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THERES STILL A BALM IN GILEAD Jeremiah 8:22 March 16, 2012, New Covenant Freedom didnt cost us anything to achieve. Christ paid that price. However, we are responsible for maintaining it (by our actions). We must be sober, vigilant (1 Pet. 5:8) Clear minded and watchful; self-controlled and alert

Some of us are not taking our relationship with our Creator the Lord as serious as we should. We are in the church grove. We come to church we enjoy the fellowship of our brothers and sisters but we arent really tending to our relationship whole heartedly with the One who is responsible for us being here. Weve gotten into the habit and routine of church, and there is where the danger lies. Israel was a nation that came from nothing and God made her something. He made it a nation to be looked to. She was supposed to be the example; a sign of Gods character. But little by little she became side tracked with her own beauty. Instead of influencing the other nations to serve the Lord, she became influenced and began to commit whoredom, she served other gods. God also warned Israel be sure your sins will find you out. In other words, the penalty for sin will find you. Some of us Hes warning privately through the conviction of the Holy Spirit but if we dont get back in right standing, He may allow our sins to be uncovered. We are examples of His freedom, but He will also like He did with Israel, make us an example of judgment. To whom much is given, much is required. So, what is God requiring of you? There are several scriptures that tell us this:

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8
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Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Tim. 2:22)

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For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
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Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11-14) DENYING UNGODLINESS-Isolate and eliminate. This simply means to reject, renounce or disown whatever is opposed to God. Whether in our minds, bodies, homes or lifestyles, music, TV. programs; we should isolate those things which are opposed to God and reject or disown them.

DENYING WORLDLY LUSTS- Guard your heart so you can Please God. This implies rejecting, renouncing and disowning something; but here it is dealing specifically with worldly lust. The battle in our minds is one of rejecting worldly desires, which is what the flesh wants, and accepting the desire to please God which is what He wants. LIVE SOBERLY Stay alert by exercising self-restraint or self-control. LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY-to live righteously is to behave in a just and right manner before men. To "live right" is the manifestation of "being right" in one's relationship and fellowship with God. By our fruit we are known and others need to see the good fruit of righteousness we produce when we live according to the standard of God's Word. As believers, we strive to think, act and speak that which is right and proper per God's definition. LIVE GODLY-here is where our "righteous living" in respect to God enters the picture. Just as we strive to "live right" before men; we strive to live in a godly

manner to bless God. It is not so much what Jesus would do as how Jesus would live and think. LOOKING FOR THE BLESSED HOPE AND GLORIOUS APPEARING-Keep your eyes on the prize! Without the hope of Christ's appearing burning in our heart, we will surely "burn out" and fail in our walk. ZEALOUS FOR GOOD WORKS He has begun a good work in you so you can do good works.

Access to God does not automatically yield intimacy with God Examples of those who did not take advantage of access: Cain Judas Five foolish virgins Ananias and Saphira You must cultivate your own relationship with Jesus. It is YOUR responsibility to seek Him while He may be found (Isa. 5:6) After hearing this word of warning and you find yourself not quite lined up with God, take heart. He says there is still a balm in Gilead, a physician that can heal. Little children I write unto you that ye sin not. And if you do sin you have an advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous one (1 John 2:1) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)