Thread: The Great Falling Away TODAY -By Milton Green Chapter 3 "How Do Demons Enter In?"
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The Great Falling Away TODAY -By Milton Green Chapter 3 "How Do Demons Enter In?"
Posted : 9 Feb, 2012 12:54 AM
(Its long, if you start it read the whole thing, it will be worth it, and if you get something out of the chapter, i suggest reading the WHOLE book and maybe purchasing it)
The Great Falling Away TODAY -By Milton Green(1984)
Chapter 3
How Do Demons Enter In?
Deliverance ministries have been springing up in churches all over the country to set people free from the powers of darkness. Pastors by the thousands have come to know there is demonic bondage in their own congregations, in their own lives, and in their own families.
Many other pastors simply choose to ignore the problem for these reasons:
1. They do not understand it.
2. They are fearful because they don�t have the answers.
3. Their theology, learned from men, didn�t equip them to cast out demons.
4. They fear their involvement would cause them to lose support, numbers, reputation, or even their job.
So congregations stay in darkness, and most deliverance ministries stay very, very busy. Most people who receive freedom do not continue to be free, but return to the same bondage. There are some questions about this demonic bondage in the church today. How did it get there? Why is all this happening? Is God trying to tell us something? Obviously, we have missed the truth somewhere. We have to admit that an enemy has taken over many individual�s lives, and we have no understanding.
I once heard a pastor say, �If the law has been done away with, why do I see the curses of the law from Deuteronomy 28 in myself, and my own family, and in my congregation?� The answer is that our religious traditions have caused us to have a total lack of understanding about the part God�s law plays in the life of a Christian. We certainly need to set the captives free, but first, we need to understand why they�re captive. And we need to remember that the enemies have come to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). They are not blessings!
Almost every time anyone comes with a word about the law, there rises up a cry of �legalism,� or �you don�t understand grace.� Until you are willing to hear what God has to say about His law, you will never know true freedom, nor will you have understanding about the powers of darkness.
Since this is a very difficult subject, you must first agree that perhaps you have not yet received all of the truth. Then agree that if God has given someone understanding and light, it will be in the Bible in balance and context. Do not be like the Pharisees and react to the first statement you hear that is contrary to your traditions. If we have been in darkness in our religious traditions, let�s be willing to be led out of darkness by the Spirit and Word of God. But we have to admit first that we have obviously missed something somewhere. Jesus promised His disciples, �Ye shall know the truth, and THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE� (John 8:82). Jesus also said, �When He, the Spirit of Truth, is come He will guide you into all truth� (John 16:13).
Stay with the Scriptures throughout this chapter and the entire book, even though at first it may disturb you. Everything will fit together before we finish. Also remember that the truth will come against anything we have learned wrong. But if we love the Lord Jesus Christ more than we love our religious traditions, we can unlearn anything we have learned wrong. Then the Lord can lead us out of spiritual darkness.
What Does The Law Say Today?
When the law is mentioned to many people, they only think of the rituals that were done away when Jesus came to fulfill the law. The rituals did pass away, but the law still stands today. Jesus said, �Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill (Matt 5:17).
Since Jesus came to fulfill the law, we need to know first what the law is really saying. Jesus answered this in Matthew 22, verses 37-40: �Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.� What the law is really saying is that if you do these two things, love God supremely and love your neighbor as yourself, you have fulfilled the law and are no longer a law breaker. (Not, that you got your Salvation through the law. Please don�t read into any other then what is written.) But this is impossible, keeping the law, without Jesus Christ because of our bondage to our selfish, self-centered flesh nature.
Since Jesus did not abolish the law, then what does the law do today? The law stands today to bring judgment upon all sin. The law, when it sees sin�if you will, brings the wrath of God (Romans 4:15). The law brings a curse (Gal. 3:13). The law is a ministry of death (2 Cor. 3:7), and the law is a ministry of condemnation (2 Cor. 3:9).
All of these things come upon law breakers. Who are the law breakers? They are those who do not walk in love and cannot walk in love. Their minds are set upon the things their hearts love. �Because the carnal (fleshly) mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God (which commands us to walk in love), neither indeed can be. So then they that are IN THE FLESH cannot please God (Rom 8:7-8). So if anyone loves their flesh nature, they refuse to love God with all their heart and love others as themselves. They choose to walk in the image of Satan. Jesus was asked, �And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Matt 19:16-19).
Obviously if someone loves his neighbor as himself, he will not kill his neighbor; he will not commit adultery with his neighbor�s wife; he will not steal; he will not bear false witness against his neighbor. Those who still love the flesh nature (which is the nature of Satan) refuse to obey God�s law. The law stands in judgment today against all rebellion. Paul said, �For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified (Rom 2:13).
When we understand that God is commanding us to walk in love or be destroyed, then we can see Paul�s dilemma inRomans 7.
We find ourselves in exactly the same place as Paul. Like Paul, we know that through our efforts alone, it is impossible to keep the law. We cannot walk in this kind of love when we are in bondage to the selfish flesh nature. Paul said, �For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal (of the flesh), sold under sin�for what I would, that I do not; but what I hate, that I do�For I know that in me (that is, my flesh), dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me�For I delight in the law after the inward man: But 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 (of the fleshly body)�So then with the mind I serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin (Romans 7:14, 15, 18, 22-23, 25).
While a backslidden church today uses this passage to justify their sins, Paul clearly saw that he was under the judgment, curse, wrath, and death that comes from breaking God�s laws. He saw, that he was in this dilemma because it was not possible for him to walk in the kind of love that the law required. Paul said, ��for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law (Gal 3:21). In other words, if we could have attained righteousness by our efforts alone, then Jesus would never have needed to go to the cross. If we could overcome the flesh through our own efforts, Jesus died needlessly.
That is what Paul is saying in Galatians 2:21: �I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.� However, this does not release us from the law that tells us that we must love others as ourselves. Jesus came to fulfill this law by perfecting the God-kind of love in us. This is how we are reconciled back to God. Forms of godliness have explained this love away by saying it is impossible to walk in the kind of love that the law requires. This is true if you are being led by a doctrine that does not conform you to godliness, and does not even give you the hope that you can be holy. But if you are led by the Holy Spirit, He will make you holy, just as He is holy.
When we are led by the Holy Spirit of God we are not under the judgment of the law, because we are fulfilling the requirements of the law by walking in love. When we walk after the flesh, we defraud and take advantage of others. This is sin and breaks God�s law. Those who sin by walking after the flesh do not have a hedge of protection against the powers of darkness. Therefore, the powers of darkness bring the judgment, wrath, and curse of the law upon all those who walk after the works of the flesh.
