A Song of Ascents!

 Do you know the biggest problem facing mankind, today?  It’s not climate change.  It’s not war with China.  It’s not Iran getting the nuclear bomb.  What’s the thing that beats people down the very most?  What leaves us hurting and depressed?  Are you depressed about those things I mentioned?  I’m not!  I really don’t think about those things much.

What beats us down is what happens in our lives – from the decisions we've made, the things we've done and the relationships we’ve destroyed.  That brings me to the thing that is the biggest problem facing mankind today.  This is the biggest cause of problems for people; the thing that causes the most damage to families, to marriages and to people’s lives – Sin!

Do you know what one of the greatest blessings of Christianity is?  It’s that you can be set free from sin.  It can be removed from you; taken away and forgotten by God.  Never to be remembered again!  You can have a fresh start, a new beginning.  You can be Born Again!

Psalms 130:1-8 (NKJV)
^130:1 A song of Ascents. Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; ² Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. ³ If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. ⁵ I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. ⁶ My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning-- Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. ⁷ O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. ⁸ And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities.

A Song of Ascents

The very first words of this psalm are “A Song of Ascents.”  To ascend means to elevate, to rise up; to be lifted up.  The psalmist is saying that out of the depths he cried out.  The depths of despair; the depths of shame; the depths of guilt.  I want to show you how another version of the Bible puts it:

Psalms 130:1 (MSG)
^130:1 … Help, God—the bottom has fallen out of my life! Master, hear my cry for help!

The bottom has fallen out of my life.  I have sunk as low as I can go.  My life is a mess. 

Oh, how I have been in that place before!  The bottom fell out of my own life, but it wasn’t by chance.  It wasn’t bad luck.  It was the result of continuous and ongoing sin in my life.  That’s what destroyed me.  That’s what defeated me.  That’s what beat me down.  It was out of those depths that I cried out to God and He heard my cry for help.  It was a prayer of ascents, “God lift me out of these depths.”  Take away these things that I have inflicted on my own life.

Sin always destroys – Satan is a destroyer.

 

John 10:10 (NKJV)
^10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

What does he want to steal?  He wants to steal your life.  He wants to steal your finances.  He wants to steal your joy, but Jesus – He has come to give you life; more abundant life.  More abundant joy.  He wants to bring you out of the depths.  He wants to elevate your life. 

The psalmist asks God to hear his supplications.  Supplications is an earnest request for favor from God.  People in the Bible often pray, “If I have found favor in your sight, meet this need.”   That’s supplication.  When we cry out like the psalmist has here – He’s asking God to hear him, to help him.  This is supplications. 

The thing about this is that when we cry out to God, He does hear us.  He heard the groaning of the people in Egypt.  He heard their cries in the desert.  He hears us when we cry out to Him and He has mercy and compassion on us.

The way He lifts us up is through our salvation.  This is when we see his mercy, His forgiveness.  This is when there is a miracle of transformation in our lives.  I thought I was stuck in my sin.  I didn’t see any way forward.  I assumed I had completely ruined my life.  I couldn’t change on my own.  I had tried…I was stuck.

When I cried out.  When I came with supplications.  When I cried out to ascend.  When I was humble enough to do that.  God heard me and transformed me.  He lifted me out of that sin and lifestyle, and set my feet on solid ground again.

God hears you.  He hears you.  He knows your hurts and sorrows.  He’s heard your groaning.  He knows the depths of your sin and your despair.  He will lift you out of those things if you will cry out to Him.  Oh, what a gracious God we serve!

The Sea of Forgetfulness

How does God move to change us or transform us?  How does God restore our peace and confidence.  The psalmist tells us:

Psalms 130:3-4 (NKJV)
^130:3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.

Look again at the Message Bible:

Psalms 130:3-4 (MSG)
^130:3 If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? ⁴ As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that's why you're worshiped.

Does God remember what you’ve done wrong?  Does He remember every little sin and wrong word?  The answer to that is yes!  These things are recorded, unless…unless what an important word.  Unless you have cried out for forgiveness and really repented.  If you have then what happens?  This:

Isaiah 43:25 (NKJV)
^43:25 "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.

He blots them out.  He makes them disappear.  They’re removed from you as the Bible says, “As far as the East is from the West!” (Psalms 103:12) Never to be remembered again, “And I will not remember your sins.”

They will be sunk into the sea:

Micah 7:19 (NKJV)
^7:19 He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.

Never to be brought up again.  All of those things you were ashamed of forgotten.  All of those things that brought you to despair.  All of those things that robbed the joy and life from you.  They are gone forever!

When I got saved this was the greatest thing for me.  I was able to go on as if those things were no longer a part of my life.  God had forgotten them and would remember them no more!

Hebrews 8:12 (NKJV)
^8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."

We can escape the weight of our sin.  The weight that pulls us down.  The weight that keep us from ascending.  Have you ever tried to carry a heavy backpack up a huge mountain.  It’s very difficult to climb up, but when the weight is gone, how strong do your legs feel.  This is the greatest thing about salvation.  The strength you have to go on with your life once the weight of that sin is gone.  We are set free from that burden of our sin.

No religious philosophy can do that.  Only salvation and the repentance of sin can cause this.  Our God is a merciful God who loves us, who hears us, who forgives us, and who relieves us of the crushing weight of sin.  Just think of how it would be if God didn’t do that.  There would be no hope.  Repentance would be futile.  Buddhists are doomed to endlessly repeat life until they get it all right, because their ascendance is based on their behavior.  Every sin is recorded and never forgotten.  Karma is a cruel master, but in repenting, God will forgive and remember no more.  Those things you did before will not affect your future, unless you do them again, and don’t repent of them.

