Do We Have a Different Spirit Like Caleb?

Now, today I want to talk to you about a very important point. We have to put out the old man and we've got to put on the new man. That's in a sense symbolic of the days of leavened bread. We take out the leaven and we put on the unleavened bread. We've got to put on Christ every day. It says you shall eat it for seven days. I know there are some debates. People say, well, you can't say you must eat it. Well, I guess you could say that because... but I believe the Bible says you shall eat it. So, you know, so some of the people say, you can't say it's a sin. Well, maybe I can't. There's a lady in Dallas at a moment that's in hospital and she can't have any solids. She can't have any solids. So she's in the church. She's been faithful for many years. She's got this problem. Is she committing a sin because she can't have any solids before she can't have an unleavened bread? I can't say that, but for those that can, we shall. We should. We must do our part to do it. Why? Because it symbolizes Christ in us. We're going to have Christ in us every day.

So that is very important. But quite often, as we do unleavened bread and we do the season, and quite rightly we look at ourselves, and I will be looking a little bit at a few points of human nature today. We look at ourselves. But quite often, we don't look at the positive side. And I think it's important to also look at the positive side. You know we've got a hope.

It says there's love, faith, and hope. And these three are very important, critical.

Obviously, the greatest is the out-going concern in love, but we've got our faith and trust in God. But we have to have a hope. We have to have a hope as well. And it's important for us to look at that hope, because that is positive and encouraging. And so today, I want to talk both a little bit about that we have to change our old ways into the new ways. But we've got to have this hope that in the end gives us peace of mind. And that is so important for us. So that's what I'm talking about today. And I'm going to start by reading 1 Corinthians 10. And I'm going to start in verse 1. Because Paul is writing to Corinthians, and you and I know Corinthians was a congregation that had a few little challenges. Just put it that way. They had a few little problems. And Paul then says, Moreover, brethren, I don't want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud all passed through the sea. And he's now drawing an analogy that being in the cloud, being under water in that sense, vaporized water, and passing through the sea is water as well. So he's drawing an analogy, as he says in verse 2, all were baptized into Moses. And it's very important because the word Yah is we're baptized into Moses, which implies into the teachings and the things that God gave to Moses or through Moses to the Israelites and to us. And then he says in verse 3, And all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink. Again, an analogy to us about the spiritual drink at Passover, the wine, symbolizing the blood of Christ, but also the food, symbolizing the manna in one way. But also they drank the water from the rock.

So, and that water symbolizes living water, living water, and we get through God's Holy Spirit. So all these connections come in that are so, so significant.

And then he says, for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them. You know, was that whatever they went was with them. It wasn't that it was behind. It's not saying follow because, hey, the Israelites led and Christ was following. No, Christ was with them, with them, followed in that way. They went together. They went together, and that rock was Christ. Now, as we look at ourselves and compare what he's saying, yeah, about the way baptized into Moses, you and I are baptized into Christ. A lot of people don't think about that because quite often people focus on baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, which we all know means by the authority of Jesus Christ. But we are baptized into Christ by Christ's authority. See, it's two things. We're baptized into the spiritual body of Christ. We're baptized into Christ by Christ's very authority. That is very important for us to understand.

And therefore now we are part of his body. Now, what I'm saying is something that we all have said but maybe never really focused. But let's look at a chapter in Romans that talks about baptism. And you may remember that's Romans chapter 6. And it says, what shall we say then, starting from verse 1, shall we continue sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! Ridiculous! How can we, who die to sin, live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us were baptized into Christ? We were baptized into Christ. We're baptized into his death.

In other words, we are baptized. We are part of his body symbolically. And symbolically, therefore, just like his body died, we are part of his body. Symbolically, we are to die as well.

In other words, our old man has to die. And then he says, continue reading. Therefore, we were buried with him through baptism into death. Why? Because we are now symbolically, spiritually speaking, inside the spiritual body of Christ, symbolized by him dying. So, him being buried, we were buried with him, with Christ, into death. Death of what? Death of the old man. Death of our old way of thinking and doing things. Death of that carnal way of thinking. Now, does it really die? To be honest, we know it's still there now and again. But we gotta keep that in mind because it says that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the power of God, by the glory of God, God the Father raised him by his power, the power that he has, which you and I know, it's God's only Spirit. So, Christ was raised by the Father. He says, even so, we also should now walk in newness of life. In other words, we come out of that water, that watery grave, as a new man, a newly recommitted person, to walk a new life. So, the old man dies and the new man comes alive. That's what with Romans it's all about.

