Sinners...of an Angry God

Overviews of Illustrated Messages

August 18th, 2019 – Part 1 - Adultery

In praying for direction for a new message series, the Holy Spirit led Pastor Richard to this message by Jonathan Edwards. Edwards was an American revivalist, preacher, philosopher and one of the most well-known theologians. This message was first preached in Enfield, Connecticut in 1741. The message is as relevant for today as it was when he preached it. We’d encourage you to listen to the audio version multiple times and print out a copy of the PDF message, to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you to bring repentance to those areas in your life that are not holy before God and to also to fan into flame a desire to reach the lost for Jesus Christ.

This week, we listened to the audio video up to the 6:30 minute mark, or if you’re reading the message, up to the end of point #4.

When the sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God was preached, it was solely directed at those who were not born again and those who portrayed to be a Christian and religiously served God without having been born again.

However, I believe that the following Bible scriptures make it clear that also born again Christians, who practice the following sins of the flesh and do not repent, will not enter the kingdom of heaven but are under Gods wrath.

In Galatians 5:19-21 we read about the works of the flesh; “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Paul was talking to the church of Galatia. He wasn’t talking to sinners, although there may have been sinners in the congregation at that time. One of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:14 reads; “14 You shall not commit adultery.”

But Jesus raised the bar on this scripture where He says in Matthew 5:27-28; “27 You have heard that it was said [a]to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Paul the Apostle, in 1 Corinthians 10:13, talks about overcoming these fleshly temptations; “13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [a]bear it.”

In other words, there is no excuse for the Christian to willfully sin, for Jesus will always make a way of escape. But it’s still up to you to take or not to take the way of escape. The way of escape is to quote the Bible scriptures that would apply to the temptation, just like Jesus did when he was tempted by satan for 40 days in the wilderness. It’s quite incredible that satan, who was created by Jesus in the very beginning, would have the audacity to tempt the creator, but he did.

We read about three particular temptations in Matthew 4:1-11; “4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not [a]tempt the Lord your God.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, [b]“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”

Just like Jesus, we use the word of God, the Bible, to resist the temptations with. What are the temptations that the devil is throwing across your path today? What reckless things of the flesh or some physical feat to prove that God will save you is the devil tempting you with? How often do we see in the music and entertainment world, the political arena and all over the temptations of the devil to get people to just bow down and worship him with the promise of power and glory? Satan’s schemes and tactics have not changed.

Some Christians will say that they are weak in this area of their lives and pull the grace card, rather than take the way of escape found in the Bible that would apply to their weakness. Rather than taking God’s word and apply it to the area of temptation, they lay claim to the fact that they’re too weak to withstand the temptation.

Paul talks about a thorn in the flesh, however it’s not clear what it is, and all we know is that God allowed this thorn. Paul experienced Gods grace that was sufficient to strengthen him in times of weakness. We read about it in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; “7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to [a]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

No matter with what and how much satan is tempting you to throw in the towel; whether it’s in ministry, or your job, your marriage, your children, no matter what he’s using, the Bible says God’s grace will strengthen you in your time of weakness. No matter how weak you feel, God is strong in you. No matter what the devil throws at you, he cannot overcome you, so there is no excuse to fall into the flesh. You can come up with excuse after excuse after excuse to not do the will of the Lord because of your weakness. Once again we can see that being weak in an area of temptation is no excuse to sin, for it says; “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

It’s a lie for the Christian to believe the devil made them do it, to fall into temptation and the deeds of the flesh. He may present a temptation to you, but you have to make the decision to fall or to resist. Rebuke the devil with the word of God. Like Jesus said; ‘it is written satan’.

The Apostle Paul says this in Ephesians 2:1-10; “2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the [a]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

This scripture has primarily been interpreted that grace is what saves you through faith, and not your works. But what it is saying is grace is the power that God gives you to say no to the works of the flesh, and that is what saves you through faith. It’s not your works of self-righteousness, but rather the grace is given you to say no to the flesh and yes to the Holy Spirit, yes to Jesus, and yes to God. Therefore, grace is not a card that you play to cover your sin, but rather is the power given to you to live holy. Again, Jesus knows your weakness and has already made a way of escape from temptations. When you’re weak, that’s when He works the best in your life and His power and glory is revealed.

If works are not a part of obtaining salvation, then why does he say to work out your salvation with fear and trembling? It says in Philippians 2:12-13; “12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

So, if you are a Christian that is presently acting out in either heart or literally participating in an adulterous relationship, you need to repent and receive forgiveness of your sin and not continue in it. If you have committed adultery in the past and have not been caught and have not repented of it, now is the time to repent. Until then, you are living under the judgement of God and if you were to die in it you will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven but rather be separated from God for eternity in hell fire, where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. So, is the adulterous affair really worth spending and eternity separated from God in hell for? Is it worth it to continue in adultery in your mind and thoughts, to fantasize about it, when Jesus says that this thought process is the same as the action, is it worth loosing out in the end?

A good question to ask yourself is, do I really believe that Galatians 5:19-21 is true and that the adulterous affair you are presently involved in will keep you from inheriting the kingdom of Heaven? If you really believed this scripture to be true, you would quote this Bible scripture and other scriptures that would apply to the sin of adultery and say to satan when tempted, it is written. You need to remind him what the word of God has to say.

You may need address the person who is tempting you to commit adultery with, and just say; get behind me satan, you’re a stumbling block to me. It’s true! They’re a person satan is trying to use to get you to commit adultery with. They might get offended and run off, but remember Jesus will ALWAYS make a way of escape for you.

I believe that the reason it is so easy most Christians to practice adultery in the heart or in action, is simply that they have bought into the lie of the Doctrine of Eternal Security, “Once saved always saved”, that stems from Free Grace Theology.

Eternal security, also known as "once saved, always saved", is the belief that from the moment anyone becomes a Christian, they will be saved from hell, and will not lose salvation.

This is an example of cheap grace because it does not cost you anything, in essence saying that even if a person would backslide and die, they’d still be saved. The works of the flesh are forgivable upon continual confession of sin from the time your born again till the day you die. You have to be accountable for sin in your life and Jesus has given grace to you to say no to the sins of the flesh.

John is writing to born again Christians in the following verses in 1 John 1:5-10; “5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

This Christian walk, according to John who received his teaching from Jesus, is conditional. He’s writing to born again, blood bought Christians who still need to be cleansed and forgiven when they sin even as a Christian. You need to walk in the light and be obedient to Jesus, but when you do fall, you repent and you’re cleansed from unrighteousness.

Adultery may not be the sin of choice for you, but any of the others listed below incur the same judgement of not inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven. Let’s read them again from Galatians 5:19-21; “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Are you a Christian sinner walking on slippery ground, always exposed to fall and sudden unexpected destruction like we listened to in Jonathan Edwards message? It’s time to repent of your sins, be it adultery, or any of the others listed in Galatians 5:19-21, and use the Bible scriptures as a sword to fight off future temptations that the devil puts in your pathway. Like Jesus said when tempted; ‘it is written’, use the Bible when being tempted. You may sound like a parrot being so repetitive, but if that’s what it takes to flee temptation, do it.

1 John 1:8-9again says; “8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

If you’ve yielded to adultery or any other sin, repent of it, flee it and you’ll be cleansed. Jesus told the adulteress in John 8:11; “…go and sin no more.” Use the sword of the Lord to resist temptations. Don’t be like a yoyo, falling into sin and then climbing out of the pit over and over again. Find out what the Bible says about your sin, see its serious consequences and then use it to flee temptation when it comes.

August 25th, 2019 – Part 2 - Fornication

This week, we watched the video starting at the 6-minute mark and ending at the 13:50 minute mark, or if you’re reading the message, read up to the end of point #7 on page 3.

Today we’re talking about fornication. What is the definition of fornication? In Patheos.comit says this; “Fornicationis defined as sexual intercourse between people not married to each other (1). Biblically, fornicationhas a little wider definition. It can refer to prostitution or promiscuous behavior or indulging in unlawful lust by either sex. It can also refer figuratively to committing idolatry (2) (2 Chronicles 21:11; Isaiah 23:15-17; Revelation 17:2).”

