THIS IS OUR KING!

That's MY KING! Dr. Lockridge says this far better than I ever could! Have a listen, read and be inspired!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DO YOU KNOW HIM? THAT'S MY KING!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"My King was born King.

The Bible says He is the seven-way King.

He is the King of the Jews. That’s a racial King!

He is King of Israel. That’s a national King!

*

He’s a King of righteousness.

He’s a King of the ages.

He’s the King of heaven.

He is the King of glory!

He’s the King of kings and Lord of lords.

*

Now that’s my King!


*
Well, I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him?

Don’t try to mislead me. Do you know my King?

*

David said, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork.”


No far-seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing!

*
He’s enduringly strong, He’s entirely sincere,

He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful.

He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful.

*

THAT'S MY KING!

*

He’s God’s Son. He’s a sinner’s Savior.

He’s the centerpiece of civilization.

He stands alone in Himself.

He’s august! He’s unique!

He’s unparalleled! He’s unprecedented!

He’s supreme! He’s preeminent!

*


He’s the loftiest idea in literature!

He’s the highest idea in philosophy!

He’s the fundamental truth in theology!

He’s the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion!

*

THAT'S MY KING!!

*
He’s the miracle of the ages!

He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously!

He supplies strength for the weak!

He’s available for the tempted and the tried!

He sympathizes and He saves!



He guards and He guides!

*

He heals the sick, He cleans the lepers!

He forgives sinners, He discharges debtors,

He delivers captives, He defends the feeble,

He blesses the young, He serves the unfortunate,

He regards the aged, He rewards the diligent,

He beautifies the meek!!

*

DO YOU KNOW HIM?

*

Well, my King is the King of knowledge,

He’s the Well-spring of wisdom,

He’s the Doorway of Deliverance,

He’s the Pathway of Peace,

He’s the Roadway of Righteousness,

He’s the Highway of Holiness,

He’s the Gateway of Glory,

He’s the Master of the Mighty,

He’s the Captain of the Conquerors,

He’s the Head of the Heroes,

He’s the Leader of the Legislators,

He’s the Overseer of the Overcomers,

He’s the Governor of governors,

He’s the Prince of princes,

He’s the KING of Kings and the LORD of Lords.

*

*

THAT'S MY KING! YEAH, THAT'S MY KING!!!

*

*

His life is matchless, His goodness is limitless!

His mercy is everlasting His love never changes!

HIS WORD IS ENOUGH!!!

*

His grace is sufficient, His reign is righteous!

His yoke is easy and His burden is light!

*


Well. I wish I could describe Him to you!!

*


But He’s indescribable. He’s indescribable!

Yes, He’s incomprehensible!

He’s invincible, He’s irresistible!


I’m trying to tell you, the Heavens cannot contain Him,

let alone a man explain Him!

*

You can’t get Him out of your mind!

You can’t get Him off of your hands!

You can’t outlive Him, and

you can’t live without Him!!


*

Well, The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him,

but they found out THEY COULDN'T STOP HIM!!


Pilate couldn’t find ANY FAULT IN HIM!!


The witnesses [at his trial] couldn’t get their testimonies to agree.

Herod COULDN'T KILL HIM!!


DEATH COULDN'T HANDLE HIM and

THE GRAVE COULDN'T HOLD HIM!!

*

THAT'S MY KING!!!! YEAH!!


*
He always has been, and He always will be!

I’m talking about He [who] had NO predecessor,

and He [who] has NO successor!!

*

There was nobody before Him and there will be nobody after Him.


You can’t impeach Him, and HE's NOT GOING TO RESIGN!!!

*

*

Praise the Lord! THAT'S MY KING!!!!!


THINE is the KINGDOM and the POWER and the GLORY!!!!


Well. All the power belongs to my King!

We around here talk about black power and white power and green power, but it’s GOD'S POWER!!!



Thine is the power. Yeah! And the glory!

*

We try to get prestige and honor and glory to ourselves,

but the glory is all His. Thine is the kingdom

and the power,

and the glory,

forever, and ever, and ever, and ever.

How long is that?


And ever, and ever, and ever, and ever,

and when you get through with all of the forevers, then AMEN!!!”