So, that's explaining the baptism. So, as we continue, then, yeah, in verse 5, for if we had been united together in the likeness of his death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection. And so, we are united with Christ through baptism because we're baptized into Christ. And like he died, symbolically, our old man dies. And symbolically, like Christ, was resurrected. Symbolically, we also now live a new life. That is the change from the old man to the new man. That is also endorsed or stated in Galatians 3, verse 27. Because there again, we read that Galatians 3, verse 27. You've got to be careful, these pages on my Bible, they're all falling apart. I don't know why. They're getting old like me. Anyway, Galatians 3, 27. And it says, for as many of you as were baptized into Christ, we were baptized into Christ. In other words, into his spiritual body. He says, have put on Christ. In other words, Christ is with us, is in us, is with us. We are part of Christ. We put on Christ. And so, that's what he says. We are in that spiritual organism, his spiritual body, the body of Christ. In Ephesians chapter 1, it explains a little further, Ephesians chapter 1, verse 22 and 23. And it says, and he put all things under his feet, that means God, put all things under Jesus Christ's feet, and gave him Christ to be head over all things of the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. And so, when we are baptized into Christ, into his spiritual body, that means we are put into God's church, which is his spiritual body. It's not a building. It's not an organization. It's not a sect. It is a spiritual organism.

So, we are part of that body, the spiritual through Christians. And also, in Colossians chapter 1, Colossians chapter 1, we see the same thing emphasized now in verse 18, Colossians 1 verse 18, where it says, and he, Christ, is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead. He was the first human being that was resurrected from the dead, and that in all things he may have preeminence on all. But the point I'm emphasizing here is that we are baptized into Christ's spiritual body. We are not baptized into any human organization or sect, but we are baptized into the family of God. And that is done by Christ's authority.

In other words, in Jesus Christ's name. And so, there's two things. We're baptized into Christ, and you're baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, which means by His authority. It's two different things. And so, we were reading in 1 Corinthians chapter 10, and Paul here in 1 Corinthians chapter 10 is emphasizing that the rock that led, or that was with the Israelites, as we see there in verse 4, was Christ. Christ was with them. And so, the God being that was with the Israelites, that spoke to the Israelites, that led the Israelites out of Egypt, that spoke to them in Mount Sinai, was the God being that had all the authority delegated to Him by the Father, and He was Christ. And then he says in verse 5 and 6, he says, But with most of them of those Israelites, most of them, not all, but 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 do very things. And then he talks about not last, not being idolatrous, not have sexual immorality, not tempting Christ, not complaining. So these were examples for us. Now, he's referring to those that did not get into the Promised Land because their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. It is maybe worthwhile to take a little pause and look at that section in the Old Testament when God actually said to them, You will not go into the Promised Land. And that is described in Numbers 14 verse 22. And it says, Because all these men who have seen my glory and the signs which I did in Egypt, you know, he did the sign upon sign and plagues upon plagues, all the way till the 10th plague, and then the firstborn of the Egyptians died, then they had to cross the Red Sea, they saw an army behind them, a mountain on the left, a mountain on the right, a sea in front of them, and God miraculously took them through. They saw all these signs and things that he did in Egypt and in the wilderness because he gave them water, he gave them all these things. And he says, And have put me to the test. You Israelites have tested God now these 10 times.

Interesting! God is counting! God is counting! For 10 times now you have tested me, you've provoked me.

And have not heeded my voice, you've not obeyed me. Therefore these people certainly shall not see the promised land. And so what, where are, what, which one were these 10 times? Because they show patterns of human nature that still exist today in us.

I'm going to summarize them very quickly because I don't want to spend all the time on that. As I mentioned to you at the beginning, I want to look at those points of what people have done, and that's basically what we are. But then we want to look at the positive because he, God, gives us a hope. And we got to change with the help of God's Holy Spirit and move towards that hope. But what are these 10 times? In Exodus 14, we can see the situation about at the sea, and in fact they tempted Christ twice at the sea. And let's look at Exodus 14 just as an example. Exodus 14, verse 11 and 12. And it says, And they said to Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, you have taken us away to die in the wilderness. Why have you so dealt with us to bring us out of Egypt? Is this not the war that we told you in Egypt, saying, Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been far better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness. You know, Israel had been delivered from Egypt. And yet when they saw Pharaoh's army, they panicked. Why have you brought Zia to die? And the question may be to us is, often, after God has delivered us, and then we face a new trial, how often do we immediately begin to doubt?

