God is Faithful.

1Co 1:4  I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 

1Co 1:5  That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 

1Co 1:6  Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 

1Co 1:7  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 

1Co 1:8  Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1Co 1:9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 

We need the grace given to us by Jesus Christ.

We need to be enriched in everything by Jesus Christ.

We need our speaking enriched, we need our knowledge enriched- all by our Savior- Jesus Christ.

We don't want to get behind in any gift offered to us at any time, all the way until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.

Jesus Christ will confirm us to the end so that we are blameless when He returns.

God is faithful.

God calls us to the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus Christ is our Savior- our daily Savior, our hourly Savior, our minutely Savior.

Jesus saves us and He will keep us as His.

When we start believing we have to save ourselves we take our eyes off our Savior.

Keeping our eyes on our Savior, this is our Hope.

Wise to Good, Simple to Evil.

Are we wise to that which is good?

Are we simple concerning evil?

Rom 16:19  For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 

The Spirit will make us wise.

Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him

We need to be wise to the good we find in our Lord and Savior. We must comprehend through the Spirit that our Savior is everything. Good can ONLY come from our Savior. If we find goodness in anything other than our Savior and what He leads us too, is it really good? When we have a good time with others is it because our Lord is guiding us? Truly can the Lord join in with us in all we do? If CHRIST is in us, truly a part of us, we need to have the wisdom to comprehend all that means. Our life needs to be spend reveling in this relationship with our Savior.

Too often people spend a lot of time involved with evil, seeking evil, when truthfully we need to be simple concerning evil, not wise to is. We don't need to comprehend evil, we don't need to make evil a part of our lives. We never need to study evil.

Our study should be this--

2Ti_2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Jas 3:13  Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 

Jas 3:14  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 

Jas 3:15  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 

Jas 3:16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 

Jas 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

Jas 3:18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. 

Wise to that which is good--- Please, Lord, to this end may we seek to live in You, the Holy Spirit guiding us always! 

Love in the Spirit.

Rom 16:19  For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 

Eph 1:15  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 

Eph 1:16  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 

Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 

Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 

Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places

Praying that our Heavenly Father gives us the spirit of wisdom- the spirit of revelation in knowledge of Him. Praying that the eyes of our understanding is enlightened. Praying that we know what is the hope of our Savior's calling. Praying that we know the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. Praying that we know the exceeding greatness of His power towards us who believe- according to the working of His might power. All of this through Christ Jesus who the Father God raised from the dead and set down at His own right hand in heaven.

SPIRIT of wisdom.  Praying that we comprehend truly and fully all that our Heavenly Father has done and will do for us through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We NEED the SPIRIT of wisdom! We need to constantly comprehend that we have a HEAVENLY FATHER who THROUGH the sacrifice of HIS Son want us to KNOW HIM FULLY, to KNOW HIS LOVE, to KNOW HIS EXCEEDING GREATNESS of HIS POWER towards us who believe! 

We walk through this life with so many struggles- so much confusion and we need to believe through it ALL we are kept in God through our Savior. OUR HOPE IS ETERNAL in our GOD in our SAVIOR! This must be our daily HOPE, our hourly HOPE!

If we lose sight of our HOPE because this world steals our attention and pulls our focus downward instead of heavenward then we are in big trouble, constant trouble. Our focus must be heavenward where our Savior is, where our God is, where our Lord wanted us to forever look. He came preaching the gospel, the message of the heavenly kingdom.

Col 1:3  We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 

Col 1:4  Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 

Col 1:5  For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 

Col 1:6  Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: 

Col 1:7  As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 

Col 1:8  Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. 

Col 1:9  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 

Col 1:10  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 

Col 1:11  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 

Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 

Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 

Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins

We will not enter the kingdom except we are born of the Spirit.

Gal 6:12  As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 

Gal 6:13  For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 

Things of the flesh will never save us. Anything we do will not save us.

Gal_2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Gal_3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

We live though we are crucified WITH Christ.

Christ LIVES IN US.

The LIFE we LIVE in the FLESH- we MUST LIVE BY FAITH - the FAITH of the SON OF GOD- who LOVES US, and GAVE Himself for us!

We CAN'T begin in the SPIRIT, and then think our flesh will perfect us in any way.

