1-08-09

Wise in your Own Eyes

David Neal, the Lord’s servant

Jesus was brought before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. The Lord said: “To this
end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto
the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice (Jn 18:37).” Pilate responded?
“What is truth (Jn 18:38)?”

God says: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right (Is 45:19). God
establishes truth with His Word. Thy Word is truth (Jn 17:17).

Who is God? The Lord God Almighty rules from heaven. God is Sovereign (supreme in
power and dominion) and the Creator of all things (Deut 10:14, Is 42:5, 44:24, 45:12, 18, Jer 32:17, Rev
10:6, 14:7)! This means that God is the highest authority ( 1 Chr 29:11)! Almighty means
possessing all power – being of unlimited might and boundless sufficiency. Deuteronomy 32:4,
“He is the Rock (meaning He is immoveable), his work is perfect: for all his ways are
judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he ( Ps 31:3, 62:2, 4-5, 71:3, 89:26,
92:15, 94:22, Rev 15:3).” The Lord is GREAT and the host of heaven worshippeth thee (Neh 9:6).

The Lord God declares things that are right (Is 45:19).”
God declares truth! He is the
Lawgiver (Exodus chap 20)! – and thus our Judge. Isaiah 33:22, “For the LORD is our judge, the
LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.” For it is understood in
God’s Word: “Thy will be done in heaven and on the earth (Mt 6:10, Lk 11:2).” Consider in
thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there
is none else (Deut 4:39). - For there is one God; and there is none other but he (Mk 12:32). Psalms
36:9, “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light ( Pv 14:27, Rev 2:22).”
Psalms 33:5, “He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the
LORD.”

God’s Word established and upholds all creation. By the Word of God the heavens were
of old, and the earth (2 Pt 3:5, Gen chap 1). Hebrews 1:10, “And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast
laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands.” Psalms 33:6,
“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath
of his mouth.” The world was framed by the word of God (Heb 11:3). Jeremiah 10:12, “He hath
made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath
stretched out the heavens by his discretion.” Hebrews 1:10, “And, Thou, Lord, in the
beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine
hands.” Psalm 147:15, “He sendeth forth His commandment upon the earth: His Word
runneth very swiftly.”

All life resulted from the Word of God! For He commanded and they were created (Ps
148:5).
In Him we live, and move, and have our being (Acts 17:28). He giveth to all life and
breath and all things (Acts17:25, also Gen 2:7).

God created both man and beast. “God created man in his own image, in the
Genesis 1:27,
image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 2:7, “And the
LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life; and man became a living soul.” God formeth the spirit of man within him

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(Zech 12:1). God is life! And life ONLY comes from God. - For he is thy life, and the length
of thy days (Deut 30:20). Proverbs 9:11, “For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of
thy life shall be increased.” Let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days,
and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee (Pv 3:1-2). Colossians 1:16, “For by him were all
things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they
be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and
for him.”

As the Creator of all things, God declares what is true – which is His Word,
commandments, statutes and testimonies. So, what God declares to be right is His Word,
which is the truth that all of His creation must live by (Jn 17:17) – thy Word is truth (Jn 17:17,
Ps 119:160). Psalms 33:4, “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in
truth.” Psalms 111:7-8, “The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his
commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and
uprightness.” Walking in what God declares to be right is known as righteousness! - for
all thy commandments are righteousness (Ps 110:172). Righteousness is to keep God’s
commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight (1 Jn 3:22). Proverbs 12:28, “In
the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.”
Righteousness delivereth from death (Pv 11:4).

God is light, and in him is no darkness at all (1 Jn 1:5). The Lord does not oppose Himself,
which is His Word, in anyway. He is the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning (Js 1:17). The LORD is upright: and there is no unrighteousness
in him (Ps 92:15). Psalms 146:6, “Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is:
which keepeth truth for ever.” To walk in God’s Word, which is God, is to walk in the
light of life (Jn 8:12). Psalms 36:9, “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see
light.”

Walking in darkness is to walk opposed to God’s Word and this is unrighteousness. All
such sin is unrighteousness (1 Jn 5:17). Turning away from God, who is His Word, is
rebellion. The wages of sin is death (Rm 6:23). To remove yourself from the Word and truth
of God is to remove yourself from your ONLY source of life. There is no life apart from
God – He gives it. The Lord says: Proverbs 8:35-36, “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and
shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul:
all they that hate me love death.” God is good and that which opposes God is evil ( Mt 19:17,
Mk 10:18, Lk 18:19).

Judgement is to discern between good and evil and to choose the good ( Heb 5:14). – To
discern between truth and falsehood - or lies. As the highest authority, God judges His
creation to determine if they walk in His Word or truth (Ps 50:6) – what He has declared to
be right OR if they walk opposed to His commandments (Ps 21:8). God discerns between
the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not
(Mal 3:18). The LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed (1 Sam 2:3).
Jeremiah 17:10, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man
according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings (also Jer 32:19, Ez 7:8, 24:14, Rev
22:12).” Job 34:11, “For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to
find according to his ways.” Psalms 7:9, “Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an

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end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.” Judgment
shall return unto righteousness; and the upright in heart shall follow it (Ps 94:15, Is 42:3).

