In Romans 8, Paul gives a lengthy explanation on the difference between the person who is led by the Holy Spirit and the person who is led by the flesh.  Paul shares that the flesh is incapable of keeping God’s law, that the mind set on the flesh is death, and that the flesh is hostile to God.  The person who is apart from Christ only has the flesh, the sinful person driving them.  They are controlled by the flesh.  When a person becomes a follower of Jesus, he is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and becomes a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).  The Christian is no longer controlled by the flesh, but that does not mean that the old sinful nature ceases to exist.  As all of us know, there continues to be something deep within that pushes back on the life of the Spirit, waging war on our Christianity.  The flesh wants to sleep in when we feel compelled to arise early to read Scripture and pray, it desires to sin when our heart deeply longs to follow Jesus, it pushes our emotions to lack of control as the Spirit within desires strong character and self-control.

So how do we war against the flesh.  A few thoughts.

1. We need to recognize that we are no longer under the flesh’s bondage (Romans 6, Romans 8:1).

2. Submission to the Holy Spirit in our lives is the key (Galatians 5:15-25).  In this passage Paul says that the person who walks in the Spirit will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.  This is actually the key to this battle.  Over and over the Scripture teaches that the battle with the flesh is won as we submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit and His purpose in life.

3. As we live in the Spirit, we put to death the works of the flesh (Romans 8:12-16)

In our warfare, the enemies we face include the devil, the flesh, and the world.  This blog will look at the devil and give a list of Scriptures.

The existence of the devil is sometimes hard for Christians.  Images of a dude in red tights with a pitchfork and horns dance through our heads.  But his existence is a reality found throughout the Bible.  He is our foe, waging war against all people as part of his war with God.  For followers of Jesus, his goal is to leave them discouraged, ineffective, and defeated.  For those who are far from God, Satan’s tactics are designed to keep them from finding Christ and out of the family of God.

A few things about our foe.  First, he is in now way equal to God.  Satan’s knowledge, power, and presence are limited.  Furthermore, in the cross and resurrection Satan became a defeated foe.  On the other hand, the Bible gives the picture that Satan is not alone in his efforts.  A whole host of angelic beings rebelled against the sovereignty of God and in pride sinned against His glory.  The result is that a group of beings created by God to worship His glory fell and became Satan and demons.  In their pride, the continue to fight against God’s goodness and seek to destroy his people.

For us to discover a little about the how the devil opposes us, we can look at the names he is given in the Bible.  Here is a list.

· Abaddon (“destroyer”) (Rev.
9:11)
· The god of this world (2 Cor.
4:4)
· Accuser (Rev. 12:10)
· Great Dragon (Rev. 12:9)
· Adversary (1 Pet. 5:8)
· Lawless One (2 Thess. 2:18)
· Apollyon (“destroyer”) (Rev.
9:11)
· Liar (John 8:44)
· Beelzebul (Matt. 12:24)
· Morning Star (Isa. 14:12)
· Belial (2 Cor. 6:15)
· Murderer (John 8:44)
· Deceiver (Rev. 12:9)
· Prince of the power of the air
(Eph. 2:2)
· Devil (Luke 4:13)
· Ruler of this world (John
12:31)
· Enemy (Matt. 13:28, 39)
· Satan (Acts 26:18)
· Evil One (Matt. 13:28, 39)
· Serpent (Rev. 12:9)
· Father of lies (John 8:44)
· Tempter (1 Thess. 3:5)

Jude identifies himself as the brother of James, probably referring to the James who was the leader of the early church in Jerusalem and half-brother of Jesus (son of Joseph and Mary). This means that Jude was also a half brother of Jesus.  The New Testament teaches that Jesus’ brothers did not believe in Him until after the resurrection, but after that become significant leaders.  The writing of Jude took place somewhere between 35-45 years after the death of Jesus, and the church had spread all over the known world.  The first century church had the Old Testament in its hands, but the books that would become the New Testament was still being written and distributed.  Jude tells the early church to contend for “the faith”, referring to a set content that makes up the Christian faith.  This faith was given by Jesus to the Apostles, and then passed on to others.  The progression of teaching has continued all the way to us, so we can claim that our faith begins with Jesus.

