Bobby R. Edwards

24. This post was born out of a group text with some friends of mine.

Coming from a place of love.

Matt. 5: 44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

Thayer Definition: perfect=teleios, which means:

1) brought to its end, finished
2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness
3) perfect
4) that which is perfect
4a) consummate human integrity and virtue
4b) of men
4b1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature

My wife and I were in Smart & Final the other night and saw the cutest thing. A young mother and her tiny (maybe 3 yr. old daughter) both wearing masks because of the virus. We were wearing gloves and a mask. The little girl pointed at me and Karla saying “look Mommy, they have a mask too.” Obviously, at her age, she didn’t really understand the gravity of the situation, but her mother did and so did we. They wouldn’t know this, but I’m a 66-year-old man, diabetic, had a liver transplant about 15 years ago, kand will be taking meds that have compromised my immune system for the rest of my life. Physically, this me a health risk.

I am literally for a candidate for COVID-19. I have no desir3×2ir to prove to anyone how strong my faith is in the finished work of our LORD Jesus Christ because:

He has us covered every which way but loose. However, I’ve had a few colds and the flu a couple of times since becoming a Christian and I’m fairly certain you have too. Henceforth, how I feel about Donald Trump and his handling of this pandemic is not the issue. What bothers me is some Christians propagate the idea that they are above it all. Much of what we see worldwide is the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. Que sera sera, whatever will be will be. I respect the CDC and the cautions they are asking us to take. My true concern is that little girl, her mother, and respecting their boundaries as well as mine. Christians let’s get real, if you’ve dealt with allergies, colds and or the flu, you don’t walk on water. God forbid that I should be the reason that child or anyone else was infected by COVID-19 because I believe I’m covered by the blood of Christ. I used the analogy of Matthew 5 because I believe Jesus was teaching all of God’s kids to be wise as serpents but harmless as a dove.
This pandemic for me is not about fear mongering or being paranoid. I have no fear of death at all, I think those who know me have heard me say so on several occasions. But I am concerned about people who may not have the same faith as myself. I practice social distancing out of faith which works by love. I want to take Trump out of the equation because the Bible says:

Psalm 118:8 “It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.

I try to keep my ideology regarding politics to myself because they could cause division between members of the Body of Christ…my family. In conclusion, everyone just stay safe and stay in love. As far as one-world government is concerned, the bible says it’s going to happen whether we like it or not, why? Because God is omniscient and He said these things will happen. We can plead the blood until the cows come home, no matter what we do, His Word will always come to pass and there is nothing we can do about. Even so, if we are still here when prophecies from the book of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the Book of Revelation come to pass, we will be affected. That’s the rain falling down on the just as well as the unjust.
I love my family, the body of Christ…peace out.

The Cost of Discipleship

Ephesians 4: 29 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Ephesians 5: 1 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

I want to start this post by saying, there a are few things in this life we have control over. For instance, with this current pandemic (COVID-19) affecting our world today. Some Christians seem to think that because we are children of God, we won’t be harmed by an earthquake, or a tornado, or even a tsunami. We tend to think because we are saints, we can just plead the blood of Christ, pray in the name of Jesus, and all calamities will just pass us by. Well, I’m about to say something many of you will not want to hear, but first, let’s have a word from our LORD Jesus.

Matt. 5: 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

For many of us, it’s so hard to love someone who’s mistreated you. It’s even hard for some Christians to love at all. Even those who hold the title of Apostles, Prophets, Preachers, Teachers, and Evangelist. So don’t look at me as if I’m speaking some type of heresy…you know this is true. Jesus called them hypocrites and vipers. But that is not what I want to focus on. In Matthew 5: 45, he said: “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” The LORD is comparing unbelievers with Believers. If an unbeliever and a Believer stood outside on a sunny day or a rainy day, they both will feel the sun on their skin and get wet in the rain. Yes, we do have the promises of our heavenly Father in our corner, however, we need to discern what is faith, foolishness, or presumption.

Matt. 4: 5 “Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

Christians and non-Christians are dying all over the world because of the coronavirus. It’s invisible to the naked eye. When it comes to sunlight or rain, you have a certain amount of control; just don’t go outside. The sun nor the rain does not discriminate between ethnicity, culture, or religion. It is easy to avoid the sun and rain because of our senses. On the other hand, this virus cannot be discerned by our senses, at least not until we’re experiencing the symptoms.

