Most of us eat every day, some of us too much, because yesterday's
food is not enough to supply energy for today's needs. Why then, do
some of us expect yesterday's portion of heavenly manna, the word of God to
keep us through today's challenges. On this program, we are going to change
all of that. Let's experience God's words today and receive the power we need
to live healthy, vibrant lives. Welcome to your Daily Portion with your host,
author speaker L. David Harris. Good morning, good morning, Good
morning. It is Sunday, August thirteen, twenty twenty three. Hello,
my name is L. David Harris. I am your host. I was
still on mute. I'm back, I'm back, And yes, this is
your Daily Portion where we give you God's word every single day, and today
is no exception. We are continuing in our lesson study series through the Book
of Ephesians, and our caption for today is the downward spiral of sin.
Sometimes I call it the slippery slope. Yeah, we'll get into that in
just a moment, But first I'd like to say welcome to everyone joining us,
especially those joining for the very first time. Please go over to your
Daily portion dot Com join our online community and also please pick up the Your
Daily Portion book, and that way we can continue to build faith and fellowship
together. And I'm thankful because listen, it is so much better when we
run together. I didn't mean to make that rhyme, It just kind of
came out that way. It is so much better when we run together,
because quite frankly, there is no way in the world that God's people are
going to get through these last days without having a proper community and fellowship so
that we can grow together. Let's go ahead and pray, and then we
will get underway. Father in Heaven, thank you for giving us the privilege
of coming into your presence today and giving us your word. Father, I
pray that you will deliver us from the slippery slope of sin. Please forgive
us even now of our sins and how we have separated from you, and
in our private time, please remind us so we can talk to you directly
about them. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen and Amen again the
downward spiral of sin. I'm here trying to adjust my notepad here. Okay,
so we're going to read in the Book of Ephesians, the Book of
Ephesians chapter four. Well, actually, let's go to Coloshians. This time.
We'll go to Colloshians first, Colossians chapter three, and I will read
beginning at verse one, this time from the New English translation of the Bible.
Okay, and so the Bible reads, therefore, if you have been
raised with Christ. So there is a conditional here. We have to be
asking ourselves the question do I meet this condition? We don't know for what
purpose yet, but you can track here if you have been raised with Christ.
Have you brothers and sisters been raised with Christ? If so, then
praise the Lord. And of course we are all along on a journey.
The Bible continues, keep seeking things above. So if you've been raised with
Christ, keep thinking or keep seeking things above where Christ is seated at the
right hand of God. You see, sometimes we claim that we are God's
children, we claim that we have been raised with Him, and but we
behave like bottom feeders, like we behave like we are cleaning the bottom of
the sea in terms of our behavior. But God is saying, if you
have been raised with Christ, yes, that is dead to sin. And
now we're rising. We're rising above the dross of wickedness. We're rising above
the surface of the earth and becoming people who are seated and elevated with Christ
in spiritual and holy things. Yes, if we are that way, then
we need to verse two, keep thinking about things above and not the things
on the earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ
in God. Is that your experience? Like? Are you dying daily?
Let's keep going Verse four. When Christ, who is your life, appears,
then you too will be revealed in glory with him. So put to
death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth. And in case, brothers
and sisters, we are confused about what God is saying through Paul, here's
some things right put away sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil,
desire, greed, which is idolatry. Because of those things, the wrath
of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. Like, that doesn't have
to be you, That does not have to be me. Verse seven.
You also lived your lives. That's past tense. I hope it is past
tense. And if it is not a tense, like if you were still
bound to sexual immorality, if you were still bound by shameful passion, evil,
desire, greed, which is idolatry, and so forth. Then this
is your day, like the reason why you are listening or watching this morning
at this hour of the morning. Oh my, it's so early in most
of the places where people are listening and watching. If you are doing that,
that is because God has called you today. Like today, he is
calling you to holiness. He is calling you to account. He is calling
you to be able to do what. Agree with him and say, yes,
I am sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, very
deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more. But the master of the
sea is calling me this morning. Yes, he heard my despairing cry,
and from the waters of shame and doubt, from the waters of me continually
breaking my promise to God and to me, and God forbid if you're breaking
your promise to your family, if you have been doing some sin that impacts
them. Right, But from the waters God today lifted me. Now safe?
Am I? Now safe? Am I? And the songwriter, of
course continues, Love lifted me, Love lifted me when nothing else could help.
Love lifted me and delivered me from the slippery slope of sin. I
continue here, I continue here Verse seven, you also lived your lives in
this way at one time when you used to live among them. But now
can somebody just type in the chat right now? But now, but now
put off all such things as anger and rage, malice, slander, abusive
language from your mouth. I think the Bible says that there is power of
life and death in the tongue. And so many people want to focus on
like manifesting and talking about which you can say, And then suddenly you become
sort of what is the word you can manifest provisions, like you can manifest
all of these positive things into your life. And in a lot of ways,
yes, we we we can, we can do that, but I
don't have the time to deal with the nuances of that. But right now
what we want to focus on is like like like avoid that language, that
that that that disrespects people, that separates us from God, that that language
that does not agree with the way that God speaks. Right, So manifest
that like a manifest no more abusive language out of your mouth, like manifest
no more gossip, like manifest no more negativity. Start with that before you
start getting into the money and so forth, which is very very important,
by the way, Verse nine do not lie. Oh, that's another manifestation
coming out of our mouths, like do not lie to one another. Since
you have put off the old man with its practices and have been clothed with
the new Man, can I say that this clothing of the new Man is
about the righteousness of Christ. Yes, God has given us the blessing of
being called by the name of Christ and to be covered in Him, cover
with his life, as the hymn writer would have penned. And anyone who
is living in that reality begins to actually think like Christ. I pray daily
for the mindset of Christ. I want his mind set, and if I
have his mind set, then my actions and behavior will be in line with
that same mindset. Okay, let's keep going. I'll read it again,
and have been clothed with the new Man, that is being renewed in the
knowledge, with knowledge according to the image of the one who created it.
And then, of course, the Bible teaches us that there is no more
separation between Jews and Gentiles, like Jews and Greeks. God is trying to
give everyone not trying. God is giving everyone who is willing to receive it.
And yea does receive it the newness of life verse fourteen. And to
all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond. Well, what
virtues, Let's go back, Let's go back twelve. Therefore, as the
elect of God, Holy and dearly Beloved, clothe yourselves with a heart of
mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another
and forgiving one another if someone happens to have a complaint against someone else.
Just as the Lord has forgiven you and forgiven others, so we need to
add to those love and the perfect bond of peace under the control of Christ.
Peace. Thanks for joining us listening. Friends, Always remember we cannot
live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of
God. This has been your daily portion with l David Harris. Make it
a great day.