WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #12 ROSS SMITH

April 23, 2016April 23, 2016 Ross Smith

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #12 ROSS SMITH

I have been thinking this week about the necessity to live and walk in the Spirit. I thought to myself, so often we have come this route to draw close to the Lord and the reasons for doing so have been so obscure or have been non-existent that the principles that we have shared have fallen by the way-side because there has not been that motivation for us to press in on God and to reach in and take that which is rightfully ours.

You see the Doctor might know all the processes to treat a heart attack, but if the patient comes to him without the necessity or reason to do so there is no point. If the patient doesn’t have heart trouble then the doctor has no reason to treat them for that malaise.

This morning we need to know the reason why we need to live and walk in the Spirit. If we stop for just a moment this morning, and I asked you, “What are your reasons for wanting to live and to walk in the Spirit?” we would probably get as many reasons as we have people.

Some would suggest that they want to live and walk in the Spirit to ensure that they reach that eternal destiny that lies before them as their hope. Some would say, “I want to live and walk in the Spirit to produce ministry or to enhance that ministry that God has given us.” Others unfortunately, and we have seen it down through the generations want to do it simply for egotistical purposes. Others would want to do it simply because it seems the right thing to do.

But there has to be practical reasons that have spiritual implications and benefits and so we have to find those scriptural principles to support and confirm the reason for us to live and walk in the Spirit and we need to explore the book to see what it is.

Galatians 2:19 For I through the Law [under the operation of the curse of the Law] have [in Christ’s death for me] myself died to the Law and all the Law’s demands upon me, so that I may [henceforth] live to and for God.

Let me take out all of the interposing parts.

Galatians 2v19 I myself have died to the Law and all the Law’s demands upon me so that I may henceforth live to and for God.

This is the practical reason.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ

Let me stop there for a minute. Does it show? We have a saying that goes DEAD MEN DON’T REACT. When Paul says “I have been crucified with Christ”, it means that all the carnal appetites, all those ambitions for us to assert ourselves have been buried, it must show when we have been crucified.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith …

I wish we could stand before this city this morning and with unequivocal assertion say to this town, I live now by faith – not just to say it, but to show it.

“in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. “

That is the reason why we gather together unto Him. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. I have been crucified and I need to let it show.

When we want to improve something in the natural world, we do it according to the methods and processes dictated by convention or sometimes just by the agility of our minds. We improve cattle by different breeding methods, we improve cars and aeroplanes by streamlining and engineering, we improve our health by diet and vitamins, we improve plants by grafting, we attempt to improve people by education. Sometimes it works, but this is not God’s way.

When God makes a better man, He makes a new man. He imparts to us a higher order of life and He sets about to destroy the old and so we have to rid ourselves of our excuses and start walking for that reason. God has made us new creatures in Christ Jesus, “Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new”. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

There is one compelling reason for us to adopt this walk and Galatians 2 is confirmed in 1 Corinthians 3:16 and again in 1 Corinthians 6:19.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not discern and understand

And I think sometimes I have to pencil it in my Bible in brackets – [obviously I don’t]

Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God’s temple (His sanctuary), and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?

1 Corinthians 6:19 reaffirms it but in more strenuous terms.

1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own,

1 Corinthians 6:20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honour God and bring glory to Him in your body.

That is a good reason to live and walk in the Spirit. No longer do I have any rights, no longer do I have any preferences when I am sold out to God to the degree that He requires of me. The teaching of the New Testament is that God Himself inhabits the nature of His children. Now this is just about as difficult to understand as how my soul inhabits my body, but it doesn’t alter the fact that it does, and the Bible teaches me that God Himself inhabits the nature of His people.

1 Corinthians 6:17 But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him.

[Every time this week, when your tongue starts to get disorderly or when you want to get your own way, remember what Peter said]

2 Peter 1:4 By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.

Glory to God, this morning, we are changed people, that is the reason why I need to live and to walk like Jesus did. This is the confirmation of the fact, we know the MEANS, we know the DIRECTION now we have to apply the REASON, I am a new creation. It is a good reason for us to abort all those attitudes, all those comments and preferences which contravene the very character of the divine nature. We have become partakers of the divine nature. Again, does it show?

With our old nature, have you ever noticed how easy it is to be critical or to blame someone else, or to make comments which are not constructive? All these things are contrary to the divine nature. I hear people say, “But Ross, you don’t understand, I can’t help it, it was out before I thought about it, I did it before I thought.” Rubbish! Let me ask you, if the policeman pulls you up on Centenary Highway and says you were doing 110 kph, you are very careful what you say, are you not?

We can control ourselves when it is necessary. That excuse has long lost its credibility, we know that we stand naked before God when those excuses are trotted out. Someone has a saying, when someone gives an excuse, “put it on tape”. When you play it back a little later, it sounds so feeble. You see, we are without excuse. You know really why we don’t alter these things. Let me give you two reasons.

We really don’t want to. Even though so often we give mental assent to the fact that I want to change, I want to come closer to the Lord, we are more secure when tied in behind our excuses. But this morning, we are partakers of the divine nature, and for that reason and that reason alone, we need to divest ourselves of all those excuses.

We don’t really understand the reason that we should live and walk in the Spirit.

When I stop to think about Peter’s statement which says we have become partakers of the divine nature, it astounds me, it mesmerises me when I think, here is God Almighty reaching down. What motivation was there that we should become partakers of the divine nature?

And so now we have the capacity and ability within us to fuse with the nature of God, we couldn’t do it in our unregenerate state. Unlike poles attract it says in magnetic theory, but unlike metals have difficulty mixing. If you put kerosene and water together, you can shake it from now until eternity, and it will never blend. When I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord, and the Holy Spirit came upon me and regenerated me, He fused my nature with His.

If I now stop to consider it, there should be no distinction between Him and us, which is identifiable. We should replicate the divine nature, we are one spirit, and this is one reason why we must learn to live and walk in the Spirit, we have become partakers of His divine nature.

Let me give you a second reason, and when I get to the end of what I have to say this morning, I will give you several more references, areas of study for you, but there are a multitude of reasons, but we won’t get to over them all.

The second reason why we should walk and live in the Spirit is that we might be worshippers. Down through the generations, philosophers have tried to identify the characteristic that separates man from beast. They have postulated that man is the thinking animal, they have postulated that man is an animal with a conscience.

The one thing that truly differentiates man from beast and from other forms of life is that we were made to be worshippers, how about that? Do you feel like a worshipper? You were made for that, God created us in His image and likeness, He reproduced the life of Christ in us, He made us partakers of the divine nature so that when we stand and look upon Him, our whole being should be consumed in adoration – not just in praise.

It is an unfortunate fact that man without God is very much like an animal. Those lower instincts, those impulses and behaviour patterns, they all become so prominent and today we are more aware of it than ever because of the proliferation of media reporting – unashamedly reporting of all the animal instincts of man.

A man however, regenerated by the power of Jesus Christ, has a bent and a capacity for worship. This is profound, we were made to worship God. He said this morning, This world doesn’t understand that He came to give them life and that more abundantly, but if we will draw close, if we will allow the Spirit of God to be replicated in us, He will show them life through us. I can get enthusiastic about that!

When God sends revival, oops, God doesn’t send revival, He brings it, when God comes into the midst of a congregation such as this, when the Spirit of God moves upon the face of the deep – some of us are so deep sometimes, (Genesis 1:2), it is going to take some shifting – things are going to change, but God moves on these areas .

It becomes vital for us to recognize the importance of this distinction, that is, between unregenerate man and a man created to worship his God, for to try to worship, Father requires that we do so through the daily experience of walking and living in the Spirit.

If we try to worship God without walking and living in the Spirit, it is like trying to swim on sand, we can be all dressed for the occasion in our best Speedos, we can be within feet of the water and see it all happening, the smell of the ocean can pervade our nostrils, but unless we walk into it, we are never going to swim. We have got to live and walk in the Spirit, then we will have water, not up to the ankles, not up to the knees, but water to swim in.(Ezekiel 47:5)

I recall that John wrote a profound statement in John 4:24 when he said

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

As I sat this morning early I was thinking about this. I said, “I understand praise, I can so often demonstrate it – my gratitude to you, but I want to be able to worship you in Spirit and in truth”, when suddenly Romans 12:1 came flooding back into my mind.

Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

That makes me feel uncomfortable! The book says I am crucified with Christ, it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me. This is the reason why the sacrifice of our bodies is to be an absolute pleasure. It should be our irrepressible enjoyment to present ourselves as that living sacrifice, so that we can be what He intends us to be – spiritual worshippers.

There is an associated compelling reason spelled out in the previous verse.

John 4:23 Yet the time is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Indeed, the Father is looking for people like that to worship him.

‘THE HOUR IS ALREADY HERE” I like that. If I thought that the hour was yet to come, I’d have to bide my time, but John says the hour is already here when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Here is the reason why – because “THE FATHER SEEKETH SUCH TO WORHIP HIM.”

That is the reason why I need to, I have to, I want to walk and live in the Spirit. Both the Old and the New Testaments teach that the essence of true worship is the love of God.

Matthew 22:37 Jesus told him, “‘You must love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul, and with ALL your mind (intellect).’

It didn’t leave much over, He didn’t say He’ll use your FJ Holden or whatever to glorify Himself, He said “Love Me! Love Me with every faculty you possess”. But Father, I can serve you better if you leave me in business, I can make lots of money, I can send missionaries to India and Pakistan. But He didn’t say that, He said, I want you to love Me with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your being. Why? I go down to:-

Matthew 22:40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.”

THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS

(The second one was to love your neighbour as yourself. Boy, that’s a toughie, “You don’t know my neighbour.” You shall love your neighbour also)

THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS SUM UP AND UPON THEM DEPENDS ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS. (Matthew 22:40)

This morning, when we concentrate on this as a priority, the demand of the law and the prophets will be reconciled in our life. Isn’t that so simple? Oh, I work so hard to comply with what the book requires of me, I battle week in and week out, I see all those scriptures like

Habakkuk 3:19 He makes my feet like hind’s feet that I might make spiritual progress upon my high places of trouble and suffering and responsibility.

Matthew 5v11 He says when men revile you and persecute you and speak all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake, rejoice!

If I recognize God with every aspect of my being, then the law and the prophets will be reconciled in my life. You see, love in the human heart can begin so modestly that sometimes it’s hardly perceptible but it goes on to become a raging torrent that sweeps it’s possessor before it in total helplessness.

Why do you think that there have been such beautiful love songs penned? Men caught by the passion of a heart that is sold out to some other person. That is the degree of love that begins to indicate that we are following the reasons that we need to live and walk in the Spirit. It is impossible to worship God without loving Him.

That puts me behind the eight-ball brother. “You see I had a very difficult childhood. My daddy was a drunk, My Mummy ran away and I was brought up by an old spinster aunt……”

That has got nothing to do with it, the Bible tells me that we are joined to God, we become one spirit with Him. Peter said, when I have been regenerated, I am a partaker of the divine nature. Those things that we hide behind and use as an excuse for our inability to relate to God like the Bible says is garbage and rhubarb, and we need to come out from behind it and to walk in the light.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and if that means that we have to put the axe through the television, God help me do it.

It is only the inward operation of the Holy Spirit which will enable us to offer Him such a poured out fullness of love. Love like that has a component of mystery to the natural mind, but actually that stems from two reasons. Let me give them to you.

The reason I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength is through GRATITUDE. Last week we looked at Colossians 1:12 and that aspect of thankfulness.

The second reason, and the one that I want to concentrate on for a couple of minutes this morning is EXCELLENCE.

It has its origins in our striving to be holy. Let me get away from that ecclesiastical jargon, it has its origins in our striving to be wholehearted, which is the same thing! Let me take it one step further, it has its origins in our ambition to live and to walk in the Spirit. Does that sound more comfortable?

When somebody says, The Bible says “Be holy like I am holy” it strikes terror into the hearts of some men and women. All it means is that we should be wholehearted towards God, it means that we should live and walk in the Spirit, and it is this excellence that takes us out of the realms of praise in which we express gratitude, into the realms of worship where we evidence the divine nature. I like that.

I’m going to say it again. It is this excellence that elevates us out of the realms of praise in which we express gratitude into those dimensions of worship where we evidence the divine nature.

Father seeks this and this is a compelling reason for us today to begin to live and to walk in the Spirit. You see, the Gospel in our day and generation certainly saves lives, but I’ve not yet seen it produce worshippers.

Worshippers are created by the revelation of the greatness of our God and the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ, the sovereignty and the majesty of the Godhead revealed by the Holy Spirit to His people. It is the putting off of all our phobias and our prejudices against that life that is lived in the Spirit because it is too demanding. I have to give up this and that… But let me tell you, God is no man’s debtor.

So often, we think negatively about having to give this up or that, but a life lived walking in the Spirit is a life which is beyond the comprehension of the mortal mind which is not only SATISFYING to the individual but GLORIFYING to God and REDEMPTIVE for this nation of ours. Righteousness exalts the nation! We need it!

Don’t you know that? God is looking for a people who will stand in the gap today and bring to order that which is destructive in the very core of our nation today.

Worshippers are being created by the revelation of the greatness of God and the beauty of Jesus. Sometimes we look at the men of history and say “I wonder what made him great?” talking about those saintly men. Behind those great men of the divine record and of our civilized history was a revelation of God, they knew their God. How do I know? Daniel tells me that they that know their God shall be strong and do exploits.(Daniel 11:32)

1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord.

What else occupies the throne of your heart this morning? You see, sometimes we don’t have a throne in our heart, we have a park bench, so that we can fit several items or idols on it. God wants a single seat in our heart, a throne, and He wants to be the soul inhabitant of it. You are not your own, you are bought with a price you are the temple and the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit and there is no room in your heart for park bench accommodation.

1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defence to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.

Do you understand a little better this morning what God is trying to do? He is trying to build Himself a nation, not a nation that is bound by sand and sea, but a nation that is encompassed by the Spirit of God, that is girt by the Word of God, that is motivated and directed from the very throne of Glory. Each one will have stamped upon their forehead the name of their God. The book tells me so.

I will give you some other reasons if you want to note down these references. When we come to Wednesday night (Bible Study) we might have to extend the service until midnight so that we can get through.

1 Peter 2:15 For it is God’s will and intention that by doing right [your good and honest lives] should silence (muzzle, gag) the ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms of foolish persons.

1 John 1:3 What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

1 John 1:4 And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy [in seeing you included] may be full [and your joy may be complete].

1 John 1:5 And this is the message [the message of promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way].

1 John 1:6 [So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents].

Ephesians 1:3 May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!

Ephesians 5:8 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light].

Ephesians 5:11 Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them.

Ephesians 6:12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

Philippians 3:8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),

Philippians 3:11 That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

oOo

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #11 ROSS SMITH

April 23, 2016 Ross Smith

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #11 ROSS SMITH

(ALL REFERENCES FROM THE AMPLIFIED VERSION)

We have been speaking at some length now on living and walking in the Spirit and covering that aspect in Colossians 1 which is so relevant to the place we are at, at the moment.

When we come to verse 12, Paul has said to the Colossian church

Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.

In other words, those people who walk and live in the Spirit, but I want to go a little further to confirm the idea from

1 John 1:7 But if we [REALLY] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

Isn’t that marvellous? When we come out of the darkness into the Kingdom of Light, we are taken out of that realm, and so when we appropriate and are covered by the provision of the blood of Jesus Christ, it removes us from all sin and guilt, keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations, but we must appropriate it.

These two verses provide enormous food for thought and nourishment and they are demanding of application. This is why it is so important that we study these truths because so often in our reading of the Word, that superficial perusal, we miss the real GOLD, that truth that is hidden there. We blithely gloss over the pages in our reading and we pick up something that suits our particular environment or application for that day, and we miss what God is trying to share with us.

We must learn to dig for the GOLD.

Two of the characteristics that are evident in people who live and walk in the Spirit and are evidenced in our experience, they are identified by Paul in Colossians 1.

1 Fruitfulness

2 Power

But accompanying these two traits or characteristics that are EVIDENT [not just theoretical principles, not just ethereal truths], they come out in the people living and walking in the Spirit], there is a third quality which is a by-product of walking and living in the Spirit and that is GIVING THANKS TO THE FATHER.

When we are fruitful, when we are endowed with power from on high, attending those characteristics will be thankfulness to Father. When we stop to consider how thankful we are, I think we would be grossly disappointed. If we really want to know how thankful we are all we need to do is to ask our spouse or ask our parents, both will give you an unbiased opinion.

But in this case, Paul says GIVING THANKS TO THE FATHER. We are all at least partly familiar I think, with the controversy that attends that principle which has been espoused a long time which is “PRAISE REGARDLESS”. There have been books written like “The Power of Praise”, it suggested that we praise God both for and in everything. Whereas I agree that we should be able to praise the Lord IN everything, I find it difficult to endorse the principle that I should praise the Lord FOR everything. Some of those things that I bring on myself which are inappropriate, I don’t thank God for.

But if we review the extent of thankfulness in the Word of God, it covers an enormous spectrum, and rather than have me make an extensive excursion into the Word, I would prefer that we conduct our own study in this particular area. It’s a basic, fundamental, foundational principle, but I’ll give you some guidelines.

Thanksgiving is GRATITUDE EXPRESSED. It is an activity that is relatively rare in our present society, but one in which the Psalmist was very, very accomplished. If we are grateful, it is not difficult to express it, just like if your love somebody, it is not difficult to tell them, when you’re grateful, it is easy to express it. The Psalmist crystallizes this thought in

Psalm 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!

You can always tell if a person is on top of a situation, they go around singing.

Psalm 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!

I believe that if we are not thankful, if we are not grateful, it is a prohibition to us coming into His gates. Do you like anybody coming into your house when their lips are dragging in the gravel, when they’re wearing their heart on their sleeve? You’d rather not see them, wouldn’t you? Come back when you’re feeling better! I don’t need any more nonsense. I wonder whether the same principle applies when we come before the Lord and we’re not thankful.

He says “Come into His gates with thanksgiving, come into His courts with praise”.

I saw something more in this verse this week as I studied it. I’ve always been able to quote “Come into His presence with singing and into His gates with thanksgiving, come into His courts with praise”, but do you know what? The Amplified says just a little further down, BE THANKFUL AND SAY SO TO HIM. BLESS AND AFFECTIONATELY PRAISE HIS NAME. (Have you ever noticed that?)

