This sermon delves into the importance of having a pure heart and resisting the temptations of the world, drawing parallels between Adam's innocence and the need for believers to return to a state of purity. It emphasizes the significance of choosing to walk in the divine nature, resisting the deeds of darkness, and being led by the Spirit of God to overcome sin and rebellion. The sermon also highlights the dangers of false teachings, the need to discern between true and counterfeit spiritual manifestations, and the importance of coming to God with a wholehearted commitment.

Genesis 1, verse 26. We see that God made man in his image according to his likeness. Now, I'm going to tell you something. The Lord said at one point, "...who shall ascend unto the heel of the Lord, he that has clean hands and a pure heart." I'm going to tell you that right here that Adam is created and he has a pure heart, his motives are pure, he is innocent, he is holy, and he is blameless. This is where you're supposed to go back to, where he was at the very beginning. Are you following me? All right? All right, now, let's just go over in chapter 2, verse 8. May I ask you something? Are we in a vineyard today? Is the church of Jesus Christ supposed to be a vineyard of the Lord? Are there seed planted? Is there fruit supposed to grow? Amen? Okay, verse 8. "...And the Lord God planted a garden toward the east in Eden, and there he placed man whom he had formed." May I ask you, are we in a garden? Amen? Amen? Now, verse 9, "...And out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food." Now, I want you to see the two trees. There's a tree of life, also in the midst of the garden, there's a tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now, let me ask you something. Is everyone here in the world today a tree in the field? They absolutely are, and you're going to know them by their walk. And everyone that's in the first atom is going to be a tree of death, and everyone that's in the last atom is going to be a tree of life. Is that correct? We know in Proverbs 11, 30, the fruit of righteousness is a tree of life. The right things, the fruit coming out of your mouth, this is how you become a tree of life. Is that correct? Now, so he, God has this for a purpose because everything he's ever created, he tests the heart of it. He built a hell for many angels because they won't agree with Satan in their heart. Is that correct? Okay. Now, we see in verse 10, a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden. We have the river today to water the garden. Verse 15, Then the Lord God took the man. He put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, From any tree of the garden you may eat freely, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat. For in the day that you eat from it, you shall surely die. Now, I want you to mark that. He didn't say maybe, perhaps, or could be. He said you surely shall die. Amen? Is that there? Now, let me ask you something. Let's get back to a false teacher. Do you take the Word of God and you take it to heart? Is that right? That's a word implanted. Isn't that right? Aren't we supposed to be born again to the Word of God that liveth and abideth forever? Is that right? We're born again with the Word of God because we receive the Word and it performs its work in us. Is that correct? We take it to heart. We know it. You know, religion analyzes it. But we receive the Word and it performs its work in us. Now, let me ask you something. What would be the opposite of that? A teacher, a false teacher, did it talk about the Lord in Matthew 7? Let me ask you something. Have you considered what kind of gifts might be working through that man in Matthew 7? He prophesied in the name of Jesus. He did miracles. I want you to see how important what we're seeing right here. God wants us to know the difference. There is a difference. Everything is true. God has a real thing. Satan has a counterfeit of it. This man committed. He practiced sin. He did not have a pure heart. He did miracles in the name of Jesus. He prophesied in the name of Jesus. And he cast out demons in the name of Jesus. Now, may I ask you something? Was a gift of the Spirit of God working through this man? I was hoping you'd say no. Absolutely not. Well, we told in Matthew 24 that in the last days, we got to consider this. In the last days, are there going to be false prophets? And because of them, lawlessness, that's sin, is going to increase, right? And then people's love is going to wax cold because they let people just... I mean, you just use part of the Bible and let people walk and obey into God, and then when you're living for your cursed nature, when you're living for yourself, you can't love anybody else, so you love will wax cold. In that same chapter, Matthew 24, it says, there shall be false signs and wonders. Do you have any problem knowing you in the last days? Could this happen today? Are there going to be virgins who are foolish in the last day? There's going to be some who are wise, is that right? There is a difference. All right, you can know the difference. Now, this is the gospel right here. He said, when you eat of this tree, you shall surely die. Amen? Is that right? All