Monday, March 26, 2018

Romans 8:8 What Pleases God?




                                                 
Romans 8:8 “and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

If those in the flesh can't please God? What pleases God?

God is pleased when we worship Him and bless Him with our life of service. Be still and know that God is God. Psalm 46:10 Remember what He has done for you in the past and know that he doesn't change. He will do for you, the same as He has done for others. He will do for you again as He has in the past done for you.

Here is a list I have found, on what pleases God.
Hope in God's mercy. Psalm 147:11
Faith Hebrews 11:6
Mind set on the Spirit. Romans 8:5-8
Walk with God. Genesis 5:24
Fear the Lord. Psalm 147:11: Proverbs 2:1-5
Follow the example of Jesus. Matthew 17:5; Philippians 2:5-11
God takes pleasure in obedience. 1 Samuel 15:22; Matthew 6:6
Offer a sacrifice of praise to God,  Hebrews 13:15-16
Doing good and sharing. Hebrews 13:15-16
Do God's will. Hebrews 13:20-21
Go beyond God's will/commands and do what is pleasing in His sight. 1 John 3:22
Matthew 3:17 The Father was well pleased with Jesus.
John 8:29 Jesus always does things that are pleasing to the Father.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.”
John 12:42-43 Confessing Christ will gain the praise and favor of God. Many would rather gain mans' favor which would not be pleasing to God.
Proverbs 16:7 “When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
John 15:8 The Father is glorified by us bearing much fruit!
Ezekiel 33:11 God takes pleasure in the wicked repenting and living. Ezekiel 18:23

Hope
Hope in God's mercy Psalm 147:11 This passage is what God wants us to do. To hope in His lovingkindness or mercy. Verse 10 says that God does not take pleasure in man's strength or that of horses. Horses can refer to the technology man has used to make a more powerful military. God is not impressed in our military might or our physical strength. We can gain strength by waiting on God in the secret place. Isaiah 40:31; Psalm 91:1

Faith
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Faith comes from hearing God's word. We hear, not just with our physical ears, but also in the spirit with our spiritual ears. Hearing with spiritual ears is having the attitude of taking God's word to heart and using it to produce fruit with perseverance.

Our belief and faith in God is our basis of life in Christ. I have written often on faith. See these articles here.

Mind set on the Spirit 
Mind set on the Spirit instead of the flesh is what is being taught here in the first part of Romans 8. Romans 12:1-2 presents a way that renews and directs our mind correctly.

Walk with God
Genesis 5:24 “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” What does it mean to walk with God? It is to walk in communion with God and in the ways of God.
Genesis 6:9 Noah was righteous, blameless,  and he walked with God. He wound favor with God.
In Malachi 2:6, priests did not listen and did not take God's word to heart.
And what is the purpose of listening and taking God's word to heart?
To give honor to God's name.

Therefore your blessing will turn to a curse. When we listen and take heed, the blessing that is our is available for us to use.
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God's covenant is one of life and peace.
When we hear God, we have life. John 6:63 And when we hear God we have peace. John 16:33 In Isaiah 55:12 it says, we are to go out with joy and be led forth with peace. When we have God speaking to us through the Bible, in our mind, by our conscience and dreams and visions, through others and the still small voice. There is peace when we hear God. We have strength when we have joy. Nehemiah 8:10 If we lack joy from the Lord there is no strength. Isaiah 40:31 says we will gain strength when we wait on the Lord. When we wait on the Lord we gain joy of the Lord. So wait at least as long till the joy of the Lord comes.

When joy and peace leave return to the Lord. We should not wait for the joy to leave. Instead, return to the Lord often to maintain the joy and peace.

Our walk with God brings relationship, and this relationship will bring joy and peace. Don't let the problems of the world and the concern that this brings take away the joy and peace of Jesus. Without the strength of the Lord you  can't do any good. Effectiveness comes from moving in the Spirit of God. Present your requests to the Lord in the evening and rise with God's blessing each morning.

Revelation 3:4 We can walk with God, because we are worthy. Sin will cause us to not be able to be at peace with God or ourselves. We cleanse ourselves by reading the word and believing it. John 15:3 It is not our good works that cleanse us. It is believing the blood of Jesus has in the past cleansed us. Our conscience will be renewed in Scripture. John 15:3 Walk in the Scripture with confidence.

