acceptable to the Lord. This is the way you shall observe these things with your children and all your house. If you observe them, you will be blessed, and as many as hear them and keep them will be blessed, and whatever they ask of the Lord they will receive.”  That is very interesting because Isaiah 58:7 basically says that, too, “to deal thy bread to the hungry,” give that which you would have eaten to the hungry. Then Isaiah goes on to talk about the same principle, but in many other ways that are dealing with “self”, such as using something that you would consider yours to meet the need of someone else. In this way, a physical fast can be a spiritual fast. I dare say that a lot of people who fast are sometimes too miserable to even pray and take advantage of their fast. Have you ever caught yourself doing that? I used to fast regularly and I still do, but I would catch myself and say, “Wait a minute! I'm not taking advantage of this sacrifice here. I need to be fasting and praying.” So I would remember and go back to praying and making my fast count for something. I was always giving, and a person who fasts should use it to further the Kingdom and bless God's people. Now, if you do that and the devil tempts you and you keep on fasting and denying self in order to let your Spirit man live, there is no way the devil can beat you.  If you look at the Book of Matthew, you see that Jesus received this great power from God and He was going to be tried by the devil to see if He was going to use that power wisely. (Mat.4:2) And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered. (3) And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. (4) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. What kind of temptation is this? First of all, with “If thou art the Son of God,” the devil was tempting Jesus to believe that He was not Who He was supposed to be, and that is the Son of God. He was tempting Jesus to use His power to feed His flesh. Look at it in the Spirit, not just in the letter.   In what way can you use your power to feed your flesh? Well, for example, you could be in the prosperity doctrine. You can use your power and authority to live high above the average means of the people around you, to consume upon your flesh the things that would be detrimental to your spiritual health. (1Ti.6:9) But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition. Many people fall away, according to Paul in 1st Timothy, because of their lusting after the things of the world. They use God's power and even their bodily efforts, which is again using God's power because ye were bought with a price (1Co.6:20), to live after the lusts of their flesh.  Now let's look at the next temptation. (Mat.4:5) Then the devil taketh him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple, (6) and saith unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone. (7) Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God. What is the devil tempting Him with here? He's tempting Jesus with proving to others Who He is. Why do we have to prove to others who we are? Isn't that really something that should just be left up to God? There are people who abuse the power and authority that the Lord has given them to make themselves great in the sight of other people. That is a temptation, especially if you have power.   I see it today in people exercising power in such a way as to put on a show. You've seen it; you've seen the wave of the hand and half the audience falls down. What's the purpose of that? Who is getting the glory for that? When did Jesus ever do such a thing? Even when He healed someone and they were entering the town, He said, Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee (Mar.5:19), not “Remember me when you tell the story.” How many times did He disappear like the Lone Ranger after He did a good deed? That was because He was not looking for the credit for it. You do not have to prove who you are to anybody. As a matter of fact, it's better if you are pretty quiet about it. If you did not deny yourself or fast spiritually, if you did not deny the flesh its right to prove who it was, then to glory in the things done would just cause your flesh to grow.  Here is another temptation. (Mat.4:8) Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; (9) and he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. (10) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (11) Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him. What kind of a temptation is that? Well, the glory of the authority over the world. When we receive power from God, there is a temptation to use it to gain the glory of this authority. In these days, there are many people who run around calling themselves apostles or prophets or giving themselves great titles, none of which the early disciples did or used. But they do that in order to profit “self” and glory in the authority that they have. They count the numbers of people in their churches so they can glory about how big their church is. They talk about how many churches are under their authority or how many men are under their authority. They use power and authority to glory and to build “self”. Jesus was being tempted to see if He would abuse authority and power. Of course, God knew the outcome, but you still have to go through the temptation. It has to be proven. That was the whole gist of this temptation, from beginning to end.  I believe that the Man-child ministry will go through the exact same testing, and those people who are making somebody of themselves, taking advantage of other people because of their authority, plundering the flock because of their position, will not be qualified to be in the Man-child ministry. When you look at Jesus, when you look at His disciples, you see humble people. You see people who did not plunder the flock for the sake of themselves, to live high on the hog. You don't see fancy-dressed people who take positions of authority or who glorify self. Jesus and His disciples denied “self” in order to meet the needs of others; love caused them to pass up many of the things in the world that people take for granted. They didn't have time for the world or vanity because their ambition and their hobby was God's people, meeting their needs and serving them.   The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve. If Jesus did that, how much more should we? Glory to God! We are going to be tried. Everybody who is called to this latter rain ministry of restoring the Church will be tried and it's a fairly small number who will remain in the Man-child. We will be tested and tried to see if we will abuse that power. If we do, we will not be qualified. But Jesus overcame and, therefore, God sent Him to the Church. You say, “Well, why wouldn't He be qualified? He was the Son of God.” But when He came, He had to be made in all things like unto His brethren, and He came as a Spirit-filled Man in order to do the works of the Spirit and to be used of God. He could have come in all the omnipotence of God, but He didn't. Jesus became tired; He got weak; He had to eat. He came as a Spirit-filled Man and laid aside His omnipotence and, in some cases, omniscience, because He said that God knew things that He did not know and could not reveal in order to come and be as a man.  We know that He was God in flesh, but did you know that your spiritual man, “Christ in you,” is also God in flesh? Christ is God wherever He is, and He is God in you, in your heart. Before we can be trusted to be used of the Lord, we are going to be tried to see if we're going to be abusive of His power or authority. It doesn't matter if you are in the Man-child ministry or not. You are going to be tried, and if you fail, that does not mean you will not keep on being a minister or a preacher or having your title or your church; you just will not be doing it in God. There were lots of ministers around when Jesus came, but they were a bunch of apostates. In fact, He said, All that came before me are thieves and robbers (Joh.10:8). They had stolen the position that they had over the flock, and they were plundering the flock.   But Jesus had the kind of authority from God that they did not have. They had natural authority that was given to them, given to their title, given to their position. But Jesus' authority came only from God, and it came in the form of meeting the needs of God's people, of serving God's people and feeding them spiritually, of delivering them from demons and healing their bodies. I do not care what kind of ministry you have. You are going to be tried to see if the position of authority over God's people you have is abused or if the power that God gives you to use your supernatural gifts is abused. If it's abused for the purpose of aggrandizing yourself, then you are not qualified to do this for God. You might continue on in religion, and they may still give you a position and a salary, but you are not doing it in God.  We see that Jesus has overcome and it was obvious that anybody who took this position in the world to glory was worshipping Satan, not God. (Mat.4:10) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God … The word “worship” is proskuneo and it means “to kiss toward.” It is an act of love toward God. If you love God, you're not going to aggrandize “self” and you're going to keep His commandments. You're going to be humble. You're going to know that you can do nothing without Him and that it is all by grace, and you're going to know that you don't deserve this position any more than anybody else does. It was given to you by grace. You cannot take it for granted.  (Mat.4:11) Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him. (12) Now when he heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee. Here is Jesus coming right out of His temptation and going to Galilee. Luke tells you some things that are not told to us in Matthew, so I would like to look at that. (Luk.4:14) And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and a fame went out concerning him through all the region round about. Fame is something you need to be careful of. A lot of people fail when it comes to fame and they will lose their humility and begin to abuse their position and power. (Luk.4:15) And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. This did not last long, but as soon as He was anointed and was tried and had overcome, God sent Him to the people of God. Where were they? They were in the synagogues, which were very apostate, as Jesus made clear to them. I am sure He was extremely graceful for a short while, but there were teachings He had to get out to them because He had an extremely short ministry. So He had to get around to some of these hard things. Well, in the beginning He was “glorified of all” and I can tell you He had to have been very weak to the weak (1 Corinthians 9:22) in order to get away with some of those teachings, being Who He was and having the power that He had, with the authority that He had. For Him to be accepted among these apostate synagogues, He had to be weak to the weak. I tell you, the first sermon when He was not as graceful, they wanted to kill Him.  (Luk.4:16) And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read. (17) And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written, (18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised, (19) To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. (20) And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. They were saying, “What's your point here, Jesus? What are you getting at?” (21) And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears. Uh-oh. They believed that this text was written about the Messiah, and now Jesus is taking credit for being the Messiah, in a subtle way.  I think they're finally getting the point here; they're looking at Him and wondering. (Luk.4:22) And all bare him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth: and they said, Is not this Joseph's son? “Wait a minute now; we know this guy. We watched him grow up. He's nothing special. He's human like we are.” They were probably thinking all these things. (Luk.4:23) And he said unto them, Doubtless ye will say unto me this parable, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in thine own country. (24) And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is acceptable in his own country. (25) But of a truth I say unto you, There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land; (26) and unto none of them was Elijah sent, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. (He had to even go to a Gentile, didn't he?) (27) And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian. Wow! They're really getting mad now, aren't they? (28) And they were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things; (29) and they rose up, and cast him forth out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong. (30) But he passing through the midst of them went his way. There is no doubt this was supernatural. When you're on the edge of a hill and there's a crowd behind you that wants to kill you, how are you going to pass through the midst of them, unless it's supernatural? That's what I think happened here.  At any rate, the honeymoon was over, as they say. Jesus was basically telling them who He was and what He was sent to do. And they thought instead that He was glorifying Himself, but in this case, He was telling the absolute truth because He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24). He was pointing out to them, “There are a lot of Gentiles out there more righteous than you are.” Of course, that's still true today, and the opposite is still true for the Church. There are a lot of Jews out there more righteous than some Gentile Church folks. That's why God is going to turn back to the Jews once again at the end of the gathering of all the last Gentiles. But the honeymoon was over, and now they wanted to kill Jesus because He told them the truth, and the ministry that's coming is going to be the same way. There is going to come a time when the Man-child ministry will be weak to the weak and they will go into the apostate churches because now it's the Christians who are the lost sheep of the house of Israel, circumcised in heart and not in flesh (Romans 2:28-29). He called those believers the Israel of God (Gal.6:16) because they were sons of Abraham through faith.  So this time, the Man-child is going to go to the apostate church that is not willing to know the truth, not willing to know that Jesus is once again in their midst. You know, when Jesus sent out His disciples, He said, He that receiveth you receiveth me (Mat.10:40). Those disciples had Jesus in them because He had spoken His Word into their hearts and recreated His life in them. They were called “Christians.” They were anointed to go and serve, to teach, and to heal the sick and cast out demons. Jesus was in them. It will be the same with the last days' disciples of the Lord, who are going to go forth with the authority and the power of Jesus to do these things. But their teaching and even their very lives are going to be rebuked by the apostate church, especially by the apostate leaders. They're going to want to kill them, but they're not going to be able to do that with the Man-child ministry. It's not going to be possible. They will pass right through their midst and the apostates will not be able to kill them because their time is not yet (John 7:6). We will come a little later to the crucifixion and how that applies to the Man-child ministry, but for now, it suffices to know that these people are going to be hated by the Church, just exactly the way Jesus was hated by the Jews.  There was a first-fruits company that came out from among them and followed Jesus. John the Baptist pointed them out and said, He that hath the bride is the bridegroom (Joh.3:29). They followed Jesus, but they were in the minority. The rest of the Jews really loved their religion and respected their religious leaders, for whom Jesus had absolutely no respect because they were in total apostasy. And in these days, it's again going to be just as we've studied. Before the David ministry can come, the Saul ministry has to lose its life on Mount Gilboa to the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:1-6), meaning the old man has to put them to death. They were twice dead, plucked up by the roots (Jud.12). There will once again be a great falling away in our day of the Saul ministry, to make room for the Davidic Man-child ministry.   They are falling away as they are plundering the sheep and stumbling in everything we saw that the devil tempted Jesus in. They're falling right into temptation and they're loving and serving the devil; they're worshipping the devil and they don't even know it. They're living high on the hog, taking advantage of their position, glorying in the authority that has been given to them by the world. Remember, the devil said, “I'll give you all this if you just worship me.” He had this dominion, and it was under his authority to give it. It is under his authority, actually, to “prosper” people if they will serve the devil to obtain it. If you are prospering in the world while your brother is not and you are not paying any attention to him, misusing your position to aggrandize yourself, then you are worshipping the devil. It does not matter if you call him Jesus; you are still worshipping the devil.  So the Man-child ministry is coming to leadership. Remember what Jesus said as the Man-child of His day: (Joh.10:8) All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. Wow! There was a group who recognized Jesus when He came. They recognized integrity, sacrifice, and humility. The rest of them were all fawning over the apostate leadership, totally submitting to them and respecting them because they had no eyes to see nor ears to hear. This is where we are heading again. History is going to repeat on a larger scale this time. We know that the Man-child ministry is what it is because Jesus lives in their hearts. He is the One Who is doing the works! Even Jesus gave credit to the Father for doing the works in Him, and these people will give credit to the Lord for doing the works through them. Everything they have is by grace. The apostle Paul said, But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not found vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me (1Co.15:10). Amen. 

Paul preached a gospel from God. We still believe in the same gospel and trust in the same Christ. 

Message from Craig Nelson on November 24, 2024

Message from Craig Nelson on November 17, 2024

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 28:8–15 Psalm: Psalm 32; antiphon: v. 2 Epistle: Galatians 3:15–22 Gospel: Luke 10:23–37 Introit: Psalm 74:1–2, 19b, 21b; antiphon: vv. 20a, 21a, 22a, 23a Gradual: Psalm 77:14–15 Verse: Psalm 88:1 Jesus Is Our Good Samaritan   The Law cannot help us or give us life. Rather, it confines everyone under sin as wounded and naked before God (Gal. 3:15–22). So it is that two figures of the Law, the priest and the Levite, passed by the injured man on the side of the road (Luke 10:23–37). Only the promised Seed of Abraham can rescue us and make us righteous before God. Only the Samaritan, our Lord Jesus, had compassion, as did the Samaritans of old (2 Chronicles 28:8–15). He came down to us in our lost and dying condition, pouring on the oil and wine of the Sacraments. He placed us on His own animal, bearing our sin and brokenness in His body on the cross to restore us. Jesus brought us to the inn, that is, the Church, and gave the innkeeper two denarii, that His double forgiveness might continue to be ministered to us. In this way the Lord, by whose Law we are torn and stricken, heals us and revives us by His Gospel and raises us up with Himself.

Galatians Its History, Eschatology, Exegesis and Gospel Truth Flesh and Spirit: Christ Has Set You Free (Gal. 5:2-6:18) The Jewish Stumbling Block: Circumcision and the Cross (Gal. 5:7-12)

Galatians Its History, Eschatology, Exegesis and Gospel Truth The Single Family of God (Gal. 3:1--5:1) Paul's Allegory! The Two Sons, The Two covenants, The Two Women, The Two Mountains and the Two Families (Gal. 4:21—5:1)

Galatians Its History, Eschatology, Exegesis and Gospel Truth The Single Family of God (Gal. 3:1--5:1) Enemies by Truth? Children of Labor until Christ is Formed in You (Gal. 4:12-20)

Content: “Israel of God” (Gal. 6) “We are the circumcision” (Phil. 3) “New man” (Eph. 2) If you would like to support our ministry: https://crosstocrown.org/partners/ What Is New Covenant Theology? An Introduction — https://crosstocrown.org/product/what-is-new-covenant-theology/ Featured playlist: The Church (That Meets in My Home) — https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5Yobt1jZDd9Zzn8Ufa-BNciyYv04Cl6m My books: Exalted: Putting Jesus in His Place — https://www.amazon.com/Exalted-Putting-Jesus-His-Place/dp/0985118709/ref=tmm_pap_title_0 God's Design for Marriage (Married Edition) — https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Design-Marriage-Married-Amazing/dp/0998786306/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1493422125&sr=1-4&keywords=god%27s+design+for+marriage God's Design for Marriage (Pre-married Edition) — https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Design-Marriage-What-Before/dp/0985118725/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top crosstocrown.org @DougGoodin @CrossToCrown

