 
New Life

Volume 3

Rick L. King

Copyright © Rick L. King April 2012

Published at Smashwords

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All Word translations are taken from the Greek and Hebrew in

The Online Bible and are used by Permission.

All Bible references are quoted from the

Authorized King James Version

About the Author

I am a 62 year old male that met Jesus over 30 years ago. I was considering suicide when Jesus found me and gave me a reason to live. Because I didn't have the answer then, it has made it easier to know that the only answer is Jesus through the power of His Spirit. I base my walk totally on: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord" (Zech 4:6). Not about me, but about Him. I have been privileged to receive from the Lord poetry with a message, and many articles as the Holy Spirit teaches me. I have had the honor of getting to preach occasionally, teach, and pray and see miracles from the Lord at times. I am considered a prayer warrior, as part of my calling has been that of an intercessor. I believe strongly that we have an enemy and that we have been given the keys to change our world for Jesus. The real key is making it about Him alone and building His kingdom as the Holy Spirit empowers and leads. I pray that something the Holy Spirit has given to me to write will be a blessing in some way to all that reads. May you be mightily blessed in Jesus as you follow only Him.

Table of Contents

About the Author

  1. A Form of Godliness

  2. A Whole Lot of Pruning Going On

  3. Being Fine Tuned

  4. Can We Be Sinless

  5. Completeness in Jesus

  6. Death Brings Life

  7. False Coverings

  8. Getting the Real

  9. How Big is Your God?

  10. In Everything Give Thanks

  11. Intimacy

  12. It is Time for Christians to Come Up to Bat

  13. Jesus Does Not Condemn

  14. Journey to Our Promised Land

  15. Judgment in God's House

  16. Take the Limits Off of God

  17. The Chicken

  18. The Holy Spirit Today

  19. The Lack of Knowledge could Kill You

  20. The Mind Of Christ

  21. The Normal State of Our Spirit

  22. The Perfect Match

  23. The Rain

  24. The Snares of Death

  25. The Spider

  26. The Spirit Gives Life

  27. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

  28. The True Disciple

  29. True Forgiveness

  30. Truth Dispels the Lie

  31. Turn the Ringer On

  32. Understanding God's Word

  33. Victory Over Thoughts and Attacks

  34. Walk in the Spirit

  35. Walking in Unity with God's Blessing

  36. We Must Call the Right Number

  37. We Must Have a Correct Foundation

  38. What is Fear?

  39. What is Sin?

  40. What is the Priority?

  41. What Really Matters?

  42. What Will it Take to Bring God?

  43. What's the Big Deal About Sin?

  44. Who Do We Worship?

  45. Whose Camp Are We In?

  46. Why is the Answer a No?

  47. Why Me Lord?

  48. Why Should We Ask God to Bless America?

  49. Worldliness Affects Our Being Healed

  50. Ye Shall Receive Power

1. A Form of Godliness

2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

The Bible tells us in Luke 6:44 "For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes". My intent in this article is not to judge or criticize anyone, but to rather cause an awakening within others to look at their walk and see if it is producing good fruit for the kingdom.

So much of what I keep seeing in the body of Christ, is people going through the motions but there is no power and little changes actually happening. There are so many religious spirits in operation that people seem to just go blindly along and keep walking and speaking the Word, yet few things are actually taking place. The church has taught us for years to walk the Word. This is true to some degree but we are missing the power of the Holy Spirit. The Word by itself does produce some things but will not produce what God intends until it is led and anointed by Him. Religion puts us into works. Religion seems to put blinders on us as we are thinking that we are doing the right thing. Works are fleshly actions taken by man trying to walk the Word. This entails much legalism and religious practices. It looks good, yet is the fruit what we want to see? I had wrestled with this in the past often as I was realizing that what I was doing just wasn't working. There is a real difference between walking the Word by our flesh and walking in the Spirit and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and anoint the Word. We know that it takes the anointing to break the yoke. The anointing is sent and controlled by the Lord alone. Yet, so often we see preachers and teachers that say to go do this or that and this will be the result. Maybe this has been effective for you, but it has not been for me. So what is missing? What I see is the scripture above about having a form of godliness but denying the power.

Until we can understand the difference between our flesh initiating what we do and the Holy Spirit initiating our works, we will never get the true picture of what the Lord really desires. The Lord desires for us to walk in power: the power that comes from only the Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit that Jesus depended on when He walked in human form on earth. I recently questioned a person about their use of the name of Jesus. This lady often tells the devil in the name of Jesus to go. Yes, there is power in the name of Jesus. You will never get me to say otherwise. Yet, we need to look deeper concerning its use.

The Word tells us that: Ro 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Ro 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. I want us to consider this. Some say that because we accept Jesus and are born again that we are always led by the spirit. I whole-heartily disagree. To be in the flesh or in the Spirit is a choice. We are servants to whom we yield our self to obey. Ro 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? The Word also tells us in Ga 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Notice that the passage starts out with the word walk. It is saying that we are to do that. It does not say that we automatically do that. It is a choice on our part. If we choose to walk in the spirit then it says that we won't fulfill the lusts of our flesh. This is like the scripture that says to whom we yield our self. We can yield to the Spirit or the flesh. We can allow the Spirit or the flesh to rule. It is a choice. So knowing this and that if we are in the flesh we don't please God, then consider this. We know that the devil knows God's word. He can speak it through people all the time and does. We can speak the Word while in the flesh also. We are not pleasing the Lord because we are in the flesh. You say, but we are speaking the Word so that must be alright. Sounds good, but there is no fruit and we are not pleasing the Lord. The Word needs to come by the Spirit of God not by our flesh. We are told that we need to be led by the Spirit. Ro 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. We can be led by our flesh or the Spirit of God. One promotes what we want and the other promotes what God wants. One is anointed and powerful and the other is just dead works. When we trust in self to do and be in control we are actually in rebellion against the Lord. For sake of length to this article I will not write all about this but you can read Isaiah 30 and 31 and see what I am referring to. Isaiah says that we are rebellious children that take counsel but not of His Spirit. He goes on to say that we trust in the Egyptians (men) or horses (flesh) instead of His Spirit. He calls that rebellion. Why so you may ask? It becomes a control issue. When we are in control we are actually making self to be like God just as the devil did when he was booted from Heaven. Our control says that we know best and are making our self a god. We are calling God a liar saying we know best. We seem to have this backwards theology that God is here to answer all of our requests to please us. That is far from truth. We should be pleasing Him. We please Him by only doing what Jesus did and surrendering our will and desires so the will and desire of the Lord could be done. We don't teach this much anymore because people will get unhappy that they have to die to self to live. The Spirit is the giver of life, not our flesh. Mt 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Now because of all of what I have said, it becomes more obvious as to why when we are in the flesh it cannot please the Lord. Flesh is a control in agreement with the enemy. Do we really think that the Lord will anoint and empower what we want if comes then from our flesh? God watches over His Word to perform it. He is obligated to do what He says that He will do, not what we think He should do. Hopefully we can now understand the difference between the flesh and the spirit.

In order for us to be empowered by His Spirit we must do what Jesus did. He gave up His will to do the Father's will alone. Have we done that? Is finding out the will of God more important than our will and what we want? We find the will of God by spending time with Him in worship and prayer and intercession. We draw near to the Lord. We desire to hear His voice more than anything else. We desire to please Him alone no matter the cost. We desire for Him to lead and guide us by His Spirit more than anything else. This is surrender and dying to self. It is our desire to know what He wants and when He wants it. It is all about being obedient to His voice and His voice alone. What God leads He empowers. It becomes then totally only about Him and not us. We can never take any credit as we learn that it is His power alone working through us. We know that we didn't come up with the idea nor did we ever know how to make it work.

As I said earlier, so many have been duped by the enemy and are walking around doing this and that and being religious and there is no power or good fruit coming forth, because they are being led by their flesh instead of the Holy Spirit. If we want power and good fruit it must come only by this way.

Zech 4:6.Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord

Don't be among those that the Lord speaks to and says in Mt 7:23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

It is our choice to either be led by our flesh or be religious, or to be led by the Holy Spirit and experience His power.

2. A Whole Lot of Pruning Going On!

Many people seem to be going through many trials in their lives right now. Seems that there are many having physical problems and many with financial problems in the body of Christ. There is a reason so don't lose heart.

I Had a group meeting recently and the subject that kept coming up was pruning. The Holy Spirit had already talked to me about this when I saw a couple really hurting. He told me that they were being pruned, though painful, it was necessary. So many are having difficult times and being forced to trust the Lord in ways that they have never had to in the past. Seems man's kingdom is falling apart. We have all walked around with many things that do not profit spiritually speaking. It may feed the flesh, but has no value for the kingdom. The Lord is pruning us. He is getting rid of the dead things that have just been a weight and kept us from blossoming into what He desires for us to be. Just as a natural tree or plant gets pruned back so that it will produce new fruit, we must do the same thing spiritually. I just want to encourage people to not allow the pruning to take your focus off of Jesus. He has not forgotten you, but is actually preparing you for your next season. Run to Jesus in this time, not away from Him. He has not failed you. His word is true. He is watching over His Word and will perform it in His time and season. You will rejoice in what He has done in you as you will bear fruit that you never dreamed could come through you. So do not lose heart. You win though circumstances may say otherwise, but do we believe God's Word or circumstances? He is faithful to deliver us from all of our distresses.

3. Being Fine-Tuned

Ro 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

The word "judge" in this passage tells us in the Greek that it means to have no opinion of right or wrong or to be of an opinion. The Holy Spirit talked to me in this area in a way I had not considered.

Often we look at a person and have an opinion about them. This is judging them. If we stick to our opinion then we are actually serving that opinion rather than finding out what God's opinion is and serving that one. I know that this sounds strange to some, but when we do this we are actually playing God over them. We are saying that what we think is right and that they should do this or that. The Word says that God is a jealous God and that he will not serve with other God's. Did not the Word say that he would perfect that which concerns a person?

Ps 138:8 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth forever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

If in fact the person is in God's hands and He promised to perfect them, then what they do is not of our concern except the Holy Spirit leads us otherwise. When we are judging or holding to an opinion over a person we are trusting in our knowledge instead of God's. Jesus laid down His will. He did only what the Father showed him or told him. If we are crucified with Christ and it is only Him living in us, then all opinions that we get must come from the Lord as we are to be dead to our own. A dead man can't have opinions or judge. The problem is that most of us have never really died to self.

The Holy Spirit told me this as I had some situations where people had done some things that I almost felt in shock over. I felt sick inside over them. I could not figure why I felt this way. The Holy Spirit then revealed to me that I had to give up my expectations, opinions, desires etc. for the people and take on only what he wanted me to take on. Though I hadn't realized it, I was judging them, not intentionally, but was the same anyway. I had to realize that I was not to carry my opinions over things. My opinion does not matter. It is my job alone to just do like Jesus; what I see Him do I do, what I hear him speak, I speak. That has to be my only job. The Holy Spirit then told me that the enemy was trying to use these things to get my focus on individuals rather than on something higher that the Lord wanted to do. I still so love this scripture:

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

The word that is used is the word "easily" besets us. It may seem so right but be so wrong. That is why weights come on us as it seems right to carry them. Yet, a weight is a weight, and is designed to overload you with things that should not be carried. Jesus told us to cast our cares upon Him!

Pr 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Jesus said that:

Mt 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

The burden that God gives is light. It will not weight us down. It will be something that we can pray through and find release in our spirit over it. A weight cannot be prayed through. A weight must be laid down or taken off.

When we hold to our opinions we are making judgments and putting ourselves into a position as God over a person. It does not matter that it may seem so noble and grand, but we must lay down those opinions. Otherwise we are carrying weights that weight us down and keep us from really drawing near to the Lord. God will not serve with other gods. He is a jealous God. We must learn to allow our emotions to die and have his mind and desires for a person. We are being fine-tuned by the Lord when we are seeing this differentiation. We must be led only by His spirit and what He says: not by what we think. What we think is an imagination that is against the knowledge of God. God's thoughts are higher than ours.

The word that the Holy Spirit had said to me was this:

"What other people do is not your concern. Just do what I tell you to do and leave the rest to me". Do we really trust God? If we did then we would be able to give these people over to the Lord and just trust Him. He may use us to pray for them at times, but other than that we must believe that God will perfect all that concerns them. It is not our responsibility to "fix" or judge others. It is only our job to listen to His voice and be obedient to what he would tell us. This is walking the straight and narrow way that few find. This is being single-minded, his-minded.

Are we going to allow the Holy Spirit to fine-tune us so we can walk free and follow Him or are we going to carry weights and play god over people. The choice is ours.

4. Can We Be Sinless?

Can we be sinless? This is a question that I am sure will raise an eyebrow or two. The Lord kept me awake much of last night talking to me on this issue.

First of all we need to know what the word sin is. Sin according to God's Word in the Greek text means to miss the mark or wander from the law of God. This is based on the Strong's number 264 in the Greek, as used in Hebrews 10:26.

When is something considered by God to be sin?

James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

God convicts us of sin. Man condemns us for things that he thinks are sin. There is a big difference here

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are (in) Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

If we are (in) Christ Jesus we are walking after the Spirit.

Secondly, the scripture in Ecclesiastes 7:20 says; For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. So according to scripture man does sin. Next look at Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. It says the word "have sinned". It is obvious that we all have sinned. The word "have" is past tense. We have sinned in the past. It does not say that we sin now or in the future. I know, bear with me on this one, as you will maybe see something new here.

Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

In looking at the above scripture if the meaning were about belonging to Christ, then none of us would belong as how many can say that their flesh is totally crucified? The scripture does not mean ownership. The word "Christ's" in the Greek text means "Anointed One". If we look again with that in mind, the scripture is telling us that they who are anointed have crucified the flesh. Under the anointing we do not sin. Under his power we do not battle our flesh. We become one with Him and He is leading, directing and empowering us. It is He walking in and through us. It is no longer I that liveth, but he that liveth in me.

The Word tells us that in:

Galatians5:18; But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

What was the purpose of the law?

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The law brought us to Christ. After we met Christ then something started happening, or at least it should have. We became like the Apostle Paul, and started dying daily.

1Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

What was dying? He was dying to his flesh or his carnal nature.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Ok now here is the fun part. If we are dead then how can we sin? A dead man can do nothing, as he is dead. A dead man cannot even have faith. Notice the scripture says I live by the faith "OF" the Son of God? It is His faith working through us, not ours. (Please note that many translations have changed this word to say ("IN instead of the word OF"). Something or someone must cause life in him if he is going to do anything but just lie there. The word says that it is Christ living in us. Can Christ sin? Heaven forbid, as He was sinless. If we are dead, and it is Christ living in us, we are sinless since we are just the vessel for Him. The way that we become sinless is that we are crucified. We walk in the Spirit with His anointing; we have the mind of Christ; and we walk in His presence. We are dead; so we can't sin. If we are alive and Christ is not living in us, then it is us living, so we will and do sin. The dead you or I cannot sin or do anything else for that matter.

We will face temptations just as Adam and Eve did to take us out of His presence. They did not know what sin was until they did it. They had never experienced lust and fear, until they bought into the lie. The devil is always going to speak to us lies to take us from God's presence. Yet, these are lies. God alone is truth. They were walking in the spirit prior to that. They had an intimate fellowship with the Lord daily. They were free. They were not under the law. They walked in agreement with the Lord and all was well. It was not until they listened to the devil that they experienced sin. The devil is still doing the same thing today, as his objective is to kill, steal, and destroy. If we listen to him, we lose God's presence. Sin brings forth death. We could say that since sin is of the devil, it is the devil that brings forth death. Jesus is about life! The sad part is that when we walk in what the devil says that we are actually calling our God a liar. He cannot lie. The devil can and does lie, as he was a liar from the beginning.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

1John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

When we walk by the Spirit, we are free from the law of sin and death. The reason why is because we are dead and it is Jesus walking in us. As long as we stay in Jesus, walking by the spirit, having His mind, then we do not sin as it is no longer us that is living. If we yield to the devil, then we sin. All sin is of the devil.

Consider this. If we are crucified and no longer living then who are we? Our old name was (for example) was John. Well, John dies so who is he now? His body is still walking on earth, yet the life that he once lived is no longer. Everything changed. He has a new spirit and mind. He has allowed or as the Word says has "let" this mind be in him, which was also in Christ Jesus. He is a new person.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

We have to "let" this mind be in us. It is a choice. We can have our mind, the devils mind, or the mind of Christ. It is all a choice. Being saved does not mean we automatically have His mind. We have to let, choose, or allow His mind to be in us. If we will choose His mind, then we will not sin.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Sin is disobedience. When His spirit leads us, we are not under the law. If we are being led by His Spirit, even though another person may consider something that we do as sin, unless we are convicted by the Holy Spirit, then it is not sin to that person. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts us, not a legalistic religious person. The Holy Spirit will not ask you to do something that is sin. The difference here is that we obey His voice instead of a written law. If we stay sensitive to Him and want only His will and to please Him alone; He will tell us if we are doing something that He does not like or approve of. When He tells us, He will empower us to change. If we say no, then it is sin to us (James 4:17). He keeps the law. We will keep the law through our obedience to whatever He asks for us to do. Our guide is now the Holy Spirit, not the written law.

In the Old Testament people were given a new name.

Isaiah 62:2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. Being that we are not the same person as we were before Christ, then a new name is appropriate.

I wonder what our new name might be?

1Jo 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

1 John 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

Ro 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

5. Completeness in Jesus

The Bible tells us that we are complete in Jesus. What really does this mean?

Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

In looking at the word "complete" in the Greek text, (Definition taken from the Online Bible Greek)

4137 πληροω pleroo play-ro'-o

AV-fulfill 51, fill 19, be full 7, complete 2, end 2, misc 9; 90

1) to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full

1a) to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally

1a1) I abound, I am liberally supplied

2) to render full, i.e. to complete

2a) to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim

2b) to consummate: a number

2b1) to make complete in every particular, to render perfect

2b2) to carry through to the end, to accomplish, carry out, (some undertaking)

2c) to carry into effect, bring to realization, realize

2c1) of matters of duty: to perform, execute

2c2) of sayings, promises, prophecies, to bring to pass, ratify, accomplish

2c3) to fulfill, i.e. to cause God's will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God's promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfillment

There are many possible definitions yet being full with nothing wanting is what I am considering here. How many of us can say that we want nothing? It seems that we are always wanting something whether money, a car, a house, a marriage, a position etc. Do we really know what it is like to be complete in Him?

I have learned over the years something that has given the devil a headache. I have been privileged to experience God's presence often. I have found during that time that I want nothing. Well I must correct that statement as in His presence I just want more of Him or to stay there forever. During these times I find that I am complete. All my earthly desires seem to not even enter my thoughts or heart. I find that I just want to worship and praise Him. Nothing else matters. I find there is no greater joy or security than in His presence.

The reason that I am bringing this up is that for the most part the world and the church have bought in to a major lie of the devil. We are constantly bombarded with desires and thoughts that attempt to persuade us that we need this or that to be happy and complete. Isn't this the same lie the devil told Eve in the garden? Wasn't Eve deceived by the serpent? Like I said earlier in His presence I am complete needing or wanting nothing else but Him.

2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

The above word says that it is the spirit that gives life.

Lu 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

In Luke above it says that life is not in the abundance of things that we possess. It is the Spirit of God that gives to us life; not the things which we possess. The devil has so many trying to find life in "things", but they will not find life there. God did not make it so we could. He placed a place in us that only he can fulfill by His Spirit. Once we can get this revelation, the devil will lose a major hold on people. He will try to tempt, lie and persuade us towards things telling us that this will bring us life or make us happy. The revelation of truth that we are complete in Only Him, will ward off the attacks of the enemy. We are told that when we know the truth that the truth will make us free. The truth is that it is only the Spirit that can give us life. Once we truly get a hold of this truth, when the devil comes with his suggestions and lies we can just laugh at him. We will know the truth and what the devil throws at us will not even be considered but will actually sound ludicrous. We will be able to just resist the devil and he will flee.

Knowing this truth will bring great freedom and victory to us. Instead of pursuing "things", we will pursue His presence. We need not worry about the "things" as we are told in Mathew 6:33 that if we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness that all these "things" will be added unto us. We need not focus on the things. God will supply the things that we need. Our focus will then have changed. One of the devil's deceptions is that we must focus on things. If we focus on things, then how can we fully focus on God, His kingdom, and His righteousness?

