At the close of this present evil age the war between the good and the evil will gather momentum and will come to a simultaneous climax. This is illustrated and stated in many places in the Scripture. Here are some examples:
1. The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13:24 - 30).
Notice that all parables were given by Jesus to illustrate the mysteries concerning the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 13:11).
This parable illustrates the good seed and the bad seed in the Kingdom of Heaven (among the believers). The "good seed" speaks of the apostles' doctrine (or true Bible doctrine) which produces "wheat". At the time when the good seed is sown (by Jesus), bad seed which produces tares is also sown by the enemy (the Devil). Bad seed speaks of false doctrine.
God wants the wheat and the tares to grow together until the harvest. He is not going to uproot the tares until the harvest comes. The climatic condition ripens the wheat ripens the tares also. That is precisely what is happening all over the world and also happening in the Church now. The wickedness of the human race is ripening with amazing rapidity. It seems the tares are ripening faster than the wheat.
Some Christians seem to be talking or thinking that the Church is gradually taking over the world. But, there is not a single line of Scripture that gives any support to that theory. The Church is going to impact the whole earth but not going to take over it. There is only one person who will do this - the Lord Jesus Himself!
2. Arise and Shine
The Lord was speaking to Zion (the Church):
"Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising" (Isaiah 60:1, 2, 3, NKJV).
Dark is getting darker; light is getting brighter. In the midst of this darkness, God's people will shine forth with His light and His glory and will attract many Gentiles (unbelievers).
3. Stressfull time
Paul wrote to Timothy, "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away" (2 Tim. 3:1 - 5, NKJV)!
There are 18 moral and ethical blemishes listed in the above passage of Scripture. These are the character traces that we see in the contrmporary culture. It is interesting to note how they begin and end. They begin with the love of self and love of money and they end with the love of pleasure. This shows that corruption of human character will take its course. Both in the natural and in the spiritual corruptions are irreversible. Once corruption sets in, like in a fruit, you can arrest it, you can delay it, you can preserve it, but you can't reverse it. Ultimately it will take its course. It is true in the spiritual and in the moral - corruption is irreversible. It is equally true in the Church as in the world. There is no difference, unless you are a true and committed child of God.
God never tries to reverse corruption. His solution is a new creation.
Paul said, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Cor. 5:17, emphasis added).
When man rejects the new creation then corruption must continues and comes to a climax - until the tares ripening to the full!
Religion without power
Some of you might think that Paul was only warning Timothy about the people of the world and not about believers. But verse 5 says, ".... Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away"!
These people are in fact churchgoers, so-called Christians, who have religion but not power. They develop techniques in doing new things in the Church - modern forms of worships with high-tech instruments and gadgets. They have the language and words but they don't have the power. But only supernatural power can do it - to please the Object of our worship - the Almighty God.
Paul said, "For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power" (1 Cor. 4:20).
Destiny of evil men
Paul said, "But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Tim. 3:13).
I believe the most deceptive people are those who have deceived themselves. These people really believe their own deception. Sometimes a confirmed liar can past any lie detection test even when he is lying because he does not know he is lying - he really believes his own lies!
The original Greek word for "an impostor" or "a seducer" is "goes", which means "an enchanter" or "a wizard". Therefore an impostor is a practitioner of the occult.
Wicked or evil men will get worse and worse. Those who reject the grace of God of the new birth are inevitably doomed to get worse. An evil man is like an apple (or any other fruit) which has corruption in it. All kinds of fruit on earth are corrupt since man's fall (Genesis 3:17).
One way you can delay corruption is to put it in the refrigerator or a freezer. Religion is a refregerator. In fact many Local Churches, especially the mega-Churches are spiritual refrigerators. You can delay the manifestation of corruption but you can't reverse the process. Only the new birth can bring an end to corruption and start a new kind of life.
4. The time (of fulfillment) is at hand
An angel of the Lord said, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still" (Rev. 22:10, 11).
The time of fulfillment is the time of fulfillment of all Bible Prophecies. It is the time immediately prior to the return of the Lord. We are living in this time period. The present condition of the world (and of the Church as well) is - some are righteous, some are holy; some are unrighteous, some are filthy. The angel didn't say everybody is going to be righteous. He said remain where you are! To me this is an amazing statement. The Lord seems to say, "It is too late to change anything now - live it up, one way (righteous) or another (unrighteous) because there is only little time left for the people on earth! Don't be a hypocrite! If you are enjoying being unjust, go on, and be more unjust still!"
It seems to me the Lord is less opposed to the wicked than He is to the hypocrites!
The time prior to the establishment of the Lord's Kingdom
The following is a vivid picture painted by Isaiah:
"See, the Lord is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants - it will be the same for priest as for people, for master as for servant, for mistress as for maid, for seller as for buyer, for borrower as for lender, for debtor as for creditor. The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. The Lord has spoken this word. The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the exalted of the earth languish. The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth's inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left" (Isaiah 24:1 - 6, NIV).
The earth comes under a curse and will receive the above severe judgment of God for four reasons:
1. The earth is defiled - both physical and spiritual, by its people.
2. The people have disobeyed the laws - physical, moral and spiritual.
3. The people have violated the statutes of God.
4. The people have broken God's everlasting covenant.
I think it is merely wishful thinking that we are going to enjoy increasing peace or greater order in the world today. Read today's newspapers you'll understand what I mean. You'll reader about turmoil, unrest, violence, murders, disasters (natural and man-made), wars and rumors of war - about every dreadful thing but peace and order. True Christians should remind themselves of the coming impending judgmental visitation of Jesus on the earth.
Jesus Himself warned, "For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day" (Luke 17:24).
The climax is clearly very sudden. There is no warning when lightning flashes. The "warning" comes in the form of thunders after the lightning!