There is Hope in God

Our God is a God of Hope.

Psalms 130:7-8 (NKJV)
^130:7 O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. ⁸ And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities.

Before we get saved, we are sold under sin, as if we are slaves, because if you think about it, we are slaves to our particular sins.

That’s why I needed salvation, I was overwhelmed, I was burdened down, I was a slave to all that I was doing.  I couldn’t stop, even when I wanted.  I had lost all hope.  I needed the mercy and compassion of God to release me from all of that, and God did have mercy.  God did show compassion.

Here I am today, to declare to you that God is a God of mercy and compassion.  God will redeem you from the slave owner…Satan.  He will set you free from the chains that Satan uses to hold you:  The chains called sin.  There is hope today that the bondage of sin can be broken.  This is what the psalmist is rejoicing over.  This is the hope that he’s declaring.  This is the promise of salvation.

God will lift you up, in a moment of time.  You can be transformed.  All of the shame and sorrow and burden erased.  Blotted out, because God is gracious.  God is merciful.  God is a loving God and a righteous judge.  Have hope today, God can do a miracle in your life.

Born into the Kingdom #3 - Holy Spirit Baptism

 Today, I’m going to post the last of my “Born into the Kingdom" series.  The series is based on Peter’s preaching in Acts Chapter 2, specifically:

Acts 2:38 (NKJV)
^2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The first post dealt with repentance, the second was on the topic of baptism and this, the third, will deal with the gift of the Holy Spirit.  So, let’s begin:

Acts 1:4-5 (NKJV)
^1:4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; ⁵ for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

The Great Anticipation

In our text Jesus is telling the disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit.  He calls it the promise of the Father; the Comforter; the Helper.  “Go and wait.  Something is going to happen, something that God has promised.  There’s a sense of anticipation. 

Have you ever had to wait for something that:

1)      You were expecting or excited about?

2)      You know is going to be great?

3)      The closer it gets the more excited you are?

4)      That’s anticipation!

This anticipation didn’t start right then, though.  It didn’t start when Jesus told them to go and wait.  It started about a thousand years before that.

Joel 2:28 (NKJV)
^2:28 "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.

So, the prophet Joel prophesied all of this, a thousand years before Jesus!  People had been waiting and anticipating it since then.  That’s why Peter said to them.  This is what was spoken of by Joel.  “This is what you’ve been waiting for!” 

When Jesus came this started to get more attention.  It was accelerated, as they say.  For example, John the Baptist was filled with the Hoy Spirit, even before he was born.

Luke 1:41 (NKJV)
^1:41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

John’s Spirit recognized Jesus’ mother.  John’s preaching increased the anticipation, even more.

Matthew 3:11 (NKJV)
^3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

So, he’s saying, “I will baptize with water, a part of your repentance, but one is coming who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!  This is not the end!  There’s more, immersion in the Holy Spirit.” (paraphrased) That word translated as baptism literally means immersion. “Repent and be baptized…but it’s going to get even better.

Jesus came to John to be baptized and as He came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descended on Him and remained on Him!

Luke 4:1 (NKJV)
^4:1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

After this Jesus Himself, begins to excite this anticipation.  He was constantly talking about the Holy Spirit.

John 7:38-39 (NKJV)
^7:38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." ³⁹ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

“If you believe in Me, you will receive the Holy Spirit, but not yet just wait…It’s coming.  He even goes so far as to say, “you should be glad that I’m leaving because after I leave, I’ll send the Holy Spirit.”

John 16:7 (NKJV)
^16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

“If I don’t go, He doesn’t come to you…but if I go, I’ll send Him.”  They were really looking forward to this.  They couldn’t wait for that day.  They knew this was going to happen, and they didn’t want to miss it.

The Day Finally Comes

Acts 1:4 (NKJV)
^1:4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;

So, Jesus told them to wait for the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem.  Don’t leave, don’t go anyplace else; Wait there, it will be soon.  So, they stay in Jerusalem and have a prayer meeting.

Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV)
^2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Every one of those people who were there, and praying were filled with the Holy Spirit.  Every one of them began speaking in tongues.  This is a Biblical pattern, speaking in tongues is evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  We know and can trust that Jesus is alive, because He sent the Holy Spirit just like He promised.  After He left, He sent the Holy Spirit.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is for every believer.  Every one of us who believes can be filled with the Holy Spirit.  It’s not just a select few.  Jesus told us that in Luke chapter 11:

Luke 11:13 (NKJV)
^11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

The Holy Sirit is a gift for every believer that asks for it. 

Peter tells us this in Acts chapter 2:

Acts 2:39 (NKJV)
^2:39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

The promise is to you, your children and to all who are afar off, as many as are called.  It didn’t die off with the Apostles.  When he says afar off, he’s not talking about distance, he’s talking about generations.  This whole thing is about ALL who were called.  You are called, so, it’s for you, as well.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit was a critical part of the early church.  Philip was having revival in Samaria (just before he met the Ethiopian).  The apostles heard about the revival and went to see it and pray for the people to receive the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-15) They understood the need for the power of the Holy Spirit to embolden those people to reach others and to build the church.

When Paul met up with the disciples in Ephesus he asked, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2) It’s normal next step.  That’s what was supposed to happen.  What does the scripture say?  “Repent, be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  They’re curious, because that’s what happened to them.  Those twelve disciples received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.

Finally, receiving the Holy Spirit became a requirement of ministry.

