POWER, BUT NOT PERMISSION

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	                POWER, BUT NOT PERMISSION

	How many times I have heard the question asked, by Christians who don't
understand the Way of Righteousness very well yet, or are prone to want to do
things THEIR WAY instead of the way God has prescribed.  "Why can't I do it?"
 "What's wrong with it?"

	Now I am just as aware as you are of the fact that many things which we shun
as followers of Jesus, are NOT HARMFUL to our physical well being.  Neither
would they be harmful to our Spiritual well being EXCEPT THAT GOD'S WORD says
we should not indulge in them.

	In other words, God's Word FORBIDS us to do all that we are CAPABLE of
doing.

	To OBEY GOD'S WORD IS CALLED WISDOM in Deuteronomy 4:6 Keep therefore and do
[them]; for this [is] your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the
nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great
nation [is] a wise and understanding people.   For what nation [is there so]
great, who [hath] God [so] nigh unto them, as the LORD our God [is] in all
[things that] we call upon him [for]?   And what nation [is there so] great,
that hath statutes and judgments [so] righteous as all this law, which I set
before you this day? 

	God's code of social conduct has NEVER CHANGED and NEVER WILL CHANGE.  He
knows, better than our modern day experts do, what is best for human
relations.  The nation or community that endeavors to follow God's social
laws will be more happy and trouble free than those who do not.  But each one
of us has the ability (power) to do differently than what God has given us
permission to do.  We have a choice.

	God's code of civil conduct has NEVER CHANGED and NEVER WILL CHANGE.  His
GOVERNMENT is the highest form available, and that nation or community which
follows the precepts of His Civil Code as closely as humanly possible, will
be the most prospered of Him.  Consider England under Queen Victoria, and the
US under the first few God-fearing Presidents and Congresses.  To be sure,
both governments are on the skids now, but that has not always been so.

	God's code of moral conduct has NEVER CHANGED and NEVER WILL CHANGE.  God
made us, and He knows what is best for our emotional health and purity.  He
made us with a set of AFFECTIONS, over which we have control, if we will
exercise that control.  We are told this in Colossians 3:2 Set your affection
on things above, not on things on the earth. 

	David's testimony in  I Chronicles 29:3 Moreover, because I have set my
affection to the house of my God,--

	 WE HAVE CONTROL, IF WE WILL EXERCISE IT, over our affections and emotions.
 Young and old married couples need to know, and follow this principle.

	Young folks choosing a direction for life, need to heed the directives of
the Bible in their choices.

	Each of us has the ability (power) to do as we please.  But we do not have
the permission from God to do some things that are pleasant and attractive,
no matter how much we might like to do them.  Harm, or lack of harm, is NOT a
factor--, God's Word is of primary importance.

	The way of the transgressor is hard.