Unfortunately there are many who have never experienced God's presence in their lives, so it makes it more difficult for them to really know what can be. This of course is not always totally the person's fault. Many of our churches don't do the things which will promote God's presence. Few seem to make this a priority. Many teach works and following the Word but never telling people that they need to get to know Jesus and the Holy Ghost. I had ministered to a gal years ago that went to a particular denomination. She was never told about the Holy Ghost and in fact she said that he was always downplayed in her church. This is so sad. I shared with her about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and she received this as hers. She even noticed then so many scriptures in the Bible that talked of the Holy Spirit. She experienced His presence. She could no longer deny His existence and power. Because of her previous lack of knowledge the devil could easily keep her focus on "things". Once she found the truth she was set free.

I have often said that people can only walk in what they know. If they don't know that something exists then how can they take advantage of it? I write this article in the hopes that many will realize what truly is available in God. He is not dead. He is still powerful. He still will pour out His Spirit upon you. You can know a freedom that you never knew was possible. You can find completeness in the God that made you and will empower and walk with you daily. Let your focus turn from the lies of the devil about "things", onto the presence of the Almighty God. You will never regret this decision. Jesus made Himself available to all of us when he sent to us the Holy Ghost. Seek His presence, as it is there that you will find completeness and your true life.

6. Death Brings Life

Death comes in two ways. We get old and die physically and we die to our flesh during being alive. We get saved and have a new nature. We have a new driving force within us that causes us to desire the spiritual things over the natural things. Though this is a process, we must die to live.

A seed must be planted in the ground and die, in order for it to live and bear fruit. Just like the seed, we must die to live. As we die to self the more the spirit of God is able to be in control. It is like a balancing scale as one side goes down the other raises up. The more that we die or go down the more the Holy Spirit is in control. We are to be led by the spirit. We are to walk in the spirit. We can't do this if we are in control. We must give up all of our control and let Him be Lord of all.

Mt 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Contrary to much teaching that is going around today, we must lose our life to find it. We are told by the world and even in many churches that so many worldly things will bring to us life. We are told that having a job, money, position, a nice house or car, vacations to faraway places, are what life is about. This is so far from the truth. All these creature comforts are one day going to all pass away. We can't take these to Heaven either. Sure they make our flesh feel good and build our pride and ego, but they are but a substitute for the real. These are all just a deception of the enemy to keep our focus on all the wrong things. We must become single-minded and focus on what does He want alone.

We are told in:

Mr 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

It is the spirit alone that gives life. The flesh profits nothing. Maybe it seems that way from a worldly perspective, yet we are not to be of this world. Scripture says that we are in this world but not of it. We are a spirit being just like God is, and we are living in a fleshly body. The flesh is not who we really are. Our spirit is the real us.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Mr 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

The cares of this world and riches are deceitful. They keep our focus on "things" rather than on God and the things of the spirit. Many people have no concept of the walk in the Spirit. They may have gotten saved but they are still so alive in their flesh. They have not tasted the things of the spirit yet. I am not condemning anyone especially as people can only walk in what they know or have been taught. They can't do what they don't know. Many churches do not even tell people what is available in God. They teach the flesh doing things. The problem is this will never satisfy a person or bring real life to them. This will never prepare them for eternity. Many have never really tasted of the Lord. They have had a form of godliness but have denied the power thereof.

The real issue is that for the most part, people have a worldly temporal viewpoint instead of a heavenly eternal one. People live as though their life here on earth and what they do here or accomplish is the real life. The problem is this kingdom built by man will not last. It will die just like us. God on the other hand has us on this earth as preparation for eternity. The more that we draw near to God and find intimacy with Him; the more that it will be a natural transition for us when it comes to eternity and Heaven. We are to rule and reign with Him in eternity. Our life here on earth is to draw near to Him, become like Him, learn that the best thing we could ever have is Him. We learn to die to self and resist the devil as we learn that neither is the right way to go. Heaven will be a real shock I think to so many as it will be so foreign to them. If we learn here on earth the things of the Spirit, it will be more of a natural transition as we learned to live in the spirit here.

Dying to self is no fun. Paul said that he died daily. I understand what he meant. I have learned that what I want or desire really is not important. We get so much prosperity teaching these days but it only satisfies the flesh. We can't serve God and mammon though many ministries seem to be doing this. Seems it is not so much about the power of God, it is more about money so they can do the things that they want to do. Too bad that much is just works and doesn't impress the Lord at all. He will ask us;"but did you do my will?" God's perfect will is that we lose our life in Him. His will is that it becomes not about me or my wants or desires, but it becomes only about what He wants or desires. I chuckle sadly many times when I hear people pray. So many are asking God to come into agreement with what they think or want instead of spending time with the Lord in prayer, praise, and warfare, and finding out what he wants and then coming into agreement with Him. The church for the most part has this so backwards. Who is serving whom? We are to be serving Him; Jesus himself gave up his own will to do the will of the Father. He did what He saw the Father do and spoke what He heard the Father say. In other words, He walked by the spirit. He was led by the Holy Spirit. He did not do the things that He wanted. He was obedient even unto death. Jesus was crucified on the cross but do you realize that His flesh was crucified before that? He died to self so that he could fulfill being the example of what is expected of us. We are told:

Ga 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Ga 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

According to the above passages we are to be crucified with Christ and it be only Christ living in and through us. If we are Christ's'', then our flesh with its lusts and passions are crucified. We can be saved but until we totally surrender and allow the Holy Spirit to lead, rule, and reign, we are not really Christ's. He is not Lord of all of us, just part. We are still living to please self. We are still trying to build our own kingdom. In Heaven there is but one kingdom and it is God's. Our kingdoms will not be there. Satan tried that already and got evicted. When we try this we are walking in agreement with the devil instead of God. Hard to look at it that way yet it is the truth. We are following the same path as the devil did when what we want is more important that what God wants. It makes us lord instead of Jesus being our Lord. We know that we are on the correct path when our heart cries out for God's kingdom, power, and will, and the things of this world are not even desired any more. We can then be assured that we are walking by our spirit man instead of our fleshly carnal man. We will want to see His Kingdom established instead of our own. We will be as Jesus when he says, "Not my will but thine be done". Can we honestly say that this is our deepest desire? If not then we have some dying to do so that we may find true life in Him.

7. False Coverings

Words from the Holy Spirit through intercession

Isaiah 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

During intercession I kept hearing the words "false coverings". I saw a cover being pulled back to expose all that was underneath. Many individuals, churches, and ministries are walking with this covering and do not even know it. Many are walking in darkness and do not even know that they are. I believe that the Holy Spirit is pulling back the covering and exposing what has been hidden. Our cry must be for truth. Our cry must be for God, to expose everything that is hidden and covered up, to the light of your truth.

The body of Christ is to be a light. This light should be so bright that the ones in darkness may catch a glimmer of it and be drawn to it. Unfortunately this light has not been very bright. It in many places has not been much brighter than the darkness. The people in darkness have not been able to see the light of Jesus so they must walk in their darkness as they cannot find the light.

As our cry is to walk in spirit and truth, and to worship in spirit and in truth, this light will become brighter. As the Holy Spirit reveals the things that have been covered then our lights will shine brightly. For the world to change, for people to change, they must see the light. We are the light, or should be if Jesus dwells within us.

May all of our hearts cry out for the Holy Spirit to uncover all the things hidden by this false covering, so that our lights may shine brightly and others are drawn to Jesus.

8. Getting the Real

Do you ever feel like the Apostle Paul when he said "Romans 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I?" Do we get frustrated because our desire seems right yet we still never enter in to what we know that God has promised? The problem is incorrect belief or thinking. We are told in Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." We need our minds changed from worldly imaginations to being full of God's knowledge. Here is how we get there.

Matthew 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith (belief) be it unto you.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith (belief) it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Mark 2:22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

2 Cor 10:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (natural or fleshly mind), but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds ;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Matthew 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh (carnal earthly nature) cannot please God.

God is bound by His word. God honors faith or belief. Jesus said in Mathew 13:58, that He could not do the mighty works because of their unbelief. It takes faith or belief to please God or to even receive from God. I have heard often times that God is not moved by need, but by our faith or belief. We must believe that God can and will do for us as He said or promised in His Word.

The next challenge is that we have believed something! We either have believed His Word or a lie from the enemy. If we believed His word there would be no problem. The truth often times is that we have believed a lie from the pit and are calling it truth. Here then is the problem. God said that He could not put new wine in old bottles. We seem to want the new yet we still have the old bottles full of the junk substitutes. In order to get the new wine; we must get rid of the old. Consider the analogy of a two-car garage that has two cars in it. We desire a new car, yet because the garage has two cars in it there is no place for the new one to go. Until we get rid of the old, there is no place or room for the new. Faith believes that if we get rid of the old, that God will supply the new. This takes belief and acting on our faith or belief. We need a thinking change. Our minds need transformed by renewing our mind with God's word, which is truth.

In 2 Cor 10:4,5, we were told that our weapons are not carnal (natural thinking) but are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. A stronghold is a thought or a control of a demonic spirit in our mind that has a strong hold over us that we are allowing to control or dictate what we believe and act upon. The inability for us to believe can even be a demonic spirit of unbelief. God said that we must cast those imaginations down. We must get rid of the strongholds. We must bring all thoughts into obedience to God's thoughts. When we hold on to the imaginations or strongholds we block the allowance of God's thoughts. This is no different than the garage analogy. When the old thoughts take up the space, there is no place for the new ones. 2 Cor 10:5 refers to against the knowledge of God. The word "against" something means that it is opposed or opposite of God's knowledge. When we allow the wrong thoughts to rule, we are actually allowing a substitute of the enemy to rule us, instead of the real that God chooses for us. In order for us to enter into what the Lord desires for us, we then must cast down or eliminate the wrong thoughts (the old wine) so we can gain God's knowledge (the new wine) to rule in our minds.

9. How Big is Your God?

Often times we go through some struggles that are tough to bear. We seem to be able to trust the Lord when all is going smooth, yet when the times get tough our trust seems to go out the window. We end up taking matters into our own hands as we don't want to go through some things. God has His ways and His own time schedule for all things. It becomes a real test of patience and we find out if we are truly trusting Him or not. We know He says many things in His Word but do we truly believe them when push comes to shove?

I think of this scripture:

James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Patience means that we must wait on the Lord. Is it always easy to wait? Does our flesh get all excited when it must be denied the things that it needs or wants? No way: it is a real struggle at times. We wonder did we hear right? Often we get in a hurry and try to help God out. He does not need our help. What He wants is our obedience and trust. Actually we are striving when we take matters into our own hands. We end up frustrated as it just doesn't work out the way we hoped. (Frustration is the fruit of the flesh not of the spirit). The problem is our lack of trust and patience keeps us from getting what God has in mind. We end up taking the devil's substitute instead. When the Lord does something or provides we learn the scripture that we are perfect and entire and wanting nothing. When we do it, we always end up in lack. The Word tells us that without faith that it is impossible to please him. He also says that the just shall live by faith. Faith means that we wait on Him and stand by faith though we see no evidence. God also says that what is not of faith is sin. How often do we get into sin because we do not wait on Him?

I know of people that walk by faith when all is going well. When the pressure comes the fear seems to take over and they get into self-works. They have to have what they want or if God doesn't do it in their time schedule, they think they are in trouble so they do it themselves. Will they get what the Lord has in mind? Most likely not as God honors faith. Fear is from the devil.

The question then is: how big is your God? Will he do what He says that He will do when all looks grim? Are you willing to hold on by faith though it may kill you to do so? There is a scripture that says:

Job 13:15 Though he slays me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

I think of King Saul when God did not answer him. He failed to trust the Lord and took matters into his own hands. Look at the results.

1Samuel 28:

6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

1Ch 10:13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it;

It pays to wait on the Lord. Is our trust just words or when we have our backs against the wall do we still trust the Lord or do we take matters into our own hands? This is something that God changes in us as we learn to be patient and wait upon Him. It is not always the end result that is most important but it is the change in us that happens during the period of waiting. God is always perfecting something in us that it much more important than what we think we need or want. Remember miracles happen when there is no other way for man to do something. We may miss a miracle of the Lord if we get hasty and in control. It is time to let go and let God. He is able. He is a big God.

10. In Everything Give Thanks!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

We are told to give thanks in everything. Why does God tell us to do that? He has a very good reason. He does say that it is the will of God that we do this. Let's look at why.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The devil is out to get us. One of the ways that he accomplishes this is when we do not give thanks. The devil only gets to us through our lack of knowledge or us allowing him to gain entrance. He does attack, but we know that the devil is a lair, so anything he says is not true. It only becomes true as we accept it as true and either keep thinking on his words or act upon them.

Isaiah 54:17 says:

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

This does not say that weapons will not be formed, yet it does say that they are not to prosper if we condemn them. When the weapons are formed and the darts come at us, our first tendency is to look at the problem or attack. That is our first mistake. This took our eyes of Jesus. When our eyes are off of Jesus we find we do not walk in faith. Faith, the shield of faith, is what is required to quench the darts of the enemy (Ephesians 6:16). Once our shield is down, we get hit with the darts. Our shield is our defense. Faith is our defense. It takes faith to please God, and it takes faith to receive from God, so the devil desires to do anything that will get our shield of faith down. The attacks are not so much the problem as what we do with the attacks. The attacks are actually just temptations to believe a lie and call it true. They are designed to take us out of faith, which will always kill steal and destroy in our lives.

When we start thanking God in the midst of the attack we are able to keep our faith, our shield of defense, so the darts will bounce off. Thanking God will close the doors for the enemy's weapons to prosper. Remember also that we enter into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Thanksgiving and praise takes us into God's presence. When in God's presence we are given revelation knowledge of how to fight the enemy. This keeps us in an offense mode. When we are just in our presence we become powerless to fight. This always puts us in a defensive mode. We only take ground on the offense, not the defense. It is not by might or power but by my Spirit saith the Lord (Zech 4:6). Until we learn that our power and ability is fruitless against the enemy and that the only way to win is to draw near to God through thanksgiving and praise, we will never experience the victory that God desires for us to walk in. Thanksgiving and praise are some of the best weapons that God has given us. We may not feel like it at times, but feelings often lie. Our walk is not based in feelings, it is based in what God said will work. May we all learn to thank and praise God for everything whether good or seemingly bad. We will find new strength, joy, and peace as we do.

11. Intimacy

In looking up the word "intimacy" in the dictionary and I found these meanings.

1. The state of being intimate.

2. A close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another

person or group.

3. A close association with or detailed knowledge or deep understanding of a place,

subject, period of history, etc.: an intimacy with Japan.

4. An act or expression serving as a token of familiarity, affection, or the like: to allow

the intimacy of using first names.

5. An amorously familiar act; liberty.

I think of a marriage relationship and how the two find intimacy with each other. They get familiar with and have knowledge of each other. They have a very close personal relationship with each other where there should be just openness and no walls to separate them. They become one.

In our relationship with the Lord, we are supposed to be intimate with Him. We are supposed to be vulnerable, everything exposed and out in the open, and actually so familiar with him and His knowledge that we become like Him.

Many I have known know who Jesus is and have asked Him to save them but have never become intimate with Him. They know about Him yet they really do not know Him. I picture this like a house. They have allowed him into a room in their heart, but have never allowed him in the rest of the house. There are many rooms of the past in us whether they are fears, hurts, or whatever. Until a person allows intimacy with the Lord, they can never find the rooms of their heart cleansed and filled with Him. They need to draw close to the Lord and get to really know Him. Then they can learn to be able to trust Him with their concerns, problems and their lives. It is difficult to become intimate with a total stranger. Time must be spent to get to know anyone. It is a choice to do that. It is a choice to have a friend and get to know and trust them. Jesus is the same as we must learn to know Him so that we can trust Him with everything in our lives. When we know that he loves us and wants only good for us, then it becomes so much easier to go to him and allow him into the other rooms of our heart. How many people can we become open and vulnerable with that we don't love and trust?

God desires to be intimate with each of us. He desires to have intimate fellowship with each of His creation. He did give to us that choice to either want or reject Him. The word says that His people perish through a lack of knowledge. We can't do what we don't know about. I just pray that all men will come to the realization that it is in their best interest to desire to really know and become intimate with our Lord. This is the best relationship that we could ever have, but we still must choose to do so. I pray that any reading these words will choose to know Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. He has much to show and tell you that will amaze you and cause your life to be full and fruitful. May the Lord give grace to all to make the right choice.

12. It is Time for the Christian to Come up To Bat

The Baseball Game

In a prophetic story I read years ago, the church was compared to a baseball game. The devil was winning because the Christians had yet to come up to bat. They were busy on the sidelines arguing over doctrine.

Today, I sensed the Holy Spirit revealing to me that another reason that we have not come up to bat is that we have been busy fighting fires the devil has started. We have been trying to clean up his mess rather than going to the root cause and preventing the mess. The devil has kept the church busy in works so that they get worn out. Yes, we must deal with the mess, but greater than that, we must start getting to the root cause if we are to ever get rid of the mess. We are told in scripture that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12). We have been wrestling with the problems of the people without going to the root source the problem. We must start dealing with the origin of the problems if we are to win this war. God equipped us with power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all of the power of the devil, and nothing by any means can hurt us (Luke 10:19). We must take up our weapons of war and deal with the spirits and the strongholds behind the problems (2 Cor 10:4). We need to take an axe to the root of the tree so that the tree may no longer grow and bear bad fruit (Math 3:10). We must quit concentrating so much on the bad fruit, and just cut down the tree so it will not be possible for fruit to grow on a tree that does not exist.

One of the problems we face is that the world is so inundated with war and death. What is the reason for this? The wages of sin is death (Ro 6:23). Death has had a hold even on the Christians where they are worn out and giving up. God does have an answer. I realized today that people whom are under this spirit find themselves feeling hopeless and discouraged. They may know the Lord, yet the battle has raged and they are giving up. Psalms 18:5 states that the snares of death prevented me. Being under the spirit of death prevents us from getting free. We get stolen from and beat up, not knowing the reason. We feel powerless to fight, as nothing seems to work, so we just give up. Many people are dealing with this. I have seen firsthand a friend that battled for years. He couldn't even pray. He was constantly stolen from and drained. His heart wanted the Lord, yet he gave up as this spirit had him so bound he didn't know how to fight. The sorrows of death totally encompassed him. The devil was determined to get him into suicide, as the deception was this was the only way out.

Yes, God is and has an answer. As people are set free from the sorrow of death and snares of death that prevent them (Psalms 18:5), they can then cry out and the Lord will answer them. He desires to speak to people. He spoke to Lazarus when he was dead and said, "Come forth from the grave". As Lazarus was obedient, the grave clothes were then removed. (Read John 11:1-44).

We cannot continue in fighting the mess that the devil has created, but we must start dealing with the one that has made the mess. We have been fighting the fires the devil started instead of fighting the devil, the real root cause. We have never come up to bat. This is no different spiritually, as we must quit trying to work the word and get to know the one that wrote it. We must become intimate with the Holy Ghost and learn how to fight in the spirit and defeat the devil. In scripture in Isaiah 30, it refers to waiting on the Lord for His counsel. The message is clear that when we don't wait to hear but just get impatient and do what we think will work we fail. God waits until we once again cry out to Him and seek His will and power. He then answers and heals and delivers. Also, in Psalms 18 we find the same remedy for when we are engulfed with death. We cry out and God answers. People have so been under the sorrow of this world and the sorrows of death that they have been unable to cry out to the Lord for help. For people to cry out, they need sorrow, but it must be godly sorrow. This kind leads to repentance (See 2 Cor 7:10). As intercessors we need to deal with the spirit of death and the sorrow that people are under so that they can find the godly sorrow that will bring their deliverance.

Several years ago I read about Charles Finny. This book had a great impact on me. I never forgot what God did. I believe that he was the one that stated that he stayed outside a city for one week and did prayer and warfare. Once he came into the city, the powers of darkness were broken and the power of God fell. People were slain in the spirit even on their job. Businesses closed as God's power was manifested so strongly. God has not changed. If He did this once He can do it again. We need to get back to the reasons it happened. Prayer and warfare prepares the way of the Lord. Our focus must change from fighting the fires the devil has started to dealing with the devil and telling him what he may or may not do. We must get on the offense. Scripture says that the violent take it by force (Math 11:12). We must go in as an army of God filled with the Holy Ghost power and possess our land back from the devil. We have the authority in Jesus name to do this. We have the power of the Holy Ghost to anoint and lead us. The only way that we will ever win a war is on the offense. We cannot take ground on the defense.

