Your Word I have hidden
in my heart that I
might not sin
against you.
So my brothers we must not be ruled by our sinful selves. We must not live the way our sinful selves want. If you use your lives to do the wrong things your sinful selves want, then you will die spiritually. But if you use the Spirit's help to stop doing wrong things you do with your body, then you will have true life.
The true children of God are those who let God's Spirit lead them.
The Spirit that we received is not a spirit that makes us slaves again to
fear.
The Spirit that we have makes us children of God. And with that Spirit we
say,
"Father dear Father",
and the Spirit Himself joins with our spirits
to say that we are God's children.
We know that the law is spiritual.
But I am not spiritual.
Sin rules me as if I were its slave.
I do not understand the things I do.
And I do the bad things I hate to do.
And if I do not want to do the bad things I do
that means I agree that the law is good.
My son, remember what I say.
Treasure my commands.
Obey my commands, and you will live.
Protect my teachings as you would your own eyes.
Remind yourself of them,
write them down in your mind as if on a tablet.
Be good to wisdom as if she were your sister.
Make understanding your closest friend.
Control yourselves and be careful!
The devil is your enemy.
And he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat.
Refuse to give in to the devil.
Stand strong in your faith.
You know that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are
having the same sufferings you have.
Our fight is not against the people on earth.
We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this
world's darkness.
We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly
world.
But if any of you needs wisdom you should ask God for it,
God is generous,
He enjoys all people,
so God will give you wisdom.
This command I give you today is not too hard for you. It is not beyond what you can do. It is not up in heaven. You do not have to ask, "Who will go up to heaven to get it for us?" Then we can obey it and keep it.
It is not on the other side of the sea. You do not have to ask, "Who will go across the sea and get it?" "Who will tell it to us? Then we can keep it.
No, the Word is very near you.
It is in your mouth and in your heart.
So you may obey it.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction and for instruction in righteousness
that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equiped for evey good work.
For you were bought at a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and
in your spirit which are God's.
But I disipline my body and bring it into subjection
lest when I preach to others,
I myself should become disqualified.
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to
try you as though some strange thing happened to you but rejoice to the
extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is
revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds SET on
what that nature desires, but those who live in accordance with the
Spirit desires have their minds SET on what the Spirit desires.
So be HUMBLE under God's powerful hand, then He will lift you up when the right time comes.
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an
understanding, that we may know Him who is TRUE, and we are in Him who is
TRUE, in His Son Jesus Christ.
This is the TRUE God and eternal life.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
If anyone loves me, then he will obey my teaching. My Father will love
him and we will come to him and make our home with him.
In the Kingdom Of God,
eating and drinking are not important.
The important things are
living right with God,
PEACE and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Anyone who serves Christ by living this way is pleasing to God and will
accepted by other people.
So let us try to do what makes PEACE and helps one another.
Do not let the eating of food destroy the work of God.
Whatever things are true, noble, just,
pure, lovely, of good report,
if there is any virtue, or anything praiseworthy,
think about these things.
"For though we walk in the flesh,
we do not war according to the flesh.
(we fight with weapons that are different from those the world uses)
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for
pulling down strongholds,
(Our weapons have power from God. These weapons can destroy the enemy's
strong places)
casting down arguments
(we destroy men's arguments)
and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
(and we destroy every proud thing that raises itself against the
knowledge of God)
bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."
(we capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ).
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and
without hypocrisy.
God has chosen you and made you His holy people. He loves you. So always do these things. Show mercy to others, be kind, humble, gentle and patient. Do not be angry with each other, but forgive each other.
If someone does wrong to you, then forgive him. Forgive each other because the Lord forgave you. Do all these things but most important, love each other. Love is what holds you together in perfect unity.
Let the peace that Christ gives, control your thinking.
You were called together in one body to have peace.
Always be thankful. Let the teaching of Christ live in you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and strengthen each other.
Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with
thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Everything you say and everything you do should
be done for Jesus your Lord.
And in all you do, give thanks to the Father
through Jesus.
Blessed is the man who endures temptation,
for when he has been proved,
he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has
promised
to those who love Him.