Understand… That Life Is War

Thanks to Unsplash Jacob Owens

Luke 9:23 AMP
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake, he is the one who will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God].

Brothers and Sisters,
This is perhaps one of the hardest teachings in Christianity…
This is where the daily battle comes into play….  To deny oneself daily is truly a difficult task.  God wants all of us.  We just don’t realize how much God wants to be with us.  Not just to be a part of our lives, but to be the essence of our lives, the thing on which our life centers.  The most important place in our lives…  Have you prayed today Brothers and Sisters?  Have you spent time in the Word today?  If you haven’t take some time even in your seat right now and thank Him for everything good in your life.  Ask Him to speak to you through His Word….  To fill you with His Holy Spirit.  Ask what His will for your life is today…  What does He want us to do today?   Confidently believe that He will answer you. 

tiny.cc/rnow

We do not belong to ourselves

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 AMP….

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? 20 You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.

What does this mean for us as Christians? We should seek to honor and glorify God in our speech, our thoughts, and actions. To me, this means that we do not belong to ourselves. Say this out loud: I am not the captain of this ship anymore… It is not what I want to do today. INSTEAD… It should be Lord what will you have me do today? Please fill me with your Holy Spirit and Lead me for I can do nothing without you.

Jesus Is the Vine—Followers Are Branches

John 15:1-11 AMP

I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you]. 4 Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. 5 [b]I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples. 9 I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. 10 If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. 11 I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.

Did you catch that warning? If anyone does not remain in Me...?  This is not talking about those who don't believe but those who believe. This is the end of the lie "once saved always saved."  Hear the truth... If you are a believer and you do not remain in God, you will wither and die as a broken off branch and be gathered at the end and burned. (Reference to Hell for all eternity.)  If that is not clear enough...

Cross Ref. Hebrews 10:26-30

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a] and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[b]

Cross Ref. 2 Peter 2:20-22

20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”[g] and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”



Unfortunately, just because we know this to be true, (that we need to live each day for Christ) it doesn’t make it any easier to put into application. For we still have to battle our flesh and choose to do what is right. 

What am I talking about here?

The Conflict of Two Natures Flesh VS. Spirit

Romans 7:14-21 AMP

14 We know that the Law is spiritual, but I am a creature of the flesh [worldly, self-reliant—carnal and unspiritual], sold into slavery to sin [and serving under its control]. 15 For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity]. 16 Now if I habitually do what I do not want to do, [that means] I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good (morally excellent). 17 So now [if that is the case, then] it is no longer I who do it [the disobedient thing which I despise], but the sin [nature] which lives in me. 18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity]. For the willingness [to do good] is present in me, but the doing of good is not. 19 For the good that I want to do, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want to do, I am no longer the one doing it [that is, it is not me that acts], but the sin [nature] which lives in me.
21 So I find it to be the law [of my inner self], that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully delight in the law of God in my inner self [with my new nature], 23 but I see a different law and rule of action in the members of my body [in its appetites and desires], waging war against the law of my mind and subduing me and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is within my members. 24 Wretched and miserable man that I am! Who will [rescue me and] set me free from this body of death [this corrupt, mortal existence]? 25 Thanks be to God [for my deliverance] through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind serve the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness, my sinful capacity—I serve] the law of sin.

It sounds miserable, but then Praise God for sending His only son to free us

Escape from Bondage
Romans 8:1-17

8 Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do [that is, overcome sin and remove its penalty, its power] being weakened by the flesh [man’s nature without the Holy Spirit], God did: He sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin. And He condemned sin in the flesh [subdued it and overcame it in the person of His own Son], 4 so that the [righteous and just] requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh [guided by worldliness and our sinful nature], but [live our lives] in the ways of the Spirit [guided by His power]. 5 For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose]. 6 Now the mind of the flesh is death [both now and forever—because it pursues sin]; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace [the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God—both now and forever]; 7 the mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God’s law, since it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh [living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses] cannot please God.
9 However, you are not [living] in the flesh [controlled by the sinful nature] but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God lives in you [directing and guiding you]. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him [and is not a child of God]. 10 If Christ lives in you, though your [natural] body is dead because of sin, your spirit is alive because of righteousness [which He provides]. 11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
12 So then, [a]brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but not to our flesh [our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity], to live according to the [impulses of the] flesh [our nature without the Holy Spirit]— 13 for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever. 14 For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “[b]Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God. 17 And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory.