right, now let's go to chapter 3. Now, the test comes, the heart to be tested of. Eve. Now, the serpent, verse 1, was more crafty than any of the beasts of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, Indeed hath God said. He said that to you all the time, me too. You shall not eat from any tree of the garden. We know right there, without going into detail about it, that he's twisted the word of God. That's not what God said at all, and that's what he's doing today, to twist the word of God. And the woman said to the serpent, From the fruit of the trees of the field we may eat, and from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, you shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die. God didn't say, lest you die. He said, you'd surely die. Now, we saw that this was a doctrine, this was the gospel of the Lord, that you will surely die. Now, we're going to see another doctrine, and you're going to look at another gospel in verse 4. It's always a direct contradiction of the word of God. In verse 4, And the serpent said to the woman, You surely shall not die. Amen? Now, let me ask you something. It's 4.30, and everyone here, I'm going to be here about a half an hour longer, and anyone having jobs and things, many of you, I understand at 4.30, it had some places you'd need to go to, and so if you'd like to go, you just have freedom to right now. Praise the Lord. If you haven't got a job, sit back down. Well, amen. Amen. Okay. Now, folks, I'm going to tie verse 4 in to the New Testament before I finish this week to show you doctrines of demons. I think we all should know what doctrines of demons are, right? Well, did the serpent say something directly, a direct contradiction of the word of God, is that correct? He said, you surely shall not die. Now, God's gospel, he said, you'd surely die. Satan says, you surely shall not die. Now, for God knows that in the day that you eat from the edge of your eyes, you'll be open, you'll be like God, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw... Now, what's on this tree that Satan's trying to lead Eve to? The lust of flesh, the lusty eyes, and the boastful pride of life. Is that right? All right, now, let me ask you something. It's a tree of death, isn't it? It's a rebellion to God, isn't it? All right, now, let me ask you something. What were the powers of darkness? Are there any trees of death today? There are. And it would all be in the lust of flesh, the lusty eyes, and the boastful pride of life. When did it change? Rebellion to God. All right, now, Satan has led her to the tree right here, and he's telling her to eat off of it, right? Okay, now, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, there's the lust of flesh, amen? And that it was a delight to the eyes, there is a lust of the eyes. Now, this is very important. And that the tree was desirable to make one wise, there is the pride of life. The lusty eyes, the lusty eyes, and the boastful pride of life. She took from its fruit and ate. She gave also to her husband there, and he ate. And then we know that she gave to Adam, he ate, and then we know that the curse came, and that you and I received. Now, let me just explain this curse nature. Just look at me, please. This curse came on Adam and Eve. They chose in their hearts to agree with Satan. And this curse came to you and I, the fact that you received the nature of Satan. When you come into this world, your heart lived for pride, ego, and rebellion. So did Satan. You have the nature, and you're in a manifestation. The world walks, talks, and acts like Satan. Their deeds are like Satan. They're in darkness. Selfishness, hate, and anger is part of that nature that you live for. This is the way you walk because your heart is issue. With a heart, man believes into righteousness, and with a heart, man believes into unrighteousness. But your heart is believing into unrighteousness. You think you're a pretty good fellow, you're in darkness. And your heart is living for hate and anger, selfishness. Your heart is living for murder, temper, and unforgiveness. Your heart is living for gossip, slander, and jealousy, and envy, and strife. Your heart is living for criticism, and immorality, and lying. You do things like this because all of these things are I, me, my. You're living for yourself, your whole heart. And you do some things which in your eyes are pretty good, but they're detestable in the sight of God. Because in the world, we compare ourself among ourself, and measure ourself by ourself. And when you do that, you do not have understanding. Because, see, that's not measuring up to the yardstick. Now, see, that's what the Pharisees did. That's what many people do today. They compare theirself among herself in religious circles, and you're without understanding right here. See, that's the falling away, to fall away from the Word there. And so, let me just go through this one time. So, Jesus came to a people who are sitting in darkness. And he said to them, repent. And so, here you are, you're in this world, and this is the fruit. Can you tell when someone's got pride? It comes out of their mouth, is that correct? Can you hear pride come out of somebody's mouth? Shake your head. All