- Sep 7, 2009
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I would agree that it should, but does it work that way? If we examine our walks, here is the Bible's truth. If we are walking in the Spirit, we WILL NOT fulfill the lusts of the flesh. That is a promise.
Each needs to examine their own heart, and I make no individual examinations, but overall, I think it evident that the vast majority of even Spirit-filled churches know nothing of such a walk. As a matter of fact, by our very confessions, we do not even believe such a work inside us as even possible. We have, like Israel in the wilderness, limited the Holy one of Israel with our unbelief. We too have wandered in the wilderness and tried to make it ok that we stay there and convince ourselves that since the manna is still falling, that it must mean that God is well pleased with us. But God has promised us our own promised land, the ability to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil, walking pleasing to Him as living sacrifices....ands loving it.
But how we resist. Instead of looking at the promises and 'judging ourselves', as we see the gap between how we walk and how we are promised God will cause us to walk, we have rested content with positional holiness, and fallen back on our mantra that 'no one is perfect'.
The day is approaching in the valley of decision. We have two choices once the coming shaking occurs. Either we will lose our lives to allow His to overflow in us, or we will ignore the warnings of continuing in sin, hold fast to OUR rights of reigning over ourselves, and convince ourselves that all is well, because our sins are just "slips", and even our lack of repentance is a sin that was covered and forgiven. It is the best of the best of satan's lies, as a last gasp effort to keep believers from awakening to who we are in Christ.
Satan is very slick. The very ones deceiving are themselves deceived. But when Jesus says on that final day "Depart from me, ALL YE that work iniquity", all means all, even the ones that say "Lord, Lord".
If we do sin? (Note: Not when we sin, but IF) If we sin, we have an advocate, agreed. And the word says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.
Now, hyper-grace teaches that this is not required, for what happens if we "forget" to repent of a sin? But listen! Do we not have the Spirit inside, and what does the Spirit do? He corrects. And if we do not listen? He chastens. His job is to create Christ inside us, and we are told that if we are not chastened, we are not sons. Ouch.
So, it is impossible to not be chastened by the Spirit of God if sin is in us, unless we refuse to relent and repent and it gets to the point that we can no longer hear Him. Then what happens is that our hearts become increasingly hardened by our resisting of the Spirit, and the danger of falling away is great.
Obedience was never done away with under the new covenant. God has promised us that He will "cause us" to will and to do of His good pleasure. But in these final days, the enemy has come in like a flood, infecting the church with a false assurance that turns the grace of God into lasciviousness, or a license to sin and still make heaven. Is it any wonder the world sees us as hypocrites?
There is no brokenness here. No hungering and thirsting for righteousness. No need for a desire to be holy. Walking as living sacrifices is scoffed at as "ascetic legalism" and they teach that the deep desire of God, that we know HOW to possess our vessels in sanctification and honor, are thought of false teachings and trying to work for ones salvation. Wolves is sheep's clothing are playing on the our failures to walk in victory in our old natures, and to assure us that all is well, so that we will STAY in our old natures.
But in these last days, God is lifting up a standard against the lies and hardness of heart that has become so prevalent in recent times. What is the standard?
"Let ALL who name the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."
The legalists had their day and failed. We must be holy. We cannot be holy. Not by our efforts.
The hyper-grace teachers share that Jesus is holy for us, so we can live as we please, and no matter how we live, God now winks at our sins that are unavoidable.
But, in the end, neither one leads to life. Neither one brings us to the FREE INDEED that our Jesus promised us, for He Himself said as clearly as He possibly could that he that commits sin is a slave to it, and not free at all.
The only freedom, REAL freedom, is getting rid of a sin nature that wants to remain in charge. It is called our old man, our flesh and the path to overcoming is found only in our getting rid of it. This is what our faithful God is doing in these last days, awakening His bride as to HOW to walk as He desires. It is wonderful, it is an easy yoke. It is called "putting on the new man" and it is the ONLY way to see Jesus make us fruitful branches. Paul said "Nothing profits but a new creature." Oh, that we might finally break and believe Him!
It is time we get on our knees, admitting that we need the power of God's very Son IN US, with us dead, to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil. It is time we cry out for ears to hear, and eyes to see so that we might walk in newness of life and recover ourselves from the snare of the devil. The truth is right in front of us, but our hardened hearts cannot perceive it.....yet.
But mark my words, it is coming, and we will rejoice is what God will do in us and through us. Only then will we look back on how we lived and shame will cover us for our haughty religious contentment, with self-will still ruling and reigning. But even that shame, God will wash away with tears of joy and gladness at our coming home, prodigals who finally "came to themselves" and returned to the Father as willing bond-servants. He is coming for us, and He has promised to get us ready for the wedding. Praise our amazing God.
It is time we light our lamps and put on our new man.
Blessings,
Gideon
Sir do you see what he is saying in chapter 9, that the animal blood just was weak, and it just sanctified the body, nut look what he says about the inner man, what do you see in this comparison?
Hebrews9:13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
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