Tag: righteousness

Articles

Warning Every Man

Pete

“Warning Every Man”

Preaching the gospel and the whole counsel of God has us warning and admonishing one another of the Lord’s words and ways.

Eze 3:17  Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 

Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. 

The NT word for warning, G3560 is the same word as admonishing.

G3560

íïõèåôǻù

noutheteō

noo-thet-eh’-o

From the same as G3559; to put in mind, that is, (by implication) to caution or reprove gently: – admonish, warn.

 

Our coming into the knowledge of the truth [His Word] and learning the lessons of sowing and reaping is the beginning of true wisdom of the Lord.

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Learning the Lord’s methods [MO] of saving us by fiery grace is how we are in due time caused to obey the Lord [Eze 36:27, Isa 26:9] and enter into true righteousness becoming doers of the Word.

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

When our day has come to be saved and glorify the Lord within us, the Lord’s grace will not fail to deliver.

Heb 10:26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Heb 10:27  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries

We learn the fear of the Lord as we are taught the connection between our disobedience and the pouring out of grace.

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap

Rom 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Rom 5:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Maturing in Christ does not mean knowledge of doctrine, it means we are becoming doers of the Word.  This means we are exhibiting the accompanying good works and fruits of the Spirit [Gal 5:22] in all our behavior.  We are to be concerned first and foremost about ourselves.

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Coming to see the workings of true grace and the law of sowing and reaping is a blessing that brings us the strength to suffer and wait on the Lord to deliver us unto righteousness.

We do have a role in the Body to be watchmen and overseers of the flock helping our brothers and sisters escape from bondage and corruption of either false doctrines and sin.  The armies of Christ bring correction and warnings of the Lord’s methods to win back those erring from the way.

2Th 3:14  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 

2Th 3:15  Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish [warn] him as a brother. 

Paul was warning the Thessalonians about some who had stopped working out their own salvation and had become busybodies in the lives of others.

2Th 3:10  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 

2Th 3:11  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 

2Th 3:12  Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 

2Th 3:13  But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing

Ceasing to work is physically and spiritually being slothful.  To the extent we are able, we are to work for our own spiritual food and thereby reap the spiritual growth that work will bring.  Being diligent and not slothful is necessary if we are to move onwards to maturity in Christ.

Pro 12:24  The hand of the diligent shall bear rule [over their house having dominion over sin]: but the slothful shall be under tribute. 

Heb 6:11  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 

Heb 6:12  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith [with accompanying works] and patience inherit the promises. 

Growing Weary

We are warned about growing weary in doing well because that is exactly what our flesh which is weak will seek to do and the knowledge will lull us to sleep thinking we have arrived when there is a long journey ahead to travail.  It takes the coming of Christ with the fire as in the lake of fire to expose our sloth and awake us to His true and much higher standard of righteousness.

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 

Mat 5:20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees [those that had a lot of knowledge], ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

The most insidious deceiver is the one within ourselves and within our midst who can easily speak what our flesh wants to hear by picking and choosing from the Scriptures.

Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 

Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 

Act 20:31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears

If we are going to go to make it in this age, we are going to endure severe trials and suffer far more than we at first can imagine or bear.  There is no other way except by the cross of Christ and our following Him to death.  Paul like Christ was an example for us to follow and learn from what is written.  There are many temptations to water down our walk and not stand for Christ in the face of an unbelieving world.  When we bow to this pressure, it takes the heat off and makes us better received by those outside the faith.  Yet that is not the mark of the high calling!  To be godly in Christ, we are guaranteed we will suffer persecution and be hated of those outside the faith.

2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

Paul warns about the evil and seducer [without ourselves and our own wicked fleshly heart and carnal mind] that will wax worse as we mature to bring temptation and deception to try our faith.  A little knowledge will lead us to deceive ourselves in this way and thereby avoid persecution.

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

Lord willing, we are learning to stand and follow the way of Christ in spite of the ongoing temptations from our physical families, our neighbors, our workplace, the entire world [kosmos] in which we dwell in these marred vessels of clay.  Showing all the standard of God and leading by example was an oft-repeated theme of Paul’s life and his writings and with it came much suffering and persecution.

1Co 4:12  And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 

1Co 4:13  Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 

1Co 4:14  I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 

1Co 4:15  For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 

1Co 4:16  Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

We can’t be an effective witness or preacher if we ourselves have not been successful in overcoming.  A desire to serve the Lord and be His minister should help us strive for the higher calling of having the Lord glorified in our deeds and acts.

Rom 15:17  I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.

Rom 15:18  For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

Rom 15:19  Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

The Goal in the Kingdom of God

Obviously, the end goal of the Lord’s work in every man is salvation. That is the saving of every man or said another way being delivered from their sins.  This means far more than just being forgiven those sins, it means the power of God unto salvation has come unto us and we have [are in process] been risen above with Christ.

Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 

Mat 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 

The signified language of the Book of Revelation [Rev 1:1] reveals that the wrath of God against our old man and sinful ways, is how we are given the victory and how we stand on top of the sea that represents our flesh and its lusts.

Rev 15:1  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 

Rev 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 

We touched on charity and love being the prime thing [1Co 13:8] a few studies back.  That is what the Lord seeks and is getting done  [Psa 135:6, 2Pe 3:9] when He comes for salvation in every man’s day of the Lord.  We should never stop working out our salvation remembering our measure of faith is there to work a work in us that is not yet finished.

1Jn 3:7  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 

1Jn 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 

We should be fervently be seeking the Lord in His kingdom within us and hastening His coming [2Pe 3:12] more and more [thereby destroying the works of the devil within us] through prayer and fasting.  This is far more important than knowledge of the Scriptures and knowing all the types and shadows of the Old Testament.

Mat 6:8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 

Mat 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 

Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom [within] come. Thy will be done in [our life and actions] earth, as it is in heaven. 

The God of love is a God of obedience and that is what He is transforming within us when He comes to us a second time for salvation.

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 

Without God’s love growing more and more in us, our witness and testimony profits becomes a clanging gong and our knowledge of doctrine amounts to  nothing without it. These words of Paul take on great importance as we remember what the love of God truly is all about.

1Co 13:1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 

1Co 13:2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 

1Co 13:3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 

The event of flesh Israel rebelling against the Lord and not being content and demanding meat to eat, is an example for all of us to learn from regarding true righteousness and our pursuit of it.   The walk of faith can become boring to the fleshly minded.  Who wants to be still and wait on someone else [even the Lord], when our flesh is accustomed to the fulfillment it finds in the world [Egypt].  Our flesh will naturally desire some spiritual meat [gold nuggets, types and shadows] to make it interesting and give us something to boast about.

Num 11:4  And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 

Num 11:5  We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: 

Num 11:6  But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. 

The Lord will wean us of this “self-pursuit” by giving us what our flesh demands; so much so that we will get sick and spiritually die from it.

Num 11:32  And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. 

Num 11:33  And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.

Lusting after spiritual meat is lusting after riches [knowledge] and is what we all do in showing the pride of life and discontent of our carnal mind with waiting on the Lord.  The higher calling is the righteousness of Christ.

1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

 

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.

 

Gal 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

We have come along way and learned many things to get to where we are as a Body of Christ.  Yet the Lord is now beginning a greater work in us.  We all must come through the fire that is the lake of fire in order to be raised with Christ and be given the crown of life that is His Mind being dead to our carnal mind.  Our measure of faith given to us open up the access into the fiery work of the Lord and our enduring the many tribulations needed to work true godliness on the inside.

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God [our obedience] is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

The sifting of the true church is leading us back to the simplicity of the gospel and its good news [to the new man] message.  A mindset of profiting and getting rich from being chosen of God now, had led us into a slothful and sleepy walk with the Lord.  We as a Body must strive for obedience and step up and help one another in a godly and meek way.  We have many warnings/admonishments in the Scriptures to teach us the fear of the Lord and remind us of all the errors and the consequences of Israel’s rebellion in failing to take heed the Lord.

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition [warning], upon whom the ends of the world are come. 

1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 

We are doomed to repeat the lessons of the Lord who is chastening us.  So taking heed the warnings and putting the fear of the Lord into action is something we all should be striving to follow the way of righteousness and be alive with Christ.  James wrote of the double-minded and the struggle to have both faith and works in our actions.  We are saved by faith but true faith, not the vain kind, will result in works showing up as the Lord has willed.  We should hasten to that coming.

Jas 2:14  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 

Jas 2:26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. 

We are to be faithful watchmen, warning the people of God of the wolves, the error and the sin that is approaching or has already come into the camp of the saints.  This applies first and foremost within ourselves but does extend to our loving our brother and sisters by our works.

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. 

Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 

The Lord will awaken His people to righteousness and is going to work His good pleasure in us all.  May we encourage and warn one another both to hasten His appearing in the kingdom of God within us all.

 

 

Studies

Exposing the Millennium Reign – Part 4

Pete

Exposing the Millennium Reign – Part 4

 “Reigning With Christ – God’s Plan for All”

The entire multi-part series can be found here:Click Here

The real reign with Christ spoken about in the Scriptures is the one that has every man ruling and reigning in His kingdom within us having dominion over sin and the lusts of our flesh.  This is our focus and our prayer that this rulership, our being risen to reign with Him in righteousness comes.

Mat 6:10 Your kingdom [and our ruling and reigning with Him] come. Your will be done on earth [G1093 – the land within] as it is in heaven

Lord willing, this gigantic plank of false doctrine regarding an outward Millennium Reign on the physical earth/world is completely removed from our spiritual eyes.  The entire lie comes from the father of lies and our bowing to Satan who promises us this outward rulership if we only serve him.

Luk 4:5  And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world [kosmos] in a moment of time. 

Luk 4:6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 

Luk 4:7  If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 

Just think of the huge false doctrines that have fallen away as we have come out of the lies and deceptions of Spiritual Babylon.

  • No longer denying the Second Death, knowing this spiritual experience, which is the lake of fire [the cross] and the only way we will be saved

 

  • No longer denying the “resurrection of damnation” [Joh 5:29, Dan 12] as belonging to those lesser Gentiles. Now we see this as the only way to get to salvation. Day 3 is only found by living through this Day 2 experience!

 

  • We clearly see there is no spiritual event called the “second resurrection” in the Scriptures — it does not exist. There is only ONE blessed and holy FIRST resurrection that comes to all men in the two harvests of men.  It is not a pattern of sound words to refer to the second harvest as the second resurrection.

 

  • We have also been delivered of our exaltation of the Elect and our being given more respect from the Lord than other men and deserving of greater rewards and lesser punishments.

 

  • The significance of the flesh profiting itself NOTHING [Joh 6:63] has taken on expanded comprehension. Now our focus can be returned to its proper place and we know the road is narrower and few there be shall find it.

 

  • We continue to learn to not think above what is written [1Co 4:6], having learned a big lesson by this experience. We now know there are many things not written; including the details on how the physical earth comes to an end and how humanity and living flesh will cease to exist.

The flock has lost some who walk no more with Christ not being able to bear the loss of carnal profit and carrying our cross to the second death.  This winnowing and sifting will continue as it is a precious few who will be given to lay down their lives and endure the walk of faith all the way to the end.  The pursuit of the fishes and loaves i.e –  the knowledge needs to be turned into our pursuit of love [obedience].  There are few who will be given to move on and finish the race.

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 

While more studies could be done to expand upon all the connected errors propping up the Millennium Reign doctrine,  it is time to move on and turn our eyes inwardly to the kingdom of God and where He is at work.

We Walk by Faith Not by Sight

We will continue to comfort one another with the promises of the Lord and the comfort given to us in 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. 

There are many details about the next age the Lord has not provided to us.  He has not revealed all things to us and we know that the Lord [the truth, the way] will not be found in what the Scriptures do not reveal.  We must be wise to not follow after such deception and the wanton spirit within our flesh that wants to know everything.  Let’s stick to what is revealed in His Word.

Mat 24:23  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 

Mat 24:26  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 

The good fight of faith means we walk not on what we see [physically or spiritually revealed to us in the Scriptures]; but by faith. The very essence of faith is believing in what one cannot see.

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Rom 8:24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 

Let’s look again at these verses that warn us to be content and not be wanton in seeking riches including the spiritual kind.  We are to flee such lusts and idols that ensnare carnal minds in huge error as we have witnessed ourselves.

1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 

1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 

1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

What are we to focus on and pursue if not spiritual riches as we wait on the Lord?  Paul answers.  It is all about love, which is our obedience [1Jo 5:3].

1Ti 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things [wantonness, seeking to be rich, chasing knowledge, etc]; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 

1Ti 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 

To those given much [knowledge, riches], much more will be expected [Luk 12:48].  All riches are given by the Lord to the edifying and benefit of the Body of Christ that will be manifest in good works in service to the Lord.

1Ti 6:17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, [WALK BY FAITH] who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 

The sign of our maturity is the growing fruit of righteousness [obedience, charity, agape] which shall never fail us.  Predictions of false prophets within and without ourselves will fail, our learning new mysteries [tongues] about the Lord will fail as our focus is turned back to the Lord and the love of God.

1Co 13:8  Charity [obedience] never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

The love of God is better than wine says the love book of Solomon, which is a type for our relationship with Jesus Christ our husband.

Son 1:2  Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love [obedience] is better than wine [knowledge]. 

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

If we study the Epistles and writings to the early church, we will  see an absence [lack] of focus on future mysteries and outward events, but instead a constant focus on the battle for truth and obedience within us. This is the struggle of flesh and Spirit we all battle and where our focus must always remain as only the queen of Babylon within us [Rev 18:7] thinks she needs nothing and has already arrived.

The Lord’s True Plan for Reigning on the Earth

Being raised up with Christ and occupying a new Temple in which He dwells takes a three-day process with some little seasons to be enduring in the transition between the days.   There is simplicity and order to all that the Lord is working in His plan for the salvation of every man.  God’s plan and order never change.  First spiritual death, then spiritual life.  First the flesh than the spirit. First the reign of death [flesh] then the reign of righteousness as we must live both experiences as His Two Witnesses.

1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 

1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 

1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 

Bringing the complexity of the signified times and seasons of our Lord back to the simplicity that is Christ, both reigns beginning with the reign of death and damnation [Day 2] and the reign of eternal life and righteousness [Day3] are crucially important and are lived out in the specified order.