Even Jesus implied that it would not be a good idea to put His Father to the test. That was His faith speaking. He would be foolish to presume that just because He was the Son of God angels would catch Him in mid-air. The same is true of us as Christians, and very few of us have come close to actually imitating the Son of God…let’s just be honest. This virus is real. Therefore, do not put the LORD our God to the test. Wash your hands one hundred times a day if need be, practice social distancing, and if you must go out, wear some type of covering for your nose and mouth, and wear gloves also if you have them. Avoid large gatherings such as Church, trust me, it will not diminish your faith in any way. In fact, by practicing these things we show just how much our faith is working by love. Study your Bible; especially Romans 14. Paul explains in a nutshell that by you showing off how great your faith is can cause your brother whose faith may not be as strong to stumble. In other words, just because you are not sick doesn’t mean you can’t contaminate someone else and get them sick. Now, I will sandwich this post with these words, and for the love of  God,,,stay safe.

Ephesians 4: 29 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

What’s Love got to do with it?…everything!

2nd John 2: 6 “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.”
1st Peter 1: 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.”

I have tweaked the following chapter beginning at verse four just a bit. You might say I’ve personalized them. During this time of uncertainty regarding COVID-19, we as the Body of Christ need to remind ourselves and one another what we have, and who we are in Him. God Is Love, and perfect love cast out all fear, there is NO FEAR IN GOD. In another post I said, it is not the coronavirus the world is afraid of, the world is afraid of death and judgment. The truth is, death is inevitable. However, how we respond to Christ Jesus (in love) will determine the final outcome, judgement. I told my wife the other day that I am very patient, I just don’t like to wait. Guess what, I wasn’t kidding. It sounds like an oxymoron, but it’s the truth. On the other hand, the work that He has begun in me shall continue, and He works perfectly. Do not beat yourselves up when we miss the mark, just 1st John 1: 9 it and get back on the bicycle of life and ride until you can do it with no hands, blindfolded. Christ will see us through.

1st Cor. 13: 1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love (I) suffers long and (I am) kind; love (I do not) envy; love (I do not) parade (myself), (I am not) puffed up; 5 (I do not) behave rudely, (I do not) seek my own, (I am not easily) provoked, (I) think no evil; 6 (I do not) rejoice in iniquity, but (I rejoice) in the truth; 7 (I) bear all things, (I) believe all things, (I) hope all things, (I) endure all things. 8 (I am not a failure). But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” To be continued…

The Cost of Discipleship

In Matthew 11: 27-30, Jesus is speaking not only of New Covenant Believers. His words extend back to the beginning. Every Old Testament saint could only know the Father if the Son, as The Angel of The Lord (Theophanous) revealed Him. Some are invested in only one name from the Old Covenant; Jehovah or Yahweh. I won’t take the time to list every name of the LORD. However, if you really want to know, there is a Bible called “The Names of God Bible”. It can be purchased on my website through https://www.amazon.com. The one name that tells the whole story is the name He revealed to Moses: 

Exodus 3: 12 “Elohim answered, “I will be with you. And this will be proof that I sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship Elohim on this mountain.” 13 Then Moses replied to Elohim, “Suppose I go to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The Elohim of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ What should I tell them?” 14 Elohim answered Moses, “Ehyeh Who Ehyeh. This is what you must say to the people of Israel: ‘Ehyeh has sent me to you.” (NOGB)

In my Emphasized Bible verse 14 reads as follows: “And God said unto Moses, I Will Become whatever I please. And he said-Thus shalt thou say to the sons of Israel, I Will Become hath sent me unto you.”

That is awesome. Most bibles read “I Am That I Am hath sent me”, but here we see a prophetic element involved. The omnipotent Yahweh can become whatever He chooses. Most importantly, He (The Word) became 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 1:14}.” (KJV)

Undeniably, our God can manifest Himself in whatever form or personage He chooses. Christ Jesus was, is, and will always be God, while simultaneously being (and some won’t like this) mankind: 1st Tim. 2: 5 “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.” Those are the words of the Apostle Paul.

