Post by Les Brewer on May 24, 2020 19:58:01 GMT
WHY WE FALL AND HOW WE STAND
God has given us instruction:
(14) Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
(15) Take care that no one falls short of the grace of God; that no one growing up like a root of bitterness causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; Hebrews 12:14-15
God’s imperative is to track down peace and press toward peace with everyone in the same fashion to press toward holiness with equal enthusiasm! For when we fail to pursue peace and holiness we are setting ourselves up for a fall. The result is falling short of the grace God has granted and being infected with bitterness that defiles ourselves and others. Hence; we give our strength our own vices and yield to the works of the flesh. We see this clearly depicted in the genesis of mankind and our approach to God is reflected in two ways; spiritually or carnally.
(3) So it happened after some time that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to Adonai,
(4) while Abel—he also brought of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. Now Adonai looked favorably upon Abel and his offering,
(5) but upon Cain and his offering He did not look favorably. Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
(6) Then Adonai said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
(7) If you do well, it will lift. But if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the doorway. Its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Genesis 4:3-7
The worthiness of Abel’s offering arose from the understanding: that he was weak, and that he cast himself upon the mercy of the one he knew to be strong; he had the sense of death, and he turned to one from which life comes; he had the sense of sin, and he came to the one who is supremely right. His sacrifice was his expression of his helplessness, dependence, and confidence in God. This made his sacrifice favorable and acceptable to God.
The unworthiness of Cain’s offering was blind to him; he could not perceive because of his pride a sacrifice becomes evil and immoral when the offeror attaches value to his own act and does not attribute the whole worth of it to God. God warned Cain about the destructive power of sin. Cain could resist sin and find blessing, or he could give in to sin and be devoured. God need prescribes a solution: we learn to prevent sin from ruling over us by allowing God to master us first. Without God as our master, we are doomed to be slaves to sin. The story of Cain and Able is but one example provided for us which points to overcoming evil and the consequence of yielding to the flesh. God through many examples shows us that we can conquer temptation by yielding to and looking to him for the way of escape.
(11) Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
(12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
(13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:11-13 KJV
We should never fall back or depend upon our own strength to avail over temptation. Our spiritual minds should be preemptively prepared for action in accordance with the word of God. Within the principles, precepts, and protocols of God’s word we are assured success in spiritual living. We learn to ensue peace and holiness that brings stability to our spirituality. Our spirit-man becomes dominant through our humility before God and is reflected in our piety before our human counterparts. We walk in the Spirit and not the flesh fulfilling the lust thereof! What I have presented to you today is our own personal peace and holiness is connected to our relationships with God first and foremost; then to everyone we come into contact whether sinner or saint. Jesus said I will give you keys to the kingdom; knowledge that supersedes the natural knowledge of mere human wisdom! Selah
Shalom, Agape, & Amen
Bishop D. Ray Ritchie
God has given us instruction:
(14) Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
(15) Take care that no one falls short of the grace of God; that no one growing up like a root of bitterness causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; Hebrews 12:14-15
God’s imperative is to track down peace and press toward peace with everyone in the same fashion to press toward holiness with equal enthusiasm! For when we fail to pursue peace and holiness we are setting ourselves up for a fall. The result is falling short of the grace God has granted and being infected with bitterness that defiles ourselves and others. Hence; we give our strength our own vices and yield to the works of the flesh. We see this clearly depicted in the genesis of mankind and our approach to God is reflected in two ways; spiritually or carnally.
(3) So it happened after some time that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to Adonai,
(4) while Abel—he also brought of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. Now Adonai looked favorably upon Abel and his offering,
(5) but upon Cain and his offering He did not look favorably. Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
(6) Then Adonai said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
(7) If you do well, it will lift. But if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the doorway. Its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Genesis 4:3-7
The worthiness of Abel’s offering arose from the understanding: that he was weak, and that he cast himself upon the mercy of the one he knew to be strong; he had the sense of death, and he turned to one from which life comes; he had the sense of sin, and he came to the one who is supremely right. His sacrifice was his expression of his helplessness, dependence, and confidence in God. This made his sacrifice favorable and acceptable to God.
The unworthiness of Cain’s offering was blind to him; he could not perceive because of his pride a sacrifice becomes evil and immoral when the offeror attaches value to his own act and does not attribute the whole worth of it to God. God warned Cain about the destructive power of sin. Cain could resist sin and find blessing, or he could give in to sin and be devoured. God need prescribes a solution: we learn to prevent sin from ruling over us by allowing God to master us first. Without God as our master, we are doomed to be slaves to sin. The story of Cain and Able is but one example provided for us which points to overcoming evil and the consequence of yielding to the flesh. God through many examples shows us that we can conquer temptation by yielding to and looking to him for the way of escape.
(11) Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
(12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
(13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:11-13 KJV
We should never fall back or depend upon our own strength to avail over temptation. Our spiritual minds should be preemptively prepared for action in accordance with the word of God. Within the principles, precepts, and protocols of God’s word we are assured success in spiritual living. We learn to ensue peace and holiness that brings stability to our spirituality. Our spirit-man becomes dominant through our humility before God and is reflected in our piety before our human counterparts. We walk in the Spirit and not the flesh fulfilling the lust thereof! What I have presented to you today is our own personal peace and holiness is connected to our relationships with God first and foremost; then to everyone we come into contact whether sinner or saint. Jesus said I will give you keys to the kingdom; knowledge that supersedes the natural knowledge of mere human wisdom! Selah
Shalom, Agape, & Amen
Bishop D. Ray Ritchie
