WALKING IN THE SPIRIT PART II Dearly Beloved; In the book of 1John 2:5, The Apostle John says who ever keeps his word truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. In the book of 1John 2: 15-25, The Apostle John says Do not love the world or the things in the world, if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Jesus said in the book of Matthew 24: 12-13, And Because Lawlessness will abound, the love of many will wax or grow cold. But he that endures to the end shall be saved. Dearly beloved, when you juxtapose verse 5 and 15 you will discover a contrast that needs to be noted very seriously, it is clear that if we keep His word truly the love of God is perfected in us but if we love the world, the love of the Father is not in us. Let me explain a little further, it is clear that the spirit that rules, controls, governs, the world is the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. If the love of God has to be perfected in us as a church we must not allow the spirit that rules the world to control us. Let me emphasize that there is need for us to die completely to the flesh so that the Spirit of the Lord must take complete possession of our spirit, our soul, and our body. In the book of 1Corinthians 15:31, The Apostle Paul says I die daily, in other words on daily basis, the Apostle Paul mortified the deeds of the flesh to the point where the man of sin was killed completely in him. Dearly beloved, there is no other option to the fact that the love of this world must be killed completely in us as believers in Christ so that the life of God which is eternal life can be resurrected in us. Philippians 3:10-16, Galatians 5: 16-24. In the book of Romans 12: 1-2 Please take not very carefully, the Apostle Paul says that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service. Verse 2, And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Dearly beloved, It is clear from the scriptures the renewing of our mind with the word of God will definitely bring about a transformation which in-turn will enable us as believers prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God just as Apostle Paul says in 1John 2:17 He who does that perfect will of God will surely abide forever and then the promise that the Father has promised us will surely come to us which is eternal life. IJohn2:25 Dearly beloved, note once more that Apostle John says love not the world or the things in the world, Our Lord Jesus Christ says because lawlessness will abound the love of many will wax of grow cold. Let me remind us as believers that though we are in the world, we are not of the world. Colossians 3:1-8. Let me stress on verse 1-3 Apostle Paul tells us if then we are raised in Christ, seek those things which are above (Heavenly things), where Christ is, seating at the right hand of God. Verse 2 says set your mind on things above (Heavenly things), not on things on the earth. Verse 3 He says for you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. In the book of 1Pet. 1:4 The Apostle Peter tells us that we have an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and does not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you. Dearly beloved, there is danger when we allow the spirit that rules and controls the world to control us as believers in Christ. The Apostle Paul says clearly in Colossians3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleaness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry in Colossians 3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming up the sons of disobedience. Jesus said in the book of Luke 12:15-21, Take heed and beware of covetousness for a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which He possesses. Then our Lord Jesus Christ spoke a parable about a certain rich man whose ground brought forth plentifully but did not acknowledge God with his substance and then he died. In Verse 21 Jesus said ‘so is he that layeth up treasures for himself and is not rich towards God’. Dearly beloved, you may ask how does a man lay up treasures for himself and yet not be rich towards God. Our Lord Jesus Christ answered the question in the book of Matthew 6:19-21. And also Apostle Paul in the book of 1Tim. 6:17-19. Please read these scriptures very carefully and as you ready pay attention to 1Tim.6:18 because you will discover that God considers you a rich person based on the good you have done with your money and the number of lives u have affected with the money not necessarily the fact that you have money or that you are rich or based on the number houses u have built on earth or the number of cars u bought while u were living on earth. Apostle Paul says you should be ready to distribute and willing to communicate so your ability to lay hold on eternal life is also tied with how much you are able to affect peoples lives positively with your money and not necessary the acquisition of things. Matthew 25:31-40. The Lord Jesus says it clearly in Verses 35 to 40 Please read these scriptures very carefully my friends. Dearly beloved let us be very careful this spirit of covetousness is causing a lot of problems in the church today, people are now indulging so much and taking pride in acquisition of Assets rather than using their God giving wealth to affect the life’s of other people. I see a lot of pride and arrogance that has crept into the church because some feel that they have money more than others. Let us think about these things very carefully because if you have to lay hold on eternal life these are the things we must kill in the flesh as a church. Dearly beloved, In the book of 1Tim.6:3-10 Paul admonishes Timothy to beware of the love of money. He also tells him to abstain from those who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. And then he also tells him that godliness with contentment is great gain. Dearly beloved, the spirit behind covetousness starts when a man is no longer content with what he has anymore, there is need for us to be very careful and that spirit gradually crawls into the life of believers. Lust of the eyes is a very subtle spirit it breeds a multiplicity of evil in the soul of a man. Note in Colossians 3:5 Apostle Paul calls covetousness idolatry because the moment it takes possession of the soul of a man it builds an idol that takes the place of God in the heart of a man. This is the reason Apostle John ends his statement in 1John 5:21 when he says little children keep yourselves from idols. Furthermore dearly beloved I want to say something about the love of money I need you to please pay attention very carefully. Apostle Paul says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Please take note he did not say that money is the root of all kinds of evil but the love of it is the root of all kinds of evil because money is neutral, it is neither good nor evil. It is when money is the hands of an evil man it does the bidding of evil, but if money is the hands of a good man it does the bidding of good. Beloved beware of the love of money it is surely the root of all kinds of evil because when the covetous spirit takes possession of a man’s soul it breeds all kinds of evil such as pride, greediness, envy. Dearly beloved in closing, let me say this covetousness is a spirit that is already at work in the world today. Our Lord Jesus said no man can serve two masters; you cannot serve God and Mammon. It is clear that when the spirit of covetousness takes possession of the soul of a man it breeds the love of money which is the root of all kinds of evil and like Apostle Paul says in 1Tim6:10 some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:30:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015