If you are born again, you are alive with Christ! If you are born again, everything listed in Ephesians 1:3-14 is true of you! In those twelve verses the phrase: In Him or in Christ is stated. Before we even touch Ephesians 4:1-3, I want you to marvel over what it means to be in Christ. In Jesus, I can now know the God for whom I was made. In Jesus God no longer sees my sin, but the righteousness of His Son. In Jesus, I am becoming more and more like the person I was born to be. In Jesus, I have redemption and am now a child of God instead of an enemy; here are eighteen other reasons to celebrate what it means to be in Christ.: In Christ, I am justified freely by His grace (Rom. 3:24) In Christ, I am now Gods child (1 Peter 1:3) In Christ, I am forgiven of all my sins (Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:14) In Christ, I have peace (John 14:27) In Christ, I am loved by God the Father (John 16:27) In Christ, I belong to God (John 17:9) In Christ, I will never be forsaken or abandoned by God (John 10) In Christ, I am treasured by God (1 Peter 1-2) In Christ, I am the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21) In Christ, there is for me NO condemnation (Rom. 8:1) In Christ, God is working all things together for my good (Rom. 8:28) In Christ, I have obtained an inheritance that only God alone can give (Eph. 1:11) In Christ, I am a new creation the old is gone and the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17) In Christ, I am a son/daughter of God (Gal. 4:6) In Christ, I am no longer a stranger or alien, but a fellow citizen with the saints (Eph. 2:19) In Christ, I am a member of the body of Christ (Eph. 3:6) In Christ, I am set apart for the mission of God (Eph. 2:10) In Christ, I am loved by an everlasting God (1 John 4:19) Paul begins verse four with the word, Therefore. When you read your Bible, this word serves as a clue that in light of what has been written, what you are about to read next is in response to what proceeded it. Another way to say it is: In light of Ephesians 1-3, this is how you are to behave. How are we to behave? Since we are alive in Christ, we are to walk as the spiritually living. Since we are not the only ones made alive in Christ, we should walk together as the living. I want to look at both of those points Paul makes in the verses that follow. How to Walk as the Living Paul begins with these words: Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you (v. 1a). So far in his epistle this is only the second place when Paul tells his readers to do something. The first time Paul told the Ephesians they had to do something, it was in 2:12, remember that you were. Remember what Paul? Remember who you were and who you now are! In Ephesians 4:1, Paul is not telling these Christians to remember their identity in Christ but to walk in step with their identity as those who have been called out of death into life with Christ. There are two words I want you to notice that I will call, The Two Ws of the Christian life. The first word is walk, and the second word is worthy. The Ws of the Christian life serve as evidence that you are alive in Jesus and no longer dead in your sins. When Paul uses the word walk in his epistle, he is referring metaphorically to the way a person lives out their life ethically. Paul uses the word walk thirty-two times in his epistles, eight of which are used in Ephesians, and every time it is used metaphorically! In Ephesians 2:1-2, our walk was governed by a Christless life: And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. In Colossians Paul also described the way the Christian used to walk, listen to the way he uses the word, walk in Colossians 3:5-7, Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. Jesus used the same metaphor in describing what will happen to the one who follows Him: I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life (John 8:12). Listen to the other ways Paul uses the word walk in his epistles: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. (Gal. 5:16) Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:4) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (Eph. 5:12) Here, in the verse before us this morning, we are commanded to, walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. The second W word of the Christian life is the word worthy. The Greek word Paul uses is axiōs, and it literally means worthily. The word worthy means to have worth or value in the same way a scale measures the weight of something. So, picture a scale in your mind; on the one side of the scale you have all of the doctrinal goodness that is true of you in Christ from Ephesians 1-3, and on the other side of the scale is the weight of your new life in Jesus applied in the way you live out that doctrinal truth. Martyn Lloyd-Jones describes what Paul is saying in this verse in the following way: The Apostle is beseeching them and exhorting them always to give equal weight in their lives to doctrine and practice. They must not put all the weight on doctrine and none on practice; nor all the weight on practice and just a little, if any at all, on doctrine. To do so produces imbalance and lopsidedness. The Ephesians must take great pains to see that the scales are perfectly balanced.[1] Let me say it in another way: Orthodoxy is right doctrine, and orthopraxy is right-practice. Here is where it gets real for you and me! In evangelical churches, you will probably run into two types of people who claim to be Christian: the first is the kind of Christian who can quote chapter and verse from the Bible, seems to have their theology nailed down and dialed in, but has little to show for it in the way they live out (practice) their Christianity. The other person you may run into seems to be a really nice Christian but has little understanding of the Bible or what passes for right doctrine.What we learn from Ephesians 4:1 is that our metaphorical Christian scale needs sound and solid doctrine from the Bible that is balanced by a life that is shaped by a growing understanding of the Word of God. Let me say it another way: as a Christian, you should be growing in your understanding of who God is and what it means to follow Jesus, and as you grow, your life will demonstrate that growth in equal measure. The Way We Walk Together as the Living So what does it look like to, walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called? It looks like verses 2-3, which is a life with, all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Two themes flow out of Ephesians 4-6 and that is, 1) unity between the redeemed and 2) the godly life lived out. In verses 2-3, Paul provides a list of five character traits that the one who is truly alive in Christ ought to long and strive for as he/she follows Jesus. What Paul lists are five characteristics that ought to be on the side of the scale that is labeled: practice. Humility. Think about your salvation and what it cost Jesus to redeem you. You who once stood before a holy God as a child of wrath living in the lusts of your flesh and mind (vv. 2-3), God made you alive in Christ (v. 4-5). Could there not be any clearer statement to shatter any hint of pride in you: but God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us made us alive together with Christ. If you understand the doctrine of Gods grace and mercy, then you will understand that the grace you received was not free and the mercy you received was not deserved: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph. 2:8-9). There is no room for pride in the blood-bought and redeemed life of the Christian. Gentleness. To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus, and to be a disciple of Jesus is to follow and imitate His ways. We have been redeemed by and follow the One who invites all: Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matt. 11:2829). To be gentle is to be meek, but that does not mean that Jesus was weak. Moses is described in Numbers 12:3 as, very humble, more than any person who was on the face of the earth. If you know anything about Moses, he was a courageous and gifted leader who bravely stood before the most powerful man of his day to demand that he let the Hebrew slaves go. We who were far from God, he found us and met us in our sin! Consider Romans 2:4 and the kindness of God: Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? When it comes to the way we treat others, we ought to be known for our gentleness, and when it comes to the sins of others, the Word of God is very clear: Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well (Gal. 6:1). Patience. The Greek word Paul used for patience is makrothymia which also means forbearance or long-suffering. How do you develop long-suffering as a Christian? We develop patience in the Christian life through the things we suffer. Listen, suffering is the fire God uses to purge the dross from our lives. Find a person who has suffered much and you will find a person who is either bitter or empathetic towards others. W. Tozer, a pastor known for his prayer life, once said of the person who wished to be used of God: It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply." God raises up storms of conflict in relationships at times to accomplish that deeper work in our character. If you dont buy into what Tozer said, consider what we read in Romans 5:3-5, And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Rom. 5:35). If you are serious about following Jesus, you will experience the suffering God intends for your good and His glory. Patience in the life of the Christian will not only come by way of suffering, but it comes through confidence and trust in a good and sovereign God. The more you grow in your understanding of who God is (orthodoxy) the greater your patience will become (orthopraxy). Bearing with one another. The fruit of godly humility, gentleness, and patience is the desire and hard work of bearing with one another. The Greek word for bearing here can also be translated as tolerate, put up with, or endure. To the scattered and suffering Christian located in what is now modern Turkey, the apostle Peter instructed: Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins (1 Pet. 4:8). Christian, you are a work in progress and the goal of becoming holy and blameless is not complete in you and will not be until a death or a resurrection, yet God is patient with you; oh, how easily we forget the 10,000 ways God endures us while He remains committed to the good He is doing in us! If God endures you, how is it that you are unwilling to endure your brother or sister in whom God is committed to do the same thing He is doing in you? How often and to what degree do we continue to wrong Him who endured the cross for our redemption? How easily we forget our Lords words from His Sermon on the Mount: For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses (Matt. 6:1415). Unity. Paul does not just tell us to be united, but to be, diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The way the NASB translates diligent is not a bad translation, but in the original language (spoudazō) the word is better translated as zealous or eager. I think the way the NASB translates this verse loses the edge and urgency that Paul meant to communicate to the Ephesian Christians. Listen, Paul is urging you, Christian, to be zealous and eager to maintain the unity we share as those who have been redeemed through the slaughtering of the Lamb of God so that we can be the children of God. As His Church, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit as His redeemed people. This is the unity of the Spirit that we are to keep within the community of faith in such a way that it is visible to the world around us! This is why Jesus commanded: I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another (John 13:3435). Oh, the petty things we allow to disrupt our union as Jesus Bride! The things we fight about and break fellowship over grieve the heart of the One who was crushed and cursed so that we could be reconciled to the God we sinned against. Peter OBrien wrote of this verse the following indictment that would do us well to heed and respond to in repentance: To live in a manner which mars the unity of the Spirit is to scorn the gracious reconciling work of Christ. It is tantamount to saying that his sacrificial death by which relationships with God and others have been restored, along with the resulting freedom of access to the Father, are of no real consequence to us![2] We have spent 20 weeks together in first three chapters in Ephesians, and some of you are still on track for reading through the Bible in a year. I have been with you for over five years now, and I have seen so much growth in many of you regarding your theological understand of God. I love that many of you honor or have grown to honor the Bible for what it is as the Word of God. I love that I can hear pages of your Bibles turn as we engage the Word of God each and every Sunday together! I am so proud of you and your growth dear brothers and sisters! My question for you this morning is simply this: What are you doing with your orthodoxy? Permit me to close our time with some questions to think about: How has your growth and understanding of who God is through His revealed word deepened your humility? How has it tenderized you towards others? How has your theology of Ephesians 1:3-14 and 2:1-10 made you a more patient person? Has your right awareness and understanding of Gods choosing, redeeming, and sealing of you as His reconciled child created in you to extend the same mercy and grace that you received to others who God is working through and with? Has your zeal for knowing God fostered a zeal to find what you disagree with, or has it created in you a zeal to maintain and celebrate the primary things you agree upon? [1] D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Christian Unity: An Exposition of Ephesians 4:1 to 16 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981), 24. [2] Peter Thomas OBrien, The Letter to the Ephesians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999), 280.

If you are born again, you are alive with Christ! If you are born again, everything listed in Ephesians 1:3-14 is true of you! In those twelve verses the phrase: In Him or in Christ is stated. Before we even touch Ephesians 4:1-3, I want you to marvel over what it means to be in Christ. In Jesus, I can now know the God for whom I was made. In Jesus God no longer sees my sin, but the righteousness of His Son. In Jesus, I am becoming more and more like the person I was born to be. In Jesus, I have redemption and am now a child of God instead of an enemy; here are eighteen other reasons to celebrate what it means to be in Christ.: In Christ, I am justified freely by His grace (Rom. 3:24) In Christ, I am now Gods child (1 Peter 1:3) In Christ, I am forgiven of all my sins (Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:14) In Christ, I have peace (John 14:27) In Christ, I am loved by God the Father (John 16:27) In Christ, I belong to God (John 17:9) In Christ, I will never be forsaken or abandoned by God (John 10) In Christ, I am treasured by God (1 Peter 1-2) In Christ, I am the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21) In Christ, there is for me NO condemnation (Rom. 8:1) In Christ, God is working all things together for my good (Rom. 8:28) In Christ, I have obtained an inheritance that only God alone can give (Eph. 1:11) In Christ, I am a new creation the old is gone and the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17) In Christ, I am a son/daughter of God (Gal. 4:6) In Christ, I am no longer a stranger or alien, but a fellow citizen with the saints (Eph. 2:19) In Christ, I am a member of the body of Christ (Eph. 3:6) In Christ, I am set apart for the mission of God (Eph. 2:10) In Christ, I am loved by an everlasting God (1 John 4:19) Paul begins verse four with the word, Therefore. When you read your Bible, this word serves as a clue that in light of what has been written, what you are about to read next is in response to what proceeded it. Another way to say it is: In light of Ephesians 1-3, this is how you are to behave. How are we to behave? Since we are alive in Christ, we are to walk as the spiritually living. Since we are not the only ones made alive in Christ, we should walk together as the living. I want to look at both of those points Paul makes in the verses that follow. How to Walk as the Living Paul begins with these words: Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you (v. 1a). So far in his epistle this is only the second place when Paul tells his readers to do something. The first time Paul told the Ephesians they had to do something, it was in 2:12, remember that you were. Remember what Paul? Remember who you were and who you now are! In Ephesians 4:1, Paul is not telling these Christians to remember their identity in Christ but to walk in step with their identity as those who have been called out of death into life with Christ. There are two words I want you to notice that I will call, The Two Ws of the Christian life. The first word is walk, and the second word is worthy. The Ws of the Christian life serve as evidence that you are alive in Jesus and no longer dead in your sins. When Paul uses the word walk in his epistle, he is referring metaphorically to the way a person lives out their life ethically. Paul uses the word walk thirty-two times in his epistles, eight of which are used in Ephesians, and every time it is used metaphorically! In Ephesians 2:1-2, our walk was governed by a Christless life: And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. In Colossians Paul also described the way the Christian used to walk, listen to the way he uses the word, walk in Colossians 3:5-7, Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. Jesus used the same metaphor in describing what will happen to the one who follows Him: I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life (John 8:12). Listen to the other ways Paul uses the word walk in his epistles: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. (Gal. 5:16) Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:4) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (Eph. 5:12) Here, in the verse before us this morning, we are commanded to, walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. The second W word of the Christian life is the word worthy. The Greek word Paul uses is axiōs, and it literally means worthily. The word worthy means to have worth or value in the same way a scale measures the weight of something. So, picture a scale in your mind; on the one side of the scale you have all of the doctrinal goodness that is true of you in Christ from Ephesians 1-3, and on the other side of the scale is the weight of your new life in Jesus applied in the way you live out that doctrinal truth. Martyn Lloyd-Jones describes what Paul is saying in this verse in the following way: The Apostle is beseeching them and exhorting them always to give equal weight in their lives to doctrine and practice. They must not put all the weight on doctrine and none on practice; nor all the weight on practice and just a little, if any at all, on doctrine. To do so produces imbalance and lopsidedness. The Ephesians must take great pains to see that the scales are perfectly balanced.[1] Let me say it in another way: Orthodoxy is right doctrine, and orthopraxy is right-practice. Here is where it gets real for you and me! In evangelical churches, you will probably run into two types of people who claim to be Christian: the first is the kind of Christian who can quote chapter and verse from the Bible, seems to have their theology nailed down and dialed in, but has little to show for it in the way they live out (practice) their Christianity. The other person you may run into seems to be a really nice Christian but has little understanding of the Bible or what passes for right doctrine.What we learn from Ephesians 4:1 is that our metaphorical Christian scale needs sound and solid doctrine from the Bible that is balanced by a life that is shaped by a growing understanding of the Word of God. Let me say it another way: as a Christian, you should be growing in your understanding of who God is and what it means to follow Jesus, and as you grow, your life will demonstrate that growth in equal measure. The Way We Walk Together as the Living So what does it look like to, walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called? It looks like verses 2-3, which is a life with, all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Two themes flow out of Ephesians 4-6 and that is, 1) unity between the redeemed and 2) the godly life lived out. In verses 2-3, Paul provides a list of five character traits that the one who is truly alive in Christ ought to long and strive for as he/she follows Jesus. What Paul lists are five characteristics that ought to be on the side of the scale that is labeled: practice. Humility. Think about your salvation and what it cost Jesus to redeem you. You who once stood before a holy God as a child of wrath living in the lusts of your flesh and mind (vv. 2-3), God made you alive in Christ (v. 4-5). Could there not be any clearer statement to shatter any hint of pride in you: but God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us made us alive together with Christ. If you understand the doctrine of Gods grace and mercy, then you will understand that the grace you received was not free and the mercy you received was not deserved: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph. 2:8-9). There is no room for pride in the blood-bought and redeemed life of the Christian. Gentleness. To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus, and to be a disciple of Jesus is to follow and imitate His ways. We have been redeemed by and follow the One who invites all: Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matt. 11:2829). To be gentle is to be meek, but that does not mean that Jesus was weak. Moses is described in Numbers 12:3 as, very humble, more than any person who was on the face of the earth. If you know anything about Moses, he was a courageous and gifted leader who bravely stood before the most powerful man of his day to demand that he let the Hebrew slaves go. We who were far from God, he found us and met us in our sin! Consider Romans 2:4 and the kindness of God: Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? When it comes to the way we treat others, we ought to be known for our gentleness, and when it comes to the sins of others, the Word of God is very clear: Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well (Gal. 6:1). Patience. The Greek word Paul used for patience is makrothymia which also means forbearance or long-suffering. How do you develop long-suffering as a Christian? We develop patience in the Christian life through the things we suffer. Listen, suffering is the fire God uses to purge the dross from our lives. Find a person who has suffered much and you will find a person who is either bitter or empathetic towards others. W. Tozer, a pastor known for his prayer life, once said of the person who wished to be used of God: It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply." God raises up storms of conflict in relationships at times to accomplish that deeper work in our character. If you dont buy into what Tozer said, consider what we read in Romans 5:3-5, And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Rom. 5:35). If you are serious about following Jesus, you will experience the suffering God intends for your good and His glory. Patience in the life of the Christian will not only come by way of suffering, but it comes through confidence and trust in a good and sovereign God. The more you grow in your understanding of who God is (orthodoxy) the greater your patience will become (orthopraxy). Bearing with one another. The fruit of godly humility, gentleness, and patience is the desire and hard work of bearing with one another. The Greek word for bearing here can also be translated as tolerate, put up with, or endure. To the scattered and suffering Christian located in what is now modern Turkey, the apostle Peter instructed: Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins (1 Pet. 4:8). Christian, you are a work in progress and the goal of becoming holy and blameless is not complete in you and will not be until a death or a resurrection, yet God is patient with you; oh, how easily we forget the 10,000 ways God endures us while He remains committed to the good He is doing in us! If God endures you, how is it that you are unwilling to endure your brother or sister in whom God is committed to do the same thing He is doing in you? How often and to what degree do we continue to wrong Him who endured the cross for our redemption? How easily we forget our Lords words from His Sermon on the Mount: For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses (Matt. 6:1415). Unity. Paul does not just tell us to be united, but to be, diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The way the NASB translates diligent is not a bad translation, but in the original language (spoudazō) the word is better translated as zealous or eager. I think the way the NASB translates this verse loses the edge and urgency that Paul meant to communicate to the Ephesian Christians. Listen, Paul is urging you, Christian, to be zealous and eager to maintain the unity we share as those who have been redeemed through the slaughtering of the Lamb of God so that we can be the children of God. As His Church, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit as His redeemed people. This is the unity of the Spirit that we are to keep within the community of faith in such a way that it is visible to the world around us! This is why Jesus commanded: I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another (John 13:3435). Oh, the petty things we allow to disrupt our union as Jesus Bride! The things we fight about and break fellowship over grieve the heart of the One who was crushed and cursed so that we could be reconciled to the God we sinned against. Peter OBrien wrote of this verse the following indictment that would do us well to heed and respond to in repentance: To live in a manner which mars the unity of the Spirit is to scorn the gracious reconciling work of Christ. It is tantamount to saying that his sacrificial death by which relationships with God and others have been restored, along with the resulting freedom of access to the Father, are of no real consequence to us![2] We have spent 20 weeks together in first three chapters in Ephesians, and some of you are still on track for reading through the Bible in a year. I have been with you for over five years now, and I have seen so much growth in many of you regarding your theological understand of God. I love that many of you honor or have grown to honor the Bible for what it is as the Word of God. I love that I can hear pages of your Bibles turn as we engage the Word of God each and every Sunday together! I am so proud of you and your growth dear brothers and sisters! My question for you this morning is simply this: What are you doing with your orthodoxy? Permit me to close our time with some questions to think about: How has your growth and understanding of who God is through His revealed word deepened your humility? How has it tenderized you towards others? How has your theology of Ephesians 1:3-14 and 2:1-10 made you a more patient person? Has your right awareness and understanding of Gods choosing, redeeming, and sealing of you as His reconciled child created in you to extend the same mercy and grace that you received to others who God is working through and with? Has your zeal for knowing God fostered a zeal to find what you disagree with, or has it created in you a zeal to maintain and celebrate the primary things you agree upon? [1] D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Christian Unity: An Exposition of Ephesians 4:1 to 16 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981), 24. [2] Peter Thomas OBrien, The Letter to the Ephesians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999), 280.

