The flesh is not God.

After His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus was with His disciples for forty days.

"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" - Acts 1:3

There is significance that it was 40 days between His resurrection and His ascending up to heaven.

The number 40 is significant throughout the Bible. It is said the number 40 represents transition or change; the concept of renewal; a new beginning; a lifting of a spiritual state. We can see this throughout the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.

We can see that after we receive the Holy Ghost, we begin a lifelong transition of perfecting from the old life we lived to our new life in Jesus. Our new birth, of water and of the Spirit, brings a “new beginning.” This time period after we have been born again and when we see Jesus is a “lifting of a spiritual state.”

We follow Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection by our repentance and turning our back on sin, by getting baptized by immersion in the name of Jesus, and by our receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives us utterance. (Acts 2:38, Acts 2:4)

Just as Jesus had a 40-day interim between His resurrection and ascending to heaven, we too have this 40 day interim symbolically between our receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (our resurrection) and when we meet Jesus in heaven (our ascension to heaven) (1Thessalonians 4:15-16).

Just as Jesus was a witness of the power of His resurrection to those close to Him as well as great multitudes (1Corinthians 15:3-8), we too are witnesses to family and friends and many others of the power of the Holy Ghost in our life, that gives us resurrection from our old life to a new life in Jesus (1Corinthians 6:9-11).

Paul speaks of this 40-day period when Jesus was a witness that He had been resurrected:

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

“And that he was seen of Cephas [Peter], then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once… after that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." - 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 KJV

Jesus told His disciples before He poured out His Spirit on the Day of Pentecost that they would be witnesses of Jesus with the power of their new resurrected life. Just as He had been a witness after His resurrection.

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." - Acts 1:8 KJV

This promise of the Holy Ghost is for us and all that Jesus calls!

This is what Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost when Jesus first poured out His Spirit:

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

Those that love God and are the called can know that God causes everything to work together for our good to accomplish His purpose in our life and for His kingdom.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

When we love Jesus, we keep His commandments. (John 14:15-18, 1 John 5:3, 1 Peter 1:8)

God calls us, drawing us to Him, giving us the desire to know Him, the desire to know His word. (John 6:44)

We find ourselves hearing a preacher preach the gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1Corinthians 15:1-4)

We hear that to obey the gospel we must repent, be baptized in Jesus name, our sins will be washed away, and God will fill us with His Spirit. (Romans 6:1-8)

We have been called.

When we respond to God’s call into His grace and salvation, we turn our back on sin, we are baptized in Jesus name for the remission of our sins, and we receive the Holy Ghost, speaking in other tongues as we allow the Spirit of God to take control of our tongue. (Acts 2:38-39, Acts 2:4)

We become “the called.” (2 Thessalonians 2:14, Revelation 17:14)

When we are joined together with God, all the things we go through are for our good. Everything we go through has a purpose. Through it all, we are growing into a better person – we are becoming more like Jesus. (Hebrews 12:6-11, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 1 Peter 1:7-8, 1 Corinthians 2:9)

The things we go through are to help us to bear spiritual fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith and faithfulness, humility, and self-control. (Galatians 5:16-26, Ephesian 5:8-10, Romans 5:3-5, James 1:3-4)

We gain power to overcome sin, faith for spiritual warfare, love and compassion for others and to help others in their struggles in life and their search for God, good works for the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:8, Ephesians 6:10-20, 1Peter 2:12, Hebrews 10:24, Matthew 5:16, Ephesians 2:10, Titus 2:14)

Knowing that God has things in control for our benefit can give us peace and confidence in the midst of trials and the storms of life. When we look back on situations, we can see how God worked it out for our good and for a purpose. (Genesis 50:20, James 1:12)

Take the step to complete victory!

Jesus took the step. The step He took was one of bitter suffering that led to an excruciatingly painful death.

The step that Jesus wants us all to take is the step to stop bad habits and worldly life styles. Jesus died a physical death, to pay the debt of our sins and bring us His grace and mercy. What Jesus wants of us is not a physical death, but to become dead to SIN.

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

“Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him." - Romans 6:1-9

This is our step to victory – and our flesh doesn’t like to let go of those habits!

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus struggled with His flesh. It didn’t want to die.

And our flesh does not want to die to sin!

Jesus’s flesh said, “Let this cup pass from me.”

"And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." - Matthew 26:39

When was Jesus’s first step to victory over His flesh?

When He said, “Not as I will” - the will of His fleshly nature that we all have - but rather, “Thy will be done” - the will of God that was inside the fleshly body that He dwelt in among us.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." - John 1:1, 14

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." - Hebrews 4:15

"He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done." - Matthew 26:42

And that is what we need to decide - not my will, but Jesus - thy will be done!

This is the first step to the victory that Jesus led the way in - victory over the flesh.

"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.

“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.

“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." - 1 John 2:15-17

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." - 1 John 5:4

How are we born of God?

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." - John 3:5

How are we born of water and of the Spirit?

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

This is how we have power to overcome our flesh and the world. With the authority of the name Jesus, and by the power of His Spirit, the Holy Ghost. We can say, “Thy will be done.”

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." - Acts 1:8

Our victory over our flesh and the world has our final victory over the grave when the trumpet sounds.

"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." - 1 Corinthians 15:20

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep [go to the grave], but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ... But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, 57-58

Elijah soaked the sacrifice with water. When Elijah prayed, the fire of the LORD fell and the sacrifice was consumed.

When Solomon dedicated the temple of God by prayer, fire came down from heaven consuming the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

When the disciples were praying in the upper room, a sound from heaven filled the house. Tongues like as fire sat on each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.

When we repent and are baptized in water in the name of Jesus, God accepts our sacrifice by baptizing us with the Holy Ghost and fire.

Scripture:

"Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God." - 1 Kings 18:38-39 KJV

"Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." - 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 KJV

"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:2-4 KJV

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 12:1-2 KJV

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" - Matthew 3:11 KJV

The gates of a city were for a defense.

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and
upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it." - Matthew 16:18 KJV

Why will the gates of hell not prevail against the church?

Because the gates of hell cannot prevail against the gospel
(Acts 2:38)

Souls are set free from hell by Jesus name!

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

 prevail against the gospel(Acts 2:38)

Souls are set free from hell by Jesus name!

Paul wrote to the church at Rome, "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." - Romans 12:19 KJV

He was telling the church to never take revenge, rather to leave that to the righteous anger of God.

Paul also wrote to them, "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. ... Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. ... Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:14, 17, 21 KJV

While some look forward to God’s vengeance on those that have done them wrong, we have examples of a better way.

Jesus said when they were crucifying Him, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." - Luke 23:34 KJV

Stephen said when they had stoned him and was at the point of death, "And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep." - Acts 7:60 KJV

Paul spoke of the first time he went before the judge, "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge." - 2 Timothy 4:16 KJV

See this link to read more of forgiveness:

https://www.facebook.com/lynn7rice/posts/10208582345177674