Bible Study What Does It Mean To Walk In The Spirit.

[Edward]

Now where have I heard that before? Hmm! Oh, that's right, it was in one of the Batman movies, Batman Begins or something like that. And if it wasn't for that darned old television, I might not have known that.

I used to watch Batman series when I was a kid. I haven't seen any of the Batman movies. They've always seemed weird and uninteresting to me. I must've picked that up somewhere else...

 

[ezrider]

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

We are in this world, and we are part of the world, so we can not possibly escape all of the cares of this world, but the cares of this world should not lead us, and by all means we should not argue and condemn over politics or the cares of this world to create division in a Spiritual kingdom. This does not gender towards the Unity of the brethren.

So, if we can not escape from the cares of this world, how then do we begin to overcome the cares of this world? What instructions did Jesus leave for you?


Matthew 6:24-34
No man can serve two masters:for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air:for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

.

 

[ezrider]

Help me out with this one eddif

The Kingdom of Heaven... what must we do?

First we must seek...
When we are born of the Spirit (born again)...... then by Faith we...
see the kingdom
walk in the kingdom
live in the kingdom
inherit the kingdom


But when the word that was sown falls among the thorns and the cares of this world choke out the word that was sown, then they become unfruitful and unprofitable servants.

For they seek after the things of this world... and no longer seek the Lord's kingdom. Because of this they....
see the things of this world
walk according to the things of this world
adhere to the law of sin and death
inherit a lake

Got anything to add?

 

[eddif]

Help me out with this one eddif

The Kingdom of Heaven... what must we do?

First we must seek...
When we are born of the Spirit (born again)...... then by Faith we...
see the kingdom
walk in the kingdom
live in the kingdom
inherit the kingdom


But when the word that was sown falls among the thorns and the cares of this world choke out the word that was sown, then they become unfruitful and unprofitable servants.

For they seek after the things of this world... and no longer seek the Lord's kingdom. Because of this they....
see the things of this world
walk according to the things of this world
adhere to the law of sin and death
inherit a lake

Got anything to add?

I see the man part of me unable to do any of the kingdom work. The mind can serve the law of Christ, but it is God doing the work in me and not myself.

The cerebellum (tree of life) sits on either side of the river arising out of the presence of The Word in my mind. He is the author.

eddif

 

[eddif]

The New Jerusalem is coming down out of heaven, and arises not out of word not made flesh. Jesus is the word made flesh that sends
Revelation 3:20

eddif

 

[ezrider]

One more thought on the parable of the sower.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

The cares of this world. With the scriptures from Jude and 2 Peter we know that the cares of the world can include thing of a political nature, including railing against the government, speaking evil of dignitaries. They are they that heareth the word but receive it among the thorns. Meaning they only hear the word in their own worldly perspective. But when it comes to the thorns choking out the word of the kingdom, is it because they desire a different kingdom, like that of the Bramble (a thorny bush)?

Judges 9:8-15
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

 

[eddif]

Let me see if I can split some of this:
Proverbs 30:8 KJV
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who isthe LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Before the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, being hungry caused theft, and too much caused seperation from God ( too busy with things).

Hungry steal - Cares of world

Rich tied up in leather seats for Mercedes - Deceitfulnesd of riches.

Lust of eyes, lust of flesh, pride of life.

My religious ambitions can be a problem.

After the Holy Spirit came:
Philippians 4:12 KJV
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Living in the Spirit allows external situations to not dominate our life ( I am restating what others have said). We all tend toward our individual statements, and kidneys do not think like a liver.

eddif

 

[Edward]

and kidneys do not think like a liver.

I was thinking about this lately. We're all the body of Christ, each with our own station. I sort of thought, yeah I'll prolly only be the big toe... (I've been a little discouraged lately)...but as I thought about it, I realized...big toes are important. They help the whole body to balance and walk correctly without falling. Alone is nothing but complete and in place is a vital part to the whole body. I immediately felt better.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled topic...

 

[ezrider]

1 Corinthians 2:9-16
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

If we walk after the flesh, then we are walking with a carnal mind; and the carnal mind can not receive the things of the Spirit.