You know, there's a sudden crisis, maybe it's financial pressure, maybe it's health issues, maybe it's old age, maybe it's family difficulties, and can easily shake our faith. And then there was twice that they tempted God regarding water. And that, for instance, in in Ex. 15, is one instance, verse 23, it says, Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore, the name of it was called Marah, because it means bitter. And the people complained against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

And then we have another example in chapter 17, verse 2. And it says, Therefore the people contented with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And so Moses said, Why do you content with me? Why did you tempt the Lord? And the people thirsted there for water, and so on. So first the water was bitter, and then later there was no water. Now they complained. And so even after they experienced blessings, and God said, I'm going to take you there. So again, when there was discomfort, some discomfort, there we have this human tendency to complain when discomfort comes about. This could be daily frustrations, could be stress at work, fatigue, unmet expectations.

And what all can just lead to? Complaining and murmuring. And then twice they tested God, regarding manner. Look at Exodus 16. Exodus 16 verse 2. And it says, And all congregation complain against Moses in the wilderness. And then we read in verse 20, still of the same chapter.

And it says, Nor of standing that did not heed Moses, but some of them left part of it until the morning. So he gave him instruction. He gave God bless them with the manner. What is it? And then they still did not hear the instructions the next morning. They said, but they didn't find it. And then a little later was also we see in verse 27. And he says, Now it happened that some of the people went out on the seventh day together and they found the nun. So a second time they, and then he says, And the Lord said to Moses, How long do you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? And there's nothing new today. God provides food, but people disobeyed the instructions. Others began to despise the blessing that God has given them. And it is possible, as we are receiving blessings upon blessings, and we are remember the song, Count Your Blessings One by One, you know, but sometimes we're still dissatisfied.

And so we may take things for granted. The Bible is a blessing for us, God's Word. The truth that we've learned is a blessing. There are many daily spiritual and physical blessings that God gives us, and we got to look at them in a new light as a new man. And then they tempted God twice about the quails. Look at Exodus 16. Exodus 16 verse 12.

It says, Now I aver the complaints of the children of Israel, who speak to them, saying, A twilight, you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God. And so it was that quails came up that evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the Jew lay all around the camp. And so there was a situation of God gave them meat, yet they were not contented. Then they wanted more, and then they had the desire that they overate, and they had greed and uncontrolled desire, and then a number of them died. So we've got to be careful when we're blessed that we don't cry for more.

Could be money, could be comfort, could be recognition, whatever it is. And then the ninth one that I have is by the calf. That is Exodus 32. Exodus 32, verses 1 through 7. And this, you know the story, Moses had gone up onto the mountain, and Moses, in their mind, was taking his time to come back. And then in Exodus 32, verse 1 says, you know, when people saw that Moses delayed coming back, and they said, let's make gods for this man Moses. Where is he? The man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. And so they said, okay, take the golden yearings, said Aaron, and which are in New Years, and the people broke off the yearings, and then they made this gold calf, and fashioned it, and became a calf. And then it says, this is your God of Israel that brought you out of the land of Egypt. Well, what an insult! What an insult! And so, when God seems distant, human nature seeks something visible to replace God. And we know the story is in verse 6, that it says they offer burnt offerings, and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. And that's a euphemism, for they had some sexual immorality going on there. And there is, the problem is, it's idolatry mixed with sexual immorality. And we see other situations where this happened later, but it just shows, we've got to be careful with idolatry. Now, people say, well, today we don't have little statutes and idols, whatever it is, but we do. The major idol that we have today is self, me, myself, and I. And with it, a lot of sexual perversion in society, and wrong priorities go on along with it. And the tenth one that I have, is in Numbers 14. In Numbers 14, verse 1 through 4. Numbers 14, verse 1 through 4, that is in the wilderness of Peran, Numbers 14. And it says, because they had sent the Israelites to spy the land, and so, and then they, in Verse 14, verse 1, says, all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept at night. And the children complained against Moses and Aaron. And the whole congregation said to them, if only we had died in the land of Egypt, only if, or if only we had died in this wilderness, why has God brought us out of this land to fall by the sword? Because, you know, there were these giants, but they had forgotten already that the strongest army in the world could not defeat them at that time. And that our wives and children should become victims. Would it be better for us to return to Egypt? So they said to one another, let us select a leader and return to Egypt. In other words, they refused to enter the Promised Land because they feared the giants. And so what can happen to all of us is, even with God's promises, fear can paralyze us. And we may hesitate sometimes to fully obey God, to step forward in faith, to trust Him in difficult decisions. And so these are the 10 times they they tempted God. They tempted His power, thinking that well, or saying that could God really help them through their difficulties and afflictions and pressures. They challenged God's goodness, whether God would be good to them. They challenged God's faithfulness, whether He would promise that He said He would. And they resented because they challenged His justice.

