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Unveiling Jesus shares very simply seven signposts on the right road to Heaven. May you know Jesus - the right road to Heaven - as you reaad.
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Unveiling
JESUS THE
RIGHT ROAD to
HEAVEN
SEVEN SIGNPOSTS ON THE ROAD OF
GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE
Kelvin Stewart
Unveiling JESUS
The RIGHT ROAD to HEAVEN
Copyright © KELVIN STEWART 2010
Published in Nigeria by:
AMBIK PRESS
ISBN: 978-978-8400-94-3
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the
New Living Translation of the Bible. Any emphasis within
Scripture quotes is the author’s own.
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced stored in retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying recording or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of the author.
Printed in Nigeria by:
#4, Otike-Odibi Avenue, Isiohor,
Via Ugbowo Old Lagos Road,
P.O. Box 5027,
Benin City, Edo State.
052-465518, 08074009192
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD ..................................................................................... iv
PREFACE........................................................................................... v
CHAPTER ONE
The Precious Blood of Christ .............................................................. 1
CHAPTER TWO
The Cross of Christ I ......................................................................... 16
CHAPTER THREE
The Cross of Christ II ........................................................................ 30
CHAPTER FOUR
The Spirit of Christ ............................................................................ 48
CHAPTER FIVE
The Mind of Christ............................................................................. 54
CHAPTER SIX
Daily Fellowship with the Father Forever .......................................... 65
CHAPTER SEVEN
Daily Fellowship with the Brethren Forever ....................................... 75
iii
FOREWORD
Many destinations may have several routes to get to them. One may
decide to go by one or the other. Such choices are based on personal
preferences and convenience. But heaven is not so. The road to
heaven is not subject to religious or personal preferences. No one will
ever stumble into heaven or arrive there by way of religion or by a
system of good works. The road to heaven is a Person, His name is
Jesus. He said “I am the way, the truth and the life: no one comes to
the Father except by me.” (John 14:6). He is the door to the Father‟s
house. The only mediator between God and man. There is as the
scripture says no other name given under heaven whereby man shall
be saved.
It is therefore of paramount importance that we understand Jesus and
follow the pathway that he has laid down for the willing and faithful to
follow. Enjoy this simple but insightful presentation of seven signposts
to follow on the road to God‟s eternal purpose written by Dr. Kelvin
Stewart. It is one thing to know Jesus is the right road but another to
embrace Him and walk with Him. May you see Jesus and learn to
walk with Him as you read this book.
Pastor Ojei Ohiwerei
Senior Pastor
Heritage Assembly
Benin City, Nigeria.
iv
PREFACE
Satan‟s primary activity on earth is to deceive the mass of men. Since
Jesus is the Truth, Satan seeks to veil Him so he can succeed at what
he does. The Lord has felt very free in giving direction to His children
who seek to travel on the right road to heaven. Travelling this road of
God's eternal purpose is a personal choice and decision that each of
us must make. There are many detours that take people out of the
road. He has shown me seven signposts on this road. These
signposts give you assurance that you are travelling the right road to
heaven – the road of God‟s eternal purpose. It is the narrow road; it is
the road of becoming like Jesus; it is the journey of the faithful; it is
the disciple's journey to heaven. The burden of this book is captured
in these questions: “How can I live a truly holy life on earth and spend
eternity with God?” How can I live a purposeful life and not waste my
lifetime on vain pursuits?
What is God's Purpose in Creation and Redemption?
If we do not have the divine purpose very clear in our hearts and
minds, we can easily get confused or discouraged. The divine
objective is the glory of God our Father and our glory as His dear
children (Rom. 3:23; 8:18, 21; 1 Cor. 2:9). God's purpose for man is
glory. Sin came in to cheat man, so, man missed out on God's glory.
Sin does not only call forth the punitive justice of God, but essentially
it causes man to miss out of God's purpose. Sin actually came in to
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frustrate God's eternal purpose. Until the problem of sin is dealt with,
a man cannot enter into the purpose of God for his life. The essence
of redemption is to make us fit for God's glory again.
"For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are
God's children. And since we are his children, we are his
heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's
glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share
his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing
compared to the glory he will reveal to us later."
Rom 8:16-18
For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them
to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the
firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having
chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having
called them, he gave them right standing with himself.
And having given them right standing, he gave them his
glory." Romans 8:29-30
God's purpose is that His Son, Jesus Christ, would be the firstborn
among many brethren, all of whom should be conformed to His
image. This is God's objective. God is clear and we must be clear,
because we have a short time to pursue this objective while here on
this earth. We don‟t have time to waste. People, who are not clear
about God‟s purpose, waste their lives on vain pursuits.
vi
How did God realize His Objective?
It was by having other sons, thus making Jesus Christ, the Son – the
firstborn Son among many glorified sons. There was a point in time
when Jesus was God‟s only begotten Son. God had no other sons but
Jesus.
―And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.‖
John 1:14 KJV
God was not satisfied that Jesus should remain His only begotten
Son. He wanted to make Him the first-begotten. This meant the
Father had to have more sons (Jesus and us are His many sons). For
example, I have two sons. At a time, my first son was my only
begotten son. When his brother was born, he became the first-
begotten because he now had a brother. The divine purpose in
creation and redemption was that God should have many sons. This
is the essence of all that God is doing.
―For it became him, for whom are all things, and by
whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to
make the captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings.‖ Heb 2:10 KJV
Sonship – the full expression of Jesus – is God‟s goal in us, the many
sons. It is so critical that we understand this. Imagine people playing
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football on the field but do not realize the goal of playing the game.
They are likely going to waste their time on the field and lose the
game. Even so, if we do not understand God‟s eternal purpose we
would waste our lives on the planet. We would travel down the wrong
road and end up in the lake of fire. Each of us must make a personal
decision to travel down this road of God‟s eternal purpose. No one
can force you. And no one can do it for you. You can only be shown
the road and how to travel on it. It is important to note what the Lord
Jesus said.
―Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and
broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many
there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate,
and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it.‖ Matt 7:13-14 KJV
Please note, „…few there be that find it.‟ Will you purpose in your
heart to be numbered with the few that find the right road that leads to
life or you want to travel with the multitude on the wrong road that
leads to destruction? The options are clear and the choice is yours to
make. As for me, I have made a decision to travel down the right road
and be prepared for eternity - to meet my God. (Amos 4:12).
Kelvin Stewart
November, 2010
viii
CHAPTER ONE
THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST
FREEDOM FROM THE PENALTY OF OUR SINS
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver
and gold… But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot” 1 Peter 1:18-19 KJV (emphasis by author).
At what point do we enter the right road? We need to understand the
state of the man on the wrong road. That takes us right back to the
beginning.
―When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin
brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone
sinned.‖ Rom 5:12-13
Adam sinned and became a sinner. He was actually created as the
son of God (Luke 3:38b). However, through an act of disobedience,
Adam became a sinner and entered the wrong road. He acquired a
new nature – the Flesh. This nature of death, he spread to all his
descendants on the wrong road – from the beginning to this day – for
everyone has sinned.
Since man has become covered in filth and caged by the guilt of his
sins which causes an unexplainable restlessness within, the first need
is for something that would serve as soap and water to wash him
clean and set his conscience free. This is the necessity of the
1
precious blood of Christ. This provision has been made by God. If
people are still going around today all covered with filth and caged by
guilt, it is because they have not availed themselves of this divine
provision for freedom from the penalty of their sins.
It is critical to state at this point that without the blood of Christ not one
soul can enter into heaven. Heaven is a perfect place. Yet, there is no
man who has not sinned. The list of sins in the Bible cannot be
exhausted here.
―Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are
these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance,
emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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.‖
Gal 5:19-21 KJV
Adultery – voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person
and a person who is not their husband or wife. You might say “I have
never committed adultery”. This may be true, but are you an adulterer
at heart?
"You have heard the commandment that says, 'You must
not commit adultery.' But I say, anyone who even looks
2
at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with
her in his heart.‖
Matt 5:27-28
Fornication – sexual intercourse between unmarried persons. The
prevalence of premarital sex all around the world would give the
impression that God has changed His stance on this sin. God‟s
standard however is unalterable.
Uncleanness – masturbation, pornography, sexual fantasies etc.
have laid hold on this generation as a plague. These things defile
people. So, there are young persons who would say they are virgins
but are defiled by these unclean practices.
Lasciviousness – feeling or revealing an overt sexual desire. This is
lustfulness – the prevailing spirit of this generation. It shows itself in
manner of dressing, dancing etc. Just take a look at the way even so-
called Christians (married or unmarried) dress today. The impression
you would get is that decency in dressing is old-fashioned. No, it is
not, it is the spirit of lasciviousness that has caught hold of this
generation. Are you guilty?
