Stripping Away the Old to Make Way for the New — Alan Martin

As a church fellowship, for those of you who are visiting, I want to apologize, first of all, if you haven't heard this before. But, for years now, the church, Christians in the church, have been walking in everything the New Testament says.

I apologize if you've ever heard a Christian murmur or complain, that's wrong, it's sinful. I apologize if you've ever heard a Christian let unwholesome speech come out of their mouth. Unnecessary criticism, worldly, carnal criticism.

Repentance From Unwholesome Speech and Division

I apologize. We're calling each other to repentance. We should have entered a church where the believers actually lived what the apostles said. And the apostles said, we're not to let any unwholesome speech come out of our mouth.

Only what's beneficial for building up according to their need. There should be no divisions, no factions, no attitudes, nothing but love and unity. And that's the church we should have entered into. How did it happen that that's not been our experience?

We're not going to blame sin. And we're not going to blame the flesh, because we had God send His Son. Not only to forgive us of our sins, but to crucify the power of the old man so that we could walk in newness of life.

And so none of us can point back to the cause of sin or what we received from great-great-great-great-grandpa Adam, or our own great-grandpa, our own father, our own mother. Because everything we have received from God the Father is greater than anything that we've received from the world.

And Peter said that we've been redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to us by our forefathers. And so believers should already, every single one of us here, if you've been a believer in the Lord very long, you should already be walking in, you should never murmur, you should never complain, ever.

And that's the way we're going to live. And we're going to help each other. Hold each other accountable to this, lovingly. We're going to encourage one another. We're not going to listen to someone complain.

We're going to lovingly remind them there's no place for that in a believer's life. We're not going to hear a complaint against another brother or sister. Love covers a multitude of sins. We're going to be what Jesus said.

By this shall all men know that you are my disciples by their witnessing the love you have for one another. And sadly, that is not the testimony that we have in the eyes of the world. That's why they call us hypocrites.

Because we speak about the love of Christ and we allow divisions, prejudice, attitudes that are not from God. And we shouldn't anymore. I don't want that allowed here now. What can you do about that? You can't enforce it.

No, not necessarily. You know, even the scriptures. The Lord Jesus said that the kingdom of God is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. And while he was asleep, the enemy came and sowed tares in the midst of the wheat.

And then when it sprang up after a while, it took a while. But once the wheat and the tares grew up, eventually you could tell that's not wheat. There's tares in the middle of the wheat. And the servants were alarmed and they went to their master and said, Didn't you sow good seed in your field?

Where did these tares come from? Do you want us to pull them up? And he said, No. Leave them because if you try to pull them up now, you're just going to damage the wheat. Leave them to the end. And at the end, at the harvest, we'll separate the wheat and the tares.

So I can tell you now. I can't promise you that there won't be someone here who doesn't continue to murmur or complain. But let me tell you what there'll be. There'll be a tare. And not a wheat. Believers in Christ, those filled with the Holy Spirit, and those walking in the power of Jesus Christ, will have power from God to follow every instruction written from the apostles.

Every single one. Including keeping a tight ring on your tongue. Because if a man can't keep a tight ring on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. So we are going to be genuine saints.

Saints. Everyone in our lives, everyone who sees us live our Christianity should say, There is a genuine saint. There is a person born of God, not like the world, walking in the power of Christ, led by the Spirit.

The Promised Land as a Picture of Spiritual Maturity

That's the challenge set before us. You know what I see that as? I see that as our promised land in Christ. We are in a similar situation that the people that were rescued from Egypt were in. God saved them from slavery to the Egyptians.

Brought them to Mount Sinai. Entered into covenant with them. On the way to where he had a destiny for them, the promised land. So we are on a journey. A spiritual journey to maturity. Fullness in Christ.

Power in Christ. Growth in Christ. To re-enter the promise of the power of the kingdom of God here on earth. We're not talking about heaven. I'm talking about living in the power of the kingdom of God.

Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Here in this life. The reason heaven is not the promised land is because in the promised land that first generation were entering, there were giants in the promised land.

