Ep 44-Marks of a Mature Christian Pt 4

Hi there, welcome back to it’s all greek to me with tom and Vicky Mahairas and we’re going to be digging deeper into James chapter one on the spiritual maturity and marks of the believer growing up in christ and being mature as a believer. That’s what the word perfect chelios means mature. And so you want to now listen carefully as we go back into Chapter one and finish up this passage uh concerning Trials from the outside the 1st 12 verses and 13 through 27 temptations from the inside. So We have 2, 2 words that can be positive or negative with this program on closing up the last um Part of Chapter one concerning trials from the outside and temptations from the inside. That trial and temptation, same word, Erasmus and epistle epistle mia desire or lust uh is also positive and negative and we’re gonna see that right now. So on the marks of a mature christian, we need to understand where the source of the testing is coming from. That when God allows us to be tested, he wants us to be approved book, he’s gonna Vicki Moscow, he tests us in order for us to succeed. The devil satan tempts us in order for us the fall and fail. So Vicki, we’re gonna just look at this now, James chapter one, going into verse 13 through 27 temptations on the inside eh Pithy mia lust. I want you to try to uh to uh communicate the power of the word in the two different context, like In this particular one. Take it take it up, it can be translated lust epitome a from epi focused on and the most passionate desire, properly passionate desire built on a particular feeling or urge which can be positive or negative depending on whether such as inspired by faith is that feeling of uh great admiration or emotion. Birth by God and his word or uh epitome a focused on passion in the new testament usually refers to yearnings that grow out of the desires of self, so self lust or self desire that’s forgetting about everybody else, even though we may violate certain things in life, even God’s principles, that desire is so great that we’re gonna satisfy ourself. The positive examples of septicemia Or passionate desire. Just go ahead and read the verses and let’s hear these Luke 22 15 and he said to them, I have earnestly desired epitome a to eat this passover with you before I suffer. And that was a positive thing. Wow! I mean, the Lord jesus was passion. Such a strong desire and zeal for his house ate him up. He was so passionate. He fixed his face. It says like a flint towards Jerusalem. He was not going to get side, you know, weighs one or the other. He’s gonna go and fulfill every single promise. Every single scripture, every single, you know, fulfillment of the old testament passages, jesus christ was on a mission to go to the cross to bleed and die to rise from the dead the third day. And, and so here is his epitome to that, he said, I have earnestly desired to eat the Passover with you before I suffer think about that, that he wanted to to give them a visual of his death, his burial and his resurrection. And it was it was a good desire. It was a good. That’s the very same word for lust. Desire. Okay, next Philippians 1 23. But I am hard pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ for that is very much better if that’s possible fall and that’s it. That’s all it says. Yeah. So, you know, here are two illustrations of how this word epitome a is used in a positive way. Now, a lot of the time here, in the context, in other places, it’s used in a negative way. I’m gonna let Vicki continue reading. She’s so good at it. First, john 2 15 through 17 do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves 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 boastful pride of life is not from the father, but is from the world, the world is passing away. And also it’s lust, but the one who does the will of God lives forever. So the world is defined as the lust of the flesh. The lust of the eyes and the pride of life. This word, lust and pity Mia the Sarcos epitome to Dalmatia. Uh The optics of the Eye and the Pride of life, the three sources of temptation, as we all know. It’s the world, Cosmos, the flesh, socks and the devil, the avalos. These are the two the three sources. And when the source is that it’s always in a negative picture, a negative view. And but when God allows us to go through uh in a positive way, as we saw with jesus, desiring to do something or paul, desiring to be with christ. For that was much better. It’s used in a positive way. There uh here are the negatives, Mark 4 19. The worries of the world, the deceitfulness of riches. The desire for other things, jesus. Our Lord said choke the word of God. So if for you to have desires for the things of this world will choke the very word of God and it will produce no fruit. It bears no fruit. That says Romans 1 24. Therefore, God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. God will allow people who have harmful and wicked Lus to have it. And and as a result of that to have destruction upon them physically. According to romans 1 20 for roman 6 12, therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal bodies that you should obey its lusts. The body has these desires and we’re not to allow our body to go along with these evil desires, romans chapter six verse 12 Galatians 5 16. But