Last week we looked at “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord” from Ephesians 5:10.

One thing that we know is pleasing to the Lord is when we live according to His Word.

Psa 138:2 ESV – I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

In this sixth chapter of Ephesians, we have a clear statement of the Word that most Christians give assent to, but do not realize its outworking.

Eph 6:12 ESV – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

 We readily admit that we are at war with an unseen enemy. We readily admit that “though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”
(2 Cor. 10:3-4)

But, what is our practice?

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but we will picket a store of ill-repute.

The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but we will march against abortion.

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but we will quickly sue for justice in a court of law.

The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but we will start a campaign against the pastor.

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but we readily accept a diagnosis of some sort of “disorder.”

The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but we will join in every e-mail or letter-writing campaign against something offensive.

Am I saying that these things do no good? Not at all!

But, do they really change things? Hardly at all.

What are the weapons of our warfare? How are we to defeat the schemes of the enemy?

Only through personal discipline.

The weapons of our warfare require that we be a disciplined people; that individually we are each a disciplined person.

Returning to 2 Corinthians, lest us consider what Paul says about how we are to defeat the spiritual powers in high places: “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” (ESV).

While this may be considered a proof for the necessity of apologetics, it is a word for all believers–not just those skilled in logic and rhetoric. We each–YOU–are to destroy arguments and opinions in your own mind and life that come against the knowledge of God.

That means you must have a discipline of, for, and in the Word of God.

This “Blogged Bible Study“, for which I am writing, is being sponsored by some brothers who emphasize this aspect of our relationship with the Lord. Their theme is Philippians 4:8–“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (ESV)

The major emphasis from this verse  is think about these things. What do you allow your mind to entertain? It takes personal discipline to keep your mind focused, to keep it on the things listed in verse 8.

It is in that place where you will begin to experience some of the power of using your spiritual weaponry.

 NOTE: This is the sixth in a weekly posting on the Epistle to the Ephesians. I am not the only one who is writing on this book. There are others who will be posting something on their blog each day of the week. We are each bringing something that the Lord gives us from chapter six of the epistle. You will be greatly blessed and encouraged, and your heart will be filled if you will take the time to read each day’s posting from one of the other saints involved in this collective effort. Put the following link in your “favorites” or on your link bar at the top of your browser: http://www.philter48.com/bbs/ and make it a point to visit everyday.

Eph 5:10 ESV – and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

KJV – Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

NKJV – finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

NLT – Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord

NIV – and find out what pleases the Lord.

NASB – trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

 Paul tells us in this verse that we are to spend time trying to learn something; spend time trying to discern something.

We are to discover what it is that pleases the Lord.

Do you know what that is?

Surely you have at least an inkling of an idea. Surely you have discovered some things in your walk with the Lord that are pleasing to Him.

We know that it is to the one who is humble and contrite in spirit and who trembles at His word that the Lord looks (Isa. 66:2). Those things are pleasing to God: humility, contriteness, and respect for His Word.

We also know that the one who can stand in the Holy Place with the Lord must have clean hands and a pure heart (Ps. 24:4). 

So…why does Paul urge us to “try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord”?

Within the context of this exhortation, he has been talking about everyday life as it was for the Ephesians. The Ephesian believers were to live a life different from that to which they had been accustomed. They are now living a new life, a life completely foreign to their experience.

Whereas once it was expected to go into a prostitute to worship their god, now that is not to occur.

Fortunately, we don’t have that particular habit to overcome. However, the same principle applies. We have come to the Lord from various backgrounds and experiences. Many of us have recently made a newer, firmer, deeper commitment to walk more closely with Him.

In that place we are still learning what it means to please the Lord. Actually, we should ever be learning this.

Please allow me a weak, but hopefully effective, illustration: we tend to think it is cute when a baby goes streaking across the room in nothing but its birthday suit. It is not cute when that is done by a 40-year-old.

I think that the Lord views us much the same way. There are some things we did in our early days of service that He may have thought sort of “cute,” but now that we have been around awhile, they are not so cute–not pleasing.

The point is–we are ever growing, ever learning, ever maturing.

Never stop trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Make it your ambition to always be found pleasing in His sight.

May He then say to you: This is my beloved one in whom I am well-pleased.