Dr. S. M. Lockridge, Dallas, Texas, quoted by Max Anders in Jesus, Knowing Our Savior, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publ., 1995), pp. 33-35

The NEW BORN MESSIAH-KING WHO REIGNS!

The NEW BORN MESSIAH-KING WHO REIGNS!

A Babe born, wholly Divine;

God and man, intertwined,

Holy Vessel of Love and Grace,

Tenderly held in mother's embrace.

*

Warrior angels guarding Him true,

Watching close as God's Son grew.

The LORD of hosts in flesh and blood;

Captain of the Armies of God.

*

The War Call proclaimed before,

to trodden the serpent's head.

Commenced by the Lamb, Who for,

the glory set, endured the dread,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ of Calvary's cross,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ for the sake of the lost.

*

Victory won with nail pierced hands,

a bloody thorn-crown on Holy brow;

Victory at the Son's command,

Won Life Eternal, then and now!

*

Author of pure Life, slain by sin:

by gift of grace, we enter in,

To the Holy of Holies, high above,

Seal'd with Promise by the Spirit dove.

*

That manger born babe, to rule rightly,

From David's throne upon the Earth.

Soon He returns to reign mightily,

slay darkness in deadly dearth:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ and rule righteously!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ and reign gloriously!

*

Maranatha LORD Jesus Christ! Hallelujah and Amen!
HANDELS's MESSIAH

   

ISAIAH 7:14 

Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. 

ISAIAH 9:6 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

MICAH 5:2 

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 

LUKE 2:11 

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

JOHN 10:14-17

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

JOHN 12:27-28

27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

PSALM 22:1,6-8,14,18,31 

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me? why art thou so far from helping Me, and from the words of My roaring. But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see Me laugh Me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that He would deliver him: let Him deliver Him, seeing he delighted in Him. I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of My bowels. They part My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture. They shall come, and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that He hath done this.

ISAIAH 53:3-6,9-11 

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and 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. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. And He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My Righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities. 

PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

PSALM 2:4-9 

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure. Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 

ISAIAH 63:1-4,6 

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in His apparel, travelling in the greatness of His strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art Thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with Me: for I will tread them in Mine anger, and trample them in My fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon My garments, and I will stain all My raiment. For the day of vengeance is in Mine heart, and the year of My redeemed is come. And I will tread down the people in Mine anger, and make them drunk in My fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. 

REVELATION 11:15 

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. 

REVELATION 17:14 

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful. 

REVELATION 19:16 

And He hath on his vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 

REVELATION 22:6-7,13, 20 

And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to shew unto His servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Another SMOKE SIGNAL: Playing HOLY SPIRIT?...

Playing Holy Spirit or Allowing Him to Work through You?

In our lives as believers we understand that we are one body, and members one of another (Rom 12:5); that there is an interaction and a vitality that operates in and through us, for the mutual edification of us all.

We often have need to encourage, to exhort, even to reprove and rebuke one another, but meekly and with the sole motivation of love (1 Cor 12:25; 2 Tim 4:2; Eph 4:16 and Gal 6:1).

At times, either because the person who endeavors to correct is doing so without the proper motivation or in the wrong manner, is not received; but its also possible that the person being reproved is uncomfortable in giving up their sin or facing their compromise. In their own defense they say, "Stop playing the Holy Ghost!"

However the Holy Spirit operating by the prophets of the Old Testament, or working through the church of Jesus Christ has always sought to lead, instruct, encourage, correct the saints of God, as well as bring back those who have gone wayward.


Not only so, but the Holy Spirit is active in the world as well, pointing them to Jesus, to His grace and love, to His rightful claim as both LORD and CHRIST; He convicts and convinces of sin. He does so through the reading of the Word of God, the Law of the LORD, and He does so also through the body of Christ and its individual members:

JOHN 16:7-11
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.


The Word also speaks of the Light, which is God Himself and the Revelation of His Word, that dispels darkness and reproves those that love darkness -

JOHN 3:19-20
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

People who are prone to accuse others of 'playing Holy Ghost' or being the 'Gospel Gestapo' are also inclined to use the scriptural admonition to "judge not lest ye be judged".

