My apologies to all our readers. I had a few health and technical issues. I believe I am past these and am back updating our Blog.
We are back and will be filling in the past messages!
Sermons, Testimonies, Prayer Requests, and Praise Reports
My apologies to all our readers. I had a few health and technical issues. I believe I am past these and am back updating our Blog.
We are back and will be filling in the past messages!
by Marie Esposito
Share about the door –
What is the function of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
When we are converted, the Holy Spirit gives us a new birth, and He comes to live inside us. We become a member of the body of Christ, and He seals us as a possession of Christ.
He is the Spirit of Life, the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Adoption, the Spirit of Holiness, the Spirit of Grace, the Spirit of Supplication, and the Spirit of Glory. As the Holy Spirit moves and functions in all these offices, the primary purpose is to redeem us to become the Bride of Christ. HIS BELOVED.
I Corinthians 12-13 – The same Spirit distributes, activates, and operates wide different varieties of gifts, ministries, miracles, and revelation as He chooses. These gifts are imparted by God, and they confirm His word and expand the kingdom of God. They are the divine power source. The Holy Spirit is the DIVINE POWER SOURCE.
“By One Spirit we all were immersed and mingled into one body…We are all privileged to drink deeply of the same Holy Spirit.” I Corinthians 12:13 means that we can drink of the Living Waters until it fills us up and then flows out from the inside of us and empowers us to live an endless life.
The Holy Spirit is the unifying and empowering Force in the body of Christ.
Romans 8:2 “For the “law” of the Spirit of life flowing through the anointing of Jesus has liberated us from the “law” of sin and death… but if the Spirit of Him that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you.”
The Holy Spirit frees us and makes us more active, accelerates our energy in Him, and lifts us up.
The Holy Spirit is The Blessed Comforter.
He has come to:
Romans 8:14-17 TPT – “The mature children of God are those who are moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit…[ He directs our lives ] and are delivered from the spirit of bondage again to fear…For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!”… And since we are his true children, we qualify to share all his treasures, for indeed, we are heirs of God himself.
The Holy Spirit reveals our adoption into God’s family, sharing about our inheritance. He also helps us to get free from our old natures.
Romans 8:13 “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if BY THE SPIRIT you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
This is a prophetic word spoken by the prophet Isaiah about Jesus and the Holy Spirit and what we have access to as believers.
Isaiah 11: 2, “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – [the spirit of prophecy] the Spirit of wisdom [equipping ability] and of understanding, [intelligent insight] the Spirit of counsel [guidance, leadership] and might [warrior, conqueror], the Spirit of the revelation [ insight gained only by experiencing intimacy with God], and the Spirit of the fear of the Lord [absolute loyalty to God].” All of these attributes and qualities are ours.
The revelation of Jesus Christ by the Spirit of the Lord is something that is unveiled within us, not just to us. It is an inward journey. CHRIST IN US IS OUR HOPE OF GLORY, the hope that moves us into fullness, expectancy, and maturity. Christ continues to express Himself to us, and through us, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The revelation of God is the true treasure. The Holy Spirit is the One Who gives us this revelation.
I Corinthians 12:31 – speaks of a path corresponding to transcendence or a more excellent way, which is Love. It’s the path led by this Same Spirit.
It is the Spirit of God that fills us with His Love and all the aspects of His Grace… the more excellent Way, and directs our steps and our way as we journey on the path of Life into Love.
I Corinthian 13:7-8 Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up. Love never stops loving.
So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.
Love in Aramaic – set on fire.
Love in Greek – intense affection which must be demonstrated. The loyal, endless, unconditional commitment of love.
Love transforms the spirit in us through The Holy Spirit.
So, what is the function of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and Who is HE?
He is the Spirit of Life, Truth, Adoption, Holiness, Grace, Supplication, and Glory. As the Holy Spirit moves and functions in all these offices in our lives, the primary purpose is to redeem us to become the Bride of Christ. HIS BELOVED.
It’s how we live and move and have our being in Him – through the Holy Spirit.
by Pastor Roy Esposito
Let’s ask the Lord to use the “buttons” the enemy has meant for evil to trigger Godly responses in us instead.
#7 – Spiritual perfection; The conclusion of a matter; Speaks of maturation.