Fear the Lord
Some say reverence instead of fear. These two words are two sides of the same coin.  If we live in disobedience there should be fear to get right with God. If we are walking in the Spirit there is reverence. Proverbs 2:1-5 gives a definition of the fear of God and how it works.

Receive God's words. Take them to heart and believe them and follow them. Treasure God's commands by meditating, memorizing and praying them. Make your ear attentive to wisdom and understanding, by taking time to learn God's precepts and listing to the Lord in how to put them into practice. Cry for discernment, by not just reading the Bible but cry out to God for better ways to use of what you are learning. Lifting your voice in prayer to God and asking others for how to follow God. Seeking and searching the Scriptures for God's answers, the hidden treasures in the Scriptures.

Follow the example of Jesus.
For years I thought that was impossible and never heard anyone teach this. Then I read that Jesus was the first born among all creation. Colossians 1:15 We are a new creation at salvation. Something changes within, at salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Jesus was the first and we are his brothers and sisters.

We are to walk as Jesus walked .1 John 2:6 We are called to follow Jesus. Matthew 4:19 How does this work out? It happens as the promises become alive in us. It is not just knowing what the Bible promises. It is believing that all the the promises in the Bible are yes as we believe them with the faith coming from God. 2 Corinthians 1:20

Follow the example of Jesus.
Have the attitude that Jesus had. Philippians 2:5-11

Turn away from what you have, to be free to serve as you are led. Sometimes we can use what we have for Christ. Other times God calls us to a work where we need to get rid of things that are in the way.

When we die to our wants and give our life to Jesus, he replaces our desires with His. Our wants change.

God takes pleasure in obedience. 
Deuteronomy 26:16 Accept God's direction and do them with all your heart and mind. See also Deuteronomy 32:46
Joshua 1:8 When we meditate on Scripture it becomes part of us. We then are able to do it with the leading of God's Spirit through the Bible. God wants us to keep the commands of Jesus, which is loving God and others. John 15:10,12

Offer a sacrifice of praise to God,  Hebrews 13:15-16
Why a sacrifice? It is not a sacrifice of giving things up, but devotion to God.
And we are to to it continually. Look at the study I made on the things we are to do always.
We love God and the way to love others is to do good for them. V16 These things please God.

Do God's will. Hebrews 13:20-21
As we work for God in the things we were made to do, it pleases Him. Ephesians 2:10 We work to give glory to God. Deflect the glory others want to give you and give that glory to God.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.”
We all have been entrusted with the gospel. Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 4:19 Don't seek the pleasure of men but of God in what you do. Galatians 1:10 A mind set on the Spirit will not worry about the recognition of man. John 5:44

John 12:42-43 Confessing Christ will gain the praise and favor of God. Many would rather gain mans' favor which would not be pleasing to God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.”

Acknowledge the Lord in all you do! He is the one who will make your way of life effective. A good synonym of acknowledge is to declare. Declare God is with you and helping you in all you do. In all your ways declare God is working. If the results are being ostracized by others, be glad and leap for joy. Your reward will be great in heaven. Luke 6:22-23

If we go to John 12:24 we see there is no fruit if we don't die to our fleshly wants. When we confess Christ in our life, we are declaring He is active not only in us but also others as they rely on Him. We die to our hope of worldly gain by doing this. But there is a hope of spiritual gain by influencing others.

The Father is glorified by us bearing much fruit! John 15:8
John 15 discusses our relationship to God as a vine and branches. We produce fruit as we abide with Christ. So God is glorified as we abide in Christ. You can't abide in Christ and ignore what He says. When we make Christ our source we follow His teachings.

God takes pleasure in the wicked turning from death to life. Ezekiel 33:11; Ezekiel 18:23
If God takes pleasure in the wicked turning to Christ. He will take pleasure as we take His instructions of going to sharing the Gospel with others.

You can't do any of the things written here effectively without your mind set on the Spirit of God. It is my experience that sharing the gospel is hard.  And I find that as I die to myself and live for God I am able to go and the love of God comes to me to help other people. This dying is not just a short prayer but a meditation of Scriptures and letting them change my mindset.