However if you look at MATTHEW 7 in its entirety, and the first few verses particularly in regards to this point, the admonition is "not to judge" as a warning about how we judge, for it goes on to say:

MATT 7:2
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

If we judge harshly or with undue criticism, then we will be judged accordingly by God. We are not to be hypocritical in our judgment either for in vs. 3-5 it speaks of "beams" and "motes".

And if we are not to judge (Greek word used here is krino, meaning, "to distinguish, to decide judiciously, call into question, decree, to sentence"), then how would we know who "swine" or "dogs" are as opposed to "sheep and lambs" (MATT. 7:6), or "false prophets" from true (MATT. 7:15), or "good fruit" from "bad fruit" (MATT. 7:16-20)?

Having said that, its vitally important to point out that we must not judge people's hearts or their motives, for no one truly knows of these things except for the LORD Himself:

JER 17:10
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

ROM 14:4
Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

We can never judge the hearts of people or their motivations, however we are to discern people's actions and whether such actions are approved of God by examining the Word, as well as the words they speak, and or teachings they may give.

As for how the Holy Spirit uses the prophets of God, and the Apostles and the body of Christ in general in bringing conviction to a sinful world (and a wayward Israel), such examples are replete throughout the Word.

Examine Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, and the book of Jonah, and you will find that these men of God brought messages which spoke against their sin that so angered people that they (in most cases) slew these messengers of the LORD.

ISAIAH 1:4-6
Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

Likewise review JEREMIAH 38 who stood against the sinful government of his time, and was threatened with death because of what was seen as 'unpatriotic' yet truthful in its judgment against the transgressions of Israel. As well as this, consider the first three chapters in the book of AMOS!

In the New Testament canon we have the likes of John the Baptist, Peter and Paul who delivered scathing rebukes towards those who were yet in their sins, unrepentant and in need of salvation:

MATT 3:7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

ACTS 2:22-23
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Bear in mind that Peter himself, along with the other apostles on that day of Pentecost were filled with the Holy Spirit, and thus with such holy unction, proclaimed the truth of the Gospel, and rightly judged the people of their sin in rejecting their Messiah and allowing Him to be crucified.

This preaching brought about the desired effect; the people were convicted of their sin:

ACTS 2:37
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Such conviction was as a result of Peter's preaching, yet it wasn't Peter doing the convicting, but the Holy Spirit through him that did this work.

Likewise Paul, in dealing with the Gentiles at Mars Hill, confronted them on their ignorance and declared that God requires all men to repent of their sins:

ACTS 17:22, 30-31
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

And as the church, we likewise shine the light of the LORD and expose the perversion and darkness that is ever-present and growing ever more in this rebellious world:

PHIL 2:15
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

EPH 5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Does this mean that we are to go around, putting people under a magnifying glass and become hyper-critical of everything they say and do? Do we attempt to convict and convince people to turn from their own way of thinking and adopt our own?

No, by no means; we are to follow Jesus' example who demonstrated the Grace of God, but not at the expense of hiding the Truth of God and exposing the sin in people's lives so that they would understand their need for salvation.

If we are to judge (discern) others then we must do so righteously, just as our LORD admonished us to . . .

JOHN 7:24
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Here is an example of righteous judgment:

MATT 23:1-9 (read the entire chapter)

That is to discern after the power of the Holy Spirit of God Who alone is righteous and is Himself the Truth, and discerning by use of the Word of God (see also: 1 COR 12:10; 14:24-25; HEB 4:12; 5:13-14).
Again whether its in the restoration of a brother, the correction of a fellow saint, the proclamation of the Gospel (which requires conviction of sin on the part of the unregenerate), or in any discernment of good versus bad . . .

1 COR 16:14 
Let all your things be done with charity.

May the LORD God grant us the boldness to speak the truth in love; may He empower us to be confrontational in Christ Jesus with meekness and a heart intent on seeking reconciliation and restoration upon those in need who are rebels against God or gone wayward from the Way of Righteousness.
May we guard our own hearts, and be ready and able to receive correction from others as well. May we allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in the body of Christ, and through the body towards the "crooked and perverse" nation we find ourselves in today. Amen.

agape, grace & peace,

brother James J. Fire

DIVINE vs. DIABOLICAL DIVISIONS

Ever thought about the mathematics of God?
We know that He is good at addition:

ACTS 2:47. . . And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

We also know that He is good at subtraction as well as addition:

JOB 1:21
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

As well as this, He does well with multiplying:

GEN 17:2
And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

And of course, He is just as proficient at division:

EXOD 8:23
And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.

This is not to say that the enemy of the church, Satan, is not good at math either, he knows how to subtract:

LUKE 8:5
A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured (took away) it.

He likewise knows how to add:

MATT 13:38-39
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

As well as this, by adding just one word to the holy command of God to Adam and Eve, he caused an enormous world of trouble and woe! -

GEN 3:4
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

(Compare this with the actual command of God: GEN 2:17)

And he is prone to use people as agencies to promote his work of division:

TITUS 3:10
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; The word for heretick in Greek is hairetikos and it can mean to "cause division".

Likewise to be contentious, prone to strife, participating in divisions,

ROM 2:8; 13:13; 1 COR 3:3; PHIL 2:3a; and these verses as well:

1 TIM 6:3-6
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

. . . these scriptures clearly reveal that we are not to participate in words, actions, and beliefs, nor are we to promote dogma and doctrines that promote diabolical divisions, or as it says above:

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,

So there are deeds and doctrines that are "otherwise" to the "wholesome words . . . of our LORD Jesus Christ and to . . . [godly] doctrine" and come from those who are destitute of the Truth.

Can we saints be DIVISIVE for TRUTH? The very notion seems to bother some people, because after all, who wants to be divisive, or who should aspire to be divisive, especially when one considers such verses as mentioned above?! Are all divisions diabolical? Are there some that are actually Divine in origin?

Or are we not to live peaceably with all men? To live a quiet and peaceable life, and to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit (ROM 12:18; 1 TIM 2:2; EPH 4:3)?

Absolutely! Does this mean we are not to be divisive under any circumstances? Let's examine this issue a bit closer.

Look at the words that the LORD Jesus, the Prince of Peace Himself spoke:

MATT 10:34-36 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

What does a sword do, but cut, slice, essentially, it divides. In this instance Jesus states His 'sword' will bring division among those that will follow Him, and those who won't; it will make a distinction between those who pledge a higher allegiance to Him, and those who will refrain from such (consider the continued passage of MATT 10:37-39).

As there were many that were offended at the words that He spoke, and since He is also referred to as the Word of God (JOHN 1:1,14; HEB 4:12; 1 JOHN 5:7) Himself, this 'sword' can justifiably be referred to as the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (EPH 6:17)

Also, in Luke the LORD Jesus, the Prince of Peace says the following:

LUKE 12:51-53
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

That's an awful lot of division going on, and its all centered around the Person of Jesus Christ. There are those who will profess faith in Him, and become baptized into Christ, thus a member of the body of Christ, and then there are those who will not profess faith in Him, and not be baptized into, nor become a member of the body of Christ.

Don't assume that those who are not members of the body of Christ are irreligious either! There are many who are not genuine Christians, who disdain the truth of being born again, the truth of the cross, the truth of the blood atonement, even disdain the very truth of God's written Word!

And some of these even make the claim of being Christian! Although they much prefer the term 'Christ follower'. Such are the numbers that populate apostate churches and movements in today's world.

JOHN 7:41-43
Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division among the people because of him.

More division created because of controversy surrounding Jesus Christ.

What reason is there to be divisive? Why should Christians aspire to separate themselves from others? The LORD does admonish us to keep ourselves separate from the defilements of the world, of course (2 COR 6:17).

Yet how do we balance this out with keeping unity in the Spirit? Quite simply that we are to keep (not create) unity among believers, members of the body of Christ based upon the revealed truth of scripture; this is our foundation and its as we examine, learn and study the scriptures we learn the doctrines of the Word. Any that would oppose the truth, being destitute of the truth, are those we are to identify and to "withdraw from" (1 TIM. 6:6). Yet these are not always easy to identify; some of these ministers are as subtle and devious as their master (2 COR 11:14-15)!

