Why Do We Have Trials?

Why Do We Have Trials?

We live in a world of growing uncertainty, and increasing instability. The average person, “especially believers” is faced with ten times more pressure than people who lived fifty years ago.

The emotional impact of such changes, in almost every area of life, has been enormous.

The unbeliever certainly is experiencing trials in his/her life of which they are poorly equipped to cope with.

Christians are certainly not exempt from these trials in life. I find a lot of confusion among Christians over the following questions.

1.   Why do Christians who are trusting and walking with God have trials?

2.   Don’t be surprised at the fiery trials that you go through as if something strange were happening to you.

Instead be glad, because these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering. Afterward you will have the joy of sharing His glory when it is displayed to all the world.

Look at the trial that Paul and Silas went through, and then look at the results at the end.

They were totally committed to their mission of founding new churches. They were walking by faith and were in the city of Philippi by the direct leading of the Lord Jesus himself.

As a result of delivering a demon from a slave girl of fortune telling; her master had them arrested. How would you respond to a situation like this?

3.   It is always because of some moral failure or lack of faith.

James 1:2-3   ² My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers’ temptations;

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

For a great many Christians today, it is very easy to slip into the prevailing attitude of our present world.

The current mind set is to avoid pain of any kind at any cost, to live life for the moment, and ignore the long-term consequences.

The principle of enduring hardship for the present is to achieve a long-term future reward is virtually non-existent.

There are two extremes that Christians should avoid when approaching the subject of trials.

 God in his desire to see us grow will constantly bombard us with trials in order to see us grow.

The second is to think that there will be no trials in the life of someone who has real faith and is walking with God.

1 Corinthians 10:13      ¹³ There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The Lord promises that he will never put us through any trial that is beyond our maturity level to endure.

Nor does He give us more testing than is necessary to train our faith for our particular calling.

Christians who are greatly used for Gods purpose are greatly tested. In these cases, the Lord gives such grace that the one who is tested is filled with inner strength and joy.

Romans 8:28   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.

All things are not good, but when we believe God, he makes even the bad things work together for good.

How? Because those who are tested for the ministry sake are given special grace if they continue to trust the Lord

Most Christians of this generation are in ‘an attitude” of denial about the subject of trials.

No one wants to have trials and certainly no one should seek them, but the bible is filled with trials about great people of faith suffering trials, not the least of whom is Jesus himself.

Do committed Christians have trials? Yes! One of the major characteristics of spiritual maturity is to see your life from the divine viewpoint, instead of the human viewpoint.

An integral part of the divine viewpoint is to see your life through the perspective of eternity.

1 Corinthians 2:9   ⁹ But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Two perspectives of life.

We must learn to live in the reality of the fact that we are already citizens of eternity. Bound for the heavenly reward that is beyond human comprehension.

According to Gods promise, the best this life has to offer cannot even be compared to the believer’s life in eternity.

Philippians 3:18-21   ¹⁸ (For many walks, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

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

²⁰ For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

²¹ Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

This issue is so serious that if we don’t learn to look at life through the perspective of eternity it will be unimaginable to cope with life in the time ahead.

If this life was all we had to look forward too many situations wouldn’t make sense or even seem fair.

Remember, faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

We have to learn how to believe God’s promises in spite of what our emotions and human experiences tell us.

God doesn’t promise us a life free of trials but he does promise us peace on the inside in the midst of trials.

One of the reasons there are trials in the Christians life is discipline for personal sin.

James 4:17   ¹⁷ Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin

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

When we sin as a believer, we break fellowship with the Lord.

Sin does not sever our relationship which is secured forever by the finished work of Christ on the cross but sin does break our fellowship.

We remain out of fellowship until we confess our known sin to the Lord and trust him again to give us victory over temptation. God promises he will.

Simply put if we confess what we know, He forgives us what we don’t know.

God loves us too much to let us waste our lives out of fellowship with Him. From the moment we trust in Christ we are saved forever.

