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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 The Knowledge... is on the topic of the knowledge, the truth, the faith..., singular, according to the word of God. 1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (KJV) Unto us it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God (Mark 4:11). How will you come to the knowledge of the mystery and of the truth that is in Jesus; and which is in you? John 16:13-15 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (KJV) We have an unction from the Holy One and we know all things; the kingdom of God is within us (Luke 17:20-21). Now it is a matter of allowing the Spirit of truth to guide us into the knowledge and the truth which has been given unto us to know; Christ in you the hope of glory. Ephesians 4:20-21 But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (KJV) When you have lifted up the son of man (removed the veil of the flesh; looking beyond the man Jesus), then you shall come to the knowledge of the truth (John 8:28); and the truth shall make you free to walk in the liberty of the knowledge of the truth; Christ in you the hope of glory. There are many who are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth because they are following the traditions and doctrines of man and have errored from the way of truth, from allowing the Spirit of truth to guide them into all truth, and have settled for religion; and have now been brought into bondage again by those who have promised them liberty, but they themselves are the servants of corruption because they themselves never came to the knowledge of the truth and have corrupted the word of God; worshiping the creation (Jesus) more than the Creator (God). If we lack this wisdom and knowledge, it is up to each of us to ask God in faith (believing him to be faithful) for it to be revealed unto you; then diligently seek to know, and you shall find the truth, for God is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him. He will reveal it unto you. Draw nigh unto God and he will draw nigh unto you. Matthew 7:7-11 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (KJV) The knowledge and the truth is spiritually discerned which is why God sent his Son (Christ) into the world by Jesus to make the way, the truth, and the life known unto you; and has now sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts so that you might know the things that are freely given unto you of God. To know the Father is to know his Son; to know the Son is to know the Father and to be known of them is to know the knowledge and the truth which is in you. God bless. 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 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. 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. 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. (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 Reconcile is on the topic of being reconciled to God by Jesus Christ that we might be counted worthy to partake of the marriage feast of the Lamb of God. 2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (KJV) We are a living example, a ministry, of the reconciliation that happened in our own lives; that now in Christ we have peace and fellowship restored with God through his Son. Now the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shining in our hearts, giving forth the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ, being ready to give an answer to every man who asks a reason of the hope that is within us. Salvation is a plan of eternal reconciliation. We have been cleansed with the washing of the Word being reconciled in preparation for the marriage feast of the Lamb and given a garment of righteousness. Now it is up to each of us to keep our garment unspotted from the world; that includes from our own righteousness, again, which is as a filthy rag. Now Christ is our righteousness and without him we cannot stand clean before God the Father nor partake of the marriage feast of the Lamb. 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (KJV) Galatians 3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (KJV) If we don’t come before the throne clothed in the righteousness of God, which is Christ, then we will not be considered one of his; and will be cast out into utter darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Which means that we will not be partaking of the marriage feast of the Lamb (read Revelation 19:7-9). 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (KJV) Read: Ephesians 5:23-32 (Illustrating Christ and the Church) Matthew 22:1-14 (The parable of the marriage feast) So dearly loved, where do you desire to be in the end? Will it be in clean white linen, the wedding garment, partaking of the marriage feast of the Lamb of God, or will it be in filthy rags because you allowed your clean garment that you were given at the reconciliation to become spotted by the world? 1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (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 Great Cloud is on the topic of the fact that we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (KJV) All scripture is given by God and is profitable unto us in every aspect of our walk through this wilderness (the world) on our way to the promised land (eternal life). We have been given a great cloud of witnesses; all those who went before us; the greatest of these being our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (KJV) The scriptures testify of Christ from the beginning: the mystery hidden from the beginning of the world by the cloud that led Israel through the wilderness by day (given living water by the rock that followed them, which rock was Christ) and a pillar of fire by night, which lightened their way; but now it has been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, the cloud raining down on us the living waters through many witnesses that we might know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent to be the way, the truth and the life that we are to follow after having the eyes of our understanding enlightened by the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shining in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ by us, so that those also who follow after may come to the knowledge of the truth, and remain baptized into Christ by the cloud and by fire through the wilderness of this world so that they too may inherit the promised land, eternal life in Christ our Lord. God has and continues to lead and guide his people with a great cloud and with fire. 