Word of Grace Studies: Recent Episodes
Pastor Luther Walker
We exists to change the lives of believers through equipping them to live out who they are in Christ by edifying the body of the Christ (the Church) while coming to a oneness of faith through a full experiential knowledge of the Son of God unto a mature person according to the stature of the fullness of Christ so that we are no longer tossed around by every wind of teaching by the trickery of men who cunningly seek to deceive the saints.
Who we openly proclaim while admonishing all men and teaching all men in all wisdom, in order that we should present every man mature in Christ. Colossians 1:28
to whom God desirously willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of glory - Colossians 1:27
the mystery, the one hidden from the ages and from the generations but now is revealed to His saints, Colossians 1:26
and I discerned the seven angels, the ones standing before the throne, and it was given to them seven trumpets. - Revelation 8:2
It is God’s desirous will for us to be thankful in all things. - in all things you be thankful for this is the desirous will of God in Christ Jesus unto you – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Thankfulness is an attitude by which we express our appreciated for what we receive from others.
The Mystery of the Blindness of Israel is that the Gentiles are now being reconciled to God because of her unbelief. However, this blindness will only last until the fulness of the Gentiles comes in, at which time Israel will see the Messiah, Jesus, for Who He truly is and will be saved. Therefore, do not be ignorant of this mystery or high minded against Israel, for she belongs to God and He will save her.
Are we loving God? Are we willing to sacrifice for the benefit of other saints, or are we just fond of God and really want to take care of ourselves? Not all of us will be pastors, but the men that are, need to have the right attituded. However, the rest of us can also learn from this. For it is by loving the saints (fellow Christians) that we truly show our love for God.
We, of the Church, have a higher standard by which we live. We live by grace, out from faith. The grace of God brought us the sending away of our sins, not just covering them up. By being gracious towards others we can also give them a benefit, not based upon their actions but because we are manifesting who we are in Christ and therefore graciously deal with being wronged by them. Therefore, we can release them from their debt without demanding restitution, just as God did for us in Christ.
And circling the throne, twenty-four thrones. And upon the twenty-four thrones elders were seated, clothed1 with white garments and golden crowns2 upon their heads. Revelation 4:4
Now I rejoice in the suffering concerning you and making up the things lacking of the affliction of the Christ in my flesh concerning His body, which is the assembly, Colossians 1:24
Love has no need to make itself appear to be bigger than it really is. Even the smallest act of love is far greater than any act from our flesh. Let love just simply be love.
Let us love out from seeing things as they truly are. Not a worldly type of love that brags about its accomplishments, but true love that seeks the best for the one loved by following God’s example, for the reason we know love is because He loved us first.
Jealousy is wanting what another person has. It is not just being resentful or angry of another’s good fortune or achievements, but a strong desire to possess them. Unlike zeal, which is an enthusiastic devotion to a cause or goal making someone eager and determined to do something, jealousy takes this type of attitude and uses it in a way that damages others to get what they have. So one who is jealous will be zealous to obtain what another person has.
And you that existed at some time alienated and hostile in the workings of your mind by the malignantly evil works, Colossians 1:21
A revelation belonging to Jesus Christ which the God gave to Him to show to His servants, what is necessary to come to be in haste. And He signified after sending through His messenger to His servant John, who testified the Word of the God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, as much as he discerned. Happy is the one reading and the ones hearing concerning the words of the prophecy and guards the things having been written in her. For the Lord is near. Revelation 1:1-3
At the end of the book of Matthew it is recorded that Jesus instructed His disciples to go and make disciples. As a result of this command, this verse has been used as the battle cry for missionaries. Taking the gospel around the world! However, the verse does not actually say that, and when we understand what it in fact states, we see that the Great Commission diminishes what Jesus said.
Another aspect of God’s quality of love is kindness. One who is kind is described as having a good or benevolent nature or disposition, which will put others at ease. This is not an aspect of the human nature.