And so they dared to challenge Him. They murmured against Him. They quarreled for everything He did or did not do, continually fretting and finding fault with God. And therefore, that's why in Numbers 14 verse 23, it says, they certainly shall not see the land of which are swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. And it was those adults, 20 years and old, they would not go in. But My servant Caleb, and as we know, as we read the stories, Caleb and Joshua, and this is because He had a different spirit in Him and has followed Me fully. So the question I have for us is, as I get towards the point of pivoting to the positive side, is, do we have a different spirit like Caleb? Do we have that spirit?

I mean, think about it. Not even Moses or Joshua went into the Promised Land.

Bigger by now. Moses nor Aaron went into the Promised Land. For I said, what did I say?

Not Moses and Aaron went into the Promised Land. Only Joshua and Caleb went into the Promised Land.

So it just shows that, and we know because Aaron did a few things wrong. Moses had a few little problems, as we know. He went and struck the rock the second time when he should. Now remember, the rock pointed to Christ, and Christ, the rock struck once. But nobody's going to kill him twice. So you can't strike the rock twice. And so that's a lesson to us. But the point is, God is merciful. God showed a lot of mercy to Caleb and Joshua because they had a different spirit. And even at the end of four years, think about it, those people had died in the wilderness. Now it's the next generation, 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.

They are now moving towards the Promised Land with their second generation children. And they still continue sinning. Look at Numbers 21, verse 5 and 6. Numbers 21, verse 5 and 6.

And he says, And the people spoke against God and against Moses. Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is no food, no water, and our soul loves this worthless bread, manna. So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and many of the people of Israel died. And brethren, we know the story of Israel. You know, a lot of people think, oh well, Israel, you know, brethren, Israel is an example of people that failed to obey God. That's what it is. That's why the northern tribe was dispersed into Assyria, and some 130 years later, the southern tribe was dispersed into Babylon. And a few of them came back later, but Israel is the history of disobedience to God. And so that's why Paul, then, now, getting back to 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 7 through 9, 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 7 through 9, it shows the sort of things they did. They were idolaters there. In verse 7, in verse 8, there was sexual immorality. Verse 9, they tempted Christ. Verse 10, they complained. You see, that's what they were doing. And he makes reference, particularly in verse 9, he says, some of them, they were destroyed by serpents, which I read a moment ago.

And so in verse 11, then, Paul says, now, all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

These things were written as examples for us. The history of Israel going through the wilderness is not just a record of the past. And we can often read and say, how could they do that? How could they do that? How can they do that? You know what? We do the same thing. We do the same thing. That's our carnal mind. And that's why Paul says in verse 12, therefore, letting thinks, he who thinks, he stands, take heed, lest he fall. We must not be in a position of, says, how? I'm much better than those Israelites, because we aren't, because if we are, if you're thinking of that, we're going to fall as well. But in verse 13, it's an encouraging verse, because it says, no temptation or no difficulty or no trial has overtaken you, except such is common to men. But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you're able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear it.

I think sometimes we must read this, and we think, well, God provides us a way of escape, and therefore He's going to relieve the trial. He's going to take the trial away.

That's not what He says. He says that you may be able to bear it. That means the trial could remain, but He's going to give you help to get over it, to continue and overcome it.

That is important for us to understand. And then He goes on, and because He's been talking about baptism, and we baptize in the blood of Christ, and then look at verse 16 and 17. He says, the cup of blessing which we bless is not the communion of the blood of Christ.

And the word communion here has been misused, but really it means the sharing.

You know, we are sharing. We are together sharing. We are part of one body, and we're sharing it as a group together. He says, of the blood of Christ. We all have that one blood of Christ. We all share the same blood which forgives our sins, and the bread which we break, which is the communion of the body of Christ. Now, I've had people when I remember once I was in Portugal, and some people said, oh well, when we have a living bread, we've got to break it from one single piece so that everybody has the same piece. Now, when you bake, maybe you make two or three pieces, and you break them, and you share it. So, no, no, it's got to be from one piece.

The meaning here is the communion of the body of Christ. We are in the spiritual body of Christ. We share that body. We're all part of one body. That's why, in verse 17 says, for we, though many, are one bread and one body. We all partake of that one bread. We all partake of that spiritual body of Christ. We're all in that body. We were baptized into Christ, yes, by Christ's authority, but also into Christ, which is into the family of God, which ought to be part of. Now, the point is, those Israelites went through a lot of trouble, and these are lessons for us.

We all go through difficulties and challenges. Why? Because we all have a carnal mind.

We all have a natural tendency in our flesh to do or to think or to say things sometimes that we shouldn't say, just as an example. Even Paul himself struggled with that, and we read that in Romans 7. Starting in verse 13, we see he's saying, as then what is good become death to me. Certainly not. But sin that might appear sin was producing death in me for what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

So the commandment identifies what's right and wrong, and our carnal mind, our mind, our flesh has this tendency to sin. And then he says, for we know the law is good, the law is spiritual, but I am carnal. Paul said, and when he wrote Romans, which was some maybe 20-plus years after Christ had died, he said, I am carnal. He was an apostle of Jesus Christ. And he was saying, I am carnal. Saul understood, for what I'm doing, I do not understand.

I don't fully grasp why do I have these things of the flesh? For what I will do, I want to do, that I do not practice, but what I hate, that I do. So he's admitting that these things are in him, but he's got to be overcoming. He's not saying that he's killing people. He's not saying that he's murdering. He's not saying he's committing adultery, but he's saying that at a spiritual level, when we look at these laws into more of a spiritual in-depth level, he's saying, I have this tendency.

I've got to be fighting it all the time. Verse 16, if then I do what I will not do, I agree with the law that is good. God's law is good. God's law is good. But now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in my flesh, in my body. So look at verse 18, for I know that in me, that is in my flesh, nothing good dwells. For to will is present with me, in my mind, with God's Holy Spirit, I want to do what's right, but how to perform what is good, I do not find.

In other words, sometimes I slip up, I say things I shouldn't say, and things like that, and I've got to be careful. I've got to be always on top, because the carnal mind, the carnal way, the flesh is always there.

Verse 19, for the good that I will to do, I do not do, but the evil that I will not do, that I practice. Now, if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me, in my flesh. But I'm going to try not to do it, but this dwells in me, in my flesh. Verse 21, I find then a law that is a law of the carnal mind, of the flesh, and you and I are flesh till we die. That means we have this physical law in our bodies, that evil is present with us in our bodies, and we've got to fight it all the time, the fight it, and the one who wills to do.

Therefore, I delight in the law of God, but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind. And so, you are and I have this continuous war, continuous fight. Now, I want to do what's right, and suddenly, sometimes, a thought may come up, or somebody says, no, get out, don't allow this. And this war is continuous in our mind. That's why she's warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members.

And so, he's admitting, hey, I've got this thing. I'm not saying that I'm committing adultery. I'm not saying that I'm killing. I'm not saying that I'm lying. I'm not saying I'm lusting, but I have this tendency in the flesh to go that way, and I'm fighting it continually.

And that's what he's saying. And therefore, then he says, oh, rich man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, with the mind, I serve the law of God. The law of God is good. There's nothing wrong with God's law. I serve it. But with the flesh, there's this tendency to go the wrong way. But thank God, because he's going to give me a new body when I resurrected, and that new body will not be flesh, will be spiritual, and that tendency will not be there anymore.

So I thank God for that resurrection. That's why in 1 Corinthians 15, he says, he will change this corruptible into incorruptible, because our physical is corruptible, is sinful, gets old and gets decaying and corruptible. But we'll then have a new spiritual body that does not have those tendencies, and it'll be incorruptible, and of course, immortal as well.