Jesus Explained the Love that Fulfills the Law
Jesus explained to His disciples the God-kind of love they were commanded to walk in to fulfill the requirements of the law. And He lifted up His eyes on His disciples, and said: �Love Your Enemies, Do Good To Them Which Hate You�and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again�And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise�and if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do even the same�But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again�And Your Reward Shall Be Great, And Ye Shall Be The Children Of The Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful as your Father also is merciful� (Luke 6:20, 27-36).
You manifest the nature of God when you love your neighbor as yourself. The reason these Scriptures sound like a foreign language to most people today is because they will not fit into today�s carnal doctrines. These doctrines do not teach people to fulfill the law, nor do they conform them to godliness so they can walk in the love that God requires. True disciples receive discipline in order to walk in this love. This is the God-kind of love that Jesus perfects in the body of Christ to fulfill the law.
Jesus confirmed this God-kind of love that we are to walk in today by saying: �This is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends� (John 15:12, 13). We must be obedient to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in order to be perfected in God�s love. �He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him. And hereby we do know that we know Him, If We Keep His Commandments�Whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected�He that saith he abideth in Him ought also to walk, even as He walked� (1 John 2: 3-6).
�Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren� (1 John 3:16). Jesus described the body of Christ by saying: "Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to give His life a ransom for many� (Matt. 20:26-28).
We must understand that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is in agreement with the law which says, �You shall love your neighbor as yourself.� Jesus referred to this law when He was asked about eternal life. �Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?� Jesus replied, �What is written in the law? How readest thou?� And he answering said, �Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all the strength, and with all thy mind; and they neighbor as thyself.� And he (Jesus) said unto him, �Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live� (eternally) (Luke 10:25-28).
Jesus continued to describe the love we are to walk in, �But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away�Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you: that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven�For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans [the lost world] do the same? Be Ye Therefore Perfect, Even As Your Father Which Is In Heaven Is Perfect� (Matt. 5:39-42, 44-48).
This is the Gospel that brought such opposition to Jesus and His disciples. It has not changed. Jesus was telling His disciples about the blessings that would come on those who walk in His Love to fulfill the law. He continued to describe this God-kind of love and blessings by saying: �Blessed are the poor in spirit�Blessed are thy that mourn�Blessed are the meek�Blessed are thy which do hunger and thirst after righteousness�Blessed are the merciful�Blessed are the pure in heart�Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you�Ye are the light of the world�Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven� (Matt. 5:3-16).
Jesus explained in the next verse that this was the kind of love that fulfills the law. He said, �I am not come to destroy (the law), but to fulfill� (Matt. 5:17).
The Judgment of the Law
God is the Creator of all civilization. He has demanded that His creation walk in justice and righteousness. For this reason God established laws and judgments blessings and curses, on all mankind, according to their deeds. God�s law demands that we love our neighbor as ourself. God blesses everyone who fulfills this law. However, the law judges every deed contrary to His commandments.
The same judgment is on the worldly people who are in the church today. When someone walks in a form of godliness, he walks just like the world. Since he has a false security, he is blinded and unaware of God�s requirement to walk in love. He is walking in the stubbornness of his heart as he walks in sin without repentance. �For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries� (Heb. 10:26, 27).
�Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children: and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us... But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you as becometh saints� (Eph. 5:1-3). These Scriptures explain the God-kind of love that we are to walk in to escape the judgment and curse of the law. When you lay down your selfish flesh nature, you will love your neighbor as yourself. Remember the �love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren� (1 John 3:16).
The Powers of Darkness Draw Us Away From the Faith Walk
We are now understanding the warfare a Christian has with the powers of darkness. The powers of darkness tempt every Christian to walk after the lusts of his own flesh and hate his neighbor. This carries him away from the faith that comes from being led by the Holy Spirit so he can be perfected in the nature of God. The powers of darkness continually tempt your mind with thoughts of anger, hate, selfishness, resentment, criticism, fault-finding, unforgiveness, etc. These thoughts are the very opposite of love, and they exalt themselves against the Word of God. These are the schemes of the enemy against us.
These are the thoughts we are commanded about: �Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ� (2 Cor. 10:5).
This is why we are warned to �put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil... taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked� (Eph. 6:11, 16).
In Luke 4:1-14, Jesus shows us how He resisted every temptation of the powers of darkness by standing firm on the Word of God. The Word is our shield of faith. The Psalmist said, �Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee� (Ps. 119:11). We stand on the Word because we love Jesus more than we love our flesh. Through Jesus� temptations, He proved Himself holy, just as we are to prove ourselves holy.
If we love our flesh more than we love Jesus, we will welcome these thoughts of Satan because his suggestions give us an opportunity to fulfill selfishness. But because we are disciples of Jesus, we love Him more than we love ourselves and we no longer walk in pride, greed, unforgiveness, resentment, and criticism. This is how we are conformed to the image of Christ. When we are reviled and attacked by others, we bless.
We no longer war according to the flesh by reacting in anger, hate, slander, revenge. We know that God�s law takes care of all revenge. So we are �Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing� (1 Pet. 3:9). This is the God-kind of love. �For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh (we no longer strike back at our neighbor): For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ� (2 Cor. 10:3-5). This is how we overcome the flesh and the devil in order to be perfected in love. �And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments� (1 John 2:3). We have already seen this Scripture, �He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him� (1 John 2:4, 5).
The Wrath of God Comes Against the Deeds of the Flesh
Paul said, "Set your affections (mind) on things above, not on things of the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Mortify (put to death) therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which you also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Col. 3:2, 3, 5-10).
Powers of Darkness Carry Out the Curse of the Law
When you commit any act of the flesh that defrauds our neighbor, it is sin. Then the hedge comes down, and the powers of darkness move in to attack. But when you love your neighbor, you are fulfilling the law and are protected by God. �If you fulfill the royal law according of the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well (you are blessed and protected by the hedge of God). But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors (and the hedge of God�s protection is removed). So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy� (James 2:8, 9, 12, 13).
Since the law commands us to love our neighbor, every act of selfishness lowers the hedge on us to the powers of darkness. The Scripture says, �Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again� (Luke 6:36-38).
If we do not seek the good of our neighbor, we will bear the wrong fruit of anger, hate and slander, which is sin. When we speak against others, the hedge is lowered; and we are cut down by the powers of darkness because God removes His protection. �And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou was made to serve; That thou shalt take up this proverb (taunt) against the king of Babylon (Satan), and say, �How hath the oppressor ceased! The Lord bath broken the staff of the wicked, and the scepter of the rulers. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger... Since thou art laid down, no feller (tree cutter) is come up against us�� (Isa. 14:3-6, 8).
