Galatians 6:8 – “ For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
Heb 9:14 – How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God?
Romans 8:5 – “For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.”
Romans 8:6-14
“ Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that [f]comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].
7 [That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot.
8 So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him.
9 But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God].
10 But if Christ lives in you, [then although] your [natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes to you].
11 And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.
12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, but not to the flesh [we are not obligated to our carnal nature], to live [a life ruled by the standards set up by the dictates] of the flesh.
13 For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Do we have a strong desire to change?
Its EASY to stay in the boat, let someone else do all the heavy lifting, watch others move to fit our agenda.
But Holiness is a lifestyle that is incompaible with the self-life
It gives when abused, loves when hated, prays when attacked.
- Heb 9:14 – The Blood of Christ is more than enough
- Heb 7:25 – He is able to save those who come to Him to the uttermost, not partially
- Heb 7:26 -[Here is] the High Priest [perfectly adapted] to our needs, as was fitting—
- holy, – set apart
- harmless, – Acts 10:38- doing good
- unstained by sin, – can relate to it
- separated from sinners, – in a difference class
- exalted higher than the heavens. – above the seen
- 2 Cor 5:21 – “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
- 2 Cor 8:12 – “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man has, and not according to what he doesn’t have.”
- James 4:18 – Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery]
- Gen 4:7 – We should RULE over sin.
We must desire to NOT live in mixture anymore
Gal 5:24 – “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
2 Tim 2:19 – “Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Acts 7:39 – To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt
Acts 7:40 – Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him
Contrasts:
Eve vs Mary
Herod Vs Jesus
Eve
Adam walked and talked with God. Eve did not
Eve walked and talked with Satan – Gen 3
Eve brought down the curse on all mankind, not Mary
1 Tim 2:14 – And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression
Eve failed the 3 temptations of sin in Genesis 3:6
- Eve “Saw that it was good for food” – lust of the flesh
- Eve desired to “make one wise” – lust of power
- Eve “pleasant to the eyes” – lust of eyes
Mary
Mary’s faith trusted God with whatever He wanted to do, however incredible
Mary already had a relationship with the Lord, that’s why the angel’s appearing did not startle her
Mary kept God’s word in her heart
Mary found favor before the angels even arrived, which indicated a close relationship with Him
Mary was a believer – “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. Luke 1:45
Mary entered into the supernatural spirit-filled life and spoke in tongues – Acts 1:14
Mary deferred to Jesus in all things – John 2:5
Herod
Matt 14:1-12
Herod set the political/religious tone of the country, allied with rome, in it just for power and prestige
Had no fear of touching God’s anointed
Was manipulated by the Jezebel spirit into murder of Gods messenger
Didn’t know scripture, farmed it out to his council
Was duped by the Holy Spirit into not knowing the time or place of Messiah’s birth – was out of the loop – Luke 9:9
Didn’t know how the Holy Spirit does things, speculation of a risen John was based on payback
Herod’s sins grew worse, ended up killing his own sons
Herod slept with his brother’s wife, probably niece
Had a false fear of God, desiring the power but not acknowledging God – 2 Tim 3:5
Was always making a good show in the flesh, parading John’s head around on a decorative dinner plate – Gal 6:12
Jesus
Matt 14:13-36
Jesus fed 5000, walked on water with Peter and healed thousands
When bad news struck, Jesus went out to a solitary place to pray
Jesus always turns a bad situation and men’s carnal failures into a time of training to do supernatural miracles
It’s as if God desires the worst circumstances so He can prove His power, the darker it is, the lighter He is
Jesus went to the mat with God, asking the Holy Spirit how to overcome the death caused by Satan
Jesus was showing how God does things: In the middle of a bad situation lets go perform miracles!
Jesus blessed what HE was given, thanking God for the bread and fishes
When doing a supernatural miracles, Jesus also satisfies our natural carnal desires to eat and be filled
Jesus also has enough left over
Sowing into the spirit bring the provision we were after in the first place
Jesus blessed 5000 plus people
How may did Herod bless?
How many did Herod Heal?
How many lakes did Herod walk across?
Finally:Galatians 3
6 – Faith brings Gods righteousness into your situation
7 – Only a Son is walking in faith
8 – This is God’s plan
9 – Sowing to the spirit makes you Blessed!
10 – Sowing to the flesh makes you Cursed, then become a curse
11 – Faith is a lifestyle, Righteousness is a lifestyle, Holiness is a lifestyle
13 – Christ has redeemed from the curse
14 – the blessing brings the provision
We must be diligent to REMAIN in Christ
John 15:5 – “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” – Fruit is a sign that you are abiding
Mark 13:16 – And let him that is in the field not turn back again to take up his garment.