There were two primary challenges to the teaching of the early church.  The first came from legalism, usually brought by Jews.  This group taught that it was important to trust in Jesus, but a person must also keep a very strict set of rules to be a Christian.  The other challenge came from system of beliefs in the Greek and Roman world that taught that matter was evil and spirit was good, and they were in a sort of battle.  This philosophy was known as Gnosticism.  These people usually denied that Jesus was God and man.  Since matter was bad anyway, it couldn’t be saved, so you might as well live life as a party.  The churches addressed by Jude in this letter were being infiltrated by Gnostics.

Application: The two core issues for the early church never really went away.  They are repackaged and rewrapped, but the two basic issues of legalism and licentiousness remain at the heart of many of the struggles in the church.  In many places, a Christian is defined by their behavior.  Do they wear the right clothes, talk the right way, keep the set of rules that are most important to the group, date the right people, avoid drinking and smoking, etc.  Anyone who does not fit the stereotype is judged and made an outcast.  Being a Christian is about keeping a set of rules, rather than believing the Gospel and trusting Jesus.  On the other hand, some come to church, hear about grace and God’s goodness and turn it into a license to do whatever they want.  No need to be changed by God, to trust wholly in Him, and to repent.  You are forgiven, and the more you mess up, the more God will forgive.  For these people, being a Christian gives them freedom to live any way they wish, and they want everyone to join them.

In the middle of this is the Gospel, the “faith, once for all delivered to the saints.”  The Gospel announces that no amount of goodness and rule keeping will earn heaven.  Only those who have repented and trusted Jesus will experience grace, and that grace is all that is needed.  The Gospel points to Jesus as the only answer to every issue and problem in life, and the Gospel announces that God’s grace will change the person who trusts Jesus.
This passionate letter written by Jude is a reminder that those who follow Jesus must contend for the faith, stand for it!  They must tell the legalist that no amount of rule keeping or performance will earn anything.

This month, Christianaudio.com has the book available for a free download for those who enjoy audio books.  Click on the link here, and then follow the directions.  It is one of two available books this month for free, and the other by Bonhoffer is worth it as well.

Two easy and free ways to read this great book and pass it on to others as our celebration of Easter draws near.

“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”  In Ephesians 6 Paul remind us that the Christian life is a battle, with real enemies that intend harm and destruction.  But when we enter the struggle, the starting place is a reminder that the victory is secure, already obtained by Jesus through his death and resurrection.  Our warfare is not that of trying to win a war, the war has been won.  Rather it is a rescue mission seeking to release captives while fighting to defend our own lives and those of our family from the dangers sent by the enemy.  While Satan is a creative foe, he is a defeated enemy, and we do not have to fear.  Christ has won, and we live in the blessings of His victory.

In a way, our battle is a bit like the Harlem Globetrotters.  No one goes to one of the Globetrotter games wondering who will win.  The Washington Generals (the long time opponent of the Globetrotters) are doomed before the opening tipoff.  Satan is the spiritual  equivalent of the Washington Generals, and while he may make a few baskets, the outcome is already known.  Christ has won, we are more than conquerors and receive the benefits of the victory in Christ.  Here are a few texts that demonstrate how the cross of Jesus and his resurrection secured victory in this battle for us.

• “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us tothe kingdom of his beloved Son” (Col. 1:13).
• “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Col. 2:13–15).
• “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
• “. . . in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:37–39).
• “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
• “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:14–15).
• “Death is swallowed up in victory.  Oh death, where is your victory?  Oh death, where is your sting?  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 15:54-57)

John writes this book to his friend to deal with a very specific problem, a man named Diotrephes.  Diotrephes was also a leader in the church attended by Gaius, but had used his position of power to gossip, and gain more power.   This power grab had shown itself is several ways.  First, Diotrephes had rejected the leadership and authority of the Apostle John.  As one of the twelve Apostles, Jesus gave John authority to lead the early church in His Name.  Diotrephes decided he did not agree with this leadership, and put himself in John’s place.  This became entirely evident when John sent a letter to the church, which was to be read to the congregation.  Apparently Diotrephes took the letter and would not allow it to be read to the church (v. 9).  Second, Diotrephes became a gossip, spreading false rumors about those who did not follow his ideas and leadership.  Diotrephes also refused to welcome anyone who came to the church with a desire to preach or teach, and kicked some out of the church for being hospitable to traveling followers of Jesus.
John writes the letter of 3 John to encourage Gaius to receive Demetrius and give him the opportunity to share with the church, even though he will receive opposition from Diotrephes.  Someday, John will come as well, but for the time being, Gaius can become a significant leader, used by God to help the church avoid gossip and live in hospitality.

