Lifestyle Of Praise And Worship lesson 2

Worshipers run to Jesus FIRST!!

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John 4:20  "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."  21  Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem , worship the Father.  22  "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.  23  "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  24  "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

The place of worship is now Spirit to spirit.  When one places faith in Jesus Christ that one becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Adam sinned and lost the Spirit to spirit connection.  Jesus dying on the cross restored access to God Spirit to spirit.  The Father is seeking worshipers.  Being born again, gives us the right to a lifestyle of praise and worship. We must worship in spirit and in truth.

Ephesians 5:17  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  18  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,  19  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,  20  giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

The will of the Lord is for every believer to walk full of the Spirit..  Living the Spirit filled life brings us to living  a lifestyle of praise and worship.  Those with a lifestyle of worship speak to one another in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing and making melody in their heart to the Lord.  True worshipers live with the kingdom of God perspective.  “Giving thanks always” is a calling from the Holy Spirit.  If we fill our mouth with thanksgiving our mouths will be empty of complaint.  One of the greatest tools of the enemy is to put complaint in our mouth.  Complaint robs the believer from having a heart of thanksgiving; thus missing the will of God.  The church is awakening to being a reflection of the will of God.  We the body are being drawn into the lifestyle of sharing with one another psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:16  Rejoice always,  17  pray without ceasing, 18  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19  D o not quench the Spirit.  20  D o not despise prophecies.

Paul wrote with practical instruction for a lifestyle of praise and worship.  Rejoice always!  Yes, we have joy it is a fruit of the Spirit.  Awaken to the joy of the Lord.  Pray without ceasing; it is time for the body to live in an attitude of prayer.  In everything give thanks.  Clearly scripture is teaching us that a lifestyle of praise and worship is fulfilling His will. Flirt with the Holy Spirit and give Him freedom to work in your life.  Praise and worship attracts the presence of God to your life.  Those who practice a lifestyle of worship avail themselves to the gifts of the Spirit operating.

Psalm 34:1  I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  2  My soul shall make its boast in the LORD ; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3  Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.  4  I sought the LORD , and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.  5  They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.  6  This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.  7  The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.  8  Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!  9  Oh, fear the LORD , you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.  10  The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

This is a worship Psalm.  Bless the Lord at all times and put His praise in your mouth continually.  Yes, a lifestyle of worship!  Oh magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.  Praise and worship opens our eyes to the working of God.  Our praise and worship causes God to give ear to our cry; we will find Him delivering us.  Oh taste and see the lifestyle of worship and praise results in experiencing His goodness.  Bless the Lord and all of heaven is moved including the ministering angels who have been sent to the inheritors of salvation.

THE TESTIMONY:

2 Chronicles 20:2  Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria ; and they are in Hazazon Tamar" (which is En Gedi).  3  And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD , and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah .  4  So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD ; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD .  5  Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD , before the new court,  6  and said: "O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?  7  "Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel , and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?  8  "And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying,  9  'If disaster comes upon us; sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine; we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.' 

King Jehoshaphat set himself to seek the Lord when he got the bad news.  The mindset of a worshiper is different; when the bad news is heard the worshiper immediately turns their attention to God and seeks Him in the given situation.  Wrong mindsets need broken.  If we are sick we call the doctor, if we are broke we call the banker, if we have legal issues we call the lawyer; worshipers seek God first.  Worshipers seek God in prayer and fasting first; so says the testimony of Jehoshaphat.

2 Chronicles 20:10  "And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir; whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them;  11  "here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit.  12 "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."  13  Now all Judah , with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the LOR D .  14  Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly.  15  And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem , and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ' Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.

When Jehoshaphat and Judah sought God with all their heart they heard from God.  God will answer those who seek Him diligently.  God has a word for the worshiper!  “ Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of the circumstance, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

2 Chronicles 20:16  'Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel.  17  'You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD , who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem !' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you."  18  And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD , worshiping the LORD .  19  Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high.  20  So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem : Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper."  21  And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD , and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD , For His mercy endures forever."  22  Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.

