The fatal mistake of thousands

[Solo]

The fatal mistake of thousands

By j.c. philpot

The fatal mistake of thousands is to offer
unto God the fruits of the fleshâ€â€instead of
the fruits of the Spirit.

• Fleshly holiness,
  fleshly exertions, fleshly prayers,
  fleshly duties,
  fleshly religious forms,
  fleshly zealâ€â€

these are what men consider good works,
and present them as such to God.

But well may He "who is of purer eyes than to
behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity", say
to all such fleshly workers, "If you offer the blind
for sacrifice, is it not evil? And if you offer the
crippled and the diseased, is it not evil?"

All that the flesh can do is evil, for "every
imagination of man's heart is only evil continually;"
and to present the fruits of this filthy heart to the
Lord of hosts, is "to offer defiled food upon His altar."

• A broken heart,
  a contrite spirit,
  a tender conscience,
  a filial fear of God,
  a desire to please Him,
  a dread to offend the great God of heaven,
  a sense of the evil of sin,
  a desire to be delivered from sin's dominion,
  a mourning over our repeated backslidings,
  grief at being so often entangled in our lusts and passions,
  an acquaintance with our helplessness and weakness,
  simplicity and godly sincerity,
  a hanging upon grace for daily supplies,
  watching the hand of Providence,
  a singleness of eye to the glory of God,

â€â€these are a few of the fruits of the Spirit.

 

[Adullam]

The redefinition of what we do in our own strength as being Christian. Our condemnation of those who don't believe as we do, even if they are more righteous than we.

 

[Solo]

The redefinition of what we do in our own strength as being Christian. Our condemnation of those who don't believe as we do, even if they are more righteous than we.

We do not have the power or ability to condemn anyone. We can only proclaim the Word of God, and those who believe will cause the angels in heaven to rejoice, while those who reject the truth will continue in their own condemnation. All are condemned until they believe and are born again according to Jesus' teaching in John 3.

 

[A-Christian]

The fatal mistake of thousands is to offer
unto God the fruits of the fleshâ€â€instead of
the fruits of the Spirit.


Fleshly holiness,
fleshly exertions, fleshly prayers,
fleshly duties,
fleshly religious forms,
fleshly zealâ€â€
these are what men consider good works,
and present them as such to God.

Solo, can you give us some examples. Like "Fleshly holiness" or "Fleshly zeal". What exactly to you mean?
Maybe your words can paint a picture in our minds so that we know exactly what you mean.

 

[Solo]

The fatal mistake of thousands is to offer
unto God the fruits of the fleshâ€â€instead of
the fruits of the Spirit.


Fleshly holiness,
fleshly exertions, fleshly prayers,
fleshly duties,
fleshly religious forms,
fleshly zealâ€â€
these are what men consider good works,
and present them as such to God.

Solo, can you give us some examples. Like "Fleshly holiness" or "Fleshly zeal". What exactly to you mean?
Maybe your words can paint a picture in our minds so that we know exactly what you mean.

Anything that is not done in the born of God spirit, and in Love, and according to the Word of God is fleshly. All religious acitvity of those who are not born again is fleshly. God is Spirit and must be worshipped in spirit and in truth. All religious activity that is not done in the spirit is fleshly, and all religious activity that is not done in truth is fleshly.

• 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:23-24

• 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:19-26

• 1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:1-21