Beloved! Do not imitate the wrong, but the good. The one doing good is out from God, the one doing wrong does not discern God. 3 John 11
God is longsuffering towards us, both before we were saved and now when we unreasonably reject His ways and go back to the ways of our previous life. Are we being the unreasonable one? Are we demanding that God give us what we want, or seeking His desires for our lives? True love holds its anger towards others when they are being unreasonable because it is seeking the best for them and there are times where a manifestation of anger is not productive. So let us set our minds on things above, start to emanate the things of the Spirit – that is live out the life we have in Christ – and use the fruit that the Holy Spirit provides for us so that we can be longsuffering towards others, seeking the best for them, while examining ourselves and making sure we are not being the unreasonable ones.
We are not to love the world, nor the things of the world. Giving benefits to those who refuse to work is a love that belongs to the world and is really only about the person doing the work. It is at its core selfish. If it was not, it would not reject what Scripture states and continue encouraging others to remain being lazy. There is a big different between those who need assistance because they are poor, but are willing and able to work, from those who are vagrants.
We should pay attention to what is recorded concerning Adam and Eve and the action by Adam that brought sin and death into this world. It was by his disobedience. We see the misery that it has caused in contrast to what life was like before he disobeyed God. Today, in our dispensation of Grace, we should choose to obey God. Not misapplying Scripture but taking it for exactly what it says. Today all who are saved belong to the Church. We have a better covenant built upon better promises, so we are not to try to take Israel’s promises and apply them to ourselves. We live by grace out from faith; therefore, we are not to live by law. We are able to mature and properly discern the difference between good and evil by using the renewed mind we have in Christ. We are able to overcome our sin nature through the truth. We can walk in the light and fellowship with God. But we can only do this if we obey. Ask yourself, are you willing to obey God today, or do you prefer the calamity our disobedience brings?
2 John 9 Everyone transgressing and not abiding in the doctrine of the Christ, does not have God. The one remaining in the doctrine, this one has also the Father and the Son.
Do you want to experience the Holy Spirit? Listen to the good desires you have. Listen and obey and you will experience God in every aspect of your life. We really do not need God to speak to us, show us miracles, do signs and wonders, or anything else He has done to show humans that He is God. Because we can see from history humans still did not follow Him even after experiencing Him in these ways. We abide in Christ and Christ abides in us; therefore, we experience God in a completely different way than from what we read of in the Old Testament. We now have a connection to God in our rational part. He now guides us through knowing the truth and teaching us how to discern each situation to do what is right. We are able to mature and not be garrisoned around by laws; rather, because of our relationship with God we are able to live a life of righteousness by using the renewed mind we have, through which we truly can understand what God’s desirous will is in any situation. This is experiencing the Holy Spirit.
As we go throughout our day let's pay attention to the desires the Holy Spirit is giving us so that we are doing what is right; having the correct focus in our minds, putting on the armor of light so that we are seeking to do what is good. And if we keep stumbling in areas of our lives, we need to go back to the truth taught to us by good pastors and apply it to our lives so that the Holy Spirit, through the truth, can teach us how to begin to feel at ease with who we are in Christ resulting in a life that seeks righteousness and rejects all manner of wickedness. This is truly experiencing the Holy Spirit.
in all inherent ability while being empowered according to the proper opinion of His might into all patience and longsuffering with joy, Colossians 1:11
Every transgressor and not abiding in the doctrine of the Christ, does not have God. The one remaining in the doctrine, this one has also the Father and the Son.
Walking is a term used to describe how we generally manage our lives. Prior to being saved we walked according to the age of this world, which is a malignantly evil period. We had a lifestyle that was controlled by the futility of the mind. Now we are God’s children and are to walk in the light. This is a lifestyle that rejects the works of the flesh and seeks to fulfil the desires of the Spirit so that we are fellowshipping with God.
