World, Flesh, and Spirit
Pastor J. R. Wilhite, author
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Before I start I want to ask you to consider this question very carefully and pray about it before going forward no matter what your answer is to it.
Are you 100% sure you are saved and know what you need that if you died this instant you are saved from death, Hell, and the grave?
If you answer, "Yes." and did so without hearing it from God as described in Romans 8:16 be care full you are not being fooled or fooling yourself?
If you answered no, then you need to be sure because without the assurance and I mean being 100% sure, you can backslide right to Hell.
Romans 8
16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
It is not by the flesh you are saved or anything of this world, but by what Jesus in the flesh did for us at the cross. Until you know and fully understand that, you have doubt; faith is believing without doubt.
Many are being led by the blind, people who do not believe in faith. They believe and teach faith ended in the first century church.
Ephesians 2
8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Faith does not come by reading, it comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God. The word of God is Jesus, so when Jesus via the Spirit of God tells us (we are hearing) faith comes.
Romans 10
17. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
No, it does not mean hearing another preach or teach it, but only by the word of God and there is only one word of God. Remember I said there are many differences in the language, well here is one that has divided many.
John 1
14. And the Word was made 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.
The Bible is the breathed word of God, but the flesh of the word is Jesus, and the Bible is not the end all. Do not allow arrogance to doom you. I mean the arrogance to think that we can talk to God but He can not talk to us. Research how many verses in the Gospels refer to the sheep knowing the voice of the Sheperd and you will see what I mean.
There is not and never has been anyone other than Jesus who is pure and knows God the way we all should and need to. Jesus said we would do more than He, and He said that He spoke only that which was told Him of the Father. So how can we do more if we can not even hear as He did?
The truth is that we are at war in the world and in the flesh.
We are to be in the world and not of the world is true but the same can be said of the flesh; we are in the flesh but not of the flesh. No, they are not one and the same. They are two separate and totally different aspects of our nature, but the battles are the same.
I have stated the main reason why we have trouble understanding the word is the language differences between English in the US and the UK.
As you can see with these few examples (there are more many more) that there are some major differences in the English language between the US and the UK.
For instance I said, "I posted on the door of my home a note that I need a lift and no solicitors allowed."
If you were from the UK you would read it as, "I need an elevator and no attorneys allowed." and it would be in my mailbox.
So why is that a big deal?
The translation of King James is the standard upon which every Bible since has been based. Plus it was done in the UK 400 years ago and there are differences in the language from 1612 AD to present in the UK, so in the US it is even more so. Now add to all that, the original languages Hebrew for Old Testament and Greek for New Testament are picturesque languages and English no matter where or when, is not. That means a lot was lost translating from Hebrew and Greek to English.
There is even another problem; present day Hebrew and Greek or not the same as they were when the Bible was written.
So now we have 5 major variables in the translation due to differences in languages, so you should be getting an idea of the problem. When we read the Bible in the US today we are only getting a very small idea of the over all image described therein. Without help it is impossible to even know the Bible much less understand it, and maybe that is why we are to use the Spirit to help.
John 14
26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
For the longest time in my past mostly during the 90's and before I had a crisis that I did not even realize I was in. I really did not like life and at times wished I did not even exist. I did not want to die; I just did not want to live. I had thought it was the drugs I was on for pain confusing me and causing this dilema I was in, but it was not. It was the conflict of the flesh and the world with my soul.
You see we have a battle on two fronts not one. The Spirit should rule over all, and the soul wants to get in line with the Spirit, but the soul is in conflict with the flesh and the world. We are to be in the world and not OF the world. We are to crucify the flesh daily which means we are to be in the flesh, but not OF the flesh. We should be in control of the flesh and the influence of the world around us. If we do not know this how can we?
Matthew 26
41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Romans 8
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.
You see, we know full and well we are to be in the world but not of the world and to crucify the flesh, but that last part means different things to different people, at least until the Spirit explains it to us.
We are in battle constantly in the soul (mind, will, and emotions) with things of this world, but what we have to remember is that it is the flesh which brings these things of the world to us. If the flesh is stronger than the spirit, then the soul will side with the flesh, all the time trying to be in and not of the world. That is like being in a time when one car can collapse the eccosystem of the world due to its polutants and then to get the message out we drive a car. No I do not believe cars are that way; they can cause damage but I am not one to get rid of cars, I just use it for example. Cars as all things of this world are no more and no less the tools they are.
It is like a gun, a gun can not kill, only the person who uses the gun can, but there are those who want to get rid of guns to prevent killing. The problem there is next will be knives, then sticks, of course cars must go because they can kill, and in time we are back in a pre-cave man life style. It is not the thing that kills but people, just as it is not the world that is wicked but it is our use of worldly things or allowing them to be used wickedly that causes it to be precieved as wicked.
So, when we attack the world or world system, instead of learning the truth, we are doing the same as those who want to get rid of guns to prevent killings. We are just chasing the thing and not the cause. It is like pain medicine. It is great but also a danger. If over used or used incorrectly it does more damage than good because pain tells us there is a problem in the body, but if we continue to mask the pain we are not aware of the problem which still exists. We need to get to the cause and fix it. The cause here is in the flesh of each of us; we need to root out the world from the flesh and get the flesh under control.
