When God Shows Us Who We Are Part 1

Carnal(def) - relating to physical, especially sexual, needs and activities. We live in a very carnal world, and the end result of that carnality is a lifestyle with no bounds. We might think that would be a definition of freedom, but it is really a lifestyle of bondage to a mindset that is steeped in humanism with worldly, fleshly reasoning at its core. Paul gets very specific when dealing with the subject of abject carnality and here is what He wrote to the church in Rome in Romans 1: 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible mankind, of birds, four-footed animals, and crawling creatures. The first sign of a "slide" toward an unnatural life is that they worshipped animals more than humans. We are God's creation, and we are made in the image of God, so God is not going to be happy when we make such a terrible exchange in our thinking. I know it is so endearing to love a dog or cat, but that love should not exceed the love we have for other humans. We have become so antiseptic in our relationships, to the point we turn to an animal, or even a creeping thing, and talk to them like they have brains and souls like humans. Not so.

To accelerate this crazy animal worship, there are certain computer programs that can move a dog's mouth with a human doing a voiceover to make them seem human. I remember when my friend brought his dog over and told me his dog could speak. He "proved" it to me by asking the dog, "What is on a house? To which the dog then barked, and my friend said, "See. He knew it was a roof!" I may be dumb, but I am not stupid. Duh. We do not want to worship animals and trade that worship with our worship of God. Romans 1:24 Therefore God gave them up to vile impurity in the lusts of their hearts, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

The slide into carnality continued after that to unnatural affections for the same sex. God made us man and woman, and that is it. When we hedge on that truth, the slide picks up speed, and from there on, everything our hearts and minds can come up with is accepted in our hearts, not just our minds. We are to guard our hearts with all diligence, and when we receive Jesus, we receive Him into our heart or soul. We surrender our will at the heart level, and that is why we must guard it, or the carnal influence of the flesh will win us over. This provides a very troubling scenario for those who call themselves Christians but succumb to a life that is contrary to the Word of God. If you are born again, the Holy Spirit rules your heart, and He will let you know when it is not right, along with the Word of God. We can bypass any human opinions about what is right in this case, because human opinions drift like the tide, but the Word of God is perfect and complete in all aspects. When a Christian makes an excuse to live a carnal life that is in open rebellion to the Word of God, you've got problems.

But keep in mind, this carnal and depraved mind covers a lot of depravity. Here is list from Romans 1: 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a depraved mind, to do those things that are not proper, 29 people having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, andmalice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unfeeling, and unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them. In the love of God, we see a God who forgives, but also draws us to a better, more complete way of living, so the realization of where we have let carnality become prevalent in our lives has to be dealt with, and we deal with it in repentance. But we live in a very prideful, narcissistic world, and part of the carnal problem is found in the "pride of life" monster offered to us by satan. Those who have slid out of fellowship with God must listen to the love calls of the heavenly Father and respond in repentance. This is not the most opportune time for prideful, judgmental Christians to kill the wounded, but to love them back to the truth. But that takes time, and killing those living in carnality is very easy to do because, in our eyes, it makes us look more Godly than them. But are we?

Today's Message,

David Warren