12-5-99

THE KINGDOM OF OPPOSITES

ALMOST EVERY TIME your “flesh” wants to do something it is AGAINST the Will/Word of God. WHY?

The world of the spirit is OPPOSITE the world of the flesh:

1 Cor 2:14 (NIV)

14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Rom 8:5-8 (NIV)

5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;

7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.

8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

The REST of this message will be arranged in the style of the book of Proverbs - the WAY of the flesh contrasted by the TRUE WAY of the Spirit:

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MAN says, “Fight and “claw your way to the top” - the SPIRIT says, “CONSIDER OTHERS BETTER THAN YOURSELVES”:

Phil 2:3 (NIV)

3 Do NOTHING out of SELFISH AMBITION or vain conceit, but in humility CONSIDER OTHERS BETTER THAN YOURSELVES.

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The KINGDOM of GOD is ALMOST ALWAYS OPPOSITE of the kingdom of Satan (or the flesh) !

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MAN says, “Get all you can” - the SPIRIT says, “GIVE, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU”:

Luke 6:38 (NIV)

38 GIVE, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

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Man says, “You deserve to hate him/her after what they did to you” - the SPIRIT says, “LOVE YOUR ENEMIES”:

Matt 5:43-48 (NIV)

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

44 BUT I TELL YOU: LOVE YOUR ENEMIES and pray for those who persecute you,

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

48 Be perfect (complete, full grown), therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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Man says, “You are in charge of your own destiny - a self made man” - the SPIRIT says, “YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN, YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE:

1 Cor 6:19-20 (NIV)

19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN;

20 YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE. Therefore honor God with your body.

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Man says, “By golly, if he hits you, hit him back (you have a RIGHT to hit him back)” - the SPIRIT says, “IF SOMEONE STRIKES YOU ON THE RIGHT CHEEK, TURN TO HIM THE OTHER ALSO”:

Matt 5:38-39 (NIV)

38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'

39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. IF SOMEONE STRIKES YOU ON THE RIGHT CHEEK, TURN TO HIM THE OTHER ALSO.

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THE NEXT TIME you “react in the flesh”, STOP YOURSELF and ask, “HOW CAN I ACT OPPOSITE” - MOST of the time, you will be choosing GOD’S way !