One of my favorite films is the movie, Signs, which is a film by M. Night Shyamalan released in 2002. In the film, Mel Gibson stars as Graham Hess, a former Episcopalian priest grieving the tragic death of his wife and grappling with the existence of God and His involvement with His creation in the aftermath of his wifes death. In an article published on March 24, 2024 about the film, Niall Gray and Zachary Moser summarize the movies message which is not so much about hostile and invading aliens, but how all of the characters play an important part in the movies overall plot and: Merrill is a failed minor-league baseball player, Morgan is asthmatic, and Bo leaves half-drunk glasses of water all over the house. These traits, and Graham's crisis of faith, are all significant to the film's story, leaning intoSigns' central themes. In themovie's signature M. Night Shyamalan twist, the aliens are defeated due to their deadly reaction to contact with water, and Graham's faith is ultimately restored by his family's survival of the ordeal. The ending comes together, arranging all the clues Shyamalan laid out for a thrilling and thoughtful ending. Upon the alien invasion, Graham rediscovers his faith when all the things he perceived as random suddenly become significant. This is evidenced earlier in the movie by Graham's speech about how the world is split into two types of people, those who believe in coincidence and those who believe in miracles. Graham's belief that everything happens for a reason is restored, making faith and predetermination a central element ofSigns' story.[1] There are many reasons why I loved this movie, but what I love most about this movie is that it is really about the purpose and design behind all that Graham believed to be coincidencehis young brothers failure as a minor-league player who could destroy a ball if he connected with his bat, his sons severe asthma, or his little daughters weird behavior of leaving half-drunk glasses of water all over the housewhen in fact there was purpose and design behind all of it; there was even purpose in the way his wife died. I think that my oldest son, Nathan, was nine years old when I introduced him to the movie. Nathan was captivated by the movie, but I could tell that he was growing more and more distressed as he watched the story unfold. At some point I got up to check his pulse, which was high because of the scary and hostile aliens. To put his anxious heart at ease, I explained to him the many signs that were in plain sight in the film to show him that the family would be okay in the end. In Ephesians, Paul shows us that the redemption and salvation of people from all nations was not a coincidence, but Gods plan from the very beginning. The mystery was not developed by the apostle nor was it created out of someones imagination. It is not the kind of mystery we think of based on the way the word mystery is used in English. The way Paul uses mystery in Ephesians is not the way it is used in a Scooby Doo episode. What Paul means by mystery is that although Gods plan was visible, it was beyond the realm of human understand and needed divine revelation for it to be understood. Just as my son needed me to show him the open secret that was always before him since the story began. The Glory of the Mystery Revealed (vv. 3-7) So what is the mystery Paul is talking about in Ephesians? Well he tells us in verse 4, it is the mystery of Christ that has been revealed to the apostles and the prophets in the Spirit (v. 5). But what about Christ is it that was so mysterious in ages past? Wasnt Gods plan to redeem and save lost sinners clear enough throughout the ages? After Adam and Even sinned against God, there was no sugar-coating how God would eventually deal with the great serpent, the devil: And I will make enemies of you and the woman, and of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel (Gen. 3:15). Wasnt God clear enough when He promised Abraham, I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. (Gen. 12:2-3)? Would it not have been obvious that the descendant of King David was the one promised to Eve, when God guaranteed: When your days are finished and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever (2 Sam. 7:1216). The descendant promised to David, who would sit on His throne forever, would be the child promised in Isaiah 9:6-7, of whom, There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. But what are we to do with Isaiah 53? If Davids descendant will sit on the Davidic throne forever, then who is the One described in verses 5, But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.? If that were not confusing enough, how about the description given of the descendent of David in Jeremiah 23:5-6? How can Davids descendant be described in this way: Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will live securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, The Lord Our Righteousness. How can sinful David have a righteous human descendant who will also bear the Divine name of Yahweh? All of this was always before the people of Israel. The mystery is that Jesus was the Descendant promised to Eve, Jesus was the seed that would come through Abraham who would bless the nations, and Jesus is the descendant of David who will sit on his throne forever. Jesus is the King who will establish lasting peace as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. Jesus is the One who is the rightful heir of the Davidic Crown who would first have to suffer the sinners cross. Through the cursing of the cross, Jesus is the righteous Branch who was more than just a man, but the God-man who bears the title: The Lord Our Righteousness. The mystery of Christ is that the Law of God points lost humanity to their need for the Son of God (Gal. 3:24). The mystery of Christ is from the Passover to the Feast of Tabernacles, all seven Jewish feasts point to Jesus. The mystery of Christ is that He is Gods Yes to all His promises (2 Cor. 1:20-22). However, this mystery that was always before the people, was not made known to mankind until it was revealed through the Holy Spirit to the apostles and prophets (v. 5). Jesus is the glory of the mystery revealed, and it was the mystery of Christ that Paul was called to preach to the Gentiles, after the gospel of Jesus Christ met him on the Damascus Road where Paul went from death to life in the same way the Christians in Ephesus went from death to life (vv. 2-3). What is the glory of the mystery of Christ? It is what Paul wrote of in Ephesians 1:7-10, In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. The Treasure of the Mystery Revealed (vv. 8-12) The mystery of Christ for Paul was the treasure Jesus spoke of regarding the kingdom of God: The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field (Matt. 13:44). While Paul was seeking to bring harm to Christs Church, Christ found him and it was there on that road that he not only experienced the grace of God, but a grace that the One he sought to destroy lavished upon him! When Paul described himself as, the very least of all saints (v. 8a), he did so because he understood and was mindful of just how far he was from God. In the opening verses of his letter to Timothy, Paul wrote of himself: It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost (1 Tim. 1:15). But, because of Christ, Paul had become both the recipient of the unfathomable riches of Christ and an ambassador for the One who also bears the name, The Lord Our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6) to preach to the Gentiles, the unfathomable riches of Christ (v. 8b). Paul was responsible for the death and persecution of the Church. He was on his way to continue to persecute the Church with the approval of the same religious Counsel that crucified Jesus, and then the unthinkable happened, this is how Paul described what happened to him: But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus at about noon, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? And I answered, Who are You, Lord? And He said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting. And those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that has been appointed for you to do. (Acts 22:1-10) Paul went to Damascus where he called upon Jesus to be both savior and Lord of his life, and he was never again the same as a result. However, he was always mindful that it was only because the rich mercy, great love, and sufficient grace of God that Jesus met him where he was. We can hear it in the way Paul responded to Jesus: And I said, Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You. And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing nearby and approving, and watching over the cloaks of those who were killing him. And He said to me, Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles (Acts 22:1921). For what purpose was Paul saved? Why did Jesus meet him on the Damascus Road? He tells us in Ephesians 3:9-10, to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. It is the same reason why God saved the Ephesian Christians who received this letter! Why did God choose them before the foundation of the world (1:4)? Why did He redeem those who formerly worshiped Artemis (1:7)? Why did he make these people who were once dead in their offenses and sins, alive with Christ (2:1-5)? The reason why God saved Paul, the reason why God saved those in Ephesus, and the reason why God saved you Christian is the same: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (2:10). The mystery is not only Jesus, but the plan of God to redeem people from all people groups through Jesus as the seed through whom all the nations will be blessed. The Hope of the Mystery Revealed (vv. 1-2, 11-13) I will speak more on these verses next week, but for now, I want to point a few things out to you. First, notice what Paul says in verse 1, For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus. Paul didnt identify himself as a prisoner of Nero or the Roman Empire, but instead, he understood himself to be, the prisoner of Christ. Do not miss the significance of that statement! For the reason that Jesus was the cornerstone of Pauls life and that the gospel was bringing both Jews and Gentiles together as one temple, being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (2:19-22), Paul was a prisoner not because Nero or the Roman Empire wanted him there, but because of the Lordship of Christ and the eternal purpose of God almighty (3:11). I will unpack this more next week, but what I want you to hear today is that if you are a Christian, whatever you have suffered, are suffering, or will suffer is not a coincidence. Because you are a Christian, you can be sure that there is a greater design in your suffering because, like Paul, you also are the recipient of, the unfathomable riches of Christ. This is why Paul encouraged his readers with these words: Therefore I ask you not to become discouraged about my tribulations in your behalf, since they are your glory. Think about all that we have learned of ourselves and what it means to be the Church from this epistle so far. Jesus is the glory of the mystery that was never a secret and always in plain view from the very beginning. Christian, God chose you in Jesus before the foundation of the world, that you would be holy and blameless (1:4). The promise to Eve to crush the head of the serpent is your promise in Christ! Gods promise to bless Abraham is your promise in Christ! Gods promise to King David that his descendant would sit on his throne forever is your promise in Christ! All of the promises of God to His people are now yours in Christ and he intended to make you a recipient of those promises, before the foundation of the world. If God has taken great care to make sure you heard the Gospel so that you would receive the Gospel, do you really think that every tear and every pain is a coincidence? It is not! If Ephesians 1:3-14 is true, then you can know that there a good and benevolent God working all your past, present, and future sorrows for His glory and your good, the glory of the mystery is Jesus and treasure of the mystery is our union to and with Him. There are bright designs behind your hurts! God moves in a mysterious wayHis wonders to perform;He plants His footsteps in the seaAnd rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable minesOf never failing skillHe treasures up His bright designsAnd works His sovreign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;The clouds ye so much dreadAre big with mercy and shall breakIn blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,But trust Him for His grace;Behind a frowning providenceHe hides a smiling face. His purposes will ripen fast,Unfolding every hour;The bud may have a bitter taste,But sweet will be the flowr. Blind unbelief is sure to errAnd scan His work in vain;God is His own interpreter,And He will make it plain. [1] Niall Gray, Zachary Moser, ScreenRant: Signs Ending "Swing Away, Merrill" Scene Explained (In Detail)

One of my favorite films is the movie, Signs, which is a film by M. Night Shyamalan released in 2002. In the film, Mel Gibson stars as Graham Hess, a former Episcopalian priest grieving the tragic death of his wife and grappling with the existence of God and His involvement with His creation in the aftermath of his wifes death. In an article published on March 24, 2024 about the film, Niall Gray and Zachary Moser summarize the movies message which is not so much about hostile and invading aliens, but how all of the characters play an important part in the movies overall plot and: Merrill is a failed minor-league baseball player, Morgan is asthmatic, and Bo leaves half-drunk glasses of water all over the house. These traits, and Graham's crisis of faith, are all significant to the film's story, leaning intoSigns' central themes. In themovie's signature M. Night Shyamalan twist, the aliens are defeated due to their deadly reaction to contact with water, and Graham's faith is ultimately restored by his family's survival of the ordeal. The ending comes together, arranging all the clues Shyamalan laid out for a thrilling and thoughtful ending. Upon the alien invasion, Graham rediscovers his faith when all the things he perceived as random suddenly become significant. This is evidenced earlier in the movie by Graham's speech about how the world is split into two types of people, those who believe in coincidence and those who believe in miracles. Graham's belief that everything happens for a reason is restored, making faith and predetermination a central element ofSigns' story.[1] There are many reasons why I loved this movie, but what I love most about this movie is that it is really about the purpose and design behind all that Graham believed to be coincidencehis young brothers failure as a minor-league player who could destroy a ball if he connected with his bat, his sons severe asthma, or his little daughters weird behavior of leaving half-drunk glasses of water all over the housewhen in fact there was purpose and design behind all of it; there was even purpose in the way his wife died. I think that my oldest son, Nathan, was nine years old when I introduced him to the movie. Nathan was captivated by the movie, but I could tell that he was growing more and more distressed as he watched the story unfold. At some point I got up to check his pulse, which was high because of the scary and hostile aliens. To put his anxious heart at ease, I explained to him the many signs that were in plain sight in the film to show him that the family would be okay in the end. In Ephesians, Paul shows us that the redemption and salvation of people from all nations was not a coincidence, but Gods plan from the very beginning. The mystery was not developed by the apostle nor was it created out of someones imagination. It is not the kind of mystery we think of based on the way the word mystery is used in English. The way Paul uses mystery in Ephesians is not the way it is used in a Scooby Doo episode. What Paul means by mystery is that although Gods plan was visible, it was beyond the realm of human understand and needed divine revelation for it to be understood. Just as my son needed me to show him the open secret that was always before him since the story began. The Glory of the Mystery Revealed (vv. 3-7) So what is the mystery Paul is talking about in Ephesians? Well he tells us in verse 4, it is the mystery of Christ that has been revealed to the apostles and the prophets in the Spirit (v. 5). But what about Christ is it that was so mysterious in ages past? Wasnt Gods plan to redeem and save lost sinners clear enough throughout the ages? After Adam and Even sinned against God, there was no sugar-coating how God would eventually deal with the great serpent, the devil: And I will make enemies of you and the woman, and of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel (Gen. 3:15). Wasnt God clear enough when He promised Abraham, I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. (Gen. 12:2-3)? Would it not have been obvious that the descendant of King David was the one promised to Eve, when God guaranteed: When your days are finished and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever (2 Sam. 7:1216). The descendant promised to David, who would sit on His throne forever, would be the child promised in Isaiah 9:6-7, of whom, There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. But what are we to do with Isaiah 53? If Davids descendant will sit on the Davidic throne forever, then who is the One described in verses 5, But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.? If that were not confusing enough, how about the description given of the descendent of David in Jeremiah 23:5-6? How can Davids descendant be described in this way: Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will live securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, The Lord Our Righteousness. How can sinful David have a righteous human descendant who will also bear the Divine name of Yahweh? All of this was always before the people of Israel. The mystery is that Jesus was the Descendant promised to Eve, Jesus was the seed that would come through Abraham who would bless the nations, and Jesus is the descendant of David who will sit on his throne forever. Jesus is the King who will establish lasting peace as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. Jesus is the One who is the rightful heir of the Davidic Crown who would first have to suffer the sinners cross. Through the cursing of the cross, Jesus is the righteous Branch who was more than just a man, but the God-man who bears the title: The Lord Our Righteousness. The mystery of Christ is that the Law of God points lost humanity to their need for the Son of God (Gal. 3:24). The mystery of Christ is from the Passover to the Feast of Tabernacles, all seven Jewish feasts point to Jesus. The mystery of Christ is that He is Gods Yes to all His promises (2 Cor. 1:20-22). However, this mystery that was always before the people, was not made known to mankind until it was revealed through the Holy Spirit to the apostles and prophets (v. 5). Jesus is the glory of the mystery revealed, and it was the mystery of Christ that Paul was called to preach to the Gentiles, after the gospel of Jesus Christ met him on the Damascus Road where Paul went from death to life in the same way the Christians in Ephesus went from death to life (vv. 2-3). What is the glory of the mystery of Christ? It is what Paul wrote of in Ephesians 1:7-10, In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. The Treasure of the Mystery Revealed (vv. 8-12) The mystery of Christ for Paul was the treasure Jesus spoke of regarding the kingdom of God: The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field (Matt. 13:44). While Paul was seeking to bring harm to Christs Church, Christ found him and it was there on that road that he not only experienced the grace of God, but a grace that the One he sought to destroy lavished upon him! When Paul described himself as, the very least of all saints (v. 8a), he did so because he understood and was mindful of just how far he was from God. In the opening verses of his letter to Timothy, Paul wrote of himself: It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost (1 Tim. 1:15). But, because of Christ, Paul had become both the recipient of the unfathomable riches of Christ and an ambassador for the One who also bears the name, The Lord Our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6) to preach to the Gentiles, the unfathomable riches of Christ (v. 8b). Paul was responsible for the death and persecution of the Church. He was on his way to continue to persecute the Church with the approval of the same religious Counsel that crucified Jesus, and then the unthinkable happened, this is how Paul described what happened to him: But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus at about noon, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? And I answered, Who are You, Lord? And He said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting. And those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that has been appointed for you to do. (Acts 22:1-10) Paul went to Damascus where he called upon Jesus to be both savior and Lord of his life, and he was never again the same as a result. However, he was always mindful that it was only because the rich mercy, great love, and sufficient grace of God that Jesus met him where he was. We can hear it in the way Paul responded to Jesus: And I said, Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You. And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing nearby and approving, and watching over the cloaks of those who were killing him. And He said to me, Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles (Acts 22:1921). For what purpose was Paul saved? Why did Jesus meet him on the Damascus Road? He tells us in Ephesians 3:9-10, to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. It is the same reason why God saved the Ephesian Christians who received this letter! Why did God choose them before the foundation of the world (1:4)? Why did He redeem those who formerly worshiped Artemis (1:7)? Why did he make these people who were once dead in their offenses and sins, alive with Christ (2:1-5)? The reason why God saved Paul, the reason why God saved those in Ephesus, and the reason why God saved you Christian is the same: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (2:10). The mystery is not only Jesus, but the plan of God to redeem people from all people groups through Jesus as the seed through whom all the nations will be blessed. The Hope of the Mystery Revealed (vv. 1-2, 11-13) I will speak more on these verses next week, but for now, I want to point a few things out to you. First, notice what Paul says in verse 1, For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus. Paul didnt identify himself as a prisoner of Nero or the Roman Empire, but instead, he understood himself to be, the prisoner of Christ. Do not miss the significance of that statement! For the reason that Jesus was the cornerstone of Pauls life and that the gospel was bringing both Jews and Gentiles together as one temple, being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (2:19-22), Paul was a prisoner not because Nero or the Roman Empire wanted him there, but because of the Lordship of Christ and the eternal purpose of God almighty (3:11). I will unpack this more next week, but what I want you to hear today is that if you are a Christian, whatever you have suffered, are suffering, or will suffer is not a coincidence. Because you are a Christian, you can be sure that there is a greater design in your suffering because, like Paul, you also are the recipient of, the unfathomable riches of Christ. This is why Paul encouraged his readers with these words: Therefore I ask you not to become discouraged about my tribulations in your behalf, since they are your glory. Think about all that we have learned of ourselves and what it means to be the Church from this epistle so far. Jesus is the glory of the mystery that was never a secret and always in plain view from the very beginning. Christian, God chose you in Jesus before the foundation of the world, that you would be holy and blameless (1:4). The promise to Eve to crush the head of the serpent is your promise in Christ! Gods promise to bless Abraham is your promise in Christ! Gods promise to King David that his descendant would sit on his throne forever is your promise in Christ! All of the promises of God to His people are now yours in Christ and he intended to make you a recipient of those promises, before the foundation of the world. If God has taken great care to make sure you heard the Gospel so that you would receive the Gospel, do you really think that every tear and every pain is a coincidence? It is not! If Ephesians 1:3-14 is true, then you can know that there a good and benevolent God working all your past, present, and future sorrows for His glory and your good, the glory of the mystery is Jesus and treasure of the mystery is our union to and with Him. There are bright designs behind your hurts! God moves in a mysterious wayHis wonders to perform;He plants His footsteps in the seaAnd rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable minesOf never failing skillHe treasures up His bright designsAnd works His sovreign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;The clouds ye so much dreadAre big with mercy and shall breakIn blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,But trust Him for His grace;Behind a frowning providenceHe hides a smiling face. His purposes will ripen fast,Unfolding every hour;The bud may have a bitter taste,But sweet will be the flowr. Blind unbelief is sure to errAnd scan His work in vain;God is His own interpreter,And He will make it plain. [1] Niall Gray, Zachary Moser, ScreenRant: Signs Ending "Swing Away, Merrill" Scene Explained (In Detail)

In this episode, Dr. Fredrick J. Long and Dr. Michael Halcomb discuss “The Israel of God”. Tune in! ***GlossaHouse resources are available at our website! - https://glossahouse.com/ ***Sign up for classes with GlossaHouse U - https://glossahouse.com/pages/classes ***Subscribe to our GlossaHouse Digital Libraries for access to incredible resources - https://glossahouse.com/collections/glossahouse-digital-library ------ Get What You Need for Serious Bible Study at https://glossahouse.com/ Subscribe to GlossaHouse's podcast, ProveText, for a plethora of great in-depth teachings and discussions: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7xXn8x6IgdcUDIhKouDEiR iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/provetext/id1542221462 Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0bf4a019-6adc-4766-bc90-c74df78f3720/provetext Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GlossaHouse Twitter - https://twitter.com/glossahouse TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@glossahouse Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/glossahouse/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@glossahouse --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/glossahouse/message