There's not going to be any giants in heaven. There's not going to be other nations in heaven. But we're in that position of that people who God brought to the promised land. And said that they're in this promised land.

They are going to inherit fields that are already been cultivated. Orchards that have already been established. Vineyards that have already been established. Cities that have already been built. Houses that were filled with all kinds of good things.

And God was going to bring them into it. A land flowing with milk and honey. And then spiritually, Jesus said, I have come that you might have life and have it, say it. More abundantly. And that's the testimony that our Father deserves.

That He pours out His grace upon us. He pours out His power upon us. And we have everything we need for life and godliness now. Through the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because His power is made perfect in our weakness.

His grace is sufficient. So no matter what we face, He does not allow us to be tempted above what we're able to bear. He provides a way of escape so that we can bear up under it. We have no reason to sin even though we have this flesh.

There's a promise of God we can live in. A power in the spirit. The kingdom of God in this life. But just like that former generation that was facing the physical promised land. There were seven nations there.

Let's see if I can recall them. The Hivites. Girgashites. Perizzites. Canaanites. Amorites. Hittites. Jebusites. And the Girgashites. Those seven nations. And they were strong nations. And they lived there a long time.

And here's the thing about these nations. God categorized them as ungodly. In the Septuagint. It says that the Lord was not bringing Israel into that land and giving them the land because they were so great.

But he was going to drive out those nations that were living in the promised land because they were so ungodly. So you and I. To live in the spirit. And some of you have already. Maybe you've been experiencing this.

Because if I'm talking in reality. No more ugly words. No more outbursts of wrath. No more loss of self-control. No more living in the flesh and yielding to sin. You're involved in a struggle. Because that's just not automatic.

Some of you may not be experiencing that. And so here's the face. Remember when that generation was told and the Lord told them through Moses. Go in and take the land. Remember how they reacted? They had sent a delegation.

Remember? Twelve men. One from each tribe. And that delegation came back and told them. The delegation. All twelve men were in perfect agreement. The land is full of milk and honey. It's a fabulous land.

But they had an issue. They were divided ten versus two on whether they could actually do it or not. Ten actually said no, no. There's no way. You can't do that. Those nations are stronger than we are.

They live in fortified cities. They're so big we look like grasshoppers in our own eyes. There's no way we can do it. And two men of a different spirit named Joshua and Caleb said we can certainly do it.

Let's go up. The Lord will make them bread for us. But the testimony of the ten won the day. And caused the entire generation to weep in unbelief. And they murmured in their tents saying it would have been better for us to die.

Because they didn't believe that they had power to go and face those nations. Because they had forgotten something. And it's something that's very critical that you do not forget. Don't follow their example of disobedience.

The things that happened to them were written down for us. So we could learn from it. Take warning from it. They forgot what the Lord had spoken to Moses. And if you want to follow me, I'm going to read from Deuteronomy chapter 7.

And I'll start with verse 1. When Yahweh your God brings you into the land where you were entering to possess it. And He clears away, lifts away literally. When He lifts away many nations before you. The Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hittites, Jebusites.

Seven nations more numerous and stronger than you. And when your God gives them over to you. You are to put them to death. You see what they forgot? What did the ten spies and the rest of the people forget?

They didn't have to fight the giants on their own. They didn't have to do that. God would lift them away. And God would hand them over to them. And they would be put to death. So that means this. Entering and taking possession of the promised land means they had a role to play.

They had a responsibility to cooperate with God. To take the land and live in the promise. And this is where you and I are. We have giants. We have our own Canaanites. Our mouth. Our mind. Our hormones.

Our emotions. Our habits. Our practices. Things that were corrupt because sin dwelled in our flesh. The law of sin in our members. Producing all kinds of corrupt desires. Calling us to act out. To lose it.

To blow a top. To run at the mouth. To freak out. Fear. Recall. All these ugly, carnal, human, natural reactions to life. And those are the things that you and I need to put to death. And I hope some of you are not sitting there thinking there's no way.

You mean you're telling me, Pastor, that I can never complain again? I can put to death murmuring and complaining? You're telling me that I can so gain, bring my own thoughts and my words under the power of Christ that I will never let an unwholesome word come out of my mouth again?

Yes, I am telling you that. Because God will fight with you to do it. Paul said, look with me and turn to Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8. Not quite midway through the chapter. Probably about verse 11.

The Spirit Gives Power Over the Flesh

I'll start with verse 11. But if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit who dwells in you.

That's the key you've got to remember. Don't act like mere men. You're not mere men. The Bible says, Paul said in Corinthians, We have this treasure in an earthen vessel. What treasure is he talking about?

The very spirit of God dwelling in you and I. This treasure in earthen vessel to show that the excellency of the power is of God and it's not of us. With Christ's presence through the Holy Spirit living in us, It doesn't matter how weak we are in ourselves.

God supplies the power. We just have to receive it. So we have this treasure through his spirit dwelling in us. Verse 12. We are under obligation not to the flesh. So I don't know what you've been taught in your past.

I don't know what your religious history is, but I'll tell you this. If you are consoling yourselves that the reason you sin is because of your flesh, You need to reread what the apostles said. Not a single one of us are under any obligation to the flesh to obey it.

We've been set free from the power of living under the flesh. Just like the people of Israel were set free from living under slavery to the Egyptians. Flesh does not have to dominate a believer. Even though the flesh rules against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh.

We know that. But we are not under obligation to the flesh. It actually says in Romans 8. Ye are not in the flesh in that same way if Christ is in you. So we have no obligation to the flesh to live according to it.

And then it says in verse 13. For if you are living according to the flesh, you are about to die. You're near death. That's the idea in the Greek. Death is near. If you're living according to your flesh, you're living according to sinful desires.

And if you live according to sinful desires, it's going to do what sin always does. The wages of sin is death. And if you live according to the flesh, death is going to be the result. But he goes on to say.

But if by the spirit you put to death the practices of the body. What are we talking about? The practice of running at the mouth. The practices of losing it and yielding to your emotions. And letting them drag you along.

Or acting like that little child on the trail. While you were supposed to spook the horse. And the horse takes off. And just hanging off your dear life. We need to stop allowing our emotions and our thoughts.

And our hormones. And our circumstances. And our jobs. Cause us to respond that way. We are not under obligation to let those things control our life. Instead, when we encounter those things. And they are difficult.

The power of the Holy Spirit is there. For us to put those things to death. So every member of this church had better put to death murmuring and complaining. Never, I don't want to ever hear a single one of you ever do it again.

Put it to death and bury it. I don't want you criticizing in a carnal way. I don't want you criticizing Republicans. I don't want you criticizing Democrats. Put it to death. Don't speak against other people.

Don't have attitudes. Don't form cliques. You love everyone the way Christ loves you. Anything that is not loving, not kind, not the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Any practice that you did not receive from Christ dwelling in you.

Anything you inherited from your family. Put that practice to death. How can you do that? Cause God has already fought for you. Just the way the Lord went before Israel. And handed those nations into their hands for them to put to death.

The Lord has done that. Turn to Romans chapter 6. If you are still in the book of Romans. Flip back to chapter 6. Let's start right at the first of the chapter. Romans 6 .1. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

God forbid. Listen. If anyone has ever told you that somehow God's grace is magnified. Because you just keep on sinning and keep being forgiven. You heard the wrong thing. God's grace is glorified by the transformation that happens.

When a man in Christ becomes a new creation. And all things pass away. And all things become new. That's how God is glorified. He is not glorified by our continuing in sin. And just. And then somehow we think.

Oh his forgiveness is so wonderful. It is wonderful. But listen. Anyone in your life that you are sinning against. That is watching you act out and live according to their flesh. They would much rather see you put that to death.

Than continually ask them for forgiveness. For the pain in the neck you are being. Right? And I tell you. They will glorify God when they see a transformation in you. Way more than you putting a bumper sticker on the back of your car.

Saying well Christians aren't perfect. They are just forgiven. Listen. That's not. That's why the world calls us hypocrites. Because we say we believe the Bible. And we allow ourselves to sin in ways the apostles said not to.

