The Three Great Causes of Sin

The title today, The Three Great Causes of Sin. Or we could say, the three great beings you have to overcome, but the third is a set of beings, or a collection of beings. Israel left Egypt symbolic of sin and death on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the day that we are observing here today, and that was on the 15th. We read this very clearly in Numbers 33 and verse 3. And they departed from Rameses on the 15th day of the first month, on the morrow after the Passover, on the morrow after the Passover. The children of Israel went out with a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. So God ordained the Passover to be on the 14th, and then the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins on the 15th, and Israel left Egypt on the 15th. The observance of Passover on the 14th apparently was honored for a long time, but after the temple was built, the Jews eventually began to keep Passover on the night of the 15th, and the Orthodox Jews continue today, and their soul Passover is a reflection of them being freed from Egypt back in Exodus chapter 12. But here we are some 34 years later. Are we going to leave sin behind and keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread with the Unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth? We know that the Unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth is the Word of God. It says in John 17, 17, Sanctify them, set them apart through your word. Your word is truth. So we must overcome three causes, but actually these causes are living beings. One is a spirit being, one is one that you're very familiar with, and one is a collection of beings overcoming all of these things if we are going to come out of sin. And so Israel was coming out of sin, hopefully coming out of sin, though because of the sin of unbelief they made God angry many times, and eventually all of those who left Egypt on that night except those under 20 and Joshua and Caleb did not enter into the Promised Land. If you would turn to Revelation chapter 2, we see the importance of overcoming in Revelation 2 and verse 7 in the message to the seven churches recorded in the book of Revelation. You'll see the exhortation time after time. You might call it the exhortation or the commandment to overcome.

So we begin in Revelation chapter 2 and verse 7. Revelation 2 and verse 7.

And he that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. To him that overcomes will I give to the tree of life which is in the midst of the garden of the paradise of God. He that overcomes. And then notice verse 11. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. He that overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. Look at now at verse 26. And he that overcomes and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations. Now we go to chapter 3 and verse 5. He that overcomes the same shall be clothed in white raiment. And I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before the Father and before his angels. And then we look at verse 12. So we see over and over again that you get these things, you get these rewards if you overcome. So it is incumbent upon us that we overcome. So in Revelation now chapter 3 and verse 12, in Revelation 3 and verse 12, him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God and he shall go out no more. And then in verse 21, to him that overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne even as I am overcome and have sat down with the Father in his throne. Jesus Christ on that night that he was betrayed told the disciples be of good cheer for I have overcome the world. If we're going to rule and reign with Christ, we must overcome. The Bible summarizes what is necessary to overcome and gain the victory. That summary of what is necessary to overcome is given to us in 1 John chapter 5 and verse 4. This is a broad summary of what is necessary to overcome.

In 1 John chapter 5 and verse 4, 1 John chapter 5 and verse 4, For whosoever is begotten of God overcomes the world.

Of course, that's one of the things we have to overcome, or I'm going to use the word society. And society is made up of people, of living beings. And this is a victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. So in the broad sense, the just shall live by faith, and it is through faith that we can overcome. Faith is inextricably linked to obedience. And the simplest definition of faith is to believe God and to do what He says. So let's notice now James back a few pages in James chapter 2 and verse 21, where James uses the example of Abraham in James chapter 2 and verse 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works? Now you could just as easily put the word obedience here. The Greek word here is indeed ergon, which is works. But it is through Abraham doing, and in order for Abraham to do, he had to obey what God said to do. Was not Abraham our father justified by works or obedience when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seeing you how faith wrought with his works or obedience. Say, faith without works or obedience is dead. And by works or obedience was faith made perfect.