If we go back into Old Testament, we find that it is loaded with examples and demonstrations of how people should and did thank the Lord, but I want to restrict our comments this morning to New Testament, and give you these references for study.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

Oh we know this verse. We can quote it. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts Brother!” But notice at the end it says

“AND BE THANKFUL (APPRECIATIVE), [GIVING PRAISE TO GOD ALWAYS]. “

You can’t do one without the other! You see, in this situation, we try to let the peace of Christ rule, but it says AND BE THANKFUL. Are you thankful this morning, I mean not just superficially so, not that quasi type thankfulness that attends somebody getting you coffee in bed, I mean a heart that bursts with gratitude because we recognize the sovereignty of God in our midst and in our circumstances. God is in the midst of His people, don’t you know that? Surprise, surprise! So often we look surprised because the truth of God’s Word suddenly confronts us. We need to be thankful.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Thank [God] IN everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

Can you do it? You see, it doesn’t take one turn of a hostile environment or contrary circumstance and suddenly I’m impossible to live with. [Of course, I’m speaking generally. That wouldn’t happen in our house!]

“Be thankful in everything for this is the will of God for you who are in Christ Jesus.” This is not just some principle that happened to be dredged up, it’s God’s will, God is speaking to His people. He wants us to follow His footsteps to take up His will for our lives, and He says “This is My will, be thankful.”

Luke 17:16 And he fell prostrate at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him [over and over]. And he was a Samaritan.

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.

That itself should be sufficient reason for me to burst with gratitude, He’s given us the victory! Oh you’re a victorious bunch aren’t you?

2 Corinthians 9:15 Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]!

There are so many reasons for us to be thankful. Take the following,

Matthew 7:11 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!

Hebrews 13:15 Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

But the thankfulness we express in this situation is to the FATHER. Many people are unsure as to how they should address the Godhead, they don’t know how to address the Godhead in prayer or in petition or in praise, but this is mainly due to our failure to study the Word of God to find the direction that He gives us. But in this case, the Bible is saying that we address our thanksgiving to Father, and when we put together the scriptural basis for our approach, it is quite plain.

Isaiah 64:8 Yet, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter, and we all are the work of Your hand.

Psalm 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Who did it? My Father! My Father! I think so often when I face a crisis or a situation, I think “What would my Dad have done here?” We’ve got to learn – He is the potter, we are the clay, we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Matthew 7:11 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!

Father pours out upon us in abundance because He loves us.

Romans 8:15 For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!

That word Abba is a term, borrowed from childhood language and it is to express that “phileo” or love addressed to God. It’s the terms kids use today, “Dad!” Kids adore Dad until they’re five or six anyway, he can do nothing wrong. When we say “Abba Father”, it’s like the little six year old saying “That’s my Dad”.

Matthew 23:9 And do not call anyone [in the church] on earth father, for you have one Father, Who is in heaven.

1 Corinthians 8:6 Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who is the Source of all things and for Whom we [have life], and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through and by Whom are all things and through and by Whom we [ourselves exist].

Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of [us] all, Who is above all [Sovereign over all], pervading all and [living] in [us] all.

Hebrews 12:9 Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we yielded [to them] and respected [them for training us]. Shall we not much more cheerfully submit to the Father of spirits and so [truly] live?

It is the Father Who has qualified us and made us fit, I’d like to stop that verse right there. Father has qualified me and made me fit! It would be nice to cut the verse off there and luxuriate in a provision that God has given that elevates me out of my shortcomings and failures without my having to do a thing. God has qualified me, but this qualification has requirements.

The first qualification:

Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father, WHO HAS QUALIFIED AND MADE US FIT TO SHARE the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.

King James Version says to be “PARTAKERS.” It is important to recognize this qualification that God has given us, because this qualification comes with responsibility, not with authority. Some people want all the authority without any of the responsibility. This qualification comes with responsibility, how many have just bailed out?

The same sort of responsibility that is recorded in

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.

The day is approaching, “As it was in the days of Noah”, that is what it is going to be like when Jesus returns.

This fellowship, this getting together, this “forsaking not the assembling together” or this sharing…. we must realize the significance of this principle. Let me explain it this way. We have here the communion table and we all recognize the significance of the symbolism of communion. We revere this table, not as much as we will soon, for God will open our eyes before too long I’m sure, to the magnificence of this table. But we still sense deep within just how incredible it is. In the New Testament, the word COMMUNION is variously translated as follows:

COMMUNION, FELLOWSHIP, COMMUNICATE, PARTAKE, CONTRIBUTION, COMMON.

Now all of these terms have come from the Greek word KOIN. The fundamental connotation of this word is of SHARING SOMETHING WITH SOMEONE. Father has qualified and made us fit to share… But the intention of Colossians 1:12 goes even deeper than this word KOIN, for the word PARTAKER or SHARER in this context is the Greek word MERIS which means in real terms “A PART OR A PORTION OR A DISTRICT OR DIVISION.”

So God has made us fit to share a DISTRICT. I thought “What is a district?” I went back to Acts 16v12, Paul refers to Macedonia as a district. Paul says “He has given us a district”, that is a part of the territory, God has qualified us and made us fit to share a district. Paul is saying that this is our inheritance, but inherited how? As we walk and live in the Spirit, remember we read right at the outset this morning.

Walking in the Light or as we are learning walking in the Spirit is the same thing.

Colossians 1 called these people the SAINTS.

Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.

“God’s holy people in the Light.” So here we have again the confirmation of terms, but more than that, John now says we have true unbroken fellowship one with another. In other words, we have communion, the same word!

We are sharers or partakers. Let me tell you, there are no lone rangers in the economy of God. I often hear people say “Oh I don’t go to any church brother, I have fellowship at home.” I think, “Boy, that must be pretty rich, fellowshipping with yourself.” You know you get all the right answers, that is the satisfactory ones that suit you. You cannot fellowship on your own, you cannot be in communion on your own, you cannot share on your own, the communion that God refers to is when we share together.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, not liberty or do your own thing. To do your own thing, is to say “I’ll stay home on Sunday morning and conduct my own little service, I can finish it when I’m ready.” I just saw somebody looking at their watch!!!!.

Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is THE INHERITANCE of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.

Firstly to have an inheritance, you have to be part of a family. If you are outside of a family and some rich old lady dies and leaves you part of her will, that is not an inheritance, that is a bequest, the same value in money – different principle though.

An inheritance is where we are part of the family. It is important to see how Father has qualified us and made us fit. It comes from Colossians 1v13 and it should be a continuing motivation and incentive for us to proceed to walk and live in the light.

Behind our entry into this inheritance where God has qualified us and made us fit to share – what are we sharing? A portion or a district! God has allocated us territory, both here and in the heavenlies. We read about this inexpressible, indescribable gift that God has given us. We’ve no comprehension yet about what it is that God has given us, we’ve no comprehension yet about what it is that God has done.

Behind this entry into our inheritance is a prior deliverance, we have been liberated from bondage and led into a land of liberty. Now to look at us sometimes, you wouldn’t believe it, would you? He has given me hind’s feet to make spiritual progress on my high places of trouble, suffering and responsibility. (Hebrews 3:19) It says when you encounter trials, count it all joy.

The book says that we need to see past the circumstances and see that we’ve been taken out of the land of bondage and into the land of liberty where, whatever transpires, God will use it to bring Himself glory.

I can’t understand why some people want to revert back into that land of bondage, before our deliverance we were in darkness.

Colossians 1:13 [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

The dominion of darkness, by the way, suggests not only the absence of light, but opposition to the light. It is a condition of not only being without God but being opposed to God. In that position, we had no inheritance, we are not partakers of the portion that we have been made fit to share in.

AND BE THANKFUL (APPRECIATIVE), [GIVING PRAISE TO GOD ALWAYS].

oOo

DEAF EARS, BLIND EYES, HARD HEART ROSS SMITH

April 19, 2016 Ross Smith

DEAF EARS, BLIND EYES, HARD HEART, THICK HEAD, ROSS SMITH 161215

(ALL REFERENCES TAKEN FROM THE AMPLIFIED VERSION)

Mark 8:18 Having eyes, do you not see [with them], and having ears, do you not hear and perceive and understand (no discernment ) the sense of what is said? And do you not remember?

What an indictment this verse contains, and more particularly if we qualify, and we know if we qualify by the manner of living we engage in as aligned to what the Lord has been saying to us through His word. I ask the question, Why do these scriptures regarding deafness and blindness continue to surface in many different contexts? Is it because there is a “disability’ evidenced in our relationship to the Lord, a disability which is not genetic, as in the natural, but a disability through lack of exercise of those spiritual faculties of seeing and hearing.

The Lord has much to say, but few to listen. IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO REGARD THE WORD OF GOD AS TRUE, IT HAS TO INFLUENCE OUR BEHAVIOUR.

The faculties of eyes and ears are the organs of learning, the teacher in the schoolroom puts the information on the black/white board and then goes on to explain the subject. In the natural, a defect in one faculty is often made up for by the acuteness of the other. Communication and mobility are the two areas most affected by a loss of sight and hearing, a “knock on effect”. A person who cannot hear or see is essentially alone, unless someone is in actual physical contact, which creates a feeling of isolation and loneliness.

EYE: 3788 Vision from 3708 to gaze (that is, with wide open eyes, as at something remarkable; G2334, signifies an earnest but more continued inspection SINGLE: 573 folded together 4120 to twine or braid

How parallel this is to the spiritual experience, without that communication from the throne of Grace, there is such an isolation, a feeling of “aloneness”, made more acute because the Word says:-

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a DIVINELY IMPLANTED sense of a purpose working through the ages which NOTHING UNDER THE SUN BUT GOD ALONE CAN SATISFY], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.(notice the “knock on effect here!)

Sight and sound defects also directly affect “mobility”, and it would seem that with spiritual deafness and blind eyes, we go nowhere and face danger, but also incur a penalty, there is a hindrance to spiritual progress. This spiritual deafness and blindness is often due to neglect or ambivalence, and leads to death.

The eye sees only when it receives light, and light has two essential characteristics, “Intensity” (brightness)and “Frequency” (wavelength), and the ears hear only when there is sound, and sound has two characteristics, “amplitude” (volume) and “frequency” (wavelength).

The science of sound is quite profound.

If there is any deficiency in these faculties, or receptors, then either the light has to be brighter or the sound louder before we can assimilate the information brought to us, but the frequency or wavelength is not a component that can be changed, it is the character and is a constant that makes up the quality of the message (it is the inspiration of the Spirit). The degree of the “deficiency” determines our learning ability, and our learning ability contributes to our opportunity to participate, or to understand, or change our attitude. A deaf and blind person will sit motionless in a class because they do not have an ability to participate, and so cannot learn, THIS IS THE SAME IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM.

The function of the eye is as an instrument to receive light, it does not create light. It has to be “single” meaning undivided or “one eyed”. If you are seeing double then there is a problem, and that problem is as bad as being blind. Likewise the ear, it does not create sound but reacts to SOUND PRESSURE, but most of our natural accurate information comes from a visual perception process, but the auditory process contributes a large amount of information. This is also true of God’s Word, as found in

Hebrews 2:1 SINCE ALL this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift pas[them] and slip away. (See also Acts 8:6 and Luke 8:18 as examples).

Isaiah 6:9-10 And He said, Go and tell this people, Hear and hear continually, but understand not; and see and see continually, but do not apprehend with your mind. (The sound doesn’t resonate and the light doesn’t penetrate, and we become spiritually illiterate … comments mine) Make the heart of this people fat; and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEARTS and turn again and be healed.

Much of the church has only a head knowledge of the Sovereignty of God, and those faculties in their head are obviously defective, for if they were functioning as intended, their hearts would be in rhythm with Father’s heart. Isaiah says we have to understand with our HEART, and it will show in our ATTITUDE.

Matthew 13:13-15 This is the reason that I speak to them in parables: because having the power of seeing, (so it is not spiritually genetically impaired … comments mine) they do not see; and having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and UNDERSTAND. (Notice that “understanding is a critical and important component in this equation … comments mine) In them indeed is the PROCESS (There is a “PROCESS” involved in “PROGRESS”, and it will continue until we pass away … comments mine) of fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: You shall indeed hear and hear but never grasp and understand; and you shall indeed look and look but never see and perceive. For this nation’s heart has grown gross (fat and dull), and their ears heavy and difficult of hearing, and their eyes they have tightly closed, lest they see and PERCEIVE with their eyes, and hear and COMPREHEND the sense with their ears, and GRASP AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART, and turn and I should HEAL them. [A repetition of Isaiah. 6:9, 10, and consequently is now New Testament instruction]

The word “heal”, above, comes from the Greek (G2390) and actually means “free from error”.

The “eyes and ears” are in the head, but the understanding is in the HEART.

There are three components in verse 10 that are required that we might successfully attain to the position we have been called to, firstly there is “PERCEPTION”, which means becoming aware of something by our senses, and also called “DISCERNMENT”, not “gut feeling” but an awareness in the spirit. Then there is “COMPREHENSION”, which is an ability to recognise the importance or meaning of something. But then comes the critical component, we have to GRASP it, that is , take it on board, and then by contemplation, discipline, obedience, begin to “UNDERSTAND”, evidenced by our application of what we have perceived and comprehended.

A Doctor may have the ability to perceive what is wrong with us, he might know about, and recognise all the important symptoms, but if he doesn’t UNDERSTAND how to treat us for that condition, then we cannot be “healed” by that Doctor. Matthew has stated that with all three components there is spiritual healing.

The fact that Jesus used parables (verse 13) has its reflection into today’s church, and we can paraphrase this verse as follows:-

“I speak I to them in parables, because, despite having eyes, they can’t see, and they turn a deaf ear. And as a consequence of this general rule, I don’t give more knowledge to this people, because they don’t use that which they have already been given: having all the means of seeing, hearing, and understanding, they don’t use those faculties; they do not effectually see, or hear, or understand anything, THEY HAVE SEVERE HEART TROUBLE, AND DON’T REALLY WANT TO BE HEALED”.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind] (“heart and mind” speaks of “attitude” ) I the Lord search the mind, I try the heart, (This is the testing required )even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.(“Search” and “Try” are two different things )

The fruit of his doings can be his “undoing’s” … See how Jeremiah sums it all up, firstly indicating the SEVERE HEART TROUBLE, then looks for the “PERCEPTIVE” individual, a person who “GRASPS AND UNDERSTANDS”, and lastly “COMPREHENDS” the importance of the deficiency.

A thick head is related to a hard heart, but need not be a terminal condition. Although Jeremiah says the heart is “mortally sick” it is not necessarily incurable. Scripture refers to “hardness of heart” as “impenetrable, lacking understanding, deceitful above all things.” (Jeremiah 17:9) The heart is affected by what it contains, and if we turn our hearts towards God, He will reward accordingly.

Ephesians 4:18-24 Their moral UNDERSTANDING is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, SELF-BANISHED) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the WILLFUL BLINDNESS) that is deep-seated in them, due to THEIR HARDNESS OF HEART [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature]. In their SPIRITUAL APATHY they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand]. But you did not so learn Christ! ASSUMING —– that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him], Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; (Delusion originates in attempted self vindication, and the person deluded is SELF )And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

All is not lost however as the Lord renews His compassions every morning (Lamentations 3) and so the promise of Ezekiel can be embraced by those who will respond, but Paul has told the Ephesians that they also need to “be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind”, so that we can receive the “new compassions” every day.

Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them ONE HEART [a new heart] (Father pioneered the “HEART TRANSPLANT” procedure, He is expert in every sense of this new lease on life … comments mine) and I will put a new spirit within them; and I will take the stony [unnaturally hardened] heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh [sensitive and responsive to the touch of their God]

The “ONE HEART” refers to an undivided heart, which is a heart that has no accommodation for idols, a heart that has no double mindedness, is unwavering and stable, a heart that “is sensitive and responsive to the touch of their God.

“And I will take THE STONY heart out of their flesh”. These are hearts hardened by sin, not necessarily blatant sin but often ignorant or complacent and neglectful sin, destitute of sensitivity and responsiveness, stubborn and inflexible, on which no impressions are made by corrections, admonitions, instructions and commands, and so an impenitent heart, A STONY HEART.

All these deficiencies originate and are classified under “DEAF EARS AND BLIND EYES”. But Jesus specialised in these conditions, you will recall that the two blind men called out to Jesus, “Have mercy on us” (Matthew 20:30) and He did, and then there was the deaf man with the speech impediment (Mark 7)

Mark 7:32-35 And they brought to Him a man who was deaf and had difficulty in speaking, (in other words, his deafness had caused him some learning difficulty .. comments mine) and they begged Jesus to place His hand upon him. And taking him aside from the crowd [privately], He thrust His fingers into the man’s ears and spat and touched his tongue; (About as unconventional method as one can imagine, a departure from what is/was expected .. comments mine) And looking up to heaven, He sighed as He said, Ephphatha, which means, Be opened! And his ears were opened, his tongue was loosed, and he began to SPEAK DISTINCTLY and as he should. (the learning difficulty that caused his speech defect was also healed, he didn’t have to learn to speak “distinctly”, it was part of his healing, the same benefit we can accrue when we begin to “HEAR AND LISTEN” .. comments mine)

The eye sees only when it receives light, and light has two essential characteristics, “Intensity” (brightness) and “Frequency” (wavelength). The ears hear only when there is sound, and sound has two characteristics, “Amplitude” (volume) and “Frequency” (wavelength). A whisper has “frequency” but very little “amplitude” and consequently lacks the timbre of normal sound.

If there is any deficiency in these faculties, or receptors, then either the light has to be brighter, or the sound louder before we can assimilate the information brought to us, but the frequency is not a component that we can change, it is constant quality created by the source, and in spiritual terms it is the “INSPIRATION”.

The degree of deficiency determines our learning ability, and our learning ability contributes to our ability to participate. A DEAF and BLIND person will sit motionless in a class because they do not have the ability to participate, and so they cannot learn, THIS IS THE SAME IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM.

The function of the eye is to receive light, it does not create it. It has to be “single” meaning undivided or “one eyed”. If you are seeing double then there is a problem, and that problem can be almost as bad as being blind. Likewise the ear does not create sound but reacts to SOUND PRESSURE, but most of our natural, accurate information comes from the visual perception process, but the AUDITORY process contributes a large amount of information. It would seem that the SOUND PRESSURE of the spirit does not have sufficient amplitude or volume for some folk to hear, maybe because so many Christian have their head in the sand!!!!

One of the “Thoughts for Today” some many weeks ago was ”CONTEMPLATE YOUR GOD” — TO CONTEMPLATE IS TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT SOMETHING FOR A LONG TIME, OR, TO LOOK AT OR VIEW WITH CONTINUED ATTENTION.”

