Bible study on June 23, 2011.
Covering some points from what is expected of a believer in the new covenant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJeBtUNxqQs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8YnV7_kDhM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc2TRa6XOMw

Time to give Satan an eviction notice eh?

Sunday bible study on April 24, 2011

A trial run recorded for broadcast at the YWCA Chapel without additional lights. Video quality is substandard.
Sermon preached at the Father’s House church Ooty on our current spiritual status.
2011 04 21

The third part of the Bible study on walking in the freedom and victory that Jesus purchased for us on the cross.

The second part of the Bible study on walking in the freedom and victory that Jesus purchased for us on the cross.

The first part of the Bible study on walking in the freedom and victory that Jesus purchased for us on the cross. An introduction to what Jesus’ mission was and what Satan’ mission is now. Ooty, April 21, 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REXc0J27B6I

Part 2 of March 11, 2011 Bible Study in Ooty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flbi12Zchn4

Part 1 of March 11, 2011 Bible Study in Ooty

Continuation of the study on our position in the throne room of God.

Sermon at the Father’s House Church, Cochin on Sunday February 13, 2011

What is the Lord’s Supper? Why and when was it instituted? What does it involve naturally and spiritually? How must one partake of it? Who is eligible to take part in the Lord’s Supper?

Philippians 4:5
Let your gentleness be known to all men.
How do we let our gentleness be known to all men?
An excerpt from Jan 07, 2011 cell group meeting in Ooty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d715i6byyV0

The word I shared at the Father’s House, Cochin, on January 02, 2011

My notes are below

For Troubled Times – Psalms 50-56;
Seven psalms of David teach us how to respond when we bring trouble on ourselves, and when others betray us.

Psalm 55
16 As for me, I will call upon God,
And the LORD shall save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice.
18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
For there were many against me.
19 God will hear, and afflict them,
Even He who abides from of old.  Selah
Because they do not change,
Therefore they do not fear God.

18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, For there were many against me.

Redeemed
1) To recover ownership of by paying a specific sum
2) To set free from
3) To save from a state of sinfullness and its consequences

Jesus redeems
Galatians 3:13-14
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”[a]),
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.

22 Cast your burden on the LORD,
And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

We must distinguish between the burden-bearing that is right and the burden-bearing that is wrong.
We ought never to bear the burden of sin or of doubt,
but there are burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off, He wants us to roll them back on Him.
“Cast that He hath given thee upon the Lord.” (R.V. marg.)

Luke 10:19
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 John 5:
4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Revelation 2:7
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

Revelation 2:17
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’

Revelation 21:7
He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

Matthew 10:30
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Psalm 31:15
My times are in Your hand;
Deliver me from the hand of my enemies,
And from those who persecute me.

John 17: 15-23
15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
Jesus Prays for All Believers

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will[e] believe in Me through their word;
21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

There are three things that make us an Overcomer:

1. Faith-
We overcome by our faith-
The Bible says to put on the shield of faith, that we might quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

2. The Blood-
Rev. 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

We overcome by the Blood-
The Blood of Jesus has the same power today, that it had two thousand years ago.
We are overcomers because of what Jesus did for us on the cross – because of the Blood that he shed for us.

1 Peter 1:18 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed by such corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

Precious means costly. Jesus gave his very life that we might be redeemed. That blood is just as precious today as it was two thousand years ago!

3. The Word of Our Testimony-
Rev. 12:11 “…and the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

This verse could also read, “The Word of God in their testimony.” The “logos” of their testimony.

We overcome by the Word of God-
We are over comers through our testimony.

No matter how much we wish for it to be, there is simply no father without the son. No one can claim a relationship with our heavenly Father without abiding in Jesus Christ the word of God.

Being under authority is the norm in the body of Christ, this is the same for men and women. There can be no ministry unless  we are first discipled in a church and then sent.

The gifts may work, so will the devil against us, because we stand alone.

This question of accountability and submission is so vital that I tell people that when they meet a minister for the first time, the first question  they should ask is “Who sent you?” or “Who do you submit to?” If the minister or pastor says “God” then, I warn that they should run from these quakes as fast as they can!

You see, if such women/men of God are sent, there is submission, obedience and accountability, If not they simply don’t want to submit to anyone else or have someone over them telling them what to do!

The Lord Jesus set an example by constantly referring to the fact that He was “sent” or “given” things to Him by His Father to do the work He gave Him to do. This shows He never called Himself to minister; Jesus needed to be sent or given ministry by someone higher than Himself for His ministry to be legitimate, even though He is God the Son (John 17:2-4, 6-9, 11-12, 18, 21, 23-25).

The early church also functioned with this concept of sending. For example, even though Saul and Barnabas had already felt called by God into ministry they didn’t dare send themselves until the leaders of the church in Antioch also received a confirming word from the Lord to send them. (Read Acts 13:1-2, in which the tense of the original Greek wording shows that God had already called Saul into the ministry before the leaders of the church received the confirming word.)

Even Paul the apostle submitted the gospel of grace he was preaching (to the Gentiles) to the leading apostles of the Jerusalem Church (Peter and John) for fear his work was in vain (Galatians 2:2, 9).

• Galatians 2:2 2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.
• Galatians 2:9 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.

The bible specifies that while it is the God who calls, it is the church that sents.

Jesus said in Mathew 9:37 that the harvest is ready, but the workers are few. This shows that it is not just a matter of calling. In Matthew 22:1-14 we understand that many are called but a few are chosen. Even among those called, there was one present without the wedding garment who resolved to yield no homage, but to assert his independent self-sovereignty. What that symbolizes about that man is that

• He came into the banquet when he was told to, but he came only in appearance, he came not in heart.
• The banquet was intended for the honour of the son, this man was willing to eat the good things, but he intended no respect to the prince.
• He said, “I will come, but it shall be in such a way that the royal purpose shall not be served, but rather my purposes and needs be met.
• I shall be present myself as an onlooker, but take no share in the ceremony
• I will, on the contrary, show that I have no care for the business in hand, except so far as it serves my turn.
• The man came in full exercise of self-will and self-love.