Ephesians 1:13-14   ¹³ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

¹⁴ Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

God could take us home right then, but He leaves us on this planet to share in his work of saving the lost.

To train us for our eternal role as kings, priests and priestess with Christ and bring glory on earth.

Hebrews 12:10   ¹⁰ For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Discipline is always for our benefit. His discipline is designed to teach us to live a holy life through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Once the Lords discipline has taught us its intended lesson it is either removed or turned into a blessing. Like the bible teaches.

Psalm 30:5   For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

The result for the one who confesses his sin and trusts in the Lord will be this, NO discipline.

James 1:2-4   My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

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

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

Various trials produce a special kind of faith, which brings about overall spiritual maturity.

This special faith is called endurance, which is a faith that persists and doesn’t give up when deliverance is delayed.

Job demonstrated this kind of faith under an undeserved and unexplained trial when he said, though He “God” slay me, yet will I trust in him. (job 13:15)

Hebrews 12:1-2   Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

God wants those who keep on believing and leaning upon Him, even though the trials persist. This is what God calls a truly mature faith.

The Lord reminds us that His love is made especially manifest to us during these times, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

When we analyze some of Gods greatest servants, we discover that all went through test and trials.

Not because of some personal sin, but because God wanted to strengthen their personal discipline, so they could withstand Satins attacks.

The more God uses us the more of a target of Satin we become.

The greater the mission, the greater the need for training in obedience and discipline.

This is why Jesus cautioned those who wanted to follow Him into the position of leadership, to first count the cost.

James 3:1   3 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

God holds the teachers and preachers more responsible. They fall under a stricter judgment.

John 9:1-3   And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

² And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

³ Jesus answered, neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Jesus is saying that it was not caused by either the blind man or his parents’ sin. That the man was born blind so that Gods power might be displayed in him.

We might ask was it fair to cause a man to suffer from birth with such a deformity?

If this life is all there is, we might say it wasn’t fair. But look what happened, Jesus walked up to the blind man, made a ball of clay and spit, told him to wash his eyes and he was healed.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18   For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

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

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.

In the book of Job, we find that Job continued to trust in the Lord, even though the tests got so severe he was driven almost out of his mind.

Later the Lord restored all that he had lost many times over.

Many times, in trials of a lesser degree are allowed into the life of a believer, in order to demonstrate this same point.

Angels continue to constantly observe how believers react to trials… every aspect of Gods dealing with man-kind is teaching the angelic realm more about the wonder of Gods infinite character.

Ephesians 3:8-11   Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

⁹ And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

¹⁰ To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

¹¹ According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

According to this, God is teaching the Angels about His manifold wisdom. Particularly through His dealings with the church.

The infinite beauty and wonder of God’s grace have been revealed to both the unfallen angels and the fallen angel

Christians are taught to change what they can and to accept by faith what they can’t.

The scripture says that some trials are allowed into our lives to keep us from falling into pride.

Pride was the original sin that caused Lucifer to fall and become Satin.

God put pride at the top of the list of sins he hates.

Proverbs 6:13-16   He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

¹⁴ Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

¹⁵ Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

¹⁶ These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Because of this, the Lord takes special precautions to keep his servants from falling into this snare of the devil.

The sin of pride is a particular temptation for the servant of Christ who is given great spiritual gifts and understanding of God’s word.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10   And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

⁸ For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

⁹ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Paul’s illness spread the gospel to Galatia

Galatians 3:13-15   Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

¹⁴ That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

¹⁵ Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

God used the flare-up of Paul’s eye disease to force him to stay long enough in the province of Galatia to start the Galatian church and to preach the gospel to them.

This should answer the inaccurate contention on the part of some that say God never allows sickness into the life of a Christian who believes Him and walks with Him.

Had Paul not had this illness, he would have bypassed Galatia and missed the opportunity to evangelize and bring in the whole of the region of Galatia.

I believe God desires to and does heal us, but there are some cases where he has a greater purpose to accomplish.

Once again, we must remember, God looks at each situation from the stand point of eternity.