The leading of the Holy Spirit comes by the desires He gives us to do the will of God in our lives. This is not done in ignorance, which means we need to use the new mind we have in Christ and decern what direction He is leading us through identifying His desires and following them. We do not use law to do this, for one who is living by law is acting like a child and will not understand the leading of the Holy Spirit. Don’t take those desires you have to do what is right lightly. It is the Holy Spirit expressing to you His desires for your life and how you are to live it out in a way that glorifies God. This type of leading has a far greater impact on our lives than words or anything we may see, because it directly impacts us at our very core. Let us use what God has given us, see things as they really are, know what God’s will is for us, and discern each situation in our lives so that we are led by the Holy Spirit.
Understanding that the Holy Spirit impacts our desires is important because He has no need to speak to us or to show us signs and wonders. He influences us far greater than any of those could do. He indwells us and just like our flesh or our emotions, He gives us desires. We need to take the time to learn to recognize these desires and follow them. Therefore, experiencing the Holy Spirit is not an emotional thing. The hairs on the back of our neck do not stand up, we do not get goose bumps, we are not put in a trance, or made to laugh uncontrollably, or speak in gibberish (some try to pass this off as speaking in tongues); rather, it is by using the new mind we have in Christ and training our senses to discern the difference between the desires we get so that we determine what is proper and what is wrong, knowing that ultimately the desire to do what is right is coming from God and is a direct result of fellowshipping with Him. So the next time you have a desire to do what is right, that is the Holy Spirit communicating with you.
One of the aspects of our relationship with the Holy Spirit and how we experience Him is through His encouraging work that reminds us of what was written so that we have patience and are encouraged to continue to do what is right even in the face of persecution. So when Scriptures come up in your mind in different situations throughout the day, or you recall what God has done for you in salvation and you belong to Him, remember who is doing that for you.
to walk worthy of the Lord into all pleasing in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the full experiential knowledge of God Colossians 1:10
2 John 7 Because many deceivers have entered the world, never confessing Jesus Christ, the one having come in flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
Of all the things that this world can throw at us, the reality is we belong to God. Therefore, we really should walk in a worthy manner of God who called us into His Own Kingdom and glory, having our conduct of those who are citizens of the heavens and walk according to the Gospel of the Christ as His children.
When the temptation for stealing comes to us we need to remind ourselves of who we are and who we belong to. We are not part of this world system. Yes, we live in it, but we do not belong to it and do not use it up to its full. Rather, let us work with our hands while being honest so that we have to give to our fellow Christians who are in need and in all situations show a proper opinion of God through our actions.
Because of this we also, from the first day we heard, do not cease communicating in worship and asking concerning you in order that you should be filled with the full experiential knowledge of His desirous will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, Colossians 1:9
Satan will take advantage of us in any way he can. Let us not give him place in our words; rather, let us learn to speak in grace, seeking to always use our words for good so that the only thing we convey with the way we speak is who we are in Christ. This means we will speak the truth, not sugar coat things. For the truth is beneficial to others. However, when we convey that truth with grace, we will have a far greater impact on the one listening than if we use rotten language.
Among the saints, holding each other accountable for our actions is important. We are one body and when one part suffers, we all suffer. When you wrong one of the members, you wrong them all. Unfortunately, in this day and age of the Laodicean church which only serves God in name, many will not take this act of love and just move to another assembly that will not hold them accountable. However, for those who do accept the correction and repent (change their mind), we, as an assembly, need to be gracious to them.
The importance of training cannot be overstated. In every aspect of our lives the people who do the best are the ones who spend the time to train. From interns to an apprentice, training is an essential part of everyday life. The same goes for living out the Christian life. Often our lives can seem to be so mundane that we could not possibly do something great with God. Getting out of our comfort zone tends to heighten our attitude, whether it is going on a mission trip or leading a crowd of people to salvation or any other goal, and we feel closer to God. We want to do something out of the ordinary, but are we ready for that?