NOTE: This is the fifth in a weekly posting on the Epistle to the Ephesians. I am not the only one who is writing on this book. There are others who will be posting something on their blog each day of the week. We are each bringing something that the Lord gives us from chapter five of the epistle. You will be greatly blessed and encouraged, and your heart will be filled if you will take the time to read each day’s posting from one of the other saints involved in this collective effort. Put the following link in your “favorites” or on your link bar at the top of your browser: http://www.philter48.com/bbs/ and make it a point to visit everyday.

The fourth chapter of Ephesians is a difficult section from which to extract only one meaningful section upon which to comment. Every section is loaded with meat and worthy of a long discourse. Indeed, every sentence in this chapter speaks to my heart and begs my further reflection.

But, that is not the purpose of this exercise so I will content myself to constrain the words to only one of the many beautiful thoughts in this chapter.

Eph 4:1-3  – I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (ESV)

 A few weeks ago in the blogosphere, there was a strong word on the need for and necessity of confrontation. It was a good word. Confrontation of sin and hypocrisy is necessary now more than ever in our sin-sick, new-age-influenced churches. But, it is easy to go overboard with this. It is easy to spot “what is wrong” especially when all we do is look for that which is out of order.

We are not God’s policemen. That job belongs to the Holy Spirit. (John 16:8-11)

Paul tempers that sort of mentality here as he tells us to be eager to maintain peace.

He also mentions this necessity in another place where he writes:
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (Rom 12:18 ESV)

The application of this verse may best be served by using a paraphrase: Refuse to touch the bone of contention.

This is what we need to operate by in our lives, and I’ve seen some bloggers who are beginning to make this shift in their thinking. I’m hoping that they will begin to have good testimony as to its effectiveness.

By effectiveness, I mean that if we can get off the issues that cause controversy, we may very well have a chance to bring someone to the truth we have been trying unsuccessfully to beat them over the head with.

 It is worthy of our calling if we can learn to live at peace, to maintain unity through our humility, gentleness, and patience.

Yes, it is true that this has been pushed to an extreme where now, all things are tolerated in the name of peace. And, yes, the pendulum MUST swing in the other direction. However, I do not believe that it is necessary for us to go to the other extreme of picking a fight over every little thing that we think is wrong.

Make peace and harmony the goal.

Harmony means that there is agreement.

Let us learn to differentiate between the absolutely necessary, that is, the primary, things and those that are not.

Earnestly contend for that which is necessary.

Enjoy the debates over that which is not, but do not allow fellowship to be broken. And if someone is about to break fellowship over something that is debatable, then it is up to you to take the higher road, drop the debate, restore peace and maintain unity.

That is the Word of the Lord to us in this passage.

NOTE: This is the fourth in a weekly posting on the Epistle to the Ephesians. I am not the only one who is writing on this book. There are others who will be posting something on their blog each day of the week. We are each bringing something that the Lord gives us from chapter four of the epistle. You will be greatly blessed and encouraged, and your heart will be filled if you will take the time to read each day’s posting from one of the other saints involved in this collective effort. Put the following link in your “favorites” or on your link bar at the top of your browser: http://www.philter48.com/bbs/ and make it a point to visit everyday.

Eph 3:10 ESV – so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

 Is the local church that you are a part of making known the manifold wisdom of God to the spiritual forces that control the populace?

Is your church content to just keep on keeping on with the way things have always been?

Maybe you are a part of the new movements away from traditional church–emergent, simple, contemporary, organic, or house church. You may be “doing” church differently, but are you having an effect on the powers of darkness?

Jesus said it and Paul said it–the powers of darkness are no match for the power of the church.

Where have we missed it? Where have we gone wrong? Where is the power of the church?

NOTE: This is the third in a weekly posting on the Epistle to the Ephesians. I am not the only one who is writing on this book. There are others who will be posting something on their blog each day of the week. We are each bringing something that the Lord gives us from chapter three of the epistle. You will be greatly blessed and encouraged, and your heart will be filled if you will take the time to read each day’s posting from one of the other saints involved in this collective effort. Put the following link in your “favorites” or on your link bar at the top of your browser: http://www.philter48.com/bbs/ and make it a point to visit everyday.

Like Carl, and many others, Ephesians is a favorite of mine. I could spend an inordinate amount of time in this one epistle (if inordinate were possible). Now, as we venture into Chapter 2, we begin to explore the depths of Paul’s revelation about our position and inheritance in Christ.