If a person who is ill has confessed every known sin in his life and if the Lord does not immediately heal him or her, then the lord in his love and wisdom has a greater purpose. We may not understand in this life, but that will certainly count for all eternity.

So why do we have trials? For Gods purpose not ours.

THE WAY YOU THINK CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE PART 2

THE WAY YOU THINK CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

PART 2

In our last lesson we learned the importance of our soul. We will finish that teaching at this time.

Mark 8:34-37   ³⁴ And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

³⁵ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

³⁶ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

³⁷ Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Salvation is not just a one-time prayer and life becomes back as usual. It is a permanent exchange. We give up our lives (our rights). This enables us to follow what God desires for our lives.

It empowers us to obey God and it is evidence that we have truly received grace and is shown in our lifestyle.

Churches have taught grace as Gods blanket of protection. You are hearing this more and more. This is a mindset from many believers in the church who make comments such as I know I’m not always living the way I should but I thank God for His grace.

This is a serious deception to think this way. Scripture does not teach grace as a big band aid. Rather as His empowering presence within us to do what truth demands of us.

Grace is simply his unmerited favor. It cannot be bought or earned. God who is rich in mercy and love, even though we were dead in our sins, quickened us to become more alive together with Christ Jesus. It is by grace alone that we were saved.

2 Corinthians 12:9   ⁹ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Gods grace is not an insurance plan. It’s the assurance by faith that if you get lost grace will hunt you down and bring you back.

God has enough grace to pardon every sin, solve every dilemma, wipe every tear and answer every question. It is more than we deserve and greater than we can ever imagine.

Matthew 16:24-26   ²⁴ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

²⁵ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

²⁶ For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

According to the words of Jesus himself it is possible to lose your soul. At the time of rebirth or born again our spirit was saved and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Then and only then starts the process of saving our soul, which is made up of our mind, our will and our emotions. The only way of saving our soul is being transformed by the word of God, and our obedience to it.

James 1:20-21   ²⁰ For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

²¹ Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

James is speaking to the believers not the unbelievers regarding their soul’s salvation. He is saying here both hearing and obedience to the word of God must be applied to our lives.

The soul of man is the only part whose rate of salvation we help determine.  The transformation of our souls is crucial to our finishing well as believers.

3 John 1: 2   ² Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

It is an amazing statement for John to make when he says, above all things, above all things covers a tremendous amount of word: that you be in health as your soul prospers.

John makes it very clear that there is a direct need for Christians to renew their minds daily, the mind is a part of the soul.

Finally, there is one last part of us that must consider very carefully what Paul writes on this matter.

2 Corinthians 5:9-11   ⁹ Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

¹¹ Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

We must all stand before Christ Jesus to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies.

This is why the soul is so important. The soul which is the mind, will and emotion working together will and can control the body.

Your body doesn’t and can’t make decisions on its own. It will only do what it is programed to so by and through the soul.

If you are an unbeliever your soul will send messages to your body using your five senses or the carnal mind. That is why people who are unsaved do things contrary to Gods word.

If you are born again your soul should be direction your body in a Christian manner. Your born again body is led by the Holy Spirit with wisdom and knowledge and discernment to know the difference between good and evil.

1 Corinthians 3:12-14   ¹² Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

¹³ Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

¹⁴ If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

This part of being judged is for the believers. This is absolutely not the white throne judgment which is for the unbelievers. Believers need not worry about the white throne Judgement; it is the one that decides whether your name is in the book of life.

There is still going to be an inspection where you will be on the works done in your body. If you do well on this inspection great.

If your works are burned up it will not mean that you don’t go to heaven. It means you will be very sad that you had no crowns to lay at Jesus’ feet.

I don’t know about you but I don’t want to just barely survive the judgment seat of Christ, we are speaking about our eternal destiny.

Matthew 7:13-14   ¹³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The two gates here represent every persons choice of following Jesus or following any other path. Only the more difficult less chosen gate that follows Christ leads to life eternal.

John 14:6   ⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus is the only way for the believer and without faith it is impossible to please him. Faith is not the product of reason; it is born in the human spirit at the time of conversion.