The Lord calls every one to his kingdom regardless of sex.  The wedding garment highlights in a special way that he also expects all of us to abide by his expectations. Those who do not will be cast into the exterior darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. These are called but not chosen.  ( cf Mt 22:14).  THEY CAN NOT BE COUNTED AS WORKERS OR LABORERS FOR THE HARVEST.

Jesus stated his expectations for preparations of the laborers in Matt 28: 18-20

i)        ¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said,

(1)    “All authority in

(a)    heaven and

(b)   on earth has been given to me.

ii)       ¹⁹Therefore

(1)    Go (Remember, they are already his disciples, not untrained strangers)

(2)     and make disciples of all nations,

(3)    baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

iii)     ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

iv)     And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul tells Timothy “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (NIV). How will they be qualified? By being entrusted with the things Timothy has heard, they will be qualified. They are reliable, they can be relied upon to walk the talk, to obey and to do, to submit to their calling.

Jesus discipled the 12 and sent them. Jesus expects them to make disciples of all nations. Discipleship requires submission to authority. It is those proven disciples in the church who are marked by the Holy Spirit to be sent by the elders.

This is the way it is according to the Bible. The choice is ours to abide or not.

A sister in the church has this line at the bottom of all her emails “A man cannot touch his neighbor’s heart with anything less than his own.” The fact is that we do touch others with the contents of our heart, and if our heart is set on rebellion, it will affect others in the church. This is the principle behind 1 Cor 5:9-11,  2 Timothy 3: 1-5, and Eph 5:11; where the bible tells us to have nothing to do with them, talking about those who call themselves Christians: “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

There is simply no Father without the Son. No one can claim a relationship with our heavenly Father without abiding in Jesus Christ the word of God.

Those who claim to do so are under deception. Have nothing to do with them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_0YgW5CyJE

(If you are unable to see the video, please click here or visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_0YgW5CyJE)

Phil. 2:7 – But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. No reputation is translated:

• “make void”
• “make of none effect”
• “be in vain”
• “make of no reputation”

Jesus did not empty divine nature, for He was God not only from all eternity, but God manifest in flesh during His life on earth.

Christ emptied Himself of

1. Equality with God
2. God-form or God-body, the spirit body that He lived in from eternity, to take human-form
3. Immortality of body
4. The glory that He had with the Father before the world was
5. His authority in heaven and in earth, which was given back to Him after the resurrection
6. His divine attributes and outward powers that He had with the Father from eternity.

He had no power to do miracles until He received the Holy Spirit in all fullness

• Jesus was not an avatar with special powers
• All the powers he had as God ended at the conception
• He was fully man
• He had no Godly powers until he was baptized with the Holy Spirit
• He did not walk on water on his ability
• He did not raise the dead in his ability
• He did not heal the sick in his ability – but by the power of the Holy Spirit.

He did not merely appear to be human, in the way that angels sometimes appear as humans, without actually becoming human. Jesus was born in the normal way, grew in the normal way, got hungry and thirsty and tired, ate and drank and slept. He looked normal, talked in ordinary language, and walked in the normal way. He had emotions such as compassion, surprise, sorrow and apprehension.

If Jesus had super powers, then he would not have had the right to tell us to follow him. He emptied himself of all his power and glory, became just like you and me, but without sin, showed us what we can do with the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we can do the same and more.

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (John 14:12)

(To see the full video, please click here or visit http://vimeo.com/12046623 )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIpvRfaGfS8

(If you are unable to see the video, please click here or visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIpvRfaGfS8)

3. Immortality of body (1 Cor 15:3; 1 Peter 3:18)

1 Cor 15:3 – For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

1 Peter 3:18 – For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

4.The glory that He had with the Father before the world was (John 17:5; Matthew 16:27)

John 17:5 – And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Matthew 16:27 – For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

5. His authority in heaven and in earth, which was given back to Him after the resurrection (Matthew 28:18; 1 Peter 3:22)

Matthew 28:18 – And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

1 Peter 3:22 – who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

6.His divine attributes and outward powers that He had with the Father from eternity.  He had no power to do miracles until He received the Holy Spirit in all fullness (John 2:11; Luke 3:21-22; Luke 4:16-21; Acts 10:38)

John  2:11 – This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

Luke 3:21-22 – When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. 22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

Luke 4:16-21 – So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

18 “ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed MeTo preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Acts 10:38 – how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

He could do nothing of Himself in all His earthly life. He attributed all His works, doctrines, powers, etc. to the Father through the  anointing of the Holy Spirit

John 8:28 – Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

(If you are unable to see the video, please click here or visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIpvRfaGfS8)

Next week

Part 3 of 3 of the Emptying of Jesus Christ.

In Phil 2:6-7 -  The bible tells us that Jesus “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,   but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men”

The word “No Reputation” – ken-o’-o; is from Greek 2756 (kenos);

• to make empty,
• i.e. (figurative) to abase,
• neutralize,
• falsify :- make (of none effect, of no reputation, void), be in vain.

In this video (Part 1 of 3), we begin to look at what Christ emptied Himself of and why?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLED7yjqFSQ

(If you are unable to see the video, please click here or visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLED7yjqFSQ)

What did Jesus Christ empty Himself of and why?

It could not have been His divine nature, for He was God not only from all eternity (Hebrews 1:8;), but God manifest in flesh during His life on earth (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-2,14; 1 Tim 3:16).

Hebrews 1:8 – But to the Son He says: “ Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus  Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

God manifest in flesh during His life on earth – Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:21. John 1:1-2,14, 1 Tim. 3:16

Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:18-21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

John 1:1-2,14; 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. – 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, …

1 Tim 3:16 -And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit,

Jesus did not empty divine nature, for He was God not only from all eternity but God manifest in flesh during His life on earth.

Of what did Christ empty Himself?

1.Equality with God  (Phil 2:6-7; John 14:28;)

Phil 2:6-7 – 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men

John 14:28 – 28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

2. God-form or God-body, the spirit body that He lived in from eternity, to take human-form (Luke 1:35; Galatians 4:4; Romans 8:3)

Luke 1:35 – And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Galatians 4:4 – But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born[a] of a woman, born under the law,

Romans 8:3 – 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.

