Some do the water, some do the flight, some do...
On the third burr
Welcome to our Sunday night service. Just a few announcements before we sing our next song, which would be song number 84
Song number 84. Jesus is coming again song number 84. Jesus is coming again
We'd like to welcome you to our Thursday night Bible study at 7 p.m.
We're currently going through the book of John
So many times and teams are there below continue to pray for the expecting mothers and as always
We're trying to reach our 2,000 salvations for the year and we're coming up really we're close to that number right now
and so just keep doing your part and
You know, I believe we're gonna hit that goal. Amen
Ladies prayer breakfast is Saturday October 4th meeting at 10 a.m. If you have any questions you can reach out to miss Janelle
Gonzalez home school field trip is at Legoland Tuesday, October 14th more details are at the guest Center
Karina's baby shower is Sunday October 26 after the a.m. Service and then we're having a big push for our friend a
November 2nd Sunday
I have a couple people that I'm trying to invite make sure you guys try to figure out those people get them locked in get them to
Commit to coming on that day
Um, please silence your phones, uh, to not be a disturbance to the service, and that's
it for the announcements.
Please open up your hymnals to song number 84, Jesus is coming again.
Song number 84, Jesus is coming again, amen.
marvelous message we bring glorious carol we sing wonderful word of the King
Jesus is coming again
in first Corinthians chapter number three and the Bible reads and I brethren
could not speak on to you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal even as unto
babes in Christ I have fed you with milk and not with meat for hitherto you were
not able to bear it neither yet now are you able for you are yet carnal for
whereas there's among you and being and strife and divisions are you not carnal
For while one sayeth, I am of Paul, and another I am of Apollos,
are you not carnal?
Who then is Paul?
And who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believe,
even as the Lord gave to every man?
I have planted Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
So then neither is he that planted anything,
neither he that watered, but God that gave it the increase.
Now, he that planted, and he that watered, are one,
and every man shall receive his own reward
according to his own labor.
For we are laborers together with God, you are God's husbandry, you are God's building.
According to the grace of God, which is given unto me as a wise master builder,
I have laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon.
But let every man take heed how we buildeth there, thereupon.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid.
which is Jesus Christ.
If any man build upon this foundation,
gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble,
every man's work shall be made manifest
for the day shall declare it
because it shall be revealed by fire,
and the fire shall try every man's work
of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon,
he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss,
but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy, for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Let no man deceive himself if any man among you seem it to be wise in this world
Let him become a fool that he may be wise for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God for it is written
He take it the wise in their own craftiness and again the Lord knows the thoughts of the wise that they are vain
Therefore let no man glory in men for all things are yours whether Paul or Paul's or sieves or the world or life or death
or things present or things to come all are yours and you are Christ and Christ is God's.
Let's pray. Father God we thank you Lord for the King James Bible. We thank you for this
wonderful church you've given us your Lord. We thank you for our pastor also dear Lord and we
ask that you please bless him with your Holy Spirit as he preaches your word tonight in Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
Alright, amen first Corinthians chapter 3 this evening verse number one says an I brethren could not speak unto you as
Into spiritual but as into carnal even as into babes in Christ
And the title my sermon this evening is the marks of a carnal
Christian I want to talk to you this evening about being a carnal
Christian what are some of the characteristics some of the attributes of being a Christian who is very much
Carnal and as we see him first Corinthians chapter 3
the Bible equates being carnal with being a babe in Christ.
So it doesn't mean that this person is not saved.
It doesn't mean they haven't come to the saving
knowledge of Jesus Christ.
It's just that they're essentially dominated by the flesh.
They're dominated by the carnal aspect of their being.
And let me start off by saying that every Christian
is carnal, right, to a certain degree,
because the new man is encapsulated
by the flesh.
So when we get saved,
we got that new man dwelling within us
and it's the aspect of our being
that desires to hear the preaching of God's word.
It wants to do right.
It delights in the law of God.
This is the aspect of our being
that according to first John chapter three does not sin.
But unfortunately it's encapsulated within this flesh.
And, of course, you know and I know that this flesh, as the Bible says, dwelleth no good
thing, right?
There's no good thing about this flesh, it's sinful, it desires the things of the flesh,
and so the new man is surrounded by this corruptible body.
We have the Spirit, but we can be subject to the flesh according to the Bible.
They're rages within us, do we not?
Where the flesh is constantly fighting with the spirit,
the spirit against the flesh.
And so in general, we are all carnal
because the old man is still present within us.
And these are labels that the Bible presents, right?
The old man and the new man, that old man being
the old Bruce Mejia with the affections and lust,
the old manner of thinking,
the man that adopts worldly philosophies,
worldly thinking.
sinful habits so to speak whereas the new man is that new creature in Christ
once it gets saved these are the two that rage one against the other and so the
battle constantly rages within us over the dominance of the body
And so though we obviously know that the body is Carnot's fleshly God wants us to subject this body
Under the leading of the Holy Spirit under the leading of the new man to accomplish the will of God
Okay, the flood the flesh desires to be subject to the desires of the flesh the spirit desires to submit to the flesh
Excuse me the spirit desires to submit the flesh to carry out the will of God and although this is a war to temporal war
right if you think about it because even if we were to live to about 80 years of age
that's not a very long time for a war to take place
and so we have only a lifetime to really do our best to subject the flesh
to lead it to do the will of God and to carry out his will for our lives
the problem is is that the carnal Christian that I'm referring to
is the one that doesn't fight back
Right. We all have this war going on within us. We war against our members war against the desires of the flesh
The carnal Christian is produced when it just desires not to fight back
In other words, he just gives into the desires of the flesh the desires of the mind
He doesn't fight back. He allows sin to reign in the mortal body
unchecked and when a Christian remains in that state
For a long period of time they will begin to produce certain characteristics that are akin to the flesh
And this is why it's important for us to not just write off someone up someone has been unsaved
If they claim to believe the right doctrine they claim to believe in the right salvation
But they seem to live a carnal life. It doesn't mean they're not saved
It just means they're very carnal they're fleshly they're babes in Christ
That's important to know you say well, what do you how do you determine if someone is saved enough based upon what they believe?
If a person claims to believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone according to biblical standards, they're saved
You say, what if a person claims that, but then they live in sin, they're committing
fornication, they're involved in drunkenness, well it sounds to me like you're dealing
with a carnal Christian, because a carnal Christian is someone who subjects himself
to those types of behaviors, in spite of the fact that they are a child of God, and make
no mistake about it, but by the grace of God we would be in that same position as well.
Okay, and think about this folks, if the Bible is telling us to walk in the spirit, not fulfill
Obviously that command is given because it implies that we don't walk in the spirit
We are subject to the works of the flesh and if everything just came batteries included when we got saved
We wouldn't need these commands
Why are there so many commandments in the Bible for us to live holy lives?
Why are there so many commandments in the Bible to obey God and to keep sin out of our lives?
Why well, I'll tell you why because our natural inclination is to sin our natural inclination is to disobey God
And so if when we got saved the batteries came included there would be no need for these commands in the Bible
It would just be I don't sin anymore. I just love the Bible a hundred percent of the day
I love God all the time. I always do those things that please him
But there's only one man in history who that can be said about that's the Lord Jesus Christ
Jesus said I do always those things that please him and I don't know you don't match up to that standard neither do I
Therefore, the commanding is to be given to us,
hey, obey the word of God, keep sin out of your life,
walk in the spirit, because our natural propensity
is to sin, disobey God.
This is the war that wages within us.
And so when a Christian gets saved,
when they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,
it's important that they get immediately into the Bible.
It's important that they get immediately into church.
They start learning biblical principles.
Why?
To give them a fighting chance against their flesh.
Because look folks, you know people sometimes, you know, they get saved and yeah, you do have instances where you're like
I'm gonna go to church
I'm gonna start reading the Bible that is a definite case
But there's other instances where people are like, I don't feel like going to church and let me let you know a little secret
Sometimes I don't feel like going to church and I'm the pastor
You know what the flesh is like. I don't feel like going to church today, you know
I don't feel like reading the Bible
I don't feel like soul winning that is the flesh that's working there
But my flesh is dominated by the spirit though, which is why I still read the Bible
I still preach the gospel I still go to church why go to church because obviously I'm the pastor here
But you know if I wasn't the pastor I'd still be going to church because I'm telling my flesh to do that
That's not always the case with everyone though. Sometimes people are just subject to the flesh
They live carnal lives and unfortunately that leads to some pretty severe consequences in the long run
It leads ultimately to a Christian's demise if all they're doing is living according to the flesh
And in fact go to Romans chapter 8 if you would Romans chapter number 8
Romans chapter 8 the title of the sermon is marks of a carnal Christian
I'm going to give you a couple of characteristics of a carnal Christian and
Before I get into my main points
Let me just say this is that a Christian can become carnal as soon as they get saved because they start off carnal, right?
But this doesn't mean that if a Christian grows in their faith they become less carnal
It doesn't mean that they can't be carnal later on
So there is a such thing as a regression right where maybe you're you're you're saved reading the Bible
You're serving God and you're doing really well today
You're doing really well this year, but you know what the same may not be said next year
Because at the end of the day you can still regress we would often refer to this as what being backslidden
Okay, when you slide backwards, you're not going forward.
And so, yeah, you know, a brand new Christian
who is newly saved essentially starts off carnal
because they have to learn the word of God.
They have to learn these principles.
They have to learn what the Bible says about doctrine
and sin and church attendance and Bible reading.
And so little by little, they start sanctifying their lives,
learning how to please God.
But let me say this, a Christian can be a Christian
for 10 years and then in 10 years, regress again.
to becoming a carnal Christian that's a fact now obviously there's many factors that play into
that the type of guidelines and parameters you place in your life to make sure you don't go
backwards but at the end of the day it's possible for anybody to regress in their Christian life
to become carnal once again so this sermon is for the new Christian to kind of admonish you and
encourage you to stop being so carnal and become more spiritual a man but also for the seasoned
regressed in your habits, regressed in your manner of thinking
to get you back on track to being spiritual and not a babe in Christ.
We often think, well, a babe in Christ, someone who's newly saved,
and then you just grow in your faith, you become mature, but the thing is with
Christianity is you can actually become a babe in Christ again.
Because you can regress, you can become back-slidden.
And the attitude you don't want to have is, well, not me.
I'm Keen James Oly.
Not me.
I believe in the reverberate doctrine.
Not me.
I know that I believe in one saved, always saved.
No, yes you.
Take heed, lest ye fall.
And may I also remind you is that change comes little by little.
Right, it's just 1% here 1% there or as the book of Hosea puts it gray hairs are upon him
Here a little and they're a little you know, how do you go gray?
Just one strand at a time you're looking at me you're like, oh look at all this black luscious hair that I have and then you
A year later is just like whoa. Where's all these grays coming from it just pops up
It just came little by little.
And you know what, regressing comes little by little.
Backsliding can come little by little.
If it was just overnight, you would observe it,
you would notice it and do something about it.
But because it's little by little,
because change is little by little,
it can obviously destroy you in the long term
because you don't see the immediate effects
at this moment.
And so first and foremost, let me start off by saying this,
the marks of a carnal Christian.
Number one, the carnal Christian adopts sinful behavior.
This doesn't mean that a spiritual Christian never sins
because we all sin.
There's not a just man upon earth
to do with good and sin, it's not.
But it should be that as a Christian,
we have the objective to sin less, okay?
Yes, we're all sinners,
but let me just tell you we're not all fornicators.
Yes, we're all sinners, but we're not all drunkards. Yes, we're all sinners, but we're not all extortioners
Okay, not all adulterers. It should be our goal and our objective to sin less now
Obviously, I'm looking at a crowd here. That's not involved in fornication at least
I don't think you're not involved in drunkenness or extortion, but there's also sins of the mind covetousness
Greed, lust, things that people may not be able to see with the naked eye. It's taking place in your heart
It should be our objective to clean ourselves of those things as well, right?
But the Carnal Christian does not he adopts sinful behavior because when a Christian intentionally or unintentionally
Neglects spiritual duties the factory settings kick in
What I mean by the factory settings who you really are begins to resurface, right? That means you have to intentionally
Work at being a spiritual person
You know, I remember at a different church
I'd be talking about the Bible someone is just like, oh, what are you trying to do be spiritual? Yeah
Can you can you help? Can you help a brother out?
It's like, oh man, what are you trying to do be spiritual? Isn't that where we're all like?
Striving to do is be spiritual, you know forgive me for putting in some effort to try not to be so carnal and be spiritual
The point that I'm making is that you have to intentionally fulfill spiritual duties in order for the factory settings not to kick in
What I mean by the factory settings the old man, okay? What keeps the old man at bay?
I'll tell you what spiritual duties reading the word of God praying confessing your sins daily going to church
Setting your affections on things above not on the things of this earth. Look at Romans 8 verse number 5
It says for a day that are after the flesh
Do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is
Life and peace because the carnal mind is enmity against God for does not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be
So the day that are in the flesh cannot please God, the Bible says.
So it's pretty simple what it's saying here.
If you're a fleshly person, you just constantly think about fleshly things, right?
You're not thinking about spiritual things, you're not prioritizing spiritual disciplines in your life.
And obviously this doesn't come naturally, you have to intentionally do so.
But may I say, if you're here on a Sunday night, you've obviously prioritized a spiritual duty by being in church and hearing the word of God.
However, a carnal Christian doesn't do this a carnal Christian just kind of gives in to the desires the laziness the apathy
The lack of desire and just says you know what I'm just gonna skip this week
You know what I'm just gonna skip my Bible reading today
You know what I'm not gonna pray and they begin to feed the flesh and then later on they kind of wonder like why am I in the mess
That I'm in I'll tell you why it's because of the fact you've begun to adopt sinful behaviors
Look at chapter 7 if you wouldn't chapter 7
And verse 14, it says, for we know that the law is spiritual,
but I am carnal, sold under sin.
For that which I do, I allow not.
For what I would, that do I not.
But what I hate, that do I.
If then I do that which I would not,
I can sense into the law that it is good.
Now then, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me,
for I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.
For to will is present with me, but how to perform that which
is good, I find not.
For the good that I would do,
Excuse me for the good that I would I do not but the evil which I would not that I do of course the apostle Paul is
Explaining this constant battle that rages within him and he's essentially given credence to the fact that the flesh can be strong
It's it's the appetites of the flesh are strong
And so we need to know how to perform that which is good now
Let me say this regarding carnal Christians adopting sinful behavior, you know, you can't leave that stuff unchecked
Meaning that if you know you're involved in sin you know your your your mind is kind of you know
Deviating from the paths of righteous thinking you need to get back on track as soon as you possibly can okay now
Obviously, I always say coming to church helps with that because it does you come to church
You hear the preaching of God's word
You hear godly conversations of other Christians talking about spiritual things and it kind of helps you to get back on track
But let me also say this. If you're not in church, you're not reading the Bible, you know
Or if you you're not reading the Bible and you are coming to church, but you're not reading the Bible
You can still get off kilter
Because an hour of preaching could only do so much
right
I mean, in our preaching, the Word of God has power but what if you're just consuming all types of fleshly things throughout the week
and then you're only coming to church on Sunday and if at that you're listening, maybe you're not listening during church,
you know, you're losing that battle.
And in my experience, I've noticed that corner Christians can often lose touch with spiritual reality, you know,
like they're backslidden but they don't know that they're backslidden.
They're in church because they have to be in church
Maybe because they're bringing their family to church. Maybe they're just kind of going through the motions
But in here and but and in here they've already their hearts gone back to San Francisco, you know, they went back to Egypt
You just say what I'm saying like they've gone back to the world
They're not a steaming the things of God now you say what that's me. So what do I do quit?
Obviously not because obviously if you do quit you'll be in a worse condition three months from now
Then the condition you are now
This is what you do rectify your way
Okay, ask the Lord to renew your appetite for the things of God and look folks sinful behavior and and
sinful thinking can often cloud judgment and may I say this also remove shame and
You know in the day and age in which we live
I know this for sure because I see you guys all on Instagram and
Instagram tells me what you guys like
It exposes you guys it shows me all your comments
You know, you're like, well, yeah, but faster. I see what you like you see what I like because I want people to see what
I like, you know
I want people to know what I follow what I believe and how I really think and what my my humor is
So I know that for sure, but there's certain things. I'm on here. I'm just like what's this?
And it's crazy
Some of the stuff that you see cuz you know Instagram you may not know this
Okay, and you're about to find out right now
Is there I see some stuff and it's just like why is this popping up my feet? Oh, that's why cuz my church members on there
No, is they is he on here?
They like this. Oh, they commented on this while this is very un-Christian
It's a very un-Christian thing to say in the comment section. This is very unbiblical to say
You know, and I'm not talking about funny videos cuz you know, we all like those types of videos
I'm talking about like godless things it just kind of exposes people for being out of touch. They're losing touch with spiritual realities
Okay, and you know, I'm here to just remind you as your pastor that if that's you you need to get back on track
You're strained a little bit. Okay, you're getting off kilter a little bit
It's time to get back on track to be spiritually minded
You know, maybe it's not enough for you to just come to church on Sunday morning
Maybe you got to crack open your Bible like how about every day?
How about reading the Word of God for 15, 30 minutes, maybe an hour?
Maybe you need to flush out your system from the old man
and start flushing out those sinful behaviors and sinful ways of thinking and you're like,
really? I just didn't think it was that bad. I'll tell you why because sin clouds your judgment and it removes shame sometimes.
Like you don't realize how godless your behavior.
Okay?
and so you know I'm just coming to you as your shepherd as your pastor to just
kind of remind you that you kind of do live in a glass house now okay like
everyone sees what you're doing I see what you're doing now if you know that
and you're okay with that then you really have lost touch because you know
what a virtue of Christianity is shame you know it's a blessing to be ashamed
of things right like we should be ashamed when we do something stupid
When we say dumb things, when we dress a certain way,
we should be ashamed.
God has given within us the virtue of shame
so we don't embarrass ourselves, embarrass our families,
embarrass those around us, and most importantly,
shame the Lord Jesus Christ.
And if you don't see that, then you've lost touch
with reality, you've lost touch with biblical Christianity.
It's time to get back on track, okay?
And stop being such a bad testimony online.
and you know it you know obviously thank God for the internet I I'm all for the
internet as you know I'm for putting out content out there but it's a jungle out
there and you know back in the day you know 10 20 years ago pastors didn't
really know what was going on outside of the church walls but now it's just like
for everyone to see right
And so you know when you post things say things do things obviously
You know you're pretty much open about it, and you're unashamed about it
Well, it's kind of showing you that you're just a backslitting carnal Christian. Okay
And look folks, you know you just kind of wasted your time if you're coming to church and just remaining a carnal Christian
Now look if you're coming to church because you're trying to get back on track then I'm all for it
But you know like can we stay on track?
You know at least for a week. Can you stay on track? Can you start behaving like a Christian?
Can you talk like a Christian? Can you act like a Christian?
We're not asking for perfection neither is God requiring perfection, but he is requiring some some form of maturity and completeness
some semblance of self-awareness
Right and and you know basically what I'm saying is you know take down your dumb comments from these videos, please
And if you're not willing to then remove first works Baptist church from your profile, please or Christian or Baptist
Just because you're bringing us to shame by doing those things, okay?
Go to Galatians chapter 5 Galatians chapter 5 here. What are the marks of a carnal Christian a
Carnal Christian can often adopt sinful behavior if you're not walking in a spirit
You're not disciplining yourself to read the Bible to pray and just to think godly thoughts
Believe it or not that requires some discipline
To meditate and think godly things is it requires discipline. You know why because our minds tend to corruption
That's why the Bible says to cast down imaginations every high thing
I want you to notice this that exalted itself against the knowledge of God
We got to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ
That means intentionally we have to change the way we think renew our minds
And if you don't do your mind tends to corruption it tends to wicked
Imaginations you begin to adopt simple behavior because you become a carnal Christian
Okay, now again a carnal Christian, so we should never judge a Christian and think well
They're not bearing fruit therefore. They're not saved right because a Christian is saved if they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
But just know this is that just because you're a Christian doesn't mean you'll naturally bear fruit
Now if you choose to bear fruit you will bear
You know save people if you choose to walk in the spirit the spirit will bear fruit in your life
But if you don't walk in the spirit, you're not gonna bear any fruit
The Holy Spirit is not going to bear any fruit in your life either Galatians 5 verse 13
Let's skip down actually to
Verse 17 it says for the flesh lest it against the spirit the spirit against the flesh
These are contrary the ones of the others so you cannot do the things that you would but if you'd be led of the spirit
Year not under the law and what this is simply saying is that we have to intentionally
Follow the leading of the spirit and there's a lot of commands in the Bible regarding the spirit
For example, the Bible tells us to be filled with the spirit the Bible tells us to walk in the spirit
grieve not the spirit.
And all of these mean something specific.
For example, when the Bible says to grieve not the spirit,
it's basically saying don't commit sin
because that grieves the spirit, right?
It's referring to the sins of commission.
When the Bible says quench not the spirit,
it's basically saying don't commit sins of omission.
What does that mean?
Meaning that the spirit that dwells within us
always desires to do right.
It's like a fire that burns within us and so when you're prompted to read the Bible and you choose not to read the Bible
What did you just do you quenched the spirit you quenched that fire when you know you're supposed to do something
And you choose not to do it. You're essentially quenching the spirit of God you understand
But when all of these are in line, we're striving to not grieve the spirit
We're striving to not quench the spirit
We're striving to walk in the spirit to be filled with the spirit at that point
We're being led of the spirit like the spirit kind of dictates our life
Understand so he says if you're led to the spirit, you're not under the law
Now the works of the flesh are manifest that says verse 19 which are these
adultery
fornication
uncleanness lasciviousness
idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulations wrath
strife
seditions
heresies and beans murders drunkenness revelings and such like just the name of you
Right, it's just like you know, just let me just name a couple of the works of the flesh and obviously this isn't all this is not
Even an exhaustive list
But it covers the basics
And you know it's always good to kind of go through these and see man
I'm my guilty of any of this because the works of the flesh are manifest
And he says of the which I tell you before as I've told you in time past that they would do such things shall not inherit the
Kingdom of God now don't misinterpret this this doesn't mean that if you commit to these things you're not going to go to heaven
You said then what does it mean well notice that it says that the works of the flesh are manifest
And according to the Bible flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God
right
Which is why when we get saved the spirit is made new and we're given the promise of the resurrection
And what is the resurrection? It's when our incorruptible body is when our corruptible body is raised incorruptible
We're given a glorified body, a transfigured body, absent of sin that can inherit the kingdom of God.
So it's just simply saying that these are the works of the flesh, these are the works of unsaved people,
and obviously these are things that saved Christians can commit.
He goes on to say in verse 22, but the fruit of the Spirit is love.
Joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, tempers, against such, there is no law.
Now there's a false teaching out there that tries to accredit the fruit of the Spirit to the fruit of the Christian,
meaning that if you have to produce these fruits, but this is not what the Bible is teaching.
This is the production of the Spirit.
Within us you understand so it's just like oh man. You don't have peace. You don't have long suffering
It's because you're not producing that fruit
Well, I'm not the one who produces it is the spirit that dwells within me that produces it and that takes place when I walk in
The spirit and obviously it's subject. It's it's one of those things where it's just like case-by-case basis
You know if I am you know walking in a spirit and I'm dealing with someone who's running my patients
If I'm walking in a spirit. I'm gonna have long suffering
right
If I am walking in the spirit and I'm going through a difficult time where maybe the bills are low,
I'm having a hard time, you know, if I'm walking in the spirit, the fruit's going to produce faith in that instance.
So these virtues are produced by a case-by-case basis when I walk in the spirit in whatever situation that I'm in.
Okay? Hey, when I'm out soul-winning, what fruit of the spirit is being produced? Love!
The point that I'm making here is that the Spirit is the one who dictates what fruit is produced at what given time
It's just my job to walk in the Spirit at any given time as well because let's just be honest
We're not always long-suffering now. Are we we're not always patient with people sometimes we lack love
You say what's the point in that? Well, I'll tell you what it means that we are fleshly
We are carnal and this is what the Christian life is is just constantly going in and out of the Spirit
Right, you know, you're on the freeway someone cuts you off you get in the flesh
No love no joy no peace
You're not just like God bless you
Take it
I'm fine with it
It's no meekness there now when you're going 90 or whatever to try to catch up to him or something
Obviously a little but you know the cool thing is is that you can jump into into the spear right away
You know, and let's just be honest. We've all been there
Where you're a little in the flesh and you know that you're in the flesh and then you kind of check yourself
You're like, you know forgiving Lord. I'm sorry for that. I'm gonna walk in the spirit enough to fill the lust of the flesh
And then boom long suffering is produced
Right gentleness is produced. Maybe maybe you're arguing with your spouse. I know no one here would
Maybe you you're discussing something very loudly. Let's just put it that way
You know and your wife is wrong because she's wrong obviously, right?
You know, you know, and she doesn't want to apologize and you know, she's being carnal and all that, you know
But you walk in the spirit and what do you what does it produce gentleness?
long suffering and
We could add to this even forgiveness, right?
Point that I'm making here is that the carnal Christian because they live carnally. They're not walking in the spirit
Therefore, they're not producing these things. So it's not like well, you know, I know Christian
They just don't produce any fruit of the spirit. What's probably because they're just not walking in the spirit
And quite frankly, people have to be taught how to walk in the spirit.
People have to be taught how to reconcile relationships in their marriage.
How to reconcile conflicts in their family.
How to get along with other Christians.
Those things have to be taught.
And the way we teach them and say, look, when this happens, this is what you do.
You forgive them and what are we teaching them?
How to walk in the spirit at that point.
But it takes a level of maturity to kind of check yourself in that given time, right?
Like oh, you forgot my you forgot our anniversary. It's just like I'm sorry
You know you kind of check yourself. You know you're right. I did forget our anniversary. When is it again?
Remind me what it is again
Point that I'm making here is that you know a carnal Christian unfortunately is not always hopping back and forth
They often just kind of remain carnal and then they become somewhat of a
reproach to the people around them because the works of the flesh are constantly being made manifest
And obviously, you know, we went through an entire list of the works of the flesh, but we could add other things to that, right?
People just being rude or just, you know, immature,
there's all types of things. I was gonna say virtues, but they're not virtues.
There's all types of works that the flesh produces if you're not choosing to walk in the spirit.
Okay, he says verse 24, and they that are Christ have crucified the flesh with the affections and lust.
If we live in the spirit, what does that mean? If you're saved,
Spirit of God dwells within you. Okay. Let us also walk in the Spirit if
You already have the Spirit of God willing within you
Why not take advantage of it and actually walk in the Spirit on the daily basis?
You know how many Christians so-called or out there who are not even safe thinking that they walk in the Spirit
They're like, I'm so loving. No, you're prideful because you only have the works of the flesh
You cannot produce the works of the Spirit because you're not even safe. You don't have the Spirit of God willing within you
Folks we have the Spirit of God because we're saved
Therefore let us also walk in the spirit go to Colossians chapter 3 if you would Colossians chapter 3
The problem with the carnal Christian is that they adopt fleshly behavior
They produce little to no fruit and one of the reasons for that is that they're constantly listen to this
feeding the flesh and they're not feeding the spirit
One thing I've noticed as a Christian over the last 18 years is that things that were not appealing to me as a Christian to begin with are now very much appealing to me.
Not because I initially like them or anything like that, it's because of the fact that I've grown to like a specific aspect of Christianity.
You develop an appetite for it.
I came to church with the new King James Bible.
You know, I didn't know anybody someone gave me a new King James Bible
And then I remember my pastor preaching from the King James, and I'm just like
The end out is this and then a guy came up to me after the service and was just like hey
How'd you like the preaching? I said I love that it's just that there's only one problem like what he was saying up there
Whatever he was reading up there doesn't match up with this
And he's just like what do you got? I was like this right here. He's like all this is new King Jesus
Let's go throw this in a trash
Excuse me, you know, he's like yeah, but I'll get you a new Bible. He said you need a King James Bible
And I got my King James Bible and it was just like oh man this thing is like in a different type of English
Because you know had words that I'm not accustomed to using and I had to develop an appetite for it. I
Had to develop an appetite for reading
Extensively right, but now it's just a part of my life. It's just I something I can't live without
Just reading the Bible on a daily basis, right? How about singing the hymns?
You know, I'm used to you know hip-hop and rap and you know, I'm used to rock
I'm used to Kendrick give me some Kendrick Lamar
Give me some you know, I don't know who else is out there who?
Taylor Swift, okay
Give me some Taylor Swift give me this that and the other you know the hymns are boring to me
Well, it sounds like you just have to develop an appetite for it
What it is you have to change your appetite and here's the illustration
I like to give it's a carnal illustration, but it communicates it pretty well, you know when I was dating my wife
My my then who was not my brother-in-law. We used to hang out a lot. His name is Tim
Tim and I used to hang out a lot and Tim used to buy me
Boba milk tea. Okay, how many like Boba milk tea? It's pretty good
Well, when he got it from me, I was like, this tastes like an ashtray.
I never had boba milk tea in my life.
I was like, this is disgusting.
But I didn't tell him that though, because I like his sister.
So he would always give me a boba milk tea.
I'm like, oh, thanks.
And I'm just like forcing myself to drink it.
I'm like, this is so disgusting.
And there's like slimy little balls in it.
You have to chew and it tastes like an ashtray.
And he's just like, and every week he would buy me a boba milk tea.
You know what I mean because I didn't reject it, and I'm just thinking like the things you do for love
And this went on for months because obviously I didn't get married for a very long time
This went on for a long time
But may I say this months into you know him purchasing me this boba milk tea after a while
I actually started liking boba milk tea
Like I develop an appetite for and after a while, you know, I just buy them myself
Even though previously I just did not like boba milk tea at all. What am I saying?
I'm saying that you develop an appetite for things that you may not like and you know what?
Of course, you're not gonna like things in Christianity. Of course, you may not like the disciplines of the Christian life
Why because it goes against your sinful nature
But you have to develop an appetite for spiritual disciplines
One of the best ways to win the battle against your flesh is not to constantly make yourself to do the things
You don't want to do it's actually to like the things that you previously did not like to do
Meaning they like I just don't like to go to church go to church to the point where you start liking going to church
And then it just becomes a part of your life
I just don't like to read the Bible keep reading the Bible to you develop an appetite for reading the Bible
And then you just can't live without it
Make it a part of your spiritual life. I don't like to go to the gym
Then go to the gym till you start liking it till you see some results
To a little bump on your arm pops up or something till you hit a couple PRs, then you'll start liking it
You see we don't always
Develop the habits, you know of things that we just naturally like obviously a lot of those things are bad
But we actually develop habits when we learn to like the things that we don't previously like
Okay, and that's how we do it, but it's not just a matter of developing those habits. We have to starve the flesh
Meaning when your flesh desires something you have to say no
No cupcakes
No hostess
No junk food. I'm doing that right now. You know because I'm about to like gain 10 pounds during the Christmas season
Amen, so I have to like abstain
I must abstain then you know what my family they love eating all the good
stuff during the fall season the cinnamon rolls and all that I like that
too but you know what I have to abstain from it for a season of course the point
that I'm making is you have to starve the flesh maybe you are accustomed to
gambling starve it maybe you're accustomed to drinking alcohol starve
yourself in that area
Maybe you are accustomed to fornication
You're accustomed to some sort of sinful habit one of the best ways to overcome that to not remain a carnal Christian is
Not only to adopt spiritual habits, but also to starve the old man as well
Now here's the problem with the old man you may starve him for a period of time and he's very weak
But it doesn't mean he's completely gone though
So you have to kind of keep it in check
right
Look at Colossians 3 verse 5
Mortify, what does it mean to mortify?
Kill, you think of a mortician.
Mortify, therefore, your members,
which are upon the earth,
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection,
evil concupiscence, and covetousness,
which is idolatry.
For which things take the wrath of God
to come upon the children of disobedience?
What is the Bible telling us here?
It's saying you have to starve and kill the flesh.
You know, you think to yourself,
man, I just struggle with this one sin.
Well, it's probably because you're constantly feeding it.
It's probably because you're constantly placing yourself in the presence of that particular sin
Of course, you're not gonna have victory over it if you're just constantly giving over to those appetites
Folks is not just a matter of adopting spiritual habits
It's also a matter of starving the old habits as well. Okay, how do we abstain from being a carnal Christian?
starve the old man
Be fruitful by walking in the spirit and not fulfilling the lust of the flesh the Bible says in 1st Corinthians 927
Turn with me if you would to 1st Peter chapter 1
And then we're gonna go back to 1st Corinthians 3
1st Corinthians 927 the Apostle Paul said this but I keep under my body
And I bring it under subjection less by any means when I preach to others I myself should be a castaway
That's one of the best pieces of advice the Apostle Paul gives when it comes to overcoming the flesh, right?
He's like I'm gonna discipline my body
Because when I'm preaching I want to make sure that I don't deviate from the path. I don't become a castaway
What is he saying? He's saying that he's subjecting his body to do what it's supposed to do
If you can make your body do what it's supposed to do,
that's already half the battle already, okay?
The problem is, coronal Christians,
no, they just kind of give in to the desires of the flesh,
desires of the mind, they're constantly feeding the flesh.
You say, man, how do I combat that?
Well, first of all, you gotta get saved.
But secondly, this is a process that takes place sometimes months and even years of just adopting spiritual disciplines
Walking in the spirit reading the Bible confessing your sins daily
Singing hymns being in church. You're strengthening the spirit, you know, and you're starving the flesh
You know, this is an illustration that an old IFB church used a long time ago.
And I don't know if it's true, but I'm going to say it because it's a good illustration.
I just don't know if it's true because the old IFB said a lot of weird illustrations back in the day.
Then they often said a lot of it was true, but you know, I think this illustration was good.
They would say, you know, that this missionary won these Indians to the Lord.
And, you know, he went to this particular place,
he got him saved, and then he came back a year later.
You know, he left them with Bibles,
taught him some spiritual disciplines,
and a year later he came back, and he went to the chief.
Okay, and he said, chief, how's it going?
He's like, you know, good and bad.
He's like, why?
He's like, there's, and the chief was like,
there's two dogs in me.
One white, one black.
Right?
And and he's saying this is not a racist joke. I promise you
Although I can see how it could turn into a race one
But he said but he said the guess who which one was the bad one right the black one
He said the black one was like the flesh and the white one was like the spirit
And he's like these dogs are constantly fighting one another and
Then he and then the mission was just like well who wins. He's like the dog. I feed the most
He's basically saying like the way I overcome the works of the flesh is by feeding the spirit
Hey feed yourself some preaching this week
Feed yourself some godly podcasts not how to make millions of dollars or whatever. How about you turn on Alexander?
Scorpio for a little bit
You know, how about you listen to some sermons on sin listen to some sermons on marriage listen to them some sermons
How about memorizing some scripture amen?
Feed the spirit so that the flesh does not have rule over you first Peter 1-14 says as
obedient children not fashioning yourselves according to the former lust and your ignorance
But as he which had called you as holy so be holy in all manner of
Conversation conversation meaning conduct
This is an endeavor that we all should strive for go to first Corinthians chapter 3 first Corinthians chapter 3
We're talking about the marks of a carnal Christian
The marks of a carnal Christian, a carnal Christian adopts sinful behavior.
They bear little to no fruit, unfortunately, because they're constantly feeding the flesh and not feeding the spirit.
May I say this is the number three? The carnal Christian has digestive problems.
What do I mean by that? They have a hard time accepting biblical truths.
And often write them off as, well, that's just your opinion.
You show me a carnal Christian. I'll show you a Christian that comes up with these reasons why they don't like my preaching
This is a fact. I often preach this and you know, this is what they say. Well, that's just Europe. That's your interpretation
Well, I just feel like
Well, I don't think
But rarely if ever do they ever have scriptural evidence to substantiate their claims or positions
It's always them leaning on their own understanding
Why because the carnal Christian has a hard time digesting biblical preaching?
Okay, you said the what's what's the solution just keep eating more hard preaching?
You know
If you're lactose intolerant
They often say you're supposed to drink some what raw milk right brother Adam is that correct and that often fixes that is that right?
Okay, he's nodding. Yeah, you know you get that raw stuff, right?
And it kind of fixes your digestive system.
It helps you digest milk and dairy or whatever it may be.
Well, you know, it's the same thing with preaching.
If you're hearing preaching, it lines up with the Bible,
but it rubs you the wrong way.
What that means, you just need to digest
some more hard biblical preaching.
You need some raw milk, so to speak, right?
There's nothing wrong with the preaching,
because obviously we're reading the Word of God.
We're showing the interpretation thereof.
You're like, well, it's just the way you say it, though.
It's not what you say, it's how you say it, you know?
But folks, this is the same excuse
that everyone comes up with when they realize
they don't have an argument against biblical teaching.
They say, well, it's the volume, and why do you
got to scream it?
Because I'm just mad about stuff sometimes,
because I just need to yell about it sometimes.
But you know what, if I say it nicely,
it doesn't change the truth.
I can say it at a lower volume if you want but it doesn't change the truth
But then you would come up with another reason why you don't agree with it still
I'll tell you why because you have digestive problems
You have a you have an issue with digesting biblical teaching and biblical preaching
What we need to do is just accept that that's what the Bible says and Lord change my appetite
Help me to handle Bible preaching
They're unable to digest the hard truths of the Bible.
They only want milk that which is easily digestible and refuse to eat the meat of the word
Look at 1 Corinthians 3 verse 1 where we started
He says an I brethren could not speak into you as into spiritual bet as into carnal even as into babes in Christ
I have fed you with milk and not with me for hitherto
Ye were not able to bear it neither yet. Now are you able?
So he's telling the Corinthians man, I got to keep giving you milk because you can't handle the meat of the word
You can't bury you can't digest it. You're just having a hard time
Getting the hard truths and obviously first and second Corinthians ends up being hard truths, right?
And first Corinthians is very hard, which is why they're able to accept second Corinthians
And so if you want to accept hard truths, you just got to consume more hard truth
You know, you don't need a TED talk all the time
You don't need someone encouraging you to make it through the week
Every once in a while sermon like that is necessary, but not all the time
We need to develop strong Christians that are able to take the meat of the word
Get some sirloin steak in you get some ribeye in you some New York steaks some ground beef
Some meat for you to digest to develop spiritually strong
Bodies you need that spiritual protein to make it stronger
Folks, you know the the most the nicest sermon that I would preach here would still be some of the hardest sermons in some of these
other churches
Because they're only giving milk. They're unable to digest and may I say this? You know the meat of the word is also lengthy
Right, you know milk you just drink it
Me this is like you got a chew
Makes your jaw tired, right if you're a like a ribeye or something you just chew and you just chew and you just chew it
And it takes longer to eat now. It's more nutritious. It's more delicious
But let me say this a lot of the churches. That's why they only preach for about 30 minutes
Because most people can't handle more than that
It's the it's the scrolling generation where they just need something new all the time. They have all the screens
Everything's flashing smoke and mirrors
What you need is to be able to open up the Bible in your lap
Listen to the preaching of God's word and if it lasts for an hour and a half
So be it now. I'm thankful that our church can handle hard preaching and lengthy preaching
But I'll tell you why they're able to handle lengthy preaching is because they're just subject to lengthy preaching almost every week
You know a short sermon for me is an hour
That's it. That's a short sermon a lengthy sermon. You know an average sermon is like an hour and 15 a
lengthy sermon is like an hour and a half and
I preach sermons for an hour and a half and people are like why I didn't even think it was that long
But I'll tell you why because they're used to the ribeye
They're used to the ribeye
Obviously Sunday mornings I'm trying to give some milk because there's new people in our church. They need milk, right?
Give them some milk
But eventually you need to start consuming some of the meat of the word as well so you don't have digestive problems
Okay
What's the point that I'm making here? The point that I'm saying is that a carnal Christian has problems with this and along with this
Carnal Christians have a hard time
Taking correction
That is a mark of a carnal Christian
Where they get corrected from the pulpit or in person and it is they resist correction. They were resist for proof
Oh, I don't really think that's true. Oh, I don't I don't agree with that. I'll tell you why cuz you're carnal
folks the Christian life is a life of
correction
From the time that we get saved. We're told that we're wrong about salvation
We get saved and then for the rest of our life. We're just being told how wrong we are
And you know what that's part of life
Because the way you get better at something is by correcting that which is incorrect in your life
Incorrect in your way of thinking incorrect in the way you behave. You know, God's not out here giving consolation prizes
Just kind of rewarding people just you know, you're right. You're right. You're all right
You get a reward you get everyone gets a reward. No one is wrong
One plus one is three. Sure. Why not?
We don't want to hurt your feelings, so yeah, you're right about that wrong
We need to teach people what the right answer is and people need to admit that they're wrong folks
The way we grow is by learning that we're wrong and you know what if you're a carnal Christian
Let me just admonish you tonight to understand this when you are corrected just take the correction and correct your way
The Bible tells us in Proverbs chapter 12 verse 1 whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge
But he that hate it's reproof listen to this is brutish
Now what does brutish means it means stupid?
That's God's word saying that
So he equates getting reproved and accepting reproof as getting knowledge
So you know why because knowledge hurts to get
Right knowledge hurts to get but once you get it you get it
But the person who hates reproof God says that person is stupid and yes
That's what brutish means a synonym in the Bible in the Book of Proverbs is also a fool a fool is another way of saying stupid
Someone who's dumb
What is the Bible telling us here learn to take correction learn to take reproof
You're not always right a scorn or verse fifth chapter 15 verse 12
Love it's not one that reproved him neither will he go unto the wise
Meaning that Carnal Christians refuse to go get advice Carnal Christians refuse to get reproved
But why is Christian says you know I know I'm wrong on some things can't be right about everything
I want to know what I'm wrong about and I want to correct my way that shows what maturity
You want to grow from being a baby in Christ a carnal Christian you got to learn how to take reproof
Okay, turn with you go back to first Corinthians three if you wouldn't first Corinthians three
I don't know if you left there, but first Corinthians three my next point and being a carnal Christian is
That the carnal Christian is dominated by division envy and strife
He says in chapter 3 in verse number 3 for ye are yet carnal for whereas
There is among you envying and stripe and divisions are you not carnal and walk as men
So the Apostle Paul is addressing something very specific here at the church at Corinth where it seems as though this church was kind of
breaking up into clicks
right
There is like division within the church now
I mentioned this either last week or something where you know, we should have division with the world
But within the church is we should endeavor to keep the spirit of the unity right in the bond of peace
That's what the Bible teaches
But when there's carnal Christians present within a local congregation, there's often division
Even within a local New Testament church
Clicks is it really is it clicks? We'll look at verse 4 for a while one say I am of a Paul
Another I am of a Paulos. Are you not carnal? Who then is Paul?
And who's a policy but ministers by whom you believe even as the Lord gave to every man go back to chapter 1 chapter 1
So I'm just reminding you here the Apostle Paul saying you're carnal because there's envy strive
Divisions you're saying you're part of this click you're saying you're part of this click and what are they implying that one is better than the other
That Paul is better than a policy a policy is better than Paul right look at chapter 1 verse 10
Says now I'll be seat your brother and by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you all speak the same thing
And that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind in the same judgment
For has been declared unto me of you my brethren by them which are of the house of chloe that there are
Contensions among you now this I say that every one of you say I am of Paul and I have Apollos and I have Cephas and I have Christ
So you have guys like well, I'm from Paul's team
There's a warm apollos team
You know, it's like well, I'm from Cephas and then another group is like well, you know, I'm from Jesus team
We're better than all you guys
This Christ divided was Paul crucified for you, or are you baptized in the name of Paul?
What he's trying to get across here trying to get across you know in a local New Testament church
There shouldn't be divisions because when there's divisions like that it only shows you your carnal your flesh leave now
How do we put this in practical terms well in our church? We have teams
Right we have about seven teams
And these seven teams are constructed in order to aid people in their spiritual growth to be great soul winners,
preachers of the gospel, mature Christians, and it works really well.
A lot of mature Christians have been raised and people are preaching the gospel, it's great.
But we never want to have this mentality that one team is better than the other.
Like there's gangs in the church or something like that.
Like Marcos is gang is like at odds with Ulysses is gang
And they're just constantly in competition one with another we like it better the way Marcos does it
Because he's you know, he has this way of doing things. It's the same church
And look if I wanted to take what what team are you on Lucas?
Cody's Cody's not even here. Bro. Bro. So divided. He's not even here
He's watching though
You know if I told if I told Lucas, hey Lucas, you know, I'm gonna I'm gonna move you to Marcos's team and
in Lucas is just like
The Mexican guy Marcos
And I say yeah, and he has an issue with that that would make him a carnal Christian
You know why because he's part of the same church
There's no difference
There should be no divisions in that regard
Yeah, but I kind of like the way like, you know, I like the way Cody does things you do
I'm just kidding. You know, I like the way I'm just joking. You know, I like the way Cody does things
I like the way he teaches. Well good, and you're also gonna like the way Marcos teaches
You're also gonna like the way, you know, brother Ulysses teaches the way brother Alex teaches, you know brother way brother Glenn teaches
They're all there to aid you in your spiritual growth
Don't create clicks in our church
Whereas like one is better than the other. We're better. We just are so family. No, we're family here
Okay, and you know, it's great to have the teams and I love the teams
I think I honestly believe that it's just helped our church tremendously in a big way
But you know, sometimes I got to say stuff like this to make sure it doesn't get out of hand and gang start getting
Produced here where there's like a division with team teams and team leaders
The team leaders are there to help you.
They're here to help everyone.
You're here to be a blessing to our church.
They're here to be a blessing to you.
That's how it works out.
Don't be a corner Christian.
You're like, oh, it looks as if it's like, man,
but I'm just used to being with all the white people, though.
You're really just going to put me
with all these Mexicans?
Yes, you need to be exposed to that culture.
You know, you'll be fine.
You know, it's not like they're leaving to a different church.
We're not relocated. We're not revoking their membership. I first works about this church and removing it and here's the thing folks
You know and let me also say this if someone from our church leaves our church to go to a different church for whatever reason
We should rejoice. I would not rejoice if they just left our church and didn't go to any church
Or if they went to like a really really bad church, but if they're going to another Bible believing church a new
I have be church. I'd be happy for them. I'd be excited because at the end of the day in the grand scheme of things
We're all part of the same team
Right. We're all striving together for the faith of the gospel. We all want to get people saved. We all got the same goal
Right. This is the goal of Christians. We shouldn't be clicking up one with another and saying well
I think this church does it better. Well, obviously we should have a bias for our church because this is the church we go
To but at the end of the day, we are all part of the same team. No one is better than the other
We're not we're all of Christ
right
And so, the point that I'm making here is that there is one body, one spirit, even as
you are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God
and Father of all, meaning that we're all on the same team here, okay?
So yeah, you may be moved to a different team, but technically it's the same team.
And so it's important for us to understand that and you're like well
You know, I just don't really get along with certain people of other teams then that means you're carnal
Right, that's a carnal mentality to have because you guys go to the same church
You guys shouldn't be able to get along
I'm not saying you should be best friends or something like that, but we're Christians here and as Christians
You know at the very least we should be able to live diplomatically with everyone
Right, we should just be diplomatic. We could be kind generous, but you know tenderhearted one toward another and that's it
Even if you don't hang out together, you're still church members of the same church. Okay
All right, let's move on here. Go to Hebrew chapter 5 here, and I'm almost done. Actually you stay there stay there
Where are you? I forgot where you guys are
Okay, stay in first Corinthians tree, please stay in first Corinthians tree
Let me breeze over this point. Carnal Christians are easily deceived and persuaded
The Bible talks about that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro carried about with every wind of doctrine
By the slide of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie away to deceive and this is why it's important when a person gets saved
They get into church
Why don't you say you can learn the Bible on your own?
Of course you can but the biblical prescription here is that babes and Christ are easily deceived
So therefore, they kind of need someone to kind of help them along the way to teach them the Bible
until the point where they were able to stand in their two feet and discern false doctrines for themselves.
To avoid false prophets themselves, they kind of need someone to kind of aid them along
because Carnal Christians are easily deceived and persuaded.
And here's my last point, and that is, Carnal Christians, if you remain a Carnal Christian,
The longer you remain a carnal Christian, the more wood, hay, and stubble you will accumulate
for the judgment seat of Christ.
It says in 1 Corinthians 3 verse 12, Now if any man build upon this foundation, gold,
silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, every man's work shall be made manifest for
the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try
every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire."
So a more accurate point would be that carnal Christians are saved, yet so as by fire.
You see, the carnal Christian, because they're not being fruitful, because they're not walking in the Spirit,
can often accumulate a lifetime of just vanity.
And therefore, it's important for us to realize that, you know, if you're a babe in Christ, you're a carnal Christian,
it's time to make a decision. You know what? I need to start buckling down in my disciplines as a Christian.
I need to start taking the things I've got a little more serious. Like, I need to, like,
not just read the Bible on a whim.
Like, I feel like, I feel spiritual today. I think I'm gonna read the book of Psalms.
No, go read Leviticus the entire week.
Yeah, but that's so boring not to the new man. It's not the new man loves Leviticus
The new man loves Deuteronomy the new man loves, Hosea
It's just that you're feeding the flesh and the flesh just wants something new every single time
It wants that which it's familiar with
You need to make sure you develop some godly appetites
And you know what when you develop these appetites when you develop these disciplines
You're on your road to gold silver precious stones and avoiding the woodhand stubble at the judgment seat of Christ
One thing that I absolutely get ecstatic about is when brand-new Christians in our church are learning to preach the gospel
And they're they're winning souls to Christ. That is an amazing thing. I love that it rejoices my heart
It lets me know that we're getting the work of God done here. We're reproducing ourselves
I think that's great and you know what people new Christians who are winning other Christians other Christians other people to Christ
They're getting people saved. You know what they're doing. They're accumulating gold silver precious stones and they are one step away
You know they're one step away from being from not being carnal and they're becoming more spiritual
So keep zoning every single week keep reading your Bible. Oh, man. This is just so much work. Just take it one day at a time
One week at a time one sermon at a time one soul winning time at a time one chapter at a time
One session 15 minutes of prayer at a time take it one at a time because that 1% each time will accumulate
Over time and you'll see how much progress you made in the long run. What's the point here?
I'm trying to help you to avoid being a carnal Christian. No one none of us can avoid starting off as a carnal Christian
But we can't avoid regressing back to being a Carnal Christian once we've matured in our Christian lives.
Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for your word. Help us as your people,
not to be fleshly, to be carnal, to lose touch with reality.
And Lord, I pray that our hearts will not grow hardened.
If we find ourselves in that state, that's probably the scariest thing to think about, is that a Carnal Christian can often lose touch with reality,
can have a heart in heart, and therefore not realize the condition that they're in.
I pray that, Lord, you'd help us as your people to stay sensitive to those things, help us to continue to develop and work on our spiritual disciplines, Lord.
And we know that the Christian life is two steps forward, one step back.
And I pray that we just continue to move forward.
We love you.
We thank you.
Pray these things in Jesus' name.
Turn your song books to song number 164.
Praise him, praise him.
Song number 164.
On that first verse.
Praise Him, praise Him, Jesus our Blessed Redeemer, sing.