You can say you believe something all the day long, but that is just intellectual assent to the truth. So many people have intellectual assent to the existence of God. But Jesus says, why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? He also says if you love me, you will keep my commandments. So you see how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect. And the scripture was fulfilled which said, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. In other words, it was put to his account, and he was called the friend of God. And we all want to be a friend of God. In order to overcome sin, we need to identify the causes of sin, and really the things that we need to overcome. We're going to identify what I believe are the three greatest enemies, or the three greatest causes of sin. By the three greatest enemies, I mean the three greatest enemies that we must overcome. The three great enemies that we must overcome are one, Satan, two, self, and three, society. If I were going to put it in hierarchical order, I would probably say self is the most difficult one to overcome, as we shall see as we go along here today. So once again, Feast of Unleavened Bread, we talk about leaving Egypt, putting sin out of our lives. Yes, self and the pulls of the flesh is one of the greatest enemies we must overcome in order to gain the victory through faith. Some will quickly say, well, I thought Satan was our greatest enemy, and indeed he is a powerful enemy that we must overcome, and we shall talk about that and discuss that also. Satan introduced sin into the universe when he rebelled and tried to take over the throne of God. We have read Isaiah 14 many times that gives that account. It's where in verse 17 it says, I will be like the Most High. Or in reality, what he was saying, I'm going to replace God. I'm going to be number one in the universe. So Satan tried to take over the throne of God and become the object of worship, and that is still his desire and goal, and for a brief time he will achieve that goal, as it says in Revelation 13 8 that all of the world worshiped the beast, which really is energized by Satan, except those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

So Satan introduced sin into the universe. Satan deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. Satan is a deceiver and a destroyer, a liar, the father of lies, and a murderer. That's John 8 and verse 44. So how did Satan deceive Eve into sinning? It was through appealing to the three lusts of the flesh. So let's read now from Scripture what the Scripture says are the three lusts of the flesh. So forward there to 1 John chapter 2. 2 John chapter 2 and verse 15.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loved the world, loved this society, loved this culture, loved this age, loved what it's all about, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, three things, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life is not of the Father, but of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof, but he that does the will of God abides forever. And we surely want to do the will of God and abide forever. Now we go to Genesis chapter 3, and we'll see that Satan used these three things in him deceiving Eve in the Garden of Eden. We'll see these three things identified in chapter 3, and we'll read verse 6.

So this conversation ensued between Eve and Satan the Devil. Verse 6, Satan tried the same strategy in tempting Christ, and his attempt to tempt him would turn out to Matthew 4. After Christ was baptized, he was led away in the spirit into the wilderness where he was tempted for 40 days and 40 nights by Satan the Devil. In Matthew chapter 4 and verse 1, then Jesus was led by the spirit in the wilderness to be tried, tested as the Devil, and when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, he was afterward to hunger. And when the tempter came to him, he said, if you be, you see, this was a counter against after Christ was baptized in chapter 3.

The spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove and said, a voice from heaven said, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. So Satan now is he is confronting, he's contesting that assertion. If you be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. And he answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. So it is the Word of God, the living Word of God, the words I speak, they are spirit and they are truth. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10 verse 17, Jesus said unto him, it is written again, you shall not tempt the Lord your God. After the temptation, verse 6, verses 5 and 6, set him on the pinnacle of the temple and dared him to jump off, saying it is written that the angels will bear you up. And so once again, God inspired Jesus Christ to say it is written, you shall not tempt the Lord your God. Then the devil showed him the kingdoms of the world and said, you can have all the kingdoms of the world if you bow down and worship me. And once again, Jesus responded to him through the Word of God. Then said Jesus unto him, get you hence Satan, for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you worship. Then the devil left him and behold angels came and ministered unto him. Just like it says in the book of James, resist the devil and he will flee from you. In each temptation, Jesus rebuked Satan with the Word of God. Satan is a mighty enemy. Make no mistake about it. The members of the Church of God is the number one target of Satan the devil. Why? Because he knows that it is the members of the Church of God, along with the two witnesses, that will expose Satan for what he really is. A liar, a murderer, or and a deceiver. But everyone whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life is going to be deceived by his miracles, his wonders, and his lies. So are we doing what we really need to do in teaching and preaching and manifesting the way to live by the way we live our lives. We're to be a light to the world, a city set on a hill, a light that cannot be hidden or not hidden, not put under a bushel. Satan himself poses as an angel of light, but actually he poses as an angel of light to gain advantage. Look at now 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 2 Corinthians chapter 11 and verse 13. 2 Corinthians chapter 11 and verse 13.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ, and no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing that his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. And of course these ministers say that all you have to do is believe the law of God is done away with. Upon death you either go to heaven or hell. You have an immortal soul not understanding the nature of God or the nature of man. Satan is the master of challenging people with some new thing or some old thing in a new uniform. And we're warned against that in Ephesians chapter 4. In Ephesians chapter 4 and beginning in verse 7 we read about this. Paul also wrote to Timothy saying that the time will come in which they will not endure sound doctrine, but with itching ears they shall be turned to fables. In Ephesians 4.7, but unto everyone is given according a measure of the gift of Christ, wherefore he said, when you ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto man. Now that he ascended, what is it that but he also descended first in the lower parts of the earth? Well, he went and preached the gospel to the lost spirits in Tartarew in a condition of restraint.