Application: A story tells of a lady who heard a rumor about her pastor and began spreading it throughout the town.  She later learned that the rumor was false, but only after telling several people.  She came to the pastor, apologized, and asked his forgiveness.  He told her that she was forgiven, but he wanted her to do something.  He gave the woman a bag of feathers, and he told her to go to the center of town and release the feathers into the wind.  She thought it an odd request, but did what was asked of her and returned.  He then said, “Now, go gather all the feathers and put them back in the bag.”  She realized that this was in impossible task.  The feathers were everywhere and being carried by the wind all over town.  Her pastor then told her, the same with our words, when we gossip, once the words are released, there is no taking them back, and you never know where they wind will take them.

Diotrephes was a gossip.  He was the type of person who would spread rumors, say false things about others, and try to ruin others reputation and exalt his own.  As a leader in a church, his words had probably hurt several people, and many had either left, or were even run out of the church.  No doubt that Diotrephes gossip had spread throughout the church like a cancer, causing people to choose sides, and pass things on that were not true.

My dad used to tell me that I could think what I wanted, but I needed to be careful of what I said, because once it was out of my mouth, I owned it.  Gossip is a very dangerous thing, whether the slander is true or not.  We do not want to be like Diotrephes or those around him, spreading rumors, telling half truths, and talking about people behind their back.  But, it is hard.  When I hear a juicy story, or get information about someone else, I like being in the know, and having a bit of power over that person.  The call of Christ leads me to something different altogether.  Here are a few steps you might take when you hear the “latest news” or a bit of gossip.

(1)Find the source – before sharing the story, or even considering it as reliable, find out where the story originated.  If someone shares a good bit of gossip from you, rather than taking it at face value, find out where the person heard the story.  Go to that person and do the same thing.  See if you can find the source of the story.  It’s funny how stories get changed as they are passed on, and how someone who starts lies will quickly back off of them if they know that others will call them on it.

(2)Seek the truth – If you hear a story about another person, go to that person to find out if it is true.  It’s amazing how much gossip would be stopped if someone would take just a minute to e-mail or call the person to see if there is any truth in the story.  In fact, this step is a clear Biblical command, and when someone talks about someone without first talking to them, they are in sin.

(3)Work on relationships – At the very heart of it, gossip is one of Satan’s schemes to divide people and wreck the church.  If stories are true, love on the person, help them repent, and be a friend.  If they are not true, find those sharing the story and encourage them to apologize and repent.  Be the type of person who builds relationships and sees the needs of others as important.

John believe Gaius was a builder, the type of person who would reject gossip, and build bridges between people.  We need more of these people in God’s church.  Make it a point to be like Gaius, and not like Diotrephes.

As John got older, a new challenge to faith in Jesus was rising, the challenge of false teachers.  They were taking ideas and terms from Christianity and pouring their own religious thoughts and concepts into them.  These people talked about Jesus, God, and love, but their ideas had different meanings.  One group denied that Jesus was really a man.  They claimed that Jesus humanity was an illusion, that he never really lived as a human or died on the cross.  Another group claimed that Jesus was just an ordinary man, but that the “Christ” spirit descended on Jesus at his baptism, gave him the power to minister, but then left him just before the crucifixion.  Both groups denied the resurrection.  For the church, these false teachings presented an incredible danger, as they led people astray from the true faith in Jesus to follow a false teaching, and ultimately lead people to eternal separation from God.  Much of the writings of John, especially his letters, were written to refute the false teachings and lead people to trust in the real Jesus, God who became a man, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for your sin and mine, and then rose again three days later.