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 - Part22 is on the topic of who the Son of God is; once saved always saved? Only if you continue in the faith of the Son of God. The encouragement is to not neglect your salvation; don’t take it for granted. Each day we have a choice to continue in the faith remaining grounded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel, Christ in you the hope of glory. Hebrews 2:1-4 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. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 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; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (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? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? In Galatians chapter three it talks about those who began in the Spirit only to revert back to the flesh. We are warned throughout the scriptures to watch and pray always; to be sober and vigilant with our salvation because the devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour. And if we don’t keep watching diligently in the Spirit, the thief will find a way in and begin to steal, kill, and possibly destroy your salvation if he is not caught and cast out; all this because we are found sleeping (not watching). As we overcome and kill off those areas in our life that have been a hindrance in our walk and relationship with the Father in Christ, we need to be diligent in not allowing any leaven to enter in and begin to leaven the whole lump all over again. The warning is clear… Galatians 2:18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. (KJV) So there are many distractions in this world that seek to lure you back into sin; but it is up to you to stand fast in the faith, by keeping your flesh (old nature) in subjection to the Spirit of Christ within you. We have been given wisdom and power to overcome the world by Jesus Christ, who overcame, himself being tempted in every manner as we are and yet sinned not; having given us an example to follow, as well as having given us a great cloud of witnesses throughout the scriptures, and through our brethren who are following in Christ’s sufferings, overcoming themselves. Today is the day of salvation, now is the accepted time. Today, now faith; choose you this day whom you will serve; the god of this world and the lusts thereof or the God of all creation who gave his Son, Christ Jesus, for an example of overcoming the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) and how to cultivate and grow in the fruit of the Spirit unto eternal salvation (Galatians 5:22-25). 2 Peter 1:2-11 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (KJV) Once saved, always saved? Let not your faith stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God, Christ in you. Our brother Paul confessed in Galatians 2:20, so should we also. Wherefore dear brethren, we will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth. Don’t let those things which you have heard and have been assured of, knowing from whom you learned them (not of men, but by the Spirit of the living God; leading and guiding you into all truth concerning God our Father and his Son Christ Jesus our Lord) slip by you into sin unto death. 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 - Part12 is on the topic of who the Son of God is; the cross of Christ. Dear Church, loved of God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, are you dying to get to Heaven? Paul the apostle said he died daily. 1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. (KJV) We were given an example by our Lord Jesus Christ of dying daily as He did to the fleshly lusts and desires so that He could be resurrected a new man upright and well pleasing in God’s sight. The Lord Jesus took up His spiritual cross daily, not just the physical cross that happened once that everyone knows about, but daily He died that we might live, thus why the scriptures refer to the cross of Christ. He humbled himself and laid aside the lusts of the flesh, but not without suffering, and followed the Spirit of Christ within Him. Learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; having been tempted in every manner as we are and yet sinned not (Hebrews 2:18; 4:14-16). Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (KJV) Hebrews 5:7-10 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (KJV) Have you taken up your spiritual cross, nailing the lusts of the flesh to it through obedience on a daily basis, and suffering for Christ’s sake? Taking up our cross involves dying to self, daily crucifying the old man which was born into sin (of the flesh) so that we are able to resurrect into the new man which was born into the righteousness of God (of the Spirit), Christ in us the hope of glory. Salvation is not a one and done; each day we make the choice to take up our cross and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in obedience. We have a choice to suffer and follow Christ or to take the path of least resistance and follow the lusts of the flesh and the world thereof. Romans 6:4-14 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (KJV) Sin is destroyed when we choose to be obedient to the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit. But remember sin can revive through temptation when we are drawn away of our own lusts, and enticed; then when lust has conceived it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death (James 1:14-15), which is separation from God our Father. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV) But thanks be to God for His grace who has given us a great high priest, an advocate, on our behalf, Jesus Christ our Lord who is the only way to restore peace with the Father. There is no peace with God our Father without abiding (remaining) in Christ, and Christ abiding in us; the cross of Christ. So dearly loved, take up the cross of Christ and live. 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 Stay Strong is on the topic of staying strong in the Lord and in the power of His might with warning or reminders for the Church to stay strong. 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 Forget It, is on the topic of "you can't carry the old into the new"; you have to forget those things behind so that you can reach forth to that which is in Spirit and in truth. You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous week in Christ Jesus our Lord. Williams New Testament translation of Romans 7:1-6