Satan is the king of Babylon who brings the destruction when the hedge is down. Satan and the powers of darkness are the �tree cutters.� When we overcome the flesh, we overcome the destruction of Satan. Right now the powers of darkness are at work cutting down and destroying all those whose hearts refuse to be conformed to the nature of God. Our hearts are tested today, just as the first Adam and Eve were tested.
�Now will I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved touching His vineyard. My well beloved hath vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out of it the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine... And He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes (it produced only the fruits of the flesh)... I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down� (Isa. 5:1, 2, 4, 5).
God has lowered the hedge today on all those who do not bear the fruit of love toward those around them, and they are being consumed by the powers of darkness. There is no deliverance or protection for those who refuse to overcome the flesh and walk in covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ and be perfected in love. Our hearts will either love the nature of Satan and the flesh, or our hearts will love the nature of God. This is how we will know a tree by its fruits.
�Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit (love); but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit (hate). A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit (which is the God-kind of love). Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down (by the tree cutters, the powers of darkness) and cast into the fire (because they break God�s law when they do not walk in love). Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them (Matt. 7:17-20).
If we receive the blessings of God by loving our neighbor, then we also receive judgment from God when we choose to defraud our neighbor. If we choose to judge our neighbor instead of loving him, we receive judgment. When we choose to condemn our neighbor instead of loving him, we receive condemnation. If we will not pardon, God will not pardon us. In every case, the hedge comes down and the powers of darkness become instruments of judgment and condemnation. God deals with us according to our conduct toward others, �who will render to every man according to his deeds� (Rom. 2:6). So by your standard of measure toward others, God measures in return to you. This is the law of God today.
Curses Prevail Because the Law Has Been Lost
"Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send Mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations... I will judge thee according to thy ways.., and Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways. They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for My wrath is upon all the multitude thereof. Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen (powers of darkness), and they shall possess their houses (bodies). I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled (by the powers of darkness);.., they shall seek a vision from the prophet; but THE LAW SHALL PERISH from the priest, and counsel from the ancients. I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts (judgments) will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the Lord" (Ezek. 7:3, 4, 8, 9, 14, 24, 26, 27).
Ezekiel was talking about today. The law has been lost to us today, as it was lost in the days of Nehemiah. We would have understanding about the fear of the Lord if the law had not been lost.
"Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous... The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth" (Ps. 34:11-16).
Everyone who loves the flesh nature walks in rebellion to God's commandment to walk in love. God has set up His laws in this world to punish and destroy those who love the flesh nature of Satan more than they love the nature of God. Since God has set up punishment for this rebellion, there has to be a law. If there has to be a law, there has to be a court. If there has to be a court, there has to be a judge. The judge of God's court of law Is God. Since there is a judge and a court of law, then there must be officers and a prison.
The powers of darkness are the officers and their bondage is the prison. The powers of darkness build strongholds and fortresses to destroy everyone in the world who walks in rebellion to God's law. Only those who are fulfilling the law are protected by God.
After Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets" (Matt. 5:17), He began describing the judgments and curses of the law. "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: ... Agree with thine adversary (someone you have wronged) quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge (God), and the judge deliver thee to the officer (the powers of darkness), and thou be cast into prison (demonic bondage).., thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing" (by repenting and making everything right with your neighbor). (Matt. 5:21,22,25,26). The law of God has commanded us to love our neighbor as ourself. Jesus described this love to us, then commanded that we, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48).
God says that He does all the judging. His laws take care of all vengeance. We are then commanded to do one thing, walk in love. We do not speak one word against others. When we speak against others, we are taking the place of God and becoming the judge. When we do this, the law judges us. "If any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man, and able to bridle the whole body... Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men... Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be... This wisdom... is earthly (as the world speaks), sensual (from the flesh nature), and devilish" (James 3:2, 9, 10, 15).
James said, "...Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded... Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy" (James 4:8, 11, 12). At this point, you should begin to see that we have been overlooking some essential truths in the Scriptures.
The law came through Moses 430 years after God gave the promise to Abraham and made covenant with him. Why was the law needed? It Was added because of the transgressions of the people (Gal. 3:19). God spoke to His people in Deuteronomy 28 and told them He would bless them if they obeyed His law, but He would put curses on them and their households if they did not obey the law. This law pronounced a curse of judgment and destruction upon all those who would not walk in love and obedience to God.
Jesus did not come to abolish this judgment. The law and its judgment still stand today against all the works of the flesh which break God's commandments. All of God's commandments tell us that we must walk in love or receive judgment.
Jesus Came to Perfect God's Love In Men
Are we then really expected to love our neighbor as ourselves? The problem today is that most of the church people do not really love one another. What God calls love and what the church which walks in a form of godliness calls love are two very different things. The commandments of Jesus totally agree with the commandments of the law. Jesus still commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves in order to fulfill the law. Those who walk after a form of godliness cannot fulfill the law. "And this commandment have we from Him, that he who loveth God should love his brother also" (1 John 4:2 1). "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:2, 3). These Scriptures are sobering to those who have fallen away from the faith to a form of godliness. What part of us wants to resist walking in love? Could it be that we still love the nature of Satan? "
And you who were dead in trespasses and sins, where in time past ye walked according to the course of this world (you walked and talked like the world), according to the prince of the power of the airs the (demon) spirit that NOW worketh in the children of disobedience (those who walk after the flesh nature): Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the lusts of the flesh and the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath (under judgment)" (Eph. 2:1-3).
The Flesh Nature Must Be Put to Death
"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph 4:22-24). The purpose of the cross of Christ was not that we should continue to live in sin, but that we should die to sin. "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness" (1 Pet. 2:24). Righteousness is walking right in God's eyes by obeying His commandments.
When we love the flesh, we have our minds set on earthly things. When we love Jesus with all our hearts, we lay down our lives on this earth, because our minds (interests) are set on things above.
Jesus explained how we lay down our lives in John 12:24, 25: "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his (fleshly) life shall lose it (because of the judgment of the law); and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal."
This is how we overcome the powers of darkness. If you have laid down your life in this world, the powers of darkness have nothing with which to tempt you. Jesus said, "For the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me (my flesh)" (John 14:30). "And they overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb... and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Rev. 12:11).
How the Powers of Darkness Build Strongholds and Destroy Us
God avenges through His law every act and word we speak against our brother. "Either make the tree good and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit... can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart (the Word of God hidden in his heart) bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." (We are living in the day of God's righteous judgment now.) "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matt. 12:33-37).
The mature man takes every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, "those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:14). The Lord was our example. Our Lord Jesus "learned he obedience by the things which he suffered: and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him" (Heb. 5:8,9).
