Waiting on God
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Patience - Understanding your two natures
Patience - Understanding your two natures
Introduction
Let’s look at our main scripture we are going to be looking at tonight. Turn with me to Romans 8:1.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Christian when you were saved, God saved your soul, not your body. The body you are in right now has just as much inclination to sin as it did before. The difference is that now you have the Spirit of God which means you are no longer “bound” to sin, but are free to choose do right.
Verse 4 the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled by those who walk after the spirit.
Verse 5 - those that are after the spirit mind the things of the spirit
Verse 6 - to be spiritually minded is to have life and peace. It is impossible to please God in the flesh. It can only be done int he Spirit.
Let’s look at this old illustration of this old story. It is a Cherokee legend, but is loaded with truth:
The Wolf You Feed
Once, and old man and his grandson were walking through the woods when the grandfather turned to the young man and said, “Young one, inside all of us there is a battle raging between two wolves. You have felt it even in your young years, and I have felt it all my life. One of the wolves is evil – he is anger, envy, greed, regret, arrogance, resentment, lies, hatred, and ego. The other is good – he is love, joy peace, hope, humility, kindness, empathy, generosity, compassion, truth and faith. Everyone has this battle going on inside them.”
They walked a little further in silence, until the young boy stopped and asked, “Grandfather, which wolf will win?”
Let’s pray for the Lord’s blessing on the sermon tonight
Christian which wolf are you feeding? Are you in your Bible? Are you praying? You telling people about Jesus?
Christian, your spirit has been quickened, but your body is still the same old wolf it was when you were lost.
Understand the flesh still wants what it used to have and brother and sister you are going to have to fight against that.
If you used to smoke, your still going to have time when you are going to want to smoke. If you drink, there are going to be times that your going to want to drink. Like music, your going to want to listen to music.
Which wolf are you going to feed?
The KEY - These things need to be REPLACED - not IGNORED.
Used to smoke, well for a while you might be chewing on straws. Used to drink, well you need to replace that beer with something else, soda, water, it doesn’t matter, but your going to have to face that your going to be tempted.
Let’s review real quick about how you received the Holy Spirit and the role it plays in your life.
When you were saved, if your saved. You were Baptized by the Holy Spirit. If you have done discipleship, you are aware that there 7 Baptisms, and one of those Baptisms is the Baptism of Holy Spirit. According to Mike Fluech’s discipleship book:
We come now to a baptism that is often mentioned, but rarely understood from a scriptural perspective. John the Baptist was the first to mention that Jesus would baptize people with the Holy Ghost. Then, shortly before the Lord ascended to heaven, He told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of that baptism. Since the first day that the Spirit came down until now, the baptism that the Holy Ghost performs has been the same, as Paul related:
1 Corinthians 12:13 — For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
This joining of your Spirit to the Lord is this spiritual baptism.
Mike continues about the circumcision of the flesh:
When you received Christ as your Savior, you immediately went into a spiritual theater for what Paul called “the operation of God” (see Col. 2:12). Paul wrote in: Colossians
2:11 — In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: This verse is obviously describing a spiritual circumcision.
When you were saved your spirit joined with the Lord
This spiritual circumcision was the cutting away of your soul from your flesh. Thus, the two wolves became two distinct natures within you.
The Spirit has been cut away from the flesh. What you do in the flesh has no bearing on your standing with Chris! Thank God for that!
This struggle between these two natures is going on every day. Sometimes the good wolf wins, and sometimes the bad wolf wins. Christian, you are going to be battling your flesh until the day you die.!
The first point, is that when you understand what happened at salvation in essence created two natures that are war with one another, then you begin to see that are going to constantly be at war with your flesh.
Be patient. You are trying to achieve daily victories. You are not going to put down the flesh overnight. You win by:
Daily feeding the good wolf. Read you Bible, pray, come to church, tell someone about Jesus Christ!
