#502 – The Sovereignty Of God And His Eternal Purpose

            The Sovereignty of God And His Kingdom Government

            The Sovereignty of God And the Christian Life

            The Sovereignty of God And The Functioning Church.

December 18, 2011

One of the startling things about Romans 11 is that Paul focuses upon the concept that the Christian that walks in the flesh is no different from the Jew that walks in the flesh. Both are rejected as far as God’s Eternal Purpose is concerned. Why? God is absolutely SOVEREIGN and He sets His own standards and establishes His own rules. Out of His Sovereignty He establishes the required levels of character, divine qualities, transformations, attainments and evaluates EVERYTHING by His own requirements without regard to man’s ideas or religious systems or what man accepts as his religious traditions.

God’s absolute Sovereignty transcends all religious systems and totally ignores man’s concepts, doctrines and religious customs! He answers to NO ONE but His own indisputable integrity. Whenever this essential element of God’s Absolute Sovereignty is ignored by the believers or the corporate church every other dimension and function of the assembly begins to deteriorate and is seriously affected. How do we know that? By the empirical evidence! The absence of God’s Absolute Sovereignty in the lives of the saints and in the leadership of the assemblies is manifested in many unhealthy, worthless activities and will be seen as distrust, suspicion and in the apparent failure of purpose!

Many times when we visit different groups in different countries it has been apparent that something is seriously lacking. Most of these times exactly what that is remains a mystery. However, now it has become clear that the 3 chapters beginning in the Romans 9 sequence puts EVERYTHING in the Divine Order and explains some of these questions. The exact sequence following the Romans 8 solution is the essential element for the “success” of Christian Maturity! Since this Divine Element is seriously lacking in most places because is has NOT become an experiential reality in the leadership or the believers there is a neglect of the Absolute Sovereignty of Almighty God. Without this revelation as a personal inner life experience, further growth and rectification will be lacking.

Paul quotes these verses in Isaiah as his explanation progresses and as he is expanding these truths in Romans 9.

Rom 9: 27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA, IT IS THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED; 28 FOR THE LORD WILL EXECUTE HIS WORD ON THE EARTH, THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY.” 29 And just as Isaiah foretold, “UNLESS THE LORD OF SABAOTH HAD LEFT TO US A POSTERITY, WE WOULD HAVE BECOME LIKE SODOM, AND WOULD HAVE RESEMBLED GOMORRAH.”

We examine the history of Israel and conclude that they were a rebellious and stiff-necked people that just could not recognize God’s Purpose or what He had in mind for Israel even though He spoke often through the prophets. In the beginning of Romans 9 Paul is deeply concerned over the indifference of Israel to God’s poured out blessings. Even the “Adoption as Sons” was purposed for Israel plus ALL the blessings and the promises of the Old Covenant. As Paul’s treatises unfold he indicates that one of the essential elements missing from Israel was this revelatory fact of the Absolute Sovereignty of God!

Rom 9:1 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

The visible evangelical church has adopted a doctrine which acknowledges that Israel was rejected by God but because of Calvary, the Gentiles have been accepted as sons of God and now His unquestionable acceptance is out of His unlimited grace. Now believers can be just like Israel and do the same dumb things they did but because of the blood and forgiveness of sins and the grace of the New Covenant, God will overlook these same things in the believers. These three chapters in Romans set these things in order and exposes this lie.

For many years we have taught that the “THEREFORE” in Romans 12 must go back to Romans 8 because it seemed to follow precisely the progressive thoughts from Romans 1 through 8. For that reason we shared that Romans 9-10 and 11 are parenthetic. This means these chapters were just inserted but not within the total context of the rest of the Book of Romans.

It appeared to us that Paul was doing so well with a progressive revelation up though chapter 8 but then in Romans 9 he lost his chain of thought and started to ramble about Israel. However, in Romans 12 Paul recovers his senses and returns to his subject! When he lost his chain of thought at the end of Romans 8, these three chapters, Romans 9-10 and 11 were inserted as a parentless but this places them out of the total context from Romans 1.

Suddenly we realized we made a mistake with that interpretation and that the thoughts expressed in these three chapters follows exactly the sequence of the progressive restoration of the Christian into the Life of God. For that reason the “THEREFORE” in Romans 12 goes back to Romans 9-10 and 11.

The question then is this; Is Romans 9-10 and 11 parenthetic or is it in the exact order of what Paul is sharing in the progressive sequence from Romans 1. The answer is very simple! YES, it is sequential! Paul never interrupted his progressive revelation by inserting a “Parenthesis.”

What does this mean for the Gentile Church (EVERYBODY who is not Jewish)? It means that Romans 9-10 and 11 were not written to the Jews at Rome at all but to the Gentile Church at Rome. Even though God’s design and purpose was for Israel to receive the “Adoption as Sons” they were rejected. But, not just Israel was rejected and removed from the vine but now believers need to be alert to the reasons that God rejected Israel. The history of Israel is given as a visible example to the church and as a picture of these serious mistakes that can now be applied also to the church.

Rom 9:6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.

The strong details and teaching from Romans 7 and 8 is dealing with this whole issue of flesh and spirit (or Spirit). Romans 9-10 and 11 are an extension of the whole teaching and illuminates and enlarges upon the facts of the flesh and Spirit that he shared in Romans 7 and 8 as well as Galatians 5. This “extension” is extremely important because it is written to the Church in Rome and NOT to Israel. Some of the important issues that dealt with Israel’s apathy and failure also apply to the church and its apathy. We learn here that it is NOT “the children of the flesh” that are the “children of God” but ONLY the “children of the promise.” This is a VERY serious charge because it excludes most of the visible church from being “the children of God” unless we can find a more accurate interpretation.

Rom 11:19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;

Rom 11:21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.

Rom 11:22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

There is NO question that this was written to the church in Rome and therefore, applies to the Gentile church. Rome was a Gentile church and NOT a Jewish church! Paul is VERY bold to say that just as God cut off Israel from the tree so He will also cut off the New Testament believers from the same tree, AFTER they were grafted in to the tree. Much of the church just does NOT believe this truth. Why? They are convinced that “grace” means a free passage into eternity. The essential nature of these TRUTHS is that God is still dealing with the New Covenant church in exactly the same way He dealt with Israel under the Old Covenant. For the same reasons that He rejected the “believers” in Israel, He will also reject the “believers” in the church. Then what has changed? The Law and the Covenant, the priesthood and the sacrifices along with the offerings have ceased. However, now God still deals with the church according to the demands of the Kingdom and His Eternal Purpose

1Cor 6:8 On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren. 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Gal 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

There is NO question in this; that God is NOT accepting flesh in His Kingdom, even if it is Christian flesh! It is certain that in this scripture “righteousness” is not the imputed kind which is by faith but Paul is listing various lifestyles that are “unrighteous” and will prevent these individuals from being qualified to participate in the Kingdom of God. Therefore, to dismiss these warnings as NOT applying to the church because she has been made “righteous by faith” is ignorant. Why? Because acceptance into the assembly is much different than being accepted into the Kingdom. The “flesh” is not a big concern in most assemblies but is VERY offensive in the Kingdom! Why? The “flesh” is not compatible with the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God demands that we live in this New Covenant provision of “SPIRIT.”

In the Old Covenant all these offences were addressed by the Law of Moses. Some say, but thank God we are NOT under the Law so these thing do not matter. That is not correct! Now God will deal with these things by His indwelling Spirit, rather than by Law, but He certainly does NOT overlook these offences. If these things do not get corrected we will be excluded from the Kingdom of God.

We know from these scriptures that those who walk in the flesh will practice the things of the flesh and be rejected from the Kingdom of God. However, much of the visible church seems to think that God will overlook the flesh because of God’s Grace and mercy. But what IF the Christian who walks in the flesh is no different in God’s economy than the Jew that walked in the flesh? Since walking in the flesh and ministering in the flesh is so common in the visible church it is not considered to be a big problem.

Rom 7:17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

What strange power is Paul indicating that prevents him (and us) from doing the will of God? It is this element called “FLESH.” Since BOTH “flesh” and”spirit” are still abstract terms that must be defined by the standard of His Life!

Rom 7:21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.

Paul is introducing various “laws” which are “powers” within us. This is introducing a negative power called “the LAW OF THE FLESH!” This is a Law within my members which is integrally connected to the FLESH! It is this Law that make me a prisoner of the Law of SIN which is IN my members.

Paul is NOT minimizing or discounting this Law of Sin because of grace but is giving a very serious warning against remaining in this natural condition.