The powers of darkness work at destroying all relationships. They try to keep our minds full of suspicion, unforgiveness, distrust, anger, and so forth toward others. It is essential to stop these thoughts while they are still in our minds so that their evil suggestions will not get into our hearts and become our evil treasures. Their goal for getting their suggestions into our hearts is to carry us away from the walk of love by causing us to speak against our neighbor. This is sin, and we break the law by not loving our neighbor. "But every man is TEMPTED when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed (entrapped). Then when lust has conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (because God's law is broken)" (James 1:14, 15).
Then the hedge comes down and the powers of darkness can attack us. We immediately lose our peace. If we do not repent, they continue to build other strongholds in our lives, which eventually bring death. Strong-holds move in when you are a transgressor of the law. "Do not err (stray from the truth), my beloved brethren. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" (James 1:16, 19). Those who speak love from a pure heart do not break God's law. A pure heart is a heart that no longer loves the flesh. In fact, a pure heart hates every act of the flesh. This is the mature man of God.
How Satan Builds a Stronghold In Us
We will see an example of how Satan builds a stronghold in us. Before Jesus became Lord of your whole heart, you walked after the deeds of the flesh. When you came to Jesus, you repented of unforgiveness in order to purify your heart and love your neighbor. One of the schemes of the powers of darkness is to cause you to once again walk in unforgiveness, so they can build strongholds in you.
Paul warned the Corinthians about this scheme of Satan: "To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also... Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Cor. 2:10, 11). We will see how Satan builds a stronghold of unforgiveness. Peter was asking the Lord Jesus about forgiveness. "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven" (Matt. 18:2 1, 22). Jesus was replying, in effect, that you always forgive. Jesus then gave them a parable to show the judgment of God on unforgiveness.
"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave the debt" (Matt. 18:23-27). This is a picture of us coming to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness from our sin.
We see next what happened to this slave after he was released and forgiven: "But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, pay me that thou owest. And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. Then his lord, after that he had called, said unto him, 0 thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt... Shouldest not thou also have had COMPASSION on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?" (Matt. 18:28-33). The Lord had forgiven this servant, but he would not forgive a fellow servant.
We can see God's judgment upon everyone who breaks God's law of love by not walking in forgiveness. This judgment brings God's wrath and lowers the hedge and turns the servant over to the powers of darkness. "And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the TORMENTORS, till he should pay all that was due unto him. SO LIKEWISE SHALL MY HEAVENLY FATHER DO ALSO UNTO YOU, IF YE FROM YOUR HEARTS FORGIVE NOT EVERY ONE HIS BROTHER THEIR TRESPASSES" (Matt. 18:34,35). If this person continues to walk after the flesh in unforgiveness without repentance, the powers of darkness will continue to build strongholds until he is destroyed.
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Let this (same) mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:3, 4).
If we walk with the mind of Christ, we walk in love and have peace because we are protected by God. If we walk with our mind set on the flesh, we have the mind of Satan. The hedge will come down on us continually because of these works until the powers of darkness bring death.
This is why Romans 8:13 says, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Rom. 8:13, 14). In this Scripture you see both life and death, blessings and curses. In order to have the mind of Christ, we must be led by the Spirit to put to death the deeds of the flesh. This is how we purify our hearts. If we choose to continue walking after the deeds of the flesh, the hedge will be down for the powers of darkness who "cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy" (John 10:10).
The hedge is down today, bringing death on the church, which is choosing to walk after the flesh.
Today the Lord is leading His followers out of this captivity and death. "And it shall come to pass when all these. things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; that then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee" (Deut. 30:1-3).
Love Your Neighbor to Fulfill the Law
God's law to love your neighbor stood then as it does now: "You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor. Thou shalt not go up and about as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am the Lord. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord. Ye shall keep My statutes" (Lev. 19:15-19).
But the Church has not kept God's law just as Israel did not keep God's law. Instead, like Israel, everyone has been doing what seems right to him. "Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes. For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the Lord your God giveth you. But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety... Deut. 12:8-10).
Those who desire to walk with God must stop following the flesh and submit to God's holy walk: "For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that He see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee" (Deut. 23:14). Jesus leads us by His Spirit to put to death the deeds of all fleshly rebellion, so that we may fulfill the law and be holy. If we do not resist sin and put to death the deeds of the flesh, we will continue to have a mind like Satan, because the nature of Satan and the ways of the flesh are the same. Putting to death the flesh is the only way we can have a pure heart and be renewed to have the mind of Christ. This is the walk of holiness. "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16). This is the Church of Jesus Christ, because ".., if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not (any longer) under the (judgment of) law" (Gal. 5:18). If you are led by the Spirit, your mind is no longer set on the things of the flesh, but the things of the Spirit. You are no longer under judgment because you no longer break the law. God's presence is in the midst of you to protect, deliver, and defeat your enemies.
The result is God's hedge, which brings peace: "For to be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is LIFE and PEACE. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law, neither indeed can be" (Rom. 8:6, 7). Everyone in the world who does not walk in love and obey God's law is destroyed by the powers of darkness. It is a slow death, almost imperceptible, as a moth destroys or as rottenness is in a fabric. 66
The ones who do not receive the Word of God into their hearts to be perfected in love are those who love other things more than they love God. If a person's mind is set on things of the flesh, the powers of darkness will be able to replace the Word in his heart with the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world. A disciple of Jesus Christ loves the Lord with all his heart and has his mind set totally on things above.
The powers of darkness bring temptation to cause our hearts to love pride, approval of man, greed and things of the world more than we love the Lord. These temptations become the roots of all sorts of evil, which change our motives from love to selfishness. This prevents us from being perfected in love. When we turn to the ways of Satan, we turn from our faith in Jesus. This is how the powers of darkness take the Word from our hearts and carry us away from the faith. The only root and motive in our heart should be to please the Lord. The parable of the Word best explains how the powers of darkness keep us from being perfected in love, and keep us from having understanding. Jesus said to the disciples, "Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand" (Mark 4:11, 12). Jesus was saying that only the disciples, the ones who come to Him with all their hearts, will have understanding. Everyone else will not be able to see, hear, or understand the mysteries of God today. 67
Jesus said, "The sower soweth the word.., but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts" (by turning their hearts to something else)... "These are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended." (They fall away from the faith and their hearts turn to things like pride, reputation, greed, treasures of this world, selfishness, and they love these things more than the Lord.) "And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and (the powers of darkness bring) the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful" (Mark 4: 14-19).
These are examples of the trials that the powers of darkness bring against us to try to stop us from bearing the fruit of love. The powers of darkness try to get our hearts to be set on things of this world, by causing us to lust after the riches of this world and the desire for other things. Then our interest will be to please our flesh rather than to please God and be perfected in love. The opposite of all these is the man of God who is led by the Spirit of God. His motive will be to please the Lord rather than his flesh in everything he does. "But he that received seed into the good ground (a repentant heart) is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty" (Matt. 13:23).