Hosea 4
Why is this verse so important? Because it points out a problem so we can overcome it. Before you get the idea that it only refers to those who are priests, read Revelation 1:6 and see for yourself - we are all priests. The reason I point this verse out now is that it was a breakthrough for me years after I understood it in this area. I mean, by reminding myself I have an enemy and he is going to keep knowledge from me, I was able to seek knowledge and constantly remind myself that I know nothing. In doing so I learned, and learned. I realize now more than ever that I have had and still have more walls in me than are in China. These walls came about over decades of living in the world and being of the world, allowing the world to build these walls to divide me from God, His word, knowledge, and who and what I am.
Matthew 12
25. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
To truly grow we have to do the following:
2. Ask God for help in all areas and ways and seek Him, to hear from Him.
3. Listen for and to His voice.
4. Constantly be on guard because we are not there yet and need to be constantly taking every thought and imagination and casting down those not of God, and taking them into captivity to Christ.
5. We need to fully understand Christ to do the all the above. Christ is not Jesus' name, title, or anything along those lines.
6. We need to stop looking forward and backwards, and start living this day for this day.
7. We need to be content with who we are and what we have, but always strive for more.
Until we do these 7 things we are only babies in a nursery being fed by a bottle with no idea if the milk is pure or not. Why do you think God uses sheep instead of cMattle, horses, or another animal to refer to us? Because sheep are not as mindless as cMattle and not wild spirited as horses, but mindful of the sheperd. They stay together and prosper together not limited to the flesh, but in every way.
Matthew 6
34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
John 3
Romans 8
1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The idea is this, we are at war with the world and the flesh, the world system not the earth. What the world system stands for is everything that is the dead opposite of God. The world system is ruled by Satan and evil and what is sad is most do not realize it so they are able to be manipulated by it and for it.
Satan has fooled so many by manipulating their thoughts.
I have heard all of these and none of these make someone a good Christian. No one will know they are a good Christian until they are in the next life and hear it from God after this one ends. That is because we can always damage all the good we do with one thing even with our last breath. Now I may be a good person striving to be a Christian in all ways but a good Christian never.
Mark 10
18. And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.
You may think I am playing word games with you; no I am not. For most people Satan is thenopne pl;aying word games with the words he plants in their thoughts. Until people realize they have to cast down all thoughts and imaginations that are against the knowledge of God they are able to be manipulated by Satan and used for his will.
That is the problem; we have to overcome two fronts. One is the world and one is our own flesh. The world is constantly telling us what we need and want, and then telling us how to buy it on time. We listen and we do it and we get in debt and then we need God to bail us out. If God does not bail us out we blame Him or stop believing when all along it was not God, but our lack of faith that got us in the mess and failed to get us out. Remember what faith is, believing without doubt. How can you do that when you have so much of the world in you and have not yet even overcome the flesh?
A poll recently aired on ABC stated 84% of American's believe they are Christian. How can that be when in the USA so many things opposing even the basic of the word is rejected? Bibles, prayer, Ten Comandments are not allowed in public on government property. This country is a country of the people for the people by the people. That is true and if 84% are Christian then how can gay marriages be allowed, gambling, open rejections to the church itself by the government?
Because either the poll was wrong, which I doubt that is the case, or most are controlled and manipulated by Satan and do not even realize it.
Think of this, have you ever had one of the following happen?
How many crimes, acts of violence, etc. may be due to just this? Some, not all, will consider a thought they have as theirs since they thought it. Then they accept it and in time even act on it.
I am not making excuses for evil. I am explaining how it acts in our society so we can prevent it from doing more damage than it already has and saving more from the sorrows it brings. We have to understand that we must overcome the world and the flesh. Crucifing the flesh daily is nothing more than telling cravings and things of the world that are trying to creep into us via the flesh, "NO."
You have no idea if you have tomorrow or the next minute let alone next week or month. So live life for the moment content where you are at and what you have and seek the knowledge of God through His Spirit. In time the battles of the flesh and the world will be easier and easier.
I can say this now that I have more walls in me than I ever imagined. Each day I lived on this earth in the world and of the world, in the flesh and of the flesh I built walls between God and myself. Everyone is doing this; Satan is seeing to it, and the older we are when we realize this and come to terms with it and how to deal with it the more there are to knock down.
There are 86,400 seconds in the day or 33,696,000 seconds a year. In each second we can have a thought, and from each thought we can have a new wall built. It will take time for it to be built, but time is on the world's side more than ours because we have to grow out of childhood, adolesence, and into adulthood to get to a point where God can even reach us. Yes, He reaches a few early on, but most do not go to God until they are adults or have their back against the wall and have no where else to turn.
And think about this; 40 years ago one woman got prayer kicked out of schools in a country that 84% believed in prayer. To this day it is still out of schools and just about everywhere else as well, including families. In the 50's in restaurants you could see families praying before they ate. Today it is rare to see anyone pray anywhere for any reason short an happening like the 9-11-2001 destruction of the World Trade Center.
As I said until most people have their back to the wall and no where else to turn God is the last place most turn to. This is not by design of God, and it has taken Satan a long time to do it, but he has and he is patient even if we are not.
Here are some examples of what I have observed as what people believe:
So out of the seven churches (Revelation) only one is real and true, and out of our seven groups above only one is real and true.
I have found many who come to godsgifttoyou.com do not know what it means to be saved or to be a Christian, what a Christian is, and if prayer is real.
This is from those who come to godsgifttoyou.com. What does that say about those who do not come to our Christian Site, do not want to, or think we are a waste of time and space?
No wonder the country is in the mess it is in. We have allowed it to go to Hell in a hand basket and if the USA does not wake up soon it will finish that trip and it is one way only.
1 Thessalonians 5
1. But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.