Acts 6:3-4 (NKJV)
^6:3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; ⁴ but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

 They wanted men who had the Spirit of God in them; men who relied on the wisdom of God when making decisions.

Maintaining the Temple

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is when He comes into your life.  He indwells in us.  So, we are like a temple for Holy Spirit.   It’s the place where He dwells, like the temple in Jerusalem where God dwelt.  It’s up to us to keep the temple clean.  We do that by keeping ourselves free of sin. 

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NKJV)
^3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ¹⁷ If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

We can’t earn the Holy Spirit by righteousness.  It’s a gift, but righteousness in our lives can maintain His presence.  Remember God can’t dwell where sin is!

1 Corinthians 6:18-19 (NKJV)
^6:18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. ¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Flee sexual immorality!  Why?  Because you are a temple of the Holy Spirit.  He is indwelling in you.  Do you want to bring God there?

2 Corinthians 6:16 (NKJV)
^6:16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."

Flee Idolatry!  Why?  The temple of God shouldn’t have idols.

We need the Holy Spirit in our lives.  It is an essential part of the Christian experience. It’s much easier to serve God when you have the Holy Spirit.  Sometimes, though, we need a refill.

In Acts chapter four, Peter and John are arrested and threatened not to preach Jesus anymore.  They prayed for boldness and how did God answer that?

Acts 4:31 (NKJV)
^4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

They were filled with the Holy Spirit.  They got a refill.  We all need that from time to time.  We are leaky vessels.

I close with this:

Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the initial step.  It’s the beginning of a deeper relationship with Jesus, but it’s not enough to just receive the gift.  Now we have to learn to lie it; to walk in the Spirit!

Galatians 5:16 (NKJV)
^5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

The reason some Christians don’t look like Jesus, don’t live as a real Christian should, is because they don’t walk in the Spirit.  They’re walking in the world and all its lusts.  The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus and remained on Him.  He was living out God’s will.  If we want to be like Jesus, and by the way, that’s what Christian means, then we also need to live out God’s will and walk in the Spirit. 

Born Into the Kingdom #2 - Baptism

 Note:  This is the second in the three-part series, “Born Into The Kingdom.”

Last week I started a series on the birth of a disciple into the Kingdom.  We are called to make disciples; that’s the Great Commission.  There are three parts – Repentance, Water Baptism and Holy Spirit Baptism.  This post will deal with Water Baptism.

Acts 8:35-40 (NKJV)
^8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. ³⁶ Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" ³⁷ Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." ³⁸ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. ³⁹ Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

Baptism is a Clear Acknowledgement

Here’s this Ethiopian eunuch.  He’s a very powerful man.  He’s very high up in the queen of Ethiopia’s court and he has been down to Jerusalem to worship God.  He’s not a follower of Jesus at this point.  He’s been worshipping God in the temple.  As we come across him, he’s reading the Book of Isaiah but not understanding what Isaiah is saying.  This is what he read:

Acts 8:32-33 (NKJV)
^8:32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. ³³ In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth."

This is a prophecy a foretelling of the Jesus’ crucifixion.  The eunuch doesn’t understand to whom Isaiah is referring.  While he’s reading this, Philip catches up to him and the text says he used that scripture to preach Jesus to him.  “Jesus is the man who endured this injustice.

His preaching was effective, and the eunuch began to believe in Jesus.

Acts 8:37b (NKJV)
^8:37 … And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

That’s a bold statement in those times of Christian persecution.  They had just crucified Jesus and stoned Stephen.  Christians had scattered throughout Judea and Samaria preaching as they went.  Since he had been in Jerusalem, no doubt he’s heard of that, but he believes anyway.

I know a young man who had converted to Christianity from Islam.  I asked him what would happen if his father found out.  His response was, “I believe, so what can I do?”  This is the very similar to the Ethiopian’s response…He boldly proclaimed it.  All of us who are believers in Jesus, can we be as bold in declaring Jesus?  Are we open to saying “I’m a believer,” or are we hesitant to declare Jesus as the Son of God? 

The Ethiopian took one more step to declare it.  He got baptized.  This is what baptism is on one level.  It’s you saying, “I believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”  It’s a clear acknowledgement that you believe!

People are really open about some things, aren’t we?  We wear T-shirts with our team’s name.  Go Monkeys (Taoyuan City’s professional baseball team.) I’m not ashamed.  We support political candidates.  We brag about our favorite brands – I have an iPhone.  Nike – Swoosh.  What about Jesus, though, the Savior of your soul.  The one who died for you.  I understand that sometimes people come against you.

Think of that young Muslim man, it isn’t easy to become a Christian when you’re a Muslim, but he got baptized – That’s a bold statement.  The eunuch made a private statement to Stephen that he believes, but he also wanted to make a public declaration about it.

Acts 8:36 (NKJV)
^8:36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?"

What hinders me from being baptized?  What are the requirements?  What needs to be done first?  Philip answers:

Acts 8:37 (NKJV)
^8:37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

“If you believe…” that’s the only requirement.  Then he testified of his faith, “I believe Jesus is the Son of God!”  Often, it seems like people want to add other requirements.  I know people who have believed in Jesus for more than two years who have resisted baptism.  People think that if they get baptized, that there will be more required of them; that it will raise them to a different level of Christianity and commitment, like they’ll have a different job description that’s much harder.  All that baptism really is, is an outward sign of an inward decision.  Asking a new Christian to go public is about them standing up and being counted, saying, “I’m not ashamed of Jesus.”