Rom 5:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Rom 15:12  And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that [Christ] shall rise to reign over the Gentiles [rest of the dead within us]; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

Death reigns on our earth when we hear the law but have not the power and overcoming to rule over sin.  Hearing the gospel and the commands of Christ revives sin in us, the result being spiritual death reaping the wages of sin.

Rom 7:9  For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 

Rom 7:10  And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 

 

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 

Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

It is only when the Lord comes the second time, with power and fire, that the rest of the dead within us [the Gentiles] are raised to life as death is destroyed in the lake of fire.

Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 

His coming to us with power on high, at Pentecost, brings the Spirit of life that is setting us free the law of sin and death, little by little, as we abide in the fire carrying our cross by faith, crying out for deliverance.

Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 

Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death….

The reign of death is transformed into a reign of righteousness by the process as the heavens and earth within us continue to be purified.

Dominion and Rulership Comes by Death

We die daily to death in the lake of fire as our carnal mind is destroyed and we dispossess the land of all things that defile.  This is reigning in righteousness and we grow into it as we mature in the faith thru great tribulations.

Rom 6:7  For he that is dead [to death] is freed from sin. 

Rom 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 

Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion [rulership] over him. 

Rom 6:10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Rom 6:12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 

This fulfilling the plan of God was given way back in the beginning.

Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him [sin]. 

 The Lord’s plan was set from the beginning of time and He has never wavered or changed.  God made lights in the inward heavens, to rule over the times and divide light from darkness in His process of remaking each and every man.

Gen 1:16  And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 

Gen 1:17  And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 

The Lord is the Lord of heaven and the earth and in the process of remaking us [“Qal” ongoing tense like Aorist in Greek], that is being accomplished by His three-day process in rebuilding the temple of God which temple we are [1Co 3:16].  Gaining dominion is gaining rulership and that dominion is over our own personal earth, air [heaven] and over everything that lives within us.  The plan was stated and has not changed from the very beginning.

Gen 1:26  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 

Gen 1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 

Gen 1:28  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth

This transition into the reign of righteousness, for the signified thousand years; signifies the third day, also known as the last day or the day of the Lord in which all men are perfected in Gods plan.  The number three signifying the process [the three days] of how we are perfected by the hand of the Lord.

Mat 12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 

Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

The kingdom of Jesus Christ and His Christ has never been and never will be about ruling the physical kosmos [Joh 18:36, Joh 6:15, Luk 17:21].  The words of Scripture, which are all spirit, tell us the earth represents our bodies, emotions, and actions … our entire life experience which is also known as the promised land that is given to Israel [Elect, Spiritual Jews] to possess.  We possess that land and learn to rule over it only through judgment that comes when Christ brings the fire to our earth.

Deu 4:1  Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. 

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth [the promised land], the inhabitants of the world [kosmos] will learn righteousness. 

The entire history of flesh Israel and all failed and immature kings is there to show us our Day 2 experience and the reign of death and our flesh and the futility we experience in overcoming sin and being obedient.  A divided kingdom is a double-minded man who deceives himself and is ensnared in death having made a covenant with death.  This is all part of the Lord’s plan to bring us to our wits end where we cry out for a savior.

Isa 3:4  And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them [first before the kingdom is established in righteousness with a true king] 

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 

When we are in the flesh before Christ comes in the Spirit with power, our ruling was all in vain and there was never any lasting righteousness or overcoming.  Which is why Christ comes to us the second time [Day three] to bring the fire that saves us and establishes true righteousness on the earth.  We look towards and focus on this.

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 

The true reign with Christ is the result of our coming through the Lake of Fire and dying to death which is the Second Death.  When death is dead within us, we have power in the Spirit and are reigning over and possess the land in holiness.  This is salvation and the plan of God for every man in the appointed times for each.

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Being like Christ will have us ruling like Christ and being the servant of all and lording over no man.  The outcome we should seek is the exact opposite focus the false doctrine of an outward Millennium Reign brought to those that believed it.  Reigning with Christ is serving the dead within us and without us, preaching the gospel and teaching all the commandments of the Lord.

Mar 10:42  But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 

Mar 10:43  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 

Mat 5:19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 

We can praise the Lord for His mercy in bringing us out of our deceptions and turning us back to the message of the gospel.

The following study continued on in exposing error from the false Millennium Reign doctrine.  That study can be found here:  The “Is, Was and Is to Come” Coming of the Lord and I believe you will be greatly edified.

 

Articles

Beware Lasciviousness

Pete

 

1Pe 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Walking with the same mind of Jesus Christ is how we overcome and are getting beyond the fleshly pursuits listed here by Peter.  Once we are chosen to suffer by the Lord and brought into the Truth and abide in the fire of the Body of Christ; we are no longer supposed to be living our lives the way the Gentiles (our former self included) live.

1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God

Those precious few given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God can easily forget these warnings.  We have many reminders to stir up the truth and admonish and exhort us to beware of becoming slothful and lazy with regards to our battle with worldly lusts.  This sinful way of living needs to be put behind us.

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Becoming a doer of the word and not just a hearer requires work as we will see. Jesus Christ did not come and is not still coming so we can continue to live in sin. He comes to set the captives (all men) free from our bondage to sin.  That is the very essence of what salvation is all about.

All of the Lord’s people will struggle with sin to some degree all the days we live in these marred vessels of clay. However, the promise of salvation is we are being saved from our sins.  This comes little by little as the Scriptures declare and for good reasons that are to keep us from thinking we d0 it by our own strength and initiative.

Deu 7:22 And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

As we mature we must be able to look behind us and see progress being made as we are giving more and more dominion over sin. The Lord is surely long-suffering and this process takes far longer than we want in order to teach us patience.  Yet it is not an excuse to take a let’s eat, drink and be merry attitude.

Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

All things becoming new include our old behaviors passing away in the Aorist Greek tense as the word is, was, and will be working in our lives.

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passing away; behold, all things are becoming new.

Not seeing that progress should be a warning sign something is amiss.  We must examine ourselves to see if we are really in the faith.  The grace of the Lord that scourges us and teaches us and ultimately causes us to obey the Lord (Eze 36:27) can be received in vain.

2Co 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

We receive such grace in vain, when we do not learn from our mistakes and the chastening the Lord brings for our sins.  If we fail to learn the lessons, we are doomed to repeat them and this will impede moving on to be a mature man in Christ.  There is a fine line between claiming ourselves to be the chief of sinners (which we are apart from Christ working in us) and to receive the grace of the Lord in vain.  To sit back and say the Lord is making you sin is being lascivious if we are not careful.

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

The Lord sends us trials and delegates the tempting of our sinful flesh to the enemy in order to test our faith.  Those that fail get more trials and more grace until they get it.

Jas 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

Knowing what real grace is is of utmost importance for our progress of being saved.  Grace is what scourges us and the resulting chastening is what teaches us to obey with time and repeated “lessons”.  We must learn that our every disobedience will result in our just reward from the Lord.

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,

Tit 2:12  chastening (training) us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Where sin increases, the suffering and chastening in the heat of His furnace increases.

Rom 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, (scourging and fiery) grace did much more abound:

Still, we are naturally brute beasts (Ecc 3:18, Rom 7:24) and it takes our entire lives to be fully delivered and we only ever receive it in down payment form until we are given our new spiritual bodies. We all fall victim to lascivious spirits that keep us in bondage to sin.  We need to be reminded of this and our need to get up and to get back on the narrow road and learn what went wrong and make changes in our walk.  To win the war we must (be given to) start and continue in winning the battles against our fleshly desires.

1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Sin no longer should be ruling in our mortal fleshly bodies.  As our faith grows and actions are added to our faith and we (Christ rising up in us) begin to gain victories little by little.

Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

This is a serious calling and a serious walk of faith that requires tremendous effort and endurance that the Lord will give us as we grow in faith.

Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

We tend to focus only on the positive and not the negative aspects of the Word of God. It is a two edged sword and we need not forget either side.  Who wants to talk about sin and the chastening we are given in return?  Who wants to talk about us falling away and becoming a reprobate?  No, our flesh wants to rest and take it easy thinking knowledge is what it is all about.  We speak often to one another of the Lord’s Sovereignty in ALL THINGS but much less frequently of the battles and lessons REQUIRED to overcome sin and walk out our faith. We can’t misuse the sovereignty of God and use it implicitly as an excuse for our continued sinful ways.  We need to beware of lascivious spirits and remember we do not inherit the promises until we have done the will of God.

Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

And what is that will?  We do not need to guess what it is.

1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from (spiritual ) fornication:

Our turning grace into lasciviousness is not something we are done with after we leave the physical Babylonian churches.  We need to beware of carrying this spirit even while we are in the truth today.  Jude was writing to us, the Body of Christ, when he penned these words.  We best beware of “those men”, especially our carnal deceitful hearts that creep in unawares with a lascivious spirit.  It’s what flesh loves to do.  Like Jude, we need to exhort one another to be diligent which means careful to contend for our faith.  It is this lazy spirit of sloth and lasciviousness that wants to use God’s sovereignty and the salvation promised to all men to avoid the need to strive and labor in our walk of faith.

Jud 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

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.

We can have all the truth we want but if we turn it into lasciviousness, we are denying the Lord and His Power within us.  Jude reminds us what happens if we do not move on to maturity and stop our progress of overcoming sin.

Jud 1:5  I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

It is a mistake to not be exhorting each other over this battle with sin. We are far too quick to just say it’s the Lord and go about our daily lives.  Battling and contending with this spirit is never ceasing until the day we physically die.

Heb 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Our learning comes by suffering and being chastised by our Lord.  But we cannot continue to pursue the same course.