Idolatry - this is anything that takes the place of God in our hearts.
This could be your spouse, your children, father, mother, brothers,
sisters, even your own life. Jesus first, is an essential requirement for
those who are planning to go to heaven.
3
“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take
God's place in your hearts.‖
1 John 5:21
"If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone
else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and
children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life.
Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not
carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my
disciple.‖
Luke 14:26-27
Witchcraft – this is the spirit of manipulation, intimidation and
domination. Many people believe it is only those that fly at night that
are witches. If you are a husband and you are seeking to bring your
wife to a place of submission by intimidation, you are practicing
witchcraft. If you are a wife and you are seeking to get your husband
to do what you want by manipulation you are a practicing witch. If you
are a pastor and you are seeking to gain control over your
congregation by manipulation and intimidation, you are into
charismatic witchcraft. The list goes on.
Hatred – intense dislike. To intensely dislike anybody for whom Christ
died is a felony (a serious crime) from heaven‟s viewpoint. There are
so-called Christian husbands who hate their wives and vice-versa.
4
There are Christians (so called) who hate Muslims. Are you guilty?
Jesus says we are to love even our enemies (Mat. 5:44).
Variance – this is a state of disagreement. It is the result of varying
(deviating) from the Truth. If we all have the same mind as God and
are pursuing the same purpose – to become like Jesus, where would
variance come from?
Emulations – to rival or equal. Every attempt to become like
someone else other than becoming like Jesus is a work of the flesh
and it is the root of ungodly jealousy.
Wrath – to boil or seethe with anger. This is a work of the flesh that
wrecks great destruction in our lives. It is a fire that consumes many.
Strife – angry or bitter disagreement. The root of strife is selfish
ambition. Most homes and churches are strife-filled. This opens the
door for the devil to work.
―Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than
themselves.‖ Phil 2:3 KJV
―But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts,
glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom
descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual,
devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is
confusion and every evil work.‖
James 3:14-16 KJV
5
Seditions – conduct or speech inciting rebellion against the authority
of the state or monarch. What are you doing or saying that is inciting
rebellion against our King – Jesus and hindering His cause?
Heresies – belief or opinion contrary to the Truth. Are you basing
your thought and belief on the words of the Lord Jesus or the words of
men?
Envyings – discontented or resentful longing aroused by another‟s
possessions, qualities, blessings etc. Who are you envious of? It is
time to repent.
Murders – the unlawful premeditated killing of one person by another.
You might be quick to say I have never committed any murder. Have
you murdered little babies in the womb? Have you murdered people
in your heart?
"You have heard that our ancestors were told, 'You must
not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to
judgment.' But I say, if you are even angry with someone,
you are subject to judgment!‖
Matt 5:21-22
―Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a
murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don't
have eternal life within them.‖
1 John 3:15
6
Drunkenness – influenced by alcohol. Many people say they can
drink alcohol and not get drunk. My question to them is “why play with
fire? What are you looking for?”
“Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your
life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit‖
Eph 5:18
Revellings – lively and noisy festivities, wild parties, orgies etc.
And such like – the list is inexhaustible.
They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God
– do you believe this? Do you believe you can do any of these things
and inherit the Kingdom of God? If you believe that you can do these
things and still enter heaven, that would be self-deception, for God
cannot lie.
Another list of sins that will damn the souls of men is found in Romans
1:29-31.
―Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy,
murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters,
inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without
understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural
affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the
judgment of God, that they which commit such things
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are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have
pleasure in them that do them.‖
Please note, they which commit such things are worthy of death.
Again, 2 Timothy 3:2-7 and Revelation 21:8 list sins that will damn
the souls of men.
―For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady,
highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of
God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power
thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they
which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women
laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever
learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of
the truth.‖
―But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable,
and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and
idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake
which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the
second death.‖
8
I challenge you to carefully look through these lists of sins that damn
the soul. Can you honestly say you are not guilty? Can you
understand the truth of the Word of God that makes it clear that all
have sinned and deserving of eternal damnation in hell? Sin robs us
of fellowship with the Father and therefore of the glory of God.
―For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God.‖ Rom 3:23
―For the wages of sin is death...‖
Rom 6:23
You see, if God gave us what we deserved, it would be eternal
damnation. God loved us so much that He made provision for our
redemption – the precious blood of Christ.
How does the blood provision work to set a man free from the
penalty of sin?
The blood works in three directions – God-ward, man-ward and
Satan-ward.
God-ward
The first thing sin does is to cause a separation between God and
man.
―Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot
save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your
iniquities have separated between you and your God, and
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your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not
hear.‖ Isa 59:1-2 KJV
Your iniquities have separated between you and your God. Your sins
have hid his face from you. The effect of our sin is that it breaks
fellowship with our Father. Except God does something about our sins
we cannot enjoy fellowship with Him. Satan knows this and thus, his
focus in his work of destroying lives is to deceive them into sin. No
wonder he is the “Tempter”, the “Deceiver”. To resist the devil
therefore is to resist his temptations, his deception. Our state
however, is that we have all sinned. God is of purer eyes than to
behold iniquity, so He cannot look on us in fellowship.
―Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst
not look on iniquity…‖
Hab. 1:13 KJV
How can God wash away our sins so we can fellowship with Him
again? The answer is the precious blood of Christ.
―I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for
mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.‖
Isa 43:25 KJV
―And almost all things are by the law purged with blood;
and without shedding of blood is no remission.‖
Heb 9:22 KJV
10
Without shedding of blood, there is no remission, no forgiveness.
Why? Our God is always known as a righteous God – a just Judge.
He cannot just forgive sin without the provision of a sacrifice. God‟s
challenge was not with punishing sinful man. His justice ensured that.
It was how He could justify the sinner without compromising His
justice.
―To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he
might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in
Jesus.‖
Rom 3:26 KJV
How did God achieve this?
“Being justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set
forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to
declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that
are past, through the forbearance of God.‖
Rom 3:24-25 KJV
God offered Himself in Jesus as the one all-sufficient sacrifice for
our sins. His blood was shed for the remission of our sins. We
partake of the benefit of the blood through faith. The blood has
satisfied God‟s righteous anger and thus we are freely forgiven
when we confess and forsake our sins.
11
―If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.‖
1 John 1:9KJV
―He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso
confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.‖
Prov. 28:13 KJV
We are not set free from the penalty our sins by doing penance.
Inflicting punishment on ourselves, as an outward expression of
repentance for wrongdoing, is not the right road. We also do not need
to buy indulgences from anyone to experience forgiveness. You do
not need a special prayer to be forgiven. The blood of Jesus has been
shed for you. Confess and forsake your sins and you will experience
forgiveness and the cleansing power of His blood. We are justified
freely by His blood and therefore saved from His wrath.
―Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we
shall be saved from wrath through him.‖
Rom 5:9 KJV
Man-ward
The blood of Christ is so precious, for through it we have our
consciences cleared of the sense of guilt that naturally followed our
sin. The blood is sufficient therefore not only to satisfy the wrath of
12
God, but also to cleanse our conscience that kept witnessing to our
guilt.
―Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere
hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have
been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean…‖
Heb 10:22
―How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through
the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God,
cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the
living God?‖
Heb 9:14NKJV
As soon as I believe in the all-sufficient provision of the blood to
cleanse my conscience from the guilt of sin, I experience rest within.
God is no more a dread to me for I have no more conscience of sin
because of the power of the blood to cleanse my conscience.
“For the law having a shadow of good things to come,
and not the very image of the things, can never with
those sacrifices which they offered year by year
continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then
would they not have ceased to be offered? Because that
the worshippers once purged should have had no more
conscience of sins.‖
Heb 10:1-2 KJV
13
Those sacrifices could not do it; it took the one all-sufficient sacrifice –
the sacrifice of the Son of God. Now we can have a conscience void
of offence before God and man. We also must exercise ourselves to
maintain this conscience by doing that which is right at all times.
―And have hope toward God, which they themselves also
allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both
of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to
have always a conscience void of offence toward God,
and toward men.‖ Acts 24:15-16 KJV
It is by the precious blood of Christ that we draw near to the Holy of
Holies, day by day, minute by minute second by second; moment by
moment. There can be no other ground.
―And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter
heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of
Jesus.‖ Heb 10:19
Satan-ward
Satan is the accuser of the brethren. Sin gives him a legal ground to
accuse us before God. Our sense of guilt gives him the ground of
accusation in our hearts. Thus, he comes and points his finger at us
to make us feel guilty. The blood again is so precious because
having cleared us of all guilt, Satan has no “locus standi” (right to
bring an action in court) before God or us anymore. We are set free,
14
truly free from the penalty of sin by the power of the precious blood
of Christ.
―And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come
salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and
the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is
cast down, which accused them before our God day and
night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb,
and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not
their lives unto the death.‖
Rev 12:10-11 KJV
15
CHAPTER TWO
THE CROSS OF CHRIST I
FREEDOM FROM THE TYRANNY OF THE FLESH
“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might
lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with
Christ we were set free from the power of sin.” Rom 6:6-7 (emphasis by author).
Freedom from the tyranny of the flesh is freedom from the power of
sin. Tyranny refers to a cruel and oppressive government or rule. The
Flesh refers to the spirit (nature) of Satan that entered into man when
he disobeyed God. The Flesh is a tyrant. His rule is oppressive and
cruel. It is an enemy. It is Satan‟s ally within.
As soon as a man starts rejoicing because of the experience of
freedom from the penalty of his sins, he soon encounters a problem.
There is something at work within him that still makes him a slave to
sin – the Flesh. The blood can wash away our sins but it cannot wash
away the Flesh which is a nature, a spirit. This man‟s life becomes a
vicious cycle of sin-confession-sin again. He begins to feel very
frustrated because the harder he tries the more he fails. He begins to
lose heart and then starts believing that true holiness of life is
impossible. He is bewildered when he reads Scriptures that state the
absolute necessity of holiness.
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―Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which
no man shall see the Lord‖
Heb 12:14 KJV
―Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.‖
Matt 5:8 KJV
Knowing that God means what He says and says what He means, he
cries
―Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from
this life that is dominated by sin and death?‖
Rom 7:24-25
This man‟s problem is his ignorance. He does not know that his acts
of sin were only a manifestation of a bigger problem within – “himself”.
He did wrong because he is wrong. He sinned because he is a sinner.
He was born a sinner. Sin works within the fabric of his being. Even
when he does not commit open sins, he is still a sinner at heart. Sin is
congenital (present from birth). It is a nature that has been passed
from Adam to every member of his family.
We are now going to look at the origin, nature and end of the Flesh.
The Origin of the Flesh
When God created the first man Adam, he was a perfect personality.
He was the son of God (Luke 3:38).
How did Adam who was created a righteous man become a sinner?
There was a personality whose own spirit was already wrong – a
17
fallen angel – Satan. He had poisoned his own spirit with the poison
of pride. He was Lucifer (light-bearer), a Cherub. From nowhere an
evil thought arose in his heart – he wanted to take the throne of God
and be like the Most High.
―How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the
morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which
didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine
heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of
the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend
above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most
High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the
sides of the pit.‖
Isa 14:12-15 KJV
Satan had a thought in his heart to ascend into heaven, exalt his
throne, sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the
north, ascend above the heights of the clouds and be like the most
High.
He was given a throne and glory, yet he refused to stay in his place.
This is the essence of pride. This is how he poisoned his own heart.
The result of pride in his heart was his downfall. This nature of pride
will always result in the downfall of anyone who carries it – “yet thou
shalt be brought down to hell.”
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What is the nature of the flesh?
We would be looking at two major tribal marks of this nature – self-will
and self-glory
1. Self-will, self-centeredness or selfishness
In just two verses of Scripture (Isaiah 14:13-14), Satan uses
the words “I will” five times. It was always about him in his
own heart and what he wanted. It was all about his own
pleasure. Whereas Scripture makes it very clear that we were
created for God‟s pleasure.
―Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour
and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy
pleasure they are and were created.‖
Rev 4:11 KJV
2. Self-glory, pride, independence, arrogance.
―Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of
Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou
sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every
precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and
the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the
sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the
workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was
prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
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Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have
set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God;
thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the
stones of fire.
Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou
wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled
the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned:
therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain
of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from
the midst of the stones of fire.
Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou
hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness:
I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before
kings, that they may behold thee.‖
Ezek 28:12-17 KJV
Satan allowed his beauty, wisdom, and gifting to get into his head and
his heart became lifted up. Pride goes before a fall and that is exactly
what happened to him. This iniquity that was found in Satan
transformed him from a perfect being into one who is profane.
These two tribal marks (selfishness and pride) describe the nature of
the Flesh.
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The tribal marks of Jesus (meekness and lowliness of heart) are the
direct opposite because there is no Flesh in Jesus. (Matt. 11:29).
How was this nature of Satan communicated to man?
It was through the power of words.
Jesus said,
―It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth
nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit,
and they are life. But there are some of you that believe
not…‖
John 6:63-64 KJV
The words of Jesus are spirit and are life. We partake of His divine
nature by believing His words. Even so, Satan‟s evil nature is
communicated through his words. His words are spirit and are death.
We partake of the devil‟s nature by believing his words. This is exactly
what happened to the first couple at the beginning. That is how they
were impregnated with this pride nature. The baby born from this
unholy union was disobedience and the outcome of this disobedience
was death. This is clearly stated in the third chapter of Genesis.
―The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals
the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman,
"Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any
of the trees in the garden?" "Of course we may eat fruit
from the trees in the garden," the woman replied. "It's
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only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden
that we are not allowed to eat. God said, 'You must not
eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.'" "You
won't die!" the serpent replied to the woman. "God
knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat
it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and
evil." The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree
was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she
wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some
of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her
husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that
moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt
shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves
together to cover themselves.‖ Gen 3:1-7
The change in man‟s nature was immediately evident. They ran from
God‟s presence and shifted blame for their wrong actions.
―When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man
and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the
garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees.
Then the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
He replied, "I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I
was afraid because I was naked." "Who told you that
you were naked?" the LORD God asked. "Have you
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eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to
eat?" The man replied, "It was the woman you gave me
who gave me the fruit, and I ate it." Then the LORD God
asked the woman, "What have you done?""The serpent
deceived me," she replied. "That's why I ate it."
Gen 3:8-13
A key strategy of Satan is to put the word “not” where God has not put
the word and remove it where God has put it thus altering His
instruction. Satan directly contradicted God‟s Word only after raising
doubt in the woman‟s heart concerning the love of God. He then
stated that there was a benefit in the tree that God was prohibiting the
man and his wife from having. This is the prototype of deception.
Every deception has followed this prototype.
Adam had the choice to choose to be dependent on God (the life of
God) or choose an independent life. This independent life is marked
by self-will and self-glory. He chose the wrong road – the life of
independence and the results we are all living with today. The man
was expelled from the presence of God. He was driven out of the
garden – in shame. He was also denied permanent access to the
„right road‟ – the tree of life. Man has lived from that time till now a life
of self-will and self-glory which is wickedness. A child can lie before
he can talk and steal before he can walk. “Did you take your sister‟s
doll”, he shakes his head indicating no, and meanwhile the doll is in
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his hand behind him. This is because it is a life, a nature transmitted
from Adam to his descendants by birth. (Ps. 51:5).
What are the activities of the Flesh
The activities of the Flesh are numerous as outlined in Galatians 5:19-
21 and described in chapter one. Whenever you see any of these
activities in your life know that the Flesh is active and working to
destroy you.
―Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are
these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance,
emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
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.‖
Gal 5:19-21 KJV
What is the end of the Flesh?
―Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from
this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God!
The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.‖
Romans 7:24-25a
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Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. What did Jesus
do to free us from this tyrant and to end his cruel and oppressive rule
over us?
This is where you need to follow very carefully. Jesus went to the
cross to hang the human nature – the Flesh – and thereafter bury it.
He then rose again to multiply Himself in the sons of men. Many of
you may not know that this is the gospel. This is because you have
heard many gospels which are no gospels at all but perversions of the
gospel of God.
―Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of
the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed
it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News
that saves you if you continue to believe the message I
told you—unless, of course, you believed something that
was never true in the first place.‖ I passed on to you what
was most important and what had also been passed on
to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures
said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on
the third day, just as the Scriptures said.‖
1 Cor. 15:1-5
―I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from
God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy
of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends
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to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You
are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth
concerning Christ. Let God's curse fall on anyone,
including us or even an angel from heaven, who
preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we
preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If
anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you
welcomed, let that person be cursed. Obviously, I'm not
trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If
pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's
servant. Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to
understand that the gospel message I preach is not
based on mere human reasoning. I received my message
from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I
received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.‖
Gal. 1:6-12
The good news is Christ – His death, burial and resurrection – and
what this means in our individual lives. In Galatians 2:20, the dear
Apostle Paul applied the truth of the gospel to his own life.
―My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer
I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly
body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as
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meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right
with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.‖
Here, the beloved Apostle was simply applying the truth of the gospel
to his own life. The gospel is true whether a man apprehends or
applies it or not. Your unbelief does not affect or alter the truth of the
gospel. It only affects you because you cannot benefit from
something you do not believe in. The Word says you died with Christ.
Jesus actually went to the Cross to hang your human nature – the
Flesh. Do you believe this?
―You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from
the spiritual powers of this world…‖
Col 2:20
―For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with
Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is
revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his
glory.‖
Col 3:3-4
For whom does this provision of death as a means of freedom from
the tyranny of the flesh work? It is to him that sees. This is where you
have to cry out to see or you would keep struggling with sin all your
life.
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―And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in
the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so
that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.‖
John 3:14-15.
How did Moses lift up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness?
For whom did that provision work?
―Then the LORD told him, "Make a replica of a poisonous
snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if
they simply look at it!" So Moses made a snake out of
bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was
bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be
healed!‖
“All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” Simply look at it?
“That sounds too simple” someone might say. But that is the divine
prescription. I‟m a doctor by training. When a patient comes to me
sick and I give my prescription. He does not say “that is too simple”.
Why? He just wants to get well. Do you really want to be free from the
tyranny of the flesh? Then follow the divine prescription!
Once you can see that your old nature has been drained out of you
and poured into the cup that Jesus drank on the Cross, the next thing
is to simply reckon the truth as true. If it is true, then it is true. It is the
truth because the Word says so.
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“Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the
sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I
not drink it?‖
John 18:11 KJV
God drained (siphoned) that old nature from all of us and poured it
into the cup for the Lord Jesus to drink and bring an end to the Flesh.
And thank God, He drank it all. Surely, He drank it and finished it.
Ending the problem that Adam started at the beginning – the problem
of the tyranny of the Flesh. So, He boldly declared on the Cross – “It
is finished!”
―When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then
he bowed his head and released his spirit.‖
John 19:30
Jesus says, “It is finished!” What do you say? “The struggle
continues!” It is unto you “according to your faith!”
―From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead
language that means nothing to you; God speaks your
mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are
dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did.‖
Rom 6:11THE MESSAGE
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CHAPTER THREE
THE CROSS OF CHRIST II
FREEDOM FROM THE YOKE OF THE LAW AND THE WORLD
“So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the
law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was
raised from the dead…” Rom 7:4 (emphasis by author)..
“As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified,
and the world's interest in me has also died.” Gal 6:14-15 (emphasis by
author).
The Bible, to me, is not a religious book. It is my Emancipation
Proclamation. When the slaves in America were set free from their
slavery, there was an emancipation proclamation declaring their
freedom. However, many slaves did not know. Even amongst those
who knew, they did not act on their freedom because they had
submitted to the spirit of slavery. The truth was they had been set
free, irrespective of the fact of their using or not using their freedom.
Even so us, when Christ died on the Cross, he procured our eternal
freedom. In this sense, the gospel is our Emancipation Proclamation.
This third signpost on the right road to heaven is the practical
implication of our death with Christ on the Cross with respect to the
Law of Moses and the world system. We are not legalists (simply
trying to keep rules and regulations), neither are we a lascivious
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people (simply living by our senses conditioned by this corrupt world).
We are the beloved children of our dear heavenly Father who has set
us free for Himself.
First, we will be looking at our freedom from the yoke of the law. Next,
we would look at our freedom from the corruption that is in the world
through lust.
FREEDOM FROM THE YOKE OF THE LAW
Freedom from the yoke of the law is so critical, yet very few believers
truly know what it is all about. The truth is this – if you do not
understand your freedom from this entanglement (bondage), Christ
will profit you nothing, He will be of no benefit to you! Let us see this
in Scripture.
―So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you
stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the
law. Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on
circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will
be of no benefit to you. I'll say it again. If you are trying to
find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey
every regulation in the whole law of Moses. For if you are
trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the
law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen
away from God's grace.‖
Gal 5:1-4
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Paul wrote the Book of Galatians to deal with the great problem of
legalism which threatened the health of the Church. Certain brethren
had started teaching the Gentile Believers that except they were
circumcised and made to keep the Law of Moses, they could not be
saved.
―While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some
men from Judea arrived and began to teach the
believers: "Unless you are circumcised as required by
the law of Moses, you cannot be saved." Paul and
Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently.
Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to
Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk
to the apostles and elders about this question.‖
Acts 15:1-3
How was this matter going to be resolved? Not by arguing. They
needed to settle the matter by finding out the mind of God on it. So,
they decided to send delegates to the apostles and elders in
Jerusalem.
―When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul
were welcomed by the whole church, including the
apostles and elders. They reported everything God had
done through them. But then some of the believers who
belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and
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insisted, "The Gentile converts must be circumcised
and required to follow the law of Moses." So the
apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue.
At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and
addressed them as follows: "Brothers, you all know that
God chose me from among you some time ago to
preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good
News and believe. God knows people's hearts, and he
confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the
Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. He made no distinction
between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts
through faith. So why are you now challenging God by
burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither
we nor our ancestors were able to bear? We believe
that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved
grace of the Lord Jesus." Acts 15:4-11
Here the beloved apostle Peter made an input. That God made no
distinction between the Jews who had the law and the Gentiles who
didn‟t, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. He raised a question,
“so why are you challenging God with a yoke (the law) that neither we
nor our ancestors were able to bear?” If they could not bear it, what
makes you think you can bear it? He gave a conclusion which is the
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gospel truth – “We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the
undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”
―Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told
about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done
through them among the Gentiles. When they had
finished, James stood and said, "Brothers, listen to me.
Peter has told you about the time God first visited the
Gentiles to take from them a people for himself. And
this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets
predicted. As it is written: 'Afterward I will return and
restore the fallen house of David. I will rebuild its ruins
and restore it, so that the rest of humanity might seek
the LORD, including the Gentiles— all those I have called
to be mine. The LORD has spoken— he who made these
things known so long ago.' "And so my judgment is that
we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are
turning to God. Instead, we should write and tell them
to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual
immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals,
and from consuming blood. For these laws of Moses
have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city
on every Sabbath for many generations."
Acts 15:12-22
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How did Brother James sum up what Peter had said? What was his
judgment? He said, “My judgment is that we should not make it
difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead, we should
write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from
sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and
from consuming blood”. This decision was communicated in writing to
the Gentile believers and it produced great joy amongst them.
―Then the apostles and elders together with the whole
church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent
them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to
report on this decision. The men chosen were two of
the church leaders*—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and
Silas. This is the letter they took with them:
"This letter is from the apostles and elders, your
brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile
believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings! "We
understand that some men from here have troubled you
and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send
them! So we decided, having come to complete
agreement, to send you official representatives, along
with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked
their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We
are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have
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decided concerning your question. "For it seemed good
to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on
you than these few requirements: You must abstain
from eating food offered to idols, from consuming
blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual
immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell."
The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they
called a general meeting of the believers and delivered
the letter. And there was great joy throughout the
church that day as they read this encouraging
message.‖
It is important to state here that the Law of Moses was never given
to gentiles. How did they live their lives if they did not have the
Law? The one word answer is Conscience – an inner working of
the law of God that gives a sense of moral right and wrong.
―Even Gentiles, who do not have God's written law,
show that they know his law when they instinctively obey
it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that
God's law is written in their hearts, for their own
conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them
they are doing right.‖
Romans 2:14-15
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Conscience actually agrees with God‟s moral law for it has the same
Source as the external law. How then could the gentiles know the
great God who put this sense in them? The answer is through
Creation – the handiwork of God.
―For ever since the world was created, people have
seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made,
they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal
power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for
not knowing God.‖
Romans 1:20
If the Law is a yoke that the Jews (the recipients of the Law) could
not bear, what then was it intended to do by God?
―We know that the law is good when used correctly. For
the law was not intended for people who do what is right.
It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are
ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and
defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or
commit other murders. The law is for people who are
sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are
slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do
anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching
that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me
by our blessed God.‖ 1 Tim 1:8-11
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For whom was the law intended? The law was made for the sinner.
The purpose of the law is to be the divine diagnostic to bring out the
sin nature. It is the law that shows us that we have a problem that
only God can deal with – our old sinful nature (the Flesh). It is like a
man who has cancer but does not know. If you try to get this man to
take anti-cancer drugs, he would not. He does not believe he has any
problem. However, if a diagnostic test has shown this man that he has
cancer and it would take his life except it is treated, the man will
submit himself to treatment. People are not ready for the benefit of the
gospel until the law has shown them the problem within.
―But now we have been released from the law, for we
died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we
can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of
the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit. Well
then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of
course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin.
I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the
law had not said, "You must not covet."
Rom 7:6-7
―Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was
given, for its purpose is to keep people from having
excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty
before God. For no one can ever be made right with God
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by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows
us how sinful we are.‖ Rom 3:19-20
The law simply shows us how sinful we are. In fact, it is the law that
showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong,
if the law had not told me, “You must not covet.” But no one can ever
be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The reason
is because God‟s glorious standard is perfection. This, no man has
been able to or can accomplish in his own strength. The purpose of
the law is to keep people from having excuses. It is to show that the
entire world is guilty before God. This is the true diagnosis of the
human condition. A man who knows he is guilty before God, and
would have to face the wrath of a just Judge on the Day of Judgment,
will cry out for mercy, for forgiveness. That is why the law is a
schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. However, once the law has fulfilled
this task, it no longer serves any purpose.
―For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for
which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in
him are made right with God.‖
Rom 10:4
Christ has brought the solution to the problem of sin which the law
was designed to diagnose. In the field of Medicine, once a diagnostic
test has shown us what the problem is, we do not cling to the test.
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What is now important is the treatment. The Cross is God‟s treatment
for the sin problem.
When God sets a man free from the yoke of the law, it is not for him to
be a law unto himself. God‟s glorious standard of righteousness can
never be compromised. God achieves His desire for righteousness by
pouring His own life into man having siphoned the old life;
consequently man receives a new nature -righteousness. His
passions and desires are now right because of his new nature.
―Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and
my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I
know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is
misdirected zeal. For they don't understand God's way of
making people right with himself. Refusing to accept
God's way, they cling to their own way of getting right
with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already
accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.
As a result, all who believe in him are made right with
God.‖ Rom 10:1-4
―Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though
God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's
stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to
be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made
the righteousness of God in him.‖ 2 Cor. 5:20-21 KJV
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―But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made
unto us…righteousness…: That, according as it is
written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.‖
1 Cor. 1:30-31 KJV
In real righteousness there is no room for glorying except in the Lord
but in false righteousness men have what they can boast about but
not before God. The Pharisees present a perfect picture of a people
seeking to be justified by the Law. Yet, their lives could be summed
up in one word - Hypocrisy. They walked around in arrogance and
pride yet within, they were seen by the Lord as men with hypocritical
religious hearts.
―Then Jesus told this story to some who had great
confidence in their own righteousness and scorned
everyone else: "Two men went to the Temple to pray.
One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax
collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed
this prayer*: 'I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like
everyone else. For I don't cheat, I don't sin, and I don't
commit adultery. I'm certainly not like that tax collector!
I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'
"But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not
even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he
beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to
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me, for I am a sinner.' I tell you, this sinner, not the
Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those
who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who
humble themselves will be exalted."
Luke 18:9-15
This Pharisee can be seen here boasting but not before God. God
has made an eternal decree that no flesh should glory in His
presence. (1 Cor. 1:29). Was he justified before God? He wasn‟t. It is
clear that by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified before God.
Let us look at another instance where the hypocritical heart of the
Pharisee was revealed. It is the story of the woman caught in
adultery.
―Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next
morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon
gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was
speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees
brought a woman who had been caught in the act of
adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. "Teacher,"
they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the act of
adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do
you say?"
They were trying to trap him into saying something they
could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and
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wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding
an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, but
let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!"
Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one
by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was
left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then
Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, "Where
are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn
you?" "No, Lord," she said. And Jesus said, "Neither
do I. Go and sin no more." John 8:1-11
Again, you see the Pharisees bringing a woman before the Lord for
judgment, yet they themselves were guilty of sin in their lives. The
power of the Word of Jesus convicted them so deeply that they could
walk away. Thank God for the power the Word has on the
conscience. It convicts even the hypocrite.
You can see why we were set free from the yoke of the law. The best
the law can produce is typified by the Pharisee – the Pretender. It is
important to state here that what we have said of the Law of Moses
also applies to the many rules and regulations set up by men by
which they seek to achieve righteousness with God. They all crumble
and fail. God has a different way of achieving the righteousness and
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true holiness He desires to see in our lives. It is by the power of the
Holy Spirit in us.
Freedom from the world
What is the world? It is a system of government that Satan has set up
by which he rules men who have not submitted themselves to the
righteous government of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Flesh is an ally of
Satan in these men who are ruled by him. It is like his own microchip
within men‟s hearts through which he controls them.
Who is the prince of this world?
―Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of
this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.‖
John 14:30 KJV
Satan is the prince of this world. He is a rebel. He has succeeded in
making the mass of men rebels, just like himself. He rules over them
by deception using their self-will and selfish desire.
What does the world offer men?
The world offers men that which would satisfy the lust of their eyes,
their flesh and their desire to be great as judged by their
achievements and possessions.
―Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for
when you love the world, you do not have the love of the
Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for
physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and
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pride in our achievements and possessions. These are
not from the Father, but are from this world. And this
world is fading away, along with everything that people
crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live
forever.‖ 1 John 2:15-18
So you can see that the world offers basically three things.
1. A craving for physical pleasure – food, sex, alcohol, drugs
etc. The only problem is that physical pleasure does not
last, it soon fades away. So you find men ever craving more
yet without deep or lasting satisfaction or fulfillment.
2. A craving for everything we see – this is why men will do
anything to get money. Money (mammon) is the „face‟ of the
world system. The Lord Jesus actually made it very clear
that a man cannot serve God and money. You must choose
one.
"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one
and love the other; you will be devoted to one and
despise the other. You cannot serve both God and
money.‖
Matt 6:24
3. Pride in achievements and possessions. What drives most
men is the desire for worldly success and to accumulate this
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world‟s goods. They forget that a man‟s life cannot be
evaluated (measured) by his possessions.
Are you pouring your life into this world that is fading away?
Please as you pursue this present world with all the pleasures and
opportunities it offers you to serve it, bear this in mind. It is like
investing in a bank that is certainly going to collapse. When it
collapses, what will happen to your investment? Are you a wise man
as you pour out your life into this present world system and you are
not preparing for eternity? Please, learn a lesson from the man God
called a fool!
Then he said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of
greed. Life is not measured by how much you own."
Then he told them a story: "A rich man had a fertile farm
that produced fine crops. He said to himself, 'What
should I do? I don't have room for all my crops.' Then he
said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger
ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat
and other goods. And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My
friend, you have enough stored away for years to come.
Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!"' "But God
said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then
who will get everything you worked for?' "Yes, a person
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is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich
relationship with God." Luke 12:15-21
A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich
relationship with God. Don‟t live and die as a fool!
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CHAPTER FOUR
THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST
THE SPIRIT OF THE NEW MAN
“…those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at
all.‖ Rom 8:9
“For God hath… given us the spirit of power and of love...” 2 Tim 1:7 KJV
(emphasis by author)
God is Spirit.
“For God is Spirit..." John 4:24
Angels and demons are spirits
―And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels
spirits…‖ Heb 1:7 KJV
―When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he
walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth
none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from
whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it
empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh
with himself seven other spirits more wicked than
himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last
state of that man is worse than the first...‖
Matt 12:43-46 KJV
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Man is a spirit poured into a physical form (physical body).
―For as the body without the spirit is dead…‖
James 2:26 KJV
What is Spirit?
―Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself:
handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and
bones, as ye see me have.‖
Luke 24:39 KJV
A spirit is an incorporeal (not composed of matter; having no physical
existence; having no material existence), invisible (not seen by the
natural eyes) reality.
What does it mean when the Bible states that man was made in the
image of God if God is Spirit?
There are two things to bear in mind about God as Spirit.
1. He has a voice – He can speak for us to hear.
2. He has a shape – He can be seen with the eyes of the spirit.
―And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne
witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any
time, nor seen his shape.‖
John 5:37 KJV
Man was created as a spirit with a voice and a shape exactly like
God. He was created to think like his Father (morally and mentally)
and therefore, speak like Him. He was also created to look like his
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Father – same spiritual shape. He was then put in a physical form that
corresponds to his spirit. The essence of man‟s physical form is so
that man can represent God in this physical, material realm of the
Kingdom of God. This is the mystery of man. (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7). Man
therefore is designed to be God‟s delegate on earth - His
representative, His Ambassador.
The spirit of the new man therefore is exactly the same spirit as the
Spirit of God. It has the same functional ability (voice) and structural
form (shape).
God gets things done by His Word spoken in faith.
―By faith we understand that the entire universe was
formed at God's command, that what we now see did
not come from anything that can be seen.‖
Heb 11:3
―And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in
God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say
unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast
into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall
believe that those things which he saith shall come to
pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.‖
Mark 11:22-23 KJV
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What the Lord Jesus said literally in Mark 11:22 is “Have the faith of
God”. God believes in His Word. Do you believe in the word that you
speak? If you do, you shall have what you say.
The spirit of faith is expressed in words spoken in faith.
―We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is
written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also
believe, and therefore speak.‖
2 Cor. 4:13 KJV
The spirit of the new man is the spirit of faith which operates by love.
―For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no
benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised.
What is important is faith expressing itself in love.‖
Gal 5:6
In other words, the word of faith expressed is ruled by love. The
words are intended to bring blessings to men‟s lives and not curses.
The spirit of witchcraft is the exact opposite; it operates to enchant
people and bring a curse on their lives. The secret of life therefore is
in words, words, words!!
The words of the new man are spirit and life. They are wholesome
words. They are the words of eternal life.
―The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort
accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken
to you are spirit and life.‖ John 6:63-64
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―Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? You
have the words that give eternal life.‖ John 6:68-69
―If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to
wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus
Christ…‖ 1 Tim 6:3 KJV
The truth is that the power of life and death is in words spoken with
the tongue.
―The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to
talk will reap the consequences.‖
Prov. 18:21
Since we have been given the same spirit as the Spirit of God, we are
to speak the words of life even the Word of God. God gave us His
own Spirit to live within us so that our own new spirits can be trained
to speak the very Word of God. This is the essence of spiritual growth
and development.
―For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power
and of love and of a sound mind.‖
2 Tim 1:7
A man is either operating the spirit of fear (death) or the spirit of faith
(life). Each spirit has the power to bring about what it believes. The
spirit which we have received from God is the spirit of faith. The
precious personality of the Holy Spirit actually impacts our spirits with
the Word of God so we can grow to function like our Father.
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―For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are
sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of
bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of
adoption by whom we cry out, ―Abba, Father.‖ The
Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of
God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with
Him, that we may also be glorified together.‖
Rom 8:14-17 NKJV
Jesus Himself when He came to this earth as the Man that God
became had to undergo spiritual growth and development.
―And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled
with wisdom…‖
Luke 2:40 KJV
―And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature…‖
Luke 2:52 KJV
This is my prayer, please join me in it.
“Spirit of God my Teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me.”
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CHAPTER FIVE
THE MIND OF CHRIST
THE MINDSET OF THE NEW MAN
“…we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Cor. 2:16
(emphasis by author)
“For God hath… given us the spirit …of a sound mind.” 2Tim. 1:7 KJV
(emphasis by author)
God is mindful of us.
―What is man, that thou art mindful of him?‖
Ps 8:4 KJV
The new man has been given the spirit of a sound mind. This sound
mind is mindful of God. His meditation is on God and His will day and
night.
―…his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law
doth he meditate day and night.‖
Ps 1:2 KJV
The study of the nature and character of God is the greatest
engagement of man and a mind given to this would profit greatly. On
7 January 1855 the minister of New Park Street Chapel, Southwark,
opened his morning sermon as follows:
“It has been said by someone that „the proper study of mankind is
man‟. I will not oppose the idea, but I believe it is equally true that the
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proper study of God‟s elect is God; the proper study of a Christian is
the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the
mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child
of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and
the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father.
There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a
contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our
thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned
in its infinity. Other subjects we can compass and grapple with; in
them we feel a kind of self-content, and go our way with the thought,
„Behold, I am wise‟. But we come to this master-science, finding that
our plumb-line cannot sound its depth, and that our eagle eye cannot
see its height, we turn away with the thought that vain man would be
wise…No subject of contemplation would tend to humble the mind,
than thoughts of God…
But while the subject humbles the mind, it also expands it. He who
often thinks of God, will have a larger mind than the man who simply
plods around this narrow globe…The most excellent study for
expanding the soul, is the science of Christ and Him crucified, and the
knowledge of the Godhead…Nothing will so enlarge the intellect,
nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest,
continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity.
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…This subject is eminently consolatory. Oh, there is, in contemplating
Christ, a balm for every wound; in musing on the Father, there is a
quietus for every grief; and in the influence of the Holy Ghost, there is
a balsam for every sore. Would you lose your sorrow? Would you
drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead‟s
deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come forth as a
couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know nothing which can so
comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of sorrow and grief; so
speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the
subject of the Godhead. It is to this subject I invite you this morning…”
These words, spoken over one and half centuries ago by C.H.
Spurgeon (at that time, incredibly, only twenty years old) were true
then, and they are true now.
The thoughts of the new man center on God as a person and the
thoughts and intents of His heart. The reason God gave us the Bible
is for us to learn to think as He thinks. The essence of understanding
is to have the mind of God on every matter.
How do we develop the mindset of God?
First, we must have the Spirit of God working within our new spirits.
You cannot put the mind of a lamb on a goat! Next, we must become
addicted to the study of the Word. The Word is the revelation of the
mind of God. With all the reverence with which I can speak, the
Scripture is God‟s mind on paper. Each Scriptural word, phrase and
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statement is food for thought. There so much food to feed on from
Genesis to Revelation. Someone has said that “the Bible is the chart
of history. It affords a panoramic view of the whole course of events
from Creation and the Fall of man to the final judgement and the
inauguration of the new Heaven and the new Earth. Without the Bible,
history would be a spectacle of unknown rivers flowing from unknown
sources to unknown seas, but under its guidance we can trace the
complex currents to their springs, and can see the end from the
beginning.” The holy Bible is in harmony throughout. The
responsibility of each new man is to “rightly divide the Word of truth”
(2 Tim. 2:15). Will you become a student of the Bible? Your destiny
depends on it. The Bible deals with our past, present and future. It
deals with every matter that we have to know and deal with. Feed
fully, feed freely. The central subject of the Scripture is the Lord Jesus
Christ (Jn. 5:39). He is the theme of the Bible. He is the perfect
picture of who God is (Jn. 14:7) and who man was intended to be
(Rom. 8:29). He is the bridge between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5). He
is therefore the sum of all we need to know about God and ourselves
for He is the Man that God became (1 Tim. 3:16).
―Christ is the visible image of the invisible God…‖
Col 1:15
―The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the
very character of God…‖ Heb 1:3
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―And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…‖
1 Tim 3:16 KJV
Jesus is therefore the perfect picture of the true God and the real
man. That is why all the Scriptures testify of Him.
"You search the Scriptures because you think they give
you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you
refuse to come to me to receive this life.‖
John 5:39-40
You can see that the Scriptures are pointing to Jesus! See Him as
you travel through every story and your heart and mind will be greatly
blessed. Give your mind to understanding the divine nature, the
majesty of true manhood, the worth of true womanhood, the meaning
of marriage, the purpose of parenting, the purpose and meaning of
life here and hereafter etc.
The key to the life of God inside of you coming out on the outside is
having the mindset of the new man. If we cannot think like Jesus, we
cannot behave like Jesus. So it is imperative that we learn to think,
the way Jesus thinks. When fear comes to your life, it first robs you of
a sound mind. Hence, God had to give us the spirit of faith and love
which guarantees for us and secures for us a sound mind. It is a mind
that is complete and whole. We must learn to access this mind when
confronted with any matter. It is like having a storeroom that contains
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everything we can ever need. All we need to do is to go into the store
to get what we need. In the place of prayer and the study of the Word,
He shows us how to deal with every matter. When you ask how to
handle a matter, He might just say “not a word should be spoken”,
“just smile at the person who hates you”. You must learn to submit to
His mind otherwise you become double-minded. You want the mind of
God and you want your own mind. You become unstable, unsettled.
―If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that
giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall
be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with
the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he
shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded
man is unstable in all his ways.‖
James 1:5-8 KJV
The key to true living is learning to operate the divine mind at all
times. This will cause men to baffle at the understanding of God at
work in your life. This understanding is what sets men apart. Truly to
be a man is to be a man of understanding. This is a mind that
understands the will of God in every matter.
―So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like
those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity
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in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but
understand what the Lord wants you to do.‖
Eph 5:15-17
The Word of God challenges us to grow up and be men in
understanding. That is to carefully determine what the Lord will have
us do in any situation and to actually do it.
―Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in
malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.‖
1 Cor. 14:20 KJV
―When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as
a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I
put away childish things.‖
1 Cor. 13:11 KJV
Thus, when God confronted Solomon and gave him a blank check, he
simply asked the Lord for an understanding heart to lead His people.
―That night the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream,
and God said, "What do you want? Ask, and I will give it
to you!" Solomon replied, "You showed faithful love to
your servant my father, David, because he was honest
and true and faithful to you. And you have continued
your faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit
on his throne. "Now, O LORD my God, you have made me
king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child
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who doesn't know his way around. And here I am in the
midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and
numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an
understanding heart so that I can govern your people
well and know the difference between right and wrong.
For who by himself is able to govern this great people of
yours?"
1 Kings 3:5-9
The decision made to ask for an understanding heart so as to govern
God‟s people well and know the difference between right and wrong
really pleased the Lord. The Lord decided to give Solomon even that
which he had not asked for.
―The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for
wisdom. So God replied, "Because you have asked for
wisdom in governing my people with justice and have
not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your
enemies— I will give you what you asked for! I will give
you a wise and understanding heart such as no one
else has had or ever will have! And I will also give you
what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other
king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest
of your life!‖
1 Kings 3:10-14
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This understanding was put to work immediately and a very tricky
situation was dealt with by King Solomon. The story had to do with
two prostitutes.
―Some time later two prostitutes came to the king to
have an argument settled."Please, my lord," one of them
began, "this woman and I live in the same house. I gave
birth to a baby while she was with me in the house. Three
days later this woman also had a baby. We were alone;
there were only two of us in the house. "But her baby
died during the night when she rolled over on it. Then
she got up in the night and took my son from beside me
while I was asleep. She laid her dead child in my arms
and took mine to sleep beside her. And in the morning
when I tried to nurse my son, he was dead! But when I
looked more closely in the morning light, I saw that it
wasn't my son at all."
Then the other woman interrupted, "It certainly was
your son, and the living child is mine."
"No," the first woman said, "the living child is mine, and
the dead one is yours." And so they argued back and
forth before the king. Then the king said, "Let's get the
facts straight. Both of you claim the living child is
yours, and each says that the dead one belongs to the
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other. All right, bring me a sword." So a sword was
brought to the king. Then he said, "Cut the living child
in two, and give half to one woman and half to the
other!"
Then the woman who was the real mother of the living
child, and who loved him very much, cried out, "Oh no,
my lord! Give her the child—please do not kill him!" But
the other woman said, "All right, he will be neither
yours nor mine; divide him between us!" Then the king
said, "Do not kill the child, but give him to the woman
who wants him to live, for she is his mother!" When all
Israel heard the king's decision, the people were in awe
of the king, for they saw the wisdom God had given him
for rendering justice.‖
1 Kings 3:16-28
However, what we are saying is that a greater than Solomon is here.
―The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment
with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she
came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the
wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than
Solomon is here.‖
Matt 12:42-43 KJV
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The mind I have is not the mind of Solomon but the mind of Christ.
Jesus is the new occupant within me, so He has the right to use my
minds and the members of my body.
May we maximize the access that we have to this divine mind and
bring great blessings to the people of God. May we profit the cause of
Christ in our own generation as we stay our minds on Him.
―Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.‖
Isa 26:3 KJV
―I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at
my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my
flesh also shall rest in hope.‖
Ps 16:8-9 KJV
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CHAPTER SIX
DAILY FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER FOREVER
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have
fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son
Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3 KJV (emphasis by author)
“…no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have
known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” John
14:6-7 KJV
The one need in a man‟s life is the Father‟s love. He needs daily
access to his heavenly Father; to know and be known by Him and to
enjoy His Love. Separation from God is the only problem in life.
Everything else is simply a challenge. Jesus died and rose again to
ensure that this vital relationship that was lost in the garden is
restored. Through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, this
relationship is restored. The most important question to be settled in
life is “who is your Father?” Your identity, purpose, potential and
destiny are tied to the fact of your parentage.
The Pattern (Righteous) Son
In the life of Jesus, the Man that God became, this question was
settled once and for all at His baptism.
―And a voice from heaven said, "This is my dearly loved
Son, who brings me great joy."
Matt 3:17
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Jesus is the pattern Son. He is the perfect picture of the way a son
should relate with his Father. He is also the perfect picture of the way
a brother should relate with his brothers.
This relationship with the Father is marked by intimacy with Him and
accurate representation of Him.
―The Father and I are one."
John 10:30
―If you had really known me, you would know who my
Father is. From now on, you do know him and have
seen him!" Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father, and
we will be satisfied." Jesus replied, "Have I been with
you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don't know
who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the
Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?
Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father
is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my
Father who lives in me does his work through me.‖
John 14:7-10
At the young age of twelve Jesus showed that He already had an
intimate knowledge of His Father and that His life was about the
Father.
―And it came to pass, that after three days they found
him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both
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hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that
heard him were astonished at his understanding and
answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and
his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt
with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee
sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye
sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's
business? And they understood not the saying which he
spake unto them. And he went down with them, and
came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his
mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus
increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God
and man.‖
Luke 2:46-52 KJV
Does it not amaze you that at the age of twelve Jesus had a clear
understanding of who is real Father was and that He was here to be
about His Father‟s business? Most men on the planet are chasing rats
and rabbits instead of the real reason for which they were created.
This is a great tragedy.
How did Jesus come into this understanding?
―The Sovereign LORD has given me his words of wisdom,
so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by
morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to
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his will. The Sovereign LORD has spoken to me, and I
have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away.‖
Isa 50:4-5
The Son came into understanding because he listened to the Father.
Did you notice that it was through daily fellowship with the Father that
the Son came to an understanding of the divine will?
If you will do the same you will come into deep understanding of your
Father‟s person and purpose.
―My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to
my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate
deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find
them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart
above all else, for it determines the course of your life.‖
Prov. 4:20-24
If you do not choose to become like the pattern (righteous) Son with
His humble obedient heart, you are left with the alternative of either
becoming like the prodigal (rebellious) son or like the pretentious
(religious) son. The life of the pattern son is marked by right living
coming from deep daily fellowship with the Father. The life of the
prodigal son is marked by riotous living, no fellowship with the Father.
The life of the pretentious son is marked by mere religious activities,
no real fellowship with the Father. The story of the two sons -
prodigal and pretentious – is told by the Lord Jesus in Luke 15:11-32.
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The Prodigal (Rebellious) Son
This son started with a hard rebellious heart but ended with a humble
repentant heart.
―…Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons. The
younger son told his father, 'I want my share of your
estate now before you die.' So his father agreed to divide
his wealth between his sons.
Please notice that the Father divided his wealth between his sons and
not just with the younger son. This would be very important when we
talk about the older son.
Rebellion
"A few days later this younger son packed all his
belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he
wasted all his money in wild living.
What is driving this younger son away from home? Possibly, the
experience with the Father at home was no longer exciting. Life in a
distant land became very alluring. You notice the Father did not stop
him because of his sovereign will. He had the power to choose either
to continue in daily fellowship with the Father or to estrange himself
from the Father – breaking fellowship.
Ruin
About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept
over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a
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local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his
fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry
that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good
to him. But no one gave him anything.
Just consider the ruin to which this son came. He began to starve in
this distant land. The man was sent into the fields to feed pigs. He
became so hungry that he desired to eat what pigs were eating. Is this
your story? Have you come to great ruin because of your rebellion?
There is hope, if you will only repent.
Repentance
"When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself,
'At home even the hired servants have food enough to
spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to
my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against both
heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being
called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant."'
Thank God, finally the young man came to his senses. He made a
decision to go home. He actually only desired to return as just a
servant. Then his meals would be guaranteed. His Father had greater
things in mind for him.
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Reconciliation
"So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long
way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and
compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven
and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son'
The Father that longs for His children to return to fellowship is not
known by many. This is the Father that is filled with a love and
compassion that compels Him to run to His son, to embrace Him, and
to kiss Him. Such lavish display of affection is strange to the
pretentious religious son. He cannot imagine that his Father can love
him with so great love. However, this younger son simply yielded
(totally submitted) himself to the love of the Father. He was reconciled
with the Father and began to dwell in His love again.
Restoration
"But his father said to the servants, 'Quick! Bring the
finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for
his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we
have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for
this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life.
He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began.‖
Luke 15:11-24
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The son was fully restored to the place of dignity, honour and glory.
He was given the finest robe in the house. A ring was put in his finger
and a sandal for his feet. A feast was made in his honour. Not
because he rebelled but because he returned – “this son of mine was
dead and has now returned to life, he was lost, but now is found.”
Dear friend, will you come home? The Father is waiting for you. He
longs to reconcile you to Himself and restore you to a place of honour
and dignity. Will you let Him? All you need to do is to repent of your
rebellion and come back to your Father.
The Pretentious (Religious) son
Putting service before sonship
―Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he
returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he
asked one of the servants what was going on. 'Your brother is
back,' he was told, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf.
We are celebrating because of his safe return.' "The older
brother was angry and wouldn't go in.‖
This older son was in the fields working. The picture of God as Master
overrides the picture of the eternal Fatherhood of God in the mind of
this son. He is always talking about the sweat of ministry but hardly
knows the sweetness of fellowship.
―His father came out and begged him, but he replied, 'All these
years I've slaved for you and never once refused to do a single
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thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even
one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of
yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes,
you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!' "His father said to him,
'Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I
have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your
brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but
now he is found!'"
It is easier to restore a sinner out there in the world to fellowship than
this son. His heart is full of bitterness.
He accuses of his Father of not showing him love in spite of his many
years of slaving for the Him. He had not refused to obey a single thing
the Father asked him to do, he said. Yet, according to him, the Father
had not given him even a small goat for a feast with his friends. This
is a lie. In verse 12 we read that the Father divided His wealth
between His sons.
He accuses his brother of squandering the Father‟s money on
prostitutes as though he was there. This pretentious son is also a
presumptuous son. He refers to his own brother as “this son of yours”.
What a bitter spirit. The Church is filled with multitudes of this
pretentious religious son. They give the picture that God has treated
them with a bad hand. No heart of gratitude. For them, what is there
to be grateful for? The story of this son is very pathetic. There is no
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indication in Scripture that he repented and was restored to
fellowship. Would you maintain your proud position of pointing to what
you have done or you are doing for God, yet your heart is filled with
bitterness? Would you understand that in the Family, sonship comes
before service? And that service in the Kingdom is being about the
Father‟s business because of our deep love for Him and our sharing
of His heart as His beloved children? I charge to humble your heart
and realize that you were created and redeemed first and foremost for
deep daily fellowship with the Father forever and second, daily
fellowship with the brethren forever. That without these, your service
means nothing! I pray you heed!
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CHAPTER SEVEN
DAILY FELLOWSHIP WITH THE BRETHREN FOREVER
The brethren we are referring to here are the people of God i.e. the
Lord‟s brethren. Flesh cannot fellowship, so we are not referring to
flesh and blood brothers. We are referring to spiritual brotherhood - all
true children of God.
―Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that
we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.‖
James 1:18 KJV
―Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and
abideth for ever.‖ 1 Peter 1:23-24 KJV
―That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit.‖ John 3:6 KJV
―But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave
the right to become children of God. They are reborn—
not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or
plan, but a birth that comes from God.‖
John 1:12-13
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We need to be able to see that we belong to a new family – the family
of God. It is very important that we have this matter of our identity
settled. This is because who you are determines what you do and
what you do confirms who you are. Since we (who have been born by
God) have one Father, we are all brethren. Jesus is our eldest
brother. The One who shows us what true brotherhood means and
what brotherly love is all about by example.
―Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet
ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say
unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and
to my God, and your God.‖
John 20:17 KJV
We, the disciples of the Lord, are actually the Lord‟s brethren. This is
a very heavy matter as far as the truth of our identity is concerned.
The Lord is not only our Father, He is also our brother.
―Jesus asked, "Who is my mother? Who are my
brothers?" Then he pointed to his disciples and said,
"Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who
does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and
sister and mother!"
Matt 12:48-13:1
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Jesus of course knew that Mary was His earthly mother and James,
Jude and the others are His brothers. He is referring to the spiritual
family.
―Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my
brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they
see me.‖
Matt 28:10 KJV
Jesus consistently refers to His disciples as His brethren.
―So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the
same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call
them his brothers and sisters.‖
Heb 2:11
Finally, the Bible states clearly that Jesus is not ashamed to call us
His brothers and sisters because we have the same Father. I really
pray that you would gain a strong sense of belonging by reason of
being a member of the best and greatest family in the universe – the
Family of God.
The next thing we want to establish is that we have all being brought
together in one body, the Lord Himself being the Head of the Body.
Thank God, I am a doctor. I also taught the subject of Anatomy which
is the science of the structure of the human body. I can very easily
relate with the concept of the body as a unit with many different parts
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designed for specific purposes. This is clearly described in 1 Cor.
12:13-27.
―The human body has many parts, but the many parts
make up one whole body...‖
The human body actually has many parts. The organs of special
sense – eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin. The upper limbs work
with the hands. The lower limbs walk with the feet. The internal
organs – heart, lungs, stomach and intestine, kidneys etc.
―…So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews,
some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free.
But we have all been baptized into one body by one
Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.‖
We have all been baptized into one body by the Holy Spirit and we
all share the same Holy Spirit who lives within us. This is the basis
of our daily fellowship with the brethren. Fellowship with true
believers is automatic. This fellowship is a spirit to spirit sharing of
simple facts and sweet feelings of the Father.
―Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the
foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,"
that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear
says, "I am not part of the body because I am not an eye," would
that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were
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an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear,
how would you smell anything?
―But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part
just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had
only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.
The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head
can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."
In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least
important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we
regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest
care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be
seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this
special care. So God has put the body together such that extra
honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.
This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the
members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts
suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.‖
This portion of the Word of God shows us that each part of the body
serves a purpose. The implication is that one part cannot say to
another part, “I do not need you”. No part is sufficient all by itself. No
one part is the whole body. Please, brother and sister, if you are a
part of God‟s family you are important. God has put each of us in His
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Body as it has pleased Him. We suffer and are honored together.
Each part of the body should be honored as a part of God‟s body.
―All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part
of it.‖
The entire body of believers as a whole makes up Christ‟s body. Are
you in His body? Have you been baptized into His body? Please,
there should be no assumption on this matter. The acid test of
membership in His body is love for Jesus and the brethren.
―Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would
love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not
here on my own, but he sent me.‖
John 8:42
―We know that we have passed from death unto life,
because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his
brother abideth in death.‖
1 John 3:14 KJV
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CONCLUSION
In this book, we have simply sought to show you Jesus – the right
road to heaven. No man will suddenly find himself in heaven without
following the Right Road (Jesus) so as to know Him and live His life in
the body. (John 14:6). We have shown you seven signposts on the
right road to heaven, to help you know if you are travelling the right
road or the wrong road. Eternity is too long for you to assume that you
are on the right road when all the time you were on the wrong road.
Please again I plead with you, no assumption, no presumption, no
carelessness and no hypocrisy on this matter.
Have you come to know the value of the precious blood of Christ? If
not, please go back and read and re-read chapter one until you have
deep revelation. Have you received revelation of the freedom that
Christ procured at the Cross from the tyranny of the Flesh? If not,
please refer to chapter two.
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness for those who believe in
Him. (Romans 10:4). Are you free from legalism? Are you like the
Jews who seek to be justified by the law, an impossible road to
heaven? Are you still bound by lust for this present world? Are you
filled with pride from your achievements and possession in this
passing world? Do you know that Christ has set you free from the
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yoke of the law and the world? If not, please read chapter three very
carefully.
You have passed out of the old world by death. Now you are in the
kingdom of God by birth. (John 3:3-8). Do you understand that you
have a new spirit of faith that functions by love exactly the same with
God‟s own Spirit? This is what makes you is child. Please read
chapter four again to understand the spirit of the new man. As a man
thinks in his heart so is he. You cannot live beyond your mindset – the
thoughts and motives of your heart. Do you have the mindset of the
new man? Are your thoughts shaped by His words or what the world
is telling you? Please reread chapter five for more light.
Do you live in daily fellowship with the Father and the brethren? Have
you come to understand that the purpose for your creation and
redemption is for fellowship? Please read chapters six and seven
again. Having read this book, as you begin to enjoy this fellowship,
please join me in daily laboring to bring others into true fellowship.
Please, never forget,
The light of heaven is the face of Jesus
The joy of heaven is the presence of Jesus
The harmony of heaven is the praise of Jesus
The theme of heaven is the work of Jesus
The employment of heaven is the service of Jesus
The fullness of heaven is Jesus Himself!
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The cry of my heart is for more of Jesus.
More about Jesus would I know
More of His grace to others show
More of His saving fullness see
More of His love who died for me
More, more about Jesus
More, more about Jesus
More of His saving fullness see
More of His love who died for me
More about Jesus let me learn
More of His holy will discern
Spirit of God, my Teacher be
Showing the things of Christ to me
More about Jesus in His Word
Holding communion with my Lord
Hearing His voice in every line
Making each faithful saying mine
More about Jesus on His throne
Riches in glory all His own
More of His Kingdom‟s sure increase
More of His coming Prince of Peace
May this be your cry also.
God bless you.
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If this book has touched your life please share your testimony
with the author – drkelvinstewart@yahoo.com or call
08056077306, 08037258581
NECESSARY STEPS TO SALVATION
1. Acknowledge in the light of Scripture that you are a sinner
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God.”
Romans 3:23
2. Repent. You must see the awfulness of sin and then repent of it.
“…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”
3. Confess not to man but to God
“…with the mouth confession is made to salvation.”
4. Forsake your sins
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous
man his thoughts: and let him return to the LORD, and he
will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will
abundantly pardon.”
Isaiah 55:7
5. Believe in the finished work of the Cross
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Romans 10:9
GROWING IN CHRIST
1. Read your Bible everyday
2. Pray daily to God
3. Go to a New Testament practicing church
4. Tell people everywhere about the Jesus Who saved you
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