1. Do you not know, brothers -- for I speak to those who are acquainted with the law -- that the law can press its claim over a man only so long as he lives? 2. For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies, she is freed from the marriage bond. 3. So if she marries another man while her husband is living, she is called an adulteress, but if he dies, she is free from that marriage bond, so that she will not be an adulteress though later married to another man. 4. So, my brothers, you too in the body of Christ have ended your relation to the law, so that you may be married to another husband, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5. For when we were living in accordance with our lower nature, the sinful passions that were aroused by the law were operating in the parts of our bodies to make us bear fruit that leads to death. 6. But now we have been freed from our relation to the law; we have ended our relation to that by which we once were held in bonds, so that we may serve in a new spiritual way and not in the old literalistic way. A cease and desist order has been issued from heaven so all of God’s people could walk in a newness of life and not according to the old literal, unrealistic way man thinks they can please God. Now the question is, ‘how many are willing to give heed to the call of God and worship Him in spirit and in truth’? In order to move ahead in your walk you have to be facing forward, operating in the now and not in the has been. There is a new law of faith that was established and instituted on behalf of God’s people which is apart from the works of the old law. So only those that have separated themselves from these dead rituals will be able to walk in a newness of life; while others are walking blindly in the realm of the flesh seeking something alive amongst the dead. What happens when people don’t give heed to the cease and desist order our Lord gave to His people concerning the old law and the things of it? Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (KJV) When you entered the realm of the Spirit you entered a new realm of faith, and those that look back to their old thoughts or ways are basically declared unfit and not ready to serve our Lord. With all the Lord had His people write for our benefit concerning the law and the things of it, why are so many still looking behind and not pressing forward in their pursuit of the spiritual? When the Lord issued a cease and desist order concerning these dead things it was done for our benefit and liberty so that we could walk in a deeper more intimate relationship with our Lord. By adding works of the law into the mix it’s like trying to combine oil and water which just doesn’t gel together because it was never intended to. By trying to mix the old with the new you will get the same results as well. 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) Now, right this moment, those that seek justification will only find it by faith, hearing the words of Christ that bring Spirit and life to the believer, that’s it, that simple, nothing else. A simple belief in the good work Jesus Christ has begun in you and desires to continue to do if you will only be willing and obedient to the simplicity of Christ and not some old dead complex carnal laws. Many people draw back without being aware of it by reverting back to the law and its rituals, which now adds works to the equation instead of a simple faith in Christ. It’s like mapping out a journey and driving all day only to find out you were going in circles ending up right back where you started. Hebrews 3:12-15 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (13) But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (14) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (15) While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (KJV) Take heed to what is being said, the word clearly tells us that whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Where is your confidence today, and what are you holding to? Is it the message the Lord has for you and what He has done on your behalf, or are you still holding to dead works that man thinks they still need to do? Today, will you hear the voice that is speaking to your heart, building up your confidence in the word of God, or are you leaning back to your own understanding? While many people categorize sin and put it at different levels, sin is nothing more than unbelief. Sin is sin people, no matter how it manifests, it is all a result of unbelief; for many because they don’t spend enough time with the Lord hearing His message for themselves and rightly dividing the word of truth. This same kingdom of God you walked into can certainly be walked out of as well, because many don’t hold God to be true to His word and remain confident in His realm. Will you hear His voice today? Will you put your hand to His plow and continue moving forward in the realm of the Spirit and not try to establish your own righteousness by the works of a dead law? 2 Peter 2:18-22 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. (19) While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. (20) 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. (21) 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. (22) But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (KJV) When I listen to some of these so called preachers standing in the pulpits and strutting around like some peacock it reminds me of a bunch of loud mouth drunks in a bar, the more intoxicated they become with themselves the more the exaggerations and a stretching of their versions of truth. Any area that a man escapes from with the help of the Lord only to end up entangled and overcome by it again results in a situation where they end up in worse shape than they were in the beginning. Those that walk in the liberty in Christ are those that continue to grow strong in the Lord and the power of His might, in all things more than conquerors through Him that loved us. I can do all things through Christ and without Him we can do nothing, which when I read the above verses tells me somewhere along the line these people separated themselves from the Lord giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. Many well intended people put their hand to a spiritual plow and work the Lord’s field for a season only to look back to something in the flesh that they think will make them perfect, sometimes the deception manifests in the form of the old law and rituals. Move forward, walk in liberty, stand fast in your faith and remain rooted and grounded in the realm of the Spirit so that you don’t fall from some cheap thrill in the flesh. God bless and stay renewed. Have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Philippians 3:7-9 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (8) 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, (9) 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: (KJV)
