Feast of Tabernacles 2019: What Does It Mean to Be Converted?

[Music] well brethren I wanted to talk today about actually what I wanted to talk today about mr. misters Bobby talked to you about it yesterday so I had to quickly make some alterations to my message today but what I want to talk today about is something that is so fundamentally important that if we don't act upon it we won't be in the kingdom and you know there are there are a number of things that expectations that God does set for us that we we need to be actively working on but this one in particular I wanted to cover that's sort of in a Bible study type fashion but I think hopefully by the end of the message today you will have have had some things to consider and and also perhaps understand our responsibilities of course in first Peter chapter 3 in verse 18 we we know that scripture they're fairly well it says to grow in grace and knowledge and the indication there is that God expects us to be growing expects us not to just sit and be happy with the way we are who we are and not be changing one God calls us out of the world he calls us from deception from blindness from a way of life that is so contrary to God's God's Way of life and he says now that I'm opening your mind I'm revealing truth to you you need to be growing and you need to be acting as we heard in the sermonette we need to have ears to hear not just hear these things and then walk away and forget but we need to be growing so let's start in Matthew chapter 18 and we'll read a verse here Matthew chapter 18 and verse 3 which is instruction by Jesus Christ Himself our the one who we follow we're to be disciples of Christ and he has come in the flesh to set us an example Matthew chapter 18 and verse 3 and this is a part of that development in growth because I know that all of us want to be in the kingdom of God we heard this morning about the glory that we will shine with God's glory as spirit full members in the family of God and we certainly do look forward to that but we have a responsibility ourselves here in Matthew chapter 18 verse 3 and almost at verse 2 when Jesus called a little child to him and set him in the midst of them and said assuredly I say to you it's interesting word assuredly so I'll speak I'm speaking in truth now this is this is something that Christ was very definite about he says I surely I say to you unless you are converted and become as little children you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven and so in that one very simple sentence instruction Jesus Christ says unless you are converted unless you become as a little child and you won't be in the kingdom of God and so we realize here that this important statement says that unless this conversion process takes place unless we understand what conversion really is then we're gonna miss out on one of the greatest opportunities that God is preparing for not only for us but for all of mankind and so unless there is a conversion we will not be in the kingdom so what is conversion what is conversion and that is what we will discuss today what is true conversion my title is what does it mean to be converted as I said we had to grow in grace and knowledge we're to be changing to give you a brief explanation will probably expand on the explanation as we go through the sermon so that we understand it but brief explanation to begin with conversion is the changing of our mind and our actions from the carnal way of the natural man to a different way of thinking a different way of acting and changing into and becoming more like and having the very nature and qualities of God so we're converting from the carnal natural fleshly mind way of life to a spiritual mind a spiritual way of life perhaps we have read this will this word in the past and we have been influenced in our understanding of it because of false doctrines perhaps the born-again doctrine the doctrine of the immortal soul we see in society that word used more commonly when we talk about somebody who converts to from say Catholicism to Christianity it's a conversion of converted to from Muslim to to Christian its conversion oh that's about as deep as it gets in a lot of people's understanding of conversion I've converted from rugby union to Ozzie rules from cricket to hockey we change our preferences but it's a lot more than that conversion isn't just being an atheist and all of a sudden now I'm a Christian and Jesus Christ was talking to his disciples they were already converted in that sense and he says to them unless you are converted you won't be in the kingdom of God the kingdom of heaven what was Christ talking about because it just wasn't being from a fisherman to a priest or a tentmaker to a minister there's some very important things that we brethren unless we understand unless we begin to to make the changes to convert in the context that Jesus Christ is talking about we won't be in the kingdom and that's really what we want to talk about today and so Christ's instruction is far deeper and more profound than perhaps we we understand so to convert something means to change from one purpose or form or use to another so we convert perhaps an empty block of land we convert this how to talk about it in sort of context that we might initially understand an empty block land and now they're building a cold supermarket that land is being converted from one purpose to another you can convert and convert water into steam liquid into gas that's a conversion it was water and now it's gas it's something completely different its purpose and its function and it's it's its existence is for a from a much different use and this is the analogy that can help us to begin to understand what conversion talks about we read on the first day of the feast I think on the second day as well we read as in isaiah where the swords were turned into plowshares the weapons of war turned into or converted into instruments of agriculture conversion as it says spears into pruning hooks that is conversion so conversion is about change and so Jesus Christ is saying unless we change we won't be in the kingdom of heaven and so we have two brethren as God's people go through a very important change in our lives in our mind it goes to the point where we need to change pretty much deeper than just changing our faith or changing our church or changing our outward appearance we're talking about an internal change something that is far deeper than the physical outward appearance we're talking about changing the heart and changing the mind that is beginning to touch more deeply on or more specifically on what conversion is that Christ is talking about let's go to Ezekiel chapter 36 have a look at interesting passage here and we're looking at the change