"On Our Way To Spiritual Renewal At New Beginnings"
Part 2INTRO: Last week I started a series. Our message was entitled, "Erase The Mark From The 'John Mark' In Your Lives." Basically I dealt with the theme of "Reclaiming The Confidence In Each Other So We Can Regaining The Proper Direction God Wants Us To Have." Today I want to deal with the theme, "Receiving the Chastening of the Lord with Joy, that We Might Gladly Remove the Carnality that Clings to our Life."
Specifically I want to use as a thought: "Carnality or Holiness, Which will it be?"
Rom. 7:7-25 7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
14
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.Carnality resides in our lives - vs. 13
It is not pleasing to God
It is destructive to our lives (And our families)
Carnality rules our lives (if we are not careful) - vs. 15
When we allow carnality a chance to lead us, it will take over.
Even Paul recognized how carnality can point us the wrong way.
Carnality ruins our lives - 17-20
Separates us from God (because of sin)
Stifles good relationships with others (family, friends, etc.)
Promotes ungodliness and sensuality
Promotes selfishness
Scars our lives to great harm
Rom. 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.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
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.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
We need to remember…
It is God's desire that we walk NOT in sin! 8:1-9
God hates sin
God demands holiness
Heb. 12:1-17 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
[Definition
: Chastening (chastening, instruction, nurture)]So how does God deal with sin and carnality in our lives?
God's Chastisement is sent when we need it. Heb 12:5-6
Just like a loving father
For our own good
God's Chastisement is strong when needed vs. 5-7
Don't faint when He corrects us!
He chastens us because we are His sons!
God's Chastisement seeks our subservience vs. 9
Do we desire or seek Him
Do we desire to serve Him as well?
God's chastisement shows us holier living vs. 10
For our own good vs. 10
Not for God's pleasure or just to be doing so.
So, you ask, how should I handle God's Chastisement? We need to…
Gladly receive God's chastisements vs. 11-16
This is when God can get close to us and us to Him - vs. 16
God will help you!
This will help bring a spiritual renewal in your life and in our lives as a whole.
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church -02152004am - first used 101898am