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Friday, March 16, 2018

Romans 8:7



Sin will take you further than you want to go.
Keep you longer then you want to stay.
And cost you more than you want to pay.
author unknown

Romans 8:7
 “because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,”

Romans 8:7-8 list the inability of those who have their mind set on the flesh, to serve or please God. They are:

Hostile toward God.
They don't subject themselves to the law of God.
And they are not able to subject themselves to the law of God.
They can't please God.

If we return to sin,  we think it may be for a short time or just this once. But that is a lie from the enemy. Sin has tentacles that will grab a hold of you and won't let go. We can get free in Jesus, but why go through this battle when we can have joy and peace and freedom in Christ? Also sin will keep us from being able to believe God. Why? Because our conscience will be condemning us. We renew our conscience as we meditate on the Bible. Christ was raised from the dead, through the glory of the Father, so we can have this newness of life. Romans 6:4. When we enter into an act of sin we are becoming a slave to what we decide to do. Romans 6:16

Many want to let you know that you can't be free from sin. Our life is a process and we can cut sin out more and more. Temptation is always there. It could be that we cut sin in half from where we used to be. But there is always something there to reject and repent of. Instead of saying, “I am a sinner,” say instead, “Jesus is my advocate and He will bring me to the Father and His throne of grace. Focus on the solution and not the problem. The more we focus on Jesus, the solution, the closer we get to Him. We can become free from sin, as we set our purpose to love Jesus and others, with our words and actions. We move to and become what we think and speak about. Don't confess the problem, confess the solution. Remember that in 1 John 1:8 and 1 John 1:10 it says, 'if we say that we have no sin we are a liar.' If we say we are a sinner we are focusing on ourselves. If people say they are without sin they are focusing on themselves. We don't go through the spiritual battle looking at ourselves. We go through life  looking at Jesus. Hebrews 12:2

Romans 7 Paul refereed to himself more than fifty times. The answer is Jesus not striving against sin.

The first state of having a mind set on the flesh is being hostile toward God.

Hostile: here are some synonyms: belligerent, at loggerheads, bitter, dirty, opponent, opposing, unfriendly, aggressive, hateful, offensive, violent, irreconcilable.

Why are there so many? Because mankind expresses himself with anger, hostility etc often and it is a common trait. God puts on man, requirements that are contrary to our desires. Or so we think. In reality, as we serve God, we rise to our greatest potential. We are able come to a place of peace with God and man.

A mind set on the flesh by a person that has become a new creation in Christ, is a sad thing. But we have all been there. God still loves us even when we remain with our mind set on the flesh. By His Spirit, God draws us back to living in the blessing we can have in Christ.

When we put aside the desires of the flesh and follow Christ and His way of loving others, we free the Holy Spirit within us.  We are free to remember who we are, in Christ, and our true desires will rise within. We can fulfill the desires of our heart by our walk with God and following His leading.

The second state of having a mind set on the flesh is not being able to be subject to the law of God.

What does it mean to subject yourself to the law of God?
It is to live according to the principles of God's law. What is God's law? It is to love God and others. John 13:34-35 It is to obey God's directions. John 15:10 We can't keep God's law, by making a law to keep it. Colossians 2:20-23 Instead we are subject to God's law by turning to Jesus and living for Him, worshiping Him and being thankful for all He has done for us. Then with this love we turn to others and help them.

Jesus brings the Old Testament law into focus by saying all the law and the prophets are fulfilled in loving God and loving people. Matthew 22:37-40; Galatians 5:14. The law of God is a law of living for the purpose of God's kingdom being advanced. Living in God's kingdom is accomplished by loving others by God's Spirit. Living for the purpose of obeying our master. Living for the purpose of loving others into God's kingdom. When we neglect in obeying what God has asked us to do, we fail to please God. That does not mean God is mad at us, or does not love us. God still loves us but we are missing out on the benefits of living in the Spirit. It is our decision to set our mind, not God's. It is our decision to walk with God, He won't force us to walk with Him. If we walk with a mind set on the flesh we reap the consequences of these actions. Judgment has already been set. "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18 This relates to the law of sin and of death of Romans 8:2 There are forces and  laws, that respond to our actions. We reap what we sow, either good or bad. But with Jesus, we can soar above the law of sin and of death by living in the Spirit and the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus will set us free.

