BEGGARLY ELEMENTS
Brother James, OIC
Gal 4:8-10 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Since the first Church, warnings have been issued to not follow man made traditions, legalistic religious practices and man made rules as such seemingly orderly routines quench the Spirit of God and being led by the Spirit becomes impossible. So many today are confused and follow their own emotions and believe it is Gods Spirit talking to them. The plans the schedules the routines the rules the format all are lost in the Spirit. This does not mean that things in a Church service should not be done decently and in order, but again that Truth was speaking to the confusion that emotionalism brings when gifts are present and the body of believers are carnal, babes in Christ.
Beggarly denotes poverty, indigence, base, hard circumstance, return to past bondages, looking back. It is something the keeps you bound and many find comfort in those lost, lifeless boundaries.
Col 2:18-23 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
To be dead in Christ from the rudiments (orderly fashion) of the world the warnings are to not return back to them. We are as Christians no longer of this world our citizenship is in Heaven our loyalty to one King: Jesus our being in His Kingdom. So then we are in the world and not of the world. Living in the rudiments of the world and its beggarly elements will never prepare you for the spiritual battle you are called to fight in Christ:
2Ti 2:1-10 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Many who should have their total focus on Christ and His Fathers Will for them are to busy living in this world , its political systems, its dead works and its fallen state of goodness. We are not called to do this and Im concerned many are fallen from grace.
Gal 5:1-10 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised (or by implication following the law, rules, traditions, etc.) Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
After God revealed the frailties of the flesh in Adam (the Fleshly man) then expounded on them in the Law of Moses He then sent the Christ (the second Adam whom was Spiritual) to teach of the subtle tricks the Adversary would use to roadblock your growth in Christ. Thus stopping you from entering the Kingdom of God.
1Co 15:44-50 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Gal 5:13-21 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Where Christ has completely and totally paid for our sin past present and future trusting the flesh which is what “works of the flesh” means will keep you bound in the beggarly elements of religion yoking you to the rudiments of the world and stop you from walking in the power of Christ in your life where in you have victory over this world and its god Satan.
Trusting the Truth of Gods Word and the solutions for your life His Promises will deliver to you who learn to trust in them and wait on them by faith and patience will free you from the lifeless Beggarly Elements.