In some ways baptism is a test.  Jesus wants to know if you’re serious.  If you can’t follow through in this one small thing, what are you going to do about more difficult things.  God sometimes asks for hard things.  He asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.  He asked him to kill the promise and believe that He would deliver on it regardless.  That’s a little harder than being baptized.

Baptism is a public confession of your faith in Jesus.

Matthew 10:32-33 (NKJV)
^10:32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Finally, baptism doesn’t save; Faith in Jesus is what saves you.  Baptism is just you saying, “I have faith in Jesus.”  Public confession is the nature of Baptism.  It is something pursued by someone who believes. 

Baptism Follows a Biblical Pattern

The eunuch’s heart was open to God.  “Here’s water, what stops me from being baptized.”  How would he know about baptism unless Philip told him.  It must have been part of his teaching on Jesus.  It should be part of our teaching, too.

So, as a result of Philip’s preaching, the eunuch got saved and made a private statement of faith.  He was also ready to make a public one.  The old man is gone, and a new one takes his place.

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NKJV)

that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

There is symbolism to baptism as well.  We are identifying with Jesus. Being lowered into the water symbolizes Jesus on the cross.  Being under the water reflects Jesus’ burial, and finally, as you emerge from the water the symbolism is that of Jesus’ resurrection.

Romans 6:4-5 (NKJV)
^6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

That s the symbolism of baptism.  There is a distinct pattern in the Bible about this.  Hear the Word of God, repent and get saved (Believe) and get baptized.  People got baptized in the beginning of the church.  All believers in that time were baptized, often on the same night they got saved.  In fact, the early church was founded on baptism. 

        The Beginning of the Church

Acts 2:41 (NKJV)
^2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

        Philip Preaching in Samaria

Acts 8:12 (NKJV)
^8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

        Cornelius’ Household

Acts 10:47-48 (NKJV)
^10:47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

        Lydia’s Household in Philippi

Acts 16:15 (NKJV)
^16:15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us.

        Philippian Jailer Later in That Same Chapter

Acts 16:33 (NKJV)
^16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

All of these baptisms took place on the day they believed and received Jesus.  There wasn’t a lot of agonizing over it.  They believed and they got baptized.  There’s no reason why any Christian shouldn’t get baptized.  Baptism opens you up to all that God has for you.  Once you go record for Jesus, He goes on record for you.

Matthew 10:32 (NKJV)

"Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

The Dynamic of Faith

There must be a personal breakthrough in faith, because many excuses will surface: 

1)  The excuse of family and friends – I want them all to be here.  Baptism isn’t about a family photo; it’s about an audience of one. 

2)  The excuse that, “I don’t have it all together, yet.  That completely misses the point.  Baptism isn’t about you being spiritually perfect.  If that was the case no one would ever be baptized.  Baptism is about a decision you make…to begin.   

3)  It’s meant to reflect the life you want to live, not the life you’ve already lived.

Jesus could have asked us to do anything, and it would have been His rightful place to do so.  All He asks is that when we put our faith in His salvation that we go public!

We need to have faith.  If Jesus commands me, then I’ll follow, “Just say the word, and I’ll do what you command, Lord.”

The Bible is clear about baptism.  We need to go on record before God and others that we are with Jesus!

Note:  The final post in this series will be on the Holy Spirit Baptism.

Born into the Kingdom #1: Repentance

 Note:  The following post is the first post in a three-part series called Born into the Kingdom.  These posts are really designed for new Christians but may be helpful to pioneer pastors in presenting simple Biblical truths to a young congregation.  - Chris

When we’re Christians, Eternal Life is what we’re aiming for; to enter into Heaven – The Promised Land.  Eternal Life, that’s the goal, right? It’s all about knowing God! 

John 17:3 (NKJV)
^17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

John 17:3 tell us that knowing that God and Jesus is Eternal Life.  There are a lot of gods in the world, but there is only one true God.  The key to knowing that God is to follow through on praying, reading your Bible, attending church, believing the promises and following the commands.  In short, living out the things of God, day after day – following God.

Hosea 6:3 (NKJV)
^6:3 Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.

This is what we call the process of discipleship – becoming and making disciples.  It’s our great commission. 

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
^28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

A disciple is a “fully devoted follower of Christ.”  It's not just someone who’s born again but someone who continues to pursue God after the initial glow of salvation wears off through the difficulties and struggles of life, enduring until the end. That’s a disciple.

People don’t become disciples on their own.  They’re taught to be disciples.  Just like after birth there are certain things that have to be done for the health of the baby.  The umbilical cord must be cut, and breast feeding must begin.  You have to show baby Christians the way. 

The book of Acts shows us the process of birthing someone into the Kingdom of God and what’s necessary to ensure their spiritual health.  Repentance, water baptism and baptism of the Holy Spirit.  This is a three-part series.  This post will look at repentance.

Repentance requires three things in order to be genuine and effective:

Acts 2:36-39 (NKJV)
^2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." ³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" ³⁸ Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

Repentance Requires a Teacher

In Acts Chapter 2 the Holy Spirit fell on those who were praying in the upper room.  It caused quite a commotion as three thousand people gathered in the street to see what was happening.  They must have been making a lot of noise. Peter stood up to preach.

The one hundred-twenty people in the upper room had choices.  They could stay quiet, they could pray, or they could preach.  Peter got up to preach.

If people are going to repent, they need to have someone tell them that it’s necessary.

Romans 10:13-15 (NKJV)
^10:13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." ¹⁴ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

Peter stood up and explained to them the phenomenon of the Holy Spirit and a changed life.  He specifically preached two things.  These were not his feelings or opinions.