What You Speak to Others You Will Reap
We experience fear of God as we learn about God's judgment and laws. "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (he sows either words of love or words of hate toward his neighbor). For he that soweth to his flesh (such as slander, hate, anger, murder, etc.) shall of the flesh reap corruption (judgment because he breaks God's law), but he that soweth to the Spirit (sows word of love and peace) shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Gal. 6:7,8). This is the walk of salvation, because "...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW" (because this is the walk of holiness) (Gal. 5:22, 23).
We fulfill the law instead of being law-breaker, when we love our neighbor. This is the fruit of a renewed mind. This is the mature man with a pure heart. He no longer has the mind of Satan; he has the mind of Christ. Therefore, the powers of darkness can get no ground in his life because he is a doer of the law through Jesus Christ: "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified" (Rom, 2:13).
Then how do we put to death the deeds of the flesh? By no longer warring with our neighbor according to the flesh. When the pressures and trials come (and they will) to test your heart, stand on the Word of God and love your neighbor. This is how the flesh dies. Resist all temptations to defraud, hate, exploit, or speak against your neighbor. If he has done any wrong, God's vengeance will take care of him. LET GOD BE THE JUDGE! When you refuse to speak any words against your neighbor, you are putting to death the flesh and you are ceasing from sin. When you are reviled, persecuted and insulted, you speak blessings. You put to death the deeds of the flesh by resisting the flesh. You are dying to the ways of Satan and your mind is being renewed, because you are choosing to have the mind of Christ. You prove you love the nature of God more than the nature of the devil. Your heart believes unto righteousness.
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect (perfected in love) and entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:24). "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof" (Rom. 13:14).
On the one hand, the law brings judgment and wrath on all who do not keep the law. On the other hand, Jesus tells us to come to Him and He will lead us to fulfill the law by becoming a doer of the law. This is how we are saved from the destruction and judgment of God's law. "But IF ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law" (Gal. 5:18). 70
Put to Death the Flesh to Have a Pure Heart
The powers of darkness come to entice and tempt the brethren to break the law so they can devour us. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking someone to devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith (only brethren can have faith), knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you" (1 Pet. 5:8-10).
We suffer as we deny ourselves and resist the fleshly temptations of Satan. We will suffer for a little while, putting to death the fleshly desires, because we love Jesus more than we love the flesh. This was the commandment of the law that we first love the Lord with all our hearts.
The Lord then leads us to die to the selfish flesh in order to have the nature of God and love our neighbor as ourselves: "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:26). The real sons of God put to death the flesh in order to have a pure heart.
The result of this faith is to become doers of the law by loving our neighbor as ourselves. "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law" (Rom 3:3 1).
We fulfill the law by being led by the Spirit of God (through faith) to become doers of the law. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law in us so we could be reconciled to God: "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Rom 10:4). If we believe, we will be perfected in love to follow the law.
Obedience Is Not Legalism
Paul explains how he was set free through the Lord Jesus Christ: "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh (and break God's law). 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. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God" (Rom. 8:12-14). "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law" (Gal. 5:18). We are not under the law, because we are fulfilling the law through obedience.
When someone suggests to those who follow a form of godliness that we are required to be obedient to the commandments of God, you sometimes hear accusations of "legalism." The majority of the Church today is trying to guard against being entrapped in the error of legalism as were the Pharisees. The Pharisees were very legalistic by setting up their own rules. Then obedience to their rules became their standard for fulfilling God's law.
When we attempt to fulfill God's law through obeying our own set of rules, this is legalism and the works of the flesh. We are not being led and controlled by the Spirit of God. When the Pharisees became legalistic by obeying their own set of rules and laws, they were blinded to the obedience God requires to His own laws. They fulfilled their own set of rules and laws but became transgressors of God's laws. This produced a false security.
Almost all of the Church today is legalistic in a very similar way. They have drifted away into a form of godliness and they, like the Pharisees, have established their own righteousness. This happens when we believe our righteousness is fulfilled in the fleshly works of carnal doctrines. This is the "peace and Safety" message of today.
Carnal doctrines are only partial truths, which have fulfilled the selfish ambition of men but do not fulfill the laws of God. Those who follow carnal doctrines are in spiritual darkness because they are not led by the Spirit of God to fulfill the law of God. They remain under the judgment of the law with a false Security. There is no protection from God because of their disobedience. This is why the powers of darkness are in the Church today.
Legalism captured the hearts of the Pharisees. They had developed a very complex system of do's and don'ts. They were constantly rebuking anyone who dared to disobey the rules they had developed.
When Jesus refused to subject Himself and His disciples to their regulations, they were quick to criticize. They said to Jesus: "Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?... But He answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?" (Matt. 15:2,3). 73
The Pharisees had only a form of godliness. All of their regulations were being observed Without once honoring the Lord from their heart. Jesus said to them, 'There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things Which come out of Him, those are they that defile the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication, murders, thefts, Covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man" (Mark 7:15, 21-23).
We see a distinction in the efforts of man to please God outwardly by obeying a set of regulations while his heart continues to break God's law with slander, pride, and other sins.
While the Pharisees were carrying out the desires of the flesh and looking good outwardly, the Lord was looking into their hearts. The issue, to God, is does a man love Him with all his heart: "For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Sam. 16:7). The Pharisees were admired by the people for their diligence and godliness, because they faithfully carried out and defended their legalistic traditions. But Jesus said to them, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity" (Matt. 23:27, 28).
The legalism of the Pharisees consisted of traditions that could be carried out with outward works of the flesh: "Touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using; after the commandments and doctrines of men, which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body" (Col. 2:21-23). But these things can only make you self-righteous; they will never produce true righteousness.
The church today is filled with similar kinds of legalistic rules and regulations. Each structure has its own set of rules. But like the Pharisees, they are only works of the flesh, a form of godliness, which can never lead people to truly love their neighbor and fulfill God's law.
The flesh nature constantly looks for rules it can fulfill without having to take up the cross and deal with the heart. Much of the church is caught in the same trap today. The rules of these structures, like the rules of the Pharisees, are of no value against the rebellious nature of the flesh. OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD IS NOT LEGALISM. LEGALISM IS OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMANDMENT OF MEN.
This is why James says, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" (James 2:17). Works of love are the direct result of obedience and walking in faith.
All of the legalistic works of the flesh will never satisfy the Lord's demands for obedience to His law. Even the "sacrifices of praise" being offered up to the Lord in churches today are meaningless unless they come from hearts that are obedient to the Word.
The truth Samuel spoke to King Saul still stands true: "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry" (1 Sam. 15:22, 23).