Galatians 5:19-21 is a key scripture we’re using for this series as it focuses on the works of the flesh. Paul is talking to the Galatian church, Christians, and even though there may be unbelievers in the congregation, it’s a word for the church. It says; “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:15-20; “15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body [a]and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Matthew Henry’s Commentary says this about the scripture; “Every sin that a man does is without the body; he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body (1 Cor. 6:18); every sin, that is, every other sin, every external act of sin besides, is without the body. It is not so much an abuse of the body as of somewhat else, as of wine by the drunkard, food by the glutton, etc. Nor does it give the power of the body to another person. Nor does it so much tend to the reproach of the body and render it vile. This sin is in a peculiar manner styled uncleanness, pollution, because no sin has so much external turpitude in it, especially in a Christian. He sins against his own body; he defiles it, he degrades it, making it one with the body of that vile creature with whom he sins. He casts vile reproach on what the Redeemer has dignifies to the last degree by taking it into union with himself. Note, We should not make our present vile bodies more vile by sinning against them.”

Fornicationis an evil thought that starts in the heart of a man or woman and then is acted out in the flesh.

Jesus says so in Matthew 15:17-20; “17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

Jesus is specifically addressing as to where these evil passions originate; it’s in the sinful heart of man.

Christian, if you really believed that fornication is a sin that will separate you from God for eternity and condemn you to hell, you would make every effort to take up and use your sword, the Holy Bible, find verses that deal with this temptation and fight the devil’s temptation with it.

This is a spiritual battle that requires you to fight satans temptations with your sword, the Bible. Find scriptures that pertain to what you’re being tempted with, and speak them out loud and with authority in Jesus’ name. When we submit to God and the authority of His Word, we resist the devil and he will flee.

Ephesians 6:12 says; “12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [a]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

We know we’re not fighting the person that is the vessel of temptation for fornication, or whatever the sin is, it’s not a fleshly battle. But if they are not submitted to God and the devil is using them to tempt you, you may need to rebuke them for being seductive by trying to lead you down a road of destruction. This applies to men and women, Christian or non-Christian. The seduction may be how their dressed or with their eyes or words, it happens all the time. When a sister or brother is being tempted in the flesh, they’re being tempted by the devil. It all starts in the heart where the devil plants the seed through the eye or ear gates and that can originate through music, entertainment, social media, literature, etc.

Jesus said that these are the things that defile a person;“19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man.”

If you really believed that willfully practicing the sins of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-20 would eternally separate you from heaven, you would repent and flee the temptation. There are a lot of Christians who really don’t believe it though. They think that the sins of the flesh don’t apply to them, because they’re holding up the grace card as a removal of all sin, past, present or future but fail to understand that grace is the power that can keep them on a straight and narrow road if they choose to apply it in all of their decision making while under temptation. If they did believe it, they’d be speaking the word of God saying; ‘it is written’, to those temptations that are leading them down a road of destruction.

Somehow, satan has glazed over Galatians 5:19-21 to cause Christians to believe it’s really not true and that it has eternal consequences. He’s stopped up their ears and blinded their eyes to the truth of it. So, just like Jesus used the word of God to fight the devil when he was tempted in the wilderness, we have to do the same. We’re not exempt from using the word to fight our battles with. Until we’re dead, we will have to use the word of God to fight the temptations with.

Revelation 22:14-15 says; “14 Blessed are those who [a]do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 [b]But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoraland murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.”

So, if you are a born again Christian and are fornicating, according to the scriptures we’ve read, unless you truly repent, you are under the same judgement as the sinner and if you died in your sin you would be separated from God for eternity in hell.

Jesus says this in Matthew 5:29-30; “29 If your right eye causes you to [b]sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to [c]sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”

I believe what Jesus is really saying here is that He’s given you, the Christian, all authority to take the word to resist temptations with. But if you’re not going to do that, you might want to cut off those things in your life that are causing you to sin.

You might want to stop staying so late at the office with your boss when you should be at home with your husband and children. You might want to cut the job off or cut the hours back to reduce that temptation.

You might have to cut off that relationship with that man who makes you want to compromise sexually.

You might have to say to that woman in your life that is causing you to stumble, ‘it’s over’, and go on to see God provide a Godly woman for you.

You might have to put the axe to the career that’s taking you out of town to much, staying in hotels for too long with your great looking assistant.

Whatever the temptation is that is going to lead you down a road of destruction to fornicate, if you’re not going to take the word of God to rebuke the devil with to resist the temptation, the least thing you can do is cut off those things in your life that are causing you to sin. Cut off the source of the temptation.

Remember, all temptations start in the heart, fornication starts in the heart. And, even if you do cut of the external source of temptation ,it’s still in your heart, it will grow another head somewhere else. Why, because it’s a heart issue that has to be repented of and dealt with using the word of God.

You can’t fight sin with flesh and blood, you have to fight it with the Holy Spirit using God’s word. Pretty harsh words from Jesus, but it shows the severity of Gods judgement on sexual sins. Jesus knew it was beyond the eye and the hand, He knows it is a heart matter. He’s given you His name and His word to use on the devil, use it to resist fornication.

Romans 6:1-13 talks about being dead to sin and being alive to God. It says; “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be [a]done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been [b]freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, [c]reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as [d]instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

This is God’s will for you today, Christian. Fornication may not be the sin that you’re being tempted with, and your very disciplined to abstain from it both in heart and in action, however what about the other sins of the flesh listed below?

Galatians 5:19-2; “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Our only excuse to be practicing any of the sins above, is that we chose not to take the way of escape given to us in Bible.1 Corinthians 10:13says; “13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [a]bear it.”

So, you can live holy, you have no excuse to be practicing sins of the flesh, it’s up to you to take the way of escape found in the Bible and use it as a sword against the devil that is tempting you.

September 1st, 2019 - Part 3 – Idolatry, Uncleanness, Lewdness

This week, we watched the video, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, starting at the 13:50 minute mark and ending at the 18:50 minute mark, or if you’re reading the message, read up to the end of point #10 on page 5.

We continue with ‘Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God’, that could easily be called, “Christian Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God’.

We’re going to look at three sins today, the one in focus will be idolatry, but we’ll also teach on the sin of uncleanness and the sin of lewdness. Have you ever felt unclean? Maybe from a real hard day’s work where you just feel dirty. My husband comes home from construction and he’s just covered from head to toe in dirt and mud. This is exterior uncleanliness though. Today we’re going to look at uncleanness as God looks at it, that being the interior of the heart.

The sins of uncleanness and lewdness are a result of sexual sin as discussed in the previous topics of adultery and fornication. We read about the sins of the flesh again in Galatians 5:19-21; “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

The KJV Dictionary Definition of unclean is this;

UNCLE'AN, a.

1. Not clean; foul; dirty; filthy.

2. In the Jewish law, ceremonially impure; not cleansed by ritual practices. Num. 19. Lev. 11. Rom. 14.

3. Foul with sin. Matt. 10. That holy place where no unclean thing shall enter.

4. Not in covenant with God. 1Cor. 7.

5. Lewd; unchaste. Adultery of the heart, consisting of inordinate and unclean affections. No unclean person - hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Eph. 5.

When you’re chaste, you’re pure. When you’re unchaste and lewd, you’re perverted, anything goes. So Christian, the next time you’re hitting the porn icon on your computer, you might want to think about what you’re getting into and what you’re opening yourself up to which has eternal consequences if not repented of.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 says; “4 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who[a] has also given us His Holy Spirit.”

There is a lot of defrauding going on in the body of Christ right now, brothers and sisters being sexually defrauded by those in the pulpit and leadership. But God will avenge those who are being defrauded.

The Apostle Paul also says in Colossians 3:4-6; “4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,”

So if the wrath of God is coming upon those who practice these things, why as a Christian, would you want to participate in them and practice them? Do you want to be under God’s wrath?

Here are more scriptures that you can read that talk about uncleanness. Matthew 23:27, Romans 1:24, Romans 6:19, 2 Corinthians 12:21, Ephesians 5:3, Ephesians 4:19,2 Peter 2:9-11. Quote these scriptures when the devil wants to tempt you. Use it as a sword by saying; ‘it is written satan’. Remember God will always make a way of escape for you out of temptation.

