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Lust (ἐπιθυμία)

Although often translated as “lust”, this word simply means “a strong desire”. The English word “lust” is a specific description of desires that are perceived primarily to be of a sexual nature; however, the Greek word is much broader in its meaning, therefore it is the content that determines what is being desired, whether good or bad.

In the parable of the Sower of the seed, we find that the desires concerning the cares of this world and wealth came up like weeds and choked out the message of the Kingdom of the Heavens (Mark 4:19). In dealing with the Pharisees, Jesus reveals to them they are actually following the desires of their father, Satan (John 8:44). Often desires from Satan are looked at as wicked, but here we see the perceived religious leaders of the time being called out for doing his desires, not God’s. Satan wants to be like God (Isaiah 14:14) and comes as a messenger of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) to ensnare believers (2 Timothy 2:26) while secretly bringing in his sons to introduce false doctrines to manipulate the minds of the believers to follow his desires (Ephesians 2:2; Galatians 2:4). He did it to the Jews in Jesus’ time and still does it today to the Christians. Therefore, we should pay attention to what we are being taught and seek out pastors who speak the truth, not being in assemblies that focus on manipulating our desires through emotional experiences, whether through worship services, events, or gatherings to influence the attendees into feeling good about themselves rather than focusing on the truth.

When it comes to dealing with the desires from the sin nature, we have to apply the truth to our lives […]

Lust (ἐπιθυμία)Luther Walker2023-11-25T07:53:41-08:00

Good (ἀγαθός)

Good is a word that describes activity that is beneficial, wholesome, and sufficient to be acceptable for its purpose. It is used to describe humans, trees, treasures, speaking, and most of all God.

Although humans can do good, only God is good (Luke 18:19), for goodness is an aspect of His nature. However, even though humans are not good by nature, we do know the difference between good and evil and can choose to produce good things in our lives rather than malignantly wicked things (Romans 2:15). The heart is the center of a human, where the person resides. It is within here that we will store up good treasures to use later, or malignantly evil ones to use against others (Matthew 12:35). What we allow to remain in our minds and within our hearts directly impacts our actions; therefore, our weapons are not fleshly, but are mighty in God for the pulling down of those strongholds within us that raise themselves up against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:4-6), by which we destroy the evil treasures, so our storehouse is filled with good.

Although the law is good, we do not live by it because through it is the full experiential knowledge of the sin nature (Romans 7:12-13) and rather than giving us victory over it, it becomes the sin natures strength against us (1 Corinthians 15:56). Trying to do good by law leads us into frustration and the realization that within our flesh no good dwells, for as soon as we desire to do good, we find that we lack the ability to do it through our flesh (Romans 7:18-19), and we end up doing things that lack in character, which we do not […]

Good (ἀγαθός)Luther Walker2023-11-25T07:54:10-08:00

Cleansing From Sin

After confessing our sin, God’s response is to forgive us of that sin and begin to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This cleansing begins when we start to walk in the light and are practicing the truth (the doctrine by which we have victory over sin – Know, Romans 6:6; Reckon, Romans 6:11, Yield Romans 6:13).

But if, perhaps, we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son keeps on cleansing us from every sin – 1 John 1:7.

In God there is no darkness (1 John 1:5), so when we are walking in the light, as He is in the light, we will not manifest any aspect of our sin nature, for it is darkness; rather, we will express the new nature we have in Christ. Therefore, because we will be doing the things related to the light, we will naturally separate and cleanse ourselves from the things of darkness (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Unrighteousness not only includes sin, but also the determination within the mind that works out to sin (All sin has a quality of unrighteousness – 1 John 5:17). That unrighteous determination happens because we are not doing the truth; rather, we are seeking to fulfill the desires of the flesh and walking in darkness. However, as we walk in the light, we are going to be able to train our senses to identify what is proper and what is wrong (Hebrews 5:14), identify the desires from the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), recognize the methodologies Satan uses to trip us up (Ephesians 6:10-18), stop directing love towards the world system (1 John 2:15), and walk by the Spirit so that we […]

Cleansing From SinLuther Walker2023-12-14T08:22:10-08:00

Confession of Sins

If, perhaps, we should confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous in order that He should send away our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness – 1 John 1:9

Confession of sins means we are agreeing with God that our action is sin. It is not telling God you sinned, but a verbal agreement with Him that your action was contrary to His expectations of you. In order to agree with God concerning sin, we have to understand what sin is for a Christian. Under the Mosaic Law, sin is defined through the law; however, Christians are not under law (Romans 6:14). In 1 John 3:4 Scripture defines what sin is, which is anything done contrary to God’s standard – “All the ones doing the sin also do the lawlessness, and the sin is the lawlessness.” Sin is lawlessness. What is lawlessness for one who is not under any law? It is not living out from faith (Romans 14:23). For our standard is to live out from faith (Romans 1:17), not by law.

How do we do something that is not out from faith? It comes down to our knowledge and our conscience. Our conscience accuses or excuses our actions (Romans 2:15) based upon our knowledge. When we do something against our conscience as Christians, we are doing something that we know is against God’s expectation of us in that situation and therefore are not taking Him at His Word, which results in sin. The one who eats believing that the food will defile him sins by eating, Romans 14:23. Sin is also manifested when we know to do good, that is to do what God desires, but we choose to go our own way […]

Confession of SinsLuther Walker2023-12-14T08:22:34-08:00

Experiencing the Holy Spirit – Teaching

Another aspect of experiencing the Holy Spirit is through how He teaches us.

And you, the anointing that you received from Him abides in you and you do not have need in order that someone should teach you, but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things and is true and is not a lie, even just as He teaches you abide in Him. – 1 John 2:27

Abiding is a term that is used to describe how we occupy a space and is typically used of a place you are very comfortable in. Abiding in Christ involves feeling at ease with who we are in Christ, which encompasses every aspect of our salvation and the new relationship we now have with God.

In John 15, Jesus revealed the new type of relationship we, those of the church, would have with Him and God by using a vine and branches to explain how we would be in Him and He would be in us and this relationship requires us to rely on Him for all good fruit that we produce, or rather that is produces in us.

I am the vine and My Father is the vinedresser – John 15:1

I am the vine and you are the branches, the one abiding in me, and I in him, this one bears much fruit because apart from Me you are not able to do anything – John 15:5

John is not saying that we do not need someone to teach us, as Christ gave gives to the Church for the purpose of teaching us and bringing us into a oneness of faith so that we are not tossed around by every teaching of men using […]

Experiencing the Holy Spirit – TeachingLuther Walker2023-12-14T08:39:05-08:00

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