First, he preached the Word of God.  He quoted the Old Testament three times.  He’s preaching out of the scriptures.  We can talk to people and offer our opinions, “This is what I think…”, “I feel like this…”, but we end up in arguments and discussions.  What people need to hear isn’t our opinions or feelings but the Word of God.

1 Peter 3:15b (NKJV)
^3:15 …always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Second, He preached Jesus with conviction and without fear.  “This Jesus, whom you crucified…”

This reminded me of the story of Philip and the Ethopian.  In Acts Chapter 8, the Ethopian is traveling along and he’s reading the Book of Isaiah, but he’s not understanding it all.  Philip asks him whether he understands or not and he answers, “How can I know unless someone guides me?’  He needs a preacher!

Acts 8:35 (NKJV)
^8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

So, a preacher is needed to bring someone to a place of repentance; so, they can hear and understand the Word of God.

Repentance Also Requires Faith from the Hearer

Acts 2:41 (NKJV)
^2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

This is talking about faith.  They heard Peter’s words and accepted them as the Word of God.  They believed.  They heard what Peter was saying to them and they believed that he was right.  They were convicted that their sin – their personal sin – crucified Jesus.  That comes from the Word of God and the working of the Holy Spirit.  In order to repent, you have to be convinced that you’re wrong. Convinced that what you’re doing is against God and that your sin is the reason that Jesus had to die.  If you never come to that you’ll never come to repentance.  The Pharisees and the Sadducees never believed, so they never repented. 

Repentance requires the thought that my sin is wrong and that it needs to be judged.  That’s why we preach on sin. It is in order to bring people to a place of repentance.

Think about your own life.  What was it that made you realize that you needed to get saved?  You had to come to a point where you realized that the way that you’d been living was wrong in God’s eyes.  You had to recognize that you were guilty.  That’s what happened in our text.

The people in our text heard Peter’s words and realized that they had played a part in Jesus’ crucifixion.  “This Jesus, whom you crucified.”  They felt the guilt and shame that goes with that.  The Word of God and the moving of the Holy Spirit led them to the faith they needed in order to repent.

Repentance Requires Confession

Acts 2:37 (NKJV)
^2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

This moment right here is the moment of confession.  They’re admitting their guilt.  It’s like them saying, “We know we’re guilty.”  “We know that we have sinned and deserve our punishment!”  “We know that we will face the wrath of God.  What shall we do to make it right?  What shall we do to be right with God.”  That’s a confession of guilt.

In order to repent of sin, you have to know what it is.  You have to know what it is that you have done.  So we confess that sin before God.  That’s why we have an altar call, to give us an opportunity to bring that sin before God. 

You hear the Word of God and Jesus preached.  You feel the conviction of sin, believing that it’s true.  You confess that sin before God.  Then comes repentance.

Repentance is a change of mind or a change of heart.  I know what I’ve been doing is wrong and I’m not going to live like that anymore.  Repentance is a change; the word translated as repent literally means to turn around.  It’s as if you’re going one direction away from God and you turn around and go in a different direction toward God.  Allof this begins with a confession.

Romans 10:9 (NKJV)
^10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

That’s the starting point – Confessing before God; declaring your sin and guilt before God.  This is when the real work starts, beginning to pursue God.  It starts with repentance.  I would encourage anyone who prays for salvation to go home and continue to confess before God.  Think about your sins and bring them before God.

A friend of mine who is a pastor, told me that one man told him that he went home and confessed for an hour and a half.  He really thought about his sin specifically  “I’v done this, I’ve done that…” That’s real repentance.

1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
^1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So, God does his job and forgives.  He even goes so far as to take that sin away.  Then it’s time for you to do your part and change.  Be different – Follow God’s laws and live for Jesus.  Repentance is turning around and walking away from your sinful lifestyle.  I know this can be hard but God helps us.  Peter preached:

Acts 2:38 (NKJV)
^2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

First, we repent of our sin.

Second, we’re baptized for the remission of sin.

Third, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!

The next post will be about Baptism for the remission of sin!

 

The Limits of Unbelief

 Don’t you think it’s interesting that there were no disciples at the tomb when Jesus rose from the dead?  We read that Jesus told them He would rise, but we don’t read anywhere that they believed Him. 

The thing I find most interesting is that His enemies did believe it, that’s why they placed a crack squadron of soldiers to guard the tomb.  That’s why they sealed it.  That’s why they said, “We remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.”

Even when the women who visited the tomb told the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead, they didn’t believe them.

Sometimes Christians struggle with believing God.  There’s really no difference between believing Jesus when He said He would rise from the dead, and believing Jesus when He says He will pour out blessing.  Today I want to address something that I think needs to be addressed.  There are things that God has spoken that seem to be easier to believe than others.  So, in this post, I want to look at unbelief, from this portion of scripture:

2 Kings 7:1-2 (NKJV)
^7:1 Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: 'Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.' " ² So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, "Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?" And he said, "In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it."

Can You Believe the Promises?

This takes place at a very bleak time in Israel’s history.  There has been a famine in the country, so there isn’t much food available.  Things were very tough.  Now on top of that Ben Hada, King of Syria, has placed them under siege.  They’re being held captive inside the walls of the city. 

In fact, people have even turned to cannibalism:

2 Kings 6:26-29 (NKJV)
^6:26 Then, as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, "Help, my lord, O king!" ²⁷ And he said, "If the Lord does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or from the winepress?" ²⁸ Then the king said to her, "What is troubling you?" And she answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.' ²⁹ So we boiled my son, and ate him. And I said to her on the next day, 'Give your son, that we may eat him'; but she has hidden her son."

