“That Old Serpent”

Part 5

April 9, 2014

Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11  For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

“Outside the Gate”

As we conclude this mini-series on “That Old Serpent,” I hope we can all come away with a little clearer vision into the mind of Christ as it is laid out in scripture. Of course, that is all up to the Lord, but we believe He will give His mind liberally to those that diligently seek to know it.

I started this study off by reading Hebrews 13 and Hebrews has been a strong point of reference  for this series. There are two men being spoken about in all of scripture, and with those two men life and death are the wages of their warfare.

It is when we are isolated in our hearts and minds that the foothold of DEATH is able to take its hold on our minds because our Faith will be tried during this time.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

The same word used as TRY in 1 Peter 4:12 is TEMPT in many other scripture.

G3986

πειρασμός

peirasmos

Total KJV Occurrences: 21

temptation, 15

Mat_6:13, Mat_26:41, Mar_14:38, Luk_8:13 (2), Luk_11:4, Luk_22:40, Luk_22:46, 1Co_10:13 (2), Gal_4:14, 1Ti_6:9, Heb_3:8, Jam_1:12, Rev_3:10

temptations, 5

Luk_22:28, Act_20:19, Jam_1:2, 1Pe_1:6, 2Pe_2:9

try, 1

1Pe_4:12

The fiery TRIALS we all experience are the TEMPATIONS to DRAW BACK into perdition, to pull away from the Truth, but we have HOPE to WAGE AGAINST THIS!

Mat 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Mat 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Luk 8:13  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

Luk 22:28  Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

Gal 4:14  And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

We do have a way out, but all of our FLESH is weak. We all sin because of it, but we have been given instruction and weapons to battle this mindset.

I point this out again to bring another point to the forefront of this study.

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and WAS HEARD in that he feared;
Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Jesus Christ is still living out His Father’s work in His “flesh, bone and body”. We are His flesh, bone and body and Jesus is causing us to learn obedience by suffering.

It is true that Christ went through physical suffering, and at times these are physical trials we will go through which God uses to have us cry out to Him. However, the BATTLE and the growth is all in how we REACT and THINK about what it is we are being TRIED and TEMPTED with.

Fiery trials are fiery temptations and WHAT do those temptations consist of if it is none other than to produce DEATH in us, and we know who has the power of death!

Jesus was tempted in this exact same way because that old serpent attempted to cause the WAGES of SIN to war in Jesus’ flesh and it is the EXACT same today!

What Jesus was TEMPTED with were both physical, and more importantly, SPIRITUAL temptations to JUST GIVE IN. “Draw back” and “be carried about” was the call the traducer made to Jesus!

Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the HEART be established WITH GRACE; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

Why is it that the book of Hebrews is wrapped up with a blessing of grace given the contents and focus of Hebrews?

Heb 13:25  Grace be with you all. Amen.

Anything we can come up with in our hearts and minds are all simply concluded as being “doctrines of men”. All of it. Then, we go on to share those diverse and strange doctrines with other men and with mankind.

So what does grace do in our lives to combat this?

Job 5:17  Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

Pro 3:11  My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
Pro 3:12  For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Heb 12:12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Heb 12:13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Grace teaches us, grace CHASTENS us to:

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching (G3811) us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

I am here to speak these Truths to you. I am here to exhort you to good works, and I am here to rebuke those works which bear no fruit to the Spirit.

2Ti 2:25  In meekness instructing (G3811) those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

“Be of One Mind”

All of this is so important to understand when dealing with the topic of the adversary. We see it mentioned all throughout scripture that we are to be of the same mind, to be one mind.

We are told by many in the world that this is impossible, and in reality, there actually is Truth to that statement.

However, for that to be a true statement as concerning the mind of Christ and what we are told about where Jesus the Christ’s mind comes from, we must also state that it is ONLY the mind of Christ that matters.

If I, Steven Crook, tell you to have MY MIND of which I INTERPRET to be the mind of Christ, then I speak falsely to you and we are both deceived.

However, if we don’t “speak above that which has been written” and understand that the mind of Christ is contained within the WORKS of the scripture throughout the entire bible, then we will know that the mind we profess to have is indeed the MIND that is CONTAINED within scripture.

As an example of this, I want to read from another brothers articles found on Is, Was and Will Be.

The article is written by Ayo and goes with this study very well.

http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/from-heathens-to-perfection-in-christ/

We must not forget our ambassadorial mission to the inhabitants of the earth is also to recover them from this great snare and trap of bondage by the devil, whilst not receiving any into any doubtful arguments, strife and disputes.

2Ti 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
2Ti 2:24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; [e.g. those who claim they are being crucified with Christ and dying with him but opposing and contradicting themselves by keeping birthdays of themselves and ‘birthday’ of the creator of the Universe!] and if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. [still under the Law of Sin and Death, under the devil who has been given the power of death.]

We must keep in mind those still under the Law serving the first earthly tabernacle may not be able to eat the doctrine of this altar, seeing they are still minding the things of the flesh.

Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the [first earthly] tabernacle.

Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; [serving the first tabernacle] but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. [serving the perfect tabernacle]

We also, nevertheless must go onto perfection from being the heathens that has the Lord’s name as Christians, to becoming perfect in Christ Jesus in our due time.
This article from Ayo was written three years ago. Before I started this series or even this last part of the series, I had not read that.

However, when I looked up a verse to post in this study Dave’s TOA showed me this article of which I found a wonderful gem of confirmation of what I had already been writing in my own studies.

It is easy to conclude that this is just antidotal to what I am trying to say, but what you all will, have and do discover constantly is that the mind and Spirit of God works through HIS BODY all the time!

When you speak to someone you will always hear two minds speaking. You will either hear the mind of Jesus Christ speaking or you will hear the mind of the traducer.

It is when you hear someone SPEAK that you hear what has already been placed in their HEART and MIND.

So again having the same mind is promised to us, is necessary for us and is NOT our individual minds claiming, “this or that,” is the mind of Christ.

Let us be reminded:

Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Verse 9 starts off with talking about doctrines then goes into speaking about physical meats, but if you are being given eyes to see and ears to hear, you’ll notice that there is actually a very important contrast being made.

Things that are of the SPIRIT versus things that are of the WORLD. Doctrines of men are doctrine of the world, a world of which has a father called the devil and satan.

The fiery trials which are to tempt us are there so chasten us to be obedient, but doesn’t that sound very harsh? For the old man it is harsh to be told what to do. The old man in us all absolutely REFUSES to listen to such “none sense”.

However, we ALL are under the same set of biblical rules whether we acknowledge it or not.

How can I make such a bold statement? It is because WE ALL SUFFER in this life.

We all have SIN WAGING in our members. The difference is that those God is working with now are starting to be CHASTENED, to be taught to be obedient to this:

Heb 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

In this age, in your generation, you will be persecuted with words, with deeds and with works of the adversary working in those the Lord sends satan into to WORK the Lord’s patience IN YOU through THEM.

Couple that with the Truth that we ALL HAVE SIN in us, we are all MADE SIN, then it can seem like a dire situation and most of us struggle with that in various degrees.

Listen to the wise Words of Life given to Jude.

Jud 1:7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jud 1:8  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Continuing:

Jud 1:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Jud 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jud 1:25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

The dominion ANYONE has is DOMINION given to them by the Father. To say one has dominion over sin is the very focus of this study and I want to end this study by helping you understand the POWER that YOU have been given.

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Rom 7:1  Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

Rom 7:4  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Rom 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, WE BELIEVE that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Here is the teaching we are under, the doctrine we hold fast to, and the doctrine which you will be tempted by the devil with OVER and OVER as you live.

Jesus Christ LEARNED obedience through the things He suffered and He suffered outside the camp of the doctrines of men.

Jesus Christ suffered because He was caused to endure the SINS others were committing against Him, of which they themselves were caused to do because of the Lord.

The Lord tells us we have been FREED from the law and have been put under grace.

The Truth that the old serpent will be used to tempt in you, through various fiery darts he has at his disposal, is that his power is NO LONGER DOMINANT. Jesus Christ has OVERCOME him!

We, as Christ’s body, will learn obedience by suffering the sin that is in us all. Whether trespasses are committing against us, or we ourselves commit trespasses, we all must LEARN to endure it with PATIENT obedience.

That obedience is to GIVE THANKS for all of it! That obedience is to OBEY what God says to do because the other option leads to DEATH and has and END already.

We must be willing to FORGIVE others their trespasses as well as forgiving OURSELVES of the trespasses the Lord causes us to commit against others. Truly, all sin and trespass is AGAINST THE LORD, and He has forgiven us all.

As a parent, we prepare our children and say “don’t do this” or “don’t do that”. Quickly, we learn as parents that the best teacher for our children is EXPERIENCE.

We are still to teach our children not to touch a hot stove, for example, but the best teacher of all is a hot stove touched.

In like manner, the Father in heaven knows that when He instructs us on what to do and not to do it is in our nature to do what He says not to do. He knows us. We are His children, and He knows how to teach us.

So, think it not STRANGE when you are TEMPTED with fiery trials because that is the AMMO is the quiver of THE ENEMY, that old serpent called the devil and satan.

The thing that happens though is we learn to REMEMBER what we have been taught when it is time for us to UNDERSTAND why it is things happen to us the way they do, and DESIRE to follow the narrow Way to Life.

This will be the end of this series and I hope you were blessed by it. I felt compelled to stop with the Awesome Hands series just as the Israelites were called out of Egypt to go into the wilderness, and the next session will be picking up from that point.

I hope this series will help us all read with a little more understanding what it is we all can learn from the experiences all of us live through via the Word of God. We must live every word that proceeds forth from His mouth and we do that collectively through each other.

I will end this study with a section of Isaiah that brings me, and I hope you, great comfort.

Isa 26:12  LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for THOU also hast wrought ALL OUR WORKS IN US.
Isa 26:13  O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.
Isa 26:14  They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.
Isa 26:15  Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.

The Lord has separated us to Himself.

Isa 26:16  LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.
Isa 26:17  Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.
Isa 26:18  We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
Isa 26:19  Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Isa 26:20  Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
Isa 26:21  For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
Isa 27:1  In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.