Remember this--

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 

Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

Joh 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 

Jesus said we CANNOT enter the kingdom of God UNLESS we are born of the SPIRIT.

Once we are born of the Spirit, we've begun in the Spirit and must continue in the Spirit.  When we say we accept Jesus Christ, and truly do accept Him, through faith- then we are born of the Spirit, it is through the Spirit we are given this NEW LIFE IN CHRIST. Just as we are- we are given the new life through the Spirit of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We come to Him heavy laden with so much sin and we find forgiveness for ALL of that sin, in Him. We are cleansed from our filthiness in that moment. But then… one hour, one day, one week, one month goes by and those sins that so easily beset us fight for us return to them. Temptation doesn't disappear, and often it intensifies. Our flesh is carnal, our flesh is easily tempted and seduced into sin. We MUST live in the Spirit, through the Holy Spirit. We are born again of the Spirit. Christ lives in us. These are truths we can't let ourselves forget.  We didn't do ANYTHING of the flesh to be born again of the Spirit. And we CAN'T do anything to keep ourselves in Christ.  Yet, Satan will wind us up so tight in the belief that we just can't be good enough, we can't do enough good, we can't stop sinning, we'll never stop sinning and disappointing God, we will never obey Him - love Him and Others more than ourselves. Satan will shout these in our ears over and over again steering us away from the Spirit and enticing us to be consumed by the flesh.  Satan wants us to believe we must LIVE by the flesh, getting our flesh to behave. Satan does NOT want us to rely upon the Holy Spirit, he wants us to find any victory over sin in ourselves. He wants us to work at ridding ourselves of sin, and then to take glory in our victories. He wants us by the flesh to tame the flesh because when we do he can take the credit and deceive us.

Excerpt-  The Spiritual Man Pg 116

'Should a believer be so self-confident that he dares to complete the task of the Holy Spirit in the energy of the flesh, he will not come into full spiritual maturity. He will instead drift until the sins he previously had overcome return to him again in power. Do not be surprised by what is said here. It is a spiritual truism that wherever or whenever the flesh is serving God, there and then the power of sin is strengthened. Why did the proud Pharisees become slaves to sin? Was it not because they were too self-righteous and served God too zealously? Why did the apostle chide the Galatians? Why did they manifest the deeds of the flesh? Was it not because they sought to establish their own righteousness by works and to perfect by the flesh the work which the Holy Spirit had begun?

The hazard for young believers is to stop short of the putting to death of the power of the flesh in doing good by only knowing what the cross does for the sinful side of the flesh. In so doing they retreat again into the sins of the flesh. The greatest blunder Christians commit upon experiencing victory over sin lies in not using the way of victory to sustain it; instead they try to perpetuate the victory by their works and determination. It may perhaps succeed for a while. Before long though they shall find

Pg  117

themselves sliding back into their former sins, which may differ in form but not in essence. They then either slump into despair by concluding that constant and persistent triumph is impossible to achieve or they try to camouflage their sins without honestly confessing that they have sinned. Now what is it that causes such failure? Just as the flesh gives you strength to do righteously so it also gives you the power to sin. Whether good acts or evil, all are but the expressions of the same flesh. If the flesh is not furnished  opportunity to sin, it is willing to do good; and if once the opportunity to perform good is provided, the flesh will soon revert to sin.

 Here Satan deceives God’s children. If believers would habitually maintain the attitude of the flesh being crucified Satan could have no chance; for “the flesh is Satan’s workshop.” if the flesh in whole, not just in part, is truly under the power of the death of the Lord, Satan will be totally dis-employed.

He is consequently willing to allow the sinful part of our flesh to be offered unto death if he may only deceive us into retaining the good part.

Satan is quite aware that should the good side remain intact the life of the flesh will continue to be kept alive. He still has a base from which to operate to recover that side which he has lost. He knows very well that the flesh could win and regain its victory in the realm of sin if the flesh succeeded in squeezing the Holy Spirit out in the matter of serving God. This explains why many Christians fall back into the service of sin after they have been set free. Should the spirit not actually be in complete and continuous control in the matter of worship, it will be unable to maintain dominion in daily life. If I have not yet entirely denied myself before God I cannot deny myself before men, and therefore I cannot overcome my hatred, temper and selfishness. These two are inseparable.

Through ignorance of this truth, the believers at Galatia fell into “biting and devouring one another” (Gal. 5.15). They attempted to perfect by the flesh what had been begun by the Holy Spirit, for they desired “to make a good showing in the flesh” in order that “they might glory in (their) flesh”

Pg 118

-(Gal. 6.12,13). Naturally their successes were very scanty in performing good by the flesh, while their failures in overcoming evil became quite numerous. Little did they realize that as long as they would serve God with their strength and ideas they doubtlessly would serve sin in the flesh. If they did not forbid the flesh to do good they could not prevent it from doing evil. The best way to keep from sinning is not to do any good by one’s self. Being unconscious of the utter corruption of the flesh, the Galatian believers in their foolishness wished to make use of it, not recognizing that the same corruption marked the flesh in boasting of doing good as in following lust. They could not do what God wanted them to do because on the one hand they tried to accomplish what the Holy Spirit had begun and on the other they vainly attempted to rid themselves of the passion and lust of the flesh. '

When Good Can Be Bad.

We've been talking about how even the seeming 'GOOD' in us can be a bad thing. How many who BELIEVE, truly, believe that they are Christ's will hear Him tell them to get away from Him, that He doesn't know them. Those people are going to tell the Lord He's wrong, they'll explain how they did so much in His name, they were GOOD Christians- they helped the poor, they fought against evil, they lived a good life and hurt no one! They'll be speaking the truth too, all but one point in fact, all that good they did was done in their flesh, on their own, without the Holy Spirit.  Just because we do good does NOT automatically mean we are living in the Spirit, that Christ is living in us.  Evil loves to do good, it's called deception and Satan is the master of deception.

I've been rereading the book - The Spiritual Man and the following is an excerpt- pg. 110

 'Yet, just here lies the danger. For the Christian has not come to learn how to hate the totality of his flesh. He merely desires to be liberated from the sins which spring from it. He knows how to resist somewhat the deeds of the flesh, but he does not realize that the entire flesh itself needs to be destroyed. What deceives him is that the flesh not only can produce sin but can also perform good. If it is still doing good it is evident it is yet alive. Had the flesh definitely died the believer’s ability both to do good and to do evil would have perished with it. An ability to undertake good manifests that the flesh has not yet died.'

Truthfully we must be crucified with Christ.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

Our entire life must be lived by FAITH and not faith in our own abilities, but faith in the Son of God.

Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Gal 3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 

ANY good that we produce of ourselves without the Spirit, is not good at all. We must do ALL through the Spirit. 

Here is another excerpt-  The Spiritual Man Pg 116

'Should a believer be so self-confident that he dares to complete the task of the Holy Spirit in the energy of the flesh, he will not come into full spiritual maturity. He will instead drift until the sins he previously had overcome return to him again in power. Do not be surprised by what is said here. It is a spiritual truism that wherever or whenever the flesh is serving God, there and then the power of sin is strengthened. Why did the proud Pharisees become slaves to sin? Was it not because they were too self-righteous and served God too zealously? Why did the apostle chide the Galatians? Why did they manifest the deeds of the flesh? Was it not because they sought to establish their own righteousness by works and to perfect by the flesh the work which the Holy Spirit had begun?

The hazard for young believers is to stop short of the putting to death of the power of the flesh in doing good by only knowing what the cross does for the sinful side of the flesh. In so doing they retreat again into the sins of the flesh. The greatest blunder Christians commit upon experiencing victory over sin lies in not using the way of victory to sustain it; instead they try to perpetuate the victory by their works and determination. It may perhaps succeed for a while. Before long though they shall find

Pg  117

themselves sliding back into their former sins, which may differ in form but not in essence. They then either slump into despair by concluding that constant and persistent triumph is impossible to achieve or they try to camouflage their sins without honestly confessing that they have sinned. Now what is it that causes such failure? Just as the flesh gives you strength to do righteously so it also gives you the power to sin. Whether good acts or evil, all are but the expressions of the same flesh. If the flesh is not furnished  opportunity to sin, it is willing to do good; and if once the opportunity to perform good is provided, the flesh will soon revert to sin.

 Here Satan deceives God’s children. If believers would habitually maintain the attitude of the flesh being crucified Satan could have no chance; for “the flesh is Satan’s workshop.” if the flesh in whole, not just in part, is truly under the power of the death of the Lord, Satan will be totally dis-employed.