Pride brings nothing good into our world, it only leads to bad things. By pride the novice pastor will fall allowing false teachings and actions within the assembly. Pride will lead a believer to disregard a brother in Christ for their own liberty. By pride those who teach false doctrine subvert the innocent into thinking that gain is godliness. By pride false brethren remain in the church seeking to gain for themselves. It was by pride that Lucifer fell and through this pride he acted independently from God seeking to place himself in a position higher than he belonged. Let us not be ones who hold onto pride, for it is God’s righteousness that gives us the access that we have to Him, not anything we do. Yes, there are times where we can become very good at what we do, but let us never forget, apart from Christ we can do nothing just as the branch cannot produce fruit without the vine.
Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ through God's desirous will and brother Timothy, to the saints even faithful brethren in Christ in Colossae, grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:1-2
Lying is a temptation that comes from Satan and is intended to create a false or misleading impression. He is the father of lies and where you find lying he is directly involved.
John 8:44 You are out from the father the devil, and the desires of your father you desirously will to do. He was a manslayer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks out from his own, because he is a liar and the father of it.
Don't let anger control you. The only thing it is going to do is bind you up and make you carnal. As ones who are in Christ and free to live righteously, this is where our minds need to be focused. Yes, there is a time for anger, but it should not be allowed to fill our minds. Rather, let us set our minds on the things above and enjoy the peace and happiness we have in Christ.
When faced with the possibility of persecution, ridicule, or even discrimination we can be tempted by Satan to deny our faith.
Doubt is a lack in the ability to discern what is proper and what is wrong in our actions. As Christians, we should have our senses trained to discern the difference between actions that are good and actions that are wrong.
For bitterness to set in a Christian needs to stop recognizing his or her position in grace before God. This allows Satan to plant a seed of bitterness that will poison the mind with resentfulness and result in a sharp, bitter, and unpleasant demeanor and lead a person to act out of doubt, which is sin.
Therefore as many as are mature, we should frame the mind this way, and if anyone of you frames the mind differently, also this the God will reveal to you. Philippians 3:15
What was from a beginning, what we have heard, what we have discerned1 with our eyes, what we have watched, and our hands touched concerning the Word of the life. And the life was manifested, and we discerned, and testify, and announce to you, the eternal life that was before2 the Father and was manifested to us.
Discouragement is a desire that comes from Satan with the intent of getting Christians to lack confidence in God, thinking that God has forgotten them and has no concern about them.
We are not to grow weary in doing good. Sometimes it takes a while for our fruit to grow. Satan does not want us to produce good fruit, so he is going to bring people or situations into our lives to try and discourage us.
Again we learn this method by one of the attacks Satan did against Job.
In Job 19:1-19 we have a concise statement on discouragement. Job struggles with understanding why he is continually being tormented and reproached, why his cries for help are ignored. Even those closest to him despise him for no reason.
Remember, Satan roams around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He wants to shake us up and cause fear so he can overcome us. When we feel discouragement coming on, we need to put on the armor of God, because we should be understanding that this is a direct attack from Satan. And once having it on, stand firm.
And while doing the proper let us not grow weary, for in its own time we will reap, do not give out – Galatians 6:9
The conduct apart from fondness of money, contentment to the present, for He has said, “I will never leave you, nor ever forsake you” – Hebrews 13:5
Now with our mind focused back on who we are in Christ we can begin to properly look at the situation and discern what is God’s will for us. Keep doing good and doing what is proper, even when it seems that we are all alone or the world is against us and nothing good is coming from our work. Be patient, be still, and know that He is our God, and He cares about us.
For our weapons of warfare are not fleshly, but inherent ability by the God towards the tearing down of strongholds, casting down logics and every high thing lifting itself up against the knowledge of the God and bringing every thought into captivity into the obedience of the Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Within our mind we can build up strongholds that are very difficult to overcome. These can be false beliefs or temptations like living by law, speaking in tongues, drinking alcohol, pornography, lying, stealing or anything else that holds us. Often these strongholds are built with the help of others who influence what we believe and how we perceive life. However, when they come up against the knowledge of God, we struggle to overcome them.