(If you are unable to see the video, please click here or visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLED7yjqFSQ)

Next week

Part 2 of 3 of the Emptying of Jesus Christ.

Many people today understand the church as a building. This is not a biblical understanding of the church. The word “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.” The root meaning of “church” is not that of a building, but of people.

The church is the body of Christ, of which He is the head. Ephesians 1:22-23 says, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” The body of Christ is made up of all believers in Jesus Christ from the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2) until Christ’s return.

The church is not a building or a denomination. According to the Bible, the church is the body of Christ — all those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13).

Early Church

Lifestyle

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42 NASB)

Participatory meetings

“What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” (1 Cor. 14:26 NASB; see also Colossians 3:16, Heb. 10:24-25)

Meeting in homes

“Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.” 1 Cor. 16:19

Romans 16:5 –  Likewise greet the church that is in their house.

Acts 20:20 – how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house

Colossians 4:15 – Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his[a] house.

Philemon 1:2- to the beloved[a] Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

Networking through Apostles

“After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” (Acts 15:36)

Occasional Large Group Meetings

“I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house” (Acts 20:20 [NASB])

Jesus model – Christ Our Cornerstone

Ephesians 2:19-22   Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. ” For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20 [NIV])

Jesus – the author and perfecter of our faith – our role model

Churches need to develop elders and deacons who serve the members as overseers, not a ruling hierarchy by being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation). And then when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, we will win the conqueror’s crown of glory

Churches need to become “an assembly” of “called-out ones” one that is not that of a building, but of people. Church buildings today tend to lock Christians away from meaningful contact with their communities. Far from promoting the faith by being “visible” they mark the places for unbelievers to avoid! (Try inviting one in!)

Jesus’ ministry seems to be about 40% in homes, 40% in informal gatherings in the open country or city courtyards, and maybe 20% in synagogues.

Going through Mark’s Gospel we find Jesus:

• Healing Peter’s mother-in-law at the family residence (Mark 1:29).
• Healing a paralytic via a hole in some poor soul’s roof (Mark 2:10)
• Saving a bunch of crooked tax collectors at Levi’s place (Mark 2:15)
• Getting mobbed and nearly “certified” over a meal (Mark 3:20)
• Healing a 12-year-old girl in her bedroom (Mark 5:42)
• Telling the disciples to do home—based evangelism (Mark 6:10)
• Having his lunch interrupted by accusing Pharisees (Mark 7:2)
• Delivering a Greek girl from demons in a home in Tyre (Mark 7:24).
• Teaching the disciples humility in a Capernaum house (Mark 9:32).
• Giving revolutionary teaching on marriage in a home (Mark 10:10)
• Preparing for his last week at Lazarus’ villa in Bethany (Mark 11:1)
• Being anointed by a sinful woman at Simons dwelling (Mark 14:3)
• Instituting breaking of bread in a Jerusalem home (Mark 14:14).
• Enjoying a post resurrection meal at a disciple’s place (Mark 16:12).
• Reuniting with the eleven in their locked-up home (Mark 16:14).
• Returning at last to his Father’s House (Mark 16:19).

The synagogue should not be seen as the forerunner of church life. Rather than being a model for the early church, synagogues were the hub of corrupt practice where Jesus confronted the religious establishment with true spiritual vitality. In the Gospel according to Mark we find Jesus:

• Upsetting the service expelling demons from a member (Mark 1:26).
• Chasing more demons from the Galilean synagogues (Mark 1:39).
• Having a contract put out on him for a Sabbath healing (Mark 3:1).
• Surviving a death attempt in Nazareth (Mark 6:2, see also Luke).
• Condemning the pride inherent in synagogue worship (Mark 12:39).
• Warning disciples they would be flogged in synagogues (Mark 13:9).

These facts should at least bring into question our love of special buildings, formal seating, organized meetings and even the sacrosanct regular Sunday meetings.

Summary

In Cochin and Ooty, I am making efforts to have a good mixture of both the large group meetings as well as the home meetings. The group meetings consists of disciples.  The disciples  hold weekly meetings at home, asking them to invite those in their circles, to have a meal and to share the Gospel. The home meetings are often people who barely know Jesus, with the majority being those who do not come, or would not come, to the weekly gathering of disciples.

This is not the same as “cell groups”. Cell groups mainly involve re-gathering of those who gather in the Sunday worship.

I initiated this in January 2010. We have at least two families coming to home meetings who do not feel that they are ready to come to the gathering of disciples. Though I am not present in these meetings, I answer questions that they could not find answers to, I help out in the word of God when needed, and pray. If there are issues that need personal prayer, then I go to their homes and pray, and when the Lord follows through with the miracles, those families then come for the weekly meetings of the disciples. They in turn start home meetings of their own to reach out to their circle of influence when they are ready.

I am learning as I go along. I am hoping to develop and exemplify

1. Sincerity – What you see is what you get, no hype.
2. Friendship – True friendship and brotherly bonds are developed.
3. Discipleship – Paul said “imitate me” 1 Corinthians 4:16 & 1 Corinthians 11:1 He could say this because people really knew him – not by attending his seminars, but because he lived and exercised his ministry in and around people’s homes. Loving attitudes are observed and copied, problems are visible and can be gently taught into. It helps explain why hospitality is a non-negotiable qualification for church leadership in Scriptures.
4. Mission – Gospel is unfettered, Brother Yun, in his astounding account of the Chinese Underground Church contends: “God has not only refined us in the fire of affliction for the past thirty years, He has also refined our methods. For example, we’re totally committed to planting groups of local believers who meet in homes. We have no desire to build a church building anywhere! This allows the gospel to spread rapidly, is harder for the authorities to detect, and allow us to channel resources directly into gospel ministry.”
5. Stewardship – In a related point, we need to question how much of kingdom money is eaten up by church building and maintenance. The physical needs of the worldwide church are immense, as is the need to fund mission to unreached people groups. Yet the scandalous fact is 90 percent of Christian money is spent on the world’s richest 10 percent (USA, Western Europe and Australasia). This money is split between buildings and staff. Many new churches have tired of the inconvenience of setting up in hired halls and spending vast amounts on edifices.
6. Locality - Imagine if we could seek out people in our neighborhoods. Imagine those groups meeting regularly and committing to serve and reach the people they live among. Imagine groups like these meeting with others for a monthly celebration, for envisioning, teaching and encouragement. It is a trend worth encouraging surely, and more reminiscent of New Testament method than the remote central church model we’re stuck with now.
7. An atmosphere where newcomers are welcome: There is a perceived problem here. Some people feel that newcomers would be loath to visit a meeting a house. Our experience has shown that, as long as a person has been befriended beforehand, he will quickly feel relaxed in a home meeting.

