Winning the War Within – Part 7
Two major points I want to make this week:
1. You cannot live a life pleasing to God in the flesh (human ability)
2. Fasting gives you an opportunity to do HANDS-ON TRAINING for submitting to the Spirit, versus succumbing to the flesh
Winning the War Within – Part 5
Major points I want to make this week:
- Natural vs. Spiritual vs. Carnal
- Learning to be led of the Spirit
(1 Cor 2:9-14 KJV) 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. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 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. 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. 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. 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.
1. Before we come to God we are natural
a. Born with a sin nature.
b. Sin was natural to us.
2. The Natural cannot receive Spiritual things
a. The natural man attempts to make sense of everything, because he processes everything through his senses.
b. The Spiritual communicates with God Spirit-to-spirit.
c. God is Spiritual, not sensual.
3. Once you are Born-Again, if you live by your Old Nature you are referred to as “Carnal”
a. The Carnal man is a believer who is governed by the flesh.
b. You can be Born-Again and still dominated by your old nature.
4. To be Spiritual you must
a. Be Spirit-indwelled.
b. Be Soul-transformed.
5. The goal is to be to Spiritual (to be led of the Spirit)
a. When you are led of the Spirit you are a SON of God (Rom 8:14).
b. When you are led of the Spirit you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:16).
The Language of Faith
We come to God with a set way of thinking and speaking and we must allow the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to transform our thoughts, words, and actions. Once we change the way we think, we will change the way we speak. Once we change the way we think and speak, we will change the way we act. Once we change the way we act, we have changed! Hallelujah!
Here are 5 facets of the Language of Faith:
1. The Language of Faith’s vocabulary is found in the Word of God (Jer 1:12). When I joined the military I had to learn the ‘lingo’ and what the plethora of acronyms that we use meant. Likewise, when I was Born-Again, I had to learn what things like salvation, redemption, atonement, sanctification, propitiation, etc; meant. I learned them through the Word of God. We must all learn the language.
2. The Language of Faith speaks pertinent promises. Once I learned the language, I had to start putting it into practice. I learned that there were scriptures that promised me peace when I troubled, health when I was sick, deliverance when I was bound, restoration when I was alienated, and etc. I had to learn what scriptures were pertinent to my situation and I stood on those pertinent promises. The language of faith speaks those pertinent promises for permanent change.
3. The Language of Faith speaks the desired outcome (Rom 4:17). I had to train myself not to simply speak what I saw. If I can see it, then it does not require faith (Heb 11:1). I had to train myself – under this new language – to speak things, in accordance with the Word of God, that I desired to happen, before they happened. Not only that, but I had to literally train myself to believe that what I spoke would come to pass. That is basically ‘releasing your faith’ over a certain situation.
4. The Language of Faith continues to speak the desired outcome until it comes to pass. It is foolish to think that everything in Christ is going to come easy. You can find the right promise, speak the right things, release your faith, but there will always be opposition. They key is not to allow what you see (opposition) to change what you say (faith). You must continue to speak the desired outcome until you see it come to pass in your life!
5. The Language of Faith never cancels out their declaration of faith with doubt and unbelief (Jas 1:7). We dealt with this yesterday. We must doubt and doubt and have faith in our faith. Know that doubt cancels faith and that faith cancels doubt. Never speak doubt after you have spoken faith.
Spiritual Warfare – Part 3 (Christus Victor)
This is the third lesson in the series. Christus Victor (Jesus Christ is Victor!). The BIG IDEA of this lesson is that Jesus crushed satan and his demons on the cross and He FOREVER liberated those of us who are Christians. We have safety and protection from satan and demons.
Spiritual Warfare
I know many believers don’t even think about demons or satan, but that is a serious mistake. Pastor Mark does a great job in this series. This is part 1. I hope it blesses you as it has blessed me.