Good day. Today's video O Foolish Christians! is on the topic of: O foolish Christians! Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh (the carnal mind)? Remember, the carnal mind is an enemy against God and the natural man cannot receive or know the things that have been freely given unto us by God through Jesus Christ. Without the mind of Christ, we can do nothing. You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry or by clicking on our archive page link above - Doctrine of Christ Ministry Archive. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Good morning. Today's video Captivity is on the topic of bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Each day we have the choice to remain captive of the Lord at His will or allow ourselves to become captive of the devil at his will. Our thoughts brought us to where we are today; and they will bring us to where we are tomorrow. What are you thinking on? We are encouraged to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (we have the mind of Christ) and to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. All things are lawful for us, but all things are not profitable to our salvation and growth in the wisdom and knowledge of God; all things are lawful for us, but all things do not build us up in faith and confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ. This includes our thoughts; although we have liberty in Christ, we are not to use our liberty as an occasion to fulfil the lusts of the flesh. Why do we say this? Because the carnal mind is enmity with God. And if you don’t bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ and cast down those things that are contrary to God, then how will you know whether it is of God or not; how will you be able to remain in the liberty which is in Christ and not be brought into bondage again to the traditions of men after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ? When a thought that is not of God is left to itself, not checked out or brought into captivity, it can lead to imaginations or temptation in other words, and draw you away of your own lust and entice you (remember we still have a carnal nature to overcome). Now you are left with a choice, cast down the imagination or act on the imagination; if you act on it, lust has conceived, it brings forth sin, and when sin is finished, it brings forth death; or enmity with God, and you are now captive at the devil’s will. This is why it is so important to renew our minds daily on the things of God so that we are able to rightly divide the word of truth having our spiritual senses exercised to discern between that which is of God, and that which is of the world and the prince of the power of the air, which is Satan who walks about continually seeking whom he may devour. When the Lord ascended to the right hand of God he led captivity captive, and gave us the gift of life and life more abundantly, the Spirit of truth to guide us into all truth so that we are enabled to not be brought into bondage again (being captive of the devil at his will). In Christ is all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; and we have been given this treasure within us to lead us in a better way of life based on truth and not imaginations. Salvation is a daily choice; today is the day of salvation, now is the accepted time (2 Corinthians 6:2); choose you this day whom you will serve; choose you this day to whom you will be captive. God bless and lead captivity captive in your own life as the Lord did in his. Please note in the video the following corrections to scripture references: Proverbs 6:22 should be 6:16-19 Romans 7:23 should be 7:14 Luke 11 reference toward the end of the video on counting the cost should be Luke 14:25-33 You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Good morning. Today's video The Son - Part14 is on the topic of who the Son of God is; the body is of Christ. Ephesians 4:1-7 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (KJV) Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (KJV) There is one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all; and we have been born again of His incorruptible seed, which is Christ. John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (KJV) Think of yourself as the corn of wheat, you were born into this corruptible world, and have grown in the ground of life on earth, the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches entered in and the seed of life within you abided alone; hidden behind the veil of the heart which was serving the corruptible seed of Satan. But when you choose to die to this world, something miraculous happened; the seed of life, which is Christ, began to grow within you. You were born again, of the Spirit of God, and the seed of life no longer abides alone, but has the God of all creation, the husbandman, the tiller of the heart to nourish His seed in the good ground (the mind of Christ) so that it may bring forth much fruit; that being the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (KJV) The more we die to self, crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts, the more we will bring forth fruit unto perfection. If we sow to the flesh of the flesh shall we reap corruption; if we sow to the Spirit of the Spirit shall we reap everlasting life. Many of this life are abiding alone, without hope, the seed of life hidden; the eyes of their understanding of it blinded by the god of this world. We were once in this state of life, but now having been born again in the Spirit of the incorruptible seed of God, which is Christ, the eyes of our understanding have been enlightened so… Ephesians 1:18-23 that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (KJV) No longer born of the corruptible seed, but of the incorruptible seed which is Christ, the pure word of God. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:11-13 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (KJV) Watch and pray always dear brethren in Christ, that the ground (mind) of your heart remains nourished up in the Word of God, the living waters that bring forth fruit, some thirty (good), and some sixty (acceptable), and some hundredfold (perfect) in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth which is the will of God. You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Good morning. Today's video The Son - Part2 is on the topic of who the Son of God is; the power and wisdom of God is Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus of Nazareth was born a natural man first, just as we were; he was also the first born (born again) among many brethren, having accepted God’s plan of salvation for mankind through the leading of the spirit of Christ within him and overcame the lusts and desires of the flesh, the natural man, and was made perfect through sufferings. Jesus of Nazareth died daily to the wants and desires of the flesh, allowing the power of God, Christ in him the hope of glory, to provide the strength and wisdom to overcome the flesh or natural man (the nature of sin due to the fall of the first man Adam), and resurrect him into a new creation, taking on the divine nature, the second Adam, Christ, the Lord of glory. God made this same Jesus both Lord and Christ. Lord because he overcame the natural man sold under sin; Christ because he allowed the divine nature of God to increase within him being led by the Spirit and overcame the wicked one. In Christ we have the power and wisdom of God to overcome the natural man (the nature of sin due to the fall of the first man Adam), so that we can allow the divine nature of the second man Adam (Christ in us the hope of glory), to increase and take over in our lives. Acts 10:36-38 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (KJV) You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Good morning. This week's video Born Again is on the topic of the difference between flesh and Spirit. You are born again; you have the mind of Christ and can now see things from the eyes of His understanding to discern what is of the flesh and what is of the Spirit. You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Good morning. This week's video Perfect Storm Part 2 is the second video of a two-part series on the topic of having begun in the Spirit you can't mix flesh and spirit as they are contrary to one another and create a perfect storm within the believer.. You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Please note: tomorrow we will be changing our website over to Doctrine of Christ Ministry; the new link will be http://www.doctrineofchristministry.org Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Mark 14:37-38 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? (38) Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. (KJV)
The spirit truly is ready and willing to serve the Lord, while it is the flesh that is weak and would rather be doing something else. You know, if you were hired to do a job and the boss came around and found you sleeping on the job, how long before you think you might end up fired? Which is what will happen to those that are spiritually asleep and not keeping watch over their salvation. The flesh is weak because it is limited to this fallen carnal realm; while the spirit truly is willing, able to operate in a realm where all things are possible. As I look around this fallen world I see many that are weak because they choose to lean to their own understanding, things they can see, and not into the unseen eternal realm where one can have access to the Lord and the power of His might. 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (KJV) The Lord said many are called but few are chosen. As we see in verse 30 the many had become weak allowing sickness into the temple, and some are sleeping, in a spiritual stupor even to the point of death. Rather than examining themselves working out their own salvation, they gave in to the temptation of the flesh choosing an easier path rather than a straight and narrow one that leads to victory. Instead of watching and praying, exercising their spiritual senses to know and not just guess the difference between what was good and evil, they dosed off and let the enemy catch them with their guard down, making themselves an easy target. While you were eating and drinking in a place you thought was safe and healthy, you ended up ingesting a lot of poisonous doctrine, doctrines of man that catered more to the flesh than to the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-18 This I say then, Walk in 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: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (KJV) You know Church, there is still a law that is in play and that is the law of sin and death, which if the devil can catch a believer napping he would like nothing better than to have you put back under arrest and convicted. Once a believer has begun a walk in the Spirit it is vital to continue that walk, enduring to the end in order to obtain your eternal salvation. The more you walk in the Spirit the stronger you become, while on the flip side the more you stay in the flesh the weaker you are. As many as are led by the Spirit of God are truly the sons of God, and able to partake of His divine nature, operating in a realm so much higher and above all that we could ever ask or think of. Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (KJV) Sin, to put it in its simplest form, is unbelief. All sin is a result of unbelief which stems from one choosing the carnal over the Spirit. Death is the result of sin, which is another definition of sleep, and for some it will mean eternal separation from God. The law of faith is what brought you back from the dead and enlightened you to the realm of the Spirit allowing you to walk in a new life by leaving the old one behind. Just like with the laws of the land here on earth, there is an order to the law of the Spirit; one must abide by the law of faith, living a life that is based more on what I hear from God and less by what my fallen nature tries to dictate as truth. So which realm are you in today; are you up and at it, ready, willing, and able to worship our Lord today in Spirit and in truth, or are you still on your backside, knocked down and unconscious because you got sucker punched? Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (KJV) Once you enter the realm of the Spirit there are no laws or limitations on how far you can go, in fact you have just entered a realm that goes on for eternity. The question is how far are you willing to go? Well, if you are in the Spirit it never has to end; however, if you choose the flesh then it will come to an end, an end God did not intend for His people. When you pray and make your petitions to God through Jesus Christ you have tapped into a source of life that is not limited to what you can see, hear, or touch in this fallen realm, but it is able to do so much more above and beyond what you could have ever asked or thought of on your own. In fact when you revert back to the flesh, that being your carnal mind, then you have taken the Lord out of the equation by leaning to your own understanding; you then open yourself up again to the law of sin and death which has now cut off the source of living waters, which if it lasts to long will result in death. Proverbs 19:15-16 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. (16) He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. (KJV) Have you lost interest in your salvation; not as exciting as it used to be; instead of moving forward in your walk you have parked on the side of the road and are idling? Is the upkeep of your soul still your sole interest, or are you solely interested in what appeals more to the flesh than to the Spirit? 1Thessalonians 5:5-8 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. (6) Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. (7) For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. (8) But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. (KJV) There is a Son that shines eternally, it never goes down or dims, but rather is described as a daystar which arises in our heart and gives enlightenment to the believer. If you end up sleeping spiritually and in the dark, it is because you chose a dark fallen realm rather than the eternal one where there is no darkness, neither shadow of turning. Mark 14:38-41 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. (39) And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. (40) And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. (41) And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (KJV) When the enemy is heading your way and trying to bring you back under arrest will you be watching and praying so that you don’t enter into temptation, or will you be easy prey for him? The spirit is willing; the flesh is weak, and is a weak excuse for those that choose their own desires ahead of our Lord’s. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 3:3-7 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (4) Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? (5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (KJV)
Light the candles, break out the cake, let’s all gather around and celebrate an occasion that’s only half right and only half the equation, that being the physical birth into the realm of the flesh. While it is a blessing to be born into this realm healthy, it is the second birth or rebirth that is so much more vital yet so overlooked. Now that you have arrived and have been a part of this physical realm, unless you are reborn into the realm of the Spirit you cannot see or give an accurate account of what is happening in that realm. Happiness is an emotion, one based on happenings, while the joy of the Lord is our strength, one that will only be found in the realm of the Spirit. Once one is born again, which the Bible says all heaven rejoices when one sinner repents, talk about a party with your spiritual candle being lit so that you can see the path of life and walk in the love, joy, and peace of God, as well as receiving the gift of life which is eternal. With that in mind which realm are you operating in today and which birth has priority in your life, the physical or the spiritual? 