Ephesians 2:5-8   ⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

⁷ That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

God is so rich in his mercy. We were dead in our spirit and doomed by our sinful nature, but he gave us our lives back again when he raised Jesus from the dead.

Now God can point to us and show us just how rich his kindness really is. Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, before the new birth we were separated and enemies of God. Only at the cross did Jesus bridge the gap between us and God. Now we can have a relationship with the Father.

Romans 8:6-9   ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

To be carnally minded is death to the reborn spirit, once you are saved your spirit is sealed by the Holy Spirit and your spiritual life is after the things of the spirit.

The new spirit no longer wants to do the things of the flesh. As it says, they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

This is why the new spirit must be sealed and the soul trained in the things of God. the flesh must start being obedient for us to be without spot or wrinkle to stand before Jesus and hear him say, welcome home good and faithful servant.

Your soul is where Satan will attack you. He will do everything he can to steal what you just learned.

Satan can’t handle the truth, and he knows when we know the truth. If he can’t steal the word from you, he can’t control the flesh.

If he can’t control the flesh, he is absolutely helpless. This is why James 4:7 says submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:7   ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

THE WAY YOU THINK CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE Part 1

THE WAY YOU THINK CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Part 1

John 19:3   ³ And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

When Jesus said it is finished, he had done everything God the Father sent him to do. The death on the cross was a fulfillment of what needed to be done in order for the will of God to be made effective.

For a will to be effective, there has to be a death. Jesus fulfilled Gods will for all mankind by dying on the cross. The shed blood purchased our redemption so we could be saved and be counted worthy of making heaven our eternal home.

Even though He did this for all, you must still accept him as your Lord and Savior and make him Lord of your life.

Ephesians 1:13   ¹³ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

After you make Jesus Lord of your life your spirit is sealed by the Holy Spirit. However, you must empty your self of all sin by repenting, and die to self.

Just repenting is the right direction, even though you have become a new born again Christian you must seek Gods word so the Holy Spirit can direct you in your new life. You must now have a heart change concerning your prior disobedient lifestyle. If you don’t Jesus is just a part of your life.

As a new convert you have to allow the worldly part of your life to make room for the new nature of God and be formed within.

As a new born convert you know nothing about dying to self or emptying self so the fulfilling of the presence of God can manifest in your life.

Believers have not done what Jesus commanded when we win people to Christ Jesus, we have not explained to them the cost of following Jesus and to then make the permanent decision to give their lives to Gods service.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18   ¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Yes, you are a new creation and your old disobedient lifestyle is supposed to be behind you. We must go back to 2 Corinthians 5: 10

2 Corinthians 5: 10   ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Later in a lesson following I will go into the things of the body.

After receiving our new born again bodies our old self loses the power of sin and we are no longer slaves to sin when we died with Christ by making him Lord of our life. We are set free and the chains of sin are broken.

Now that we have learned that our spirit is sealed, lets go into the next part called the soul. Your soul is so important. Most do not speak of it, even in our churches.

Hebrews 10:38-39   ³⁸ Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

³⁹ But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

James 1:21   ²¹ Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

So, let’s stop and think. Why would the word teach saving of the soul after your spirit is sealed at conversion, or when you said the sinner’s prayer?

Your soul is made up of three parts: your mind, your will and your emotions. The mind is what one thinks with, whether something is good or bad. A state of opinion or direction which means what we think good or bad makes us who we are.

2 Corinthians 10:5   ⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Your mind is where the enemy wants to attack you. You might ask why? It is because the mind is part of the soul that decides whether or not our thoughts came from God or the carnal part of our mind.

If it is from God the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth and give you the power of discernment to distinguish whether its good or bad and you will know the difference.

The mind has another position to fill. Always being alert, 24-7. We have two voices coming into our mind, sometimes at the same time. The important thing to remember is never try to make a spiritual decision with the carnal mind. If a thought comes to your mind and you are not sure about it, stop and ask God to reveal the truth to you.