This letter was written to followers of Jesus warning them to be careful to listen only to teachers who believe in the real Jesus.  The letter is written to “the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth.”  There are two primary theories about the recipient.  One is that the letter is actually written to a Christian lady and her family.  The other is that the “lady” refers to a church and “her children” are the members.  Either way, the challenge is clear, do not listen to false teachers or be led astray.

Application: About every three or four months, I will spot them in our neighborhood.  Sometimes I will notice the two guys on bicycles, or I will see the white shirts and ties.  I know they will eventually hit our door, holding literature in their hands, desiring to tell me about “Jesus”, at least as they perceive Him.  But their Jesus is always a different Jesus.  Mormons believe Jesus is a man who is working his way to being a god.  Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is a created being and the brother of Lucifer.  Christian Scientists believe Jesus was an enlightened man who discovered the God-spark within him.  These, and many other cults use the same terms and ideas used by Christians to speak of their faith in God and Jesus, but they pour completely different meaning into the concepts, and end up with a different world view that the one presented in the Bible.  Most deny the Trinity, and will either refute the deity of Jesus or His humanity.

So what should you do when they come to your door?  The people addressed by this little letter were warned to be very discerning about who they welcome and listen.  Traveling teacher’s and philosophers were common in the first century, and they would arrive at a person’s home or church, wanting to stay there and teach.  In an attempt to be loving, and open minded, some would receive these teachers and give them a chance to teach their family or the church.  John warns that followers of Jesus must be very discerning, and careful about who they allow to teach and influence them.  In 2 John 1:10-11, John even tells them not to give him any greeting, “for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”  This does not mean that they cannot say “hello”, or have a conversation.  The greeting is one that affirms the teacher and his doctrine.  John is saying that they are to be very careful that a person has a strong faith in the real Jesus and is orthodox in his doctrine before giving the person a platform to teach.

I’ve had several conversations with the people coming to my front porch.  I’ve even invited them into my home for an iced tea and a time of conversation.  I have listened to their false teaching, and have shared the Gospel and the real Jesus with them.  I once had a conversation with two people from one cult and had them asking so many questions and doubting their own faith that the group black listed me.  After that encounter, this group’s missionaries would skip my house every time they came to my street.  But I am very careful that I know what I believe, and that I don’t allow them to influence me too much.  I take special care to make sure that the people I allow my children to learn from understand the truths of the Bible and point them to Jesus.  And I am diligent not to support any teaching on any level that will lead myself or other people away from trusting the real Jesus and believing the true Gospel.

A few quick thoughts on this issue, which is one of the most controversial in Christian theology, specifically views on what would be called the miraculous gifts.  These gifts include speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing among others.  First, we allow for a wide range of diversity of beliefs on this subject.  As a church, we generally believe that all of the gifts of the Spirit are available for the church today, but that the Scriptures are clear that God sovereignly chooses whom he will gift in what ways.  We do not believe that any gift is the true sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit, and that there are no gifts that all people have.  Let me clarify here.  Some would say that gifts such as tongues and prophecy ended when the Canon of Scripture was completed.  While there may be some who hold this view in our congregation, as a whole we at Genesis do not hold this position.  Others would say that every Christian should speak in tongues and that this gift is the sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit.  We reject this position and believe it is based on a faulty interpretation of a few passages in the New Testament.

The New Testament contains six passages that give lists of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Corinthians 7:7, and 1 Peter 4:11).  These lists are very different, even though five of them are written by the same author.  This would lead us to believe that these lists are not to be viewed as comprehensive, but selective.  In other words, the New Testament is giving us an overarching list of gifts and callings that the Holy Spirit places on people, but we definitely need to see the possibility that there are things that are not listed in these passages that can be considered special giftings by God.  In 1 Peter 4:11, Peter breaks the gifts into two catagories, speaking gifts which focus on a person’s ability to use their voice and serving gifts which focus on a person’s ability to use their hands.

Let me encourage you to take some time to read this document, especially if you have never thought through and considered your spiritual gifting.  We hope that this will lead each person to a greater understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work within them and his call for them.

Spiritual Gifts Descriptions