I believe that 2023 will be a year that many of the things we’ve made spiritual inroads into will become clearer and more accessible. We will come to see the fruitfulness and fullness of things we’ve believed by faith.
#9 – RCF 27th year
9 – Is the number of the Holy Spirit. It speaks of completeness and fruitfulness. I believe that we will see many of our prayers answered this year in very unique ways. Some will be astonishing in their impact, and some will be just the beginning of some things that God has not yet revealed.
All in all, a good year full of Godly surprises!
I came across a quote by Michael J. Fox this week that seemed appropriate given the Thanksgiving holiday:
“With Gratitude, Optimism is Sustainable.”
I also came across another gem of wisdom this week:
“Grace begets gratitude, which, in turn, widens our hearts toward greater goodness and love.” – Diana Butler Bass
Grace is at the core and is the key to a victorious life.
We are saved by Grace – and our lives are sustained through it.
We need moves of grace every day because although Jesus won the victory over the “old humanity,”
…we still have to ”work out our salvation in awe of God, our souls trembling in His presence.” (Philippians 2:12).
We must “stay awake” — (1 Peter 1:5) and “keep our oil lamps full,” and remain watchful (Matthew 25:1-13)
We also have to be intentional about maintaining a grateful perspective because it’s easy to fall into complacency and forget that grace is a gift not to be taken for granted.
Grace and Gratefulness help us to keep from becoming complacent as we are reminded that there still is an enemy to contend with, an enemy that has weapons to hurt us.
Some are overt and violent – but some are more subtle and can go unnoticed.
We must pay attention in order to get beyond responding to the “ fires’ the enemy sets as traps for us and refuse to let them become the things that construct our perspectives and drive our actions.
As we stay tuned in and God-focused, we’ll begin to realize that every morning we wake up is a privilege that offers us a chance for a fresh start and an opportunity to begin again. – to be optimistic about our future – and to enjoy our life in the midst of the journey.
As a bonus, as we stay alert and focused, we’ll discern that some circumstances we find ourselves in are not always the enemies doing.
Some are actually the results of our thoughts and actions.
A grateful approach to life allows the truth to be known without guilt or self-loathing, judgment, or condemnation – and repent if necessary.
Sometimes, God will allow certain circumstances to exist to help mature our Faith.
If faith is to mature, situations need to exist where faith alone can sustain us.
So, for that reason, God will allow times when we must trust in His integrity regardless of how dire things may seem to be.
Negative times – allow faith to arise >> which then appropriates the courage it takes to lock into God’s faithfulness.
Spiritual Maturity requires letting faith arise in the context of resistance.
It takes courage to do this.
It makes sense, then, that one of our enemy’s prime objectives is to DIS-courage us.
If we’re not watchful, our courage will wane and cause unbelief and stagnancy in our spiritual growth.
Faith – is the catalyst that releases Grace.
Grace – is the supernatural power to gain the higher ground over the enemy and thus secure for ourselves our destiny as sons and daughters of God.
Gratitude – is a declaration of our trust in God’s plans and ways for our lives. (Jeremiah 29:11)
When we engage with the world from a place of gratitude, we’re open to receiving the day excited with anticipation of the next part of God’s plan for us.
This approach to life is the difference between carrying the burden of trying to make something happen and allowing something to happen.
It’s the defining difference between effort and effortlessness.
Most spiritual disciplines through the ages have considered gratefulness to be the foundation of joy, contentment, and well-being in a person’s life. Why?
Gratitude and Generosity are similar virtues but differ in that:
Gratitude is an internal characteristic, and generosity is an external expression of our sense of gratitude.
Gratitude is the way we FEEL — Generosity is how we Express that Feeling to the world.
2 Corinthians 10:5-6 – Speaks of taking all thoughts captive, so they come in line with Christ’s thoughts.
I like to think of “random thoughts” as Stagnant Energy.
These negative thoughts render spiritual impotence and act as smoke screens of confusion in our minds that cause us to feel stuck in life.
Christ’s thoughts bring peace and hope and give life.
The simple act of practicing gratitude disrupts negative thoughts and changes our mindset to see the world in a positive way.
Not only are we more attractive to others when we live in gratitude, but the most ordinary things can become extraordinary, creating a fuller, more beautiful expression of our life.
You probably have heard the saying, “Things don’t happen TO us; they happen FOR us.”
Gratitude will help us to see and believe that “All things DO work for the good for us because we love God, and are called according to His purpose and plan” ( Rom 8:28)
Our mind’s new perspective is that the universe is aligning and working everything in our favor.
Old Mindset – Something “bad” happens to us; we let it affect us in a negative way. We feel rejected, picked on, and defensive. – Or worse!
New Mindset of Gratitude – When something happens that others see as “bad,” we search for the grace which will allow us to become curious and interested in finding the positive thing God will bring out of the experience.
It’s a much more exciting and hopeful way to live, right?
He was a worshiper of God.
He loved and obeyed God.
He was the King of Judah, following his father, Asa.
A bold and faithful follower of Yahweh, Jehoshaphat consulted God’s prophets before making decisions and credited God for every victory.
A victorious military leader, He was honored and made wealthy from tribute.
He learned that consistent dependence on God is the only way to succeed.
He was a humble man of faith.
Jehoshaphat took office, about 873 BC. What did he do as a leader?
God looked with favor on Jehoshaphat, strengthening his kingdom and making him wealthy. The people of Judah and Jerusalem enjoyed a great measure of prosperity and God’s blessings under Jehoshaphat. Neighboring kings paid tribute to him because they feared his power.
3 enemy territories decided to band together to attack this kingdom. When Jehoshaphat learned that a great army had come against him (2 Chronicles 20:1-2), he immediately realized three things.
Jehoshaphat’s immediate response was to call a nationwide prayer and fast and he cried out to God for help. (2 Chronicles 20:3-11). The people gathered in the temple and sought God.
THEY WORSHIPED GOD.
Prayer was his first strategy.
I love how Jehoshaphat proclaims his faith from the very beginning.
“O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?” (verse 6)
“O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but OUR EYES ARE UPON YOU.” (verse 12)
Jehoshaphat’s pattern and directive: He:
He stood in the temple, in God’s Presence, and cried out in his affliction and declared that God will hear and save.
He trusted God and WORSHIPED HIM.
God answers the prayer of His people through the voice of a prophet: “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. You will not need to fight in this battle.
POSITION YOURSELVES, STAND STILL, AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD WHO IS WITH YOU, O JUDAH AND JERUSALEM!”
God said: “Position yourselves, stand still, and see!”
Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” (verses 15 and 17)
3 things happened when Jehoshaphat prayed.
Jehoshaphat and all the people bow themselves to the ground and WORSHIP.
“So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out,
Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe [same word in hebrew as in Abraham believing God’s promise and obeying him] in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying
“PRAISE THE LORD, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER.” (verses 20-21) THEY WORSHIPED.
And you know what happens? CONFUSION. CHAOS.
The different enemy armies began to fight one another rather than making a unified force against Judah! They fought and killed one another! The only action on the side of Judah was PRAISING AND WORSHIPING God! Their eyes were on Him.
When his people came upon their enemies they were all dead. It took them three days to gather all the jewels and spoils of war.
They went home to Jerusalem and began PRAISING AND WORSHIPING GOD!
Our directive in all things:
Worship before, worship during, worship afterwards!
“PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER.”
“WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT OUR EYES ARE ON YOU.”
Ephesians 1;17-20(TPT, NKJ) – “I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation….”
Acts 1:4-8 – Wait to receive.
To KNOW: – to see – perceive – to be conscious of
To have Knowledge of: – a recognition by Full Disclosure
To “Know” – (GRK) – “To gaze at something remarkable,” especially that of supernatural origin.
Paul prayed for the church to gain the ability to “gaze at the supernatural dimensions of God” with full discernment and discover for ourselves:
Given to those who:
John 1 – Holy Spirit hovered the earth, imprinting God’s order over the chaos, and the natural laws of gravity, physics, chemistry, and energy came into being.
This energy caused the land, seas, animals, plants, and people to be formed, each creation in the place it belonged. There was PEACE, BALANCE, and Harmony on earth.
God gave man dominion over the earth. Sin entered as man imposed his will over the creation.
God’s remedy for restoration: HIMSELF in the form of man – JESUS.
The Holy Spirit sent once again to hover but not to form mater out of chaos but to imprint the potential for ORDER directly onto the souls of man through Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:14 – The Spirit leads mature children.
John 3:5-6 – Baptized in Water and Spirit to enter the supernatural realm of God – HEAVEN.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 – “We ain’t seen nuttin’ yet.” – PR
Spirit of Revelation – Gives the ability to See, Hear, and Discover the Unseen Realm.
Spirit of Wisdom – Gives us the insight so we’ll KNOW what to do with what we’ve seen.
Proverbs 4:5-13 – Revelatory Wisdom is the principal thing, so SEEK it!
Proverb 8:26 – “I love those who love Me and those that seek me DILIGENTLY will find Me.”
Romans 8:26 – How to seek if you’re unsure. – PR
The Spirit of Revelation – releases SPECIFIC Knowledge to address specific issues at critical moments.
The Spirit of Wisdom – Guides us in the application of that knowledge.
Proverbs 29:18(NKJ) – “Where there is no revelation the people cast off restraint.”
“Casting off restraint” – Casting off balance and perfect order; reverting to chaos.
Proverbs 29:18(P.R.T) “Without an intimate knowledge of God gained through experiencing His presence; the people will cast off order, balance, and harmony and devolve back into chaos.”
6-4-22
Pentecost — ”Wisdom Sunday”
Power (Greek) – Dunamis – Energy of great force; an EXPLOSION of power
Power to BECOME witnesses of Jesus. -When people see them – they’ll see Him.
Acts 1:4-5,8(TPT) – “Stay and wait” for the promise of the Father.
Promise – an announcement of WHAT the promise is and the assurance that what was promised will be done.
Matthew 3:11 – Baptism of Water and of Fire
Fire – Purification
Acts 2:1-4(TPT) “Sound AS a rushing wind…” – speaks of Jesus’ breath into His disciples.
“Pillar of Fire” – Represents the Presence of God and an imbuement of power.
“Tongues of Fire” – “It was as though each one received an overpowering personal flame of fire that would empower him and lead him through his life.”
– Brian Simmons
An Incomprehensible CALL and a PROMISE that the Call can be fulfilled through the imbuement of power through the Holy Spirit
“Stay and Wait” – Step away from our natural rhythm to synchronize with the Spirit’s rhythm.
Human Rationality – Left/Right sides of the human brain
Left = Analytical
Right = Creative – Hears His voice
The church must set aside Rationalism to enable the Creative Flow to anoint our thought process and allow the INFINITE GOD to influence the FINITE.
1 Corinthians 1:27(NKJ) – God has chosen the foolish (less rational) to shame the wise.
1 Corinthians 1:25(Message) – Men’s wisdom can’t measure up to God’s weaknesses
God said, “I AM,” not “I Do.”
What IS God? – 1 John 4:8 – ”God IS love.” – “God IS consistent.”
“God’s love remains unconditional, unlimited, and incredibly extravagant; it never relies on human faithfulness or unfaithfulness.” –PR
“The Baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is the inextinguishable FIRE that sets God’s love ablaze and is the only hope of our calling’s fulfillment.” –PR
LOVE is our Calling – LOVE is our true identity.
We were created from Love – of Love – and for Love
“Until the church awakens and embraces this truth, it will remain in the elementary grades of Christion Spiritual Transformation.” –PR
Romans 8:36-39(TPT) – NOTHING can separate us from His love and its power once we accept this as the truth.
The Ascension 5-29-22
– 2Cor 1:20 (TPT) “For all of God’s promises find their YES of fulfillment in Him. And as His Yes and our Amen ASCEND to God, we bring Him glory.”
– When God is Glorified, His power is Magnified. It is the power given to believers to overcome any obstacle that may arise.
– Message Bible – “It is a sure beginning to what God plans to complete.”
–PROMISE- [Grk] Espangelia – Both the Promise itself and the assurance of that promise’s fulfillment
– REMEMBER – RECORD – REVIEW – RECITE (aloud) and they will become the very fabric of your Being and the platform of your operations.
– Jesus Christ is both the Promise of God and the fulfillment of it.
– Phil 2:13 – “For it is God who works in you to will and to work, for His good pleasure.”
– It is God, Himself, whose power creates in us the desire to come to fulfill His Purpose for us.
– Rom 8:28 (NLT) – “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
– Rom 8:29 (NLT) -” And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And He gave them right standing with Himself, and he PROMISED them his glory.”
– God has invited us into the holy community He shares with His Son and the Holy Spirit.
– Qualifiers:
1. To LOVE as defined in 1Cor 13:4-7 {please read for clarity}
2. Say “YES” to His call. We are “called” to become MORE THAN WE ARE: A call to His Purpose.
– Eastertide: 5 celebrations that each underline a specific step in the process of “becoming’.
– These are common to humanity and must be faced and rejected:
a. Temptation to sieze Power – b. To base identity on Prestige – c. Gain status through Possessions.
Passion Week – Week in between Palm and Resurrection Sundays.
Speaks of the need for daily expressions of purpose.
3. Resurrection Sunday – Speaks of the transformation of all creation
4. Ascension Day – Celebrates the final blow to satan’s power over the
earth. It is the assurance of the promise’s fulfillment
5. Pentecost – The giving of the power to become the New Creation
through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
– *Interesting* – Before Jesus ascended He took His disciples to the Mt. of Olives: The place first associated with His suffering and passion but now the place associated with His Glory.
– It was a seminal moment of transition: From the passion of His suffering to the Glory of His resurrection.
– Within the process of Transformation there is Transition.
– Ascension Day – is a reminder of Jesus’ total victory over evil.
– Remembrance – becomes a transitional factor as we move from sorrow, doubt, discouragement, and fear to joy, hope, and greater faith.
– Three Important Theological Truths
Inference; He took humanity to the heavenly realm with Him
We want to do something physical in order to release the supernatural.
We lift our hands to You, Jesus, in complete surrender.
God, we praise You and exalt You right now.
Praise creates a forcefield around us that the enemy cannot touch.
It lifts us into the heavenly realm.
Worship releases Your manifest Presence into our lives.
We bow down and worship You, Lord.
We speak and declare that:
We desire to diminish the enemy’s plan
We want to launch Your plan, Lord, here, right now, in agreement with Your Word and the Holy Spirit.
We want to release Your kingdom in every area of our lives.
God, Your intention is that we live in Your heartbeat renewed, transformed, empowered, and filled.
We desire to abide and remain in a communal relationship with You.
Thank You, Lord, and Amen.
When we take communion: we are celebrating the finished work of the
Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, together as His body. We are DECLARING AND DECREEING THAT THE CROSS HAS THE FINAL SAY in our lives. What Jesus paid for with His life is ours.
For communion:
EXCHANGE REALMS.
We separate from the first Adam and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and attach ourselves to the last Adam and the Tree of Life in a covenant relationship with Him.
–Wade Taylor
We are a branch attached to the Vine in a place of abiding and remaining. THEN WE TAKE COMMUNION AS AN ACT OF FAITH.
In the kingdom of God, physical obedience brings spiritual release. Life is released through our obedience.
–Bill Johnson
[We practice the disciplines in faith to bring life to our lives.]
So, what did Jesus say about communion?
Paul writes in I Corinthians 11:23-25,26
Taking communion
POSITION and aligning ourselves.
He said to do it often.
Stand soberly, reverentially, resting and at peace: grateful and celebrating your victory.
How we stand:
Worship – in gratitude, opens the heavens.
Rest creates a relational cycle of constant surrender – We rest in the awareness that God is present.
Peace is a ruling state of being.
“When we take communion, we remember Who He is and What He has done. We agree with what Jesus did for us – we declare and decree in agreement with the power of His crucifixion and resurrection by our actions – celebrating communion with Him.”
–Marie Esposito
Taking His very life (the Bread) and drinking His blood ( the fruit of the vine), we receive.
We agree and announce BY OUR ACTIONS what Jesus did, and we receive empowerment from the spirit realm.
“Communion is the meal of absolute victory; Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross was more than enough to bring healing to our bodies and freedom from sin. Jesus commanded us to take communion in remembrance of Him that we would continually live aware of the victory we walk in.”
–Bill Johnson
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
Jesus is the Bread of Life. We are His body. Communion brings His very life into our body.
The law of the Spirit of Life – we are SET FREE FROM THE LAW of sin and death through His Resurrection and Ascension –
WE receive healing, divine health, and longevity of life.