     At the moment of faith in Christ, we have eternal life. This is a fact, even if we don't fully understand it. In truth, most people will not understand what they have from God or find assurance of their salvation until they've studied God's Word and learned to live by faith. Doctrinal ignorance and/or false teaching will lead to fear and doubt. For those who have trusted Christ as their Savior, subsequent knowledge of God's Word and trust in it will yield assurance of their salvation. And, as one advances spiritually, there will also be a noticeable change within, and this too may provide a subjective assurance of salvation. Objective Assurance of Salvation      The Bible reveals God is absolutely righteous and set apart from all that is sinful (Psa 11:7; 99:9; Hab 1:13; 1 John 1:5) and He hates and condemns sin (Deut 25:16; Psa 5:5; 45:7; Prov 8:13; 15:9, 26; 20:9; Zech 8:17; Rom 1:18; Col 3:6; Heb 1:9). The problem for us is that all mankind is sinful (Gen 6:5; 8:21; 1 Ki 8:46; Psa 143:2; Eccl 7:20; Isa 59:2; 64:6; Jer 17:9; Rom 3:10; 3:23; Eph 2:1-2; 1 John 1:8, 10). Not only are we sinful, but our good works have no saving merit (Rom 4:4-5; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5). Our salvation was accomplished 100% by Jesus who died on the cross for our sins. Salvation is never what we do for God, but what He's done for us at the cross (Rom 5:8; 6:10; 1 Cor 15:3-4; 1 Pet 3:18). God offers to justify and save us freely as a gift, totally apart from any good works we may perform (Rom 3:24, 28, 4:5; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5; 1 Pet 3:18). God's salvation comes to us who have trusted in Christ as our Savior (John 3:15-18; 6:40; 10:28; 11:25; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 16:31; 1 John 5:12). Salvation means we have forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7), the gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9), eternal life (John 10:28), are part of the family of God (Gal 3:26; 1 John 3:1), are blessed with many spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3), and will never face condemnation (Rom 8:1, 33).      When we understand these truths by studying Scripture and accept them by faith, we have assurance of our salvation because we trust in God and His Word (Psa 119:160; John 17:17). The apostle Paul wrote, “I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (2 Tim 1:12). The apostle John wrote, “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life” (1 John 5:11-12). The assurance of salvation does not come by looking to ourselves, but to the One who saved us. John also wrote, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Assurance of salvation is not a guessing game for those who have trusted in Jesus as their Savior, but is a confidence that is rooted in the revelation of God's Word. For those of us who have trusted in Jesus as our Savior—believing He died for our sins, was buried, and raised again on the third day—we have eternal life. According to Zane Hodges, “It should be said here that all true assurance of salvation and eternal life must rest on the ‘testimony of God,' for only that testimony has full reliability and solidity.”[1] What Calvinists and Arminians Generally Believe      Arminians are those who believe they are eternally secure in Christ, as long as they remain faithful in their walk with God. Like Catholics, they believe faith + works = salvation. They believe their salvation can be lost due to intentional, egregious, ongoing sin; therefore, they cannot have assurance of salvation because there's always the chance they may turn away from God and forfeit their salvation. This stands in contrast to the Calvinistic doctrine of perseverance of the saints, which teaches that those whom God has chosen will persevere in faith until the end.      Calvinists believe God gives His elect a special kind of faith that guarantees they will persevere to the end of their lives and be saved eternally; however, knowing they are among the elect is always a question in their minds that cannot be finally answered until they die. If they have persevered until the end, not having denied the Lord, and continued in good works, then they can know they were among the elect. If they fall into serious and prolonged sin, especially to the end of their lives, it strongly argues they were not among the elect who are said to persevere to the end. Kenneth D. Keathley notes, “Arminians know they are saved but are afraid they cannot keep it, while Calvinists know they cannot lose their salvation but are afraid they do not have it.”[2] Norman Geisler correctly notes: "Arminians and strong Calvinists have much in common on this issue. Both assert that professing believers living in gross, unrepentant sin are not truly saved. Both insist that a person cannot be living in serious sin at the end of his life if he is truly saved. And both maintain that no one living in grave sin can be sure of his salvation."[3]      Though Christians may, to some degree, advance spiritually by learning and living God's Word, and bear the fruit of the Spirit in their lives, this will never be consistent, because the taint of sin is also present in the life of every Christian, and this to varying degrees. Christians are never free from sin (1 John 1:8, 10), and God never promises to make us completely sinless during our time on earth, so consistency of performance is lacking. Because of our imperfect knowledge and imperfect life, our ability to analyze ourselves accurately will not always be consistent. John Walvoord notes: "The difficulty is that human experience may be far from a norm, may be inaccurately analyzed, and may be made the basis of an induction which in the last analysis is based only on fragmentary evidence…The only sure basis for salvation is the promise of God in the inspired Word of God which properly accepted by faith gives validity to assurance. One clear promise sustained by “Thus saith the Lord” is better than a thousand testimonies of human conviction without a specific ground. A proper doctrine of assurance of salvation is therefore inseparable from a belief in the inspired Word of God."[4]      The Word of God is the objective basis for what we believe, and our focus should always be on learning and living His Word so that we can expunge any false ideas and properly calibrate our thinking to align with His divine revelation. Jesus said we have “eternal life…and will never perish” (John 10:28); therefore, there is no danger of us losing our salvation, for there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1), and “Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies” (Rom 8:33). The matter of our eternal destiny was settled at the cross when Jesus paid the penalty for all our sins. And Jesus' work on the cross was perfectly applied to us at the moment we trusted in Him as our Savior.[5] Subjective Assurance of Salvation      Christians who are advancing spiritually may enjoy a subjective assurance of their salvation. Paul wrote, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom 8:16). According to William MacDonald, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with the believer's spirit that he is a member of God's family. He does it primarily through the Word of God. As a Christian reads the Bible, the Spirit confirms the truth that, because he has trusted the Savior, he is now a child of God.”[6] This experience is valid only for believers who are in submission to God (Rom 12:1-2), learning and living Scripture (2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2), walking by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38; 11:6), and advancing to spiritual maturity (Heb 6:1).      As believers, we have been “born again” (1 Pet 1:23), “made alive” spiritually (1 Cor 15:22), and are a “new creature” in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17). At the moment of salvation, God the Holy Spirit indwells us and gives us a new nature that, for the first time in our lives, has the capacity and desire to obey God. Paul wrote of his new nature in Christ when he said, “I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man” (Rom 7:22). Since we have the Spirit within us, as well as new spiritual life, it is natural to expect there will be some change in attitude and behavior. The degree to which this change occurs, in part, depends on our staying positive to the Lord. According to John Walvoord adds: "The ground of assurance as stated in Scripture is something more than an intellectual comprehension of the theology of salvation and more than a conviction that the terms of salvation have been met. Scriptures make plain that there is a corresponding experience of transformation which attends the work of salvation in a believer. Some aspects of this are nonexperimental, but the new life in Christ is manifested in many ways. The believer in Christ possesses eternal life and a new divine nature which tends to change his whole viewpoint. He is indeed “a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new” (2 Cor 5:17). The believer in Christ is indwelt by the Spirit of God, which opens a whole new field of spiritual experience. He now knows what it is to have fellowship with his heavenly Father and with His Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. His eyes are opened to spiritual truth, and the Scriptures take on a true living character as the Spirit of God illuminates the written Word. He experiences a new relationship to other believers as he is bound to them by ties of love and common faith and life. The believer is relieved from the load of condemnation for sin and experiences hope and peace such as is impossible for the unbeliever. His experiences include deliverance from the power of sin and from opposition of Satan. He enters into the joy of intercessory prayer and experiences answers to prayer. The new life in Christ, therefore, provides a satisfying and Biblical new experience which is a confirming evidence of the fact of his salvation and a vital and true basis for assurance."[7]      As Christians, our assurance of eternal life is, first and foremost, based on the salvific work of Jesus on the cross (Acts 4:12; Rom 5:8; 1 Cor 15:3-4), and the revelation of Scripture that we, who have trusted in Christ as our Savior (Acts 4:12, 16:31), “may know that [we] have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). This assurance is objective and constant, because God's Word is sure and does not change. Dr. Steven R. Cook     [1] Zane Clark Hodges, The Epistle of John: Walking in the Light of God's Love (Irving, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 1999), 228. [2] Kenneth D. Keathley, “Perseverance and Assurance of the Saints,” in Whosoever Will, ed. David L. Allen and Steve W Lemke (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2010). [3] Norman L. Geisler, Systematic Theology, Volume Three: Sin, Salvation (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2004), 302. [4] John F. Walvoord, “The Doctrine of Assurance in Contemporary Theology,” Bibliotheca Sacra 116 (1959): 198. [5] The Bible reveals that when we sin, we are walking in darkness and have broken fellowship with God (1 John 1:5-6), and stifled the work of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (Eph 4:30; 1 Th 5:19). If we continue in sin, or leave our sin unconfessed, we are in real danger of divine discipline from God (Psa 32:3-4; Heb 12:5-11; 1 John 5:16-17; cf. Dan 4:37), which can eventuate in physical death (1 John 5:16; cf., Lev 10:1-2; Acts 5:3-5; 1 Cor 11:30), and the loss of eternal rewards (1 Cor 3:10-15; 2 John 1:8). If we confess our sin directly to God, He will immediately forgive it and restore us to fellowship (1 John 1:9; cf. Psa 32:5). Being in fellowship with God means learning and living His Word (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2), walking by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38; 11:6), being honest with Him about our sin (1 John 1:8, 10), and coming before His “throne of grace” (Heb 4:16) in transparent humility and confessing it in order to be forgiven (1 John 1:9; cf. Heb. 4:16). God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins every time we confess them because of the atoning work of Christ who shed His blood on the cross for us (1 John 1:9; 2:1-2). [6] William MacDonald, Believer's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1711. [7] John F. Walvoord, “The Doctrine of Assurance in Contemporary Theology,” Bibliotheca Sacra 116 (1959): 201–202.

Parentheses added for emphasis are mine To many Greco-Romans readers, both Jews and gentiles, the promise of star-like (Starchild X2M.111-144) seed (Double Helix X2M.91-110) would have naturally been understood to imply that Abraham's seed would share in the indestructible life (PH11 Indestructible Element) of celestial beings. One could call this astralization or angelification or even deification, although Paul never does. For Paul, then, the gift of the pneuma brings about four significant and substantive changes that remedy the gentile problem. First, the gift of the pneuma, precisely because it is the pneuma of Abraham's seed, Christ, brings gentiles into a genealogical relationship with Abraham himself. Gentiles have now become real, material seed of Abraham (Gal 3:29). Second, this material, pneumatic connection between Abraham and gentiles-in-Christ is also the pneuma of the son of God (Gal 4:6), which Paul elsewhere describes as the pneuma of God, the pneuma of Christ, and the pneuma of the one (God) who raised Jesus from the dead (Rom 8:9-11). Thus, those in Christ become sons of God themselves. As a consequence, gentiles have been freed from the malevolent powers-the stoicheia—that rule the world. Third, this freedom from the powers of this evil age produces an inner transformation that brings about the solution to the gentile moral problem that Paul caricatures in Rom 1:18-32. The gift of the pneuma now results in the moral capacity and ability for self-mastery. Gentiles now can effectively combat the works of the flesh, which keep one from inheriting the kingdom of God (Gal 5:16-21), and produce the fruit of the pneuma (5:23-24). Fourth, and finally, through the reception of the pneuma, gentiles become seed of Abraham, a virtuous people who have been given the deposit (appaßúr) on all the promises of God (2 Cor 1:20; cf. Eph 1:13-14), promises that will result in their mortality being swallowed up by life 2 Cor 5:5) so that they can partake in the indestructible life (PH11 Indestructible Element) of the eschaton and rule the kosmos. (PH12 Extending the Galactic Crown) Thiessen Matthew. 2016. Paul and the Gentile Problem. New York: Oxford University Press, 160.

I was thinking the other day that the manger that Jesus was laid in was dirty compared to our standards today. It is estimated that Jesus was most likely born in March or April. We are not entirely sure what kind of room he was born in, but the fact that there was a manger (feeding trough) gives us some idea that it was where the animals were kept. So, what was in the stable Jesus was most likely born in? If there were donkeys, cattle, sheep, or chickens, there was also the smell of manure and urine, cattle-biting lice, a whole bunch of annoying species of flies common in the middle east known as the Bazaar Rly (known to spread trachoma an irritating eye disease). Do not forget the common Stable Fly that would have been feeding on the blood of the livestock surrounding Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. By the way the Stable Flies Mary and Joseph shooed away from Jesus may have carried anthrax. My guess is, there were most likely rats and mice along with all the diseases they carry. The manger was a feeding trough and before they prepared it to lay Jesus in, there was no Clorox to disinfect it from it being used for animals to eat from, drool into, and maybe even sneeze out an occasional maggot that crawled up into the snouts of certain animals to live in their throats. I am sure Joseph did his best to clean out the manger, but then you have the bedding to consider, which would have been straw infested with straw itch mites. So the first group of people invited to see the Christ-Child are dirty shepherds? My point is simply this: The One born King of the Jews made His grand entrance into our world through the mess of a stable. But why that way? It was of Jesus that the ancient prophets declared: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel. (Isa. 7:14) For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9:6) But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity. (Mic. 5:2) Why a stable? Before I answer that question, I want us to reflect on Hebrews 1:1-3 briefly. In only three verses, we are given nine reasons for why there is a good reason for the shepherds, a stable, and a manger. Jesus is the Only Way to Know God. The best and greatest revelation of who God is according to the author of Hebrews, is Jesus. According to the prophet Micah, Jesus did not become the Son of God at Marys miraculous conception as a virgin or at His birth; no Jesus was always God the Son long before His birth, for His times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity (Mic. 5:2). What did happen when Mary was told that she would have a child, is that Jesus took on human flesh, and He did so to live a life while remaining fully divine and fully human, and the life He lived was the life we could not live for the purpose of dying a death he did not deserve on a cross for the sins of mankind. Jesus said of Himself: For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus is the heir of all things. The One laid in the manger, was and remains the heir of all things. All of creation belongs to Him; it was His from the beginning, but it is especially His now! The Bible says that all of us are sinners from the moment of conception in that we are all born sinful. When Jesus took on human flesh by way of the miraculous conception that did not include a human biological father, he was born without a nature to sin. Jesus was fully God while remaining fully human. For sinful humanity and a cursed creation to be liberated from sin, a kinsmen redeemer was needed. If a family member lost their inheritance and property for any reason, a kinsmen redeemer was needed who met three requirements: He must be related to the person who suffered lost, he must have the ability to purchase back what was lost, and he must be willing to make the sacrifice necessary to restore what was lost. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned against God, the curse of sin has been passed down from one generation to the next. The child that was laid in a manger is the kinsmen redeemer qualified to restore what was lost through Adams sin. Jesus is the Creator of the world. Jesus not only existed before His birth on the first Christmas, but we are also told that it was through Him that God made the world. The Bible says of Jesus: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). The one who was laid in the manger, was responsible for the material that human hands used to fashion it, which also shows us that only is Jesus a qualified redeemer, but He is also an able redeemer. Jesus radiates the glory of God. Jesus does not reflect the image of God like the moon reflects the Suns light. No, Jesus radiates the glory of God like the Sun radiates light. Jesus was not created by God but is God. There was never a time when Jesus was created because there was never a time when He was not the Son. The God of the Bible is unlike any other god that people have created to worship, for the God we learn of in the Bible is Yahweh as One God in three persons: Father, Son, and Spirit. Jesus is exact representation of Gods nature. I have two sons; they share my DNA but they are not me nor are they the exact representation of me. There is a Son who shares the exact representation of Gods nature, and that Son is Jesus, for the God the Son and the God the Father are of the same divine essence; this is how Jesus is the climax of Gods revelation of Himself to lost humanity. When one of his disciples asked Jesus, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. To which Jesus answered: The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? (John 14:8-9). When Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds saw the face of Jesus, the saw the face of God. Jesus is the sustainer of creation. The mystery of the incarnation and miracle of Christmas is that the one who was laid in a manger, is the One who sustains and keeps creation, by the word of His power. What the author of Hebrews is trying to say here is that the Son of God is not only responsible for creation, but actively preserves creation! This is why Jesus could walk on water, cure diseases, raise the dead, and quiet storms with the word of His mouth. Jesus is a qualified and willing redeemer. The One who was laid in the manger was born to make purification of sins, and the way that he did it was through a cross of wood for sins we committed and are guilty of. This is why, when John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said: Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)! Hundreds of years before Christmas happened, the prophet Isaiah wrote of Jesus: But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed (Isa. 53:5). The Christ-Child was born to become a curse for us so that we could be pardoned, redeemed, and made the children of God (Gal. 3:13-14); or as the Bible states: He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus is the only one who can save. After Jesus died upon the cross for our sins for our redemption, we are told that Jesus, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high What this means is that because of who He is and why He took on human flesh, after He died, Jesus rose from the grave because how can death keep the Author of Life? After Jesus rose, He ascended to heaven, and He sat down! He sat down because his sacrifice for sin only had to be offered once and for all! This is why Jesus said of Himself: I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6). Besides Jesus, there is salvation found in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved (Acts. 4:12). Jesus is to be worshiped because of who He is. The child born on the first Christmas and laid in a dirty manger surrounded by dirty creatures, of which Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, and every other human is the dirtiest; He was born to save sinners. Of Jesus the scriptures testify: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Phil. 2:810). The question for you my dear friend, is what will you do with Jesus today, on this Christmas Eve? The reality of Christmas is simply this: Jesus was really born. Jesus really did live, Jesus really did die on a Roman cross, and Jesus really did rise from the grave. J.R. Tolken, who wrote The Lord of the Rings, once said of the story of Jesus: The Gospels contain a fairy-story, or a story of a larger kind, which embraces all the essence of fairy-stories. But this story is supreme, and it is true. Art has been verified. God is the Lord, of angels, and of menand of elves. Legend and History have met and fused.[1] The reason Jesus made His grand entrance into our world through the mess of a stable is because He was born to enter into the mess of sin-cursed humanity. The message of the manger is simply this: If you were a hundred times worse than you are, your sins would be no match for His mercy.[2] Jesus came to save us! [1] J. R. R. Tolkien. On Fairy Stories, (1939). [2] Tim Keller.

I was thinking the other day that the manger that Jesus was laid in was dirty compared to our standards today. It is estimated that Jesus was most likely born in March or April. We are not entirely sure what kind of room he was born in, but the fact that there was a manger (feeding trough) gives us some idea that it was where the animals were kept. So, what was in the stable Jesus was most likely born in? If there were donkeys, cattle, sheep, or chickens, there was also the smell of manure and urine, cattle-biting lice, a whole bunch of annoying species of flies common in the middle east known as the Bazaar Rly (known to spread trachoma an irritating eye disease). Do not forget the common Stable Fly that would have been feeding on the blood of the livestock surrounding Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. By the way the Stable Flies Mary and Joseph shooed away from Jesus may have carried anthrax. My guess is, there were most likely rats and mice along with all the diseases they carry. The manger was a feeding trough and before they prepared it to lay Jesus in, there was no Clorox to disinfect it from it being used for animals to eat from, drool into, and maybe even sneeze out an occasional maggot that crawled up into the snouts of certain animals to live in their throats. I am sure Joseph did his best to clean out the manger, but then you have the bedding to consider, which would have been straw infested with straw itch mites. So the first group of people invited to see the Christ-Child are dirty shepherds? My point is simply this: The One born King of the Jews made His grand entrance into our world through the mess of a stable. But why that way? It was of Jesus that the ancient prophets declared: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel. (Isa. 7:14) For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9:6) But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity. (Mic. 5:2) Why a stable? Before I answer that question, I want us to reflect on Hebrews 1:1-3 briefly. In only three verses, we are given nine reasons for why there is a good reason for the shepherds, a stable, and a manger. Jesus is the Only Way to Know God. The best and greatest revelation of who God is according to the author of Hebrews, is Jesus. According to the prophet Micah, Jesus did not become the Son of God at Marys miraculous conception as a virgin or at His birth; no Jesus was always God the Son long before His birth, for His times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity (Mic. 5:2). What did happen when Mary was told that she would have a child, is that Jesus took on human flesh, and He did so to live a life while remaining fully divine and fully human, and the life He lived was the life we could not live for the purpose of dying a death he did not deserve on a cross for the sins of mankind. Jesus said of Himself: For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus is the heir of all things. The One laid in the manger, was and remains the heir of all things. All of creation belongs to Him; it was His from the beginning, but it is especially His now! The Bible says that all of us are sinners from the moment of conception in that we are all born sinful. When Jesus took on human flesh by way of the miraculous conception that did not include a human biological father, he was born without a nature to sin. Jesus was fully God while remaining fully human. For sinful humanity and a cursed creation to be liberated from sin, a kinsmen redeemer was needed. If a family member lost their inheritance and property for any reason, a kinsmen redeemer was needed who met three requirements: He must be related to the person who suffered lost, he must have the ability to purchase back what was lost, and he must be willing to make the sacrifice necessary to restore what was lost. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned against God, the curse of sin has been passed down from one generation to the next. The child that was laid in a manger is the kinsmen redeemer qualified to restore what was lost through Adams sin. Jesus is the Creator of the world. Jesus not only existed before His birth on the first Christmas, but we are also told that it was through Him that God made the world. The Bible says of Jesus: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). The one who was laid in the manger, was responsible for the material that human hands used to fashion it, which also shows us that only is Jesus a qualified redeemer, but He is also an able redeemer. Jesus radiates the glory of God. Jesus does not reflect the image of God like the moon reflects the Suns light. No, Jesus radiates the glory of God like the Sun radiates light. Jesus was not created by God but is God. There was never a time when Jesus was created because there was never a time when He was not the Son. The God of the Bible is unlike any other god that people have created to worship, for the God we learn of in the Bible is Yahweh as One God in three persons: Father, Son, and Spirit. Jesus is exact representation of Gods nature. I have two sons; they share my DNA but they are not me nor are they the exact representation of me. There is a Son who shares the exact representation of Gods nature, and that Son is Jesus, for the God the Son and the God the Father are of the same divine essence; this is how Jesus is the climax of Gods revelation of Himself to lost humanity. When one of his disciples asked Jesus, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. To which Jesus answered: The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? (John 14:8-9). When Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds saw the face of Jesus, the saw the face of God. Jesus is the sustainer of creation. The mystery of the incarnation and miracle of Christmas is that the one who was laid in a manger, is the One who sustains and keeps creation, by the word of His power. What the author of Hebrews is trying to say here is that the Son of God is not only responsible for creation, but actively preserves creation! This is why Jesus could walk on water, cure diseases, raise the dead, and quiet storms with the word of His mouth. Jesus is a qualified and willing redeemer. The One who was laid in the manger was born to make purification of sins, and the way that he did it was through a cross of wood for sins we committed and are guilty of. This is why, when John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said: Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)! Hundreds of years before Christmas happened, the prophet Isaiah wrote of Jesus: But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed (Isa. 53:5). The Christ-Child was born to become a curse for us so that we could be pardoned, redeemed, and made the children of God (Gal. 3:13-14); or as the Bible states: He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus is the only one who can save. After Jesus died upon the cross for our sins for our redemption, we are told that Jesus, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high What this means is that because of who He is and why He took on human flesh, after He died, Jesus rose from the grave because how can death keep the Author of Life? After Jesus rose, He ascended to heaven, and He sat down! He sat down because his sacrifice for sin only had to be offered once and for all! This is why Jesus said of Himself: I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6). Besides Jesus, there is salvation found in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved (Acts. 4:12). Jesus is to be worshiped because of who He is. The child born on the first Christmas and laid in a dirty manger surrounded by dirty creatures, of which Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, and every other human is the dirtiest; He was born to save sinners. Of Jesus the scriptures testify: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Phil. 2:810). The question for you my dear friend, is what will you do with Jesus today, on this Christmas Eve? The reality of Christmas is simply this: Jesus was really born. Jesus really did live, Jesus really did die on a Roman cross, and Jesus really did rise from the grave. J.R. Tolken, who wrote The Lord of the Rings, once said of the story of Jesus: The Gospels contain a fairy-story, or a story of a larger kind, which embraces all the essence of fairy-stories. But this story is supreme, and it is true. Art has been verified. God is the Lord, of angels, and of menand of elves. Legend and History have met and fused.[1] The reason Jesus made His grand entrance into our world through the mess of a stable is because He was born to enter into the mess of sin-cursed humanity. The message of the manger is simply this: If you were a hundred times worse than you are, your sins would be no match for His mercy.[2] Jesus came to save us! [1] J. R. R. Tolkien. On Fairy Stories, (1939). [2] Tim Keller.