Rom 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

It is this dichotomy of flesh and Spirit that at last identifies the pretend church or what we call the visible church and defines the real church that He is building. It is these two Laws that are still the main problem in the visible church! Until the “church” is serving the Law of God, any OTHER activity is irrelevant! Those who walk in the flesh CANNOT be part of the Church He is building OR participate in the Kingdom of God. For that reason I might criticize all the irrelevant things that are “preached” in the church that NEVER deal with these essential and critical issues. At least in my mind that does NOT make me an enemy of the church. The common result of these worthless ‘messages” is that after MANY years in the visible church the believers are still 100% in the flesh. Why point this out? Because trying to preach the Kingdom of God to assemblies that are just “in the flesh” is a big waste of time. Why? Because, we MUST deal with the basic issues before the message of the Kingdom can become experiential.

Rom 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

It is very simple to see the solution that Paul is giving for escaping from the bondage to the flesh and the weakness that is attached to the flesh. The solution is obviously by walking in the Spirit. Nevertheless, the only freedom we have, or can expect, is to escape from the Law of Sin that is in our members. There is no other solution offered except what is found ONLY in the SPIRIT that came with the New Covenant.

At least Israel had a valid excuse to walk in the flesh because the Spirit was not yet given. But what excuse can the New Covenant Church give for walking in the flesh when God has fully provided us a solution! What can we give as a valid excuse to Christ Jesus at the judgement seat of Christ for walking in the flesh and NOT escaping from the Law of Sin that is in our members.

So much emphasis is placed by ministries upon escaping the Law of Moses, the sacrifices and offerings because they were done away with in the New Testament! But then the emphasis upon the grace which is extended in the New Covenant is supersized so that we ignore the LAW OF SIN which is in my members! We may even only preach about the “forgiveness of sins” and ignore the Law of Sin in my members which is NOT forgiven. This Law must be overcome by the Law of the Spirit of Life. But, it is common to ignore the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus that sets us free from the Law of Sin and Death! This becomes a tremendous disservice to the church and leaves it with no remedy. This Law is also part of the solution that God has provided. We wonder how these necessary things, that can thrust the church forward into spiritual dimensions, can be ignored by the “ministry” and then substitute a bunch of irrelevant things that are preached that can change NOTHING!

In my Bible there is a note in Romans 8:1 that suggests that “Who walk NOT after the flesh but after the Spirit” was a gloss when the Bible was copied so is excluded. However, within the total context it is clear that this phrase was NOT A GLOSS but certainly part of the solution which follows in the context of Romans 8. Walking in the Spirit and NOT walking in the flesh IS the normal Christian Life according to the scriptures. To leave this out of scripture is to assume that this provision of the New Covenant is not, at very least, essential and extremely important to Romans 8 understanding and the progressive Christian Life.

It is not possible to LIVE in the New Covenant and still walk in the flesh. Why? Because, the New Covenant is the solution to the failure of the Old Covenant and the helplessness of Israel to please God is assigned to the flesh. Since that limitation of the Old Covenant has been removed by the New Covenant, what possible excuse can the church give for this pitiful condition of walking in the flesh, ministering in the flesh and placing our confidence in the flesh? We then call that activity “having church.”

Paul doesn’t say in these verses that this experience of believers only Walking in the Spirit is the direct responsibility of the ministry to accomplish. However, beginning in Romans 9 he is very distressed over the failure of Israel to fulfill God’s plan and applies the consequences of walking in the flesh to the Gentile Church. It is obvious from what Paul was saying about this failure of the church to walk in the Spirit, that he was taking a personal responsibility for the church’s failure, even as he was grieved over Israel’s failure.

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Israel had a real zeal for God but without any real concern to understand or fulfill God’s Purpose for Israel. Israel, like the visible church, is essentially selfish and self-centered. This implies that Israel had a heart for God, but because they were ignorant of God’s design and purpose, they were living in a spiritual blindness that was obliterating the plan that God had for Israel. Any principle, concept or doctrine other than what they understood from the Law was instantly rejected. Paul had an intense love for Israel and was burdened for their salvation.

The reason I have included this insight into this document is because this same response is repeated in the visible church EVERY TIME that God begins a new restoration. Even people who have a zeal for God are trapped in the status quo and fear any change. Because of this, they shut themselves off from any further participation in the Kingdom of God.

Mat_23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

This is the same failure we see in the “ministries” today. They fail to enter into the Kingdom themselves so they see no purpose in it for anyone else. The result is that they actually prevent any others from entering the Kingdom and if they are not actively preventing the believers they are simply ignoring the Kingdom message.

The Law contained both curses and blessing depending upon their obedience. Paul points out that in Deuteronomy 30 when God gave the Law at Mount Sinai it was so they could enjoy all the benefits of obedience to the Law. This Law, of course, was a substitute for just coming into His Presence, keeping His covenant and doing His will which was God’s first choice for Israel. God’s purpose was to make all of Israel a Kingdom of Priests. Of course all of Israel would have needed to ascend Mount Sinai to do that but they were terrified by the fire and could not ascend. However, the Law of Moses was not God’s original design for Israel. But because the Law of Moses was so much less than coming into His Presence it was just a poor substitute. This alternative was earthly and natural and made NO provision to deal with the flesh. In this same way and for this same reason the Law of Moses is NOT God’s plan for the church. The law of Grace is God’s solution to the Law of Moses. However, grace is NOT given to deal with the flesh. Because God has given us this “Law of the Spirit of Life” it is clear that “living in the flesh” is NOT God’s design for the church under the New Covenant. The fact that “the Law” was not God’s original plan for Israel is confirmed by Jeremiah.

Jer 7:21 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat flesh. 22 “For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. 23 “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ 24"Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.

Paul is clearly using the failures and negative experiences of Israel as an example of how the visible church in Rome was trapped in a mediocre Christian experience. That was also his concern in 1 Corinthians. He is focusing upon the wrong ideas, concepts and directions and is warning them with these examples and correcting their viewpoint about Israel. Paul is insisting that as New Covenant Christians they can still be in danger of failing and being rejected just like Israel failed and was rejected. However, the New Covenant leaves us no excuse for failure because the Holy Spirit has been poured out and the Law of the Flesh has been condemned.

The reason for the mediocre experiences in the various groups today is simply because the ministries do not deal with the Law of the Flesh but are preaching irrelevant things that are producing NOTHING eternal. If I point that out, does that make me an enemy of the ministry or an enemy of the flesh, an enemy of the church or an enemy of irrelevant preaching? If the current “church system” was actually working and the saints were coming to maturity (perfection) and the saints were growing up to “do the ministry” there would be no place for criticism.

Rom 9:8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.

“It is not the children of the flesh who are children of God.” This would be considered false doctrine today or at least NOT true or too radical to be the subject for any message in the church today. Could we apply this to the church today and assume that the “children of God” can ONLY be counted among those who are NOT just the children of the flesh? What if could accurately define what it means to be “children of the Spirit” within the context of the church today? Then we could accurately define who were counted as the “children of God.” It would surely be clear that those who could actually qualify as children of God were a very small percentage of those who attend the visible church.

When we examine the “salvation” preached from Romans 10: 9 and 10 and set that in the context of flesh and Spirit, the popular doctrine begins to shake. Then add the fact that “the children of the flesh” are NOT “the children of God” it may change the way we interpret “salvation.” Of course if this “children of the flesh” only applies to natural birth after the order of Adam then we would need to adjust our viewpoint. If the “children of the Spirit” only refers to those who are born again by the Spirit of God, then receiving the Divine Sperma is necessary for “salvation.” If this is a valid interpretation then confessing with our mouth and believing in our heart is only “salvation” IF we also receive the Divine Sperma. Believing and confessing is only valid IF it produces a new birth! Either way we interpret these verses it demands that we reexamine our doctrines about “Bible Salvation” and produce a doctrine that is a composite of ALL the verses related to salvation rather than just from one verse.

With all that Paul wrote concerning this conflict between flesh and Spirit the real issues

of HOW to overcome the flesh and walk in the Spirit is still largely abstract and confused. We are sure the conflict with the flesh exists and we know that only the power of the Spirit can overcome the flesh but we still are not clear about how this works, experientially. It is frustrating that we have so many scriptures condemning the flesh but so few that tell us how the flesh is overcome. These scriptures in Galatians 5 are the closest to an explanation but still do not give us a practical example.

Gal 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Gal 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Gal 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

By carefully examining this “solution” we discover that the “desires of the flesh” may always be with us as long as we are in this body of sin. Within the Consecration Offering

(belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh ) there is supposed to be “a crucifixion of the flesh” along with its passions and desires. It is obvious that the Galatians were “saved” according to “our doctrine of salvation” but the flesh was still a big problem. The flesh is manifested by the carnal desires that work through the Law of Sin that is in our members.

The conflict here is between these two active “DESIRES.” One “desire” comes from the flesh and the other “desire” comes from the Spirit. The conflict is really between two “DESIRES” that are pulling us in two directions. From other scriptures we find that these two desires originate in two personalities, one outward in the body and one inward in the new inner man. The Holy Spirit takes up residence in and FILLS the new inner man and becomes a power for good and establishes an eternal direction for us. The outer personality (in my members) is called flesh and the inward personality is the New Inner Man, the New Species, that IS Christian. The New Man agrees with God in whatever is His design and His will. The “personality of sin” which is in my members will always oppose God and His purpose. Then WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

Which ever personality is the most mature and the strongest will be manifested. The “solution to conquering the flesh” is in the Power of the Spirit. However, the instrument that the Holy Spirit uses to overcome the flesh and its inappropriate desires is the New Inner Man.

The Conclusion is this; Any ministry that is Not BUILDING up the new inner man is wasting their time in the pulpit. Preaching irrelevant things from the scriptures that do not feed, grow, change, develop or mature the new inner man is wasting BOTH the time of the congregation AND the time of the minister. Because of this apparent failure of the ministry, the people lose hope, get discouraged, lose interest and stay home. If they stay home, does that make them enemies of the church or just disgusted with the irrelevancy of the time spent in foolish activity that is producing NOTHING eternal?

It is time for the “ministries” to repent from all this foolishness of “having church meetings” that produce nothing and begin to take seriously their duty before God to produce a mature group of believers that can do the will of God and function in the ministry. Teaching the flesh how to evangelize is a BIG WASTE OF TIME. When the new man is built up and matured he will evangelize because that is his nature. The flesh man out “wining souls” is what offends the world and turns them against the gospel of Christ and isolates them from God and His Government.

There is a “baptist” church in the neighboring town that the pastor and some of his group stand on the corner downtown and yell at the cars passing that you are all going to hell unless you repent. They hold up signs and walk back and forth EVANGELIZING, in the flesh! They think they are serving God but in my opinion they are offending God by “WORKING IN THE FLESH.” Many unsaved people use that example as why they don’t want anything “Christian” and wouldn’t step into any church. These carnal examples present “Christians” as bottom feeders that are only after their money. The “flesh ministers” will function according to their own design out of their own carnal boldness and rush into situations without waiting for God to draw the people and the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, righteousness and judgement. Why? They fail to recognize the absolute Sovereignty of God and that he accepts only those whom he accepts and rejects anyone whom he doesn’t want in His Kingdom. The “minister in the flesh” assumes that God must accept ANYONE the minister has decided fully agrees with his doctrine of “salvation.” He boldly says “Just accept Jesus as your personal Savior and you are saved, forever!” He never even wonders if Jesus has accepted them. Why? Because, that person obviously doesn’t recognize the absolute Sovereignty of God and thinks the evangelizing of the unsaved is all up to him.

One question that needs to be answered is this “Who evangelized Paul and turned him to Christ?” Does that mean we don’t need to evangelize? Of course not! But it means that those out “evangelizing in the flesh” could be doing more harm than good! Those who are “evangelizing in the Spirit” are sensitive to those whom God is drawing and the Holy Spirit is convicting.

Our Conclusion is this; The flesh and its manifestation is epidemic in the visible church and for us to continue within this carnal system is a big waste of time. It is better to focus upon a few people who really want to serve God in the Spirit than to be burdened with a thousand people who only walk in the flesh continually! This is as far as they want to go!

It is really the flesh in the pulpit that is destroying the church and causing people to lose interest in a system that is “earthy, fleshy, carnal, natural and that is producing NOTHING eternal. This is certainly obvious to anyone who has eyes to see or a heart to understand God’s Eternal Purpose and how He will achieve it.

The “FLESH” has been eliminated from the Kingdom dimension and ONLY the “Spirit” has been authorized to work with Christ Jesus in building His Church. Unfortunately, the flesh is still free to build within the systems we see but to expect God to accept and welcome these substitutes is really ignorant!