This shows how desperate the people were.  All of us go through times of famine like this.  Maybe you’ve never been desperate enough to eat your children, but you have been through times when you didn’t think you had enough.

You’ve got the rent, food, utilities, taxes, gas, insurance, it seems like what goes out is bigger than what comes in.  Then there’s layoffs, semester breaks, down business times.  It seems like a time of famine in your life.

Maybe in times like that you’re less open to the promises of God.  Maybe you’re like the man on whose arm the king leans. He said, “Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?”

He’s wondering in light of these desperate circumstances how God can make this happen.  I’ve wondered the same thing myself – a number of times.  How can you open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing, but that’s one of the promises isn’t it?

In our text Elisha the prophet is repeating what God has promised.

2 Kings 7:1 (NKJV)
^7:1 Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: 'Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.'

That by the next day, about the same time a seah (about 7 liters in volume) of flour for a shekel (about $4.50 USD, 2025 dollars).  That’s a low price for flour, but things are so bad that people can’t believe it. 

When we don’t see a way out of our circumstances, we can’t see how God can deliver us.  We judge God’s abilities by our own, but God can do supernatural things. 

That word super as a prefix means beyond.  So, God can do things beyond the natural, which is what we can do.  We live and operate in the natural, but God operates in the supernatural.  God can do miracles.

Look at the circumstances of your life.  Are you struggling in one area?  Is there a part of your life that you think can’t be changed?  Maybe a doctor told you there’s no treatment for what you’re suffering.  Maybe, you can’t see an improvement in your finances.  Maybe you think there’s no way you can change.  You are limited in your ability to affect change in your life, by your own abilities and natural laws, but God isn’t affected that way.  God can transcend circumstances and nature.  The limit to what God can do for you is the limit to which you believe God. 

The man in our text limits God to the natural circumstances.  He’s saying that even if God were to open the windows of heaven, our circumstances are so bad that they can’t be fixed.  This is unbelief – It’s a lack of faith. 

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
^11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Our unbelief limits God.  Look how that is worded.  He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards them that diligently seek Him.  There is faith in God, that is, that most of us believe in God; We believe that God exists, but is there faith in God’s abilities?  Is there faith that God can do things and will do things to eliminate your suffering?

You believe in God – Do you believe He can heal you?

You believe in God – Do you believe He can provide for you?

You believe in God – Do you believe He can change you?

Those are the promises. 

The disciples believed in Jesus.  They believed He was the Messiah.  They believed He could do miracles.  They believed that He was there to deliver mankind, but they couldn’t believe that He would rise from the dead, even though He promised that He would.

We’re like that, too.  We believe in God, we believe we’ve been forgiven.  So, why can’t we believe God to keep His promises? Let’s examine that.

God Keeps His Promises

Let’s examine a promise that God has made.

Malachi 3:10-11 (NKJV)
^3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. ¹¹ "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the Lord of hosts.

This is a promise of God.  If we will do something, then God will do something.  We know it’s a promise because God s saying, “Test me.  See if I will do what I have said here.  I promise that I will do this; you can check me on it.  Bring all of your tithes and offerings into the storehouse.  Do this and I will open the windows of heaven and bless you so much you won’t have room for it all."  I wonder, though, how many are really believing God for this promise.  How many are like the man on whose arm the king leaned, "I'm struggling, there’s a lot of expenses.”  “I can’t make enough money to keep up.”  “If I give more there won’t be enough.”  That’s thinking in the natural and forgetting about the supernatural.  “Look if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?”  Look at what God did in the day of need for Israel:

2 Kings 7:5-7 (NKJV)
.⁵ And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there. ⁶ For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses--the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, "Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!" ⁷ Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact--their tents, their horses, and their donkeys--and they fled for their lives

God made a promise that would happen the next day, but because people couldn’t see how it could happen, they didn’t believe that it would happen.  That’s how a lot people are.  “If I give more there will be less, so how can there be more if I give more?”  That’s what the promise is, though.  We can’t see how it could happen, but God promises that it can. 

Then we look at this story and we see how God did it in this instance.  He caused the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots when there were no chariots.  He caused them to panic when there was no reason to panic.  He caused them to abandon everything, even though there was no attack.  God moved outside what we think is possible, in order to keep His word, and He will do the same thing with our giving.  God moved in a supernatural way and suddenly there was abundance in the midst of famine.  You may think that if you give more there will be less, but God has promised that if you give more, there will be more.

This whole event takes place in the midst of a famine.  Did you know that there is an underlying purpose for famine?

Amos 4:7-8 (NKJV)

⁷ "I also withheld rain from you, When there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, And where it did not rain the part withered. ⁸ So two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water, But they were not satisfied; Yet you have not returned to Me," Says the Lord.

The last line in this scripture gives us a clue as to that purpose.  “Yet you have not returned to me.”  God uses famine to cause His people to return to Him.  He wants people to depend on Him.  He wants people to trust Him.  If God uses famine to cause His people to come back to Him on a national level, do you think He might do the same thing on a personal level.  Maybe you’re in the midst of a financial famine because you’re not trusting and depending on God.  You don’t believe God can move supernaturally on your behalf.  When God is saying, “Try me now in this,” in Malachi chapter three, He’s really saying, “Let me show you what I can do.”  God can’t show you His response to your giving if you’re not giving.

The Reward of Faith

If we look back at our text, we can see the prophet’s response to the man on whose arm the king leaned.

2 Kings 7:2 (NKJV)
^7:2 So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, "Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?" And he said, "In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it."