The first thing we see is that we were dead (v. 1). We may have thought we were alive simply because we could eat, drink and be merry. But, when we look back on our life before Christ, we realize that any merriment was contrived or forced. We had to DO things to find a moment’s joy. There was no sense of lasting joy.

Most evangelical Christians recognize this reality and that is why they proclaim the necessity of being born again. However, the terms and phrases they use put a lie to the truth that is given here and in many other places in Scripture.

We are told to “make a decision for Christ,” “to accept Christ” in order to be born again or to be saved.

While that is true insofar as it goes, the emphasis on our “personal decision” for a “personal savior” leads many to believe that it is their intelligence, their strength, their effort that placed them within the Kingdom of God.

A little leaven leavens the whole lump (Gal. 5:9), and this subtle error creeps in at the beginning and ruins the life of many a believer.

A dead person has no ability at all. There are no laws that affect the dead, for there are none that the dead can obey. Even the “law” to get saved cannot be fulfilled by a dead person. (This becomes important to understand when considering Jesus’ teachings about dying to self.) {for an excellent treatment of the practical application of dying to self, click here.}

Therefore, what are we to do?

We can’t DO anything unless God intervenes.

That is the plain teaching of scripture beginning with the first mention of being born again by Jesus to Nicodemus in John 3. Even Nicodemus wanted to know what he had to do, and Jesus said, “Can’t. If it doesn’t happen by the Spirit, it won’t happen.” (my rendition of John 3:3-6)

And that is what Paul reiterates here in chapter 2:5 “…even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved…”

Other passages for your consideration of this important truth:

John 1:13  – who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Deu 30:6  – And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

Eze 36:26  – And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Jhn 5:21  – For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

Jhn 6:44  – No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.

Act 5:31  – God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Phl 1:29  – For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

1Pe 2:9  – But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Jhn 17:2  – since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

Rom 9:16  – So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Jam 1:18  – Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Act 13:48  – And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Eph 2:8-9  – For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

All scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version. 

I was dead.

He made me live.

Glory to God!

NOTE: This is the second in a weekly posting on the Epistle to the Ephesians. I am not the only one who is writing on this book. There are others who will be posting something on their blog each day of the week. We are each bringing something that the Lord gives us from chapter two of the epistle. You will be greatly blessed and encouraged, and your heart will be filled if you will take the time to read each day’s posting from one of the other saints involved in this collective effort. Put the following link in your “favorites” or on your link bar at the top of your browser: http://www.philter48.com/bbs/ and make it a point to visit everyday.

It has been said that we can do no better than to pray the words of Scripture when we pray.

Therefore, I offer this prayer from the first chapter of Ephesians, which closes with the last words of this marvelous epistle.

Personal Prayer

I thank you, God, the Father of my Lord, Jesus Christ, for blessing me with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Thank you for choosing me in Him from before the foundation of the world so that I might be holy and blameless before you. It was in your love that you predestined me for adoption as a son (or daughter) through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of your will, to the praise of your grace with which you have blessed me in the Beloved. In Christ, I have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of my trespasses according to the riches of your grace, which you have lavished upon me with all wisdom and insight. You are making known to me the mystery of your will, according to your purpose that you set forth in Christ. It has been your plan that in the fulness of time you would unite all things in heaven and all things on earth in him.

It is in Christ that I have obtained an inheritance, because I was predestined according to your purpose who works all things according to the counsel of your will, so that I might be effective to the praise of your glory. When I heard the word of truth, the gospel of my salvation, you allowed me to believe in him, and sealed me with the Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of my inheritance until I actually take possession of it. That is to your glory and I praise you for it.

Prayer for Others

Lord God, I thank you for (insert name). I pray that you give (him/her/them) a spirit of revelation in the knowledge of Jesus. I pray that the eyes of their heart be enlightened, that they may know what is the hope to which you have called them, and what are the riches of your glorious inheritance in the saints. I pray that they may know the immeasurable greatness of your power toward those of us who believe. That great power was what you worked in Christ Jesus when you raised him from the dead and seated him at your right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion. He is far above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And you have put all things under his feet and given him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

And Father, I pray that you grant peace and love with faith, and grace to all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

NOTE: This is the first in a weekly posting on the Epistle to the Ephesians. I am not the only one who is writing on this book. There are others who will be posting something on their blog each day of the week. We are each bringing something that the Lord gives us from chapter one of the epistle. You will be greatly blessed and encouraged, and your heart will be filled if you will take the time to read each day’s posting from one of the other saints involved in this collective effort. Put the following link in your “favorites” or on your link bar at the top of your browser: http://www.philter48.com/bbs/ and make it a point to visit everyday.