Paul gives an interesting account of his life before Christ, when he himself was caught up in the letter of the law and not the Spirit. I can relate to what is being said as well knowing my life was dung before the Lord, even though I attended religious organizations that in reality were dead and lifeless. Are you willing to suffer loss even though the fact that what is being given up in the physical realm will be replaced with a deeper understanding of the Lord? This is where many hit a snag in their walk; they allow the enemy to tell them that what they are walking away from is more important than what they are walking into, which is a deeper more intimate relationship with the Lord. The loss you may suffer through is only for a short time or season so that you can keep the lines of communication open with the Lord, which is what the word faith means, your ability to hear the message of Christ and know that what you are following is of Him. Again, keep in mind that when it comes time to let go of things that the Lord says is hindering our walk the payoff is a more excellent knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, who Himself was willing to die for our sake so that we could live. Philippians 3:10-14 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (KJV) You know, before you can get to heaven you have to die first; are you dying to get there? In order to walk in the Spirit one needs to leave old things and old thoughts at the door before entering in and being seated with Christ. Like with airports these days, one has to go through metal detectors in order to gain access to their flight. The same holds true when entering the kingdom of God; one needs to discard any foreign object at the gate, something that may be deadly and harmful, in order to take off. Remember how our Lord died? Before the resurrection there was a crucifixion; well the same holds true with each and every believer today, we too are made conformable unto his death so that a new man can resurrect within us as well. Are you willing by any means to attain this resurrection, or are you still holding the baggage of this fallen world, baggage Paul described as dung? Romans 6:1-3 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (KJV) When you are baptized into Christ you get the whole package, which means He in turn expects a whole hearted effort. When you become baptized into the family of God it is like a company or any organization, you become initiated into their set of rules and regulations which then identifies you as one of them. The spiritual meaning of baptism is so much deeper than just getting water poured over you and having a bunch of watered down people jumping up and down and getting excited. Carnal people only have a carnal view of the true meaning of the word of God, and those that hold to water baptisms are holding to nothing more than watered down empty doctrines of man. I wish it was that easy folks, just pour some water over my head and then I could go merrily on my way, but that is nowhere near the answer to what Paul is truly describing. Keep in mind also that the grace of God is not a ticket to justify sin but rather His love and longsuffering that allows us to overcome the hindrances of our lower fallen natures so that we can partake of His new one in Christ. Are you dying daily, taking up your own spiritual cross and crucifying the flesh with its desires and lusts, or are you dying daily in the letter of the old law, still stuck in carnal dead end rituals which were done away in Christ? 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; (2) And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (3) And did all eat the same spiritual meat; (4) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (5) But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. (KJV) You know folks, not much has changed over the years with people that claim they are God’s people. The children of Israel moaned and groaned for hundreds of years seeking deliverance from the Egyptians. So along comes Moses and introduces the people to their deliverance, baptizing, or introducing them into the things of God and how He operates, only to have them complain and wish to go back to the old. Those that should have been walking in a new life to a promised land ended up perishing and displeasing God because He didn’t operate the way they thought He should. Many people today are being overthrown in the wilderness also, because rather than follow the path of life the Lord had laid out for them, they end up off course and perish because of a lack of provisions. The Lord has laid out a path of escape for you also and supplied all your need before the foundation of the world. Are you on course today or are you following your own, you know that one Paul described as dung? Luke 12:49-50 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? (50) But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! (KJV) John baptized with water because he was still under the old law and limited to that realm. While our Lord clearly points out that there is a baptism He wishes His people would partake of, one He was living in Himself. Is there a fire in you today; one that is a burning desire to serve the Lord, or have you doused it with man’s watered down doctrines that are stuck in dead end rituals that look good to the outward but do nothing for the inward man? Are you baptized and immersed in the living spiritual waters, one that will bring life to a spiritual seed which is Christ, or is your life a dung deal, something stinking to the high heavens? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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