that will begin to take place on all of humanity because humanity at the moment is hostile it's against God it's against God's Way of life it resents God and saying God get out of my life and God is going to make a change and humanity will be converted in that sense Ezekiel chapter 36 from one approach one way of life to something completely different is ETO 36 and verse 23 I will sanctify my great name which has been profaned it's among the nations which you have profaned in their midst those gods talking to Israel here and Israel was given God's laws in Israel rather instead of obeying God was sought after the gods of the nations around them instead of worshiping idols performing all sorts of horrible religious ritual acts and God's name was profaned in their midst in the nation and the nations shall know that I am the Lord says the Lord God when I am hallowed in you before their eyes for I will take from among the night you from among the nations gather you out of all the countries and bring you into your own land and this is look this is the conversion that will take place and then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you shall be clean so the nation of Israel was previously profaning god's way of life they were contrary to God's Way and God says I'm gonna sprinkle clean water on you I'm gonna clean you up wash you out and you shall be clean I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from your idols and I will give you a new heart because their old heart was carnal was fleshly and he says I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you and I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and you will keep my judgments and you will do them now the nation of Israel had turned their back so completely on God as we see the world today as we brethren ourselves were before we were called and he will put his spirit in them and he will teach them that his judgments and they will keep them verse 28 and you shall dwell in the land that I give to your fathers you shall be my people and I will be your God and I will deliver you from all of your uncleanness this is the conversion process that has to happen with us otherwise as Christ said in Matthew 18 we will not be in the kingdom of heaven so it's a heart it's a mind it's a new spirit it's a new approach it's a new way of life completely from what we were and who we were verse 30 and I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your field so that you need never again be the reproach of famine among the nations and you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that we're not good and you below the yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations not for your sake should I do this says the Lord God let it be known to you and be ashamed and confounded for your own ways o house of Israel thus says the Lord God on the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities referring in a sense to baptism the day that we are cleansed from our sins I will enable you to dwell in the cities and the ruins shall be rebuilt well our whole way of life that we've lived will begin to come back together again we will have peace and oftentimes when we called God calls us we calls us from the depths of despair usually people who are going through great trials or personal problems the people that call us up you typically will call us and say look I need help my family's falling apart I've got a health problem life is a mess there and they're caught crying out to God for things to get better and once those sins are forgiven once we start to live God's Way of life then in a sense we physically begin to be rebuilt just as it says here that as Israel would be rebuilt in desolate ruins cities are now fortified and inhabited and the nations which are left all around you shall know that I the LORD have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate well we can't take the credit for these things brethren we need to recognize that it is only through God its power that we can come out of our sinful ways to be rebuilt and I the LORD have spoken it and we'll do it that says the Lord God I will also let the house of Israel enquire of me to do that to do this for them I will I will increase their men like a flock like a flock offered as holy sacrifices like the flock at Jerusalem on its face days and so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men and so the whole world will go through a conversion process that's what Ezekiel's talking about here in this context we also can read in Deuteronomy chapter 30 that same change that has to happen which is called conversion Deuteronomy chapter 20 and verse six sorry jitter anima chapter 30 and verse 6 notice the instruction here and the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants to love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all your soul that you may live that's we need to ask ourselves sometimes the question brethren do we I love God with all our heart with all our soul or are we weakened Christians are we Saturday Christians and the rest of the week we're off pursuing our own pleasures [Music] certainly we have to work we have to provide for our families we have responsibilities we have jobs and commitments to take care of but do we go through the whole week and then all of a sudden we get to the Sabbath we go oh yeah that's right I've gotta go to church well we need to be more than just weekend Christians we need to be we need to be Christians every day of our life but it says there the heart of your descendants is to love the Lord your God verse 6 with all of your heart with all your soul that you may live also the Lord your God will put all of these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you and persecute you and you and you will again obey the voice of the Lord and do all his commandments which I command you today [Music] and verse 9 the Lord your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand in the fruit of your body and the increase of your livestock and into the produce of your land for good for the Lord will again rejoice over you for good as he rejoiced over your father's if you obey and that's the key if you obey the voice of the Lord your God to keep his Commandments he statutes his judgments or his statutes which are written in the book of the law and if you turn to the Lord your God with all of your heart with all of your soul your physical life that you give over to Jesus Christ he becomes our Lord and Master he owns us he paid for us through his through his blood he paid the price the ransom price and God says there that we need to turn to him with all of our heart with all of our soul that's conversion that's what Jesus Christ was talking about there in Matthew 18 