right. Can you tell when anger comes out of someone's mouth? Can you hear when hate or slander, gossip, bitterness, you can hear when it comes out of someone's mouth? That's the fruit of the people of the world, and on and on. Envy, you can tell them. Jealousy, are you hearing me? Now, you come to a place, you're a people sitting in darkness, and then you saw a light. That light is Jesus. That light is the Word of God. This light is a mirror. The Word of God is a mirror, and you look and you see this gospel. You look in this mirror and you see what kind of man you are, and you see that your heart is in rebellion to God. Are you hearing me? And you see that Satan is your master. Now, let me ask you something. Are there demons of hate? Are there demons of anger? Selfishness? Are there demons of bitterness? All the things, the fruit of Satan, the powers of darkness there, they specialize in each one of those fruits, right? All right, now, what do you think they do? They're controlling the world out there in this fruit. See, people in the world think everything that comes in their mind belongs to them. They've not been taught to take every thought captive to be to Jesus. They don't know that. And so this is the way you walk before you come to Jesus. Pride comes along. He whispers, he tells you, just do you ever notice that when someone rejects you or disappoints you or hurts you, immediately there's something built in the case. Do you know now, Bill shouldn't do that, just good as I've been to Bill. Immediately they're right there to build a case. You know what they're trying to do? They're trying to get unforgiveness and resentment in your heart. Amen? But if you don't resist the devil, what happens? It'll go into your heart and you will be in rebellion to God. And then wonder what's happened between you and God then, right? And see, that's the reason that scripture got into word in 2 Corinthians 10, 3 through 5, 3, well, 3 through 6, rather, that you no longer war after the flesh, but your weapons are mighty in God to turn down strongholds, casting down imaginations, and all these thoughts that come up here to exalt themselves against the Word of God. This is where your torment comes from, folks. Now, many people say they've got peace and they hadn't got peace. Are you hearing what I'm saying? So then you're walking with this fruit of the Satan coming out of your mouth, this fruit. And then you see the gospel and you see that Satan is your master and you choose in your heart to change masters. You repent. What is repent? A change of heart. And now you're going in a new direction, a different, entirely different direction with a different master, is that right? His name is Jesus. Your heart's broken covenant with Satan and now your heart is in covenant with Jesus Christ, is that right? All right, then, what do you do? As a son of God, in Romans 8, 14, sons of God are led by the Spirit of God. If you're led by the Spirit of God, that means Jesus Christ is Lord, amen? All right, then, what does he do? In verse 13, Romans 8, 13, he'll lead you. If you're led by the Spirit, you will put to death the deeds of the body, amen? And that means there's a Lord's spotlight to come up here, each thing that you're not aware of, he'll bring it up for you to deal with, amen? And then you'll choose between that particular stronghold or anything in your heart that's impure, you'll choose between that and Jesus. You'll choose without any unforgiveness. You'll choose with any resentment. You'll choose with any anger. And you'll choose every time because Jesus is Lord, he wholehearted. I believe that's the biggest thing that's been hidden since the first century to the church, that you come to God with all your heart. That's the way you make covenant with God. You come and you receive Jesus all your heart and you'll deal with these one by one. And a moment, I'm going to tell you something, many of you have had peace and you've come to a place and you haven't dealt with that particular stronghold or something, you've had peace and that's the reason you lost your peace. Jeremiah said, if you fell down, get back up again, amen? And so, when you continue to practice something, we saw that the wrath of God is coming on because of these things, is that correct? That's the rebellion of God. And this is how we spoke the walk, the walk that we're supposed to walk is supposed to be life and peace. Now, let me just show you something in verse, turn with me to Romans 5, Romans 5, please. We usually in one of these meetings go all day long for three days. And so, when I start thinking just one hour or an hour a day or something, you know, I just wonder. So, this is something I've got to learn. This is kind of, it's going to take me a day or two to kind of get used to this probably. Romans 5, verse 12. Therefore, just as through one man, that's Adam, sin entered to the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because of all sin. So, this is how this cursed nature, you receive the nature of Satan and you don't even realize it in your walk, talking and acting like Satan. Now, that's the world, their hearts in rebellion to God. And you know what you are? Did death spread to all men? You know what you