Daily Bread 4-29-17

Romans 8:10-13

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelt in you.

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.

ref. - Ro 6:4,5 - Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Ro 6:21,22 - What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Gal 6:8 - For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

We so often hear the worldly people tell us that we cannot live without sin and that the "flesh is weak, but the Spirit is strong." If we would actually listen to what we are saying we would realize that this is as true as it gets. We are always going to be surrounded by sin on this earth. But that doesn't mean we are going to be partakers. We, too, are always going lose the game if we lean unto the flesh, we will sin, as long as we do not look towards the Spirit. This is why we must press onward into the Spirit of God. Our strength in God does not come from the flesh not does it come from so-called "godly" ways of worldly teaching. If we rely on our flesh and the world to please God we will realize how truly incapable we are of accomplishing what we have set out to do. But in the Spirit we find all of our strength. This is, again, why we must press on into the Spirit of God. When the Spirit is given full access to our hearts, minds, and souls, it will take over even the deeds of our bodies. It will put to death the desires or carnal urges to sin and replace them with a zeal for the clean life that comes with serving God in the Spirit. It is a change on the inside that is so bright that it will shine on the outside as well! What is not understandable is where many get the misconception to teach from a worldly standpoint and through worldly standards to please a Spiritual God. If the ways of the world were sufficient or even remotely effective then we would not have needed Christ to show us the Spiritual ways of God. So, today, if everlasting life is our goal, let us be transformed in the Spirit through prayer and perseverance. If we want to fail God around every turn, lean unto the world. If we want to please him, it must come from within and it must come from God. It is not worldly, it is not earthen, it is the undeniable change inside of our souls that will led us to eternity! Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and these things shall be added unto you!!! Have a great day!!!