Dealing with what goes through our minds can be very difficult when we are not using the methods provided for us in Christ. Our battle is not fleshly, it is spiritual, it is a battle for the mind, and this is why it is important for us to frame our minds correctly. Remember, framing the mind is about setting a proper boundary around who you are and what you allow to remain in your mind. As Christians our frame of mind needs to be on the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above where the Christ is seated at the right hand of the God, Frame your mind of the things above, not the things upon the earth – Colossians 3:1, 2
Having this frame of mind, we can then compare the thoughts in our mind with whether or not they fit and if they do not, reject them and focus on the ones that do.
But what about the ones you cannot seem to overcome. Thoughts that you do not want in your mind, but cannot seem to shut off. They are constantly plaguing you.
This is where we need to identify the source of the thought and use our instruments of warfare to tear down the strongholds they have within our minds.
Is it coming from the sin nature – We can identify them by the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21
Put on the proper defense. Remember, we do not say No to the sin nature, we stop yielding to it and start doing what is right.
Know (Romans 6:6) – Reckon (Romans 6:11) – Yield (Romans 6:13)
Is it an attack from Satan? Put on the whole armor – Ephesians 6:10-18
Is it the world system? Remember, we are dead to it. Stop expressing love towards it, that is being willing to sacrifice for what it offers. Recognize that we have died to it and although we live in it, we are not of it and are not to abuse it. 1 Corinthians 7:31
The weapons that God has given us are stronger than the strongholds we build up in our minds that go against the knowledge of God. Remember, we do not sin in our mind. Sin is an action. So, when the thoughts come up let us take the proper way of defense and finally tear down those strongholds so they are no longer holding us captive and we can live a life of righteousness in freedom.
Disappointment is used to bring us into a mental state of being defeated in our expectations and hope. This is done by situations coming upon us that we question as to why they are happening to us because we deserve better.
It is through Job’s persecution by Satan that we see all of Satan’s methods that he uses to get us to go against God.
In Job 3:1-13 Job is recorded expressing disappointment in his situation and wishing he was never born. What value was life since he was in this condition?
Remember, Satan’s whole purpose for doing this to Job was to get him to curse God.
Job 2:4, 5 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
Job may have never fully understood why God permitted such calamity to come upon him, but we do. It was through this that God fully shows us how Satan works to get us to go contrary to God.
How should we react to a situation that we see as unfair? It should be with thanksgiving and rejoicing.
giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – Ephesians 5:20
Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice – Philippians 4:4
In everything give thanks for this is the desirous will of God in Christ Jesus unto us – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
We may see a situation we face as unfair and discouraging, which Satan will try to use to bring us to a frame of mind in which we are disappointed because we think we deserve better. And it may be, as with the case of Job, we do not see why this situation would be allowed to come upon us. However, remember that nothing can separate us from the love of God. We belong to Him and all things work out for good, that is for the benefit, of those who are loving Him (Romans 8:29). So when we find ourselves in these types of situations, let us respond with a proper attitude of thanksgiving and rejoicing while looking for how we can show a proper opinion of God, even when we are being treated unfairly.
For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy facing the glory about to be revealed unto us. - Romans 8:18
When we deal with issues in our daily lives that conflict with our desire to live properly before God we need to come at them with an attitude of not looking at the do not, but looking at the being. I am a Saint. As one who is saved what actions in my life would manifest that? Rather than thinking about what not to do, today think about what you should be doing. Don’t use any negatives, only positive. What is the thing that I as a Christian should be doing in this situation? Now we do not want to stop there, that is, we will have desires we struggle with and need to put on the proper defenses against them that God has given us, but this is a really good place to start.