Romans 1:21   ²¹ Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

It is important to put away vain imaginations. They will darken your heart. Vain imaginations can be empty, fruitless thoughts that are harmful to our spirits and to our soul.

Your will… this is the second of the three parts of the soul. Your will, that is the power of self-direction or self-control. the power of conscious and deliberate actions or choices. It is also a disposition or attitude towards others.

Here is how this works according to Gods word.

John 1:12-13   ¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

First, we who receive Jesus as Lord of our Life were born of the will of God.

Matthew 26:41   ⁴¹ Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Even though you might think you are strong willed, be alert, because the flesh way of thinking can be weak at times.

Colossians 2:23    ²³ 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.

When it comes to our will, we must be led by the Holy Spirits wisdom and not by the wisdom of man.

Emotions the third part of our soul

Any type of physical excitement. Various complex reactions with both physical and mental manifestations, such as love, hate, fear anger and so on.

We in the world even as Christians do not have a clue as to how we are to conduct ourselves and be Christ minded so we can stand at the day of judgment and not be ashamed.

Let’s tie spirit soul and body and put it in order, we know that our spirit is sealed.

The soul, which is the mind, will and emotion is the one that must be detailed according to Gods word. We will stand before Jesus and be judged as to what we have done in our bodies.

The mind is like a computer, it collects information and decides whether or not it is good or bad information. If it is good information it is sent to your will. This information is decided at this time is very important. This information is what controls the flesh and the body reacts to it.

The reason our bodies have to be judged is because the soul was supposed to keep the flesh in line with the Word of God. our bodies can’t do anything until information from the mind and soul give it the okay to do so.

So, if you’re having problems with old habits and bad desires, you need to check out your thinking and tell your soul you are not happy with it and it needs to start doing its job.

Your emotions can upset everything even though you’re are a believer and doing everything you know to live right your emotions get sideways and everything goes right out the window. You say things you don’t mean and hold unforgiveness in your heart. That is certainly not good.

When all these feelings go into our heart, we then have the tendency to speak it out of our mouths. There is tremendous power in the tongue of the believer. This is the reason we have to guard our emotions and our tongues.

SIN AND DISOBEDIENCE

 SIN AND DISOBEDIENCE

Romans 5:19-21   ¹⁹ For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

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

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

This is why I believe God wanted or rather inspired me to teach on these two rebellious parts of scripture. Sin does more than harm one’s life, it can destroy home, relationships, families, cities or even nations.

Sin is not just a word or an act. It is a demonic attack on everything Christianity stands for, a transgression of evil, immoral wickedness and straight from Satan himself.

Adam did sin and caused a situation so bad until there was no way to have fellowship with God. From Adam to Jesus at the cross, Jesus was able to bridge the gap to our heavenly Father, and now we can fellowship with Him.

Romans 6:9-10  ⁹ Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

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

Knowing that Christ being raise from the dead and dies no more, means that his work was a finished work and doesn’t require anything else. All sin has been atoned. If death has no more dominion over Him, it has no more dominion over us.

This means the power over the sin nature is broken. Even though the sin nature is not dead, we are dead unto the sin nature by virtue of the cross and our faith in that sacrifice, but only as long as our faith continues in what Jesus did at the cross for us.

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

Showing that the sin nature can once again rule in the heart and life of a believer, the mortal body is neutral which means it can be used for righteousness or unrighteousness.

Ungodly thoughts of Satan and his demonic co-host can be carried out through the body if our faith and soul is not maintained by the word.

We are to yield ourselves to Christ. That alone guarantees victory over the sin nature.

Romans 6:16   ¹⁶ Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

The believer is either a servant to Christ or a slave to sin, which will happen if he doesn’t keep the faith in Christ Jesus.

The believer is required to obey the word of the Lord. You can’t do that in your own strength, only by wisdom and discerning of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 6:23   ²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This is speaking of spiritual death which is separation from the presence of God. this will never happen to a dedicated believer who is totally focused on the things of the Spirit.

Ephesians 4:23, 26, 27   ²³ And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 26   ²⁶ Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27   ²⁷ Neither give place to the devil.

Being renewed in your spirit is a continuous act in the spirit of your mind. Which is the thinking part of your soul, and it has to do with the human will, which is another part of your soul.

The mind of the believer must be pulled from the dependence on self to a total dependence on Christ Jesus.

Vs 26. The only anger allowed is righteous anger. All other anger is a result of the (old man) our flesh, and has to do basically with our emotions which can only be properly settled by the spiritual aspects of our soul.

Vs 27. To keep the devil from having a place in your life is nothing more than renewing your mind, which is the way you think, with the word of God. And taking authority over the devil in Jesus name. he has no right to be in a believer’s life.

1 John 3:8-9   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.

⁹ Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Who ever practices sin is doing the work of the devil, A true born-again believer of God does not live a life of habitual sinning.

Most of the sin is done by habit or a rebellious nature. A person that is born of God does not practice sin for the word of God remains in him.

1 John 5:14   ¹⁴ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

Proper believing gives us proper confidence which is proper assurance. It is a fact that we are assured of this, even though we may not see an immediate answer to prayer. We know that his will is his word.

Hebrews 10: 1-4   10 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

² For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

³ But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

⁴ For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

The law of Moses was only meant to be temporary. It portrayed Christ who was to come later. It was impossible for the law to present a proper image of who and what Christ would be.

The animal sacrifice could only cover sin. It was never intended for it to take away sin. That was for Jesus to do.

The sacrifice of the blood of Jesus in fact did what the sacrifice of bulls and goats could not do. The phrase (no more conscience of sin) should not be misunderstood as no more consciousness of sin.

The Holy Spirit will always remind you as a believer before you sin. Whatever is not of faith is sin.

Faith that is proper faith is the criteria for all things. Speaking of Jesus and him crucified any other kind of faith is sin.

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

Real faith does not bypass the mind and the emotions. Faith is an action word, to sin willfully is to commit sin with settled intention.

To persist in an intentional sin amounts to open rebellion against God and His word. It is impossible for one who has been born again to live in this intentional sin.

Satan constantly seeks to detour Gods people away from Gods path. People that meet regularly with other believers will be more likely to not give up in the face of temptation.

Disobedience…

Romans 5:19   ¹⁹ For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Christs obedience is greater than Adams disobedience. Through Adams disobedience judgment came to all men resulting in condemnation.

Every person born from Adam to Jesus was condemned and guilty with a sin nature. Even so through the act of Christ Jesus the free gift came to all men by his righteous act, resulting in justification of all lives.

Ephesians 5:6-7   ⁶ Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

⁷ Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Habits of sin have no place in a believer’s life and neither do people whose lifestyles are characterized by such habits.

People who continually do evil deeds are not truly members of Gods big plan. We need only the whole armor and his mighty power to win over the wiles of Satan.

After the garden of Eden, the time between the closing of the book of Malachi and the beginning of the gospels, the intertestamental period is often referred to as the 400 silent years.

In those centuries no biblical record exists of God speaking to mankind in any way. Not by his spirit, by prophetic word or angelic messenger.

God remained silent until the day he heard Zacharias prayer. This is what sin and disobedience will do when we ignore him as God and creator of all.

Titus 1:16   ¹⁶ They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

People profess that they know God and trust him but in works they deny him. They keep trying to earn salvation by their works.

Which at the same time denies the finished work of Christ. In this manner the Holy Spirit labels all who attempt to serve God out side what was done at the cross, reprobate, which means disapproved of.

Titus 3:3-7    For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

⁴ But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

⁶ Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

⁷ That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

In the past, at least in the young years most people made wrong choices and did foolish things. We had lack of understanding as to Gods word considering spiritual things.

We were disobedient to God and very disappointing, serving different Lust and pleasures as the lifestyle of the unbeliever. Thanks be to Jesus who appeared and redeemed us.

It was impossible for the works of man to save himself. Salvation springs entirely from the Lord and Gods grace by faith saved us from our sin and disobedience and spending eternity along with Satan in the lake of fire.