Introit: Ps. 74:1-2, 19b, 21b; antiphon: Ps. 74:20a, 21a, 22a, 23a Gradual: Ps. 77:14-15 Old Testament: 2 Chron. 28:8-15 Psalm 32 (antiphon: v. 2) Epistle: Gal. 3:15-22 ProperVerse: Ps. 88:1 Gospel: Luke 10:23-37 Jesus Is Our Good Samaritan The Law cannot help us or give us life. Rather, it confines everyone under sin as wounded and naked before God (Gal. 3:15-22). So it is that two figures of the Law, the priest and the Levite, passed by the injured man on the side of the road (Luke 10:23-37). Only the promised Seed of Abraham can rescue us and make us righteous before God. Only the Samaritan, our Lord Jesus, had compassion, as did the Samaritans of old (2 Chronicles 28:8-15). He came down to us in our lost and dying condition, pouring on the oil and wine of the Sacraments. He placed us on His own animal, bearing our sin and brokenness in His body on the cross to restore us. Jesus brought us to the inn, that is, the Church, and gave the innkeeper two denarii, that His double forgiveness might continue to be ministered to us. In this way the Lord, by whose Law we are torn and stricken, heals us and revives us by His Gospel and raises us up with Himself.

By the revelation of Jesus Christ, we come to an awareness of who we are. The moment Peter correctly identified Jesus, he found his own identity (Matt. 16: 13-18).“There is an identity you'll only find in God because He is the center of your life”In an exceedingly profound sermon titled ‘Who is Jesus, and Who Are We?' The true identity of a believer goes beyond the ‘Christian' tag—DOULOS; the distinction between Doulos and the modern definition of ‘Slave'; and the believer's responsibility as one bought with a price. The believer is both a son and ‘Doulos' (slave/servant) to God. Paul in his spiritual consciousness repeatedly introduced himself as a slave of God (Phil. 1:1) even though the term carries a manifestly negative connotation. Why?1. As believers we were bought with a price (1 Corinth. 6:19)2. Our ultimate goal becomes pleasing God (Gal. 1:10)However, there are stark differences between the contemporary and Biblical definitions of a slave — as well as there are similarities.In more modern days, slavery:* involves kidnapping (against Exodus 21:16)* is based on racial discrimination (against Lev. 19:33-34)* involves sexual harassment of women (against Deut. 22:25)* entails being bound and overworkedContrary to the aforementioned, a slave in Biblical context was entitled to a day off a week (Ex. 23:12) had special holidays (Lev. 23:7; Deut. 10:17) and special treatments by guideline (Ex. 21:20-26)Who then are slaves in the Bible?* debtors who couldn't pay back* Stealing could make one a slave (Ex. 22:1)* a poor person could wilfully surrender himself to work for a master (Deut. 15:11)Conclusively, God's rules are non-negotiable, Christ's sacrifice bestows upon us a responsibility to no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died for us! (2 Corinthians 5:15)

When God would not endorse their decision to trust-do the wrong thing, they mistrusted God and disobeyed Him, uncovering their desperate need for salvation.-1. On the road to where they wanted to go, pausing to ask for God's instructions. -v.1-4--2. Falsely pledging to comply with whatever God's answer would be. -v.5-6--3. Hearing God's unambiguously clear instructions and stark warnings- -v.7-22--What is the true spiritual condition of our hearts---What does the Word say about returning to Egypt-- Deut. 17-16-Why did they think they could trick God-- Gal.6-7. Mt. 7-21-23-How should we make decisions-- Prov. 16-25 Luke 9-23-24

Yesterday we learned that to enjoy and experience the goodness of God even in the bad times that we must have a “good relationship” with Him through Jesus Christ. But that is only the beginning. We also need to have a good companionship with the Lord (vv. 3-4). We don't live the Christian life alone, because we're part of a great spiritual family and need each other. As in previous psalms, two groups are depicted: the believing remnant, the "saints who are on the earth, who are the excellent ones" and the unbelieving worshipers of idols who “hasten after other gods.” (See also Ps. 10:8-10; 11:2-3; 12; 14:5-6). The saints are those who trust God and obey His covenant, those who are set apart for the Lord. They take seriously God's command, "Be holy, for I am holy" (Lev. 19:2; 20:7-8, 26; 21:8). Israel was a kingdom of priests (Ex. 19:6; Deut. 7:6) and a holy nation, just as the church is today (1 Peter 2:9). David called them "the excellent or majestic ones", a word that carries the meaning of nobility and glory. In spite of our faults and failures, believers are God's elite, His nobility on earth. We must all love one another and use our God-given abilities and resources to minister to the family of God (Gal. 6:1-10). Like David, we must not compromise with those who disobey the Lord and worship idols, but should seek to lead them to Jesus Christ, the source of all that is good and lasting. Even as believers, we must be careful not to “hasten after” the other gods of our day. The gods of success, money, possessions, fame, education, pleasure, relationships, and on the list can be anything that gets between us and our relationship with the Lord. Multiplied gods only bring multiplied sorrows. David didn't even want to speak the names of the false gods of those in Israel who forsook the covenant (Ex. 23:13; Josh. 23:7). We are not to be isolationists, for the Lord has left us in this world to be salt and light; but we must be careful not to be defiled by their sins (James 1:27; 4:4; Rom. 12:2). No church is perfect, because no believer is perfect; but let's still give thanks for the people of God and seek to encourage them all we can. We must also realize we have a good inheritance in the Lord and with it comes a great responsibility (vv. 5-6). After Israel conquered the Promised Land, each tribe except Levi was assigned a special inheritance (Josh. 13-21). Because they served in the sanctuary and ate of the holy sacrifices, the priests and Levites had the Lord as their special inheritance (Num. 18:20-32; Deut. 10:8-9; 14:27-29; Josh. 13:14, 23), and David saw himself in that privileged position. "The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup" (v. 5). To possess great wealth but not have the Lord is poverty indeed (Luke 12:13-21), and to enjoy the gifts but ignore the Giver is wickedness indeed. If Jesus is the Lord of our lives, then the possessions we have and the circumstances we are in represent the inheritance He gives us. The measuring lines marked off the inheritance of the tribes, clans and families in Israel, and then each individual lot was marked with a "landmark" that was not to be moved (Deut. 19:14; 27:17; Prov. 15:25; 22:28; 23:10-11). David rejoiced that God had caused the lines of his inheritance to fall in pleasant places, and that he had a "delightful inheritance". He wanted to be a good steward of all that the Lord had given him. Like Peter, we should be able to say, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay” (1 Peter 1:3-4 NLT). Amen! God bless!

Recorded Oct 21 1990

The Law and the Relationship with our God Galatians 3 10-18 Brian Murray Friendship Grace Brethren Church

Introit: Ps. 74:1-2, 19b, 21b; antiphon: Ps. 74:20a, 21a, 22a, 23a Gradual: Ps. 77:14-15 Old Testament: 2 Chron. 28:8-15 Psalm 32 (antiphon: v. 2) Epistle: Gal. 3:15-22 ProperVerse: Ps. 88:1 Gospel: Luke 10:23-37 Jesus Is Our Good Samaritan The Law cannot help us or give us life. Rather, it confines everyone under sin as wounded and naked before God (Gal. 3:15-22). So it is that two figures of the Law, the priest and the Levite, passed by the injured man on the side of the road (Luke 10:23-37). Only the promised Seed of Abraham can rescue us and make us righteous before God. Only the Samaritan, our Lord Jesus, had compassion, as did the Samaritans of old (2 Chronicles 28:8-15). He came down to us in our lost and dying condition, pouring on the oil and wine of the Sacraments. He placed us on His own animal, bearing our sin and brokenness in His body on the cross to restore us. Jesus brought us to the inn, that is, the Church, and gave the innkeeper two denarii, that His double forgiveness might continue to be ministered to us. In this way the Lord, by whose Law we are torn and stricken, heals us and revives us by His Gospel and raises us up with Himself.

“God At Work(In YOU!)” ~ Philippians 2:12-18 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.(KJV) Vs.12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 12 “WHEREFORE” is ‘there-for' our review ..going back to 1:27 Paul is saying to the Phil. In exhortation because they should be living as HEAVENLY CITIZENS in harmony & unity w/ one another their lives should have evidence of these traits…(Vs. 2:1-4)…. a) To THINK the same thing, b) HAVE the same Love …c) To be in HEART UNITY or agreement d) carry oneself in a ‘low running mind'(humility) ..e) To see to it that your Brethren EXCELL/SURPASS You…last week we spoke of HAVING THE MIND OF CHRIST( VS2:6-8) which led to A Kenosis experience…death & Resurrection to walk as NEW CREATIONS IN CHRIST( II Cr. 5:17) NOW Paul further exhorts the Philippians TO make the above mentioned TRAITS a Permanent FACT in their lives, a permanent part of WHO THEY ARE as Saints “MY BELOVED”  “My Beloved Ones”(GRK.) plural word in grk.  ag-ap-ay-tos' from agapayo= ‘To LOVE'(AGAPE)…This is the LOVE, (Agape) of God produced in our hearts by the Holy Spirit that IMPELS us to lay our lives down for each other OBEYED…NOT meaning a grind it out, work it out kind of obedience Done in Fear of GOD as a Taskmaster…This is a Basic summary of a practical APPLICATION of all he is saying…he is Not meaning a slavish observance of rules..BUT rather an intelligent application of Principle…when OBEY (Obedience) is applied this way it is the KEY to LIBERTY in the Christian walk with God (examples of Music & Health)…”To Obey” is to put into practice “The Mind of Christ” received & operated By FAITH , NOT a  WORK it Out Mentality Not as In My Presence ..The sense here is they do not need Paul to hold their hand (HE is not there)…BECAUSE they have access to the MIND of CHRIST they can do what is needed “work out your own salvation” NOT working for your personal salvation in your own effort & strength (see Mormons) …a) Paul was writing to SAINTS not unsaved b) SALVATION IS always a work of God, not men….c) also not an inward working out of one's  salvation … “work out”  katergazomai (koter..gad..zi..mi) = ‘to carry out to the goal, to carry out to its ultimate conclusion' ….like saying the 5th grader worked out the long division problem to its CONCLUSION. Here Paul is exhorting the Phil (US) to carry our salvation out to ITS ULTIMATE CONCLUSION= CHRISTLIKENESS. The SALVATION Highlighted here is SANCTIFICATION= Being SET ASIDE  from sin & toward God's purpose for our lives which will please ABBA Example of my granddaughter being taught by me how to drive We must learn to ‘Work Out' the problems & trials of life we go through by applying FAITH by doing so ‘GOD IS WORKING IN US' We are NOT ROBOTS…..we have our own WILL to APPLY/Not Apply the Mind of Christ in a matter   “with fear and trembling…” NOT Terror but a wholesome carefulness & caution of  being careful of NOT doing the wrong things. This Fear is a SELF-DISTRUST, a tenderness of one's conscience ; a vigilance against temptation, the opposite of pride & arrogance…It is being in an attitude of taking heed lest we fall, of watching for the deceitfulness of our hearts…it is taking care & caution to NOT offend God….THIS is Human RESPONSIBILITY in its highest form (Vincent) 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge ISAIAH 66:1,2 Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house could you possibly build for Me? And what place could be My home? 2 My hand made all these things, and so they all came into being. This is the Lord's declaration. I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive[a] in spirit, and trembles at My word. II Peter 1:3-10  3 His[a] divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by[b] His own glory and goodness. 4 By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. (MAKE your Calling & Election Sure kjv) Vs. 13 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure “Worketh” ..'energeo' meaning to energize, work effectively…our words ‘energy' & ‘energize' come from this grk. Word “to will” ‘thelo' means to wish, to desire, to purpose….specifically speaks to ones emotions rather than reason…The DESIRE to do ABBAS GOOD PLEASURE is produced by DIVINE ENERGY cultivated in  & imparted to the believers Heart by the Holy Spirit, the HS. energizes us..NOT just for willingness but in the DOING as well..We are GIVEN Power to DO! “to do” grk. Implies an habitual ACTION We could say it like this……………. HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY (Vs. 12) + DIVINE ENABLEMENT (VS. 13) = Doing His Good Pleasure = The Works of God That PLEASE ABBA…”A TAKE HOLD & CO-WORK with ABBA Process…A mystery in a sense as to How our FREE Will works together  with the Sovereignty  of God Gal. 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. The beauty of the Christian life is we are Truly FREE to do as we choose!..Jn. 14:15 If you Love me,Keep my commands Abba desires for us to live every moment right where He has us  transform the seemingly empty, boring, meaningless routines of life, as well as all the challenging situations you face into vibrant God-energized opportunities…”Then we will see Abba Working In Us Both to WILL & DO His Good Pleasure!”     14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:…VS. 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Now Paul begins to address the issue that was beginning to cause division among them…he had gotten this issue from Epaphroditus  , who perhaps had been attempting to cover his Brethrens' sin up due to His Love for them…PAUL exhorts THEM to be done with these negative things. ‘Murmurings'   gongysmos(ga—goose—mas) to mutter or murmur (used of the cooing of doves)it is said of this word that its ‘pronunciation'(‘sound') resembles its meaning…This is like a ‘hushed' undertone, like a whisper…& it is used against MEN, Not God …so far the dissension in the Philippian  Church was only an undercurrent ..this word was used of those who get together & complain secretly of their discontent ‘disputings'  dialogismos (diolly…gis..mas) this word has to do with debating with an underthought of suspicion & doubt………….Murmurings LED to DISPUTES Exodus 16:2,3 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.also vs. 9-12.. 17:2,3 chide & murmur about lack of water I Cr. 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. I Tim. 6:3-6 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,5 Perverse disputing(incessant wrangling, to wear out) of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. GRUBLING & COMPLAINING = a Trait of Unbelief, u cannot expect God to WORK & spew words of negativity into a matter Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief….apietheia Like a donkeyJ….unpersuadeable     vs15) ‘may be'  better rendered may become…implying that sin (this sin of dissension) was already sprouting  up among them..They were no longer blameless or harmless ‘blameless' no censure needed ,free from faults & defects 5:25-27 The church will be presented to God without Spot or blemish I Cr. 1:8 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. I Tim. 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; II Peter 3:14 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and ‘harmless' unmixed or unadulterated , guileless Hebrews 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. ‘sons' better rendering =children or ‘born ones' I Peter 1:13,14Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 1:12 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: I Jn. 3:1,2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.   ‘without rebuke' without blemish, faultless , blameless 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. ‘Crooked' means that  which is perverse & wicked …THOSE  that turn away from the TRUTH 7:13,14Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked         14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set    the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. Isaiah 40:4,42:16,45:2 In the Millennium God will STRAIGHTEN all things out! ‘Perverse'  having a distorted TWIST …a stronger word than CROOKED, To Corrupt ( especially others) To Plot against (especially against the Gospel) to oppose, to turn from the correct path & lead others in a wrong way…OT. Meant being deceitful, fraudulent, SPEAKING FALSEHOODS (Pro. 4:24,8:8,17:20,19:1,23:33,Acts 20:30) ‘Shine'  the act of APPEARING not SHINING Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. ‘Lights' Heavenly Bodies like stars 5:14-16 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: TRS……………All things be constantly doing w/o discontented & secret mutterings & grumblings., & w/o discussions which carry an undertone of suspicion or doubt , to the end that ye may become those who are deserving of no censure , free from fault or defect, & guileless in their simplicity, children of God w/o blemish, in the midst of a perverse generation, among who ye appears as luminaries in the world (Phil. 2:14,15 (The Greek Expanded Translation~Kenneth S Wuest) POINT: STOP complaining about problems & circumstances in Your life…that's what everyone does in this age we live in..WE Must have an OBEDIENCE of Faith (God Working in US) that exudes out of USJ & shows us to be different!:-)       VS.16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Holding Forth meaning to ‘hold forth so as to offer'….as in what one would offer to a guest as in a refreshment when they visit your house. WE as Saints ‘hold forth' Salvation to the lost to ‘Refresh, revive' them Rejoice the real meaning of this word is to ‘boast' or ‘to glory' That  Because Day of Christ = Rapture of the Church Labored to labor to the point of exhaustion So if the Philippians would continue to OFEER the Word  to pagans & each other Paul would then have a basis for glorying or boasting when Jesus Christ returned for His Saints…AS Paul would not have totally spent himself (exhausted himself) in vain on their behalf 17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. Offered Upon literally ‘poured out as a drink offering'….Paul is here referring to His own Life offered up in the violent death he will someday endure as a martyr for Christ…His BLOOD will be poured out as a drink offering. II Tim. 4:6 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand….trs. “For my life's blood is already being poured out” Service    this word draws upon the OT. Example of priests ministering & serving …literally ‘sacred ministration' Paul draws upon this example of Him sacrificing His life as an example to the Philippians of The Christian Life of serving each other through humility as unto God “God at Work In US” is the fertile ground of a Rejoicing, Refreshing, Fruitful Christian Life; pouring out Rivers of Living Water to Others based upon an unrelenting reliance on ABBA that lives within each one of us…That is the mystery of the Gospel!:-) ….Col.1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Paul consistently opens his letters with emotionally and theologically charged greetings; Galatians is no different. He closes his introduction with verse five: "to Whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." But what is the glory of God? How is it distinct to Him, and how can we know it? Jeff and Steph grapple with the glory of God in episode five of THE BETTER FREEDOM, a season of The Better Beautiful devoted to Paul's letter to the churches of Galatia. This ancient text bears upon us today—in all the best ways. Listen now.

Paul consistently opens his letters with emotionally and theologically charged greetings; Galatians is no different. He closes his introduction with verse five: "to Whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." But what is the glory of God? How is it distinct to Him, and how can we know it? Jeff and Steph grapple with the glory of God in episode five of THE BETTER FREEDOM, a season of The Better Beautiful devoted to Paul's letter to the churches of Galatia. This ancient text bears upon us today—in all the best ways. Listen now.

Today's podcast is a meditation on the scriptures of our identity in Christ, from the verses below. Who We Are and What We Have In Christ "Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith” (Romans 1:5) “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1-2). “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!” (Romans 5:9) “when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son… how much more… shall we be saved through his life!... rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:10-11). “those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ” (5:17). “through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous” (5:19). “Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, [so] we too may live a new life” (6:4). “count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (6:11). “you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God” (7:4). “we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code” (7:6). “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (8:1-2). “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you” (8:9). “you received the Spirit of Sonship… Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (8:15, 17). “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called; he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (8:30). “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (8:37). “you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another” (Romans 15:14). “in him you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking and in all your knowledge” (1 Cor 1:5). “we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us” (1 Cor 2:12). “we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16). “All things are yours” (1 Cor 3:21). “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor 6:11). “the man who loves God is known by God” (1 Cor 8:3). “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘yes' in Christ.  And so through him the ‘Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2 Cor 1:20). “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing” (2 Cor 2:14-15). “in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God” (2 Cor 2:17). “Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God.  Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.  He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor 3:4-6). “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18). “through God's mercy we have this ministry” (2 Cor 4:1). “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ” (2 Cor 5:18-19). “Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you” (2 Cor 13:4). “So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law” (Galatians 2:16). “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God” (Gal 2:20). “So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith” (Gal 3:9). “He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit” (Gal 3:14). “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (3:26-27). “So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir” (Gal 4:7). “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.  In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.  And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ'” (Eph 1:3-9). “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity to the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory” (Eph 1:11-12). “the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also the one to come” (Eph 1:18-21). “God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions… and God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:4-7). “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:10). “in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ” (Eph 2:13). “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph 2:21-22). “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence” (Eph 3:12). “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Eph 3:20). “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  From the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Eph 4:15-16). “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:11). “my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19). “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13-14). “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27). “Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3). “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.  In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead” (Col 2:9-12). “These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Col 2:17). “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col 3:3-4). “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Col 3:10). “the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess 1:12). “that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess 2:14). “This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time” (2 Tim 1:9). “the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory” (2 Tim 2:10). “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5-7). “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Heb 7:25). “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb 10:10). “who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood” (1 Peter 1:2). “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5). “Through him you believe in God” (1 Peter 1:21). “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). “and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.  It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand – with angels, authorities, and powers in submission to him” (1 Peter 3:21-22). “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2). “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:3-4). “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:11).