Let us be clear about one thing, we are not disciples of Paul, Peter, or John. We are disciples of the LORD Jesus Christ. He is our Eesh (Husband), and we are His ish-shaw’ (wife). Those two words are taken from the Hebrew language. We are married to Him and no other. We are not wed to John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Wesley, John Smyth, or any other man. When we hold these men in such high regard as being their disciples, we may as well say we are a throuple. If we are going to be Christians, i.e. married to Christ, then we are named by that name. The cost of discipleship is high. We often have to make sacrifices for the sake of our calling in Him. Remember, He said, “I Will Become whatever I please.” Well, it pleased Him to become our Father, our Brother, our Friend, our Husband, and so much more. God has become so much for us I cannot put it all in one post if I did the list would be way too long and you would never read it. Suffice it to say, He is our everything…why would we diminish that relationship by being in a throuple? 

Luke 9: 57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” 61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” To be continued…

The Cost of Discipleship

Matt. 11: 27 “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one KNOWS the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone KNOW the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Thayer Definition: know=epiginōskō-1) to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly

1a) to know accurately, know well

2) to know

2a) to recognize

2a1) by sight, hearing, of certain signs, to perceive who a person is

2b) to know, i.e. to perceive

2c) to know, i.e. to find out, ascertain

2d) to know, i.e. to understand

When Jesus spoke these words, no human being truly knew the Father as Christ knew Him. Neither was Christ truly known by any man as God the Father knew Christ. His followers knew Him according to the flesh (2nd Cor. 5:16), but He is not known in that way any longer. The Father and the Son were intimately connected in the spirit, we could say that the Spirit of God communed with Christ human spirit on a level that had never been known by any other man or woman until that time. We must get this concept in our thinking because if we don’t, we will never have the type of relationship with the Godhead They desire to have with us. Especially as He walked this earth as a man because we now walk this earth as men and women.

Knowing our God intimately is the most important thing a human being could ever accomplish in this life. However, it is not so much an accomplishment on our part, but it’s to whom the Son wills to reveal Him, i.e. the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 11: 27). What are you saying Brother Bobby? Is Christ picking and choosing those who will become heirs of salvation? That a big NO. That would be the doctrine of predestination. The LORD goes on to say in Matt. 11: 28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Even though the Bible says He knew us before the foundations of the earth, we must take into account His omniscience. The truth is He knew everyone before the foundations of the earth, however, salvation is granted to those who come to Him, those who labor and are heavy laden, to those who are willing to admit their need for salvation as it is revealed through the preaching of the Gospel. To these, and these only He will grant this rest.

I’m going to give you the definition of the word rest based on W. E. Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament words and the way it was used. Afterward, I will rest my fingers:

Rest

(Noun and Verb)

1. Nouns.

2. anapausis (G372), “cessation, refreshment, rest” (ana, “up,” pauo, “to make to cease”), the constant word in the Sept. for the Sabbath “rest,” is used in Mat_11:29; here the contrast seems to be to the burdens imposed by the Pharisees. Christ’s “rest” is not a “rest” from work, but in work, “not the rest of inactivity but of the harmonious working of all the faculties and affections—of will, heart, imagination, conscience—because each has found in God the ideal sphere for its satisfaction and development” (J. Patrick, in Hastings’ Bib. Dic.); it occurs also in Mat_12:43; Luk_11:24; Rev_4:8, RV, “(they have no) rest” [KJV, “(they) rest (not)”], where the noun is the object of the verb echo, “to have”; so in Rev_14:11.

3. katapausis (G2663), in classical Greek, denotes “a causing to cease” or “putting to rest”; in the NT, “rest, repose”; it is used (a) of God’s “rest,” Act_7:49; Heb_3:11, Heb_3:18; Heb_4:1, Heb_4:3 (twice), RV (1st part), “that rest” (the KJV, “rest,” is ambiguous), Heb_4:5, Heb_4:11; (b) in a general statement, applicable to God and man, Heb_4:10.

