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Monday, April 20,
2009
A Learning Experience
Ephesians 4:17-19 This I say therefore,
and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles
walk, in the vanity of their mind, (18) Having the understanding darkened,
being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them,
because of the blindness of their heart: (19) Who being past feeling have
given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with
greediness. (KJV)
Remember our Lord said that many are
called but only few are chosen? There is a reason for that statement, and
as we will find out this week, that the many stay stuck or trapped in the
realm of the flesh because they don’t access the truth that will set them
free. Many are blinded by their carnal vision, looking more to the outward
realm to find truth rather than looking inwardly to find the freedom and
liberty that is available in Christ.
2 Timothy 3:1-7 This know also, that in
the last days perilous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of
their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers,
false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (4) Traitors,
heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (5) Having
a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (6)
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly
women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, (7) Ever learning, and
never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (KJV)
You know, the truth is, that these people
whom Paul is describing and warning about in the above verses are in many
cases those that claim to be of God, or followers of Him. Remember, it was
the religious people back in our Lord’s time that crucified Him, and it is
still many who come in the name of Christianity that are still crucifying
the doctrine of Christ and putting Him to an open shame again. Many of
these people are ever learning yet never come to the knowledge of truth, which
not only keeps them in the dark and blinded, but also all those that give
ear to their false doctrines.
Ephesians 4:20-23 But ye have not so
learned Christ; (21) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught
by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (22) That ye put off concerning the
former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the
deceitful lusts; (23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (KJV)
Williams New Testament translation
of Ephesians 4:20-23
20. But this is not the way you have
learned what Christ means, 21. if, as I take it, you have heard Him and in
union with Him have been taught the truth as it is seen in Jesus, 22. to
lay aside, with your former way of living, your old self which is on the
way to destruction in accordance with its deceptive impulses; 23. and to
have a new attitude of mind.
If you notice, the truth that enlightens
the eyes of our understanding is in Jesus; in other words, learning who
that greater person is that is within this man, is the same person that
would like to teach you and guide you into all truth as well. While many
look at just the outward man, some even claiming that Jesus himself was
God, there are those few that are chosen by God who are able to see beyond
the veil of the flesh, that which covers the heart is done away by our
learning who Christ is.
2 Corinthians 3:14-18 But their minds
were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in
the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. (15) But
even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. (16) Nevertheless
when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. (17) Now the
Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
(18) But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the
Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the
Spirit of the Lord. (KJV)
Again we see the source of the blindness,
and that source is spiritual in nature. This spiritual veil which causes a
spiritual blindness is done away by our knowledge of who Christ is, and how
we to can walk in the Spirit no longer held in bondage by the flesh and its
limited carnal thinking. Is there liberty in your walk so that you can know
and not have to guess that you are truly one of the Lord’s people, one that
is not only called, but also chosen to deliver His message?
Romans 1:21-23 Because that, when they
knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became
vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools, (23) And changed the glory of the
uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds,
and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (KJV)
You know, many people begin their walk in
the Spirit but somewhere along the line they revert back to the flesh
thinking that it will bring perfection. Many of these people that are ever
learning, professing themselves to be wise, are in reality blind fools.
Many of these people worship a man named Jesus, calling Him God, but never
come to a knowledge of who Christ is, the Spirit that was leading and
guiding this man to eternal victory. How do you know the Lord; do you still
know Him according to the flesh, or are you able to see beyond this realm
into the Spirit, that being Christ in you our only hope of glory?
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he
should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said,
and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (KJV)
You know, many people try to make God in
man’s image by trying to make God fit into our realm instead of learning
how to enter and walk in His, they still put the emphasis on man and not
the Spirit. Many teach and preach about a man named Jesus but leave Christ
out of the equation, which is why the enemy is referred as the spirit of
antichrist, and not antijesus. Jesus of Nazareth referred to Himself as the
son of man; and yet with that in mind, why do so many try to claim that He
was God when the Bible tells us God is not the son of man? Thus the term, ever
learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth; or the blind
leading the blind into a ditch would be fitting also. A learning experience
wouldn’t you say?
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