  Summary: Paul begins by comparing being an “heir of God” (Gal.3:29; 4:7) to being an heir of men (4:1). A man's boy was already “lord” of his lands and servants, but he wasn't ready to be in charge of … Continue reading →

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Galatians 6:15-16 ESV 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. ----- 15 Sapagkat ang pagtutuli o ang di-pagtutuli ay walang kabuluhan, kundi ang bagong nilalang 16 Kapayapaan at kaawaan nawa ang sumakanilang lahat na lumalakad sa alituntuning ito, at maging sa Israel ng Diyos. A NEW CREATION In contrast to the Judaizers belief, the truth is that whatever status we are in and religious rites we practice, including circumcision, couldn't earn favor before God. It's not about sincerity about what you do for God. No good works so good enough that could wash away our sins. It's only the pefect sacrifice of Christ at the cross. This re-echoed with Paul's dismissal of race, gender, or wealth has a meaningful effect to our relationship to God (Gal 3:23–29). It's through the new creation. That is, the supernatural act of God in giving us a new birth. In other words, it is completely a sovereign act of God. It's incomprehensible but true that a sinner, once he repents of his sins and receives Jesus, is ushered into the family of God. John said, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” [John 1:12] For this, Paul concluded, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”[2 Cor 5:17] Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a teacher of the law. Yet, the Lord Jesus had said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”[John 3:3] This is solely the work of the Spirit using the word of God. Peter said, “you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.”[1 Pet 1:23] In contrast to the flesh, the Spirit gives life. As Jesus had emphasized, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all.”[John 6:63] Our status is determined by our relationship with the indwelling Spirit, who placed us into one body, the church. “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”[Col 3:11] Someday, there will be a grand reunion of all the born again believers coming from all walks of life from all ages and from all corners of the globe. They will worship the Lamb before the throne. As they will hear the twenty four elders in unison who will proclaim; “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” [Rev 5:9-10] ------------------------- Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

Faith Conquers the Curses of the Old Man (2) (Audio) David Eells - 7/18/21 Killing the Mind of the Flesh Winnie Osegueda - 6/28/21 (David's notes in red) I dreamed there were two men (one looked like the actor Jim Belushi) who would come every night and "take advantage" of me (I didn't actually experience this in the dream, but it was a knowing). (These two men represent demonic spirits and /or generational curse spirits that are passed down through the blood from our forefathers. They possess our soulish or fleshly nature. They are ‘actors' and they take advantage of our sin nature that dwells in our flesh man. Jim Belushi was a self indulgent actor who ended up dying of a drug overdose. Everyone has been partakers of the Adamic fallen nature through the blood of our parents passed on to us. This is why we must spiritually drink the blood of Jesus' sacrifice like He said. This is so His blood, nature, and life is in us. Lev 17:11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life…. 14  For as to the life of all flesh, the blood thereof is all one with the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off. They were sent by this woman who looked like the old woman from the movie "Throw Mama from The Train." (In the dream, she felt like my grandmother in a way.) She would send the men (who might have been her sons) from a kitchen that looked like my mom's kitchen in NY, and at this point I was just fed up and decided I was going to kill them. (Our forefathers send the generational curses upon us down through the blood. These spirits will take advantage of us until we understand our authority over the curse through the sacrifice of Jesus. This is what allows us to put to death the mind of the flesh. Deu 5:9, thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I, Jehovah, thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me;) I took a sharp pointy knife that was shaped like a letter opener and I began to stab them in their heads and killed them. (The Bible has been referred to as God's love letter to us. This letter opener represents opening the Word of God which is sharper than any two edged sword, and putting to death the mind of the flesh by renewing our minds with the washing with the water of the Word.) I think I was able to stab two out of three of them; the woman herself and one of her sons; the one that was not Jim Belushi. I stabbed them pretty good, so I knew they were dead. I made sure I got them in the brain. (The self indulgent one who chooses to live in his own little fantasy world like a drug addict is the one who always seems to get away from us. He is the very nature of our flesh man and will not be put to death until the very end. Gal 5:17, For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.) I laid the dead bodies in my bed, in my old room at my mom's house. (The only way to truly conquer the old man and his demons is to lay them down to rest as we ourselves are resting in the faith and the promises the Lord has given us through His Word.)  I was trying to figure out what to do with the bodies. And when I went to check on them, they had gotten back up and I thought, “But I killed them!" The weird thing was they were gray and there was no blood or life in them as if they were actually dead, so I know I did something. (This represents giving in to the temptation to dig up the skeletons from our past by listening to spirits of condemnation who want to remind us of past sins and failures. We must remind ourselves that the past is dead and buried and that we have forgiveness and faith through the sacrifice of Jesus. It is finished!  2Co 5:17  Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. Rom 6:11-13  Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus.  12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof:  13  neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.) I let them know that if they came back, I would stab them in the head again. I wasn't playing, nor was I scared. I had enough. (1 Ti. 6:11-14, But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. 13 I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession; 14 that thou keep the commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:) I asked the Lord for a word by faith at random if I should share this dream and I got Psalm 3, so I took that as a yes. Psalms 3:1-8, Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” 3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. 4 I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. 6 I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. 7 Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. This seems like a very violent dream, but I believe it's just spiritual and the Lord is perhaps reassuring us that we have victory over our mind of the flesh and our enemies. Praise God! Rom 7:13-25, Did then that which is good become death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good; —that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I know not: for not what I would, that do I practise; but what I hate, that I do. 16 But if what I would not, that I do, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me.  18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but to do that which is good is not. 19 For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I practise. 20 But if what I would not, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me. 21 I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I of myself with the mind, indeed, serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.   Walking by Faith Kills the Old Man Deb Horton - 11/19/05 (David's notes in red) I dreamed that I was in a large room. I had a sword in my hand and was facing my enemy, who also had a sword. I knew he was evil, satanic, and that I had to kill him. (The sword, of course, is the sword of the Word. And my opponent was my old man of the flesh.) (We must fight our enemies which are the devil and our own flesh with the Word of God. It is our only sword and defense against them both. Jesus fought the devil in His wilderness tribulation with the Word of God and He won. Heb 4:12, For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.) The fight began when he called out to me, “Bill is behind you,” trying to make me turn around to fight another enemy behind me, but I knew he was faking me out. (A "Bill" is a debt, and I know that all my debts are and were nailed to the cross. Also, the name Bill comes from "William" which means, “Conquerer”.) (Our old debts that are behind us in the past will conquer us if we believe the lies of the enemy that the blood of Jesus was not enough to cover and conquer all our sins. We will be defeated by fear, doubts, and unbelief. Php 3: 12-14, Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I could not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do , forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, 14 I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.) I never took my eyes off him. Then he lunged at me and I parried, and the fight was on. I kept piercing him over and over while he never touched me. Each time I pierced him, he seemed to become bonier and more demonic-looking. (As we renew our minds with the Word of God, our eyes are opened more and more to the evil intents of our own hearts and we also become wiser to the tactics of the enemy and are quicker to discern evil. Heb 5:13-14, For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. 14 But solid food is for full grown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.) Finally, after what seemed like hours, I couldn't believe that he wasn't dead yet. I asked, “Why isn't he dead?” at which point I realized that he was already dead and that you can't kill something that's already dead. So in great frustration, I asked aloud, “Why am I fighting?” Then I woke up. (The enemy would love to keep us focused on what is instead of what Christ already accomplished for us on the cross. If he can keep us distracted through fear, doubt, discouragement, condemnation, self-pity or unbelief we will lose our battle and ultimately our salvation. Heb 3:14, for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end:)   Two Factions, Both Ruled by the Old Man Claire Pienaar - 6/29/21 (David's notes in red) Here's a dream I had that reminded me slightly of Winnie's dream about the two men she killed, because there were two men in my dream too, initially. (As we will see, I believe this dream has individual meaning relating to the old man or nature of our flesh as well as a corporate meaning regarding the faction in the Apostate Church system.) I dreamed I was in a town I had not been in before. There were two groups of people who were pitted against each other. (Here again we see the two bodies of men that are not only our enemies but they are enemies of one another. The devil wants to destroy our spirit man by using our old man against us but he hates the old man of our flesh, as well, and wants to drag him to hell for eternity. Corporately, the factious in the apostate church fight against us but the Lord will turn them against one another as He has throughout history.) On one side was a well-known, bald, evangelist whose name means “Thunder Bear”. On the other side was a guy from Central America named Rodrigo which means “famed ruler” or “red-haired ruler”. (Representing the Edomites who were descended from Esau, which means, “Red”, who factioned against his chosen brother Jacob.) (In the dream he had dark coloring and dark hair but the name represents rebellion).  It seemed that the evangelist was buying up small companies and businesses. (The old man wants a monopoly and complete control over all our endeavors to come into Christ's image and to serve His Kingdom and His people. They are “supposing that godliness is a way of gain”. Corporately, the factious sects of Christianity are always fighting with one another over doctrines and whom the sheep belong to. They treat the Kingdom of God and His people as a business and commodities.) He was intent on, and succeeded in, buying a hair salon and basically drove a woman and her husband out of the place. (The evangelist is bald, so why does he need a salon? Buying the hair salon is trying to buy the place that will enhance our glory.) (The old man has no glory represented by his baldness. He is rebellious and never submitted to the Lord. He is always trying to earn his way and purchase his own glory through self works. He is under the Law.) (The woman and her husband represent the corporate bodies of the Man-Child and the Bride who are commanded to be separate from the Apostates in Christianity and who are coming out from among them to be separate).  Rodrigo was on the other side with a loudspeaker, proclaiming how bad the evangelist was and that his ideas were bad for the town. Rodrigo seemed to be touting communism as an alternative. (Because he is kin to the DS one world order faction. Both of these factions are lawless and force people to do their will by trapping them in sin.) I was horrified that Rodrigo was speaking so honestly and openly about a communist system that is so evil. (The old man, the factious, and the devil want to bring everyone down on their level in a sort of spiritual communism with doctrines such as, “Hopeless sinner's saved by greasy grace, Once saved always saved, and no degrees of reward in Heaven.”) I was moving through this town as an invisible person (In the Spirit). It did not seem that I lived here, or that I was part of the town in any way. No one saw me or interacted with me. (Because this was a spiritual revelation and its interpretation is spiritual and not literal.) All around me were deformed children who were struggling physically and mentally. They looked like they'd all been injured from vac/cin/es (Spiritually these vac/cin/es represents being in fornication within the same DNA. Both of these factious parties are members of the Beast.). (Our flesh nature is retarded and is physically under the curse because he has been poisoned by the sin and the fiery darts of the devil and he is rebellious to the Word of God. Also, the Factious leaders in the Church have brought forth strange children who don't look like the Father because they are sowing their own seed of poisonous words, which do not save from the curse like the vac/ci/nes into the lives of their poor people.  Hos 5:2-7, And the revolters are gone deep in making slaughter; but I am a rebuker of them all. 3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me; for now, O Ephraim, thou hast played the harlot, Israel is defiled. 4 Their doings will not suffer them to turn unto their God; for the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not Jehovah. 5 And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore Israel and Ephraim shall stumble in their iniquity; Judah also shall stumble with them. 6 They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Jehovah; but they shall not find him: he hath withdrawn himself from them. 7 They have dealt treacherously against Jehovah; for they have borne strange children. Because of their spiritual fornications.) There was one man who caught my attention. He was old, but tried his best to look clean. He didn't really get it right. He had a grey hoodie on, with black pants. (No matter what the old man of the flesh does he will never be clean enough through his own efforts to save himself because he walks in rebellion to God which brings death.) He had a little boy with him, I supposed was his grandson, who was behaving like a real riotous little brat. (The fruit of the old nature is rotten to the core and no good.) They were sitting on the steps in front of the general store and just looked hopeless. He was the mayor of the town. (The overseer of the people.) I went into the store. There was nothing fresh; no meat and no water. (The meat represents the truth of the scripture for the mature, the water represents Jesus.)  (Jesus is the Word made flesh. We are washed with the water of the Word. Jesus said, “My meat is to do the will of My Father” and “If you love Me you will keep My commandments.” Their meat and water is stagnant because they only preach what the apostates before them do, which does not bring life.).  I looked around and felt great pity for these people. But then I said, “It's not my town. I don't live here”. (Sometimes when we get caught up in the confusion of the devil and the old man, we must remind ourselves that by faith we are born from above and are heavenly and not born from beneath or earthly. Corporately, we can't get caught up in the divisiveness of faction or patriotism. We must remember that our Kingdom is not of this world.  1 Co. 15:42-49, So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is of heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.) Then I woke up.  I asked the Lord for a word by faith at random and received “Cain” (Who slew righteous Able, his brother) in my bible dictionary at the back of Bible. I received another word by faith at random, 2 Chronicles 7:15 with my finger on “mine ears attent”. (In context, verses 13-18) 13 If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent, unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now have I chosen and hallowed this house, that my name may be there for ever; and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually. 17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and mine ordinances; 18 then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.   Sanctification From the Little Beasts Winnie Osegueda - 7/4/21 (David's notes in red) I dreamed that we saw a mouse or two in our home. (This can be the personal house of your body or your household body. Mice are little beast entities who are unclean invaders of our life.). One of the mice was the kind that I despise, and am disgusted by, that we used to have in North Carolina. I freaked out and went on a mouse hunt to find it. (These beastly entities or natures are bad habits or sins in our personal or corporate houses. Sometimes we hate these sins.) There was another type of mouse that was way bigger but was fluffy and "cute" with a black and white fluffy tail.  (Sometimes these sins are things we think are cute and we like them.)  As soon as I picked it up, it became rabid and aggressive and wanted to bite me. (But all sins are against us and our eternal life and should be thrown out of the house.)   Chuc came over and rubbed some white substance over its face. (To have power over our beastly natures we must see them as washed white; as cleansed from or body by seeing Jesus in the mirror - 2Co 3:18)   It might have been salt, but I'm not certain. (Salt is a preservative, it kills foreign enemy agents.)   I obviously thought that I could treat that mouse differently than the other one because it was "cute," but that was not true, as it was aggressive when I tried to deal with it kindly. (All beastly entities are our enemies and some deceive us into thinking they are friendly. These beasts are like mice in that they multiply too and try to take over.)  The substance made it freeze up and it was no longer able to attack.  (By seeing our fallen natures as cleansed we receive power from God over them and they cant harm us.)   We put it on the couch for the moment as I went on crazy trying to catch the other mouse. I pulled everything out from the closets and moved everything around in the kitchen and living room to find it. (We must search out everything that is contrary to God and get rid of it. This is called sanctification.)  At one point, Chuc did catch it by putting a clear plastic container over it, but it escaped when we became too focused on the other fluffy, "cute" mouse. (Seeing it for what it is is not enough it must be driven out when we see them.) I was struggling and wearing myself out trying to catch that mouse to no avail. I finally thought to myself “Why don't I ask the Lord?" because I am obviously unable to do this on my own and I was so upset and frustrated about the mouse. I woke up shortly after. (Frustration comes from dependance on our own power to sanctify ourselves of the little beasts.  Prayers of faith to get rid of the beasts is powerful.) I asked the Lord for a word regarding this by faith and received: Judges 1:28 When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely. (The Canaanite is the old man, the old nature that must be controlled and put to death or driven from our land as the beastly mice.)   We Need Faith to Escape the Persecution of the Old Man (Alenna Timoshchuk) - 6/26/21 (David's noted in red) I dreamed I was with a small group of people. (This represents a small remnant of God's elect.) We were walking to an old mansion. (A remnant walking towards or desiring the ancient paths; to walk in the Way of the original gospel. These people represent the tabernacles that God desires for His dwelling place. Jer. 6:16 Thus saith Jehovah, Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls..) We knew there was a very old man that lived there and he had many secrets. (This is the old man of the flesh likes to impress others and hides his sins.  He is by nature at enmity with our spirit man who abides in Christ.) One of the people from the group and I went up the sidewalk towards his front door and sat at the bottom of his steps that led up to the door. (When the old man of the flesh is ruling the house it is hard for the spirit man to take control and He is looking on from the outside in. Rom 6:8-15 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; 9 knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him.  10 For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof: 13 neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace.) The old man came out and looked at us disgustedly and said, “What are you; Hobos? Go find somewhere else to sit, filthy trash.” And he continued down the front steps and got in a long black car and drove off. (The spirit wrestles against the flesh and the flesh against the spirit. The old man drives the long, black vehicle representing the vehicle of our lives. The vehicle is black when our flesh nature is in control and we are submitting to darkness instead of obeying our spirit man who is submitted to Christ who is light. Gal. 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.) As soon as he left we all went inside the mansion. I was looking for something that I knew I needed to find something out. (When we resist the old man and he is no longer in the house, so to speak, our spirit man has control and the presence of Christ will light up our innermost being with truth so that we can find out all the old man's secrets and expose them to the light so that the house, which is our temporary mobile tabernacle, can be cleaned out and restored. When we study the Word of God it shines a light into our innermost being and His Spirit reveals to us all the old man's secrets; then we are able to repent and cleanse ourselves from all defilement.  2 Co. 7:1  Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.) As I was searching in what looked like an office, I heard someone walk into the house and I quickly hid in a closet. I peaked through a crack and saw Donald Trump walk into the office. He called out, looking for the old man, and when he didn't see him, he left. (DJT is still in much agreement with the old man as Cyrus was. Also even the conservative old man has an affinity for Trump.) I continued my search and suddenly had a feeling that I needed to leave that house right away. So without hesitating I found a side door and went out and saw outside the long black car pulling up and it was the old man. He'd come back. (Alenna is not a fearful person but she is acting out this part for our benefit here.) When we fall into fear and double-mindedness we lose control of our house to the old man again and allow him to come back and rule over our spirit man once more. Pro. 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth; But the righteous are bold as a lion.) I hid in the bushes, waiting for him to go inside his house. I knew that if he saw me, and found out what I was up to, he would surely kill me. Once he went inside I ran out of the bushes. Then woke up. (We must not listen to the lies of the enemy that say our old man is more powerful than we are. Fear and double-mindedness will rob us of our faith and cause us to die spiritually and possibly even physically if that is what we are having faith for. Fear is faith in reverse and faith in the curse and faith in the devil. The fearful and unbelieving will never conquer their promised land and will not inherit the kingdom of Heaven as it says in Rev. 21:8. God calls a heart of unbelief evil. Heb. 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God:) Gal 5:16-25 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these : fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, 21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. 24 And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. 25 If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.   Get on God's Side to Escape the Beast (1) Claire Pienaar -  5/19/21 I dreamed I was dropped off at a large transportation hub in Sandton City which is a very affluent municipal area in South Africa. (A transport hub is a place where passengers and cargo are exchanged between vehicles and/or between transport modes. Public transport hubs include train stations, rapid transit stations, bus stops, tram stops, airports and ferry slips.) (I believe this transportation hub is representative that our flesh natures are all commodities that are traded and transported among the demon spirits, they dupe us into thinking that we have no power to choose anything except what the world offers.) It was night-time, and large street lights glowed orange all around me. (I was in complete darkness, controlled by the lusts of the flesh. The street light's orange or amber glow are warnings to the elect that they cannot and should not trust the world, their flesh or their own understanding).  A woman named Xhosa (pronounced Khoza, meaning: “angry men”.) dropped me off at this transportation hub. (In the natural, she was my director when I worked at the Dept of Foreign Affairs in 2009, before I started walking with the Lord.  I believe that this woman had possibly cursed me back then. I was very marginalized and persecuted at the time but not for my faith, rather because of my mental smarts and her own racial prejudice.) (When we are not walking with the Lord we are persecuted for unrighteousness. 1 Pe. 2:18-20, Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it , ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it , ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.)  I was on the right side of the road, but then I crossed over to the left and saw a big white dome of a building similar to the Washington D.C. White House, or the top of a hotel at a gambling resort in South Africa called Sun City (Some mockingly call it Sin City). I was trying to make my way there. (When we are in our own will,(on the left) we walk in darkness, following after Babylon's ways).  I walked past a big African woman who wore a badge of some sort, like a law enforcer, with big black boots on. She was telling all the poor, dangerous looking men on the road that I was their target. I knew I was in grave danger of being raped or worse, and knew I had to get back across to the right side of the street again as quickly as possible. (The woman represents Satan who administers the curse with his dumb, poor minions. They are allowed to chastise those who are God's elect to bring them to the conviction of sin, repentance and obedience. (To get them back on the RIGHT side of the road) Rom 13:1-5, Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: 4 for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience sake.) There was a little cafe with a tan skinned man and his mom. He was wearing a bright blue golf shirt and he had blue eyes. His mom was chubby and kind with grey hair. I said to them “You HAVE to pretend that you know me and that I am with you, otherwise they'll take me”. They said “sure”. (This represents Jesus and the original Mother Church from which the real bride is born from. I petitioned Him to make me part of His Elect and He agreed. Praise God!) (Rom. 8:28-30  And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: 30 and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.) Then I was walking through a white restaurant (this represents feasting on the true Word of God, which I found via UBM shortly after leaving the Department of Foreign Affairs, where I wanted to become an ambassador. Indeed I have become an ambassador, but for Christ. Amen!). (2 Co. 5:20, We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.) In this white restaurant were girls in school uniform from my high school. I was there being my current age and appearance that I am now. They were mourning over the death of a girl representing myself but I was not sad at all. (This dead girl represents those who through death to self are living the crucified life having escaped the false religious doctrines that allow the old man to live.)  (The elect outgrow and mature very quickly when immersed in the Word, whereas those in the institutionalized harlot, apostate church remain in bondage to their doctrines and false teachings that keep them all “uniform”).  These school girls were upset with me that I did not show more “respect” to this dead person. (Many times our relatives and loved ones are sad and upset with us when we start living the crucified life and they mourn the loss of relationship with our old man.) (In the dream, I remembered that soon after coming to the Lord and being baptised, I had dreamed that I was at my high school, at my own funeral, looking down into the ground at myself. I believe that in this current dream the Lord sought to remind me that I was dead in sin but then became dead to sin as the sperma of Jesus started the cleaning process of sanctification in my life through the power of the Holy Spirit).  Then the scene changed and I was in another white room with my old boss from another job I had. This was a job as a writer at a marketing firm. Her name means “dark haired”. She was excited to see me but I explained that I was not back in her employment and that I was now even more different because I was now pregnant with another boy. (The world is always going to want to welcome us back into their fold; but as Christ grows in the elect and the Bride, the chasm between the world and God's Elect gets bigger and bigger). I told her that while I loved her, we can't be part of the same world or company. (We must love our neighbor, but we must be made separate and 1 Peter 1:16  Be ye holy, for I am holy). (1 Co. 15:33-34, Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals. 34 Awake to soberness righteously, and sin not; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak this to move you to shame.)  Then I woke up. I asked the Lord for a word by faith at random, And received Romans 11:12 with my finger on “fall”.  Rom 11:12, Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? (Riaan: This dream is a warning that if the elect have their eyes fixed on the monuments, idols, and ways of the world they are crossing the road from right to left into Satan's domain where he has the right to administer the curse. But there is grace to cross back over and sit or rest with Jesus by just asking and receiving. Then God reminds the elect of their death in baptism long ago where we died and left the childish things of the world behind. The worldly apostates remained childish and immature; dressed in their school clothes and working for the world, but the elect grow and mature through death to self and obedience to the Word of God and leave all that behind bearing the fruit of Christ, a man-child boy!)   Get on God's Side to Escape the Beast (2) Vanessa Weeks - 7/7/21 (David's notes in red) In a dream Barry and I were walking on a multi-lane highway; on the left side shoulder of the road which was narrow. (While Barry and Vanessa are obedient servants of the Lord, they are demonstrating for our good the hazzards of walking on the left where Jesus put the goats.  Walking on the left side represents walking in some form of rebellion towards God. When we walk after the flesh nature we are on the wrong side of God and of holiness.) On this highway were many vehicles driving in the opposite direction that we were walking in. (We are supposed to be on the highway of holiness, which is going the opposite way of the world.)   I knew there was a tiger running loose on this highway. I also knew that Barry and I were the only food for this tiger. (When we are in rebellion towards God we open ourselves up to be devoured by the devil and the curse of sin.) There were people in all the cars, but the tiger did not consider them food. I saw this beast running towards us, going the same direction as the cars. (The people in the cars going the same direction as the beast belong to him. They are already on their way to hell so the beast won't bother them. But the Lord chastises those that He loves and that belong to Him to cause them to return from their rebellion.) Jer. 19:4-9,  Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods… 7 ...I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies will I give to be food for the birds of the heavens, and for the beasts of the earth... 9  wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their life, shall distress them.) As the tiger got closer to us, my husband, Barry, led me across this highway to the right shoulder. (Jesus our heavenly husband will lead us back to righteousness if we will submit to Him who is the Word made flesh.) We continued to walk in the same direction, still opposite the traffic. Then I realized that the tiger was behind us and getting farther away from us because he was running in the opposite direction, and he could no longer see us. (When we repent and turn away from our sins we become right with God again and are entitled to the benefits of safety and protection from our enemies and the curse. Heb. 10:26-31 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. 28 A man that hath set at nought Moses law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses: 29 of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.)  Then I woke up. Of course this reminds me of 1 Pe. 5:8,9  Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, 9  whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.  This dream was a warning from the Lord. A while after this Barry and I were attacked with division in our marriage. This had not happened for a long time and the devil was seeking to devour us. But then we got on the right side of the road, and he is getting farther away from us. Thank you Father, and help us to be watchful and vigilant in Jesus' name. Amen,   Listen to the Wise Man before He is Gone Alenna Timoshchuk - 6/28/21 (David's notes in red) I had a dream I was in my old church building. (The old Church represents the original Church.) There was an elderly man there with curly white hair. We all knew he was going to die and I knew he was going to go to heaven. (The white hair represents that this is a wise man.) He was walking around to different people telling them things from the Lord; kind of like his last little ministry before he had to leave us. (Ecc 10:12  The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. Pro 1:1-5  The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:  2  To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;  3  To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity;  4  To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion:  5  That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels.) He came up to me and I so badly wanted to hear him say something to me, but he was silent. He just looked at me with loving eyes but wouldn't say anything to me. (Sometimes we don't need a word because we are on the right path.) I grabbed hold of his hand and started crying because I didn't want him to die. I didn't want him to leave us. I felt like I needed his support in life. He sat beside me and let me hold his hand while I cried, but never told me a single word. I just felt his love. Then I woke up. (Seek out and Listen to the wise while they are with you. No man is wise without Jesus for he is the wisdom of God. 1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption. The wisest of men can be found and heard in the Bible.)                 Select LanguageAfrikaansAlbanianAmharicArabicArmenianAzerbaijaniBasqueBelarusianBengaliBosnianBulgarianCatalanCebuanoChichewaChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CorsicanCroatianCzechDanishDutchEsperantoEstonianFilipinoFinnishFrenchFrisianGalicianGeorgianGermanGreekGujaratiHaitian CreoleHausaHawaiianHebrewHindiHmongHungarianIcelandicIgboIndonesianIrishItalianJapaneseJavaneseKannadaKazakhKhmerKinyarwandaKoreanKurdish (Kurmanji)KyrgyzLaoLatinLatvianLithuanianLuxembourgishMacedonianMalagasyMalayMalayalamMalteseMaoriMarathiMongolianMyanmar (Burmese)NepaliNorwegianOdia (Oriya)PashtoPersianPolishPortuguesePunjabiRomanianRussianSamoanScots GaelicSerbianSesothoShonaSindhiSinhalaSlovakSlovenianSomaliSpanishSundaneseSwahiliSwedishTajikTamilTatarTeluguThaiTurkishTurkmenUkrainianUrduUyghurUzbekVietnameseWelshXhosaYiddishYorubaZulu Powered by Translate Printer-friendly version

