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UNDERSTANDING THE WAY OF UNDERSTANDING

:Seeing life from God’s perspective.

REV. PROF. BANK-OLA, STEVE – Ph.D.

Introduction

The mind is the Centre of reasoning and reasoning has to do with rationalized, logical & analytical thinking. It is absolutely obvious that God works and thinks on a totally different level than we homo-sapiens do. After spending a quality of my life in the exercise of the left logical side of my brain trying to figure out God; people, events and reason; I am left irritated and emotionally dehydrated. What makes it most interesting is we look back and the flow of our lives make perfect sense and in God’s perfect timing. The question that arises is – is it possible to live in a state of mind where we just go with God’s flow without trying to grab hold and figure life out in our own way?. The Bible quite agrees to this in Ps 18:30 – ” As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him”.

 I often ask myself – why do we even think we need to understand God’s way?.  Do we think our ways are better? Sure, we do at times. When we finally get to the point where we fully comprehend and accept the fact that God’s ways are not our ways and our plans are not better than God’s, we tend to enjoy the river of life more and look forward to the journey a head without uncertainty. As a man tube down in a river so a believer needs to have an inner–tubing down the river of life which is the word of God. You equally must know that if you stay on that tube which is the word of God in your heart, you will have a fun and interesting ride down the river and eventually get taken to where you want to go.  As you set on the river you have no control of what direction you face, the current sets your pace and you are directed by natures’ Obstacles through the water. Hence while you have absolutely no say in your destining down the river there is such a comfort sitting on that tube floating on top of the waves feeling that powerful body of water beneath you. My reader, there is another chance for you now even as you are reading this book. God is working on your life above the water or in the currents below. Do you want to fully understand what God is doing? Get that inner tube, get on top alongside God I mean study the word, hold on in trust and let the river of His Holy Spirit give you a ride of a life time.

There are four of the ways of understanding. For someone who had heard quality teachings and instructions from the scriptures which represents the mind of God.

1.            He can disagree with it.

2.            He can agree with it

3.            He can yield to it

4.            He can see it.

The teaching and instructions from our maker – God are meant for the destruction of all the satanic depositions as we read in Gal 5:19 for eliminating defilements, for uprooting impurities, for putting an end to conceit,  for guidance and restraint so that there may be growth is good decline in evil,  for destroying ill. To these things an individual can disapprove or argue against or offer counter – view or dismiss what he had heard. He may base his action or “my way is one and the way of these teachings and instructions is another. There is no agreement between my way and the way of this good teachings and   instructions.

The person or group of people in this category the Bible calls them “the dead”  as we read in Prov.21:16.. “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead’’. They are moving corpse like the children of Israel in the book of Ezekiel’s 37:11 –14. God saw that they are already in their graves even while they were alive. Why? Because they strayed from the way of understanding of quality teachings and instructions from the Almighty who is perfect in all things. Such a person or group of people will never experience growth but a decline in good things.

Some people may agree with and not disapprove of or, argue against, dismiss or offer a counter – view. They embrace and hold to what they had heard. Yet they say “my way is one and the way of the good teaching and instructions are one. There is agreement between my way and the way of this teaching and instruction but in body, conduct they conduct themselves according to their own way not the way of good teachings and instructions of their maker and in higher matters of life they have no understanding. For such category of people there would be automatically a decline in good things and growth in their race of life the bible calls them the “dead”.

An individual who flows in the way of understanding is revealed as one able to see into a matter and discern its composition by separating the individual factors or features that compose or act together to form a whole, then to perceive the relationship between them and comprehend, or grasp the significance or meaning of the matter as it relates to his life in line with the mind of his maker – God. This may be illustrated with a language. If a person is to understand what is spoken in a certain tongue he must be able to distinguish individual words composing the sentences, know their meaning and see how they relate to one another. However, even though a person may basically comprehend what is said to him, understanding can also go beyond such simple comprehension; it means that he gets the real significance and sense of the message, and then is able to evaluate its benefits by it and know what action it calls for. In the book of Neh. 8:2 -8 when Ezra the priest read the book of the law before the people in Jerusalem all intelligent enough to listen were gathered. Even though these had mature minds able to understand all the words; the Levites were explaining the law to the people – instructing the people in the law, or giving understanding by reading aloud from the book of the law of the true God. It is being expounded and they continued giving understanding in the reading.

Every instruction of the scriptures is designed to convey definite profit to enhance our glorious future. There are no useless instructions in the scripture because the Bible is not a theological cafeteria where you take some and throw away some - 2Tim 3:16. This connotes that the principles of the scripture are profitable. Its corrections are profitable. The reports of the scriptures and the teachings are profitable. You don’t have to say it because people will see it. It is designed to add values and colour to believers’ lives. Every outstanding has its root in understanding because it is the quality of your understanding that determines the dimension of the outstanding you can ever command.

According to the book of Proverb 21:16; it means spiritual understanding is what guarantees outstanding result you can dream of. There is so much agitation, screaming, shouting in the body of Christ today because there is little depth of understand. This is the reason behind all the sweating, yelling restlessness, struggles and pricking. When we seek the depth of understanding, we supernaturally scale the height because it is the depth that determines the height we can scale. The reason is, the height of a building in the natural is determined by the depth of its foundation.

It is not just reading books, claiming promises, attending vigils, going to Mountain tops, sleeping in churches etc. it is being able to tap into what is being spoken by Christ and understand it. When your understanding blossoms you scale the height you desire without sweat. My reader I believe you have given your life to Christ as peradventure you have laid your hand on my book divine illumination. Therefore let your emotion be set aside but let your understanding come alive. Just understand God and the reason why you are earth, you will be outstanding in your race of life because if purpose is not known abuse is inevitable Ps.119:144–145 “The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes.

You need to understand here that the quality of your life is a function of your spiritual understanding because every testimony is traceable to spiritual understanding of God and His principles. You only need to get yourself established in the way of understanding. The Eunuch said to Phillip, how can I understand except someone guides me. That is the reason, God had ordained prophets, teachers, evangelists, pastors, apostle etc in the body of Christ to enhance spiritual understanding of God’s people which this book in no measure is intended to provoke on your inside the spiritual understanding about the mind of God for the entire humanity and the reality of the life of dominion and power to subdue and manifest God’s glory in the physical reality.

THE FINITE UNDERSTANDING MAN

 

When you don’t have the power 

of intuitive understanding you

become slave to nature’s necessities.

It is an indisputable reality that God with his supernatural wisdom, ability and creativity brought to bear the existing things in the cosmos. He determines the understanding abilities of the living creatures according to their species and He is the supreme example of the use of the understanding. The splendid coordination and functioning of the universe in which each creature serves a particular and harmonious purpose which no clashes or problems resulting from a lack of discernment on their creator’s part manifest God’s understanding see Job 38:36, Ps.126:5 –9, prov.3:19–20, Jer 10:12–13.

God gave the animals instinctive understanding, each according to its kind. Man may spend years gaining understanding of aerodynamics, but the eagles & falcons instinctively  know just how to read and utilize the different types of air currents see Job 39:26. Animals however do not have certain aspects of understanding that are peculiar to man as we could see in Ps 32:9 “ Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee”.

Despite man’s intensive research over centuries, many features and cycles operating according to divine laws still elude man’s full comprehension. What man can grasp from their study of the material creation only approaches the fringes of God’s way and is but a whisper as compared to mighty thunder. This is even more true of God’s works of judgment and salvation. 

His thoughts being too deep for ungodly person to grasp – Job 26:7–14, Ps.92:5–6 “ He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them. He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it. He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.  The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.  He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.  By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.  Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?.. Ps 92:5-6.  O Lord, how great are thy works. and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.

Consideration of divine understanding manifests in the material creation. This enables Job to discern his proper relationship to the creator and humbly recognized his own lack of understanding – Job 42:1-6. As the source of things in any realm of life, God can exercise insight into the thoughts and doings of all mankind and He chooses, gives thoughtful consideration or attention to individuals and classes – see prov. 21:21, Ps 5:1-2. He knows his own invincible purpose and what He will do in the future. His righteous judgment and standards are fixed and unchangeable. Hence there is no wisdom nor any discernment, nor any counsel in opposition to our father in heaven – God see Prov. 21:30 Compare Isa. 29:13 – 14, Jer 23:20, 30:24. He needs to consult no one to understand a matter such as how to help His servants effectively or how to receive them from distress and oppression. Isa 40:10 -15, 27:31, Daniel 9:32.

The scripture says that they that know their God shall be strong and shall do exploit. The knowledge of God and discernment of His will combined with faith and trust therefore form the foundation of all true understanding on the part of His intelligent creatures. Knowledge of the most Holy one is what understanding is which includes understanding righteousness and judgment and uprightness, the entire course of what is good. Prov. 9:10, 2:6 – 9, 16:20.

No matter of real importance can be fully understood unless all the factors are viewed from God’s standpoint and seen in relation to his standard, qualities and eternal purpose. A man that increases in understanding would earn a double results, that is an increase in knowledge and ability to deliver to others. He could constantly increase in understanding if he consistently connects to his source. He that does not in this sense begins to disconnect from his maker the source of all things both in the natural and eternal as a factor to be considered when making decisions and plans.

 Such a person allows his heart to blind him to the wrongness of his ways and loses insight – Job 24:27, Ps.36:1– 4.  Even if claiming to worship God, he puts men’s precepts above God’s and prefers them. He rationalizes and excuses his loose conduct as mere sport and becomes perverted, brutish, stupid in his reasoning, to the extreme of assuming that the invisible God does not see or discern his wrong Ps. 94:4 – 10, Isa.29:3–16, prov.10:23, Ps.139:7–13. Some by their courses and actions, they say in effect there is no God and leaves Him out of the picture. Not being guided by divine principles he cannot Judge matters  correctly, see the issues, evaluate the factors involved and arrive at right decision – Ps 53:1–2, Prov.28:5, Ps 14:2.

In view of the above, understanding may relate to knowledge and skill in mechanical activities, such as construction and designing of buildings or making  articles of woods, metal, stone or cloth. The Tyrian worker Hiram was a skillful man, experienced in understanding as a craftsman working a wide range of materials as we read in 2Chr.2:13–14. Such understanding contributes to effective work resulting in products of enduring qualities. Other may be experts in Matter of transportation, Music, linguistics, writing or other scholarly subjects due to their understanding. Such understanding can be gained through natural abilities and efforts. Of course, God’s spirit can augment, or enhance such understanding in person and qualify him to teach others the craft or profession as in the case of Bezaleel in Ex.35:30-35.  Some may have keen discernment of human nature being observant and able to put two together just like David noting the way his servants were whispering. He discerned that his child by Bathsheba had died in 2Sam.12:19. Rehoboam also was guided by his understanding of fallen human nature and its tendency toward envy and jealousy when assigning his son’s inheritances as we read in 2 Chro.11:21 – 23.

Similarly, man or communities of men may show considerable discernment in business operations, a factor in their success enriching themselves as did the leaders of Tyre in Ezek28:2-9. Rulers may have understanding of military warfare and strategic or be experts in political diplomacy, yet their understanding may be narrow and of short – range benefit as in the foregoing cases – Isaiah 10:12 –13, Dan.8:23. It could be seen then that the scriptures refer to understanding obtainable by natural means. Yet any such comprehension of worldly intellectual men becomes foolishness, vain when God’s purposes are not considered for the entire human existence on earth. 

The scripture primarily urge for a superior understanding, one that is spiritual, having God as its foundation 1Cor.1:19 –20. No matter how much men may exploit the earth’s resources, exploring its depths and depths of the sea or studying the skies, they can never by their own efforts find the place and way of understanding and wisdom that lead to enduring and successful life in righteousness and happiness – Job28:1-21, 28. This understanding cannot be found among the living. It is natural for people who do not understand the importance of God’s word to seek understanding here on earth. People look up to philosophers and other leaders to give them direction for living. Yet, Job said that understanding is not found there. No leader or group of leaders can produce enough understanding or insight to explain the totality of human experience.

 The ultimate interpretation of life of who we are and where we are going, must come from outside and above or mortal life. When you are looking for guidance, seek to know God’s words as made clear in Ps119:105. In  other to be lifted above the boundaries of life, we must know and trust the Lord of Life. Ps.119:130, Ps.14:2. Smart people can perform all kinds of technological wonders. They can find stars invisible to the eyes, visit space and store volumes of information in a microchip, but even the greatest scientists, on their own, are at a loss to discover and understand the way to peace with God. 

There is a vast difference between being smart and being wise. Only God can show them where to look to find understanding. True understanding is having God’s perspective in life.  As the creator of life, He knows what is best for his creation and He only can discern enduring factors for our lives. It is fruitless for us to try to become smart without seeking God’s understanding because God alone sees the greater purpose for this world. 

The limitation in man’s abilities was established in the Garden of Eden but let us reason together here. In reality of the issue, can a finite understanding homo-sapiens even angels challenge or bye-pass the authority and reliability of the infinite understanding omniscient and omnipotent God the creator and source of things in the natural and supernatural? No one who understands that God is the creator of the universe should be foolish enough to challenge Him the way Lucifer did before creation of the heavens and earth. – Ps 147:5.                            

Man needs to have the understanding that he is not safe in this life without helps from spiritual arms always. This is because we are in the midst of foes that is seeking prey to devour left and right. If we do not use the shield of faith and lose focus we may not be long in the physical reality without wounds. More so if we do not set our heart immovably with determination upon our maker, we may be fighting this spiritual warfare as one beating the air. This is because man is a little bit lower than the angels as a result of the fall in the Garden of Eden. It is in God through Christ Jesus that mortal man’s victory, peace and tranquility are sure. But you need to understand that trying to escape from this way of understanding and looking for private ends may make you miss common good and make you withdraw from the supernatural grace. 

The greatest enemy of man is himself when he is sold out to carnality and not thoroughly in accord with his maker. Man is clay  and earth in the hand of his maker hence he must learn to humble and should show himself as submissive to break up his carnal desires and yield to the infinite understanding God who could fashion and maximize the best out of him all good works. For this process to be fulfilled the entire humanity must exhibit the attitude of yieldedness in the absolute. This means.

Y - yearn for nothing but God’s glory alone so that his image may be  restored and likeness established in man – Isa 43:7

I-    Incline your heart to obey God’s words for spiritual understanding. Ps 119:130

E-  Embrace faith in God’s promises in the scriptures to obtain victory all round – Heb 11:32

L - Learn of the Lord and lean upon him for help and wisdom – Dan 11:102

D- Discipline yourself in His word with absolute adherence Ps.119:101–122

 N-     Navigate by divine direction in every situation Ps.60:11–121

E-  Exercise yourself in godliness through faith with your God’s given abilities. Spiritual excise is more important them when building muzzles. 1 Tim.4:7 – 8.

S - Seek things which are eternal and not earthly transient vain. Col 3:1-2.

S-  Stand fast in faith and endure suffering because they are part of the process to glorious end. 1 Cor.16:13, Rom 8:17 – 18.

CLASP THE GRACE

Matt 9:20-21- And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

UNDERSTANDING THE CLASP OF GRACE

Clasps means

To hold somebody or something tightly: to hold somebody or something tightly with the hands or arms tight hold: a firm tight hold with the arms, a hand, or a device for fastening or holding things together.

If by mere touching the helm of Jesus’s cloth the woman with issue of blood got that miracle, how about grabbing Jesus with both hands?

We must not rest without a desperate struggle to clasp the Saviour in the arms of faith, and say, "I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him."

Do not rest, O believer, till thou hast a full assurance of thine interest in Jesus.

Let nothing satisfy thee till, by the infallible witness of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with thy spirit, thou art certified that thou art a child of God- Acts 11:23-24

Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would CLEAVE unto the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. KJV

He was a good man. He fulfilled the scripture – Ps 84:11-12 - For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Whenever the grace of God is allowed to work in human hearts, there will be evidences that appear.

This can bring joy to those who are outwardly observing this inward work of grace.

Still, it is appropriate to exhort those who have made progress in grace to continue in the grace of God.

Acts 13:43  Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

When this is your experience, then you fulfil the scripture Matt3:13-14, You will be salt and light to your generation. As salt, you carry divine virtues that will enhance your earthly values and you will add values to whoever comes your way. As light to the world, you will become a pacesetter. You will become a producer and not a consumer. People will come to you to draw wisdom, knowledge and understanding –

Matt 5:13-14 -Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his saviour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Note also the Christ is the embodiment of all the grace.

2 Cor 8:9-12 -For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

If by mere touching the woman with the issue of blood had her 12 years ordeal terminated. How about if she had the revelation of grabbing the Lord Jesus with both hands and not let go?

 Grasping the external propulsion of God’s grace is crucial to our understanding of living a Christian life and manifesting signs and wonders. Isa 8:18

Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

Definition of the word “Grace”

The word “Grace” means “unmerited favor” – the concept that none of us in the human race deserve to be saved because we are all wretched sinners.

God through His “graciousness” sent His Son to die for all sinners, so those who “make the right choice” and accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour will not have to die eternally.

God brought the Israelites into the Promised Land by HIS mighty hand. 

The Israelites had nothing to do with it.  God did it ALL.

THAT is “GRACE” - - - when GOD does it ALL.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GRACE

2 Cor 9:8-9 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

1. It gives you Salvation –

2. Healing

3. Breakthrough

4. Promotion

5. Deliverance

5. Supernatural supplies

6. Favour

7. Divine direction

8. Enlightenments – the gospel

9. Restoration

10. Miracles- job, husband, wife, children etc.

11. Enlarges your coast.

12. Makes you light and Salt to the world

13. Gives you peace

14. Makes all things possible to glorify his name

15. Renders natural verdict useless because of His name.

                  HOW DO YOU GET THE GRACE

             i.   You  need to give your life to Jesus. You must be born again.

           THE BIBLE HALL OF GRACE

          -           Noah and the flood - building the boat.

        - Joshua and the battle of Jericho:  God was the Plan-maker for the Battle of Jericho - - NOT Joshua.

- The original Passover in Egypt:  God told the Israelites to put the blood on the doorpost.  That was NOT the Israelites idea, nor was it Moses’ idea.

ii. You get the grace by faith. - Eph 2:8-9 -  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

LEASONS TO LEARN FROM THE ISTRAELITE’s JOURNEY

A.   God brought the Israelites out of Egypt by HIS OWN power, NOT their power.  The ten plagues on Egypt were all of God’s doing.

B. The Israelites came out from Egypt with ONLY yard goods, gold and silver.  They had NO weapons.

C. When they reached the Red Sea and were hemmed in by the Sea and surrounding mountains, with the Egyptians fast approaching, they began to whine and complain that they had been brought out there to die. 

God made sure that they had NO weapons.  Moses said to the Israelites, “You keep still and watch GOD fight for you.”

D.   God made sure that the Israelites had NO boats.  God opened the Red Sea and allowed the Israelites to go through on dry land.  The Egyptians had no faith, and the water collapsed on them.

E.    The desert of Sinai is so barren NOTHING will grow there.  God made sure that the Israelites could NOT grow any of their own food.  God fed the Israelites with manna – bread from heaven – representing Jesus Christ the REAL “Bread from heaven.”

F. God made sure that the Israelites were in a desert where they had NO way of getting water for themselves.  God gave the Israelites water to drink – from the Rock – which represented Jesus Christ, the Living Water.

G. God made sure that the Israelites were in an unbearably hot desert, with NO trees for shade and NO air conditioning.  God kept them cool during the day by His cloud cover them.

extremely cold at night.  The Israelites had NO system of heating.  God kept them warm at night by His cover of fire.

I. God gave them civil laws to settle disputes.  God gave them laws for criminal behavior.

J. When they followed God’s commands, none were sick.  When they finally entered into the Promised Land, “not one was sick among them.” day by His cloud cover.

k. The man of Gerdera

The Godman came. He saw and conquered

1     Jesus Turns Water into Wine                      

2     Jesus Heals an Official's Son                 

3     Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit                

4     Jesus Heals Peter's Mother-in-Law       

5     Jesus Heals Many Sick at Evening         

6           First Miraculous Catch of Fish

7           Jesus Cleanses a Man With Leprosy 

8           Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant                      

9           Jesus Heals a Paralytic         

10     Jesus Heals a Man's Withered Hand      

11     Jesus Raises a Widow's Son in Nain                   

12     Jesus Calms a Storm 

13     13. Jesus Casts Demons into a Herd of Pigs

14     14   Jesus Heals a Woman in the Crowd

15     Jesus Raises Jairus' Daughter to Life

16     Jesus Heals Two Blind Men               

17     Jesus Heals a Man Unable to Speak                   

18     Jesus Heals an Invalid at Bethesda                  

19     Jesus Feeds 5,000    

20     Jesus Walks on Water

21     Jesus Heals Many Sick in Gennesaret                 

22     Jesus Heals a Gentile Woman's Demon-Possessed Daughter               

23     Jesus Heals a Deaf and Dumb Man               

24     Jesus Feeds 4,000                 

25     Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida   

26     Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind                      

27     Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon           

28     Miraculous Temple Tax in a Fish's Mouth                

29     Jesus Heals a Blind, Mute Demoniac     

30     Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman                     

31     Jesus Heals a Man With Dropsy on the Sabbath

WHATEVER COMES IN CAN GO BACK

HOW YOU CAN LOSE THE GRACE

God proclaimed the Israelites a stiff-necked people. He brought the Israelites into the Promised Land IN SPITE of themselves, NOT because they made the right choices

Who is a stiff-necked person - One that refuses to yield to direction of the gospel , the direction of the spirit of God. He has his own plan.

Gal 5:19-21 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 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.

2. When you stray away. - Prov 21:16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO ONE WHO STRAYS

1. He loses sight of God’s love  (Rev 2:4)

Jesus told the Ephesian Christians, “You have left your protos agape,” or your primary love. What is our protos agape? It is not our love for him; it is a revelation of his love for us: Love comes from God. (1 John 4:7)

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us… (1 John 4:10)

We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

2. Things become complicated – our minds become corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Cor 11:3)

The gospel is simple but lose sight of God’s love and everything becomes murky. I know God loves me but…

Suddenly the good news is not so good. It needs qualifying.

We feel an unholy need to balance his grace needs with our works.

We start thinking there’s more than one side to every scripture, the Bible is full of paradoxes, and God is a mystery.

3. We start striving to keep the rules (Gal 3:3, Col 2:20)

We never call it legalism, for that would alert us to the danger. Instead, we call it “Christian responsibility” or duty or “doing our part.” God has done his part, now it’s up to me to finish what he started. I have to work out my salvation and prove my repentance.

We worry about cheap grace (there’s no such thing) and invest in a little works-insurance (there’s no such thing).

4. The shipwreck of faith (1 Tim 1:18-19)

Paul repeatedly warns about the need to hold “onto faith and a good conscience” (1 Tim 3:9, Acts 24:16).

5. We lose our freedom (Gal 5:1, Col 2:8)

The Galatian Christians famously lost their liberty by enslaving themselves to law.

The Colossian Christians were in danger of enslaving themselves to worldly philosophy.

We repeat their mistakes whenever we take on the yokes of performance-based Christianity and manmade expectations.

6. We fall from grace and cut ourselves off from Christ (Gal 5:2-4)

Christians Must Take Heed. Paul tells us to take heed, lest we fall (1 Cor. 10:12).

We must beware, lest we have an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God (Heb. 3:12).

"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame" (Heb. 6:4-8).

"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries" (Heb. 10:26-27).

"Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise" (Heb. 10:35-36).

CHRISTIANS CAN STRAY FROM THE TRUTH AND LOSE THEIR SOULS

James cautions us, saying, "My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins" (Jas. 5:19-20).

There are some important points to notice from James 5:19-20:

•     Christians can stray from the truth. The truth is God's word (Jn. 17:17).

•     A Christian who strays from the truth is a sinner. His soul is lost. If he turns from his sin, he will be saved from death.

Esau is an example of one who came short of God's grace, when he sold his birthright for a single meal (Heb. 12:16). If we come short of God's grace and we're lost in hell for eternity, we cannot repent and be restored to God (Heb. 12:17).

Some People Strayed from the Faith in the First Century

Paul tells us that some people had "gone astray from the faith" in the first century (1 Tim. 6:21).

The expression "gone astray from the faith" means that they were no longer obedient to the faith, and thus lost in their sins (Rom. 1:6; 16:26; cf. Acts 6:7).

Paul also tells us why some people depart from the faith:

•     They give heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods (1 Tim. 4:1-3).

•     They love money (1 Tim. 6:9-10).

We are not immune from sin in the twenty-first century. We must be careful not to depart from the faith, turning from God to entertain the passing pleasures of sin.

If you keep in God's Word, which you use to pull down strong holds, Jesus said that you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.

2. LEGAL RIGHTS ARE INVOLVED

Stage two bondages have a root and that root could be unforgiveness in a person's heart, un-repented sins in that person's life (things they are hiding that they know is wrong), ties which need to be broken (cursed objects, soul ties, etc.) and things which may need to be renounced (vows made with Satan, spirit guides/demons that a person has welcomed into themselves, etc.).

WHEN YOU LOSE THE GRACE YOU EXPERIENCE THE FOLLOWING BONDAGE

Three Stages of Bondage

1. One: Ignorance, strong holds and deception

The first stage of bondage is caused by ignorance, strong holds, and the enemy's greatest weapon in this stage is deception.

Understanding a correct picture of who God is, and who we are in Christ will dissolve a lot of cases involving stage one bondages.

3. Demons must be driven out

when strong enough demons encountered are not leaving automatically and must be driven out.

Even after a demon's legal grounds have been removed, they often do not leave on their own. Some of the lesser demons may, but it's not that common for a stronger demon to pack up and leave on it's own.

This is why Jesus made it clear that there is a need for the deliverance ministry (Mark 16:17).