Will The Real Man Please Stand Up! Series

Interesting to note: Paul is bringing an issue to light that we sometimes forget….

ü The cross work of Christ is concerned with our justification – our standing before God

ü The cross work of Christ is also concerned with our sanctification – our daily walk with God

2 He looks normal, but suffers from a spiritual disease

a Today we would call this failure to thrive.

b Receives nutrients, but does not grow

c Slow growth is a concern to Paul – should be a concern to us.

“ I understand that we all grow at our own pace, but we all need to have a pace at which we grow.” Sherry noticed one day, that through no cause of our own, our house plants were growing better than they ever had before. Now understand that sherry had them on a schedule. They were sat on a windowsill, and received sun and water regularly. They looked ok, even healthy. We assumed that this was the way they were supposed to look and that they were the size they were suppose to be! Well, for some reason unknown to me, Sherry moved them downstairs to our bedroom. Now everything else is the same. Window faces in the same direction, watered the same was. The only difference was that this room is a cooler room. Guess what? We have (actually Sherry has) had to repot some of these plants because they are growing too big for their pots. Now imagine that. All that was keeping them from growing was a little cool air!

Now, can I suggest, that perhaps the reason we are not growing is because we need to make some small adjustment in our lifestyle? Hmmmmmmmmmm!

B The kind of things he does

1 Quarrels like children – what’s mine is mine, what’s your is mine too!

2 Controlled by own desires – acting worldly

Notice:

ü Jealousy – Carnal feelings

ü Quarreling – Carnal activities

ü Result in divisions

IF YOU WALK AROUND FLAPPING YOUR HANDS AND CLUCKING, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BELIEVE YOU’RE A CHICKEN – MAYBE YOU!

Matthew 16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Galatians 5:25-26 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

C How he stands before God

1 He maintains his worldly side

2 He mimics the natural man

3 He looks like the natural man

AND HERE IS THE REASON. EVEN AS A BELIEVER HE STILL HAS HIS EYE ON GOD’S SERVANTS RATHER THAN HAVING HIS EYE ON GOD HIMSELF!

Romans 8:2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:4-7 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.