The third way a person is known of not setting their mind on the Spirit is Not able to do it follow God. It is not just a decision to not follow God. A mind set on the flesh is not able to serve God.

Paul said that he did not rely on himself but Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:5 We live for Christ, through Christ and in Christ. Without Christ we are not adequate to get anything done in the Spirit. We can do things from a natural standpoint, but not from a spiritual standpoint unless we put our minds on the things of the Spirit and live for Christ. How do we move from living in the flesh, to living in the Spirit? By acting on what we believe, with confidence God is with us and will provide for us.

The verse I look to on the the subject of relying on ourselves or God is 2 Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.” Look to God to help you in your life endeavors.

Here is what it looks like to depend on God. The opposite of hostile is, to be friendly, agreeable and live with a good will.  Rely on His promises that speak to your heart. Quote them often and especially if fear or worry come. Think on God's promises and pray over them to renew your mind to God's ways. Then act on what you believe.

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Friday, March 9, 2018

Romans 8:6

Romans 8:6 “ For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,”




What is death and what is life? Death is when life ceases. When we put
 our mind on the things of the flesh, life in the Spirit ceases. What is the difference between working with a mind on the things of the flesh and working with a mind on the thing of the Spirit? Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men”
We do things for Jesus. And I like the word heartily. It is having an attitude of pleasing God in all you do. Doing your work with all your heart, with your whole being, with all your soul, doing it willingly and enthusiastically.

What happens when we have life? What happens when we have death?

Galatians 5:18-21 Practicing the things of the flesh will not allow us to live in the inheritance God has for us. We will not be able to live in God's kingdom. When we are born again, we can see into the kingdom of God. John 3:3 Why is seeing so important? You can't go somewhere if you can't see. When we have God's Spirit we gain hope as we read the Bible and hear from God. This hope is seeing the answer coming to pass. When we turn from a mindset of setting our mind on the things of the Spirit to the flesh we cease to be able to see the hope that has been given to us. We lose heart and start to worry. When we turn again to the Lord and put our mind on the things of the Spirit we renew our hope and can see God's promise to us.

If we are back and forth, back and forth between worry and hope, faith does not have an opportunity to grow and therefore, hope grows dim. Passages I use to fight off worry, doubt and fear are: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Philippians 4:6-9; Psalm 36 and 91

Life comes from the word of God. John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” When we accept God's word as true we enter into life. When we take God's word as an idea but don't realize it is for us, sluggishness happens.  Hebrews 6:12 “so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”


Death vs life and peace. The flesh brings death. Then why do people say that to live a Christian life is boring and death? It is because they only know of Christ as religion and not the newness of the Spirit. When we hear God there is life. When we don't hear God, then there is death as we follow the rules of others. Rules are not bad in themselves, if they are in context of a vibrant Christian life. Vibrancy comes from hearing God. Often, the ideas that one generation had, is lost by the next. Ideas are conveyed better when there are testimonies that go with what we learn. People have a better grasp of what we teach if they can see that we are doing what we teach. People are told to imitate those who were successful. We can only imitate when we have examples to follow.

Then why bring death to the flesh so that life my come? Setting our mind on the flesh and the spirit at the same time, is not possible. One has to die that the other may live. If our spirit is to live our flesh must die. This is not referring to our body but our mindset. Where we will set our mind on?

Walking in the Spirit is not obeying the Bible. John 5:39-40
Walking in the Spirit is living for Christ as the Bible teaches.

Watching TV and eating popcorn is neither of the flesh or of the Spirit. Where your mind is while you eat and watch TV will determine whether you are in the flesh or the Spirit.

Romans 8:5-8
" For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

Having our mind set on the Spirit sometimes is difficult. We may not know the answer to the issue we are facing. At these times I pray in the Spirit of God, which also includes tongues, for understanding and guidance for God's light. Jude 1:20; 1 Corinthians 14:14

It says in Psalm 112:4 that light will arise in darkness for the upright. We can speak light and life into a situation. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 A mind set on the flesh will reject Scripture while a mind on the Spirit will accept Scripture and confess it in their life. A mind set on the flesh will confess doubt and fear. While a mind set on the Spirit will confess the Word.

Minds set on the flesh will have pride, because they are self focused. Minds set on the Spirit will be humble as they look to Jesus. And with this humbleness will come boldness because again they see Jesus and what He has promised.