I say walk in the spirit well by the spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh again. The flesh has desires that it wants selfish uh evil wrong desires. Ephesians 23 among them. We too all formerly lived in the lust epitome to of our flesh, indulging the desire of or the dilemma in this case Desire of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature Children of Wrath, even as the rest. Now this is a pre salvation testimony. Looking at the way we used to be all of us, those of us without christ and many of you that may be listening, you have this as your as your common everyday experience among them. We formerly lived in the lust of our flesh, indulging the desires. Or Kalamata Felicia is a want of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature Children of wrath. I mean it was it was something that was to be expected that there would be punishment and judgment even as the rest and then titus 2 12 and first Peter 2 11, Vicki continue instructing us to deny on Godliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly righteously and Godly in this present age. So you see the worldly desires in this present saunas in this present age are are going to take us away from God. We’re not supposed to love these things from the world. It says, if we love them, The love of the father is not in us. 1st. Peter two verse 11, beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to expose stane from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. So were viewed as like this is not our home. We’re just passing through our our treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The song says, the angels beckon me from heaven’s open door. I can’t feel at home in this world anymore. We’re aliens. It says we’re strangers were supposed to abstain from the fleshly lusts which wage war against our very soul, John 8 44, you are of your father, the devil. And you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of life. So, you see Vicky the source of this epitome of this evil epitome a is uh, the world the flesh and the devil in this particular case, it actually tells us, you know, uh the uh the lure to lie or the desire, uh, you know, to murder or the desire to get into a fight, satan is behind all this stuff, you know? And the flesh is behind all this stuff and the world is behind all this stuff. It’s just an amazing thing. But God is not behind this in light of what’s going on in history right now, it doesn’t really matter what color your skin is. We all have the same nature within us. Every human being has this desire that we could have. If we don’t bring it under the authority of all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God romans 3 23 all from the top of our head to the bottom of our foot, we are sinners. Our heart is deceitful and desperately wicked when you realize that a baby that that has never had one day in this planet is born. The bible says speaking lies, how could that be. But yet David in Psalm 51 explains that. And send my mother conceived me. She wasn’t uh you know, an immoral woman, she was a Godly woman married to jesse, his dad. And uh just an amazing thing for me that the nature of man, the sinful nature of man that was right there in the garden of Eden. And then with cain and Abel and then on and on and on with all the sin that came in is in every baby that is born the D. N. A. Of the sin nature is in every baby that is born and only by being born from above. Do we get this new D. N. A. Which is God’s nature. Sinless nature. The Lord jesus christ comes into our life and changes everything. Uh And that that is really a phenomenal time that we have been having. Just looking at how God is trying to transform our nature, our to process our external trials in our internal temptations. So we can understand how to mature and grow up in our faith in Matthew 41 through four we read that jesus was led by the spirit in the wilderness to be tempted paparazzo by the devil and after he had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Imagine he then became hungry and the tempter or pura zone the one who tempts came and said to him if you are the son of God command that these stones become bread. But he answered and said it is written Man shall not live by bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Even when we’re tempted we fight back with the very word of God. When satan comes to us in that in that manner Matthew 6 13 and do not lead us into temptation paparazzo but deliver us from evil for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Matthew 1611. The Pharisees and Sandra. These came up and testing pianos with Jesus. They asked him to show them a sign from Heaven again, they were looking to cause him to fall and stumble. The way the devil was trying to do. Look Forward To. For 40 days being tempted paparazzo by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days and when they had ended he became hungry First Corinthians 75 stop depriving one another except by agreement for a time. So that you may devote yourselves to prayer and come together again. So that satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self control. Talking about a husband and a wife In their physical relationship with one another. And and then going on to first Corinthians 10 13, 1 of the famous verses