Proverbs 1:24-33 Because I have called and you have refused [to answer], have stretched out my hand and no man has heeded it, And you treated as nothing all my counsel and would accept none of my reproof, (A sorry tale and description of those who have chosen poor hearing and poor vision … comments mine) I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when the thing comes that shall cause you terror and panic– When your panic comes as a storm and desolation and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. (Sometimes Father has to allow a DISASTER to occur before we will begin to take notice, but not before He has given us every chance to shape up … comments mine) Then will they call upon me [Wisdom] but I will not answer; they will seek me early and diligently but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord, would accept none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof, therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices. For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, and the careless ease of [self-confident] fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and SHALL BE QUIET, without fear or dread of evil.

How characteristic is that of spiritual things, and we have been the objects of the intensity of God’s love, and every day He renews His compassions in an attempt to have us responsive to the stimulus of His light of His Word as in:-

Psalm 119:130 The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment (we have used the word “perception” previously … comments mine) and comprehension) to the simple.

Every day He speaks to us and has said in John 10:27 The sheep that are My own HEAR AND ARE LISTENING to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. (But not from afar off, but stick close to the shepherd … comments mine)

The expression of the Psalmist brings into focus the criteria of this whole subject, hearing ears and seeing eyes lead to “UNDERSTANDING”. Here are some scriptures to add to your study process, to expand and extend the exploration of the integrity of our spiritual faculties.

Proverbs 1:2 That people may know skilful and godly Wisdom and instruction, discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight, (Notice that discernment, comprehension ,understanding and insight are the result of learning, and if we are deaf or blind, then we will never “Know”, and if we never know we will never see, never get that “INSIGHT” . How do we achieve this, the first step is “BE STILL AND KNOW”, (Psalm 46:10) have we learned that lesson?)

Proverbs 1:7 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and ITS ESSENCE]; but fools despise skilful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline. (It follows that if we do not hear or see, we will be grossly deficient in “KNOWLEDGE”, and we could deduce that the “essence” refers to that sweet smelling aroma” and Proverbs comes to the conclusion that despisive people like that are “FOOLS”)

Psalm 111:10 Repeats the thrust of Proverbs 1:7, but then goes on to include “a good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever.”

Job 28:28 But to man He said, Behold, the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord–that is Wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Jeremiah 6:10 To whom shall I [Jeremiah] speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised [never brought into covenant with God or consecrated to His service], and they cannot hear or obey. Behold, the word of the Lord has become to them a reproach and the object of their scorn; they have no delight in it.

“uncircumcised” — closed against the precepts of God by the foreskin of carnality.

“They have no delight in the word”, more is implied than is expressed; they have an antipathy to it; it exasperates them, and enrages their corruptions, and they are ready to fly in the face and pull out the eyes of their reprovers.” And how can those expect that the word of the Lord should speak any comfort to them who have no delight in it, but would rather be anywhere than within hearing distance?

The study of this subject will continue to expand as you explore the depths of meaning of scripture like those below, and as you add your insight and understanding to the subject.

Jeremiah 7:27 (ISV) “You will tell them all these things, but they won’t listen to you. You will call out to them, but they won’t answer you.

Ezekiel 2:7 You are to tell them whatever I have to say to them, whether they listen or not, since they are rebellious.”

Act 20:27 for I never shrank from telling you the whole plan of God.

Isa 30:15 For this is what the LORD GOD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest you will be saved; in staying calm and trusting will be your strength. But you refused.

That is the obvious result of a “hard heart”, or a lack of understanding, a distorted attitude in other words, but Jesus healed deaf ears and blind eyes, but His methods were unusual.

Matt. 15:8 “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me”

A definition of “disability” might be that it is a lack or limitation of competence.

Psalm 95:8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

Philippians 1:9-10 And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].

Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and offering You do not desire, nor have You delight in them; YOU HAVE GIVEN ME THE CAPACITY TO HEAR and obey [Your law, a more valuable service than] burnt offerings and sin offerings [which] You do not require.

oOo

CREDIBILITY ROSS SMITH

April 18, 2016 Ross Smith

CREDIBILITY ROSS SMITH 160316

(ALL REFERENCES ARE FROM AMPLIFIED BIBLE)

Acts 17:31 Because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world righteously (justly) by a Man Whom He has destined and appointed for that task, and HE HAS MADE THIS CREDIBLE AND given conviction and assurance and evidence to everyone BY RAISING HIM FROM THE DEAD.

We also have a commission found in 2 Corinthians 3:6, “Qualified ministers”

“CREDIBILITY” The quality of being convincing or believable

The quality of being believed in and trusted.

The quality or power of inspiring belief

NOTE THE PROGRESSION, WE HAVE TO BE CONVINCING OR BELIEVABLE BEFORE WE CAN BE BELIEVED AND TRUSTED, AND THEN RECOGNISED FOR OUR ABILITY TO INSPIRE BELIEF

Notice that all these definitions identify “CREDIBILITY” as a “QUALITY”. So in Acts 17 we have the assurance of Gods purpose defined clearly, without any ambiguity, in the demonstration of Jesus life, a life of unparalleled QUALITY. Not only does His life provide reason for credibility, but more so does His resurrection, an unquestionable quality, and to such a degree that we have “conviction, assurance, and evidence” of His credibility. Another term is “VALIDITY”.

Inconsistency on the part of Pastors and of the Christian community, between what they say and what they do, between word, and manner of life, is undermining the churches “CREDIBILITY”.

A practical, mundane example of “Credibility” was when we purchased a second-hand caravan. I asked the retailer for some warranty on the van and they declared, “Our reputation is our warranty”. The first week required some repairs to the van but when I went to recover the expense, the retailer refused to pay. They failed to deliver therefore they lost their credibility, and destroyed their reputation. HAVE WE DELIVERED?

Ecclesiastes 5:5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. (or say, and not do)

Every action, or perceived action shapes credibility. When you break a promise you lose credibility and when you lose credibility you lose trust.

Should you be uncomfortable with the term “CREDIBILITY”, then include these words as alternatives in your study: – “Integrity, legitimacy, authenticity, sincerity, virtue, validity”. (And remember ACCURACY IMPROVES INTEGRITY)

The apostle Paul had no problem with any of these terms, he was confident of his credibility, for he stated in 1 Corinthians 11:1 PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [FOLLOW MY EXAMPLE], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah)

We should always test the credibility of a man, or of an incident, in the light of the credibility that is evidenced, not just face value, but with discernment and insight initiated and energised by the Holy Spirit.

Do we have any “Credibility”? — The first thing to look for to answer this question is, “where is the fruit”? FRUIT CONFIRMS CREDIBILITY and the first fruit we need is “LOVE”. This type of fruit is both plain and exotic, it has basic qualities that should be evidenced in our daily walk, and then it has those exotic qualities that can even compel a man to, lay down his life for his friend”. (John 15:13)

John 13:35 By this shall ALL [MEN] KNOW that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].

NICE TODAY AND NASTY TOMORROW!!!!!

This knowledge is universal, no one will be left in any doubt as to the “CREDIBILITY” of the man who has a glut of LOVE, of fruit in abundance. Sometimes we are recognised within our circle of friends, or within a fellowship, as having a degree of love, but this constitutes “Some men shall know, not ALL men shall know”.

A similar intention is expressed in 1 Thessalonians 4:12 and identifies behaviour patterns which constitute “CREDIBILITY” in the following terms,

“So that you may bear yourselves becomingly and be correct and honourable and COMMAND THE RESPECT OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD,”

The incidence of “All men know” and the “Command the respect of the outside world” is supported by PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION, not just some ethereal claim or academic achievement. So the initial excursion into “CREDIBILITY” has two simple tests, and I can obtain the answers from within myself and have no need for prompting. These question are: –

Do I “Love one another”?

Do I “Command respect”? (This is different to “DEMAND” respect )

Depending upon our perceptions or misconceptions, we will all come up with different responses, many of which are intended to vindicate my position or excuse my failures, or to rephrase the question so it is not so pointed. Attempted vindication is attempted delusion, and the only person deluded is SELF. The world is clamoring for more time off, more money, more benefits, more leisure, more of anything else but I do not see too many wanting more of God, for when we do it is a sure sign that we want “CREDIBILITY”.

Some deep introspection is involved in these two simple questions above, because they involve a degree of dedication, commitment, denial of self, things that we are mentally aware of but spiritually devoid of.

What do I need to do to show I have “love one for the other”?

How do I command respect from the outside world

Does my performance match my profession, this is the hard one.

2 Timothy 3:5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].

In the book of John we find many directions which will assist us in attaining the Credibility that Father requires, not the least of which is JOHN 13:34, which is not just a suggestion, BUT AN ORDER

John 13:34 I give you a NEW COMMANDMENT: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.

If we disobey that “ORDER” or “NEW COMMANDMENT” then we disqualify ourselves from any “CREDIBILITY”. This love that Jesus ordered the disciples to display was their BADGE OF DISCIPLESHIP, and this badge could only be pinned to the “Garb of a Disciple”, that is the garb of OBEDIENCE.

This verse is a reflection of Old Testament instruction written to Israel, and recorded in the book of Leviticus, and was first adopted to indicate that it had for its main subject the duties and functions appertaining to the chief house of the priestly tribe of Levi. As a consequence, we are priests, as described by 1 Peter 2:5, “Come, and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a HOLY (DEDICATED, CONSECRATED) PRIESTHOOD, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ”. This priesthood carries responsibility from way back in the Levitical times

Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take revenge or bear any grudge against the sons of your people, BUT YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF. I am the Lord.

So why, if it was ordered in Leviticus in the Old Testament, is there the necessity for a “New Commandment” in the New Testament? It is called “NEW”, not because there was no command before which required people to love their fellow-man, for the Levitical precept of the law was that they should love their neighbour as themselves, but it was new because it had never before been made that, by which any class or body of people had been KNOWN AND DISTINGUISHED, it was an order that if complied with would ”ESTABLISH CREDIBILITY”.

Matthew intensifies the principle with a dissertation of what this love involves, and the character of love in this context rules out any potential for PARTIALITY, for we have a certain propensity to “pick and choose”. Let me share the details.

Matthew 5:43-48 YOU HAVE HEARD (Matthew seems to be deleting or erasing any excuse that we “didn’t know” … comments mine) that it was said, You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy; (verse 44), But I tell you, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES and PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU, (verse 45) TO SHOW (or SO THAT .. comments mine) that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; (or to establish your CREDIBILITY … comments mine) for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike]. (verse 46) For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that? (verse 47) And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even THE GENTILES (THE HEATHEN) DO THAT? (verse 48) You, THEREFORE, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in MIND AND CHARACTER,(or in attitude and behaviour …. comments mine) having reached the proper height of VIRTUE AND INTEGRITY], (or using today’s terms, “”CREDIBILITY” … comments mine) as your heavenly Father is perfect.

2 Peter 1:5 ………… employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy)

You may recall that we identified these two characteristics earlier in this study as component and structural requirements forming our “CREDIBILITY”. John describes it in 1 John 1:3 as “And [this] fellowship that we have [which is A DISTINGUISHING MARK of Christians.

So John 13:34 gives the orders, “A new commandment” and then in the next verse (35) gives the results , “All men shall Know”, or adds the “Credibility, Legitimacy, Validity”.

LOVE HAS TO ABOUND …. this has been the MANTRA of the church for generations, but where is the MANIFESTATION? The apostle Paul, in writing to the Philippians, records the parameters with numerous signposts and mileage posts so that we can establish “CREDIBILITY”.

Philippians 1:9-10 And this I pray: that your LOVE MAY ABOUND yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in KNOWLEDGE and all keen INSIGHT [that your love may display itself in greater depth of ACQUAINTANCE and more COMPREHENSIVE DISCERNMENT], (verse 10) SO THAT (These two little words always preface or introduce the results or the consequences, where ever we see “SO THAT” it is beneficial to observe what the outcome will be, and in this case they establish the basis for “CREDIBILITY”… comments mine) YOU MAY SURELY LEARN TO SENSE (this constitutes that vital spiritual ability of discernment and keen insight … comments mine) what is VITAL, and approve and prize what is EXCELLENT and of real VALUE [recognizing the HIGHEST and the BEST, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be UNTAINTED and PURE and UNERRING and BLAMELESS [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].

For your future study it may be beneficial to explore the terms used here, “VITAL, EXCELLENT, VALUE, HIGHEST, BEST”, then go onto the second part, “UNTAINTED, PURE, UNERRING, BLAMELESS”.

“CREDIBILITY” is a highly visible, easily recognisable, greatly respected and infrequently worn badge, when it is worn, it is “A distinguishing mark”. (John 1:3)

The WORD BECOMES VISIBLE, and this becomes more relevant as we see

John 1:14 “And the Word (Christ) became flesh”, this is where the visibility of our credibility begins to align with “All men shall know”

But it is not only heard, but seen, (1 John 1:3) there was no loss of faculties in Johns case, no deaf ears or blind eyes (Mark 8:18) but “seen and heard ourselves”, constituting acute spiritual perception, and because there was obedience to that “New Commandment”, that direct order to “love one another”, they were keen to share the benefits.

To some the subject of “CREDIBILITY” is of little consequence, as their focus is not concerned with how they are perceived, they have no shame or embarrassment in their unreliability, it just seems like it is a state outside their reality. A torpor of indolence.

I recall a mother who used to say to her little tot, “what does bad behaviour result in” and the child was so well educated in this respect that the answer was a spontaneous “BAD CONSEQUENCES”.

Just because a position is considered “valid” does not mean it is “VALUED”. The fact that we believe there is a God is VALID, but we have to demonstrate our appreciation by how much we VALUE our relationship, or else we erode our CREDIBILITY by our disobedience.

How credible was Saul when Samuel came to him and where on this occasion Saul had not waited for Samuel as instructed. His blaming the people for the sheep they had “stolen” completely destroys his credibility.

1 Samuel 15:14-15 And Samuel said, What then means this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? Saul said, THEY have brought them from the Amalekites; for THE PEOPLE spared the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but the rest we have utterly destroyed.

The basic hierarchy that Lord is seeking is “LOVE”, in the church, in the family, between couples, and extends to “love your enemies”. How much competency do we evidence here, for it is a stark measure of our “CREDIBILITY”.

It is difficult to “command respect” if we intrinsically know we don’t deserve respect. Our credibility is the mirror of the ALIGNMENT OF OUR PROFESSION WITH OUR PERFORMANCE. If I am not “commanding respect” then I need to explore why. What is the hindrance, the contaminant, the evidence that relieves people of the owner’s task of respecting me as God’s representative. It is impossible to fabricate “credibility”, for the Bible says in a Proverbs 23:7, “as a man thinks in his heart so is he”, so the insincerity of a person’s heart always shows up in their character, they are “invalid”, or to extend the word, spiritual invalids, spiritually crippled, socially inept, significantly suspect, suspiciously regarded, scorned.

Now to the positive, what does “CREDIBILITY” consist of, from a scriptural basis, and then how is it evidenced in a “CREDIBLE” life. With CREDIBILITY comes REPUTATION, but it is the CREDIBILITY that we work at, not the REPUTATION. Jesus made Himself of no reputation (Philippians 2:7) but He established His CREDIBILITY. But the Apostle Paul sets up parameters that constitute those qualities that attend “CREDIBILITY”.

Philippians 2:15-16 THAT YOU (a similar prefix as “SO THAT” … comments mine) may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world, (verse 16) Holding out [to it] and offering [to all men] the Word of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may have something of which exultantly to rejoice and glory in that I did not run my race in vain or spend my labour to no purpose. (Or, I had established my credibility … comments mine)

The church presents in its reality such a contrast to its ideal, when in spite of all the wonders it has done, it has failed to do all that is expected of it. Our call from God is not to make our mark, but to show it, to work at it so that we establish credibility, and that requires humility, and humility springs out of “OBEDIENCE”.

Credibility is neither inherited or transferrable. It is created in and by the singular, unique persuasions of the individual. If that individual is convinced that “Jesus Christ is Lord”, then their lifestyle will be constructed to support their convictions, and all aberrations will succumb to the need/desire to evidence that “Jesus Christ is Lord”.

Where we attempt to vindicate our shortcomings, we engage in self delusion, we believe our excuses. “LOVE” enables us to share our thoughts and express our fears, not vindictively, but lovingly. And this is why we have “church hoppers”, they don’t have sufficient love to be able to blend with instruction and correction or the fire and hammer of the Word. The love they have is love of convenience, not true love but infatuation or self gratification and if the atmosphere changes for them, they opt out, they ensure their lack of credibility is made obvious.

Our credibility exists in a climate which varies, there should be continuing maturity achieved and this brings new challenges as we come closer to the Lord.

“UNRELIABILITY” is the antonym for “CREDIBILITY”

Hebrews 13:5 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

Psalm 115:2 Why should the nations say, Where is now their God?

oOo

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #10 ROSS SMITH

April 16, 2016 Ross Smith

We are again discussing walking in the Spirit, to determine the means. I have read from Colossians 3v12 as a reinforcement of that which Paul said to the Colossian church in

Colossians 1:11b [We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [TO EXERCISE] EVERY KIND OF ENDURANCE AND PATIENCE (PERSEVERANCE AND FORBEARANCE) WITH JOY,

Colossians 3:12 Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behaviour marked by] tender-hearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].

Note that in both instances, Colossians 1 and 3, that there is the necessity for our exercising, our participating, and our expending some energy. The power to endure is part of what we looked at last week when we were invigorated and strengthened by the might of His power and so this is what part of that power is for – that we might be able to EXERCISE. We see in part the reason why it is required and no doubt as we proceed we will find there is a much more acute reason for this power.

The word TO EXERCISE is the same requirement that we have previously seen for walking and living in the Spirit but it indicates that there is a demand for APPLICATION. At the point in time that the message finally penetrates and we understand that we are required to expend some energy to succeed in matters spiritual and eternal, at that point in time there will occur a spontaneous release of the Spirit of God toward us. At that point in time when the penny drops that we need to apply ourselves, God will release His Spirit to us in a way that we can’t imagine. How do I know? The Bible says in

James 4:8 Come close to God and He will come close to you.

The Word specifies how energetic we are to be. Some of us find we have boundless energy, it seems to be restrained so often to children below the age of about five, and then for some reason peters out.

Deuteronomy 6:5 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.

Now that doesn’t leave a lot of faculties for other activities. Unfortunately, to many of us, exercise in an unacceptable term, it implies a disruption of my comfort.

There is a cost of some sort in exercise, it might be time, energy or pain or pride. Exercise is not just physical, but mental and emotional and spiritual, but the same degree and type of discipline is required in all areas.

We understand exercising in some areas, particularly in the area of the physical, we exercise RESTRAINT, CARE, SELF-CONTROL, and LOVE. All of these things require application but if any of these are not exercised they will deteriorate into a state of unfitness, or unpreparedness, that inadequacy, with the resultant effect that when we are called upon to demonstrate this particular attribute whether it be strength in the physical or the strength of a particular characteristic, then we are shown to be unfit.

Paul said to the Corinthian church in

1 Corinthians 9:27 But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships]

He is talking here about self-control, not about masochism, it is self-control that Paul is referring to.

and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].

Paul says I buffet my body, I subdue it, I keep myself under control because if I don’t exercise, then I will become unfit. Of course there are exercises that are inappropriate and these we need to avoid, and I’m not talking about walking.

Psalm 131:1 LORD, MY heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in matters too great or in things too wonderful for me.

The Psalmist says there are some things we should not get involved in. We should not exercise ourselves in those matters. Then there is the exercise that so often we overdo, some do it with a knife and fork, fortunately, that trend is reversible. But the Bible says that there is one area which is difficult to reverse in which we overdo that exercise.

James 3:8 But the human tongue can be tamed by no man. It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison.

Let me tell you, in the majority of people today, the muscle of the tongue is the most exercised muscle in the body, and we need to subdue it.

The Apostle Paul is a classic example of the principle of exercise. We’ve already seen in 1 Corinthians 9v27 but he also expands upon it in

Acts 24:16 Therefore I ALWAYS exercise and discipline myself [MORTIFYING my body, deadening my carnal affections, bodily appetites, and worldly desires, endeavouring in ALL respects] to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offense toward God AND TOWARD MEN.

Underline those last three words. It becomes very apparent down the track that this is one of the areas that is so relevant to us exercising endurance and patience and longsuffering and forbearance, void of offence toward God and toward man. The crystallizing of the thought is recorded in

1 Timothy 4v7b Train yourself toward godliness (piety),

Training involves pain, and effort and energy, and remember Colossians 1v11 says “EXERCISE”

1 Timothy 4v7c [keeping yourself spiritually fit].

1 Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way,

You see, I’ve learned the secret, I don’t need to go walking around the block for half an hour every night. The book tells me in Isaiah 40v31 that if I wait upon the Lord, He will renew my strength, I will mount up on wings as an eagle and draw close to God.

1 Timothy 4v8b for it (godliness) holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.

So often we strive because we think, “I’ve got to reach that eternal goal”, and so we have, but the book says that spiritual exercise is also profitable in this life.

Exercise and practice – call it what you may – they are similar actions – and I was interested to note that God practices.

Jeremiah 9:24 But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.

IF ONLY!!! The church of Jesus Christ today only knows about God, we need to know Him personally and practically. How do I know Him practically? By putting Him to work in my situation, by saying ‘I want to understand Your ways O God!” How do I understand them? By letting God loose in my situation.

I hate this particular part of Scripture because it confronts me fair and square. So often, it’s much easier to put my sanctification on the shelf for a few moments and deal with the situation. The book says “Exercise patience and endurance, and do it with joy. Doing it with joy doesn’t include doing it with clenched teeth. So often, I can exercise self-restraint like that, but the Book says “with good temper”. See how consistent the Word of God is. If we have to do it through clenched teeth, then we’ve got to go back and start to learn the lesson again.

I was in Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 9:24 But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character],

When we do this, we will be worshippers.

that I am the Lord, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.

He PRACTICES, He APPLIES THEM, He puts them into effect. Our exercise then is that we might walk and live in the Spirit, and it’s noteworthy, I think, how we should apply it.

Colossians 1:11 [We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy,

I have never really thought too much about there being more than one kind of endurance, or more than one kind of patience. I am aware that there are many different forums afforded me to practice each and every kind, but what constitutes every kind?

As I studied, I thought “I’d like to confine this to matters spiritual. It will be much easier”, but as I got into the Word of God I found that that was not possible. As I went back and looked at the KJV, it says EXERCISE ALL PATIENCE. Exercise every kind is just easier for me to understand.

To exercise these qualities is not just a passive acceptance of the inevitable, that “Oh well, mon yana! Tomorrow will be a better day, I’ll just have to wear it”. It is not a passive acceptance of the inevitable, but conversely it is an active, unrelenting endeavour even in spite of difficulty and trial. When the things of the earth come against you, God is trying to refine you. We say “Make me like You Lord, but just don’t put me through it”, that’s our unspoken request.

The definition, when we go back into the dictionary, is quite extensive. It covers a fairly broad definition but one that interested me was this…

To subject to forms of exertion, in order to train, to strengthen, to condition.

Let me ask you the question. How much exertion have you applied this week to becoming like Jesus? How much exertion have you applied this week to the study and contemplation of the Word? I don’t mean you have just sat in your rocking chair and read half a dozen chapters., that’s not exertion!!

Mark 4:24 And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you–and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.

Virtue and knowledge is that excellence in our Christian walk. We need to apply ourselves vigorously to the pursuit of things eternal, and as we do it, we will find that the natural things will take their proper place.

Matthew 6:33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

If I go into Proverbs 2v4, it tells me “Seek it as hid treasure.” Dig for it!

Proverbs 2:4 If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skilful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures,

We have to turn our understanding of the term EXERCISE into practical experience. What is the “EVERY KIND”?

Remember when I said before that we should become “void of offense toward God and man.”

Mostly the necessity for endurance and patience, for perseverance and forbearance and longsuffering comes about because of the people we come in contact with. You have heard me say many times “If there were no other people around, I could be perfect”, it’s other people who make me like I am, well, that’s my excuse!

If there were no other people, there would be no need for patience and endurance and forbearance and longsuffering. I said “Mostly”. Now obviously there are some other reasons such as the weather or sickness sometimes, where we have to be patient, but if we analyse the prime cause for the need to apply these qualities or these traits, it is people. Had that experience this week?

We are learning to walk and live in the Spirit, and this is a Christlike lifestyle, and so, we have to understand the foundation. Let me go back a little. God made people (unfortunately he didn’t make us the way we are), but God made us and consequently, He has a high regard for humanity. He holds people in high esteem.

As a consequence, we are to emulate that regard for men and women that God has made. The word tells me in Genesis 1, just where God had created mankind, “and God saw everything that He had made and behold it was very good”. In all the other five days, when He created all the other things, God saw it was good, but when He created humans, He saw that it was very good.

In Philippians 2v3b we get our instructions

Philippians 2:3b Instead, in the true spirit of humility

I think that’s interesting, don’t you, that Paul should couch it in those terms. So many people have pseudo humility, a quasi humility, so many people indulge in a humility which is not what Paul said, the true spirit of humility. Where do we get it? By applying and exercising endurance and patience and forbearance and perseverance.

Philippians 2:3b Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].

That’s a mouthful. There are some people I don’t have much difficulty doing that with, most people are indeed much better. But the book says LET EACH REGARD THE OTHERS AS BETTER. That’s the regard God has for humanity, that’s the pattern that He wants me to emulate, that’s the reason He coerces me to be patient and longsuffering, and I can see that some have already tuned me out this morning, it’s getting too close to home, to close to the bone.

God is dealing with us, because He wants a church without spot and wrinkle, He wants to build a church that the gates of hell can’t prevail against, He wants a bride that is spotless and pure, that’s why he’s dealing with us as he is.

The Word is full of references to patience and longsuffering and forbearance that God has evidenced towards mankind down through the generations. We only have to go back to the Exodus and see there the tribulations that the children of Israel put God through to see how patient He is.

We come then to Paul’s exhortation to the Roman church and he says there in Romans 2:4-7

Romans 2:4 Or are you [so blind as to] trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience?

We do it, week by week by week, we trifle with it. How do I know? Because if we took the Word of God that has come by His Spirit for months now, and had applied it, we would be evidencing the nature of Christ to a far greater degree, but we trifle with it.

Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent (to change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will)?

Remember we learned previously in Colossians 1 that a life that is satisfactory to God is preceded by an understanding of His will.

Romans 2:7 To those who by patient persistence in well-doing [springing from piety]

Not springing from some philanthropic ambition. What is piety? It’s dedication to our God, that patient persistence which springs from piety

seek [unseen but sure] glory and honour and [the eternal blessedness of] immortality, HE WILL GIVE ETERNAL LIFE.

Notice how the renewing of Isaiah 40 and the knowing of God’s will of Colossians 1 comes together again here in Romans. I want to cover this point.

The Word prescribes the route that we are to follow for the development of patience. How many here this morning have oodles of patience?

Romans 5:3 Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.

Glory in tribulation! We glory in tribulation because we know that tribulation works patience. The only problem in this particular college is that there are too many dropouts.! When the going gets tough, the tough get going. I think there is another connotation to that, they pack their little bags and they’re off. “I’m not getting too far into this brother, I’m not a masochist.” Who needs tribulation? I do, Why? Because tribulation works patience and by persistent patience, God will give you eternal life, but I want it – without the tribulation!!!.

James 1:3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

I hear people praying for patience, and when I do I shudder, because I know the route that God takes to give you that patience. Never ask God for patience, for when you ask for it, you’ll get it – through tribulation.

I found it interesting this week to find that the word patience only occurs in the New Testament. And so obviously that Word, that quality, that condition is a condition that we are helped to attain by the Spirit as New Testament people. Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet. The book says

Luke 21:19 By your steadfastness and patient endurance you shall win the true life of your souls.

Isn’t that what we’re about? Isn’t that the ambition of every heart and life? You see patience perfects the character of a Christian and as we know perfect character equals perfect power. I know this from

James 1:4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

James could have recorded, Let patience and endurance and steadfastness have an effect in your life, and that would have been profound, but that is not what is recorded, it says

James 1:4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have FULL play and do a THOROUGH work,

You see that these qualities must be allowed to function, we suppress these things. It infers that we have as an inherent characteristic, a propensity for patience, just like we have a measure of faith. But we make allowances for impatience when James says we should ALLOW PATIENCE… So often we say, “Well don’t annoy Dad today, he’s had a hard day and that’s why he’s agro. It doesn’t say to make allowances for impatience, iT says LET PATIENCE.

Are you prepared to do it? It says in Job if God can’t get my attention through the preaching of the Word then He’ll try to capture my attention through dreams and visions, and if He can’t get me through either of those, it says He’ll put me on a bed of pain to try to arrest my attention. (Job 33:19) God has aimed the spotlight of heaven into the hearts of His people here this morning saying, “I want you to be like me”. He wants the church to become patient, not ambivalent, not complacent, but patient and enduring and steadfast and persevering and forbearing.

oOo

NEW CHRISTIAN LESSON #3 “THE CONFORMITY” ROSS SMITH

April 16, 2016 Ross Smith

#3 THE CONFORMITY

We saw in THE CORRECTION that we were to be CONFORMED to His image or as it says in

Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be moulded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.

CONFORM means to make exactly alike.

We also use another word to describe our being made like Christ, and that word is SANCTIFICATION.

CONFORMITY or SANCTIFICATION means to separate from sin and separate to God.

FROM SIN to SALVATION to GOD for SERVICE

THERE ARE TWO ASPECTS TO OUR CONFORMITY

A That which takes place instantaneously when we accept THE CORRECTION.

B That which continues to take place as we follow the Lord, a progressive conformity.

Let us find Scripture to explain this:-

INSTANTANEOUS

John 17:16 They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world.

John 17:17 SANCTIFY them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] BY THE TRUTH; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH.

Notice in verse 17, the first word is SANCTIFY. When the New Testament was written, it was written in Greek, and the word they used was hagiazo and it means to separate from a profane or common use to a sacred use.

When we accept the Lord as our Saviour and take advantage of THE CORRECTION, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from sin INSTANTLY.

1 John 1:7 But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

1 John 1:9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [EVERYTHING NOT IN CONFORMITY to His will in purpose, thought, and action].

This initial or instantaneous CONFORMITY is the washing of the inward guilt of sin. Initial sanctification occurs simultaneously with the new birth, the moment of conversion to the holiness pattern of living.

CONFORMITY leads to holiness, but is not something that is only achieved at the end of our Christian journey. Both are present from the beginning of our new life and continue to increase to its end.

PROGRESSIVE

Colossians 1:10 That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition].

Colossians 2:2 [For my concern is] that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged) as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God, [which is] Christ (the Anointed One).

We become more like Him or CONFORM to His image as we progress and serve Him. But we have to apply ourselves to be like Him. We have to eat our spiritual food so that our spiritual nature grows.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace (undeserved favour, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honour, majesty, and splendour) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!

The fact that there is a need for PROGRESSIVE CONFORMIY does not imply that God is incapable of carrying out an instantaneous transformation, but relates to man’s capacity to respond to God’s grace.

God is HOLY. We become holy, because holiness comes from God. But holiness refers to the quality of spiritual life whereas CONFORMITY or SANCTIFICATION denotes the act or process by which one is made holy.

Progressive Conformity is a most important feature of the Christian life, for it is intended to evidence a distinctive life style.

Nowhere is the Bible is this life in grace understood to be the consequences either of mere human striving and effort, or of automatic and impersonal growth. That CONFORMITY or SANCTIFICATION which issues in Holiness in every aspect of daily life always presupposes the divine activity of grace.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 And may the Lord make you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another and for all people, just as we also do for you,

1 Thessalonians 3:13 So that He may strengthen and confirm and establish your hearts faultlessly pure and unblamable in holiness in the sight of our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) with all His saints (the holy and glorified people of God)! Amen, (so be it)!

HOW ARE WE CONFORMED TO CHRIST?

A BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

1John 1:7 But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

B BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

1 Peter 1:2 Who were chosen and foreknown by God the Father and consecrated (sanctified, made holy) BY THE SPIRIT to be obedient to Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and to be sprinkled with [His] blood: May grace (spiritual blessing) and peace be given you in increasing abundance [that spiritual peace to be realized in and through Christ, freedom from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts].

God’s people are surrounded by the influences of the Holy Spirit. By these, they are brought to consecration and guided towards a more perfect obedience.

Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

The guidance of the Holy Spirit to men who are CONFORMED, is not an unusual occurrence.

1 Philip made contact with the Ethiopian in

Acts 8:26 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Rise and proceed southward or at midday on the road that runs from Jerusalem down to Gaza. This is the desert [route].

Acts 8:27 So he got up and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship.

Acts 8:28 And he was [now] returning, and sitting in his chariot he was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.

Acts 8:29 Then the [Holy] Spirit said to Philip, Go forward and join yourself to this chariot.

Acts 8:30 Accordingly Philip, running up to him, heard [the man] reading the prophet Isaiah and asked, Do you really understand what you are reading?

Acts 8:31 And he said, How is it possible for me to do so unless someone explains it to me and guides me [in the right way]? And he earnestly requested Philip to come up and sit beside him.

Acts 8:32 Now this was the passage of Scripture which he was reading: Like a sheep He was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so He opens not His mouth.

Acts 8:33 In His humiliation He was taken away by distressing and oppressive judgment and justice was denied Him [caused to cease]. Who can describe or relate in full the wickedness of His contemporaries (generation)? For His life is taken from the earth and a bloody death inflicted upon Him.

Acts 8:34 And the eunuch said to Philip, I beg of you, tell me about whom does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?

Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this portion of Scripture he announced to him the glad tidings (Gospel) of Jesus and about Him.

Acts 8:36 And as they continued along on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch exclaimed, See, [here is] water! What is to hinder my being baptized?

Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart [if you have a conviction, full of joyful trust, that Jesus is the Messiah and accept Him as the Author of your salvation in the kingdom of God, giving Him your obedience, then] you may. And he replied, I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

2 Ananias was directed to Saul

Acts 9:10 Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he answered, Here am I, Lord.

Acts 9:11 And the Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying [there].

Acts 9:12 And he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.

Act 9:13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard many people tell about this man, especially how much evil and what great suffering he has brought on Your saints at Jerusalem;

Acts 9:14 Now he is here and has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call upon Your name.

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel;

Acts 9:16 For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My name’s sake.

Acts 9:17 So Ananias left and went into the house. And he laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you along the way by which you came here, has sent me that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9:18 And instantly something like scales fell from [Saul’s] eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized,

3 Peter was sent to Cornelius

Acts 10:1 NOW [living] at Caesarea there was a man whose name was Cornelius, a centurion (captain) of what was known as the Italian Regiment,

Acts 10:2 A devout man who venerated God and treated Him with reverential obedience, as did all his household; and he gave much alms to the people and prayed continually to God.

Acts 10:3 About the ninth hour (about 3:00 p.m.) of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God entering and saying to him, Cornelius!

Acts 10:4 And he, gazing intently at him, became frightened and said, What is it, Lord? And the angel said to him, Your prayers and your [generous] gifts to the poor have come up [as a sacrifice] to God and have been remembered by Him.

Acts 10:5 And now send men to Joppa and have them call for and invite here a certain Simon whose surname is Peter;

Acts 10:6 He is lodging with Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.

Acts 10:7 When the angel who spoke to him had left, Cornelius called two of his servants and a God-fearing soldier from among his own personal attendants.

Acts 10:8 And having rehearsed everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Acts 10:9 The next day as they were still on their way and were approaching the town, Peter went up to the roof of the house to pray, about the sixth hour (noon).

Acts 10:10 But he became very hungry, and wanted something to eat; and while the meal was being prepared a trance came over him,

Act 10:11 And he saw the sky opened and something like a great sheet lowered by the four corners, descending to the earth.

Acts 10:12 It contained all kinds of quadrupeds and wild beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the air.

Acts 10:13 And there came a voice to him, saying, Rise up, Peter, kill and eat.

Acts 10:14 But Peter said, No, by no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unhallowed or [ceremonially] unclean.

Acts 10:15 And the voice came to him again a second time, What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, do not you defile and profane by regarding and calling common and unhallowed or unclean.

Acts 10:16 This occurred three times; then immediately the sheet was taken up to heaven.

Acts 10:17 Now Peter was still inwardly perplexed and doubted as to what the vision which he had seen could mean, when [just then] behold the messengers that were sent by Cornelius, who had made inquiry for Simon’s house, stopped and stood before the gate.

Acts 10:18 And they called out to inquire whether Simon who was surnamed Peter was staying there.

Acts 10:19 And while Peter was earnestly revolving the vision in his mind and meditating on it, the [Holy] Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are looking for you!

Acts 10:20 Get up and go below and accompany them without any doubt [about its legality] or any discrimination or hesitation, for I have sent them.

Acts 10:21 Then Peter went down to the men and said, I am the man you seek; what is the purpose of your coming?

Acts 10:22 And they said, Cornelius, a centurion (captain) who is just and upright and in right standing with God, being God-fearing and obedient and well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, has been instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house; and he has received in answer [to prayer] a warning to listen to and act upon what you have to say.

Acts 10:23 So Peter invited them in to be his guests [for the night]. The next day he arose and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Acts 10:24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for and expecting them, and he had invited together his relatives and his intimate friends.

Acts 10:25 As Peter arrived, Cornelius met him, and falling down at his feet he made obeisance and paid worshipful reverence to him.

Acts 10:26 But Peter raised him up, saying, Get up; I myself am also a man.

Acts 10:27 And as [Peter] spoke with him, he entered the house and found a large group of persons assembled;

Acts 10:28 And he said to them, You yourselves are aware how it is not lawful or permissible for a Jew to keep company with or to visit or [even] to come near or to speak first to anyone of another nationality, but God has shown and taught me by words that I should not call any human being common or unhallowed or [ceremonially] unclean.

Acts 10:29 Therefore when I was sent for, I came without hesitation or objection or misgivings. So now I ask for what reason you sent for me.

Acts 10:30 And Cornelius said, This is now the fourth day since about this time I was observing the ninth hour (three o’clock in the afternoon) of prayer in my lodging place; [suddenly] a man stood before me in dazzling apparel,

Acts 10:31 And he said, Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and harkened to, and your donations to the poor have been known and preserved before God [so that He heeds and is about to help you].

Acts 10:32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is surnamed Peter; he is staying in the house of Simon the tanner by the seaside.

Acts 10:33 So at once I sent for you, and you [being a Jew] have done a kind and courteous and handsome thing in coming. Now then, we are all present in the sight of God to listen to all that you have been instructed by the Lord to say.

Acts 10:34 And Peter opened his mouth and said: Most certainly and thoroughly I now perceive and understand that God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons,

Acts 10:35 But in every nation he who venerates and has a reverential fear for God, treating Him with worshipful obedience and living uprightly, is acceptable to Him and sure of being received and welcomed [by Him].

Acts 10:36 You know the contents of the message which He sent to Israel, announcing the good news (Gospel) of peace by Jesus Christ, Who is Lord of all–

Acts 10:37 The [same] message which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee after the baptism preached by John–

Acts 10:38 How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the [Holy] Spirit and with strength and ability and power; how He went about doing good and, in particular, curing all who were harassed and oppressed by [the power of] the devil, for God was with Him.

Acts 10:39 And we are [eye and ear] witnesses of everything that He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And [yet] they put Him out of the way (murdered Him) by hanging Him on a tree;

Acts 10:40 But God raised Him to life on the third day and caused Him to be manifest (to be plainly seen),

Acts 10:41 Not by all the people but to us who were chosen (designated) beforehand by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

Acts 10:42 And He charged us to preach to the people and to bear solemn testimony that He is the God-appointed and God-ordained Judge of the living and the dead.

Acts 10:43 To Him all the prophets testify (bear witness) that everyone who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him, giving himself up to Him] receives forgiveness of sins through His name.

Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.

Acts 10:45 And the believers from among the circumcised [the Jews] who came with Peter were surprised and amazed, because the free gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed and poured out largely even on the Gentiles.

Acts 10:46 For they heard them talking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and extolling and magnifying God. Then Peter asked,

Acts 10:47 Can anyone forbid or refuse water for baptizing these people, seeing that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?

Acts 10:48 And he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Then they begged him to stay on there for some days.

This is just to name a few, but look at the result.

The Ethiopian carried the gospel to Africa

Saul carried the gospel to Europe

Cornelius carried the gospel to the Gentiles.

THE WORD

John 17:17 Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] BY THE TRUTH; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH.

Ephesians 5:26 So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word,

Ephesians 5:27 That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless].

1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation,

You can tell the difference between the people who regularly read their Bible and those who do not.

1 Their lives are different.

2 Their standards are different.

3 Their faces are different

One of the first things to be neglected when a person loses their enthusiasm for CONFORMITY is the reading of the Word of God.

A The Word is LIGHT

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:130 The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.

B The Word is SHARP

Hebrews 4:12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analysing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

C The Word is a MAP

Psalm 119:11 Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

D The Word is FOOD

1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation,

Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.

This progressive conformity is confirmed to us in no uncertain terms in

It is one thing to be instantly CONFORMED but another thing to maintain it. I have to know the means by which I can successfully maintain my conformity to God.

1 John 2:15 Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.

The Bible is not talking about creation when it says THE WORLD, nor does the term have the same connotations as John 3:16

John 3:16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the WORLD that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

It means all in the present order of things which appeal to the soul as an object of desire apart from and in rivalry to God.

Conformity or sanctification in the fullest biblical sense denotes the complete recovery, by grace, from the effects of sin, not simultaneously, but successively.

All conformity is the result of God’s gracious activity. We see this truth reinforced by:-

CONFORMITY – A SOCIAL ISSUE

Conformity is not just a spiritual exercise but it affects, or should affect, every aspect of our life style. Conformity expresses itself in all that one does and is in relation to the world, and particularly how we relate to other people.

Our conformity influences all religious, political, occupational, familial and social relationships which make up life. No wonder the Bible says we are the salt of the earth.

Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.

We have not received THE CORRECTION by good works, but FOR good works, works of obedience.

HOW DO WE MAINTAIN OUR CONFORMITY OR SANCTIFICATION?

1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation,

Matthew 26:41 All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

The Apostle Paul describes the lengths he went to to maintain his conformity, and it is obvious that it wasn’t any easier for him than it is for us, so we don’t really have any excuse.

1 Corinthians 15:31 [I assure you] by the pride which I have in you in [your fellowship and union with] Christ Jesus our Lord, that I die daily [I face death every day and die to self].

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

Centenary translation I strain every nerve.

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good (worthy, honourable and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.

PAUL HAD TO FIGHT

He was Intensely spiritual

Perfectly natural

Thoroughly practical

Temptation is always in our way and we so often miss the mark, for temptation comes in many ways.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world – ¹the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and ²the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and ³the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]–these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]

Jesus experienced all three areas of temptation.

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led (guided) by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness (desert) to be tempted (tested and tried) by the devil.

Matthew 4:2 And He went without food for forty days and forty nights, and later He was hungry.

THE LUST OF THE FLESH

Matthew 4:3 And the tempter came and said to Him, 1 If You are God’s Son, command these stones to be made [loaves of] bread.

Matthew 4:4 But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and placed Him on a turret (pinnacle, gable) of the temple sanctuary.

THE PRIDE OF LIFE

Matthew 4:6 And he said to Him, ² If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, He will give His angels charge over you, and they will bear you up on their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

Matthew 4:7 Jesus said to him, On the other hand, it is written also, You shall not tempt, test thoroughly, or try exceedingly the Lord your God.

Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory (the splendour, magnificence, pre-eminence, and excellence) of them.

THE LUST OF THE EYES

Matthew 4:9 And he said to Him, ³ These things, all taken together, I will give You, if You will prostrate Yourself before me and do homage and worship me.

Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, Begonia, Satan! For it has been written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone shall you serve.

Matthew 4:11 Then the devil departed from Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

HOW DID JESUS MAINTAIN HIS POSITION?

Firstly He put Scripture back into its proper context from which Satan had distorted it.

Psalm 91:9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,

Psalm 91:10 There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.

Psalm 91:11 For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

Psalm 91:12 They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Satan is a pathological liar. He cannot help himself. This is why we must recognise his overtures to us and then be quick to dismiss them, for they are couched in deceit.

Genesis 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, You may freely eat of every tree of the garden;

Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.

Genesis 3:4 But the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die,

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF CONFORMED PEOPLE?

There are expressions used in the bible to describe people who are in the process of being CONFORMED or being made like God and these three terms (there may be more) are:

HOLY

PECULIAR

CHOSEN

HOLY means having a divine origin.

The Greek word is hagiasmos meaning holiness. In the KJV Bible the word is translated sanctification or as we understand it CONFORMITY.

PECULIAR means God’s own possession and it comes from the Greek word peripoiesis.

CHOSEN means elect or eminent and this comes from the Greek word Eklektos.

HOLINESS

We have found that holiness is the quality of a conformed life, not the process of being conformed. It is something we have to strive for because the Bible specifies it.

We need to be able to see what Scripture says about all this.

Leviticus 19:2 Say to all the assembly of the Israelites, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

Hebrews 12:14 Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.

Other Scriptures

2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, since these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God.

Ephesians 4:24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

2 Peter 3:11 Since all these things are thus in the process of being dissolved, what kind of person ought [each of] you to be [in the meanwhile] in consecrated and holy behaviour and devout and godly qualities,

PECULIAR

Men of God are made to be respected, not understood, for when we are conformed we will qualify for what 1 Corinthians 2:15 says.

1 Corinthians 2:15 But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him].

Titus 2:14 Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly His own, people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds.

There has to be a special purpose for us being peculiar, not just because we want to be individuals or be a non-conformist.

Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

CHOSEN

For God to choose us is in itself truly remarkable and a privilege, for if we were to examine ourselves and try to establish reasons why we should be chosen, we would find very little qualification.

But if we are chosen, then we should respond in a manner that will make the Lord happy that He chose us.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.

See what He chose us for! To do this work we have to be like Him. We have to conform to His nature.

Isaiah 43:20 The beasts of the field honour Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen,

Isaiah 43:21 The people I formed for Myself, that they may set forth My praise [and they shall do it].

IF I AM TO BE COMFORMED (OR SANCTIFIED) CAN I STILL DO AS I PLEASE?

If we are chosen for a job, then obviously we are required to do the job we are paid for. It is no point my being employed as a policeman and going to the fire station to work. I have to do the job I was selected for.

Likewise we are to do the spiritual job we were chosen for, but for added reasons.

1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own,

1 Corinthians 6:20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honour God and bring glory to Him in your body.

1John 3:16 By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him].

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead [first to be brought back to life] and the Prince (Ruler) of the kings of the earth. To Him Who ever loves us and has once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood,

How many things we want to do may be quite in order as far as being legal, but they must also be considered as to whether they are helpful or not.

1Corinthians 6:12 Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.

Romans 14:8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or we die, we belong to the Lord.

HOW FAR DO I GO IN BEING CONFORMED?

There are many folk who suggest that there is no demand placed upon us to excel in God, that we are to do as well as we can but don’t let our spiritual experience become something that inhibits our natural abilities etc.

Proverbs 24:9 The plans of the foolish and the thought of foolishness are sin and the scoffer is an abomination to men.

Rom 14:23 But the man who has doubts (misgivings, an uneasy conscience) about eating, and then eats [perhaps because of you], stands condemned [before God], because he is not true to his convictions and he does not act from faith. For whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin [whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful].

More importantly, we must be CONFORMED not just for our own benefit, but so that others might find in our example, the help and direction they need for their lives, so that they can qualify.

Romans 14:13 Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavour never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.

1 Corinthians 8:8 Now food [itself] will not cause our acceptance by God nor commend us to Him. Eating [food offered to idols] gives us no advantage; neither do we come short or become any worse if we do not eat [it].

1 Corinthians 8:9 Only be careful that this power of choice (this permission and liberty to do as you please) which is yours, does not [somehow] become a hindrance (cause of stumbling) to the weak or overscrupulous [giving them an impulse to sin].

We sometimes think that because we are a bit more grown up or because we are not responsible to or for others that we can do some things in front of children, or young people, and they have to answer for themselves.

Matthew 18:6 But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin [that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought], it would be better (more expedient and profitable or advantageous) for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea.

The Bible means little in years or experience

GOD HAS SAVED US AND WANTS TO CONFORM US FOR TWO REASONS

A To redeem our soul

B To be a witness to others

SO WHAT NOW MAKES ME DIFFERENT

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God.

WASHED CLEANSED

1John 1:7 But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

CONSECRATED CONFORMED

Separated from sin unto God

JUSTIFIED FREE FROM GUILT OR BLAME

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

How has this taken place? 1 Corinthians 6:11 clarifies this by stating (paraphrase)

IN THE NAME OF JESUS AND BY THE HOLY SPIRIT’S INFLUENCE

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God.

CAN I MAINTAIN MY CONFORMITY?

In our own strength we will fail miserably, for we seem to operate in fits and starts – good for a while and then fail again, but He has promised to maintain our conformity and we need to be conscious of this all the time.

Philippians 1:6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

oOo

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #9 ROSS SMITH

April 13, 2016 Ross Smith

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #9 ROSS SMITH

This morning again, I have to ask myself, and suggest that you inquire of yourself, HOW SUCCESSFUL HAVE WE BEEN IN THE PAST WEEK IN APPLYING THE PRINCIPLES OF WALKING IN THE SPIRIT?

Are these principles still so seemingly theoretical or indeed are they becoming now a conscious part of our daily walk, understanding that we are controlled and directed by the Holy Spirit as we yield ourselves to Him and as we apply the principles which are fundamental and foundational.

The further we proceed, the more obvious it becomes that this should be the norm for God’s people, not extraordinary or indeed the exception. We used to get excited because we think “God spoke to me this morning”. We should live in that realm where we know God’s direction, where we know God’s control over our lives without having to have that sovereign intervention so spectacularly that he attracts our attention by it.

Although this experience of living and walking in the Spirit requires that we apply our effort to the promises of God, and when I say the promises of God, I’m not talking about all those areas for so long the church has majored on, I’m talking about the fundamental promises, the ones like

Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

All these areas are such basic and fundamental promises of God to us.

As we apply our efforts to them however, we are not just left to our own devices. Isn’t that encouraging, isn’t that reassuring to know that I haven’t just got to do it on my own? For if I do, and in so many areas of my life where I do that, I learn by trial and error – more by error so often, which develops the trial.

God established His path in the process and we find in

Colossians 1:11 [We pray] that you may be INVIGORATED AND STRENGTHENED WITH ALL POWER ACCORDING TO THE MIGHT OF HIS GLORY, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy,

Now when we began to look at this subject, we said, so often we look for the invigoration and the strengthening according to the circumstance we face, but that is not what the Bible says.

Invigorate means to give vigour and to energize or to animate, so let’s keep that in the back of our mind because when we come down a little further to see the church of Jesus Christ today, should have vigour, it should have energy, it should be animated.

But the trouble is that the animation of the church today is misdirected and we’ll cover that shortly. So Colossians says that we should be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory. Now this statement is part of Paul’s prayer for the church of Colossae, and because it is his prayer, there is an immediate indication that the invigoration and strength has to have a divine origin.

You say, “Well I know that, I’m not that stupid.” But I ask myself the question “Do we understand that this invigoration, this strengthening, because it is divine it its origin, is also divine in its intention?” We have to understand or discover what our motive is for wanting that energy or strength.

I would suggest that much of our desire for that energy and strength is:-

So that I might not be so frustrated every time I come to the close of the day and I find that I haven’t done all the things that I had to do or I wanted to do. Anyone else go through that? Come night time and my list is still three pages long, and I think “Why can’t I get up and continue to be fruitful in the things I still have to do?” So often I look for the strengthening and that energy to cover that aspect.

2 Sometimes, I think that we want the strength and the vigour of the Holy Spirit to cover for my frailties, or to help me with my ministry or to be better than my colleagues, and so often our motives for wanting that strength, vigour and animation is misdirected.

But the criteria exists in the context of

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait for the Lord (and I suggest that we add in here “NOT IN COMPLACENCY”) [who expect, look for, and hope in Him]

(This shows an active, energetic, animated Christian pursuing the goal that God has for them. This is the promise…..)

shall change and renew their strength and power;

What are we looking at? The book says in Colossians that we should be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory.

Isaiah says the way we go about it is to wait for the Lord. That is to look for and expect and hope in Him. But there is an interesting aspect here. How many times have you seen ads on TV for vitamin pills etc to give you energy? We can take vitamin pills tablets for the rest of our days but the book says, If we wait upon the Lord then the source of our strength changes, He says He will renew, not repair. You shall change and renew – you have a new source of strength, God is our strength.

The recognition of need however, is the first requirement. If I don’t think I need a new car, I’m not going to go out and look for a new car, am I, I’m quite satisfied to drive my old car. So if I don’t understand or have a need, then I’m not going to pursue that need.

When I have a desire, when I have an ambition, when I have a goal, then I pursue that goal. There has to be that recognition of need as the first requirement. If we don’t realize the need, or we don’t want to live and walk in the Spirit, let me tell you, you never will.

This is why I get so apprehensive with folks who disregard the direction that the Lord is taking us. I get apprehensive for those week in and week out who fail to take up the Word of God and soak themselves in it, and there are folk who sit in service this morning that have not picked up “the book” for days, The Word of God to you is your strength, it is your sustenance, it is your salvation, it is your eternal security and you cannot survive without soaking yourself in the Word of God day by day.

I get apprehensive of those who refuse to consistently and conscientiously study the Word of God. The book says “study to show yourself approved unto God. (2 Timothy 2:15) How else can we do it unless we know in deed and in truth and intensely what God requires of us? The book says you MUST study. I’ve had people say to me “But Pastor, I can’t study, I don’t know how to study”. The book didn’t say you had to study with the qualifications of a PhD, the book says STUDY.

Isaiah 40:29 He gives power

Remember when we looked before it says WE SHALL CHANGE AND RENEW, there was a Source, now the Source is indicated.

V29 He [Jesus Christ in God] gives power to the faint and weary and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].

Isaiah 40:30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;

You see, natural strength is inadequate, even the young men who have the energy of youth, those that are vital in God, because of their youth, they shall lose their strength if they rely on their natural abilities. The book says so, but… I look for what comes after the BUT

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power;

Now this is not an isolated instruction of the Word. The Psalmist also had that incisive understanding for in

Psalm 46:10 Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!

In other words, if we use the words of Isaiah…. those who wait for…. let be and be still and know…. recognize and understand ….How? By waiting on God, actively waiting, not with the torpor of indolence, but with enthusiasm and action.

But you say to me, “Every time I try to do something positive to come close to God, to live and to walk in the Spirit, it seems that everything comes against me to try to stop it”. Father is aware of this, acutely aware of it, and because of it, He will intervene. How do I know this with such assurance? Well, I went on a little further in the book, I didn’t stop at verse 31 and say “O isn’t that lovely?” I needed to get to the context of it and when I went into Isaiah 41v10, just a few verses down, it says

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I WILL STRENGTHEN AND HARDEN YOU TO DIFFICULTIES, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.

How many this week have had apprehensions about things? I look at the news at night and the Morgan Gallop Poll, and I get alarmed temporarily, until I remember that the government is upon His shoulders, our times are in His hands. I might plan my way but the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.

God says Fear not, I am with you. Who is with you? The great I AM. Remember when the disciples were with Jesus and He said, I want you to go and prepare the Passover etc, and they said “Who will we tell them who it is that wants all this?” and He said, “Tell them that I AM has sent you.” I AM with you. Recall in Isaiah 41:10:-,

do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I WILL STRENGTHEN AND HARDEN YOU TO DIFFICULTIES, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.

This is the renewal that we need from Isaiah 40, we will renew our strength if we draw from Him. If we look around in terror and despair, then we will see that our energy, our vigour, our whole peace will evaporate. But when I wait for Him, when I look for and expect and hope for Him, energetically, not complacently, then I will renew my strength. My source will change from the strength I have as a human individual to the strength God imparts as a sovereign King.

You will recall that when Paul addressed the church at Colossae, that he prayed that they might be filled with the full and deep and clear knowledge of His will and we have determined that the knowledge of His will is looked upon as preceding a life that is satisfactory to God.

And now I want to look quickly at Isaiah 40 and Colossians 1v9 with Romans 12v2. You will recall me saying that when we have a truth in the Word, that truth must not be held alone, that truth must stand with other truth. Now we see the convolution of this principle, it goes like this in Isaiah 40v29

Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].

We looked previously and saw that to MULTIPLY was God’s part and to ADD TO was our part. In 2 Peter 1 we find that principle conveyed there.

And now He says He will cause that strength to multiply, making it abound.

I qualify here, because I know that I’m weak and I’m faint and I’m weary so many times and so I qualify for what God wants to do, but it is those people who wait that God has promised He will multiply their strength, they are the ones who are the object of God’s attention.

When we look to Him out of our frailty, when we look to Him and wait for Him, He says ”That’s the man that I will multiply My strength to”. So don’t feel bad because you feel weak and you feel frail, it’s a precondition for our waiting on God and receiving the riches and power of His glory.

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power;

This renewal comes twofold:-

If I wait on the Lord, there will be a renewal not only in our strength but also in our mind. I can’t contemplate and sit before the Lord without having some transforming effect upon my mind, it goes hand in hand.

Colossians 1:9 For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things–

Paul’s prayer for the saints at Colossae was that they might have the full, clear and deep knowledge of His will. Paul was praying for the clarification of God’s will, let there be clarity, may they know Your will. (Also known as discernment)

And now when I come to Romans 12v2 I see that the strength that we require and use on a daily basis is for our own satisfaction and sufficiency so often. But!!!!

Romans 12:2a Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude],

Here again we see the reaffirmation of the principle, to know God’s will is a prerequisite of a life that is satisfactory to God. To be satisfactory to God, we need to have that transformation of our minds; we need to wait upon God. When I wait upon God, He pours in the strength, when I have the strength, then I am able to be strong in God and overturn the works of the enemy against my life.

There are several things that come out of Romans 12v2.

Firstly, it says “Do not be conformed to the world”. Now we may say “That’s fine”, but we get involved in so many areas that are like the world. If people looked upon the church of Jesus Christ in so many instances today, when God’s people are outside the four walls of the church, so often they’re hard to distinguish from the rest of the world, we look like them, we act like them, and we go to many places they go. We do and engage in things which are not appropriate, quite Legal, but not appropriate. The book says it’s legal but not expedient.

1 Corinthians 6:12 Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.

Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed – RENEWED IN YOUR MIND or better, renewed in your attitude, and prove what God’s will is.

How do I prove it, simply by living in it! When I apply myself to those basic fundamental principles of the Word of God, which says, If I roll my works upon the Lord, then my thoughts will be established, my plans will be caused to succeed, if I live in that, I prove God’s will for my life. Now that’s fundamental. Then we go on in God, steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God, according to Colossians chapter 1, it is so simple, why do we find it so difficult?

Romans 12v2b so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Now we’ve already said that knowing God’s will is a prerequisite to living a life that is satisfactory to Him.

Let’s come back to Colossians 1. The church of Jesus Christ is intended to be a vigorous church, we are expected to be an energetic animated body, but today the emphasis within the church has been misplaced in that the church today concentrates on emotional energy rather than spiritual vigour.

You see, God gives His power and His energy and His vigour not to dance but to do. Jesus Christ came that we might have liberty, not liberty to do our own thing, but liberty from all bondage, all the impositions and restrictions placed on us by the enemy, so that we can’t or won’t glorify God. He gives us vigour and energy that we might glorify Him, the liberty is the liberty to do the right thing.

Instead of recognizing His glory today, which issues from a strong and vigorous body, we see a church that looks for strength to meet the need of the circumstance.

And it seems today that the need of the circumstance is to go to church and get a buzz that will just keep us going till next week, “let me get some spiritual fizz and it’ll jack me up and I’ll last till next Sunday”. No, God wants us to live in the strength and the vigour and the energy and the animation of the Spirit that every moment of every day and we go out there and see the gates of hell being forced back because we’re living and walking in the Spirit.

If we want to, we can qualify to be like the prophets of Baal. All day they jumped all over the altar, they called upon their God, they cut themselves, they expended all their physical energy and for what, for nothing!

Then the fire fell. (1 Kings 18:38) O when a man like Elijah gets a hold of God, when a man knows His God, when a man looks for and trusts and expects and waits on God, then the fire falls. That could be pretty devastating, not only did it consume the sacrifice, it consumed the altar. Some of our altars are sacred, “don’t touch that altar, that’s sacred”, don’t complain about the loud music or the flashing lights, that‘s how we worship!!!! Not only did it touch the altar, it licked up the water and the dust around about it. That’s how we know it’s God’s fire, not only does it burn up the things we put before Him, but it roots out and takes away and pulls down all those things which are man-made or man-recognized.

How do I arrive at this conclusion? I’ve watched the church at play. You say at play, yes, the church is not at work, the church is still at play. I only have to read the church notices column in the newspaper each week to see that the church is at play. When God moves in on His people, there will be no need to advertise.

Today, the church is looking for satisfaction which is couched in the temporal, whereas our strength and our vigour are intended to be centered in the eternal, not in the temporal, it is according to the might of His glory. There is nothing glorious, in seeing two or three or four hundred people doing a hip-hop in the middle of service, nothing is God glorifying about that. When God moves in and He begins to stir the people of God, I won’t see what’s going on, I’ll be glorifying Him and worshipping and praising Him in a manner which will not be objectionable, but will be identifiable by its fruits.

There is an interesting description of men recorded in

Judges 8:21 … Rise yourself and fall on us; for as the man is, so is his strength….

Now we were familiar with the Scripture which says “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he”. Here in Judges it says “as a man is, so is his strength”. If you show me a man that is Mickey Mouse, I’ll show you a man that is Mickey Mouse in strength, and, whatever a man concentrates on, whatever he engages in, whatever he thinks about all the time, that’s what he ends up being. If he concentrates on God, if He fixes His mind on God, if he dwells in the eternal, that man will be strong, he will become like God.

The verse is pretty much self-explanatory, but I just want to cover a couple of items that will help us in identifying our living and walking in the Spirit. You see the man that relies on his own intellect and ability will be shown to be carnally minded.

Romans 8:6 Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

Psalm 52:7 (READ THE CONTEXT) See, this is the man who made not God his strength (his stronghold and high tower) but trusted in and confidently relied on the abundance of his riches, seeking refuge and security for himself through his wickedness.

I must ask myself every week, what is it I am dependent upon? If I have adequate resources so that I’m fed and clothed and watered and housed, then I rely on that. Strip away from a man his house and food, suddenly he is so vulnerable, he hasn’t got any trust in his source of strength.

If we know God in the dimension that He intends, if we relate to the Lord in the way desires that we relate, it doesn’t matter what they do to me then, I am secure in His strength. Paul says I have strength for all things, I am satisfied IN whatsoever circumstance I am found, (but not necessarily “with the circumstance”). Don’t you wish you could say that this morning, don’t you wish you could say “I am totally satisfied because I live in the strength of My God, and come what may and go what may, I am secure?

The reason our psychiatric hospitals are so full today, and why we have such a proliferation of psychologists and psychiatrists today is because of the insecurity of people, that’s where it all stems from.

Psalm 52:9 I will thank You and confide in You forever, because You have done it [delivered me and kept me safe]. I will wait on, hope in and expect in Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your saints (Your kind and pious ones).

Isn’t it incredible? When men are inspired of the Holy Spirit to write the canon of Scripture, God says the same things, He’s consistent. I hope it’s catching, the fruit of commitment is reliability.

The man who neglects the Word of God and is derelict in his duty towards things spiritual is a spiritual spastic.

Proverbs 24:5 A wise man is strong and is better than a strong man, and a man of knowledge increases and strengthens his power; [Prov. 21:22; Eccl. 9:16.]

That knowledge is not academic knowledge, he is a man of knowledge who knows his God, who waits for, expects and looks for Him. He gains that comprehension, he will indeed increase and strengthen his power.

What are we talking about? “As a man is, so is his strength”, I’m just identifying those who walk and live in the Spirit and those who walk and live in the carnal.

The man who lacks commitment and reliability in just one area of his life, that characteristic will eventually be seen to be all pervading. If I recall, the Word says, “”A double-minded man is unstable in ALL his ways”. (James 1:8) The man who lacks commitment and reliability in one area of his life eventually you will see that that characteristic will pervade his whole life. We said last week, show me a man who cannot control or manage his money, and I will show you a man who cannot order his life.

oOo

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #8 ROSS SMITH

April 7, 2016April 7, 2016 Ross Smith

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #8 ROSS SMITH

Again, I want to continue on the theme that we have been following for the last several weeks and that is WALKING IN THE SPIRIT and determining the means thereof. Let us come back to:-

Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.

Especially in Colossians 1v10b where it says:

STEADILY GROWING AND INCREASING IN AND BY THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD [WITH FULLER, DEEPER, AND CLEARER INSIGHT, ACQUAINTANCE, AND RECOGNITION].

The insight of course is our knowledge of God. That acquaintance is indeed coming to know him. Recognition is the ability to worship.

As I pondered this week the means of walking in the Spirit, I had to ask myself the question “Are kids today smarter than what they were in the previous generations or is it just the spirit of the age? You see the tools available to us today for the recovery of information and knowledge are astounding, we have computers, fax machines, TV, Teletex, smart phones, and satellite links. We have fibre optic communications now whereby just one small bunch of optic fibres can carry magnitudes of telecommunication information that was impossible previously.

And should the duration of the Lord’s return extend to another generation, I wonder what we can expect. I remember when I was smaller that the wrist watch radio and the Dick Tracy Era was something to be marvelled at and now it is only a cumbersome toy. And to those who watch the cricket will know that now they have hollowed out the middle stump and in that stump they have placed a complete TV camera so you can watch the game right from the crease.

But what about God’s people today? Are we any smarter, or should we be involved in this scramble for academic enlargement to expand our knowledge of things far and wide both useful and useless. You know that I support education and self-improvement and qualifications. God intended that we should be excellent in every dimension of our lives, but not at the expense of our spiritual excellence, and I don’t arrive at this point or this concept simply because of my preconceptions, but I determined that from the Word of God. I went back to Ecclesiastes and if ever there was a morbid individual, it was the writer of Ecclesiastes. But in Ecclesiastes 1v12-18, and I’d like to read it to you this morning from the Amplified version, because it gives great clarity to the situation in which we find ourselves.

Ecclesiastes 1:12 I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

Ecclesiastes 1:13 And I APPLIED

This is an interesting word, isn’t it because so often today, the application of the people of God is lacking. We are so complacent, we are so ambivalent, we are so second rate in our application but the preacher says

Ecclesiastes 1:13 And I APPLIED myself by heart and mind to seek and search out by [human] wisdom all human activity under heaven. It is a miserable business which God has given to the sons of man with which to busy themselves.

This is part of the curse. God said, by the sweat of your brow you will earn your bread for the rest of your days. What a miserable business.

Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, a striving after the wind and a feeding on wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is defective and lacking cannot be counted.

Ecclesiastes 1:16 I entered into counsel with my own mind, saying, Behold, I have acquired great [human] wisdom, yes, more than all who have been over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has had great experience of [moral] wisdom and [scientific] knowledge.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 And I gave my mind to know [practical] wisdom and to discern [the character of] madness and folly [in which men seem to find satisfaction]; I perceived that this also is a searching after wind and a feeding on it. [I Thess. 5:21.]

Ecclesiastes 1:18 For in much [human] wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Let me quickly recount this passage of Scriptures.

v13 Solomon is referring to that which is academic in nature. He is not referring to the pursuit of godly and spiritual knowledge, he’s talking about academic pursuits.

v14 He is again referring to the curse. “It is a miserable business”.

v15 You would almost think that it was a replay of Australia today, our political system, our economic system. It says, “What is crooked cannot be made straight and what is defective cannot be counted”, all those things like the headlines of our daily newspapers.

v16 Solomon says “I entered into counsel with my own mind”. Today, there is a proliferation of PHD’s. Most who come out of university today want to attain their doctorate. They want to be philosophers.

v17 “I gave my mind to know practical wisdom and to discern the character of madness and folly in which men seem to find satisfaction”. What he’s asking is that both the physical and mental aspects which are supposed to be so satisfying to men today are like searching after wind and feeding on it. You see, today, many people become professional students, it’s like their security blanket, unless they have some goal ahead of them to achieve qualifications, they are uncomfortable. There are also some professional slobs, we need to strike middle ground.

We need the wisdom of God, we have the direction of the Word of God.

Daniel 12:3 And the teachers and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness (to uprightness and right standing with God) [shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever.

Notice it says that the teachers and those who are wise shall shine like the firmament. Now the Bible is not talking about school teachers or those who are professional who hire themselves out to conduct some great seminar in the Sheraton ballroom, those who are supposed to be wise, but it is speaking about those people who recognize God as their source and apply themselves to His glory and not their own.

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves],

I think this should have been in bold print, but Paul goes on to say

Philippians 2:15 That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world,

When we looked at Daniel it says that the teachers and those who are wise shall shine. In Philippians, Paul is saying when we argue and complain, we are indicating that we are unwise. We need to be blameless and faultless in a depraved generation.

How many reasons and excuses can we give this morning for not being up to standard, for our complacency and unreliability and slackness, for being second rate? The reasons are just as myriad as adjectives used to describe our state. But Isaiah, that magnificent prophet of old says

Isaiah 60:1 Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you–rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

So often we are bound up by that which surrounds us. We become depressed oppressed, prostrate under the weight of it. Isaiah says Arise from those things in which circumstances have kept you. Rise to a new life. Shine!

Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your LIGHT has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

What is the LIGHT? It says if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we will have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

How? When we shine! When we are radiant with His glory! You see, when the light of God shines through a man, all the psychologists and psychiatrists, and the psychics, sceptics and cynics will have to bow their head in shame when they see the excellence of God’s wisdom illuminating the dark places. IT WILL HAPPEN.

Zechariah 8:23 Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men out of all languages of the nations shall take hold of the robe of him who is a Jew, saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.

This refers basically to people of Israel, but also refers to the people of God. God is with you! What a marvellous recommendation, what a tremendous reference to any man when men would say that.

When Jesus walked this earth He taught His disciples intensely for that three year period and Jesus was the greatest teacher that ever walked this earth and yet when He was about to leave this earth, He had this so say to His disciples in

John 16:12 I have still many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them or to take them upon you or to grasp them now.

Why were the disciples incapable of doing so? Because spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and Jesus said at this point in time although you are capable academically, there are things I want to say to you that you can only grasp with your spirit. Paul has some hard things to say.

2 Peter 3:15 And consider that the long-suffering of our Lord [His slowness in avenging wrongs and judging the world] is salvation (that which is conducive to the soul’s safety), even as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the spiritual insight given him,

This is why I say to you week by week, every year, we must take this book from cover to cover, allow the Spirit of God to quicken it until there is no possibility of distortion of the truth of God’s word. A truth that stands alone won’t stand for long. It needs the support of the body of Scripture from cover to cover. Those that are ignorant and unstable twist and misconstrue the Word of God for their own utter destruction. That is why we need to steadily grow and increase in and by the knowledge of God.

There is such a convolution of principles here in this particular verse that I don’t think I can pass on this morning without examining it in some detail.

We just see that Peter said Paul had some hard things to understand in his letters, hard to those whose grasp of God’s Word is used only for their own benefit. If I want to find Scripture that will support my position, I can find it readily. It will stand in isolation but it will do to support my case, until somebody comes along who is astute in the Word of God, who has the illumination of the Spirit, and the quickening of God, then those arguments are thrust aside. That is why we need to make sure that we are not ignorant or unstable and attempt to twist the Word.

We have already determined that THE FRUIT OF COMMITMENT IS RELIABILITY, we have determined it, but we are not yet determined. I want to read from the early part of the second book of Peter.

2 Peter 1:3 For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).

Then flip down to

2 Peter 1:8 For as these qualities are yours and INCREASINGLY ABOUND IN YOU, THEY WILL KEEP [YOU] FROM BEING IDLE OR UNFRUITFUL unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

In God there is no place for standing still, in God we have to press on. Habakkuk says we should make spiritual progress on our high places of trouble, suffering and responsibility.

They will keep you from being IDLE AND UNFRUITFUL. Now this is confronting us where the rubber meets the road. We can neither be idle or unfruitful. God’s favour produces fruit. If we are the recipients of God’s favour, then we should be producing fruit, one of which is reliability.

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace (the unmerited favour and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for NOTHING

(Where are you at this morning in the economy of God? You accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Master, what for, for nothing?)

(fruitless and without effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favour and blessing) of God which was with me.

How fruitful are you this morning, how effective are we in the economy of God? Paul says This is how you do it. “I worked harder than all of them.” So many people want to sit back and say “Sock it to me lord. I’m ready! Pour out your blessing…. Paul says, I worked harder than all of them.

But it wasn’t me but the grace of God was with me. So often we depend upon our academic excellence, we depend upon our talents and our abilities. Paul said, I worked at it but it was by His grace. Not one person this morning within the sound of my voice can have any excuse or reason to be unfruitful or idle. Why? Paul says I worked harder than all of them. How? By the grace of God that is with me. That is walking and living in the Spirit.