Paul said, "For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then suddenly destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape" (1 Thess. 5:2, 3, emphasis added).
The two things the world most concerned with today are peace and safety - which lead to wealth. Just at the time they think they've got it made destruction comes. This is like labor pains which are part of the birth process - a birth that brings forth the Lord's Kingdom on earth.
God's Judgment on the Nations
"For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land" (Joel 3:1, 2, emphasis added).
The basis of God's Judgment on the nations who hate Israel is two fold:
1. The way they have treated God's people, Israel.
2. The way they have divided the land of Israel.
Jesus' final discourse:
"When the Son of Man comes to His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left" (Matt. 25:31, 32).
Read further and you'll realize that once again the basis on which the nations will be judged is how they have treated the brothers of Jesus Christ! To resist Israel is to resist the Almighty God.
Conclusion
Terrors and destructions will come, but for those who truly know Christ and those who are in the Kingdom of God there is no terror - because only the Kingdom of God is unshakable.
"See to it that you do not refuse him (God) who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:25, 28, NIV).
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Preparation for Christ's Return
I believe this message is timely seeing that we are living in the Last Days - in fact in the last of the Last Days! Unfortunately this type of message has somewhat been ignored by the contemporary Local Church.
Concerning the destructions on the Day of the Lord Peter said:
"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming" (2 Peter 3:11, 12, NIV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. God's emphasis (His primary concern) is on the kind of people we ought to be - not so much on what we do or ought to do. In other words, God is looking into the character, personality and attitude of His people rather than into the amount of Church work they can do, while looking forward to Christ's Return.
Unfortunately, most Local Churches want Churchgoers to be active "doers" - get busy in "serving" Church. They equate leadership with Church activities. To them, any Churchgoer who is always busy with Church work has the mark of leadership. Churchgoers are to attend every Sunday Service, attend cell group meetings, Christian Seminars, Church Conferences, Christmas functions, end of year watch-night service and to be active in social works. Some of these activities are good provided we have already cultivated holy and godly living.
2. God expects us to live holy and godly lives while looking forward to Christ's Return.
Practical ways for cultivating Holy and Godly living
In my opinion there are at least four practical ways to express our obedience to God and to be the kind of people that He wants:
1. Align ourselves with God's purpose
The primary objective of God is that His Kingdom may come. We must therefore align ourselves with the coming of His Kingdom. Whether we are aware of it or not, we proclaim this whenever we say the Lord's Prayer:
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:9, 10, NKJV, emphasis added).
Anytime a believer prays the above prayer and does not believe Christ's Kingdom will be established on earth, it makes him a hypocrite!
Later on in the same Chapter, Jesus said to His disciples, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, ...." (Verse 33).
Therefore everything that we do is ultimately directed toward the coming of the Kingdom of God. Our primary concern in life should be the coming of the Kingdom of God.
We are confronted everyday, through the media, of the ills of humanity, all the agony and turmoil of humanity. Man can't solve these problems by himself. The only ultimate solution for the human race is the establishment of God's Kingdom on earth with His appointed Ruler, the Lord Jesus Christ!
First of all we must get our priorities right. It's not seeking the Kingdom of God when it suits us. We need to seek first the Kingdom of God whether it is convenient for us to do so or not.
Why did Jonah disobeyed God?
A prophet of God who failed to align himself with God's purpose was the prophet Jonah.
God called Jonah to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh. Nineveh was the captital of the Assyrian empire. The Assyrians were staunch political enemies of the Israelites and they were worshippers of false gods. Nineveh was east and Jonah went to the opposite direction.
I think the main reason why Jonah did not want to go to preach repentence to the people of Nineveh was that he was afraid the enemies of Israel would repent. The remarkable thing is that when God finally got His way with Jonah, the greatest expression of conversion reported in history happened through him. The entire city of about 600,000 people was converted!
Before that happened Jonah had to learn a lesson. He lived in the mountain of Galilee. When he turned his back on God every step he took was a step downward. He went from the mountain to the plain; from the plain to the harbor; from the harbor to the ship; from the ship to the sea and finally into the stomach of a big fish!
Let it be a warning to every Christian. When a Christian turns his back on God every step he takes will be a step downward. There are a lot of Jonahs in the world today. They had a call from God; they knew full well what God wanted them to do, but it didn't suit them. They deliberately turned their backs on God and failed to align themselves with God's purpose!
2. Cultivate endurance
As a born again Christian, you are saved now. But Jesus said, to stay saved you have to endure:
"But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matt. 24:13).
Endures what? In the context of the above verse, Jesus was talking about all the problems, troubles, the agonies that coming on the nations. The original Greek is more specific. It says, "The one who had endured to the end ....". The conclusion is, even if you are saved now, but to stay saved you have to endure all those things that are coming to all people in the world!
There is a parallel passage on Jesus' discourse in Luke 21:
"And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls" (Verses 17 - 19, NKJV).
Jesus was saying, in the midst severe persecution, if you endure you will purchase your soul. In other words, the price you paid for the the salvation of your soul is endurance. Jesus further guaranteed that in the resurrection you'll come out, with a glorified body, with a full head of hair - not one hair missing!
Things brought without money
Next time you hear a Pastor or any preacher says, "Salvation is free but not cheap" agree with him! But, his reason for saying that might not be complete. The cost of salvation is the Blood of Jesus, yes. But, on our part, the final cost of salvation is endurance!
Besides "salvation" there are many other things we have to buy, but not with money:
Here is the Lord's invitation to us, "Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price" (Isaiah 55:1).
In the parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matt. 25:1 - 13), the foolish ones didn't bring enough oil. The wise virgins said to them, "Go and buy your own oil". While they were buying oil the Bridegroom came and they missed His coming!
The oil is a type of the Holy Spirit. You can't buy the Holy Spirit with money; you buy it with prayer, with seeking the Lord and with time spent with the Word. Otherwise, when your lamp runs out you've got nothing to refill it with.
Jesus said to the Laodiceans Church, "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see" (Rev. 3:18).
The testing of our faith
Every test that Christians goes through ultimately is a test of faith. It may take many forms but what has been tested is our faith.
James said, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into varous trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure" (James 1:2 - 4; 5:10, 11, emphasis added).
Read James 5:7 - 11 you'll find three related English words:
1. Patience - means essentially doing nothing. It derived from the same Latin root "passive".
2. Endurance - means "remaining under" trials and pressures of life, and staying there. The only way to learn endurance is to keep on enduring.
3. Perseverance - means doing something and persistently doing it, on and on doing it, without stopping until achieving results.
3. Waiting
I believe the importance of waiting is largely overlooked in the contemporary Church.
The writer of Hebrews said, "Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation" (Heb. 9:28).
Paul wrote to the Church of the Thessalonians:
"For they themselves declared concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His son from heaven, who He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come" (1 Thess. 1:9, 10).
These people (from Macedonia and Achaia and other places) turned to God as a result of the ministry of Paul. They did two things:
1. They served the living God.
2. They waited for His Son from heaven.
As Christians we are called to serve God and also called to wait. In my opinion it takes more faith to wait that to work - the real test of faith is waiting!
The benefit of waiting is made clear by Isaiah:
"For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him" (Isaiah 64:4, emphasis added).
Waiting is one of the tests that God invariably subjects the servants He intends to use.
Some of His servants who went through this test are:
1. Abraham waited 25 years for God's promised son.
2. Joseph waited in an Egyptian jail (Psalm 105:17 - 19).
3. Moses learned meekness by waiting for 40 years.
I don't think it is possible to bypass endurance and waiting in entering the promises of God. One of the benefits of waiting is, it teaches us to be dependent on God.
4. Cultivate a positive attitude
By cultivating a positive attitude with expectation of good, will set many Christians free from depression. Negative thoughts must be met with a positive confession.
God anointed Jesus to "comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness ...." (Isaiah 61:3).
Paul said, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).
Finally take hold of the promise of Jesus:
"He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son" (Rev. 21:7, NKJV).
Concerning the destructions on the Day of the Lord Peter said:
"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming" (2 Peter 3:11, 12, NIV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. God's emphasis (His primary concern) is on the kind of people we ought to be - not so much on what we do or ought to do. In other words, God is looking into the character, personality and attitude of His people rather than into the amount of Church work they can do, while looking forward to Christ's Return.
Unfortunately, most Local Churches want Churchgoers to be active "doers" - get busy in "serving" Church. They equate leadership with Church activities. To them, any Churchgoer who is always busy with Church work has the mark of leadership. Churchgoers are to attend every Sunday Service, attend cell group meetings, Christian Seminars, Church Conferences, Christmas functions, end of year watch-night service and to be active in social works. Some of these activities are good provided we have already cultivated holy and godly living.
2. God expects us to live holy and godly lives while looking forward to Christ's Return.
Practical ways for cultivating Holy and Godly living
In my opinion there are at least four practical ways to express our obedience to God and to be the kind of people that He wants:
1. Align ourselves with God's purpose
The primary objective of God is that His Kingdom may come. We must therefore align ourselves with the coming of His Kingdom. Whether we are aware of it or not, we proclaim this whenever we say the Lord's Prayer:
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:9, 10, NKJV, emphasis added).
Anytime a believer prays the above prayer and does not believe Christ's Kingdom will be established on earth, it makes him a hypocrite!
Later on in the same Chapter, Jesus said to His disciples, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, ...." (Verse 33).
Therefore everything that we do is ultimately directed toward the coming of the Kingdom of God. Our primary concern in life should be the coming of the Kingdom of God.
We are confronted everyday, through the media, of the ills of humanity, all the agony and turmoil of humanity. Man can't solve these problems by himself. The only ultimate solution for the human race is the establishment of God's Kingdom on earth with His appointed Ruler, the Lord Jesus Christ!
First of all we must get our priorities right. It's not seeking the Kingdom of God when it suits us. We need to seek first the Kingdom of God whether it is convenient for us to do so or not.
Why did Jonah disobeyed God?
A prophet of God who failed to align himself with God's purpose was the prophet Jonah.
God called Jonah to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh. Nineveh was the captital of the Assyrian empire. The Assyrians were staunch political enemies of the Israelites and they were worshippers of false gods. Nineveh was east and Jonah went to the opposite direction.
I think the main reason why Jonah did not want to go to preach repentence to the people of Nineveh was that he was afraid the enemies of Israel would repent. The remarkable thing is that when God finally got His way with Jonah, the greatest expression of conversion reported in history happened through him. The entire city of about 600,000 people was converted!
Before that happened Jonah had to learn a lesson. He lived in the mountain of Galilee. When he turned his back on God every step he took was a step downward. He went from the mountain to the plain; from the plain to the harbor; from the harbor to the ship; from the ship to the sea and finally into the stomach of a big fish!
Let it be a warning to every Christian. When a Christian turns his back on God every step he takes will be a step downward. There are a lot of Jonahs in the world today. They had a call from God; they knew full well what God wanted them to do, but it didn't suit them. They deliberately turned their backs on God and failed to align themselves with God's purpose!
2. Cultivate endurance
As a born again Christian, you are saved now. But Jesus said, to stay saved you have to endure:
"But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matt. 24:13).
Endures what? In the context of the above verse, Jesus was talking about all the problems, troubles, the agonies that coming on the nations. The original Greek is more specific. It says, "The one who had endured to the end ....". The conclusion is, even if you are saved now, but to stay saved you have to endure all those things that are coming to all people in the world!