Years ago the Holy Spirit spoke this word to me. "Passive Christianity is a thing of the past. Unless you through My Spirit take it by force, you will never get it". It will not be dumped in our laps. We must fight for it.

Are there any that are willing to fight? Are there some warriors left in America that will do battle in the spirit and run the devil out so that people can cry out once again? If we do not start dealing with the root problem, the devil, we will spend our lives fighting fires and have many, many more casualties. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly (Greek-beyond measure, exceedingly abundantly above). Ephesians 3:20, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us". It happens according to the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. It is the devil that kills, steals, and destroys (John 10:10). If we are to realize life abundant, then we are going to have to deal with the devil and fight in the Spirit of almighty God, and see the strongholds of the enemy come down over cities, nations, and countries.

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

There are ruling spirits on assignment over houses, cities, countries that must be pulled down off of their demonic thrones. Notice how certain areas of the world have specific problems? How also in cities some problems are worse in that city over another? The reason is that there are demonic strongholds ruling in the spirit realm over these places. We have authority over them. As we deal with these rulers, we will find that the people will change. They will find freedom to cry out to Jesus as the Holy Spirit convicts them. The hand of God will have freedom to move in these areas. God, I have found, usually does not go where He is not invited. If people want the devil, then the devil they will get. But they need to find what it is like without the devil's influence so that they make a conscious decision.

May God give us a strategic plan of action to bring the troops together and plan our attack so that the enemy will be immobilized. Look at some of the fires the devil started that we are fighting.

  * homelessness

  * death

  * suicide

  * murder

  * abortion

  * lust of all kinds

  * greed

  * unforgiveness

The list is endless. Instead of dealing only with the wounded, we must start dealing with the one that is responsible for the wounds. Sin is of the devil (1 John 3:8). He is the one tempting and blinding eyes. He is the one that is blocking and hindering the outpouring of the Holy Ghost that will bring repentance and salvation, and deliverance. When hearts change, what the people do will change. Man cannot save nor deliver himself. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit. Warfare will allow men to be free enough to cry out and repent. Many that have gone through so many struggles may jump at the chance to change if they can find hope in something that works. Religion does not work. The law does not work. A warring church filled with the power of the Holy Ghost does work. Jesus never fails. His word never fails. He is faithful to deliver those that will come to Him.

13. Jesus Does Not Condemn

In the account of the woman at the well we find Jesus saying "neither do I condemn thee". This is the nature of Jesus. He did not come to condemn but to save.

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Re 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

The accuser of the brethren is the devil. The devil accuses and condemns. Jesus through the Holy Spirit convicts and empowers people to change.

Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Have you heard preachers or other Christians condemn people because of their sin? If so, remember that the Spirit of God does not do that. These preachers are not in Christ when they do this. They are actually walking in agreement with the devil as it is the devil that condemns. This is condemnation, judging, and a critical spirit. We as Christians are called to love and forgive people, not condemn them. If we find ourselves doing this we need to repent and allow the Holy Spirit to clean this out of us as we are not in Christ when we do these things.

Ro 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Those that are walking after the Spirit of God will not condemn people as the Holy Spirit does not do that. We have looked at this scripture as the one who is walking after the Christ is no longer condemned, but is also means that in Christ there is no condemnation coming out of them. Why would the Lord say in Luke 6:37 to not condemn, lest we condemn self? It is obvious that speaking condemnation is not of the Spirit of God.

Love covers all sins.

Pr 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

14. Journey to Our Promised Land

Re 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

A word given to me for a person:

I sensed the Holy Spirit saying this scripture (Re 3:8) concerning you that he has set before you an open door.

I saw like a cell or prison with a door open. It was a wide door not narrow one. I saw the walls of the cell closing in on you.as.it caused you to go forward and walk out the door. It caused you to move. God's purpose was to allow the enemy to close in and push you out the door.

Remember God sent an evil spirit to a person so that they would change heart and serve Him...Jud 9:23. Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech.

God allows the enemy to come after us as it pushes us to our promise land: the place ordained of God for us to be. It forces us to trust Him and go by faith. Think of a dog that has been on a chain for years. He knows how far he can go on the chain yet when he is unchained unknowingly; he still just goes to where He knew that he could go before not knowing he is free.

The Red Sea was an open door and in order for them to go through the door they had to trust and give up all fear and realize that if they stayed the enemy would kill them. Once they got to their promise Land all the enemy was killed as the Lord used the enemy to make them go forward.

15. Judgment in God's House

First of all let me say that I love the church, especially the church when it is right with God and doing His will. I am not writing to bash the church but we as the church are at fault for what happens in the world.

Whether or not we want to admit this; we do have an enemy. Our enemy is not man. The unsaved or the unregenerate man really has an excuse. They have a real lack of knowledge.

The Bible says in:

Ho 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Knowledge is the key. People cannot do what they do not know. I didn't know that I needed Jesus until some people loved me and kept crying out to the Lord for me to be saved. Until my eyes were opened I did not even know that God or salvation even existed. It took lots of crying out and prayer by these people and God did answer their prayers. I would not be here otherwise.

We as the church are responsible for what goes on in this world. We have been given great authority through the Holy Spirit. The Bible says in that:

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Our fight is not against man. It is against the principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and the spiritual wickedness in high places. Sadly we have not done what the Lord has required of us.

2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds ;)

We have tried to fight a spiritual war with carnal weapons and noticeably it has not worked. We have gotten caught up into religious works that have pushed people away. We have walked powerless, as we have not really been sold out to the Holy Spirit. We have served God in the way that we chose instead of surrendering to Him with everything and allowing the Holy Ghost to work through us.

Scripture says:

2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

We have had a form of godliness and been very ineffective. We must wake up to the fact that sin is of the devil. Yes, there is a devil and he is very real. He is on this earth and in the spirit realm over this earth and we as a church have not dealt with our true enemy. No wonder sin is rampant. The eyes of the church and the world have been blinded.

1Jo 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Did you know that we have authority given to us by God over all the works of the devil?

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Have we as a church been using this power? Obviously we have not or at least to the degree that we have needed to. I was told some time ago that a small group praying together and allowing the Holy Ghost to lead could change the course of the world. Now that is power! That is what is available to the church. Much of the church will not even recognize that there is a devil let alone do anything about him. We are warriors, spiritual warriors for Christ. We are to possess this land for the kingdom of God. We have been too busy possessing things for self and this temporal world and put God's kingdom on the back burner. Since we have authority, do you realize that we can take authority over the blinders of the devil on the people in this world so the light of the glorious gospel can shine into their hearts?

The people of the world are what they are because the church has failed to help them. Once we push back the enemy, the devil has to let go of them and they can get saved and changed by the power of God. If we don't do our job, how can we expect them to be different? They are bound and blinded and deceived just like we were at one time. I say at one time but actually we as a church for the most part are also the same as the world. I firmly believe that since God gave to us every weapon to succeed spiritually and we have not used them, that we are accountable for what is happening in this world. It is not so much talking to people and trying to get them to change their thinking. It is praying through for them that they will be reborn in the spirit and be able to recognize what real truth is.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Before I was saved, when people talked to me about God it was foolishness to me, so I know that this is true. When the blinders and the weights came off, I was able to see things that I never knew existed. I love this scripture:

Ps 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

The natural understanding cannot understand the things of God as they are spiritual. Their spiritual eyes and ears must be opened in order to handle spiritual things. Until I tasted of the Lord I had no idea how good that he was. People that have not tasted of the Lord do not know that He is good. We are wrong to expect them to know. They can only know as we as the church do our job. It is not so much door knocking as it is going before the Lord and allowing the Holy Spirit the opportunity to work through us in prayer and spiritual warfare so that the strongholds of the enemy get pulled down. The spirits behind the sins of the people can be bound and not allowed to rule and reign over the towns and countries. These ruling spirits are behind the sins of the people. If they don't know to taste of the Lord, then how are they to learn how to fight off the devil or know that he even exists? We are supposed to be preparing the way for the Lord. It takes preparation through prayer and warfare. God wants everyone saved. God will add daily to the church such as should be saved just like he did in Acts 2:47 if we will do our part. The church has been asleep. The church has left out going to the upper room and being endued with power. The church has gotten fat and passive. It is time for the church to wake up and stand up and do the things that God has ordained so that people, cities and nations may be changed by the power of God. It is time to prepare the way of the Lord.

I really believe this is where we are in the next scripture.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Unless judgment happens in the church and the eyes of the church are opened, then who is going to bring deliverance to the people that are walking in darkness? This has to happen first. The church must come alive and use its God given spiritual authority and take this land back for the Kingdom of God. God gave to us the keys to the kingdom, what has the church for the most part done with them? They have thrown them on the ground and just given them back to the devil. We are without excuse. The world has an excuse, we don't.

Mt 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

We can no longer try to fight a spiritual war carnally. We must stand up in the power of God and allow the Holy Spirit to fight through us. If you don't have any knowledge about spiritual warfare then you need to get some. There are many good books written by God's warriors that will give you understanding. The church needs to be baptized in the Holy Ghost and use the gifts of power that He will give to you. Maybe you don't believe in this, but you better shake off the deception and unbelief and get tuned in to the power of the Holy Ghost. We are going to answer to God for our passivity.

Father, let judgment come to your house. Clean up your house so your house can clean up the world and bring forth your kingdom on earth. Teach us to war. Teach us how to fight the enemy. You gave us power and authority over all the enemy, so Lord open our eyes and take the blinders off, so that we may see clearly and be used of you to take the blinders off the ones that blindly sit in spiritual prisons all over this world. Father shake us up and wake us up to what really is life and what is important to you. In Jesus name. Amen.

16. Take the Limits Off of God

Last night I had a dream. I saw in this dream a place where water was gushing out. I then saw a person putting a valve and then a pipe on the water. I knew the water was being controlled or regulated. The pipe was to allow the water to go where the person desired. When I awoke, I saw this again and spoke to a friend about what I seen. As I was explaining the dream I saw like a gusher of oil when the ground had been broken through. Man then places a valve on the oil to control it. Does an abundance of oil and water have a lot of value? These are controlled in the natural because of money for some.

God said that in the last days that He would pour out of Spirit upon all flesh. All flesh to me means man did not regulate this. The water and oil I believe were symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Prayer and warfare have broken through the barriers in the spirit realm and God is pouring out His spirit as He said that He would. We unfortunately in many places are still trying to place a valve on the flow so that we can regulate or decide when or where the flow will be allowed to go. Many churches say that we do not do these things in our church. It is just like Jesus when he healed the man on the Sabbath day. Man tried to dictate when healing could take place. The Holy Spirit is working through people in this day mightily. If they are limited or regulated, then they become like an explosion ready to go off. I think sometimes that we see moves of God all at once, instead of consistent. When the limits are taken off of God, the Holy Spirit can flow through people. We are not God, so we should never start telling God when, where, and how the Holy Spirit should flow. We need to take our control off of the Holy Spirit and just surrender to Him and allow Him to take us where He decides. It should never be our decision. It should be only His. If we will take the limits off, we will experience a mighty move of God.

17. The Chicken

The Holy Spirit uses many things to get a point across to us. This point came using a personal experience I had as a small boy that at the time I did not know Jesus. I was at a friend's house that had chickens. It came time to slaughter one. I have always been rather squeamish in this area, as I never have liked killing anything, let alone observing it being done.

I had never considered a method for killing a chicken, I guess farmers and people that were raised with animals for food would think nothing of this, but for me, it was a eye opener that at the time I thought I could have done without. Anyway, the process for killing the chicken went like this. The person grabbed the chicken by the neck and kept twirling the chicken in the air until its head came off. The chickens body then flopped all over the ground until eventually it just laid there dead. Sorry for being maybe gruesome in this story, but the Holy Spirit really does have a point through this one. Trust me.

When we as a Christian start our day, we get up, make coffee (if you drink that), take a shower maybe, eat breakfast, and go to work. We spend the day doing our job then come home all tired. We eat dinner, shower, maybe watch TV, and then go to bed. We spent our day wrapped up in many works. I want to show you a contrast to the story about the chicken.

The Word says that Jesus is the head of the Body.

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

1 Corinthians 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

When we start and run our day as I stated earlier, we have left off the head. Without the head, we are just like the chicken, as we flop around all day till we have no more life. Even though Jesus is our Savior, He has not become our Lord. We are walking a carnal walk as a Christian. We are trusting in what we think that we should do or think. We are spiritually powerless. Let's look at some of the reasons that we do this.

Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

When we allow the cares of the world or the deception of riches or other lusts to occupy our time and efforts, we have settled for so much less than what God has ordained for us to be and have. God's Word is unfruitful in our lives. We are trusting in our own mind and ability to run our lives. We are in control, not Jesus. We have actually bought the deception from satan and are agreeing with him that we need or have to do all these things. We have unknowingly made satan the Lord of our lives. For us to be connected to the real head, Jesus Christ, it takes a focus change on our part. We must decide to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (correct thinking). This is a choice. This is a decision that we must make. We must choose to follow Jesus. We must choose to have His mind. We must choose to serve Him and not self. Until we make this choice, we are just like the chicken. We are flopping around dead, lifeless, and accomplishing really nothing that is eternal. The choice involves do we want to build a Heavenly kingdom that is eternal, or do we build an earthly kingdom that is temporary? If you want to build a Heavenly kingdom, then these steps should help you.

What do we need to do to stay connected to the head, Jesus Christ?

  * We must learn to love the Lord with everything in us, even more than our self

  * We must learn to worship Jesus, with all of our heart, mind and might

  * We must learn to study the Word, have our mind renewed and washed

  * We must learn to pray and intercede for others

  * We must learn to listen to the Holy Spirit as He speaks

  * We must learn to be obedient to the Holy Spirit leading

  * We must making spending time with Jesus, a priority

  * We must desire His will only for our lives, give up our own wills

  * We must desire God's presence and the power of the Holy Spirit

  * We must desire and allow the Holy Spirit to go into every room of our heart and do a house cleaning of all the past sins, hurts, areas of demonic influence

  * We must make Him Lord!

Maybe this sounds like a lot that we must do, but if we really love Him, we will want to please and become what He desires. Our life is really not our own once we accept Jesus. He has a plan for us that will far outweigh any plan that we can come up with for our self. The joy He gives, the peace, the purpose, the fulfillment, can never be compared to anything this world has to offer. We all have a choice to make. Do we flop around in our life like the chicken with no head, or do we let the real head Jesus Christ stay connected to our body as Lord? Personally, there is no choice here. I cannot imagine trying to be Lord of my life as I always made a mess of it. Even when I achieved or gained what I desired, I was still not really happy deep inside. The only fulfillment that I have ever found is Jesus. He alone satisfies the longing within me. I pray that this is you also, and this little story might show the importance of loving Him totally and putting Him first in your life. You will never regret this decision. He is very faithful. I pray that you will stop flopping around disconnected from Jesus, the head, and make Him Lord of everything. This will be the best choice that you ever made!

18. The Holy Spirit Today

Thank God, the Holy Spirit is still alive and well, and working in the lives of all people. I know that some churches no longer recognize or allow the Holy Spirit a place.

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

1 John 5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

God said that the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost are one in Heaven. He also said that the Spirit (the Holy Ghost), and the water (the Word) and the blood (Jesus) are one on the earth. Jesus said that if He went away (to Heaven) that He would send us the Comforter (the Holy Ghost). No place in scripture does it say that the Holy Ghost did or would leave after Jesus sent him. In fact it says the opposite. Acts 1:8 says that we shall become a witness through the power of the Holy Spirit as the Holy Spirit comes upon us. We are also told to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Evidence that the Holy Spirit is still here:

Did you get saved? Who gave you the faith to believe for salvation? God says:

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

By grace are we saved. Grace means unmerited favor. Through faith means, we had to have faith. We had to believe. Not of ourselves means, we couldn't give ourselves faith and we cannot save ourselves. This was a gift of God. The gift was:

Grace-unmerited favor

Faith-ability to believe

Gift-ability to receive the gift from God

Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Greek translations:

Author-747 archgov archegos ar-khay-gos'

from 746 and 71; TDNT-1:487,81; adj

AV-prince 2, captain 1, author 1; 4

1) the chief leader, prince

1a) of Christ

2) one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer

3) the author

Author-746 arch arche ar-khay'

from 756; TDNT-1:479,81; n f

AV-beginning 40, principality 8, corner 2, first 2, misc 6; 58

1) beginning, origin

2) the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader

3) that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause

4) the extremity of a thing

4a) of the corners of a sail

5) the first place, principality, rule, magistracy

5a) of angels and demons

Finisher-5051 teleiwthv teleiotes tel-i-o-tace'

from 5048; TDNT-8:86,1161; n m

AV-finisher 1; 1

1) a perfector

2) one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith

Finisher-5048 teleiow teleioo tel-i-o'-o

from 5046; TDNT-8:79,1161; v

AV-make perfect 12, perfect 4, finish 4, fulfill 2, be perfect 1, consecrate 1; 24

1) to make perfect, complete

1a) to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end

2) to complete (perfect)

2a) add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full

2b) to be found perfect

3) to bring to the end (goal) proposed

4) to accomplish

4a) bring to a close or fulfillment by event

4a1) of the prophecies of the scriptures

The measure of faith:

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (KJV)

Romans 12:3 For through the authority graciously given to me I warn every individual among you not to value himself unduly, but to cultivate sobriety of judgment in accordance with the amount of faith which God has allotted to each one. (Weymouth)

Greek translations:

Dealt-3307 merizw merizo mer-id'-zo

from 3313; ; v

AV-divide 9, distribute 2, deal 1, be difference between 1, give part 1; 14

1) to divide

1a) to separate into parts, cut into pieces

1a1) to divide into parties, i.e. be split into factions

1b) to distribute

1b1) a thing among people

1b2) bestow, impart

Measure\- 3358 metron metron met'-ron

an apparently primary word; TDNT-4:632,590; n n

AV-measure 13; 13

1) measure, an instrument for measuring

1a) a vessel for receiving and determining the quantity of things, whether dry or liquid

1b) a graduated staff for measuring, a measuring rod

1c) proverbially, the rule or standard of judgment

2) determined extent, portion measured off, measure or limit

2a) the required measure, the due, fit, measure

If we had used our own faith, we would have boasted in what we had done. By God giving the faith, He alone gets the Glory. It is what He has done, not us. We just accept His gift. He gives to us the gift, we just accept it.

It took the Holy Spirit for us to get saved. Jesus saved us because the Holy Spirit drew us to the Father. Jesus is not physically in the form of flesh today as he was before he went to the cross. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to draw us to himself.

God dealt or gave to us a measure of faith. Jesus was the author, or origin of our faith. Jesus gave us the example through His words of what faith would do that the faith God gave to us would be activated. Once activated, then this faith was rewarded, or produced a result. That faith saves us, heals us, delivers us, provides for us, teaches us, empowers us, and quenches all the fiery darts of the enemy. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). What a great blessing from the Lord to us as He gave us the faith and rewards us for using what He gave to us. There is no way that we can boast or take any credit, as IT IS ALL HIS WORK.

What purpose is the Holy Spirit today?

Faith (Romans 12:3)

Gift of salvation (Romans 10:9,13)

Prays (Romans 8:26)

Delivers us

Heals us-By faith-(Luke 17:19) (Acts 3:16)

Provides for us (Philippians 4:19)

Our Teacher (John 14:26)

Brings all things that Jesus said to our remembrance (John 14:26)

Gives us the Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22)

Empowers us to be a witness (Acts 1:8)

Speaks through us (Mathew 10:20)

Convicts us of sin (John 16:8)

Speaks to us

Leads and guides us (John 16:13)

Protects us

Gives to us gifts (1Cor 12:3-11)

I don't know about you, but I thank God daily for the gift of the Holy Spirit and that Jesus did not leave us comfortless.

19. The Lack of Knowledge could Kill You

Ho 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Knowledge of things is a real key in life. The scripture above states that people are destroyed because of the lack of knowledge. There are so many things that we need knowledge of. The word knowledge means: to know, perception, skill, discernment, understanding, and wisdom.