that we know it says God, no temptation, None, no temptation, Peter’s most has overtaken you, but such as is common demand. You’re no different. I’m no different than anyone else. God is faithful pistols of yours, faithful God who will not allow you to be tempted paparazzo beyond what you are able. But with the temptation will provide the way of escape so that you will be able to endure it. God always provides a way of escape. There’s always that way of escape, joseph left his coat in part of his wife’s hands and took off. There’s always a way of escape. But we must be faithful and willing and surrender to God to take that way of escape Galatians 61 Brethren, even if any of you is caught in a sin in a trespass. But optima uh you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness. Each one looking to yourself so that you will not be tempted to. So you know when you’re helping people, when you’re counseling people, when you’re doing the work of God, it’s easy for you to fall into sin. So you have to be very careful that you’re keeping your own life right as you reach out to help others. First Thessalonians 35 for this reason when I could endure it no longer. I also sent to find out about your faith for fear that the tempter very important place. You might have tempted Peraza you and our labor would be in vain. He was 2 18 for since he himself was tempted. That is Jesus paparazzo in that which he suffered. He also came to the aid of those who are tempted. So God has allowed the Lord, jesus christ to go through all the suffering and also the temptation so he is able to help us. When we go through the temptations, we go through Hebrews 4 15 for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted paparazzo and all things as we are yet. He himself never sinned Hebrews 11 37. They were stoned. They were sawn in two. They were tempted. Para so they were put to death with the sword. They went about in sheepskins. Gold skins being destitute, Afflicted, ill treated God has allowed all this pressure external and internal to come upon his Children for the purpose of testing them to succeed. Loki Moscow to be approved. Not to fail the way satan tempts us James 1 13. Let no one say when he is tempted period. So I’m being tempted by God. For God cannot be tempted. Pero estos by evil. And he himself does not attempt anyone. You can’t blame God for the sin that you commit or that they commit. God is a pederast. Oh, she doesn’t tempt. And he himself is untenable James 1 14. But each one is tempted Peraza win! He has carried away and enticed by his own lust. That word is really has a picture of capturing an animal in a trap or a fish on a hook. And I want to take you now to the passage of scripture that God is leading me in several places. One is in the book of uh proverbs in chapter two, My Son, if you receive my sayings and treasure, my commandments within you. Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your ear to understanding. For if you cry for discernment and lift up your voice for understanding. If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasure. Then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom from his mouth, that is his word comes Knowledge and understanding, he restores he stores up rather sound wisdom for the upright he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the path of justice. He preserves the way of his Godly ones. You will be discerned righteousness and justice. Equity in every good course. For wisdom will enter your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul, discretion will guard you understanding, will watch over you to deliver you from what the evil, from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things from those who leave the path of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perversity of evil, whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways. Listen to this now to deliver you from the strange woman from the adulteress who flatters with her words, That leaves the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God for her house sinks down to death, and it goes on like that. Listen, the Word of God is the greatest preservative, as we said before in psalm 119 you know, how does a young person keep his way pure and clean by keeping it according to the Word of God, the Word of God. I’ve treasured in my heart that I might not sin against you. Now I wanna share, enclosing this phenomenal story of Samson, Here’s a guy who was So strong, so powerful. This story is found in judges chapter 16 And the bible says in verse one that he saw a harlot, the prostitute there and went into her. Think of this. I mean a man of God, a Nazareth. He was, he was dedicated to God from his birth. He was not supposed to be involved in this kind of sexual immorality touching dead animals cutting his hair. He was a Nazaret. And yet here he just for sakes everything throws it off and the the uh back to the the the the uh abandonment of sin of righteousness and embracing a sin in his life. And then he’s just goofing around. He takes the doors of the city gate and goes way up to the mountain there. And then the bible talks about it says, it says so Delilah said uh they said to entice him to see where his great strength lies in, how we may overpower him, that we may bind him uh to afflict him, then