We don't put to death what they said to put to death. And we allow things to live. That are ruining and wrecking our testimony. And I don't know how it happened. I don't know how churches allowed it to be.

As if it's the norm. And some of you may be sitting out there like those ten spies. Saying hey never going to happen. I've never seen it. Well. Then I'm talking to the Joshua and the Caleb. The rest of you can just tune me out.

Okay. I'm talking to someone who believes what God says I can do this in your life. For my honor and my glory. That this is the way it ought to be. Romans. Let's go back to Romans 6. I don't want to chase that rabbit trail.

May it never be. How should we who died to sin. Do you see that? We died to sin. What are you talking about? The law of sin within your members. We died to sin. How can we who died to sin still live in it.

Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus. Were baptized into his death. Did they explain that to you? That when you were baptized. You were baptized into the death of Jesus.

And what did he die to? The death he died, he died to sin. The life he lives, he lives to God. For if we become united with him in the likeness of his death. We shall certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection.

And it says there in verse 4. We were buried with him in the baptism into death. So that just as Christ was raised from the dead to the glory of the Father. So we too may walk in. Say it. Newness of life.

What is newness? If any man is in Christ. He is a new creation. And for it to be a new creation. Something has to happen with the old. If not. We've added something new to the old. Knowing all things.

That I'm simply expecting. That this should be our Christian experience. It is past time. For this to be our Christian experience. All things need to pass away. All things need to become new. We were united with him through baptism into death.

So that we could be raised like him to the glory of the Father. So that we could walk in newness of life. And then in verse 6. Knowing this that our old man was crucified with him. Now you were taught.

And you've heard that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins. You've got that. Nearly every person I'm assuming. Nearly every person listening to me today. Knows that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins.

But not nearly enough of us know. Our old man was crucified with him. Part that old stinking man. Where the problems lie. Died with Christ. To set us free. From having to live like the old man. And it's high time we recognize that.

He who has died has been justified. I'm going to read verse 6 again. Knowing this that our old man was crucified with him. In order that the body of sin might be done away with. So that we would no longer be slaves to sin.

See I'm not saying you're not going to be tempted. But you're not a slave. Slaves have to obey their master. But if you're free what do you get to say? You get to use the word that children like. No. No.

But you get to say no to sin. You get to say no to the devil. You get to say no to yourself. If any man would Jesus said this. If any man would come after me. If anyone would be my disciple. Let him do what?

Deny himself. You get to say no to yourself. And reckon yourself to be dead to sin. And alive to God in Jesus Christ. Your old man was crucified with him. Paul actually said that this is how we're to think.

Putting Off the Old Self and Receiving the New

Turn to Colossians. I'm going to show you Colossians chapter 3. I'm going to start in verse 1. Colossians 3 verse 1. Therefore if you've been raised up with Christ. Keep seeking the things above. Where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Set your mind on things above. Not the things on the earth. For you died. See that? There it is. I thought this all the time. This is a different letter. Different church. Saying truth. You died. And it's you Paul.

In other words. All the believers there. You died. And your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When did you die? You died when you were buried with him. Into baptism. Into death. So that you could be raised to walk in newness of life.

The death he died. He died to sin. In the same way. Reckon yourselves to be dead to sin. Alive to God in Christ Jesus. You died. Your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears.

Then you will also be manifested with him in glory. Therefore. And this is a tricky translation from the Greek language to this in verse 5. Therefore. Some of your believers will say put to death your members upon the earth.

But it's the Greek word to be recognized as dead. Recognize as dead. Yes every single one of us have an old man. Every single one of us has a flesh. And you know how we're to view the flesh? That's just our old rotten corpse.

It doesn't control me. It doesn't determine what I do. It doesn't cause me to live in any way. It's just my old. I am dead. Says I am dead. To sexual immorality. Impurity. Passion. Evil desires. And greed which is idolatry.

So every believer here. You should be dead to pornography. You should be dead to lust and temptation like that. You should be dead to lonely and complaining. You should be dead to looking at bad images.

You should be dead to those things. You should view as dead. No part of your life. Through your union with Christ. And Paul says it's because of those things that the wrath of God is coming. Aren't you glad you're dead to those things?

The wrath of God is coming upon those who are still alive in those things. Some of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. And then you also once walked. Past tense. You used to walk in those things.

Verse 8. Colossians 3 .8. But now. You also. Strip. Strip away. Look at the list. Strip away. Wrath. Anger. Malice. Slander. Abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another since you have. Same word again.

Put off or stripped away the old man with his practices. Okay. I need your attention up here to look at me. Many of us like to take shortcuts. We don't like the hard work. We want quick results. I am guilty of this.

And the Lord sent me a brother to work with me. His name is Joe Hernandez. I'm embarrassed. Because I was willing to. Well this will do. But Joe's not like that. We're. I was willing to paint the floor.

Joe says we need a new floor. And that means. We have to actually take the floor and strip everything off. Of prep work. This is something that not many of us like. We don't like the prep work for a job.

But you know why prep work is so important? If you want something to bond. If you want it to stick. And hold. And last. You have to strip. Away. Tear the surface. So that the new can bond and remain. And some of us have been trying to put Jesus Christ.

On an old flesh that has not been stripped off. And he doesn't stick. It flakes. And the flesh keeps bleeding through. And we keep having problems with our mouth. And our hormones. And our emotions. And our thoughts.

Because we've not done what the apostles said to do. Strip these things away. Strip them off of you. And then do what? Then. And it's. This thing. This thing of stripping away. Is so thorough in the New Testament.

It's found by nearly all the contributors of the New Testament. Let me give you some examples. James chapter 1. You see there? James chapter 1. You've got to strip away the old. Before you take in the new.

Here's how James puts it. I'll start with James 1 .19. Know this my beloved brothers. Everyone must be quick to hear. Slow to speak. Slow to anger. For the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Therefore. Stripping aside all filthiness. And all superfluity of naughtiness. Or all remains of wickedness. In meekness receive the implanted word. Which is able to save your soul. You see what you have to do first?

Some of us want to jump right to receive in meekness the implanted word. But it doesn't start there. Get rid of all malice. Get rid of it. You know Jesus said. Blessed are the pure in heart. What will they do?

They will see God. Some of us are living with a mixture. You're living with a mixture of the old you have not yet stripped away. And part of you sometimes is living in their flesh. And part of you sometimes is living in the spirit.

And that's the reason you're not experiencing the fullness and the power of Christ. Because you have not followed the apostles instructions to strip off the old. And fully clothe yourself with the new.

I'm just being honest with you. That will never work. But I told you I was going to give you several examples. That's James. We already heard from Paul. What about Peter? Does Peter feel the same way?

Peter's Call to Lay Aside Malice and Deceit

Oh yeah. Look at 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2. Same thing. You're going to see the same principle. Strip off the old to make way for the new. Do the prep work. Do your due diligence to do the prep work.

With the power of the Holy Spirit's help. 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 1. Therefore laying aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy. You've got to lay it aside. You've got to strip it off. You've got to take off the old.

Therefore laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. Like newborn babes crave the pure spiritual milk of the word. You can't go on feeding your flesh. And drinking the milk of the word.

And think something's going to change. Does not happen. When we do not follow the instructions. The apostles given us to by the power of the spirit. Put to death the practices of the body. Something's going to happen.

And you know what's going to happen to us? The same thing. That Joshua and the Lord. Reminded the Israelites. What would happen to them. If they didn't follow through and do their part. To drive out those inhabitants of the promised land.

Completely and entirely. I'll show you. Go with me to Joshua chapter 24. Joshua is after the book of Deuteronomy. Joshua 23. I'm sorry. 23. Chapter 23. Start with verse 6. Follow with me from verse 6.

Finishing the Work of Driving Out Sin

This is Joshua speaking to the people. Now let me set up this situation. They have been fighting and driving out nations in the promised land for 5 years now. For 5 years. Not a single nation has been able to withstand them.

But Joshua. They have now driven out a sufficient number of the nations. That they can call the people together. And divide up the inheritance. And begin to enjoy the land. The job's not finished. They're partly done.

So Joshua is going to remind them. There's work still to be done. And some of us are kind of at this place. Some of us have seen some victory in Christ. Some freedom. Some change. But the work's not finished.

There's still practices of the body that have not been put to death. There's still areas of our flesh that we're still getting into. Rather than driving it out. Stripping it away. So let's see what happens with Joshua.

23. 6. Be very strong then. To keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses. So that you may not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. So that you will not belong to these nations.

These which remain among you. And you will not mention the name of their gods. And you will not make anyone swear by them. And you will not serve them. And you will not bow down to them. But you are to cling to Yahweh your God.

And as you have done this to this day. For Yahweh has dispossessed great and mighty nations from before you. And as for you. No man has stood before you. Not one yet. To this day. Up to this point. All they have is victory.

Verse 10. One of your men will pursue 1 ,000. For Yahweh your God is he who fights for you just as he promised you. Verse 11. So keep your souls very carefully to love Yahweh your God. Verse 12. For if you ever turn back.

And cling to the rest of these nations. These which remain among you. And intermarry with them. So that you will go along with them. And they with you. Then know with certainty. That Yahweh your God. Will not continue to drive them out.

I believe that God is the same. Yesterday. Today. And forever. And here's what I'll tell you. So if you want to live with those practices of the body. You don't like this job. You don't like me telling you.

You should never, never complain again. You don't like that. You just want to live with it. I'll tell you this. You will live with it. And God will no longer help you. He'll stop fighting with you. The spirit will not be there in power for you.

Because you have made the choice. To live with what God said to put to death. That's the situation they're in. Look what it goes on to say. It gets worse. Know with certainty. That God will not continue to dispossess these nations before you.

But they will be a snare and a trap to you. A whip on your sides. Thorns in your eyes. Until you perish from this good land. Which Yahweh your God has given you. In other words, Joshua was warning them.

If you don't finish the job. And you don't finish putting these nations to death. And driving them out. The ones you allow to remain. Are going to be a pain in your rear. The rest of your life. And they will end up causing you to forfeit the very land that God has given you.

You know what Paul warned about? For if you live according to the flesh. You're about to die. If you start getting into the flesh. And you decide it's just too hard. I just don't know how to control my mouth.

I don't know how to control my emotions. I don't know how to take my thoughts captive. Then you're just like those ten spies. And you're just like that generation that says. No, no these things have been in my life too long.

No, I mean. We're just after all. We're just human. Are we? If anyone is in Christ. He is a new creation. That's not just human. It's a new creation. The Spirit of God now dwelling in you. Enabling you.

Giving you power. That with His help. To put to death the practices of the body. So that tempers. Passions. Emotions. Hormones. Fears. The works of the flesh. Will be put to. The works of the flesh. Right?

Walking by the Spirit and Rejecting the Works of the Flesh

Galatians. If you will turn there with me. Galatians chapter 5. Paul describes the works of the flesh. These are the things we need to make sure. Are put to death. Now and what am I saying? What if they're.

What if they're not dead? What if just this week. Or just recently. You've been doing some of these works. You've been murmuring. You've been complaining. You've been critical. You've slandered someone.

You've shared your opinion about them. You've. You've. What if you've been doing this? Well we'll address that in a minute. But let's first see what these works of the flesh are. Verse 17. You know this don't you already?

Let's go back to 16. Galatians 5 .16. But I say this. Walk by the spirit. And what will happen if you walk by the spirit? You read it to me. What does it say? You will not carry it out. It doesn't say you won't feel it.

It doesn't say you won't be tempted by it. It just says you'll be able to say no. I don't have to do that. I don't have to lose it. I don't have to run at the mouth. I don't have to murmur. I don't have to complain.

I don't have to respond that way. Just walk by the spirit. And you will not fulfill the desire of the flesh. It'll be there. But you're not under obligation to do it. Verse 17. For the flesh lusts against the spirit.

And the spirit against the flesh. They war with each other. Yeah sure. And you live with that war. But whose side are you on? That's the question. Whose side are you on? Are you going to defend your flesh?