Ch. 7 in JOSHUA: CONQUERING The ENEMY, INHERITING The LAND

INTRODUCTION: Defeat can be demoralizing and potentially could set up a pattern of defeat. Even just the threat of defeat can cause detrimental effects. But victory can also be dangerous. It can produce a self-confidence in a Christian whose power and strength are to come through Christ and His Spirit, not by “the arm of the flesh” (JER 17:5).

We are to wait on the LORD, to seek His face and petition Him to take away our human weaknesses as well as our strengths and replace them with His grace and power – only these will do in this walk we live out in this world (ISA 40:31).

After Israel’s victory at Jericho I think the armies were feeling their proverbial oats, and after conquering that major city, the next one they saw on the list was this little “hick town” of Ai. The soldiers were quick to offer their two cents and recommended that only a portion of the army go and take Ai.

Where is Joshua’s prayer to the LORD for counsel? Or at least for confirmation on this plan conceived by the people? Did the LORD speak at all, that He would bless such a plan? I’m sure He was waiting to be consulted, but He was never approached.

Yet if He had been, the LORD would have informed Joshua about a rebellious Hebrew that let his coveting turn into capturing… some of the dainties of Jericho! The ensuing defeat could have been avoided.

May this be a lesson to us: a sanctified saint, free of the corrupt influences and prizes gained from this sinful world is a saint safe in their own integrity! And may we always be sure to consult the LORD in the Word and in prayer as well as godly counsel before making any major life decisions!

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The G.E.P.C Study – PHILIPPIANS 3 – PART 1 of 2

Going Through Paul’s epistles to Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae

INTRODUCTION: The joy of the saint is counterintuitive to the mind of this world system. In fact, it’s typically diametrically opposite. We don’t express our satisfaction, contentment, peace and joy by the things in our lives or even of this world so much as by the Person of Christ. It’s why this truth resounds so powerfully in our hours of trial and woe:

“the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (NEH 8:10c; PSA 21:1).

This is also why we acknowledge the fruit of the Spirit as something apart from mere human emotion. I can be happy in my circumstances that are favorable – and equally unhappy about those that are not!

But our peace and joy are based on the grace of GOD that runs independently of our circumstances. This allows the saint who is walking in the Spirit to have a life of stability, on the ROCK of our salvation – even when the floor drops out from under their feet!

1 SAMUEL 2:2
"No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God. (See EXOD 15:11; De 3:24; 4:35; 32:4,30-31; 2Sa 22:1-51; Ps 86:8; 89:6,8)

So we continue now in our study of PHILIPPIANS and take half of Chapter 3…

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Ch. 4 in JOSHUA: CONQUERING The ENEMY, INHERITING The LAND

INTRODUCTION: Now the actual crossing of the Jordan has taken place, and Israel is expected to make good on their commitment to the LORD GOD Who has proven faithful time and time again – but will Israel?

Just as Israel faced challenges in Canaan, obstacles to overcome, enemies to vanquish, lands to conquer - we as the church also face obstacles, enemies, and conquer those things that would hold us back from spiritual advancement. Remember, what was written before in the Old Testament was recorded for our example, to learn from Israel’s successes as well as their failures (ROM 15:4)

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A Study in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans – “On the Road of Righteousness” Chapter Twelve: Part 1 – Practically Transformed

 

~ By James Fire

Chapter Twelve– Practically Transformed and Living Sacrifices

(Note: Due to the richness of this chapter, it will be divided up into three sections)

A BRIEF REVIEW –

Having completed the trilogy of chapters in Romans (9-11) that deals with the nation Israel, her condition of unbelief as a nation, and yet always retaining by the grace of God, a believing remnant, and how the nation is distinct from another holy nation (the church), we now proceed to chapter Twelve where the apostle Paul picks up on a previous thread from the end of Romans chapter Eight. 