Obedience is the only way we can walk in the love that God requires in His law. By this obedience to His Spirit, we become "conformed to the image of His Son" (Rom. 8:29). Jesus invites us to come to Him with all our heart so He can lead us to be perfected in His covenant of love. Totally through His grace, He makes us strong enough to become doers of the law. "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6). However, if you are not ready to give up everything in the world and everything of the flesh, you are not ready to make Jesus Christ Lord of your life. Jesus cannot perfect a good work in you if you walk in disobedience. If you love sin more than you love Jesus, you have a hardened heart. You will not submit to the obedience of the Spirit to be perfected in love.
The Lord Empowers Us to Overcome the Flesh
"For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted" (Heb. 2:18). "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP (resist the devil) IN TIME OF NEED" (Heb. 4:15, 16).
Understand that mercy and grace empower us to resist the temptations of the flesh, which come from Satan. Mercy and grace have been perverted by carnal doctrines, which tell us we can practice the desires of the flesh (lawlessness) without judgment.
They say, "No one can keep the law" (the ten commandments).
That is true if you are following a form of godliness, but if you follow Jesus, you receive mercy and grace to become DOERS of the law. How can you have the mind of Christ if you continue walking with the mind of the devil? God is commanding us to be conformed to the image of Jesus.
The sons of God are those who are justified by faith and this faith leads us to fulfill the law. His Spirit leads us to put to death all the deeds of the lawless flesh nature. This must happen so your heart can be purified and you can love your neighbor as yourself. You have then laid down your life. This is the only way we can walk in the love that God demands: "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Pet. 1:4). We take these promises to heart and walk them out in order to have the nature of Jesus Christ and then we can love others as Jesus has loved us.
"Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently; being born again.., by the word of God" (1 Pet. 1:22, 23) The Word conforms us to the image of Jesus-holy and blameless. We then have the divine nature of God and bear the fruit of love. The opposite of this is to love the flesh and have our minds set on things of the world and build our treasures here on earth. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt. 6:2 1).
"For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor un- clean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU WITH VAIN WORDS; FOR BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS COMETH THE WRATH OF GOD (the judgment of the law) UPON THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE (who walk after fleshly lusts). Be ye not therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes (formerly) darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. Wherefore He saith, AWAKE SLEEPER, and arise from the (judgment of the) dead... See that you walk circumspectly... understanding what the will of the Lord is... That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be HOLY and WITHOUT BLEMISH.., that He might SANCTIFY and CLEANSE it with the washing of water by the word" (Eph. 5:5-8, 14, 15, 17, 27, 26). These Scriptures clearly explain that sanctification is being cleansed by the Word of God in order to be holy and blameless. God is now warning us to wake up in order to escape the judgment and wrath of God.
".... The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be JUSTIFIED BY FAITH" (Gal. 3:24). Remember that we are led to Christ by faith and then we are justified by faith. We have already seen that .... not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be JUSTIFIED" (Rom. 2:13).
How We Become Slaves of Righteousness
Being justified by faith means that we are made just as if we had never sinned. When we give Him our whole heart, we are justified; then He leads us to become doers of the law, which means walking in love. It is natural for us to want to keep the law when our hearts are pure because of our new nature. But those who follow after carnal doctrines oppose this truth because they are lovers of self and trust in their own form of godliness.
When we come to the Lord, we are to love Him with ALL OUR HEART, more than the world, more than the things in the world, more than family, more than the desires of the flesh, more than anything. Then the Word of God is able to wash our hearts from all unrighteousness, because our motives and the desires of our hearts are now to please Jesus. We want to please Him more than to fulfill our desires for pride, greed, selfishness, building treasures in this world, or anything else. We no longer present our members (of our bodies) as slaves to sin, but as slaves to righteousness.
Paul gave us an example of this walk: "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: THAT I MAY KNOW HIM, AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION, AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS, BEING MADE CONFORMABLE UNTO HIS DEATH, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection from the dead" (Phil. 3:7-10). Paul took up his cross and denied himself in order to attain to this resurrection from the dead NOW. Paul explained in this passage how he was being perfected in love.
God has given to us the very same instructions. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in His steps" (1 Pet, 2:21). 80
"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God" (1 Pet. 4:1,2). The will of God for us is sanctification and a pure heart. "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together" (Ram. 8:17). "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh" (2 Cor. 4:10, 11). "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of
The Great Falling Away TODAY -By Milton Green Chapter 3 "How Do Demons Enter In?"
Posted : 9 Feb, 2012 01:04 AM
of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection" (Ram. 6:5). God did not have one Gospel for Paul and another Gospel for us today. Both Paul and Jesus were living examples for us today.
A good question would be: Did the first Church in the book of Acts prove by their lives that they were walking in the likeness of Christ by the love shown as they laid down their lives for one another? "And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily WITH ONE ACCORD in the temple ... And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul; Neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. . . and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked" (Acts 2:44-46; 4:32-34).
I could ask the questions again, "Did they love their neighbor as themselves? Did they love one another as Christ had loved them?" The first Church set the ex- ample for us, by having the giving nature of God. Jesus and Paul set the same examples. What has happened to the Gospel? Is there another Gospel? No! Quite simply, THE LAW HAS BEEN LOST! There is no fear of God. The Church in the book of Acts knew they were to forsake all and be perfected in love.
The rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked, "'Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?' And Jesus (referring to the law) said unto him... 'do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, defraud not, honor they father and mother.. .' And he answered and said unto Him, 'Master all these have I observed from my youth. . .' Jesus... said unto him, 'One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross and follow Me'" (Mark 10:17-211).
We must come to Jesus Christ with ALL OUR HEART. If He does not have all our heart, then we will turn to the treasures of the world. If God has all our heart, we will then build our treasures in heaven. We remain an this earth only a short time to pass through the trials of this world and prove to God that we love Him with all our hearts and that our primary desire is to spend eternity with Him in heaven.
Jesus said to the rich young ruler: "If thou wilt be PERFECT, go and sell that thou hast" (Matt, 19:21). Jesus said those things because He saw that greed still had the heart of the rich young ruler. "And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. (He was grieved because he realized that he loved his possessions more than he loved God.) And Jesus looked round about and saith unto His disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:22, 23).
Many who read this verse are amazed and astonished at these words and wonder, "Well, who can be saved?" The disciples were amazed and astonished too. "And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can he saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible Peter began to say unto Him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed Thee. And Jesus answered and said Verily I say unto you, there is no man that bath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time.. . WITH PERSECUTIONS; AND IN THE WORLD TO COME ETERNAL LIFE .. and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid" (Mark 10:24, 26-30, 32).