And so he says, therefore, that's the next verse, which is 8 verse 1, therefore there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

This is the positive thing, brethren. There's no condemnation. Just because you and I are struggling against the flesh, there's no condemnation. As much as we are struggling and using God's Holy Spirit to overcome day by day, that's why during the days of 11 bread, he says, thou shall eat and live in bread for seven days, which is symbolic of us having Christ in us, the bread of life, every day of our lives. That's what it is. And he says, there's no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh. In other words, yeah, the flesh is falling with this tendency, but I'm not walking that way. But I'm walking according to the Spirit. I'm doing what God wants me to do. So that's the way. That is the encouraging thing. And then in verse 10 and 11 says, and if Christ is in you, so we are part of the spiritual body of Christ. Christ is in us through his Holy Spirit. He's living in us. We're part of that body. The body is dead. Our physical body's desires are dead. Why are they dead? Because we're not practicing. Yes, they sin, but we're not practicing it. We're not practicing, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. We are living, we're walking according to the Spirit. But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, so if you and I have God's Holy Spirit, we're overcoming, we're seared by the fruits, we're striving. He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through the power of his Spirit, through his Spirit, which dwells in you. So, brethren, this is very encouraging because Christ has all the authority in heaven and on earth, Matthew 28-18. Therefore, God is delegated to Christ's authority, and Christ will then resurrect us under the authority of the Father and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

And so, what you and I need to be doing? Verse 14 tells us what we need to be doing. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. If you and I are being led by God's Holy Spirit, if you and I are struggling to live according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the key word, brethren, is led. God's Holy Spirit does not force us, leads us, says to you and I, don't think that, don't say that, oh, I better be careful. I was just about coming out of my mouth. I'm glad he did. It's God's Holy Spirit touching your subconscious, leading you. Now, you're a free moral agent. You say, I'm going to say it anyway. Well, then you're not being led by God's Holy Spirit. You see, led means God's Holy Spirit is going to prick your conscience. It's going to remind you. It's going to bring it to mind. But now you have to war and fight against this tendency to stay close to God and do what God says. And that is the new man. That is the new man that we need to put on.

You see, God wants everyone in his family. And he says, you are the sons of God. That's what it says in verse 14. You are the sons of God if you're being led by God's Holy Spirit.

Look at verse 18. He says, but consider this. Remember that it didn't say, you'll provide your way of escape so that you may be able to bear it. It didn't say it takes it away. You still have to bear it. Therefore, consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us. And that's the hope.

You see, that's the hope. That you and I have to have this hope. You and I have to have this vision. There is a glory that God's going to give you and I. Each one of us is going to have different sizes or degrees of glory. Obviously, the Father is far glorious, but we'll be in his family, and we all have some degree of glory. But that is nothing to be compared with the pains and the sufferings and afflictions we're going through now. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. And we've got to see that vision. We've got to keep that in mind. It's so important.

Look at verse 23, because if we have this vision, you see, and that's what it says. Let me even read, in fact, verse 20 says, For the creation was subject to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected in hope.

You see, human flesh was subject to corruption.

Not because God wants you to suffer, but He's allowing it temporarily, because it will make us better people, so that we can then go on to something a lot better.

And then in verse 23, not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit.

You see, because the whole creation is going to be relieved, that's what it says.

For we know, verse 22, that the whole creation is waiting. But not all creation now is getting it. They'll get it later.

But you and I are the first few that have God's only Spirit now. We are the first fruits of the Spirit. And therefore, we ourselves, ground within ourselves, waiting, eagerly waiting for the sonship.

Okay, the word means being placed, the Greek word means being placed as a son. So it could be translated adoption, could be translated sonship. But if we are really, and we're going to be really sons of God, I believe a better translation is sonship. Waiting for the sonship. In other words, our bodies being redeemed from this carnal, fleshly, corruptible body to a spiritual, incorruptible, and immortal body. It was redemption of the body.

For we were saved in this hope.

You see, but hope that is seen is not hope. So we don't quite see it, but we just have to hold on to this hope. That is so important. We have to hold on.

And so, Paul then in Romans goes a little bit further than in chapter 12.

He says, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice.

You know, brethren, when we come to the feasts, and God's only days, says, bring a sacrifice with you.

And yes, we do not bring a goat or a lamb, but we bring our living bodies as a sacrifice.

We do bring a sacrifice to God's only days.

That's our living sacrifice.

That we have to sacrifice.

And often being accused, and go through trials, and whatever it may be, because that living sacrifice is holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service. And so, don't be conformed to this world, but it may transform. Metamorphosis has changed completely by renewing your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

That's the sacrifice we're going to bring of ourselves. But there's a hope. There's a hope of great glory.