I must think back from years ago when I met the Lord and was saved. I knew that there must be a God or something. I didn't really think it about it much but figured that there was something anyway. It was not until my life and dreams all fell apart and realized I had no control of my destiny that I ended up gaining some knowledge the hard way. I was suicidal as I could find no reason to live. My wife divorced me and that was too much for me to handle. I had wrapped my life in a mate and with her gone it was if my arm had been removed. I had no job, money, home, wife, nor any reason to live I thought. It wasn't until I went to a friend's house that had once tried to tell me about God that things would change for me. They asked me to pray a prayer, which I really thought was a useless waste of time but I had nothing to lose and this point. I prayed a very simple prayer and asked Jesus to come into my heart and save me as I had no life to live. To my surprise he did save me. He took what seemed a thousand pounds off of my shoulders. I felt like I was free inside for the first time in my life. I gained a new life that day. This was something that I had no knowledge that even existed. Here all the time was a way to have life, but my lack of knowledge prevented me prior to that day from receiving what I truly needed. Had I not gained this knowledge, I would have perished as the scripture above had stated.

Often we have what we need and just do not know it. A little analogy might be that you need money. You live in this house with many rooms and closets. There is this one closet that you never get in to. It has stuff just jammed in there out of the way and view. Yet in the middle of the mess is a box. You don't even know that it is there. Just because you don't know about it does not mean that it is not there. It is not until you find it or gain the knowledge of it being there that it comes to the forefront. The box contains several $100.00 bills. There is enough to take care of the financial needs that you are faced with at the moment.

So much of life is like that little analogy. We have many things available to us but because we have no knowledge of them they don't exist in our minds. My being saved was that way. I did not know that this could happen so I rejected any idea of this being real. Of course my pride would not let me admit that I needed to know that. Often our pride gets in our way and makes us our own worst enemy. I have learned to keep my mind open for new things or possibilities.

I am writing this as there are many that reject God through a lack of knowledge. If people could just understand that there is a God, that he sent his Son to earth to die for our sins, and that he offers to us life eternal, then many would get saved. The scripture says:

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The god of this world is satan. He has put blinders on people's eyes so that cannot see the truth of the real gospel of Jesus. There are many that may have even gotten saved but still are blinded by the enemy. God has much for us but because of the blinders of religion, traditions, and pride, we never enter into what he really desires for us.

Isa 42:19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant?

Just because we are God's servant does not mean that we are not blind in areas. I recall a preacher that I knew years ago. I had received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. He was determined that this was of the devil even though it is totally in scripture. He even went to a Full Gospel Men's convention to see about this. They always had people saved and healed so the fruit was right. He came back and told people that this was not of God and that if it was he would have received it himself as he had been a preacher for many years. If it were the Lord he would have it also. Oh the blinders. He was a Southern Baptist and they at least at that time did not accept the things of the Spirit. He was bound by religious tradition and teaching. At least he went to check it out but came away without. Jesus said that he could not do mighty works because of unbelief. If we go in bound to something we most likely will not receive. If it is in scripture, then it is truth and real.

After I was saved I went to many meetings. I once went where the Pastor had prayed for everyone and they were on the floor. I thought no way and that this cannot be of God (my lack of knowledge). The pastor even went down so I was the only one on my feet in the entire room. I was shaking my head thinking this has to be amiss. Little did I know what the Lord had in store for me. I then went to a Women's Aglow meeting with the lady that had led me to the Lord. I was standing during worship with my arms raised and my legs turned to rubber. I was holding on to the back of a chair to keep from falling over. I asked a person there what was going on. I was told to go forward for prayer. I thought well I need help so why not. I went up and this lady asked me if I knew certain scriptures. I didn't as I was the new kid on the block as I had just been saved a short time. Finally she just decided to pray for me. She anointed my head with oil and that was the last thing I remembered. I woke up under a chair 20 minutes later feeling drunk. I tried to stand and when I finally did staggered all over the place. I went back up to the lady somehow and she said do you want some more? I said no way as I can't handle what I have already. I did not believe in this. Yet, God chose to baptize me in the Holy Spirit anyway. Four hours later I was on the couch at home still under this power. All the sudden I just started speaking in tongues. I have not stopped since. I learned the hard way that just because I did not know about something did not mean that it did not exist. I have learned that if it is God, I want it. His ways give peace like you can never know. When I was staggering I had a peace beyond words.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

I was trying to understand by my flesh. God says that I cannot understand that way as his ways are spiritually discerned. I have learned that the more I yield to the things of the Holy Spirit that more knowledge of him and revelation concerning many things will come.

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Imaginations are thoughts. Thoughts can become strongholds in our minds where nothing can get past them. If we can get rid of them then we can tap into God's knowledge as he will share things with us. The scripture above uses the words "against the knowledge of God". Many have looked at this and assumed that it meant knowledge about him. It actually means having his knowledge. If my mind is clear from my own thoughts, then it is open to his. We are told to:

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

We must chose or "let" his mind be in us. It is a choice. If we can get to that point in our walk with the Lord then new possibilities always exist. Once we are out of the way and are living so that he can use us however he chooses, then this is where the fun of serving Jesus comes in. There is rarely a dull moment with Him. He will constantly blow our mind with the things that he does and will do. This only happens as we are open to new knowledge. Jesus came to give us life. Life comes through new knowledge. If we stay closed minded we will miss so much of what God has for us. I would encourage all that read this to consider God in new ways. Consider that if is in his Word that it can and will happen to you. Don' box the Lord in. Let his mind be in that you can walk by His Spirit and see miracles take place for you and through you. You will never regret that decision.

20. The Mind of Christ

To believe that just because a person is "Born Again" that he automatically has the mind of Christ is neither scriptural nor is it true. A person that is born again has a new nature resident within. This new nature is Christ and is brought about by the working of the Holy Spirit within him.

Scripture tells us to "let this mind be in you which was also in Christ". The key word here is the word "let". We must let or allow the mind of Christ. We all have three minds, which we may choose from. We may operate in our own carnal, fleshly, natural mind. We may operate in the mind of the devil. We also may operate in the mind of Christ, which is the mind of the Holy Spirit. We must choose which we will let rule us. Scripture says that to whomever we yield ourselves servants to obey, to them we are servants to indeed". We can serve the devil, our flesh, or the Holy Spirit.

The Mind of the Devil

Scripture tells us that the devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

We are also told that the thief cometh to kill, steal and destroy John 10:10. The mind of the devil therefore will devour, destroy, steal from us, and kill us spiritually and physically. The method the enemy uses is by suggestion to our mind. We have heard the statement that the devil made me do something. This is only fact in the case of a person that is so full of demons that the demons are actually in control of that person. We are told that "as a man thinketh, so is he". When thoughts are so controlled by demonic spirits that they control a person then there will be demonic fruit. Look at many stories of Christian men and women that have murdered someone. That person was not ruled by the mind of Christ since we are told in the Ten Commandments "thou shall not kill". The mind of Christ is a mind that came to give life, not take it away. The killing mind is demonically inspired or controlled by a demonic spirit. The devil is still working on us today as he did way back in the Garden with Adam and Eve. The devil or serpent made a suggestion to Eve that was in opposition to the will of God. Had Eve pushed off the temptation and not accepted it as truth she would not have fallen. Notice that after she yielded to the devil she then experienced fear. She did not have that while living in the Garden. The bottom line is the devil will make suggestions to our mind. We must then make a choice to either believe them or reject them. A person that is unsaved or has little knowledge of what truth is (God's Word) has nothing to compare the words of the enemy with to know whether it is the will of God or not.

Our Flesh

Our flesh is sometimes referred to as our body, yet often times it has a different meaning. Scripture says, "They that are in the flesh cannot please God". If the flesh were our body then as long as we lived in our body we could not please God. The word flesh in this scripture refers to our mind, our carnal nature, or our natural man. We also read that "the carnal mind is enmity against God". This confirms the previous scripture yet says it a little differently. God is a spirit. God has made provision for us to communicate with Him by making us a spirit being which lives in a body and has a soul or mind. When we walk by our carnal fleshly nature we do not please God because of the choices that we make are selfish and feed our lustful nature. Scripture says to walk in the spirit and to not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

Imaginations

The word imagination means thoughts. As said previously, thoughts come from our own mind, the devil or demonic spirits, and the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor 10:5 says, "Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ". When thoughts other than those initiated by the Holy Spirit are resident within our mind, our focus is on the wrong master. Entertaining these thoughts means that we are exalting these over what Christ thoughts would be. We are told to have the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ will produce thoughts that are in line with God's thoughts. These thoughts are the knowledge of God. We usually consider this scripture to mean the knowledge about God, yet if we have the mind of Christ it can only mean having God's knowledge. Any thought outside of the mind of Christ is of the flesh or possibly demonically inspired. These thoughts make either self or the devil lord, not God. These thoughts cause us to build our kingdom and not God's. These thoughts are against the knowledge of God. They are in opposition to His will so no wonder He says that they who are in the flesh cannot please Him. Not only does it keep His will from being known and done, it also keeps us from an intimate relationship with Him. We are told to have no other gods before Him. If Jesus and the thoughts from God through the Holy Spirit are not what we seek and follow, then we have made someone or something else a god before God. All unrighteousness is sin. Unrighteousness is wrong thinking. This is why we are told that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Let's face it. We do not always listen and act on the right thoughts. Yet, if we truly desire to walk in the spirit we must learn to cast down imaginations so that we may gain the knowledge of God. We must learn to have no mind of our own if we choose to have the mind of Christ. Jesus gave up His will to do the will of the Father, which sent Him. If we are yielding to Jesus via the Holy Spirit then we must do the same thing. This is the only place that we will find revelation knowledge and the true will of the Father.

Prayer

Prayer is communication with our Father in Heaven. Prayer can be fleshly or spiritual. If being in the flesh cannot please God, then we need to look at our prayer life. Do we just pray all of our problems and troubles and ask God to do many things, or do we care about what God desires? A mature Christian is more concerned about hearing and knowing what God desires than what he for self desires. It is really not about you and me; it is only about Him. If we are crucified with Christ yet we live, yet not us but Christ living within us, then whose will should we be concerned with? If we are dead, it can't be ours.

My concern is that we as Christians need to learn how to get out of the flesh when we pray and get into the spirit so that we may learn the will of God and how to pray about the things that God desires to tell us and do. The following is therefore meant for our learning and not so much a formula to follow.

Forgive! We must forgive and be forgiven, as unforgiveness will block our prayers.

Thanksgiving and Praise! We enter into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. It seems to me that if I kept helping or doing something for someone and never was thanked, I would feel a little unappreciated. We need to let God know that we do appreciate Him. God does inhabit praise. When we praise, He comes on the scene.

Cast down Imaginations\- we must get rid of the wrong thoughts and gain the mind of Christ. The natural man (fleshly carnal man) cannot receive the things of God because they are spiritually discerned). If we desire spiritual things, we get into the spirit to hear them.

Pray in the Spirit\- I firmly believe in praying in tongues. I have prayed up to 10 hours at a time. Praying in the spirit causes us to yield to the Holy Spirit and not our carnal mind. Praying in the spirit brings a release in our spirit, brings to us revelation knowledge and understanding, brings power to our prayers, shows us any spiritual warfare that God desires done to break the power of the enemy that has any hold over us or anyone else.

Pray the Word\- God confirms His Words- He confirms those things which He said to us that He will do. Many people pray the logos or written word alone. I firmly believe the logos is God, but the rhema Word is what God gives to us to tell us what He desires to do right now, or in the future that we are to stand by faith for. If we needed only the logos word, then where or what would be the purpose for the Holy Spirit? Even the gifts of the spirit are rhema words.

Thanksgiving and Praise\- We must continually thank and praise God for what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will be doing. This is faith when we can praise without seeing.

The bottom line is this then. Choose ye this day whom that you will serve. It is a choice to have the mind of Christ. It takes effort on our part to seek and find. We must determine if it is important to us to hear and know the mind of the Lord, and if so, are we willing to pay the price. Each of us makes that determination for ourselves.

21. The Normal State of Our Spirit

First let me give you an example in the natural realm. Let's say you are driving down the road in your car and all the sudden you start hearing a strange noise from the engine, or the car starts vibrating. What do you do? Do you stop and see what is going on, or do you just keep driving hoping and praying all is well anyway? Wisdom says that this is not normal for the car to have these sounds or feelings. Wisdom would say, get the car checked out before major problems occur. Many people don't stop and find out, thus having major engine or suspension problems, or even a bad wreck. These noises or feelings are warning signs or red flags. If heeded. Then we avert problems.

A second analogy brings this across too. We have many warning signs along the highway that we travel. These signs are posted for our protection. If we ignore these signs, we are likely to have a problem up ahead. If you are driving let's say the speed limit and you see a sign saying a sharp curve, do you continue driving at the same speed? Unless you are on a death wish you will change your speed. The warning signs tell us of impending danger unless we do something different by heeding what the sign says.

Our spirit is no different. There is a normal state for our spirit. Any variation is also a warning sign or a flag that there is something that is needed to be done. Let's see what scripture says. This can be a protection for us or someone else given by God for our good.

Galatians 5:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Isaiah 55:12

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Daniel 2:3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled (disturbed) to know the dream.

Psalms 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Galatians 5:16

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Our spirit should remain in the state of love, joy, and peace as the norm. Any other state is a flag or a sign that we need to do something. If we are going to walk in the Spirit as we are told to do (not asked), then we must learn to be aware of the state of our spirit at all times. Romans 8:6 states that to be spiritually minded is life, but to be carnally minded is death. The one spiritually minded has learned to listen to their spirit. They are aware when something is not normal, so it is a protection of the Holy Spirit if we listen. On the other hand, if we are carnally minded we will be unaware of the signs or flags that come from our spirit, and often may ignore them. Ignoring them takes us out from under God's protection as we have chosen to walk in our own way. I think we seem to think that we are untouchable with evil or destruction. Please remember that unless we are walking with the Lord and listening, we get out from under a lot of His protection. His grace protects us many times when don't listen, but why go through problems that we do not need too when God has given us a way to know?

Personal Experience:

I was riding my motorcycle one night and only going about six miles from one town to another. All the sudden in my spirit, I head "watch out ahead". I was going the speed limit and could not see anything to be alarmed about. Then, all the sudden I saw this dead dog in the middle of the road in my path of travel. By the time I saw the dog, it was too late. I was already on top of it. My front tire hit the dead dog and I went air born. The motorcycle was not on the ground and was swerving back and forth. I didn't have much control over what it was doing. I saw the headlights of oncoming cars coming towards me and I wondered if I was going to live through this one. God and His grace came all the sudden. The motorcycle was on the ground as normal in an instant and I had full control once again. I tend to think an angel must have helped me, though I cannot prove it. Once I got to town, I stopped, got off the motorcycle and shook awhile. That was a scary ordeal for me at the time. I learned my lesson. I didn't slow down even though I looked ahead. I learned that these impressions in our spirit are for a reason, and that we can trust them. Had I not known the Lord the situation may have gone another way, who knows? We all can probably tell of experiences that we have had that maybe are similar that we know we somehow escaped.

The previous experience and the analogies had more to do with our protection. As a child of God, we have Jesus in us leading and guiding us as to what He wants to do. So more than just a protection, listening to our spirit is part of the work of the ministry of Jesus through us. Jesus wants to touch people. He can only do this through us, as we are willing and obedient. If we do not listen, then how can he fulfill what he desires for someone else through us? The carnal mind is selfish. The spiritual mind is gives life to self and others and glorifies Jesus Christ.

Personal Experience Regarding Something Jesus Wanted to Do:

Recently, I had uneasiness in my spirit. I started praying with understanding then in the spirit (tongues), I then kept having the impression that I needed to take something to a person. I did so and the uneasiness dimmed. I still didn't have total peace, so after I got back home, within minutes a person came over, which by the way was at the house I had just gone too. She was heartbroken and upset and needed love and support. I hadn't gotten all of the purpose of the flag, though I had gone the right direction. I had no impression at the house to do anything different than what I had done. But, God had my attention and made me aware of something that He wanted to do through me. I then consoled the person and listened to their cry for help. I then prayed for her before she left, and my spirit then returned to its normal state. The uneasiness was a flag that I needed to do something. By asking the Lord and praying, He was able to tell me what He wanted to do. We need to draw nearer to Him at times, as He wants to speak to us or do something through us.

Listed are some of the things that I have learned to do and have experienced results.
  * prayer in the spirit

  * praise

  * just plain asking the Lord what is up

  * casting down imaginations

  * breaking the assignment of the enemy against me in Jesus Name

  * slow down or change course

Some of the causes of our spirit not in its normal state:

  * going a wrong direction, change course

  * attacks of the enemy to kill our faith (takes faith to please God)

  * attacks of thoughts upon our mind, if allowed causes a separation in our mind from our spirit, thus taking us from God's presence

  * need to pray

  * need to worship

  * God just trying to get our attention, if we allow Him to do this, we may avert an upcoming problem or attack. God may want us to do something else so we need to draw nearer to Him

If something is going on in the spirit realm that the Holy Spirit wants you to be in prayer about, praying in the Spirit, no matter how long it takes, will bring your spirit back to its normal state of peace, love, and joy.

We are told that we are to go out with joy and be led forth with peace. Peace and joy are the fruit of the Holy Spirit. If everything is right, we should experience these as the norm. Any variation then tells us that something is needed. The Holy Spirit is putting up a red flag that there is something that is needed for us to do. Something He wants to do through us. If we will learn to listen to the state of our spirit and be sensitive, the Holy Spirit will be able to accomplish His will through us. We must make it our priority to always listen to our spirit. Be sensitive to Him, you will not regret it. Someone's life may be saved or changed as a result. You may get to take part in a miracle of salvation, healing or just give hope to a hurting soul. We will not always get it right, but as we keep yielding our will to the Holy Spirit and try to listen, we will get better and not miss it as often. No one is perfect, but we can at least go down the right road. That is all Jesus asks.

Realizing that the enemy will always try to take our peace and kill our faith, which it takes to please God, we could be experiencing a demonic attack. If this is the case, as we pray in the spirit, the Holy Spirit will pray through us in authority over whatever is trying to come against us. The attack will be squelched, as we are obedient to the Holy Spirit.

I hope that by reading this little study that you have become more aware of your spirit man and the need to learn it's normal state. This is a learning time for all of us, but my priority is to learn to listen. If Jesus is going to touch people, then He needs you and I as vessels to do so. There is a blessing for everyone as we learn to listen. One of my favorite scriptures is found in Zechariah 4:6, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord. If we will learn to listen, His power will be demonstrated through us. Personally, there is no greater joy than to have Him work through me to touch a life. I pray that this will also become your priority also.

22. The Perfect Match

Have you ever noticed that when a person is single that people try to match you with someone else? They may see two single people and say wow, these two are so much alike, and they are just made for each other. Often then people thinking that try to help set up their meeting.

From a Christian perspective I see a perfect match for all people. Every person created by God needs one thing. They all need to know that they are loved by God. No matter the problems or needs they have, if they do not know how much they are loved, they suffer loss. Years ago the Holy Spirit spoke to me about people's problems. He said that my responsibility alone was to just bring them to Him, as He would take care of the problems.

In the last few weeks, I have become more aware of people that are dealing with fears. These fears are keeping them from running to the Lord, the fixer of their problems. The fears that I have noticed have come about by situations in people's lives around their relationship with their natural father. Traumatic things happened when they were little children. They became scared to come to daddy with their pains and troubles. Unfortunately now they look at their Heavenly Father the same way and are unable to run to Him. They run to men, and anyone that they think will help, or just have given up, as they can't find help anywhere. They settle for less in relationships still trying to fill that void of a father's unconditional love. The fear kills faith. The fear causes the power and love and sound mind of a Christian to be destroyed. The word says that perfect love casts out all fear. Since fear is a spirit, then love is a key to everyone's freedom. If we all can just get to Jesus and get a revelation from Him of how much that He truly loves us, then these spirits of fear and others will have no more power against us. The fears are just lies of the devil that tell us if we run to Jesus that we will be treated just like our earthly father treated us. The perfect match for all of us is Jesus. He alone can and does fill all of our heart's longing and desires. No man or devil can take the place of that deep intimate loving relationship with our Savior and Lord.

If you find yourself struggling with fears that are keeping you from Jesus, then I pray that you will at least cry out and ask God to give you a revelation of His love for you. Once you can know this, these fears will dispel and have no more power over you. When we know the truth, the truth will set us free. You once again can be that little child that when you skin your knee, you can run to a loving Father for help knowing no fear of rejection, hurt, or condemnation. Daddy will just pick you up and put you in his arms and love away the pain. The perfect match that you are looking for has His arms outstretched right now saying come to me as I care. I will heal those wounds. I love you. No earthly man can do this for us. Only Jesus is the perfect match. We are complete in only Jesus!