are? You are a tree of death. You know why? Because death comes from you all the time. Rebellion to God comes out of your mouth. Amen? That's the opposite of the fruit of righteousness which becomes a tree of life. Now, folks, let me tell you something. Did you ever notice, see, it's not intellect or how much you know, particularly, do you ever notice somebody pray, how much power is in somebody when they pray with a pure heart? Now, I want to show that to you very clearly in Luke 4. Turn with me to Luke 4. In Luke 4, Jesus is showing us an example of our walk. Are we to walk as he walked and overcome as he overcame? Is that correct? All right, now, we see that first in verse 1 that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and then he went out and said, I've got it. Folks, you all are real serious here, aren't you? No, it was no bad. He was filled with the Spirit of God to go through the temptations. Amen? All right, now, he returned from the Jordan and he was led about. There's a Spirit of God in the wilderness. He was led by God to be tempted. Is that correct? And now in verse 2, for 40 days, he was being tempted by the devil. Now, how was he tempted by the devil? In the same ways that first Adam was tempted, and I'm not going to go through them right there, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. But after in verse 13, we see, and when the devil had finished every temptation, all of them, what had Jesus proven? He had proven that his heart was what? Pure, is that right? Does 2 Timothy 2 tell us that we fellowship with those who come to the Lord with a pure heart? Is that right? That's what church discipline is for, by the way, that's left out. It's when you see something. See, you're reminded, you know, that you've got logs that you're dealing with, but you go to someone because, see, do you understand that when you're dealing and you come to the Lord with all your heart that the Lord puts a hedge around you? That's how you walk in peace? That's why when you're led by the Spirit of God, you're no longer under law because you're no longer under judge because the Spirit of God leads you to put to death all the deeds of rebellion. Amen? All right. Jesus had finished every temptation, which is totally opposite from what happened to Eve there, and he departed from him, and then we see in verse 14, Jesus at this time had never cast out one demon. He had never healed one sick person, and right there, we see right there in verse 14, after this happened, Jesus returned to Galilee, and what was on him then? The power of the Spirit. Amen? That's where the power came. And then he walked in the church house in verse 18, and he said, The Spirit of God is on me. I've come to set the captives free and open the eyes of the blind. Amen? Now, let me share something with you folks. Every time that temptation comes in your life and you suffer in the flesh and you see some sin, you're going to find out that the anointing will grow in your life and the power will also grow in your life, too. Are you aware of that? And you notice that the difference when you're walking in peace, when you pray for somebody and what happens to them? Is that right? And this is what the Spirit of God is leading you to have your total heart tear. And Satan is there to deceive you and to bring folks or any kind of circumstances there to have your heart in rebellion to God. Amen? So, I want you to see with me there in verse... Look in 1 Corinthians 15 with me, please. Are you enjoying your Bible grill? All right. In 1 Corinthians 15, verse 21. For since by a man, this man is Adam, came death to you and me. Amen? Adam, the first Adam, became a tree of death. Amen? By a man, that's Jesus, also came the resurrection of the dead. Because this is how the resurrection of the dead come, because all are dead in God's eyes until they repent and come to the Lord with the whole heart. Is that correct? And so it's through the last Adam. Now, verse 22. For in Adam, that's the first Adam, all death is working in them, sin and death. Is that correct? All right, now. So, also in Christ, all shall be made alive. So, all who are in Adam are a tree of death. All who are in Christ become... You become a tree of life. Amen? That's a fruit of righteousness. Amen? But you don't become a tree of life simply going through some form. He becomes Lord of your whole heart and you walk in it. Amen? All right, now, let's just look at this again. When you choose death to all the ways of Satan and your heart living for any of these things, you only receive the word of God into your heart. Amen? All right, now, where does the enemy come to talk to you and make suggestions? You entice you and tempt you right there in your mind. Is that correct? Now, your Bible says that you are to resist the devil, not to ignore him. Is that right? Now, when you resist him, this is how you keep your heart pure. Amen? Because if you don't resist the devil up here... Now, see, your Bible said you take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus. Is that correct? Now, that got in your Bible to do, not analyze. Now, it's in there because you can do it. Amen? Hebrews says that you have your senses sharpened to discern good and evil. Amen? But that's when the Spirit of God works with you. And so, you stop everything that comes into your heart from rebellion because why? Now, let's go through it again. Before you come to Jesus, your mouth is bearing the fruit of Satan. Anyone can hear it and they can tell it. And that proves who has your heart. Is that correct? All right, then, you change. You come to the gospel. You see the... You look in the mirror, which is the Word of God. Amen? And you see what kind of man you are. And you change masters from Satan. And now, you have a new master. And his name is the Lord Jesus Christ. Is that right? Now, you're being led by the Spirit of God to put to death the deeds of the flesh. Is that right? All right, now, as you're led to put Him to death, He tells you to resist the devil so no more rebellion will come into your heart. Amen? Because you're headed to be a holy... This is overcoming. This is enduring to the end. Amen? This is the ministry of reconciliation. This is being sanctified. Sanctified is purifying. Sanctification is separation from the world into righteousness. Amen? Is that right? And so, what it is, Jesus Christ right here is showing us the example how to... that all rebellion that's in our heart from the works of Satan to the first Adam is to be done away with. Amen? All right, now, turn with me to 1 Peter 1. 1 Peter 1. 1 Peter 1. 1 Peter 1, verse... We see in verse 6 that we are going to be distressed by various trials. Verse 7, that the proof of your faith is going to be tested by fire. And then we see what kind of... what obedient children of the Lord are in verse 14. As obedient children, we are not conformed to the former lust, which means you do not walk there anymore, right? You no longer walk to your former lust. Now, is it there? Shake your head. Is it there? It's there. You're not conformed to the former lust, but which were years in your ignorance. You were in darkness then, amen? But now you've come to the light. And verse 15, but like the Holy One who called you, you to be holy yourself in all, all, all, all, all your behavior. Is that what your Bible says? Now, is that... Once again, I had some down in the dark of mine to be... Is that in there for you to analyze and be an expert about the Word of God? Or what is this for you to do? That's for you to do. All right, now, if you continue over in chapter 2, we see that Jesus has set the example for us in Luke 4, that how to resist the devil, how to have a pure heart, verse 21, for you have been called for this purpose since Christ has also suffered for you. What did he do? He left the example for you to follow and to walk in his steps, amen? All right, now in verse 24, "...and he himself bore a sin in his body on the cross that we might die to sin, live to righteousness, or by his wounds, or by his stripes you were healed." Now, here's what's missed out of that. Folks, there are a couple little things in that Scripture that's totally skipped over. Look in the middle of it. Does it say, die to sin? See, that's covenant. Live to righteousness, that's walk, talk, and act like the Lord. Amen? That's separation. All right, now, in chapter 4, "...therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh sees some sin." Now, very plain, let me just say something. If someone, if this young man wanted to hurt me or reject me right here, and then, see, I used to war after the flesh with anger. I used to war with hate, murder. I used to revenge, spite. I used to unforgiveness and all that. I used to do this, but now, like the Holy One, I'm going to be holy in all my behavior because I've got a new covenant and I've got a new master. Is that right? So, when I'm hurt and rejected by him, I have a choice right then and immediately to make because the powers of darkness are trying to get me to do these things. They're suggesting it. That's what they're doing. And then, I choose with my will. I choose with my will. I say, Lord, I choose with my will to obey your word. All right, now, what is my flesh wanting to do? My flesh is wanting to go the direction of the curse nature's trying to draw me. So, I'm suffering right here, amen? I'm not permitting myself to not walk in love, amen? Folks, this is where the whole thing has been hidden from us, the love walk, you understand that, don't you? And this is what I'm talking about, the pure heart is a love walk, amen? All right, and then, I choose and I say, Lord. Now, in Hebrews 4 and Hebrews 2, the last, if you want to make any kind of note of it, and see that when he's tempted, he comes to our aid when we're tempted, if we come before the throne of grace. And so, I say, Lord, I choose with my will to love and forgive Bill here who's hurt and rejected me, Lord. And, Lord, your word says I can receive help in time of need. So, I need help, Lord. And so, right now, from your throne, I receive love and forgiveness and it's flowing through me right now to Bill. Folks, I'm going to tell you something. When you walk that way, immediately, it's supernatural. It's going to become that way because that's when the comforter comforts when you line your heart up with the word of God, amen? And that is the walk of love, and this is how the power and the grace works through