Air or Water?

A fish cannot survive very long at all outside the water. Water is the domain of the fish. They are born in the water and will live there only.
A man cannot survive very long at all under the water. Air on earth creates the domain of the man. Men are born to breath air and will live only by breathing air.

In John 8:23, Jesus said, "You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world." Another way to translate that verse would be: "Your place of origin is beneath: My place of origin is above. Your place of origin is this world; My place of origin is not this world."

The question is not: Are you a good or bad person? but, What is your place of origin?

Jesus said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh: that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:6.

So do not be surprised if the world hates you, because it hated Christ first. If you have "come out" of the world's system- you will be hated (John 15:18-19). If you try to "fit in" with the world's system, you will not be hated. Where is your birth place, spiritually? If you are only born of this world, you will be loved by this world. But if you are born from above (born again), you will be hated by this world. The two will not ever be at peace. But Christ is our peace!

Please read John 15:18-25 in preparation for Sunday's sermon.

A question for discussion: "Could it be that the world loves the "church" because so many in the church have never been born from above? In other words, "Air or Water?"

Pastor Noel

Some churches are not hated by the world. Does that mean they are not born of spirit? Or does that mean they are full of the spirit and the hungry in the world are drawn to them? Needing spiritual life?

The world will love the "church" that preaches a salvation of addition without subtraction. "Just add Jesus to your lifestyle and you'll be okay." On the contrary, as followers of Christ, we must deny ourselves, take away (subtract) our preference to ourselves and love others as Jesus has loved us.

"Dear friends, I've dropped everything to write you about this life of salvation that we have in common. I have to write insisting--begging!--that you fight with everything you have in you for this faith entrusted to us as a gift to guard and cherish. What has happened is that some people have infiltrated our ranks (our Scriptures warned us this would happen), who beneath their pious skin are shameless scoundrels." Jude 1:3-4

Wow. I completely agree about the addition without subtraction. That is a very dangerous doctrine to live by, and it seems as though more and more people are falling into it. Whatever is fast, convenient and easy. It is a very seductive viewpoint.

weston wrote: That is a very dangerous doctrine to live by, and it seems as though more and more people are falling into it. Whatever is fast, convenient and easy. It is a very seductive viewpoint.

It says in 2 Timothy 4:3, " For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, " I think that we are becoming a nation apart from God for two reasons...

1. What it says in 2 Timothy is true. We incorporate God into our plans instead of following His passions and joining in His work.

2. Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) or "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
(Rom 10:1-17)

We are not discerning the Word of God when we listen to "teachers". When we hear false doctrine, we have no way of knowing if it is true or not because we have not buried the Word in our hearts.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

I believe we are a Nation that takes for granted the Word of God. People talk in generalities when scripture is involved. They quote "verses" that are not even real and make points by taking scriptures out of context.

Joh 7:38 "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

Where are the Rivers of Living Water in our lives?? I think in some cases, the river has dried up to a small stream or worse, nothing at all...more like a drought. Believe me, I am in the process of allowing God to move me from drought mode myself. Pray for rain that we may all be allowed to flow.