THE FLESH RECEIVES THE WORLD
THE SPIRIT RECEIVES THE TRUTH
Brother James, OIC
Eph 4:11-23 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;…..
My mind and your mind must be transformed by the Word of God as we rightly divide, in spiritual understanding, it’s Word of Truth. This transformation grows the Spirit of the Mind. When we press forward in Christ to do this our spiritual enemy Satan will not be pleased. We must always remember the precious cost Jesus paid by purchasing us from Satan with His Blood . Satan will not readily relinquish his possession. He will appear to be an Angel of Light and will use the world, our families, our friends, false teachers in and out of the Church as well as the array of modern day false solutions to our problems. He speaks these subtle temptations into the carnal (fleshly) part of your minds. If our Carnal Minds agree with Satan then we are drawn back into the world and our growth in Christ is stunted or shipwrecked even to the point of falling from Grace.
Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Satan isn’t opposed to goodness as long as it is the law of goodness found in the world and not Gods Goodness. The worlds goodness is evil to God and very deceptive as it touches the emotions and makes sense to the carnal mind.
Isa 5:20-23 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
It’s time to give up all rights to ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to take control of our lives. Then as we learn to be led by Him through His Truth we will become the New Creation unlike anything that’s born into this world and life will then show the results of a Spiritual Life in Christ by our Good Fruit but if the Worlds solutions are mixed into your Christian Calling then the Works of the Flesh will remain evident:
Gal 5:16 -26 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. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
