Wednesday September 16, 2020

Wednesday
September 16, 2020

Reading Plan

​Mark 11-12
Psalm 100

 
1. Write John 17:17 three times.
 
2. Read Psalm 141.
 
 
3. Outline Psalm 141.
 
4. Read Psalm 141:3
    Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
    Keep watch over the door of my lips.
 
David is asking God to set a guard over his mouth and to keep watch over his lips. 
What did David know about his mouth?
 
5. Does your mouth get you into trouble? When? Why? Have you prayed about it?
 
6. What is David asking for in verse 4?
 
 
7. I want to go back to the Sunday school lesson and our position in Christ. Some of you talk a great game about your position in Christ, but when we examine your words, you are all about the Law. You speak more of the position of the law in your life and the life of others. You judge others much more than you judge yourselves, and you shake the law at them like the good Pharisee that you are becoming. Here is a novel and great idea STOP IT! You have been set free from the condemnation of the law through the grace of God. Your faith has made you a child of the kingdom. Why do you bask in the glory of your salvation and freedom, while condemning others using the law-making claims that this sin or that sin has no redemption? Hypocrite, why don’t you pick your own sin and claim there is no salvation for that sin. Or do you dare boast that there is no sin in you, that you are sinless. Liar, as you attempt to make the Word of God a liar as well. There is but one sin that exists with that sentence and that is blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. Galatians speaks clearly to those that so quickly want to return to the law. Let us read Galatians 3.
3 Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
 
My question will come soon, but let me add one more thing about our position in Christ. We are to love our position in Christ. It is a gift from God by grace nothing we earned and it completely changed who we are. It has made us righteousness in the sight of God. Remember from the video for Sunday School last week some of you are going to stand before God and try and tell Him how good you were and how well you obeyed the law. However, if you are standing on how well you obeyed the law, you will be standing accursed. We are to love who Christ has made us, yes we are to love ourselves in regards to who we are in Christ and the position we hold. Why do I have, and will forever have access to my Father in heaven? Very simply, because I am in Christ. 
 
Your question:
 
Do you think your Father in heaven still thinks of you as a filthy rag? 
 
Perhaps that is why many have the need to call others filthy rags and condemn them, because they cannot see themselves as Christ sees them, nor can they see those around them the way Christ sees them. My lens can never be that I am a filthy rag anymore. I have been bought with a very big price. I am a warrior in the Kingdom of God, He has placed inside me, His Spirit. Am I perfect? Not yet! But have I been perfectly purchased and perfectly positioned in Christ. That changes everything. Do I love me, I hope so because I have to love my neighbor as myself. I love that David S. Wilson is written in the Book of Life. I was a filthy rag, but by the grace of God and His tender mercies, He saved me. I have been saved by grace through faith. And now He gazes upon me and says I have made you new. What do you mean new? I am no longer a filthy rag. No, you are my Son. I died that you might live. I desire that you live abundantly. A filthy rag has been replaced with a beautiful Robe. Tell people of My love, and show them my mercy, and forgive as I have forgiven you. Speak truth in love and walk always in the Spirit. 
 
You see Jesus turned the world upside down because He purchased us with His blood. He did not purchase us, only to look at us and say, you filthy rags. 
 
What are the dangers of trying to preach salvation shouting primarily works, and condemning primarily by works?
Truthfully, how do you view yourself? Is it more about how you live or more about your position.