Renewal 237 July 98 PM

Flesh becomes old. If we do things God's way by eating the right foods, our bodies serve us well; however, our flesh bodies age and wither. Our Spiritual bodies, on the other hand, can become stronger with each passing day. Age means nothing to our spiritual selves. Your spiritual self may be developed into a fortress of strength. Your spiritual self may live eternally, if you do things God's way. We are going to begin our study with Israel singing a sad song in Lamentations. At this point, Israel is totally under the dominance of their enemy. Unfortunately, this sad song may sound all to familiar to many of you today.
Lamentations 5:12 Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured. Lamentations 5:13 They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood. The elders weren't honored, and the children were forced to do menial work as bond-slaves. How many of you have to work two jobs to keep up with the bondage of usury? Get out from under usury. Lamentations 5:14 The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick. The wise elders that should be making judgments in the gate, or courts, are not. There is nothing for the young men to be happy about. If you don't renew your spirit, you may slip into the same rut. Lamentations 5:15 The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. Lamentations 5:16 The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! Don't ever let the crown of Christianity fall from your head! You are a child of the Living God. You are somebody! Act like it! Don't allow yourself to be placed into bondage to usury. I realize most young couples have to finance their homes and cars. That is understandable. Paying 15-20% interest on credit cards is not understandable. Lamentations 5:17 For this our heart is faint; for these [things] our eyes are dim. If you are making monthly payments on large credit card balances, take a close look at your statement next month, and your eyes won't be so dim. How much of your last payment was principal, and how much was interest? They are ripping you off. Come out of bondage. If you don't have the resources to pay them off, go to your bank for a loan to do so. At least the interest rate will be more reasonable, and you can pay yourself the difference in interest rates. Lamentations 5:18 Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it. Those of you that understand the parable of the fig tree know the foxes are Kenites. Lamentations 5:19 Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation. Lamentations 5:20 Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, [and] forsake us so long time? God doesn't ever forget His children. It just seems that way, when you get yourself in a rut. The next time you feel like God has forsaken you, ask yourself this question. What have I done for God lately. Lamentations 5:21 Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. Jeremiah is praying that their spirits be renewed as they were in the days of old, the first world age. An age where there was no flesh to get in a rut, and the world was perfect. Do you need a renewal of spirit? Then understand what state Jeremiah is asking God to renew them to, and ask God for the same. Lamentations 5:22 But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us. God's wrath continues to build against those that don't love and serve Him. That wrath will soon be poured out. Let's turn to Psalms as we continue our study on renewal. We will pick it up with David having gone to Bathsheba and having caused the death of Uriah. God utilizes the situation to communicate some wisdom to you. Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psalms 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden [part] thou shalt make me to know wisdom. The inward part of you is your spirit. All true wisdom is from God. Psalms 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

The cleansing blood of Jesus Christ gets the job done in this generation. Psalms 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; [that] the bones [which] thou hast broken may rejoice. Psalms 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. God's chastisement can be painful; however, when we repent, He erases our sins from the book. Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. This is a very wise prayer. Only with a clean mind and a renewed spirit are we able to understand the deeper meanings of God's Word. Ask and truly mean it, and God will fill your mind with understanding. Psalms 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Psalms 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit. God's salvation is Jesus. A free spirit has the choice to do right in life. Ask God to restore that spirit in you. Let's go to II Corinthians for another witness. The subject is renewing your spirit. 2 Corinthians 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present [us] with you. If you believe Jesus rose from the death, you also will be raised from the dead. 2 Corinthians 4:15 For all things [are] for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. All things are for your sakes. Even those that aren't so pleasant. Kiss the paddle of chastisement, renew your spirit and give God the glory for all. 2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day. Flesh becomes old and dies. Your spirit is capable of becoming stronger every day and eternal life. Which do you allow to control your behavior? I hope it is your spirit. If you answered your flesh, you are probably among the group making monthly payments on a 15-20% interest rate credit card we talked about earlier. 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory; 2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal. Your flesh is temporary. Your spirit body may live forever. Renew your spirit. Your soul depends on your spirits ability to control the behavior of your flesh. How do you renew your spirit? Turn to Romans Chapter 12. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. If you will study God's Word and do His work, the renewal comes almost automatically. Your works are wellpleasing to God, and you deserve renewal. Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Be sincere, and utilize the gifts God has given you. Romans 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: Romans 12:5 So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Every member is as important to the overall body as another. Let's turn to Hebrews. I want you to see a new way to approach God, even though He is unseen. How does one get His attention? Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; Hebrews 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. The Election will make Christ's enemies His footstool. Have you known since you were a child there was more to God's Word than you were being taught? Perhaps, you have a destiny.

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Hebrews 10:15 [Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, Hebrews 10:16 This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; His laws are in your heart and in your mind, if you study the letter He has written to you. Hebrews 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 10:18 Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin. Once your sins have been forgiven, don't continually ask forgiveness for the same sins. He doesn't want to hear about it anymore. Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, Jesus rent the veil from top to bottom giving each of us access into the holy of holies, that is to say God. Hebrews 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; Jesus endured the crucifixion without a whimper so that you and I could be partakers of the new and living way. After repentance, we can walk right into the holiest. You can approach God directly. You can ask Him to lift you out of the ruts of flesh life by renewing your spirits. I want to leave you with one final thought in Ephesians. Ephesians 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ; Ephesians 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; Paul is addressing those that are in the world. He is talking to those that allow their flesh to rule. Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. God created us in righteousness and true holiness. Look what our flesh bodies have done to us. We all fall short. Repent, ask God to renew your spirit and get on with God's work. In His Service, Arnold Murray