8 September 2014
Walking in The Power of The Spirit
Romans 6:4-5
"Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection," (NKJV)
Many people want to walk in the power of The Spirit, and live under the unction of The Spirit; enjoying the Fruit of The Spirit and the Gifts of The Spirit. But many times they find themselves frustrated and living in the flesh. Scripture says we were buried with Christ through baptism into death. That is, Jesus Christ was raised from the dead by The Glory of The Father so we should walk in the newness of life. Scripture clearly says we died with Christ. For us to start walking in the newness of life, The Spirit and Resurrection Power, we need to die. Resurrection power comes to the dead.
You will never experience the power of resurrection and walk in the newness of life and Spirit if you do not die. Just like I always say, many people want to go to Heaven, but no one wants to die. The only way to go to Heaven is through death or maybe Rapture when Christ comes back. Death is a frightening thing to many people. May I also suggest, Child of God, that the flesh hates death. It is only when the flesh dies that is when the Resurrection Power of Christ begins to operate in our lives. The flesh will resist, scream and throw tantrums because it does not want to be nailed to the Cross and die. You need to make a decision every day to die daily, as Apostle Paul says. Let's crucify the flesh daily and consistently. Consistency is the rule of the game in this journey of life with Christ. We need to be dead to the world, and alive to God. It is only then will we experience the true power of The Spirit in our lives.
As Daniel 11:32 says "... but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits." I must stress on the word "know". This word "know" means having experiential knowledge and understanding of God, with heart and soul. To have communion with Him or intimate fellowship with God, this only happens when we get the flesh out of the way. Living and walking in The Spirit should be a way of life for every believer. God is Spirit. Those that worship Him should worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Colossians 3:3 says "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (NKJV). This verse clearly talks about us dying to the world and its works. But in most cases we find the people that are supposed to have died, coming back to life as ghosts; living and existing again in the former life. Then we get some who don't die but just faint. When a cool breeze of things of the world blows their way, they revive in their old works again.
Child of God, God wants you to die because you look good and are beneficial to the Kingdom when you are dead. So let's make it our goal to live in the newness of life that we got when we died with Christ. Crucify the flesh daily by the Word of God, prayer, righteous living, making decisions in life in line with The Word of God, and choosing The Cross and the Finished Work of Christ at Calvary; allowing His Grace to enable us to live as new creations in Christ. In Luke 4:1,14 says "Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,...Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region." (NKJV). We see Jesus in verse 1 being filled with The Holy Spirit coming out of Jordan going into the wilderness. He was already filled with The Spirit when He went into the wilderness.
Most Christians are filled with The Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and singing in The Spirit, but they wonder why the power of The Holy Spirit is not evident in their lives. Scripture clearly says in Acts 1:8 "but you shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you..." So they know they have received The Holy Spirit but still the power is lacking in their lives.
Well I have good news for you, Child of God. The only thing that will stop the power of God from flowing in your life is THE FLESH. This is why we fast. Fasting does not twist the arm of God but fasting deals with our flesh. We see in verse 1 and verse 2 of Luke 4 above that Jesus, after He was filled with The Holy Spirit in River Jordan, was led into the wilderness where He spent 40 days and 40 nights. Then in verse 14 scripture says "Jesus returned in the power of The Holy Spirit..." RETURNED FROM WHERE? He returned from the wilderness. The Power only came upon Him after 40 days of prayer and fasting. I am not saying to you, you have to fast 40 days and 40 nights to get the power. I am saying fasting deals with the flesh which hinders us from living in the resurrection power and walking in The Spirit. The flesh is the greatest enemy of the spirit-life. The devil uses our fleshly desires to tempt us, and to derail us from the Will and the Plan of God.
Pastor's final word
Romans 8:14 says "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God..." Child of God, the most exciting thing in a Christian life is being led by The Spirit of God. As you are led by The Spirit of God you begin to walk also in the power of The Spirit. If you desire to walk in The Spirit, pray this prayer with me:
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for the Gift of life and that I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. Give me enough Grace that will enable me to crucify the flesh, that I may walk in the resurrection power of Christ. Help me to walk in the Counsel of Your Will and Purpose; that I may fulfill my destiny and the life that you designed for me. May Your Spirit lead me and order my steps. May Your Will be done in my life and through my life. Amen.
