Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for July 22

THE SINFUL NATURE CANNOT PLEASE GOD

From: July 22, 2023

“For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.” (Romans 8:7-8 NLT).

The apostle Paul wrote that only those who live according to the Holy Spirit are able to please God. Without the Spirit, we are left to ourselves and to the control of the sin nature, which the Bible calls the “flesh.” The flesh is always hostile to God. It wants its own way. When the flesh tries to follow God’s law it always fails. For the flesh is a slave to sin.

Yet God sent Jesus to rescue us from this life of sin and death. For those who have trusted Christ as Lord and Savior have been set free from sin and death. More than that, they have been given the Holy Spirit, so that they are able to live their lives in a way that pleases God. For who has always pleased God? Jesus. As the Father has said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). And those who have the Son living in them by the Spirit are able to live a life of faith that pleases God.

So who can please God? Only those who have placed their faith in Christ and received His Spirit. For “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6).

PRAYER: Father, we desire to please You this day with our thoughts, words and deeds. But we know the only way to please You is to walk in the Spirit. For it is by depending on the Spirit of Christ within us that You enable us to please You. Therefore, fill us afresh this day with Your Spirit and bring to our attention any place where He is not in control that we might surrender it. We want You to be pleased with us Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1 NLT).

From: July 22, 2022

NO CONDEMNATION IN JESUS

The phrase “those who belong to” in the translation of this verse is actually much more simply stated in the original Greek. It is literally: “Now no condemnation in Christ Jesus.” But what does it mean to be “in” Christ? Certainly, it must mean to “belong” to Him. Yet, perhaps the word “in” might shed even more light by considering the story of Noah’s ark.

For when judgment fell on the earth during the great flood, only those “in” the ark were saved. The rain of God’s wrath fell on the ark, but Noah and his family were kept safe inside. Isn’t this a foreshadowing of Christ? For Christ Jesus is our Ark. There is no condemnation for those who are “in” Christ Jesus. He took our sin, our separation and our death upon Himself, so that we might receive His righteousness, Sonship, and eternal life. Jesus took all our condemnation (Rom. 8:3-4). There is no wrath left for those who are “in” Christ. God’s judgment was satisfied, His wrath appeased at Calvary’s cross.

As the hymn, “In Christ Alone,” says:
“Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.”

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that we are safe in the ark of Christ Jesus. Strengthen us to proclaim the gospel to the world. Stretch forth Your hand to open hearts and minds to hear. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8 HCSB).

From: July 22, 2021

WHO CAN PLEASE GOD?

The apostle Paul wrote that only those who live according to the Holy Spirit are able to please God. Without the Spirit, we are left to ourselves and to the control of the sin nature, which the Bible calls the “flesh.” The flesh is always hostile to God. It wants its own way. When the flesh tries to follow God’s law it always fails. For the flesh is a slave to sin.

But God has sent Jesus to rescue us from this life of sin and death. For those who have trusted Christ as Lord and Savior have been set free from sin and death. More than that, they have been given the Holy Spirit, so that they are able to live their lives in a way that pleases God. For who has always pleased God? Jesus. As the Father has said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). And those who have the Son living in them by the Spirit are able to live a life that pleases God.

So who can please God? Only those who have placed their faith in Christ and received His Spirit. For “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6).

PRAYER: Father, we desire to please You this day with our thoughts, words and deeds. But we know the only way to please You is to walk in the Spirit. For it is by depending on the Spirit of Christ within us that You enable us to please You. Therefore, fill us afresh this day with Your Spirit and bring to our attention any place where He is not in control that we might surrender it. We want You to be pleased with us Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NKJV).

From: July 22, 2020

ARE YOU “IN” CHRIST JESUS?

When judgment fell on the earth during the great flood, only those “in” the Ark were saved. The rain of God’s wrath fell on the Ark, but Noah and his family were kept safe inside. This is a foreshadowing of Christ. For Christ Jesus is our Ark. There is no condemnation for those who are “in” Christ Jesus. He took our sin, our separation and our death upon Himself, so that we might receive His righteousness, Sonship, and eternal life. Jesus took all our condemnation (Rom. 8:3-4). There is no wrath left for those who are “in” Christ. God’s judgment was satisfied, His wrath appeased at Calvary’s cross.

As the hymn, “In Christ Alone,” says:

“Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live.”

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that we are safe in the ark of Christ Jesus. Strengthen us to proclaim the gospel to the world. Stretch forth Your hand to open hearts and minds to hear. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“…those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God” (Romans 8:8 NLT).

From: July 22, 2019

WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO PLEASE?

The apostle Paul wrote that only those under the control of the Holy Spirit are able to think about the things that please God. Without the Spirit, we are left to ourselves and to the control of the sin nature, which the Bible calls the “flesh.” The flesh is always hostile to God. It wants its own way. When the flesh tries to follow God’s law it always fails. For even when it wants to obey, it fails, for it is a slave to sin.

But God has sent Jesus to rescue us from this life of sin and death. For those who have trusted Christ as Lord and Savior have been set free from sin and death. More than that, they have been given the Holy Spirit, so that they are able to live their lives in a way that pleases God. For who has always pleased God? Jesus. As the Father has said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). And those who have the Son living in them by the Spirit are able to live a life that pleases God.

PRAYER: Father, we desire to please You this day with our thoughts, words and deeds. But we know the only way to please You is to walk in the Spirit. For it is depending on the Spirit of Christ within us that pleases You. Therefore, fill us afresh this day with Your Spirit and bring to our attention any place where He is not in control that we might surrender it. We want You to be pleased with us Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-4 NLT).

From: July 22, 2018

GOD’S LOVE AND LAW FULLY SATISFIED IN CHRIST!

What is the “just requirement of the law?” It is that those who cannot keep it must die. For the wages of sin is death (Rom. 3:23). God sent His Son to “fully satisfy” the law by dying in our place, taking the penalty of death that we deserved. Jesus alone has kept the law, yet He gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. So now, we that believe in Jesus, are set free from death and the power of the sin nature. Having been set free from sin, we are empowered to follow the Spirit. Jesus took upon Himself our sin, separation, and death. And He offers in exchange His righteousness, Sonship and eternal life.

Jesus has fully satisfied both God’s love and law, for both are intermingled at the cross of Christ.

“But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth?” (2 Chronicles 6:18 NKJV).

From: July 22, 2017

In Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the Temple, he wondered whether the God who filled the heavens could “dwell with men on the earth.” His prayer was that God would keep His eye on the Temple where He had agreed to put His name. The Lord heard Solomon’s prayer and chose the Temple for Himself as a house of sacrifice.

Yet, Solomon’s question went unanswered until Jesus, the Living Word of God came: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

“Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:8 ESV)

From: July 22, 2016

Those governed by the sin nature (“the flesh”), no matter the ceremonial precepts they affirm or the outward religious acts they perform, cannot please God. They are still guided and motivated by a carnal mind. It is their unrenewed state that makes their offerings unacceptable. God cares more for the heart than the offering. It is faith in Christ that pleases God. Those who are in the flesh must place their faith in Christ, so that they are born again spiritually. Those governed by the Spirit will live by the Spirit. It is this new Spirit-filled life that pleases God.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NKJV)

From: July 22, 2015

“In Christ Jesus.” When judgment fell on the earth during the great flood only those “in” the Ark were saved. The rain of God’s wrath fell on the Ark, but Noah and his family were kept safe inside. Jesus is our Ark. He took our sin, our separation and our death upon Himself, so that we might receive His righteousness, Sonship, and eternal life. Jesus took our condemnation (Rom. 8:3-4). There is none left for those who are “in” Christ. God’s judgment was satisfied, His wrath appeased at Calvary’s cross.
As the hymn, “In Christ Alone” (by Getty and Townsend), says:
“Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.”

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety” (Psalm 18:2 NLT)

From: July 22, 2014

Christ is “my rock:” He is my firm foundation and anchor. Christ is “my fortress:” He is my shelter when storms come and fears set in. Christ is “my Savior:” He is my sacrifice and sure salvation, the sweet fragrance that pleases God and saves me. Christ is my all. He is mine and I am his. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.