As previously mentioned, if the epistle to the Romans could be envisioned as a cathedral, chapter Eight would be its highest pinnacle; it glorifies the grace of God as well as the Spirit of God towards repentant sinners, who are transformed saints; as opposed to the relationship that the Holy Law of God has with sinful humanity. It exults in the love of Christ and how nothing (read that as “NOTHING”) can separate us from this Eternal, Almighty Love! All of the blessings and graces and benefits that God simply lavishes upon us, His children who are born of His Spirit (John 3:3-5) are manifested in this chapter full of such doctrines of truth, righteousness and grace.

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A Study in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans – “On the Road of Righteousness” Chapter Eight: Part One

Chapter Eight: Not Living in the ‘Condo’s’ Anymore!

~ By James Fire

Note: Due to the fact that this chapter has almost 40 verses, this study will be presented in two, or three parts.

As mentioned before in our last study, conducted several weeks ago, it was stated: “The book of Romans is sometimes compared to a cathedral with its many chambers and rooms of deep theological and doctrinal truths; in this analogy, Chapter Eight is seen as the highest spire of the many towers of that cathedral - the heights of its glories are unmatched anywhere else in the epistle, or much of the New Testament for that matter!”

So let us begin our study!

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A Study in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans – “On the Road of Righteousness” Chapter Six:

 ~ By James Fire

Chapter Six: Dead Man Walking – Alive by God’s Spirit

In the closing verses of Chapter Five of this Pauline epistle, we read about how “sin reigned unto death” and how that “the law entered that the offence [of sin] might abound”. We also examined, and with great joy, that just as “sin reigned unto death” so would “grace reign through righteousness” and that “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound”.

Because of the Law, sin abounded, but because of the atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross, our sin-bearer not only provided His grace, but that this grace abounds even more so than the sin-revealing Law that would condemn us.

Chapter Eight expounds on how there is no longer any condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, and here in Chapter Six we will begin to examine how that salvation is not just positional, but practical. What do I mean by this?

Perpetual Practice vs. Perfect Position

Put simply, since the day that each of us has received the Gospel via repentance and received Jesus Christ as LORD and SAVIOR by faith, we have been washed clean of our sins and stand before our Holy God as pure and sinless as the LORD Jesus Himself, Who has granted to us His Holy Spirit as well as His flawless righteousness...

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A Study in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans – “On the Road of Righteousness” Chapter Three

Chapter Three: The Deeds of the Law vs. the Righteousness of God.

~ By James Fire

PART ONE – Doomed By Deeds
In this third chapter of Romans, Paul completes his thoughts on the Jewish person whose trust is in the keeping of the Law (humanly speaking, an impossibility), and the conclusion of the matter regarding the whole of humanity and our abject poverty of spiritual virtue.

He then proceeds from this examination of human beings and our sinful condition and nature to the blessed hope of our justification (from vs. 21 to the end of the chapter).

From there he goes on in chapters Four and Five, establishing the basis for our justification, and then, in chapters Six, Seven and Eight he brings up the next phase of our salvation, that being sanctification (dying to self: mortification (ROM 8:13; COL 3:5; and becoming more and more yielded to the Spirit of Christ to transform and enliven us (vivification): ROM 5:17; 6:4,23; 8:2)

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Old Testament Examples of SPIRITUAL WARFARE: Conduct in the Campaign & Implementing the Victory of Christ in our Lives – Part 3

~ By James J. Fire

The Battle of Life Continues – From Victory to Vanquishment

Any believer who has experienced a spiritual victory exults in the joy of it; knowing assuredly that the LORD has been in the midst and has granted such to people like us: mere clay vessels in which the Holy One inhabits and has made us citizens of the kingdom of God!

A series of victories and blessings upon us (and God is ever willing and generous to pour such blessings) however can be a potential spiritual danger.

This is often why God must temper His outpourings, because as is often the case, this can lead our deceptive hearts to the lie that there is something about ourselves that is worthy to receive these things from God; that there is something about our own strength, and wisdom, and saintliness that has brought to us these victorious blessings and blessed victories.

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The ARMOR and IT'S ACCOMPANYING PARTS: Part 7 - Section 4: The Helmet of Salvation:

~~ by James Fire

The HELMET of SALVATION –

EPHESIANS 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

MATTHEW 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

2 TIMOTHY 2:10
Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

The very name of Jesus in Hebrew is Y’shua (or as we would say, Joshua) which itself is a contraction of the Hebrew Ye’hovah Shuah or “Our God is salvation”. Note that Jesus doesn’t merely bring salvation; He is Himself our salvation (PSALM 35:3)! Thus we acquire this helmet of Salvation in the reception of the Son of God into our lives (JOHN 1:12), and “put[ting] on Christ (ROM 13:14; GAL 3:27)”. This salvation isn’t derivative (something we get from Him) of Jesus Christ so much as it's integral (to be complete and entire) in His Person.

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SPIRITUAL WARFARE: The Armor of God, Conduct in the Campaign & Implementing the Victory of Christ in our Lives – PART 4

~ By James Fire

The ARMOR and Its ACCOMPANYING PARTS – Section One: The Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness:

EPHESIANS 6:13
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Due to the fact that we Christians still retain a sin nature, we likewise are vulnerable, susceptible and prone to fall under the onslaught and attacks from our enemy. He is a spiritual enemy, and so no tactics of the flesh or the natural realm will avail. Only spiritual weapons can affect a spiritual foe.

~The most effective weapon against a tank is another tank; a military jet with another military jet; a submarine with another submarine; likewise with our spiritual enemy.
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Is the Discernment 'Gene' Becoming Recessive in the Body of Christ?

~~by James Fire

I engage in many conversations with my fellow Christians about various issues, not the least of which is the current predicament in the church. I'm speaking about the proliferating doctrines, practices and beliefs that are rampant among Christians that follow popular pastors, televangelists, and authors and other leaders that are not biblically sound.

Too often I get a frown of disapproval, especially if I happen to be 'picking on' a favorite teacher of theirs, and invariably I get the somber warning: "Touch not God's anointed"! This begs the question of, Who is God's anointed?

1 CHRON 16:16-22 indicates that God's anointed are connotatively, the collective nation of Israel, and denotatively, the prophets of Israel.

Strictly speaking then, you can't apply that to any New Testament pastor or teacher; this is not to say that such aren't anointed of God, but that particular admonition is allocated to Israel and her prophets, not the church.

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The Simple and Serious Gospel of Salvation – Phase II The SANCTIFIER is the SAINT’s FIRE: Part Two

~~ by James Fire

If you're a new believer and feel a certain lack of direction spiritually, or even if you've been a Christian for some time, but feel as though you're either missing something in your walk with the LORD or that you've been missing out on something vital, then this may indeed be what you're looking for.

For myself, I know after I read material on this subject, I discovered that while I had 'bits and pieces' of these truths, I hadn't gotten 'the big picture' as I have now, thanks be to God!

So we continue with this article, and if you haven't read PART One yet, please do so. Otherwise, read on, and I pray that the LORD blesses you in what you see here!

GALATIANS 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Paul was never actually physically crucified; he died by beheading. He refers here to the spiritual reality of identifying with the death of Jesus on the cross, and by this means, dying to his own self will and sin.
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The Simple and Serious Gospel of Salvation – Phase II The Sanctifier is the SAINT's FIRE: Part One

~~ By James Fire

Previously in the article of “A Simple and Serious Gospel of Salvation” I had written:“I’ve been given this opportunity and privilege to share the Gospel in this article and I pray that the LORD is honored by it, and that all who read this are blessed, particularly those who do not yet know Jesus as their LORD and Savior.

“. . . we shall examine the doctrine of salvation by biblical ‘exposition’ [and learn] . . . what the Gospel actually is . . . why salvation is necessary, as well as why Christ alone sacrificed on our behalf is sufficient as payment for the sins of the world.”

“Further, we shall delve even deeper into this study and examine the component ‘parts’ of salvation and see how they relate to the newly born and saved in Christ, and the maturing saint, as well as the saint who has passed from this life into the next.”

The italicized paragraph above is what this ‘Phase II” is going to focus on: now that a person is saved, what next? What is required as a newly born citizen of God’s Kingdom? How is such a one to grow properly and in a spiritually healthy manner?

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