The word "withdraw" is aphistemi in the Greek, meaning, "to instigate a revolt, to desist, sesert, depart from, refrain." Or you could even say, 'separate or divide from'. Consider the following verse:

1 JOHN 4:6
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

We are to divide from those who are false brethren, that is, those who espouse a different Gospel, or deny the essentials of our 'one faith' as it states in scripture (EPH. 4:5), which refers to the body of truth as written in the scriptures themselves.

Hence, DIVISIVE FOR TRUTH.

The truth of the matter is, our unity in the body is based upon this 'one faith' and 'one baptism (in Christ) and if there are any that bring in "another Gospel" or a 'new truth' or deny the sacred scripture, it is they that are bringing the diabolical brand of division, that would separate believers and disciples from the Word of Truth, and draw them into doctrines of devils and seducing spirits (something that is most prevalent, and growing alarmingly these days!).

From an earlier study in Ephesians I wrote:

EPH 4:3-6 
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

"There are those that are committed to the Truth of God's Word, yet they are sometimes harsh, and unloving; others are all about love, and non-confrontational, avoiding the challenge of those who even bring in false teachings and heresies at the expense of the Truth.

"There must be a balance between these; and true, godly love will declare the truth, not to harm but to help; those who are intent on the truth, the truth as in JESUS CHRIST, will do so in the Spirit of Him Who is Himself love. Note: In verse five it states that there is " . . . one faith . . . " which speaks of the exclusive nature of God's truth and revelation recorded in scripture.

"Thus for unity, we realize that both love AND truth are required in the life of the believer and in the life of the church (see ZECH. 8:19; 1 PET. 1:22; 1 JOHN 3:18; 2 JOHN 1:1, 3). True unity in the body is established because we are all born of God: One Spirit; and unity is strengthened as the individual members grow in Christ-likeness. This is in answer to the prayer of Jesus our LORD (JOHN 17:11, 22)"

Finally, two other verses to consider:

2 TIM 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

JUDE 1:3
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

There are those who adhere to New Age beliefs, and others endorse Emergent church dogma, and yet for all this, they still claim in some form or another either to be 'Christians' or at least, to follow the 'Christ Spirit' or 'Christ Consciousness'. As previously mentioned, others have a different Gospel, or have extra-biblical beliefs, or deny some, most or all the fundamentals (foundational) doctrines of the Truth.

We are not called to love lies, or deception; we are to expose the works of darkness where ever they may be and reprove them (EPH 5:11); we are not called of God to hate any one, and so we shall not, by any means! We will by God's grace examine whatever teachings and beliefs that are being proclaimed publically, determine whether they are "of the spirit of truth" or "the spirit of error" and side with the Truth of God's Word.

I will be divisive for the sake of the Truth; if there are any that have a problem with that, so be it.

Divisiveness is the only way we can keep the unity of believers and if that statement doesn't make any sense to you, you haven't been paying attention.

Re-read the article (wink and smile)

TRANSFORMATION to LIGHT - Pt. 2

TRANSFORMATION TO LIGHT - Part Two
By David Fiorenza

The majority following events occured in the time frame of 1983 – 1984

We now pick up where we left off in this testimony. David was experiencing a dramatic increase in paranormal activity in his apartment, and he was bewildered as to what to do about it. Someone at work suggested that he call the Syracuse University Paranormal Department and see if they could help him. Around that same time is when he met this woman named Pat who was "sensitive to the spiritual realm".

She was at a friend’s house when I came over to kill some time that day. She was sitting at the table not saying anything; she just sat and watched me as I talked. I never once mentioned anything that I was going through, but after a while she told me that she knows that I have a problem where I live. I didn’t believe she knew; how could she?

I tested her by asking what color the kitchen was. She said that it was blue . . . over yellow . . . over brown. She nailed it! I asked her about the rug patterns in the parlor. Once again, she nailed it: they were triangular shapes of carpet I got from my work place when they installed new carpet. I placed them in each corner of the room, creating a diamond shape in the middle.

TRANSFORMATION to LIGHT - Pt. 1

The following is the testimony of a dear friend and brother that I've had the blessing and honor of knowing for about a quarter of a century! This is a tremendous privilege to have it posted here on this blog, and I pray that it will reach many people, particularly those who come from broken homes, those who are among the lonely of this world, and those who are trapped in the cold darkness of this world with no apparent way out, and without any hope of escape. For those who have delved into the demonic, witnessed the reality of the spiritual darkness of this world, and yearn for the means of deliverence, you need to read this! There is hope in the Person and the Power and the Name of Jesus Christ, the LORD!