unless we do that if we're not prepared to give up everything this Christ says we cannot be his disciple unless we put him first above brother and sister and mother and even your own life also and you go to Hebrews the faith chapter Hebrews 11 and look at those who came before us who gave their life so they believe that's what Jesus Christ is talking about so we ask ourselves the question we examine ourselves on the day on that leading up to Passover am i growing am i being converted in my changing as I should be is my heart and my mind and my personality changing is my character developing isn't my actions reflecting that of Jesus Christ because if they're not Christ says we won't be in the kingdom of heaven and so we need to change the way we think Romans chapter 12 the Apostle Paul talks about the change that has to take place get our mind Romans chapter 12 [Music] and verse one I beseech you therefore brethren my plea is bold is pleading with us but he recognizes how important this is he says I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service and do not be conformed to this world but be transformed transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God this word transformed comes from the Greek Metamorpho which comes from the word metamorphose metamorphosis which means to change from one to another when we see that take place perhaps in a butterfly or a caterpillar is is living and eating all your vegetables and then all of a sudden it turns into a nice white moth and and flies away well that's that's a metamorphosis that takes place it has to take place in us as well it takes place in our lives where we were previously under the influence of Satan the devil and then God calls us when we start to make a change in our mind in our thinking we also can see in second Corinthians same the same instruction to be changing but changing into what we don't want to turn into caterpillars and butterflies we want to turn into something else and what is it that we need to be met of morphing into 2nd Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 18 [Music] but we all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are being transformed it's the same word Metamorpho we're being changed into another form and we are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory just as by the Spirit of the Lord we being changed into something glorious brethren by the Spirit of the Lord Romans 8:29 gives us an even deeper understanding of what we're changing into Romans 8 verse 29 for whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed and this word conformed means to convert into or to conform into something to change into we had to be conformed into the image of his son [Music] so that change that is taking place is is a change that requires us to begin to reflect Jesus Christ the word the logos the one who spoke and the earth existed one had power of the universe to create all things just by speaking that's who where and what we're conforming into and transforming into and being conformed to conformed to his to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brethren he's the one that's gone before us and we are working towards that same change that Jesus Christ had himself from physical to spiritual it's another aspect of that a conversion that there has to take place we'll look at that very soon so we see here brethren that we need to change our whole approach our whole mind our whole attitude must change and our mind needs to change and there's two types of minds that exist brethren there are two minds that exist the first is the carnal mind and the second is the spiritual mind carnal mind and the spiritual mind and carnal mind is a mind that means that it's fleshly exists without God and is influenced by the physical senses the carnal mind is influenced by the physical senses and by the emotional responses the Apostle Paul talks about this mind and it's this carnal mind and its limitations in first Corinthians chapter 2 and this this brethren is the mind that we want to that we we had hopefully we are converting from this mind into something else but we do need to understand this mind because we're not perfect yet [Music] first Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 14 and it helps us to see the limitations of this carnal mind and why we without without the change we're simply a a quite ignorant of what God is doing the 2nd 1st Corinthians chapter 2 verse 14 but the natural man does not or the carnal man and does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned yea the carnal mind cannot understand God's laws that's why you can argue until your black and blue in the face with your neighbor or your husband or your wife or your boss or whoever it is about why they should keep the Sabbath why they should give up eating unclean food why we don't go to heaven when we die because that's that carnal mind which is switched off and and it's foolishness you end up having a foolish debate with someone and you just have to just throw your hands up and say look there's no point I can't have this conversation with you because it's a carnal closed mind to the things of God the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him nor can he know them and that is the carnal mind and if and unless we are converted this is what Christ is is saying that we really cannot understand God's purpose God's plan his laws and instead we're in opposition to him we're self-willed we are self-reliant we are unteachable that's the carnal mind and we need to change the Apostle Paul goes even further in states that if we remain in this state ultimately it leads to death Romans chapter 8 and verse 6 this is why Christ said you will not see the kingdom of heaven because if we aren't converted if we don't have this change and if we stay in that carnal state that carnal mind ultimately it's death Romans 8 verse 6 so let's start verse 5 for those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh one of the things that just keep us occupied you know the football the races you know reality TV all of those things that just keep us dumb dumbs us down really we set our minds the things of the flesh things that please the flesh now but those who live according to the spirit are the things of the Spirit for to be carnally minded our fleshly mind minded is death if we stay that way brethren there's there is no hope there is no future in the kingdom of God if we be carnally minded is enmity or his Hoss the carnal mind verse 7 sorry let me just go back to verse 6 that for to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace because the carnal mind is enmity against God and that word M natee means hostile it's against God and unless we repent of that unless we change it's gonna take us in only one direction for it is not subject to the law of God nor indeed can be and that's why it says that spiritually minded is life and peace know that you you put it into practice and I'm sure you have already when you start keeping God's laws you receive an incredible sense of peace in your life [Music] and when we keep God's laws we have that peace but if we don't we're in opposition to God to God's nature is character well then we cannot please God as it says there in verse 8 then those who are in the flesh cannot please God [Music] so clearly the carnal state cannot know God cannot obey God and cannot please God and so we need to be converted from that carnal state into a spiritual state where we are no longer cut off from God notice verse 9 there but if you're not in the flesh but in the spirit if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you of course through the Holy Spirit at baptism we've had the hands laid on us if the Spirit of God dwells in you now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he is not his so if you haven't come to that point in your life where you've recognized the need for God's Spirit to be given to you a down payment and earnest then you are still carnal and as it says there to be carnally minded is death so we need God's Spirit to help us in this process of conversion we cannot do it on our own it's impossible we cannot change from that carnal nature into God's nature spiritual nature and the only way for that to happen is explained to us in Acts chapter 2 and verse 38 Acts chapter 2 of course the Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost was preaching a powerful sermon so powerful that those who are listening came to recognize their human nature their carnality they had been previously not so long ago crying out for the death of of Jesus Christ put him to death for they said and the Apostle Peter here in verse 36 of chapter 2 he says therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ now when they heard this they were cut to the heart they had to be pricked come their conscience had to be pricked and when they who came to recognize their carnality and what they had just done and who they were and how easy it was for them to be affected certainly by a spirit there when they heard this they were cut to the heart and and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles men and brethren what should we do and brethren we've many of us have come to that point in our lives where we've recognized our selves we've come to ourselves in that sense and we've said what do we need to do I don't want to be the way I was I wouldn't I need to change and Peter explains there in verse 38 Peter said to them repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission forgiveness of sins that you may be and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and that's what we just read about a little earlier on so conversion requires true repentance brethren not just being sorry you know some people go through some trials in life they perhaps they have been smoking all their life and they get lung cancer and they they recognize that they've made some mistakes and they're sorry how many people do you see in the cancer ward taking walking out the front door and having a smoke while they're getting their chemo treatment well they're not they haven't repented they're sorry in a sense because you know it's caught up with them but there needs to be a much deeper sorrow than just just a very superficial sort sorrowful this like that we need to recognize that our sins will what put Christ to death and our sorrow must be our change our conversion must be a lot deeper than just a superficial sorrow a second Corinthians chapter 7 points us to a sorrow that we need to have not a [Music] not a superficial sorrow we can't [Music] we can't just rest on that a second Corinthians chapter 7 a very interesting passage here in verse 8 the Apostle Paul had to make some corrections to the church in Corinth he's a wrote a bit of a stone corrective letter to them and it had good effect but in verse 8 he says even if I would if I made you sorry with my letter I do not regret it though I did regret it for I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry though only for a while it was like when I was a kid dad would say don't you do that I'd say I'm sorry dad cuz I knew I'd get a spanking I wanted to avoid that bit of pain but I wasn't really sorry because the week later I did it again and the conus the kind of repentance and sorrow that god's looking for is the story that says i will never do that again I will never break your laws again that's the conversion that's the change that God wants to see in all of us he says there you made you sorry but only for a little while now I rejoice not that you were made sorry but that your sorrow led to repentance to change - conversion for what for you were mates sorry in a godly manner that you might suffer loss from I see nothing for godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation not to be regretted but the sorrow of the world produces death so we we need to to have this depth of understanding of why we need to make those changes in our life leading to repentance leading to conversion that's what God is looking for and we can practically look at that in Galatians chapter 5 that change that has to take place in us in Galatians chapter 5 gives us a fairly clear description of the kind of changes that we need to start to make in our life because we can't stay the same brother now who you were 10 years ago should not be who you are today and who you are today should not be who you are in five or ten years from now you need to be growing and overcoming and converting into something that reflects Jesus Christ we're here in Galatians chapter five verse 19 now the works of the flesh remember that the flesh we read about in Romans the carnal mind the carnal mind the works of the flesh are evident which are adultery fornication uncleanness lewdness idolatry and these are all the things that we did before we were called we had idols we're worshipping other things we were involved in wrong practices and acts and parties and all sorts of things that were damaging our bodies no doubt God says you don't want to be that way anymore you have to convert from that idolatry sorcery verse 20 hatreds those are things where Christ is magnifying the law not just the letter of the law but now the spirit of the law has to be kept that's why you know brethren I see even members of the church sometimes who have conflicts with each other and I think are we are we still reading Romans it says well there's still contentions amongst you a you're not still carnal behaving as mere men and sometimes it's sad to see people who have been in the church for twenty thirty years acting and so Connelly that's what Christ says unless you are converted and change won't be in the kingdom and this is the works of the flesh hatred which is murder and where it needs to be repented of I'm sure somebody's gonna do something that's gonna hurt you or you know give you some pain but how you deal with that will determine the depth of conversion that you have and so contentions and jealousies outbursts of Wrath now these are all things of the fleas are the things we should be coming out of brethren envies murders drunkenness not that we're having too many murders in the church these days thankfully but if you have a problem with drink then be careful about that no drunkard will be in the kingdom no it's not wrong to have a drink of course but we better be very careful as mr. Armstrong says it's not the thing it's the misuse of the thing it's the wrong use of a thing and if you have a drink and if you have another one and if you think three is too much you should probably stop [Laughter] in revelries and the like of which I tell you beforehand just as I also told her in times past that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God and brethren assuredly I say if we look at that and if we are if we're falling down if we're guilty of these things if we if we do have jealousies if we do sometimes lose our temper if there is selfish ambition well then we need to we need to repent of that because that is carnal and Christ says unless we're converted from their carnal nature we won't see the kingdom verse 22 and this is what we're converting to the Spirit this is where we need to be focusing our attention now as we grow the fruit of the Spirit is love and love is patient love is glossup as long as kind as an Envy doesn't boast does not seek its own does not think evil that's what love is god is love and that's what we're converting to love is joy love is joy joy is joy the spirit is joy you know and we see that brethren we see God's people are happy and I had probably happened to you it's happened to me I've had people come up to me and say well you every time I see you you're always happy you always got a smile on your face and it's nice and I think you know what that's because I have got spirit and people can see that they sense it in God's people and we need to reflect these fruits of God's Spirit peace and long-suffering and kindness and goodness and faithfulness and gentleness and self-control against such things there is no law and so we need to be converting from that the works of the flesh to the works of the Spirit as Paul talks about here practically the Brethren once you have God's Spirit once you are in that process of conversion being converted doesn't happen straight away you know it's not a click of the fingers and all of a sudden you're converted it's a process it's a life long process we read in Acts chapter 3 19 says repent therefore and be converted the process that frankly will take a lifetime but we need to be actively working towards that in Psalm 19 verse 7 it says the law of God is perfect converting the soul when God's law will guide us it'll be a lamp to our feet they'll help us in those difficult times and it will begin that process when we're applying God's laws it will convert the soul this spiritual growth brethren this conversion will take time it will take effort it will take diligence you'll have some you'll have some winds and you'll have some losses you have some you'll have some obstacles to face from time to time we know a great example of conversion though we see one a fine example of one individual we can look at Shaw who demonstrates this process of conversion and also the longer-term battle that he had and if Saul went through this I think we can all relate to him let's just rehearse some of his example there but Galatians chapter one we'll look at a few scriptures here but to begin with we see him in his carnal state here in Galatians I saw whose name was changed to Paul came a great apostle but in Galatians chapter one notice notice him and his carnal state verse 11 but he made known to you brethren that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man the gospel was not his own invention this was something that God taught him he was in Arabia for three years and so the gospel was taught to Paul directly by Christ himself but he says it was not preached by me is not according to man for I neither received it from man nor was I taught it but it came through the revelation of Jesus Jesus Christ verse 13 for you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it this was Paul's carnal nature he was zealous so zealous that he was putting church members to death killed Stephen the deacon and he was out desperately trying to round up as many Christians as he possibly could to destroy them to destroy the church that's who I mean talk about hatred that's not a fruit of God's Spirit he says I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my father but when it pleased God who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through his grace you know God is the one that calls us out of our old way of life so Paul certainly was quite carnal although he was he was a Pharisee he was a very zealous very deceived when we turned to Acts chapter 20 we see that Paul while he was on the road to Damascus to round up some more Christians something strange happened him something that he never imagined in his wildest dreams would ever happen Acts chapter 20 [Music] sorry my mistake I think I said Acts chapter 9 there Acts chapter 9 not 20 Acts chapter 9 and verse 20 we'll start reading there actually I might change my mind again Acts chapter 9 I think we'll start in when we started worst one for a bit and then soul still breathing threats of murder we just read in Galatians how he was so actively pursuing the church and still Paul was breathing threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord went to the high priest and asked for letters from him to the synagogue of Damascus so that if he found any who were of the way with a man or woman that he might bring them bound to Jerusalem now this man was on a mission to destroy the Church of God [Music] and as he journeyed he came near Damascus and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him Saul Saul why are you persecuting me now that would be a frightening thing to experience and see this great light from heaven shine and hearing this voice saying why are you persecuting me Saul and he said who are you and the Lord said I am Jesus whom you were persecuting is it hard for you to kick against the goads and so trembling and astonished he said Lord what do you want me to do and he had a conversion right there a change that began to take place at that moment he said what do you want me to do and the Lord said to him arise and go to the city you that you have been told and you will be told what you must do and of course he meets Ananias I was Paul was blinded for was the three days there I guess meets Ananias who then baptized as him and the in verse 20 notice what it says here immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogue's and he that he was the son of God and all who heard were amazed and said is this not he who destroyed those who called on that who called on this name in Jude in Jerusalem and has come and has come here for that purpose so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests and people are saying well this is the guy that was just trying to kill us last week and now he's preached what's he doing up there I mean you would be skeptical but his conversion was incredible we profound in his mind and his whole his whole thinking changed at that point his whole direction change now he was preaching Christ in the synagogue's Burstein ship 'it's all increased all the more in strength because he was baptized he had got spirit yes he's now he could understand the spirit children before he could only understand that the spiritual was foolishness to him and that's why he was going out murdering Christians his whole way of thinking his whole approach changed as he began to be converted and went through this process first 27 first 14 to 26 and then Saul came to Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples but they wouldn't have anything to do with him and they were all afraid of him I thought he was gonna it was tricking them he thought this is this is a treat he's gonna he's gonna he's gonna cat catches out and then he's gonna arrest us and we'll go to jail and so the Apostles were very skeptical now they were afraid of him and did not believe that he was a disciple but Barnabas took him and brought him to the disciples and he declared to them how he had seen the Lord of the road and and what it spoken to him and how he had preached boldly at Damascus the name of Jesus and so he was with him so eventually Barnabas convinced the rest of the disciples that this guy's okay he vouched for him and of course it became very obvious by his by his sermons and the whole change of approach that Paul had that he was really now one of them but that did that mean Paul was now perfect did it mean that he had no problems anymore that he was a perfect Saint well no the conversion is a process when Christ says unless you're converted you won't be in the kingdom it doesn't one morning you wake up you converted and it's all done conversion is a process and Paul continues to explain that in Romans chapter 7 this is the man who had gone from one who was person persecuting the Christians with such passion to being struck down on the road to Damascus being taught by Jesus Christ at one point but prior to that of course as we just read he was accepted by his peers but even Paul as an incredible man as he was he struggled with that carnal nature he struggled as we do brethren we struggle with it each and every day I know that I do maybe I'm the only one but I have trouble with that you know some days I wake up I pray and I say father please help me with this you know I've got this problem I'm going through this trial and I'm thinking bad thoughts and then I start out the day I do well and the next thing you know I'm I'm doing exactly the thing that I prayed that I wouldn't do and then I was doing it this is the problem that that the Apostle Paul faced because that that in that human nature that carnal fleshly nature is powerful and we can't bring that into the kingdom with us it's got to be we have to convert we have to change into something else and leave that behind Romans Romans chapter 7 verse 14 will just read no I forgot to write verse 14 for we know that the law is spiritual but I am carnal sold under sin for what I am doing I do not understand for what I will to do what I will to do those things that I let my my soul my my mind my heart the things that I want to do we know the way of life I need to live and the thoughts that I need to have for what I will to do that i do not practice but what I hate that I do [Music] how many of you don't don't raise your hand but how many of you can relate to that there's something in your life that you've been trying to overcome perhaps for decades it's a powerful grip on us isn't it that what what we what we will to do we do not do and that we hate that's what we do now if then I do what I will to do what I will not to do I agree with the law that it is good but now it is no longer I who do it but sin that dwells in me for I know that in me that is my flesh that's the carnal nature nothing good dwells that's why we have to be converted we have to change for to will is present with me but how to perform what is good I do not find we cannot do it on our own brethren we simply don't have the strength and the power to overcome these things without God's Spirit for the good verse 19 that I will to do I do not do but the evil I will not to do that I practice now if I do what I will not to do it is no longer I who do it but sin that dwells in me and I find then a law that evil is present with me so the one who wills to do good for our delight in the law of God according to the inward man yea of course we know what's right we know what's right but the bacon and eggs taste so good [Music] we know we shouldn't work into the Sabbath we know when the Sun sets that's it and yet our carnal nature says you know what we justify it we say look it's only five or ten minutes God will understand yeah he understands all right it's a sin the wages of sin is death we're not faithful in our tithes brethren we're stealing from God we know that we know those things yet we do it we convince ourselves that's that carnal nature that's getting in our mind saying you know what it's okay God will understand and this is what Paul was fighting with he says that verse 23 but I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind we have to change the way we think we have to change our approach this other law that is warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members o wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord so that with the mind I myself serve the law of God but with the flesh the law of sin well he recognizes that there is a battle going on the we all we all are facing with facing that battle and those challenges in life but we certainly need to overcome that that's why we have to be overcomers brethren they've also pulled grappled with that carnal nature is constantly weighing heavy on him pulling him down but he realized that with Christ's help he could overcome those three things the world Satan society and ourselves and so it truly is the Apostle Paul demonstrates a converted person or somebody who is in that process of conversion is not yet perfect but there will be times when a person does make mistakes but you know the good thing is that God looks at the heart because yeah it's it's hard you know you do these things that it weighs heavy on the heart right it's guilt they're seriously but we know that God looks at the heart and that's the thing that we need to always keep in mind God is looking at the heart and the approach in the attitude he knows that from time to time we will slip will fall down we have to pick ourselves up and move on but God looks at the heart notice 1st Corinthians chapter 28 sorry 1st chronicles write to the Old Testament there 1st chronicles chapter 28 [Music] [Music] this chronicles 28:9 [Music] let's [Music] this is talking about King Solomon here as it says in verse nine as for you my son Solomon know the God of your father and serve him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searches all the hearts and understands all the intents of the thoughts now that's that's gives great comfort and peace to know that God can look into the heart and the mind of each one of us then what is the intent behind it yes we may sleep up and we may fall down from time to time but I'll be doing it willfully James says he who knows to do good and doesn't do it to him it is sin so we need to be careful we're not willfully practicing these things we need to be actively changing and repenting but God also knows that we are weak still we are carnal and we have moments where we slip up you look at all of that you know you go through the scriptures do a Bible study on it look at all of God's servants you know they've all at from one one time or another have made some pretty grave mistakes and you look at King David classic example you know a fantastic man after God's own heart and yet look what he he fell down that's drifted away from God for a while and all of a sudden he's out in his veranda looking at at the view probably looked thought I'm gonna go out tomorrow to see if there's another view and next thing you know he's murdering committing adultery and he he repented and so those things happen look at Jonah great prophet until God says you go to Nineveh and tell them they need to repent Jonah's like no get you know they all they're they're all wicked they all need to be wiped out and God said no no Jonah we need to be merciful and so God Jonah ran away from God I don't think God was pleased with that there are times there we will go through these things but God does look at the heart and God is merciful thankfully he says there he searches all the hearts and understands the intents and the thoughts if you seek him he will be found by you but if you forsake him he will cast you off forever and that's what we need to be doing brethren continually seeking God you know is our faults he knows our shortcomings yet in spite of that God has called us to be temples of the Holy Spirit he wants to work with us and prepare us for an incredible future the other phase of conversion brethren is referred to in John chapter 3 in verse 1 and that is converting ultimately which is God's plan is to convert us from physical into spiritual that's a conversion that unless that happens as well we won't be in the kingdom either we'll read soon flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of heaven so a conversion of a physical conversion into a spirit to that of the Spirit has to happen for us to be in the kingdom as well John chapter 3 John here is Christ here is talking with Nicodemus or Nicodemus has come to visit Christ and asks Christ a question I can quickly get here there was a man of the pharisees named nicodemus first wine a ruler of the jews and this man came to Jesus by night and said to him rabbi we know that you are a teacher from come from God for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him and Jesus assuredly said to him most assuredly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God but what does that mean born again well you talk to a lot of Christians these days they'll say they were born again my dad used to say what was the kingdom like you must have seen it because it says there unless you're born again you won't see the kingdom so what was it like and that's when he was asked to leave [Laughter] Nicki's date Nicodemus said to him how can a man be born when he is old can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born of course not it's not what Christ is talking about we're talking about a spiritual birth here jesus answered most assuredly I say to you unless one is born of water and the spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit it has to be a conversion from the flesh into spirit before we will be in the kingdom of heaven and do not marvel verse 7 I say this to you but you must be born again and of course it goes on and talks about that let's just continue on in 1st Corinthians chapter 15 which of course complements who art Paul and Christ is teaching to Nicodemus 1st Corinthians chapter 15 in verse 50 first Corinthians 15 of verse 50 now I say brethren that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God an orders corruption inherit incorruption behold I tell you a mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed we will be converted in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last Trump for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible incorruptible and we shall be changed for this corruption must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality so when this corruptible is put on incorruption and this mortal has put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written death is swallowed up in victory and so this is the change the conversion that final conversion so once we get our mind and a heart and approach changed once we've gone through that process then then the actual change and that when we actually born into the family of God can take place and of course that final stage is in 2nd Peter chapter 3 and verse 10 we'll just turn there second Peter chapter 3 and verse 10 because if we're still physical when this particular episode happens then then there will be no chance of us being in the kingdom but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise and the elements will melt with fervent heat in 2nd Peter 3 verse 10 both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up now ultimately everything physical is on this earth will come to an end when everyone when everything everyone is spirit from the kingdom of God after the thousand years there will be no need for an atmosphere for gravity they won't be needful for water and oxygen because every every being human being will now be changed into spirit it's gonna be completely different environment as it says here both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up therefore since all these things will be dissolved what manner of persons ought you be in holy conduct and godliness looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God because of which the heavens will be dissolved being on fire and the elements will melt with fervent Heat nevertheless we according to his promise look for new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells the carnal fleshly nature will not enter into the kingdom it simply won't be able to exist in that environment as we read there in second Peter so let's go back to Matthew chapter 18 with a couple of we got a minute or two Matthew chapter 18 let's just go back to the beginning here and just consider Christ's instruction here with this point of conversion Matthew chapter 18 verse 1 at that time that disciples came to Jesus saying who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven so we get context of the question that is posed to God the disciples are kind of arguing about who's going to have the greatest job there's going to be the boss in the kingdom of heaven and that's a carnal it's a very carnal approach and Christ says well if that's your attitude you're not going to be in the kingdom you guys need to learn some things before you're going to get there who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and Jesus called a little child to him and set him in the midst of them and said to his disciples grown men he said assuredly I say to you unless you are converted you guys need to change your approach it's not about who's gonna be the greatest in the kingdom you've got it mixed up you got it wrong and with this attitude you're not even going to be there unless you're converted and become as little children change your approach you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven so Jesus crisis demonstrating a very important principle for us brethren is that we need to learn humility we need to recognize that without humility we will not be in the kingdom we need to get rid of our pride our vanity our spirit of competition our earthly ambitions so we need to recognize that it was Satan's pride that caused him to fall and that we must be called and be converted and have a different approach just as a little child you know child does not sit there worrying who's gonna be the greatest child is is an innocent little fragile creature that just relies completely and solely on mum and dad dad and mum for everything and that's how we need to be and as societies built on I can you know I'm the greatest I can do it I don't need anyone's help well God the Father wants us to turn to him to work with him to look up to him to trust in him we read in Matthew chapter 6 we won't turn there but it says we know this there were it says seek first the kingdom and all these things shall be added to you he says don't worry about what she's gonna eat what you're gonna wear you know when I was a kid I wasn't worried about those things always had clothes mom and dad always gave me food always had a house to live in and as a kid it wasn't even on my mind and Jesus Christ here in Matthew 18 is saying you need to have that sort of childlike faith to be in the kingdom of God just as a little child one that is prepared to fully and completely put our whole life in the hands of God brethren humble Christians are the most Christians that are most like Christ and Christ gave us the perfect example in Philippians chapter 2 in verse 5 let's just turn there Philippians 2 and verse 5 because surely Christ is our example he humbled himself gave us an example to work towards so that we can qualify to be members and God's family younger brothers of Jesus Christ and ultimately preparing now to become the Bride of Christ Philippians 2 and verse 5 [Music] this is the admonition for us brethren this is where we need to be let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation that the apostles were saying hey who's going to be the greatest they were looking for position Jesus Christ he had the position he gave it up so that he could serve and that's the mind that we need to have he made himself of no reputation taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men and being found in appearance of a man he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death now we need to be prepared brethren if necessary to follow in Christ's example we need to be able to put our whole life on the line if necessary verse 9 therefore God also has highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and those in heaven and those on earth and those on those under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father and so every knee will bow every knee will submit every one ultimately we'll come to that point where they will have been converted and they will have a mind to submit to Jesus Christ and to God the Father and only then brethren will we qualify to be in the coming kingdom of God just 1 a font final scripture in in Romans chapter 8 [Music] Romans chapter 8 ultimately the brethren this is what we need to do verse 12 therefore brethren we are debtors not to the flesh to live according to the flesh but if you live according to the flesh you will die but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body that's what we need to be working towards you will live for as many hours let as are led by the Spirit of God these are sons of God children of God for you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out Abba Father and the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and if children then heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ that's the glorious future we look forward to brethren that's why we're here to become members and part of the very family of God if indeed we suffer with him that we may also be glorified together in the coming kingdom of God brethren it's only when we are truly converted will we be in the kingdom of God and so we need to be like these little children we need to be humble we need to be converted we need to have a mind and a heart that is one that will submit to God's laws they'll make excuses but try and find the easy way around just simply put our lives in God's hands and simply trust the God nur is best brethren let's be like those little children and let's be glorified together with the Lord [Music]

Channel: Living Church of God

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Length: 77min 7sec (4627 seconds)

Published: Wed Oct 16 2019