He is consequently willing to allow the sinful part of our flesh to be offered unto death if he may only deceive us into retaining the good part.

Satan is quite aware that should the good side remain intact the life of the flesh will continue to be kept alive. He still has a base from which to operate to recover that side which he has lost. He knows very well that the flesh could win and regain its victory in the realm of sin if the flesh succeeded in squeezing the Holy Spirit out in the matter of serving God. This explains why many Christians fall back into the service of sin after they have been set free. Should the spirit not actually be in complete and continuous control in the matter of worship, it will be unable to maintain dominion in daily life. If I have not yet entirely denied myself before God I cannot deny myself before men, and therefore I cannot overcome my hatred, temper and selfishness. These two are inseparable.

Through ignorance of this truth, the believers at Galatia fell into “biting and devouring one another” (Gal. 5.15). They attempted to perfect by the flesh what had been begun by the Holy Spirit, for they desired “to make a good showing in the flesh” in order that “they might glory in (their) flesh”

Pg 118

-(Gal. 6.12,13). Naturally their successes were very scanty in performing good by the flesh, while their failures in overcoming evil became quite numerous. Little did they realize that as long as they would serve God with their strength and ideas they doubtlessly would serve sin in the flesh. If they did not forbid the flesh to do good they could not prevent it from doing evil. The best way to keep from sinning is not to do any good by one’s self. Being unconscious of the utter corruption of the flesh, the Galatian believers in their foolishness wished to make use of it, not recognizing that the same corruption marked the flesh in boasting of doing good as in following lust. They could not do what God wanted them to do because on the one hand they tried to accomplish what the Holy Spirit had begun and on the other they vainly attempted to rid themselves of the passion and lust of the flesh. '

We're going to stop here for now and pick it up again tomorrow- by the GRACE of GOD.

They believe He knows them.

Rom 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 

Rom 16:18  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Php 3:18  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ

Php 3:19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 

Php 2:21  For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.

2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

You can have the FORM of godliness OR have the POWER of godliness.

You can give really great uplifting speeches but still NOT serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

You can seek things for your own pleasure OR seek the thing which are Jesus Christ's.

You see, I've said it before and I'm going to say it again- TRULY if we are LOVERS of pleasures MORE than lovers of GOD, we will NOT BE GOD'S no matter what we think! No matter what superior form of supposed Christianity we take, we are NOT God's if we seek pleasure over seeking God. What PLACE does God hold in our lives? Is He first and foremost in our lives or have we regulated Him to another rank in our life? Do you suppose if He is even one rank under first that we are His? People want to believe this it truth, but it isn't.  People want to believe if they just accept God without any of God in their lives that they are saved. People want to believe that if they are doing good works in His name that they are saved. He tells us differently. He tells us that He needs to know us.  If you say that He knows you simply because He is a God and knows all, then I say you're wrong again.

He spoke these words of truth-

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

Jesus is going to tell MANY that He never knew them and He won't be speaking to the professed atheists, or religious unbelievers of Him. Jesus is going to be speaking to those who use HIS name.

THEY USE THE NAME OF JESUS! THEY BELIEVE HE KNOWS THEM!

This will mean all the difference in the world -  Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 

HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF THE FATHER- these are the ones that Jesus Christ will know!

Joh_6:38  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Joh_6:40  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

How many DO things with the belief- however small- that the things they do qualify them for salvation? Are these the people our Savior doesn't know because they haven't truly believed in HIS SAVING POWER, a power ONLY HE possesses and is found in nothing else? Or do they hang on to even the tiniest sliver of their OWN power for salvation? If we believe even a little bit that our actions beyond believing are what save us then we are NOT honestly, and fully believing in the grace of our Savior.   The acts we commit after we believe should NOT be done in order to save us, but as extensions of the truth in CHRIST's sole ability to save.  WE are able to do the tiniest bit of good only because of HIS saving power, not because we possess some power of our own to add to His redeeming of us.  We can NEVER add points to a chart that doesn't exist and it doesn't exist because we can't work our way to salvation. The ONLY chart would have one point if it existed and that point would be BELIEVING IN CHRIST!

We STOP believing in the redeeming power of our Savior when we start working our way there. We may say we don't but we do.

It's NOT that we shouldn't behave in certain ways, we have to behave as Christ behaved loving the Heavenly Father and loving others and doing works accordingly but we do that because we are SAVED, not to be SAVED.

Daily we need to pick up our crosses and these crosses are but reminders through and through of the cross of Calvary.

Luk_9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

And notice… let him deny himself AND take up the cross daily.

We take up the life and death and life again of Christ daily, knowing the walk He walked is ours to walk as well. He SAVED us so we can live for HIM and if living for Him means being persecuted all the way to our deaths, we die FOR Him because He FIRST died for us.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

THIS is TRUTH!

The cross represents the LIFE Christ lived - His ministry that led to His crucifixion. The cross represents His blood spilled in sacrifice for us. The cross represents His rising from the grave to live for us once again. The cross represents all these things and we take up a cross daily to represent that we are LIVING with CHRIST LIVING IN US.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory

Christ's power is alive in US this is the power we dare not deny. We have no godliness of our own, but we have Christ's.

May we NOT be consumed by self-serving, may our bellies not be our gods! May we truly have GOD in our lives fully, wholly in us all through Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR now and forever!!!!!!!

'...good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.'

Rom 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 

Rom 16:18  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

When someone serves their own belly, they are serving their own needs first and foremost.  They might say they are serving the Lord, but they aren't. They speak wonderfully and in their wonderful speeches they are DECEIVING the hearts of those who would be Christ's.  Truly, are we not God's if all we do is care for ourselves before others.  We say we need to take care of ourselves first so we can care for others, but there is a difference between caring for ourselves and pampering ourselves. There is a big difference in trusting God to care for our needs while we live for Him, and trusting in ourselves.  Some argue that God expects us to care for ourselves and gives us the means to do so, and I can't say that isn't true. I can say if we are caring MORE for ourselves than Him and for others, we are not listening to God at all.

Php 3:18  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ

Php 3:19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 

Php 2:21  For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.

2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Jud 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 

More on this tomorrow by the grace and will of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST NOW AND FOREVER!!!!!!!

Receiving One Another.

Rom 15:5  Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 

Rom 15:6  That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Rom 15:7  Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 

Luk_8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Bring forth fruit with patience.

Anyone who has ever grown a garden knows you must have patience. Plants of all kinds have their own time schedule and it takes a lot of time for the first tomato to turn red, from seed to fruit. The kernel planted - to the ear of corn, from the seed sowed- to the wheat stalk. Time, it all takes time and time means patience. Time is going to pass and we decide how we live in that passing time. We can fight time. We can rage against its slowness in so many of life's situations. Being impatient seldom hurries the very thing patience is needed for so why do we allow ourselves to get impatient? Is there any logical reason for it other than our emotions taking over?

Patience, surely we NEED patience, much more patience in all our daily lives, in all things.

The God of patience and consolation can grant us to have the same mind towards each other ACCORDING to Christ Jesus. We need to have the same truth and glorify God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We need to receive each other as CHRIST received us and THIS will glorify God.

Receiving each other as we receive Christ. Freely, earnestly, gratefully, in love, in truth.

All through our SAVIOR, now and forever!

Patience.

Rom 15:5  Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 

Rom 15:6  That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Rom 15:7  Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 

The God of patience.

Luk_8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Luk_21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

Rom_5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Rom_5:4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope

Rom_8:25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Rom_15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

2Co_6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses

2Co_12:12  Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

Col_1:11  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness

1Th_1:3  Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father

2Th_1:4  So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure

1Ti_6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

2Ti_3:10  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience

Tit_2:2  That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

Heb_6:12  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Heb_10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Heb_12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us

Jas_1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Jas_1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Jas_5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Jas_5:10  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

Jas_5:11  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

2Pe_1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness

Rev_1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev_2:2  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

Rev_2:3  And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Rev_2:19  I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

Rev_3:10  Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Rev_13:10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Rev_14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Comfort of the Scriptures.

Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 

Through PATIENCE, and COMFORT of the scriptures we have HOPE. Everything written in God's word was written for our learning. We NEED to read the scriptures! We need to take comfort in all those who have gone before us. Each person used by God is a person just like you and I are. There was no special mold for God's chosen. God chose those who He found grace in.

Gen_6:8  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Why did Noah find grace in the eyes of the LORD? 

Gen_6:22  Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Gen_7:1  And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Gen_7:5  And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.

God saw Noah as righteous in a generation filled with evil. Noah listened to God. 

We need to listen to God. All those men and women in the Bible, listened to God. And when they didn't listen to Him, there were consequences. Jonah for example- He didn't want to listen to God, but in the end He did.

God only ever wants our ultimate good - our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Life is difficult, it was difficult for all the men and women in the Bible as well. Read their stories, read what transpired. You won't find a single instance of an easy life. You will find trials and tribulations. You'll find pain and agonies. You'll find joys too, but there isn't an easy life for ANY of those who are God's.  Look at their lives! Know their lives and take comfort in KNOWING that through all the trials and tribulations the men and women of God remained HIS through faith. They did NOT give up on God no matter what they endured all the way to their deaths.

Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 

We NEED TO LEARN!

We NEED PATIENCE!

We NEED TO FIND COMFORT IN THE SCRIPTURES!
We NEED HOPE!

All through our Savior, Jesus Christ, we need to listen, to heed God's word, God's lessons for us.

Please, Lord...please!

Please God, and Others, Not Self.

We think pleasing ourselves is our ultimate goal in our lives. We believe that being pleased- content, happy, satisfied, glad- is something we are to strive for. Truly we are NOT to please ourselves, this ISN'T our life's objective! To say I'm happy, to say I'm content, to say I'm satisfied, this is NOT what I should be desiring- not above others. MY pleasure should be secondary to helping others yet I am so incredibly SELFISH that I somehow believe that I should be first! That I shouldn't have to be unhappy, dissatisfied, not content, and surely not glad.  I'm not saying I need to be depressed, sad, angry, there is a place between our being pleased and our being unpleased. It is in this place between we are to LIVE for Christ and be HIS people here and now that MINISTER to each other revealing His love in everything we do for others. This is where we NEED to be! This is where we are to teach our children to be, not to seek their own pleasure, their own pleasing. 

We are to PLEASE others at the expense of NOT pleasing ourselves! We are to BEAR the infirmities of the weak if we are strong.

Christ did NOT please himself. Christ did NOT seek to please himself at all.  Pleasure may have come through bringing His light and life to others, but He did not purposefully commit a single action to please Himself.

Rom 15:1  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 

Rom 15:2  Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 

Rom 15:3  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 

Psa 89:50  Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people; 

Psa 89:51  Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed. 

Christ suffered.

Mat 26:39  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Mat 26:42  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. 

Joh 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Joh 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Joh 6:38  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 

Joh 8:29  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 

Joh 12:27  Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 

Joh 12:28  Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 

Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

Christ did NOT live to please Himself, but to please God, His Father, are we to do ANY LESS?

STOP TRYING TO PLEASE YOURSELF (yes, I'm talking to myself too).

Please, Lord, PLEASE help us to seek to please YOU, and others, over and above ourselves.  All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior now and forever, amen!

No Stumbling Blocks.

We are not to put a stumbling block in anyone's way as they seek to walk in the truth with Christ.

If they are persuaded of a truth you do not hold, to judge their walk to be false and interfere in it, you are in truth causing them to stumble.

We have to fully comprehend that we all must follow in faith the truth as the Holy Spirit reveals it to us, and convicts us. We can present our truths to those who inquire after them, but to try and force our truths on someone will forever be wrong.

If we look around at others who don't follow our particular revealed truths and judge that they can't possibly know Jesus or be known of Him, then we are truly lost because we have no power to discern their hearts, or their futures.

We are to live our truths and reveal them as prompted by the Holy Spirit. We aren't to take it upon ourselves to shove our truths down anyone's throat.

Right now there is not a single person being forced to read this, not one, at least not by me. For all I know- no one reads these little studies and that's all well and good. God knows and that's all that matters, and all that will ever matter. If but one person seeks the truth in Christ Jesus and is helped in any way by these writings all I can do is praise God, because it will be through Him it transpires. I have no power of my own to compel anyone.

If what I write does cause someone to stumble it's not because I've singled them out and am personally striving to do something to cause that to happen. God forbid I harm anyone's walk with Christ!