Heb 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

We know we must endure to the end and we do that by fighting, striving and working.  It is the last days and we are warned what happens in those days in each of us and this is what happens, we have a form of godliness but denying  the power of Christ in us (thru our unbelief) to change us.

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

Being cautious of pinning all of our sins on the Lord and using that to justify our continued bad behavior is how a lascivious spirit deceives us. Sure He is causing it but He is doing it to His people so we will learn to stop doing it.  We are fighting to lay hold of the life promised and flee from those things that defile us.

1Ti 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

1Ti 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses

If we have issues with besetting sins, we need to be changing our behavior Lord willing to remove those things from our pathways.

Pro 22:3  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

At times we have humility but lack the fear that is so needed to bring us to obedience.

Pro 22:4  By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

Guarding our hearts and the entry points into our life is required.  This is a serious matter requiring us to take ACTION.  Faith without these works are dead.

Pro 4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life…

Pro 4:26  Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

Pro 4:27  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Contrary to the myths some apply to the Apostle Paul, he was not soft on sin, he warned every man and labored himself to the very end.

Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

We are to be putting off the old man and putting on the new man.  This takes diligent action on our part.

Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Col 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

This is working out our own salvation WITH FEAR and TREMBLING.

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

We will never attain perfection in this life but we must beware the ditch on the other side of this narrow road.  Our entire life is the works of the Lord’ hands and no matter what we do,  it’s the Lord doing it.  Yet we must beware a lascivious spirit leading us away from fear and trembling at the Word.  If we stop striving diligently we are falling short.

 Luk 13:24  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

We will reap what we sow. If we continue to sow inequity to that disobedience (no matter what it is) we are also reaping.  We have heard these things before but we are not taking heed of these serious matters.

Heb 2:1  Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things (i.e. strive and work) which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

Heb 2:2  For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

There are no free passes.  Grace is not a wink wink and no punishment.  Sin will be recompensed.

Rom 2:6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

So don’t get me wrong here and this is not intended to discourage anyone, but rather encourage you.  We don’t save ourselves but I hope to instill in all of us a renewed respect and fear of the Lord.  When we do sin and it is brought to our attention we need to respond in faith.  We have seen people taken right out of the truth who failed to heed this and came to believe we are not to fear the Lord or tremble at every word.  We need to take seriously our sins and disobedience. When we fall down, we must take action and get right back up, Lord willing of course.  Unless we are given of the Lord to progress, and this takes WORK, we are falling short of the goal.

Heb 4:1  Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

So we must work and strive together to make our calling and election sure.  We need to add to our faith and our knowledge the things Peter mentions.  This is the only way we are made partakers of His Divine nature (i.e. saved from our sins) and escape the lusts of this world.  We can’t sit back and continue doing the same old worldly things and expect a different result.  That is called insanity.  We are moving on to maturity if the Lord wills.  The end of the matter is our obedience and this comes by ADDING to our knowledge and to our faith. This is how the DOING part comes about.

2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity (LOVE)

We are made whole with the Lord when we obey the commandments.  That is the end of the matter as it relates to what the Lord is doing with us, His pieces of clay.

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole (duty) of man.

2Jn 1:6  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

2Ti 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Once the salvation of all men becomes the new reality and we realize we were lied to all our lives, lasciviousness is a common trap our sinful flesh and deceitful carnal hearts will stimulate in our lives.  Why strive to obey the Lord since all men will be saved anyway?  But there are many reasons for such a thing, beyond this post to cover.  But one thing is for sure such an attitude is immature and there is no fear of the Lord in one’s eyes who thinks such a thought.  We all will learn and our continuing to learn that Jesus Christ is not a minister for sin.

Gal 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

So we must be very careful for thoughts that make it okay to justify our continued living in sin.  We are indeed slaves to sins when we start out.  But we need to stop being slaves to sin and become slaves of righteousness if we are going to make the cut for the first resurrection.

Rom 6:18  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Rom 6:22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Freedom is not free as the world likes to say and that is true in the spiritual sense as well.  There is a price to be paid (count the costs) and we work for our freedom from sin and that is by becoming slaves to righteousness.  We won’t eat and progress if we do not work for it ourselves. Without us being given the zeal to work, we won’t eat and thereby won’t grow in our faith and maturity.   A lazy spirit leads to lasciviousness and abusing the grace of the Lord.

2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

We learn this by being judged, yet if the behavior does not change, we are not learning and more grace is needed to work righteousness within us.  The sooner we get this done the sooner we can enter into rest.

Wisdom is the combination of KNOWLEDGE with understanding that comes with experience.  Fear of the Lord is necessary to move us on to be Holy as our Lord is Holy.  Until we get over our lasciviousness we are not progressing and need to be retaught basic oracles of the Lord including fear.

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Wisdom results from this fear and that is how we learn the lessons and become wiser and wiser with the trials and temptations we are continually given.