you. Now, so, you suffer in the flesh, but you cease from sin. Is that what Jesus did? All right, now. Now, we get back to the one that does the will of God going into heaven, amen? There's going to be some people that say, Lord, Lord, and they don't go to heaven, but there are going to be others, he said, that go to heaven, the one that do the will of God. Is that correct? Now, look at verse 2. So, as to live the rest of the time in the flesh, we live no longer for the lust of men, but what do we live for? Right there, once again, you see the opposite. Another way to say it, we no longer live for obeying, but we live for the will of God. Folks, have we been running in that thing, obeying God? Is wrath of God becoming because of these things? Amen? Now, a form of godliness will permit these things, and that's the falling away. Do you hear me? And doctrines, like I told you, say you surely shall not die, that you can just, you can quit smoking, drinking, chewing, and cussing, and Jesus is your Lord now, and just quit doing those things, and you'll still walk in rebellion in your heart toward God. There's no repentance in it. It doesn't even understand what the sin nature is. Do you hear me? All right, now, verse 12. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you which is going to come upon you for your testing. Now, you are going to be tested, and you are being tested, just like the first Adam tested, just like Jesus is tested. You're tested. Amen? And don't think of this as though some strange thing were happening to you, but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, you just keep on rejoicing. Now, I want just quickly, I want you to turn quickly, but just hold your place right there. I want you to turn with me to James 1, okay? James 1. We see in James 1, verse 12, we see first that a double-minded man doesn't receive anything from God in James 1. Is that correct? A double-minded... wonder what double-minded is. Do you have any idea what double-minded is? Trying to walk both directions. Amen? Now, I'm about finished here with this thing, and I want you to see this right here. Now, verse 13, let no one say when he is tempted, I'm being tempted to God, for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself does not tempt who? God doesn't tempt anyone, so where does the temptation come from? It comes from the powers of darkness. How does he tempt? He always tempts the same way that he did the first Adam, the same way he did the last Adam, to get your heart in rebellion. Amen? Is that correct? So, let's see who he's talking to in verse 16. Do not be deceived, my beloved, who? Brethren, does that sound like brethren could be deceived? Is that the reason that got in the Bible? Would it be possible for brethren to be deceived? Amen? So, this is who we're talking to because brethren will be tempted. Amen? Now, you back up there to verse 14. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Very clearly, we see that the powers of darkness come to tempt and entice you into rebellion after your own lust, that lust of flesh, the lust of the eye, the boast of pride of life. Amen? You're tempted the same way Jesus is. Now, then when lust is conceived, that means when the seed is conceived, when you listen to the powers of darkness instead of resisting them. Are you following me? You know, like a female receives a seed, then it gives birth. Is that right? It's conceived when you listen to it, when you meditate on what the devil's saying instead of resisting it. Are you following me? Then when lust is conceived and it gives birth to what? Sin. And sin is accomplished. Let me ask you something. When do you commit adultery? When you do it where? In your heart. Who is it that brings those pictures of lust to your mind? The powers of darkness. And then when you're in agreement with your heart, you committed sin when you do it in your heart. Amen? All right, then that's where they're headed for. And sin is accomplished. What's it bringing forth? I can't hear you. Sin and death. Amen? All right, now let's go back over there where we was in 1 Peter 5. 1 Peter 5, and I want you to see, there's some things about the faith walk that's kind of skipped over, and we're going to see it right here. Now, let me ask you something. Were we told in Ephesians 6 that we take up all the weapons of the Lord? You know, when you become one, we become covenant, all your weapons are my weapons. Is that right? And we change? Is that correct? All right, now, what are those of the weapons of Jesus? And above all, we take up the shield of what? Is that exactly what Jesus did over there in Luke 4? He took up the shield of faith. What did he resist with the shield of faith? The lust of flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. It was the word of God. Is that correct? Are we told to have up the shield of faith above all things? And that's to resist. Why do we have up these weapons? So rebellion will not come back into our heart. Amen? Okay, now, we see in verse 9, 1 Peter 5, verse 9, that we're talking, you see very clearly, once again, we're talking to the brethren. Do you see that? If you answer me, we can go on to the next verse. Is that okay? Now, back up to verse 8. We're talking to the brethren once again. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Now, sober means serious. Alert means you're not asleep. You've got the foolish virgin, the foolish heart. You're on the alert. Anyone's on the alert if they're taking every thought, captivity, obedience to Jesus. Amen? And they're serious. But be on the alert. Your adversary, that's the powers of darkness, they prowl around. They're seeking someone to devour, brethren. Brethren, brethren, don't look up at that stained glass, brethren. This is to you, brethren. You better listen. Is this talking to brethren? And brethren, you know once again why we're talking about brethren? Because it says in verse 9, it doesn't say ignore them. It said resist them firm in your what? Are brethren supposed to have faith? I can't hear you. Brethren are supposed to have faith. And so that's who we're talking to. So are they a brethren warned that the powers of darkness are seeking to devour them? Amen? So you better resist them firm in your faith. Amen? You better have up the shield of faith. Is that what we saw Jesus do in Luke 4? As an example, we follow in his step. That's what he failed to do. All right, now. But resist him firm in your faith, knowing that these same experiences are what? Brethren, you're going to suffer when you resist the powers of darkness because the very thing they suggest you to do, your flesh wants to do. Your flesh is in agreement. Your flesh, the old cursed nature you put to death, is in agreement with Satan because that's where it comes from. Everything Satan is, everything those powers of darkness are, everything rebellion is, is in the cursed nature. Now, I'm not talking about our body, which is beautiful made. Amen? I'm talking about the nature that's in it. Amen? So, it says, brethren, you resist it. You put up your shield of faith. Brethren, you have a pure heart. You resist it. Now, you're going to suffer in the flesh, but you're going to see some sin. Amen? All right, now, just quickly. This suffering is being accomplished by your brethren. Now, after you've suffered for a little while, you're going to go through it. You're going to be the only one, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ. Here's what He's going to do. He's going to perfect you. He's going to confirm you. He's going to strengthen you, and He's going to establish you after He's tested you. Amen? And then the purpose of all this is you do away with all the nature and all the nature of Satan about you. That's having a pure heart. There's no rebellion in you. Is that correct? And then in the next chapter, 2 Peter 1, verse 4, For by these he's granted us precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them... That's the Word of God, and this is how you're born again by the Word of God, that you might become partakers now of what kind of nature? You now become... You have a new nature. You become a partaker of divine nature. Now, you don't do it by just saying words with your head. You do it with your heart. With the heart, man believes in the righteous, amen? And it's a walk. And you become partakers of divine nature, and in this manner, when you become a partaker of divine nature, you escape the corruption that's in the world by lust. Is that correct? Now, you see all the fruit right there of faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, godliness, brotherly kindness, love, and these are ever increasing. Verse 8, They'll neither useless nor you be unfruitful in a true knowledge bound. Look in verse 9, very closely. For the he who lacks these qualities is like the folks of Laodicea. They're blind and short-sighted because they have forgotten their former purification for sins, and they're still finding security to walk in them and walk the rebellion of God. Do you hear me? Now, verse 10, Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about his calling and choosing you. For as long as you practice these things, you'll never stumble. That's the walking in the divine nature for it's this way. This is the way that the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ is going to be supplied to you, and that's coming to Jesus with the whole heart. Do you see any? Now, just one place more I want to show you in John 8 before we go. I want to show you people what happened to them when they gathered around part of the Word of God. They just take part of the Word of God. Now, let me just share something while you're turning over there. As you know, back in the time of Reformation, Luther got some light. All right, what happened? I mean, we got some light in the last three, a few years. Isn't that right? We're all the time getting more light. Who has all the light? There's only one person that has all the light. That's Jesus. Is that correct? But during the time of Reformation, Luther got part of the light. What did people do? Look at me. I'm talking about life or death up here. That's just a man and a woman. They gathered around Luther's light. They're still gathered there. Calvin got some light later on. Calvin died, they gathered around Calvin's light, and now neither one wouldn't have anything to do with each other's light. Are you hearing what I'm saying? And then