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