There are a lot of things in this world the impact the way we frame our minds. From the place where we are born, to the country we live in, what job we have, and even what possesses we have. The world wants us to focus on its desires, the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of biological life. Advertisement, social media, news, music are all designed to get us to frame our minds in a certain way. The reason for this is that our actions are a direct result of how we frame our minds, there is simply no way around this. One who is humble in the mind will be more reasonable as one who his prideful will demand his or her way. This is why it is very import for the Christian to pay attention to what the mind is framed on.
The framing of the mind involves setting parameters or boundaries around what you perceive concerning yourself and the world around you. This is not so much what we think about all day, but the limits of what we allow our mind to consider in regards to our actions.
In Colossian, Paul writes that we are to have our minds framed on the things above.
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of the God, frame your mind on the things above, not upon the things of the earth – Colossians 3:1, 2
Having a wrong frame of mind can lead us to wrong conclusions. Peter was rebuked by the Lord because he had wrong boundaries concerning the Christ (The Messiah).
But having turned He said to Peter, “Get behind me, advisory, you are a scandal to Me because you do not frame your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men” – Matthew 16:23
If we frame our minds of the flesh, we walk by the flesh, which produces death in our lives; however, if our mind is set on the things of the Spirit, we produce life and peace.
For the ones that are [walking] according to flesh, set their minds of the things of the flesh, but the ones [walking] according to Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh [is] death, but the mind set on the Spirit [is] life and peace. - Romans 8:5-6
Does our frame of mind line up with what God says about us?
Therefore, after being justified out from faith, we have peace towards God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast upon the hope from God’s proper opinion. - Romans 5:1-2
God says we are righteous before Him out from faith (Romans 1:17), God says we are His children (1 John 3:2), God says we are alive to Him in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:15,16; 6:17), God says we are no longer slaves to the sin nature (Romans 6:6), God says we live in the world but are not of the world (John 17:16).
Think on these things today and let them influence your actions throughout the day.
Only you live as a citizen in a worthy manner of the Gospel of the Christ, in order that whether I come and see you, or whether I depart, I will hear the things concerning you, that you stand in one spirit, one soul, while together contending in the faith of the Gospel. And do not be frightened ones in anything from the ones opposing, which to them on the one hand is proof of destruction, but on the other hand to you of salvation, and this from God, because to you it was graciously given on behalf of the Christ not only to believe in Him but also to suffer on behalf of Him, Philippians 1:27-29
As part of our salvation, we have been given a renewed mind (Romans 12:2), one that is not corrupted by our sin nature. This is a mind that can understand the things of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14-16). Therefore, we walk by the Spirit, not by law or the flesh (Galatian 5:16, 25). The Spirit is the One teaching us how to properly abide in Christ (1 John 2:27) and therefore live a life that shows a proper opinion of God through our actions, not words. We are not adopted children, we are legitimate children and should act as such in the midst of a corrupt and perverted generation, training our sensed to know what is proper and what is wrong so that our live are a luminary to those around us.
Let us pay attention to what God wants in our lives, not the desires Satan present to us trying to get us to act independent. We can know the desirous will of God for us in any situation (Romans 12:2). Our life should not be focused on the things we have but, especially today as we draw near to the end, on fellowshipping with the saints (Hebrews 10:25). Find a good church, or group of saints, that has a pastor that cares about them. One that teaches the truth and shepherds the saints so they can grow in the grace of God and learn how to live out the salvation God has given them. That is what really matters in this life. We brought nothing in, we are taking nothing out. The only thing that is important in our lives is Christ in us.
I have been co-crucified with Christ, indeed I live, not I, but Christ lives in me and that life I now have in flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, the One loving me and delivered Himself over on my behalf – Galatians 2:20
Salvation is something that permanently impacts our lives. When we believe that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scripture, we are saved. This is not something that we can lose, destroy, or otherwise reject. Even when we turn our back on God, He is faithful and will not turn His on us.
