Did you know that giving thanks is one of the characteristics of a Spirit filled believer?

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:17-21

Did you know that it is the will of God for believers to give thanks in everything?

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

There await men at death things they have neither looked for nor dreamt of. Heraclitus – Greek philosopher, 6th century BC.

What is truth? Pontius Pilate – questioning Jesus.

A Bible gathering dust.

Jesus speaking:

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.

Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Casting out demons is not the answer for the demon possessed. A decision for Christ is the answer. If the demon possessed person will receive Christ, the demon must leave and he cannot come back to a house occupied by the Saviour.

And it came to pass, as he (Jesus) spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. (In praise of Mary?)

But he (Jesus) said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. Luke 11:24-28

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

Chapter 5:18-21 summarizes I John as follows:

Whosoever is born of God sinneth not.

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit (practice) sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot (practice) sin, because he is born of God. I John 3:9

He that is begotten of God keepeth himself.

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. I John 3:3

The wicked one toucheth him not.

I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. I John 2:14

We are of God.

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. I John 4:4

The whole world lieth in wickedness.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. I John 2:15-17

The Son of God is come.

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ (Messiah Jesus) is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ (Messiah Jesus) is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. I John4:2&3

He hath given us an understanding.

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. I John 2:20&21

We may know him that is true.

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. I John 5:9-13

We are in him that is true.

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. I John 2:5

We are in his Son Jesus Christ.

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. I John 4:15

This is the true God, and eternal life.

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. I John 5:10-13

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

John contrasts the word ”idols” with ”the true God” of v. 20. He has reference here to the false teachers who withdrew from the brotherhood with which they had been formerly associated (2:19). Their false beliefs and practices are the idols from which the readers are commanded to protect themselves. The false teachers upheld the world’s philosophy as superior to God’s revelation as demonstrated in their perversion of basic Christian teaching (faith, love, and obedience).*

I John 5:18-21

*Notes on I John 5:21 from the MacArthur Study Bible NKJV – Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc.

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. I John 1:5-10

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. I John 2:1-6

I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: I John2:21-23a

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. I John 4:20-21

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. I John 5:9-13

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain:
But “I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.”

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

...let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

Daniel W. Whittle, pub.1883.   Copyright status is Public Domain. Courtesy of Timeless Truths Publications – Copyright © 2002-2020 Free Online Library

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust (strong desire) of the flesh, and the lust (strong desire) of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust (strong desire) thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth (continues) for ever. I John 2:15-17

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

And such were some of you: but ye are washed (cleansed), but ye are sanctified (set apart), but ye are justified (declared righteous & acquitted) in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. I Corinthians 6:9-11

Declared righteous – to render just or innocent.

Acquit – to be freed from a verdict of guilty.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. II Corinthians 5:17

…go thy way and sin no more…

Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though they join forces (hands), none will go unpunished. Proverbs 16:5.

The false prophets in Israel always told the king what they thought he wanted to hear. True prophets were accused of troubling Israel, but in reality it was the sins of Israel that brought them trouble. America is not Israel, but America’s problems are the same.

America has a heart problem. Actions and words originate in the heart. The remedy for our country is not to elect a pastor as president. The remedy is for individuals to get right with God. I’m not talking about city wide revivals or Christian rock concerts. I’m talking about individuals getting alone with God and doing business with Him.

It begins with repentance which is a changing of the mind which leads to a turning or change of direction. This is an agreement with God, not about one’s neighbor or fellow worker, but about one’s own spiritual bankruptcy. Conversion needs to follow repentance.

The word for being converted means more than turning away. It carries with it the idea of turning to something or someone. We are to turn from our sin unto God. We are to side with God against ourselves, which brings us face to face with His Son, Jesus Christ who only can save us from our sin.

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (II Cor. 5:17) Through Christ we individually receive the righteousness of God. A righteous people will bring moral change.

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19

Repent means to change your mind. To be converted means to turn about. One can repent but never be converted, however one cannot be converted without first repenting.

A symptom of repentance without conversion may be asking God for deliverance but not having power to overcome sin. Repentance without conversion is acknowledging the truth of Scripture without submitting to it. It is profession of faith without obedience. True repentance is a changing of one’s mind that results in conversion.

The true meaning of conversion is not just turning about. It is the turning away from one thing and turning unto something or someone else. It is the turning away from sin and turning unto God. It is agreeing with God against ourselves and asking for His mercy. It is accepting Jesus Christ as our only hope of salvation.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. II Corinthians 5:17

To repent means to change one’s mind. To be converted means to turn away from and turn unto. Have you turned from sin to God?

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. II Peter 3:9

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

Note: Repentance and penance are not the same thing. See blog article: Whats the Difference?