He’s telling him that because of his unbelief, he will see God move but he won’t share in God’s deliverance.  Because you don’t believe there’s no deliverance for you.  It’s the same in the promise of tithes in the storehouse, if you don’t believe you won’t receive deliverance.  If you don’t test God’s promise, you won’t receive God’s deliverance.

Do you ever look at other people and wonder why they’re blessed aand you’re struggling?  Maybe it’s the same answer this man received.  You’ll see the blessing but won’t share in it because of unbelief.  You see those who believed receiving the blessing, but you don’t share in it because of your own unbelief.  Look at what happened to the man:

2 Kings 7:17 (NKJV)
^7:17 Now the king had appointed the officer on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. But the people trampled him in the gate, and he died, just as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.

This is a direct result of the man’s not believing God’s promise.  He saw the abundance that came about supernaturally.  He saw the promise fulfilled, but he didn’t receive it.  In fact, something much worse happened.  The man was killed.

This is a spiritual principle.  Unbelief will always lead to spiritual death.  Belief and faith brings eternal life, unbelief brings eternal condemnation.  The man who didn’t believe ended up dead, not just that he didn’t get blessed, he died.

Every church has seen this before.  There are people who aren’t there, anymore.  They have died a spiritual death…because of unbelief.

If you’re struggling with this, right now, don’t despair.  The promise is there for you if you’ll just begin to believe God.  Remember Hebrews 11:6:

Hebrews 11:6b (NKJV)
^11:6b for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

The first thing is to believe that God is; that God exists; that God is a patient and loving God. Secondly, believe that if you diligently seek Him, you will be rewarded.  If you hunt for God, God will let you find Him. God is the God who blesses.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NKJV)
^9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Do you want to see God’s promises play out in your life?  Do you want to reap bountifully?  This scripture is rooted in faith.  A cheerful giver believes that God will bless.  One who sows bountifully will reap bountifully.  Purpose in your heart to be a cheerful giver and God will bless you.  If you act in unbelief while others act in faith you will see the reward of that faith in them being blessed but you will not partake in blessing.  Unbelief will keep you from the blessings of God.  So, bless God and He will bless you.

 

Note:  I am not a preacher of prosperity doctrine.  I don’t believe that God exists to make you rich, but I do believe in the principles highlighted in Malachi chapter three.

 

The Price of Freedom

 A number of years ago, I had an interaction with a man at the Carpenter’s Coffee Bar, where I was an English teacher.  China had been rattling the saber about taking Taiwan, again.  This man was angry at the United States Government, because of the sale of fighter planes to Taiwan.  His argument was that Japan got United States’ fighters for free, but those planes are on an American base in Okinawa.  Those planes will protect Japan, but they’re actually there defending US interests in Asia.  Those same planes would protect Taiwan as well.  At supersonic speeds, Taiwan is only about twenty minutes from Okinawa.

I thought that it was interesting that he wanted freedom, but wasn’t willing for his nation invest in it financially.  When you stop to think about it the cost of freedom isn’t just financial, the cost of freedom is always blood.  Young men must fight and die to guarantee freedom.  Ten million allied troops died during World War Two.

Freedom comes at a price.  Today, I want to post on freedom from sin, the price that was paid, and our responsibility to that freedom.

Galatians 5:1 (NKJV)
^5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Sin is a Trap

Our text tells us to stand fast, which means to be immovable in the liberty by which Christ made us free. Be immovable in our freedom from sin.  Do not become entangled again with a yoke of bondage.  In other words, do not be ensnared again with a yoke – slavery.  Ensnared means trapped; sin is a trap.  Sin is slavery.

John 8:34 (NKJV)
^8:34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

Sin is a Trap – we have a mindset about sin that’s wrong.  We often think that sin is freedom or liberty.  We look at obedience to the commands of God as limiting, as if God has taken away our liberty through commandment.  Living out the commandments, though, is liberating.

Think about this for a moment. Think about common sins.  Drinking creates alcoholics; a dependence on Alcohol.  Drug use creates addicts; a dependence on drugs.  How many sins are there that trap you into dependence.  An addict is someone who’s dependent on getting a particular drug.  Their whole life becomes consumed with that drug.  They’ll lie, steal, and prostitute themselves to satisfy their addiction.  It’s a trap.  We think it’ll free us, instead it traps us.

David Crosby, of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (a 1970s musical group), experimented with drugs and alcohol as a young man.  After a number of years, he suffered with liver disease and needed a liver transplant.  He received a new liver, but never stopped the behavior.  Eventually, he found himself in that same position; his new liver destroyed by drugs and alcohol.  He was a slave to sin!

So, the Bible tells us to stand fast in our liberty.  Our freedom from sin that was purchased by Jesus.  The reason we must be encouraged to stand fast is because sin comes very, very easy to us.  It’s a part of our nature.  It’s a part of whom we are.

Buddhists will say that “”men are basically good,” but the Bible tells us that our hearts are desperately wicked and deceitful.

Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV

"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

Genesis 6:5

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

According to the Bible this is the state of man’s heart. Do you know the story of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde?  Doctor Jekyll was a rich, upper class doctor who seemed to be thoughtful and kind, but when he became Mister Hyde he could not control himself and was a brutal murderer.  Doctor Jekyll was a man with an evil nature that he couldn’t control.  It is a picture of the human condition.

Think about yourself for a moment, do you think of yourself as a good person; a nice person?  We all do, but let me ask you a question do you sometimes do bad things?  Do you sometimes act hatefully?  Do you sometimes lie or gossip or slander.  The answer to that is yes, you do!  There's a Mister Hyde in all of us.