God’s Word, which is His wisdom was there from the beginning of creation (Rev 1: 8, 11,
21:6, 13). John 1:1-4,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him;
and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was
the light of men (also Rev 3:14).” The Word of God is God which is truth – thy Word is truth
(Jn 17:17). There is one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him (1 Cor 1:8).

Who is Jesus? “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we
John 1:14,
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
Philippians 2:7, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men.” God, who is a Spirit, took on flesh and came to the
earth to lead and teach man - as a man (Jn 1:10-11, 4:24). Isaiah 54:14, “In righteousness shalt thou
be established…” Jesus gives man light in the way wherein he should go (Neh 9:12, 19).
Walking in God’s Word is what makes one wise and this is the ONLY way to “know”
God. Psalms 111:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good
understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” Job
28:28, “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart
from evil is understanding.” The fear of the Lord is the same thing as faith and is your
free-will love, submission, obedience, trust, honor, reverence and devotion to God –
heart, soul, mind and strength. This is to walk in or live by what is pleasing in God’s eyes
– what the Lord has declared to be right (Is 45:19). This is to recognize and be thankful to
God in all things. Ephesians 5:20, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Those who truly love God depart from those things that oppose God – they eschew evil –
they no longer walk in darkness. A perfect and upright man feareth God and escheweth
evil (Job 1:8, 2:3). Jesus said: Luke 6:40, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one
that is perfect shall be AS his master.” The fear of the Lord gains one wisdom,
knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6, “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth
cometh knowledge and understanding.” Obedience to God gains instruction which is the
indwelling of God’s Spirit (Jn 14:15-16, Acts 5:32). - To perceive the words of understanding (Pv
1:2, also Pv 15:33, 19:20, 27, 23:12, 23). Proverbs 23:23, “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and
instruction, and understanding.” Truth is what God the Creator has declared to be right.

Those who do not love God walk in darkness or that which opposes God – in
unrighteousness or evil. Rather than live by what is right in God’s eyes, these do what is
right in their own eyes. Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Those who reject God’s Word are “wise in
their own eyes (Pv 3:7, 12:15, 16:2, Is 5:21).”

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus
John 17:3,
Christ, whom thou hast sent.” 1 John 5:20, “And we know that the Son of God is come, and
hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that
is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” To “know” the

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true God and His Word is to bring your life’s actions in agreement with that Word or
light. Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” God further states: Jeremiah
9:24, “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I
am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth:
for in these things I delight, saith the LORD (also Ps 33:4-5, 97:2).”

Jesus is the brightness of God’s glory, and the express image of his person, and
upholding all things by the word of his power (Heb 1:3). Christ said: “he that hath seen me
hath seen the Father (Jn 14:9).” John 10:30, “I and my Father are one.” The Father is in me, and
I in him (Jn 10:38).

How can the Father be in Jesus? AND how was the Word made flesh? For it was
prophesied: “a body hast thou prepared me (Heb 10:5).” In the fulness of time, the Lord send
an angel to a woman named Mary, who was highly favoured by God and thus blessed
among women (Lk 1:26-28). The angel told her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and
the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall
be born of thee shall be called the Son of God (Lk 1:35). Luke 1:31-32, “And, behold, thou shalt
conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” - for he
shall save his people from their sins (Mt 1:21). Mary said: “Behold the handmaid of the
Lord; be it unto me according to thy word (Lk 1:38).” Mary denied self in meekness and
obeyed God. She was found with child of the Holy Ghost (Mt 1:18). Matthew 1:23, “Behold, a
virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

So now we understand, Jesus is a Spirit (the Word of God, Jn 4:24) and the Holy Ghost
residing in a body or vessel of flesh. Jesus was filled and led of the Holy Ghost (Mt 4:1, Lk
2:40, 4:1, 18-19, Is 42:1, 61:1) – the Word with Power (Lk 4:32). The Holy Ghost is the power of
God (Lk 1:35, 4:14, 24:49, Acts 1:8). John 3:34, “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of
God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.” Jesus healed, delivered and
performed mighty miracles by the power of the Holy Ghost. This is how the Father was
in Christ – By His Spirit. James 1:18, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth,
that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” Therefore, 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God,
who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the
light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

A body is created of the dust of the earth, but God breathes life into the body ( Gen 2:7, Ez
37:5-6, Acts 17:25). Job 12:10,
“In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of
all mankind.” The body or flesh is just a container for a spirit to occupy. A body can
simultaneously contain two or more spirits. Colossians 1:19, “For it pleased the Father that in
him should all fulness dwell.” Colossians 2:9, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the
Godhead bodily.” 1 John 5:7, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the
Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” Jesus is strong in spirit, filled with
wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him (Lk 2:40). Isaiah 11:2, “And the spirit of the
LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel
and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” Christ the power of
God, and the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24).