2 Peter 1:2a May grace (God’s favour) and peace (which is perfect WELL-BEING, ALL NECESSARY GOOD, ALL SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY, AND FREEDOM FROM FEARS and agitating passions and moral conflicts)

Then Peter makes a statement which is so magnificent. “May all these things”

2 Peter 1v2b BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU ——- not ADDED but MULTIPLIED! You see, multiplication is God’s part, adding to is our part, but multiplied on what basis however? “The full personal precise and correct knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.”

Now, we look at ourselves and say “O thank God, I’ve got an out, the responsibility is lifted from me. You see, in our church we don’t have sufficient teachers to help us to reach this exalted position that God is speaking about. O what a relief! I don’t have to line up!!!

In the next verse it tells us that He has given us everything requisite and suited to life and godliness, and there is that little condition tacked on to the end of it again, IN AND THROUGH the full personal knowledge of Him. O despair! I can never do it! I’m not smart enough, not old enough etcetera! We’ve got all these reasons, God has given us all we need and yet we have plenty of reasons.

For this very reason ADDING

ADDING your diligence [to the divine promises]

What is diligence? Steady attention and effort as to ones occupation, persevering effort

Synonyms of Diligence Industry

Application

Assiduousness – ability to do quantities of shear hard work

Paul said, “I worked harder than all the Apostles, Paul was assiduous, he was diligent.

Now Peter says ADDING your diligence to the divine promises, which means that we continue to build upon the foundation which God has given us by His grace. We have the promises, I am what I am through God’s grace.

Therefore I stand this morning with a foundation laid in Jesus Christ which is unshakable if I will ADD to it. Now we add to little by little, line upon line, precept upon precept, we build upon that which is already laid. Then Peter goes on to say EMPLOY EVERY EFFORT. Peter laid out the various items to work at but it is not the items that He has laid down which I want to look at this morning, but the consequences or the results.

If you do will do all these things, it will keep you from being idle or unfruitful. How does it happen? It happens by our walking and living in the Spirit, so I want to come back to Colossians 1.

Firstly, it has to be by the Spirit that we have to steadily grow and increase and we do it in and by the knowledge of God. Paul then writing to the Thessalonians couched it in these terms.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the [Holy] Spirit;

Now if there is a man we should take notice of it is the Apostle Paul. He said do not quench, suppress or subdue the Holy Spirit.

1Thessalonians 5:21 But TEST AND PROVE ALL THINGS [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast.

Now what Paul is saying here is, as we embrace the work of the Holy Spirit in us, (Jesus said I am going away and I will send you the Comforter, Helper, Standby, Advocate ALL THE THINGS WE NEED)

As we now don’t quench that work in our spirits, we learn to test and prove all things UNTIL… It’s a development, a growth in God. To walk and live in the Spirit has to become that subconscious recognition. We do it naturally, by the Spirit resident within us, we learn to recognise what is good and ethical. It’s only as we walk and live in the Spirit and don’t quench the Spirit that we can test and prove all things.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.

But sandwiched in between verse 19 and verse 21 comes verse 20

1 Thessalonians 5:20 Do not spurn the gifts and utterances of the prophets [do not depreciate prophetic revelations nor despise inspired instruction or exhortation or warning].

And so we have here what Paul in writing to the Thessalonians refers to as knowledge which is IN GOD given to use BY GOD, and it is the knowledge OF GOD. Why? Paul says its prophetic, it’s revelation and its inspired. We can only have that by the Spirit of God, we cannot have that by some theologian, it has to come by God’s Spirit.

Colossians 1:10 said STEADILY GROWING AND INCREASING IN AND BY THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

Many folk read this as knowledge ABOUT God. Now knowledge about God is theology, we need that because theology is the basis for understanding God and will lead us into worship. But Paul says we grow and increase “IN God’s knowledge” and “BY God’s knowledge.”

Daniel 11:32 And such as violate the covenant he shall pervert and seduce with flatteries, but the people who know their God (not know about Him) shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God].

But it is important that we have the mind of Christ, we need to increase in God’s knowledge with the consequent enlargement of our spiritual abilities by God’s knowledge.

When we think like God thinks, then we will feel like God feels, and then we will act like God acts.

Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)!

These are the areas of walking and living in the Spirit that God is trying to cultivate in His people today. Our growth and increase in and by the knowledge of God have to be qualities that can be monitored but not measured.

Those benefits that we see in the Word of God have already accrued to us, they are promised without measure. The book says

2 Peter 1:2 ISV May grace and peace be yours in abundance through full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!

2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for you.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Putting an end to reasonings, and every high thing which is l lifted up against the knowledge of God, (not the knowledge about God) and causing every thought to come under the authority of Christ;

How do we do that? I have to have the knowledge of God and knowledge by God. Do you want to walk and live in the Spirit? It is the only way we can be part of that which God intends to do in this city.

2 Corinthians 10:4 The weapons we use in our fight are not made by humans. Rather, they are powerful weapons from God. With them we destroy people’s defences, that is, their arguments (GW)

2 Corinthians 10:5 and all their intellectual arrogance that oppose the knowledge of God. We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not those of the world. Instead, they have the power of God to demolish fortresses. We tear down arguments (ISV)

2 Corinthians 10:5 and every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive in order to obey the Messiah.

oOo

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #7 ROSS SMITH

April 5, 2016April 5, 2016 Ross Smith

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #7 ROSS SMITH

THE MEANS #4

We have determined that if we are to defeat the attitudes of the world who say “Where is their God?”, then we will have to WALK AND LIVE IN THE SPIRIT.

This demands commitment, the fruit of which is reliability ….reliability in every area….and to be reliable requires that we know the will of God.

This is why the Apostle Paul prayed for the church at Colossae that they might have:-

The discernment of God’s will
The power to perform that will

When we embrace this principle, plainly and consistently spelled out in the Word of God, then there will be distinct change in our lives, particularly in those areas nominated in:-

Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.

In this exhortation Paul has identified seven (7) distinct areas of change:-

Walk live and conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Lord.
Fully pleasing to Him
Bearing fruit in every good work
Steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God
Invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory [not according to the circumstance].
Exercise EVERY KIND of endurance and patience, perseverance and forbearance WITH JOY
Fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints.

The interesting thing about the above is that these are very practical things. They do not require some super spiritual monastic isolation, but are components of life to be lived out each day as practical proof of our WALK IN THE SPIRIT.

We have already looked at:-

1 Walk and live and conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Lord

2 Fully pleasing to Him in all things

I suppose we need to ask ourselves the first question:-

Do I remember what was involved?

If so, have I done it?

The Word gives us some instruction in now to go about this, for so often we seem to be devoid of inspiration of how to go about it.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also it’s Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 7:11 Now if perfection (a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper) had been attainable by the Levitical priesthood–for under it the people were given the Law–why was it further necessary that there should arise another and different kind of Priest, one after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed after the order and rank of Aaron?

So now let us look at the other requirements for change as set out in Colossians 1:10-12

3 Bearing fruit in every good work

Good works require more than just good words.

So many people have good intentions, but through laziness, or procrastination, or sometimes just because of inefficiency or poor organisation, they fritter away their time and their effort and consequently are not very fruitful.

The fruit of commitment is reliability, and so often we identify our commitment by our lack of reliability. Do I need to name these things?

Punctuality

Preparation

Work Habits

Rosters and Schedules

Appointments – on time every time

Dress – We represent the Lord

Attitudes – no hearts on sleeves

The problem is not so much to know what to do but to do it, to put knowledge into action.

Genesis 1:12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

FRUITFULNESS IS A PRINCIPLE OF CREATION and the results of fruitfulness are obvious.

Genesis 28:3 (NIV) May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples.

We wonder sometimes why we have to go through such processing in our march of holiness, but it is simply because we carry so much excess baggage in the sense of attitudes, behaviour, concepts etc etc and so the Lord has to chip away at these things so that we become more fruitful. (Proverbs 27v17 “Iron sharpens iron”)

John 15:2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

Bearing fruit in every good work – it is very difficult to produce fruit without exertion or exercise. I am not referring to bodily exercise for we know what the Bible says in

1 Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

The other exercise which is not very profitable is referred to by the Psalmist.

Psalm 131:1 LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. (if only!!)

Act 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

FRUITFULNESS IS PLEASING TO GOD AND BARRENNESS IS DESPISED BY GOD

Matthew 21:19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.

Luke 13:6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.

Luke 13:7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

Luke 13:8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.

Luke 13:9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'”

Sometimes we wonder why we are under pressure, or being chastened and encountering trials. It is simply because we have brought forth fruit, but now Father wants us to bring forth more fruit, but we convince ourselves that we are at the end of our string and we worry ourselves rigid, when all that is happening is that the adjustments are being made so that we can WALK AND LIVE IN THE SPIRIT.

John 15:2 (NIV) He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

We must bear fruit otherwise we are unrecognisable. So often I go by an orchard, it looks so beautiful, neat rows of trees clothed with the verdure of the season, the ground beneath tilled and tended, but in so many cases I cannot tell what sort of trees they are UNTIL THE FRUIT COMES ON.

Matthew 7:16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Now the fruit tree only bears fruit in a particular season of the year, but we have opportunity and responsibility to bear fruit IN EVERY GOOD WORK.

2 Timothy 4:2 Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favourable or unfavourable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,

2 Timothy 4:4 And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.

The important thing about our fruit bearing is that, unlike a fruit tree, we are able to bring forth many different fruits.

Philippians 1:11 Fruits of Righteousness

Galatians 5v22 Fruit of the Spirit

Romans 7:4 Fruit for God

Hebrews 13v15 Fruit of the lips

Ephesians 5v9 Fruit of the light

Ephesians 5:9 For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.

Dr. Luke gave us good advice when he wrote

Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

“EVERY GOOD WORK” so often muddies the waters of our understanding as to what we should be involved in and what we shouldn’t. Do we become another philanthropic organization, set up soup kitchens in the name of the LORD. What does the Word say?

2 Timothy 3:16 Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),

2 Timothy 3:17 SO THAT the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Titus 3:14 And let our own [people really] learn to apply themselves to good deeds (to honest labour and honourable employment), so that they may be able to meet necessary demands whenever the occasion may require and not be living idle and uncultivated and unfruitful lives.

There are many other Scriptures that instruct and encourage us in this very matter and for your future reference let me give you some of them.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

1 Timothy 2:10 But by doing good deeds (deeds in themselves good and for the good and advantage of those contacted by them), as befits women who profess reverential fear for and devotion to God.

Titus 2:7 And show your own self in all respects to be a pattern and a model of good deeds and works, teaching what is unadulterated, showing gravity [having the strictest regard for truth and purity of motive], with dignity and seriousness.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities,

1 Peter 2:12 Conduct yourselves properly (honourably, righteously) among the Gentiles, so that, although they may slander you as evildoers, [yet] they may by witnessing your good deeds [come to] glorify God in the day of inspection [when God shall look upon you wanderers as a pastor or shepherd looks over his flock].

2 Corinthians 9:10 And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity].

Matthew 23:5 They do all their works to be seen of men; for they make wide their phylacteries (small cases enclosing certain Scripture passages, worn during prayer on the left arm and forehead) and make long their fringes [worn by all male Israelites, according to the command].

4 Steadily Growing and Increasing IN and BY the Knowledge of God

Many folk read this as knowing ABOUT God, but that is not what Paul is saying. He states we grow and increase:-

IN GOD’S KNOWLEDGE

BY GOD’S KNOWLEDGE

We need to know about God also, for this is much of the foundation for worship, and the Bible declares that those that KNOW their God shall be strong and do exploits (Dan 11v32) but it is more important that we have the mind of Christ, to increase in God’s knowledge, with the consequent enlargement of our spiritual abilities BY GOD’S KNOWLEDGE.

When we think like God thinks

Then we will feel like God feels

Then we will act like God acts

We will then act out of love, not out of knowledge.

How do I develop this? Is there some simple way that I can grow and increase this way? Proverbs gives me some good advice.

Proverbs 2:1 My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you,

Proverbs 2:2 Making your ear attentive to skilful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it];

Proverbs 2:3 Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,

Proverbs 2:4 If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skilful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures,

Proverbs 2:5 Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God.

Romans 11:33 NIV Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

Our growth and increase IN and BY the knowledge of God have to be qualities that can be monitored, but probably not measured because some of those benefits that accrue are already promised without measure.

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Now He has said that His grace is sufficient for us, and also He has give us peace that passes understanding, so we cannot begin to measure these attributes that are to be evident in our lives, but we need to MONITOR them.

We go about it in the manner suggested in Paul’s letter to the CORINTHIAN church:

2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (Good works)

We stated that it is not just knowledge about God – that is theology and we need that – but if we look at the example of men of the Word we will see that it goes deeper than this.

Daniel 5:14 I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.

The instruction continues by saying

With fuller, deeper and clearer insight, acquaintance and recognition.

The man evidencing this degree of THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD is surely the same man referred to in

The acquaintance and recognition aspects are the same as set out in Hebrews 7:11

Hebrews 7:11 Now if perfection (a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper) had been attainable by the Levitical priesthood–for under it the people were given the Law–why was it further necessary that there should arise another and different kind of Priest, one after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed after the order and rank of Aaron?

With these changes in place we will certainly be learning to LIVE AND WALK IN THE SPIRIT.

oOo

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #6 ROSS SMITH

April 1, 2016April 1, 2016 Ross Smith

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #6 ROSS SMITH

The Means #3

Joel 2:17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar; and let them say, Have pity and spare Your people, O Lord, and give not Your heritage to reproach, that the [heathen] nations should rule over them or use a byword against them. Why should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?

When we speak about WALKING AND LIVING IN THE SPIRIT, many folk immediately think in terms of dreams and visions, prophecies and voices…. all of which are possible and have their place…but to really walk and live in the Spirit is to do so without really being mentally conscious of it, but spiritually alert to it.

Are you always conscious of the fact that you have to breathe? When we are in the place of relationship with our Lord that He requires, the occurrences of direct intervention will be more aligned to those occasions where we deviate from the precise route… hearing a voice saying, “this is the way, walk in it”.

To walk and live in the Spirit has to become so very natural to us. Now that may sound to be a contradiction of terms, but it is the case.

There is a beautiful example of this in the book of Ruth:-

Ruth 2:3 And [Ruth] went and gleaned in a field after the reapers; and SHE HAPPENED TO STOP at the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

Now if we go back in the story we find that Elimelech was the deceased husband of Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law… and Ruth’s husband has died also.

They have been living in Moab because of the terrible famine that was in Judah…but now that they were both widows, they returned to Judah.

Obviously neither of the men had superannuation for the Word tells us that Ruth had to go out and glean in the fields to get some food to eat – she was in fact a scavenger.

But the Bible says ”She happened to stop at the part of the field belonging to Boaz”. Now Ruth didn’t know that Boaz was related nor that he served Naomi’s God, and the God that she, Ruth, now also served.

Coincidence, chance, luck – no, none of these, BUT GOD’S PROVIDENCE.

Even in the midst of circumstances that seem to be inhospitable, and even hostile, we can walk and live in the Spirit and have as PSALM 37:23 puts it… “The steps of a good man are directed and established of the Lord”.

But let us retrace the story of Ruth a little, for we need to have the foundation for this event and the intervention of God in her unconscious decisions.

RUTH HAD COMMITMENT

Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God.

Ruth 1:17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you.

We have seen previously that commitment is one of the reasons why so few people are prepared to walk and live in the Spirit. It is a foundational requirement and the fruit of commitment is RELIABILITY.

Now to live in the Spirit by an unconscious continued direction of the Holy Spirit is only one aspect. This so often relates only to the arena of daily existence, which of course is of paramount importance but we are made for higher dimension than this.

So often when we are looking to be led of the Lord, we get encouraged by His answers to the very mundane things like, “Lord I need a parking spot” or Show me which car to buy”. Now these things are all of concern to the Lord because He loves us, but there is more.

It is interesting to note how the Apostle Paul addressed the church at Colossae, not that the Lord would give them a new church building etc etc.

The basic requirement for walking and living in the Spirit is to know the will of God, and if we consider this passage of COLOSSIANS it is significant that knowledge of the will of God is looked upon as preceding a life that is satisfactory to God.

It is also interesting to note that this is a New Testament phenomenon. I am not suggesting for one moment that Old Testament men didn’t know the will of God and were led of the Spirit, BUT THEY DIDN’T HAVE THE LUXURY OF THE RESIDENCY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, the indwelling, as we do. They depended upon their knowledge of the Word (or Law) as it then existed, and then being “moved upon by the Holy ‘Spirit”. Let me show you.

Numbers 24:2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him

Judges 3:10 The Spirit of the LORD came on him (Othniel), so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war. The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him.

Judges 6:34 Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.

1 Samuel 10:10 When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him (Saul), and he joined in their prophesying.

1 Samuel 16:13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 19:20 so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came on Saul’s men, and they also prophesied.

So we can see that all these men relied upon the Spirit of the Lord being placed upon them at the moment of need, and consequently our position in Christ should be so much richer and clearer and reliable than the men of old.

Quickly let us look at some of the qualifications of knowing God’s will.

Mark 3:35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2 Corinthians 8:5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

Ephesians 6:6 Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continually,

1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT WHEN WE KNOW THE WILL OF GOD

How will our walking and living differ from what it is today? Again as we related to Paul’s expressions to the church at Colossae we find some of the answers. This is the prayer of a saint for God’s people and he asks for two things:

A The discernment of God’s will

B The power to perform that will

Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.

In this exhortation Paul has identified seven (7) distinct areas of change:

Walk, live and conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Lord.
Fully pleasing to Him
Bearing fruit in every good work.
Steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God
Invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory [not according to the circumstance].
Exercise EVERY KIND of endurance and patience, perseverance and forbearance WITH JOY.
Fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints.

When we look at the context of these matters we find that these attributes are sought by the Apostle Paul in prayer, but in application they are all preceded by understanding.

Now we have not been neglected by the Holy Spirit when it comes to giving us understanding, for surely we have been shown what the Lord requires of us in accordance with His Word.

But let us just refresh ourselves with what it is the Apostle makes special request for:

Colossians 1:9 that you may be filled with:-

Spiritual wisdom
Spiritual understanding

The knowledge that Paul refers to however has to be translated into our day to day experience, not just some ethereal theory or philosophy, but down to earth, daily living.