Adam was created in the Image of God.  He was given a place that met every human need.  God walked with him.  God sheltered him under his wing.  The Bible talks about the hand of God, God’s blessing and care, and His working in our lives.  Even though he was blessed and cared for, Adam sinned.  The Bible tells us that Eve was deceived, tricked into sin, but Adam chose sin.  He violated God’s command.  He wasn’t deceived; he wasn’t tricked, he made a choice.  Sin is a choice and Adam suffered because of that.  We also suffer for our choice to not obey God.

It's our nature; it’s part of our makeup to sin.  You can see it in babies, think about this, we don’t have to teach babies to be selfish, they just are.  We don’t have to teach children to lie, they just do.  What do we have to do?  We have to teach them not to be selfish.  We have to teach them not to lie, or cheat, or steal...

Proverbs 22:15 (NKJV)
^22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

The rod of correction drives the foolishness far from them.  Children have to be taught not to sin.  Sin is a part of human nature; it takes effort to avoid it.  It doesn’t just happen.  We have to work at it.  If we want to keep from being trapped by sin we have to take steps to avoid it.  We have to train our minds to dwell on what’s right.  To stand fast implies that there are forces trying to move you away from that liberty.  That force in the Bible is called your flesh; your sinful nature.  You have to push back against those forces.

Our Freedom Was Bought at a Price

In Biblical times when you owed a debt, you and your family would be sold into slavery to pay that debt.  In order to be released from slavery, you had to be redeemed.  Redeemed means to be bought back.  You had to pay the price of the owner for your freedom.  Adam sold himself and his descendants into slavery.  They were taken from the home that God gave them and forced into separation from God, slaves to their sin.  

We were doomed to that slavery until that time when we could be bought back or redeemed; that time when the price could be paid. 

Our text tells us that Jesus paid that price.  We remained in separation and slavery until that day that Jesus died and paid the price of our bondage.  We were purchased at a price.  The price was the blood that Jesus spilled on the cross. 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
^6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? ²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

This scripture says that you were bought at a price, but it also says this, “You are not your own.”  You were bought back from slavery.  He paid the price for you to return to the relationship that we had with God before Adam’s sin.

If you’re a Christian have you experienced what it’s like to have a relationship with God?  Have you experienced God’s hand on your life?  Have you experienced the liberty of being set free from sin?

In my own life I vividly remember the hopelessness of slavery.  I was an addict, I was a slave to alcohol.  I thought I couldn’t change.  I hated myself.  I hated my life.  I know I did things that ruined relationships.  I know that I did things that hurt people.  I was a part of that slavery; I needed escape and relief.  I’m thankful for the price that was paid and I willingly submit myself to Him.  I am not my own!  Christians often say, “I gave my life to Jesus,” but that’s not really true, He bought us with a price.  What we really do is submit to Him.  “Here’s my life Jesus – It’s Yours.”

That’s where liberty is found, in submission to Him.  I’m free because I submitted.  At first, it was difficult, I was still drawn to alcohol, but I stood fast in that liberty.  The desire eventually disappeared – It really does get easier, that bondage was over.  (It’s been thirty-three years since I had a drink of alcohol.)  Does that mean that I’ve lost my sinful nature?  No, I’m still human, but I can resist because I am submitted.

James 4:7 (NKJV)
^4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

In my opening illustration, I talked about the cost of freedom.  The cost is spilled blood and death, but I have to tell you something.  There is also a responsibility for those who have been given freedom at the cost of other’s lives.  We have a responsibility to remain free. 

I believe that the freedoms we have given up in twenty-first century America is a betrayal of those who died for it.  We make their sacrifice worthless.  They died for nothing, if we give up the freedoms that they paid for!

Jesus paid a huge price to free you from sin.  You have a responsibility to remain free of it.  You have a responsibility to stand fast in that liberty, or you make his death worthless; of little value.  His death counts for nothing if you remain in sin.

Freedom isn’t the absence of laws – that’s anarchy.  You can’t remain in sin and say that because of grace you’re free to continue to sin.  I’m sorry but change is required.  We think that repentance means we’re sorry.  “Sorry Jesus – oops!” It’s much more than that.  Being sorry is a part of it; regret that you violated God’s laws is part of it, but real repentance is change.  “I’m not going to live that way any longer,”  and standing fast, being different. 

This liberty, this life that you have as a Christian was paid for on the cross.  Why take the old sin and addictions into a new life.  If you remain in sin the bondage is the same.  You are still a slave to sin!

Where the Spirit of the Lord is There is Freedom

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NKJV)
^3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. –

When Moses returned from the mountain where he met with God his face held the Glory of God.  It shone from his face.  The people were frightened to look at him, so he wore a veil, so that they wouldn’t be able to see it. 

When were In sin that veil was on our hearts, we were spiritually blinded.  When we turned to Jesus that veil was taken away.

2 Corinthians 3:13-16 (NKJV)
^3:13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. ¹⁵ But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. ¹⁶ Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

We were not able to see the lawlessness and sin in our lives.  As sinners we don’t see the sin.  What did Jesus say on the cross, “Father forgive them they don’t know what they’re doing!” 

As sinners we don’t understand that what we’re doing is sin.  We don’t realize that we put Him on the cross.  We don’t even realize that we’re slaves to it. It isn’t until we receive the Spirit of God in our hearts that we see it.  The veil is taken away.  That’s when we see the freedom in submission to Christ.  It’s the Spirit of God who lifts the veil and we can see and know freedom.  Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom!