The Aaron Papers  www.the-aaron-papers.net 

-THE CHRISTIAN’S GUIDE-

CHAPTER IV

-EXHORTATIONS FOR THE CHRISTIAN WALK-

-Christian—hear the Word of God!

-Christian—know and understand yourself!

“FOR the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joint and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Heb.4:12 and 13) (Selah)

The Word of God is powerful, sharp, and piercing.  Performing spiritual surgery for the removal of the hidden sins of the heart: Even to the intent.  We must understand that where there is sin there is darkness. (Ref. 1Jn.1:5-7)  But thankfully, nothing at all can be hidden from the eyes of God.

-COME TO THE LIGHT-

(The ministers of God) “have the prophetic word made more sure, which you (as Christians) do well to take heed as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts.” (Ref. 2Pe.1:19) (Selah)

*We must ask ourselves this question: How bright is our light?      

(The Jewish people, as well as the Gentiles); “to whom I send you, to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God...” (Acts.26:17b and 18) (Selah)

“For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2Cor.4:6) (Selah)

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His power.” (Eph.1:17-19) (Selah)

***All things come to us from God.

Isaiah 58 gives us insight into some of the problems that a Christian might encounter within themselves: problems that might keep them from walking in the light.

Isa.58 is speaking to ALL of God's peoples:

"Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgressions, And the house of Jacob (Israel) their sins." 

God tells us in v.2 that we give all the appearance of true worship: We seek God daily, we delight to know His ways, we do not forsake His ordinances, and we delight to draw near to God.

But in v.3, God tells us that our fasts and afflicted souls have not been acceptable to Him, because in the day of our fast (/or worship) we seek our own pleasures.

Additional insight into this same condition can be found in 1Cor.10:1-12:

“Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same Spiritual food, and all drank the same Spiritual drink. For they drank from that Spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.  But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.  Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.  And do not become idolaters as some of them.  As it is written: The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.  Nor let us commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in one day, twenty-three thousand fell. Nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents.  Nor murmur, as some of them murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.  Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.  Therefore, let (them) who think (they) stand take heed lest (they) fall. [|]

***We must all answer this one question—Are the institutional members of the Church better than, or more privileged than, the physical children of Israel? 

The outward appearance shown in this first portion of Isa.58 would seem to be proper.  But God tells us that this outward worship is not sufficient—it is a type of lip service—it is all show: And that the worshipper has completely missed the point.

V.4 goes on to tells us a little more about this apparent problem: “You fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You fast not this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high.”

Within the visible Church there are many who profess that they know God, but by their works they deny Him. (Tit.1:16) 

“For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” (Tit.3:3)

***Fact - If we PRACTICE the works of the flesh we are essentially denying God’s goodness.

This fast (/or worship), an acceptable day to God, is more than just show.  The reason for fasting is to afflict our hearts (souls); To examine ourselves, so as to expose the sins that might separate us from our God: The removal of all those things that surely keep us in a state of darkness.  God instructs us to replace those things with good works: To feed the hungry, to free the oppressed, to comfort the afflicted, to clothe the naked, and to shelter the poor.  God tells us that when we practice these things, our light will break forth as the morning, our healing will spring forth speedily, and our righteousness will go before us. (Isa.58:5-8)

***Fact - These good works that we might do represent an outward expression of an internal condition—Our hearts are directed from self to others.

Then you shall call, and Jehovah will answer.  God repeats: If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedly; If you draw out of your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: Then shall your light rise in darkness, your darkness will be as noon-day.  And God will guide you continually and satisfy your soul. (Isa.58:9-11)

The good works outlined by God in Isa.58, the works that Christians are supposed to practice, are plainly confirmed in Mat.25:31-46 : "The rewarding of the saints and the punishment of the wicked."  

The point of these Scriptures that confirms Isa.58:5 and 6, is the reason for reward and punishment.  The reward was given to the saints because they fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, took in strangers, clothed the naked, and visited those who were sick or in prison.  Those who received punishment were punished because they failed to do good works.  They chose rather to serve only their own needs and pleasures.     

“If you turn away your foot on the Sabbath from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy of God honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasures, nor speaking your own words.  Then shall you delight yourself in Jehovah.” (Isa.58:13 and 14)

***How would it be if we could set ourselves totally unto God the whole Sabbath day with prayer and fasting?  It would greatly help us all in this respect.

The Scriptures in Isa.58 have thoroughly enlightened us concerning our worship and relationship toward God—including what is and what is not acceptable to Him.  God also tells us what we might anticipate from a right relationship: We walk in the light, God hears and answers us, and God will guide us continually.                         

Then this question comes to mind: Should the members of the Church of Jesus Christ practice fasting?"   The Scriptures would imply that the answer to this question is yes.  Jesus said unto them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?  But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast." (Mat.9:15; 2Cor.6:5) One of the reasons for fasting, which brings us to the very heart of our discussion, is to bring our bodies into subjection.  That is, taking complete control over one or more of our body's habits for a specified period of time.  We are allowed through the exercise of fasting, the opportunity to experientially test the strength of our own nature. If anyone has ever fought against an addiction such as tobacco, then you know how strong a fleshly addiction can be.

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"(We all know that) God gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelist, some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ, till we all attain unto the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full-grown man, unto the measure and stature of the fullness of Christ; that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive, but, speaking truth in love, (we) may grow up in all things unto Him, Christ, who is the head." (Eph.4:11-15a)

“You therefore, beloved, since you know these things beforehand, beware, lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led way with the error of the wicked.” [|] (2Pe.3:17)      

“(Brethren), I could not speak to you as to Spiritual people but as unto carnal, as to babes in Christ.  I fed you with milk and not with solid food; For until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; For you are yet carnal. For where there is envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” (1Cor.3:1-3)

***The two evident conditions of a Christian are revealed:

a) Spiritual: Full grown in the knowledge of Christ.

b) Carnal: A baby; one without knowledge /experience.       

“(Jesus), of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; And have come to need milk and not solid food.  For every one who partakes of milk is unskilled in the Word of righteousness, for he is a babe.  But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses (their organ of perception) exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Heb.5:11-14)

First principles identified: Repentance, faith, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

***Finally, we must be very careful not to quench the Holy Spirit. We must listen to, and be ready to hear, the Holy Spirit as God speaks to us through our conscience.  (Ref. Rom.2:14 and 15; Heb.12:25)  A feeling like someone punched you right in your stomach, only this punch comes from the inside, whenever the preacher happens to preach on a sin you are guilty of: Though you thought you had it hidden away and no one would ever know about it.  My friend, the Spirit of God knows all about our sin.  If you experience this type of encounter with the Holy Spirit, listen to it and obey it. This type of message is quite simple: The Spirit is telling you no to an aspect of your life that is contrary to the Word of God.  It is the same feeling as those you had as a child, when you were about to do something that you were not supposed to do: Right in the pit of your stomach. 

This experience was an early encounter with the battle between the flesh and the Spirit.  The flesh is telling us yes to the temptation, while the Spirit is telling us no.  When we honor the flesh in these situations, we dishonor (quench, reject) the Spirit of God.

***Do not say no to the Holy Spirit!

The Scriptures tell us, "If we will obey the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh."   “Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; (for) these (two) are contrary (opposed in nature) to one another, so that you may not do the things you wish.” (Gal.5:16 and 17)

We must not be deceived in these things, because God will not be mocked.  For whatsoever seed a man sows, of that seed he will also reap.  For he who sows to his own flesh will of his own flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit of God will of the Spirit of God reap everlasting life—in this life and in the next. (Ref. Gal.6:7 and 8)

“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; Only do not use (your) liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  For the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’.  But if you bite and devour one another, beware, lest you be consumed by one another!” (Gal.5:13-15)

-IT IS TIME FOR A FRUIT INSPECTION!-

(Note: The repetitive use of Gal.5 is done with the hope of a clearer understanding of the problems we face in today’s Church.)    

Once again, the only way we can examine and evaluate our Spiritual condition is by examining the fruit we produce.

"Now the works (fruit) of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousy, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, revellings, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I told you in time past, that those who PRACTICE such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. [|] (Gal.5:19-21; Ref. Eph.5:3-12; Col.3:5-10; Eph.4:17-31)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Gal.5:22-24; Ref. 2Cor.10:3-5)

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Gal.5:25)

“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed (works) and in truth.” (1Jn.3:18)

“(For) what does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?  Can faith save him?  Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (Jas.2:14,17,20 and 26)

“But you (beloved) have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: That you put off, as concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitfulness of lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which is created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness.” (Eph.4:20-24)

“(So) beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Col.2:8)

“(And also,) that you would have a walk worthy of God who called you into His own Kingdom and Glory.” (1Thes.2:12)

“Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God.”