Patience is letting the spirit fight the battles
Patience is letting the spirit fight the battles
Let’s jump down a little to Romans 8:12
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Here is beautiful story about adoption. This gets at the heart of our father:
A young couple visited a boarding care home which housed children for adoption. The care taker brought out all the children who were clean (recently bathed), well dressed, properly schooled in manners; for this couple’s inspection and selection. As they passed down the line and spoke to each child, they did not find the one they were looking for to adopt. They asked the care taker: “Do you have any more children?” He replied: “Yes, but he has not been cleaned up or dressed for viewing today.” The couple said immediately: “That alright, can we see him?” After a few minutes, the child was brought out and stood with the rest of the children. He was dirty, face unwashed, hair uncombed; clothes ragged and torn, no shoes; and his head was hanging down in shame, as he stood next to the other children.
After a few minutes of somber discussion; and wiping the tears from their eyes; they said to the care taker: “We want this child!” The man immediately replied: “But he is not as nice as the other children; he's unmannered, and unloved by his own parents.” He continued: “And we have been unable to get him to behave; why do you want him?” The couple paused, to regain their composure and replied: “We see in him, the blessings of God for our home, and a better hope in life for him.” With shame the man asked: “Do you want us to clean him up?” They coupled replied, lovingly: “No, we want the child just as he is right now.”
That's how God sees us; and he will take us, just like we are right now.
Go down a little further to Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Like in the illustration you may not be clean, or proper, or what the world might think that a Christian should be, but God looks at you and says your beautiful and perfect just the way you are right now.
Your past no longer defines you! You have been adopted! You have a new home and hew hope.
Notice, in adoption, it is about everything being new. Through Christ there is spiritual restoration.
You don’t have to turn there, but in Psalm 139:23-24 it says.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
Another beautiful picture of spiritual restoration is seen in the old testament in Ezekiel. Let’s look at Ezekiel 36:24, theologically this is not written specifically to the Christian, but there is a lot in these scriptures about spiritual restoration.
24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
This is such a beautiful picture of a loving God
Verse 24 - I will take you from wherever you were and bring you into my land
verse 25 - I will clean all the filthiness from you
Verse 26 - I will give you a new heart, a new spirit and replace your stony heart and give you a heart of flesh
Verse 27 - I will put my spirit in you, and 28 - you will be my people and I will be your God.
This is what the spirit of adoption means. That spirit of adoption lives in you and that is the spirit you need to feed, and to nurture.
Practical advice - How to bear your cross daily
Practical advice - How to bear your cross daily
I want to close with some practical advice about how to daily bear your cross. Every day we will make some progress but it will take a lifetime to run you race.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Like Paul, you will have to fight daily, and the course we run is a marathon not a sprint. Not only that, but in this race we are also bearing the cross of our savior Jesus Christ.
In Luke 9:23, it says:
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
The Christian life is fun, and good, and adventurous, and fulfilling and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. However, it is going to involve struggle.
Some days you will be better at sinning less than other days. Keep short accounts with God, pray and get up to fight another day.
Some days you will love better than other days. Keep short accounts with God, pray and get up to fight another day.
Some days you will be less selfish than other days. Christian, some days you were going to be just awful! I guarantee it. Keep short accounts with God, pray and get up to fight another day.
LEARN TO LIVE WITH YOURSELF
LET THAT SINK IN. LET ME SAY AGAIN, LEARN TO LIVE WITH YOURSELF. God loves you and wants fellowship with who you are right now, not who you will be tomorrow. Get that.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Marvellous are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, When I was made in secret, And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; And in thy book all my members were written, Which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
then look at at 1 Peter 3:3-4
3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Christian stop trying to “look” like a good Christian and start the process of true sanctification which is through spiritual growth, not faking it better!
Being a good Christian is not the ability to offer up prayers that impress, or even to say that your a “soul winner.”
Being a good Christian is wanting to pray, wanting to be a soul winner, wanting to do the fathers will, these the Lord will honor. You can do all of those things right now, right where you are. Seek the right things, and feed the good wolf.