1June 10, 2009

We closed last week talking about 1 Peter 2:99 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:

Announcements?

How to do that

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1 Peter 2 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Dearly beloved by God and God’s children,

but strangers and pilgrims to the world.

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Romans 12 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, Will of God.

As citizens of Heaven, and

As strangers and pilgrims in this world,

we are not supposed to fit in.

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As Citizens of Heaven living in this world,

We are representatives of a better land.

Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Metamorphosis

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The larvae of holometabolous insects bear no resemblance to their adult parents. Their habitats and food sources may be entirely different from the adults as well.

Larvae grow and molt, usually multiple times. Some insect orders have a unique name for their larval forms: butterfly and moth larvae are caterpillars; fly larvae are maggots; and beetle larvae are grubs.

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How do Christians undergo such a drastic change?

By the renewing of our minds8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4

June 10, 2009 7

1 Peter 2 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Our mind and heart will be destroyed by fleshly lusts often yielded unto.

Set our minds on the pure and the lovely.

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16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Galatians 5:16-17 (KJV)

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Romans 8:6-7 (KJV)

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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, revelings, and such like: …

Galatians 5:19-21 (KJV)

Human Nature

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22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 3Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)

Godliness

Human NaturePeter taught us to abstain from fleshly lusts,

which war against the soul.

Why is that important?

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2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 1:2 (KJV)

Why don’t Christians prosper and enjoy good health?

Look at the way we have lived our lives.

What have we habitually followed after?

The lust of the flesh?

The fruit of the Spirit?

And it is one or the other.

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Who we really are

As the soul goes, so are we.

Abstain from fleshly lusts in thought, word, and deed;

they war against the soul.