EPHESIANS: Form & Function in Christ CH 6:1-8,19-24

This particular study in Ephesians will be a somewhat short one, consisting of only fifteen verses. The reason for this is because I've completed vs. 10 through 18 in a different study on The TRUTH Under FIRE (www.thetruthunderfire.com) regarding the subject of  spiritual warfare.
So this study will extend from vs. 1-9, and then pick up at vs. 19 to the end (vs.24).

Remember that chapter divisions are not inspired (nor are verse numbers, these are constructed for convenience in referring to passages and are quite useful for this purpose!) and as is often the case, the divisions are not warranted as the same subject matter is dealt with before and after the division.

ANOTHER SMOKE SIGNAL-DON'T STOP, KEEP PLAYING

Jan Ignancy Paderewski was born in Poland in 1860, and as well as becoming his country's first Prime Minister, he is also remembered as an internationally-famous virtuoso pianist and composer. Paderewski played in the opening season of Carnegie Hall in 1891 and along with New York and many other cities, Jan Ignancy Paderewski - surely a name that only a mother and perhaps a friendly critic could love! - also came to Vancouver. As often happens with the best of pianists, Paderewski brought his grand piano with him. And at Vancouver, the last stop on the tour, after it had done yeoman concert service and been carried for many thousands of gruelling recital miles, the piano was put up for sale.

On another occasion, a young mother in some major unnamed city had a dream and a wish that her young son might someday become a concert pianist. But her encouragement for him to practice, practice, practice fell on deaf ears.

"If only he could hear and see Paderewski play," she thought. "Perhaps it would inspire him."

As fortune would have it - forgive me, but it's a turn of phrase that's always used in stories like these - Paderewski came to town and the mother bought two tickets. On the evening of the recital, she dressed her son in his concert best and off they went to see the famous man play. At the hall, distracted by the crowd, by friends and neighbors, she didn't see her son heading off to the stage, drawn to the shining piano that stood waiting to be played. He climbed onto the huge bench and began to peck out the chords of Chopsticks, familiar to anyone who has even been close to a piano. "Who's the kid?" someone yelled. "Get him off the stage!" "Who'd bring a kid here anyway?"

In his dressing room, Paderewski heard the commotion and the music. He grabbed his coat and ran towards the stage. As he stood at the edge of the curtain, he saw the young lad, pecking out that simple tune and smiled. He raced to the boy and whispered his encouragement in the boy's ear to keep going; then the Polish maestro engulfed him with his arms and improvised a spectacular accompaniment around the rhythm of Chopsticks' simple chords.

The crowd became enthralled and were silenced as they listened in awe, cheering the performance as Paderewski and the boy proudly took their bows. "Don't quit," whispered Paderewski. "Keep playing. Keep practicing. Be persistent." I don't know whether or not that young boy ever made it to the concert stage. But I suspect that Paderewski's encouragement kept him going, and opened the doors that night to a new world of musical appreciation. If nothing else at all had come from that chance encounter, it still would have been a great, great gift.

On the stage of life, the LORD has given those of us who are born of His Spirit some lessons on God and His Word; we've been granted truth, grace, knowledge, gifts and insights by the Spirit of the LORD; perhaps they are not so profound, perhaps they are deemed as of little use by those more mature in the faith. Perhaps our use of these regal resources of the King might be perceived as crude, or simplistic and disdained by the more sophisticated and intellectual members of the body.

It's one thing to receive discouragement from the world; but ought we ever to face such harassment from those who are called to be holy? Sadly, this is sometimes the case. Bravely still, we climb up onto the bench, and with what little we know, bang out the simple tune, maybe the only tune we know. We only know a little of scripture, we possess only a small portion of wisdom, our prayers are simple and halting and compared with those of others, unpolished and rough.