God Bless
Pastor Phil
Walking in The Power of The Spirit
Romans 6:4-5
"Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection," (NKJV)
Many people want to walk in the power of The Spirit, and live under the unction of The Spirit; enjoying the Fruit of The Spirit and the Gifts of The Spirit. But many times they find themselves frustrated and living in the flesh. Scripture says we were buried with Christ through baptism into death. That is, Jesus Christ was raised from the dead by The Glory of The Father so we should walk in the newness of life. Scripture clearly says we died with Christ. For us to start walking in the newness of life, The Spirit and Resurrection Power, we need to die. Resurrection power comes to the dead.
You will never experience the power of resurrection and walk in the newness of life and Spirit if you do not die. Just like I always say, many people want to go to Heaven, but no one wants to die. The only way to go to Heaven is through death or maybe Rapture when Christ comes back. Death is a frightening thing to many people. May I also suggest, Child of God, that the flesh hates death. It is only when the flesh dies that is when the Resurrection Power of Christ begins to operate in our lives. The flesh will resist, scream and throw tantrums because it does not want to be nailed to the Cross and die. You need to make a decision every day to die daily, as Apostle Paul says. Let's crucify the flesh daily and consistently. Consistency is the rule of the game in this journey of life with Christ. We need to be dead to the world, and alive to God. It is only then will we experience the true power of The Spirit in our lives.
As Daniel 11:32 says "... but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits." I must stress on the word "know". This word "know" means having experiential knowledge and understanding of God, with heart and soul. To have communion with Him or intimate fellowship with God, this only happens when we get the flesh out of the way. Living and walking in The Spirit should be a way of life for every believer. God is Spirit. Those that worship Him should worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Colossians 3:3 says "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (NKJV). This verse clearly talks about us dying to the world and its works. But in most cases we find the people that are supposed to have died, coming back to life as ghosts; living and existing again in the former life. Then we get some who don't die but just faint. When a cool breeze of things of the world blows their way, they revive in their old works again.
Child of God, God wants you to die because you look good and are beneficial to the Kingdom when you are dead. So let's make it our goal to live in the newness of life that we got when we died with Christ. Crucify the flesh daily by the Word of God, prayer, righteous living, making decisions in life in line with The Word of God, and choosing The Cross and the Finished Work of Christ at Calvary; allowing His Grace to enable us to live as new creations in Christ. In Luke 4:1,14 says "Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,...Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region." (NKJV). We see Jesus in verse 1 being filled with The Holy Spirit coming out of Jordan going into the wilderness. He was already filled with The Spirit when He went into the wilderness.
Most Christians are filled with The Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and singing in The Spirit, but they wonder why the power of The Holy Spirit is not evident in their lives. Scripture clearly says in Acts 1:8 "but you shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you..." So they know they have received The Holy Spirit but still the power is lacking in their lives.
Well I have good news for you, Child of God. The only thing that will stop the power of God from flowing in your life is THE FLESH. This is why we fast. Fasting does not twist the arm of God but fasting deals with our flesh. We see in verse 1 and verse 2 of Luke 4 above that Jesus, after He was filled with The Holy Spirit in River Jordan, was led into the wilderness where He spent 40 days and 40 nights. Then in verse 14 scripture says "Jesus returned in the power of The Holy Spirit..." RETURNED FROM WHERE? He returned from the wilderness. The Power only came upon Him after 40 days of prayer and fasting. I am not saying to you, you have to fast 40 days and 40 nights to get the power. I am saying fasting deals with the flesh which hinders us from living in the resurrection power and walking in The Spirit. The flesh is the greatest enemy of the spirit-life. The devil uses our fleshly desires to tempt us, and to derail us from the Will and the Plan of God.
Pastor's final word
Romans 8:14 says "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God..." Child of God, the most exciting thing in a Christian life is being led by The Spirit of God. As you are led by The Spirit of God you begin to walk also in the power of The Spirit. If you desire to walk in The Spirit, pray this prayer with me:
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for the Gift of life and that I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. Give me enough Grace that will enable me to crucify the flesh, that I may walk in the resurrection power of Christ. Help me to walk in the Counsel of Your Will and Purpose; that I may fulfill my destiny and the life that you designed for me. May Your Spirit lead me and order my steps. May Your Will be done in my life and through my life. Amen.
God Bless
Pastor Phil