INTRO: PACKAGING Ever thought about the importance of Packaging? Why am I telling you this? The Bible says: God has set His treasure in jars of clay. 2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” What treasure? Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:16 “From now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.” SPIRITUALITY Discuss “spirituality”. The “contents” of the packaging. We understand that humans are a 3 part being: Spirit, Soul & Body (created in the likeness of God, by God). Many do not know or believe this.
“He has set eternity in our hearts” Ecclesiastes 3:11 Deuteronomy 32:3 NKJV “For I proclaim the name of the Lord: Ascribe greatness to our God. He is THE ROCK.” There are so many forms of deception to lure God’s own creation away from Him. Romans 1:25 ESV “they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” Ought to be able to recognise out and out lies, don’t always recognise the subtle in-nuances that begin to erode God’s truth. Herbs and oils discussion 2 Cor 4:2b ESV “We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word” VS 4 “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Herbs & oils are NOT a SUBSTITUTE for the power, authority and victory of the blood of Jesus Christ. And that goes for anything that the enemy may manipulate in this same manner. “Spirituality” - outside of God, there is no where to place it. No context for it.
Colossians 2:3 AMPC
“In Him all the treasures of divine wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and (all the riches of spiritual) knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden.”
Academics and intellectuals try to address the question of spirituality through the mind/soul/intellect and human reasoning.
People write books like: “The God Delusion”
God created the human intellect!
He celebrates our intelligence because He created it.
Ps Patsy recently talked about the two ETERNAL SPIRITUAL kingdoms.
The kingdom of light
The kingdom of darkness
Colossians 1:13-14 ESV
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
We belong to an entirely different eternal realm.
Philippians 3:20 AMPC
“But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await (the coming of) the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) as Saviour.”
KEY TEXT: 2 Cor 4:18 NKJV “while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” John 1:1-3 NKJV “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” He is unseen He is eternal He always existed and always will (Colossians 1:17) “And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” From birth, we begin to formulate everything we know about life and the world - through the portals of our senses. John 4:24 NKJV - Jesus’ words “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 1:14 NKJV “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” This is why: Hebrews 11:6 NKJV “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
It doesn’t say: “Without sufficient intellectual reasoning....without satisfactory sensory experience and evidence.....” Why? Because faith is birthed in the spirit realm, not the natural realm. Knowing about vs actually knowing someone are two entirely different matters. Romans 10:17 NKJV “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Psalm 119:130 NKJV “The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.” We are to always sow the Word. Not opinions. God has said His Word, will not return void but ALWAYS accomplishes the purpose for which it was sent! ! The key is love. We are to be motivated by a deep, sincere, godly love for people. Not a self centred desire to be right or to win an argument. The - “God Factor” The “God Factor” was always intended to be a complete game changer.
It transforms and revolutionises the way in which we live. In Christ, we are new creations, old things have passed away and ALL things have become new. Have you noticed how people groups from various nations are clearly distinguishable? In the same way, when we are born again in Christ, His identity, character and nature is intended to become distinguishable through our lives. 2 Peter 1:3 ESV “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence,” God has lovingly equipped us with EVERYTHING necessary to live victoriously both: practically - (in the physical/seen realm) and spiritually - (in the spiritual/unseen realm). (read through 2 Peter 1: vs 4-8) “by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Are we distinguishable as our Father’s children? Toolkit of the “God Factor” equipment: 1) Sonship - Colossians 2:10 AMPC “And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life (in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead - Father, Son and Holy Spirit- and reach full spiritual stature). And He is the head of ALL rule and authority (of every angelic principality and power).” As a result of our Sonship, we have a new Identity, new Position and new Authority. Ephesians 2:6 AMPC “And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).” 2) Holy Spirit - indwelling, infilling & baptism Acts 1:8 (NKJV) (records Jesus’s words to His disciples prior to His ascension) “But you shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Zechariah 4:6b “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts.” We don’t “do” any of this life of faith in our own strength.
3) F.O.T.H.S Galatians 5:22-25 NKJV “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” 4) Freedom John 8:36 NKVJ “ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” Freedom from what? Yes, the curse, the consequences and penalty of sin and death. But also, freedom to not live as a slave to sin! Galatians 5:1 “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” 5) The Armor of God Ephesians 6:11 ESV “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Verses 14-18: Belt of Truth Breastplate of Righteousness Shoes - readiness/preparation of the gospel of peace Shield of Faith
Helmet of Salvation Sword of the Spirit Vs 18 - praying at ALL times in the Spirit 6) Healing And even more.... So when the enemy comes knocking on our door with his own “box of tricks” of strife, sickness, lack, heartache, loss, depression, anxiety, fear, confusion....etc AND HE WILL... The devil has NO right or authority to put anything over us WITHOUT our permission. He is a defeated enemy. Christ’s victory is our victory. Colossians 2:15 AMPC “God disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it - the cross.” Philippians 2:9 ESV “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.” Revelation 1:28 NKJV “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. And I have the keys of Hades and Death.” Matthew 16:19 NKVJ “And I will GIVE YOU the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 28:18 AMPC “Jesus approached them and breaking the silence, said to them, ALL authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” Revelation 5:10 AMPC “And you have made them a kingdom (royal race) and priests to our God, and they shall reign (as kings) over the earth!” Do our lives reflect the mantle and the majesty that has been entrusted to us? We are to SET our minds on things above, the unseen eternal things. PUT ON......the armor of God etc.... How do we do that? We have to say what He says. We stand on the truth of His Word and activate it in our lives by believing it, receiving its truth by faith and declaring it. CLOSE
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