There is a parallel passage on Jesus' discourse in Luke 21:
"And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls" (Verses 17 - 19, NKJV).
Jesus was saying, in the midst severe persecution, if you endure you will purchase your soul. In other words, the price you paid for the the salvation of your soul is endurance. Jesus further guaranteed that in the resurrection you'll come out, with a glorified body, with a full head of hair - not one hair missing!
Things brought without money
Next time you hear a Pastor or any preacher says, "Salvation is free but not cheap" agree with him! But, his reason for saying that might not be complete. The cost of salvation is the Blood of Jesus, yes. But, on our part, the final cost of salvation is endurance!
Besides "salvation" there are many other things we have to buy, but not with money:
Here is the Lord's invitation to us, "Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price" (Isaiah 55:1).
In the parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matt. 25:1 - 13), the foolish ones didn't bring enough oil. The wise virgins said to them, "Go and buy your own oil". While they were buying oil the Bridegroom came and they missed His coming!
The oil is a type of the Holy Spirit. You can't buy the Holy Spirit with money; you buy it with prayer, with seeking the Lord and with time spent with the Word. Otherwise, when your lamp runs out you've got nothing to refill it with.
Jesus said to the Laodiceans Church, "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see" (Rev. 3:18).
The testing of our faith
Every test that Christians goes through ultimately is a test of faith. It may take many forms but what has been tested is our faith.
James said, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into varous trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure" (James 1:2 - 4; 5:10, 11, emphasis added).
Read James 5:7 - 11 you'll find three related English words:
1. Patience - means essentially doing nothing. It derived from the same Latin root "passive".
2. Endurance - means "remaining under" trials and pressures of life, and staying there. The only way to learn endurance is to keep on enduring.
3. Perseverance - means doing something and persistently doing it, on and on doing it, without stopping until achieving results.
3. Waiting
I believe the importance of waiting is largely overlooked in the contemporary Church.
The writer of Hebrews said, "Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation" (Heb. 9:28).
Paul wrote to the Church of the Thessalonians:
"For they themselves declared concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His son from heaven, who He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come" (1 Thess. 1:9, 10).
These people (from Macedonia and Achaia and other places) turned to God as a result of the ministry of Paul. They did two things:
1. They served the living God.
2. They waited for His Son from heaven.
As Christians we are called to serve God and also called to wait. In my opinion it takes more faith to wait that to work - the real test of faith is waiting!
The benefit of waiting is made clear by Isaiah:
"For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him" (Isaiah 64:4, emphasis added).
Waiting is one of the tests that God invariably subjects the servants He intends to use.
Some of His servants who went through this test are:
1. Abraham waited 25 years for God's promised son.
2. Joseph waited in an Egyptian jail (Psalm 105:17 - 19).
3. Moses learned meekness by waiting for 40 years.
I don't think it is possible to bypass endurance and waiting in entering the promises of God. One of the benefits of waiting is, it teaches us to be dependent on God.
4. Cultivate a positive attitude
By cultivating a positive attitude with expectation of good, will set many Christians free from depression. Negative thoughts must be met with a positive confession.
God anointed Jesus to "comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness ...." (Isaiah 61:3).
Paul said, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).
Finally take hold of the promise of Jesus:
"He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son" (Rev. 21:7, NKJV).
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Pleasing Men
Any Christian, whether he is an Evangelist, a Missionary, a Church Elder, a Pastor, a Church leader or a Churchgoer who preaches the Gospel, should not please men but God. It is extremely dangerous to please men. Only carnal Christians please men. Christians who preach to please men are looking for praise from men! This fact is made clear by the apostle Paul:
"For the appeal (in preaching or in exhortation) we made does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed - God is our witness. We are not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else" (1 Thess. 2:3 - 6, NIV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. A preacher must not cultivate a carnal or fleshly lifestyle. Words or phrases like "error", "impure motives", "trick", "flattery" and "to cover up greed" describe a Christian with a carnal lifestyle.
2. God does not entrust the Gospel to every preacher. Only preachers who do not please men but God are approved by God to preach the Gospel.
In fact Paul mentioned himself being "entrusted with the Gospel" in many of his epistles - Gal. 2:7; 1 Tim. 1:11; Titus 1:3.
3. God tests the hearts of preachers (and all his people) - whether they have carnal or impure motives or not.
The psalmist acknowledged that God does tests the hearts of men:
"The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates" (Psalm 11:4, 5, NKJV).
David said to his son Solomon:
"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever" (1 Chron. 28:9, NKJV).
True Christians must not please men
Paul said, "For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ" (Gal. 1:10, NKJV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. The word "now" is used here, evidently, to express a contrast between Paul's present and former purpose and way of life. Before Jesus met him (before conversion) Paul derived his authority from men (Acts 9:1, 2), and he endeavored to act so as to please men and gain their good esteem. But "now" (after his conversion) it was not his object. His highter aim was to please God.
The implication is that pleasing men is a natural thing to do before a person is converted. But after convertion he should let his spirit, quickened by the Holy Spirit, to "crucify his flesh" (see my message last week) and to please men no longer but to please God in all circumstances. All true Christians should emulate Paul.
2. A "bondservant of Christ" actually means simply a true Christian. Every true Christian is a servant or a slave of Christ - whether he is an ordained Minister or an ordinary Churchgoer. What Paul implied here is that everyone who pleases men cannot even be called a Christian! Paul was honest enough to consider himself, remained unconverted and remained as an unbelieving Jew, if his motive was to please men. Obviously, a carnal Christian, who is no difference from an unbeliever, cannot be entrusted by God to preach the Gospel! Would God call you if He could not trust you?