Isa 33:5  The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.

Isa 33:6  And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

A lazy attitude will keep us from maturing and we will continue to learn over and over again the function of grace until we get it.  Under the law of true faith, Jesus is not a minister for sin, He will judge His people and this is how that works.

Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

We will learn obedience by the things we suffer and the sooner we learn it the better off we will be.

Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

We learn to fear our physical fathers when our disobedience is punished and it is no different with our heavenly father.  In our day of abiding in the scourging grace we will learn to fear and we will be caused to stop our disobedience.

Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The Lord’s people are fellow laborers who are striving daily to ensure and progress onward to maturity.  We like the Apostle Paul, continue to learn and appreciate more and more the warnings of keeping our sinful ways under subjection lest we be castaway despite knowing all the truths we know.

1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

The doing part is the hard part.  We have to walk out our faith and becoming a true example to others.  Otherwise, we cannot be used for the Lord’s purposes now or for the Higher Calling in the ages to come.  If we don’t overcome we too, are becoming reprobates. We are proving our faith by passing the test and trials that are given to us.

2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

We are warned about being deceived about this ongoing battle against sin.  Here are both John, Paul and Peter’s words written for our admonition.

1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

It is those who overcome who will be given the Eight Promises of the Lord in the Book of Revelation.  Talk about a carrot, an incentive to strive and labor on this journey.  These promises are reserved only to those few that are being found faithful to the end.  Here are just the last three promises linked to overcoming (sin) that are cited.

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Sincere questions or comments welcome. You can email me at peterjwilson56@gmail.com.

Your Brother in Christ,  PETE

 

Studies

All Things Are For Your Sakes

Pete

All Things For Your Sakes 

2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

It is a real blessing when we come to realize that all things we have and do and experience in life; with no exceptions, are the work of the Lord.  We really begin to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord when we are given to understand and to trust in that immutable fact.  This is the hidden wisdom the world cannot see or hear.

1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

What a mind boggling concept this is to the natural man.  Everything that happens in your life, everyone you meet, every word spoken, every response given, whether good or bad or indifferent is for YOUR SAKE.  Only fools would believe such a doctrine and that is exactly what we must be to become wise in the ways of the Lord.

1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

This truth is shown in scores of powerful verses those without ears to hear and eyes to see cannot see much less apply in their walk.  We that have such capacity are indeed a blessed little flock.  Here is the extent of the working of the Lord in the affairs of every man.

Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Coming to see the sovereignty of God in ALL THINGS is essential for us to grow and mature in the faith.  This understanding to me is what maturing is really all about.  Until we get the knowledge of this doctrine into our walk (our actions) we will struggle in bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Gal 5:24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Love is mentioned first in the list of the FRUIT of the Spirit in Galatians 5 and for very good reason.  Lest we confuse what love truly is we are told point blank what the love of God is that represents this fruit of the Spirit.

2Jn 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

We most often seem to cite 1 Joh 5:3 but here is a second black and white witness to what the definition of AGAPE or love is.

2Jn 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

As we hopefully are learning as we abide now with Christ; living with true doctrine is not enough.  We must become doers of the Word to walk in the Spirit (Jam 1:22-23).  It is when we show respect of persons and judge things in the flesh that we are not living by the truth that all things are for our sakes.  When we are not content with what the Lord is doing, we are walking in the flesh and acting double minded.  When we whine, complain, criticize, stay angry, look down upon others and have any other reaction than THANK YOU LORD, we are judging in the flesh.

We must come to know and trust in the Lord and His promises that He is working all things for the greater good.  That is how the scourging grace of the Lord, the very thing that saves us by transforming us rebounds with thanksgiving to the glory of the Lord.

Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

How often have we failed at doing this?  Many times we will fall down before we learn.  It is beyond this study to cover “judging righteous judgment” but we had best learn to make judgments but to make them according to the Word of God and not the logic of this world or the carnal mind.

Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

There are many witnesses of the old and new to judging the right way vs the wrong way.  I used to think of respecting persons as simply respecting their worldly economic standing but it has a much wider meaning.  Respect for persons is judging them in the flesh and not attributing what they do to the Lord and His absolute sovereignty.  Doing so is the opposite of faith.  When we put the cause and the blame on any individual, even ourselves, we are having respect of persons and judging in the flesh.  We are commanded to do no such thing.

Deu 1:17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

Pro 24:23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

The Elect of God are in training now for our roles in the ages to come (1 Cor 6:2, Mat 19:28).  Those roles are to rule with Christ in the Millennium and to be the judges through which all men shall be saved in the end.  We best learn how to judge righteous judgment and get past having respect of persons now. When we judge people in the flesh we are forgetting that ALL THINGS are for our sakes and were caused of the Lord.