Truly, we are to love- not to judge. God has the power to convict and to know the proper time to do so, not us.  May God help us all to live the truth of Christ without causing any other to stumble.

And how appropriate that this particular song come on the playlist as I finish--

Jesus, Friend of Sinners

Casting Crowns

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away

We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing

Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see

The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me

Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded

A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand

Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands

Help us to remember we are all the least of these

Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees

No one knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded

What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast

For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came

Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast

But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost 'cause and I was the outcast

Yeah

You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

From <https://www.google.com/search?q=jesus+friend+of+sinners+lyrics&oq=jesus+friend+of+sinners+lyrics&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.9492j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8>

*******

Rom 14:13  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 

Rom 14:14  I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 

Rom 14:15  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 

Rom 14:16  Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 

Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 

Rom 14:18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 

Rom 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 

Rom 14:20  For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 

Rom 14:21  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 

Rom 14:22  Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 

Rom 14:23  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. 

Why do you judge others?

We will ALL stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Every one of us will give account of ourselves to God.

Do you think you are exempt because you choose not to believe in God? You aren't.  Do you think you'll escape standing before the judgment seat because you have other gods you worship? You won't. Whatever you believe, whatever you worship, whatever your life is… you WILL stand before the judgment seat of Christ. You don't have to believe what I'm saying, but it's the truth.

There are a lot of people, the majority in fact, who do not believe in God's truth as it is found in Jesus Christ our Lord.

There is despair of finding any faith on earth when Christ returns-

Luk_18:8… Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Yet people are quick to point out that there are MILLIONS who follow Christianity. Millions and millions, yet here we have the LORD Himself saying….'shall he find faith on the earth?'

Christ also said this--

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

So, I say again, there are millions and millions of Christians in the world- however, the majority of those Christians are not Christ followers in truth. 

Getting back to the judgment-- not everyone believes there will be a judgment but that belief won't stop it from taking place. You can go before the Lord, and when you are placed before the judgment seat of Christ you will have no doubt to its reality. You will then give an account to God, again there will be no exemptions from this, not a single one.

We are NOT to play judge though, not against another's eternal life. I cannot judge anyone's eternal life. They could tell me straight to my face that they hate God and do not believe in Jesus Christ, and I can mourn their beliefs at that moment, but it will still be UP TO GOD, not me, to judge their eternal life.

I can judge the right or wrong of someone's actions in relation to my own beliefs, but not condemn those I believe are wrong- not eternally.

Each person stands or falls all on his own before his master- God.

If God wills that a person I don't believe is following the truth found in our Savior, is to be saved then God knows that person's heart, the depths of his truest beliefs more than I ever could. I am accountable for my judging.  And God would have us leave the judging to Him.

By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, may we be fully His in all His truth and be judged worthy by Him, through Him. May we be kept from judging others in ways we were never meant to judge each other.

All through our SAVIOR, now and forever!

Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 

Rom 14:5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 

Rom 14:6  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Rom 14:7  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 

Rom 14:8  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 

Rom 14:9  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 

Rom 14:10  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 

Rom 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 

Rom 14:12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 

Weak in Faith, Judge Not.

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 

Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 

Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 

Weak in the faith, we can still be received, as long as it's not to bring doubt and disputations. If our faith is weak we need reaffirmation, not disputing, not doubt.

We aren't to despise one another for the variances in our beliefs. The moral law is our standard, accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior, this is our faith, our belief. Jesus came to preach the gospel of salvation through HIM, and this is our hope.

People will often nitpick their religion, making statements of belief down to the clothing, the food, the associations we have and so much more. Yet God's word, while giving us varying ideas, the ultimate truth is loving God, loving each other, believing on the Son of God, the only declared begotten of the Father.  I'm not saying there aren't other standards, other points made, other encouragements, other orders. We are given a lot of instructions by the various writers inspired by the Holy Spirit. We are also told the above-

The following-

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 

Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 

Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 

One believes he may eat all things.
Another believes he can eat only herbs.

Neither is right, neither is wrong-- God received them both.

We have to remember this as well-

Luk 6:37  Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven

And this-

Mat 7:3  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 

Mat 7:4  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 

Mat 7:5  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 

We are too quick to judge and to look at others faults and not our own. We need to love as God and Jesus Christ our Savior command us to love, all through the Holy Spirit.