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Jesus is God, yet man – the reconciler of the two. Hebrews 2:17, “Wherefore in all things it
behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful
high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”
A high priest teaches and leads the people in God’s truth and makes sacrifice for the sins
of the people. We shall understand that Christ did all these things perfectly and once and
for all. God hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ (1 Cor 5:18). Ephesians 2:14, “For he is
our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition
between us.”

Christ was equally referred to as the Son of God and the Son of man. It was stated that
Jesus shall save his people from their sins (Mt 1:21). He does this by bringing God’s truth to
man and by walking it in perfect example. Psalms 85:13, “Righteousness shall go before him;
and shall set us in the way of his steps.” Jesus always says, “come follow Me.” Luke 9:23,
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross daily, and follow me.” Acts 3:26, “Unto you first God, having raised up his Son
Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” Christ
came to turn man back to God.

God sent His Word to accomplish His will in man. Isaiah 55:11, “So shall my word be that
goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that
which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” For God is working
salvation in the midst of the earth (Ps 74:12). Psalm 147:15, “He sendeth forth His
commandment upon the earth: His Word runneth very swiftly.”

Jesus came to turn man back to God because man was thoroughly corrupted and walks in
darkness. If man was created in God’s image, how did this come about? God created man
and placed him in the Garden of Eden where were the tree of life and the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:8-9). Genesis 2:16-17, “And the LORD God commanded the
man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof
thou shalt surely die.”

God declared the tree of life to be good and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to
be bad or forbidden. In other words God told man: “this do and live; that do and die.”
God is the Creator and Giver of life to man. The Lord warned man of the forbidden tree
that they be not partakers of disobedience, sin and corruption and thus death (Rev 18:4, Eph
5:2-7, 2 Pt 1:4). To transgress or violate God’s Word would make one an enemy of God and
thus procure the opposite of life which is death. To set yourself against God (who is His
Word, Jn 1:1-4) is to remove yourself from the life of God.

God was essentially telling man: “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and
death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his
ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou
mayest live and multiply (Deut 30:15).” Deuteronomy 30:19, “I call heaven and earth to record this
day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore
choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set
before you the way of life, and the way of death (Jer 21:8).

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And there you have it – In this life there are only two ways or paths. One path loves and
obeys God. Those on this path take their eyes off of self and place them fully upon God –
in all things. The other path disregards God and His Word. Those on this path take their
eyes off of God and place them on self. These are “wise in the own eyes (Pv 3:7, 12:15, 16:2, Is
5:21).”

Self-centerness is a broad and well traveled way in this fallen world. God-centeredness is
narrow and found or realized by few. Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide
is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go
in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and
few there be that find it.”

So how did man choose? The answer is that man was led of his flesh, but had some help
in the form of temptation and deceit… Something wicked this way comes. Darkness
entered into the garden of Eden to test and try man with regards to God’s commandment.
The darkness or that which opposes God does not cease to pervert the right ways of the
Lord and is the enemy of all righteousness (Acts 13:10).

What was this darkness? In the beginning, that is: the creation of man, another important
event occurred. The great dragon, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which
deceiveth the whole world, once known as Lucifer, “rebelled” or “turned away” from the
Word, truth and commandments of God (Rev 12:9, 20:2). The devil is a created being that
rebelled against his Creator in order to seek his own will. Jesus said of Him: “He was a
murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” The
devil does not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord, meaning he leads away from
the truth (Acts 13:10). Satan is the enemy of all righteousness (Acts 13:10). He rejoiceth to do
evil and delights in wickedness (Pv 2:14).

Rebellion is to turn away from the truth of God and embrace a lie. No lie is of the truth ( 1
Jn 2:21).
Lies are opposite and opposed to the truth. Repentance is the opposite of rebellion,
which is to turn away from lies or darkness (that which opposes God) and embrace the
truth and walk therein. The devil is a murderer because he leads God’s creation away
from the truth into his lie and thus brings death upon them. The creation does not have
life within itself – life ONLY comes from God (Jn 5:26). The devil seeks to establish his lie
as truth.

Let us understand the devil’s lie. God said of Lucifer: “Thou sealest up the sum, full of
wisdom, and perfect in beauty (Ez 28:12).” Ezekiel 28:15, “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from
the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” God defines “being
perfect” as walking with God; obeying His Word; - living in the Lord’s divine nature.
God says: “be ye holy for I AM holy (Lv 11:45, 19:2, 20:7, 1 Pt 1:15-16). Numbers 15:40, “That ye may
remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.” The
commandment of the LORD is pure (Ps 19:8). Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as
your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even
as he is righteous (Jn 3:7). Being righteous is to find agreement with God and to walk with
Him (Amos 3:3).

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God says of His people: “I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of
the LORD thy God (Deut 13:18).” Psalms 86:11, “Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy
truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.”

So, Lucifer was full of wisdom, which is the fear of the Lord, which is doing God’s
commandments AND was perfect in his ways meaning that he walked with God being
holy (Ps 103:20-21). However, something changed! – “iniquity was found in thee (Ez 28:15).”
Iniquity is walking opposed to what God has declared to be right – this is sin! All sin is
unrighteousness (1 Jn 5:17). Iniquity is walking in falsehood. The face of the LORD is
against them that do evil (Ps 34:16). Oh, that we might turn from our iniquities, and
understand thy truth (Dan 9:3). Turning from iniquities and lies and embracing God’s truth
is repentance unto life (Acts 11:18).

Why did Lucifer do this? Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast
corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground (Ez 28:17).
Lucifer took his eyes off of God and placed them fully upon himself. “Thou hast set thine
heart as the heart of God and thine heart is lifted up because of the beauty of thy wisdom
and brightness (Ez 28:5-7).” To be “lifted up” is to walk in pride. Lucifer left the paths of
uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness (Pv 2:13). God’s works are truth and His ways
judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase (Dan 4:37).

Pride is self seeking or self exaltation and this denies God His rightful authority. To deal
proudly is to not hearkened to God’s commandments (Neh 9:16, 29). Every one that is proud
in heart is an abomination unto God (Pv 16:5, Is 2:11-14, 17, 5:15-16). Psalms 40:4, “Blessed is that
man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside
to lies.” God says: “him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer ( Ps
101:5).” To be proud or “lifted up” is to be “wise in your own eyes (Pv 3:7, 12:15, 16:2, Is 5:21).”

So, Lucifer didst trust in thine own beauty (Ez 16:15, 28:12). No tree in the garden of God was
like unto him in his beauty (Ez 31:8). Thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty (Ez 27:3, 11). Thus
saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit
in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou
set thine heart as the heart of God (Ez 28:2). Ezekiel 26:21, “I will make thee a terror, and thou
shalt be no more: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again, saith the
Lord GOD.” Isaiah 14:12-15, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the
morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou
hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of
God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will
ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be
brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes ( Ps
36:2). He abhorreth not evil (Ps 36:4).

Consider that in our culture a small piece of furniture with a mirror used for admiring and
beautifying self is known as a “vanity.” Vanity is to set your eyes upon things that do not
profit. This is to set your eyes upon self – your beauty, your brightness, your wisdom,
your imaginations – what is right and wrong in your eyes. For the wisdom of this world is
foolishness with God (1 Cor 3:19). The world by wisdom knew not God (1 Cor 1:21). Recall:

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John 17:3, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus
Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Jeremiah 9:24, “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he
understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness,
judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD
(also Ps 33:4-5, 97:2).” Jesus said: “He that sent Me is true (Jn 7:28).

Vanity is the bread of fools and is unto death. Jesus said: “Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Mt 4:4, Lk 4:4).” So,
which bread shall you partake of? The bread of deceit which is set upon self ( Pv 20:17)? OR
the bread of life which is the Word of God, which was personified as Jesus Christ (Jn 6:35,
51). Jesus said: John 6:48, “I am that bread of life.” John 6:58, “This is that bread which came
down from heaven: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.” Jesus is the
unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Cor 5:8). Those who come to God must be
partakers of that one bread (1 Cor 10:17). The devil offers the leavened bread of malice and
wickedness (Pv 4:17, 1 Cor 5:8).

Rather than walk in God’s truth, the devil desired to determine what is right and what is
wrong in his own eyes and to walk in his own way – in his own authority (Is 5:21). The
devil rebelled against the Lord God (Ps 107:10-11)! He hated knowledge and did not choose
the fear of the Lord (Pv 1:29). This is the great lie that opposes God’s Word or truth. Satan
changed the truth of God into a lie, that the creature is to be worshipped and served more
than the Creator. One must first disregard God’s Word in order to walk in their own word
– to be as a god. To be “wise in your own eyes,” you must reject the wisdom of God –
you cannot have both. Worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the
fountains of waters (Rev 14:7).

The devil rebelled due to his jealousy of man. God had given man dominion over the fish
of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over
every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth (Gen 1:26, 28). Dominion is right of
possession and authority to use subject only to God. Thou crownedst him with glory and
honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands (Heb 2:7). Man was eclipsing
Lucifer’s beauty, brightness and authority. The devil stole man’s dominion from him and
is known as the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4, Lk 4:5-7). The thief cometh not, but for to steal,
and to kill, and to destroy (Jn 10:10). The way of wickedness is as darkness and is an
abomination to the Lord (Pv 4:19, 15:9). Satan sits on the throne of iniquity (Ps 94:20). He is a
king over all the children of pride (Job 41:34).

That old serpent, the devil, came to man in the garden of Eden and speaketh of his own,
meaning the lie he is the father of. The devil told man that he could transgress (disobey)
the commandment of God and “ye shall not surely die (Gen 3:4).” Satan told man that he
could decide what is good (right) and what is evil for himself – to be as a god (Gen 3:5).
The devil says: “do what thou wilt for this is the whole law.” The essence of such pride is
to: “do what is right in your own eyes” (Deut 12:8, Jdg 17:6, 21:25, Ps 36:2, Pv 3:7, 12:15, 16:2, 21:2, 30:12, Is
5:21) AND to “seek the imaginations of your own heart ( Gen 6:5, Deut 29:19, Pv 6:18, Jer 3:17, 9:14, 11:8,
13:10, 16:12, 18:12, 23:17, Rm 1:21). Imaginations are ideas of things of your own creation – to be as
a god. God scattereth the proud in the imagination of their hearts (Lk 1:51).

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They walk in their own counsels (Ps 81:12). Self fulfillment is the chief desire of the corrupt
nature of fallen man. Stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry because it places your will
“above,” “ahead of” or “in advance” of God’s will – it is to be as a god (1 Sam 15:23). This is
to filled with or to walk in your own devices (Pv 1:31, Jer 18:12). To be “wise in your own
eyes (Pv 3:7, 12:15, 16:2, Is 5:21)!” Do you really presume that your infinitesimal wisdom shall
stand against the counsel of God? Proverbs 21:30, “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor
counsel against the LORD.” The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee (Jer 49:16).
Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken
from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him (Eccl 3:14).

The Lord states: “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure ( Is 46:10) – and He
has the power and ability to back it up. For He is strong and mighty which executeth His
Word (Joel 2:11). God declares: “My Word shall not return unto me void, but it shall
accomplish that which I please (Is 55:11). God’s Word and power did accomplish just that
and now all things are accelerating to the end – the conclusion of this world. Romans 9:28,
“For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will
the Lord make upon the earth.”

God says: “Ye shall not do every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes (Deut 12:8, also Jdg
17:6, 21:25, Pv 21:2).
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes (Pv 12:15). Proverbs 16:25, “There is a
way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death ( also Pv 14:12).”
Proverbs 21:2, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the
hearts.” All of man’s ways lead to death. Life is only found in God and the Lord
preserves man through truth.

“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is
Proverbs 14:16,
confident.” Fools despise wisdom and instruction (Pv 1:7).” Proverbs 18:2, “A fool hath no
delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.” A fool walks in a way
that is contrary to the dictates of wisdom. They are prideful and cannot be taught because
their eyes are upon self and they are “wise in their own eyes (Pv 3:7, 12:15, 16:2, Is 5:21).”

However, Psalms 25:9, “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his
way.” Meekness is the opposite of pride and is self denying. You must deny self-will to
seek God’s will. The meek walk in love. Love is the sacrifice of self for the benefit of
another – God foremost and then your neighbor. This is the two great commandments.
Mark 12:29-31 “…The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is
one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the
second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other
commandment greater than these.” Jesus walked them perfectly and man must follow – to
be AS your Master. It is only through self denial that one can walk in these
commandments. These commandments are more than all whole burnt offerings and
sacrifices (Mk 12:33). Matthew 22:40, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the
prophets.” This is God’s message to man.

The prideful walk in hatred, which is the sacrifice of others for the benefit of self – God
foremost and then your neighbors. This is walking opposite and contrary to God’s law.

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This is where the devil leads. Satan perverts the truth and leads you away from it. They
ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way (Jdg 2:19).

God told man if he ate of the forbidden fruit, “thou shalt surely die (Gen 2:17).” The serpent
(Rev 12:9, 20:2), deceived man in the garden of Eden by appealing to the lusts and desires of
man’s flesh. Man is weak through the flesh (Mt 26:41, Mk 14:38). The devil told man that he
could sin against God (transgress God’s Word) and “ye shall not surely die (Gen 3:4). In
other words, that disobedience to the Word of God would not result in death – that there
is life apart from God the Creator. This is the deceitfulness of sin (Heb 3:13) – that you can
sin and not die. The serpent told man that he could seek his own will and ye shall be as
gods (Gen 3:5). To be a god is to work all things by the counsel of your own will (Eph 1:11) –
that which you yourself purpose to do (Eph 1:9). In other words, Satan told man to “do what
thou wilt.” Such pride is vanity!

Man chose to obey the devil and disobey His God and Creator. Man turned from the light
and entered into darkness. Man chose death over life; cursing over blessing. Man made a
covenant (solemn agreement) with death, and with hell are we at agreement (Is 28:15). We
have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves (Is 28:15). Man was
thoroughly corrupted – changed from good to bad; defiled; debased. They have rejected
the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them ( Jer 8:9)? Therefore, God’s
condemnation of “thou shalt surely die (Gen 2:17)” came upon man. For as in Adam all die
(1 Cor 15:22).

In the garden of Eden, man rejected God’s Word in order to seek the lusts and desires of
his own flesh. Man elevated his will (flesh) above the Word of God and thus removed
himself from the life of God. Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the
world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” All
unrighteousness is sin (1 Jn 5:17). Unrighteousness is not abiding in (obeying and walking
within) what God has declared to be right. The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in
righteousness (Jer 4:2) – and man liveth by God (Jn 6:57, Rm 6:10, 2 Cor 13:4, Gal 2:20). Proverbs 10:29,
“The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers
of iniquity.”

So, we understand that man is lost and dead (Lk 15:24, 32). Man was thoroughly corrupted
and lost the truth, and his knowledge of God. Man abides in the shadow of death. This is
a state whereby man has been condemned to die, yet the sentence has yet to be carried out
– man is dead, yet alive – in the shadow of death. Man also considers his knowledge
reliable, yet it is corrupted and based in the lusts of his own flesh – in self-centeredness.
Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the
ways of death (also Pv 16:25).”

Disregard of God’s Word brings death, embracing the Lord’s Word brings life. So, man
must awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God (1 Cor
15:34). To “know” God is to walk with God, which is to live within what God has declared
to be right, known as righteousness. God says: Proverbs 8:20, “I lead in the way of
righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment.” Righteousness tendeth to life ( Pv
11:19). The Lord says: Proverbs 8:35-36, “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain

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favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that
hate me love death.” Obedience unto life; or disobedience unto death. This do and live;
that do and die.

Man greatly dishonored God the Father and Creator of all things. A true Son loves,
honors and obeys his Father. Man chose that which opposed his Father and rebeliously
walks therein.

God’s holiness is partly manifested in lovingkindness and longsuffering. Lovingkindness

is a disposition toward mercy. This may be thought of as a second chance. Longsuffering
is forbearing injuries in the present so as to obtain a desired result in the end. God offers
man a conditional forgiveness. God offers man reconciliation and restoration if man will
repent and freely turn back unto God and embrace His eternal unchanging truth. Isaiah 55:7,
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him
return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will
abundantly pardon.” Oh, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth
(Dan 9:13). Psalms 86:5, “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy
unto all them that call upon thee.”

God sent forth His Word – His mercy and truth. Psalms 57:3, “He shall send from heaven,
and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send
forth his mercy and his truth.” Jesus came: Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes, and to turn them
from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in
me.”

Jesus came to turn man from wickedness or walking in darkness unto righteousness or
walking in the light. He hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (1 Pt 2:9).
Colossians 1:13, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son.” This is a tremendous offer to man for reconciliation,
restoration and peace with God. Psalms 23:3, “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
God is Merciful
“And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my
Exodus 20:6,
commandments (also Deut 5:10, Ps 111:7-8, 10, 112:1).” Psalms 103:11, “For as the heaven is high above
the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.” Psalms 108:4, “For thy mercy is
great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.” Psalms 103:17-19, “But the
mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his
righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that
remember his commandments to do them. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the
heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.”

Jesus came forth speaking the Father’s Word. “For I have not spoken of
John 12:49-50,
myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say,
and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting:
whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”” And they

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shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the
Father, cometh unto me (Jn 6:45).”

Christ was very emphatic that He was sent of God. The Lord said: John 6:38, “For I came
down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” John 5:30, “I
can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I
seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” John 7:29, “But I
know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.” John 8:29, “And he that sent me is with
me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”

Recall: A merciful and faithful high priest makes reconciliation for the sins of the people.
God told man: Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to
you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an
atonement for the soul.” Jesus didn’t offer the blood of animals. Hebrews 10:5-6, “Sacrifice
and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and
sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.” Hebrews 10:4, “For it is not possible that the
blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Hebrews 10:7, “Then said I, Lo, I come (in
the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.” Jesus offered up His
own blood for the sins of the people. Hebrews 9:12, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves,
but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us.”

God required an equivalent for the wrong committed in order for atonement or
satisfaction to be achieved. Adam, the first man, sought the will of the flesh over the
commandment of God and thus sinned. Adam brought death into the world ( Rm 5:12). Jesus
came as the second man or last Adam and absolutely sought the will of God and
absolutely obeyed the commandments of God (1 Cor 15:45, 47). Jesus was led of the Spirit
and not the flesh. Jesus did the opposite of Adam and then offered up His own life and
blood in sacrifice to God and thus provided an equivalent for the wrong committed.
Praise God, praise God.

Christ came as a male unblemished lamb to be sacrificed for the sin of the world – the
lamb of God (1 Pt 1:19, Jn 1:36, Heb 9:13-14, Is 53:7-8). Ye were redeemed with the precious blood of
Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Pt 1:18-19).” He washed us from our
sins in his own blood (Rev 1:5). Jesus perfectly obeyed the Father in His earthly walk and
had no sin – no blemish whatsoever. God said of Him: “This is my beloved Son, in whom
I am well pleased; hear ye him (Mt 17:5, Mk 1:11, Lk 3:22, 2 Pt 1:17).” Notice that man is to hear
what Jesus has to say. 1 John 3:5, “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our
sins; and in him is no sin.” 1 Peter 2:22, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his
mouth.” Romans 15:3, “For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The
reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.”

Jesus lived a perfect life of obedience unto God as led by the Spirit. Christ then
exchanged His perfect life for the sin of man and suffered man’s condemnation of “thou
shalt surely die (Gen 2:17)” in the place of man (Ps 69:4, 9, 1 Pt 2:24-25). 1 John 3:5, “And ye know
that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he

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hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.”

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;
Isaiah 53:6,
and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:5, “But he was wounded for
our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was
upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” To be healed is to have peace and
reconciliation with God – to be restored. 1 Timothy 2:6, “Who gave himself a ransom for all,
to be testified in due time (also Eph 5:2).” Galatians 1:4, “Who gave himself for our sins, that he
might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our
Father.” Titus 2:14, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Notice that Christ’s
sacrifice was to redeem us from iniquity, not to justify man to continue in iniquity.

Christ is man’s propitiation. Propitiation is the act of appeasing wrath. This is the
atonement or atoning sacrifice offered to God to assuage his wrath and render him
merciful to sinners. “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief:
when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin (Is 53:10).” Isaiah 53:11, “He shall see of the
travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant
justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” 1 John 4:10, “Herein is love, not that we
loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Romans 3:25, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to
declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance
of God.” 1 John 2:2, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also
for the sins of the whole world.” Jesus said: “for this cause came I unto this hour ( Jn
12:27).” I restored that which I took not away (Ps 69:4).

Christ provided a path back to God for man to follow Him in. Jesus gave an acceptable
offering to God that gave man access to God. Ephesians 2:18, “For through him we both have
access by one Spirit unto the Father.” This allowed man access to the Holy Ghost – for
God’s Spirit to dwell in man.

Jesus had said: John 7:38-39, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his
belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that
believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus
was not yet glorified.)” The Spirit could not be given to dwell in man until man’s sins had
been atoned for. Isaiah 59:2, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God,
and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

After Jesus was glorified, and at Pentecost, the Spirit could be given: Acts 2:33, “Therefore
being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of
the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”

Jesus tells man: John 14:15-17, “If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the
Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither
knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” Equally

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important to verse John 3:16 is 1 Corinthians 3:16, which states: “Know ye not that ye
are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

Why is this so important? Romans 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be
that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is
none of his.” If you do not have the indwelling of the Holy Ghost in your body, then you
are not found in Christ.
Recall: Jesus is a Spirit (which is the Word of God) and the Holy Ghost residing in a body
or vessel of flesh. Repentant and “born again” man becomes a spirit (which is you) and
the Holy Ghost residing in a body or vessel of flesh. Jesus is the firstborn of many
brethren. Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Brethren
are alike and have the same Father. Jesus is “The Son of God” and obedient men are the
sons of God. Through the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, we bear the same image.

Jesus said: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God (Jn 3:5).” How is one “born again?” God breaths the breath of life into a
man; and he becomes a living soul (Gen 2:7). Jesus breathed on them, and saith unto them,
Receive ye the Holy Ghost (Jn 10:22). John the Baptist was emphatic about it – that Jesus
was mightier and would baptize with the Holy Ghost (Mt 3:11, 3:16).

Christ disciples were told: Acts 1:4-5, “And, being assembled together with them,
commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of
the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but
ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

Jesus ALWAYS says, “come, follow Me.” But the bar is set to high you might say. How
can I possibly follow Christ in such a way? The answer is: “By My Spirit saith the Lord
(Zech 4:6).” The Holy Ghost is God’s power and not that of your own. The Spirit is God’s
grace working in you to transform you into Christ’s likeness. We are changed into the
same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor 3:18).

It was stated ealier, “that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Cor 5:21).”
How is this done? John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” The Holy Ghost is the
power (Lk 1:35, 4:14). Christ’s disciples were told they would be endued with power from on
high (Lk 24:49). AND Acts 1:8, “…ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you…” Jesus said: Matthew 28:18, “…All power is given unto me in heaven and in
earth.” The Spirit leads man by his faith unto righteousness.

God says: Hebrews 8:10-13, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their
hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not
teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all
shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their
unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he
saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth

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old is ready to vanish away.” How are God’s laws written into our hearts and minds?
Written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in
fleshy tables of the heart (2 Cor 3:3).

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and
Ezekiel 36:26-27,
I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall
keep my judgments, and do them.”

It was said of Jesus: Psalms 40:8, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within
my heart.” Obedient man enters into Christ’s covenant whereby the Holy Ghost writes
God’s laws into his heart. Jesus is the firstborn of many brethren.

The Holy Ghost leads, guides, teaches and empowers man to walk as Jesus walked (Col 2:6,
1 Jn 2:6)
– in His steps (Ps 85:13, 1 Pt 2:21). Psalms 119:133, “Order my steps in thy word: and let not
any iniquity have dominion over me.” Jeremiah 10:23, “O LORD, I know that the way of man
is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Psalms 143:10, “Teach me
to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of
uprightness.”

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my
John 14:26,
name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever
I have said unto you.” John 15:26, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto
you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall
testify of me.” John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you
into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he
speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

The Holy Ghost works through your faith: 1 Thessalonians 3:13,

“To the end he may stablish
your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” To stablish means to make the specified condition
permanent. You must cleanse yourself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor 7:1). You must prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect, will of God (Rm 12:2) – to demonstrate it in your life. Philippians 2:13, “For it is
God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

God’s purpose is to have children that love, honor and obey Him from their hearts in
truth. Love and obey for theres no other way. John 14:21, “He that hath my commandments,
and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my
Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14:23-24, “Jesus answered
and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love
him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not
keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which
sent me.”

Jesus set the example: John 14:31, “But that the world may know that I love the Father; and
as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do…” Christ offers you a cross and you
must follow – there are no bystanders – you must participate. John 7:17, “If any man will do

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his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of
myself.”
Flesh or Spirit

If you seek the flesh then you shall die in the spirit. If you seek the Spirit then you must
die to the flesh. Romans 8:13-14, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through
the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the
Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

The flesh or the Spirit shall control your life’s actions. Fruits shall result. The life of the
tree results in fruit. This fruit is either good or corrupt. The husbandman desires good
fruit. Jesus said: Matthew 7:20, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

The devil ALWAYS appeals to the flesh and fruit shall result. “Now the
Galatians 5:19-21,
works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell
you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not
inherit the kingdom of God.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
Galatians 5:22-24,
goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance (self control): against such there is no law. And
they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Ephesians 5:9, “For
the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.”

The Spirit gives self control. Those walking in the flesh are lacking self control. Who
controls your life’s actions – the Spirit or the flesh? Romans 6:16, “Know ye not, that to
whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether
of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Galatians 5:16, “This I say then, Walk
in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now
no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after
the Spirit.”

So here you are. God says to you: “Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way
of death (Jer 21:8).” Which shall you choose? Your choice shall be manifested by your
life’s actions. Recall: God is our Judge. The LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him
actions are weighed (1 Sam 2:3). Jeremiah 17:10, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins,
even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” I
will judge you, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD (Rev 2:23). Repent,
and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin ( Ez
18:30). Jesus tells every man: “I know thy works (Rev 2:2, 9, 13, 19, 3:1, 8, 15).” – and He does,
every secret thing (Mk 4:22, Lk 8:17, 1 Cor 4:5). As for the evil: Psalms 94:23, “…he shall bring upon
them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD
our God shall cut them off.”

Jesus said: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that
John 12:48,
judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

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Christ spoke ONLY the Father’s Words. Jesus further stated: Luke 21:33, “Heaven and earth
shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away (also Mt 24:35, Mk 13:31).” Does it not
behoove you to be found in the one thing that is eternal – God’s Word? Isaiah 3:10, “Say ye
to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.”

There is coming a judgment. All men shall be judged by the standard of God’s Word and
truth and not your own. Psalms 96:13, “Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to
judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his
truth.” Jesus is faithful and true and in righteousness He doth judge and make war ( Rev
19:11). His name is called the Word of God ( Rev 19:13). 2 Thessalonians 1:8, “In flaming fire taking
vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ.” John 5:29, “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of
life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” Daniel 12:2, “And
many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and
some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

What must I do? “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise
is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our
God shall call (Acts 2:38-39).” Read God’s Word the Bible always and apply those things to
your daily life – walk therein, and ask for the gift of the Holy Ghost ( Lk 11:13). Isaiah 1:16-17,
“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes;
cease to do evil; Learn to do well…” Prove or demonstrate what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Rm 12:2).

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the
Revelation 22:14, “
tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:12, “And, behold, I
come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall
be.”
Conclusion

Proverbs 3:7,“Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” God
resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble (Js 4:6). Proverbs 16:5, “Every one that is
proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be
unpunished.” Be clothed with humility (1 Pt 5:5). These are the meek! Zephaniah 2:3, “Seek ye
the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek
righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.”
Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Proverbs 15:25, “The LORD
will destroy the house of the proud…”

“The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be
Isaiah 2:11-12,
bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD
of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted
up; and he shall be brought low (also Is 2:17).” Isaiah 5:24, “Therefore as the fire devoureth the
stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their
blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts,
and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” Malachi 4:1, “For, behold, the day cometh,

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that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be
stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall
leave them neither root nor branch.”

The proud have much to fear, but God giveth grace or His Holy Spirit of truth and power
to indwell the meek. The Holy Ghost leads, guides, teaches and empowers them to walk
in what God declares to be right which is righteousness.

For those who persists in being wise in your own eyes: you have rejected the word of the
LORD; what wisdom is in you (Jer 8:9)? Where does this wisdom originate? And how do
you think to prevail? The way of a fool is right in his own eyes ( Pv 12:15). His wisdom is
vanity.
The disciple must be AS his Master. 1 John 3:3, “And every man that hath this hope in him
purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he
is righteous (1 Jn 3:7). 1 John 3:10, “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of
the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his
brother.” These are the two great commandments and you must be found walking therein.

David, the Lord’s servant

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