The first step is to receive revelation of the gospel of Jesus.
I have a couple of really quick, but very important questions to ask you.
Has anyone ever told you that God loves you and that He has a wonderful plan for your life?
If you were to die this very second, do you know for sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you would go to heaven?
Let me quickly share with you what the Holy Bible says. It says “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and “for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The Bible also says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” And you’re a “whosoever” right? Of course you are; we all are.
I’m going to say a quick prayer for you:
Lord, I ask You to bless each person who reads this with a long and healthy life. Jesus, I ask You to wrap Your loving arms around them right now. Make Yourself so real to them. Do a quick work in their heart. If they have never received You as their Lord and Savior, I pray that they do so right now.
If you would like to receive the gift that God has for you today, pray this with all of your heart:
Dear Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive me of my sin. Set me free. Jesus, thank You that You died for me. I believe that God raised You from the dead so I can have eternal life. Come and be my personal Lord and Savior. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, the peace of God, and the joy of the Lord. Give me a hunger for the things of God, a passion to reach the lost, and boldness to share the good news of Jesus with others. I’m saved. I’m born again. I’m forgiven and I’m on my way to heaven because I have Jesus in my heart. Amen Thank You Jesus!
When you asked Jesus to come into your heart and to forgive you, He heard you and did so! All of your sins are now forgiven! Always remember to run to God and not from God because He loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. You can write: ”I got saved!” on your calendar today!
Be sure to share this with your family and friends so they can get saved too, because you don’t want to go to heaven without them!
To begin to grow in our new-found faith, we need to understand that we are actually made up of spirit, soul, and body as described in these scriptures.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When we were born-again. Our spirit became a new creature. The Holy Spirit came to live in our spirit making it alive in Christ.
2 Corintians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
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.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
We need to understand what actually happened when we asked Jesus to be our Savior. We had been completely blind to the things of God, but now the eyes of our spirit are open to perceive His truth.
2 Corinthians 3:13-18 New King James Version (NKJV)
13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there isliberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 4:3-6 New King James Version (NKJV)
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
Unfortunately, our soul and body are not instantly transformed. Our mind must be renewed by the washing of the water of the Word of God. We are spiritual babies that need to grow up as we feed on the scriptures.
Romans 12:1-2 New King James Version (NKJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Ephesians 5:25-26 New King James Version (NKJV)
25 … Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
1 Peter 2:2 New King James Version (NKJV)
2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby
James 1:21-25 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
The Truth Shall Make You Free from Bondage or Slavery to Sin
John 8:31-36 New King James Version (NKJV)
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word (Fill your mind witht the word of God all the time), you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Romans 6:16, 19 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?
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Heb. 4:12 for the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Psalm 119:132-133 132 Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name. 133 Direct my steps by Your Word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
Jesus gave us the example of the fact that we need the Truth of the scriptures to resist temptation. So many people have such a pattern of falling for weaknesses of the flesh. When we have no Word in us, we have no weapons of defense against the temptations that will come to everyone. Jesus responded to temptation with, “It is Written” and kept his mind fixed on the truth given in God’s word to beat the enemy of His soul. If you will note in this passage, you have to know the word intimately and thoroughly, because it can also be twisted in an attempt to manipulate you.
Matthew 4:1-11 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:
‘ He shall give His angels charge over you,’
and,
‘ In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’”
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
The Holy Spirit gives us the power to set people free from bondage.
Luke 4:18 New King James Version (NKJV)
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor (Good News: You don’t have to be poor anymore! God wants to bless you!);
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives (You can be Set Free from being Held in bondage to sin by the strong man)
And recovery of sight to the blind (Spiritually blind, off focus, wrong perspective, sight not set to hit target),
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
Put on the whole armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. You must have the word of God in you or you have no weapons to fight the devil with!
Ephesians 6:10-17 New King James Version (NKJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
When you are full of the word of God, you have the weapons that are mighty through God to pull down strongholds in your thinking patterns.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 New King James Version (NKJV)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (fleshly) but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing (fleshly thoughts) that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
Bind the Strong man that’s holding you prisoner:
Matthew 12:22-30 New King James Version (NKJV)
22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 Now when the Pharisees (Religious leaders) heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
We must learn HOW TO cut off the voice of our flesh (sin nature) and the enemy, in order to live the Spirit-filled life and produce the fruit of the Spirit.
We still have a sin nature that must be dealt with. Paul refers to it as the carnal mind, flesh, old man, etc. When we understand that it is our soul/flesh that is susceptible to negative thoughts and emotions. Then we can acknowledge the source and deal with it. We need to get revelation on being crucified with Christ and putting off the old man. I would encourage you to study this subject for yourself in depth. Romans 6-8 is a good place to start.
Romans 8:13-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin…
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
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?
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.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Prayer to cut off the voice of the flesh and be filled afresh with the Holy Spirit: This is the key to overcoming fleshly patterns that plague us. This needs to be done often throughout the day until our mind is renewed and our emotions are healed by His word and presence.
Lord, I cut off the voice of the flesh and the voice of the enemy in Jesus’ name. I say I am dead to sin and alive to God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives 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. I put off the old man and put on the new man created in Christ in righteousness and true holiness. I have the mind of Christ. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit. I submit to You, Holy Spirit, to produce the fruit of Your spirit through me. I thank You for Your peace, love, joy faith and a sound mind. Amen
We really can trust the Lord with all of our concerns. Try it and see what God will do! You will soon discover the most precious things we have as Christians are not only faith, hope and love, but also righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 17″For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” When we have been plagued by fear, condemnation, and depression and we enter into the supernatural peace that only Jesus can give, that righteousness, peace and joy is cherished and something worth seeking.
John 14:27 27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Matthew 6:24-34 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
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.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
You have been given the key to freedom. Now, all you need to do is use it! It won’t change anything if you just look at this as a nice little inspirational message. Get these principles and scriptures into your soul. Do a search about the promises of God. Begin to develop the intimate relationship with your loving Heavenly Father that He so desires. Study His love letter that is full of His promises to you (The Bible). Write down the prayer given above, carry it with you and pray the prayer to cut off the fleshly thoughts and emotions as they arise. It’s time to take authority over your thought life, stop being a victim and be the victorious Christian God destined you to be! As your thoughts, attitudes, emotions and words change from fear to trust, peace, love and faith… watch everything around you change too!
By Gloria Garner
www.facebook.com/GloryAwakeningMinistry