Are You a Spiritual Person?

Gal 6:1 ESV – Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

There are many who are overtaken in faults within the church today, but they do not get restored. Why is that? Are there no spiritual people in the church? Or, do we not know what it means to be spiritual, and therefore cannot find anyone to restore them? Are preachers the only ones who can be spiritual?

It is those who are spiritual who are to do the restoring. Who are they?

Taken within the context, they are the ones who manifest the previous qualities of the fruit of the spirit (5:16, 22) 

“Spiritual” is an after-Pentecost word—it does not show up in the Gospels nor in the LXX.

There is a difference between being spiritual and being religious. Spiritual = of things pertaining to spirit. Religious = of things pertaining to formal duty.

There are many religious people who are not spiritual.

There are many spiritual people who are not religious.

There are many spiritual people who are religious.

The Bible distinction is not between spiritual/religious (the world has this figured out), but between spiritual/carnal. It is either one or the other. It is not possible to be carnally spiritual or spiritually carnal (1 Cor. 3:1).

We often assume Christian = spiritual. But we know from our experience that is not true. It is possible to be a Carnal Christian (as we can see from this verse in Corinthians).

Now, here is an interesting thing for your consideration: Carnality is defined in the Bible, but spirituality is not!! Spirituality is inferred and implied, but not defined. Carnality, however, is clearly explained.

Characteristics of Carnality: 1Cor. 3: 2-3 

We could say here that Paul is referring to babies, and we know that babies need to be cared for.

Babies–

Need milk (1Peter 2:2—there is a place for milk)

Can’t eat meat (Heb. 5:12-14)

Manifest envying, strife, divisions (1Cor. 3:3) [this usually comes from the main characteristic of the 'me' generation--MINE!] {also notice that these are contrary to the fruit of the spirit}

Where does carnality come from? It comes from where you place your mind–what you allow your mind to dwell on. You become what you feed your mind on.

 Rom. 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

The word translated ‘mind ‘ is phroneo (fron-eh’-o); [from NT:5426]; to exercise the mind, i.e. entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by implication, to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction); intensively, to interest oneself in (with concern or obedience).

How do we move from being carnal to becoming spiritual? By no longer being carnally minded.

1. Repent (metanoia = change your mind) [this is definitely a religious word] Decide that you no longer want to be carnal, but that you want to be spiritual (though not necessarily religious).

2. Reveal–ie, confess your carnality–James 5:16 (exomologeo = speak it out)

3. Renew your mind Rom. 12:2 (Jesus said to cleanse the inside first–Matt. 23:25-26)

4. Replace your thinking style–Col. 3:2

5. Reflect–ie, take control of your thoughts (Phil. 4:8)

Notice that the last three are all about what goes on in your head. This is your area of control.

Someone may say, “But, I have no control over what comes into my mind.”

That may be true. But, you don’t have to pull up a chair and offer that thought any hospitality!

 And anytime you find yourself moving into carnality, you can use this to change your mind and your practice. It may be difficult at first, because you’ve had many years of practicing being carnally-minded. But, stay with it, and you will soon find yourself in a spiritual condition you may have only dreamed about.

NOTE: This is the sixth in a weekly posting on the Epistle to the Galatians. I am not the only one who is writing on this book. There are others who will be posting something on their blog each day of the week. We are each bringing something that the Lord gives us from chapter six of the epistle. You will be greatly blessed and encouraged, and your heart will be filled if you will take the time to read each day’s posting from one of the other saints involved in this collective effort. Put this link in your “favorites” or on your link bar at the top of your browser: http://www.philter48.com/bbs/ and make it a point to visit everyday.

Gal 5:16 ESV – But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

 This is so simple, I am amazed how so few get it.

It is so complicated, there is no wonder that so few live it.

Simple, yet complicated.

This is a plain statement that we do well to understand–especially, if you have trouble with the flesh rearing its ugly head in your life.

First of all, notice that the reverse is NOT true–not gratifying the desires of the flesh will not make, nor prove spirituality. Many have forsaken this world, gone to the mountaintop to “contemplate their navel”, but all they become are aesthetics. That is not spirituality. It is not walking by the Spirit. Giving up some aspect of the flesh may be a penitent act, but it will not overcome the desires of the flesh.

No. The only way to overcome the flesh, with its desires that are against the Spirit, is to walk–or live–by the Spirit.

Secondly, notice that the word ‘Spirit’ is capitalized. There are no initial capital letters in the Uncial Greek (which is written in all caps) copies we have. Initial capitalization is a part of interpretation.

When we see ‘Spirit’ capitalized, we automatically interpret the word to mean ‘Holy Spirit.’ Is that necessarily true? Is that an accurate rendition of πνευμα (pneuma)?

If it is not the Holy Spirit that was intended in this verse, then may I suggest for your consideration that it refers to your own spirit?

Before you go thinking I have fallen off the deep end, take time to remember the new birth and what that entails and enables. What is it that was dead in us that needed to be made alive? (Eph 2:1-9)

I also understand the meaning and intent of Rom. 8:14. There we are told that we are to be “…led by the Spirit of God…” In fact, that verse is emphatic in the Greek and means that ONLY those who are led by the Spirit of God can be considered sons of God.

And this brings us back to my original reason for this post: how are we to be led by the Spirit?

Let’s look at the verse again with the new consideration: But I say, walk by the spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Does that put it into a different perspective for you?

Putting Romans 8:14 and Galatians 5:16 together I can see that the Holy Spirit leads me through my spirit that has been born anew of God.

Spirit is that inexplicable, unidentifiable, indefinable ethereal part of us that is in connection with God.

It is the part of you that is now growing in relation to the Lord.

We are made of three parts–spirit, soul, and body–and theologians refer to this make-up as the tri-partite man.

The body is the Existence.

The soul is the Expression.

The spirit is the Essence.

Before Christ, you were dead in your transgressions and sins (Eph. 2:1). It was your spirit that was dead.

Before Christ, all you knew was to follow after and fulfil the desires of the flesh. Your soul (personality, if you will) has grown accustomed to that expression of your being. It manifests a fleshly nature. That is its habit.

But, now, your spirit has come alive and is trying to grow and manifest a different reality. The soul doesn’t recognize this new reality, and often reverts to its habitual expressions.

However, you are wanting to be led by the spirit.

It is a practice; a learning of a new way of doing things, of expressing things.

It takes time. But you are changing and growing.

The more you learn to respond to the spirit and its desires, the less you will fulfil the desires of the flesh.

NOTE: This is the fifth in a weekly posting on the Epistle to the Galatians. I am not the only one who is writing on this book. There are others who will be posting something on their blog each day of the week. We are each bringing something that the Lord gives us from chapter five of the epistle. You will be greatly blessed and encouraged, and your heart will be filled if you will take the time to read each day’s posting from one of the other saints involved in this collective effort. Put this link in your “favorites” or on your link bar at the top of your browser: http://www.philter48.com/bbs/ and make it a point to visit everyday.

Gal. 4:31  So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

Paul has taken quite some time with his logical application of the Scripture for these ‘bewitched’ Galatians. He is concerned for them, because a “fall from grace” stops the forming of the Christ within. (cf. v. 19)

The “falling from grace” (5:4) will be probably be dealt with by others next week as we delve into chapter 5; but let me say plainly here that it is not about losing one’s salvation. It is about forgetting the reality.

Paul concludes this part of his argument by stating a fact: we are not children of the slave woman, Hagar (flesh); and we do not answer to Sinai (legalism).

Many Christians have a problem with this reality, even though it is a fact plainly stated here and elsewhere in the Word (Romans 7).

The problem with the fact is that we do not reckon it to be so. We choose to believe what our senses tell us rather than what the Spirit says. Our senses tell us that we are still in bondage, because we sin. Satan “verifies” this for us by telling us that we will always be sinners. And, when we look at our situation, we believe him.

And so we do not ’see’ the reality in our life.

And since we believe this lie, it is easy to accept the next lie: we must DO SOMETHING. And the more we “do” the more we discover that we can’t keep up with the do’s. When we fall short on a ‘do’, we come under condemnation. The condemnation brings about a greater sense of unworthiness. The unworthiness brings about a loss of hope. And despair brings about a whole set of its own problems.

Pretty soon, we believe we are not saved, and we turn to the Lord in faith (once again) to start all over again.

I have watched and lived this cycle.

This cycle is not of God.

What is missing? Why do so many have these problems?

The surest, quickest glib answer is a lack of teaching. And this is somewhat true (Hos. 4:6). But there is plenty of teaching around. Sadly to say, however, there are not many students. That is, there are not many who hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matt. 5:6).

What is lacking is revelation.

Without revelation, one gets the letter of the Word, but not the spirit. Without revelation, one fills their mind, but not their heart. Without revelation, one has the behavior, but not the attitude. Without revelation, one has the words, but not the truth.

Ther is no magic formula to produce revelation. Jesus said some have been given eyes to see and ears to hear, and some have not. Revelation is the gift of God. He gives it to those who want it.

Do you hunger for God? (Psalm 42:1) Do you pursue righteousness? (1 Tim. 6:11) Do you strive for holiness? (Heb. 12:14)

If you do, and you are still having times of being in the recurring cycle mentioned above, then I would encourage you to spend much time in chapters 3 & 4 of Galatians. Stay there until the revelation dawns on your heart.

Between the reckoning and the reality is the revelation.

NOTE: This is the fourth in a weekly posting on the Epistle to the Galatians. I am not the only one who is writing on this book. There are others who will be posting something on their blog each day of the week. We are each bringing something that the Lord gives us from chapter four of the epistle. You will be greatly blessed and encouraged, and your heart will be filled if you will take the time to read each day’s posting from one of the other saints involved in this collective effort. Put this link in your “favorites” or on your link bar at the top of your browser: http://www.philter48.com/bbs/ and make it a point to visit everyday.

Chapters 3 & 4 of Paul’s letter to the Galatians are a powerful presentation of a logical argument. Paul reasons from a logical position of considering the history of the Jews and God’s dealings with them to show how the new covenant of grace could not possibly include any aspect of the law. These two chapters are a synopsis of his great Summa Theologica we call Romans, and were written almost 10 years prior to that great work.

We still need to hear these words today.

As a Catholic, I was taught that I would be judged by my works and if my good works did not outweigh my bad, then I would probably have to spend some time in Purgatory until the scales of justice were in my favor.

Many believers, though not brought up in the Catholic tradition, still cling to some sort of the same belief. Though most Protestants do not recognize any place of cleansing such as Purgatory, they still believe there is a balance sheet and they are desperately trying to come out on the positive side.

Paul argues here that there is NOTHING we can do to be justified before God. You cannot pray enough, go to church enough, give enough, help enough, love enough, fast enough, read the Bible enough, serve enough, or die enough to satisfy the demand of your sin. Not enough rosaries have been manufactured; not enough places of pilgrimage have been established; not enough saints in heaven are available to make your way to God secure.

The greatest truth ever told to me was that there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5). When that truth broke through into my heart, all the years of the fear of getting it wrong went out the window in a moment of time.

Now, I find myself continually ministering to people who are still trying to not get it wrong.

These are believers who love the Lord, but have been told there are things that they must do or not do to prove their salvation.

This is sometimes carried along by well-meaning people when they try to witness. It goes something like this:

“Are you saved?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know you are saved?”
And the ‘buttonholed’ one responds with something they did at a certain point in time.

Subtle. So don’t miss this.

I am not saved because I accepted Jesus.

I am saved because Jesus died for my sins!!!

I was saved 2000 years ago! That has always been my answer whenever I am asked by those who look for more than faith.

“Are you so foolish? Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing with faith?” (Gal.3:3-5 paraphrase).

Look to yourselves. Examine yourselves whether you be in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5). Why do you do the things you do? Is it out of faith that is working by love? (Gal. 5:6) Or, is it out of some other motivation or reason?

Are you looking backward to the cross, or forward to the judgement seat? Where is your trust?

NOTE: This is the third in a weekly posting on the Epistle to the Galatians. I am not the only one who is writing on this book. There are others who will be posting something on their blog each day of the week. We are each bringing something that the Lord gives us from chapter three of the epistle. You will be greatly blessed and encouraged, and your heart will be filled if you will take the time to read each day’s posting from one of the other saints involved in this collective effort. Put this link in your “favorites” or on your link bar at the top of your browser: http://www.philter48.com/bbs/ and make it a point to visit everyday.