*LIVING SEEDS DEVOTIONALS* (Life Transforming Words) Day:99 |Friday April 9th|2021 ************************************** *LED BY THE SPIRIT* _For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14 (KJV). Different people are led today by different means, and this is the reason why many are led astray. Some have gone into making wrong decisions, because the Holy spirits has not totally taken his place. Until the Holy spirit takes his place, we would not attain the standard of God in accessing divine Gods leading. The first thing that strikes me is that the leading of the Spirit of God of which it speaks is not something peculiar to eminent saints, but something common to all God's children, the universal possession of the people of God. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. We have here, in effect, a definition of the sons of God. The primary purpose of the sentence is not, indeed, to give this definition. But the statement is so framed as to equate its two members, and even to throw a stress upon the co-extensiveness of the two designations. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these and these only are sons of God. Therefore, the leading of the Spirit is presented as the very characteristic of the children of God. This is what differentiates them from all others. All who are led by the Spirit of God are thereby constituted the sons of God, and none can claim the high title of sons of God who are not led by the Spirit of God. The leading of the Spirit thus appears as the constitutive fact of sonship. And we dare not deny that we are led by God's Spirit, lest we therewith repudiate our part in the hopes of a Christian life. In this aspect of it, our text is the exact parallel of the immediately preceding declaration, which it therefore takes up and repeats But if any one hath not the Spirit of Christ, that one is not His(Rom. 8:9). It is obviously a mistake, therefore, to look upon the claim to be led by God's Spirit as an evidence of spiritual pride. It is rather a mark of spiritual humility. This leading of the Spirit is not some peculiar gift reserved for special sanctity and granted as the reward of high merit alone. It is the common gift poured out on all God's children to meet their common need, and is the evidence, therefore, of their common weakness and their common unworthiness. The dimensions of being led by the spirits is an aftermath of the results of the conquered over the dictate of the old man. Any one who walks after the spirit will be directed by the spirits. It is what you allow into your life that dictate to you, if you walk according to the leading of the flesh, the flesh dictate for you, but if you walk by the spirits, the spirits directs you(Gal 5:16, Rom 8:1). No reasonable person will like to make free moral choice to live according to the deeds of the flesh( Eph 4:22, col 3:5). Those who have submitted to the will of God are identified as the sons of God ( Gal 5:18). One must keep this in mind that this is not a subjective urge supposedly given by the spirits, else we return to what Paul was refuting in this context. Those who are led by the flesh are following the inventions of human emotional and traditional religion that lead men away from dependence on God for direction. Those who are led by the spirits of God seek the will of God in order to determine their lives(Rom 3:31). Those who behave according to the spirits-inspired direction of God are not living according to their desires to live after their own wills. Walking in the spirits is the same as walking in the light. By walking in the light, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. The person who live after the spirit has crucified the old man of sin(Rom 6:6; Gal 2:20). He has put to death the desire to flesh to direct the affairs of his or her lives( Eph. 2:1-3). The person who lives according to desires to live after the flesh in order to follow his own will is headed.

Cross TrainingTrust in God CompletelyRead or WatchYears ago, looking for something new and exciting to try, I took a trapeze class. I remember climbing the tall, shaky metal ladder, hooking my legs to hang upside down on the bar, and swinging out. Then came the hard part: trusting someone else's grip as I let go of the bar and flew through the air. Fortunately, there was a net in case something went wrong. But in the disciple's life of faith, we work without a net. So why would anyone release the cables that seem to secure them? Why would we choose instead to take the Lord's hands and let him swing us far beyond our comfort zone? Because he is faithful, reliable, and utterly count-on-able to keep his promises and see us through! This year we're Cross Training to develop twelve marks of the Master, beginning with faith, which encompasses our belief, trust, and loyalty. Last week we explored belief, so now let's work our way to trust.What You Need to KnowWhile belief starts in our mind, trust is an act of the heart. Belief defines what we think is true, but our trust decides who we'll rely on. It's the mortar that holds relationships together. No wonder faith is the basis for knowing God (Gal. 2:20; 3:11, 26).Riches will fail (Prov. 11:28), our minds might lead us astray (Prov. 28:26), and even our closest friends could betray us (Psalm 118:8). But God has never let anyone down, made a promise he won't keep, or told a lie (Heb. 6:18). He always works for our good (Rom. 8:28). So we hope in him and wait on him (Psalm 62:5-8). Because we know him (2 Tim. 1:12), his character gives us stability and peace (Isaiah 7:9; 26:3-4; Phil. 4:7).What You Need to DoLike any relationship built on confidence, every interaction with the Lord should convey how much we trust him. Speak to him with trust through your regular and sincere prayers (Mark 11:24). Allow him to lead you wherever he desires (Prov. 3:6-8). Smile in hope, knowing all he has prepared for you (John 14:1-4).Read Scripture to grow your trust in God, noticing his track record of love, power, and wisdom. Learn to pray with confidence by praying the psalms, holding onto the Lord "my rock," "my fortress," and "my salvation" (2 Sam. 22:2). Even in difficult times, let's echo the confidence of three faithful men long ago who said, "... our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up" (Dan. 3:17-18).Through the WeekRead (Mon) — John 14:1-4; Heb. 13:5-6; Jer. 29:11-14; Prov. 3:1-8; 2 Sam. 7:27-29Reflect (Tue) — Who is God? Request (Wed) — "Oh Lord, I trust in you without fear. What can anyone do to me?" (Psalm 56:3-4)Respond (Thu) — List some problems you're unsure how to solve, and then sit in stillness, knowing that God is God.Reach Out (Fri) — When has God proven trustworthy in your life?Support the Show

     The Central Idea of the Text is that God revealed to Manoah and his wife that they would have a son who would help to begin the defeat the Philistines (Judg. 13:5).      Manoah’s wife was barren and could not have children (like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah, and Elizabeth).  God intervened to provide a son—Samson—that He would use to accomplish His will among His people.  Samson had a divine calling from birth (Judg. 13:2-25), as did Jeremiah (Jer. 1:5), John the Baptist (Luke 1:13-17), and the apostle Paul (Gal. 1:15-16).  Samson fought against the Philistines, who were later defeated by Samuel (1 Sam. 7:10-14), and David (2 Sam. 5:17-25).  Samson was a contemporary with Jephthah and Samuel.      Samson was called to be a Nazarite from birth until death (Judg. 13:7).  The Nazarite vow was normally a voluntary consecration to God which required abstaining from wine, cutting one’s hair, and not touching a dead body (Num. 6:2-6).  Abstaining from wine would have cleared the mind for biblical thinking, leaving the hair uncut was a public declaration that one had taken the Nazarite vow, and not touching a corpse would have kept one ceremonially clean for worship.       Manoah requested to know his son’s future vocation, perhaps to prepare Samson for his future work (Judg. 13:12).  God refused Manoah’s request, but restated the original instruction concerning his wife’s diet during her time of pregnancy (Judg. 13:4, 7, 13-14).  Manoah and his wife both came to realize they’d had a personal encounter with God (Judg. 13:20-21); however, their responses were different.  Manoah responded with irrational fear, believing they would die (Judg. 13:22), but his wife corrected his thinking with a biblical-rational response in order to allay his fears (Judg. 13:23).       Though much of Samson’s life is marked by carnality, he also obeyed God, and this resulted in his being recorded among God’s faithful (Heb. 11:32).  We learn from Scripture that God often calls the weak to accomplish His will in the world (1 Cor. 1:26-29); however, a divine call does not guarantee spiritual success (Jam. 4:17), as each believer must choose to walk with God (Gal. 5:16-17), and to obey His will (Rom. 6:11-13).  Spiritual success depends on biblical obedience.

1. Grasp the Purpose of God’s Law (Gal. 3:19-25): What Paul does here in these six verses is explain to the Galatians that the law was never meant to save but to show our need for Jesus, the Messiah. Paul has been building this argument by saying “that instead of earning righteousness by obeying God, you are declared righteous by God’s grace through faith in Christ.” The law was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made” (v.19). 2. Live under the Benefits of being a Child of God (Gal. 3:26-4:11): In Christ, we see several benefits in these verses. First, being a blood-bought, born again child of the King brings unity among many variances within humanity, so as Christians we are one in Christ. Second, as children of God, we are not only one in Christ, but also through faith we are adopted as heirs to the kingdom. Lastly, as children of God, we have the Spirit of Christ in us that allows us to cry out Abba Father. Abba is a term of intimacy, not infancy. It’s a personal cry of the heart that only comes from the most intimate relationship shared between a child and their father. It's less about something that is said in prayer and more about your position with God that allows you to talk to Him.

Student Coordinator Dilan Braddock shares a story about the freedom in Christ he discovered, and then quickly abandoned, during his summer as a camp counselor.

Galatians 4 includes a couple of sections that have long prompted Christians to ponder exactly how Paul understands the history of Israel—especially the so-called “allegory” of 4:21–31. They attract a great deal of attention. Tucked into the middle of the chapter, however, are two short paragraphs that disclose a great deal of the apostle’s heart (Gal. 4:12–20), even though they are easily overlooked.(1) The first (Gal. 4:12–16) finds the apostle pleading with the Galatians. He insists that his strong language with them has nothing to do with personal hurt: “You have done me no wrong” (Gal. 4:12). Indeed, he reminds them, the earliest stage of their relationship established a link Paul could never break. He first went among them, he says, “because of an illness” (Gal. 4:13). We cannot be sure what it was. Perhaps the best guess (though it is no more than a guess) is that Paul arrived by boat on the southern coast of what is now Turkey, and while ministering there contracted malaria or some other subtropical disease. The best solution in those days was to travel into the highlands—into the regions of the Galatians. There Paul found a people remarkably helpful and welcoming. As he preached the Gospel to them, they treated him as if he were “an angel of God” (Gal. 4:14). How could Paul possibly resent them or write them off? But tragically, their joy has dissipated. They have become so enamored with the alien outlook of the agitators that they view Paul as an enemy because he tells them the truth (Gal. 4:16).Here, then, is an apostle intimately involved in the lives of the people to whom he preaches, ready and eager to engage with them out of the complex history of their relationships, yet unwilling to compromise the truth in order to smooth out those relationships. In Paul, integrity of doctrine must stand with integrity in relationships; they are not to be pitted against each other.(2) Paul perceives and gently exposes a deep character flaw in the Galatians: they love zealous people, not the least those who are zealously pursuing them, without carefully evaluating the direction of the zeal (Gal. 4:17–20). Paul warns: “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good” (Gal. 4:18). Unable to communicate by telephone or e-mail and thus have an instant update, the apostle is uncertain how best to proceed. Should he continue his rebuke? Should he now change his tone and woo them? He feels like a mother who has to go through the agony of labor a second time to bring to birth all over again the child she has already borne.Should contemporary pastors and leaders care less for those in their charge who stray? This podcast is designed to be used alongside TGC's Read The Bible initiative (TGC.org/readthebible). The podcast features devotional commentaries from D.A. Carson’s book For the Love of God (vol. 1) that follow the M’Cheyne Bible reading plan.

All of us are sowers and reapers. What must we sow to be happy harvesters? First, sow the seed of the Gospel. The Bible contains many pictures of witnessing (II.Cor.5:20; Zech.3:2; Matt.4:19, 5:14). Reaching people with the Gospel is like farming. It requires cooperation, because one sows and other reaps. Are you a part of the harvest? We need to pray for the harvesters. You may be weeping today over unsaved loved ones, but one day you will rejoice. Those who sow Gospel will be happy harvesters. Second, sow your wealth to the glory of God. The way we use our money is like sowing seed. We reap in the measure that we sow (II.Cor.9:6-11). Many people are wasting money on foolish things, while missionaries are waiting for support, and churches are waiting to be built or expanded. Paul says we can be a happy harvesters if we sow the seed bountifully. Third, sow to the Holy Spirit of God Gal.6:6-8, 5:16-23). How do we do this? We take the things of the Spirit and put them into our hearts. When we memorise and meditate on the Word of God (Ps.119:11), we cultivate a spiritual harvest. The heart is like a garden, so we must weed it. That’s repentance. Take time to be holy, to pray, to meditate on the Word and to plant the seed in your heart. *******^******* You are sowing today in all you do; be sure you sow the right seed.

Jesus was heading south and passed along the border of Galilee and Samaria. Samaria was an area between southern Israel (Judea) and northern Israel (Galilee). The Samaritans were known as half-breed Jews from the Assyrian conquest of 721 B.C. and were hated by northern and southern Israelite Jews (2 Kings 17:22-24). Ethnic prejudice and hatred starts in a heart of sin not the heart of God (Gal. 3:26-28; Eph. 2:13, 14). As Jesus came to a border village, 10 men with a skin disease called leprosy (Gr. lepra, ‘scaliness, to peel, flake’) called out to him. Leprosy was a bacterial infection producing skin lesions and nerve damage which, over time, created disfigurement. Leprosy was the most feared condition in the ancient world as it had no cure and was a death sentence. God allows hostility and desperation to exist so His peace and life can shine!

We don’t want to forget the important message we considered last week – about our goal to be an unshakable church in this world. We still want to consider the questions posed then: Is my attendance and participation in a weekly church service the main way that I live out my Christianity? If meeting in a building was no longer an option, what would I be doing instead to show the world around me my hope as a Christian? Does our idea of a church meeting need to be restructured to better match God’s calling for us as Christians? My hope is that we will continue praying about these and seeking God’s guidance concerning our function as a church. We are currently working on a list of the micro-missions that are already happening with Eastgate, and others are beginning to develop, which really gets me stoked! If you didn’t hear the conversation last week, you can find it here: An Unshakable Church, starting at the 28 minute mark. I really encourage everyone to listen to it.This Sunday we will be continuing our study in Galatians, reading 2:11-21.In this section of the letter, Paul recounts a confrontation he had with the Apostle Peter…one of the very big names of the early church. Paul had been in Antioch promoting the Good News, which is the message of a new world through God’s grace. Peter’s actions in v12 were undermining that message, and Paul called Peter out on it. In the last part of v12, what is the reason Paul gives for Peter’s behavior? If we want to promote God’s grace like Paul did, what do we have to overcome in order to do that?Underlying this controversy is Peter’s removal of himself from people who were deemed by others as “less-than”. This is key to Paul’s reaction. What does it tell us about the mission of grace in this world? Who are the “less-thans” we tend to withdraw from? How can an appreciation for God’s grace correct that tendency?Paul, in V19-20, gets to the heart of his position. Keeping religious laws is not sustainable in order to be right with God. What is his focus then? How can we promote God’s grace by sharing that same focus?I think this will be a provocative study, and I believe we’ll find useful clues as to how we can go about our mission as the church in this world.