We identify with His Life gift- we are SET FREE by HIS BLOOD
Romans 8
First Adam – a living soul
Last Adam – Quickening Spirit.
LIVING BREAD – LIVING BODY – LIVING BLOOD – LIVING LIFE
WE RECEIVE THE POWER OF AN ENDLESS LIFE. – Hebrews 7:16
We celebrate this when we take communion.
“Born Again” – a new state of being
It begins with a personal decision with a commitment to that which will allow me to apprehend it.
I must come to the truth that there is no ME apart from my actual life.
I am not separate from my life – I can’t say “I believe” – and then act in a totally opposite manner.
Being Born Again can’t remain just a concept.
It must translate into what I actually do in my daily interactions IF it is to be meaningful.
Because – if I don’t LIVE it, I will never EXPERIENCE the benefits of what it tangibly means for my life
Without experiencing God’s goodness, it will be hard to believe His promises and plans for me.
Experiencing the goodness that following Jesus affords is foundational to attaining the “Life More Abundant” that He spoke about.
When we receive Jesus as our Lord, we receive LIBERTY.
But without Experiencing His goodness, Liberty can soon devolve into License.
This is because there is a constant conflict within each of us—a battle for control of our minds.
Romans 8:7-9 – “The carnal mind is enmity with the Spirit.”
The solution lies in yielding to the Spirit of God.
Galatians 5:16-17(TPT) – ”As you yield freely and fully to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life.
“For your self-life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit and hinder Him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your old self-life from dominating you. So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self-life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit.”
It is important to understand and acknowledge that the battle we’re engaged in is not with some overpowering cosmic force from without; the battle is WITHIN.
We have to “see” that what seems invincible has ALREADY been defeated by Jesus’ cross. – and act as such.
If not, we will continue to convince ourselves that we are just helpless victims and not Victorious Conquerors. [see Romans 8:32-39(TPT)]
If we believe we are helpless, we won’t continue to wrestle – we’ll just ‘let it happen to us” – We’re Only Human – right?
Ironically, these patterns of wrong thoughts that lead to wrong actions are not the invincible forces they masquerade as – they’re instead fragile!
They are a simple matter of old habits, feelings, and perceptions we carry about certain things and people.
They are remnants of the “Old Man” and the “Shadow Nature.”
They are typically activated without any reflection.
We probably would not have let them influence us if we had thought things through.
Often these actions of sin are actually contrary to who we really are.
They are rarely the result of deliberation and careful calculations.
Left unchecked, our routine unconscious behavior will manage to keep our deliberate will and conscious mind off-balance and on the defensive.
This causes us to do more wrong through denial, rationalization, the use of misleading words, or outright lies.
Romans 14:17 – “The Kingdom of God is Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Spirit.” – Right?
These are INNER conditions of being.
Luke 17:21 – “…for indeed, the Kingdom of God is WITHIN you.”
This is why the battle is fought within:
It’s a matter of what’s IN us that will make the difference in the type of life we’ll live.
John 14:30 – Jesus told them, “…the ruler of this world is coming, but he has NOTHING IN ME.”
The struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane was a matter of Jesus’ inner man – His mind and emotions – being hammered, trying to get Him to Distrust the Father.
But it was what was NOT in Jesus that kept Him impervious to the attack of the enemy; ultimately, the ruler of this world had nothing in Him! – and He was aware of that!
Yielding to the Spirit and becoming Born Again allows the Spirit’s power to keep us from being deceived.
We are able to realize that nothing has the power to lead us into wrong thoughts or actions except that which we have given power by permitting it to remain in us.
And the most dangerous ones are the “little things” that we leave unattended to because we regard them as “normal.”
But we are no longer normal if we’re “Born Again.” We are a new species(new creation) that hold heavenly characteristics.
Experiencing it will seal it as our “New Normal.”
Fortunately, God has equipped us for victory in the battle.
2 Corinthians 10:4-6(TPT) “…our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide. We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude raised in defiance of God’s true knowledge. Like prisoners of war, we capture every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.
Since we are armed with such dynamic weaponry, we stand ready to punish any trace of rebellion as soon as you CHOOSE COMPLETE OBEDIENCE.”
We will have victory when we choose, fully and freely, to surrender the old stuff to the Spirit.
It can be as simple as, “Yes, Lord, I want to be Born Again.”