We may feel that we have little to offer, and because of the sounds of disdain and wry patronizing we are sorely tempted to give up. Yet our LORD hears the grumbling crowd, and He rushes in, and with the everlasting arms surround us with His almighty strength and ability. He overshadows us with the brilliance of His grace and love and bends low to whisper in our hearts:

"DON'T GIVE UP! Keep playing. Keep practicing. Be persistent!"

And then in an exquisite harmony, He doesn't play over our little tune in volumous, resounding keystrokes, nullifying our own feeble attempts; He plays in accord with our poor melody, and embellishes it in the richness of His own majesty.

Had not that little boy ever braved the stage and climbed up onto that piano bench, he would have never gained such an experience as he did; the crowds would have been mesmerized still, most certainly but not as much as they were when they witnessed the maestro using the boys simple tune and creating a duet that astounded and delighted.

Likewise we won't know or understand what God can do, if we don't make ourselves available, if we don't get on the stage of life, and brave that bench, and place our fingers on those keys, and obediently play our poor, simple tune. It is then that God shall arise, and approach and surround us with His beauty and glory and minister by His Spirit in ways we could never otherwise imagine.

DON'T QUIT IN LIFE or IN THE WAR!

Step out in faith, don't stop, keep practicing, be persistent, by God's empowering grace remain diligent and endure. Don't quit! In the battle of life, when enemy forces seem insurmountable, invincible and growing in power constantly and we want to hold out our hands in surrender and despondancy, remember these words by Winston Churchill, and apply them spiritually with our engagement against the forces of hell -

"We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and the oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. . . . And if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our empires beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, will carry on the fight, until in God's own time the new world in its power and might steps forth to the rescue and liberation of the old."

Remember, God doesn't call us into this Christian life and warfare in the power of our own strength, with our own resolve or wisdom, or know-how; God commands us and then empowers us to obey that command. All we need do is step out in obedience, get on the stage or battle field, climb on that bench or stand fast in the shoes shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace and do what we can: God will intervene and assume the fulfillment of His will, through us! All to the glory of God!

Job 17:9
The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
John 15:9
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

Gal 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Hebrews 12:1-2
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1Peter 1:13
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Rev 3:11-12
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which isnew Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

May the LORD Bless you and continually encourage and empower you! You are not in this alone! GOD is with us, in us, and will see us through everything He had ordained to come into our lives!


Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

A Christmas Story - The Rifle

The following was copied from The CAMEL STOP web site 

A Christmas Story

"The Rifle"

By: Rian B. Anderson

Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.

It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted so bad that year for Christmas.

We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible. So after supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible.

I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though; I was too busy wallowing in self-pity.

Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight." I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see.

We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens.

Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what. Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up the big sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy.

When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high sideboards on. When we had exchanged the sideboards Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood--the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing?

Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?"

"You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what? "Yeah," I said, "why?"

"I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt." That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him.

We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. "What's in the little sack?" I asked. "Shoes. They're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."

We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us. It shouldn't have been our concern.

We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?"

"Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt. Could we come in for a bit?" Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all.

Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp. "We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children---sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out.

"We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said, then he turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring enough in to last for awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and, much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks and so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak.

My heart swelled within me and a joy filled my soul that I'd never known before. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people. I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord himself has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us."

In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it. Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.

Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their pa, and I was glad that I still had mine. At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven."

"It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two older brothers and two older sisters were all married and had moved away. Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, "'May the Lord bless you,' I know for certain that He will."

Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough.

Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that. But on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. So, Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand." I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it.

Just then the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children. For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.

EPHESIANS: PARTAKERS of LIGHT in DARK DAYS of EVIL - PT I & II - CH. 5:1-33

Previously in chapter four of Ephesians we examined much of that which involves the body of Christ, and what's been known as 'body ministry' or that ministry that takes place within the church, among the saints themselves. Verse 16 is a key to the latter half of the chapter -

EPHESIANS 4:16
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

EPHESIANS: The Body of Truth and Love! Parts I and II CH 4:12-32

As we began this study in chapter 4, Paul was admonishing that the saints there in Ephesus, and all of us who are "the faithful in Christ Jesus" to walk worthily of the vocation wherewith [we] are called". With meekness and patience, and a forgiveness towards one another, we saints are commanded to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace". The scripture then went on to describe this unity in all its properties (vs. 4-6).

