THE POWER OF GODS WORD

  

THE POWER OF GODS WORD

 John 1:14   ¹⁴ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The word made flesh is referring to the incarnation of God becoming man. He dwelt among us is referring to Jesus, being perfect, but not holding himself higher than all others, rather lived as all men, even as a peasant.

   ⁹ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

¹⁰ Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

A chosen generation is a new creation that never existed before, made up of all who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. A royal priesthood is referring to Christ who is king and high priest.

Because we are “in Him” we as well are kings and priest.

John 14:20   ²⁰ At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

   ⁵ And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

⁶ And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

All of this was made possible by what Christ Jesus did at the Cross and only by the cross.

A holy nation, a peculiar people, a multitude of people of the same nature. Each saint is Gods unique possession. It is just as if that saint were the only human in existence.

In times past we were not a people of God: focus here is on people without God in their life. Without God there is no heavenly standing in any capacity. After accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior we become the people of God, all of this is made possible by what Jesus did at the cross.

Which had not obtained mercy refers to, mercy and grace was obtained at the finished work at the cross; we now have obtained mercy. Mercy is a product of grace which was obtained at the cross.

Gods word is full of life and power, making it active, energizing and effective in our lives, the very entrance of God’s word gives light and our ability to conquer.

In the name of Jesus, you can walk out of the realm of failure into the realm of success.

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

Fear is an evil spirit that Satan uses to control people of weak faith. This strategy of his has worked from the time in the garden of Eden throughout history up to today. The word says this too is a disposition of the mind. However, God’s word says He has given us a spirit of power, love and a sound mind,

God has delivered and drawn us out of the control and dominion of the devil and has transferred us into the kingdom of His dear Son, Jesus.

Now we can rejoice in Jesus, who has come, that we might have life and have life more abundantly. Today we are a new creation, the old us has passed away and the new us lives on in Christ Jesus.

   ⁵ And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

⁶ The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

⁷ Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

We walk by faith and not by our five senses, it is faith that controls, not our sight. Start looking forward to the word of God and forget those things that are behind you.

Keep Gods word in the midst of your heart, for His words are life, healing and health to all your flesh. Let God write them in the tablet of your heart.

We must strive to be like a tree planted by the water, not being moved by every little whim that the devil tries to throw at us. Tell the devil, I am the righteousness of God and I refuse to give you any place in me.

Sometimes when the world seems to be turned upside-down, we start to lose faith. God is still God even in these dark times, His word is full of power.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:13   ¹³ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Wisdom on spiritual knowledge does not come from natural reasoning, that is why we cannot lean on the natural way of thinking. The natural way of thinking will not produce spiritual understanding.

Wisdom of the word, knowledge, understanding and discerning of the word only comes through the Holy Spirit. That is why God said my ways and thoughts are higher than your ways and your thoughts.

   

Jesus holds all power in Heaven and in the Earth. If you are a believer and made Jesus the Lord of your life, then you have access not to this power but to the authority of it in the name of Jesus. When the word, power, is used in the scripture concerning the people it means authority or dominion.

   ² I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

³ How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

We have Dominion over our adversaries who have been put under the feet of Jesus. His power to live a holy life has been settled in heaven for the believer in Christ through what Jesus did at the cross.

In the exceeding greatness of His power and his power toward us who believe, it works for us according to our faith in the finished work of Christ at the cross and by no other means.

Far above all principality and power and might and dominion of every demonic spirit: Christ Jesus was given this exalted position and will retain it forever.

PROSPERITY

  

PROSPERITY

 

Why you should prosper.

Financial prosperity is a subject that never fails to light a fire in people. In some that fire is one of faith, in others it is a fire of a less favorable kind.

What makes it such a volatile subject is the simple fact that in the minds of many people, money is a dirty business. They have seen it tied up so often with carnality and corruption that they can’t believe that God would ever give us any more money than we absolutely need.

The question is why would he give us more money? We will never fully understand Gods will about prosperity until we know the why behind it. We all need to know the why.

Think for a moment, what is God reason for prospering his people? Is it so we can get bigger TVS or finer houses or maybe a more luxurious car?

If you are like most people it may be difficult to even imagine any other reasons for prosperity. The reason is, your view about money has been shaped by a world view that pursues it strictly for selfish purposes, greed. In the word of God, the Lord provides us with two entirely different purposes for prosperity.

Deuteronomy 8:18   ¹⁸ But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

They were watchful lest prosperity caused them to forget the redeemer who delivered them from the bondage of Egypt. They were to guard against thinking that their prosperity was due to their own intelligence and their own power.

God intends for us to use the wealth he give us to help establish His covenant on Earth.

Ephesians 4:28   ²⁸ Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Establishing Gods covenant on earth and giving to those in need. Those are Gods purposes for prosperity.

It is tragic how foreign that concept is to most peoples thinking. I have actually heard people say: I don’t need much prosperity. I am a simple person with simple needs. I just ask God for enough to meet my needs.

They are mistaken if they think that is humility. It is not, it is selfishness. They could have asked God for more money than they need, take what they need out and use the rest to help others. They have been brainwashed by a world that says if you have money you have to keep it.

Without realizing it these people are saying, all I care about is meeting my own needs.

Jesus never built a worldly empire for himself, that does not mean he was poor. It simply means he was the greatest giver who ever walked the face of the earth.

It is time to stop pretending that money is not important, you know it, and God knows it. Why do you think he said where your money is there will your heart also be.

   ¹⁹ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

²⁰ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Psalms 73:12   ¹² Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

Most of us do not realize that there are two different types of prosperity, one from the word and one from the world. Ps.73:12 speaks of the latter.

Let your faith stir withing you and reach out and receive what you as a redeemed child of the living God have a divine right to. Don’t accept the curse of poverty, rather accept the blessing of hope and prosperity.

3 John 2   ² Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

This is referring to financial prosperity and should be the case for every believer. Be in health, speaks of the physical prosperity; as your soul prospers is speaking of spiritual prosperity. Here is the whole gospel for the whole man.

One reason people don’t prosper, believers, is not from lack of faith, it is from doubt when they pray. The tiniest amount of doubt will cancel your faith and keep you from receiving what God has for you. He is waiting for you to ask and believe you will receive.

Don’t think he will prosper others and not you. That is a lie from Satan. Do not be deceived God loves you whether or not your prosperous. Your lack of prosperity has nothing to do with his love for you.

There is much love of money in the world and not enough love for the one who created the world. The LOVE of money is the root of all evil, not the money.

   ²⁹ And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

³⁰ But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

The bible presents no data to support the idea that being wealthy is wrong. We find evidence to the contrary. The blessing of the Lord makes one rich and no sorrow is added with it.

Scripture also offers many notable examples of godly wealthy people, Job, Abraham, Barnabas and Philemon.

God does not disapprove of people with money, however, he does speak out against those who rely on riches as this young man did in the following verse.

Mark 10:23-24  ¹⁷ And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

¹⁸ And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

¹⁹ Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

²⁰ And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

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.

²² And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

²³ And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

²⁴ And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

Jesus also said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Proverbs 11:28   ²⁸ He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

Now we begin to see why Jesus says it is hard to be rich. It is because rich people stop trusting God and trust in their money. This gives money the glory, not God.

People, even Christians, don’t seem to understand the importance of money. Everything, even money belongs to God. we as human being own nothing. Everything we have belongs to God. it is only on loan to sustain you and to help others.

Don’t be afraid to ask God for finances, enough to help others and enough to further the kingdom.

AS A MATTER OF FACT

 

AS A MATTER OF FACT

 

There has been so much controversy about the rapture and the mark of the beast until I have decided to address this matter with biblical facts instead of manmade theological rhetoric.

First of all no one not even Jesus and the angels of heaven knows when the heavenly Father will tell his Son, Jesus that this is the hour to bring home the true believers.

Matthew 24:36    ³⁶ But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

When most people read this verse of scripture, they think this is speaking of the rapture. This is speaking of the second coming of Christ after the rapture of the church. Back up to the verses below.

Matthew 24:29-30   ²⁹ Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

³⁰ And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

The rapture of the church happens prior to the tribulation. Nothing else has to happen for God to send Jesus to bring us home in the rapture. Some people still think the next two verses has to do with the Rapture, which it does not.

Matthew 24:14   ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mark 13:10   ¹⁰ And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

This is after the rapture and prior to the second coming. All things in Matthew 24 will happen during the seven-year tribulation. Nothing has to happen for the rapture to take place.

The reason for the rapture is so God can use the last seven years to fulfill Daniels prophecy.

This is the time that God will send a strong delusion upon the world.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12   ¹⁰ And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

¹¹ And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

¹² That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

This takes place during the seven-year tribulation period after the rapture.

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

15.   ¹⁵ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16.   ¹⁶ So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

21-22     ²¹ To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

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

First Jesus is saying, if you have ears, listen to what I am saying to you, hear what the spirit is saying to the churches. He is talking to the people not to the buildings, you are the church.

God knows your works or your thoughts and actions. He knows whether you are of the light or the darkness. If you live in a grey area it makes Him want to spew you out of His mouth. He looks into our hearts. He knows what we are really thinking.

To those who overcome the darkness will He grant or choose to sit with him in his throne. Again, He says let him who has an ear hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches, we are the churches.

Revelation 4:1-2   4 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

² And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

“After this”, represents the time after the church has been taken out in the rapture. Sometime after the rapture the seven-year tribulation will begin.

Remember, God is real, His word is real, Heaven is real, and hell is real. You will spend eternity in one of these places; you must choose; will it be in heaven or hell?

 

WALKING THE NARROW ROAD

 

Matthew 7:13-14   ¹³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

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

The straight gate here is referring to walking the spirit filled righteous life that pleases God. Just being saves is only the first step that refers to that narrow gate.

Every contrite heart desire to be among the few, however the requirements are greater than most people are willing to accept.

The word contrite means deeply affected with grief and sorrow for having done wrong, or showing and resulting from remorse or feelings of guilt.

These two gates represent every person’s choice to either follow Jesus, which is the narrow gate, or follow the broad gate which is the way of the world, this gate leads to destruction.

There are many who go in by the wide gate, because without the Holy Spirit the narrow gate is difficult to follow. The narrow gate is the way which leads to life with the Father and Jesus, but there are few that find it.

Proverbs 13:20   ²⁰ He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Every Christian should diligently search for the preacher who preaches the whole counsel of God.

Romans 8:8-9   ⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

This is referring again to the believer attempting to live his Christian life by means other than faith in Christ and the cross. Since we are now a believer and no longer depending on the flesh, why do we still resort to things of the flesh?

As a believer we now have the privilege of being led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. He will do for us on the premise of our faith in the finished work of Christ Jesus.

Truly saved is, walking the narrow gait referred to in Matthew 7:13-14, which is following Christ.

Romans 7:6   ⁶ But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Before we were born again into newness of life, we were living the flesh life with our own sinful passions. Now we have been delivered from sin and should serve in the newness of the spirit.

We must put to death the deed of our own flesh by walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are fooling ourselves if we think the habits and the desires of the flesh will die without a struggle, they will not.

Proverbs 2:6-7   ⁶ For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

The Lord gives us wisdom to uses the knowledge of understanding to accomplish a sound mind if we walk upright in His word.

He guards our path by placing a hedge around us and gives His angels charge over us.

Proverbs 2:8-11   ⁸ He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

⁹ Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

¹⁰ When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

¹¹ Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

When wisdom and knowledge become a person’s way of life, wisdom that seeks God will deliver them from the temptation that leads to death.

We are the light of the world and should never get into the habit of walking in the path of darkness which leads to the wide gate.

Romans 8:38-39   ³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul stated, I am persuaded, or, convinced that the love of God extended to us is made possible solely by Christ and what he did for us at the cross. Once again this is Gods love for us, which never wavers, because we are in Christ Jesus.

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us enough to give His life on the cross, this alone makes us conquerors.

John 12:35-36   ³⁵ Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

³⁶ While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

This warning was clearly given that their day was nearly gone and eternal darkness was coming. Walk while you have the light lest darkness will come upon you. Now you have been given a choice.

You can choose to walk in light which is Christ Jesus, or stumble around in the darkness which is govern by Satan and his demonic cohorts, not knowing where you are going.

The majority of the world at present and since the beginning of time are living and walking in darkness, not realizing that a better way has been created for them through the blood and resurrection and the cross.

Since Jesus is the Light and while we still have access to this light, lets believe in the light so when the darkness tries to come upon our walk, we have all of heavens protection to stand with us against the darkness and evil.

We are children of God. we are the children of light. Make this light the focus of your life so you will be considered worthy of walking the narrow road.

Your soul, which is made up of your mind, will and emotion decide the road you will travel. Will it be the narrow road or the wide road that leads to perdition?  Eternal life waits at the end of both roads. One is to be in heaven with the savior the other is to be with Satan.

We are to walk in the newness of life through Christ Jesus and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, through faith in God’s word.

Romans 8:3-4   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.

Under the law people had only their will power to fight against sin, which was not enough due to weakness of the flesh. If you have not accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, you have the same weakness of the flesh.

You can not live for God without the help of the Holy Spirit. With out the Savior the Holy Spirit can not help you fight against the flesh.

As Christians we never walk after the flesh, or walk in our own strength. We need the Holy Spirit to walk in righteousness.

Walk here is referring to how we live our life. Using our Faith in Jesus and the cross, understanding that all things come from God to us by means of the cross. Then and only then can we stay on the narrow road.

The Holy Spirit works within us helping us to stay on that narrow road that leads us to our eternal life in heaven.

DON’T LET WORLDLY NEWS CONTROL YOU

DON’T LET WORLDLY NEWS CONTROL YOU

1 John 5:18   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.

Whoever is born of God sins not unto death. If you are born again your spirit is kept from the wicked one Satan. He has no power over the Christians.

We belong to Christ Jesus; we have been recreated into a new being and our spirit is sealed by the Holy Spirit.

John 17:9-11   ⁹ I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

¹⁰ And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

¹¹ And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

This verse is referring to Jesus praying to the Father because he was going to heaven to take his place with God the Father. He is interceding on his people’s behalf. Saying I am no more in the world. Jesus knew the enemy would come against the disciples and try to destroy them.

He also knew that the ones that received Him as Lord and savior would also be in danger. This is why we have the whole armor of God for protection.

Ephesians 6:10-12   ¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

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.

Luke 4:10   ¹⁰ For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:

Job 1:10   ¹⁰ Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

We have the whole armor; the angels and the hedge God covers us with. In no way should the believer have fear.

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

The spirit of fear is not from God. it is an evil spirit of Satan used to disrupt the God given faith in us. Its purpose is to cause doubt and unbelief.

Satan has used this tool of fear to keep people, even Christians, from fulfilling Gods purpose for them on earth. Even churches are afraid to come against Satan and cast demons out of people.

Its time people woke up and take the power and authority God has given us and bind Satan out of their life.

Satan has no power over a believer and no permission from God to tread on the believer.

Because your spirit is sealed Satan can not touch it. The Holy Spirit sealed your spirit when you made Jesus the Lord of your life. He will try to deceive your soul which is made up of your mind, will, and emotion.

Satan is prepared to fight for your soul. Are you willing to fight back?

Even though we are not of this world we still live in it and until the rapture or natural death we have to deal with the problems that come against us in this world.

Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. He wants to steal the truth of God from you, to kill everything good that comes from God, and to destroy anything and anybody who accepts the Word of God.

Because we are in the last days and Satan has only a short time left, he will work harder than ever to confuse and steal the word of God from the believers.

We can see in the news of today that people are out of control, they are not thinking of God and their eternal soul, they are ruled and guided by the world.

Don’t focus on the evil going on in the world today, remember you are not of this world. Your eternal home is in heaven.

John 17:16   ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

This is the word of our Lord. Even now I see the separating of the sheep and the goats that the Word speaks of.

Mathew 25:31-34   ³¹ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

³² And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

³³ And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Mathew 25:41   ⁴¹ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

This is at the Judgement of the nations which will commence at the onset of the kingdom age.

He shall set his sheep on His right hand refers to the people which would not co operate with the satanic government.

Matthew 7:21-23   ²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

We access to God only through Christ Jesus and access to Christ only thorough the cross. Our access to the cross is only through a denial of self.

Luke 9:23   ²³ And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

To be a follower of Christ you must forsake your own agendas. You must voluntarily choose to take up your cross daily and follow Him.

This tells us that in no uncertain terms that the cross of Christ must always be the emphasis of the message.

Matthew 16:24   ²⁴ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

By totally dying to self and giving up what we were before being born again into Christ Jesus, we are changed instantly into a new creature.

We deny our own strength and ability and follow Christ and his ability and strength.

In todays natural world being a believer and living righteous before God, without sin, iniquity and without spot or wrinkle in Christ Jesus we must know the word of God and lean not on our own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5   ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Ephesians 5:27   ²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

It is Christ himself who is to present the church and he is to present it to himself; all this was made possible by the cross.

Because we have made the choice to follow Him, we have an enemy that really hates us; All because Jesus won and Satan lost, Satan is in a rage.

Satan will try everything he can to get you to live for the world and not for Jesus. Whatever tool he has he will use it. Be it family, friends or our own lust for the things of this world.

You are the one with the power and authority, when he tries to use things of your past to win you over, remind him of his future. He does not have any power over the believer, his main tool is deception.

Stay strong, stay in the word, rebuke the world and what it has to offer.