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (11) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (KJV) The Lord has set a table for you and provided a spiritual meal as well to celebrate your new birth into the realm of the Spirit. Keep in mind though, that this only takes place in the realm of the Spirit, a realm our Lord operates in and desires for you too as well. Unless you are able to see clearly for yourself the things of God, how could you ever give an accurate account of what is taking place, and what God has done to provide salvation and a new birth for you? While many are so caught up with physical traditions and doctrines of man, being half right does not make you all right, but rather leaves you on the outside trying to see through a veil. Just like these people that get saved and then think it is their duty to witness to the cults, or what they perceive as cults, by reading other peoples scripts on how to handle these situations. Talk about dumb and dumber; unless you can see and know for yourself what the word of God truly says and means you have no reason engaging in these endless strivings and contentions that pull you down rather than build you up. Just like when you were born and had parents that celebrated your arrival into this realm, you have a spiritual Father in heaven that wishes to give you of His kingdom by opening your eyes to His truth so that you can walk in the liberty of Christ. So while many observe days, and months, times and seasons, some in the form of birthdays, keep in mind that there needs to be a rebirth day if one really wishes to have something to celebrate. And you parents that are quick to run out and buy gifts to please the child, have you given them the greatest gift and presented them with the eternal gift of life available in Christ, or are you just focusing on temporal things that never last? Every year when a certain date comes along you are quick to remind, and I am sure you are reminded by the child that their birthday is soon, but are you as quick to remind them as well as yourself how important it is that they partake of the new birth in order to receive the gift of life? Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV) You know these children you claim to love and want nothing but the best for them, are you showing them the things of God and the importance of His gift, or are you more concerned with putting on a good party? As a parent you warn your child of the many dangers in the physical realm, but do you teach them the consequences of the spiritual one, you know that realm that lasts for eternity and not this temporal one? Yet with this in mind, if I was to ask you honestly which one gets the most attention I would be willing to say that most of the focus was on cake and ice cream, and not spirit and life. Next time you decide to gather around and start singing happy birthday ask yourself if there will really be a celebration of birth, a rebirth into the realm of God to see all that He has provided for His people. The gift you give and focus your attention on, is it really the gift of God which leads us to eternal life, or is it on the temporal, keeping the attention and focus limited to the carnal fallen realm of mankind? 1 Peter 1:22-25 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (24) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (25) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (KJV) With our lives being described in the book of James as being a mist or a vapor that appears for a short time then vanishes, as well as a flower that blossoms for a short time and then withers way, which realm are you looking at today to keep yourself pure? Again we see the word purified, which refers to being free from carnality, believing the pure word of God which allows us to see His true meaning and intent for our lives. With a life in the flesh so short lived and yet so useless in its way of thinking, why do so many still point more to the physical realm than the spiritual? You see for yourself how in order to be purified it takes living spiritual waters to cleanse the soul and keep it pure from manmade additives and doctrines. So with this in mind, next time certain dates come along and you are reminded of certain births, which one will you be pointing yourself as well as others to; something temporal or eternal? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (KJV)
Our Lord came so that we could have life and have it more abundantly. What our Lord considers abundance is far from what man thinks is an abundant life, a life only found in the realm of the Spirit. Words which are spiritual and brought life and enlightenment to the believers were spoken by our Lord, and He is still speaking to those that have ears to hear, seeking to hear the spiritual meaning and intention of the scriptures where this new life is found. There is a whole new realm of unending joy and peace, enlightening the heart and bringing life to those that find the true meaning of what our Lord is speaking to them about, and why He spoke the things He did. Have you found this life for yourself? Here’s a hint, you won’t find it in the old law, but rather by hearing the law of faith, one that will build you up and bring life to those that were once dead spiritually. 2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (KJV) In order for you to be an able minister of our Lord you have to take the time to let the Lord minister unto you personally. Those that are chosen by our Lord to speak and teach on His behalf are those that are operating in the new life which is in the spiritual realm, and not according to the old laws and rituals. Those that hold to the literal meaning of the word of God miss the mark and kill the true interpretation of the message of Christ. You won’t find life in a graveyard or a morgue, nor will you find it in the letter of the old law and its rituals. In fact our Lord said that He is a God of the living and not the dead. So anyone that continues to hold onto the old law will not find the life God intended for them. When one takes the time to rightly divide the word of truth and hear God’s spiritual meaning of His word then it quickens or gives life to their inward man, while our flesh and its way of thinking darkens the true meaning of the message. Many think they can please a spiritual God with carnal ordinances, and they fall short of what our Lord intended for His people. Your ability to be an effective example of the