2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Col 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
Our Father “calls” believers to come out from among the ungodly thinking, and ways, and life of this world, and “be separate,” and reject earthly-mindedness and denominational traditions that distort godliness. We are warned that many Christians have created their own forms of doctrine and worship that please the flesh rather than God. True worship is being a living sacrifice, and believers must guard against vain worship and false teachings that lead away from sound doctrine. Oftentimes, the opinions, and wisdom of men call unto the lusts of our flesh, we are taught that the men of this world use ‘enticing words,’ these “words” are designed to call upon the lusts that we have not ‘displaced,’ and have not “counted” as “loss,” and as things that we have ‘left behind.’ And there are things that we have fell in love with and have “counted” as “gain” unto us, these are the “things” that we now “lust” after. And these lusts are things like the politics of this world, and “all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life.” And even though we live in the affairs of this life, we are taught that we ought to not be ‘entangled’ with them.
Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Moreover, we are taught to remain steadfast, avoiding vain babblings and false teachings, knowing that these “devices” of Satan are designed to “entice” our hearts desires, it goes after what we have ‘laid’ as our foundation that we now stand upon in our life. Our “bowels and mercies” are founded upon these things, we build the Word of God upon this foundation of what we have learned is the good in our sight, and what is the evil in our sight. But this ‘table’ of good and evil is taught unto many by this world, it is propagated by this world’s social media, and T. V. and the men of this world also have their own values and things that they teach as today’s “gain,” and what is “loss,” the men of this world teaches what to ‘reach forth’ unto, and the things that we ought to ‘forget, and leave behind.’ But what goes unnoticed today, is the teaching a selfless, Spiritually minded life, to engage in Spiritual warfare with the “armor of God,” to reject worldly wisdom and idolatry in ‘ideology,’ and not having their faith stand in the wisdom of men but grounded in the power and truth of the Word of God.
Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Furthermore, throughout Paul’s epistles, we are given Spiritual exhortation focused on the Christian life of godliness, emphasizing the contrast between living “after the flesh” and living “after the Spirit.” Each epistle is given unto us to guide believers in developing a selfless heart, a Spiritual mind, and walking in His likeness, and enduring sufferings for Christ’s sake. But also placing an emphasis upon the “watching” of ‘modern Christian practices’ and false teachings, and ‘beseeching’ believers to embrace ‘true godliness,’ Spiritual warfare, and godly living through submission, and a selfless desire to God’s Word and power. But what we see today is a blend of Church/politics, Church/worldly views, Church/country, which ever one someone embraces, they build upon this ‘newfound’ “faith.” Timothy is an example of a selfless son who possessed a Spiritual mind and heart toward the saints but cautioned against prioritizing the flesh over the ministry of the Father and Christ. And there are two types of lives that believers may live: one “after the flesh,” which is carnal, and one “after the Spirit,” which is Spiritual. The believer’s mind must choose to focus on Spiritual things aligned with God’s Word rather than fleshly concerns. This is supported by Romans 8:1-8, which contrasts walking after the flesh with walking after the Spirit and explains that the carnal mind is “enmity” to God and cannot please Him.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Therefore, many Christians only recognize the obvious sinful behaviors as ‘fleshly,’ but fail to perceive the deeper spiritual wickedness, such as false gospels and doctrines that deny God’s power. We are warned against relying on church traditions, political views, or ‘preachers’ dictates’ instead of God’s Word, which leads to Spiritual bondage unto a ‘worshipping God after the flesh.’ And this stems from a carnal foundation that never became ‘displace,’ or as Paul says in Philippians chapter 3:13 about the past things we love, and thought were gain to us, that we ought to forget “those things which are behind.” Paul stresses that believers are not in the flesh but in the Spirit “if so be the Spirit of God dwells” within them. Living after the flesh leads to death, but living through the Spirit leads to the godly life of Christ and godly peace, not as this world portrays the ‘Christian life,’ and what it says godly peace is all about. Christians are called to mortify the deeds of the body and be led by the Living Word of God alone as “sons of God.”
Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Finally, we are exhorted to hold fast to sound doctrine with faith and love, keeping the “good things” entrusted to us within the Living Word of the Holy Spirit. And be not as many modern Christians who ‘undervalue’ the power, life, love, and will of God, limiting Christian life to just ‘getting souls saved, and waiting for the rapture,’ and renouncing ONLY the ‘obvious sinful things, while embracing denominational traditions that deny the power of God. We are warned that such teachings lead to ‘wavering faith,’ and departure from the life of Christ. True godliness involves living selflessly for the Father, being a living sacrifice to others, including human government and even enemies, and pursuing our Father’s Spiritual perfection through faith and power of His Word. And sadly enough, many pastors overlook the necessity to “bear the infirmities of the weak,” and give them the ‘Spiritual meat’ of the knowledge of the Son of God, and the doctrine of suffering for Christ’s sake in ministry. And unlike ‘worldly heroes’ who have physical protection, soldiers of Christ rely solely on the “armor of God,” which is the Word, to engage in the Spiritual warfare against wickedness in high places. And traditional church practices such as the value placed upon hymn books and church activities which are man-made and contrary to God’s desire for true worship and Spiritual songs sung from the heart, not ‘pre-written songs’ that distort Spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Rod Jones
SUPPLY OF GRACE 
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