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Good day. Today's video Unmoveable is on encouragement to remain steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Once you begin in the Spirit you need to remain there, grounded and settled in the doctrine and gospel of Christ. 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 day. Today's video Peace Keepers is on the topic of keeping yourself in the peace of God; in good standing with Him. Keep means to guard, attend to, or hold fast. 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 Fiery Trial is on the topic of...Our God is a consuming fire. James 1:2-5 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (KJV) Psalms 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. (KJV) Malachi 3:2-3 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. (KJV) Not all fiery trials come from Satan. As we go on please do keep in mind, that God does not tempt or try us with evil; man is drawn away of his own lust and enticed (James 1:13-15). Think about this, our God is a consuming fire; and there are times in our walk with the Lord that God will try or prove us to bring us to a better place, a more perfect or mature place in Christ his Son. Sometimes God will prune (chasten) us like a branch on the vine, but sometimes an area of our life takes fire to cleanse away the weeds so that it will be good ground for Him to regenerate new growth in that area of our spiritual garden. 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (KJV) The materials that we use, in other words what we put into our relationship with the Lord will be tried; and it will manifest if it can withstand the fiery trial, whether it be of God or a temptation from Satan. Will your faith, your trust in God withstand (endure) or will you wither under trial? Will you trust God, even if you don’t fully understand what He is doing in your life? Remember we will get out what we put into it (2 Corinthians 9:6, Galatian 6:6-7). Would you be willing to give up and walk away from what you treasure on this earth; whether it be man’s wisdom and knowledge you acquired over time, or riches, houses, wives, children, brethren, or your church to follow Christ? Or will you be like the rich young ruler, in Matthew 19:16-22, who when he asked the Lord what he must do to inherit eternal life was told to sell what he had and give to the poor, and take up his cross and follow Him, he went away sorrowful because he had great riches? Paul suffered the loss of all things and chose to count them as dung or refuse that he may win Christ. Philippians 3:7-11 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (KJV) We (Greg and I) have been through our own wilderness experience these last five years; and suffered the loss of all things which were gain to us, but we also chose to count them as dung that we may win Christ, and be ambassadors for Christ holding forth the word of life in sincerity and in truth. Was our journey always easy? No, we went through the Lord’s furnace of affliction to burn off our old thoughts and ways. It has only been in the last year that the vision the Lord began us on this journey with has been speaking, and our desire is to be able to share it with others so that if the Lord calls them to a better place in their walk, they can run knowing that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. And we can truly say that we are in a better place spiritually, and moving forward to the promised land; eternal life with God our Father and with our Lord Jesus Christ. What are you willing to walk away from or let go of to inherit eternal life? God bless, and may you always being growing and maturing in our Lord Christ Jesus. Amen. 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 Just Now is on the topic of the just shall live by faith. Romans 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (KJV) Now faith is the firm trust of things expected, the conviction of things not seen. As we continue in the faith grounded and settled, and not moved from the hope of the gospel which hope is Christ in you the hope of glory on a daily basis, we have that assurance of peace with God; we are rendered righteous by faith, having accepted His Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, in whom having not seen we trust. We were given the measure or fullness of faith. So by the faith of Jesus Christ we live, and through the operation of that same faith in our lives we are able to see the fullness of all that we received in Christ, and come to the knowledge of the truth that we may live a life abundantly unto the will of God, and not unto men and the lusts thereof; receiving the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls. Grounded and settled. We are saved by grace through faith. Now the just (righteous) shall live by faith; for without faith it is impossible to please God. Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (KJV) Moment by moment we have a choice to continue in the faith; to be led by the Spirit of God, Christ in us; and not by the lusts of the flesh. We have a choice to let God be true and every man a liar, including our old nature, that we may do those things that please him and not men or ourselves. Hebrews 10:38-39 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (KJV) For many, when persecution or affliction arises for the Word’s sake they are offended; or when they allow the cares of this life, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things to enter in and choke out the good word of God; or when they accept another gospel into their heart other than the gospel of Christ; they will begin to draw back unto perdition, not willing to take up their cross on a daily basis for the salvation of their souls. Galatians 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? (KJV) 2 Peter 2:20-21 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (KJV) Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (KJV) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. God does not change. The warnings are clear throughout the Bible and yet we see that there is no new thing under the sun. Psalms 78:41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. (KJV) The encouragement is to keep renewed in the spirit of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God; and not be conformed to this world. For the world and its ways, and the people who choose to hold to it will pass away; but not those who do the will of God and endure unto the end, for they will be saved. God bless, stay grounded, and keep the faith unto the end. 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 Changing is on the topic of changing from relying on the outward to the inward. 