In this episode the battle front of the World is introduced. It is important to understand our enemy's tactics so that we can come against his work in our lives and spheres of influence. The world's forms of attacks can be summed up in three ways: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. This week we talk about the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes. 

This is the final episode concerning the battle front of the Flesh/Carnal Nature. We start this episode in Romans 7 and move on into Romans 8 where the dividing line of the Carnal nature and the Spirit Man is clearly drawn. What is the purpose of the Law? What is the law of the Spirit? How can we live in the new nature that God has placed inside of every believer? And how can we live by the nature of Christ? All these questions are addressed in this episode.

In this episode, we unpack what the scriptures refer to as the carnal nature and the new man. Salvation is more than just going to heaven, it is an ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. In this salvation process we have been given the very nature of God. A divine nature and life source that we can live from. We as Christians have the ability and privilege to live from the new man, which is made "in true righteousness and holiness". This is the man that God looks at when He calls us "holy, blameless and above reproach in His eyes", yet we oftentimes fail to see ourselves in this way. 

Here we explore what the carnal nature is and how it affects the Christian. The carnal nature or the "flesh" desires to live independent of the Gospel. Typically this happens one of two ways: 1) By earning salvation through being "good enough" for God, rather than receiving righteousness through the work of Christ or 2) By choosing to find satisfaction and fulfillment outside of Him. While we have been given victory over the flesh through Jesus Christ, we can still choose to live by the flesh. The antidote to this is living by the Spirit. 

We as Christians face our enemy on 3 battlefronts. In this episode, we begin to unpack the battleground of the Flesh or Carnal Nature. Every plant and animal that God created during Creation was given the ability to reproduce after its own kind. God then created us after His own kind. However, when man ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, a new seed was deposited into man......one of rebellion and independence from God. That seed in turn created the carnal nature that has plagued mankind ever since. 

We as Christians are in a war, one that has been going on since before the beginning of time. In light of recent events, it is easy to start seeing people as our enemies. Yet we know from Eph. 6:12 that we do not wrestle or war against flesh and blood but...... powers of this present age. People are not our enemy, the disciples and early Believers understood this. The devil and his cohort is our true enemy and his ultimate goal is to destroy and eradicate the image of God in the earth. We must become aware of the war we are in, what is at stake, and our place in this great conflict. 

In the final verses of John 1 we are introduced to Phillip and Nathanial. Jesus calls these 2 to follow Him. What does following truly mean? What does Jesus' reference to Jacob's ladder have to do with who He is? Can we live a Christian life where we can also call others to 'come and see'? These are all addressed in this episode.

The first words Jesus speaks in John is a probing question, "What are you seeking?" This is a probing question that extends to every person who wants to follow Jesus. What are we seeking from Him? 

Then he invites them along with all peoples into His home, His heart and ultimately into His family if they will but Come and See."

At different seasons in out lives, we will face times of unfulfilled expectations. Just as John the Baptist wrestled with wondering if Christ was that promised Messiah as he sat in a prison cell, circumstances can leave us wondering if we have missed it, or even if God has let us down in some way. Listen more to learn the ways to navigate seasons of unfulfilled expectations. 

In this sermon, we explored the 3 differing identities of John the Baptist. The three identities came from the world, John himself, and finally Jesus Christ. We too have these 3 sources of our identity impressed upon each of us. What is the difference between them? Which one is true? Which one do we truly live from? All these answers are coved, plus the opportunity to hear from God what your true identity is. Enjoy!