I suggest my readers refer to my posting in September, 2006 entitled "Churches that are mere Storehouses" where I shared about the Mega-Church ministries. It is clear that you just can't build a Mega-Church without without pleasing men. The whole philosophy of building a successful Mega Local Church is - The Church must become like the world to win the world. The first thing the Church does in order to become like the world is to please men. Therefore on the basis of the above Scripture passage, all the elders, senior Pastors, Pastors, associate Pastors and all full time workers in most Mega-Churches are not servants of God; they are non Christians - the same status as unbelievers. They store up Churchgoes for hell!
Paul warned Timothy concerning the corruption of Local Churches and Churchgoers in the Last Days - now is the last of the Last days!
"For the time will come when they (so-called Christians) will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shell turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables" (2 Tim. 4:3, 4, KJV, emphasis added).
Notice that you need endurance to listen to correct Biblical doctrine. Because of their carnal desires and their itching ears the majority of Churchgoers prefer to listen to something pleasing or gratifying.
Isaiah prophesied concerning rebellious and carnal people:
"They say to the seers, 'See no more visions!' and to the prophets, 'Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions'" (Isaiah 30:10, NIV).
Visions of what is right are sound Biblical doctrines whereas illusions are "itching ears" doctrines.
By the way, it is very unlikely that you find a single "itching ears" message in my postings and I believe many Christians need "endurance" to read them!
"All things to all men"
Paul was misunderstood when he said he became "all things to all men" in the following passage of Scripture:
"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it all with you" (1 Cor. 9:19 - 23, NKJV, emphasis added).
First of all, Paul's purpose in life was for the sake of the Gospel. His desire of being "all things to all men" was to make his ministry as effective as possible - to get people save. But many Bible readers, including Bible teachers, believed he pleased men and compromised the truth of the Gospel. Many believers say Paul advocated adapting the Gospel to the tastes of unbelievers to win them to Christ.
I believe otherwise - Paul was adapting himself to the Gospel message!
The question we need to ask ourselves is that - How could a servant of God like Paul who would not please men and yet compromised the truth of the Gospel at the same time? It's simply not consistent!
Here is a brief summary of Paul's Ministry:
1. Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16).
2. Paul suffered for Christ for the Gospel's sake (2 Cor. 11:23 - 28).
3. Paul's Gospel messages were non-negotiable (1 Cor. 9:16) and he charged Timothy to emulate him (2 Tim. 4:2, 5).
I suggest my readers refer to my earlier posting entitled "All things to all men" where I attempted to expound what Paul meant when he said he became "All things to all men". The fact is: Paul did exactly what God called him to do, and finished it - without the need to please men and without the need to compromise the truth of God's Word!
Paul finally said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7).
Just think about it - Is it really necessary to keep the faith and to "fight the good fight" if Paul's motive was to please men?
Our hope is the Lord
If you believe your hope is the Lord you will not please men and make flesh (your carnal desire) your strength. Otherwise you'll be under a curse:
"Cursed is the man who trust in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. .....Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and chose hope is the Lord. ...." (Jeremiah 17:5 - 8).
The Scripture is very clear - Any Christian leader who trusts the Lord will not make flesh his strength. If he pleases man by compromising the truth of God's Word, then he neither trusts the Lord nor has any hope in Him!
"For the appeal (in preaching or in exhortation) we made does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed - God is our witness. We are not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else" (1 Thess. 2:3 - 6, NIV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. A preacher must not cultivate a carnal or fleshly lifestyle. Words or phrases like "error", "impure motives", "trick", "flattery" and "to cover up greed" describe a Christian with a carnal lifestyle.
2. God does not entrust the Gospel to every preacher. Only preachers who do not please men but God are approved by God to preach the Gospel.
In fact Paul mentioned himself being "entrusted with the Gospel" in many of his epistles - Gal. 2:7; 1 Tim. 1:11; Titus 1:3.
3. God tests the hearts of preachers (and all his people) - whether they have carnal or impure motives or not.
The psalmist acknowledged that God does tests the hearts of men:
"The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates" (Psalm 11:4, 5, NKJV).
David said to his son Solomon:
"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever" (1 Chron. 28:9, NKJV).
True Christians must not please men
Paul said, "For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ" (Gal. 1:10, NKJV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. The word "now" is used here, evidently, to express a contrast between Paul's present and former purpose and way of life. Before Jesus met him (before conversion) Paul derived his authority from men (Acts 9:1, 2), and he endeavored to act so as to please men and gain their good esteem. But "now" (after his conversion) it was not his object. His highter aim was to please God.
The implication is that pleasing men is a natural thing to do before a person is converted. But after convertion he should let his spirit, quickened by the Holy Spirit, to "crucify his flesh" (see my message last week) and to please men no longer but to please God in all circumstances. All true Christians should emulate Paul.
2. A "bondservant of Christ" actually means simply a true Christian. Every true Christian is a servant or a slave of Christ - whether he is an ordained Minister or an ordinary Churchgoer. What Paul implied here is that everyone who pleases men cannot even be called a Christian! Paul was honest enough to consider himself, remained unconverted and remained as an unbelieving Jew, if his motive was to please men. Obviously, a carnal Christian, who is no difference from an unbeliever, cannot be entrusted by God to preach the Gospel! Would God call you if He could not trust you?
I suggest my readers refer to my posting in September, 2006 entitled "Churches that are mere Storehouses" where I shared about the Mega-Church ministries. It is clear that you just can't build a Mega-Church without without pleasing men. The whole philosophy of building a successful Mega Local Church is - The Church must become like the world to win the world. The first thing the Church does in order to become like the world is to please men. Therefore on the basis of the above Scripture passage, all the elders, senior Pastors, Pastors, associate Pastors and all full time workers in most Mega-Churches are not servants of God; they are non Christians - the same status as unbelievers. They store up Churchgoes for hell!