we will each give you 1100 pieces of silver what 1100 pieces of silver. Each one of us are going to give you if you get to find out where his strength lies. And so Delilah said to Samson, please tell me where your great strength is and how you may be bound to afflict you and Samson said to her, If they bind me with seven fresh cords and have not they have not been dried then I shall become weak and be like other men. Now he starts flirting with sin. You know he’s just gonna play around a little bit. And the lords of the Philistines caught up to her seven chords uh fresh cords they gave them to her that had not been dried and she bound him with them. And she had men lying in wait in an inner room and she said to him, the Philistines are upon you, Samson. But he snapped the chords as a string and of two snaps uh when it touches fire. So his strength was not discovered. Then Delilah said to Samson, behold you have deceived me who’s deceiving you hear who’s the wolf and who’s the lamb? You’ve deceived me and behold uh you know to lie with me and told me lies. And now please tell me how you may be bound. And he said to her, Well if if they bind me tightly with new ropes which have not been used then I shall become weak. And like any other man. And Delilah took the new ropes bound him and said in and said the Philistines are upon you. For the men were lying in wait in the inner room. But he snapped the ropes from his arms like threads. And Delilah said to Samson up to Now you have deceived me and told me lies, tell me how you may be bound. And he said to her, Well, if you weave the seven locks of my hair. Now he’s getting closer, he’s getting closer to his power into his strength. So if you get my hair with the web and fasten it with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man anyway to make a long story short, It’s the it’s in his hair and she cuts his hair and they get him and let me tell you what happens here, verse 19 she made him sleep on her niece. Wow! When you have the enemy, when you’re sleeping on the enemy’s knees, you’re in trouble and call for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his hair. And then she began to afflict him and his strength left him. Now watch this. And she said, the Philistines are upon you Samson and and he awoke from his sleep and said, I will go out as other times and and shake myself free. But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. This is one of the saddest verses in the bible that he did not know. The Lord departed from him. Listen, you could be a christian, you may know God, you may have been in God’s word, but you start flirting around with sin and letting the temptation from within grab you and you lie down on the lap of the of the enemy. And the Lord will just allow you to go and will destroy you. There is a sin onto death, you cannot just fool around with God First Corinthians 5 1st John five talks about this and then notice what happened. The three things that happens when sin is your master binds you and when LSD the little sin lust, sin leads to death. But he did not know three things happen. No one the Philistines seized him and and bound him first. They took his eyes out, they gouged out his eyes. Sin blinds you and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains. Sin binds you. And he was a he was a grinder in the prison since grind you. This is the three things that happened when the sin from within is allowed to choke us and we yield to it. First thing that goes is a spiritual eyesight. In this case it was physical Samson lost his eyesight. Sin blinds you. # two sin bind you. You can’t be free to do and live the way God intended for you to live. And number three sin will grind you. Your days will be miserable and you’re not gonna have the joy of the Lord in your life. God is allowed external pressure to come on our life. He also allows the inner temptations to be affected through the world. The flesh and the devil And we must bring all of this and be crucified with Christ Luke 323, Jesus said. If you follow me, if you come after me, you have to say no deny yourself. Take up your cross daily and follow me. That’s the way for you to deal with the sin from within the pressure from without. I am crucified with christ paul says regulations to 20. Nevertheless, I live it isn’t I who lives, it’s christ who is living in me, the life that I now live in the flesh. I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. And that’s why he could say Philippians 1 21 for me, life is christ and death is gain. I hope that you as a believer will grow up. And if you don’t know, jesus christ personally that you will be born up into his family. Let the spirit of God speak to you and ask him to come in your life and save you from your sins. The believer, I’m talking to you now. You know what it means to be tested from the outside and to be tempted from the inside the word of God. The blood of christ is the way you are born into the family of God. You must be born from above as it says in verse 17 and 18 you have to be born through the word but then you have to be transformed through the implanted word. That you could be transformed from inside and have a whole new mindset in your life. May God bless you as we keep on digging deeper with it’s all greek to me, tom and Vicky until next time.