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Confession from the verses in Romans 8




1 There is no condemnation in Christ. I am not condemned anymore. I am free from condemnation.

2 I am free from the law of sin, because of the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus is enabling.

3 Jesus fulfilled the requirement of the law for me.

4 Now I walk according to the spirit.

5-9 My mind is on the things of the spirit and I walk according to the Spirit. If my mind wanders to fleshly thinking, I will counter it with the word of God.

9-10 Christ is in me and I am alive because of the Spirit.

11 The Spirit has given life to my body and will continue to give life so I can minister.

12-13 I am putting to death the deeds of the flesh and am alive in the Spirit.

14 I am a son of God and am led by the Spirit.

15-16 I am not afraid for  I have God as my father and I am His child.

17 I get what Jesus gets,  as I work with Jesus.

18 The troubles of this world are nothing compared to the rewards of living in the kingdom.

19-22 I am revealed as God's son to set free people and things from corruption into the freedom of God's glory.

23-25 I groan and labor in prayer and wait eagerly for the fulfillment of God's promise to me.

26-27 The Spirit also groans and works with me, according to the will of God.

28 Whatever happens, God turns it for good, because I am working for Christ.

29-30 I am like Jesus because I am called, justified and glorified.

31-32 God is for me, giving me all things as I am with Jesus. If God is for me, who is against me?

33-34 No one can succeeded against me, for Jesus intercedes for me.

35 Nothing can separate me from Christ's love.

36-37 As we die to our life, we conquer through Christ.

38-39 Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ.

God's love, enables me to accomplish His goals.

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Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Romans 8:5


 "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit."




Let the mind of the master be the master of your mind. (source unknown)

We become where we set our minds. What does it mean to set your mind? It is what we think about and where we spend time thinking. It is a decision to think on certain things. It means our minds are set on what our flesh wants, or if we are of the spirit our minds are set on what the Spirit wants. It is considering and planning. It is following the desires we have. It would be thinking, what it would be like if these desires happened.

I was thinking, that fleshly mindset was on the traditional ideas of sin, lust for money, booze and sex. Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Colossians 3:5-10; Romans 1:29-32; Mark 7:19-23 It is this, of course, but also it is shown to be interacting with people and how we relate to them. Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one with another.

A mind set on the Spirit is set on what the Spirit of God wants. There is a proper use for the flesh, but it is according to what the Spirit wants for us. The teachings of the Scriptures taught by the Holy Spirit give us a guideline for how we are to live in the Spirit of God. You can't take the Bible and understand it if you don't have the teacher, (the Holy Spirit) teaching. We get the Holy Spirit at salvation (Ephesians 1:13) and then are able to learn the Scriptures. If we reject the bible out of hand because it doesn't fit with our understanding, or hinders what we want to do, we gain nothing from it. Listen to the Spirit teach Scripture, with a willing heart to follow what it says.

Matthew 16:23 Peter wanted to deny Christ suffering and death. Jesus said this was setting his mind on man's interest and not God's. Therefore, God's interest is for advancement of the kingdom which came through suffering and death. Our work will happen as we deny frivolous pursuits and apply ourselves to win and train souls. Acts 14:22

Philippians 3:18-19 talks of people, who do not die to themselves and take up their cross. They walk as enemies of the cross of Christ, whose God is their apatite, set their mind on earthly things and glory in their shame. Following Christ is backwards to the natural mind. As we put effort into helping others we gain happiness and contentment. Satisfaction comes from service not self indulgence.

Romans 12:16 “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”

Don't think you know it all. Work with the people around you. And don't seek out the best or wise people, instead seek out the poor and associate with them.

Romans 15:5 “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,”

When we work with others we start to see their weaknesses. But God will give us perseverance and encouragement to continue to work with them. A fleshly mind will make decisions for themselves and not for the benefit of others. God helps us keep a mind on the Spirit by working with others. One of the ways of walking in the Spirit is to encourage others.

Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

Our mindset is not just on God but seeing God in others. Jesus prayed for us to live in unity with each other. in John 17. I would of thought that He would have prayed for us to be filled with power and knowledge. But it is not this, but unity that He is after. It is unity and love that Jesus wants from us. John 13:34-35 With love and unity, power flows effectively.