2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (KJV) We should be ever changing in our walk in the Spirit; walking more by faith and less by sight; not being limited by just the outward. Our outward man is perishing, but the inward man is to be renewed day by day from relying on the outward, what you can see, hear, and touch, to relying more on the inward, the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit, Christ in you the hope of glory. Without faith it is impossible to please God; one must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. It is not the outward worship that will get you home; it is the inward, God is a Spirit and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth, for those are the ones that he is seeking. The just shall live by faith. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (KJV) Our faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. We were given the mind of Christ; now it is learning on a daily basis to operate in that mind, being led by the Spirit so that we are able to come to know the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God for ourselves. 1 Peter 4:1-2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. (KJV) The old man, the old nature that we were born into this world with, is perishing each moment that we choose to walk in the Spirit; changing of the guard so to speak, being armed with the mind of Christ which enables us to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God; and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ in us. And in the mind of Christ we have a readiness to punish disobedience when our obedience is fulfilled just as the Lord Jesus Christ did (Colossians 2:12-15). Man does not live by bread alone (physical), but by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God (being led by the Spirit). Changing from going by our natural senses to our spiritual senses which should be exercised to discern both good and evil; to discern between the voice of the Lord and the voice of a stranger (Satan). We have an unction (the mind of Christ) from the Holy One and know all things. 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (KJV) There are many who are ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth which is in them. Why? Because although they may have begun in the Spirit, they are now trying to perfect their walk according to the flesh by following man’s traditions and doctrines instead perfecting their walk according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, which was given unto us to lead and guide us into all truth; i.e. to know all things according to wisdom of God and not the wisdom of men or that of the world. Colossians 1:26-28 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 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: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (KJV) Our Father desires for us to go from a child of God, to a perfect mature man/woman of God in Christ Jesus. Able ministers of the truth that was in Jesus, which is also in us; Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God; and our only hope of glory. God bless. 1 Peter 1:13-16 Wherefore 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; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (KJV) Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: (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. Today's video Short Work is on the topic of The last days; the Lord said he would do a short work. Romans 9:27-29 Isaiah also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. And as Isaiah said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrah. (KJV) Brethren the time is short; we are in the last times and have been since the Lord left this earth being raised up to sit on the right hand of God. The Lord said he would do a short work upon the earth to give us a way of escape from destruction, spirit, soul, and body. He left us a seed, and that seed is Christ in us the hope of glory so that we too can overcome the wicked one that is in this world through the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit into all truth in the knowledge of God our Father and His Son Christ Jesus our Lord; and of all that our Father has given us we should lose nothing, except the son of perdition which is our old nature, that Christ may raise us up holy and unblameable before God. 2 John 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. (KJV) Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (KJV) There are many deceivers and antichrist’s out there in the world today seeking to deceive you out of your crown which is laid up for you in heaven. Not only those whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things; but also the false prophets who stand in the pulpits or on the street corners to be seen of men who promise you liberty, but they themselves are the servants of corruption. The time will come when many will not endure sound doctrine but will heap to themselves, teachers having itching ears; that time is now. You can see what is happening in the religious organizations which claim to be of God but in works deny him; they are more interested in fitting into the world and its ways, as well as preaching for filthy lucre sake to fill their own pockets, robbing the church blind (spirit, soul, and body), than to hold fast the profession of faith without wavering and to teach others to do the same. Scofield note: Message to Laodicea: the church in the final state of apostasy. Revelation 3:14-19 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (KJV) Dearly loved brethren; today if you will hear the Lord’s voice harden not your hearts in the day of temptation as others who were overthrown in the wilderness, knowing that your salvation draws near; today is the day of salvation; now is the accepted time. Watch and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that are to come upon the proud and disobedient. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. God bless. Revelation 3:20-22 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (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. Today's video The Son - Part21 is on the topic of who the Son of God is; continuing in the Son. Luke 21:33-36 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (KJV) Watch and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things which we have been warned about. The cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches when allowed to enter into the heart, choke the Word and it becomes unfruitful and withers away. Proverbs 4:23-27 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. (KJV) You cannot serve God and mammon. If you are a friend of the world you are counted an enemy of God. 1 Corinthians 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. (KJV) Paul said that if he yet pleased men, that he should not be the servant of Christ. One is our Master, even Christ. Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (KJV) This is not once saved always saved. The scriptures are clear. John 15:1-6 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (KJV) So if we don’t abide in Him, then we are not His and we will be cut off from the tree of life; blotted out of the book of life. Which is why we are encouraged to continue in the faith grounded and settled, and not be moved away from the hope of the gospel, which is Christ in you (Colossians 1:27) the Son of the living God. If we abide in Him, He will continue to abide in us; and we will be counted the sons of God; as we were given the power to be so in Him. So let us hold fast the profession of faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised. As the Son could do nothing without the Father, so we can do nothing without the Son (John 5:19; 5:30). But if we endure steadfast in the faith of the Son of God, Christ in us, unto the end we shall be saved. Matthew 24:11-13 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (KJV) John 8:31-36 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (KJV) Watch and pray always so that your house does not get broken into, and all your goods which were wrought in Christ in you be stolen from your heart by the thief (Satan) who comes only to steal, kill and destroy. Christ came that we might have life and life more abundantly in Him. Heed the warnings Church; hold fast to eternal life which you have in Christ Jesus our Lord that no man deceive you of your reward and take your crown. God bless. 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 - Part11 is on the topic of who the Son of God is; the head of the body is Christ. Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Christ is the head of the body, the Church, of whom we are all members if we continue in the faith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope that is within us. Our life is now in Christ; so without Christ we can do nothing, just as a body without a head can do nothing. Even the Lord said that he could do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do (John 5:19); as well as, but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things (John 8:28). Notice the Lord said but as my Father hath taught me. Christ gave unto His body all that is needed to grow up into Him in all things concerning the kingdom and righteousness of God (we have the mind of Christ); and for the edifying of the body in love, for we are members one of another (Ephesians 4:11-16); and so that we would be no more children tossed to and fro carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men, cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, instead we would become grounded and settled in the doctrine of Christ and able to discern the body (i.e. who is truly a member of the body of Christ, for you will know them by their fruit). Last He gave us warnings concerning the faith… Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (KJV) Many false prophets in religious organizations today have cut off the Son of God (Christ in you the hope of glory), and only acknowledge and teach in the name of the son of man, Jesus of Nazareth. They have cut off the head to the body of believers. The life is in God’s Son Christ, the head of the body, the power and wisdom of God. So they have created a body, powerless and headless, i.e. without the mind of Christ, the power and wisdom from above. 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. (KJV) Christ is the true vine, God our Father is the husbandman or vinedresser, and we are the branches. If we continue to abide in the vine and produce fruit unto righteousness, the Father continues to prune us so that we will bring forth much fruit for the kingdom of Heaven and receive His fullness, therewith we are complete in Him. If we don’t continue to abide in the vine (the Head which gives spiritual nourishment to the body), the Father will cut us off, and as a branch withers so will we, and we will be without hope laid up in a heap with others who did not continue to abide in Christ; and the end of us will be worse than in the beginning for it would have been better that we had not known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and turned away. 2 Peter 2:20-21 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (KJV) Dearly loved of God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, and of us, don’t be as the many who don’t hold the Head, Christ, as the Head of the Church; instead be as the few who do. Philippians 3:18-21 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (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, today's encouragement is to keep renewed in the spirit of your mind.
If you would like to download a copy click on the Daily Bread For Life Archive link above to access the link to get your downloaded copy. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Keep Renewed Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls. (KJV) As we wait for the redemption of the body, let each of us be steadfast in keeping our minds renewed on things above where Christ sits at the right hand of God and not on the things on this earth which are temporal, and will perish away. That we be steadfast in working out our own salvation with fear and trembling, or in other words not taking our salvation for granted because judgment will begin first with us; and how much more sorer would it be if we were rejected, having accepted the plan of salvation yet did not take it seriously, than those who never accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Hebrews 2:1-3 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (KJV) 1 Peter 4:17-19 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (KJV) Be steadfast and unmovable, grounded and settled, that neither death nor life nor any other creature separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Commit the keeping of your soul unto Him, and keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life; those things that are able to separate you from the love of God if you allow them in, ponder them long enough, and then act on them. A little leaven allowed in will leaven the whole lump if you don’t purge it out by casting down the imagination or high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, the truth of God and His word. If we keep our mind renewed on the things that make for peace and righteousness in God’s eyes, we are armed with the mind of Christ and we can immediately bring our thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ; in this the leaven is caught and removed before it can grow into an imagination that could lead us to sin. James 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (KJV) Death is separation between you and the Father; the leaven broke the line of communication. Remember, whatever is not of faith is sin. So if you cannot do something faithfully, in the sight of God (who sees and knows the intents of the heart), then it is sin. You are trying to hide that thing. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ and who have truly renounced the hidden things of darkness. You may be able to hide it from man for a season, but you can never hide it from Him. The hidden things of darkness are always brought to light. Our soul (mind) is the seat of the affections and lusts of the flesh (the natural man). Which is why we need the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who died daily to the affections and lusts of the flesh, and took on the sins of the world, and was crucified for us to make the way of escape from ourselves. He gave us access to the mind of Christ. So now it is up to us to continue in the renewing of our mind so that we operate in the mind of Christ where all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are available to us. The natural man (old thinking man) cannot receive the things of God, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. The mind of Christ is spiritual, not carnal. 1 Corinthians 2:12 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. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (KJV) When we operate in the mind of Christ we are able to be instructed in the things of God. The Holy Spirit is able to lead and guide us into all truth. So dearly loved brethren keep renewed in the spirit of your mind that you may know the things that have been freely given unto you, that you have access to in Christ to make your walk through this life in peace (agreement with God; his thoughts and ways) and with patience having your souls in possession unto Christ. God bless. Job 1:6-9 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. (7) And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (8) And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (9) Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? (KJV)
We shared previously about our place in heaven and the opportunity to go before the throne of grace to find what we need; that first and foremost being the spiritual need. As we also discussed, there is an enemy that patrols the heavenly realm seeking whom he can devour. A wolf, or to use another example, a lion in the physical realm will seek its prey by sight and sound looking for a weakness or weak area to prey on and then take advantage of that. Our enemy to the Christian works in a similar way; while the Lord says we are seated in the heavenly places and able to operate in a realm above and beyond this fallen realm of the world, the enemy is listening in from time to time to find a weakness in God’s flock and to see if he can take advantage of it. While many have wondered at times what happened to Job and why would God test him that way, or so they think God tests His people, remember the scriptures are given for our advantage to learn from and not make the same mistakes; and as we read on further we will see that what happened to Job happens to others who don’t hold their position in the Lord, holding fast their profession of faith without wavering. 2 Timothy 2:12-13 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (13) If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. (KJV) Know this also, that the enemy is described in Revelation 12:10 as the accuser of the brethren, basically running a smear campaign before the Lord to see if the mud he is slinging at them sticks. If it turns out that a believer has fallen and entered back into the fallen realm of the flesh and the enemy challenges their position, God cannot lie, even when it involves one of His people. It is vital that we keep a watch over our mouth making sure the words we speak are Spirit and life, not words that will separate us from our right standing with God. This is why it is so important that you as a believer in Christ know your rights and authority in the word of God so that you can continue strong in the Lord and not become easy prey for the wicked one. Job 1:10-12 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. (11) But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. (12) And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. (KJV) Did Job fear God for nought or nothing? Well obviously there was a fracture in the relationship because God could not lie and deny the fact that Job had put himself in the enemy’s realm and was no longer holding to a position of faith. God does not randomly pick His people to go through trials like this just to teach them a lesson, that’s nonsense, but rather it was Job that put himself in this position. Job 1:4-5 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. (5) And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. (KJV) So right before Job’s trouble, obviously there was an area of concern in his life, one that involved his own children, one he continually claimed involved sin and cursing. If we read the rest of this chapter we see the enemy had a field day against Job and even his grown children, which is what the enemy preyed on, his weakness and fear. Why would the word fear have anything to do with this? Job 3:24-26 For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. (25) For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. (26) I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. (KJV) Ahh hah, all that roaring and sighing that had been pouring out of him; the end result of his calamities then was not God trying to teach him a lesson but rather the fear and doubt he allowed into his life which resulted in the enemy hearing the prey and then pouncing on it like a wounded animal. Are there things in your life that are entering the heart and coming forth in the form of words, words that are not building up but rather tearing down? Do you know how to pray effectively, or have you become an ineffective prey of the wicked one? 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (KJV) The Word says we should be resisting steadfast in the faith, not giving the enemy an open door or a clear shot with his fiery darts. The enemy walks about seeking and listening, especially to God’s people to see and hear where they are at in their walk and if there is any weakness that can be used against them. The devil doesn’t have any power to pull you out of the kingdom of God, however if he can introduce doubt and get the believer to fall for a lie and then their own words will put them on his turf, that which is the artificial turf of this fallen world. Like a lion, as described in the book of Peter, a toothless one to those that know their rights in the Word, while others will be off and running to and fro at the roars of a loud mouth lying beast. Ephesians 3:10-12 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, (11) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: (12) In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. (KJV) This confidence, boldness, and access we have is located in the heavenly realm and is available now to those that choose to operate in it and realize that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. The more you hold your heavenly position the less likely you will be entangled in the affairs of this life. Will you resist steadfast in the faith, or will you be running to and fro with every wind and roaring doctrine of the enemy? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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