The remainder of the last study pondered the many gifts that God has granted to His body: spiritual men of God ordained as "apostles, prophets, evangelists and some pastors and teachers." This is where we concluded the last study, and thus, we pick it up in vs. 12.

A SMOKE SIGNAL - I'm Dying to be More Like JESUS!

Consider Jesus Christ: His character, His nature, His embodiment of truth and love, His integrity, humility, compassion . . . I could go on and on!

Who of us as Christians don't want to be more like Him, but at the same time, how many of us struggle in our endeavors to be more Christ-like?

We see a war going on within us (Romans 7:23): the clashing of our two natures - that nature we inherited from Adam, what's been called the Adamic (sin) nature -

Rom 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

And as born again believers, we also have a new nature, installed within us upon the point of salvation and spiritual regeneration -

2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust(see also Titus 3:5).

Like John the Baptist, we must declare:
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Yet how? How do we overcome our sinful nature, how do we actually become more like Jesus?

The same instrument that effectively decreases our sinful nature is the same instrument that we find (continual) new life in Christ: THE CROSS!

That's why I can say, and so can all of you: "I'm dying to be more like JESUS!"

Let's have a look at some scripture and see what they say about all of this:

Mat 10:38-39
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Seen any one carrying crosses lately? Well, there was Arthur Blessitt, the traveling evangelist who would literally carry a cross on his back (though it had wheels on its base for easier passage), but other than that, any one?

What's this mean, "taking up his cross"? The answer is found, in part, in vs. 39 there of the same passage. If you lose your (self/sinful) life on that cross, then you shall find life, that is Christ and holiness, and all that this entails (consider the brief description of the LORD at the start of this post).

Again, consider more these verses:

Mat 16:24-25
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. See also in regards to the cross: Mark 8:34-35; 10:21; Luke 9:23; 14:27; 1 Cor. 1:17-18; Gal. 5:11; 6:12-14; Eph. 2:16; Col. 1:20; 2:14 and Heb. 12:2.

When each of us received forgiveness for sin at the cross of Christ, repenting of our sinful life, and receiving new life through our Savior, we also encountered the provision by which we can "die daily (1 Cor. 15:31)" and become more and more like Jesus our great LORD and LOVE!

Ponder this passage personally and perceive the primary importance of which it pertains (how's that for alliteration?!):

Rom 6:1-7
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.

The 'old man' is not a reference to your father... its the old nature, the sinful nature that would've been judged by God on Judgment Day and dealt for us the death sentence in that Court of Holy Law for all eternity. This is what Jesus suffered for on the cross, the judgment of our sins, and the subsequent separation from the Father (which He had never experienced before the Cross!)!! When He died, He took with Him not only our sins, but the dominating power of sin over our lives! We can "reckon" that is, take into account as being true, that our old self (our 'B.C.' persona, if you will - is officially dead; on the day of our spiritual new birth, we should have had an obituary taken out for ourselves, for that sinful power is no longer the dominating force in us, that person is essentially dead.

Further down in this chapter we read (note key words in green):

Rom 6:11-13
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (See also Gal 5:16)

And here - Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (see also Gal. 2:20).

And this - 1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Consider these verses as well - 2 Cor 4:10-11, 16
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (see also Romans 8:13 and Col. 3: 5-14)

The next time you are tempted by sin, consider the work of the cross, and just as you received salvation, that is justification, FROM the PENALTY of sin (death and hell), you can now, daily, receive salvation, that is sanctification, FROM the POWER of sin (over your life).

Deny any such temptation as a trespass into your mind, which no longer belongs to yourself, but your mind is now the prized possession of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, just as your spirit and body are! Resist that temptation not in your own power (because you're dead and one can't tempt a corpse) but in the power of Christ and His Spirit that reigns in you.

1 Cor 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

As we yield to God, and allow our members to be used by God's Spirit as instruments of righteousness, we are allowing this new life to permeate those areas of our minds, and thus are they being transformed to Christ-likeness. The battle is indeed for the MIND and if our MINDS are transformed, this will directly affect our character and life so that we will in truth, become more and more, incrementally like JESUS!

And finally, from the group, Kutless, we have a song: Dying To Become -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGP6P9_UySA

Rom 12:1-2
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.