Last week we talked about the restoration of Israel. And that's a concept that we find in a lot of Old Testament passages. For instance, Amos 9:11-15, where God talks about a day when he “will restore the fallen tent of David.” He says, “I will repair its gaps, restore its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old.” And again, language like this is all through the prophets. And I want to suggest that the restoration of Israel is linked to Jesus' announcement that the Kingdom of God has come. On today's episode, we're going to look at Luke 4:16ff, when Jesus comes to his hometown (Nazareth) and begins his public ministry. And I want us to look at this passage, because this is a passage that is often held up as a classic passage announcing Jesus' Kingdom vision. So Jesus goes into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, they give him a scroll of Isaiah, and he unrolls it to the place he wants to read from, which as it turns out is Isa. 61:1-2, and he begins to read. And when he finishes reading from Isa. 61, we're told that “He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.'” And the people respond, we're told, by speaking well of him "and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, ‘Is this not Joseph's son?” Now, Isaiah is writing in his day about the future return from Babylon and a rebuilding of the ancient ruins of the cities that had been destroyed. And from Israel's perspective, they were being held as prisoners in a foreign land by people the psalmist refers to as “captors” and “tormenters” (Ps. 137:3). So Isaiah speaks in Isaiah 61 to these downcast, captive people, and he says everything we just heard Jesus quote in Luke 4. Now here's the important part here: In the context of Isa. 61 that Jesus quotes, who are the captives? The captives are the Israelites, and the promise is that they're gonna return from Babylon and the Lord's gonna rebuild. The Lord is once again going to show favor on Israel. He'll “give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the LORD to glorify him. They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the former devastations; they will renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations” (Isa. 61:3). Now, in Luke 4, as Jesus stands in the synagogue and reads this passage, the message that anyone present that day would have heard Jesus saying is that God's finally gonna restore Israel and things are gonna be good again. Okay? And part of what they'd be thinking — probably — is that Rome will be overthrown. So when Jesus says, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled,” they're pretty excited about this. And they're saying good things about him and about “the gracious words that are falling from his lips.” But Jesus isn't done talking. And what he's about to say isn't going to be nearly as well received. In vv. 23-27 of Luke 4, Jesus is going to shift focus and talk about God's interest in the Gentiles (which hearkens back to Genesis 12). But this is not new stuff. This is in the Bible, according to Jesus. And he reminds them of two stories from the Old Testament that show God's interest in outsiders: The story of Elijah & the widow of Zerephath (1 Kings 17:8-24); and the story of Elisha & Naaman the Syrian (2 Kings 5:1-19). So the point Jesus is making in Luke 4 is that God has always been interested in non-Jews. BUT in making that point, Jesus implies that when God was helping the non-elect, He was ignoring the elect. And that is what they can't tolerate. When you're in the elect (and this is sadly sometimes true of Christians also), one of the strange ideas that pop into your head sometimes is that God is only involved with you. But see, election is not about you having a claim on God, which is what we sometimes think, but about God having a claim on you! Anyway, in Luke 4, Jesus says, “The restoration of Israel is here, but it's going to include the Gentiles. And at this, they want to kill Him. We cannot forget what God's doing here. So in the restoration of Israel, God is re-creating Israel as she was always supposed to be — a kingdom that is all-inclusive. Those already in Israel who want to stay with God's program and accept Jesus as their King are welcome, but he's inviting Gentiles in as well. And they will all collectively be called Israel. The restored Israel. The new Israel. Think of it this way: Israel is being given a new King. Now, some Jews will accept and follow this new King Jesus. But some Jews will not accept the new King. And those Israelites who do not accept Israel's new King don't get to be part of Israel anymore.  And of course, that makes sense, right? This new King is chosen by God himself. And in fact, this new King IS GOD HIMSELF! And if you're unwilling to submit to the rule of Israel's King, you don't get be part of Israel anymore. Because again, God is trying to build this beautiful, loving, holy community through which he can share his love with people. But in order for that to work, everyone's got to be on the same page. You can't build a community of peace and love when the folks in the community don't accept the one in charge. And so going forward, all those who call themselves Israel are the ones who agree with and align themselves with what God is doing in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the new King of Israel. It's no longer based on DNA. And in fact, it never was, as we talked about last time. And Paul will say in Rom. 9:6 that “not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.” And Jesus will call this people The Kingdom of God. So to bring all this together, when Jesus arrives, the Jews are expecting a messiah and a messianic kingdom that would restore Israel to what she was supposed to be. Now, to some extent, they had lost sight of what Israel was supposed to be, which is in part why they didn't recognize Jesus as the Messiah. In the person of Jesus, God will reveal himself to earth. The Law instructed Israel about God, and about what loving God and loving neighbor was. Jesus demonstrated God to Israel, and he showed them how to love God and love others. And here's the thing — God had never given up on the idea of blessing the nations and bringing all mankind into his fold. Because remember, that's why he created us all in the first place! AND, he had never given up on Israel. Israel was always part of God's plan. They were always going to be “the apple of his eye” (Zech. 2:8). They were always going to be “a people for his own possession” (Deut. 7:6; 14:2; Ex. 19:5). They were always going to be a “kingdom of priests” (Ex. 19:6). But in the New Testament Kingdom of Jesus, some of those people would be ethnic Jews who accept and swear allegiance to Jesus as Israel's Messiah, but some would also be Gentiles, who also accept and swear allegiance to Israel's Messiah. And together they comprise the Israel of God (Gal. 6:16). And that's you, and that's me. The children of Jesus, the Messiah King are the continuation, the fulfillment of Israel — God's chosen people, a royal priesthood, a people for God's own possession (1 Pet. 2:9). Okay, so, what is this Kingdom of God as envisioned by Jesus. What's it supposed to look like? Why is this declaration such good news? Because it affects people in the here and now. See — and we really need to come to grips with this — Jesus didn't just come so we could all go to heaven when we die. He cares very much about what's going on in the world today! Jesus' prayer in Matt. 6 that we call “The Lord's Prayer” is significant in that it grounds his hopes on the earth — “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus really sees the Kingdom as a new society in the land. A Jesus Society!! And this new kingdom society will be marked by the way its citizens are to live and interact with one another and with the world. And see, this is what God has always wanted — a people for his own possession that will finally function as agents of blessing and compassion and redemption in the world. So the Kingdom of God is God's dream for this world come true! So in Luke chapter 7, John the Baptist is in prison; Jesus is free. And John sends two disciples basically to ask Jesus if he really is the One they were all expecting. Was he really the Messiah? Jesus doesn't answer his question directly, but what he says is revealing, particularly the last line. Jesus says to John's disciples in Luke 7:22-23, “(22) Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, (23) and blessed is the one who isn't offended by me.” So again, the things he points out that he wants John to see as proof that he is the one he claimed to be are the very things he announced in Luke 4: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf here, and the poor hear the good news. So when Jesus said “kingdom” he envisioned a society characterized by a people who would live with God and with others in a way that embodied the will of God in a new kind of society. And one of the places where the rubber met the road was in how we treat one another and how we care for one another, especially the most vulnerable among us. And that's why, in Matt. 25:31-46, when Jesus talks about his return, he'll talk about separating the sheep from the goats. He'll put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. And Jesus' litmus test in this passage for who will inherit the Kingdom and who won't are things like feeding the hungry, quenching the thirst of the thirsty, taking care of strangers, clothing the naked, tending the sick, and visiting those in prison. So what is the Kingdom of God? Kingdom, in Jesus' view, is a society empowered by love. It is a society that cares for others. It is a society shaped by justice. It is a society dwelling in peace. It is a society flowing with wisdom. And it is a society that follows its King (Jesus). In the Kingdom, we build relationships that create family — God's family. We teach virtues that prevent poverty and heartache. We provide care and relief for the world. We rescue those in trouble. We provide soul care — healing and hope for fractured souls and fractured relationships. Everywhere God's people go, things are supposed to get better. More peace. More hope. More love. More freedom. THAT is the Jesus Society!

It's the start of a new week, which means Jeremy Graves and Andy Hanley are back to bring around 50 minutes or so of fun times in the world of anime! Today on the show, the focus is very much on what they've been watching over the weekend with some first impressions on Mobile Suit Gundam 0083, before heading into the world of new shows that have started simulcasting as part of the Spring Season! There's talk on the first episodes of Tower of God, Gal x Dino, Gleipnir, Sakura Wars: The Animation and Kakushigoto! Then before we wrap up there's time to quickly delve into the questions from the community pot, with the selection today being about credit being translated or not translated on anime releases. ---- WATCH-A-LONG DISCUSSION EPISODE TOPIC FOR FRIDAY: Escaflowne episodes 1-3! That's right, on the show this Friday we'll be talking about the the first three episodes of this classic series that you can stream dubbed completely for free on Channel4's All4 service, and/or purchase on Blu-ray/DVD from our AllTheAnime.com online shop today! APPROX TIME CODES FOR THIS EPISODE - 00:00 - 06:29, Intro, details on Easter Sale at AllTheAnime.com and upcoming releases. 06:30 - 18:03, Discussion on Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 18:04 - 42:12, What we've been watching from the start of the Spring Season: Tower of God, Gal x Dino, Gleipnir, Sakura Wars: The Animation and Kakushigoto 42:13 - 49:54 [END], Question from community on credit translations, show close incl. announcing next Watch-a-long topic.

Introit: Ps. 84: 1-2a, 4, 10b, 11b; antiphon: Ps. 84:9-10anGradual: Ps. 92:1-2 Old Testament: Prov. 4:10-23 Psalm 119:9-16 (antiphon: v. 12) Epistle: Gal. 5:16-24 ProperVerse: Ps. 65:1 Gospel: Luke 17:11-19 The Cry of Faith: Lord, Have Mercy The ten lepers cried out from a distance, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (Luke 17:11_19). Their condition cut them off from God and others. So also do the works of the flesh cut us off from God and others. "Those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:16_24). Thus we cry out with the lepers, "Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy," eagerly seeking His good gifts. Jesus said to the lepers, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. So too, we walk by faith and not by sight, being confident of Jesus' help before we see any evidence of it, trusting that Jesus' cleansing words of forgiveness will restore us to wholeness in the resurrection. Let us be as the one leper who returned to the true High Priest to give Him thanks and glory. For Jesus bore our infirmities in His sacrifice at Calvary. His words are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh (Prov. 4:10_23).

Introit: Ps. 74:1-2, 19b, 21b; antiphon: Ps. 74:20a, 21a, 22a, 23a Gradual: Ps. 77:14-15 Old Testament: 2 Chron. 28:8-15 Psalm 32 (antiphon: v. 2) Epistle: Gal. 3:15-22 ProperVerse: Ps. 88:1 Gospel: Luke 10:23-37 Jesus Is Our Good Samaritan The Law cannot help us or give us life. Rather, it confines everyone under sin as wounded and naked before God (Gal. 3:15_22). So it is that two figures of the Law, the priest and the Levite, passed by the injured man on the side of the road (Luke 10:23_37). Only the promised Seed of Abraham can rescue us and make us righteous before God. Only the Samaritan, our Lord Jesus, had compassion, as did the Samaritans of old (2 Chronicles 28:8_15). He came down to us in our lost and dying condition, pouring on the oil and wine of the Sacraments. He placed us on His own animal, bearing our sin and brokenness in His body on the cross to restore us. Jesus brought us to the inn, that is, the Church, and gave the innkeeper two denarii, that His double forgiveness might continue to be ministered to us. In this way the Lord, by whose Law we are torn and stricken, heals us and revives us by His Gospel and raises us up with Himself.

Episode 120 Our Greatest Enemy What is our greatest enemy? Is it Satan? The World? Those who say they hate Christians? While these may bring us afflictions and trials from time to time, I don’t think they are really our greatest enemy. I think our greatest enemy is ourselves separate from Christ. In order to see this, we must come back to Calvary and what Christ Jesus did on the cross. God judged the entire human race according to Adam at the cross and put it away from Him. It was infected with sin and beyond repair. Nothing in the old creation could be rescued, so God began a new race in Christ. This race would not fail because it is based on what God can do, not what man can do in himself. To enter into this new race we must be born again. In new birth we are joined with Christ and now all things are of God. To begin and continue in this new creation is God’s answer to sin, death, and the limitations of man separate from Him. God judged Adam’s race at the cross (Gal. 2:20,6:14, Rom 6:6) God began a new creation in Christ Jesus (Gal. 6:15) Now all things are of God (Gal. 5:16-21) To experience this we must be born into this new creation (John 3) We now must grow up into Him (Eph. 4:15, 2 Peter 3:18) We are called to walk in His life (Gal. 5:16) This walk is a walk of faith in His life (Col. 2:6) If we do not walk in faith in the new creation, what we are accord to Adam rules Our natural reasoning rules (what we know from past experiences) Our desires rule (flesh) Our emotions rule Our personality rules The world rules us by its pressures The enemy appeals to what we are in ourselves (“be your own resource”) God bids us acknowledge that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5) This is a continual walk of faith in the life of God (Gal. 2:20)   Additional resources at  http://www.ntchurchsource.com/ Theme song “Will Your Anchor Hold” sung by J. Ashley Milne Comments and questions welcome. Email David@AnchorOfTruth.com

For when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God (Gal. 4: 4-7).The wondrous news: if you trust in Christ, you have been adopted in him. You are now a restored son or daughter of God. This is who you are. Redeemed out of lostness and wrath into the peace of your true home. Christ Jesus is your savior and he is your brother. And the Spirit lives in you. He breathes through you, lifting you towards your Father. We share blood with the Son and breath with the Spirit. By circulation and respiration, we belong in the Triune life. You belong to the Father.

The Gate's weekly sermon podcast.

What was it Jesus was doing here? How do we read / Hear this sermon? - 17"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18"For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19"Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others [to do] the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches [them], he shall be calledgreat in the kingdom of heaven.20"For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses [that] of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enterthe kingdom of heaven. He is rewriting the law in the ears of his hearers. Rewriting it the way it was originally meant to be read and heard. He is giving us our interpretive key for the Old Testament. He is unlearning them the things they had heard and understood from their culture and from their rabbis.  The Sermon on the Mount; The Beatitudes1When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2He opened His mouth and [began] to teach them, saying,3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Lets start at the beginning - Lets get one thing straightRealize your povertyRomans 11:35 - 35Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN?You know nothing and have nothing to bring to the table. You are compeletly wrong in the way you look at the world. Start by taking every idea in your head and realizing it is worthless.Our lives are a vapor - here one minute and gone the nextAnything we have came to us from God in the first placeAnything we do or make -the ability to do that thing came from God because we are innately flawed and broken everything we do and or create is deeply flawed and broken as wellwe have no ability to be righteouswe have no ability to be truly and deeply good because within our own attempts to be good there are motives which are selfish and broken.happy are those who realize that they have nothing, God owes them nothing - they live in the full and constant knowledge of their spiritual, tangible and moral bankruptcy - we have a word for this attitude - Repentance Jesus is clearing the table - Don’t think you can add what I am saying to your store of spiritual knowledge - this isn’t a conversation - Joy will be found in the abandonment of all the stuff you have in your hands Why are these people happy?????? - “for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven” - all of it. The Kingdom belongs to those who know the truth about themselves - we have nothing - But God would give us everything!Luke 18:16 But Jesus called for them, saying, "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.Luke 12:32 - Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.Isaiah 57:15 - For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place: with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite onesJames 4:6 - But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”Psalm 14:6 - You would shame the plans of the poor,It is only in this place of spiritual poverty that we can begin to receive from God - Only a cup that is empty can be filledOnly a student who knows nothing can learn everythingMatt 19:23-24 - 23And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”"the eye of a needle” - was the small “door-size” gate that was left open at night. Camel’s could not get through it while carrying anything on their backs and even then they would be forced to get down on all thier knees and crawl. The kingdom of heaven cannot be earned - It can only be given.The kingdom of heaven can only be received by GRACE as a gift from God Gal 2:21I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousnessc were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.Rom 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.If you attempt to earn grace you will lose it - Gal 5:4 4You have been severedfrom Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. In Christ we must repent of our sins - but we must also repent of our selfrightouesnessEither we wear OUR righteousness or we wear Christ’s righteousness - we cannot have it both waysEither we are spiritually poor - or we do not receive the kingdom of heaven

How, at the end of the day, does the Israel of old relate to “the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16)? Click here as we wrap up our discussion of a monumental section of God’s Word, Romans 9-11.

The Cross “… It is written, Messiah (Christ) will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem..” Luke 24 V 46-48 REPENTANCE & FORGIVENESS of SINS The Cross – Explodes the Myth of Religion – Religion, put Him on the Cross The Cross ..end of every human effort to right with God –Gal 2:21 “If righteousness came by law” Religion, baptism, reformation, good works or rituals, …can never take away sin…only blood Titus 3 V 5 / Ephesians 2 V 8,9 / Gal 2 :16 “ we are not justified by works…” The Cross – Exposes the Heart of Humanity – There’s a lesson here (my heart –Jeremiah 17 V 9) It was for ENVEY that He was delivered up, …Caiaphas ”Expedient that He dies for the people” They mocked Him, they shamed Him,…the violently cried “crucify Him !” they choose Barabbas The human race (that I am part of) – crucified their own Creator … a revelation of our nature The Cross – Expresses the Heart of God Every Divine Attribute is on display at the cross - Oh what Grace, …what Mercy, Undeserving Love , Deepest Compassion, The Cross Leads Sinners to Repentance – A Change of Mind, a Change of Thinking and a Change in Direction Acts 17:30 “God now commands all men, everywhere to repent…” Self Evaluation – Repentance requires an honest evaluation of my own heart (Luke 23:48) Change of Mind – a change of thinking, turning away from sin, to God Realignment – my thoughts brought into agreement with God’s thoughts A Criminal’s heart was changed at the Cross (Dying Thief) A Covetous man was smitten by his own guilt at the Cross (Judas Iscariot) A Roman Centurion’s mind was realigned at the Cross …”Truly ..the Son of God” A Religious Man’s heart was changed (Nicodemus) at the Cross….with boldness & courage…he took the body down from the cross and gave him an honorable burial … associating himself publically with Christ cost Nicodemus his position To understand the Cross is to be changed forever - Those who get to cross – are never the same again

CPC Sunday Sermon: To be an Adult Child of God, Gal 3:1-9, 23-29, The Rev. Dr. Krista Wuertz 05/28/2017

Jesus said:  No servant can serve two masters; you cannot serve God and mammon. (Luk 16:13 KJV) That is why He laid down His life so that we can have true riches from God (Gal 3:13-14). Here Pastor Femi Leke explored the reality of Kingdom Prosperity in Christ Jesus.

Faith Community Church Woodstock Podcast

This week we sharing 'Who we are in Christ'- again this takes Revelation knowledge: meaning Word & Spirit together impressing on our hearts & minds this true identity #InChrist. Who are we? When you put on the new life #InChrist you realize you are (Ephesians 4:17-5:20) = God's workmanship (Eph 2:10); The image of God in the earth (Gen 1:27); A New Creation (2 Cor 5:17): We are more than Overcomers (1 John 5:4); We are sons of God (Gal 3:26); We are kings ruling in this world (Rev 1:6); We are the glory of God (2 Cor 3:18; John 17:22); We are more than conquerors (Rom 8:37) #InChrist!

August 23, 2015

In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, it is interesting to note that in chapter 2 he talks about how he died to the law, so he can live for God (Gal. 2:19). And in chapter 3, he talks about how miracles are not performed by works of the law, but by hearing of faith (Gal. 3:5). In this message, we will discuss what it means to die to the law, the role pride plays in keeping us from dying to the law, and how God desires to bring us to a humble and faith-filled place where He can work miracles through us in greater and greater degrees.

Pastor Steve Roby

Galatians 1:1-5 1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers[a] who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, […]