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things. And he gave some apostles, some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

Till we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man of the measure and the stature and fullness of Christ. That we henceforth, this is our key verse, and Satan knows how to tentilate and to try to bring in some new thing and to divert people's attention, to challenge certain things, that we henceforth, but more children tossed to and fro and cared about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

But speaking the truth and love may grow up unto him in all things which is ahead, even Christ, from whom the whole body is fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies. And we are part of those joints supplying what we can do according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, making increase of the body and to the edifying of yourself in love. So brethren, we have a role to play as well, and that we not be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.

However, even with all the power that Satan has, and it is surely great, our most difficult enemy to overcome is self. I believe itself. Because Satan appeals to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, Satan knows human nature. He knows the pulls of the flesh, and he gets to us when we give into any one of the three great weaknesses.

I think we tend to forget Romans 8-7. So we go read Romans 8-7, and we shall explore this. And this will be, if we can grasp the fullness of it, one of the great understandings that we can have. In Romans 8 and verse 7, 1 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither in need can be. Notice that once again. We'll just read over that.

The carnal mind is enmity, is the enemy against God, not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, the mind of the flesh, the mind that yields to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

We tend to forget that there is a law of sin abiding in the flesh. And we should not get the wrong impression that since there is a law of sin abiding in the flesh, that that gives us an excuse for sinning because it does not. As we shall see, the law of sin in the flesh is like gravity. It is ever-present, pulling you down. Preservation of the self is a very powerful innate drive.

We're born with this desire to preserve self. So the understanding that we're about to explain is one of the greatest understandings that you could possibly come to grips with. So we will look now across the page to Romans 7 and verse 15. For that which I do, I allow not, for what I would do, that do I not, but what I hate, that I do. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. The law is spiritual good, righteous, as you write in verse 14.

I mean, it's up above there. It is verse 12, holy, righteous, good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwells no good thing, for the will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would do, for the good that I would I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that, I would not.

It is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. So the key verse here with us, and we need to understand it, is I find then a law that when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.

But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. So the mind of the flesh is enmity toward God, and it is like gravity is constantly pulling us down.

It will always be there. You know, sometimes I pray, Father in heaven, at least take some of my carnal nature away, because you battle that every day.

O wretched man, verse 24, that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind, I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin. So if you yield to the flesh, you're going to sin. You're going to yield to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

Verse 25, I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind, I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin. In other words, the flesh was given to sin. It's always there. But with the mind, you can rule over the flesh. And Jesus Christ came, and He showed that it was possible to live in the flesh and to overcome self, to crucify flesh, to cross flesh out and live perfectly and keep the law. Now this great verse in chapter 8, Therefore there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ. In other words, you're not judged if you're in Christ, who walked not after the flesh. See, after the flesh, there's this law of sin pulling you down. But after the Spirit, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh. So Jesus Christ came, and we shall see in the next verse or two, and He showed that it was possible to live in the flesh and to overcome sin.

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mine the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

So Jesus Christ came, and He condemned sin in the flesh. How did He condemn it? He lived perfectly and kept the law. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. So this great struggle is always there. Then the great admonition is given in verse 13.

For if we live after the flesh, we shall die. But if we through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

So, brethren, this understanding of how this warfare takes place is so necessary to understand. Jesus totally crossed out flesh in humbling Himself and taking on the form of a servant and dying for the sins of the world. We read this once again in Philippians chapter 2, this admonition to let that same mind be in you which was in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ lived in the flesh, and He crossed out self. He crossed out the desires of the flesh. In Philippians 2.5, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. See, He did not give in to the flesh. He did not obey the law of sin in the flesh, because He knew that the law of sin in the flesh was enmity and enemy of God. It's also our enemy because the wages of sin is death.

And being found in the fashion of... well, I'm skipping a verse, I need to go back. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, so being existing in the form of God, thought it not robbery, a thing to be seized, to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the stake. So all the way through from humbling Himself, we cannot imagine how it is to go from being on the God plane with God the Father, and taking on the form of a flesh, and then dying, crossing out flesh completely. It says that He could have called for legions of angels to deliver Him, but He did not. He died willingly and gave His life for us. He resisted the great temptations of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. He crossed out flesh completely and walked in the spirit. He was counted as a sheep for the slaughter at all times, and as He was led to the slaughter, we go back now to Isaiah 53 and verse 1. Isaiah 53 and verse 1, we will see here how that Jesus Christ crossed out flesh, and the way He did it. We've already read from Philippians that He did. In Philippians chapter, not Philippians, in Isaiah 53, verse 3, He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows. Acquainted with grief, we hid, as it were, our faces from Him. He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our lawlessness, iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we're healed. We can made-bade whole in every facet of our being, physically and spiritually. He was oppressed. Verse 6, all we like sheep have gone astray. We've turned every one to His own way, and the Lord has hid on Him, has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth.

He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before a shear is dumb, so He opened not His mouth. So Jesus Christ totally crossed out flesh. This does not mean that Jesus was or that you should be. Once again, does not mean that Jesus was or that you should be a pushover, as they say, that you have to stand for that which is right. Jesus confronted those who were going astray. He chased the money changers out of the temple.

Chased the money changers out of the temple, time after time, He confronted the scribes and the Pharisees with words and actions. He did not hesitate to confront their hypocritical ways, and with words like, woe unto you scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites. He pointed out their weaknesses, which was the greatest weakness of the Old Covenant Israel, and remains the greatest weakness of us today, and that is doing the weightier matters of the law. In Matthew 23 and verse 23, we read about the weightier matters of the law, how that Jesus took the scribes and Pharisees to task, even though He totally crossed out flesh. He was not a pushover. He was bold. He was masculine. He was one who was not afraid to confront that which was wrong. In Matthew 23 and verse 23, woe unto you scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites, you may pay tithes of mint, anise, and coming, have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith. These ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone. I doubt the Pharisees ever considered that true righteousness stems from a person surrendering to God, submitting to God, and serving God. They knew virtually nothing about giving up self and crossing out flesh. So we must come to the point that Jesus came to in giving up self. The struggle Paul describes in Romans is ever present. As it is written, for your sake we are killed all the day long. We are counted a sheep for the slaughter. And do we really count ourselves that way? Once again, this does not mean that we are a doormat. It takes giving up self and spiritual courage to confront sin.

Giving up self does not excuse anyone from exercising the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith. Perhaps the closest we come to crossing out flesh completely is on Passover as we sit there contemplating, reflecting at Passover, as we let go of all of our stress-producing concerns and worries, and put our hands and our hearts and heads in the hands of God and Christ. And all is well. There is a song about it is well, all is well. This is when we perhaps for a few fleeting moments enjoy the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. The desire to preserve self is dissolved for a few fleeting moments. You see, flesh was made subject to vanity, which means humankind wants their thing now.

And they will say, oh, I'm going to stand my ground. You're not going to put anything over on me.

And they are filled with self-will. In Romans 8, 17, and I don't think we fully grasp and understand the fullness of this. In Romans 8, 17, and continuing, we see about how humans are made once again.

In Romans 8, 17, and if children and heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us what we're going to be, what we're going to become of glorious beings in the kingdom of God, for the creatures were made subject to vanity, which means temporarity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who has subjected the same in hope.

So God didn't make us self-sufficient in every sense of the word, because if we were self-sufficient in every way, we would never come to rely upon Him. And even understanding that we must have Him to really overcome, we still struggle with trusting Him, obeying Him, living in faith as we should, because the creature of creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and prevails in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the sonship, that final thing, when we are actually born in the family of God, the redemption of our body, for we are saved by hope.

So when we are baptized, we are affirming that we're putting the old man flesh and seph will to death. As you heard in the first message, that watery grave of baptism in Romans chapter 6 now, in Romans chapter 6 and verse 6, knowing that our old man is crucified with him, we go down into that water and under the water, and under the water signifies that we are buried with him, that the old body is dead, that the old self is being destroyed. That the body is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. When you come up out of the water of grave, you are a new person, and the pulls of the flesh no longer have power over you unless you permit it, because you have the knowing within yourself to cross out flesh, but flesh is still there. So to our dismay, we find out almost immediately that the three enemies, less of the flesh, less of the eyes and the pride of life, is still there. We now have to give up self and live unto God. Now next, we must overcome the world and its social structure. We have to overcome Satan. We have to overcome self, to overcome self and totally give up self and not defend self, I believe is our greatest challenge. Overcoming society. Society in the teachings of its institutions is geared toward self-realization, self-actualization, climbing the ladder of success.

