PRODIGAL SUN

 

SEPTEMBER 2023

 

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

 

Last month the Prodigal closed with a three part question. The first was, will you submit to God? That ‘submission’ begins with an acknowledgment that you are a sinner and a recognition that only the shed blood of Jesus can wash away the sin that separates you from communion ( common union) with the Father. Romans 3:23 makes this abundantly clear as it reads, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” No human being has ever been born of man and woman that does not have this sin nature. Only accepting Jesus as your personal Savior can reinstate the relationship with the Godhead we all lost back in the Garden. Just as we inherit characteristics from our parents we have no control over, the sin nature comes to all with our humanity. God’s love and grace, through Jesus, makes a new nature available to all who desire. John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Then verse 17 shows God’s purpose with, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Verse 18 brings the summation; “He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 14:6 further confirms this with Jesus’ own words saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

 

Without this submission, as defined by scripture, you cannot resist Satan and his tactics for you are carnal (living by fleshly thoughts and desires).We find a description of this in Romans 8:1-9

1.“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4. that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

 

So many today, even in churchs, operate in a carnal mindset doing ‘good’ things seeking to establish their own righteousness (acceptance by God). We find the scriptures in Romans 10:1-4 directly addressing this; 1. Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. When Christ on the cross said “It is finished” and the veil in the temple was torn, revealing the Holy of Holies, the standard for righteousness was no longer based on the law, but relies entirely on Jesus sacrificial death, and our acceptance by faith that He accomplished what we can’t in fulfilling God’s requirements. From that day our ‘works’ have no bearing on our righteousness in God’s eyes, but should only reflect our renewed kinship with Him and those He died for.

 

The second question last month dealt with resisting the devil. Ephesians 6:12 reads, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Our enemy, Satan and his forces, try to blind our eyes to the power(s) behind what we see or experience. If successful, we may then find ourselves focusing on what, or who, he has seduced into doing his will, which is robbing, killing, and destroying. (John 10:10)

 

Consider the works of the flesh as listed in 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. Spiritual forces intertwine themselves into all of these attempting to control a person’s thoughts, emotions, and finally bodily actions.

 

Paul had addressed these issues before (end of verse 21) with this stern reminder; “that those who practice these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” We must remember that this letter was addressed to ‘churches’, not as a sermon/teaching to those not knowing the Gospel message, but those that were wavering in the faith.

 

A very sober warning for us today, seemingly even more valid and widespread now than then.

 

We cannot resist the enemies devices, or even discern them without scriptural and Holy Spirit revelation. If you don’t have the Holy Spirit, you are defenseless against the enemies onslaught. To try to fight with your own strength has less of a chance to win than someone with a slingshot warring with a Sherman tank.

 

When the passage lists submission to God it set the priority. If you don’t submit to God through His Son by faith in His promises, you are still lost and defenseless against the one who’s goal is to destroy you and all of God’s creation. He hates you and God with an intensity we cannot fathom. When repenting of your sin and turning to Jesus you will receive the Holy Spirit Who will guide you into all truth. (John 16:13-14) Anyone who tries to get to the Father any other way is considered a liar and a thief. Please read John 10:1-10.

 

kenhayesfleming9@gmail.com                                                         Kenneth H. Fleming

www.wbcis.com                                                                                 502 Market Street

(814) 687-3707                                                                                  Fallentimber, Pa. 16639