Let’s look at the KJV Dictionary Definition of the word lewd.

LEWD'NESS, n.

1. The unlawful indulgence of lust; fornication, or adultery.

2. In Scripture, it generally denotes idolatry.

3. Licentiousness; shamelessness.

When you’re lewd, you’re crude. You’ll be asking for sexual favors in public, like a prostitute. They’re unashamed, loud, boisterous and never staying at home as the Book of Proverbs talks about. Sounds like the devil doesn’t it.

Jesus says this in Mark 7:21-23; “21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

Romans 13:12-14 also says; “12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk [a]properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

You’re to cast off the sins of the flesh and resist the temptations of flesh that the devil throws at you. Put on the armour of God as Ephesians 6 says. Your offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit, the Bible. Jude 1:4, 1 Peter 4:3, Ephesians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 12:21, 2 Peter 2:18, are all scriptures you can use as a sword when you’re being tempted to be lewd and unclean as a result of sexual sins.

Let’s look at the KJV Dictionary Definition of idolatry;

IDOL'ATRY, n. L. idololatria. Gr. idol, and to worship or serve.

1. The worship of idols, images, or any thing made by hands, or which is not God. Idolatry is of two kinds; the worship of images, statues, pictures, &c. made by hands; and the worship of the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon and stars, or of demons, angels, men and animals.

2. Excessive attachment or veneration for any thing, or that which borders on adoration.

What idol or object of adoration is keeping you out of church today? What are you giving excessive veneration to? What are you worshiping on Sunday’s? Is it sports, or a career, entertainment, or a good works fundraiser which, by the way, always seem to land on a Sunday? Some of you sports moms and kids need to stop worshipping sports and be in church instead of the sports arena on a Sunday.

Your idol may be the worship of the creation in the form of camping, fishing, hunting, and various outdoor recreational sports.

You may be saying to yourself; I get my church fellowship from preachers on the radio and TV, and that is sufficient for me. If radio and TV preachers are keeping you from church fellowship, it is a form of idolatry that is stopping you from being part of a church body and I question the validity of your salvation, for if you were truly born again, church fellowship would be #1 and nothing would get in the way of that.

Some of you are not attending church because of offence you have with a Pastor, teacher, brother, sister, etc. But the Bible makes it clear in 1 John 4:20; “20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, [a]how can he love God whom he has not seen?”

How many times have we heard the excuses of people not going to church because of an offense or someone did them wrong and they really do hate them? The Apostle John calls it a lie then to say you love Jesus but hate your brother. Meditate on that for a while.

Whatever is keeping you from church fellowship is idolatry. Two of the biggest idols are family and self worship. If you’re allowing family and selfish ambition to keep you out of church, it is a form of idolatry. Are you making more plans for retirement than you are for where you will spend eternity?

Jesus, the one who is your boss, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the one who you say you follow…says in Matthew 10:37-39; “37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

So all the time you’re keeping your child out of church by putting them in sports programs and the like, loving the activity more than Jesus Christ, Jesus says you’re not worthy of Him. You’ve made your family to be your idol. That goes for anything that is keeping you, as a Christian, out of church. It is an idol and it has to go.

Jesus also says these powerful words in Luke 14:26-27 Amplified Bible; “26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not [a]hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God]—he cannot be My disciple.27 Whoever does not carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple.”

It sounds like a dichotomy where Jesus says, ‘does not hate his own father…’ compared to what we just read in I John 4:20, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, [a]how can he love God whom he has not seen? But the word hate that Jesus uses is clarified as in meaning, [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God.]

Jesus is saying that even family can become idolatrous if it’s keeping you away from being His disciple, by keeping you out of the body and family of Christ, by not going to church. There is a cost to following Jesus. It’s probably why too Jesus will say to some, ‘I don’t know you’, after they’ve given him the list of religious things they did in His name.

Matthew 16:24-25says this; “24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

How many people do you see trying to save their life by wrong priorities? This flies contradictory to today’s mindset of being true to yourself, you’re the only one that matters, and that life revolves only around you, ultimately making yourself a god…which is idolatry or self worship. Jesus says to deny yourself and follow Him. Do you want life? Be willing to lose it. Be willing to give up those things that are keeping you out of church on Sunday. Tell your children that anything that will keep them out of church on a regular basis is unacceptable, that also goes for husbands and wives who choose a career that will keep them from going to church. Parents don’t be a stumbling block for your children by prioritizing sports, education, etc., over going to church.

Fundraisers are prolific on Sunday’s keeping families out of church. The evil’s one’s tactics are to keep you out of church long enough to get you to backslide. Doesn’t matter how well meaning it is and the donations given, the bigger picture is that it’s keeping you from church fellowship. Making these things idols in your life will have eternal consequences. Idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God.

These words of Jesus are pretty strong. He wants to be #1, not #2 in your life. Many of you have made Jesus #2 and as a result have backslid from the Christian faith and have allowed idolatry of one shape or another to be #1.

One of the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20:4-6 Amplified Bible (AMP) says this; “4 You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness (form, manifestation) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth [as an object to worship]. 5 You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous (impassioned) God [[a]demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine], visiting (avenging) the iniquity (sin, guilt) of the fathers on the children [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers], to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing graciousness and steadfast lovingkindness to thousands [of generations] of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

If you really believed that idolatry would keep you out of heaven and send you to hell, you would make every effort to get rid of all idols in your life that are keeping you out of church fellowship and right standing with God. But many today do not believe it.

Many Christians serve their earthly bosses with more respect than they do Jesus. They’ll venerate their bosses to do anything for them, give them their Sunday’s, jump at their every wish just to climb the corporate ladder, get a bigger wage increase, bigger house, bigger boat, better and all opportunities for their children, etc. Again, if you really treated idolatry as God commands, you’d be getting anything and everything out of your life that’s idolatrous. If you continue in idolatry, Christian, and if you’re life would end today, Jesus said you would not inherit the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 10:24-25 says; “24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

This could not be any clearer; go to church, fellowship from house to house, break bread, take communion, sing songs, build up and edify the body of Christ as you see the Day approaching, the Lord’s return!

Acts 2:40-46 also says; “40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this [a]perverse generation.” 41 Then those who [b]gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ [c]doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and [d]sold their possessions and goods, and divided[e] them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,”

Acts 20:7 also says; “7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” The first day of the week, is Sunday.

Today is the first day of the week, and Christian if you’re not in a church today, or on a regular basis, you have an idol in your life that needs to be repented of, and you need to get rid of it once and for all. You need to deal with it in the spirit, not the flesh. This is a spiritual battle that needs to be dealt with using the word of God, the Holy Bible. You need to quote these Bible scriptures to the devil that is tempting you to idolize something that is keeping out of church and right standing with God. Remember the Bible is your sword and is the only offensive weapon listed among the armour of God, the rest are defensive.

All idolatry is full of worldly wisdom. In 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Amplified Bible (AMP), the Apostle Paul says; “14 Do not be unequally bound together with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial (Satan)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said: “I will dwell among them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 “So come out from among unbelievers and be separate,” says the Lord, “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will graciously receive you and welcome you [with favor], 18 And I will be a Father to you, And you will be My sons and daughters,” Says the Lord Almighty.”

Almost all the events that we have talked about today that are keeping you out of church, are of the world, the flesh and demonic in origin, because it’s idolatrous. Your priority on a Sunday is to be worshiping Jesus, not idols. You have the ability to make right and righteous decisions regarding what you do on Sunday, where to go and where not to go. Going to church is normal and obligatory for Christians. It’s what you do. You need to be in church to be able to give of yourself and receive from others. That’s what the body of Christ does. Today, flee idolatry, flee uncleanness and flee lewdness.

September 15th, 2019 – Part 4 - Sorcery

This week, we watched the video, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, starting at the 18:50 minute mark and ending at the 26:11-minute mark, or if you’re reading the message, read up to the end of the first paragraph on page 7.

As a Christian, is it of the utmost importance for you to not walk in the sins of the flesh? Are you filled with the Holy Spirit to give you the desire and power to resist the temptations of the flesh?

Galatians 5:16-21 not only talks about not walking and lusting after the flesh, but also how the Holy Spirit and the flesh (man’s carnal, worldly, and debase desires) are at enmity and contrary with one another, or they’re in hostility with each other. The Apostle Paul says this; “16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Let’s look at the definition of sorcery, one of the listed sins of the flesh that will keep you out of heaven if you’re practicing it. It’s the use of magic, especially black magic. Synonyms are: (black) magic, the black arts, witchcraft, wizardry, the occult, occultism, enchantment, spell, incantation, necromancy, divination, voodooism, voodoo, hoodoo, witching, medicine and shamanism; rarethaumaturgy, theurgy, witchery and demonry.

In 1 Samuel 15:22-23 we read about the prophet Samuel warning King Saul after he disobeyed the Lord. God specifically told King Saul to kill all the Amalekites in war, including all of their livestock. But King Saul kept the King of the Amalekites alive together with the best of the animals. It says this; “22 So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of [a]witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”

Saul thought he did a great service that day in battle, but he rebelled against what the Lord had specifically told him to do by the prophet Samuel. Today, no matter what you could offer up to the Lord instead of being obedient to His word and what He’s told you to do, it’s considered by God as rebellion, which is as witchcraft. It doesn’t matter how much is in your bank account, how much you’ve even given to the church, it’s not how you’ve shown up and worked for God, it’s not how much time you’ve spent feeding the poor or doing charitable acts of kindness. It doesn’t matter how much you sacrifice throughout the week; it comes down to obedience to God and His word found in the Holy Bible.

Rebellion and witchcraft go hand in hand. A stubborn heart toward God’s word and being disobedient to Him, God calls it iniquity and idolatry. Have you rejected being obedient to what God has explicitly told you in His word to do? How many minsters have been rejected by God; the anointing has lifted and they don’t hear the Holy Spirit talking to them as in times past? Why? Because of disobedience by continuing in the works of the flesh. Why would the Holy Spirit want to stay in a temple (the Christian’s body), who continually, willfully walk in the flesh? Why would the Holy Spirit work through and bless the man or woman who continually walks in the sins of flesh? He’s HOLY, not unholy and fleshy.

Let’s read what Matthew Henry’s Commentary says on this Bible verse; “(2.) That nothing is so provoking to God as disobedience, setting up our wills in competition with his. This is here called rebellion and stubbornness, and is said to be as bad as witchcraft and idolatry, 1 Sam. 15:23. It is as bad to set up other gods as to live in disobedience to the true God. Those that are governed by their own corrupt inclinations, in opposition to the command of God, do, in effect, consult the teraphim (as the word here is for idolatry) or the diviners. It was disobedience that made us all sinners (Rom. 5:19), and this is the malignity of sin, that it is the transgression of the law, and consequently it is enmity to God, Rom. 8:7. Saul was a king, but if he disobey the command of God, his royal dignity and power will not excuse him from the guilt of rebellion and stubbornness. It is not the rebellion of the people against their prince, but of a prince against God, that this text speaks of.”

When it comes to disobedience to the command of God, it does not matter your position in life whether you’re a king or pauper; guilty is guilty. So, when you as a Christian are willfully practicing any of the sins of the flesh found in Galatians 5:19-21, you are in rebellion to Gods word and this is a serious enough matter that will open up your life to lying spirits that work through sorcery and witchcraft. As we just read in I Samuel 15:23; “23 For rebellion is as the sin of [a]witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”

That’s why it says in 1 Corinthians 10:13; “13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [a]bear it.”

If you are not taking the way of escape found in the Bible and willfully sin, then you are in essence rebelling against God.

Let’s look at King Saul’s rebellion which led him to consult a witch for guidance. Ironically, he had just put out of Israel all of the mediums and spiritists after Samuel had died as God had departed from King Saul. We read this in 1 Samuel 28:3-19; “3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented for him and buried him in Ramah, in his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the spiritists out of the land. 4 Then the Philistines gathered together, and came and encamped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.” 8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Please conduct a séance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you.” 9 Then the woman said to him, “Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?” 10 And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!” 13 And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What did you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I saw a[a] spirit ascending out of the earth.” 14 So he said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a mantle.” And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down. 15 Now Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” And Saul answered, “I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.” 16 Then Samuel said: “So why do you ask me, seeing the Lord has departed from you and has become your enemy? 17 And the Lord has done for [b]Himself as He spoke by me. For the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”

This scripture clearly shows that the heart of Saul was not repentant at all after the prophet’s rebuke. Even though he did a cleansing of the land from mediums and witches for all to see, showing zero tolerance for them, his heart was still dirty to seek one out for council. He was a people pleaser, not a God pleaser.

We must be clear about what this medium does. She does not bring up Samuel, but an evil spirit who is impersonating him, like the best and greatest of actors. That’s what happens to people who go to mediums, physics or witches; they’re conjuring up familiar spirits who know everything about that person that’s being inquired about. They are demons who are aware of your whole life; what you look like, how you act, where you live, your ups and downs, your coming and going, etc. Just like we heard in the message today on Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, they come to kill, steal and destroy and are ready to pounce on you to take you out at any moment if God would allow it.

Even though Saul went in disguised in different clothing, the demon called him out and the King was discovered. It’s very interesting that the demon knew who Saul was, but Saul could not discern that it was a demon talking through the medium to him. He then carries on a long conversation with this demon who is speaking through the witch about the plight that he is in. We see the demon, disguising himself as the prophet Samuel, knew everything that had transpired between Samuel and Saul even when the prophet told the King that the kingdom would be torn away from him.

In essence, the demon was reminding Saul of his eminent defeat in battle. But how many times does the devil do that in peoples lives? He gets them scared, intimidated and defeated before they even step out of the door? Where have you opened up your life to for demonic activity; what you listen to, what do you watch, what do you read, social media etc. They’re all access points into your mind and heart.

Let’s again go to Matthew Henry’s Commentary about this scripture. He says; “Verses 15–19. We have here the conference between Saul and Satan. Saul came in disguise (1 Sam. 28:8), but Satan soon discovered him, 1 Sam. 28:12. Satan comes in disguise, in the disguise of Samuel’s mantle, and Saul cannot discover him. Such is the disadvantage we labour under, in wrestling with the rulers of the darkness of this world, that they know us, while we are ignorant of their wiles and devices.

I. The spectre, or apparition, personating Samuel, asks why he is sent for (1 Sam. 28:15): Why hast thou disquieted me to bring me up? To us this discovers that it was an evil spirit that personated Samuel; for (as bishop Patrick observes) it is not in the power of witches to disturb the rest of good men and to bring them back into the world when they please; nor would the true Samuel have acknowledged such a power in magical arts: but to Saul this was a proper device of Satan’s, to draw veneration from him, to possess him with an opinion of the power of divination, and so to rivet him in the devil’s interests.”

How many Christians are in the same situation as King Saul, and as a result of practicing the sins of the flesh, they have opened up their lives to familiar spirits that have one thing in mind and that is to rob, kill and to destroy them and their Christian testimony through a lying spirit?

I believe many Christians because of rebellion to God, through willfully practising the sins of the flesh, have had the Holy Spirit leave them and as a result they are consulting a familiar spirit who disguises itself as the Holy Spirit and leads them away from God and ultimately rob them of their souls.

When you are in rebellion against Gods word, you are a prime source for witchcraft to operate through, you become a conduit that the devil uses for his purpose. There are only to two ways; Gods way or the devil’s way, there’s no other way.

Jesus says in John 8:44 when talking to the descendants of Abraham; “44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

When you subject yourself to rebel against God’s word in the sins of the flesh, the devil is right there and willing to lie to you, to sow discord between you and God, to sow discord between you and your brothers and sisters in Christ, to separate you unto himself and believe his lies. That’s why there are many Christians in the church of me, myself and I because they believe it’s acceptable to be out and independent of the local church. Truth is, they’re in rebellion and disobedience to God’s word and it’s as witchcraft. Or if you’re in the sin of adultery or fornication, you’re in rebellion to God’s word and it’s as witchcraft. It makes you a rebel against God’s word.

Revelation 21:8 shows the end result of those who are practicing sorcery and are in rebellion to God’s word; “8 But the cowardly, [a]unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Let’s read about a man called Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8:9-25; “9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced [a]sorcery in the city and astonished the [b]people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his [c]sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. 14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” 24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.” 25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.”

Simon, ex-sorcerer, was born again, baptized in Jesus’ name, but didn’t want the baptism in the Holy Spirit for himself personally, but he wanted to buy the power so that he could lay hands on others that they might be filled with the Holy Spirit. He didn’t deal with the heart issue of being a sorcerer and was still a bitter man and bound with iniquity. He wanted it for the money and he continued in the sins of the flesh where we see sorcery is mentioned.

Again, let’s go to Matthew Henry’s Commentary about these verses; “II. How they discovered and discarded him that was a hypocrite among them, and this was Simon Magus; for they knew how to separate between the precious and the vile. Now observe here, The wicked proposal that Simon made, by which his hypocrisy was discovered (Acts 8:18, 19): When he saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given (which should have confirmed his faith in the doctrine of Christ, and increased his veneration for the apostles), it gave him a notion of Christianity as no other than an exalted piece of sorcery, in which he thought himself capable of being equal to the apostles, and therefore offered them money, saying, Give me also this power. He does not desire them to lay their hands on him, that he might receive the Holy Ghost himself (for he did not foresee that any thing was to be got by that), but that they would convey to him a power to bestow the gift upon others. He was ambitious to have the honour of an apostle, but not at all solicitous to have the spirit and disposition of a Christian. He was more desirous to gain honour to himself than to do good to others. Now, in making this motion, (1.) He put a great affront upon the apostles, as if they were mercenary men, would do any thing for money, and loved it as well as he did; whereas they had left what they had, for Christ, so far were they from aiming to make it more-- (2.) He put a great affront upon Christianity, as if the miracles that were wrought for the proof of it were done by magic arts, only of a different nature from what he himself had practised formerly. (3.) He showed that, like Balaam, he aimed at the rewards of divination; for he would not have offered money for this power if he had not hoped to get money by it.”

James 3:13-16 says this about heavenly versus demonic wisdom; “13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and [a]self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”

Bitter envy and self-seeking sound a lot like Simon doesn’t it. King Saul, as great a King as he was, operated in wisdom in his later years that was earthly, sensual and demonic. Moreover, God even says in I Samuel 15:11 that; “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions…”

If someone is operating in envy and self-seeking motives toward you, it says that confusion and every evil thing are there! That is sobering. Both Simon and Saul exemplified those characteristics.

Are you a Christian sinner in the hands of an angry God?

Is it worth it to rebel against God and willfully practice the sins of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21?

Is it really worth being cast into hell for eternity for?

Is practicing sorcery in one way or another, really worth losing the Holy Spirit and your salvation for?

Remember, if you’re operating in rebellion to God, you’re operating as a sorcerer. If you are walking in envy and self-seeking, which is often the initial drive of those that want to be in the flesh in any way, shape or form, you will see confusion and every evil thing will follow. Don’t be a rebel.

Repent today of the sins of the flesh that you may be walking in. Repent of having a willful rebellious heart towards God’s word. It’s not God’s will that you perish and spend eternity separated from Him. It’s God’s will that you be born again, washed in the blood of Jesus and have the hope of living with Him in heaven for eternity.

September 22nd, 2019 – Part 5 - Hatred

This week, we watched the video, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, starting at the 26:11-minute mark and ending at the 32:30-minute mark, or if you’re reading the message, read up to the end of the second paragraph on page 8.

Galatians 5:19-21 is the scripture reference again to our message today where it highlights the sins of the flesh which, if practiced regularly by a Christian without being repented of will not allow you into the kingdom of God. Today we look at the word, hatred, which is one of those sins.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines hate as; “verb transitive [Latin odi, for hodi.]

1. To dislike greatly; to have a great aversion to. It expresses less than abhor, detest, and abominate, unless pronounced with a peculiar emphasis.”

How many Christians even express this action towards the Holy Spirit today? How many Christians hate and are against the Gifts of the Holy Ghost, and if they could shut it down, they’d shut it down. If they could buy you out, they’d buy you out. You may think it that is unlikely, but it is the truth, even though in their justification of it would be tempered somewhat.

When you hate the Holy Spirit and His work being done around you, you offend God and are operating in a spirit of murder. It happened to Peter and the apostles when the Holy Spirit was poured out. There were those who rose up against them to persecute them, murder them with their mouths, flog them and kill them, ironically, thinking that they were doing God a favor. There may be a limit on what can be done today here, but with the mouth, a lot of damage can be done behind the scenes.

That’s what we’re talking about today. It’s not just hatred toward the Holy Spirit as that’s just one subject, it’s hatred, period. Hating your brother or sister in the Lord is equated to being a murderer. It says this in 1 John 3:14-16; “14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love [a]his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

This scripture is talking specifically about Christian brothers and sisters, not about your flesh and blood brother or sister who isn’t a Christian. If you hate your brother or sister in the Lord, you are guilty of not just premeditated murder, but murder. Even if it’s in thought and heart, it’s murder, it’s a murderous spirit that is being operated in. It doesn’t matter if they’re filled with the Holy Spirit or not, or if they differ with you in fundamental doctrinal issues, they’re your brother and sister in Christ, they’re born again like you are.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary says this about I John 3:14-19; “II. The hatred of our brethren is, on the contrary, a sign of our deadly state, of our continuance under the legal sentence of death: He that loveth not his brother (his brother in Christ) abideth in death, 1 John 3:14. He yet stands under the curse and condemnation of the law. This the apostle argues by a clear syllogism: “You know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him; but he who hates his brother is a murderer; and therefore you cannot but know that he who hates his brother hath not eternal life abiding in him,” 1 John 3:15. Or, he abideth in death, as it is expressed, 1 John 3:14; Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer; for hatred of the person is, so far as it prevails, a hatred of life and welfare, and naturally tends to desire the extinction of it. Cain hated, and then slew, his brother. Hatred will shut up the bowels of compassion from the poor brethren, and will thereby expose them to the sorrows of death.”

Hatred of brothers and sisters in Christ either by gossip, verbal abuse, or simply excluding them, is all rooted in a murderous spirit that starts in the heart and ultimately manifests in action. If you really believed that hatred and murder are the same, you would refrain from allowing that seed of hatred to grow. You would fight the devil that sowed the seed, with Bible scriptures that would apply to the temptation to hate your brother or sister in Christ.

If you really believed that by hating the Charismatic movement, or the Holy Spirit, or the way one Christian does one thing and another does something different etc., is equal to murder; you would repent and flee the temptation to use murderous words to slay them with. Stabbing your brother or sister in the Lord behind their backs with evil words or cursing them out is equal to murder.

1 John 4:19-21 says; “19 We love [a]Him because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, [b]how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. If you say you love God and on the other hand hate your brother or sister in the Lord, you are labeled a liar and the Love you claim to have for God is a lie.”

Regardless of doctrinal beliefs, it’s a commandment to love your brother and sister in Christ.

1 John 2:3-5 also says; “3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God [a]is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.”

This is a test for you that authenticates you being a Christian, and it would be worth examining yourself to see if you qualify to be genuine.

The Apostle John continues 1 John 2:9-11; “9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

When you have this hatred in your heart to your brother and sister in Jesus, you’re blind in the Spirit. You can’t understand the Word of God any longer or comprehend spiritual things any longer.

Reading from Matthew Henry’s Commentary again on I John 2:7-1, he says this; “Christian love teaches us highly to value our brother’s soul, and to dread everything that will be injurious to his innocence and peace. 3. Hatred is a sign of spiritual darkness: But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, 1 John 2:11. Spiritual light is instilled by the Spirit of grace, and one of the first-fruits of that Spirit is love; he then who is possessed with malignity towards a Christian brother must needs be destitute of spiritual light; consequently he walks in darkness (1 John 2:11); his life is agreeable to a dark mind and conscience, and he knows not whither he goes; he sees not whither this dark spirit carries him, and particularly that it will carry him to the world of utter darkness, because darkness hath blinded his eyes, 1 John 2:11.”

1 John 3:10-11 says; “10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”

Again, regardless of doctrinal beliefs, it’s a commandment to love your brother and sister in Christ. Who would have ever thought that hating your brother or sister in Christ would affect your salvation, and separate you from God for eternity? It seems extreme, but after reading these scriptures, is it?

1 John 4:21 also says; “21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”

So when the devil is tempting you to hate your brother or sister in the Lord for something they have said or done, it’s then that you need to take the way of escape found in the Bible that would apply to the sin of hatred and read those scriptures out loud and resist the temptation to hate and allow the Holy Spirit to help you walk in love. All of the scriptures that we’ve read up until now, you can read them out loud, declaring that you love your brother or sister in Christ and you will not hate them or murder them with your tongue behind their back.

It’s interesting that a lot of the scriptures are from I John. The Apostle John, together with his brother James, were given the name, ‘sons of Thunder’ by Jesus. They lived up to that name and even wanted to call down fire from heaven to kill some off the Samaritans who opposed them. They had anger and hatred issues. Yet we see how John was tempered by the love of Jesus, and years later to write, from experience, what hatred does and that it’s rooted in murder. This disciple John, repented of his hatred and murderous character to become known as the Apostle of love for Christ and the brothers and sisters in Jesus.

Jesus says this in Matthew 6:14-15; “14For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Jesus also gives this stern parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21-35; “21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down [a]at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you [b]all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother [c]his trespasses.”

It’s good to examine your Christian walk and see if you hate a brother or sister in the Lord, be it premeditated in your heart in unforgiveness or acting it out in one way or another. Is it worth losing your salvation and spending an eternity in hell for?

When you’re tempted to hate your brother or sister in Christ, take up the Bible, the word of God and use the scriptures. Declare to the devil, ‘it is written’, and quote the verses. Declare how you’re to live as a Christian, how you’re to love your brother, how you’re to live in the light and not in darkness, how you’re to live in righteousness etc. It’s powerful when you speak the word of God over your life and also use it as a sword as an offensive weapon against the devil. These temptations of the flesh are from the devil, so as we said last week, you can’t overcome the flesh in the natural. It has to be overcome in the Spirit.

If hatred for your brother or sister in Christ is keeping you out of church, you need to get back into the Bible and declare to the devil that you love them and that he’s not going to keep you separated from the fellowship of the saints, and then get back into church.

Hatred is a serious sin that will keep you out of heaven. Let’s read 1 John 3:14-16 again; “14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love [a]his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

Is it worth it to spend eternity separated from God for because of hatred to your brother or sister in Christ? No. Declare the word of God to resist the temptation like Jesus did when the devil tempted Him. You can’t doubt the validity of the scriptures that we’ve studied today. The love walk has nothing to do with your emotional makeup. Even if they hate you and speak evil of you, you choose to love them in Christ. You’ve been redeemed out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. You’re not to go back into the devil’s domain.

Galatians 5:16-21 says this; “16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

September 29th, 2019 – Part 6 – Sins Against Your Fellow Christians

This week, we watched the video, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, starting at the 32:30-minute mark and ending at the 39:22-minute mark, or if you’re reading the message, read up to the end of the first paragraph on page 10.

We’ve dubbed this message before, ‘Christian Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God’, because it’s meant to take a sobering look at the sins of the flesh that many Christians still continue to live in, even after being born again and even filled with the Holy Spirit. We must remember that the Apostle Paul is writing this to the churches of Galatia, not to the Gentile or heathen people. The word ‘practice’ is significant in these verses because it implies repetitive actions, habits, routines or ways that if they are not repented of, those who practice them will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Let’s ponder this scripture again from Galatians 5:19-21; “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

In previous messages, it’s been preached about the sins against the 7th Commandment from the 10 Commandments which says; “You shall not commit adultery”, these sins are mentioned above in Galatians as; adultery, fornication, uncleanness and lasciviousness (lewdness).

We’ve also preached about the sins against the 1st and 2nd Commandments which says; “3You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor [b]serve them.” Those are also mentioned above in Galatians as; idolatry and sorcery.

Last weeks message was about the sin of hatred of our fellow Christians which is one of sins against our neighbours which Jesus summarizes in Mark 12:30-31 by saying; “30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] There is no commandment greater than these.”

The sins of the flesh that can lead to murder in action or by gossip are hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies and envy.

Galatians 5:13-15 says; “13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!”

Hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies and envy, are sins of the flesh, that if willfully practiced as a Christian, will keep you out of heaven. To some that may sound legalistic, but is it? The reason why it’s so serious, is that they all lead to murder, either by mouth or by deed. You can slander a brother or sister in the Lord and destroy their name and reputation thru these listed sins of the flesh without actually murdering them. That’s why it’s so serious a matter that if practiced, it will lead to what the scripture says, “that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”.

The sins of the flesh are just normal for the non-Christian as they’re behaving like their father the devil, and that’s why they are under Gods wrath already. But when you become a Christian, you can no longer practice the sins of the flesh, you’ve come out of the kingdom of darkness, the devil is no longer your father, and it’s unacceptable to continue to behave like him.

That’s why practicing these sins of the flesh against your Christian brother or sister are so serious a matter, it’s because you are behaving like non-Christians who are under God’s wrath. All of us were under God’s wrath until we became born again where Jesus came into our heart by the Holy Spirit, taking Lordship of our life. But now, we must crucify the flesh and its passions and desires.

James 3:13-18 is a scripture we’ve used a lot but the Lord keeps on directing us to preach it as it talks about heavenly versus demonic wisdom; “13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and [a]self-seekingin your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Galatians 5:22-26 talks about this heavenly wisdom as the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life; “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

So the next time you’re tempted to gossip about your Christian brother or sister, with hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy and murders; take the way of escape found in the Bible, and quote the scriptures to the devil that is tempting you to murder with your mouth.

You do have the authority as a Christian to resist the devil and his temptations. As Jesus said when he was tempted; ‘it is written…”, so you’re to do the same when you’re tempted by the devil. The word of God, the Bible, is your sword. You submit to God and His word and you resist the devil by quoting Bible verses that pertain to the temptations.

James 1:21-26 talks about being doers of the word and not hearers only; “21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and [a]overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone [b]among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”

There is protocol in the Christian life to be blessed and James made it very clear. When you’re a doer of the perfect law of liberty, you’re blessed! But your religion is useless if you cannot bridle your tongue and by it deceive your heart. If you continue to walk in and practice the sins of the flesh toward your Christian brothers and sisters, your religion is useless because you’re a hearer only of God’s word but not a doer of it. It doesn’t matter if you go to church, tithe faithfully, participate in prayer meetings and outreaches, give to missions etc.; if you don’t bridle your tongue and continue gossiping, slandering and murdering your fellow Christians with your mouth, your religion and all you do in the name of religion or Christianity amounts to zero, it’s useless. It will do nothing for you on judgment day. You will not inherit the kingdom of God.

That’s why the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 5:1-7 to walk in love; “5 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For [a]this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.”

He’s talking to Christians when he says to not partake with the sons of disobedience who are under God’s wrath, because those under his wrath are those who practice the sins of the flesh. It’s pretty clear that bearing the name Christian, means that we are to be Christlike in all our thoughts and actions.

The church in general today has become so lukewarm that it looks extreme and legalistic to act and look like what the Bible says here. But is it? When you hold up the word of God and mirror it to your heart, is it extreme and legalistic? I think not. What’s being preached today is liberty in Christ. It’s not legalism. This is the liberty that Jesus promised to you. But this liberty the devil will pervert and twist to make it look legalistic. What’s being preached today is the liberty and authority of the believer in Christ to abstain from vices of the flesh, but the devil will pervert it to sound like legalism in Christ. Keeping and obeying the word, preaching about the wages of sin and the eternal judgment of wrath on it, some Christians will call legalistic. Men and women in the pulpit are saying it’s legalistic, but when in reality it’s exactly the opposite, it’s true liberty and authority in Christ as a believer.

1 John 3:10-15 talks about the imperative of love; “10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love [a]his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

How many Christians are murdering their fellow believers with their mouths, for the same reason that Cain murdered Able, being their works are unrighteous and their fellow believers are righteous? The world or unbelievers, will hate you as a Christian and that’s just normal. They’re acting like their father the devil because they’re in his kingdom. But as a Christian it’s abnormal for you to hate your fellow brother or sister in Christ.

The sign today that you’ve passed from death to life is that you love your brothers and sisters in the Lord. You don’t act out any of the sins of the flesh toward them because you love them in Christ. You pray for them, even in their short comings. You abide in death if you do not love your fellow Christian and in Jesus’ eyes are considered a murderer. There is no eternal life for you.

Have you been practicing any of the following sins of the flesh towards your brother or sister in Christ that we’ve talked about? If so, you need to repent of them today and receive forgiveness. It’s asking Jesus to forgive you of the thoughts, for saying what you said in private or to them personally and for carrying it in your heart. These sins lead to murder committed with your mouth and can ruin your fellow Christians reputation and destroy their lives.

1 John 1:8-9 says this; “8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This is what’s available to anyone who confesses their sins to Jesus. Forgiveness. The blood that He shed covers a multitude of sins. He removes them from us as far as the east is from the west. But you have to confess them and not continue to practice them. We see the judgment that comes on Christians who continue in practicing the deeds of the flesh.

The devil is not going relent in tempting you with these sins until you go on to be with the Lord. They’ll want to divide you and the body of Christ, to get you divided with your brother and sister in the Lord. But you must resist the temptations every time they come. The devil’s plan is to rob, steal and destroy. Jesus’ plan is to give you life and life more abundantly.

We say this repetitively; it’s not God’s will that anyone perish and spend eternity separated from Him, but if you’re behaving like you’re under the wrath of God by acting and practicing the sins of the flesh, God has no choice but to send you to hell for eternity.

Remember what James says in James 1:21-26; “21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and [a]overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone [b]among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”

God is righteous, just and holy.

October 13th, 2019 – Part 7 - Heresy

This week, we watched the video, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, starting at the 39:22-minute mark thru to the end of the video, or if you’re reading the message, from the end of the first paragraph on page 10 to the end of the message.

Heresy is listed as one of the sins of the flesh that are against your neighbour or brother or sister in the Lord. It’s a stumbling block for the sinner and the saint alike. Galatians 5:20 says; “idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies.”

Easton’s Bible Dictionarydefines heresyas this; “from a Greek word signifying (1) a choice, (2) the opinion chosen, and (3) the sect holding the opinion. In the Acts of the Apostles ( 5:17 ; 15:5 ; Isaiah 24:5 Isaiah 24:14 ; 26:5 ) it denotes a sect, without reference to its character. Elsewhere, however, in the New Testament it has a different meaning attached to it. Paul ranks "heresies" with crimes and seditions ( Galatians 5:20 ). This word also denotes divisions or schisms in the church ( 1 Corinthians 11:19 ). In Titus 3:10 a "heretical person" is one who follows his own self-willed "questions," and who is to be avoided. Heresies thus came to signify self-chosen doctrines not emanating from God ( 2 Peter 2:1 ).”

The Apostle Peter says this about destructive doctrines and heresies in 2 Peter 2:1-10; “2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructiveways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction [a]does not slumber. 4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to [b]hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of [c]dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.”

Some key words here today are destruction, lawlessness, presumptuous and self-willed and there is nothing good about them, especially in the church. Heresy is a destroyer of the church. It’s a self-willed gospel that comes from the heart of man and not from the Bible doctrines of the Apostles. We read that there is also doom for those who preach heresy. How many times have you seen in the church in general, men and women rising up with destructive heresies, despising the church authority, being presumptuous and self-will with doctrines of vain imagination birthed in the flesh?

We are taught to admonish those who are teaching heresy, and if they don’t repent, we are to reject them as brothers or sisters in the Lord. Titus 3:9-11 says to do this; “9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”

The Apostle John also says in 2 John 7-11; “7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that [a]we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. 9 Whoever [b]transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”

This is very serious! You’re not even to greet them nor let them into your house. The very clear reason as to why is that you’ll share in their evil deeds! Not even an ‘hello’ or ‘how are you today?’ greeting. How many Christians today are disobeying God on Sunday by not being in a local church, but are attending the Church of me, myself and I at home, more than willing to tune into the radio, TV or internet and listen to some false teacher promising them eternal security? They’re forsaking the assembling of themselves together with the saints, yet they’ll listen to lies and heresies.

The doctrine of eternal security is just one of the many heresies that are presently being taught in Christian churches, but the list of heresies being preached today is numerous.

Peter warns about the deceptions of false teachers in 2 Peter 2:18-19; “18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who [a]have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of [b]corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into [c]bondage.”

What one would think is liberty when listening to heretical teachers, is actually bondage. The doctrine of eternal security, “once saved always saved” is a good example of heresy that is to be rejected.

So the next time you turn the Christian Radio on and a preacher comes on that is an eternal security teacher, you’re supposed to not allow it into your home or your body, turn it off and don’t listen to it. It doesn’t matter the other good things they may be preaching, if they’re preaching eternal security, turn them off.

In 2 Peter 2:20-22, Peter continues saying this; “20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

This clearly deals with those who have been born again and then have been snared, trapped and overcome by the world again and do not repent; their latter end is worse. This is for a Christian in a backslidden state as well as for those who’ve fallen out of fellowship with the saints in church, but swallow the deceptions of media based heretical preachers instead. Peter gives a very vivid picture of how they are seen by God’s eyes; as a dog returning to its vomit and a pig back in the muck and mire.

You see, Jesus cleaned you, filled you with His Holy Spirit, you’re born again, living a sanctified life and resisting the sins of the flesh. But when the devil lures you to start listening to an eternal security preacher, you cast off restraint to where daily sanctification is not adhered too and engaging in the sins of the flesh doesn’t bring conviction as it used to. You give up working out your salvation, because according to the preacher, it doesn’t matter if you backslide or not, you’re saved. It’s heresy. Faith without works is dead, you’re to work out your salvation with fear and trembling and you’re to be and live holy as God is holy.

The writer of Hebrews is also very clear when he says in Hebrews 6:4-6; “4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 [a]if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

Very grave and sombre words to those who backslide into false doctrines and to those who teach heresy from their own self-will and don’t agree with what the Bible clearly says. That’s why it’s so important to not allow your ears to be tickled with false doctrine teachers in the media, but to stay in church where you’ll fellowship with brothers and sisters, you’ll sit under the anointing of God’s word being preached, you’ll have the gifts of the Holy Spirit in operation and you’ll be built up and edified.

Jesus taught this about the wheat and tares in Matthew 13:24-30; “24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Tares resemble wheat. Jesus is saying that there are those who ‘look like’ Christians in the church, but are not.

Jesus explains this parable in Matthew 13:36-43; “36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” 37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

This is so easy now to understand how someone who has tasted and seen the things of the Lord, observed the working of the Holy Spirit etc., and then start listening to some ‘tare’ teaching false doctrines from their own vain imaginations so that it’s end will lead you down a road of destruction and ultimately separate you from God for eternity.

When you listen to heresy and participate in it, when you’re not even to greet a heretic let alone embrace their teaching and by it share in their evil deeds; there is severe judgment that ensues. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. All it takes is the ear gate to open a little for some juicy morsel of heresy teaching to enter that will entice you and put a hook in your jaw. The doctrines of truth that you once clung to you’re now rejecting, becoming deaf to them because of your backslidden state.

That’s why Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23; “21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

Matthew Henry’s Commentary says the following about this scripture; “Those that go no further in Christ’s service than a bare profession, he does not accept, nor will he own them in the great day. See from what a height of hope men may fall into the depth of misery! How they may go to hell, by the gates of heaven! This should be an awakening word to all Christians. If a preacher, one that cast out devils, and wrought miracles, be disowned of Christ for working iniquity; what will become of us, if we be found such? And if we be such, we shall certainly be found such. At God’s bar, a profession of religion will not bear out any man in the practice and indulgence of sin; therefore let every one that names the name of Christ, depart from all iniquity.”

How many who have preached eternal security, having deceived countless thousands in every continent in the world, will receive this judgment from Jesus when they die when He says; ‘I never knew you’! They are preachers of lawlessness which is heresy.

Take heed today, that you do not listen to or participate with those who teach heresy.

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God – Part 8 – Drunkenness and Revelries and Recap

We conclude this Illustrated Message Series by highlighting the sins of the flesh of drunkenness and revelriesand then do a recap of the series, tying it altogether from a scripture in James.

Galatians 5:21 says; “21 envy, [a]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

The Greek word translated “revelries” in Galatians 5:21 is komos and is defined as “excessive and boisterous intemperance and lustful indulgence.” Revelries is defined as hard partying.

Drunkenness and revelries are serious enough for the Apostle Paul to instruct the Church not to even eat with such a person if they’re a brother or sister in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 5:11says; “11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.”

It sounds extreme and hard doesn’t it as they’re your fellow Christians, but not according the Apostle Paul. Drunkenness and hard partying will open up the door for the rest of the sins of the flesh to operate, and how many times have you heard it said that one or more of the sins listed in Galatians 5:19-21, were thought of in the heart or committed while drunk while not having a sound mind. If you do drink alcohol, this ought to motivate you to drink moderately and refrain from getting drunk and hard partying.

You’ve probably heard the after-glow stories around the water coolers at work of the party the night before. All of the ‘could-of’, ‘would-of’ and ‘should-of’s’. Those who say; ‘Did I do that? Oh, I shouldn’t have done that, I shouldn’t have said that’, OR ‘I slept with who? No, I didn’t do that, you’re pulling my leg.’, OR ‘I was snorting what? No, I don’t remember doing that, I’m not a cocaine addict, I don’t remember that. I just remember waking up in the bar on the floor, nothing else.’, OR ‘I got in a fight with who? No, I don’t remember that although I do feel some pain in my body but I don’t remember fighting with anyone.’

When you think about the story of Lot and how his daughters got him so drunk to have sex with him after fleeing Sodom, that he couldn’t even remember when they came in to have sex with him and when they left. Two nights in a row! That’s how drunk they got him. They took advantage of their father, committing incest with him, but he had no recollection of it.

Galatians 5:19-21again says; “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Now maybe, Christian, this past weekend you didn’t get drunk and neither are you a hard partier (reveler), but you may be drunk with adultery. So drunk with adultery that you can’t even see that you are because there is no conviction any more like it used to be. Maybe it’s fornication that you’re drunk with and no longer are you convicted of your sin like you used to be. The same applies to idolatry, so drunk with it that you didn’t go to church today, worshiping the creation instead of the creator, prioritizing everything else except the house of God . Maybe your drunk with sorcery, medicated on prescription drugs and no longer trusting God to heal you and it’s justifiable because it comes from the doctor.

This can apply to all of the sins of the flesh, others can see that you’re drunk with sin, but you can’t.

I hope you can draw the parallels here. You’ve seen the drunk person stumbling over their words and feet yet deny their intoxication. The same with those practicing the sins of the flesh, they deny their intoxication to them. They deny they’re a gossip, murdering with their mouth and they deny they’re a fornicator or an adulterer yet in their heart they are. Outside observers can see the outbursts of wrath, the selfish ambitions and heresies but they themselves can’t.

This is how much the devil has perverted these sins of the flesh and no wonder God’s judgment will come on Christians who practice them, being denied of heaven because they are so drunk with sin. That’s why Jesus said in the parable of those who come to him and say, ‘but didn’t we do this and that in your name, and He says, I don’t know you!’ They try justifying themselves by their works while living unholy.

Paul adds at the end of those verses; ‘and the like’, meaning that more actions can be added that are types and shadows of this kind of worldly lifestyle. The religious are very quick to point the finger at the drunk, the drug addict, the prostitute but how many in the church are practicing envy, outbursts of wrath, hatred, idolatry and the like?

In Ephesians 5:15-21, the Apostle Paul says this; “15 See then that you walk [a]circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of [b]God.”

When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you are of a sound mind, and you’re operating in the fruits of Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23which are; “ 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Ephesians 5:8-12 says; “8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the [a]Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather [b]expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.”

The Apostle Peter also says in 1 Peter 4:1-6; “4 Therefore, since Christ suffered [a]for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past [b]lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.”

You maybe were once the life of the party, but now as a Christian you aren’t and are now excluded from the party. So rejoice, you’re in the light and not in the darkness any longer.

The Apostle Paul says in Romans 13:11-13; “11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk [a]properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.”

Now maybe your life never was filled with drunkenness, revelries and the like, but examine yourself carefully that you’re not practicing the other deeds of the flesh.

Let’s recap some of the teaching on Galatians 5:19-21.

We concluded that as Christians we are without excuse when we yield to temptation, because we are always given a way of escape and it is in our choice to take it or not take it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 says; “13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [a]bear it.”Jesus ALWAYS makes a way of escape

We concluded that as Christians, grace is not a card that we pull to remove our present and future sins, but rather is the power given to us to live holy, and to say no to the sins of the flesh when tempted.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10; “7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to [a]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

We concluded that being weak in an area of temptation is no excuse to sin, for it says that, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
We concluded that just as Jesus used the Bible scriptures when he was tempted, we have to use the word of God as a sword by quoting the Bible scriptures that apply to the area of temptation to the devil that is tempting us with.

Matthew 4:1-11; “4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not [a]tempt the Lord your God.’ ”8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”10 Then Jesus said to him, [b]“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”

So, what it comes down to is that Jesus will not allow you to be tempted to party, get drunk or practice the sins of the flesh without providing a way of escape. But it’s still up to you to take the way of escape and you are without excuse when you don’t, regardless of how weak you are in the area. It’s not about weakness, it has to do with your will to do right.

It is up to you to use the Bible as a sword when tempted, and quote the Bible scriptures that apply to drunkenness and revelries and other sins of the flesh. Remember grace is the power to live holy and is not a card to be played that allows you to continue in sin.

Regardless of the sins of the flesh that you may be weak in one way or another, you will always be given a way of escape, and when you are weak His grace is sufficient for you to give you the power to not sin. So, you are without excuse when you don’t take the way of escape because it is your free will and not your weakness that causes you to sin.

You may think that this teaching is an unrealistic expectation, and is legalistic, but is it? We’re exercising our liberty in Christ to choose to live the life of a Christian by taking the way of escape when tempted.

Jesus died for your sins, rose from the dead, and returned to heaven but he didn’t leave you as an orphan, because He sent the Holy Spirit for you to receive into your body and become born again.

This is what makes you holy, and will help you to live holy, but you still have a will to take the way of escape or not when temptations come your way. God does not take your will away from you when you become a Christian. You can will your way to heaven by obeying and take the way of escape or you can will your way to hell by disobeying and not take the way of escape. It’s your will that will send you to heaven or hell.

Remember, that it’s not Gods will that any one perish but that all come to repentance, and if you sin, repent and take the way of escape found in the Bible that applies to your temptation and quote it out loud to the devil.

We close on James 4:4-10; “4 [a]Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

All the sins of the flesh from Galatians 5:19-21 are of the world and are worldly. James not only addresses adulterers and adulteresses but those who are worldly. Jesus doesn’t want you to ignore the world but to be salt and light to them to be friendly to them, so friendship with the world doesn’t mean to hide from them, but when you participate in the sins of the flesh, that means you’re being a friend of the world.

When you walk in adultery, fornication, lewdness, drunkenness, selfish ambition, anger, envy etc., the world buddies up to you and is friends with you because you participate in their fleshly sins, but if not, you’re excluded from them. By participating in the sins of the flesh, the world, you become an enemy of God. No wonder God will send a Christian to hell who becomes an enemy of Himself, God. Any Christian who willfully practices the sins of the flesh with no repentance, makes himself an enemy of God!

The Holy Spirit yearns jealously for holiness and is grieved by the sins of the flesh. You have to humble yourself before God and repent of these sins. The cure for worldliness is submitting to God, resisting the devil, drawing near to God, cleansing your hands, purifying your heart, lamenting, mourning and weeping! THEN He will lift you up.

Search your heart today and ask yourself if it is worth it to willfully practice the sins of the flesh and in the end, loose your salvation.

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Interview with Pastor Richard

Audio Video of Original Message Read by Max McLean