Jehoshaphat and Judah responded to the word of God and worshiped!  Hear the word and respond to the word with worship.  God told them to praise and worship and they would not have to fight.  Now when they begin to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes”…

When the worshiper puts the praise of God in their mouth, God is able to set the ambush and bring about the victory.  Get the complaint out of your mouth.  The enemy of our soul has been able to keep us in defeat; our complaint is in cooperation with his scheme.  Put the praise and worship of God in your mouth; your cooperation with God will bring ambush to the enemy of your soul. Don’t fight the battle yourself; stand still and see the salvation of God.

VICTORY IN JESUS

I HEAR D AN OLD , OLD STORY, HOW A SAVIOR CAME FROM GLORY,  HOW HE GAVE HIS LIFE ON CALVARY TO SAVE A WRETCH LIKE ME; I HEAR D ABOUT HIS GROANING,OF HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD 'S ATONING, THEN I REPENTED OF MY SINS AN D WON THE VICTORY.

CHORUS
O VICTORY IN JESUS,MY SAVIOR, FOREVER.HE SOUGHT ME AND BOUGHT ME
WITH HIS REDEEMING BLOOD ;HE LOVED ME ERE I KNEW HIM AN D ALL MY LOVE IS DUE HIM, HE PLUNGED ME TO VICTORY, BENEATH THE CLEANSING FLOOD .

I HEAR D ABOUT HIS HEALING, OF HIS CLEANSING POW'R REVEALING.  HOW HE MA D E THE LAME TO WALK AGAIN AN D CAUSE D THE BLIND TO SEE;  AN D THEN I CRIED , " DEAR JESUS, COME AN D HEAL MY BROKEN SPIRIT,"  AND SOMEHOW JESUS CAME AN D BRO'T TO ME THE VICTORY.

I HEAR D ABOUT A MANSION HE HAS BUILT FOR ME IN GLORY.  AN D I HEAR D ABOUT THE STREETS OF GOLD BEYOND THE CRYSTAL SEA ; ABOUT THE ANGELS SINGING, AN D THE OLD REDEMPTION STORY, AN D SOME SWEET DAY I'LL SING UP THERE THE SONG OF VICTORY.

Lifestyle of Praise and Worship lesson 1

God's children are called to a lifestyle of praise and worship!

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John 4:20  "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."  21  Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem , worship the Father.  22  "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.  23  "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  24  "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

The Samaritans were Jews who had mixed with other nations and left the roots of serving God exclusively.   It all started by worshiping a golden calf instead of returning to worship at the temple in Jerusalem .  This woman was also an outcast of her own society she had been married 7 times and was now living with a man she was not married to.  Jesus unveiled the revelation of a Spirit to spirit connection with God restored.  The Samaritans worshiped on the mountain and the Jews worshiped in Jerusalem .  Jesus said  change has come!  True worshipers will worship God the Father in spirit and in truth.  There is a spiritual help wanted ad.  The Father is seeking worshipers!   Those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.  Notice the Father was not seeking the worship itself, He is looking for the worshiper!   Adam and Eve sinned and broke the spirit to Spirit connection.  Jesus came and via the cross purchasing the Spirit to spirit connection.  Genuine salvation will bring the believer to live in  a lifestyle of worship and praise.

Colossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  17  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Here in Colossians we find the definition of a lifestyle of worship.  Worship is much more than what you do for an hour on Sundays and Wednesdays.  God calls His children to a mindset of the kingdom of God .  Jesus Himself said it!  Seek first the kingdom of God … Believers are called to let the word of Christ dwell in them richly.  Worship is a pursuit of God.  So many elements of worship are listed here in this passage.  Knowing the word.  Our fellowship should be centered on sharing the word with one anther, admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.  The divine influence of God should be leading the way in this lifestyle of worship.  What happens when the children of God get sold out to verse 17.  Whatever we do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  Yes a lifestyle of praise and worship.    

Psalm 100:1  Make a joyful shout to the LORD , all you lands!  2  Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.  3  Know that the LORD , He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  4  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.  5  For the LOR D is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

Make a joyful shout to the LORD !  Make a joyful shout to the LORD !  Yes, I know I repeated the line!  It is time to put a praise in our mouth and worship the LORD !   We are called out to serve the LORD with gladness.  Come before His presence with singing.  There is a divine order we have been called to.  Even on our way to assemble for worship we should come with thanksgiving.  We when call on Him we should come with thanksgiving.  Come with a praise on your lips and thanksgiving in your hear.  We belong to God we can always bless His name!  Praise and worship is a lifestyle and a mindset we can live in!

The testimony of people in worship:

Mark 7:26  The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.  27  But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  28  And she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs."  29  Then He said to her, "For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter."  30  And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.

This woman reached out in faith and the end result was the deliverance of her daughter.  This Greek the Syro-Phoenician woman was not Jewish yet her faith in Jesus brought her to pursuit of Jesus.  Notice she called Him Lord.  Although not Jewish her faith caused her to receive from Jesus even before His ministry was turned to that direction.  Her faith hasten the goodness of God to her household.  Lets take a look at this testimony in Matthew.   

Matthew 15:22  And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of D avid! My daughter is severely demon-possessed."  23  But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us."  24  But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel ."  25  Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"  26  But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  27  And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."  28  Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

More details come to light in Matthew.  The woman came calling out for the covenant right “O Lord, Son of D avid.”  She was coming under false pretenses as if she was Jewish.  If we are going to worship God properly we must never come under false pretenses.  In the presence of God you can be real!  The disciples did not understand what was going on and wanted to send her away.  When she heard the words of Jesus she lost her desire for pretense.  She humble herself and worshiped Him!  We the believer do well to humble ourselves and worship Him!  Jesus said it is not good to give the children’s bread to the dogs.  In faith she cried out even the dogs get the crumbs from the masters’ table.  Very few times did Jesus call peoples faith great; here is one of them! 

As I studied these passages of this woman God spoke to me telling me I was missing parts of the truth found in her testimony.  1^st the Spirit spoke to me the bread that was sought was the deliverance of her daughter.  Our bread can be the deliverance of our children.  2^nd we are not the dogs outside of covenant.  We have the Spirit in our hearts where by we cry out “Abba Father”  The children’s bread belongs to us because we are the children!  Say it in worship, “the bread belongs to me; I am a child of God.”.   Worship is putting your mouth in agreement with the word of God.

STAN D ING ON THE PROMISES

Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain:
Standing, standing, Standing on the promises of God my Savior;

Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I now can see, Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free, Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword, Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I cannot fall, List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all, Standing on the promises of God.

Galatians And Ephesians Through The Eyes Of Grace lesson 13

This final lesson is one I have looked forward to sharing. Sowing into the garden of life is so important; Knowing how is the difference between victory or defeat. Isaiah 51:16 helps us unlock the key.

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Isaiah 51:16  And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, That I may plant the heavens, Lay the foundations of the earth, And say to Zion , 'You are My people.'"

In this final lesson of Galatians and Ephesians through the eyes of grace, I would like to title lesson “Learning To Plant In The Garden Of Life’.  As Isaiah says here, God has put His word in our mouth.  He covers us with the Shadow of His hand.  It for the purpose of planting it in the heavens, and laying the foundations of it in the earth.  It causes God to utter “You are My people.  In the last 13 weeks God has put so much good word in our mouth.  Speaking that word moves heaven and earth and yes it touches the heart of God.  By way of review here are verses from every chapter we have covered in the last 13 weeks.  Speak it to plant in the garden of life.

Ephesians 1:2  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Ephesians 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  5  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 3:16  that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,  17  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  … 3:20  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Ephesians 4:22  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,  23  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,  24  and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 5:1  Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  2  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Ephesians 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Galatians 1:3  Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,  4  who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,  (THE HEARTBEAT)

Galatians 2:19  "For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.  20  "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 3:11  But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."  12  Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them."  13  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),

Galatians 4:6  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"  7  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

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

SPEAK IT INTO THE GARDEN OF LIFE ! Your life and those around you!

Galatians 6:1  Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.  2  Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

When grace is truly revealed it works with a heart of restoration for the wounded.  Those who have fallen should have the body surrounding them with a spirit of restoration.  The importance of coming with a spirit of gentleness cannot be overstated.  We bear one another’s burdens with the law of Christ engaged.  The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.  Jesus set the ultimate example with the woman caught in the act of adultery.  After He got rid of the accusers, Jesus declared I don’t condemn you “go and sin no more.”  Love covers a multitude of sin!

Galatians 6:3  For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  4  But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.  5  For each one shall bear his own load.

If we are going to plant in the garden of life properly, the place to start is an examination of ourselves. Are we are living in the faith?  Remember the measuring stick.  Trusting in what Christ has done is grace; trusting in one own good works is the law mentality.

Galatians 6:6  Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

The simple instruction, when you get the grace message allow it to come back to the one who taught it.

Galatians 6:7  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  8  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Everyone is planting something in the garden of their life.  From what shall we plant; the flesh or the Spirit?  What we put in our mouth determines how and what we reap.  God has set us up by putting His word in our mouth.  We will be overshadowed by His hand, it will be planted in the heavens, and the foundation of it will be laid in the earth.  Sowing to the Spirit is the only viable option if we want to walk in victory.  Exalt the word of God over every circumstance in our life and allow that to come out of our mouth.  May complaint be put away; let the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus be allowed to flow.

Galatians 6:9  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  10  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Never give up doing good!   The harvest will come to the reaper in due season!  Let us plant in the garden of lives by sowing to the Spirit with great expectation for harvest. 

Galatians 6:11  See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!  12  As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.  13  For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

Paul speaking to the Galatians warned them to call accursed anyone teaching apart from the heartbeat of God. It is not by keeping the law of Moses or man’s traditions, but it is by grace the good harvest comes.

Galatians 6:14  But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.  15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.  16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

It is the cross of Jesus Christ alone where victory comes.  It is not a remake of the old man.  Put off the old and put on the new man.  It not rules, codes and regulations but the new creation that empowers the believer to walk in victory.

Galatians 6:17  From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.  18  Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Brothers and Sisters the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. AMEN!  Plant in the garden of life with the Father’s heartbeat in mind.

Galatians And Ephesians Through The Eyes Of Grace lesson 12

The Father's heartbeat is for you to stand fast in the liberty Jesus provided.

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

Standing fast therefore…  Because you are children of the freewoman, children of the promise, children of the covenant of grace, and not children of the bondwoman under the law of sin and death, STAN D FAST!  He who the Son sets free is free indeed; don’t be moved from your freedom.

Galatians 5:2  Indeed I, Paul , say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3  And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.

Coming under any portion of the covenant of the law of Moses makes you a debtor to keep the whole of the law.  Christ will profit you nothing.  Jesus brought the liberty; performance of the law or  adherence to the traditions of men voids out the profit found in grace.  It is imperative not to mix grace and law.

Galatians 5:4  You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.  5  For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

The performance of man cannot not enhance the life of faith though the Spirit.  However, the life of faith through the Spirit can bring victory to the performance of man.  We must live from the divine influence in our life; we live from the victory Jesus provided.  When we are working to get the victory we have indeed fallen from grace.

Galatians 5:6  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.  7  You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?  8  This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.  9  A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Here is a best kept secret, faith working through love equates to victory 100% of the time.  Surrendering to Christ in me brings certainty to abundance of life.  However, if you have faith in Christ plus a little leaven, of any kind, it short circuits the grace of God flowing freely in your life.

Galatians 5:10  I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.  11  And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution?Then the offense of the cross has ceased.  12  I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!

Paul was confident that the believers would come back to the heartbeat of the Father.  Jesus Christ and Him crucified would be the only truth preached as way of victory.  It is not the cross plus anything.  The cross is so powerful it will overflow into an abundant life with Jesus.  Paul desired that anyone teaching believers to live outside the hearing of faith would cut themselves off.  Remember those practicing the law were trying to get the Gentile believers to come to physical circumcision.  Paul was suggesting these false teachers should emasculate themselves.  Call them accursed who are trying to bring back to the bondage of adherence to the law; live in the heartbeat of the Father.  His will is your liberty from sin and your deliverance from this present evil age.

Galatians 5:13  For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 

We have real tangible liberty.  However, we are called to not misuse the liberty as an opportunity for the flesh.  Let your liberty empower you to love and serve one another.

Galatians 5:14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  15  But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!  16  I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Let the love of Christ compel you; genuine love has a restraining factor.  Because of the love of God in your heart you will love your neighbor as yourself.  Live as the newly created being God has made you; the lust of the flesh will not have a chance to be filled.

Galatians 5:17  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.  18  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 

If you are born again the Spirit is stirred in you for encouragement as well as for correction.  The children of God are led by the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:9  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.  10  And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you!  If Christ is in you, you have died to sin; the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  It is time to renew your mind!  Reckon yourself dead to sin and alive unto God.  Present yourself to God as an instrument of righteousness.

Galatians 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,  21  envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

If you can walk comfortably in a lifestyle of sin you have never been born again!  Those who practice a lifestyle of sin will not inherit the kingdom of God . After Jesus Himself purged us from our sin sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Because God is our Father, He will bring His loving correction to us.

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Sinners have their fruit to wickedness; believers have a new creation ruling in them.  The fruit of the Spirit is love.  God’s love brings joy!  God’s love brings peace.  God’s love brings longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  This is in everyone who is been born again; renewing our mind will bring the fruit to maturity.  Simply abiding in the vine will produce the desired fruit.

Galatians 5:24  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  26  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Those who belong to Jesus Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Do I speak of sinless perfection in the life of the believer?  Yes, but it is the sinless perfection found exclusively in the obedience of Jesus Christ.  Your wholeness, freedom from sin, and deliverance has one source, the perfect performance of Jesus Christ.  It can be fully trusted and we should never trust in anything else!   If we trust in ourselves we will become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.  Live by the heartbeat of the Father!

Galatians And Ephesians Through The Eyes Of Grace lesson 11

The Father had an appointed time to brings many sons to himself. His appointed time brought us our salvation and freedom! The Father's heart is for you!

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Galatians 4:1  Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2  but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.  3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.

Are we servants or children?  Are we still kept under the tutelage of the law or has the appointed time come that the Father appointed for our freedom and liberty?

Galatians 4:4  But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,  5  to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Jesus came on the Father’s time table.  Jesus was born under the law to redeem those who were under the law.  Jesus came that we might know the adoption as sons!  The heartbeat of the Father is indeed our blessing, our acceptance, our adoption and liberty. 

Galatians 4:6  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" 7  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

At faith in Jesus the Father sends forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba Father!”.  It is the baptism into Christ!  He that confesses Jesus is the Christ God dwells in him, and he in God.  We become children of the kingdom.  We are no longer slaves but we are sons who abide in the house forever; joint heirs with Christ.

Galatians 4:8  But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9  But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

There is a great distinction between those who belong in the family and those who don’t.  There is changing of lifestyle when one had been given the Spirit of adoption.  There is a new creation that longs for God and the things that God loves.  Paul once again is rebuking the Galatians church.  Now that you are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire to be in bondage to?

Galatians 4:10  You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11  I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

The beggarly elements were the keeping of the law of Moses.  The Galatians were observing days months and seasons and years.  They were starting to practice Judaism to some degree.  Rather it is recognizing Jewish feast holidays, or being drawn into being good Sabbath keeper, Paul was concerned.  Paul had labored bringing the grace message which included freedom from the practices of the law.  The practice of the law, the traditions of men, or trusting in your own good works gives sin strength.

Galatians 4:12  Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all.  13  You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.  14  And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

Paul was pleading with the church to live as Paul lived under the grace and truth found exclusively in Jesus Christ.

Galatians 4:15  What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.  16  Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

Paul declared they accepted the grace message he taught, even when he had come and preached in his own weakness.  Now that he was strongly defending the gospel of the good news he asked, have I become your enemy?

Galatians 4:17  They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. 18  But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.

There was a group who were very zealous for Gentile believers to practice Judaism. 

Galatians 4:19  My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,  20  I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

Paul had labored and brought the grace message that Christ might be formed in every believer.  The practice of the law of Moses or traditions of men can bring to naught the work of grace.  “Christ in me” is the call of the victorious believer.

Galatians 4:21  Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?  22  For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.

So many men want to know the formula or rules to live by.  However this life of faith is lived by sweet relationship with Jesus.  Surrendering to the working of the Holy Spirit in our life brings freedom and liberty.  Returning to the law will bring, at the least, bondage and, at the worst, death.  Paul begins to compare and contrast; living under the law as bondage or living under the gospel of grace as liberty.  Abraham had a son of bondage and a son of liberty.  Where shall we live?

Galatians 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,  24  which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar;

The son of bondage was born according to the flesh and the son of freedom was born to through the freewoman through promise.  Mount Sinai is where the law came from and it gives birth to bondage which is Hagar.  If one tries to go back to the law of Moses to serve, it presently give birth to bondage.

Galatians 4:25  for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children; 26  but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Mount Sinai corresponds to Jerusalem and the Jewish people who rejected Jesus as the Messiah.  The earthly Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children.  The Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.  Hebrews 12 says we have been brought to Mount Zion the heavenly Jerusalem . 

Galatians 4:27  For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband."

The children of bondage are many more that the children of the free.  Jesus spoke of those who would say Lord, Lord we have done many marvelous works in your name.  Jesus is going to say depart from me…  Children of the free must be born from the free woman!  It is the covenant of grace and truth. 

Galatians 4:28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.  29  But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.

We who have put the object of our faith in Jesus Christ are the children of promise.  The children of the flesh still persecute those who have been born of the Spirit.

Galatians 4:30  Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman."

Grace and truth can not be mixed.  We have been called to cast out the bondwoman and her son.  The son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.  In Christ alone I place my trust and there is no other place. 

Galatians 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

We are not children of the bondwoman (the law of Moses) but of the free (covenant of grace and truth.).

Galatians And Ephesians Through The Eyes Of Grace lesson 10

Living by faith in Jesus Christ alone! There is a bewitching factor in the church; mixing terms of covenant of grace with other codes rules and regulation brings confusion. Jesus came with a better covenant, base on a better Mediator, with better promises. Oh that we might turn our eyes upon Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.

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Galatians 3:1  O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

Remember last week, we left off with Paul ’s strong rebuke of Peter.  Peter fearing brethren from James’ church ran back to the practices of Judaism.  Paul told Peter you have learn to live like a Gentile believer, now why play the hypocrite to try and bring the Gentiles back under the law.  We died to the law that we might be joined to Christ.  Paul continues his rebuke turning his attention to the Galatians.  Paul uses strong words “O foolish Galatians!”  Who has bewitched you…  It is  time to get the witchcraft out of the church of Jesus Christ !  The Galatians received the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and now there was a bewitching of the truth.  It is a twisting and turning of the good news of the gospel. 

Galatians 3:2  This only I want to learn from you: D id you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3  Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

Paul ask a heart searching question!  D id you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  The answer to the question determines your victory or defeat.  It is imperative that every believer gets it right!  Obviously we received the Spirit by the hearing of faith!  Faith comes by hearing and hearing of the Word of God!  Are we so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are we now made perfect by our own good performance?  It is time to stop the foolishness in the church; our salvations begins because of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  We must not turn to the performance of the law or the traditions of men to be made right with God.  The victory is found in Christ.

Galatians 3:4  Have you suffered so many things in vain; if indeed it was in vain?  5  Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?;

The hand of God moving in our midst, does it happen by the works of the law, or the hearing of faith?  It is the hearing of faith; the just shall live by faith!  It begins with faith in Christ, we are kept by faith in Christ, and it shall end by our faith in Christ. 

Galatians 3:6  just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."  7  Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

Our righteousness is derived from the same place is father Abraham!  He believed God;  it was accounted to him for righteousness.  Those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

Galatians 3:8  And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed."  9  So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

The Scripture has foresight!  It declared God would justify the Gentiles by faith.  The scriptures preached the gospel to Abraham long before the law.  “In you all the nations shall be blessed”  Those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

Galatians 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."

Those who try and bring the believer under the law try and dice it up and say over there you are not under but over here you are.  The scripture is clear, no dicing it!  If you are under the law of Moses you must continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.  Is it what Christ has done or is it our own performance?  Brothers and sisters it is the hearing of faith alone that justifies us!

Galatians 3:11  But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

No one is justified by the law in the sight of God; the just shall live by faith!

Galatians 3:12  Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them." 

The scripture declares the law is not of faith!  Law looks to the performance of man.  The gospel points to the performance of the Messiah and what He has done for us!  If you are compelled to live under the law you have stepped away from the life of faith!

Galatians 3:13  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), 

Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.  Jesus became the curse for us by hanging on Calvary ’s tree!  In Jesus Christ there is no generational curse left, no perversion, addiction, sickness, lack, sin or iniquity that the blood of Christ has not conquered.   For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.   

Galatians 3:14  that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Jesus took the curse that we might be blessed.  We receive the promise of the Spirit through faith!  Mixing grace and law will clog up the receptors and short circuit the promise. The believer’s needs their receptors cleaned to walk in the promise.

Galatians 3:15  Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.  16  Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.

Jesus Christ is “the seed” of promise; faith in Him alone brings the victory!

Galatians 3:17  And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.

The law could not add to the promise of Christ nor take away from the promise of Christ! 

Galatians 3:18  For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

The inheritance cannot come from the law!  The promise is found in “the seed” Jesus.

Galatians 3:19  What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.  20  Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

The law does serve purpose!  It is holy and righteous, but cannot produce life.  The law came to make sin exceedingly sinful!  The law shows the sinner he has need of salvation!  This is the only legal way to use the law!

Galatians 3:21  Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

The law cannot produce life, righteousness, or justification.  It can expose sin!

Galatians 3:22  But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 

There is none righteous no not one; the law makes that clear!  The Scripture confines all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe!

Galatians 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

Before faith came we were all kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith that would afterward be revealed.

Galatians 3:24  Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  25  But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  We are made just as if we had not sinned by faith in Jesus Christ; and there is no other way to justification.  After faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor!

Galatians 3:26  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  27  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

For all are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus and there is no other way to become a son!  Faith in Jesus is the baptism into Christ; and there is no other baptism that can save us.  

1 Corinthians 1:14  I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,  15  lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.  16  Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other.  17  For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.  18  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The apostle Paul made clear distinction between water baptism and preaching the gospel.  Paul declared Christ did not call me to baptize, but to preach the gospel.  The gospel is Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Faith in Jesus is the baptism into Christ. 

1 Peter 3:21  There is also an antitype which now saves us; baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

The water baptism is the act of obedience following a genuine confession of faith.  The water baptism is the antitype.  It symbolizes what happened when you placed your faith in Jesus.  The believer identifies with the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The blood of Jesus took away the filth of the flesh at faith in Jesus; the water baptism gives a good conscience toward God.

Galatians 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  29  And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise

Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to be justified before God.  The heartbeat of the Father is for you to walk by faith.  We are not under law but under grace.  Practicing the Law of Moses or some tradition of man cannot make you right before God.  It is Jesus Christ’ obedience that makes man righteous before a holy God, and there is no other way!