The doctrine of immersion (baptism) is referring to the fact that we have been immersed into the body of the Christ, a new creation in which Christ is the head and the Church is the body (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:22,23). This immersion frees us from slavery to the sin nature and enables us to work out righteousness in our lives through obedience to God (Romans 6:4). Therefore, understanding this we are to go on to maturity. Treating each other within the Church as equals, learning to feel at ease with who we are in Christ, and living out a life that truly glorifies (that is express a proper opinion) of God, because we have been immersed into the Christ.
And My God will supply all my needs according to His riches by a proper opinion in Christ Jesus. And to God even our Father the proper opinion into the ages of the ages, amen. Philippians 4:19,20
We intuitively know that everyone born out from God does not habitually sin, but the one born out from God guards himself and the malignantly evil one does not touch him. 1 John 5:18
Wherefore, leaving the beginning word of the Christ, we should bear on the basis of the maturity, not again laying down a foundation of changing the mind from dead works and faith concerning God, doctrine of immersion, laying on of hands, both resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment – Hebrews 6:1,2
Faith is taking God at His Word. Faith looks at the promises that God has given and bring them to life in our lives. That is, if we are truly taking Him at His Word we will live a life based upon what He says.
Give, but give properly. Give out from our freedom in Christ, not under obligation. Not out from grief or need. Give because we are loving those who support us in our Christian life, not to gain something from God. We have all things in Christ. The ministry needs our support, but it is not about the money, it is about our involvement with those who teach the word of God and train us to use what God has given to us in Christ so that we are living a life that is pleasing to God. For in so doing our sacrifice is well pleasing to God.
Indeed I have received all and I abound, I am filled up where I lacked having received from Epaphroditus the things from you, a fragrant smell of an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. – Philippians 4:18
Doing good is part of our priestly service as saints in the Church. This is not something that we should take lightly. Our good actions show forth who we are in Christ, defend us from false accusation, and show a proper opinion of God to all those around us. Doing things properly and paying attention to the things that are beneficial to others is as aspect of our relationship with God that He considers to be a well-pleasing Spiritual sacrifice.
What should we do in our anger? We can be wrathful, but are not to sin in our wrath. We need to use it in a correct way. Expressing rage at unrighteousness is not sinful. Using that anger to stand for the truth and not back down is just. Exposing the works of darkness by living as luminaries in the midst of this corrupt and perverted generation is the best way we can use our anger.
If perhaps someone discerns his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he will ask and He will give to him life, the one sinning not unto death. There is a sin facing death, concerning this I say in order that you do not question. 1 John 5:16
We as Christian are not under the Mosaic law; however, that by no means states we have no standards. Having been freed from the Mosaic law and the law of sin we are slaves to righteousness, which is in direct opposition to lawlessness. Our righteousness is in Christ, not the Mosaic law, therefore we live out this righteousness by living out who we are in Christ out from faith.
We live in the world and are not called to be separated from it (John 17:15 I do not ask in order that you should take them out from the world, but in order that you should keep them out from the malignantly evil one), but in living in it we are to be luminaries to the corruption around us ( in order that you become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as luminaires in the world), not abusing it (And those who use this world as not misusing, for the mask of this world is passing away – 1 Corinthians 7:31), but using it in a proper way to the show forth a proper opinion of who God is to those around us.
Rather than being an outward conformer to one who seek to please God through law we are to be transformed by the renewed mind that we have in Christ. This is a mind that can understand Spiritual things and therefore apply them in our lives. We live out from faith (taking God at His Word), not by law (self-effort). Let us grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord as we mature in Christ and are transformed by this knowledge so that we walk in the newness of life that God gave us in Christ, no longer tossed around by every wind of teaching by the trickery of men who seek to bring us into bondage under law.
And the peace of God, the one surpassing every mind, will keep your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
There is a difference between defense of the gospel and debating. One who loves debating will play the devil’s advocate even though they do not believe the point they are arguing. We should all be able and ready to give a defense for what we believe
This is going to be a hard topic for some to hear because if you are a Christian who is holding onto the Ten Commandments as the standard for how you are to live you have been bewitched. Think about that. You have been caught by someone who seeks to change the gospel message to a different message, which is not good news.
Those who are ensnared by Satan are only opposing themselves. They continually seek to do things without consideration to God’s will and are manipulated to do the will of Satan, not realizing they are doing it because they are not accepting the truth. Don’t let Satan walk all over you. You are God’s child, start acting like one.
And also, brethren, I was not able to speak to you as Spiritual but as carnal, as inarticulate babblers in Christ. I gave you milk not meat. For thus you were not able, but neither yet now are you able, for yet you are carnal. For where among you is jealousy and strife are you not carnal and walk as humans? – 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
Experiencing the Christian life is something that all of us need to do by living out what God says. This takes some training because the salvation we have is not something we sit and wait for in the future, it can, and should be, used right now in our lives. We are the children of God, we have all things pertaining to life and godliness, we are those who are in Christ. Our lives need to show this.
Be anxious in nothing, but in all things with worship and supplication after thanksgiving let all of your requests be made known before God. Philippians 4:6
And if we intuitively know that He hears us, that which we should happen to ask, we intuitively know that we have the things which we asked from Him. 1 John 5:15
Spiritual means we are emanating the things of the Spirit; that is, we are seeking to fulfill His desires in our lives rather than the desires of our flesh. We are focused on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God and living a life that is out from faith. Along with this we will be properly defending ourselves against our enemies and living out the righteousness that we have in Christ. This is the proper state for a Christian to be in.
and do not forget to do good and fellowship. For these sacrifices are well pleasing to God - Hebrews 13:16
Fellowshipping is sharing something in common. We, share in common within the body of the Christ and therefore need that time together to grow, encourage, and share together in our salvation.
and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1 Peter 5:4
For what is our hope, our joy, our crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
Our boasting before our Lord at His coming will be the ones we shared the message of the Gospel with. This is not just talking about salvation, but at the very least the basics of the Christian life.
Wherefore, my beloved and longed for brethren, my joy and victors crown, thus all of you stand firm in the Lord, beloved. Philippians 4:1
When we speak the truth and spread the message of reconciliation it is showing that we are victorious in Christ. Standing up and speaking the truth is not always easy, especially among those who claim to be Christians but base their salvation n on a different gospel, which is not a gospel at all. The message we bring is clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 15:3,4 believe that Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead for salvation. Not accepting Him into your heart, being remorseful for sins, asking for forgiveness of sins, making Him the Lord of your life, praying the sinners pray. No, all we need to do is believe.
Those loving His appearance will live a life that guards His commandments, which is to love other saints (John 13:34). Living a life of love towards other saints will result in a life that rejects the shameful things, denies ungodliness, rejects the desires of the world, focus on the way things really are, has a conduct showing we are taking God at His word and living a life that is godly and righteous by manifesting who we are in Christ.
Happy is the man who endures a temptation, because having come to be tested for approval, he will receive the victor’s crown of the life, which He promised to all the ones loving Him – James 1:12
Self-control is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23) that He produces in our lives when we walk by the Spirit. That is, we govern our lives by the desire from the Spirit of God rather than by the flesh. Self-control comes from applying what we have learned so that we have experiential knowledge in living out the life and godliness that God gave us.
Evolution is just a theory. A theory is an unproven assumption, not fact. The theory of Evolution has actually discredited itself more than from any other source. It focuses on similarities rather than distinctions. When we look at the differences it is obvious humans did not evolve from animals because those differences are irreconcilable. Scripture, on the other hand, is proven fact that continues to accurately show us the truth.
who will transform the body of our humiliation resulting in it to become together conformed with the body of His glory according to the working of His natural ability even to subject all things to Himself. Philippians 3:21