Romans 7:14
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

The carnal mind mind can not receive the things of the Spirit. When those of a carnal mind hear the word of the kingdom, they do so among thorns, where they hear the word according to the cares of this world. They do not open their hearts to the to the Lord's kingdom, the do not hear His words, nor can they see His kingdom, because they only have eyes for the things of this world, they only have eyes for sin.


Matthew 13:10-17 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance:but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables:because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.


1 Corinthians 3:1-3
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men.
.

 

[ezrider]

John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:7-8
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

 

[iLOVE]

John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Actually means that without the New birth, one cannot understand or comprehend the "Kingdom of God"

Jimmy Swaggart "The Expositor's Study Bible"

 

[ezrider]

Romans 8:5-8
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 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 of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

[iLOVE]

Romans 8:5-8
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 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 of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Amen!

 

[eddif]

I was thinking about this lately. We're all the body of Christ, each with our own station. I sort of thought, yeah I'll prolly only be the big toe... (I've been a little discouraged lately)...but as I thought about it, I realized...big toes are important. They help the whole body to balance and walk correctly without falling. Alone is nothing but complete and in place is a vital part to the whole body. I immediately felt better.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled topic...

Hebrews 10:25 KJV
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Not the brotherhood of big toes?

The leg bone is attached to the thigh bone, etc.

All those dry bones need to be assembled, and muscles and flesh. Skin is nice to keep the bleeding to a minimum.

eddif

 

[ezrider]

Thank you ez, I agree with you. Lets then change a little and focus on those two areas. The works of the flesh, verses the fruit of the Spirit. The following Scripture has been after me to understand it and perhaps this thread is just where you can help me and others get a grasp on what the Holy Spirit wants to teach us. Here's the Scripture....

Hebrews 12:18 "For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest
12:19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.
12:20 For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned."
12:21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear."
12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering."
I don't have time to comment further, so If someone can see an application of the works of the flesh as compared with the fruit of the Spirit, lets hear it. I'll comment as soon as I can.

For you have not come to the mount that might be touched refers the to the law of commandment as given on Mt Sinai when the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt as recorded in Exodus 19. Mt Sinai represents the law of sin and death, the Law of Moses. When the carnal mind hears the word of God, the carnal mind hears from Mt Sinai.

Galatians 4:21-31
Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son:for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
.

 

[ezrider]

Hebrews:12:18-24
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

The canal mind, those that walk after the manner of the flesh can not understand the words of God, for they are spiritual. They receive the word among the thorns, but they only know it by what they can see, and what they see is sin and death. And they wait beneath that mountain of sin and death, waiting so they can make them selves ready. But we do not have to wait under the law of sin and death, we have been called forth to Mt Sion. But to the carnal mind, Mt Sinai stands in the way, and so they wait trying to overcome the sins of their flesh, as they wait for the Lord to appear.

But their is hope, you do not need wait beneath that mountain, the carnal mind does not need to remain captive to sin and death. We may approach unto Sion, all it requires is just a little faith.

Matthew 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Do you have the faith to say to the Law of Moses, to the law of sin and death, to the Commandments of Sinai: be thou removed? For as long as that mountain shall stand in your way, you shall never hear the words of Sion as they are meant to be heard.

2 Corinthians 3:14-15
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

.

 

[ezrider]

Hebrews 12:18
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest.

Exodus 19:10-13
And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.


Now compare the passage from Exodus with the predominant message of the church. The churches teach sin and death, and tell them to make themselves ready: Make yourselves ready, are you prepared for the rapture? Take heed to yourselves, that no sin be found in you, or you will be in danger of judgement. Make yourselves ready for the rapture, for when the trumpet sounds long, then shall you go up the mount to meet the Lord in the clouds.

The carnal mind is drawn towards Mt Sinai to serve beneath its shadow.

The spiritual mind is drawn towards Mt Sion where the light of the Lord shines forth from New Jerusalem.

.

 

[Chopper]

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.


Exodus 20:2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
20:3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
20:4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
20:5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,
20:6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

The "world" currently is ruled by the enemy of YHWH, Satan. He has designed, what the world has to offer, as the only way to live and get what we want. I suppose that money is the chief among idols that we are faced with to worship each and every day. The evil one has, all thru history, tried unsuccessfully to halt the Messiah and His rule. From Adam to the Cross, he has been busy putting his idols in front of men's eyes as the only way to get what they need.

Having failed with his attempt to wipe out the line in Israel of Abraham and others that eventually would come to Joseph and Mary, who would give birth to Messiah Jesus, he has not given up. Now his aim is to stop the lost human race from being saved thru the Grace of God. Idols, yes idols are what Satan uses to stop Salvation. When he fails, and someone gets saved, he places idols all along the narrow road to detour unsuspecting pilgrims to abandon that holy road.

To walk in the Spirit, is to abandon ourselves, the old man, who delighted in idols, just like Israel did, and on a daily basis, surrender our bodies to the Holy Spirit, as His Temple of right living. Half of the battle folks is, to recognize the Holy Spirit as the only source of strength to keep from reaching out to the idols of the world, and to walk a walk worthy of being a child of God.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. We need to stop chocking God's Word that is making us unfruitful, say not to the idols of the world, clean up our Temples where the Holy Spirit resides

Hebrews:12:18-24
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

The canal mind, those that walk after the manner of the flesh can not understand the words of God, for they are spiritual. They receive the word among the thorns, but they only know it by what they can see, and what they see is sin and death. And they wait beneath that mountain of sin and death, waiting so they can make them selves ready. But we do not have to wait under the law of sin and death, we have been called forth to Mt Sion. But to the carnal mind, Mt Sinai stands in the way, and so they wait trying to overcome the sins of their flesh, as they wait for the Lord to appear.

But their is hope, you do not need wait beneath that mountain, the carnal mind does not need to remain captive to sin and death. We may approach unto Sion, all it requires is just a little faith.

Matthew 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Do you have the faith to say to the Law of Moses, to the law of sin and death, to the Commandments of Sinai: be thou removed? For as long as that mountain shall stand in your way, you shall never hear the words of Sion as they are meant to be heard.

2 Corinthians 3:14-15
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

.

Just a quick reply my friend ez. It wasn't until you just posted this verse....
"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.".... Did I realize what that mountain really was.

In the past, I thought the mountain represented any obstacle that was in my path to keep me from something that God wanted me to experience. As I have been studying all that you have written thus far, I have felt, in my spirit, that you have been anointed by YHWH to write the Truth to us about abandoning the flesh and worldly idols, and commit to trusting our Lord solely on seeking His Kingdom.

The micro second that I began to read "If ye have faith as a grain" the Holy Spirit indicated to me that that mountain that I'd always wondered what it was, was Mt. Sinai. I can't tell you how liberating that knowledge is to me. My past, as a preacher, I was very legalistic. It wasn't until God Himself, baptized me in His Holy Spirit did He break the bonds of Mt Sinai legalism. I didn't really grasp what He did until His love became my focus.

This study of yours, has furnished me with a completion of knowledge that I must completely break loose of the bands of the Law as it has to do with righteousness that is only found in Christ Jesus and His cross work. I'm probably not expressing myself properly. My heart finds a release in all this....So, my thanks to you ez for your faithful teaching on the Holy Spirit. I feel that I must follow your instructions to listen for the teachings of the Holy Spirit in at least equal to my studies in the Scriptures.

 

[eddif]

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.


Exodus 20:2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
20:3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
20:4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
20:5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,
20:6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

The "world" currently is ruled by the enemy of YHWH, Satan. He has designed, what the world has to offer, as the only way to live and get what we want. I suppose that money is the chief among idols that we are faced with to worship each and every day. The evil one has, all thru history, tried unsuccessfully to halt the Messiah and His rule. From Adam to the Cross, he has been busy putting his idols in front of men's eyes as the only way to get what they need.

Having failed with his attempt to wipe out the line in Israel of Abraham and others that eventually would come to Joseph and Mary, who would give birth to Messiah Jesus, he has not given up. Now his aim is to stop the lost human race from being saved thru the Grace of God. Idols, yes idols are what Satan uses to stop Salvation. When he fails, and someone gets saved, he places idols all along the narrow road to detour unsuspecting pilgrims to abandon that holy road.

To walk in the Spirit, is to abandon ourselves, the old man, who delighted in idols, just like Israel did, and on a daily basis, surrender our bodies to the Holy Spirit, as His Temple of right living. Half of the battle folks is, to recognize the Holy Spirit as the only source of strength to keep from reaching out to the idols of the world, and to walk a walk worthy of being a child of God.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. We need to stop chocking God's Word that is making us unfruitful, say not to the idols of the world, clean up our Temples where the Holy Spirit resides


Just a quick reply my friend ez. It wasn't until you just posted this verse....
"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.".... Did I realize what that mountain really was.

In the past, I thought the mountain represented any obstacle that was in my path to keep me from something that God wanted me to experience. As I have been studying all that you have written thus far, I have felt, in my spirit, that you have been anointed by YHWH to write the Truth to us about abandoning the flesh and worldly idols, and commit to trusting our Lord solely on seeking His Kingdom.

The micro second that I began to read "If ye have faith as a grain" the Holy Spirit indicated to me that that mountain that I'd always wondered what it was, was Mt. Sinai. I can't tell you how liberating that knowledge is to me. My past, as a preacher, I was very legalistic. It wasn't until God Himself, baptized me in His Holy Spirit did He break the bonds of Mt Sinai legalism. I didn't really grasp what He did until His love became my focus.

This study of yours, has furnished me with a completion of knowledge that I must completely break loose of the bands of the Law as it has to do with righteousness that is only found in Christ Jesus and His cross work. I'm probably not expressing myself properly. My heart finds a release in all this....So, my thanks to you ez for your faithful teaching on the Holy Spirit. I feel that I must follow your instructions to listen for the teachings of the Holy Spirit in at least equal to my studies in the Scriptures.

While you ar right that righteousness is not under the law, the law can still be used lawfully in symbols to explain things as well as identify sin.

The day of Pentecost is one day I truly wish I had a better grip on. The sons and daughters that prophecied were speaking the mighty works of God in other languages.

The word was in their hearts and minds. The new birth seems to be fulfilled with part of Pentecost. Since we tend to shy away from too much Pentecostalism, I will not be all that pushy. There is much to be said about the day Jesus baptised the Jews in the Holy Spirit; just as there is much to be said about the gentile baptism day.

The spirit for the power walking witnesses arrived that day. The day of the creation breathed physical breath into man. The day of Pentecost breathed prophecy into man.

This thread is headed a lot of places.

eddif

 

[ezrider]

Exodus 20:2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
20:3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
20:4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
20:5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,
20:6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

The "world" currently is ruled by the enemy of YHWH, Satan. He has designed, what the world has to offer, as the only way to live and get what we want. I suppose that money is the chief among idols that we are faced with to worship each and every day. The evil one has, all thru history, tried unsuccessfully to halt the Messiah and His rule. From Adam to the Cross, he has been busy putting his idols in front of men's eyes as the only way to get what they need.

Having failed with his attempt to wipe out the line in Israel of Abraham and others that eventually would come to Joseph and Mary, who would give birth to Messiah Jesus, he has not given up. Now his aim is to stop the lost human race from being saved thru the Grace of God. Idols, yes idols are what Satan uses to stop Salvation. When he fails, and someone gets saved, he places idols all along the narrow road to detour unsuspecting pilgrims to abandon that holy road.

To walk in the Spirit, is to abandon ourselves, the old man, who delighted in idols, just like Israel did, and on a daily basis, surrender our bodies to the Holy Spirit, as His Temple of right living. Half of the battle folks is, to recognize the Holy Spirit as the only source of strength to keep from reaching out to the idols of the world, and to walk a walk worthy of being a child of God.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. We need to stop chocking God's Word that is making us unfruitful, say not to the idols of the world, clean up our Temples where the Holy Spirit resides

"I suppose that money is the chief among idols that we are faced with to worship each and every day." While money can be an idol, and can choke out the word, there is another idol that is far more subtle, and it is carnal. For they worship for a God the image of a man; they look to the prophets for the coming of a man, but the work of the Spirit remains hidden to them.

Romans 1:21-23
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.


2 Corinthians 3:14-15
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

Why is the vail upon their heart when the old testament is read? Because their mind is yet carnal and they look for the man of Christ rather than the Spirit of Christ.

Hebrews 10:20
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.

The vail was His flesh. It was put it off that we might receive His Spirit.