Remember this scripture?

Ephesians 3:

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

Once you are able to comprehend the depth of his love for you, there will never again be any fear that can keep you from running to Him with everything. He will never turn you away. Never! Jesus alone is the perfect match for you that you are seeking. No one else can fill this in you.

He alone is pure love.

23. The Rain

The natural rain falls and cleanses all things that are exposed to the rain. The rain also does something else. Rain softens the ground. Ground that has been hard where plants and objects have been firmly held becomes softened as the rain penetrates the soil. Where once it was difficult to uproot something, it becomes easier to dig out the roots.

The Holy Spirit rain accomplishes the same thing in the spiritual realm. Hearts that have been hardened are softened as the Holy Spirit rain falls. The softening allows for change. Where the strongholds in the mind kept people bound to untruths, the Holy Spirit rain can penetrate these strongholds of the enemy. The Holy Spirit rain can penetrate even the hardest of hearts. Depending on how hard the heart is, the Holy Spirit will just give a steady slow rain that little by little will saturate. A cloudburst will cause much of the rain to just flow across the surface but because it is such a great amount at once, little will soak in. The Holy Spirit is like this to us. He gently and steadily will let the rain fall. Each drop soaks in a little at a time. With each drop a softening occurs. Eventually, the soil of our heart has softened enough that the roots can be laid bare and removed. The past hurts and the demonic influences that have so disrupted our lives are now laid bare and exposed. These roots have kept us from true fulfillment and a deep relationship with our Savior.

God so loves each one of us. We get impatient at times, as we want change quickly. There are areas in our hearts as well as in others that are deeply rooted in hardened hearts of soil. God allows the Holy Spirit to soften these little by little. If we would just remember that God will never allow any more than we can take. He prepares hearts little by little as they are able to withstand the change. Next time we watch the natural rain coming down; maybe we will think of this little story. The rain will penetrate work down to even the deepest of roots if it rains long enough. When you see the rainfall this should increase your faith, as you know that the rain is working in the hearts of mankind. You can now just stand by faith and thank Him as you await the changes that he has in store. The rain always cleanses even down to the roots.

Let us do everything that we can to allow the Holy Spirit rain to fall on our hearts and the hearts of others. Let's do the warfare and intercession that the way of the Lord be prepared. Let's make a highway for the Holy Spirit to go down with freedom and with no restrictions so that hearts will be saturated with Him. Our prayer and intercession moves the obstacles out of the way. Our prayer and intercession is what the Lord uses to set people free. Let's be faithful to pray, intercede and do the warfare so that hearts can be softened as the Holy Spirit rain falls. Our prayers are the raindrops of the Holy Spirit that will penetrate those hardened hearts. Some hearts take more raindrops than others do, so keep praying and believing.

24. The Snares of Death

Is it just my view or are we surrounded with a preoccupation about death? It seems that every where we look, the media, the news, the television shows, all have a theme of death. Is there a reason for this?

The Bible says:

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

1John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Behind death is sin. Behind sin is the devil. What is the devil all about? He came to kill, steal, and destroy. Could it be that the world is so full of sin, that we are so blinded by the devil and that we are walking in his camp that it has caused us to now be preoccupied with what sin brings death?

2 Samuel 22:6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;

Psalms 18:5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

Look what death does in the previous two scriptures. Not only does it snare us, it will encompass us with the sorrows from hell, but it will also prevent us. David was alive when he wrote the verse in Psalms. So apparently he was not talking about physical death, but spiritual death. Sin does bring forth death. It brings forth a spirit of death, which will encompass us and prevent us. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). It is not really God's will that we walk in death or sin. It is God's will is that we walk in life. It is interesting to me that Jesus said:

Mt 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Lu 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Jesus wanted them to preach life. He said that to follow him that they must come out of the death. The kingdom of God is about healing, deliverance, and eternal life through salvation. Death has no place in it. As a born again believer in Jesus Christ we will not die. Our present physical body will die but we will get a new one. Death is not a problem with a Christian. All

we do is change houses. We are a spirit being that has a mind or soul that will live on through eternity. If we were preaching life, then why would we desire to hear about or view death so much? Shouldn't we desire things of life more? Jesus is not about killing people, He is about loving and saving them and giving them life. Love does no ill, so it will not kill if it is God's love. If we are of Jesus then we should be filling our self with things that add to life, not death.

A friend of mine enjoyed playing games on the computer. These games were all about war and killing. I never could understand his enjoyment of killing even in a game since I knew that Jesus was about life and not death. Finally the Holy Spirit revealed to him that there was a demonic spirit of death behind them. He was snared by death. He did things that fed a wrong spirit. Praise God for revelation that set him free that he might enjoy life.

I want to encourage any person that is preoccupied with death to really look at what most likely is behind it. A demon spirit of death may have you ensnared. Either sin or the demon may be stealing from you the life that God intends for you. We are what we eat. We are what we feed our spirit. We can feed life or death into our spirit. It really would be great if we could watch things on television that are about the good things of life, or read in the news the good things that are happening. I don't know about you, but I am tired of always hearing about what the devil is doing, instead of what God is doing. Does anyone else feel the same?

25. The Spider

Recently I went to a spot on the river to just relax. I noticed a spider web. I found myself watching the web. All the sudden a big bumblebee got caught in the web. Instantly it seemed the big brown spider was there attacking the bee. There was a struggle but then the bee fell out of the web. I thought the bee had died. To my surprise the bee got up and flew away. The spider never moved again. The spider must have gotten stung by the bumblebee in the struggle. I thought of this and knew that there was a spiritual meaning to what I had witnessed.

Under normal circumstances most insects that got caught in the web, would have been the victim and dinner for the spider. But in this case, the victim was stronger than the spider.

In our walk with the Lord, the devil has many webs in which he will try to entrap us and wrap us up and choke the life out of us. The ones that are spiritually strong will be able to withstand the battle and become the victor. Yet the ones that are spiritually weak, will be become the victim. This little story shows how important that it is to spend the time with the Lord and do our praise, prayer, intercession, and to draw near to Him. This is a time in history that the battles are greater as the enemy has been attacking more and more. Unless we become strong in the spirit like the bee, the enemy, the spider, may end up having us for its lunch.

Lu 11:22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

May we become the victors instead of the victim.

26. The Spirit Gives Life

2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Ever since we were born, most of us have been taught some wrong things. We have been told that money, cars, houses, marriages, kids, airplanes, vacations, fame, and many other things will give to us life. Has anyone figured out that this is a lie from the pit? No amount of money or possessions, fame or fortunate will or can give that peace and completeness inside that only Jesus can give.

Remember when Jesus was tempted of the devil for forty days and nights? The devil tried to persuade him that the world and its goods would be his, with a catch of course. He would have to bow down and serve him. How many people are still pursuing gaining the whole world as their source of happiness? I wrote a poem once and had a response from someone from another country. He said that there is the gospel and then there is the American gospel. These were quite different from the other. Not only does the world preach that prosperity will make you happy, but unfortunately so does much of the church. I'm sorry, but we have bought a lie. These things are nice, but they are not life in themselves. Consider this. When we have all that we need, who is getting the glory? God said that he would supply all of our needs. If we keep supplying them, then what need is there for God to supply? We miss out on seeing the hand of God work in our behalf. This I have found is one of the greatest joys. To see God provide and then our knowing that it was only he, is a glorious experience. It does much for our faith and trust. We get to see that God is truly faithful to his word. He does what he says that he will do.

Scripture states: in KJV

Lu 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for

a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things, which he possesseth.

Mt 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

The real problem is, as we have believed the lie that we spend our time focusing on "things", instead of drawing near to the Lord through the Holy Spirit. The thing focus is the satisfying of the flesh, which by the way cannot please God. The focus on the spirit will produce fruit that comes from no place else. Read Galatians 5:22-23. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." This seems to me something that is far greater than anything the world or devil can offer. How many people have we heard of that had it all, yet committed suicide, as they were unfulfilled and miserable?

I want to encourage you that if you are truly looking to find real life, then start looking to Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Spend time doing the things that draw you closer to Him.

Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Our completeness comes only in Jesus Christ. Everything else is a substitute and will leave us unfulfilled and empty.

27. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

Ge 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, they were told that they could eat of the tree of life, but not the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The word says that it is the spirit that gives life. The tree of life was the spirit of God that produced life in them. When they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they became aware of the evil of the enemy, satan.

Mathew 7:

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

When they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, in order for them to get back to where life is, they now needed a Savior. Their tree now had mixed fruit as it had fruit from the Holy Spirit which was life, but also fruit from the enemy that produced death. We are told that a house divided cannot stand. Their house became divided. Not until the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was hewn down and cast into the fire, could they experience and walk in the spirit once again.

Jesus came to save us and deliver us. He is delivering us from all of the bad fruit that we may walk in the Spirit once again just as Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden. He is taking us full circle back to the garden. Man started in the garden, then he sinned, Jesus came to deliver us so that we can go back to where we really belong. The interesting thing here is that Adam and Eve were made to live in the Garden of Eden. They really didn't choose to do so, they started out that way. They could only choose to stay there by doing what the Lord had told them. We must make a choice to live there. We must cut down the bad trees in our life that we may go where they once were. God had told Adam and Eve to not eat of the tree so they did have a choice to make. I don't really believe that they knew the results that would take place if they did though. No person in their right mind that knows the fruit that comes from serving the enemy would choose him over the Lord. God always gives man a choice and He even gave that to Adam and Eve. We never really know it seems what the bad choices will produce in us. Just like the enemy tempted them, he tempts us with things that look so good, but if we believe him and forget what God said about sin bringing forth death, we are going to learn the hard way. We have the pleasure for a season, but afterwards we find death always spiritually and sometimes even physically. It really comes down to do we believe what God said? Can we trust in what He said no matter how we are tempted and lured by the enemy? It is all about obedience and trust. We seem to walk with a trial and error mentality. We will try it, see if it works or not, then end up crying out to God to forgive and deliver us from the wrong choices that we make. I guess that we are just a little stubborn and rebellious. The enemy was booted from Heaven because he wanted to be in control. This resembles us today doesn't it? We think that we know what we like and what is good for us.

All I know is thank God for sending us a Savior. Because of Jesus we are given the choice of going back to the garden where we might walk an intimate walk with our Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit.

28. The True Disciple

I just posted a word I believe that was from the Lord concerning 2012. I was thinking after that maybe I should write about what a disciple really is.

I looked up the following scriptures as a basis for this writing.

Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple

Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Mark10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

One who is the Lord's disciple, takes up his cross, and follows the Lord. He listens to the Holy Spirit and is led by the Spirit at any cost. According to the words of Jesus, a disciple has these traits.

They are ones that:

  * have learned how to put Jesus over father, mother, sister, brother, wife, and even self

  * must bear their cross and come after Jesus

  * have forsaken all that he has

  * must deny self

  * must give to the poor and sell all that they have as led by the Holy Spirit

These are some really tough things to do from the flesh viewpoint. We are told in Mathew 6 to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Basically then the previous list of 5 things is saying that we must put Jesus above anything. We must want His will above anything else. We must desire to follow Him more than do anything else. We have learned to listen to His Spirit and be led by Him instead of being led by our head and carnal desires. We have learned to be content with or without and are able to trust the Lord explicitly to take care of us. We have learned that it is about what he wants and not about what we want. A disciple has an intimate relationship with the Lord and the primary focus is to build the kingdom of God as led by the Holy Spirit. If we are unable to trust the Lord totally, then it is difficult to be a disciple as there is a great cost. The cost is your worldly natural life. You become like Jesus when he said that he came to do only the Father's will. Great things can come through the person that has learned to lose his life to find it. What we find is a deep intimacy with the Holy Ghost. He uses us at the times appointed by God and we see powerful things take place. We are just the vessel. All initiation of works comes through the Holy Spirit leading, directing, and empowering. We become like Jesus and do only what the Holy Spirit says and speak only what we are told to speak. It is the straight and narrow way that few seem to find. The reason being is that many have not or will not surrender that far. They still believe life is in the abundance of things they possess. They may have a form of godliness but actually deny the power of God working in and through them. A disciple has given all to Jesus and made Him Lord over anything and everything. They want to please and do His will over anything else. They are sold out to Jesus. To be a disciple is then to be led by the Spirit and do whatever is asked by him. It is not a religious thing it is a relationship thing. The Holy Spirit is the one you allow to be in control. You have given up your control, desires, will, passions, etc. Though it may be difficult for our flesh, it is the greatest thing that we could ever do. People may think we are nuts, yet we have a peace beyond anything the world can give and we know who we are in Christ and have fallen in love with Jesus. The bottom line is that we are living by the Spirit and not by our flesh. This is a true disciple of Jesus.

29. True Forgiveness

Mt 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.

Mt 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Often times we say that we have forgiven a person, yet our words say different. We may vocalize that we have forgiven, yet it is like a root of bitterness that springs up and troubles us whenever the person name or a situation is mentioned. If we have truly forgiven, then our heart has released all concerning the person or situation. Our words towards a person will be love not all the other junk that can come out of our mouths when we have not forgiven. All we have to do is to listen to what a person says about another to determine if they have truly from their heart forgiven, or if they have taken on an offense.

God says in;

Mr 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

So if we do not totally forgive, God does not forgive us. When we do not forgive our prayers are hindered. We cannot walk in love with unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, hatred, resentment, or jealousy in our hearts. The enemy works hard on us to get us offended at a person. The reason being is that he knows that we cannot pray for them so that they can be set free, and that as long as we carry this offense, we cannot enter into what the Lord has in mind. The devil always comes to steal, kill, or destroy. Everything he does is too cause one of these in our lives. When we hold an offense, we give the enemy legal ground to kill, steal or destroy in our lives. What a person did may be wrong, but how we react to what they did is just as important. When we can show love for a person that has wronged us, we are showing God's love through us. We can then pray out of a heart of love not out of a wrong emotion, feeling, or spirit.

Lu 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Jesus was our example. The ones that crucified him he asked the Father to forgive them as they didn't know what they were doing. We get bent out of shape over so many things that others do, but none of what we experience can compare to be crucified on a cross. If we then are "in" Jesus, then we must be able to ask for forgiveness also. He held nothing against them. We need to walk in that kind of love also. Not easy I know, but Jesus was our example. We can do it if we allow our self to become crucified with Christ and also allow Him alone to live within us.

If we desire the Lord to forgive us, we must allow the Lord to cleanse and deliver us from all unforgiveness.

30. Truth Dispels the Lie

Recently the Holy Spirit talked to me about our dog Babe and how we are so similar. I looked out the window and watched when he was on his chain. He did everything he knew to break the chain or get loose. He wanted to be in the house. He could see the house and his owner, yet that chain kept him from getting there. When we let him off of the chain he ran and jumped, as he was so happy to be free.

We are so much like that. We sometimes can see where we want to be, yet to figure out how to get off the chain that binds and keeps us from getting there, we seem to have no clue. We do everything that we know to do, yet we stay bound. When Jesus comes on the scene and turns us loose, we jump and leap and get excited just as babe does. Sometimes we may be asleep thinking we are chained and awake not knowing that we are actually free. We stay bound by the lie that we carry in our mind. Sometimes we need to just take that step of faith and then all the sudden we realize that we are free and not bound. We are told that when we know the truth, that the truth will set us free. Notice that it is not the problem that has us in bondage. It is the lie that we have believed that actually binds us. This is why truth sets us free. The problem goes once we see truth. The lie is the bondage; the outward is just the fruit of the lie. Remember the scripture as a man thinketh so is he? As the truth comes in through the Holy Spirit, then the lie we believed no longer has power.

All the outward things that we desire to see changed will change when we see them through truth. The devil is a liar. We have believed so many lies and are walking in them and have no idea that we are doing it. We all walk in the light of truth that we have. May God help us by giving to us all wisdom and revelation knowledge through His Holy Spirit to see the lies we have bought from the devil unknowingly.

If you are bound in any way, then seek truth. Seek revelation as to all the things that are the root of the problem. When the Holy Spirit pulls out the roots, then there will be no more bad fruit. The devil seems to always insist that we focus on the problem to change it. That just puts it in our own strength to deliver our self. The Holy Spirit once told me this; "Circumstances are not the problem, as we change then circumstances will automatically change. Circumstances are only there because of the way that we view them". When we see the truth, we see circumstances through God's eyes, and find that they are no problem at all. When we walk in spirit and truth, the problems are no longer there. Jesus is the truth. Jesus is the deliverer. The closer we get to Jesus the more these lies will be revealed. As we look to Jesus, the truth, instead of the problem, then our victory will be assured. It will come in God's time and way, so we must just rest and trust Jesus to do what He is faithful to do.

31. Turn the Ringer On!

In this modern world of technology, we are able to turn the telephone ringer up high or down low. When we have such busy schedules we may turn the ringer down, as we don't want to be distracted by the phone ringing. We may even use an answering machine, as we just don't seem to have time to talk on the telephone. Even if we can hear the telephone ring, we still must stop and pick up the receiver to find out who is calling.

I believe that the Holy Spirit is making some Heavenly calls. When we have the ringer so low or the answering machine answering the calls, we miss what God is saying to us or don't get the message when we really need it. Our schedules have become so busy that the Holy Spirit has been turned down so low through our works and other distractions of this world, that we are missing His call. Jesus desires to be intimate with us through His Holy Spirit. In order for that to happen, we must be able to listen for His call. We must order our schedules different so that we have time for those calls from the Lord. We need to learn to just rest and relax in His presence and see what He would say to us. One thing I have learned by the grace of God is that I need to hear from Him daily. My life is not my own, I gave it to Jesus. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us for our good. When we don't spend the time with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to speak to us, then we are just walking in our own works, which really accomplish little for the kingdom of God. I am constantly seeing in the Spirit the disciples sitting at the feet of Jesus and having intimate fellowship with Him. There is constant two-way communication. This did not stop, or shouldn't have because Jesus went to be with His Father. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit so that this intimacy could continue. We cannot be led unless we learn to take time to listen. Did not the Word tell us that the Holy Spirit would lead and guide us into all truth? Did not Jesus tell us that the Holy Spirit would bring to our remembrance those things, which Jesus spoke? We need the Holy Spirit. We need His guidance.

So how do we turn the ringer up so that we can hear? We turn the ringer up by entering into His presence. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He doesn't go for the most part where He is not invited. He will knock or cause the phone to ring; yet we must either open the door or pick up the receiver. We are told that we enter into gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Consider when you have done things for someone and they never thank you. How do you feel? Does this really energize you to want to do more for that person? We need to turn the ringer up by entering into His presence with thanksgiving. We so often pray and ask God for so many things and then just go and do our own plans. If we would just stop our works and just start thanking the Lord for all that He has done yesterday, what He is going to do today and tomorrow, we would find that He would show up with His presence. We need to thank Him for things we so take for granted. We have clean water to drink, we have a toilet, we have a roof over our head, and we have food and clothing. Many countries cannot say all of that. We are blessed and take it for granted. There is always something to be thankful for. Once we spend time thanking Him and then spend time praising Him, His presence will come. He inhabits our praise. Our ability to hear Him speak increases when we listen and yield to the Holy Spirit. As we pray in the Holy Spirit we build up our spirit man on our most Holy faith (Jude 1:20). We now are in a position to hear should the Holy Spirit wish to speak to us. We must give Him the opportunity to speak to us. If we were the disciples sitting at the feet of Jesus we would be able to hear should Jesus desire to speak. We must get our self into a position to hear. This is turning the ringer up. The only way to do this is learn to spend time with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is speaking to many these days; will you allow Him the opportunity by spending time with Him? Will the cares of this world choke Him out so you cannot even hear the telephone ring? The choice is ours. If we draw near to God, He has promised to draw near to us. Notice that we must start the process. If you don't pay your telephone bill, you get your telephone disconnected. If we don't do things to take us into the spirit, we get disconnected also. We draw near, and then He draws near. We open the door or turn the ringer up, and then He will call. Jesus desires intimacy with His Church. He desires to tell us many things. He desires to teach us, lead us, empower us, and protect us. If we do not listen to Him through the Holy Spirit then how can He do this? I pray that we all will turn the ringer up and learn to listen to whatever He would desire to tell us. It is for our good always.

