II. Salvation of the
Soul of Man (Sanctification
Process; Walking in the Spirit) continued
And he said unto them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek
and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30.
Our relationship with God
should be the first thing in our lives.
It means that we must seek Him daily. We will be able to receive the direction and assistance for our
lives from God that will produce rest and peace for our souls. When we surrender our plans to the
Lord, He can perfect them or change them according to His perfect plan, and we
will not be struggling to bring things to pass that we have no control over.
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that
seek him with the whole heart.
They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. Psalm 119:2-3.
In order to be victorious in
our Christian walk of (sanctification process), we must keep the Word of God. In other words, do not be just a hearer only, but be a doer
of the Word. We need God’s
grace to do this. The Holy Spirit
will give us power to overcome iniquity.
Just ask Him.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it
is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew
first, and also to the Greek.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from
faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:16-17.
Faith is central to the walk
of salvation. Faith is the origin
of righteousness. Abraham believed
God before the event of the Cross, but that faith was counted as righteousness
for him (Romans 4:3). It is also
important to not be ashamed of the Gospel. It is Good News to the world caught in sin.
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without
wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love
and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as
the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye
see the day approaching. Hebrews
10:23-25.
God requires that we inspire
and counsel others to do good works.
Remember that good works must be inspired by God first and are a result
of obeying Him. It is very easy to
start “programs” that are really man’s ideas and not
God’s. Good works are a
result of obeying God. You cannot earn rewards based on your own ideas.
In these days of increasing
persecution of the believers in Christ, it is critical that believers attend as
many gatherings of the saints as possible. It is at gatherings of believers that we are encouraged and
strengthened to continue in our walk with the Lord.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh
with the affections and lusts.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the
Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25.
This list of spiritual fruit
is undeniably clear. Longsuffering
is the old English word for patience; temperance means self-control. But we cannot do these things by
ourselves. Notice that in the
scripture, Spirit is capitalized.
This is a clue that it is the Holy Spirit at work, not our spirits. We must have the power of the Holy
Spirit to bear this good fruit.
This good fruit is the result of obedience to God, and we thereby build
treasure in heaven.
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of
the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the
scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his
law doth he meditate day
and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of
water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not
wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3.
Walking in the Spirit will
bring abundant prosperity and blessing.
It is accomplished by delighting in God’s Word (“the law of
the Lord”), and meditating in it.
The Hebrew word for meditate is HAGAH, and means “to mutter”. This again reinforces speaking aloud
the Word of God.
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath
great recompense of reward.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done
the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come,
and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw
back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:35-39.
The walk of faith requires
patience. When we have been
obedient to God, then we must wait for the fulfillment of His Word on our
behalf.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on
the earth. Colossians 3:2.
This is another exhortation
to not let anything be more important than the Lord.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good
to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are
sealed unto the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour,
and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:29-32.
What is corrupt
communication? It certainly
includes swearing and taking the Name of the Lord in vain. But it is so much more. It is anything that does not agree with
the Word of God. Unbelief will
cause us to say something that does not agree with the Word of God, thereby corrupting
our communication. How can we
grieve the Holy Spirit? By
ignoring Him, by disobedience and by corrupt communication. Also included in this scripture is
another list of carnal behavior, plus a list of spiritual behavior.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and
purify your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:7-8.
When you have the power of
the Holy Spirit, you can resist the devil, and he will flee.
Resisting the devil will become habitual, and you will find that you
have a progressively easier time drawing nigh to God.
RENEWING THE MIND (Revelation of
God’s Word)
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth
nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are
life. John 6:63.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto
all good works. II Timothy
3:16-17.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God. Romans 10:17.
The Bible is the Word of God. It is the most powerful book ever written, and it has
changed the lives of millions of individuals for the better. Notice that the Word of God brings
faith.
Think about the people who
oppose the Bible. Why do they
react so strongly against having the Bible in public places? Do these people really know what is in
it? When someone is carrying a
Bible, it is noticeable. We cannot
ignore the presence of a Bible when it is visible. Why? Perhaps it
is because in the heart of man is a recognition that the Bible is truly the
Word of God. People who oppose the
Bible are in rebellion against God.
Satan can render us powerless if he can get us to either ignore the
instructions in the Bible, get us to believe that it is either foolish or
dangerous to society, or get us to change the doctrine. The strongest attack on the Bible has
been that it is narrow-minded and does not promote tolerance of a person’s
right to believe as he wants. God
has never forced anyone to believe in Him. The truth is that the Bible is narrow because there is only
one Way to Him, and He points out
that Way in the Bible. People who
do not want to go the Way of God, demonstrate anger against the Bible and
Christianity. Modern society does
not want to accept the fact that there is only one Way to God. “Tolerance” is the 20th and
21st centuries’ by-word and the meaning is changing. The original meaning was to allow
beliefs of others to co-exist. Now
it is changing to mean accepting others’ beliefs in a broad
philosophy. This is the
preparation for the one world religion described in the Book of Revelation that
takes place during the Tribulation period. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the
Life. No man comes to the Father,
but by Me.” (John 14:6).
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby: I Peter
2:2.
The
Word of God will cause you to mature.
That He might sanctify and cleanse it [church] with
the washing of water by the word,
That He might present it to himself a glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and
without blemish. Ephesians
5:26-27.
The Word of God cleanses us,
because we are chastened, corrected, and then instructed in righteousness.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul
and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart. Hebrews
4:12.
Only the Word of God can
distinguish between the operations of the spirit and the soul. The spirit, soul, and body of man are
so closely connected that they are often indistinguishable. The first man and woman had spirits
that were strong and completely open to and in fellowship with God while they
were in the Garden of Eden. Their
souls and bodies were in complete subjection to their spirits. We have been returned to that standing
through the complete sacrifice of Jesus.
We do not see that happen in us automatically, because our souls (minds,
wills, and emotions) are still heavily influenced by the kingdom of darkness. We must bring our souls and bodies
under control of our spirits which are now in the kingdom of light and be
completely submitted to God.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service.
And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of
God. Romans 12:1-2.
This is another admonition to
renew your mind with the Word of God, so that you will know what the perfect
will of God is for you.
Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength,
that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Psalm 103:20.
This is a powerful word. God’s very strong angels are listening
for you to speak God’s Word, so that they can run quickly to carry it
out. This implies that if we do
not speak God’s Word, that the angels will not be set in motion to
carry it out. Angels are not
mind-readers and will not respond to good intentions. Even a whisper can be heard by angels and God. Speaking God’s Word is also a
faith-builder for us. Remember the
scripture that says “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of
God.”?
Someone said that studying
the Word of God is like climbing a spiral staircase. You go over the same subjects but each time at a higher
level of understanding. That is
another reason to study God’s Word.
Be prepared to answer the
following questions:
1. What must we do to have a victorious walk in Christ?
2. Good works must be ________ by God first and are a result of
____________
Him.
3. Why must we not forsake gathering with other believers?
4. Name the spiritual fruit in Galatians 5:22-23.
6. What does the Hebrew word for “meditate” mean?
7. After a believer has done the will of God (obeying His Word)
what is still needed?
8. What is “corrupt communication”?
9. What will happen when a believer resists the devil?
10. Scripture is profitable for 4 things (II Timothy
3:16-17). Name them.
11. What brings faith? (Romans 10:17).
12. Only one thing can distinguish between the operations of the
spirit and soul of men. What is
it?
13. What part of our being should be the strongest?
14. How is the mind renewed?
15. Who harkens to the voice of His Word?
16. Why is studying the Word of God like a spiral staircase?