If the disciples were amazed, astonished, and fearful at these statements of Jesus, why shouldn't we be even more so today? However, these same disciples later taught these things to the first Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The people in this Church sold all their property and shared with all who had need. They were building their treasures in heaven. They loved their neighbors more than they loved their greed. This Church was perfected in the unity of the faith and to the fullness of the stature which belongs to Christ. They were of one heart and one mind in the temple because Jesus, not man, was the center of His Church.
No person can receive these Scriptures unless Jesus has all his heart. Did Jesus tell us to lay down our lives in this world? The implications of these Scriptures will cause a cultural shock to those in the worldly church today. We have been led astray. We find all kinds of patterns in this world that are called the church and that we are to be conformed to. But the disciples who spent years with the Lord knew exactly what the Church was supposed to be like. They left us this example in the book of Acts.
When we love the Lord with all our hearts, it costs us everything in this life and in this world. The Spirit of God can then totally control our lives and Satan can do nothing, because all selfishness is removed. This Church puts into practice the commandments of our Lord to love their neighbor as themselves, and to love one another as Jesus had loved them.
If we look at these Scriptures through the eyes of a form of godliness, we will call this a history of the Church, rather than a revelation of the Church of Jesus Christ, which was to be perfected in love.
Not only was the rich young ruler required to sell all that he had to follow Jesus, but many in the first church in the Book of Acts felt led to do the same. The powers of darkness could no longer tempt their hearts with anything in this world. They built all their treasures in heaven, because they laid down their lives for their neighbors. They laid down their lives to please God and be vessels to extend God's love to the whole world, because they now had the nature of Jesus.
Listen to the Word of God in Titus 3:3-5: "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the KINDNESS AND LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR TOWARD MAN APPEARED (JESUS CHRIST)... He saved us, by the washing of regeneration (being cleansed by the word and Spirit of God), and renewing of the Holy Ghost" to have the mind of Christ. This is sanctification. This is how we are conformed to the image of Jesus and how we become the blameless bride of Christ.
We now walk and talk like our Lord and no longer according to the flesh. We can clearly see what grace instructs us to do in Titus 2:11-14: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope. . . Who gave Himself for us. THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM ALL INIQUITY, AND PURIFY UNTO HIMSELF A PECULIAR PEOPLE, ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS" (to walk in love).
Jesus commanded the body of Christ to lay down their lives in order that we may love our friends as He has loved us. Paul identified this body of Christ by saying, "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the (fleshly) affections and lusts" (Gal. 5:24). "But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light" (Eph. 5:13).
We Are Called to Holiness
Jesus is calling you to holiness: "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God which worketh in you.. . that ye may be blameless and harmless (innocent), the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Phil. 2:12,13, 15). When we are led by the Spirit of God, we no longer walk after the flesh. We bear a different fruit, the fruit of love which is the nature of God: ... . against such there in no law." (Gal. 5:23)
This is how Christ fulfills the law in us. His Spirit leads us to become DOERS OF THE LAW, because we have a new heart, a pure heart with new fruit, the fruit of love. We no longer break the law, but we fulfill the law.
We are now walking in God's protection and blessings because we love God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves. We have ceased from our own works and have entered into the rest of God. "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death, that THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED IN US WHO.. ."DO WHAT???
1. Join a religious structure?
2. Find the best doctrine?
3. Manifest a spiritual gift?
4. Do good works for Jesus?
5. Etc., etc., etc.,
NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!
".... that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT' (Rom. 8:2, 4). "... WALK IN THE SPIRIT, AND YE SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH... But if ye be LED OF THE SPIRIT, you are NOT UNDER (the judgment of) THE LAW (Gal. 5:16, 18). This is the true Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Those in the true Church are not under the law. They are led by the Spirit of God to put to death the deeds of the flesh, so they can be perfected in love to fulfill the law. This is the Church which can truly say, "We are no longer under the judgment and curses of the law." The false church, which follows a form of godliness, has become a dwelling place of demons because she transgresses the law instead of fulfilling the law of love.
Grace of God Has Been Perverted
The grace of God does not permit us to practice sin, as carnal doctrines teach us today: "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? GOD FORBID ...Shall we continue in sin (continue practicing sin) that grace may abound? GOD FORBID. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? But God be thanked, that we WERE the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness" (Rom. 6:15, 1, 2, 17, 18).
Our obedience to the Word of God and the Spirit of God perfects us in the God-kind of love and righteousness: BUT WHOSO KEEPETH HIS WORD, IN HIM VERILY IS THE LOVE OF GOD PERFECTED; HEREBY KNOW WE THAT WE ARE IN HIM. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked" (1 John 2:5,6).
This is the body of Christ, which has been perfected in love. If Jesus commands us to love one another with the same love with which He loved us, WOULD HE NOT EXPECT US TO DO IT? This is the very same love that causes you to love your neighbor as yourself.
Many people in congregations today find security in the works they do for God. They sincerely believe if they do works for God, it is all right to practice sin (breaking God's laws). However, the Word of God teaches just the opposite. We no longer present the members of our body as slaves to impurity and lawlessness (practice sin);
"Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful woks. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity" (Matt. 7:22, 23). "Whosoever commiteth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4).
We continue to break the law if we continue to practice sin. Paul said, "But if , while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? GOD FORBID. For if I build again the things which I destroyed (the curse flesh nature), I make myself (still) a transgressor (still walking under the judgment of the law) (Gal. 2:17,18).
Works of the Flesh Destroyed
Paul said, "0 foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth... Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Gal. 3:1, 3). .This is how people walk under the judgment of the law and works of the law, by trying to be perfected in love through the works of the flesh. This brings the curse of the law: "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse..." (Gal. 3:10).
We see again the curse of the law is on all those who try to fulfill the law in any other way than being led by the Spirit of God. It is only through being led by the Spirit that we can be perfected in the love that fulfills the law: "So then they which be of faith (led and controlled by the Spirit of God) are the children of Abraham" (Gal. 3:9).
This helps explain the blessings and curses of God's law. We will see a clearer explanation as we continue. This is why the hedge is down on a harlot church today. She is trying to be perfected in love after the strength and works of the flesh. This is how Babylon, the harlot church, becomes a dwelling place of demons (Rev. 18:2). "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil:... Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin... In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is NOT OF GOD, NEITHER HE THAT LOVETH NOT HIS BROTHER" (1 John 3:7-10).
When we continue to practice sin, we are not being controlled by the Spirit of God. We are being controlled by the flesh and sin. We are still choosing to walk in the image of Satan rather than the image of God: "If ye know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him" (1 John 2:29).
Who Are the False Sons of God?
"Wherefore. . 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, LOOKING UNTO JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith;... For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.... My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: for whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth" (Heb. 12:1-3, 5, 6).
