Guest Speaker: Pastor Joe Sugrue
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
GAL 5:17
For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
If you please to do the desire of the flesh, the Spirit will convict you in His opposition to the flesh. If you please to do the things of the Spirit, the OSN will tempt you in its opposition of the Spirit.
There is a battle in the soul for control of the soul. Your volition is the decider of the battle. You decide who controls your soul at any given moment.
In the end it is your volition that does the changing, but without the Spirit’s opposition against the OSN within us, we would be hopeless against its deceptions.
Here is a contrast between human and divine good, here is the contrast between legalism and grace, here is the difference between man’s plan and God’s plan.
Much if not all of the Christian way of life is the believer being willing to receive what God has given him, which includes blessing and prosperity as well as cursing [from kosmos] and adversity.
The mystery is Christ. Not that He’s a mystery, but He is the mystery doctrine that initiates us into the plan of God for the Church-age.
The Christian way of life is the ability and capacity to receive from God what is guaranteed by position in Christ.
If I believe all those wonderful, eternal things about my position in Christ, why would I let anyone’s judgment of me influence me in any way other than what my position in Christ has done?
Everyone is given a fair shake in life to have the opportunity to choose from the grace of God through Christ or the production of the flesh.
Grace Bible Church
Basic Training in Doctrine
Luke 2:40
And the Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Seeking one’s own glory is from the lust pattern of the OSN – approbation lust. Primarily, approbation lust is followed by power lust. This is the greatest enemy of the believer, and of mankind.
2 Cor 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds.