James B. Angus, Jr., M.Div.'s Posts - Black Preaching Network2024-03-28T19:56:56ZJames B. Angus, Jr., M.Div.http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/JamesBAngusJrMDivhttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/61524797?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=03171xnji9aeq&xn_auth=noQuick, Slow, Slow not Slow, Quick, Quicktag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2010-11-04:916966:BlogPost:17313952010-11-04T06:56:47.000ZJames B. Angus, Jr., M.Div.http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/JamesBAngusJrMDiv
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">19 My dear brothers and sisters, pay attention to what I say. Everyone should be <strong>QUICK</strong> to listen. But they should be <strong>SLOW</strong> to speak. They should be <strong>SLOW</strong>to get angry. 20 A man's anger doesn't produce the kind of life God wants. 21 So get rid of everything that is dirty and sinful. Get rid of the evil that is all around us. Don't be too proud to accept the word that is planted in you. It can save you." ~<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/James%201.19-21" class="lbsBibleRef" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">James 1:19-21</a> (NIrV)</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br/></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Many times we miss what is being said in this passage. We blow past it say it is good and do not hear the wise wisdom and warning given in the passage. At times as christians we do not like to listen to anything that some people we deem unknowledgeable, such as our children, people out side our social and church circles, or just strangers. At times we can be so zealous for the Lord we miss his teaching. He tells us to love one another, to come together, to love the neighbor, or turn the cheek. We have found ways to not love anyone not even self, to stay separated, to avoid that neighbor, and a reason to punch someone when we have been slapped.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br/></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">I believe we need to really pay attention to what James is saying when he says Quick, Slow, Slow. From the beginning this easier said than done. But remember we are human and we have a proclivity to do the opposite of what God has said and call it gospel. In most cases we have the propensity to be SLOW to listen and QUICK to start talking and even QUICKer to cuss you out! Then we say that we blessed someone out and set them right, but we have missed the life lesson that life has brought to us. Where in the bible does it tell us to be condescending towards one another and that is a blessing? Where does it tell us to be dogmatic in speech to reveal Jesus? It does not, but at times this is what people get from us instead of what we are supposed to be.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br/></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">James say's <strong>Quick Slow Slow</strong>. If we are quick to listen to what people have to say, regardless if we agree or not, we have more of a chance to relate, converse, and hold a decent discourse with them. Listening is very important in relationship building. If a couple cannot listen to each other the lines of communications are down and the relationship is doomed. Same with us if we cannot listen to God, fellow christians, or others we are doomed to be stuck. I will say stuck because at times a good conversation can free you of things hindering your relationship with God. If someone brings to you a different perspective on scripture two things can happen: 1) you have a chance to teach or 2) be taught. If you are listening then a lot can be achieved, but if you are quick to shut down and not listen cause your uncomfortable you are missing out on the ministry of Christ.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br/></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><strong>Slow to speak</strong> is even better we need to think about what we are saying to others and be considerate of them. You know when you think about it, what we say is important cause your words are like waves, good or bad can travel a long way, and affect a lot of people. Wouldn't we want our words to be good, because they will come back one day to see us again. Many times our quick speak can get us in trouble cause we have the ability to kill the spirit of others with our words and we never think about it. We sometimes call it defending the Kingdom.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br/></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><strong>Slow to anger</strong> is the best because many people have really short fuses for some reason. The sad thing is they love that this short fuse and are proud that they are arrogant, impatient, and rude people. Now my question is how do people that do such things continue to call themselves Christian? I understand that God will take you as you are for example if you are rude, impatient, racist, hateful, boastful, irritable, selfish, resentful, and things like these. God will take you as you are. Our God is so good not only will he take you as you are, but he will meet you where you stand. Now here is the kicker he doesn't expect you to stay where he found you. Our God is a creating, transforming, motivation, all powerful God that transforms us from one broke piece of clay to a new perfect masterpiece. Therefore, we really need to evaluate what we do, because if we call ourselves a Christian and we are still quick to get angry after working with God for 20 to 40 years something is wrong and I am willing to bet all I have it is not on God's end.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br/></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Being the opposite of James' Quick Slow Slow also does something, and it is not very appealing to those who seek to be in Christ Jesus. Being the opposite of what James prescribes especially dealing with anger it does not produce the Righteousness of God in any way shape or form. With that said, being on the opposite end of this spectrum causes people to miss out on the implanted Word of God which is able to save your soul!</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br/></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Remember this,</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; text-align: center; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b><i>"I</i></b><em><b>n the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.</b></em><b><i>" ~<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%201.1" class="lbsBibleRef" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">John 1:1</a></i></b></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; text-align: center; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br/></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; text-align: center; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>"</b><em><b>The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth</b></em><b>." (~<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%201.14" class="lbsBibleRef" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">John 1:14</a>)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br/></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">When we are SLOW to listen, Quick to speak, and Quick to get angry we have taken the chance that we are missing out on what Christ can bring that is able to <strong>SAVE US ALL</strong>! <strong>It is not Slow Quick Quick but Quick Slow Slow</strong>.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br/></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><strong>Those who have eyes let them see those who have ears let them hear. Amen.</strong></span></p>Spirit or Law???tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2010-11-04:916966:BlogPost:17313932010-11-04T06:54:29.000ZJames B. Angus, Jr., M.Div.http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/JamesBAngusJrMDiv
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><b>GALATIANS 5:19-21</b></span></span></span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">THE ACTS OF FLESH ARE OBVIOUS:</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o SEXUAL IMMORALITY</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o IMPURITY</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o DEBAUCHERY</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o IDOLATRY</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o WITCHCRAFT</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o HATRED</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o DISCORD</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o JEALOUSY</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o FITS OF RAGE</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o SELFISH AMBITION</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o DISSENTIONS</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o FACTIONS</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o ENVY</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o DRUNKENESS</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o ORGIES</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o THINGS LIKE THESES</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">People that practice these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. In other words no matter how righteous, religious, or so called spiritual you may feel God is not leading your life; if these are the result of your desires. With these results, it is indicative that the god of a person who lives like this is<br/>Satan. Such as in <b><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%208.%2042-47" class="lbsBibleRef" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">John 8: 42-47</a></b></span> <span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">people that do not hear God and fight against his spirit are children of Satan, and like their Father are an adversary against God. They then lie to themselves, because just as their Father is a liar they begin to do the practices of their father.</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><b>GALATIANS 5: 22-23</b></span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT:</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o LOVE</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o JOY</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o PEACE</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o PATIENCE</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o KINDNESS</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o GOODNESS</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o FAITHFULNESS</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o GENTLENESS</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">o SELF-CONTROL</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">There is no LAW or RULE against things such as these. Through our own endeavors, also know as FLESH, we forsake these things in search of something better in the rules or laws we make up for the church. The problem is that our wisdom has always led us down a road that is fleshly and filled with despair. NO matter<br/>how good or wise the things we make up they can never curb the desire of the FLESH within us. This is why Paul was able to say in <b><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Col.%202.%2020-23" class="lbsBibleRef" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Col. 2: 20-23</a></b></span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em; text-align: center;"></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">“<b>20Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you<br/>still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21"Do not handle! Do not<br/>taste! Do not touch!"? 22These are all destined to perish with use,<br/>because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23Such regulations<br/>indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their<br/>false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value<br/>in restraining sensual indulgence.” (NIV)</b></span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">And again in <b><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Gal.%203.1-5" class="lbsBibleRef" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Gal. 3:1-5</a></b></span><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">,</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><b>“1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ<br/>was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from<br/>you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you<br/>heard? 3, Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying<br/>to attain your goal by human effort? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing—if<br/>it really was for nothing? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles<br/>among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?”<br/>(NIV)</b></span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Much on the same level, the people in Galatia and Colosse were having problems on how this new bond with Jews worked. Paul said that belief in the resurrected Christ was enough. Others from Jerusalem came preaching that they needed to be circumcised and follow law in order to become Christian. Paul preached a gospel of sola fide or faith alone and the others came back with a premise of Christ plus Law of Moses and its practices.</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">The problem we find here is an issue of identity. Today in our society we have a big problem of people stealing others identities and going around pretending to be someone they are not and running up bills and purchasing things that are sometimes not in the means of the identity they have taken. Then it leaves the person who has become a victim in a bad position with charges and purchases in cities across the world they have never visited before. I say that to say this that in Paul’s day there was an issue of identity theft occurring in the church in a way. I say identity theft, because as Paul begins the Galatian letter he<br/>starts out speaking against any one even an angel from heaven preaching a gospel different than what he first delivered to the Galatians let it be cursed. Paul had found out that another sect of Christians had begun to preach from a “Jesus Plus” platform. In the case of these two congregations and more than likely Rome too that this new gospel of “Jesus Plus” was filling the airwaves of his day.</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">The danger of a “Jesus Plus” gospel is that it finds the work of Jesus inadequate in taking care of the saints therefore other things must be put in place to control the populous of the church. A “Jesus Plus” gospel replaces Jesus ultimately, and this why I liken it to identity theft, because you can take the name, but then what is behind the name becomes very different from the actual person. The Law undermines the freedom that is given in Christ. When most people hear freedom or grace they mistakenly take it as saying, “Oh now we can do what ever we want, we have no restraints.” Neither Paul, nor I am saying such a thing; in fact, you have restraints within your newfound freedom in Christ Jesus. <b><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Gal.%205.1" class="lbsBibleRef" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Gal. 5:1</a> states, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”(NASB)</b></span> <span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">The yoke of slavery here Paul speaks of is the Law. Through Christ, the obligations of the Law of Moses have been fulfilled and are no longer needed to guide the people of God, because God’s people now walk in the Spirit of Christ in God. Paul continues to make the idea of Jesus plus nothing as lucid as possible, because the “Jesus Plus” platform gives nothing sound to stand on. He states,</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><b>“Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no<br/>benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision,<br/>that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from<br/>Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.<br/>For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.<br/>For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but<br/>faith working through love.” (<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Gal.%205.2-6" class="lbsBibleRef" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Gal. 5:2-6, NASB</a>)</b></span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Paul uses the word severed to show how real this threat is in the lives of Christians. In our present day, we see many churches and people attempting to do the same thing. Of course the issue today is not circumcision since most male children in the western hemisphere are circumcised from birth not for a<br/>religious reason, but more on the lines of health reasons. I would ask the question how are we to use this in 2010? Well it is very easy lets look at practices modern churches have taken on that have “Jesus Plus” platforms.</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Churches in the past 2000 years have made steps to organize the church so that things will be decent and in order, but I believe that this move has caused most churches to cross a line into another gospel. This can be called traditionalism in most cases, because sometimes we do things in church and we really do not know why we do it, what purpose it serves, but out of obligation to the faith of our fathers and mothers we blindly continue some unhealthy practices and call it church. Like some churches like to dip into the old covenant they will say we have to observe the Sabbath, or tithes. Now Paul says above, <b>“I testify again that every man who receives circumcision that he is under obligation to keep the WHOLE LAW.” (<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Gal.%205.3" class="lbsBibleRef" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Gal. 5:3</a>)</b></span> <span>Now if churches start to dip they do not realize thatthe little dip has just immersed them in the old covenant and they are obligated to keep the <b>WHOLE LAW</b></span> <span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">not just, what they want to observe. They as Paul has said have been severed from the grace of God. James states,</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><b>“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty<br/>of all. For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said,<br/>"DO NOT COMMIT MURDER." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do<br/>commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act<br/>as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.” (<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/James%202.10-12" class="lbsBibleRef" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">James 2:10-12, NASB</a>)</b></span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">It appears that James and Paul are actually speaking on the terms of freedom in Christ apart from the Law of Moses. Subsequently both are say the same that if a person desires to keep the law they must take all or nothing. The Law is 100% not 99% or 1% it is all or nothing. Therefore, as Paul is saying who has tricked the church into believing they can only take part of the law and leave the rest, but more so why are they choosing to be enslaved again after they have been freed through faith in Christ. Furthermore, as Christians we cannot preach a gospel of the Jesus Plus the Law because in Christ we are in the Spirit. Spirit and Law, the two are in opposition to one another.(<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Gal.%205.14-18" class="lbsBibleRef" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Gal. 5:14-18</a>) The Law to a Christian is a curse, (<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Gal.%203.10-12" class="lbsBibleRef" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Gal. 3:10-12</a>), because Christians do not live by law for we live by faith guided in Spirit. The thing is we have to choose who will be our spirit guide do we want Laws or Spirit to guide us. There is no way to have both Law and Spirit.</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">An easier way to understand this is looking at something Jesus said in John 3 to Nicodemus. Jesus and Nicodemus were conversing at night because, Nicodemus being a teacher of the people it would not have been good for him to be seen with a man such as Jesus, he would have been labeled a heretic immediately and kicked out of the synagogue. An action no one in his day or in ours would like to have happen to them. Well in this conversation, Jesus began to speak to Nicodemus in ways that appear to make no sense at all. He speaks of another birth and wind.Well in John’s writings, he can be very ambiguous and in this passage, he was exactly that. He uses the Greek word anothen, which means again or from above, when speaking of the new birth both meanings seem to work in the context to the conversation. In addition, he uses the Greek word pnuema, which means spirit or wind, and in this case, both fit contextually to this conversation. I want to focus on the anothen at this point to bring this all into perspective. Jesus says,</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><b>“3Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born<br/>again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4Nicodemus said to Him, "How<br/>can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his<br/>mother's womb and be born, can he?" 5Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I<br/>say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the<br/>kingdom of God. 6"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which<br/>is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7"Do not be amazed that I said to you,<br/>'You must be born again.'” (<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/John%203.3-6" class="lbsBibleRef" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">John 3:3-6, NASB</a>)</b></span><span>"American Typewriter"""></span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 19pt; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Born again or born from above, that is the question. Which is it? The Greek word is ambiguous in meaning and thisis something that happens frequently in John’s writing. I believe both functionally work, because as a Christian being born again is an example of being born of the Spirit, which is from above. Unlike Adam, God’s first man, we are born from flesh and we continue to have desires derived from our flesh. Look at the big point in the this text where Jesus says in vv. 5-6,</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 19pt; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">“<b>5</b></span><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter<br/>into the kingdom of God. <b>6</b></span><span>"<b>Thatwhich is born of the flesh is flesh, and<br/>that which is born of the Spirit is spirit</b></span><span>.”</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">At times people want to tie baptism on to this text way too early and hitch it on to the, <i>“born of water”</i></span> <span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">statement. I do not believe that baptism is what is meant by that saying; looking at the context Jesus goes on to say that what is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Every man or woman in the world living has to have been born of the water first, and this is not baptism. When we are born, our mothers water has to be broken naturally or manually for us to come into the world also know as being born of water. When we are born of the Spirit once again water has to be broken in baptism for us to come forth into the world a new creation in Christ Jesus. Therefore, Jesus is telling Nicodemus that he must now be reborn of the Spirit so that he can walk in the Spirit and not in the FLESH. What the spirit gives birth too is not subjected to the FLESHly ideals, but functions on the spiritual level where Jesus is working. Had Nicodemus been in Spirit this would not be so foreign to him, but when one is led by FLESH these words fall on ignorant ears, such is the case here.<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.acanetwork.us/profiles/blog/previewSubmit#_ftn1" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">[1]</span></a><br/></span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><b><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.acanetwork.us/profiles/blog/previewSubmit#_ftnref1" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">[1]</span></a> In this case, most scholars, preachers, elders, and overall leaders might<br/>represent Nicodemus in this passage. For at times, they depend and draw on<br/>confidence in the FLESH to understand, teach, and lead. Therefore as<br/>Nicodemus is not an ignorant man in scriptural Law he does not comprehend<br/>the Spiritual aspect of what Jesus is saying. Such is the case<br/>today when we confuse Law with Spirit.</b></span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Jesus moves on to speak ofthe <i>pnuema</i></span><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">, and here is a key point in my exposition. Jesus says, “The <b><i>wind<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.acanetwork.us/profiles/blog/previewSubmit#_ftn1" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">[1]</span></a></i></b></span> <span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/John%203.8" class="lbsBibleRef" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">John 3:8, NASB</a>) According to Jesus the <i>pnuema</i></span> <span>(Spirit) moves where it desires to go. We can hear it but we are helpless in controlling its directions and we do not know where it is coming from or where it is going. Some people react just as Nicodemus did and ask, “How can these things be?”</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><b><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.acanetwork.us/profiles/blog/previewSubmit#_ftnref1" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">[1]</span></a> “Pnuema” Read and put the word Spirit in at this point.</b></span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Now you maybe asking how does this have to do with what we started with? It has everything to do with what we started with because the issue here is SPIRIT! We all started with the Spirit, but now we have the proclivity to attempt to finish this race according to the flesh. It is just that simple. I have grown up in a church and around Christians that live a live in what they believe to be spirit just to come to the end of their lives and ask this question, am I really saved? I never understood after seeing what I saw and then reading about the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy. I could not for the life of me grasp why Paul could be so happy and sure while facing Nero’s chopping block; how Steven could boldly stand and preach, in Acts 7 without fear of death, and how Peter, John, James and many more could live while being persecuted relentlessly. Paul, Steven, and the rest had figured out something or better yet knew something we<br/>have long forgot or over looked. That Christ grace is sufficient! The resurrected Christ is enough to get us through the trials and tribulations of this life.</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">At times in churches we have erected creeds, catch phrases, rules, by-laws, and all sorts of things to keep us close to God, but the truth to the matter is they have not done the job of taking care of our fleshy desires. Therefore, they lack any value in our churches, but we blindly put our faith in catechisms, creeds, manuals, and the sort. We depend on them to get us into the new creation. Let the truth be told in the words of Paul in a way that should catch our ear in words we can understand,</span></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><b>“You foolish Christians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ<br/>was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from<br/>you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, (creeds, manuals,<br/>by-laws, rules, new statutes you erected, your own wisdom), or by believing<br/>what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you<br/>now trying to attain your goal by human effort, (your own works, your rules,<br/>your laws, your gospel, your own wisdom?) 4Have you suffered so much for<br/>nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work<br/>miracles among you because you observe the law, creeds, manuals, by-laws, newly<br/>erected rules, your own wisdom, or because you believe what you heard?” (NIV)</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 1.2em;"></p>
<br/><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 27px; font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Now the response of Nicodemus is warranted. Why? If I have correctly placed my words and thoughts we should see that we have blindly been following the wrong thing. At times churches have said we follow the bible, we follow Jesus, but in reality if we look close enough we have followed our own fleshly motives, we<br/>may have preached “Jesus Plus” in our churches, and we may be in need of repentance a changing of the way we have been thinking about Jesus and his church. As a child I heard many sermons on many things, but the one thing that stuck out to me the most in the fore front of all these sermons was the emphasis was placed on the church 95% of the time which only left 5% for Jesus and the Spirit to divide up. The sermons were not about love, they were not about grace, but most of the time it was only about what made us different from other so-called Christians, as we would affectionately describe them. What places us in the saved category by things that we are doing, but not who we needed to become. I heard about the command to give, the command to do the Lord’s Supper, and the command for this, the command for that, the command on top of commands. With all these new commands we fail to remember the one that should dictate everything we do, “Love as I have Loved you!”</span></p>
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