4. anesis (G425), for the significance of which see EASE, B, is translated “rest” in 2Co_2:13, KJV (RV, “relief”); 2Co_7:5 (ditto); in 2Th_1:7, the subject is not the “rest” to be granted to the saints, but the divine retribution on their persecutors; hence the phrase “and to you that are afflicted rest with us,” is an incidental extension of the idea of recompense, and is to be read parenthetically. The time is not that at which the saints will be relieved of persecution, as in 1Th_4:15-17, when the Parousia of Christ begins, but that at which the persecutors will be punished, namely, at the epiphany (or out-shining) of His Parousia (2Th_2:8). For similar parentheses characteristic of epistolary writings see 2Th_2:10; 1Th_1:6, 1Th_2:15, 1Th_2:16.

5. sabbatismos (G4520), “a Sabbath-keeping,” is used in Heb_4:9, RV, “a sabbath rest,” KJV marg., “a keeping of a sabbath” (akin to sabbatizo, “to keep the Sabbath,” used, e.g., in Exo_16:30, not in the NT); here the sabbath-keeping is the perpetual sabbath “rest” to be enjoyed uninterruptedly by believers in their fellowship with the Father and the Son, in contrast to the weekly Sabbath under the Law. Because this sabbath “rest” is the “rest” of God Himself, Heb_4:10, its full fruition is yet future, though believers now enter into it. In whatever way they enter into divine “rest,” that which they enjoy is involved in an indissoluble relation with God.

6. koimesis (G2838), “a resting, reclining” (akin to keimai, “to lie”), is used in Joh_11:13, of natural sleep, translated “taking rest,” RV.

Note: In Act_9:31, KJV, eirene, “peace” (RV), is translated “rest.” To be continued…

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The Cost of Discipleship

Deut. 32: 44 “So Moses came with Joshua the son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people. 45 Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 and he said to them: “Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law. 47 For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess.”

Moses admonished the Children of Israel set their hearts on the words which he testified. Those words were God’s Words, not his. This was a commandment, not a suggestion or a good idea. The same applies to you and me, we are to be careful in our observations as we study the Word of Christ. Reading a thing is not the same as studying it. Paul said in Col. 3: 16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Moses goes on to say that their lives depended upon what they did with the Word of God. They could prolong their lives or shorten them. God’s attitude toward the Body of Christ is the same, Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, tomorrow, and today.

Matt. 16: 24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

When I was first introduced to Christianity, I was given the impression that denying myself meant to stop drinking, smoking, partying and fornicating. Later I found that this was a partial truth. If all we had to do was look clean on the outside that would not be much of an accomplishment. People of the world and other religions do these things. Jesus said in Matthew 23:25-26 to the scribes and Pharisees that it was a waste of time cleaning the outside of a cup while the inside  remained filthy. This metaphor speaks to people who look as if they are holier than thou, but in truth, they are blind to their internal state of being. We are to be made holy from the inside out, not the outside in. Denying self means we must allow the Spirit of God to reverse the order of our lives. How can we be led by the spirit when we have no consciousness of the division of our spirit and soul (Heb. 4:12). Finis Dakes said, “Renounce all self-dependence, self-interests, and self-pursuits which are contrary to God; Habitually follow regardless of the price—even to death; not just when it is easy, convenient, and popular.”

And now back to you Paul: Rom. 6: 16 “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We serve the LORD from the heart or our spirit. When we have our mind renewed by the Word of God, we come to know what it means to worship God in spirit and in truth. Jesus said flesh begets flesh and the works thereof. On the other hand, Spirit gives birth to our spirit (John 3:3-7; Luke 24:49). The following does not mean that we should not be concerned about smoking, drug abuse, alcoholism, and the like. Like I said earlier, that’s partially true. The problem is, we make our own feeble attempts at overcoming the flesh. Many churches will confuse you with outward appearances:

Matt. 15:1 “Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father [a]or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” 10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” To be continued…

Hebrews 4: 9 “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. 11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

