1 00:00:01,159 --> 00:00:05,559 Most of us eat every day, some of us too much, because yesterday's 2 00:00:05,599 --> 00:00:10,400 food is not enough to supply energy for today's needs. Why then, do 3 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:15,039 some of us expect yesterday's portion of heavenly manna, the word of God to 4 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:19,760 keep us through today's challenges. On this program, we are going to change 5 00:00:19,879 --> 00:00:24,960 all of that. Let's experience God's words today and receive the power we need 6 00:00:25,039 --> 00:00:30,800 to live healthy, vibrant lives. Welcome to your Daily Portion with your host, 7 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:35,200 author speaker L. David Harris. Good morning, good morning, Good 8 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:39,880 morning. It is Sunday, August thirteen, twenty twenty three. Hello, 9 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,679 my name is L. David Harris. I am your host. I was 10 00:00:42,759 --> 00:00:46,799 still on mute. I'm back, I'm back, And yes, this is 11 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,880 your Daily Portion where we give you God's word every single day, and today 12 00:00:51,039 --> 00:00:54,880 is no exception. We are continuing in our lesson study series through the Book 13 00:00:54,880 --> 00:01:00,600 of Ephesians, and our caption for today is the downward spiral of sin. 14 00:01:00,159 --> 00:01:03,760 Sometimes I call it the slippery slope. Yeah, we'll get into that in 15 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:07,079 just a moment, But first I'd like to say welcome to everyone joining us, 16 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:11,799 especially those joining for the very first time. Please go over to your 17 00:01:11,879 --> 00:01:17,319 Daily portion dot Com join our online community and also please pick up the Your 18 00:01:17,439 --> 00:01:22,400 Daily Portion book, and that way we can continue to build faith and fellowship 19 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:26,760 together. And I'm thankful because listen, it is so much better when we 20 00:01:26,879 --> 00:01:30,799 run together. I didn't mean to make that rhyme, It just kind of 21 00:01:30,799 --> 00:01:34,439 came out that way. It is so much better when we run together, 22 00:01:34,519 --> 00:01:38,040 because quite frankly, there is no way in the world that God's people are 23 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:45,920 going to get through these last days without having a proper community and fellowship so 24 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,719 that we can grow together. Let's go ahead and pray, and then we 25 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,760 will get underway. Father in Heaven, thank you for giving us the privilege 26 00:01:53,799 --> 00:01:57,640 of coming into your presence today and giving us your word. Father, I 27 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:01,959 pray that you will deliver us from the slippery slope of sin. Please forgive 28 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:07,280 us even now of our sins and how we have separated from you, and 29 00:02:07,319 --> 00:02:09,560 in our private time, please remind us so we can talk to you directly 30 00:02:09,599 --> 00:02:15,520 about them. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen and Amen again the 31 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:23,039 downward spiral of sin. I'm here trying to adjust my notepad here. Okay, 32 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:25,719 so we're going to read in the Book of Ephesians, the Book of 33 00:02:25,759 --> 00:02:30,120 Ephesians chapter four. Well, actually, let's go to Coloshians. This time. 34 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:34,840 We'll go to Colloshians first, Colossians chapter three, and I will read 35 00:02:34,879 --> 00:02:38,439 beginning at verse one, this time from the New English translation of the Bible. 36 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:43,039 Okay, and so the Bible reads, therefore, if you have been 37 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,879 raised with Christ. So there is a conditional here. We have to be 38 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:53,240 asking ourselves the question do I meet this condition? We don't know for what 39 00:02:53,319 --> 00:02:58,360 purpose yet, but you can track here if you have been raised with Christ. 40 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,280 Have you brothers and sisters been raised with Christ? If so, then 41 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:07,439 praise the Lord. And of course we are all along on a journey. 42 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:10,840 The Bible continues, keep seeking things above. So if you've been raised with 43 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:17,039 Christ, keep thinking or keep seeking things above where Christ is seated at the 44 00:03:17,159 --> 00:03:22,120 right hand of God. You see, sometimes we claim that we are God's 45 00:03:22,199 --> 00:03:25,439 children, we claim that we have been raised with Him, and but we 46 00:03:25,599 --> 00:03:30,520 behave like bottom feeders, like we behave like we are cleaning the bottom of 47 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:36,199 the sea in terms of our behavior. But God is saying, if you 48 00:03:36,319 --> 00:03:42,080 have been raised with Christ, yes, that is dead to sin. And 49 00:03:42,159 --> 00:03:46,919 now we're rising. We're rising above the dross of wickedness. We're rising above 50 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:53,479 the surface of the earth and becoming people who are seated and elevated with Christ 51 00:03:53,599 --> 00:03:57,879 in spiritual and holy things. Yes, if we are that way, then 52 00:03:57,919 --> 00:04:01,319 we need to verse two, keep thinking about things above and not the things 53 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:06,840 on the earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ 54 00:04:08,039 --> 00:04:14,240 in God. Is that your experience? Like? Are you dying daily? 55 00:04:14,639 --> 00:04:18,360 Let's keep going Verse four. When Christ, who is your life, appears, 56 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:25,920 then you too will be revealed in glory with him. So put to 57 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:30,879 death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth. And in case, brothers 58 00:04:30,879 --> 00:04:33,480 and sisters, we are confused about what God is saying through Paul, here's 59 00:04:33,519 --> 00:04:42,319 some things right put away sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil, 60 00:04:42,399 --> 00:04:46,279 desire, greed, which is idolatry. Because of those things, the wrath 61 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,720 of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. Like, that doesn't have 62 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:54,240 to be you, That does not have to be me. Verse seven. 63 00:04:54,319 --> 00:04:58,000 You also lived your lives. That's past tense. I hope it is past 64 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,439 tense. And if it is not a tense, like if you were still 65 00:05:00,519 --> 00:05:06,040 bound to sexual immorality, if you were still bound by shameful passion, evil, 66 00:05:06,079 --> 00:05:10,959 desire, greed, which is idolatry, and so forth. Then this 67 00:05:11,079 --> 00:05:15,560 is your day, like the reason why you are listening or watching this morning 68 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:17,600 at this hour of the morning. Oh my, it's so early in most 69 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:21,279 of the places where people are listening and watching. If you are doing that, 70 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:27,680 that is because God has called you today. Like today, he is 71 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:32,279 calling you to holiness. He is calling you to account. He is calling 72 00:05:32,319 --> 00:05:36,480 you to be able to do what. Agree with him and say, yes, 73 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:42,199 I am sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, very 74 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:46,839 deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more. But the master of the 75 00:05:46,879 --> 00:05:50,879 sea is calling me this morning. Yes, he heard my despairing cry, 76 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:57,560 and from the waters of shame and doubt, from the waters of me continually 77 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:01,079 breaking my promise to God and to me, and God forbid if you're breaking 78 00:06:01,079 --> 00:06:04,519 your promise to your family, if you have been doing some sin that impacts 79 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:10,959 them. Right, But from the waters God today lifted me. Now safe? 80 00:06:11,079 --> 00:06:14,600 Am I? Now safe? Am I? And the songwriter, of 81 00:06:14,639 --> 00:06:18,879 course continues, Love lifted me, Love lifted me when nothing else could help. 82 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:25,399 Love lifted me and delivered me from the slippery slope of sin. I 83 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:30,160 continue here, I continue here Verse seven, you also lived your lives in 84 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:33,000 this way at one time when you used to live among them. But now 85 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:39,439 can somebody just type in the chat right now? But now, but now 86 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:45,560 put off all such things as anger and rage, malice, slander, abusive 87 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:49,160 language from your mouth. I think the Bible says that there is power of 88 00:06:49,199 --> 00:06:53,319 life and death in the tongue. And so many people want to focus on 89 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:58,879 like manifesting and talking about which you can say, And then suddenly you become 90 00:06:59,319 --> 00:07:04,800 sort of what is the word you can manifest provisions, like you can manifest 91 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:09,480 all of these positive things into your life. And in a lot of ways, 92 00:07:09,639 --> 00:07:12,279 yes, we we we can, we can do that, but I 93 00:07:12,319 --> 00:07:15,399 don't have the time to deal with the nuances of that. But right now 94 00:07:15,439 --> 00:07:19,439 what we want to focus on is like like like avoid that language, that 95 00:07:19,439 --> 00:07:26,639 that that that disrespects people, that separates us from God, that that language 96 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:30,160 that does not agree with the way that God speaks. Right, So manifest 97 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:34,759 that like a manifest no more abusive language out of your mouth, like manifest 98 00:07:34,839 --> 00:07:41,040 no more gossip, like manifest no more negativity. Start with that before you 99 00:07:41,079 --> 00:07:45,040 start getting into the money and so forth, which is very very important, 100 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,399 by the way, Verse nine do not lie. Oh, that's another manifestation 101 00:07:48,519 --> 00:07:53,120 coming out of our mouths, like do not lie to one another. Since 102 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:58,399 you have put off the old man with its practices and have been clothed with 103 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:01,360 the new Man, can I say that this clothing of the new Man is 104 00:08:01,399 --> 00:08:05,399 about the righteousness of Christ. Yes, God has given us the blessing of 105 00:08:05,439 --> 00:08:11,360 being called by the name of Christ and to be covered in Him, cover 106 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:13,800 with his life, as the hymn writer would have penned. And anyone who 107 00:08:13,879 --> 00:08:20,079 is living in that reality begins to actually think like Christ. I pray daily 108 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:26,120 for the mindset of Christ. I want his mind set, and if I 109 00:08:26,199 --> 00:08:31,279 have his mind set, then my actions and behavior will be in line with 110 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:37,639 that same mindset. Okay, let's keep going. I'll read it again, 111 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:41,879 and have been clothed with the new Man, that is being renewed in the 112 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:46,639 knowledge, with knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. 113 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:50,600 And then, of course, the Bible teaches us that there is no more 114 00:08:50,639 --> 00:08:54,120 separation between Jews and Gentiles, like Jews and Greeks. God is trying to 115 00:08:54,120 --> 00:09:00,960 give everyone not trying. God is giving everyone who is willing to receive it. 116 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:05,600 And yea does receive it the newness of life verse fourteen. And to 117 00:09:05,879 --> 00:09:11,279 all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond. Well, what 118 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:16,799 virtues, Let's go back, Let's go back twelve. Therefore, as the 119 00:09:16,919 --> 00:09:22,600 elect of God, Holy and dearly Beloved, clothe yourselves with a heart of 120 00:09:22,639 --> 00:09:28,759 mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another 121 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:33,159 and forgiving one another if someone happens to have a complaint against someone else. 122 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:37,759 Just as the Lord has forgiven you and forgiven others, so we need to 123 00:09:37,799 --> 00:09:43,360 add to those love and the perfect bond of peace under the control of Christ. 124 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:48,519 Peace. Thanks for joining us listening. Friends, Always remember we cannot 125 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:52,320 live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of 126 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:56,320 God. This has been your daily portion with l David Harris. Make it 127 00:09:56,360 --> 00:10:00,320 a great day.