Now, which one was the greatest living sacrifice that you and I can see? Obviously, it's Christ, right? Well, let's look at the prophecy of Christ in Hebrews chapter 10. Yeah, you may think, well, prophecy in Hebrews. Well, it's interesting, isn't it? Let's look at Hebrews chapter 10, starting in verse 5.

Hebrews chapter 10 verse 5.

And this is speaking about Christ speaking. He says, therefore, when he came into the world, he said, that's Christ. Christ came into the world. He said, sacrifice and offering, you do not desire. So Christ is saying, God the Father, sacrifice and offering, you do not desire. But a body you've prepared for me, Christ.

So Christ, the Word, became flesh. The Father prepared for him a body through Mary, the Son of Man.

And then he says, in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, you have no pleasure. But the pleasure to God was that living sacrifice of Christ. Then I said, Behold, says Christ says, Behold, I've come. In the volume of the book, it was in this big plan that God has that they have orchestrated right from the beginning. It's written of Christ that says, to do your will, oh God. I have come to do your will. Christ came to do your will. And that's why it says in verse 14 of Hebrews 10, by one offering, Christ has perfected forever.

You know what? You and I have been perfected forever by one offering. Because as far as God is concerned, the job is completed. He's done it. You will be in the kingdom, provided you as a free moral agent don't throw it up and throw it away.

But you can be there. You'll be there. That's the positive side that I want to leave with you. Because yeah, we go through 11 bread, we look at it, we're negative. We can think negatively, but there is a hope.

And he says, by one offering is perfected forever. Who? Those who are being continuous present, being sanctified. How is it that you and I are sanctified? It's the sanctification of the Spirit towards obedience. And God's Holy Spirit is working with you and I. And as you are led by God's Holy Spirit, as we become more and more like God, we know.

That He's perfected us. He's done it.

And you will be there. You will be there.

That's the hope.

God has uniquely planned all human beings to be sons and daughters of God.

Oh! The ones that will not be there are the ones that are going to reject it of their own free will.

But God wants everyone to come to repentance. And that's why He's long suffering towards us.

In Ephesians chapter 1, starting in verse 3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.

God has planned for us every spiritual blessing. And don't think that it's only for you and I.

It's for every human being.

It's for those that are not called yet. He wants them in the kingdom too. He wants them as sons and daughters of God. It's not just for you and I. It's for everyone, Jew and Gentile.

And so He continues, For just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, God has chosen humankind to be the ones that are going to be sons and daughters of God. He did not choose the angel kind or any other physical being kind. Could it be animals, lions, tigers, whatever it is? No. He chose the humankind to be sons and daughters of God. He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. Of course, it applies to us individually, but it applies to all mankind.

And He says, Having predestined us to sonship as sons, doesn't that apply to everybody?

All human beings are predestined to be children of God.

All human beings, not just you and I, it does not mean that God is predestined one of you to eternal life and one of you to eternal damnation. No, that's not. God has predestined all of us to eternal life. Only those that choose not to obey and follow, those won't be there. But God wants everyone to come to repentance. And He says, God has predestined us to sonship as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace by which He made us according or accepted in the Beloved. And so brethren, we all predestined. So what must we do?

Well, what are we going to do? We've got to put on the new man.

If we just look at Colossians chapter 3.

Colossians chapter 3, starting in verse 12, it says, Beloved, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on. This is what we're going to put on. This is what we've got to be led by God's Holy Spirit to be putting on in our lives every day. tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering, bearing with one another.

Oh, is that hard? Yes, it is hard sometimes. Forgiving one another.

If anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. And above all these things, put on love, which is the bond, which is the super glue, let's call it, of perfection.

Let's do that. And as we've taken 11 out of our lives, exemplified by the bad example of these relights, of that carnal mind, we're now eating the unleavened bread for seven days, symbolic completely. For our lives, we're allowing Christ to live in us by spirit, being led by spirit. We need to put on this new man. And then it says in verse 15, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which also you were called in one body and be thankful.

You know, when we are real pleasing God, there's an inner peace of mind inside us because we are in one body. That's what it says here, to which you're called into one body, which is a body of Christ, in unity.

That's what we're called for. And that is a great blessing, blessing to which it says, be thankful. So let's, brethren, let's look at the days of 11 bread also with great encouragement, because God is given us a plan that can't fail.

It'll only fail if you and I walk away from it.

So you have the guarantee of eternal life, which is God's only spirit.

Don't let it go.

Stick to it. Keep going and let the peace of God be with you.