We don't set our minds on the things above if we don't die to our desires here. Galatians 2:20 is the verse of the cross. We live by faith, but if there is no death to the mind set on the flesh our faith will be compromised. For we will be doubled minded. Faith has to have a single purpose. James 1:6-7

This brings to mind the passage of Matt 7:7,8 Ask, seek, and knock. Keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking. Keep seeking the things of God. Keep trying new ways and asking for God's directions. You don't keep on asking, seeking and knocking if there already is an answer. We hope for what we don't see, not for what we already see. A mind set on the Spirit will ask, seek and knock for the things sought for.

Paul talks about doing one thing in Phil 3. There is not a double mind. There is not an accommodation of the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:14 Romans 7:25 shows the beginning of the answer when it says, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord, ….”

Psalm 1 talks of not being influenced by the ungodly, sinners and the scornful. Instead we are to set our mind on God's word. Reading a Bible reading in the morning is not what this is talking about. Instead it is to consider God's ideas morning, noon and night. An impossible activity without the help of the Holy Spirit. We can't do what is needed without Jesus. I approach this in four ways. First, I memorize Bible verses that speak to me. This way I can meditate on Scripture while I am busy with many things of life. Second, I accept the cross of Christ each day. Meaning, not my will but the will of God. That way I can set aside what I want and desire and do what the Lord directs. Third I'm quiet before the Lord, as I muse on the meaning of a Scripture I have chosen. Forth, I see this verse happening in my life.

There are times when following Christ is unpleasing to me. I stop and commit my time to the Lord and this changes my attitude and I am willing to follow what Jesus has for me to do.

Philippians 4:6-9 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Much of the mind set on the flesh is a mind of worry. Use the plan of Phil 4:6-9 to counter worry with faith and action. Don't blow this verse off. It does not glorify God to worry or complain. Bring it to God in prayer with thanksgiving. Then guard your mind from the things that would bring back the worry. Find those who have had a good outcome to their faith and follow their example. Hebrews 13:7

Numbers 11:1 “Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.”

Our worry brings complaints, which bring disaster on us by removing us from living in the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. When we worry and complain we are expressing faith in the natural. Instead express faith in our loving and all powerful God. He will deliver us from the trap of the enemy, when we give Him opportunity to, by our faith.

Psalm 16:8-11 “I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasur
es forever.”

There is a real benefit to setting our mind on the spiritual things. Even when it seems like we are shaken, we are not. Because we are not looking to ourselves but Jesus in all things. As we put our mind on the Lord we learn the path we are to walk. Our mind on the things of the spirit will bring us pleasure for our desires are changed to those of Christ.

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Saturday, March 3, 2018

Summary of Romans 8

Western King bird

Introduction

I started writing this on October 13th 2014. I have set it aside at different times for reflection and pralyer. Romans 8 is a passage of Scripture that covers a lot of areas of Christianity. I  plan to update it as time goes on, for I am always learning, and will post updates periodically. I like to tie in other parts of the Bible as it explains and sheds light on Romans 8. All quotes from the Bible are New American Standard Bible, NASB unless otherwise noted.


Summary

Chapter 7 talks of Paul not being able to live as he would desire. He was trapped in sin. At the end of the chapter he states the answer is Jesus.

Romans 8 starts with the powerful statement of, there is now no condemnation. We are free from the curse of the law and are free to live under the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

The way to do this is to stop putting our minds on the flesh and the things of the flesh and put them instead on the things of the Spirit. Our living by being Spirit led, brings life. We have the Holy Spirit living in us with all power and we will be able to live in this power.

The ifs of Romans 8 show that we have a part to play in this endeavor. It is not automatic as some would say.  There is suffering to go through. Just as in this life, we have work to do. So in the spirit we have work. It is by the suffering of our work, we change and overcome the obstacles in the spirit. If we are willing to work with belief and faith, we become more than conquers because God gives us all things to accomplish His work.

We are not alone in this work of suffering but the Spirit of God helps us. And no matter what happens or mistakes we make, God turns it for good.

He will give us whatever we need in this endeavor of life in the spirit and changing life here on earth. Because we have the love of God and nothing can separate us from this love.

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Friday, March 2, 2018

Romans 8:4

"So that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

We have all the blessings of the law of Deut 28 and are protected from all the curses. Gal 3:13

These blessings are for the purpose of expanding the kingdom of God Deut 8:18. If we don't get our prayers answered we could be in James 4:3,4 having our eyes on ourselves and not being a friend of God. Another aspect to unanswered prayer is that we are not putting energy into it. If our heart is in it we will expend energy to gain what God is leading us to. When we truly believe Jesus and what He has called us to do no demon from hell can stop us. Don't give up but keep praying, knocking and seeking. Matthew 7:7-8; 1 Corinthians 15:58

To walk according to the Spirit is to walk in faith in the direction from the Word of God to us in the work we have to do. We don't just think about it and talk about it but we also dream of it and follow the directions we have.

We can walk in the blessing as we walk with Christ.

When we are living under condemnation we are self absorbed in our inability to measure up. When we know we are justified we are free to step out and advance the gospel and build for Christ the kingdom of God.

To renew our mind is to renew our mind, see, consider, accept and live by the Scripture. It is to believe God. To not worry about things counter to Scripture. It is to believe God. To worry about things counter to Scripture means our minds aren't renewed. Turn your worry to prayer. Don't let your worry win. Instead, pray over God's promises till you are assured that God will fulfill what He said He will do.

Living Free From the Law of Sin and of Death -

1. We are justified in Christ. (Acts 13:38-39 Galatains 2:16)
We testify to others that we are free from the condemnation of sin.
Colossians 2:14 “having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Our debt is paid and we can walk free.

2. We are free from sin and death (Romans 8:2)
Sin has no power over us. Romans 6:14 There is no sting in death. 1 Corinthians 15:55 When our body stops living we are with Jesus. There is no fear of death and we can live without sin.

Be careful about bragging on yourself. I heard of a guy that said he did not sin. Yet he was not loving to his wife. That is ridiculous. We should not say we have no sin. 1 John 1:8-10 Instead we should point to Jesus and how He is helping us. Never focus on yourself, instead focus on Jesus.

3. Free from condemnation (Romans 8:1-4
Our past is gone. God does not remember our past and we can live with the understanding that the past won't stop what God wants to do through us today.

4. Redeem (Romans 3:24-31; Galatians 3:13-14)
We are no longer living under the curse. We can by faith, turn from the domain of darkness and live in the light of God and His Kingdom of light.

5. Give inheritance (Romans 4:13-14)
We are born again and with this new birth we have an inheritance that we can access today. I will get to this more in verse 17.

6. Bring righteousness (Romans 8:4)
Knowing we are in right standing with God. And this confidence with God brings us to works for God according to our response of that to His Word and guidance.

7. Impart Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:2)
We have the Holy Spirit when we were born again. Ephesians 1:13. Then with a second experience we have the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4

8. Preform miracles  (Galatians 3:5)
To walk with God miracles are required. What??  Jesus tells the disciples to raise the dead in Matthew 10:8. But we can't do that! The ability is with the Spirit not us. It is as we learn to let the Spirit of God move through us that the power will flow. This is not a condemnation that we can't accomplish this. It is a hope that God can do it through us as we allow His power to flow. Always look at Scripture as hope for what God will do through us. Not as condemnation of what we are not doing. Again it is focusing on Jesus and not ourselves.

9. Free from the curse ( Galatians 3:10-14)
In my nature hikes there are many obstacles. I am free from the curse and can navigate through the woods by the Spirit of God. We can go through the obstacles of life with God, and accomplish what He has for us.

10. Impart grace Galatians 5:4)
Grace is God's ability freely given to us. And how do we get this grace? Through prayer Hebrews 4:16; and through the Scriptures.

Acts 20:32
"And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

11. Impart faith (Galatians 3:12)
Faith comes from the word. Romans 10:17 Faith comes from God. Romans 12:3; 2 Peter 1:1. All of us have faith and we can use it as we look to Jesus.

12. Make perfect (Hebrews 7:19)
We are perfect because of the Scriptures clean us and Jesus paid it all. John 15:3; Colossians  2:14

13. Control sin in man (Romans 7:7-23; Romans 8:2, 7)
There is a new and living way. We are free now to put our mind on the things of the Spirit and not the flesh.

14. Enable a man to obey (Hebrews 7:18)
It is through Christ we can do what God is calling us to do. Philippians 4:13

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