32. Understanding God's Word

I recently read an article posted on this site concerning Bible translations. I found the article to be accurate as far as I could tell and very thought provoking. The negative possibility of what is happening right under our noses is staggering. I am basing this article on some things I believe were revealed to me as a result. Many people say that they have a difficult time understanding the KJV. I want to submit this to you and others. First God is a spirit. To understand spiritual things you must first realize that this is a spiritual happening and not a natural happening. The Holy Spirit wrote the Bible through man. It was spirit led and anointed by our Heavenly Father. God confirms His Word, not what men say. He watches over His Word to perform it. I had never considered that some Bible translations we presently have were not the inspired Word of God. They may have some words correct but also may have many changes and or omissions as the writer of the article that I read pointed out.. I see two things going on with this:

First we know that the enemy is out to deceive. I think that we all know that just because a sign on a building says that it is a church, does not mean it is an anointed Church that is of God. With the same token, just because a book says that it is a Holy Bible, does not mean that it is the inspired Word of God. Many things are written, yet not all are led of the Holy Spirit and have the blessing and anointing of the Lord upon them. We know that our enemy the devil is using many avenues to blind and deceive. I find it interesting that he has even snuck in and changed the Word of God and many of the church have bought into it. I had one pastor tell me that it didn't matter as Jesus was coming soon anyway. Since when does speaking the truth not matter?

My second observation is that many churches and people leave out the Holy Spirit. Being that the Holy Spirit wrote the Bible through man, then it stands to reason that we need the Holy Spirit to understand what the Lord is saying through it. We are not to lean on our own understanding. In other words understanding is not an intellectual thing it is a spiritual thing. The natural man does not understand spiritual things. The only way to understand the Bible is the Holy Spirit revealing truth to us. Man has tried to make the Word of God understandable to the natural man. The problem is that if that were possible then where does the Holy Spirit come in? The Holy Spirit is our power. He is our revelation and brings forth those things which Jesus spoke of. He is the teacher. To just have our head full of some understanding makes us only religious. The letter of the law kills. The spirit gives life. The Word energized by the Holy Ghost is powerful and will change people and many things. Yet if we adhere to a watered down and incomplete book then we are only walking in a form of godliness but are denying the power. God's word was not designed to be figured out by the natural man. It takes the Holy Spirit to interpret what is said.

Proverbs 3:

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Mt 13:11 He answered and said unto them, because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Lu 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

1Co 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

I see many statements that people make that say they cannot understand the KJV. If we look at scripture we are too not lean on our own understanding. So of course in the natural we do not understand spiritual things.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The reason that the natural man cannot understand spiritual things is that they are not supposed to. It takes the Holy Spirit to understand spiritual things. I know that this may not be popular to say, but if we want to understand spiritual things we must press into the spirit of God. The closer and more intimate we get with the Holy Spirit, the more revelation that will come of His Word. Scripture above talks of mysteries. The Word is a mystery. It takes the Holy Spirit to reveal it. The whole issue is the natural trying to understand God, which they cannot. There is a cost to understand. The cost is becoming crucified with Christ and allowing Him through the Holy Spirit to live through us. We must have and desperately need the Holy Spirit. Jesus had to have him and He was our example. So why do we think we don't?

33. Victory Over Thoughts and Attacks

Resist the devil and he shall flee

Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Don't give place to the devil

Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

Think on these things

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Deliver him out of all his distresses

Ps 107:6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

Perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee

Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Cast down imaginations

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

If thoughts that come do not line up with the scripture of what to think on, then cast the thoughts down. Otherwise entertaining the thoughts will give place to the devil and if we think upon these they can become an entrance for the devil to form a stronghold in our mind that will take our peace.

Ps 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

God's Word gives light, the devil's word gives darkness

Ps 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

We Are what we think!

Pr 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

34. Walk in the Spirit

As Christians, we have a struggle that is ongoing. We have two natures. One is spiritual, the other is fleshly. This study is written to hopefully help others find some understanding of what our battle really is and how to come out a winner in Jesus.

All verses quoted are from the KJV with some paraphrased. All translations are taken from the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and the Online Bible Greek and Hebrew Lexicon.

The Body, Soul, and Spirit

In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, we learn that we are a body, a soul, and a spirit.

The body, our outer fleshly covering, without a mind or spirit is just a dead corpse. The body in itself does nothing but house the mind and spirit. The seat of all emotions, will, passions, intellect is the mind or our soul. Our spirit is where the divine things of God are manifest and live.

The Flesh

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Online Bible:

Flesh - the flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God

Strong's:

Flesh-or as the symbol of what is external, or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties [physically or morally] and passions), or (specifically) a human being (as such):—carnal(-ly, +- ly minded), flesh([-ly]).

Galatians 5:

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness,

Lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, sedition's, heresies,

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

If we allow the works of the flesh or our carnal sensual mind to rule, we will not have the fruit of the Spirit manifesting through us. The kingdom of God is the fruit of the Spirit in us operating. It is the power of God over the flesh (our carnal mind) and the demons that try to control and tempt us to sin.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

I have heard man talk about the flesh in such loose terms that they have not grasped what the Lord is telling us. The flesh by definition means ruled by externals, or the senses, or by the carnal mind. The mind is external of the spirit. It is separate from the spirit. Its function is to not be a place full of thoughts; it is a place of decision as to what to yield too. The Word says that they that are Christ's' have crucified the flesh or better said have put to death the carnal mind with its lusts and passions. The Apostle Paul said that the carnal mind is enmity against God (Ro 8:7) and they that walk this way cannot please Him (Ro 8:8). Yet on the other side he does say that they that walk in the Spirit find life and peace (Ro 8:6). Our true life only comes as we yield to our spiritual nature. Yielding to our carnal nature displeases the Lord and brings death to us spiritually.

The Enemy

We know that the enemy always attacks the mind. He desires that we as Christians walk by our senses or carnal mind. Did he not attack Eve in the garden through her senses? She knew what was correct, yet she allowed the enemy to attack her through her carnal sensual nature. The fruit "looked" good. She lusted after those things, which are seen in the natural. She was ruled by her carnal nature. She pushed aside her spiritual nature when she chose to yield to the serpent's suggestion (Gen 2). We are told that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but principalities and powers (Eph 6:12). Why is this so? Well if the serpent had not tempted Eve in the first place, she would not have sinned. The suggestion to go against the Lord came from the devil, not her. If we go to the root cause of the problems we face, we will find that the devil is behind them all. Sin is of the Devil (1 John 3:8). If the devil did not ever suggest to us to do or crave or want this or that, we would sin? If our mind is crucified, then we must have a mind of some one that we yield to otherwise we would be vegetables. It would be Christ if we yielded to Him, or it would be the devil if we yielded to him. We are told to "let this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus". Let implies a choice. If we have to choose then what do we choose from? There is our carnal mind, the mind of Christ, and the mind of the devil. Peter rebuked Jesus in disagreement when Jesus said that He would go to the cross and then would be raised the third day. Jesus said "Get thee behind thee satan thou savourest not the things that be of God but they that be of man. (Mat16:21-23). Peter was walking in his carnal mind in agreement with the devil or Jesus would not have rebuked the devil. Man has two natures, spiritual and carnal. God said that to be spiritually minded is life, to be carnally minded is death (Ro 8:6). The only way to win over the carnal mind is to yield to the spiritual mind. The whole idea of faith that God said that we must have to please Him, is that we walk by things which are unseen, not seen. It is very apparent then as to why the enemy wants us to be carnally minded and attacks us in those areas. When we yield to them, we will not possess the real life that God wants for us as life only comes as we please God in faith and walk by our spiritual nature. What is not of faith is sin (Ro 14:23). Since sin is of the devil and this sin takes us from walking in faith, then when we do sin our faith is killed and we please the devil and not the Lord.

Satan works on our carnal nature. He cannot enter into our godly spiritual nature, so all he can do is draw us away from it through temptations. Just like the serpent worked on Eve in the Garden of Eden, he works on us the same way. Satan has many spirits in this world that have one objective, to kill steal and destroy (John 8:32). As we act out these carnal sensual impulses we open ourselves up for demonic spirits to come into us and control us in the areas that we yield our members too. We are a servant to what we yield too (Ro 6:16). The key here is the word control. Satan is out to control us. When we sin, we have acted out a suggestion that the enemy suggested to our mind. At the beginning, it didn't control us. Yet if we continually yield to this thought and act upon it, it becomes sin and if we continue in it, we may get to the place that it controls us. Once it controls us we have allowed a demon spirit to enter us in that area of control. God always gives to us a choice. Satan always is out to control us.

Faith

We are told that whatever is not of faith is sin (Ro 14:23). We cannot have faith to please God by walking by our carnal mind as it comes by the Spirit. Faith is one of the fruit of the Spirit. The word says that the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God neither can he know them, as they are foolishness to him (1 Cor 2:14). Faith to the carnal Christian is foolishness. Faith has us believe things which are not seen (Heb 11:1) and usually will make no sense to our carnal mind. Many try to drum up faith out of their carnality. Since faith comes by the spirit then they are unable to hold on and believe for things. God's faith in your spirit is a knowing faith. You don't have to work it up, you just have to yield to and agree with it. There is a major difference between the two. One is unsettled and the other is totally settled in us.

How do we win?

So how do we walk in the spirit? We must crucify or put to death these carnal desires. It is not our job so to speak to crucify our flesh. It is our job to yield to the Holy Spirit and be obedient to His words. As we do what He says, then little by little we gain victory. Often times most will try to fix themselves. Flesh has no power over flesh. It is not what we do that brings the change, it is what the Holy Spirit does as we yield to Him in obedience. If man could change self, he would never need a Savior or deliverer. There is only one way to do that. As we yield to the spirit man in us, the carnal nature dies out. If we allow our carnal nature to rule, our spiritual man dies out. What do we allow? Anything that we feed, so to speak, gains strength. As we feed our spirit man by doing things that draw us into the spirit, our spirit man gains power over the carnal nature. Likewise if we feed our carnal nature, it also gains power over our spiritual nature. God told us to not use our freedom for an occasion to the flesh (Galatians 5:13). Our freedom still gives us the ability to choose. God says don't choose the carnal mind with this freedom as He knows that it will take us back into bondage. It gets down to whom we will allow to be Lord. Who do we choose to allow to rule us in our thoughts and actions? When we walk in the spirit, we still have a freedom of choice, though when we walk in our carnal mind we open a door for satan to attack and to rule, which takes away our ability to choose. We are told in Ephesians 6:12 that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. We war only against our mind, as we must cast down the imaginations that are keeping us from obedience to Christ. These imaginations are thoughts that have become a stronghold within our mind. These thoughts are untrue thoughts that oppose Gods Word or will for us. Once we learn to deal with the imaginations, the wrong thoughts already within our mind, we also must deal with the source of the wrong thoughts. When we war against the root cause of the problems, then the problems will go. Most try to fight against the problems by their fleshly strength. They find that they cannot win that way. We are in a spiritual battle not a carnal one. We must use the weapons that are spiritual not carnal. (2 Cor 10:4).

The only way to win is to become a spiritual Christian instead of a carnal Christian. You must determine that you are going to walk by the spirit of God and not by your carnal mind. You must start doing those things that draw you into the spirit and into God's presence. Here are some keys.

Be baptized in the Holy Ghost with speaking in tongues- Why? If you will read Jude 1:20, you will see that when we pray in the Holy Ghost (tongues), we will enter into our most holy faith. Faith pleases God. God rewards faith. Miracles happen when we walk in faith.

Spend time in prayer- as you commune with the Lord He will commune with you. We are told to draw near to God and then he will draw near to us (James 4:8). If you will develop your prayer times with God, He will teach you how to pray and what to pray for. When we do not know how to pray we are told in Ro 8:26-27 that the Holy Ghost will pray through us. The Holy Ghost will teach you all things (John 14:26).

Praise and worship- God inhabits praise. He wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). This is worship out of our spirit not out of our head. God is a spirit. To commune with God we must get on His level, a spiritual level.

Seek deliverance- all the areas in your life that have been controlling you may very well have a demonic spirit attached to them. If you cannot control something you think or do, see someone that knows the deliverance ministry for help. God can just deliver you with you and He alone, but He has anointed many in this area that know how to deal with the enemy, so you can be set free.

Study the Word- the Word is truth. When you know the truth you get set free. The enemy has suggested many things to us that we have accepted as truth because we did not know what God said about it. These lies may have become a stronghold in our mind that needs to be removed. Truth is the beginning. The devil hates truth, so at times you may find a struggle deep within as the demon spirit gets angry and worried as he knows his time is short. Truth is truth, regardless of how that you feel inside about it.

Cast down imaginations- (2 Cor 10:5) imaginations are thoughts, that are against the Lord. If you would research the word imaginations you would find that it goes all the way back to the Ten Commandments in that we are to have no other god before God. These imaginations are lies that we believe and walk in that are not the truth of God. As we bring our thought life into obedience to Christ, we have new freedom to yield to things of the Holy Spirit. Our thoughts being in obedience to Christ means that we are walking in His mind which is only to do the will of God the Father, not our own will.

Learn to listen- listen to the still small voice in your spirit. As you gain sensitivity to listening to your spirit. The inward voice, instead of the outward voices, you will find the Holy Spirit speaking to you often. He will teach, lead and guide you into all truth. Use the Word as a judge of what you hear. The Holy Spirit will not go against the written Word of God. He will tell you to do things that are not spelled out in the Word letter by letter, yet this unction will not oppose the Word.

Come out from among them- be separate (2 Cor 6:17). The things that feed the carnal nature you will find will have less interest to you as you walk in the spirit. Television shows with the sex and violence, and all the demonic influence will no longer interest you. You will find that you find life in the things of the spirit instead of the carnal nature. You will find the greatest joy and peace that you have ever known. You cannot serve two masters; you must hate one and cleave to the other Mat 6:24). You will desire willingly to serve the things of the spirit once you know how beautiful that they are.

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The Mind of Christ

So what is the mind of Christ? Jesus said that He came not to do His will but to do the will of the father that sent Him (John 5:30). He gave up His own mind. He laid down His life to do God's will, not only in going to the cross when He suffered physical death, but also when He walked on earth. He said that He spoke and did what He saw the Father do (John 8:38). He laid down His life to do the will of God. If then we are Christ's and have the same mind as He did in us, then we lay down our wills and own mind to do the will of God. The will of God comes through our walk in the spirit. Even though people do religious things they can be doing them out of their carnal nature and not by the spirit. Those are the religious ones that Jesus will say to them, "I never knew you". He says this, as their works did not originate from the Spirit; they originated from the carnal mind. Jesus even on the Cross said, "Not my will but thine be done", (Luke 22:42). This shows that Jesus still had a carnal mind; He just chose to not let it rule Him. He allowed the will of His Father to rule.

35. Walking in Unity with God's Blessing

Ps 133:

1. A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Unity)

2. It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; (Anointing)

3. as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. (Blessing)

Pr 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

So how do we receive God's blessing?

The above scriptures are an outline of to have God command a blessing. First we must dwell in unity. What really has to happen to dwell in unity? When many people get together, it seems everyone has a different idea or viewpoint. Are they all right or could it be that the viewpoints stem from a fleshly carnal mind? God did say that HIS ways and thoughts were higher than ours as in Isaiah 55:9; For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. I have always said that we may figure ten ways to do something, but God seems to always come up with number eleven. We will know it is Him when it is different from own thoughts and ways. So if God's ways and thoughts are true, then what is all the other thoughts and ways that WE come up with? Actually they are false. Remember that God said in Ro 8:8, So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. The word "flesh" does not mean our body it means our carnal fleshly mind. So then how do we have the higher thoughts and ways? Well we must learn to walk the straight and narrow way.

Ps 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. (Vain, without a cause, untruthful....highway, path, road, race)

Ps 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

Mt 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

In order for us to walk in the above scripture then we need to recognize the things that are false and keep us from the straight and narrow. As I said earlier, if God's are true then everything else is false. Have you ever felt weighted down with thoughts and cares of the world that seemed to never go away and with no answer as to how to fix them? Scripture says that these are weights or sins that easily beset us.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

A weight is something that holds something down. In this case it is us. Jesus said; Mt 11:30 for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. If his is light, and we are weighted down, it stands to reason that somehow we are carrying a false burden. Jesus desires in Mathew 11:29 that we, Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Jesus says that if we take on his yoke, that we will find rest for our soul. Learning of him means allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us and being obedient to His leading. The real key here is the difference between his yoke or burden and a false yoke or burden. His will produce good fruit; ours or the false burden, will produce bad fruit. One is that He is Lord and in control and the other is that we are in control.

How then do we get rid of the false and carry only His?

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God (God's knowledge or having His mind)), and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Php 2:5 Let this mind (God's mind and knowledge) be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

An imagination is a thought. A thought that we are allowing to rule in our mind instead of finding out God's thought and allowing it to rule. If we cast down the imagination, we then can have the knowledge of or the knowledge that God has. We will be walking by the spirit instead of our flesh. We will have the mind of Christ, which was God's mind.

There are many things that will try to distract us from running the race or going down the straight and narrow road. Anything that takes our focus off the Lord is a distraction. You may say that you are still thinking about the Lord even though you are concerned about things. God said to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.... then all things would be added. Unfortunately, we so often try in our strength to take care of things by our flesh. This is a distraction. Are our eyes totally focused on Him or de we have a lateral focus on things? We are told to cast our cares upon him. Do we not trust Him to do all things? The straight and narrow road is one that does not allow distractions or side roads. Our eyes are so fixed on Him and His will that His purpose and will alone matter. We will have learned to just not think on other things that cause us to focus wrongly. If we have His mind then we will get revelation knowledge and understanding. We will understand how much higher his ways are as compared to our own. We will be as Jesus who laid down his will to do only the will of His Father. This is the straight and narrow road. It is also why so few find it. Many have never learned to become single minded with His mind and push away or not allow the distractions to detour their course. The enemy knows that if he can suggest things to us that seem so right to think upon, that he will have kept us from walking by God's spirit and will. This is the real purpose of the distractions. Also, when we decide that we would rather think on things other than what God desires, we are walking in agreement with the enemy. Satan always wanted to be in control. So if God is not in control by His Spirit, then who is? Isn't this why the devil was booted from Heaven?

If we can only realize what is happening when we do not allow God's mind in us, maybe we will decide that we want only the mind of Christ. Once we have this mastered, we will be able to get into unity. As I said earlier, people in the flesh cannot get into unity.

Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. KJV

Eph 4:3 in the uniting bond of peace, the unity given by the Spirit. WEY

Ac 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Ac 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Ac 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

Ac 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

Ac 8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

One accord=with one mind, with one accord, with one passion

In Acts they were in one accord. There was unity. There was the same passion and they had the same mind. There was no division. There was agreement in purpose.

Unity comes only through the Spirit. So the key is, everyone "Let" the mind of Christ be in them. We must lay down our own agendas, will, desires and wants. We must get serious corporately about finding out what the Holy Spirit desires, come into agreement and be obedient to Him, and allow the Holy Spirit to bring the unity, direction, and purposes. We then will experience His anointing and God will command His blessing. The blessing that will make us rich that has no sorrow with it.

In summary we need to hate the false way and walk in the straight and narrow way. The false is anything other than what the Holy Spirit says and does. All else is flesh, which cannot please God. As we cast down imaginations and lay aside every weight, we will be free to walk God's way and have his knowledge. With His knowledge we can then walk in unity with others by His spirit, as it is Him and not us. He then will pour out His anointing and command the blessings.

36. We Must Call the Right Number

How often do we have a need and we call the wrong number? If we have a need for a plumber, we don't call an electrician do we? Maybe we need to think about this concerning spiritual things.

The Bible says:

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. KJV

I see some conditions in this passage that we need to be aware of.

First, we must humble our self. We must get to the place that Jesus alone is Lord. We need to give up our control and place total trust in Him. We must acknowledge that he is not only able but he is willing. It is all about what He wants, not about what we want. A humble person will not take God's Glory as they know where their power, strength, words, miracles, gifting, all come from.

Next we must pray. Prayer is a minimum of two things. Not only is it us communicating our need or desire with God, it is learning to listen to what His need or desire is. Real prayer brings intimacy with the Holy Spirit. It is so easy to just go ask God to do some things and then just go our own way. Do we ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe, that God has a plan for us that we have never stayed still before the Lord long enough to find out what it was?

Next we must seek His face. This entails us being persistent in finding out what God wants. Sometimes we get a misconception of our role with God. We gave our lives to Jesus as Savior but have we made him Lord? Do we desire what He wants over what we want for self? What are our priorities? Jesus told us that if we will seek, that we will find. That is a promise we can stand on and believe.

Next we must turn from our wicked ways. This means repent. This means acknowledge all of our sins, faults, and failures to the Lord and ask for His forgiveness and power to change. We must also forgive our self. Jer 5:25 says: Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. Sin is a blockage from receiving from God. A humble person keeps all their sin acknowledged to the Lord. Nothing is hidden as God sees it all anyway.

God said that if we will do these things that he would:

  * hear from heaven

  * forgive their sin

  * heal their land

We do our part, and then we can come before God with boldness yet humble and stand upon His word. We can boldly remind Him of what He said and know that He will hear and answer us.

Now what about calling the right number? Often instead of doing what I wrote above, we either try in our strength, or call another person. Another person is a wrong number unless they are led and anointed of the Lord to help in our situation. Isaiah 30 and 31 are two books we need to all study. Isaiah talks about rebellion. God said that it is rebellion on our part if we trust in man or in flesh, and not in His Spirit. Has anyone ever been rebellious? God wants us to go only to Him. He desires that we trust only in the Holy Spirit, not our self or another person. The right number then is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will lead, guide, protect, provide, heal, deliver, give gifts, give the fruit of the Spirit, will empower, will talk through us, will teach us, and so much more. This number is fabulous. Can you get any of this from any other number? I sure can't. So what is the number? How do I call?

Lu 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? KJV

You must just ask. Spend time in prayer and develop a relationship with the Holy Spirit by being quiet and listening. Learn to listen to that inner voice, not your head. He will lead you on if you will allow Him too. May you be blessed on your new adventure with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

37. We Must Have a Correct Foundation

Lu 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

Lu 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

So what is the correct foundation to build our house or our lives upon?

First and foremost we must have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says that the Spirit gives life, so if we build our house by our flesh, we are already walking in death. Jesus must be Lord. His will and desires must be priority in our life. Mathew says that we are to "seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness". It must be about Him and not us.

A second foundation must be prayer. Mt 21:13 says "And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves". Prayer is always the starting point with the Lord. We pray to be changed. We pray to learn His will and ways. We pray for God's wisdom and direction. We are told to seek then we will find. We seek by prayer and supplication. We are to let our requests be known unto God. We are told that we have not because we ask not. As we learn to spend more time with the Lord in prayer, the Holy Spirit does change our motives in what we ask for. We seem to start out in the flesh wanting God to do things for us. It seems often we pray selfishly as it is just about us. But as we draw near to God, we start to gain His heart so we find our self praying more for others. The more that we get out of self and draw near to the Lord and discover His heart, the more fulfilled we find our self.

A third foundation is praise and worship. Once we learn that we enter into His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise, the more we will experience Him. Praise not only brings His presence but it also puts the enemy to flight. When we can praise God no matter what the enemy throws at us, the more we will walk in victory over situations and circumstances. We can rise above anything with our praise and worship.

A fourth foundation is learning God's Word. We are told that when we know the truth the truth will set us free. The enemy is always going to bombard our minds with thoughts that are actually in opposition to God's Word and will. Unless we know what truth is, we cannot tell when we are being tempted to believe a lie. God's Word brings healing, deliverance, and life. It brings direction and wisdom.

A fifth foundation is being filled with the Holy Spirit. This is our power to stand. We don't have to depend upon our ability, but we can depend upon His ability through us. The Holy Spirit will teach us, lead us, empower us, gives us the words to say, and draw us near to the Father. We must be filled with Him. We are told to walk in the spirit and to not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Unless we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are walking in the flesh. God said that they which are in the flesh cannot please Him. If we desire to please God, then we must be filled with His Spirit.

When the storms of life come at us, if have built our house and the correct foundation, we will be able to weather the storm and come out victorious.

38. What is Fear?

What is this thing called fear? Where does it come from? Is it just a word we casually use or is there more to it than we realize? Let's look at the word from God's perspective as written in His Word.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (KJV)

The Greek lexicon in the Online Bible program says that fear is timidity, fright, or cowardice.

God tells us that fear is a spirit. He also says that He did not give it to us. Let me prove by the scripture why this is so. The Word says that God is love (1 John 4:8-16). Also we find in:

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (KJV)

If God is love, and there is no fear in love, then fear cannot be from God. God said that it is a spirit of fear. A spirit of fear comes from the pit of hell. It is a demonic spirit. It has a purpose in attacking us. The rest of the scripture in I Timothy 1:7 states that God gave to us power, love, and a sound mind. This scripture is so fabulous as it tells us what the enemy endeavors to steal from us when we walk in fear. 1 John 4:8 states that perfect love casts out all fear. Our love is perfected as we are in Christ. Jesus is not fearful.

If you have ever experienced fear didn't it separate you from power, love, and a sound mind? These three things are what we have when we are in Christ.

Power:

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

When fear manifests it will block the power that God gave to you. You become powerless over the enemy. He then can hurt you, as you have no defense. You cannot even go on the offense, as you are stopped in your tracks so to speak. Your power is the Holy Spirit within you. When you are not yielding to the Holy Spirit but instead are yielding to a demon spirit of fear, then you have no God given power to stand.

Love:

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him.

Notice that God is love and that as we dwell in love we dwell in God. The enemy does not want us to dwell in God or His love. Fear separates us in the sense that to whom we serve we are servants too (paraphrased Ro 6:16 KJV). Fear controls us, as does every demonic spirit when it manifests. If we are under the control of fear, then we cannot be yielded to God's love.

Sound Mind:

1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

The sound mind is the mind of Christ. This is the mind that should be ruling us, not a fearful mind.

Fear is a ploy of the enemy to steal these things from us. I consider fear to be negative faith. God's faith in us produces good things. The enemy's negative faith produces harmful things. Fear is not just a word it is a demon spirit.

So what is the answer? Can I be free from all fear?

Psalms 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

David said that first he sought the Lord. God was the one that delivered him from all of his fears. God is the deliverer. If you have fear, then you need to be delivered. If you will seek the Lord, and be obedient to His leading, you will be set free from all fears.

I want to cover a little about deliverance. Many Christians seem to dismiss this ministry of the Holy Spirit. I think mainly this happens because of pride. We just do not want to admit that a demon spirit has any hold or part in us. Unfortunately this is rarely the case. Most everyone has gone through things that a demonic spirit entered them that they need delivered from. If fear causes you a problem, then you need to be delivered. No, fear is not you; it is a demonic spirit that you do not have to live with. God gave you and I power over it through the name of Jesus Christ.

I would encourage you to seek the Lord to be set free of all fear, as did David in the Psalms. Seek out people that know their authority in Jesus as they can help you with this. There are many ministries today that know how to cast out demons. You only will deal with this spirit if you choose too. It is not the will of God that you are held captive by a spirit of fear. You cannot be effective in the Kingdom when fear grips you. Sometimes we must swallow our pride and seek help. I had to do this. I had many spirits at one time that held me in bondage. As I went to people that worked in the deliverance ministry, I was set free. I do not deal any more with fears. I have been delivered of fears by God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit. I now know my authority over them. I am no longer scared of them; they are scared of Jesus in me. God is no respecter of persons, He will deliver you from all fear if you will seek Him and do what He shows you to do. He may even just deliver you in your living room. God is never boxed in, but the first step is to realize what you are fighting and seek God for help. God is very faithful. He will deliver you. He will not ever let you down.

The world has so exalted fear in movies and in so many other areas. Once you understand that fear is designed to keep you from functioning in God the way that He intended, you will hopefully stay away from things that promote fear. Fear is designed to kill your faith. It takes faith to please God. It takes faith to receive from God. It is so apparent why the devil wants to grip hearts with fear. He wants to stop people from entering in to all the Lord has for them. Some may push this truth off, yet it affects you in ways that you do not fully realize. It is out to kill, steal, and destroy you and all which God has and is for you.

The Word says that when we know the truth, the truth will set us free (John 8:32 KJV). What I have said is truth according to God's Word. If you will heed these words, you will be set free. It worked for me, and it will work for you. God bless you as you seek a new freedom in the things of His precious Holy Spirit.

39. What is Sin?

In the Body of Christ we use this word very loosely. Have you ever considered that what is called sin to man is not called sin to God? Maybe it is just a fault.

Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Online Greek-sin

266 αμαρτια hamartia ham-ar-tee'-ah

from 264; TDNT-1:267,44; n f

AV-sin 172, sinful 1, offense 1; 174

1) equivalent to 264

1a) to be without a share in

1b) to miss the mark

1c) to err, be mistaken

1d) to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong

1e) to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin

2) that which is done wrong, sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act

3) collectively, the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many

Strong's Greek-sin

266. αμαρτια hamartia ham-ar-tee'-ah; from 264; a sin (properly abstract): — offence, sin(-ful).

Ga 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Here is a thought. We are not under the law if we are led by the Spirit. One of the definitions of sin is: to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin.

Sin is disobedience to the law. Yet, we are not under the law if we are led by His Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the one that convicts us of sin. Man condemns: the Holy Spirit convicts.

40. What is the Priority?

I am writing this article as I am getting so repulsed by what we are being taught by so many ministries. We have so many teachings that are feeding the flesh instead of the spirit. We are told that if we give to ministries that God will bless us financially. I have no problem with being blessed financially if a few things are in order. I know that some will have a problem with me on this, but look at the Bible. What does it really say?

The basic message of the Bible is this. He who loses his life shall find it. What really does that mean? It means that we become crucified with Christ. That means that Jesus is living in and through us. It means we are walking by the spirit just as Jesus does. It means that we are making no provision for the flesh. It means that we are alive to only please the Father, not our fleshly wants and desires. God said that they who are in the flesh cannot please Him, so how does this agree with give the flesh more money so that it can do all of the things that it desires? Where does an intimacy with the Holy Spirit come in to play with all this? Feeding the flesh is only the temporal. God is more concerned with the eternal. He desires all of us to have an intimate relationship with Him through the Holy Spirit. He desires us to walk in the spirit. Bottom line is this. When all is said and done and we stand before the Lord, what will impress Him the most? Is it that we had all this money and worldly goods and that we satisfied all of our fleshly cravings and desires or that we KNOW HIM?

I once wrote an article and received a comment from a person in another country that said, "There is the Gospel, then there is the North American Gospel". This word says it all. When are we going to stop being all about money and be more concerned with teaching people to die to self and allow the Holy Spirit to speak and lead? May God forgive and help us all.

41. What Really Matters

I have been pondering about this, and sensed I should just write it down. We give our life to Jesus when we get saved, but after salvation, is our life still His?

Many people have accepted Jesus as Savior, but is Jesus really Lord? So often it seems we ask Him to save us, yet we still pursue living for self. I hear little teaching about this subject, but isn't the messages in the Bible to become like Jesus, and die to self? We ask Him for many things that we want or desire; yet, do we ask Him what He would want for us? What is His desire and will? Does what Jesus want because He gave His life for us, really matter? We were bought with a price and our life is no longer ours. If it is not ours, then why do we seem to pursue earthly things for self, more than heavenly spiritual things for God's kingdom? I am not saying that having some earthly things is wrong, but I am saying that our priority should always be, Jesus, what is your will and desire? The Word says that God's thoughts and ways are much higher than ours. I have found that what God's desire for me has always been better than what I have ever wanted for myself. The joy of seeing God provide in ways I could never imagine, far outweighs the way I would do things. We are told that the blessing of the Lord maketh rich, and adds no sorrow with it. How often do we get what we want and there is sorrow attached to it?

When I learned to surrender my will and control and allowed Jesus to run things, I found a joy and peace that I had never found before. Yes, it was uncomfortable at times in the beginning, but I have found that God has always been faithful to me. Maybe I look foolish to the world and unfortunately too much of the church, but what I have found in Jesus far outweighs any criticism. Knowing that life on earth is temporal and life with Jesus is eternal, it seems good sense to forego a few worldly pleasures to have eternal rewards. Eternity is a real long time in comparison to our life here on earth.

I think the real message of this article is that Jesus can be trusted. He will never leave nor forsake you. Your flesh may rebel and allow the devil's fear at times, but God will always do what He said that He would do. I want to encourage you to go all the way with Jesus. Develop and intimacy with the Holy Spirit, and He will take care of you. He will always make a way when there seems to be no way. It will be His way and timing though, not yours. We must learn to trust a loving God to take care of us. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Taste of the Lord, and see that He is good. He loves us, and will do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think if we will allow the power of the Holy Spirit to work in and through us. I hope this will be an encouragement to somebody that is teetering on whether to go all out for Jesus. You may go through struggles, but the day will come that you will say as I have, it was worth it. God bless you whoever you are.

42. What Will it Take to Bring God's Blessings?

Psalms 133:

1. A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to

dwell together in unity!

2. It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even

Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

3. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore

The Lord says 3 things here.

  * dwell together in unity

  * the precious ointment....the anointing

  * there God commanded the blessing

God says that if we will dwell in unity, that it is like the ointment that ran down Aaron's beard. The ointment is the anointing. Unity will bring anointing. So let's back up a little. What does it take to bring unity?

Unity only comes by the spirit. Let's face it, we all have different ideas of what we want or would like to see. These are our fleshly desires. When God desires something it would be rather insane to say that in a group that are dwelling together that He would tell each one to go a different direction. God is not the author of confusion. Everyone in a different direction will promote disharmony and confusion. If every person is desirous of only the Holy Spirit's will, then God would give each a similar direction or desire. Unity comes only by the spirit.

Going backwards a little more the question is, "how do we get into the spirit and hear His voice?" First we need to get to the point that we desire HIM first and foremost. We want His will more than our own. We have learned that our will and agenda is just fruitless dead religious works. The Holy Spirit recently told me: "if you want me, I'll come, if you will praise me, I'll come". For me personally I have found that the best way is to spend time with the Lord. I have learned to praise and worship Him no matter what. God inhabits praise. I have learned that spending time praying in the spirit (tongues) will bring me into the spirit realm and out of my flesh. We are told to build our self up on our most holy faith, praying in the spirit. Praying in the spirit builds up our spirit man instead of our flesh or carnal nature. If we learn to do this we will find that we tap into God's knowledge and plans. We must go where He is instead of asking Him to come down where we are. God is a spirit. His ways are spiritual, not carnal. He even speaks of carnality when He says that they that are in the flesh (their carnal mind) cannot please Him. Bottom line is that if we will pray in the spirit God will talk to us and the end result will be unity with the ones that are doing the same.

Going backwards some more is that we must be filled with the spirit. Unless we are filled the only thing that we can draw from is the flesh, which as I said earlier does not please God. We need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in other tongues. This is our prayer language. This when we use it releases God's ability in us. It takes us out of "I" and it becomes "HIM". We surrender as Jesus did when He said I came not to do my will, but the will of the Father that sent me. We desire to bring God's kingdom and any idea of establishing our own kingdom is no longer considered. This is when we can pray in the spirit and press in till we hear and get answers and direction from the Lord.

43. What is the Big Deal About Sin?

First we need to understand what sin really is. Sin is rebellion against God. In order to understand this we need to dig a little deeper. Unless we can grasp a few things then sin won't seem such a big deal.

You may say well what God calls sin is fun and enjoyable. God did say that sin has pleasure for a season but afterwards will bring forth death. Sure many things can kill us in this life so why not go having some fun?

Do you realize that you are more than what you think? God created you as a spirit living in a body with a mind. You have a spiritual nature that you probably won't recognize until you are saved or born again. God is a spirit and we are made in His image. Our true self is a spiritual self where our spirit man runs the show instead of our flesh or carnal man. God made us that way whether we want to believe or accept this as true.

Scripture says that sin is of the devil and that he sinned from the beginning. The devil or Lucifer was a beautiful creation of God. He decided that he wanted to be like God. He wanted to be the creator and run the show. That is rebellion. He decided that he knew better than God although God had created him. Sound familiar maybe like a child of yours? You brought them into this world yet they think with their limited experience of life that they know best? You as a parent would want the best for your child. The child maybe sees only what they want without the ramifications later on of having this. We are in the same boat concerning God. God knows what is best for us. He designed us that way. The best for us is God's way and will. Even though we decide what we think is good for us sometimes it really is bad.

When we decide that we know best we are actually in agreement with what the devil did. When an all knowing God made us and knows what is best for us, doesn't this maybe help us to understand why God calls things sin? We have chosen our own way regardless of the fact that it may kill us physically or spiritually. We are going by our emotions or feelings rather than what God said to be true. We are walking in the devil's camp.

God made us so that our true life comes by the spirit. By the spirit we are fulfilled and complete. No matter the surroundings or what we have or don't have we can be very content, full of joy, and happy. When we yield to our flesh or carnal nature, we may find some enjoyment but it can never compare with what the Lord has in store for us. Unless you have experienced true peace and joy then you cannot really understand what truly is available. Many have lived the lie and all the substitutes. They bought in to what the devil tried to do to Jesus when he was tempted of the devil after forty days in the wilderness. The devil told him that he would give him the whole world if he would just worship him. Jesus is the Son of God. There was no temptation there at all as He already knew where and what life really was. I think often of the scripture that says O taste of the Lord and see that He is good. Once we get a taste of the real then the false no longer has any hold.

The big deal about sin is that it is a substitute for what God has for us. It is walking in agreement with the devil and thinking you know better than God. It is rebellion. The reason that God says that they that are in the flesh cannot please him is that in the flesh we are in rebellion against him. We are saying to the one that made us that we know better. It is rather funny in a way. We tell the one that is all knowing and that had the smarts to make mankind that we know better. Oh has the devil deceived and lied to us. Oh how we are so blind and allowed him to do this. This is why the Word states that when we know the truth the truth will set us free. Here are a few truths:

1. There is a devil and he came to kill, steal, and destroy us

2. We are a spirit, soul, and body

3. It is the Spirit that gives life, not our flesh

4. God is a good God and desires good things for us and can only cause them to happen when we submit to him and serve him with our whole heart

Why is one sin not worse than another? The real reason goes to the root cause. All sin is based in rebellion and disobedience. It is our wanting our own way. It is looking at temporal pleasure rather eternal placement with God. He desires for us to rule and reign with Him in eternity. How can he allow this if we are rebellious and disobedient to him now? We are putting our self in the same place that the devil did. While on earth we should be learning that God's ways are far above anything that the devil has to offer. Once we learn this then submitting to God and allowing Him to be Lord become much simpler for us. We know that God is the best thing going. We know that no matter what it is, if it is God, we want it. This is why when we sin or are in the flesh that we cannot please God. He has something better in mind for us. We all were created for something. Yet until we get out of our flesh and draw near to Him we will never know what God has in mind for us. He wants to give us life abundant not just temporal pleasure.

44. Who Do We Worship?

Yes, we have an enemy and yes we wrestle not against flesh and blood. I am the first to admit that there are demonic forces out there that as a Christian we often must face. Yet, I have learned something over the years. Who do we focus upon? Who do we give glory too?

Maybe you had not considered this, so I am going to write it down just in case. God kicked Lucifer out of heaven, correct? He gave him the earth to dwell on, correct? He also says that the battle is not ours. Here is the interesting thing about the Lord. He allowed the enemy to rule on earth. Yet, when warfare is done the enemy loses his hold. Here is the kicker. If we are following the leading of the Holy Spirit, then who is doing the warfare? It is not us, but God. God deals with the enemy through submitted believers. The Lord once told me this. It is NOT a demon unless I tell you that it is. So often we get on this demon hunting kick. We seem to get consumed with talking about what the enemy is doing instead of what the Lord is doing. Which is uplifting? Which glorifies the Lord?

Lu 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

We are to rejoice in Jesus and what He has done for us. This is a focus. We can focus on that God through us deals with evil spirits or we can rejoice that our names are written in Heaven. I see this as we can dwell on the good or on the bad. I think sometimes we get too focused on what the evil is doing and it takes our joy and excitement in Jesus. It is not that the enemy does not exist or is up to things, but it is we only deal with him as God leads. We must stay aware but yet not focus. I would rather spend my time in praise and worship of the one that set me free from the enemy's grasp. God is worthy of Praise and glory; the enemy isn't.

45. Whose Camp Are We In?

We know the Bible states in Galatians 5:22 and 23 about the fruit of the Spirit. This fruit is of God's Spirit, so when we are walking in Him this will be the fruit that we exhibit. Yet, when we are not walking in this fruit, whose camp are we in?

