Download... December 11, 2011. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
For us to truly have faith in our daily living, it must start right, ..to be connected. Through our grief’s in life, we need to think outwardly, and not inwardly. We need to remember the more important things of life, especially reaching souls for the kingdom of God, through our Salvation. Things are continually and rapidly changing in our evolving world. We are living in that kind of era, in time. It can affect the things in our life also. It can affect our faith, and if it does, it can cause a disconnect in our spiritual connection with God. If faith is not “hand and glove”, in our daily living, it will become a knowledge without power. If it is only a knowledge, it will not truly guide our daily life. Then that would lead to an ultimate hopelessness. But, if faith is connected to our daily living, it will be realized in a true connection that is real, ....in all that we do.
TEXT: ROMANS 8:1-17
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
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.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
God helps us here, to understand, what to be spiritually minded ,..means.
The “world” doesn’t or cannot understand this concept. (Verse 7) Some think if they “afflict” themselves literally, they will live in/for the spirit. But it isn’t saying that here. Rather it saying to not live after “earthy” ideas of the flesh. We need instead to follow in the spirit of God.
Discouraged? Have patience and endurance to maintain your faith. Have patience with yourself. Difficult tests comes with the “turbulances” or “setbacks” of life. They can affect our mind and emotions. If we “sow” after the flesh, we will reap after the flesh. We must have patience to “connect” with our faith daily. Don’t give up...endure to the end.
If we lived a life gratifying the flesh, we will be discouraged because of a lack of patience. Last week there was a marathon race, and it took patience and endurance to meet their successful end. Those in the race, had to have their "faith/confidence" connected with their every effort, to accommplish their agenda. They could not expect a "victory" if they had "sowed" to behavior or habits that would hinder them in their goal. We all are “governed” by the law of sowing and reaping, whether in the flesh or spirit. Even after Salvation, we reap of what we did prior, ..in our sinful life. If we are to stay connected daily to God, we must walk after the spirit.
I Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? Carnal thinking, envy, strife, division, etc. is of fleshliness and selfishness. Those of such actions cause there to be a continuance of their sowing to the flesh. God is faithful to show us, and will patiently allow us to learn how to walk daily in faith, to connect always with the spirit.
Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Jesus is trying to teach the disciples here, that your faith needs daily to connect to have the calm of the spirit...to calm the “storms” in your life. Spiritually to always call on Jesus. The storm was part of the disciples daily living. Christ exhorted them that their faith was little, and needed to patiently be exercised.
Matthew 16: 8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? The disciple’s carnal minds here, were connected only to their daily living. Christ is pleased though, with even a little faith, ...but naturally prefers it to grow.
Matthew 9: 33,34 33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. 34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. The Pharisees of the law, marveled at the great faith demonstrated, because their own faith was disconnected through their daily living. Each personally needs to have an expectation to exercise faith ...daily. Do we claim our faith is connected because (for example) you were “spared” in a close "accident?" Yet maybe, you struggle with a brother or sister? If so, you’re disconnected! Faith needs/must, ...be connected to every aspect of our daily living.
Matthew 13:14-15 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. It is one thing for faith to convert or save a soul, ...and another for it to heal. You can have a comprehension, without a true experience. If your faith has become disconnected with your daily living, you will then, again, become more earthly minded. Regardless of the faith exercised in our past, it needs now to be still connected. It becomes disconnected, from being “dull of hearing.” Being “dull of hearing” is likened to a droning hum without distinctive different sounds. You lose then, ...any real significance in those sounds. A dullness. Our faith, when like this, becomes disconnected in our daily life. When God saves us, He helps us to connect faith to our everday living, if we exercise it.
There are many who hate God, and/or ...spirituality. Because of this, I don’t ‘have to’, have an “attitude” that, “I’m glad that ‘I’ am not that way. That is a fleshly (or carnal) way of thinking. It is a way of true disconnect in our faith, ...to daily living. Don’t allow or receive a carnal mentality, in gossip, match making, commenting on different scenarios, etc.,...grow up! Become connected to only spiritual faith thinking, and not of allowing yourself to indulge in a earthy, carnal mentality. You’ve been hurt? Who saved you? What’s His voice, caring for you, etc., like? 'That' should be your connection, ..and not one of earthly wisdom.
Luke 19:5-6 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. One of the ways the faith of Jesus is revealed, is to read and study the gospels. 'This guy', .. “got it!” Zacchaeus’ connection to faith was demonstrated by his devout endeavors to see and hear Jesus. He came down out of the tree, with a repentant heart, committed to making restitution. A tax collector’s moment! For this faith “connection,” ...he was given the gift of Salvation! One might ask you...How did 'you' get saved? Your answer 'could' be ..“I had a tax collector’s moment!” Get rid of fleshly “baggage,” and or, ..sin. Zacchaeus’ promise of restoration, in making restitution, demonstrated his making a “rightful start" in Salvation.
Luke 18:10-14 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Feeling disconnected from your faith? Humble yourself! There is no excuse in your life’s circumstances ….to disconnect with your faith from walking after the flesh. This is a universal truth, that there is 'no excuse' to lean upon your past...causing you to disconnect with your faith in God. There is no reason we have to continue to walk after the flesh with a carnal mind. Good deeds and morals, are not enough. You need “a tax collector’s” moment. Claim what you have, ...and not what you don’t. Leave “off” the flesh. Desire the conviction of God, for whatever might hinder your connection in daily living, from faith in God. This publican (Luke 18:13,14) was humble, asking God to be merciful to him a sinner.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. God must “draw” each soul to their need of deliverance from sin. We were not good people made “better,” but lost souls needing to be found. When humbled for God to deliver us, ..it is “a tax collector’s” moment! We must began the start 'right' ..in all humility.
II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Why was he an old creature? Sin! Why was he now new? He had a “tax collector’s moment!” He through Salvation, was connected through faith. We need to be re-introduced to the same Christ, ..more and more. Not needing to be saved again, but to draw closer and closer in our connecting, ...in faith. For greater understanding, greater grace, to ‘Stay’ connected to faith. When we ‘just say,’ “I’ve become a better person,” that is not living validation of our faith connection. For we 'all' of course, ..have begun in wickedness. We 'all' need mercy in deliverance ...from sin.
If we begin right, we can continue our connection right. Faith is being connected. Walking after the spirit, is being a problem solver, and not a problem creator. If problems evolve from us, we need to reconnect! If a gossiper,etc., ..you are disconnected from faith in daily living. Faith finds ‘solutions’ to, not creates, real problems.
II Peter 1:5-7 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. Faith is given to us when we “get a tax collector’s moment.” We then to faith add virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and finally... charity (love). Virtue is courage that then adds knowledge, and not of a fleshly one, but of your position before God. Knowing yourself..is a worthwhile knowledge. Probably most do not know themselves to be 100% fully successful in God. You might say, “I know myself better than anybody!” Really? If so, then I am going to be an effective problem solver. Endeavor to know your needs, and self. When things go wrong for you, are you dramatic at revealing it to everyone else? If I say, “I’m a Christian," then I will live ‘like’ Christ, if my faith is connected to my daily living. Evidences of our flesh shows us that we do not fully know ourself, ..affecting our convictions. That’s why we need to add to knowledge, and temperance to our faith. That is a somewhat hard one, ..for everyday to be in control of our appetites, desires, tongue, etc. We need then to add patience to godliness.
II Timothy 4: 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. If we watch in all things, we will stay connected to our faith in God, and endure.
Hebrews 12: 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Parents need to correct their children, setting boundaries. Children need to show honor. We all also, are like children needing to endure some things.
James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. Spiritual endurance will bring spiritual happiness. Many of us potentially need to still learn this because of our background.
I Peter 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. Suffering benefits you, to allow your faith in God, ..to assist in solving your problems. Our faith must maintain to be connected, ..and also some of us need to re-learn.
II Peter 1:6,7 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. Adding godliness and patience to brotherly kindness, adding to charity. This must be everywhere, always, or faith becomes disconnected. Charity is the Love of God. When spiritually connected or active, it ultimately fills one with the love of God.
For without the love of God, ...we are nothing;
I Corinthians 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.
Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Is your faith connected to your daily living? “I’m good morally” (you might say.) That’s not the question! Is your faith actively, daily, connected? If you “paint” the target on your chest, don’t make me (the message bearer) the enemy! If the gospel found you, don’t make the messenger of it, ..the enemy.
In our times, it is easy to be disconnected. Remember, you will be known by your behavior. Let the Lord help you!
