Good Morning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Peter, but before we do that I wanted to ask you a question.
Have you ever noticed when horses put on their blinkers? No I’m not talking about rear tail lights, I’m talking about those things that they wear on their eyes when they race at the track or go to work in a field. They have been used quite effectively for a long period of time. Horses can get spooked by any number of reasons, whether it’s crowds of people, or a busy traffic intersection. Even a small critter running across a trail can be a cause of distraction, so their owner will put them on to keep their eyes focused on what is directly in front of them.
This reminds me of the Christian Life
Our mind needs to be renewed, and like a horse wearing blinkers, we need to close our eyes to the world, patiently running the race that is set before us. We must learn to eliminate all of the distractions of the flesh, and center our love and attention on God, and abstaining from Earthly lusts
1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
To abstain is to pass up doing something or refraining from certain activities. It means to forgo and deny something deliberately by practicing self denial. The world is filled with temptations lurking around every corner, but we need to put our foot down and tell ourselves no. When we think about fasting, we normally think about food intake, but there are numerous things that a person can abstain from. You can refrain from having sexual relationships with your spouse for a period of time. You can deny yourself chocolate or sweets. Self denial is a very good quality to possess, because it can help us tamp down any fleshly lusts within the heart. If we are going to succeed at the Christian Life, we must overcome the sinful nature, and completely defeat them by the power of the Holy Spirit.
James 1:12-14 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Each one of us is different, and might have to struggle with certain issues in our lives, but in order to obtain eternal life we must overcome temptations. We must use the grace of God as an opportunity to turn away from sinful desires, and redirect our focus on a love for Christ. Love is a very powerful emotion, and you always need to be careful where you place it, otherwise it can pull you off in the wrong direction. The more involved that one becomes in the lusts of the flesh, the harder it can be to turn away.
1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
This is a completely different day and age that we live in, considering the huge influence of so much information online and TV. What must be done is coming out and being separate, distancing yourself from the way that the world lives. The road is narrow and less traveled, but one must do whatever is required so that you can mortify the sinful nature. What matters is becoming an overcomer, perfected in the faith, and walking in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
And once again……
James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
God wants us to turn from darkness to light, and from wrong unto right.
Acts 26:16-18 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
We must deny the sinful things of this world.
Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
We must follow the leading of God’s Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:12-14 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Ephesians 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Remember that this Earth and everything in it, will someday be gone. For the Christian, the Earth is not home, it is only a temporary place that we are passing through. Everything here will eventually be dissolved. We need to prepare ourselves now for the world that is coming later.
2 Peter 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
To overcome the flesh, we must redirect our mind to Heavenly things.
Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
So, what have you been seeking after? Is it the things of this world, or the things of God? Have you finally reached out to put on your….
……Blinkers
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 