SPIRITUAL WISDOM in the Greek is sophia which can be translated as knowledge of first principles. Wisdom speaks of that settled condition of mind whose thinking is not dependent merely on the unaided process of human intellect, but is controlled and enlightened by the Holy Spirit. (Refer to James 1:17)

SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING is sunesis, which means critical knowledge or in other words, the ability to apply first principles to any given situation which may arise in life. It speaks of the application of the WISDOM to the various problems which present themselves to us and requires clear analysis before a decision can be taken.

So what Paul is saying is, that his prayer embraces the provision of wisdom and understanding so that the church at Colossae may firstly understand the great truth of Christian doctrine, and secondly be able to apply them to the tasks, the decisions, the exigencies which they encounter every single day.

This makes the difference between a THEOLOGIAN and a SPIRITUAL MAN, for the first is a master of theology but a possible failure in living, the other thoroughly acquainted with the very basics of God’s requirements and living, walking proof that they work as he demonstrates the application.

We noted previously that it is significant that knowledge of the will of God is looked upon as preceding a life that is pleasing to God, or as we are finding, a life walking and living in the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God. (A church of Believers)

Now to walk and live in the Spirit we need to rise above the mere desire to succeed because of the satisfaction it brings, rather our motivation must be GOD CENTRED to live with an ambition to please the Lord. IT IS NOT FOR SELF-GRATIFICATION BUT FOR GOD’S GLORIFICATION.

Let us now look at the changes that take place when we embrace God’s will as Paul prayed.

1 WALK, LIVE AND CONDUCT YOURSELVES IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE LORD.

It seems too often that the people of God do not understand Who they represent. There is an obvious lack of pride in their company.

The IBM company insist that their representatives all wear navy blue suits and white shirts etc, that they represent the company in a manner which maintains the reputation that the company has built up

Qantas staff likewise are attired in a manner which identifies them as employees of a quality airline with a reputation to maintain.

When Craig was learning to fly even as a trainee he was required to dress as a pilot and when Paul Browne comes to measure your house for blinds he wears a shirt which carries the logo of a company he represents.

While ever these people are dressed in this manner they have to conduct themselves in a manner pleasing to the company.

Colossians 3:10 And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], (company dress) which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remoulded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.

What has happened to THE COMPANY of God’s people? Obviously we have not accepted in many areas the will of God for our lives because Paul says in COLOSSIANS 1:9 that this is a precondition for our walking in a manner worthy of the Lord.

1 John 2:6 Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself.

People are watching to see if we really are what we profess.

2 FULLY PLEASING TO HIM IN ALL THINGS

To do this requires that we live and walk in the Spirit, however, we have many aspects of God’s Word which gives us direction, which, if we embrace, we will be pleasing to Him in those areas as we grow into the others. They are some of the first principles that we all know.

Eg Study

Fellowship

Acknowledgment of God

Resentments

Communion

Rejoicing

Love and concern

Our tongue

Our kids etc etc

All these things mean that we do not just discharge our responsibilities or limit ourselves to our duties.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible (the converse is worry, fear, carnal mind, resentment) to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

Now we are well aware that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10v17), but on top of that the Lord has made some spectacular promises to us:

Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Then there are the benefits that accrue when we put the Word to work.

Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

3 BEARING FRUIT IN EVERY GOOD WORK

Good works require more than just good words. So many people have good intentions, but through laziness or procrastination or sometimes just because of inefficiency or poor organisation they fritter away their time and their effort and consequently are not very fruitful.

The fruit of commitment is reliability, and so often we identify our commitment by our lack of reliability.

Do I need to name these things:-

Punctuality

Preparation

Work habits

Rosters and schedules

Appointments

Dress

Attitudes

The problem is not so much to know what to do, but to do it – to put knowledge into action.

Genesis 1:12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. [KJV]

FRUITFULNESS IS A PRINCIPLE OF CREATION and the results of fruitfulness are obvious.

Genesis 28:3 May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you until you become a group of peoples.

We wonder sometimes why we have to go through such “processing” in our march of holiness, but it is simply because we carry so much excess baggage in the sense of attitudes, behaviour, concepts etc etc and so the Lord has to chip away at these things so that we become more fruitful.

John 15:2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.

Isaiah 30:21 And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.

Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. [He is] always striving for you earnestly in his prayers, [pleading] that you may [as persons of ripe character and clear conviction] stand firm and mature [in spiritual growth], convinced and fully assured in everything willed by God.

Luke 21:15 For I [Myself] will give you a mouth and such utterance and wisdom that all of your foes combined will be unable to stand against or refute.

Proverbs 24:5 A wise man is strong and is better than a strong man, and a man of knowledge increases and strengthens his power; [Prov. 21:22; Eccl. 9:16.]

Acts 6:3 Therefore select out from among yourselves, brethren, seven men of good and attested character and repute, full of the [Holy] Spirit and wisdom, whom we may assign to look after this business and duty.

Acts 6:10 But they were not able to resist the intelligence and the wisdom and [the inspiration of] the Spirit with which and by Whom he spoke.

1 Corinthians 2:6 Yet when we are among the full-grown (spiritually mature Christians who are ripe in understanding), we do impart a [higher] wisdom (the knowledge of the divine plan previously hidden); but it is indeed not a wisdom of this present age or of this world nor of the leaders and rulers of this age, who are being brought to nothing and are doomed to pass away.

1 Corinthians 2:7 But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God–[that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence].

Ephesians 1:17 [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,

Philippians 3:16 Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that.

oOo

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #5 ROSS SMITH

April 1, 2016 Ross Smith

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #5 ROSS SMITH

(ALL REFERENCES FROM AMPLIFIED VERSION)

Today we will look further at the means of walking in the Spirit. We stated previously that to walk in the spirit is not a popular choice and there are many reasons for that. Let me give you several of them and see if you can identify with them.

1 To walk in the Spirit is a rare phenomenon. And it seems that it becomes more pressing yet rarer as the days go by as yet our heart after God is interfered with by many other ambitions.

2 When we walk and live in the Spirit, we can no longer be one of the mob, it makes us stand apart.

3 It demands commitment. Now not too many people are real sure that they want the degree of commitment that is required to walk and live in the Spirit. It means that Hebrews 10v25 which is one of the basic instructions of Scripture, it being “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the habit of some is but so much more as you see the day approaching”. So that is the very lowest level of commitment.

4 It carries great responsibility without much authority. Now we in our human nature like to have it the other way around – plenty of authority but not much responsibility. To walk and live in the Spirit changes that, it places great responsibility on us because we are accountable to God before His people, but it doesn’t give us much authority.

5 Lastly, and probably one of the most difficult areas to handle, it brings us into direct conflict with spiritual forces. When we live and walk in the Spirit, we will be confronted on every hand by spiritual forces of darkness. In the spiritual realm we can either walk in THE Spirit or we can walk in A spirit. There is a difference. You see there are many people today who walk in A spirit. On the very opposite end of the scale, we have the clairvoyant, the medium, the stargazer and the necromancer – all those who are involved in occult activities. But then Romans 8v6 says that SENSE AND REASON WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS DEATH and so there is a man who walks in the spirit of his mind but is not living and walking in the Spirit.

Micah 2:11 If a man walking in a spirit [of vanity] and in falsehood should lie and say, I will prophesy to you of wine and strong drink, O Israel, he would even be the acceptable prophet of this people!

That is the popular choice – to tell us what we want to hear.

When we come into New Testament times in

2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming [of the lawless one, the antichrist] is through the activity and working of Satan and will be attended by great power and with all sorts of [pretended] miracles and signs and delusive marvels–[all of them] lying wonders–

2 Thessalonians 2:10 And by unlimited seduction to evil and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing (going to perdition) because they did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved.

2 Thessalonians 2:11 Therefore God sends upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is false,

2 Thessalonians 2:12 In order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe in [who refused to adhere to, trust in, and rely on] the Truth, but [instead] took pleasure in unrighteousness.

This is why the Word is so important to us, we must come to grips and grasp and love the Word. You see the pursuit of supernatural guidance is not something that is unique to the Twentieth century. Back in Old Testament times, men used to read the entrails of chickens, looking for ways to be superior to the run-of-the-mill citizen.

Ezekiel 21:21a For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the fork of the two ways, to use divination.

(I see that this relates to James 1v8 where is says that a double minded man is unstable in all his ways, in what he thinks and what he feels.)

The king of Babylon will stop at the fork of the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen, to look for guidance, to look for guidance, to see some supernatural indication of what he should do. It says

NIV He will cast lots with the arrows. He will consult his idols, he will examine the liver.

AMP He shakes the arrows to and fro, he consults the teraphim (household gods), he looks at the liver.

This is where they disemboweled an animal, and lay it out before the priest, and the priest would peer into the liver and depending on how it was marked and the colour, this gave them guidance – well, some sort of guidance!

But in the same perverted sense today, men are using drugs to expand their minds, to lead them into realms of fantasy which then becomes a playground for forces of evil. Those involved in horrific crimes have often been involved with drugs. They have opened themselves to the forces of evil. Man has always been keen to get out beyond the realms of their minds. Much of the reason why we’re not able to walk and live in the Spirit today consists in the four propositions that I gave you last time and I will reiterate them because I think they are important.

1 We will get nothing unless we go after it. We will never achieve anything unless we pursue it.

2 We can have as much as we insist upon having.

3 We will have a little as we are satisfied with.

4 We now have as much as we REALLY want.

If we were hungry and thirsting for righteousness, we would be filled, and so it describes in detail what the state of the church is.

But also combined with this is the necessity to know where we are going and how to get there. We can have, as James 3 puts it, “the wisdom that comes from above or the wisdom that is earthly”. Now both of these are supernatural. The Bible says

James 3:15 This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal).

That is the wisdom from below, but the book says that we can have the wisdom from above:

James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).

This is the same degree of wisdom that God wants to impart today. So, we can have wisdom from one of two sources.

We have the choice though and you will recall we shared from Hebrews 11v25

Heb 11:25 Because he preferred to share the oppression [suffer the hardships] and bear the shame of the people of God rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life.

Which says that if we want to reflect on the things of the past, those things from out of which we came, we will find ample opportunity to return to it. We make the choice, we can choose to live in the Spirit or we can choose to live in the natural. If we can’t get a hold of the fact that we can live and walk in the Spirit, from here to the day we die, we are going to be second rate, ineffective, Mickey Mouse Christians. If we choose to live and walk in the Spirit, God has promised us all that we need.

John 16:13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

We don’t have to look at chicken livers; we don’t have to blow our mind on drugs, all we have to do is yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit and begin to tune in on the frequency of heaven and He will show us of things to come.

Now many are scared of this provision because it cuts across their ability to grasp it with their minds. They cannot comprehend how this could be, but if we come to understand what the word says in

Isaiah 55:8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord.

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

But if we are going to walk and to live in the Spirit, our thoughts and His thoughts need to coincide, not collide.

1 Corinthians 1:25 [This is] because the foolish thing [that has its source in] God is wiser than men, and the weak thing [that springs] from God is stronger than men.

Even at our very best we can’t compete with the weakest thing of God, and so there is no problem with us submitting to the direction and control of the Spirit.

On that basis then, I should not be too ambitious to demonstrate my cerebral ability, for I will always be seen to be totally inadequate in comparison to the mind and the methods of God. I can depend upon Him to lead me in the routes and paths which will always be superior to that which I can choose, and I am not suggesting that we turn off our heads and become zombies. That’s what they do in transcendental meditation. They get on to a mantra and they use this word over and over until they can disengage their mind, then their mind becomes a playground for the enemy. I am not suggesting for one moment that we turn off our heads. I am suggesting that we turn them over to the control of the Holy Spirit. The book says in

Proverbs 16:3 Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

We can expect that when we commit our works on a continuing basis to the Lord, to have our thought patterns adjusted, ad we can sure do with that.

Not only do we have that help by the Holy Spirit, but we also have His Word which will give us a plethora of instruction which will enable us to walk and to live in the Spirit. As yet we are not demonstrating that ability to take the Word and put it into effect, but we have to determine the means. I want to make a qualification here. When I say means, I’m not suggesting methods, that means that to live and walk in the Spirit are not methods. With regard to God’s word, we obviously have to accept it as truth. It is undiluted, unembellished, and complete in itself and all we require from the Word of God is the illumination of the Holy Spirit so that we can understand and grasp it.

John 8:31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.

John 8:32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

So we have the truth of God’s Word to guide us.

Much of the dilemma of folk today is they are not too sure of the source of their guidance. They are not sure that the voice they hear is God’s voice or whether it is a counterfeit voice.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

How do we do it?

1 Peter 1:13 AMP So brace up your minds; be sober (circumspect, morally alert); set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace (divine favour) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is revealed.

1 Peter 1:13 NIV Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep a clear head, and set your hope completely on the grace to be given you when Jesus, the Messiah, is revealed.

We have got to get our minds on things which are above.

We know that that guidance or direction that we seek, that ability to walk and live in the Spirit has to come from above, but there is that type that comes from other sources.

1 There is that wisdom that comes from below. James 3v15

2 There is that guidance that comes from our own mind running riot.

3 There is the area of dreams and visions that are induced not by the Spirit, but by many other means.

4 Circumstances are misinterpreted, too many people are looking for signs.

Matthew 16:1 Now the Pharisees and Sadducees came up to Jesus, and they asked Him to show them a sign (spectacular miracle) from heaven [attesting His divine authority].

Matthew 16:2 He replied to them, When it is evening you say, It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,

Matthew 16:3 And in the morning, It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and has a gloomy and threatening look. You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

The book describes the era in which we live, we don’t need signs or fleeces, that was an era of Old Testament. When the Holy Spirit comes, He will guide you into all truth. These things have been done away with just as the legal system has been done away with.

We need to take care however, because,

1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not put faith in every spirit,

Why am I labouring this point? When we live and walk in the Spirit, we are going to open ourselves to the Holy Spirit and we are going to find that there are counterfeit spirits. We need to be able to demonstrate the contrast, we need to be able to discern.

but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world.

This is why we need to know the Word. One sure test for knowing that we are living and walking in God’s ways is that it is attended by peace. This is one of the real tests of whether we are walking and living in the Spirit. I’m talking about peace, not complacency.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

We live in peace if we live and walk in the Spirit, if this guidance we receive is not of God, you can rest assured that it will be confusing.

1 Corinthians 14:33 For He [Who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God’s people),

God’s Word gives us clarity, that’s why we need to be thoroughly acquainted with it in all its directions and its counsels and its patterns for life, even though many times it doesn’t suit what we would prefer.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

(A Scripture in isolation can become a stumbling block, you have to take the pattern of the Word from cover to cover. The promises of God are always attached to conditions, God has given us promises but they have to be put into context.)

Colossians 3:16 Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.

Now we can see how to walk and live in the Spirit. When we can be thankful, when we can be appreciative, when we can give thanks to God always, then we can admonish and train one another, with all insight and intelligence and wisdom in spiritual things. Do you realize that it is difficult to do those things at the same time as you are complaining?

If we can get a hold of the principles of God’s word that says we need to live in this peaceful state, we need to be thankful, be appreciative and praise and then we will enter into that realm where we can train, encourage and admonish one another in all spiritual wisdom and intelligence, and then we’ll overflow with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

People fail to line up what they think God tells them with the Word of God, it maybe is diametrically opposed yet they don’t check it out. Others think that the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit is not for us today, they forget,

2 Timothy 2:15 Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analysing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

The Book is full of instructions so that we can walk the route God has planned for us. Some think that to live in the natural with God’s Word and common sense to guide them is the safest way. It will be safe, and satisfactory to your mind, but they will miss out on the ecstasy of living and walking in the Spirit, guided by His presence, qualifying as a Son of God. What we become is a careful failure.

PETER WALKING ON THE WATER

The first thing Peter did was call out, “Is that You Lord?” He sought for confirmation. He said, “If so, call me over to you”.

There is a principle here that we need to get a hold of. When we hear the voice of the Lord, or when we experience something we think is God or of God, let’s get the confirmation.

You will notice that Peter got out and started to walk on the water but then he messed it up. He looked down and then he went down. He eventually stood on the water with Jesus. There were eleven others who were careful failures, they didn’t even try. This is exactly what the church is doing today., they know God is calling and yet they still sit in the boat, unprepared to throw their legs over the edge and say “I’m going to launch out in Jesus and I know He will never let me fail”.

To talk and live in the Spirit, we need to realize some things.

1 It doesn’t happen automatically. You can wish for it all you want, but if you want to do it, you have to launch out in God.

2 We have to learn to live and to walk in the Spirit. We do this by applying the things which we hear, which we think come from God and WHICH ARE SCRIPTURALLY SOUND, AND WHEN THEY DON’T AFFECT ANYONE ELSE, learn to get instructions which are personal, and don’t affect anybody else.

Once we become skilled in walking in the Spirit, and knowing and understanding the voice of God, skilled at receiving confirmation, knowing that that is the direction, then we can start sharing with others. There are too many people running around the church with a Word from the Lord for someone else whilst their own credibility is not established.

Ephesians 5:10 And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him].

3 To walk in the Spirit is not a method, but a principle. If it was a method all we would need to do is get a list and follow it. But because it is a principle of the Word of God, it has to be implemented and carried through by faith.

4 To walk and live in the Spirit is a unique experience for each unique individual. It comes out of our intimate relationship with the Lord and then it comes out of His confidence in my reliability.

INSURANCE AGAINST ERROR

As we begin to seek the Lord for the ability to walk and live in the Spirit, we must be willing to submit the impressions that we receive to the test, God’s word must be the final judge. God’s Word must take precedence over our emotions, feelings, impressions and surrounding circumstances, all those signs and coincidences that seem to line up with what we need. All leadings of the Spirit need to line up with the Word of God, God’s Word has to take precedence over our subjective confidence if God has spoken to us in some personal revelations, IT MUST LINE UP WITH THE WORD.

Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

But to be a son we have to submit to His discipline and His training so that we become sensitive to His Spirit.

Hebrews 12:11 For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness–in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].

oOo

Ross Smith

HOME BIBLE STUDY

Month: April 2016

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #12 ROSS SMITH

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #11 ROSS SMITH

DEAF EARS, BLIND EYES, HARD HEART ROSS SMITH

CREDIBILITY ROSS SMITH

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #10 ROSS SMITH

NEW CHRISTIAN LESSON #3 “THE CONFORMITY” ROSS SMITH

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #9 ROSS SMITH

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #8 ROSS SMITH

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #7 ROSS SMITH

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #6 ROSS SMITH

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #5 ROSS SMITH

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