the Lord gives more light, and immediately people separate and gather around it, and they call it it. Then they gather around it and call it. Jesus gives more light, and then they gather around it and call it it. Then they gather around it and call it. This is where we are today, comparing ourselves among ourselves, measuring ourselves by ourselves. I'm going to tell you something. The it is Jesus, and he has to stand and say, and not some teaching or part of the Word of God. You hear what I'm saying? Because when you gather around parts, you'll never get all of it. Amen? And so, I wish I'd said that an hour ago. I thought you was asleep. Now, verse 38, now I'll show you this. Jesus came to this church. Now, let me ask you something. Did the Pharisees have a religious structure? Look at me. They had a religious structure. They used a Bible, didn't they? They had part of the Word of God. Is that right? Now, it's an interesting thing. When Jesus comes there, what has the hearts? God or the structure? The structure has their hearts. Who is that? The work of Satan. That is the work of the birds of darkness. Their teaching had their heart. Amen? And so, what's going to happen to Jesus when he comes along and he's got more light? He's got some light he wants. They can't hear. Why can't they hear? Because he doesn't have their heart. The structure has their heart. Amen? It's got their hearts. This way, you get pushed off a cliff. Now, let's look at verse 38. Jesus says, I speak the things which I've seen with my Father. Therefore, you also mark those three things. You do the things which you've heard from your Father. Amen? Now, quickly look at me. He says, Church folks, I speak in the things from my Father, God, and your walk, your deeds, and your fruit is the things you hear from your God, Satan. My Father and your Father, church folks, are different. Amen? How's that to begin? Then he says, verse 41, You are doing the deeds of your Father. You're doing the deeds of Satan. And then verse 43 says, Why do you not understand what I'm saying? It's because you cannot hear my word. Are you hearing me? You cannot hear my word. You see, back in verse 37, the last part, it said, My word has no place in you. Look at me again, folks. The reason that the Pharisees could not receive the word, it couldn't come in, they already had it all. It's murdering God. This thing was a novel. That's what the powers of darkness do. And so, they are offended. This is how Jesus becomes a stumbling stone and you become offended. And by the word of God, he becomes a rock of events because you say something that won't fit in a structure. Amen? So he's trying to please them in the next verse, and he said, You have your Father, the devil, and these three words I want you to circle about eight times. You want to do the desires of Satan, your father. Amen? That's what your heart wants to do. You've taken part of the word of God and that's where you want to walk. Amen? This is where your heart is. You want to walk there. And then we go, the last part, whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature. And so that nature is the opposite. They've got the nature of Satan. That is the opposite of the nature of Satan. Jesus said, If you love me, you will obey my commands. Right? But see, they have built a religious structure and they love the deeds of darkness. You remember what we saw in John 3? So when you love the deeds of darkness, you hate God and you hate the light. Now, I want you to remember something right now. Everybody that calls himself a people of God are not the people of God. Do you want me to tell you who the people of God is? They come to the light. Can you hear what I'm saying? I said they come to the light. Now, I want you to look very closely at what it says in verse 47. He who is of God hears the words of God. For this reason, you do not hear them because you're not of God. Now, when did that change? Folks, let me just give you one last verse. 2 Corinthians 4, 3 and 4. The gospel is veiled to those who are perishing. They're perishing. They can't see the gospel. In whose case, the God of this world, the powers of darkness, have blinded the minds of the unbelieving to the lights of the gospel. Are you hearing what I'm saying? Now, folks, this thing of idols, and, you know, I really like to go a little further, particularly the first time because people just don't... First, they begin, they think they already heard and already know all of it. But I'm telling you what, we might hear some things different this way. Do you know it? Huh? And so we just have to get in a little foundation. But I tell you what, knowing what doctrines of demons is not total loss, is it? Huh? I'd like to know what they are. I'd like to know what the fallen away is. I wouldn't want to be in it. I don't want to spend forever in hell. But I'm going to tell you there's a deceived people today, folks. And I want you to know there are many trees of death. And I want you to know there are many trees of life. I just want to make you aware of that. And I love a word, don't you? There's five things come through my mind to say and I'm not saying all of them. I take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus.