Page Seven

Minister Clyde Derrick

Bible Studies
Week 1: Three things that will get you
Week 2: Be Holy
Week 3: The process in place to save souls
Week 4: After the first three Baptisms

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh , and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Understanding:
Lust of the eyes: It's normal for us to love the things of this world. Cars, boats, big houses, fame, fortune, a respected title, all of these are things we crave in our flesh. Even churches have found a way to justify lust of the eyes and pride of life. They say God is king and therefore all of his representatives should be the riches people in the world. I won't go into my "anti money sermon" here, we'll stay on point which is, the world sees getting all of the before mentioned things as the primary goal of life. For Christians the primary goal of life should be to live Holy and spread the word of God. To show your love for others by given them the word. This false teaching would be right if Jesus hadn't said what he did in 1 John 18:36 - Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

We are part of a kingdom that exist outside of "the world" as people know it, we'll just walking around in this world taking up the same space, breathing the same air. God's kingdom has different rules and those rules sometimes go against the rules of the world. When God's rules conflict with the rules of this world you have to pick which one you will follow.

For example, will I stock pile millions of dollars or will I wisely prepare for the future while parting with the greater portion of my wealth in order to cure the lack of other Family members, Christians, and human beings. (In pure form, the Bible says not to worry about tomorrow, not wisely prepare, however the Bible does tell us to take on wisdom, and in our day and time some preparation for the future is wise. This is not the same as building a barn to store your money in). If you didn't see the point here it is. If you love people you can't see them go hungry while you sit on large sums of money. (In acts, the first Christians. some where able to sell everything to share with others who lacked and others could not. Those who could not sell everything but still shared with those lacking were still added to the church. It's not in how much you share it's how much you have left after you share)

Pride of life: Do I let my head grow larger than the opening of the door because I have a title in front or behind my name? Do I treat others as if they are less because of this title? The world says yes, you earned the title they didn't, the title puts you above them so act like you are above them. The Bible says we are to be servants. Those who can humble themselves and be servants are the greatest in the kingdom of God because they have over come this pride of life.

Lust of the flesh : Do you take for yourself every man or woman you can because you desire them? The world says hey if you can pull it, hit it (have sex). The bible says your body is the temple of God and having sex with someone that isn't your wife is a sin against your own body. It's an attack on the temple of God. Point here is, if you love God you want to keep your temple clean so his spirit will stay with you. There are several examples but I think point made.

Explanation: Of 1 John 18:36
Jesus isn't saying the kingdom of God isn't here on earth, he's saying it doesn't function by the world's standards and expectation, if it did he would have had to put together an army and fight. By the way, that's what Muhammad who started Islam did. He put together an army and started killing people. I guess his "god's" kingdom was of this world.
The word of God's kingdom was never meant to be spread by any other means other than the showing of love and the use of free will to accept. Convert or die, that's man's way. Just a side note.

1 Peter 15

15. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Ephesians 4:23 - and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is create in righteousness and true holiness. 25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members of one another.

St. Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasures of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Understanding:
Paul wrote this to the Ephesians (scripture above). He said they are members of one another. He uses the word neighbor. Jesus described who a neighbor was in the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:23-27. I give you that first so you understand we are not members with people who walk in darkness.

It's not easy to be holy in all manner of conversation. I know I struggle with it. You have to learn how to Not Talk about certain things. Having the desire to jump into a conversation but fighting that desire and keeping quiet was and is still a hard thing for me. I'm getting better, but this is what's needed sometimes.

Understand this, if you have bad fruit what comes out of your mouth will show what kind of fruit you have (what's in your heart). Anger, harshness, mean spirit, these are all bad fruit. You can still be a save Christian and struggle to get rid of bad fruit. It's a process that takes time. I know first hand you have to go through a change (your eyes being opened to God's love) in order to replace bad fruit with good fruit. With out this change the same old thing will come out of your mouth. You can't get rid of all the bad fruit without the help of the Holy Spirit.

Here's the key: there will be no change without reading the word, praying, and seeking God. You must desire the change for the spirit of God to give the knowledge that will bring about the change. Since you are reading this bible lessons on this website you are clearly seeking God. All you have to do is add pray to that and wait on the change.

James 3:6 - And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. (jump to verse 10) Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

This doesn't mean don't ever talk. A vile of silence?? Why? As soon as you start talking again bad things eventually come out. (verse 8) But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Pray for strength and wisdom to be Holy in conversation and be full of good spirit. Surround yourself as much as possible with other Christians full of good fruit and the times your tongue has a mind of it's own should be less than more.

Romans 10:13

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher. 15. And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16. But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believe our report. 17. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Understanding
The process of saving souls first starts with the calling and the sending of the preacher. Next comes the 'hearing of the word of God." Faith is developed through the hearing and believing in the word of God. We are all called to be disciple but not all called to be preachers. That means even though your pastor has that specific calling to spread the word of God, every one who has God's love should work to spread the word to others. No your job isn't to just invite people to church and let the pastor do the work. You should at least be able to explain the Jesus dying on the cross and rising from the grave, then invite them to church.

The first 3 Baptisms happen right away after you repent of your sins and Accept Jesus Christ as your lord and savior. Those are: Baptism of the blood - Ephesians 1:7; Baptism of the Holy Spirit - II Corinthians 1:22; and Baptism into the body of Christ - I Corinthians 12:12.

So made new, qualified to receive the Spirit of God and united with all others who accepted the blood of Jesus Christ. The next 2 are for you to do.

The Baptism of repentance or water. Romans 6:3 Baptism into death. I know we normally do this right after you join a church but it probably should be done some months after you join. Why? Because you are saying you are willing to bury the old man and come up a new man. When you first accept Jesus into your life and start to fellowship with other members of the body of Christ (church) you likely haven't learned to set your desires aside. You should go through some new member classes so you know what is expect of you. The Bible says count the cost before going to war.

The after you have been baptist by water and come up a new man, you will go through the Baptism of Sacrifice. Mark 10: 35- I Peter 19:21- Hebrews 5:7- Romans 8:17.
You've come up a new man (or woman) and now you have to sacrifice those desires that aren't Christ like. Most "Christians" have a problem with this, they want to be a Christian without letting go of all the sinful things they like to do. Even older Christians who have been in church their entire lives sometimes decide to turn their back on the truth and follow their own desires. They have resurrected the old man and done away with the new man. Where does that leave them? Well we know they will no longer have the Holy Spirit in them so they undo the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit they are no long part of the body of Christ so they undo the Baptism of body of Christ and well, if turned their back on the truth then they will have to get Baptist by the Blood of Christ all over again.

You say we are sin and that's true but we are all not sinners. Christian fall short of the Glory of God not sinners. Sinners don't have the Holy Spirit so they have no chance of reaching the Glory or God. Christians don't have to re-bury the old man they just have to work to keep him buried. Sinners have decided to live as if there was never a burial service.