believers, whether in word or in deed, will only be accomplished as you learn to speak words that will bring spiritual meaning and life to those around you. Out of your belly or the heart should be a river of living waters pouring out and bringing life; while many others are raining bitter waters of the letter of the law which kills any new growth. Romans 7:1-3 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? (2) For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. (3) So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. (KJV) Another way of describing the letter of the law and its ordinances is like a woman with a husband, who is bound by an oath and commitment to that husband as long as he is alive. Once that husband has died, then she is released from that law and allowed to remarry. The death of the husband released her from that old law so that she could partake of a new life, making a commitment to a new man. Romans 7:4-6 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. (5) For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. (6) But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (KJV) When one becomes married they commit their life to that person and the two now become one. Someday there will be a culmination of the marriage between Christ and the Church. So for now while we are on this earth we need to honor our commitment in spirit and in truth if we wish to be true worshippers of our Lord. If you desire to do those things that are pleasing in the sight of our Lord then it can only be accomplished by those that worship or reverence Him in Spirit, walking in this realm and by the truth that sets us free to do so. The children of Israel were delivered from a terrible bondage, only at times to doubt the Lord and wish to return back to Egypt. In essence many Christians do the same thing. They are delivered from the law only to return back to it to find life, like looking for the living in a morgue. Why do people still keep hanging onto things that held them back and kept them separated from God rather than letting go so that they can walk in a newness of life? How many times have you seen people that were stuck in a relationship or situation with an overbearing person and your only thought is why don’t they just leave? How it must hurt our Father to watch His people still in bondage to dead things when He sent His Son and made a way of escape for them. The Lord provided our deliverance, a path that is located in the realm of the Spirit, and only those that hear His words of Spirit and life will find that path and walk out of Egypt. Romans 8:2-4 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (KJV) You have a clear path, a way of escape, a new law that trumps the old one and brings life to those that find it. A new law of faith is in Christ Jesus bringing a spiritual enlightenment so that you can see God’s true intention for you personally, not what He required for those under the old law. The flesh profits nothing and is no help in our walk, so quit following that path and get on the spiritual path that brings life. Romans 8:4-8 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (KJV) It’s a crime and a shame to see what God provided for His people only to see them revert back to their old ways and thinking. All the evidence is provided for each and every believer in Christ, and it all points to the Spiritual realm and not the fallen fleshly one. Where are you walking today, and what path are you following? Is it one of escape, or are you walking backwards toward a graveyard? There is a God who is bringing His people words that are Spirit and that are life; a new life in Christ which each and every believer should be partaking of on a daily basis. Get out of the old and get into the new. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:49-50 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (50) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (KJV)
In order to be a partaker of an inheritance one must be a member of that family. God is a Spirit so only those that worship Him in spirit and in truth will be partakers as well as inheritors of His kingdom. Many people think that someday they will go to heaven and then see all their family members, and there will be a great reunion. However the truth be known, once you accepted the Lord’s plan of salvation you were adopted into a new family with a pure bloodline, that being the blood of Christ which cleanses us from all sin and allows us to be a part of His spiritual family. Luke 8:19-21 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. (20) And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. (21) And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. (KJV) Which realm do you hold to now; in other words which one has the most influence in your life, the spiritual or the flesh and blood realm? Despite the fact that our Lord was very clear in who His family truly is, today many still hold and put more value in the fleshly realm than the spiritual one, and then wonder why their relationship with the Lord goes stale. If you were brought up in a Christian home that’s great, but what if those of your own household were not likeminded with you? In fact many times those of your own household may be more of a hindrance than a help to your spiritual welfare. My question is today, did the Lord make you the savior of your physical family, or does His word give specific warnings on how to handle these situations? Mark 6:1-6 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. (2) And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? (3) Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. (4) But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. (5) And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. (6) And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. (KJV) Isn’t