When we repent and come to the Lord with a whole heart, He places a hedge around us so that we walk in peace. Should We find ourselves not walking in peace, the powers of darkness are attacking us. The hedge has been removed because of some sin which has broken God's commandment of love (His law). This is God's discipline and reproof on a Christian who sins. A Christian will want to repent, so he asks the Holy Spirit what sin he has committed, because a true believer loves Jesus more than any sin. The Holy Spirit, at some point, will reveal to US the sin. Then, because of the cross and the blood of Jesus, because of Jesus Christ's victory over sin, and because He became our sacrifice for sin, the blood of Jesus will cleanse us from this sin. We are then forgiven, and we are no longer transgressors of God's law. The powers of darkness have no more ground, so they have to back off and the hedge of protection and peace returns.
As we learn to walk in the blessings and peace of God, we become more and more sensitive about avoiding sin. This is the discipline that leads us to purify our hearts and love others as Jesus has loved us: "If ye endure chastening, God, dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? BUT IF YE BE WITHOUT CHASTISEMENT, WHEREOF ALL ARE PARTAKERS, THEN ARE YE BASTeRDS, AND NOT SONS" (Heb. 12:7, 8).
False sons refuse to give up their love for the flesh nature of Satan. They devise ways to enter heaven without denying their flesh. They justify themselves with their form of godliness because they still love the world and the flesh. They are not led by the Spirit of God. This is the fallen away church today. False sons do not know about this peace of God, nor do they know about the fear of God. Since they walk in a false security, they do not know they have to purify their hearts. Therefore, as they continually break God's law, the powers of darkness are able to bring more and more bondage, until they are destroyed; all because they did not choose the nature of God. "Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore He brought down their hearts with labour; they fell down and there was none to help. Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted" (Ps. 107:10, 11, 17).
"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 (eternally)? 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 (have a pure heart)" (Heb. 12:9, 10). 92
We are obedient children led by the Spirit of God to be perfected in love arid holiness: "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, SO BE YE HOLY IN ALL MANNER OF CONVERSATION; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, PASS THE TIME OF YOUR SOJOURNING HERE IN FEAR (that ye may not be destroyed)" (1 Pet. 1:14-17).
It is a painful thing to die to the flesh and to submit to the chastening of the Lord. We have to totally depend upon God. We become broken vessels. It does not look like victory to the world and to those who love a form of godliness: "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." (Heb. 12:11)
Discipline causes us to yield the peaceful fruit of "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such things there is no law." (Gal. 5:22,23) This is the body of Christ which fulfills the law by submitting to discipline in obedience to the Spirit of God. This is the only way we can have a pure heart. This is sanctification and the walk of peace. "Pursue PEACE with all men, and the SANCTIFICATION WITHOUT WHICH NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD." (Heb. 12:14)
Paul encouraged the Thessalonians about the opposition and trials which were coming upon the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the fire which we go through to become vessels of gold and honor.
Paul said, "For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God... for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen" (1 Thess. 2:14). "[We] ... sent Timotheus... to establish, and to comfort you concerning your faith, that no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto... when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulations; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your FAITH, lest by some means the TEMPTER have TEMPTED YOU, and (you fall away from the faith so) our labour be in vain. (1 Thess. 3:2-5).
Paul was fearful that they would not stand in the trials and persecutions to be perfected in love. He feared that through the temptations, trials and pressures of the powers of darkness, they would turn from the faith back to the ways of the flesh. Therefore, they could not be perfected in love to become complete, holy and blameless.
An example of this is in the parable of the Word: "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root (Jesus), WHICH FOR A WHILE BELIEVE, and in time of TEMPTATION (by the powers of darkness) FALL AWAY" (from being perfected in love) (Luke 8:11-13). 94
They fall away from being perfected in love when the tempter can cause their hearts to turn from God to love other things more than God. This is how we fall away from the faith. We see another heart which fails to be perfected in love in the following verse: "And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this present life, and bring no fruit (of love) to perfection" (Luke 8:14). They love the world and the ways of the world more than God. They are not perfected in love to bring godly fruit to maturity.
How a Disciple's Heart Is Perfected In Love
In the last verse of this parable we see the disciple's heart which is perfected in love: "But they on the good ground (good heart) are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience" (Luke 8:15).
Jesus is coming for a bride who is holy and blameless. This bride will be perfected in love, and she will love her neighbor as Jesus has loved us.
Paul told the Thessalonians that he was praying for them night and day that we "might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith.., and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men.., to the end He may stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 3:10-13).
Paul continued, "FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD, EVEN YOUR SANCTIFICATION (a pure heart).., that every one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor; not in the lust of concupiscence (longing for that which is forbidden)... that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness (an impure heart), but unto HOLINESS (a pure heart). He therefore that despiseth (rejects), despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit" (1 Thess. 4:3-8).
We miss the will of God when we are not sanctified. Christ is returning for a bride who has been perfected in love, a doer of God's law. In these Scriptures, we clearly see that the Word cleanses our hearts from all love of the flesh. This will not happen unless we first love the Lord and His Word more than any sins of the flesh.
Paul was warning that the tempter would try to turn them from the faith. Then they would not be unblamable in holiness at the coming of our Lord. Paul said, "Now the end of the commandment is charity (agape love) out of a pure heart" (1 Tim. 1:5). This is the purpose of sanctification, to have love from a pure heart.
The man who purifies his heart possesses his vessel in sanctification and honor by overcoming the selfish flesh. This is the true Church. This is the bride Jesus Christ is returning for. If anyone rejects the teaching of sanctification because of carnal doctrines, he is rejecting God who gives the Holy Spirit. The Word of God has clearly described the Church that our Lord Jesus is coming for.
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such WERE SOME OF YOU: BUT YE ARE WASHED (by the word and Spirit of God), BUT YE ARE SANCTIFIED, (to have a pure heart), BUT YE ARE JUSTIFIED" (1 Cor. 6:9-11).
"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreproveable in His sight: IF YE CONTINUE IN THE FAITH... the mystery which hath been hid.., but now is made manifest to His saints:... which is CHRIST (FORMED) IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY: WHOM WE PREACH... THAT WE MAY PRESENT EVERY MAN PERFECT IN JESUS CHRIST (with a pure heart, sanctified)" (Col. 1:21-23, 26-28).
The Great Falling Away TODAY -By Milton Green Chapter 3 "How Do Demons Enter In?"
Posted : 9 Feb, 2012 11:16 AM
Amen ! AMEN !! AMEN !!!...A most excellant post RK...May this Word of Truth be accepted in the hearts of the people and cause the "awe" of understaning to sink in deeper...thank you and may God continue to Bless you in your journey...xo