Solomon wrote, “The heavens, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built.”8 Yet for a time, God chose to set his presence in a physical place. But when Jesus died the temple curtain was violently ripped into two.

The temple is now replaced by groups of believers being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. The Bible could not be clearer, “The Lord of heaven and earth. . . does not live in temples built by hands.  Instead as Peter explains you, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house. One of the most dominant New Testament pictures used to describe the church is that of a “household,” God’s household.

Scriptural language is replete with the language of family, “brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, devotion, love, help, care..eating… .” It figures that the most natural setting for this “household” is—you’ve guessed it—a house! And it was easy to see how the sense of family, and sharing of life and discipleship by example happened naturally in this most informal of environments.

After all, we all meet at  “The Father’s House”.

Nicolaitanes:

Revelation 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

Revelation2: 14 … So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth

The root of the word Nicolaitanes comes from Greek nikos, to conquer or overcome, and laos, which means people and which the word laity comes from.  The laity comprises all persons who are not in the clergy. A good translation of Nicolaitanes would be “those who prevail over the people”.

Priests acting as a separate spiritually elite class, who have special supernatural powers given only to them by God, who alone are His authorized representatives before man, is not biblical. The abuse of this position to rule over people is detested by Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Biblical Leadership

1 Peter 5:1- 7

1. The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
2. Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3. nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
4. and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
5. Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
6. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7. casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Peter exhorted us to

1. Shepherd the flock of God,
2. Serve as overseers,
   1. Not because we have to but willingly
   2. Not for any gain, money or popularity for example, but eagerly
   3. Not be Lords over those entrusted to us but being examples to the flock.
      1. Not being controlling, but revealing.
      2. Submitting ourselves to our elders
      3. Being submissive to one another, and being  clothed with humility.

This comes with a warning: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

The Lord Jesus was very clear in His Word about how He wishes His church on earth to be organized and managed.

• First, Christ is the head of the church and its supreme authority (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; Colossians 1:18).
• Second, the local church is to be autonomous, free from any external authority or control, with the right of Spirit filled-government and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations (Titus 1:5).
• Third, the church is to be governed by spiritual leadership, meaning the leaders are led by the Holy Spirit.

What went wrong?

The first three centuries of Christianity were years of persecution by the succession of Roman Emperors – from Nero to Diocletian – that drove it underground. After facing nearly three centuries of hostility by Roman emperors, the persecution and martyrdom of Christians in Rome ended with the reforms of the Emperor Constantine (r. 306-337). Constantine was responsible for legalizing Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.

Constantine’s Edict of Toleration (313 A.D.) granted to “Christians and to all others full liberty of following that religion which each may choose,” thus legalizing Christianity.

And Constantine went even further, favoring Christians in the filling of the chief offices, exempting Christian ministers from taxes and military service, and making Christianity the de facto religion of the court. Thus began the migration from the rags of the caves and catacombs to the silks of the Imperial Court.

On March 7, 321, Constantine introduced the first civil legislation concerning Sunday: “Let all the judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun.”17 In 325 A.D., Constantine issued a general exhortation to all his subjects to embrace Christianity.

Under Constantine, Sunday was declared a day of rest; slavery, gladiatorial fights, killing of unwelcome children (abortion), and crucifixion as a form of execution were also abolished.

It was Constantine’s second successor, Theodosius II (378-398 A.D.) that would declare Christianity the single state religion of the Empire.

In 378 A.D., Damasus, the Bishop of Rome, took on the office of  Pontifex Maximus, (high priest) of the Babylonian religion, which  had previously been the prerogative of the Roman emperor, thus combining the “Christian” church with pagan religion.  The ceremonies, rites, titles, vestments…celibate priests, Mariolatry, image and crucifix worship, veneration of saints, adoration of the host…papal infallibility, transubstantiation, etc…all idolatry thinly veneered by Christian nomenclature.

In 380, the Flavius Theodosius (r. 379-395) made Christianity the official religion of Rome.  His legislation in 380 affirmed the dogmas of the Council of Nicaea and made church membership compulsory.

This is the worst calamity that has ever befallen the church because thus began the great apostasy as the church began its pursuit of temporal power.

Theodosius undertook the forcible suppression of all other religions, and in 392 he prohibited paganism. (It was through this fusing of extant paganism with the new Christianity that the December 25 of Sol Invictus became the Christmas of the Christians, etc.)

At the close of the fourth century, the majority of Roman citizens had converted to Christianity. The separation between Church and state was all but extinguished. When the political power of the emperors collapsed with the fall of the Roman Empire, in 410, the Church and its leaders endured as the dominant influence in Roman culture and politics.

From that we see the current form of clergy develop. Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership. The term ultimately comes from the Greekklēros, “a lot”, “that which is assigned by lot” (allotment) or metaphorically, “inheritance”.

The Biblical concept of the five-fold ministry from Ephesians 4:11, “It was he who gave some to be (1) apostles, some to be (2) prophets, some to be (3) evangelists, and some to be (4) pastors and (5) teachers” were all but extinct because  those who were in leadership of the Church were not born again and Holy Spirit filled.

The clergy were rulers over the people, often there for their own political ambitions.This clerical system later developed into the papal hierarchy of priests and clergy lording over the flock.