Brothers and sisters, we need the Holy Spirit to live and sow to the Spirit.  Only through the Spirit can we overcome the flesh and deny ourselves.  Only through the Holy Spirit can we choose and remain steadfast in serving the Lord.  Brothers and sisters, we receive the Holy Spirit upon coming into the Body of Christ.  However, being filled with the Holy Spirit is different than just having the Holy Spirit.

How do we get filled with the Holy Spirit…?  We ask in Faith…

Luke 11:13
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!   

What Hinders Spirit Filling?
Whenever you are resisting the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Has the Holy Spirit ever led you to do something you didn’t do? 

Lusting or desiring against the Spirit.  There is a war going on, so if you choose to gratify the desires of the flesh, you are acting against the Spirit.  The Flesh is always in opposition to the Spirit.  The Spirit is always in opposition to the flesh.  LIFE IS WAR. 

God brought this as a revelation to me one day.  Every thought you think, Every Choice you make Every Word you speak, Every action you take either opens the door for the devil to move in your life or God…  LIFE IS WAR… Never let your Guard Down.
The enemy will not rest until you and all you love is destroyed.  Learn the way He attacks you and your families and you can guard against Him.  Praise God that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has already won!

Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.

What if I feel powerless?

I am going to share an Article from Cindi McMenamin who writes articles contributing to Crosswalk.com.  She has written over 17 Christian books with Harvest House Publishers.  The article is titled 5 Areas of Your Life Satan Wants to Enter you can find it here… 

When we quench the Spirit, we refuse to do the things The Holy Spirit wants us to do. 
We grieve the Holy Spirit when we knowingly do something wrong or choose to go against Him.  When you tell the Holy Spirit No No No No No No No soon you can’t hear Him anymore…. Repent Confess all your sin and be forgiven…  Yield yourself completely to God…

Please enjoy the below Video by Chris and Conrad Lead Me to the Cross
https://youtu.be/J3-d_IrMm9A

James 4:8
Draw close to God and He will draw near to you


The Daily Battle:

Joshua 24:15

If it is unacceptable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

For me many times, it is a battle in a moment.  I need to stop myself and think and say.  Who does this action say my Father is?  Who does this speech/tone, or remark say my Father is?  Where does this path lead?  Who do you choose to serve this moment?  Who do you choose to serve this minute?  If you say you choose to serve the Lord.  Our thoughts and actions need to be in alignment with our words, which should be in alignment with who we are in Christ.  

Thanks to Lion of Judah Ministries for the below video on why we need the Holy Spirit

https://youtu.be/LA5XKLNmjSs

We as Christians need to remember who we are and whose we are… Then we need to let that dictate our words thoughts and deeds.  I encourage you brothers and sisters to keep on fighting.  If you got knocked down, get back up.  Don’t give up for God has given us the power to overcome.  We already have the victory through Christ.  Speak it & Declare it!  Believe it as the truth.  Faith speaks to the doubting thoughts when they come…

God shared with me this revelation and I believe it is the key to winning the daily battle against the flesh, provided we are led by the Holy Spirit. 

Whatever you strengthen most will be in control.  Feed the Flesh and it grows stronger… The same is true for our Spirit… Feed the Spirit with the Word of God.

1 Peter 2:2 AMP
2 like newborn babies [you should] long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may be nurtured and grow in respect to salvation [its ultimate fulfillment],

I encourage you brothers and sisters in Christ!  Be encouraged and go forth and be Salt And Light you are the top and not the bottom the head and not the tail. You are more than a conqueror. You are an Overcomer! You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you Philippians 4:13

Speak Your Faith

Thanks to Grace for Purpose Ministries for the below Video

https://youtu.be/9Y0DKwQ_ADg

Lift your head and see where your help comes from! For your help comes from the Lord, the Maker of the Heaven and the Earth

Thanks to Il Vano on Unsplash for photo

Isaiah 44:24 AMP

24 For the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb says this,

“I am the Lord, Maker of all things,
Who alone stretches out the heavens,
Who spreads out the earth [a]by Myself,
25 
Frustrating the signs and confounding the omens of boasters (false prophets),
Making fools out of [b]fortune-tellers,
Counteracting the wise
And making their knowledge ridiculous,

Casting Crowns Praise You In this Storm

https://youtu.be/dB4eC55dh-U

Oh how Great and Powerful is the Lord! Praise God forever!

Psalm 97:1-5 AMP

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands and coastlands be glad.
2 
Clouds and thick darkness surround Him [as at Sinai];
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
3 
Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries on all sides.
4 
His lightnings have illuminated the world;
The earth has seen and trembled.
5 
The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

Samuel Medas How Great is our God the Remix
https://youtu.be/AvD2_LAjiwg