Once we come to understand what the grace of God is and realize it is that grace that chastens us then we begin to mature.  We mature when we accept the things the Lord is causing (working in our lives) without bitterness and receive it all with joy trusting in what the Lord is doing in our remaking process.  It is so easy to be led astray by the deceitfulness of sin and the pulls of this carnal world.  Peter warned the church and warns us to beware lest we ourselves fall.

2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

The fail safe way of not falling is to learn to apply this principle in our walk and in all of our judgments of people, actions, events and situations.

1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

When we think above what is written we will get puffed up and will soon find ourselves doing what the adversary does which is being an accuser of the brethren.

As we grow, we learn to apply all things being for our sakes.  We may not outwardly receive the chastening with joy but our inward man will receive it and we will grow in our ability to endure the trials the Lord has put before us in this age.

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

The new man “Christ in us” will be called out of the darkness that is the old man.  Look at this verse again and notice why all things are for our sakes as God’s Elect and where are eyes are to be focused.

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The grace of God that is poured out upon His Elect comes back to God with thanksgiving and praises to the Lord.  This is what occurs as we become mature men and the will of the Lord is being accomplished in our life more and more.  This is the will of God for all men….

1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

1Th 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

1Th 4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

When these things happen, the Lord will get all the glory and we will learn to rejoice in our trials knowing they are what is working the fruit of righteousness in us and accomplishing the Lord’s will in our lives.  We must learn to be patient and to wait on the Lord to bring it to pass.

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening (Grace) for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Relatively speaking our trials are considered a light affliction considering the honor we are being prepared in service to our Lord, if we endure.

Isa 54:7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
Isa 54:8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

 In the same way Jesus Christ in the flesh cried out to God and His Father while on the cross, we too if we God’s Elect feel the same at times.  And this is why we must be connected to the Body and be ministered to and strengthened by the angels of the Lord through our trials.

We can’t be reminded often enough of the sovereignty of the Lord and the endless extent to which it applies.  It takes many repetitions to drill this truth into the fiber of our every thought and action.  The sermon on Mars Hill defined the limitless boundaries of the Lord in the affairs of mankind.

Act 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

All things that happen in our lives, ALL THINGS, are the direct work of the Lord.    Those things, be they good or evil have already been determined by God and He has already declared what shall be from the very beginning.  We know but forget to apply these powerful Scriptures in a carnal and immature way. The sooner we get them into our walk and not just head knowledge the quicker the fruit will come.

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Our natural mind only wants to give the Lord credit (and the glory) for the good things that happen.  Even knowing the truth of His sovereignty our carnal mind will want to blame ourselves and others for their actions.  While we certainly have to learn from our mistakes the fact is the Lord is working all things, even the dark things when they happen.

Psa 139:12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee

Lam 3:37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

Lam 3:38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

No man can enter into Christ (the temple) until they live through the judgments of the Lord against their flesh and carnal mind.  Contrary to the doctrines of man’s religion there is no other way in.  The redemption of the Lord’s people is with judgment.

Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Isa 1:27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

Nobody’s unrighteousness is going to get a pass, there is no respect of persons with the Lord either.

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

 So we learn the truth and are given the garment of salvation by experiencing that judgment.

Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments (the fiery trials) are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

 Judgment is us being crucified, a living sacrifice and losing our life through the death of the old man.  Yes it hurts, it is very painful to be crucified with Christ.  Yet if we are given faith to believe we can say this about the judgment of God.

Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

The new man is being saved by the destruction of the old man within us.  Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God and was never intended to (1 Cor 15:50).  The Lord is merciful in that He only gives us to understand things when we are also given to bear them (Joh 14:12, 1 Co 10:13).  It is only as we mature that the Lord will give us greater understanding of His processes and truths.  With that understanding comes a greater expectation.

Luk 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

The grace of God will be dialed up perfectly for us to bring the trials and tribulations preordained for each of us to enter into the kingdom of God and be in that first resurrection Lord willing.  Here is just a small sampling of treasures from the old and the new that confirm this wonderful work of trials and suffering in our lives. This is also known as the wonderful works of the Lord to the children of men.

Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and thatwe must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

1Pe 4:12-13  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Isa 48:10  Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Jas 1:2-4  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

The Lord is going to work all things in your life to bring about the tribulation, suffering, fiery trials and heat that furnace of affliction to the perfect temperature.  I hope all of us will grow in the knowledge of the Lord’s grace and move on to maturity.  This comes about by experiencing good and evil and learning the lesson and true righteousness of the Lord through that process.  I hope this study has reminded us all to stand on our faith and the word of God in discerning the truth of any situation and that the Lord has caused that situation for your very sake.  How we respond to these situation and circumstances is the best measure of our maturity rather than our head knowledge of Scriptures.

Rom 2:13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

What should our response to be to these “works of the Lord” in our lives?  We could write pages to answer that, but let me just share Paul’s words to the Philippians to summarize it.

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

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

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Comments and sincere questions are welcome.  You can also email me at peterjwilson56@gmail.com