PERSUADED OF BETTER THINGS
Monday – October 30, 2017
Hard to imagine that 2017 is drawing to a close. Have we used our time wisely, what the Bible calls redeeming the time? Let us take a moment and ask the Lord if we are on track, are we in obedience to Him, His Word, His assignment(s) in our life or are we mixing and matching or just plain doing our own thing. A person can be up to their neck in Church work and still be doing their own thing. There is no reward and no lasting fruit in doing our own thing. Listen for the still small voice and follow Him. Now, let us jump back into our wonderful Bible Study from the Book of Hebrews. We have just come through a section on milk and strong meat and have determined that we will not stay on the milk but move into the strong meat for that is where the sons and daughters do the work of the Kingdom. We have talked about baptisms noting that there are three which are full immersion into the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We have also covered the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment recognizing these as other foundational principles of the doctrine of Christ (milk). I have also discussed the reality of sin unto death. Now let us review our primary text and move forward.
Hebrews 6:6-10 (KJV)
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Our Anointed of God human author of this Book of Hebrews is expressing a bit of frustration by the condition in which he/she finds the Church. There is almost a desperation in the urging to move the people from milk to strong meat. The rain of the Word is coming to them in abundance as God is being diligent towards them however there appears to be no reciprocation. The Word is there, but the people are staying with the milk and are even confused about the milk and continue to drink the Kool-Aid of the world and are producing thorns and briers instead of herbs (herbage, fodder, pasture, grazing). Now, the writer and our Lord try to encourage the initial recipients and us of this writing that better things will come from us. In effect the Holy Spirit through this author is telling that He fully expect us to move from milk to strong meat, to not forsake our salvation, and see the fruits of salvation in our lives. He, the Holy Spirit, is saying look you have done some good work in the Kingdom however you need to take this serious and match the diligence of the Lord.
What might be some of the things we could expect to accompany salvation? There are generally no physical changes excepting perhaps a subtle change of countenance (a softening) at salvation. However, we (other Christians) will discern a change concerning the spirit of the person. There will see light where there was darkness. This is all due to the quickening of our spirit man and the abiding presence of the “breath of life”. Soon there should be evidence of the righteous fruit of our spirit.
Galatians 5:19-23 (KJV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Even though we may not have recognized it as such our dead spirit man coupled with a mind trained in the ways of the world produced the works of the flesh. These works of the flesh are unfortunately all too prevalent in the Church. An initial response might be: “Good Lord, I didn’t or don’t do any of that stuff!” Really? Adultery involves a breaking of covenant and of course we all did that all day long as sinners, how about now as Christians? What about fornication which is indulging unlawful lust? Anything outside of the will of God is unlawful (sin). Now this is not referring to a momentary fascination for something or someone but a lingering consuming desire that dominates our thought life leading to words and actions. All sin, all works of the flesh, has its origin in the conscious decision-making portion of our soul, our mind.
Uncleanness has to do with lewdness (profanity, vulgar talk or actions). Lasciviousness has to do with unrestrained evil like we all read or saw with the recent Harvey Weinstein revelations. Idolatry has to do with worship, or submission to something or someone above God which includes God’s commands like assembling together. Witchcraft has to do with the manipulation of another by the use of evil spirits. The word witchcraft is where we get the word for pharmacy in English. Medications from a pharmacy manipulate and/or moderate some aspect of the curse. Hatred is the same or is evidenced by hostility or hostile attitude. Variance has to do with constant quarreling, have you ever met someone that if you said motherhood was a good thing would have a contrary argument? Emulations have to do with jealousy, indignation, and envy. Do you hear yourself or others wishing they had this or that or become indignant about everything it seems? Wrath is an excess of passion about all the wrong stuff. Strife is one who introduces friction between persons wherever they go, perhaps not intending but it is just what they do, an evil work of the flesh. A seditious person causes division wherever they go. Heresies are a deviation from the Truth with regard to doctrine. This is seen in the Church as the traditions of men a doctrine of devils.
The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians ends his list of the works of the flesh with “envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings” which I think we understand without much explanation and he says this is not a complete list. I will finish here for today, however we should all take this list very serious and scour it to be sure we are not still partakers in these works of the flesh. Repentance and following the Word, the leadership of the Spirit, is always the answer.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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