it interesting that the Lord Himself wasn’t given the royal treatment when around His own physical family, in His own country? So if our Lord didn’t fare to well with flesh and blood what makes you think you will either? Why let the enemy lay a guilt trip on you because you think you are a failure if your family doesn’t get saved the way you think they should? Let me share this tidbit also, at the end of verse three we see that they were offended in Him, which by the way included His physical family. Before you pack your bags to embark on a guilt trip, realize that you are in good company if some are offended in what you believe, even those of your own household. The theory of relativity doesn’t work with God; in other words once you entered the kingdom of God and sought out His righteousness you entered a whole new realm populated with a whole new spiritual family in Christ. Many people still look and see only the outward man, as with Jesus, they judged according to the flesh and blood line, and were unable to acknowledge who the Son of God is, who was standing in front of them, which was Christ in Him the only hope of glory. Today the majority of people still have this veil on their heart and only give credence to the outward, while a few ever truly come to a working knowledge of the inward man Christ and become partakers of His divine nature. Psalms 69:7-8 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. (8) I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children. (KJV) Did not our Lord say that if they persecuted Him they would do it to you also? Whether you believe it or not, Jesus of Nazareth’s own flesh and blood family were not on board with where the spirit of Christ was leading Him; which eventually ended up at a cross. While many teach and preach that you should be holding to your physical family until they get saved, the truth be known that the word of God is quite clear that the realm of the flesh is contrary to that of the Spirit. It is basically like trying to mix water and oil together. So Church, if you don’t quite jive with those of your own household don’t take it personally, because quite frankly you are in good company and good standing with our Lord. Matthew 10:34-38 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (35) For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (36) And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. (37) He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (KJV) Choose you this day who you will serve, because no man can serve two masters, and a house divided will definitely fall. The Lord said quite clearly that they who were not with Him were against Him. So just because you made a decision to serve our Lord doesn’t mean everyone else around you will. The question now becomes, if you are not finding peace where you are at, and around those you have been familiar with are you willing to move on in order to maintain that peace you have with God, or will you keep trying to find peace in a realm the Lord said it wouldn’t be found in? Nobody said it was an easy path to heaven; now the question becomes, will you take up your own cross in order to follow our Lord no matter who or what form it manifests itself in? When the Lord put these instructions in the Bible they are put there for our benefit; like throwing a lifeline to someone about to drown in destruction and despair. Luke 18:28-30 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. (29) And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, (30) Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. (KJV) We just talked the last couple of days about relationships, those between a man and a woman and why we entered into these situations. Your life in the past was based on flesh and blood, the carnal mind that chose things that were pleasing to the flesh and not the Spirit. Now that you are a new creation in Christ old things are passed away and all things are become new, including your family in Christ and who our Lord now considers are your brothers and sisters in Christ. Maybe these people you are surrounded by are just not edifying you anymore and it is time to move on; again, no matter who or how it manifests. The question today is which realm are you holding more to, the Spirit or the flesh? Because while one will allow you to continue in your walk with the Lord, the other is a dead end that will have you coming up short if you continue to hold to an anchor and not a lifeline of escape. Revelation 21:4-5 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (5) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (KJV) Do you wish to partake of a new life? Then that needs to start today in order to partake of it for an eternity. While many people think that someday they will see lost loved ones based on flesh and blood ties; the truth be known, a spiritual God is only going to allow spiritual people access to His kingdom. There will be a family reunion in heaven that will be based on those in Christ; His brothers and sisters that chose to be lead of the Spirit and not the flesh. If you are unable to recognize the spiritual now then don’t expect to be recognized by a spiritual being in the here-after; because they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Who do you consider to be your true family; is it the family in Christ and what His word says, or are you holding more to the traditions and doctrines of man? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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