There is No Middle Ground
You are either serving God or you are serving the devil, there is no middle
ground. God told Moses to tell the Israelites that there is a difference
(Deuteronomy 30:19-20) says “I call heaven and earth to record this day
against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing;
therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live. That you may
love the Lord Yahweh your God, and that you may obey His voice, and that
you may cling to Him, for He is your life, and the length of your days; that you
ma dwell in the land which the Lord Yahweh swear to your fathers, to Abraham,
to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them”.
Romans 6:16-18,22 says “know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves
servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin to
death, or of obedience to righteousness? But God be thanked, that you were
the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine
which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, you became the
servants of righteousness. But now being made free from sin and become
servants to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life”.
God leaves the choice up to us (Galatians 6:7-8) “be not deceived, God is not
mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows
to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit,
shall of the Spirit, reap life everlasting”.
Galatians 5:19-25 shows us the different fruit one can bear; it says “now the
works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness; idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies; envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings,
and such like; of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past,
that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith;
meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’
have crucified the flesh with the affection and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let
us also walk in the Spirit”.
God wants us to hold nothing back from Him, the Bible says in (James 4:7-8)
“submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you
sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded”. And in (I Peter 5:6-9) it
says “humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may
exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you. Be
sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks
about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith,
knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in
the world”.
God has given His all to us (John 3:16-18) “for God so loved the world, that He
gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn
the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believes in
Him is not condemned; but he that believes not is condemned already,
because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”.
Grace is only extended to those that repent.
Jesus said that “we are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, and with
all of your soul, and with all of your mind, and with all of your strength” (Mark
12:30); that means with all of us. Yet many Christians are trying to straggle
the fence; living so close to the world, that you can’t see any difference in
them. But we are told to be separate (II Corinthians 6:17-18) “wherefore come
out from among them, and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the
unclean things, and I will receive you. And will be a Father to you, and you
shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty”.
Those that love God are to hate evil (Psalms 97:10) “you that love the Lord
Yahweh, hate evil; He preserve the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of
the hand of the wicked”. Jesus says in Matthew 6:24 “no man can serve two
masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold
to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon
(worldly things). Jesus also said “he that not with Me is against Me; and he
that gathers not with Me scatters abroad”.
Paul the apostle to the Gentiles gives us good news. In Romans chapter 7 he
reveals that in and of ourselves (the flesh) we can do no good, and in
(Romans 7:14-19,24-25) he reveals the struggle; it says “for we know that the
law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not;
for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I
would not, I consent to the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do
it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is in my flesh), dwells
no good thing; for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is
good I find not. For the good that I would I do not, but the evil which I would
not, that I do. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of
this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord”. He continues in
chapter 8:1-13 by saying “there is therefore now no condemnation to them,
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For
the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin
and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh,
God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin,
condemned sin in the flesh. That the righteousness of the law might be
fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are
after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit
the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for
it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that in
the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if
so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of
sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that
raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the
dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For
if you live after the flesh, you shall die; but if you through the Spirit do mortify
the deeds of the body, you shall live”.
Jesus tells us in John 15 that we have to abide in Him and let His words abide
in us, because without Him we can do nothing. The good news is that we can
do all things through Christ which strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). And since
He will never leave us or forsake us, we are not alone.
Remember that Zechariah 4:6b says “not by might, nor by power, but by My
Spirit says the Lord of hosts”. We are told to submit ourselves to God,
submission means to come in obedience to God.
Jesus wrote letters to the churches in Revelations chapter two and three, and
in His letter to the church of Ephesus, He said that they had lost their first love
and commanded them to repent and turn around (Revelations 2:4-5)
“nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first
love. Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, and do the
first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your candlestick
out of its place, except you repent”. He also wrote to the church of Laodice
that they were lukewarm and warns that He would spit them out of His mouth
(Revelations 3:15-16) “I know your works that you are neither cold nor hot, I
would you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither
cold nor hot, I will spit you out of My mouth”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: July 13, 2010
You are either serving God or you are serving the devil, there is no middle
ground. God told Moses to tell the Israelites that there is a difference
(Deuteronomy 30:19-20) says “I call heaven and earth to record this day
against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing;
therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live. That you may
love the Lord Yahweh your God, and that you may obey His voice, and that
you may cling to Him, for He is your life, and the length of your days; that you
ma dwell in the land which the Lord Yahweh swear to your fathers, to Abraham,
to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them”.
Romans 6:16-18,22 says “know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves
servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin to
death, or of obedience to righteousness? But God be thanked, that you were
the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine
which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, you became the
servants of righteousness. But now being made free from sin and become
servants to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life”.
God leaves the choice up to us (Galatians 6:7-8) “be not deceived, God is not
mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows
to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit,
shall of the Spirit, reap life everlasting”.
Galatians 5:19-25 shows us the different fruit one can bear; it says “now the
works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness; idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies; envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings,
and such like; of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past,
that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith;
meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’
have crucified the flesh with the affection and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let
us also walk in the Spirit”.
God wants us to hold nothing back from Him, the Bible says in (James 4:7-8)
“submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you
sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded”. And in (I Peter 5:6-9) it
says “humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may
exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you. Be
sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks
about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith,
knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in
the world”.
God has given His all to us (John 3:16-18) “for God so loved the world, that He
gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn
the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believes in
Him is not condemned; but he that believes not is condemned already,
because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”.
Grace is only extended to those that repent.
Jesus said that “we are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, and with
all of your soul, and with all of your mind, and with all of your strength” (Mark
12:30); that means with all of us. Yet many Christians are trying to straggle
the fence; living so close to the world, that you can’t see any difference in
them. But we are told to be separate (II Corinthians 6:17-18) “wherefore come
out from among them, and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the
unclean things, and I will receive you. And will be a Father to you, and you
shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty”.
Those that love God are to hate evil (Psalms 97:10) “you that love the Lord
Yahweh, hate evil; He preserve the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of
the hand of the wicked”. Jesus says in Matthew 6:24 “no man can serve two
masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold
to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon
(worldly things). Jesus also said “he that not with Me is against Me; and he
that gathers not with Me scatters abroad”.
Paul the apostle to the Gentiles gives us good news. In Romans chapter 7 he
reveals that in and of ourselves (the flesh) we can do no good, and in
(Romans 7:14-19,24-25) he reveals the struggle; it says “for we know that the
law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not;
for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I
would not, I consent to the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do
it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is in my flesh), dwells
no good thing; for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is
good I find not. For the good that I would I do not, but the evil which I would
not, that I do. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of
this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord”. He continues in
chapter 8:1-13 by saying “there is therefore now no condemnation to them,
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For
the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin
and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh,
God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin,
condemned sin in the flesh. That the righteousness of the law might be
fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are
after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit
the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for
it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that in
the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if
so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of
sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that
raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the
dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For
if you live after the flesh, you shall die; but if you through the Spirit do mortify
the deeds of the body, you shall live”.
Jesus tells us in John 15 that we have to abide in Him and let His words abide
in us, because without Him we can do nothing. The good news is that we can
do all things through Christ which strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). And since
He will never leave us or forsake us, we are not alone.
Remember that Zechariah 4:6b says “not by might, nor by power, but by My
Spirit says the Lord of hosts”. We are told to submit ourselves to God,
submission means to come in obedience to God.
Jesus wrote letters to the churches in Revelations chapter two and three, and
in His letter to the church of Ephesus, He said that they had lost their first love
and commanded them to repent and turn around (Revelations 2:4-5)
“nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first
love. Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, and do the
first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your candlestick
out of its place, except you repent”. He also wrote to the church of Laodice
that they were lukewarm and warns that He would spit them out of His mouth
(Revelations 3:15-16) “I know your works that you are neither cold nor hot, I
would you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither
cold nor hot, I will spit you out of My mouth”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: July 13, 2010
