Now, here is a question that is harder: Would you die for this friend? We all know that there have been many wars over religious beliefs, and I have suggested earier that there is a war going on right now for your soul. But I'm not talking about the death of your body. I'm talking about the death of your sinful nature.

Sin is death. We lost our fellowship with God because of the choice to sin, to turn away from God and go our own way. All around me are the walking dead. Not like in some B movie, zombies shuffling around in search of humans to eat, I mean people that have lost contact with God and they do not know the joy that comes in being in Him. People that do not have Jesus in their heart are lost. "I once was lost, but now am found"-to quote a song. I know that my sins are not held against me.

• HEBREWS 10:17 "Then he adds: 'Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.'" (see Jeremiah 31:34)

• ROMANS 5:12-14 "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned- for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was the pattern of those to come."

We have a freedom when we accept Jesus as our living God, we are saved by the law which condemned us to death because of our sin. God comdemned sin in sinful man, He judged and sentanced sin and it was put away, banished. This made us clean before God. This fulfilled the Law's requirements but saved us from eternal damnation. This is how it reads:

• ROMANS 8:3-4 "For what the Law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the Law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit."

We are also told that there are some that are to watched out for: Those that would cause others to sin. Jesus may have been talking about people that we know, or He could have been talking about Satan. My study bible suggests that He was talking about religious leaders who teach their flock their own hypocritical ways. It comes down to us being watchful and reading the Word for our answers. When we turn to God, we will not be led in the wrong direction.

• LUKE 17:1-3 "Jesus said to His disciples: 'Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves.'"

We know that we have eternal life by the price paid by Jesus for the sins we have committed when we choose to follow Him. As He was able to defeat death, so shall we, as long as we are in Him. He cleared the slate of those that would accept Him as Savior, those that chose to follow Him and His Commands. But what are His commands? Let's have a look.

• MATTHEW 22:36-40 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

• MARK 12:28-31 "One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, 'Of all the commandments, which is the most important?' 'The most important one,' answered Jesus, 'is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 'The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 'There is no commandment greater than these."

Jesus used the very Word He knew so well to tell the people what was the most important of the commandments. And about Jesus knowing the Word? Why wouldn't He? He is the Word of God. Jesus gave a "new command" but was it new? Compare it to what He said in Mark and Matthew.

• JOHN 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

  Again:
  

• JOHN 15:17 "This is my command: Love each other."

Knowing that God is Love, you can see why it is so important to love each other. But to love the way that Christ loved, that is an impressive command. But that is the kind of love that not only saves lives but unites peoples around the world. We can show this kind of love. We were made in the image of God. I know that I fall short but I work towards this goal. I pray for those that cause me trouble instead of cursing them. That is a step towards this goal. I hope to see in time that I will reflect more and more of the love that God shows towards me and all who would accept Him.

One thing that stands out is the warning that Jesus gave His disiples about how they would be persecuted because of Him.

• JOHN 15:18-25 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One that sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'"

• LUKE 21:12-19 "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deviler you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and govenors, and all on account of My name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adersaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of Me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life."

I don't see too much of this in my life right now, other than the snide comments about being some kind of "religious nut". Usually I am respected because of my beliefs and convictions. This may in time change for me, I don't know. And also remember what it meant to be a follower of Christ Jesus back in those days, it easily could have meant torture and death. But there are ways that I just don't seem to fit in with those around me, because of the way that I conduct myself. At times I really do want to fit in and be a part of the world around me. That is why it is so important to be involved with the church. Here are people who are like-minded and it is good to talk about the Word and learn from each other. It's the same principal of attending meetings with others in the programs, to be with others who are walking the same path. Fellowship. This is what Jesus said about persecution because of faith in Him:

• LUKE 12:4-12 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the bidy, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before before men will be disowned before the angels of God. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."

We can trust the Holy Spirit to help us when we come under atack, we will be taught what we are to say.

I know that I continue to sin, even though I am a new creature and follow Jesus. I turn over the things that I do to God and ask Him to forgive me for what I have done and also ask Him to give me the strength to turn away from the thing that I am doing. There are many temptations here is the world and I find myself wanting things that are not good for me nor do I think they would please God. The bible tells me that I am not actually fighting against flesh and blood, but something much darker.

• EPHESIANS 6:10-12 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

We are fighting an enemy, when we talk about "the world" or "the flesh" we are talking about what we are up against. But what is behind these simple things that make them hazardous to us? With flesh, is it just the pleasures of the world that lead us into sinning? Why would Adam and Eve have wanted to eat of the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil? And why not the other tree, the one that they were allowed to eat from? The Tree of Life.

• GENESIS 3:4-5 "'You will not surelly die,' the serpent said to the woman. 'For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'"
• GENESIS 3:6 "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it."

• GENESIS 3:21-24 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. And the Lord God said, 'The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take from the Tree of Life and eat, and live forever.' So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After He drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to gaurd the way to the Tree of Life."

One thing to make note of is that though the fruit was tempting in itself, it was the serpent that talked them into eating the fruit. I know that it is wrong to take something that belongs to another man, but there is sometimes a little "voice" that says things like, "no one will see you do it" or "he has too much already, take this". These "voices" don't seem to come like they did before, when I was...unprotected. The Spirit that lives within me speaks to me.

• JOHN 14:25-27 "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be affraid."

The Spirit also helps us in our connection with God.

• ROMANS 8:26-27 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."

• ROMANS 8:9-17 "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give live to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory."

I know that I have found that as I live in the Spirit, I am less and less interested in things that would before tempt me into sinning. I am focussing more on studying the Word and involvement with my church that the other things that I was fighting so hard, the way that Paul was fighting in Romans 7, seem to lose their importance and fall away from my life. As I said before, I cannot fight these things, I am weak, but by turning them over to God and allowing Him to take over and fill these places within me with His Spirit, these things that I could not win against are falling away from my life. Sin loses it's ground, and the Spirit of God gains space inside me. I die and am reborn because of the Spirit within me.

But we do have to accept Jesus and be willing for the Spirit to enter us for this guidance. It something that I prayed for and I feel has happened based on the way that I am led. I know that there were some amazing experiences when the Holy Spirit came into the disciples but that did not happen with me. I do feel that my change has been powerful and I know that the Spirit is with me today, I can see the way that I am focussed on the Word and learning about the way Christ wants me to live. The Spirit is a deposit:

• 2CORINTHIANS 5:4-5 "For a while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."

The guarantee is that we will receive everlasting heavenly bodies at the time of the resurection. The Spirit that is in us is our part of eternity, something we have now that we have taken Christ as our Savior. We don't have to fear death. We know that when death comes it only brings us to Him. It is the Spirit within me that makes me a new creation.

Below is the Third Step Prayer. I found it in the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. It was my first prayer for God to enter into my life and help me to overcome the problems I was facing. It opened the door to a contact with a Higher Power of my understanding. It is an honest prayer for those wanting to become free of the flesh and it's entanglements.

"God, I offer myself to Thee-to build with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!"

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