We are told to walk in the spirit. This doesn't say walk in (a) spirit, but in (the) spirit. The spirit is God's Spirit. A spirit could be any spirit, but not necessarily of God. We are told in 2Ti 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." According to this passage fear is a spirit. It is not a spirit that exhibits the fruit of God's Spirit, so it must be a demonic spirit. When we are walking in (a) spirit of fear, we are walking in the devil's camp, not God's. The same is true with unbelief, unforgiveness, resentment, anger, bitterness, and lust of any kind, greed, hate, and many others. This does not mean that we are not a Christian and have not accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior; it just means that we are not walking in God's Spirit.

1Jo 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

1Jo 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1Jo 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

One of the fruit of God's Spirit is love. Hate is not the Holy Spirit fruit. The Word says that he that hates is walking in darkness.

Anything in opposition to God's Word is therefore not walking in the Spirit. It is walking either in the flesh or in another spirit. Depending on what spirit is manifesting through us determines whether we are walking in God or the devil. I have heard many say that because they have accepted Jesus that they are walking in the Spirit. Obviously this cannot be true. We can't serve two masters. We cannot serve God and the devil at the same time. We can't love and hate a person at the same time. We can't walk in faith and fear at the same time. We can't walk in joy and depression at the same time. The list goes on and on. We are told in, "Ro 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" The issue then is not whether Jesus is our Savior; it is who are we allowing to be in control? It will be the Holy Spirit, our flesh, or the devil. When we are a Christian, and we yield to our flesh as a normal practice, we give the enemy legal ground to come in a make a stronghold in our mind. This stronghold will control our beliefs and actions. God desires His people to be free and walking in His Spirit. Yet, we are learning to make the correct choices and to focus on the things of the Spirit of God rather than the devil.

Maybe you have not considered this, but all spirits have fruit. Not just the Holy Spirit. The devil's spirit has fruit also. That is why we are told that we shall know them by their fruit. Let us work on getting set free from the fruit of the devil and the flesh so that Jesus can be glorified through us as we exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit. We are told that according to our faith that it will be it unto us. If we believe that fear is just us, then we have been deceived by the devil into thinking that the fear is "just me". The Word says that fear is a spirit, not a person. When we come into agreement with the devil and believe that it is us instead of a spirit, then we are walking in a lie in our belief system. We are actually saying that God is a lair and the devil is true. This is dangerous territory. We have given the enemy legal ground and are setting our self up for a fall. Fear is the fruit of a demonic spirit of fear. If we sign on the dotted line and decide that it is us, then we are in bondage and the devil is going to steal from us.

I hope and pray that this little article will help someone to realize whose spirit that they are walking in. If a wrong one, then cry out to God for deliverance. He is faithful and will deliver you in His way and time. He wants you free to be in fellowship with Him and be used by Him. Please give the Lord a chance to set you free for His plans and purposes. You will be glad that you did.

46. Why is the Answer a No?

When we pray, do we sometimes find that an answer doesn't come or the answer maybe is no? Do you ever wrestle with this because scripture says?

John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

We need to go deeper in understanding. We read that God's ways are higher than ours are and that his thoughts are higher than ours are. He also says that in our flesh (which means in the Greek translation, our carnal mind) dwells no good thing. Paul said in Ro 8:8, "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God". The word again means our carnal mind. Jesus emptied himself of self. He said that his will was to do the will of the Father, which sent him. You may say that this was Jesus and that's a different story. But is it really? Paul said in:

Ga 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Ga 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Paul learned that it was not about him. He died to self. He learned that it was only about what Jesus did in and through him that mattered. He learned that pleasing his flesh or carnal mind displeased God and was not God's will. If we are dead to self and our carnal mind or way of thinking, then the mind of Jesus can manifest through us and we now will only be concerned about what Jesus desires to do, which by the way is according to the will of God. We so often view things in our flesh by a temporal viewpoint. The Holy Spirit views things from an eternal viewpoint according to the plans and purposes of our heavenly Father. We are told to: "Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus". This mind is God's mind as Jesus emptied himself of His will.

The following scriptures tell us what God has in mind.

Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Ro 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Re 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

Re 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

Re 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

Re 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Re 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Re 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Re 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Re 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

1Jo 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Unless we have knowledge of God's will by listening to the Holy Spirit instead of our carnal thinking mind, we are not asking according to God's will. James says that we are asking amiss and do not receive. The real key for all of us is to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit. We must get our thinking out of the way. We are told in, "2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ". If we can just learn to get rid of our imaginations (our carnal thoughts), then we can have God's mind and knowledge. This comes as we listen to God's Holy Spirit instead of our own mind. We can then say that we have the mind of Christ and what we ask we know that we will receive as we asking in agreement with God's will. Consider the difference between asking God to agree with our will instead of us coming into agreement with His will. Finding and knowing God's will take's commitment and effort on our part. Unfortunately many are unwilling to pay that price. They are more concerned about what they want and this temporal world than what God has in store. Maybe it is time that we started focusing on pleasing Him instead of self.

He that hath an ear, let him heareth what the spirit sayeth to the church.

Isa 42:19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? Who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant?

It is time to listen.

47. Why Me Lord?

Did you ever make the statement 'Why Me Lord"? I have had several times that I have asked that question of the Lord. These are but a few of the times that I did ask, "Why Me Lord?"

Right after I was saved I was led to a little church in my hometown. This in itself was amazing to me, as I had been led to the Lord by this Pentecostal lady. I had been baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. I attended churches and went to good old-fashioned Holy Ghost meetings where people were healed and the power of God would cause people to be slain in the spirit. Well, this little church was not a church in my thoughts. The sermons often came from a newspaper article. The church was filled with many older people and very few younger ones. I thought, is this what I got saved for? I would rather be back in a tavern again as there was much more life there. I fought the idea of being there more than you can know; yet the Holy Spirit seemed to just not let me leave. After a time, I met this guy that became one of my best friends of all time. We spent much time together. Before I knew it, I got to lead him to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He then told me afterward; Rick I have known that there had to be more. I have waited for this for twenty-five years! What a blessing from the Lord. Jesus knew this man's hearts cry. Now at least I understood maybe why I was there. The Lord did bless me more as I found some other new friends also. I also got to lead one of my other new friends to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Seemed I had three very close friends. We all went to other meetings that were spirit-filled meetings. We spent hours and hours praying together and learning about Jesus.

The little church was having a puppet ministry come in. I was asked to sing three songs beforehand. I really had done little singing in church but I reluctantly agreed. I had no idea what to sing. Finally, two hours before the time I was to sing, after much prayer and seeking the Lord, I knew what I was to sing. The Holy Spirit gave to me three songs. The third song, I knew I was to change the last verse to words I received from the Holy Spirit and have the congregation sing along. I was just going to believe that what I heard was correct and do it. I had no idea what God was going to do. Being that I didn't sing often in front of people I had a major case of stage fright. I sang the first two songs the way that they were written but with my eyes closed. I couldn't open them, as I was so scared. I got to the third song and asked the congregation to sing along on the third verse. I started singing and to my amazement my eyes were open now. When I got to the last verse, I was looking at people in the eye. I had no fear at all as the Holy Ghost just took over. I do not even remember singing the third verse. People in the congregation started crying all over the place as the anointing touched their hearts. The pastor made a comment to a friend that he didn't know that Rick could sing like that. She agreed and said he can't! It was the Holy Ghost. This was foreign to him I think, as the next experience will portray.

Now you would think that I would be all accepted and loved after that right? I was too radical for them I guess. I had a simple faith and believed in God's power and anointing. Nothing else to me mattered. The Lord had just blessed me this week as I was privileged to lead two people to salvation. God did it as He set up things and actually brought them to me. I think this is like in the Book of Acts, when God added to the church such as should be saved. Anyway, I went to church again that Sunday. I was with my three friends sitting in the pew minding my own business. Well, seemed the pastor had decided to have his brother-in-law speak awhile. Same old stuff, dead words, no power. Then the pastor returned and started putting down a spirit filled meeting that friends and I had been attending often. He said that he had gone to check it out and said that it was not of the Lord at all. He kept running down everything. Something in me got very angry. I stood up in the middle of the meeting, and stopped this man from speaking. I basically found myself saying; we know them by their fruit. The meeting that you are saying is of the devil has much fruit. Many are saved and healed all the time. I told him then about the two people saved through me that week. I said and you say I am not of the Lord? I have fruit to prove it, do you? How many have you led to Jesus this week? I couldn't believe I said all that, I still think it was the Lord and not from me. I knew my heart. I knew my motives. The rest of the congregation was just like two of my friends that had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They had been fed lies in the name of God for twenty-five years because of the lack of knowledge of the pastor. I found out later that the pastor had said that if anyone would receive God's power it would have been him. Because he didn't have it, then it was not real. Lots of pride there I think. He also stated that when we came in together he saw a show of force. It was force all right; it was the Holy Ghost that he saw in us. We did nothing but love on people and go and sit down. Anyway, I got booted from the church. It broke my heart, but yet, someone had to tell the truth. I guess it was going to be me.

My second experience was at another church with a similar denominational background. This church though was spirit-filled. This church knew how to pray and seek the Lord. They had sought the Lord for a year on how to evangelize their community. They were instructed by the Holy Spirit to purchase a Bible for every house in their city. As they prayed and fasted, they were given a plan with grids and timing of the Lord to go to each home and distribute the Bibles. What a contrast from the little church I went to before. I was impressed. The other little church had annual door knocking times. There was never any prayer or preparation. They even had people run them away with shotguns. Sure is different when the Holy Spirit leads in comparison with our puny efforts in our flesh.

During the time of preparation I was present at the church one evening. We had been praying. I was on my knees praying and the Holy Spirit showed me demonic spirits over the church building. I knew what I had to do but I was in no hurry to do it. I didn't know what would happen if I cut loose and dealt with evil spirits. After all this was still a denominational church like the last one I attended. I got booted out remember? I wrestled and wrestled with this one. Yet, it seemed the Holy Spirit wouldn't give up. His urging became so strong. I finally decided if I was going to get booted again that I was going to take a few evil spirits with me. I continued praying in the spirit. Next thing I knew I felt a hand on my back. I glanced around and saw the pastor behind me. I thought to myself, here I go again. I am going to be history. Well, I cut loose. Those spirits didn't have a chance as the anointing went through me. After I did the warfare I was relieved in that there was no urging any more. Yet, I was waiting to hear the worst. All the sudden someone in the prayer meeting shouted, "Now that's our kind of prayer!" Wow! I didn't expect that at all. I was accepted and what the Holy Spirit wanted to do was accepted. This church was listening to the Holy Spirit. They were not at all like the other one that was doing everything from their head. This prayer seemed to open a door for me. The pastor had on occasion while praying for people would take authority in Jesus name over words. He called me one night and we shared. This subject came up. I told him the words he was taking authority over were demonic spirits. He said no way that is not true. He listened and told me that he was searching scriptures to prove me wrong. After about an hour and one-half he said Rick, I know what you are saying is true in my spirit. I do not know why though. I am now trying to find scriptures to prove what you are saying. Our conversation lasted almost three hours as the Holy Spirit gave him some new revelation on spiritual warfare and deliverance. Thank God for the Holy Spirit of truth. He is faithful to confirm His word.

Over the years walking with the Lord I have found that my question changed to a plea. The Holy Spirit truly gets you into situations that are not comfortable and often against the status quo. Yet, He always has a reason. I have come to know that I can trust Him. Someone has his or her life changed and touched. I am always blessed beyond measure as I follow. I believe that the reason we say, "Why Me Lord", is that it is coming from our natural mind. Remember the scripture that says in 1 Corinthians 2:14, " But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned". The things of God are foolishness to our natural mind so we question why. Yet, when we see through the Holy Spirit, we will say, "Send Me Lord" instead. We know there is a good reason and God is doing something for someone. Instead of asking "Why me Lord, I find myself saying instead, "Send Me Lord". It is a privilege to me to be used of Him and be allowed to see Him work in power in a person's life. There is no greater joy or fulfillment than when the Holy Spirit uses you. Once you see this you will not be saying anymore "Why Me Lord?" but you will be saying. "Send Me Lord!"

48. Why Should We Ask God to Bless America?

That's a strange title of an article to some, but let me explain.

We ask God to bless America all the time, yet we are asking something that is contrary to God. God has blessed America with much grace. Grace is something that we do not deserve. We do not deserve His grace. America has pushed God out of almost everything. You can't even find God in many churches. People are living for self. People are serving idols and the flesh. People don't pursue God but pursue sin. Yet we ask God to bless us.

Since when does God bless the flesh? When does God bless idolatry? When does God bless our pursuit of money so that we can build a kingdom for self? The Word says that they, which are in the flesh, cannot please God. Is God going to bless something that does not please him? We ask God to bless America when it promotes sin. It murders babies. It has a government that that has forgotten that they are a servant to the people not a ruler over them. It has made prayer a no-no in schools. It has promoted homosexuality and all kinds of perverse acts.

Here is a shocking statement. God does not bless sin. If we truly want God to bless America then we must learn to do those things, which are pleasing in His sight. We must repent of all the sin and evil that we constantly do. We must turn our backs on the devil and cry out to God to save, have mercy on, and deliver us. We must learn to put God first and His will alone in our church and lives. We must seek first His kingdom and righteousness. We must turn from our wicked ways and cry out to Him. We must seek His will over ours. We must learn that he that loses his life will find it. We must learn to take care of the orphans and widows and the poor. There are so many reasons why asking God to bless us is ludicrous.

If we really want God to bless us then we need to humble our self, pray, seek His face, seek His will, and allow Him to run our lives. We must surrender and repent and allow the Holy Spirit to bring about in our lives and in this country the will and plans of God.

It will cost us something to have God's blessing. Government will have to get into unity. Churches will have to allow the Holy Spirit to run things instead of men and women. We may have to do without all of the many creature comforts that we so lavish upon self.

Does this sound harsh? I don't mean it to be but I see the foolishness of asking God to bless things that he is against. I so look forward to the day when he does what he said that he would do. He said in the last days that he would pour out of His Spirit upon all flesh. Oh the repentance that will happen on that day. Atheists will get their eyes opened when God presence comes all over them. I bet they won't deny God at that time. Just because a person has not experienced God does not mean that He does not exist. Just because we have no knowledge of God does not mean that he is not real. If he were not real, this man would have been dead many years ago. I had to get to the end of me and I found something that I did not know existed. I found a God that loved me. I found a God that healed me. I found a God that kept me from committing suicide. I found a God that is powerful and would take care of me if I would serve Him. I found a God that took away my fears and cleansed me from so many things that were bad for me.

Yes, I desire for God to bless America. Yet, until we do things His way and desire to please Him we won't truly get what we ask for. Let's turn our hearts toward Him and give Him a reason to want to bless us.

God, forgive us and cleanse us from all of our unrighteousness so that we may ask for, expect, and walk in your blessings once again.

49. Worldliness Affects Our Being Healed

As I was pondering the age-old question of why some seem to get healed and some don't, I sensed the Holy Spirit talking to me. He told me that sickness is the fruit of worldly ways or worldliness, but His Spirit gives life. Oh, the implication of that statement that I do believe has scripture to back it up.

As I was praying for a person in the past I was told by the Holy Spirit that He could heal any person at any time and at any place, but why do it? If after they are healed, whom will they serve? I friend of mine had a similar word years ago when praying for healing for a person. The Holy Spirit told them; "But will they serve me?"

Our walk with the Lord is all about total surrender to Him and His will. Jesus even said that He did not come to do His will but the will of the Father that sent Him. You may say well that was Jesus. If we are truly crucified with Christ and it is Him living in us the same would still be true. Who are we serving? Are we still trying to build our own kingdom or are we trying to be obedient to His voice and build His? When we follow after our desires and wants instead of seeking God's desire, then we are following worldliness. In Isaiah Chapter 30 and 31, we are told that anything other than listening to or following God's Spirit is rebellion. We often do things from a carnal fleshly motivation rather than seeking God's will and what He wants to say or do. Each of us has a ways to go as far as being in the world but not of it.

If our priority is to hear and follow the voice of the Lord, then it will be much easier to believe that God will heal all of our diseases. Why would God heal us so we can go live for self or commit some grievous act? To what advantage is it to His kingdom? God does often heal people to get their attention and show them His power. Even that does not guarantee that they will live for Him and become obedient to His will alone.

Case in point, the Lord healed my mother from cancer yet she refused to acknowledge that the Lord did it. She stayed in her carnal mind, living for self and not acknowledging or accepting Jesus as her Savior. Eight years later she got cancer again, yet she then acknowledged the Lord and was born again. She eventually passed away with cancer. Was it God's will that she died of cancer? I do not believe that it was. Had she acknowledged Him at that time that she was healed, I do not believe that she would have ever seen cancer again.

Scripture says:

John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

1Jo 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1Jo 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Mt 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mr 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Ro 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Ro 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Ps 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Really the bottom line is this. Who are we living for? If we live for self, then we will experience many tough things. If we live for the Lord and our deep desire is to follow Him in all ways. We will experience the life that comes from the Holy Spirit. It is our choice.

Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

50. Ye Shall Receive Power

My Testimony of being filled with the Holy Ghost

Shortly after I was saved, I went to a meeting where things happened that I really questioned. The power of God fell, and everyone was slain in the spirit, except me. I thought this is weird. I don't even believe this kind of thing. Sound like you maybe? Well, later at another meeting this is what happened to me. It changed my life forever. It was the greatest thing that ever happened to me outside of salvation.

I went to a Women's Aglow meeting with the lady that led me to the Lord. I was standing with my arms up worshipping the Lord, and all the sudden my legs turned to rubber. I could hardly stand up. I was concerned that something was wrong with me so I asked a lady what I should do. She suggested that I go up for prayer. I did. The lady that was praying for people asked me if I knew several scriptures. I said no as I was a new kid. She said let's just pray then. The last thing I remember was her touching my forehead as she anointed me with oil. I woke up twenty minutes later on the floor, drunk in the spirit. I tried to walk for four hours, but just staggered as a drunken man. The power of God was so strong I could hardly stand up. I didn't even really believe in this kind of thing. I went home finally and was lying on the couch. All the sudden I was speaking in tongues. I haven't stopped since. I had a major encounter with the Holy Ghost. I received power. I have experienced this power in prayer and intercession ever since. While doing this, the Holy Spirit shows me what to pray for according to His will. I have learned that it is not about me, but about Him alone. His will be done and not mine.

About a year later, the Lord sent me to a little Baptist church. This particular church was very dead, as the pastor seemed to preach from newspapers. I met a guy there and became good friends. One day he came over and we prayed. God filled him with the Holy Spirit. He told me that he knew there was more, and he had been waiting for this for twenty-five years. Wow...what a blessing that I got to take part in.

Some scripture references:

Ac 19:2 He said unto them, have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Lu 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Ac 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Ac 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Luke 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

Mr 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Lu 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

1Co 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power

After receiving the infilling, the Holy Spirit has allowed me to be a part of miracles. I have seen an ankle instantly go from swollen to normal. I have experienced praying for a gal over the telephone where God did a miracle. She had lumps in her breasts and was to have surgery. I was told to expect a miracle by the Holy Spirit. The next day I found out from the gal that all the lumps were gone. The doctor was amazed and cancelled the surgery. This is just a small amount of things that I was allowed to be a part of. The kingdom of God definitely comes upon you when you receive the power of the Holy Spirit. You come as a little child and just believe. God is no respecter of persons. This is for everyone that asks. It will take you from being religious, into a relationship with the Holy Ghost that you never dreamed was possible. It makes being a Christian a joy.

If you are able, you can check out the Women's Aglow, or the Full Gospel Businessmen Organizations. They usually can help you to receive.

Books presently available on Smashwords by this author:

• The Warrior Poet

• Releasing God's Power in You

• Pupper Tales

Colorful Truths Series

• Can We Have the Mind of Christ?

• The Chicken

• The Fruit of the Spirit

• Our Free Gift

• Victory Over the Flesh

• Do Miracles Still Happen?

• Minister to Me

• Peace in the Storm

• Colorful Truths Volume 1 & 2

New Life Series

Volume 1, 2, 3

Ministry In Poem Series

A total of 18 volumes

Please go to Smashwords and check for new releases or how to sample and view or purchase.

Thanks for allowing me to share with you what the Lord has shared with me. May you be as blessed reading these as I was by the Lord in writing them.

Rick

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/believer
