The Changed Dealing with the Unchanged!
Q: Why is this important?
A: Young believers - and others who listen to we Christians talk/to teachings - we surely want to make sure they are understanding what we are saying
They may think our theology is implying something totally different than what we are saying
EXAMPLE: once we are saved we will have no more challenges - our lives are totally changed and no more challenges
They could hear - the devil is defeated so he won’t bother me again
No more persecution because I am a faith person
Our lives are 100% free of any challenges because I have Jesus
Q: Is that what we are saying? Is that what other’s are hearing?
Misunderstood Phrases:
It’s all by grace and not works - so I’ll sit back and let it happen
I declare/decree this over - (they here - you whether you want it or not I am declaring this over you)
“A number of American religious leaders have endangered their flocks…by claiming the virus can be defeated by faith” - (The Guardian)
What Doesn’t Change?
As Christians we should know what hasn’t and will not change - (at least will not change like we desire it to change)
One: The World - (the world problem)
Two things won’t change:
a: The unfolding prophesies and plans of God
Prophesies and promises create boundaries - we can pray until we are blue in the face - but if Jesus prophesied it - we can’t change it
Luke 17:26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.
Luke 17:27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. (ESV)
Jesus said the world will become more evil and rebellious
1 Pet. 3:20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. (ESV)
While the Ark was being prepared is a type of the season of grace - people had an opportunity to change - God was patient with them - He always desire people to repent
1 Th. 5:2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
1 Th. 5:3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
I believe in occupying until He returns - but not blindly - not occupation that leaves Him out
It’s much better to prepare ourselves for our eternal futures and occupy with that awareness -That includes preparing our children in that way also
1 Th. 5:4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and YOU WON’T BE surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. (NLT)
2: The world’s pursuit of us:
2 Tim. 4:10 Demas loves the things of this world (Aion - age) so much that he left me and went to Thessalonica. (CEV)
This man was serving the apostle Paul - highly used of God
He had miracles and healings - was a trail blazer
YET, Demas loved the things of this world SO MUCH - the world pursues Christians with the intention of pulling them away from the things of God
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. (ESV)
As long as we are on the earth - all that is in the world will pursue us
Do we recognise it? For ourselves ? For our children?
Two: The Flesh - (the flesh problem)
Sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these…(Galt 5:19-21)
What does the flesh want to do?
Everything listed above is the works our flesh want to do
When we are saved the flesh and it’s desires do not go away - they battle against our soul
We should not be taken by surprise by them but instead know how two keep our flesh under
1 Pet. 2:10 You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Pet. 2:11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, (NET)
Three: The devil - (the devil problem)
He is like a roaring lion - He comes to kill steal and destroy
He is the God of this system - kosmos - the world
Four: Natural Laws - (the limitation problem)
Drink wine that was a result of bad water
Overworking - Epaphroditus - Phil. 2:25-30
Phil. 2:30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away. (NLT)
Here is a summary of “What Hasn’t Changed”:
The World Problem
The Flesh Problem
The devil Problem
The Limitation Problem - (Natural Laws)
What Changes?
1 Cor. 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (ESV)
Eph. 2:5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— (ESV)
Here is what changed:
We have been cleansed and forgiven - Made new creations in Christ
We are made alive - spiritually speaking - Seated in heavenly places
We have the promise of eternity in heaven - verses hell
The Changed Dealing with the Unchanged
One: Stay with the Mission - (dealing with the world)
The world hasn’t changed - it is still going down its ungodly path - how do we deal with it? Jesus is the one who answers this question
John 6:33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (ESV) (cosmos)
John 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. (ESV) (kosmos)
John 17:18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. (ESV) (kosmos)
John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (ESV)
We are to give the bread of God to the “world” - the kosmos - the system that was corrupted by man and became evil)
To preach the truth in love - (not to condemn - but to save)
To love the sinner - not to join them and accept sin - but to love them in THEIR sin and give them the bread of life
Two: Seek First the Kingdom - (dealing with our needs)
Luke 12:30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
Luke 12:31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. (ESV)
The question for the mankind has always been what do we seek? Israel and many other nations and people have sought some weird things - BUT one common things is - food shelter - clothing
If we want this EVERYTHING ADDED TO US
How do we go about getting it?
Seek first - I’m not implying to sit home verses looking for a job/work
I am saying: In ALL we do we seek FIRST the kingdom - plenty of people have taken jobs that pay less - because the Lord led them in it
Some quit jobs because the Lord led them
Pray - read our bibles - attend church - serve
Three: Put the Flesh Under - (dealing with our flesh)
Rom. 8:13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live (NLT)
1 Cor. 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (NKJV)
Israel - tell your children - they knew what God wanted - they weren’t born of God - they knew His commands though
Some religions become very zealous and extremists not by God’s Spirit but by the founder’s vision - by people surrounding them who are zealous about a vision
It works this way: He forgives us - Washes us - He enters us and makes us alive unto Himself - He puts His laws into us
Four: Resist the devil - (dealing with the devil)
QUOTE ONLY: James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (ESV)
How did Jesus resist the devil?
Jesus Used God’s Word - Many voices in the world - devil speaking
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (KJV)
Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (KJV)
Jesus Used a Word to Cast Out Demons
Matt. 8:16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.
(NLT - says He cast our demons with a “simple command”)
Five: Walk in Love - (dealing with people)
1 Th. 4:9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, (ESV)
HOW does God Himself teach us?
Rom. 5:5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (ESV)
The way God Himself teaches us to love one another
He IS LOVE - He is IN US
And He teaches us because He is IN Us - by His Spirit
Six: Pray and Speak to Our Mountains - (dealing with problems)
James 4:2b…You do not have, because you do not ask. (ESV)
Mark 11:23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. (ESV)
Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (ESV)
We either “Request or address” our situation
Mk 11:24 - Request - ask
Mk 11:23 - Address - speak to
Summary:
Stay with the Mission - (dealing with the world)
Seek First the Kingdom - (dealing with our needs)
Put the Flesh Under - (dealing with our flesh)
Resist the devil - (dealing with the devil)
Walk in Love - (dealing with people)
Pray and Speak to Our Mountains - (dealing with problems)
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