The world's definition of success is based on the GATT principle and virtually all of life's activities. In short, the ever-present pull of the flesh, the less of the eyes, the less of the flesh, the less of the eyes, the pride of life, are ever-present, pulling them down.

The influence of the environment that we live in has an imperceptible influence on the way we think and respond, unless you have on the whole armor of God and realize we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against wicked spirits in high places. There is a spirit and a spirit of the times that permeates society in this culture. Satan is the god of this world, and he has structured the world to bring us into captivity. With all the conveniences and comforts that the mind of man has wrought, there's still a hole in his heart and a yearning for something more than just the material, physical pleasures of the flesh. So we have the entertainment world with its various platforms. Social media, pornography, prostitution, casinos, violent sporting events, abortion, homosexuality, and its different spin-offs. Dissolution of the family, totally secular education, trashing of time-honored values. Society is now wallowing in a Darwinian cesspool of evolutionary thought and action. What do I mean by a Darwinian cesspool?

One of the great tenets of Darwinianism, the evolutionary theory, is survival of the fittest. Every man for himself. As a result of society's influence, many will plunge back into the world. We look at Matthew 24 and verse 12. In Matthew 24 and verse 12, notice what it says, And because iniquity lawlessness shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. As I said, society, this culture, can have an imperceptible influence on your way of thinking. You have to catch yourself, or you will go down the same avenue, the same road. The culture and its spin-offs allow Satan to offer you the glamour, the glitz, of what this world has to offer. But none of these material, physically based things, will ever fill the hole in the heart, the human heart, that heart, that mind which yearns to transcend flesh. That hole can only be filled through the Spirit and Word of God. The Bible, time after time, admonishes us to come out of this world. And we want to turn now to 2 Corinthians 6, verse 14. 2 Corinthians 6, verse 14.

These scriptures here that we're about to read, 2 Corinthians 6, verse 14. If we would take heed. 2 Corinthians 6, verse 14. And God hath raised... I'm in 1 Corinthians. I need to get to 2 Corinthians 6, verse 14. Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

Do not be part and parcel of this world and their dealings. For what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? That is, the devil. Or what part hath he that believes with an unbeliever in Padel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. And guess what? You're the temple of the living God. And God's Holy Spirit, His very essence, is in you. As God has said, I will dwell in them, walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be you separate.

See, love not the world, or the things that are in the world. He that loves the things of the world is not of the Father we read from 1 John 2, 17. Touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be unto me my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. And now we go to 2 Corinthians chapter 10. And we notice here, I believe it's 1st 21, if it's not, I will quote it. In 2 Corinthians chapter 10 and verse 21.

It must be 1 Corinthians. 1 Corinthians chapter 10. Let's try that. 1 Corinthians chapter 10 and verse 21. We've just read here, come out from them, among them, and be separate. You cannot serve two masters. So in 1 Corinthians 10, 21, you cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils. You cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and of the table of devils. So you cannot serve two masters. You will either love the one and hate the other, and so Jesus says you cannot serve two masters. No man can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6, 24. According to the inspired words of the apostle Paul, the church of God is the pillar and ground of the truth. I want us to read those verses. 1 Timothy 3 and verse 14. See, this is the culture we want to embrace. We want to embrace God's culture. We want to be of the truth. We want to come out of the world. We want to embrace the truth. Love the truth. 1 Timothy 3 and verse 14. These things are right into you, hoping to come unto you shortly. But if I don't get there right away, as it says if I tarry long, that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is, which is the church of God, which is the living, the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the nations, believed on in the world, and received up into glory. And, brethren, he is coming again to receive us to glory, and we shall be glorified with him. 2 Timothy 3 and verse 14. Brethren, we have the spiritual weapons to overcome Satan, self, and society. We read back in Romans, finally, this admonition, which we have read many times, but let us close with this today. In Romans chapter 8, and we'll start in verse 31. In Romans 8, 31, it says, if God be for you, who can be against you? Always remember that. If God be for you, who can be against you? Verse 36, as it is written, see once again this key of crucifying self, as it is written, for your sake we're killed all the day long, we're accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Verse 38, for I'm persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor heighth, nor death, nor any other creatures shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. So, brethren, we can overcome. Well, good and faithful servant, you've been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many. So, brethren, let's come out of sin, let's crucify Satan, self, and society, and live unto God.