Paul warned Timothy concerning the corruption of Local Churches and Churchgoers in the Last Days - now is the last of the Last days!
"For the time will come when they (so-called Christians) will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shell turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables" (2 Tim. 4:3, 4, KJV, emphasis added).
Notice that you need endurance to listen to correct Biblical doctrine. Because of their carnal desires and their itching ears the majority of Churchgoers prefer to listen to something pleasing or gratifying.
Isaiah prophesied concerning rebellious and carnal people:
"They say to the seers, 'See no more visions!' and to the prophets, 'Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions'" (Isaiah 30:10, NIV).
Visions of what is right are sound Biblical doctrines whereas illusions are "itching ears" doctrines.
By the way, it is very unlikely that you find a single "itching ears" message in my postings and I believe many Christians need "endurance" to read them!
"All things to all men"
Paul was misunderstood when he said he became "all things to all men" in the following passage of Scripture:
"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it all with you" (1 Cor. 9:19 - 23, NKJV, emphasis added).
First of all, Paul's purpose in life was for the sake of the Gospel. His desire of being "all things to all men" was to make his ministry as effective as possible - to get people save. But many Bible readers, including Bible teachers, believed he pleased men and compromised the truth of the Gospel. Many believers say Paul advocated adapting the Gospel to the tastes of unbelievers to win them to Christ.
I believe otherwise - Paul was adapting himself to the Gospel message!
The question we need to ask ourselves is that - How could a servant of God like Paul who would not please men and yet compromised the truth of the Gospel at the same time? It's simply not consistent!
Here is a brief summary of Paul's Ministry:
1. Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16).
2. Paul suffered for Christ for the Gospel's sake (2 Cor. 11:23 - 28).
3. Paul's Gospel messages were non-negotiable (1 Cor. 9:16) and he charged Timothy to emulate him (2 Tim. 4:2, 5).
I suggest my readers refer to my earlier posting entitled "All things to all men" where I attempted to expound what Paul meant when he said he became "All things to all men". The fact is: Paul did exactly what God called him to do, and finished it - without the need to please men and without the need to compromise the truth of God's Word!
Paul finally said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7).
Just think about it - Is it really necessary to keep the faith and to "fight the good fight" if Paul's motive was to please men?
Our hope is the Lord
If you believe your hope is the Lord you will not please men and make flesh (your carnal desire) your strength. Otherwise you'll be under a curse:
"Cursed is the man who trust in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. .....Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and chose hope is the Lord. ...." (Jeremiah 17:5 - 8).
The Scripture is very clear - Any Christian leader who trusts the Lord will not make flesh his strength. If he pleases man by compromising the truth of God's Word, then he neither trusts the Lord nor has any hope in Him!
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Understanding Carnality
It is so easy to blame the Devil for carnality. Many things that Christians attribute to the Devil are really nothing more than the works of the flesh. We must realize that not everything that is wrong in life is directly the work of an evil spirit.
As mentioned in my previous message, the word "carnal", in a Biblical sense, signifies the flesh that is sensual, controlled by animal appetites, and governed by human nature instead of by the Spirit of God. So, the only way to overcome the flesh or carnal desires is to keep the flesh under the dominion of the spirit. When a person is born again, his spirit is instantly regenerated by the Spirit of God. In other words, his spirit is instantly quickened and made alive by the Spirit of God. Then he has the power in him to put his body under the control and subjection of his spirit.
True Children of God
The Bible says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14, NKJV).
It does not say, "For as many as are led by the body or the five physical senses, they are the sons of God." Or, "As many as are led by the soul (mind, emotion and will), are the sons of God." Spirit-ruled (led) and Word-based believers have a strong defense against Satan. But body-ruled and sense-ruled believers are an opened target for Satan and his wiles, because Satan cannot touch the spirit of a truly born again believer.
A believer must always keep his body subject to his spirit - more so for a Church leader or a preacher.
Paul said, "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, less, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27, emphasis added).
If the apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, had to keep his body under the dominion of his spirit, evidently his body must have wanted to do things (carnal in nature) that were not approved by God. He realized that otherwise he would not be qualified to preach to others. Therefore, in the eyes of God, a carnal preacher is disqualified to preach! As I have shared in my previous message, carnality is a Biblical type of spiritual leprosy. If you have a carnal Pastor-preacher or a carnal shepherd his "leprosy" will inevitably spread to members of the congregation! It makes me wonder, if this Biblical truth is strictly adhered to, how many Church elders or leaders are truly qualified to preach or to teach? But then again, not many God-fearing preaches or Pastors understood this important Biblical law!
Read the following Biblical qualifications of a Bishop (Overseer or a Church elder):
"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; ..." (1 Tim. 3:2, 3).
Obviously, a carnal Chirstian is not qualified to hold leadership position in the Local Church! Because of these careless carnal preachers many Church-goers are having spiritual leprosy!
The Christian's body
When you are born again by the Spirit of God, your body is not born again. Unless you allow your body to come under the subjection (dominion) of your spirit you are no better (in conduct and character) than an average unbeliever as far as the body and soul are concerned.
It is important to realize that since your body is not born again, and it is with your body (with your five physical senses) that you contact this world where Satan is god (2 Cor. 4:4) you are in constant danger of satanic attack. That is why your inner-man (the spirit-man) must do something to control your body. If you let your body do whatever it wants to do and let you mind think anything it wants to think, the Devil can get into your mind and body and dominates you.
Paul said, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30, emphasis added).
The word "redemption" means the redemption of the Christians' bodies. This is a future event. This will happen when Christ comes again when "corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Cor. 15:53).
In the meantime the Scripture instructs a Christian what to do with his body:
1. He must present his body a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1).
2. He must put to death (crucify) or mortify the deeds (fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness) of his body (Col. 3:5).
3. He must keep his body under subjection to his spirit-man (the inward man), the real man on the inside (1 Cor. 9:27).
The Christian's mind
The Bible has much to say about the human mind - the gateway into the human soul.
Peter wrote to believers "of the dispersion" (1 Peter 1:1):
"Therefore gird up the loins of you mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ...." (1 Peter 1:13, 14, NKJV, emphasis added).
To "gird up the loins of your mind" means "not to let loose the thoughts of your mind". If you fail to gird up the loins of your mind you would allow your thinking to conform to the "former lusts" of an unsaved person.
God has given us specific instructions about the mind and what we are supposed to do to keep our minds strong so that we can stand against Satan, the enemy of our soul:
"You (God ) will keep him (God's people) in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trust in You" (Isaiah 26:3, NKJV).
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5).
"The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7).
We are to keep our minds and our thoughts focused on God. And if we start to think like Jesus the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ.
To do that we have to put the Word of God (Jesus is the Word) into our minds by meditating on it. Then our thinking will be in line with the Word of God, and Satan would not be able to get a foothold in our thinking.
The Bible tells us what kind of thoughts we should be thinking:
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things" (Phil. 4:8, NIV, emphasis added).
We should think thoughts in line with the Word, not the enemy's thoughts of doubt, worry, and discouragement.
God knows that man's mind is the first place where Satan tries to gain access - even the minds of Christians if they let him. That is the reason He wants the Christian to have a renewed mind - a renewed mind will transform you and your thinking.
Paul said, " I urge you, brother, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:1, 2, NIV, emphasis added).
The above passage of Scripture clearly shows that God wants submitted bodies, and transformed minds. That is His strategy for our defense against Satan.
When your mind is renewed with the Word, your thinking is transformed. When your thinking is transformed, your acting is transformed. You no longer think and act like you used to when you were under Satan's dominion. When your thinking and acting are transformed - you are transformed!
As Paul said, with the renewed mind you are tranformed or changed from the "old man" to the "new man":
".... that you put off, concerning your former conduct (lifestyle), the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness" (Eph. 4:22 - 24, NKJV, emphasis added).
The "old man" with its carnal desires
The above passage of Scripture tells us how to deal with the body and soul after we are born again by the Spirit of God. It is important to understand that it is God's job to deal with our spirit - He quickens it; but it is Christian's job to deal with with his own body and soul - he takes dominion over the works of the flesh which comes from the old man. In other words, it is the Christian's job to put off the old man and put on the new man. God is not going to "put off the old man" for him.
You are not dealing with evil spirits when you put off those evil tendencies of the "old man"; you are just dealing with your flesh with its carnal desires. You are not to take the easy way out and blame it on the Devil. You've got to keep those evil tendencies and attitudes under the dominion of your spirit - the man on the inside - and let the new creature in Christ dominates. As you "put on" Christ you'll be able to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh where you are an easy prey for Satan:
"Walk in the Spirit, and you shll not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16).
Crucifixion of the flesh
The only way to "put off the old man" is to crucify the flesh.
Paul said, "And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:24, 25).
The evil spirit will always try to work through your flesh, but you have the authority in Christ to overcome it. The Devil and his evil spirits have no dominion over you, as long as you are walking in line with the Word and submit yourself to God.
James said, "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7, NKJV).
You can't resis the Devil unless you submit to God or submit to the Lordship of Christ. When the Devil tries to use your flesh to gain access to you, it does not mean you are demon possessed. The Devil will always work through the flesh because your body is not redeemed yet. But if you don't furnish the Devil anything to work with, by submitting to God at all times, he would not have any access to you.
Therefore our carnal nature has nothing to do with the evil spirits. Therefore you just can't simply cast the flesh out like casting out demons. Instead, you have to crucify or mortify the deeds of the flesh. However, if you continue to give place to the lusts of your flesh, you will eventually open the door to evil spirits.
Conculsion
Thanik God, as genuine believers we know what to do about Satan, and we know our authority in Christ. We know how to put off the old man (carnal) nature with its "uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness, wrath, malice ...." (Col. 3:5 - 8) and we know how to put on Christ. We can possess our vessels in sanctification and honor and learn how to stand strong against all the wiles of the Devil.
As mentioned in my previous message, the word "carnal", in a Biblical sense, signifies the flesh that is sensual, controlled by animal appetites, and governed by human nature instead of by the Spirit of God. So, the only way to overcome the flesh or carnal desires is to keep the flesh under the dominion of the spirit. When a person is born again, his spirit is instantly regenerated by the Spirit of God. In other words, his spirit is instantly quickened and made alive by the Spirit of God. Then he has the power in him to put his body under the control and subjection of his spirit.
True Children of God
The Bible says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14, NKJV).
It does not say, "For as many as are led by the body or the five physical senses, they are the sons of God." Or, "As many as are led by the soul (mind, emotion and will), are the sons of God." Spirit-ruled (led) and Word-based believers have a strong defense against Satan. But body-ruled and sense-ruled believers are an opened target for Satan and his wiles, because Satan cannot touch the spirit of a truly born again believer.
A believer must always keep his body subject to his spirit - more so for a Church leader or a preacher.
Paul said, "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, less, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27, emphasis added).
If the apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, had to keep his body under the dominion of his spirit, evidently his body must have wanted to do things (carnal in nature) that were not approved by God. He realized that otherwise he would not be qualified to preach to others. Therefore, in the eyes of God, a carnal preacher is disqualified to preach! As I have shared in my previous message, carnality is a Biblical type of spiritual leprosy. If you have a carnal Pastor-preacher or a carnal shepherd his "leprosy" will inevitably spread to members of the congregation! It makes me wonder, if this Biblical truth is strictly adhered to, how many Church elders or leaders are truly qualified to preach or to teach? But then again, not many God-fearing preaches or Pastors understood this important Biblical law!
Read the following Biblical qualifications of a Bishop (Overseer or a Church elder):
"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; ..." (1 Tim. 3:2, 3).
Obviously, a carnal Chirstian is not qualified to hold leadership position in the Local Church! Because of these careless carnal preachers many Church-goers are having spiritual leprosy!
The Christian's body
When you are born again by the Spirit of God, your body is not born again. Unless you allow your body to come under the subjection (dominion) of your spirit you are no better (in conduct and character) than an average unbeliever as far as the body and soul are concerned.
It is important to realize that since your body is not born again, and it is with your body (with your five physical senses) that you contact this world where Satan is god (2 Cor. 4:4) you are in constant danger of satanic attack. That is why your inner-man (the spirit-man) must do something to control your body. If you let your body do whatever it wants to do and let you mind think anything it wants to think, the Devil can get into your mind and body and dominates you.
Paul said, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30, emphasis added).
The word "redemption" means the redemption of the Christians' bodies. This is a future event. This will happen when Christ comes again when "corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Cor. 15:53).
In the meantime the Scripture instructs a Christian what to do with his body:
1. He must present his body a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1).
2. He must put to death (crucify) or mortify the deeds (fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness) of his body (Col. 3:5).
3. He must keep his body under subjection to his spirit-man (the inward man), the real man on the inside (1 Cor. 9:27).
The Christian's mind
The Bible has much to say about the human mind - the gateway into the human soul.
Peter wrote to believers "of the dispersion" (1 Peter 1:1):
"Therefore gird up the loins of you mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ...." (1 Peter 1:13, 14, NKJV, emphasis added).
To "gird up the loins of your mind" means "not to let loose the thoughts of your mind". If you fail to gird up the loins of your mind you would allow your thinking to conform to the "former lusts" of an unsaved person.
God has given us specific instructions about the mind and what we are supposed to do to keep our minds strong so that we can stand against Satan, the enemy of our soul:
"You (God ) will keep him (God's people) in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trust in You" (Isaiah 26:3, NKJV).
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5).
"The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7).
We are to keep our minds and our thoughts focused on God. And if we start to think like Jesus the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ.
To do that we have to put the Word of God (Jesus is the Word) into our minds by meditating on it. Then our thinking will be in line with the Word of God, and Satan would not be able to get a foothold in our thinking.
The Bible tells us what kind of thoughts we should be thinking:
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things" (Phil. 4:8, NIV, emphasis added).
We should think thoughts in line with the Word, not the enemy's thoughts of doubt, worry, and discouragement.
God knows that man's mind is the first place where Satan tries to gain access - even the minds of Christians if they let him. That is the reason He wants the Christian to have a renewed mind - a renewed mind will transform you and your thinking.
Paul said, " I urge you, brother, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:1, 2, NIV, emphasis added).
The above passage of Scripture clearly shows that God wants submitted bodies, and transformed minds. That is His strategy for our defense against Satan.
When your mind is renewed with the Word, your thinking is transformed. When your thinking is transformed, your acting is transformed. You no longer think and act like you used to when you were under Satan's dominion. When your thinking and acting are transformed - you are transformed!
As Paul said, with the renewed mind you are tranformed or changed from the "old man" to the "new man":
".... that you put off, concerning your former conduct (lifestyle), the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness" (Eph. 4:22 - 24, NKJV, emphasis added).
The "old man" with its carnal desires
The above passage of Scripture tells us how to deal with the body and soul after we are born again by the Spirit of God. It is important to understand that it is God's job to deal with our spirit - He quickens it; but it is Christian's job to deal with with his own body and soul - he takes dominion over the works of the flesh which comes from the old man. In other words, it is the Christian's job to put off the old man and put on the new man. God is not going to "put off the old man" for him.
You are not dealing with evil spirits when you put off those evil tendencies of the "old man"; you are just dealing with your flesh with its carnal desires. You are not to take the easy way out and blame it on the Devil. You've got to keep those evil tendencies and attitudes under the dominion of your spirit - the man on the inside - and let the new creature in Christ dominates. As you "put on" Christ you'll be able to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh where you are an easy prey for Satan:
"Walk in the Spirit, and you shll not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16).
Crucifixion of the flesh
The only way to "put off the old man" is to crucify the flesh.
Paul said, "And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:24, 25).
The evil spirit will always try to work through your flesh, but you have the authority in Christ to overcome it. The Devil and his evil spirits have no dominion over you, as long as you are walking in line with the Word and submit yourself to God.
James said, "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7, NKJV).
You can't resis the Devil unless you submit to God or submit to the Lordship of Christ. When the Devil tries to use your flesh to gain access to you, it does not mean you are demon possessed. The Devil will always work through the flesh because your body is not redeemed yet. But if you don't furnish the Devil anything to work with, by submitting to God at all times, he would not have any access to you.
Therefore our carnal nature has nothing to do with the evil spirits. Therefore you just can't simply cast the flesh out like casting out demons. Instead, you have to crucify or mortify the deeds of the flesh. However, if you continue to give place to the lusts of your flesh, you will eventually open the door to evil spirits.
Conculsion
Thanik God, as genuine believers we know what to do about Satan, and we know our authority in Christ. We know how to put off the old man (carnal) nature with its "uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness, wrath, malice ...." (Col. 3:5 - 8) and we know how to put on Christ. We can possess our vessels in sanctification and honor and learn how to stand strong against all the wiles of the Devil.
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