By The Spirit

[B-A-C]

If you ask most Christian about overcoming (adversity/fear/sin/trials/etc...) they will say they cannot do it
on their own. I totally agree we can't do it on our own. The good news is... we don't have to.

Rom 8:13; for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

I know some Christians who say they struggle with the same old sins year after year after year, and they just can't seem to stop. I wonder what power they are using? Sheer will power?

Jesus says when we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive power.

Acts 1:8; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

2 Tim 1:7; For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

We can't do things on our own... but can do things by the Spirit.

Rom 15:19; in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Eph 3:16; that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,

And yet, even though we have this power.... many just do not seem to be able to overcome.

2 Thes 2:13; But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

Now of course the verse above mentions "faith in the truth". (Some have faith in lies) but it also mentions
"sanctification by the Spirit".

We don't have the power to sanctify ourselves. We have to yield the Spirit and let Him lead us. Some who claim to be Christians are always resisting the Holy Spirit.

Acts 7:51; "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.

It seems these are the power who still sin all the time, sin every day.... they have no power to change.
Jesus gives us this power... so why are they still stuck in the same rut after years and years?

Some seem to think it's by "their power" or "their strength"

Zec 4:6; Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.

When I hear Christians say they are still struggling with a multitude of sins. Or sometimes the temptations just overwhelm them... I wonder do they even have the Spirit?

2 Tim 3:2; For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
2 Tim 3:3; unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
2 Tim 3:4; treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2 Tim 3:5; holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

I've seen posts from "Christians" here on TJ that were unloving, who love money, who are arrogant,
who are malicious.... I'm not just talking about two or three messages. It seems the majority of their
posts are this way.

Where is their testimony? They hold onto a "form of godliness". But they deny it's power.
I've even heard some of them say... I'll probably always be this way... I'll probably always do those sins.
Apparently God doesn't have "enough power" to change them. They are stronger than God.

The thing is... God doesn't force you to change. You have to want to. You have to let Him change you.

Some will say... "you can't have the will to do this on your own". Perhaps that is true, I'm not debating that point, but if it is true... and God has given you that will... why aren't you changing?

 

[B-A-C]

Gal 5:16; But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Gal 5:17; For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Gal 5:18; But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Some Christians think that simply by virtue of being a Christian they are led by the Spirit. In that case, the evidence (fruit) of the Spirit should show.

Gal 5:19; Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20; idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
Gal 5:21; envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22; But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23; gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:24; Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Gal 5:25; If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Talking the talk is OK... but walking the walk is where the rubber meets the road. Let us "walk by the Spirit".
No we can't do it on own own... but we don't have to.

Some Christians say.. "I'm doing the best I can". Maybe that's the problem.
You're not doing the best He can do in you through the power of the Spirit.

 

[Melissa Chan]

Man i really enjoyed this. Walking in the spirit is life and peace, and power. The things of the mind are death. Easier said than done, on some days. Thanks for the share.

 

[Waggles]

That is why praying in tongues - praying in the Holy Ghost - delivers such excellent
results in overcoming and in being cleansed.
A Christian ought to be exercising the power and purpose of the indwelling Holy Spirit daily.
And some prayer and fasting also does not go astray.

 

[Lanolin]

If you see anyone post here why not just ask them to post their testimony. The ones that dont have one will flee.

 

[B-A-C]

If you see anyone post here why not just ask them to post their testimony. The ones that dont have one will flee.

I would agree... but I wonder if some people even know what a testimony is? Their testimony is simply.. "I believe in Jesus".
and that's a good start, but... What has He done for you?

Well He saved me from my sins..... Yes... and? Does it stop there? The fact that you had sins that you needed to be saved from
indicates you had sin in your life.... what have you done about it? Some might say... I don't have the power to change...
(Amen, see the two opening paragraphs). But He does have the power to change you. Has He done this?

Some of us come from very bad backgrounds, alcohol, abuse, drugs, adultery, sexual addictions, etc....
For some.. it's less drastic... I am less selfish, less material, I lie less, I don't steal anymore.... whatever your "sins" may have been.

But if God hasn't changed you.... why not? Is it because He can't.... or because you don't really want to?
For those of us brought out of that former lifestyle, and no longer slaves to those sins... "That" is our testimony.
Not only that we believe in Jesus.... Even the demons believe. ( James 2:19; )

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

Greetings @B-A-C ,
Awesome thread Brother !!

I want add something to what you have wonderfully laid out for us.

It's Called "Fighting the good Fight of Faith"

Many Believers have no clue what this is or even feel they need to fight.

Others run around crying out for others to pray them through.

Truth is we must all learn to fight each and every day.
Taking captive every thought is part of our fighting.
Standing until we see the victory is part of our fight.

People as you mentioned try to conquer things in their own strength and Paul talked about that as shadow boxing or punching the air and never hitting a thing.

For example God gave the children the land. He told them to go possess it.
It was already theirs.
All but two looked at the opposition and fled or gave up .

It's the same today for us.
Anything promised to us Through Grace Must be Accessed or Possessed by or through Faith.

That means we do have an enemy who will fight against you possessing what is already yours.

This will happen from changing habits to receiving healing to seeing anything you need a victory in.

People quote resist the devil and he will flee but forget All About first being Submitted unto God.

Again thank you for the thread.
Blessings
W4F

 

[Lanolin]

I would agree... but I wonder if some people even know what a testimony is? Their testimony is simply.. "I believe in Jesus".
and that's a good start, but... What has He done for you?

Well He saved me from my sins..... Yes... and? Does it stop there? The fact that you had sins that you needed to be saved from
indicates you had sin in your life.... what have you done about it? Some might say... I don't have the power to change...
(Amen, see the two opening paragraphs). But He does have the power to change you. Has He done this?

Some of us come from very bad backgrounds, alcohol, abuse, drugs, adultery, sexual addictions, etc....
For some.. it's less drastic... I am less selfish, less material, I lie less, I don't steal anymore.... whatever your "sins" may have been.

But if God hasn't changed you.... why not? Is it because He can't.... or because you don't really want to?
For those of us brought out of that former lifestyle, and no longer slaves to those sins... "That" is our testimony.
Not only that we believe in Jesus.... Even the demons believe. ( James 2:19; )

Ask them to post what changes God has made in their life. Was it Jesus or John who asked people who were going to be baptised to bring forth fruits of repentence, well what is your fruit of repentence?