Pope Leo I (440-461), declared himself Lord of the Whole Church, advocated exclusive universal papacy, resistance to his authority was a sure path to Hell, and he advocated the death penalty for heresy.  Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) declared himself to be “Vicar of Christ,” “Vicar of God,” “Supreme Sovereign over the Church and the World.” “All things on earth and in heaven and in hell are subject to the Vicar of Christ.” He forbade the reading of the Bible in the vernacular. Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303), in his famous Bul, Unam Sanctam, he said, “We declare, affirm, define, and pronounce that it is altogether necessary forsalvation that every creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff.”

The Council of Trent, the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church stated, “If anyone shall say that there is not in the Catholic Church a hierarchy established by the divine ordination, consisting of bishops, presbyters and ministers, let him be anathema.” banished, exiled, excommunicated.”

Priests or clergy to represent the people before God is wrong. The wrong separation of the clergy from the laity is a great evil in God’s sight and He hates the lust for religious power over others. The Church of Ephesus was commended for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans Rev 2:6. The deeds had become doctrines in the Pergamos Church Rev 2:15.

There is an ungodly spiritual authority in the Church today, which is nothing more than the prideful spirit of control, manipulation, domination and intimidation and a rebellion of the rightful authority of God.

Shepherds serve the sheep but the wolves that clothe themselves with so-called leadership and spiritual authority serve themselves, thinking that they serve God, in essence, this makes them false christs.

Under the plan God has ordained for the church, leadership is a position of humble, loving service. Church leadership is ministry, not management. Those whom God designates as leaders are called not to be governing monarchs, but humble slaves; not slick celebrities, but laboring servants. Those who would lead God’s people must above all exemplify sacrifice, devotion, submission, and lowliness.

Jesus Himself gave us the pattern when He stooped to wash His disciples’ feet, a task that was customarily done by the lowest of slaves (John 13). If the Lord of the universe would do that, no church leader has a right to think of himself as “Lord over his people”

Early church leaders were established as overseers, not a ruling hierarchy.

Jesus Christ alone is the Head of the Church, and the believers the body. We all have direct access to Christ, the Head of the Church.

I personally believe that the Protestant Reformation did not go far enough to demonstrate a New Testament belief in the “priesthood” of all believers who imparts to faithful men what they have learned so that these men shall be able to train others.

SUMMARY

From the day of the Pentecost, till the time that Christianity was made the official religion, a Christian had to pay a price to be identified as one. It was not about power, but about sacrificial service, about hospitality, about Jesus. It was living, vivid and life changing.

Making Christianity official and attendance compulsory had the exact opposite effect. It moved from houses to large independent buildings. As unsaved leadership established Satanic models of leadership, it became something “having a form of godliness but denying its power.” In 2 Timothy 3:5, Paul tells Timothy to “Have nothing to do with them”.

This corrupt idea of leadership was taken over by the Protestants with their own corruption of leadership roles and coverings.

I believe the next move of God in our midst will be to move away from the “Nicolaitanes” style leadership and the resurrection of  home churches to spread the message of Jesus Christ at a grass roots level.

Next week, God willing, we will study about what a “church’ was when the New Testament was written.

Nabal is dead. He is no longer our master; the marriage bond has been broken. We have our new David-Christ husband-nature and are free. For what? Listen to these words from Paul’s pen:

“Your old sin-nature died with the body of Christ on the cross and you are free from the law. This happened that you might be married to Another. I am speaking of Christ who was raised from the dead – that we might bring forth fruit unto God” (Rom 7:4 smf).

Married to another. Who is Paul talking about? Jesus! You have been freed from Nabal that you might be married to the Lord. You are a true spiritual Abigail – the Bride of Christ!

We have not been set free to live on our own as we might wish. We have been set free to live with another and respond to His great love for us.

Because of that love, we can trust Him completely and seek to please Him in every way. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” the Apostle John adds, “…and it is not a grievous and difficult duty” (John  14:15; 1 Jn 5:3 smf).

Seeking to please the Lord in all things means we will happily obey Him.

Because He is the Head and Husband of His Church – we will want to submit to His covering and authority.

Paul deals with this relationship in his Letter to the Ephesians: “Wives, submit yourself to your husband’s leadership in the same way you submit to the Lord. For the husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of his Bride, the Church. He gave his very life to be her Savior.

“As the Church obeys Christ, so should a wife submit to her husband. Husbands, however, must love their wives as Christ loved the Church – his Bride – and gave up his life for her” (Eph 5:22-25 smf).

We clearly see that we have been set free that we might love and serve Christ and one another. Christ is the perfect husband, and it is our glorious privilege to be His bride. We should seek to serve and please Him in all that we say and do.

Paul goes on to describe what this means to him personally in his Letter to the church at Corinth:

“I am free in every way from the control of anyone. However, I have made myself a servant to every one that I might win them to Christ” (1 Cor 9:19 smf).

Paul was free from all to be a servant of Christ to all. He wanted no earthly relationships which might keep him from Christian service to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Paul’s great desire was not to please himself or even others, but the Lord alone.

This is Paul’s anxious and deep concern for us as well. He states it strongly and with great feeling when writing to the Corinthian church:

“I have a great concern for you with a divine jealousy. I have promised to give you to Christ alone. He must be your only husband. I want to give you to him as a pure and holy bride” (2 Cor 11:2 smf).

2. Wedding Vows Renewed

Dear Reader, this too is my concern for you. I have sought in this study to show you how you have been released from your Nabal-nature to be married to Another. As Abigail became David’s bride, so you are the Bride of Christ. As your divine Husband. He is forever yours, and you are forever His! As Abigail of old, may you ever seek to be a loving and loyal servant in the Kingdom of your Lord.

I feel this would be a right and proper time for us to renew our wedding vows to our Lord Jesus Christ.

We can follow the pattern which is found in Romans 6:11:

“I reckon [declare as so] myself to be truly dead unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ my Lord.

We will repeat these vows phrase by phrase as outlined below. Please picture yourself as looking right into the eyes of Jesus and speaking to Him from the depths of your heart:.

I (your name), reckon and declare myself…

To be dead unto sin…

But alive unto God…

Through Jesus Christ my Lord…

Who is my heavenly Husband…

Now and forever. Amen!

No wonder the Scriptures say there is great rejoicing in Heaven among the holy angels when one sinner repents (Luke 15:10). Another member has been added to the Bride of Christ! It is a time of joyful celebration, as it was when Abigail was married to David.

We too have found our David in Christ Jesus. One day our joy will be complete as we sit together at the “marriage supper of the Lamb.”

And the Scriptures promise us – with divine assurance – that we will all live together, happily ever after!

Always remember – and never forget:

YOU ARE MARRIED TO CHRIST FOREVER

Can you understand how Abigail’s story describes our dilemma as Christians?

Blessed with a lovely anointing, God was using her; but what a burden she bore. She was married to an unclean, uncouth, smelly drunkard who wouldn’t be kind to her or anybody else.

1. Our Old Nature Must Die

Like Abigail, we want to be under a husband like David. But we have a problem: we are married to Nabal, our old Adamic sin-nature – the flesh. Moreover, by the laws of marriage, we are bound to him as long as he lives. There is hope, however, for there is a David in our story. As we stated earlier, he is a type of Christ.

Our true desire is to be married to Him, to be the “bride of Christ” (Rev 19:7-9).

We want our Abigail personality to come to the forefront and be loved and motivated to divine purpose by being married to another – David (type of Christ).

We want to be sweet and gracious, but Nabal – our old sin nature – always shows up and makes it difficult. So much of the “flesh” seems to be seen and found in our marriage to our old nature.

Sometimes we fight against the devil and want to blame him for our fleshly displays. But he is not our problem; we are! It is our old sin nature which we received from our forefather – Adam.

No matter how hard we try to live a life that will be pleasing to God, we fail sooner or later. The harder we try, the greater our failure. We just can’t get free from our old  “Nabal-nature,” nor can we change him, Nabal cannot and will be be reformed.

There is only one answer to our problem with Nabal. It is death. God must kill Nabal. Nabal must die!

2. We Cannot Do It Alone

Some Christians try to do away with Nabal themselves. They go about trying to crucify their own flesh. It is, however, an impossible job. There are not enough “free hands” to get the job done.

When you try to crucify yourself, you find that you may nail your feet to the cross. You may even nail one hand to the cross. But how can you nail that last hand? Partially crucified with two feet and one hand already nailed to the cross, you can’t! You do not have another free hand with which to drive in the nail through your left hand. You cannot crucify yourself. It must be done by Another).

Self-crucifixion is a painful effort and always ends up half-done. Our sinful Nabal-nature soon recovers from self-inflicted wounds and we are worse off from before. I know … I tried it many times in my life as a young Christian.

I even tried to starve old Nabal to death by fasting. I felt sure, If I fasted long enough and often enough, I could over come the desires of the flesh.

I soon found that instead of getting rid of my old Nabal nature, he exerted his influence over my life all the more. He got meaner and nastier by the day. Each and every day I fasted, I got harder to live with. I’m sure you know what I am talking about

My next approach was to try to destroy old Nabal by hitting him on the head with the two stone tables of the law. I memorized the ten commandments and tried to live a life of “shall nots”. You shall not do this; you shall not do that.

However, the more I said, “You shall not!” old Nabal replied, “I will too!” His “I wills” were stronger than my “You shall nots.” The law didn’t help me.

The law cannot destroy our old sinful nature. All it can do is expose our sin, amplify our carnal desires and condemn us. The law cannot free us from sin. If we are to be free, God Himself will have to do it. And, praise God, He has!

3. God Provides The Way

Only God could justly kill Nabal. and He did. The same is true when it comes to the old Nabal-nature in our lives. And He has!

The death of our old, Adamic sin-nature is both drastic and dramatic. It is included in God’s gracious plan of redemption – through Christ Jesus – for you and for me.

We were crucified with Him on His cross so our old man (called the body of sin in Romans 6) might be destroyed. This freed us to be married to Another – even Christ!

When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, his whole nature became sinful. The sickness of sin was passed on to all the future generations of mankind. We all have received the same sinful nature from our father, Adam.

We are not sinners only because we sin; we sin because we are born as sinners. Before we believed on Jesus we were part of the devil’s family. We were born into this world outside the family of God. The only way into God’s family is by a new birth. When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are born again – into the family of God. Through teaching like we’re receiving in this chapter, faith comes to appropriate (receive the benefit of ) our freedom from the law, and its motivating force to sin (which results in death).

By accepting the facts told us in the Bible – that we were crucified with Christ, that our old husband (sin-nature) is dead – we are free to be married to Christ.

His righteous, obedient nature can now be expressed in us if we yield our emotions and bodily members to Him.

The Bible explains this truth in these words:

“Sin entered the world through one man [Adam], and death through sin. In this way death came to all men. Because we were all in Adam, it brought the results of his sin on us all. And all have sinned” (Rom 5:12 smf).

a. Born In Sin.

Let me ask you a question. Where were you when your forefather Adam sinned? The Bible teaches that you were IN ADAM – that is, you were in his loins (the place where the male sperm cells are kept which produce offspring). Since we are all the offspring (children, descendants) of Adam, we were all IN ADAM.

This means that when Adam sinned, I was made a sinner with him – because I was IN ADAM. His sin made the whole human race sinners – because the whole race was IN ADAM when he sinned.

Our destiny was all bound up in Adam’s obedience and disobedience. When he sinned, you and I were made sinners. When the sentence of death (the penalty for sin) was passed on Adam, you and I (in him) were also sentenced to death.

So, I was born in sin, under the sentence of death. Because of this, I needed someone to save and deliver me from marriage to Adam’s nature – the sinful nature.

Let us now read some verses from the Bible and rejoice at what God has done to save us from our unhappy condition and destiny with death and Hell.

“But God showed his great love for us while we were yet sinners, by sending Christ to die for us….

“Adam’s sin brought punishment [death] to all. But Christ’s act of righteousness [taking our punishment on the cross] makes men right with God, so they can live…

“All who receive him [Jesus]  shall be given the right to become the sons and daughters of God… Truly, all who believe on the son have eternal life… they become new creatures in Christ Jesus – with a new nature within. They are not the same any more; everything is fresh and new” (Rom 5:8, 18; John 1:12; 2 Pet 1:4; 2 Cor 5:17 smf).

b. Nailed To The Cross.

Yes, when we receive Jesus into our hearts as our Lord and Savior, we receive His life and His nature.

We have a new nature all right, but what about old sinful nature? Can David and Nabal peacefully live in the same house? Can we truly be married to Christ while Nabal is still alive?

This is where the cross of Christ does something for us that not many Christians fully understand. It is a powerful truth which can lay old Nabal to rest forever. It is worthy of our most careful attention. Paul clearly explains it in this way: “Don’t you know that all who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were also baptized into his death… Your old sin-loving nature died with him upon the cross. Its power was broken…

“When God the Father raised him from the dead in glorious power, you were  raised to new life too…

“Because, you are one with him, when he dies, you died – when he arose, you arose… You now know, therefore, that your old sinful nature was nailed to the cross with him and died. Your sin-loving body is no longer under the power and control of your old sinful nature – you are free!” (Rom 6:3-7 smf).

c. Union With Christ.

What an amazing truth! God has done it all! By His omniscience (ability to know everything) He looked through the past and future centuries and found all those who would believe Him. He gathered them all up and placed them IN CHRIST as He died on the cross. There IN CHRIST we were crucified with Him! Praise God!

We have worn ourselves out trying to crucify our “old man,” when he is already dead. Just as we were in Adam when Adam died for his sin, we were in Christ Jesus when Christ died for our sin.

With Him we arose from death and Hell to a new life with a new nature – His life and His nature. This is what union in Christ means – we abide in Him and He in us. What He is, we are!

Our union with Christ is a gracious work of the Holy Spirit. As the Spirit of Christ, He is the member of the Godhead Who causes the life and nature of Christ to be formed in us. The Holy Spirit brings a new heart and a new relationship!

“He who is united with the Lord is one spirit with him” (1 Cor 6:17 smf). “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone [hard and rebellious] and give you a heart of flesh [soft and obedient]. And I will put my Spirit in you, and cause you to follow my laws and keep my commandments… You will be my people, and I will be your God” (Eze 36:26-28 smf).

4. Victory Is Ours

We are dead to our old sinful nature, and it has no power over our life. The only time our old nature can rise from his “death-coffin” is when we are walking in non-belief, unbelief or disobedience. When we are obeying God’s Word, and being motivated by God’s Spirit, we are expressing our new nature.

The devil does not want us to believe this truth, for it has the power to set us free. If we are not aware of the work God finished for us through the work of Christ on the cross we will be walking in non-belief.

The desires of the flesh will seem real, and we will feel powerless to resist. The “ghost” of old Nabal will be quick to exert his influence and appetites in our life. The same is true if we doubt God’s Word in the Bible or disobey what He says to us.

To do so grieves the Holy Spirit Who dwells within us. This will weaken His work within our lives, and His witness through our lives. At such times, the old sin-nature can seem pretty strong.

The answer, as we have seen, is not to try to crucify the flesh through self-effort. The flesh is already dead when we reckon it so. (Reckon means to count it done – to see and confess it as already accomplished.)

Therefore, we should quickly confess our sin whenever the Holy Spirit convicts us. Then we should rise up in faith, and believe and obey God’s Word. His Spirit gives us the power to do so.

a. Know And Believe.

Paul says we must KNOW that our old man is crucified with Christ (Rom 6:6) We are crucified and risen with Christ. If we do not know or are unsure of this truth, we will find the flesh acting as if it is very much alive. We will submit to our old nature even though it is no longer alive. We will submit to our old nature even though it is no longer alive.

Paul tells us repeatedly that we don’t have to submit to our old sin-nature any more. We can daily accept and believe the truth of what Christ did for us on the cross, and live victoriously in the power of the Holy Spirit.

b Live By the Power Of the Holy Spirit.

“If by the power of the Holy Spirit you put to death the evil deeds of the body – the old sin-nature – you will live” (Rom 8:13 smf).

We need the Holy Spirit both to die and to live! (To die to our selfish desires – to live for Christ). The Holy Spirit’s ministry, therefore, is two-fold.

1. He will honor the work of the cross concerning the death of our old nature.
2. He will lead us into a life of victory through our new nature.

c. Believe And Confess.

The Holy Spirit will apply the truth of our crucifixion on the cross with Christ, by making it so real that we will confess it with our mouth. We will say it is so. This is what Paul meant when he said:

“Reckon and consider yourselves to be truly dead unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Do not let sin rule in your bodies anymore. Do not give in to its sinful desires” (Rom 6:11,12 smf).

The word “reckon” means to simply believe and confess that something is so. In other words, we are to acknowledge and confess (say it out loud) that our old sin-nature is dead to us. We also are to acknowledge and say that we are dead to our old sin-nature.

This is so because God’s Word says we died in Christ on the cross. It is finished, and we are free! “I am crucified with Christ…” (Gal 2:20 kjv).

Not  only are we dead to sin, but alive to God. We have a fresh, new inner resource. We can choose to be married to Christ who gives us His new nature. By doing so, we can be led (driven, motivated) by God the Holy Spirit.

When we see who we are and where we are in Christ – that’s real victory. It means we have won in our fight with the flesh. The war is over, the victory is ours. With the words of Christ from the cross we can boldly say. “It is finished!”

My ministry in Bahrain has been extended another week. It is both a joy and privilege to be a part of what God is doing here. He has done all things well – Mark 7:37

B. OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLE

1. Three Main Characters

There is a story in the Old Testament which illustrates the Apostle Paul’s teaching in Romans Chapter Seven. It is found in the twenty-fifth chapter of 1 Samuel. the story involves three main characters:

a. Abigail: a very lovely married woman;

b. Nabal: the rich but evil husband (old man) of Abigail;

c. David: as anointed man chosen by God to be the next king of Israel.

2. The Characters In Detail

a. Abigail. The Scriptures describe Abigail as being a wise and beautiful lady with a generous and humble heart. There was a lovely prophetic anointing upon her life. Truly she was a most noble and gracious woman of God.

Sadly, she was married to a man who was a blemish on her grace, beauty and character.

b. Nabal. Abigail’s husband, Nabal was a mean, rude, inconsiderate, stubborn fool, who was often intoxicated from drinking too much wine.

It is a sad picture indeed. Moreover, Abigail was bound to her husband by the laws of marriage – until separated by death. Only then would she be free to marry another.

c. David. Unlike Nabal, David was a man after God’s own heart. He had been anointed by Samuel to be the next king of Israel. There was a tender, sensitive side to David’s life which is beautifully revealed to us in the Psalms.

He was a man of faith, courage and power. He would one day become Israel’s mighty warrior king. Marriage to David would be a royal marriage indeed.

3. Spiritual Meaning Of The Characters

Let us now approach our story from a fresh and interesting view. There is a sense in which the characters involved speak of our two natures and our relationship with Christ. They are listed as follows:

a. Abigail Married to Nabal: a type of our condition under the law – married to our old nature.

b. Nabal: a type of our old sinful nature - to whom we are married by parental grant.

c. David: a type of Christ, the anointed One – to Whom we want to be married, Who will give us a new nature, and motivation to express righteousness.

With this spiritual application in mind, let us review the background to the story we are about to study.

4. The Story – 1 Samuel 25

In the opening scene, David is found fleeing for his life from King Saul. Though anointed to be king, David will go through many years of trials and tests before becoming king. Saul has lost favor with God. He is jealous of David and seeks to take his life.

David and his men fled to a desert place to escape from Saul’s death threats. Here they came across some of Nabal’s shepherds. David protected Nabal’s shepherds and sheep from roaming robbers and nomadic raiding parties that frequented the area. David and his men often risked their lives to protect Nabal’s property.

a. Nabal Insults David.

Springtime eventually came. This was the sheep-shearing season. This was a happy occasion of feasting and celebration. David sent ten of his young men to Nabal with the request that they be invited to share in the sheep-shearing festival.

Instead of showing gratitude to David and his men for the protection they had provided, Nabal rudely refused the request. David and his men were insulted.

In anger, David took 400 of his men with their swords and marched toward Nabal, intending to kill him and take the sheep they had spared from the robbers. In this way they would take revenge.

b. Abigail Meets David.

One of Nabal’s young men found Abigail and told her about her husband’s rude and foolish action. Realizing David would destroy her wealthy estate, she arose at once and (without telling Nabal) rode forth to intercept David and his men.

She brought with her many gifts of bread, wine, meat, grain, raisins and figs as an offering of peace. She intended to give David far more than he had asked.

Our story continues as Abigail and her men meet David and his army at the bottom of a mountain trail.

Abigail quickly got off her donkey, fell on her face and bowed before David. She accepted all the blame in the matter and pleaded with David to overlook her wicked, foolish husband’s actions.

She gently suggested that her actions were directed of the Lord to prevent David from avenging himself by way of murder. This would displease the Lord – and be a stain on David’s reputation.

She then brought forth a beautiful prophetic word: “The Lord will surely reward you with a royal household that will live forever. God will do this because you are fighting his battles. Evil will never be found in you throughout all your days.

“Even when you are chased by those who seek your life, you are safe in the care of the Lord your God. The lives of your enemies will be scattered as a stone from a sling.

“The Lord will fulfill all his good promises and make you king over all Israel… When all this comes to pass, please remember me ” (1 Sam 25:28-31) smf).

Truly, Abigail was a lovely, gracious woman with great wisdom and prophetic insight. She alone within the household of her husband  saw the special anointing which rested upon David.

In her heart was a deep longing for that day when David would ascend the royal throne. She was a sweet, sensitive person in whose heart there was a godly hope for a better day. There is a tender touch of pathos in the almost wistful words, “Please remember me.”

c. Nabal’s Death.

When she returned home, she found that her husband had forgotten all about David. Even her absence has been of little concern to him. He had thrown a big party and was roaring drunk. What a sad picture Nabal is of our old sin nature. There was no awareness of spiritual things or divine purpose.

The Scripture says Nabal was holding a feast at home like that of a king. He was playing the role of ruler and making merry. The real king (David) had wanted to be a part of the celebration, but he wasn’t welcome. Nabal had willfully shut David out of his life, and was only concerned about his own desires and pleasures.

Abigail wisely waited until morning before talking to Nabal. By then he was sober, and she told her wicked husband how close he had come to being completely wiped out and killed by David and his army.

The Scripture say that when he heard her words, “his heart failed him and he became like a stone.”

Nabal had an evil heart and a carnal mind. This was the character of his inner nature. The name “Nabal” means foolish and vile. Like his name, Nabal was a fool at heart, and gave no thought to the ways of God.

Sobered and shocked by the truth of Abigail’s report, both his heart and mind failed and he became as motionless as a stone – paralyzed. (He apparently suffered both a stroke and a heart attack.)

Ten days later, “the Lord struck Nabal and he died” (vs 38). The set of his life was centered in himself. It could never change.

What might have been would never be. He lived without God or His Spirit. He came under the judgment promised in Romans 8:13, “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die…”

What a clear but tragic description of our old self-life! there was only one solution to the problem of Abigail’s “old man” – DEATH!

And that, my friend, is the only solution to our old sinful nature. It had to be crucified. It had to die.

d. FREE! To Marry Another.

Our story now takes a brighter and more positive direction. Until the death of her husband, Abigail had been bound to him by the laws of marriage. Now that he was dead, she was free to marry another. We don’t have to go far in the record to discover who the “other” was:

“When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, ‘Praise be to the Lord! He has paid Nabal back for his wrong against me’.. Then David sent word to Abigail asking her to be his wife…

“She responded at once to David’s messengers with humility and grace:

‘Here is your maid servant, ready to serve you and wash the feet of the servants of my lord.’

“She quickly arose, got on her donkey, and with five of her maids followed after David’s messengers – and became his wife” (1 Sam 25:39-42 smf).