As Believers in Christ Jesus, we must be diligent when it comes to our relationship not only with Christ but also with the Word of God. As it says above, “walk even as He walked”. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Jesus must have spent a considerable amount of time studying the Old Covenant (The Word of God). At the age of 12, He baffled the teachers and scholars of the Law. They were astounded at His wisdom at such a young age (Luke 2: 41-52). While studying the Old Covenant, I believe in time He understood who He was…the Word of God Incarnate. Sounds absurd, doesn’t it. We often get this ill-begotten idea that He just knew it all on the day He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in His mother’s womb. However, if we were to ask His earthly parents, they would probably say He was just like the rest of their kids; His diapers needed changing, He cried when feeling hungry or when needing to be cuddled, and made the same cooing sounds just like the rest of us. Although He was wholly God, He also was wholly human. Included on that list, Jesus learned how to read and practiced Judaism. He conquered reading comprehension while studying the Torah like any other Jewish young boy. He may have picked up on things a bit faster than other kids because there was no sinful or rebellious nature found in Him. When at the age of 12 He went missing for 3 days. That was not rebellion; that was obedience to His biological Father:

Philippians 2: 5 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

This phrase in verse 7 “but made Himself of no reputation”, according to the revelation given to the Apostle Paul is the Greek word kenoō, from Thayer Definitions meaning:
1) to empty, make empty
1a) of Christ, he laid aside equality with or the form of God
2) to make void
2a) deprive of force, render vain, useless, of no effect
3) to make void
3b) cause a thing to be seen to be empty, hollow, false
Part of Speech: verb

Solomon said it’s the little foxes that spoil the vines (Son. 2:15). Often we misinterpret the Word of God because we will not do the little things, such as simply looking up the meaning a word or a phrase in its original language. Its little things like that will cause us to follow after blind guides, and Jesus warned us about that ditch. Just reading scripture or daily devotionals are not enough. If that is what you depend on for your daily bread (2nd Tim. 2:15), you may find yourself lacking when standing in the presence of Christ one day. Please, do not get me wrong. Please do not get me wrong, I don’t think of myself more highly than anyone else. Much like Paul, I daily forget the things I’ve left behind and press forward toward that high calling. I have not arrived (Phil. 3:13-14).

As we can see in Philippians 2: 7, Christ emptied Himself of His former glory (John 17:5), and live among mankind as one of us. He maintained His divine nature without having to struggle with a sinful nature. Yet, He was tempted, tried, and tested by the enemy just like you and I. Heb. 4: 15 “For we do not have a High Priest (Christ) who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
He lived as a man and functioned as the Prophet Moses spoke of:

Deut. 15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, 16 according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’ 17 “And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. 18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.”

We know that in the first chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus was revealed as the Word of God made flesh. If you have a copy of the Old and New Testament, you also have the Word of God. The same author of the Gospel of John writes again in Revelation 19: 11 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.”

I will conclude this post with the passages below. When I return we will study them in light of our attitude toward what the Apostle Paul wrote about the mind of Christ. Remember, God will not renew our minds; that is our responsibility. Before Christ, we put garbage in our minds based upon what we read, watched, said and so on. As Christians, we must replace all of those ugly thoughts and desires with the Word of God. In other words, Our Heavenly Father will provide us with the Bread of Life (His Word), but we must desire it, we must eat it (Rom. 12:2; Rev. 10:9-10)

Matt. 16: 24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Matt. 11: 27 “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [a]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” To be continued…

John wrote that we should “walk even as He (Christ) walked”. Some Believers balk at the idea of such a thing, even to the point of blasphemy. Unfortunately, these Christians are misinformed. So don’t shoot the messenger, I am not your Pastor. Here is the problem with the carnal mind, “7 the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” In other words, a carnally-minded Christian cannot fathom walking as Christ walked (Rom. 8: 7-8). That mind will not subject itself to being a doer of the Word of God (James 1: 22). Let’s get back to the power of the carnal mind for a moment. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8: 1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be CARNALLY minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the CARNAL mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”

Note, this is the same Greek word  Paul used when he placed the flesh in juxtaposition to the word spirit, and the word ‘carnal’ is the same Greek word used for ‘flesh’. The word flesh in both cases is ‘sarx’. Jesus said sarx gives birth to sarx, but pneuma (Spirit) gives birth to pneuma (spirit). I realize you have probably heard this a thousand times; whenever you see the flesh in opposition to the Spirit, in most Bibles the word Spirit is upper case. Nevertheless, in the original Greek text, there were no upper case letters. The translators of the scripture used the upper case S at their discretion. We have men who are so educated that they cannot or choose not to see the forest for the trees. Our human spirit has been Born Again and hopefully been filled (baptized) with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s work is to raise our human spirit up to its rightful place. When Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”, He was the first to give us insight into the spiritual need of mankind under the New Covenant. Flesh begets flesh, while Spirit begets spirit. Besides, the two stand against one another. The Holy Spirit works from the inside out, not from the outside in. Our spirit must be empowered by the Spirit of God to overcome the deeds of the flesh:

Romans 8: 10 “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Why and what body is dead? Well, we know that as long as we are still breathing, our physical bodies are very much alive. The word ‘mortal’ in verse 11 is the Greek word ‘thnētos’, which means-liable to death, mortal (not immortal just yet, still kicking and breathing). We experience physical death when our spirits and souls leave these earthly tents. When the incorporeal parts of ourselves (spirit and soul) find these bodies uninhabitable, they will separate from these mortal bodies moving beyond the speed of light (186,000-MLS. per sec. If they should depart any slower, the human eye might catch a glimpse of what happens at that moment of death. None of us, besides God, and those possessing spiritual bodies has special insight into the realm of the spirit. This happens only when the Spirit of God gives us visions into that realm, e.g. John on the Isle of Patmos. I wouldn’t put very much stock in anyone claiming, “I see dead people” unless he was Haley Joel Osment.

The following is from W. E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary:

1: σάρξ

(Strong’s #4561 — Noun Feminine — sarx — sarx )

has a wider range of meaning in the NT than in the OT. Its uses in the NT may be analyzed as follows. I suggest you grab your Bible and be like Bereans (Acts 17: 11), search the scriptures for yourselves and see if these things are true:

“(a) “the substance of the body,” whether of beasts or of men, 1^st Corinthians 15:39; (b) “the human body,” 2^nd Corinthians 10:3; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:22; (c) by synecdoche, of “mankind,” in the totality of all that is essential to manhood, i.e., spirit, soul, and body, Matthew 24:22 ; John 1:13 ; Romans 3:20; (d) by synecdoche, of “the holy humanity” of the Lord Jesus, in the totality of all that is essential to manhood, i.e., spirit, soul, and body, John 1:14 ; 1^st Timothy 3:16 ; 1^st John 4:2 ; 2^nd John 1:7 ; in Hebrews 5:7 , “the days of His flesh,” i.e., His past life on earth in distinction from His present life in resurrection; (e) by synecdoche, for “the complete person,” John 6:51-57 ; 2^nd Corinthians 7:5 ; James 5:3; (f) “the weaker element in human nature,” Matthew 26:41; Romans 6:19; 8:3; (g) “the unregenerate state of men,” Romans 7:5; 8:8,9; (h) “the seat of sin in man” (but this is not the same thing as in the body), 2^nd Peter 2:18 ; 1 John 2:16; (i) “the lower and temporary element in the Christian,” Galatians 3:3 ; 6:8 , and in religious ordinances, Hebrews 9:10; (j) “the natural attainments of men,” 1^st Corinthians 1:26; 2^nd Corinthians 10:2,3; (k) “circumstances,” 1 Corinthians 7:28; the externals of life, 2^nd Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 6:5; Hebrews 9:13; (l) by metonymy, “the outward and seeming,” as contrasted with the spirit, the inward and real, John 6:63; 2^nd Corinthians 5:16; (m) “natural relationship, consanguine,” 1^st Corinthians 10:18; Galatians 4:23, or marital, Matthew 19:5.” * [* From Notes on Galatians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 111,112.]

In Matthew 26:41; Romans 8:4,13; 1^st Corinthians 5:5; Galatians 6:8 (not the Holy Spirit, here), “flesh” is contrasted with spirit; in Romans 2:28,29, with heart and spirit; in Romans 7:25, with the mind; cp. Colossians 2:1,5. It is coupled with the mind in Ephesians 2:3, and with the spirit in 2^nd Corinthians 7:1.

Note: In Colossians 2:18 the noun sarx is used in the phrase “(by his) fleshly mind,” lit., “by the mind of his flesh” [see (h) above], whereas the mind ought to be dominated by the Spirit.

2: κρέας

(Strong’s #2907 — Noun Neuter — kreas — kreh’-as)

denotes “flesh” in the sense of meat. It is used in the plural in Romans 14:21; 1^st Corinthians 8:13 . To be continued…