you have the word of the Lord with you, if you would turn to Romans chapter eight. Romans chapter eight. It's so, I just, the Lord had just laid a burden upon my heart to go back and just look at this for just a little bit. and how wonderful it is to be able to look at these things and see. I'm trying to look for something, so bear with me. But as we look at this and we see that, these first verses as we start out here, it's We can see the Apostle Paul, he starts out and he writes, 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 hath 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." So I'm just going to stop there. And we can see, you know, when we, you know, when people talk about our walk in life, it's when we're out there and how do we behave ourselves? How are we when we're out in the world? You know, because we need to show ourselves as a shining light out to the world, don't we, Butchie? You know, because it says, you know, a candle, you don't put a candle under a bushel, do you? So that it isn't going to provide any light. No, you open it up and you put that candle up there so that it can be seen, so that it can give light unto the whole house and everything. And that's what we need to be. We need to be, by our walk in light, we need to be a shining light into the world. so that people can look at us and see and take note of that we have been with Jesus. They should be able to see something just a little bit different about us. You know, when we're out and about or whatever, when something's happened, maybe we don't curse. Maybe it's, have you been in a restaurant lately and you're sitting around and you see, I know we do, but when you see someone else praying. Last week there was a family that was behind us when we went out to eat and they were praying before they ate their meal and everything. You don't see a lot of that anymore in the world today. but isn't it nice to know that there is therefore therefore he says I like that word therefore now no condemnation we're not condemned we're not condemned at all and it's the those to them which walk which which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit to them which are in Christ Jesus who live in union with Jesus Christ Because when we realize the Apostle Paul also writes in another spot, nevertheless, I live yet not I, but what does it say? What does it say, Susie? Christ lives within me. So if Christ is living within us, where is Christ abiding, Brother Roger? He's in our hearts. He's in our hearts. Now, as we were just using Brother Roger as an example about going around and doing things, if we would realize that Christ in our hearts with would that be very pleasing brother Roger Christ seeing you where you were at no it would not be very pleasing to Christ when he sees what we are doing especially when it goes against what his will his will now you've heard me say before I'm sure brother Roger said maybe not the same words brother Leroy you know we we can't claim ignorance can we We can't claim ignorance no more. We can't say, well, I didn't know I couldn't do that no more. Well, when Christ enters into your heart in the regeneration, we no longer want to do the former things of old, do we? We want to do what? Those things that are pleasing in His sight. And that's why we need to walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. We need to walk with Jesus Christ in this world. We need to walk with Him. Walk with Him. So, it's a song we sing. We don't sing it a whole lot, but song number three ninety eight trust and obey it starts out the very first uh... stands it says when we walk with the lord in the light of his word what a glory he sheds on her way while we do his goodwill he abides with us still and with all who will trust and obey notice i think that the songwriter hits the nail right on the head when we walk the Lord. When we walk with Him, how wonderful it is when we know that when we are walking that He's there for us, and He's with us, and He's watching over us, and He's protecting us, and He's guiding and directing our footsteps. And I know for some people that have been following the Lord for years and years and years, let's say, you know, sometimes it seems like, well, we get a little weary, don't we, Butchie? We get a little weary. But we need to realize that God is there for us. And I know sometimes we sit and we think, well, sometimes we might say, is it worth it? Is it worth it? Do we continue? Do we continue to go with him? you know, but when we look at other parts of the scripture and we realize how good he is, he is unto us. Well, you all know how much I like Ephesians. You know, in chapter 2 in verse 4, it says, but God who is rich in mercy, for his great love, wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. By grace ye are saved. You know, so sometimes when we get tired and we realize it, you know, we think, I'm just so tired, you know, it's just, sometimes you might sit there and say, you know, sometimes we might be honest and, yeah, I just, man, I'd just like to just stay home from church today. Maybe it's, well, I really don't wanna read my Bible today. Maybe I shouldn't. I don't feel like praying today. You know, but when we realize that when we were yet dead in our trespasses and sins, What? He loved us. He loved us. And it's not just, well, he loved us. What is it saying here? He says, for his great love, for his great love with which he loved us. Remember, the only reason why we love him is because he first loved us. You know, and when were we first loved? When were we first loved? Before the foundation of the world. I mean, that was a long time ago, Butchie. I mean, I know some people try to sit and tell us that the Earth is billions and billions of years old, but even if we look back at, let's say it's 3,500 years old, Brother Roger, just for sakes of argument, you know what I mean? That's a long time, isn't it, Sue? That's a long time. I mean, what does the Bible say? Our life is what? What does it say about our life, Brother Roger? It's just a vapor. It's just a vapor, isn't it? It's here today, and it's just like... Have you ever seen a vapor? It comes up, and it goes up into the air, and as quick as it starts, it's gone, isn't it? That's what our life is like. It's just a drop. So, you know, we need to realize that the Lord is going to be there to strengthen us in our walk so that we will continue to walk, what? In the light of His Word. In the light of His Word, it says in that song. You know, as we go about trying to do His good will, So we serve such an awesome God. And you know, I'm getting ahead of myself, but farther on, it talks about the carnal mind. The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God. And the other, indeed, they can be. And verse 8, I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but, so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. If you're in the flesh, and you're walking after the flesh, the Bible is very plain. The Apostle Paul hears it. You cannot please God, can we? There's no way. Because why, Brother Roger, why can't you do that? You know, the Bible says, you know, you can't serve two masters, can you? Either you're going to hate the one and love the other, or you're going to cling to the one and leave the other, right? So you can't serve God and the world. So how would you walk knowing these things? Makes it pretty easy, doesn't it, Bill? Pretty easy choice as far as we look on it, but the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God, because what does it say? They're foolishness unto him. We were all in that same boat at one time, weren't we? In Ephesians chapter 2 it says that we were all that same way. We were just like the natural man. The things of God were foolishness unto us. I'm here to raise my hand and say, that's the way it was with me. Brother Roger's shaking his head. He knows what that's all about. We all know that way. We can't sit there and say that we were not that way. Because the Bible says what? You were that way. But that's the key word, Bill. We were that way. We were that way. We're no longer that way. We've given up those things. We've put away the old man, and we've put on the new man, which is created in the likeness of Jesus Christ. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus had 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. But look at what it says. Yeah, God sent his son into the world, and he was, what does it say? In the likeness of sinful flesh, so he looked just like us. But the awesome thing about this, he was all points tempted like we are, yet he was without sin. sin isn't it aren't we grateful and thankful when we give thanks every day we need to give thanks to God that he knew it at the law was was weak through the flesh because it was it was a law after the flesh what the law cannot do and it was weak to the flesh, God sending his own son into the world. God sent his own son into the world to die for us. When we realize that, then we realize that we should not be walking after the flesh, but we should be walking after the spirit. Walking that straight and narrow path. And then when we get away a little bit to either side, you know, he brings us back in. Now, we got really some amazing technology in our cars. And we're watching a commercial the other day. I can't remember what it was for, a Nissan or something like that. The one girl was worried about it and she pressed this one button on there. It kind of creates an area and it knows that if you get off to the one side or the other side, it automatically brings you back and whatever. But God is better than that, isn't He, Brother Roger? When we get off that straight and narrow, when we get off on the left or right, He chastised us and He brings us back, so we're on what? We're on that straight and narrow path, aren't we? Now, why does He do that? Why does He do that? because we are his children. That's why he does these things, because he loves us. You don't do things like that if you don't love somebody, do you? But you do these things because Jesus loves us. God loves us. Because he loved you because he wrote your names in the Lamb's Book of Life. I believe God knew exactly when each and every one of us comes to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. He knew exactly back then, exactly when. We would all come to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and we would make a public profession of our faith. And we would say that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. member you are baptized what's one of the things what's one of the things that we ask we baptize you do you believe that Jesus Christ is a son of God and then we say because you have on your confession your faith we baptize you in the name of the father and the sun and of the Holy spirit He 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." This is really important, how we walk out in the world today. I mean, it's not only in here, there's other places in the Scripture where it talks about walking. Walking. And some of the things, like I said, you can't serve two masters. It's the same thing. It's the same thing, Butchie. It's how we walk. How we walk. Not only how we walk, but where we walk. We want to be always on that straight and narrow path. You know, it says narrow is that path that leadeth to life everlasting. You know, but broad is the way that leads to destruction. We should be thankful that we have such a loving Father. Because we can see in verse 5, it says what? 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. You know, you have to make a choice, don't you? You know, in one part of the Bible it says, you know what? You have to choose today whom you're gonna serve. Whether the God of our fathers or the gods of the land. But what does he say? But as for me and my house, we will what? Serve the Lord. and that takes a commitment. Everything that we do today takes a commitment to do it. You know, like Brother Roger said, it's easy to sit there and say, I give up, isn't it? It's easy to say that. It's easy to say, you know what, I'm not gonna go to church, I'm not gonna do this, I'm not gonna follow the Lord anymore. As I said, you know, I'm kinda tired of that. Where's their commitment at? Were they totally committed from the very beginning? you know, it's, you've heard me say, you know, you can speak it from the mouth, but do you believe it in the heart? That's where it has to come from, the heart. It's all, it's all in that heart. In verse 6 it says, you know, to be, for to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. You know, there's so many people out in the world that they really don't care. They wanna do the things that they wanna do. They don't want anybody telling them, well, you can't do this, you can't do that. It's not so much that people tell us, well, we can't do this, we can't do that. We know that when we've come to follow the Lord, that we don't want to do those things anymore. It's not because anybody says, but I know that God does tell us in here, doesn't he, Sue? He tells us, you know, you shouldn't do this, you shouldn't do that. And because we're a child of God, we realize very quickly in our, what, in our hearts, that we don't want to do those other things. We now want to do those things that are pleasing to him. You know, because the Bible says, you know, we did things, you know, to please our earthly fathers, didn't we, Brother Roger? We always wanted to please them. I know you're always saying how when you were out there and working and doing things, you wanted to do the things that would please your dad and everything. Well, don't we want to do those things that are pleasing to our Heavenly Father? who is what? He's given us a crown of righteousness, which one day we're going to get to wear that crown, aren't we, Brother Roger? When we look at those things, doesn't it really make, I guess, it's different for us because we look at these things and we say, so it's easy to make that choice, isn't it? Because we can see those things that are contained in the Scriptures, right? What does Jesus say? But blessed are your eyes, for they see. Because you can see when you read these things, you see something different, don't you, Brother Roger? We see something different when we read the Scriptures than somebody else who is not a child of God. We can see these things. I guess some people might say, you know, how you read between the lines. We can see these things. what Jesus Christ is trying to tell us, what God is trying to tell us as we read these scriptures. If you wanted to be carnally minded, it's death. Now we know that doesn't mean, Abby, it's not a physical death, but it's a spiritual death. If you choose to be carnally minded and to follow the things of this world, and to have the world as your Lord and master, you're gonna have a spiritual death. But it says, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. So when we walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit, see, we're going to have life, and we're going to have peace. We have that spiritual life. And because we have that spiritual life, what do we give? We have peace. We have that peace of God, which passes all understanding. And what does that do? It keeps our hearts, our minds in Christ Jesus, doesn't it? Keeps our hearts. and our minds where they need to be, doesn't it? Right where it needs to be, in Jesus, in Jesus, looking on Him. For that way, when the storms of life start raging around us and everything, or when we get that stress build, that we wish, you know, that our children could see that and everything, you know, that God is there to give us that peace that helps us to make through these times, these times, because He is so good unto us. And here we get into verse 7. because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." So that word enmity means it's opposed, because the carnal mind is opposed, it's completely opposite from God, isn't it brother Roger? It's completely opposite. It's opposite. For they that are carnally minded are not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." They can't be. Because they've made a choice to be that carnally minded. They've chosen. The Bible says you can't serve two masters. They've chosen a master who they want to follow. They've chosen that master. I'm going to go back to Ephesians chapter 2. And you have the quickened who were dead in trespass and sins, wherein time passed, you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, and the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. These are those that are carnally minded, Brother Roger. their conversation is still in the lust of their flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and are by nature the children of wrath, even as others." But we can see that there are some that are chosen to obtain eternal life, and these are the ones that he says that who were dead in trespasses and sin. So we can see that these, they neither indeed can be subject to the law of God. Because why? It means absolutely nothing to them, the law of God. They could care in the least at all about that. In verse 8 it says, so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. I don't know how any other version of the Bible could interpret that, Brother Roger. but it says so that if you are in the flesh you cannot please God there's no way absolutely you can please God as long as you continue to remain in the flesh in verse 9 you know I told you one of my little words is but ye 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." I think it makes it easy, doesn't it, Brother Roger, to make these choices, and not so much to make the choice, but to stand fast and to continue to be rooted and grounded in love, because we know that love is Jesus Christ. So it makes it easier to continue and to not grow weary or weak. You know, I think in the Old Testament, doesn't it say that He's going to lift us up on eagles' wings? He's going to lift us up on eagles' wings. So when a lot of times when we get tired, When we get tired and we think, I just can't go on anymore, what happens, Brother Roger? He picks us up. You know, when it talks about the footprints in the sand, sometimes he carries us during these times. I'm not saying sometimes, every time we're in there, he picks us up and he carries us. just like we were that lost lamb, that lost sheep, and God went out and found us and picked us up and carried us and brought us into his sheepfold. And we didn't enter in no other way, did we, Brother Roger? We entered right in through that gate, didn't we? That's why when we enter into these gates, we need to enter in with thanksgiving and praising God for being so good unto us all the time, all the time. He's good to us. He is good to us. And it's much better than we do deserve. Because we're sinful people. We're disobedient people. But God never deviates, does He? He never goes to the left or the right with our love. He doesn't love us one day and not the next day, does He, Brother Roger? He loves us with... What does the Bible say, Sue? He loves us with an everlasting love. He loves us with an everlasting love. So because of that, he is everlastingly going to be there for us. As he says, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. These are things that we need to hold near and dear to our hearts. We're getting close to the end of a year. And it seems like, Bill, it's just like we just started the new year, didn't it? And now already it's a year, and we're almost done. I only got a little over two years, and I'd like to stop working. You know, as I said, I'd like to. I don't know what the will of the Lord is. I could stop. I could continue working. I don't know, Brother Roger. But I know that he's going to be there for me. And these two years or whatever until I could possibly make my choice in whatever, you know, that it's going to be like nothing. It's going to go like that. Look at this year. That's already at the end of the year. What a great God we have. If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. If you've been born again, that Spirit of God dwells within your heart. Now, if you have not the Spirit of Christ, you are 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 dwelleth 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 ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live for as many as are led by the spirit of God. What does it say? They are the sons of God. Now, if Christ is in you, the body is dead, he says, because of sin. But the spirit is life. The spirit is life because of righteousness. Not our own righteousness. Our own righteousness is nothing. It's nothing. But when we are clothed upon with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, how wonderful that is. I think it's in Matthew, doesn't it say that John the Baptist, if you're righteous, exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, you shall, I think it said, enter in. And how can that be? Because the scribes and the Pharisees and all of these thought they were so righteous, weren't they, Brother Roger? But they were what? They were self-righteous. But we are clothed upon with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. How awesome that is. Awesome that is. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead, that Spirit of God, dwell in you, dwell in you, what does it say? He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies. That means He's going to give you life, quicken. It means to give life to. Give life to your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. that spirit of God. He's quickened our bodies so that we are alive spiritually. Alive spiritually. And look at what it says in verse 12. Therefore, brethren, isn't it amazing? All of a sudden now Paul is calling you, you're his brother. You're with him. You're with him in Jesus Christ. Because see how the things have changed. because look at the spirit of him that raised up Jesus dwell in you but now he's saying that therefore brethren we are debtors we are debtors now you see he's putting us together with him So now he's talking to those that are brothers and sisters in Christ. And he says, you know what? We are no longer debtors, or we don't owe a debt to the flesh to live after the flesh. Because if you live after the flesh, you shall die. But if you through the Spirit do mortify or put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. So we need to put to death the deeds of the body. so that we shall live. I like verse 14, I like what it says, for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Now you've heard me say, I haven't seen it lately, but I know one time I seen it, you know, God is my co-pilot, I don't want God to be my co-pilot, I want God to be my pilot. And I'm sure we all say the same. So if we look in our verse 14, it says, for as many as are led by the Spirit of God. That means He's leading us, right? He's leading us. And that's what we want. We need somebody to lead us so that we can go along and go along with Him. It says in verse 15, for you have not received the spirit of bondage or slavery again to fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father, Abba, Father. We're thanking him. We're saying, basically, that is a term of endearment. It's like saying, Father, Father. because we have received that spirit of adoption. We are in His family. We are a part of His family. And so we can call Him that term of endearment, Father, Father. We go to Him in prayer, we say, Heavenly Father. He is our Heavenly Father. And if we go on and we look, I'm just gonna go a little bit longer here. I'm not gonna get through all the whole chapter. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are what? We are the children of God. Isn't that awesome? That the Spirit of God is bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And then it says in verse 17, and if children then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. That we can be glorified together with him. That means we're gonna reside in immortal glory with him. And if we're children, look, I like the way the Apostle Paul puts this, and he puts it there and he says, you know what? And if we are children and if children, then we're heirs, heirs of God. Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. We are with Him. That means, you know what? We can never be written out of His will, can we, Brother Butchie? We're never gonna be written out of His will because we are His heirs. And that means that we are going to reside with Him in immortal glory. When we look up and we can see God is sitting on His throne today, we're going to be able to see that. And the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is sitting on His right hand, you know, making intercession for us. We don't have to think anymore, do we, Butchie, what that's going to be like. Because when we die and we go to be with Him, we're going to see it. And we're going to know what it's all about then, aren't we? Now we can know why the Apostle Paul said, you know, to depart this world and be with God is what he really wanted to do. But then it was more needful for him. The Apostle Paul says, you know what? For I reckon. that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." This is nothing compared, is it, Brother Roger, with what we're going to see and where we're going to be. I mean, sometimes you get a, you know, in one of the songs, oh, what a foretaste of glory divine. Sometimes we get a little bit of that foretaste, don't we, Brother Roger? That's going to be nothing compared to being with Him and seeing Him as He is. You know, we sing that song, you know, what a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see. Isn't it wonderful? that we're going to, that day that we're going to be with Him and see Him as He is. I'm going to stop right here. Just, if you get a little bit of time, just read some of these things that are contained in here. And it's going to help us to remember, you know, and look back on it and see, as we've walked with Him and this year, and we look back on it, and we can see how good that he has been unto us. And this should mean something special to us at the end of this year as we see that he was really good to us. I thank you for your kind attention this morning.