Synch with the Spirit or Sink with the Flesh

Many Christians realize that the faith life is fueled and empowered by the work of the Holy Spirit in us.  Yet it seems so tricky to stay in the Spirit, which is where the fruit of righteousness is.

How do we stay in synch with this Helper, the Comforter, the "fire" of our faith?  By declaring that we are!  This is how we stir the embers of that fire!

 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):   that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.   For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.    (Romans 10:8-11)

^{Our confession is not only for salvation, but for every aspect of salvation, including the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus spoke the Word and the Holy Spirit confirmed it by signs and wonders.  As I confess who I am, whose I am, what I can do in Christ, what God has already done for me, the Holy Spirit bears witness and it affects my spirit.}

By daily practice, we can walk in the Spirit, which bears "much fruit" in our lives, not to mention righteousness, peace and joy, the very definition of the Kingdom of God.  This is how we remain in our royal domain.

Take to Heart the Power of God

The more we take up the "weapons of our warfare" in this epic spiritual battle of life, the more we are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

This was demonstrated to me last week, when I took a stand against the spirit of rejection, replacing it with God's view of me: I am precious in His sight; He guides me with His eye; He is for me and therefore no one can stand against me; I am seated with Christ in heavenly places.

Immediately I felt joy and peace in a situation that could've spiraled into a melange of negative emotion and commotion.  I can't be wasting time with that junk any longer.  I'm called to be not only transformed, but to be a transformer, by speaking the word of God, calling those things that are not as though they were.  This is what the Spirit of God waits for me to do, before He will act.  But when He hears the decrees of the Lord, He goes into action. 

This is what Jesus did: He spoke words of faith, and bam!  The Holy Spirit bore witness and manifested the word.  Let's start wielding the Sword of the Spirit (His word), severing ungodly ties, severing demonic spirits, severing anything contrary to God, so we can live Kingdom lives, as kings unto the King.

Whom Do You Serve?

I am celebrating a major breakthrough over a recurrent emotional issue.  It came by revelation through scripture that if I refuse to "bow" to my negative emotions, which take me on a roller coaster ride that is anything but fun, I have the upper hand by exercising self-control. 

When I choose faith over emotion, keeping my big mouth shut and waiting, with a mindset that God is doing a work in me and in the situation, I will see a resolution and I will be promoted in the spiritual realm.

What does that mean, you may ask...promotion in the spiritual realm?  It means that when we show God our faith, He shows us favor, which in turn builds our faith in Him.  Now we can move to a higher level, exercise more faith and see Him reward that faith.  That is how God keeps us moving from faith to faith in Jesus, molding us and conforming us into His likeness and character.

Now I am assured that when I turn away from the dictates of my flesh, which wars against the spirit of God that is in me, I know I am honoring God's word, promises and commands.  Blessings begin to flow through my body, mind and spirit because now I am aligned with His will, and have become a straightened conduit of His unfailing grace.