Asleep in the Light (conclusion) by Brother Duke Hansen

         Moving on in our reading we will pick up at verse 22 of Romans chapter 1.

        22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools

        23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.

        Take notice that in verse 23, the things listed transferring the very nature of incorruptible to that which is corruptible, Paul lists the things which Mosaic law had said was unclean to eat. 

        24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanliness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves.

        You all have heard of the seven deadly sins? Let's think about gluttony. Our automatic connection is eating food in excess but gluttony isn't just about food. It can be anything for the lusts of our own hearts have no stopping spot. You can't stop with just 10 chips but the whole bag, like you can't just pick one item without all the accessories. Those lusts come in various forms. Lasciviousness, idolatry, sins of the flesh. We unconsciously let these lusts and desires run our life. Some of those lusts are demonic spirits that will attach itself to you if you are not on guard or aware. The way to rid the demon is to starve the demon. You were not granted apostolic power in your walk to be a doormat to your lusts! 

        25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

        Now there are those armchair bible historians and theologians out there who will say Paul is only talking about that particular time and place. Some of this should be applied to our day and age. It does apply today. Good christian people are guilty of doing this as well. 

        26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

        27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of a woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

        28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do these things which are not convenient;

        The term reprobate is to do evil and think that it's good and permissible. Synonyms for the word are wretch unprincipled person, degenerate. 

        29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

        30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

        31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

        We could sit here for the next several hours and break down this list in full detail with many examples for each thing listed. It's safe to say the world has not changed since the writing of this book at all.

        32 Who knowing the judgement of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. 

        Now if you move down a little to the book of 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2. This letter Paul is writing to the church of Thessalonica. It was a large and wealthy city in the Roman empire and had some problems with apostasy. We will look at verses 5 to 10.

        5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

        6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

        7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

        8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy the brightness of his coming:

        9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all powers, and signs and lying wonders,

        10 And with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 

        It is not enough to go through life merely knowing about the truth. Anyone can know the basics of the truth. You should ought to Love the truth. Saying you know the truth but don't practice it living in the lusts of your flesh is worse than not knowing at all. You cannot claim to love the Lord yet serve the world! If you do not love the truth God will send a strong delusion that should believe a lie. 

        11 And for this cause God shall send them wrong delusion: that they should believe a lie:

        God's plan has been simple since creation. He created man a deliberate way in the garden, but the original sin has altered man after the garden. Your heart being evil can work against you as well as the Holy Ghost. Are you certain you are saved in your current state? Conviction should cause repentance, Conviction should occur when the Holy Ghost gets ahold of your beliefs. 

        Times have become harder, darker, and the lies are more prevalent. If conviction doesn't bring you to repentance, something is wrong. When you are not bothered by evil or troubled by corruption, there's a missing element. You may not be saved. Now is the time to make a stand for your faith and it's not in the fight everyone and everything sense either. It's in knowing and evaluating yourself. Search yourself!