Job 22:28 Decree a thing and it shall be established.
I changed a lot of the text below into a series of personal decrees
for my own use. I hope that whoever reads it will use it to make
their own personal decrees too.
Blessings,
Tonyb
HEBREWS 4:12.
12 For the word of God is QUICK, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The NIV says the Word of God is living and active ... That is what quick means, the Word of God is alive or living ( see also John 6: 63.) But it is only life to you as you accept it (believe it) and act on it. (Speak it forth)
Therefore the first step to attaining an effective faith is to settle on the absolute integrity of God's Word. The Word should be of foremost importance in your life.
The Word Comes First.
The gifts of interpretation of tongues and prophecy are inspirational vocal gifts given in order to inspire us and line up with the written Word of God. And if someone gives an utterance that does not line up with the written Word of God, then it is not the Holy Spirit in manifestation. It is someone speaking from their own thinking or by a wrong spirit. We need to judge these things in the light of the written Word.
The Word of God is of the foremost importance because it is God speaking to us now/today. When you settle on that fact, you have gone a long way to understanding faith. We should treat the written Word with the same reverence and respect that we would, if Jesus was here in the flesh speaking to us.
Know the Reality of Our Redemption in Christ.
The second step necessary to attain an effective faith is, to know the reality of our redemption in Christ. We should understand redemption not just as a doctrine or a creed. But as a definite experiential knowing that in Christ we have been redeemed from the authority of Satan. ( Col 1:13.) Through the new birth I have been translated into the kingdom of God's own Son, the Kingdom of God. I have been born into the very family of God.
Delivered From Satan's Kingdom.
Colossians 1:12,14.
12 Giving thanks to the Father, who has made us able to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who HAS DELIVERED US FROM THE AUTHORITY OF DARKNESS, and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:
14 In whom WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, even the forgiveness of sins.
Thank God I am able to be a partakers of my inheritance, I can enter into my inheritance in Christ now.
Read verse 13 again: " Who has delivered us from the authority of darkness ..." This verse does not say that God is going to deliver me, it says He has already delivered me. When I was born again I was translated into the kingdom of His Son, the kingdom of God.
The word, ' darkness ' speaks of the kingdom of Satan, it is everything that Satan is. But in Christ I have been delivered from Satan's kingdom.
Now notice Colossians 1:14 says, " In whom we have redemption through His ( Jesus') blood ..." The devil cannot lord it over me, for I have been redeemed through the blood of Jesus. (Blood in scripture means a sacrificial death has taken place on our behalf) Let's look at Revelation 12:11.
Revelation 12:11.
11 And they overcame him ( Satan, the accuser of the brethren ) BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, and BY THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY...
The blood of Jesus is the basis for my victory. But I have to add my testimony to it, or I have to add my confession to it.
I have to stand my ground against the enemy with my confession of faith in what the Word says about me. Satan as the god of this world will try to exercise authority over me. But I have to realise that I have been delivered from the authority of darkness - the authority of Satan through the blood of Jesus.
By virtue of the new birth, I have been translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son, Jesus Christ ( Col 1:13. see also Col 3:1,3) In Christ I have redemption through His blood, and I can overcome the devil every single time, no matter what the test or trial is. Because of the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony, my confession of faith in what the Word says about me. I thank you Lord there is power in your blood!
So as a new creature in Christ, Satan's dominion over me has ended! Jesus is the Lord and Head of the new creation. The Church is the Body of Christ, and Christ is the Head of His Body. The whole Body of believers - those who have been born again - are one new man in Christ.
Satan has no rights to rule over the body of Christ, Christ is the head of the Body and He is the one who is to rule and reign through His own Body; both corporately and individually.
Redeemed From Sickness.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
What, know you not that your body is the TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT which is in you, which you have of God; and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought with a price: ( the blood of Jesus ) therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit; which is God's.
Here the Bible says not only my spirit, but my body is bought with a price, so glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
Notice it says, "... glorify God in your body ..." Does God get any glory out of the devil dominating me physically with sickness and disease? Could God get any glory out of my body, which is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, being deformed or afflicted by the enemy with sickness of disease? No certainly not!
I need to see these things clearly in the light of God's Word, and then I will learn to take a stand against anything that attacks my body; just as I would against the other attacks of Satan.
Lets turn back to Colossians 1:12, which says, " Giving thanks to the Father, which has made us able to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."
Healing is revealed to me as part of my inheritance as a child of God, as I walk in the light.
In Mark 7:23-30 Jesus called healing the children's bread, it's my blood bought right.
The Bible tells me I have dominion and authority over the devil through the blood of Jesus, which includes sickness and disease.
Matthew 8:17
So that it was fulfilled spoken by Isaiah the prophet: He took up our weaknesses and bore our diseases.
1 Peter 2:24
Who Himself carried up our sins in His body onto the tree, in order that dying to sins we might live to righteousness; by the wounds of whom we are healed.
In Revelation 12:11, it is revealed to me in God's Word that by the blood of Lamb and the word of my testimony I overcome Satan. And as a born again Christian, I have already been delivered from the power of darkness and have been translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son. ( Col 1:13.)
Now notice that this verse says, " Giving thanks to the Father, which has made us able to be PARTAKERS of the inheritance ..." ( Col 1:12.) Thank God I can partake of my inheritance right now, I have an inheritance now!
I am delivered from the authority and power of darkness now. I am translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son now. I have deliverance and redemption from the hand of Satan now.
I can overcome the enemy now by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of my testimony, my confession of faith in what God's Word says about me.
I can glorify God in my body and in my spirit now. I am the custodian of my own body. I am to glorify God in my body and in my spirit, which are the Lord's.
Know the Reality of the New Creation.
You should know the reality of the new birth for yourself... the moment I accepted Jesus Christ as My Lord and Saviour, I was recreated in Him by the Holy Spirit. That is when the legal act of redemption, which was wrought in Jesus' death and resurrection became a reality in my own life. In the new birth I have in my spirit the very life and nature of God.
I am a son of Almighty God, He is my very own Father; and we are His very own children. We know we have passed out of Satan's kingdom - the realm of the spiritual death - into the realm of life through Jesus Christ.
In 1 John 3: 14 he said, " We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren ..." We are the family of God, we were born into the family; we could not join the family of God we had to be born into it.
In the new birth God has become my very own Father and I am His very own son. I have as much freedom and fellowship with my Heavenly Father as Jesus had in His earthly walk, because God loves me as much as He loves Jesus. ( See John 17: 23.) God loves me as much as He loves Jesus.
Colossinans 1:18
18 And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the FIRST BORN FROM THE DEAD; that in all things He may have the pre-eminence.
I was born again and redeemed from spiritual death, too, but Jesus is the first-born from the dead ( Revelation 1:8.) I was begotten of God, but Jesus was the first one begotten of God ( see Revelation 1:5 & Hebrews 1:6.) 1 Peter 1:23 says, Having been begotten not by corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the living and abiding word of God.
Thank God, I am begotten of God. I am born of God, I am a child of God; I am a co-heir with Jesus Christ ( Romans 8:17.)
I did not make myself a new creatures, God did. And Jesus is the Author and Finisher of my faith, ( Hebrews 12:2.) Thank God I am a new creature created by God in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus ...
I did not make myself who I am or what I am - God did, and I need to be careful about passing judgement on God's creation.
Some people have thought they were being humble by saying, " I am so unworthy." But God did not make an unworthy new creation.
If you see yourself as being unworthy, you are not looking at yourself in the light of the New Testament epistles. Many Christians look at one another from the physical natural stand-point and miss the spiritual reality of the new creation.
Christians who say they are unworthy are not being humble they are being ignorant. We are God's workmanship re-created in the likeness and the image of God which is, righteousness and true holiness. When you belittle yourself, you are complaining about what God has done for you in the new birth; you are belittling His work in your life. You are speaking against to the Word of God.
I am God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. I'll not keep looking at myself from the natural standpoint. I'll keep looking at myself in Christ and I'll look much better. God my Father does not see me as others see me. He sees me in Christ. I need to look at myself the way God looks at me, as it is revealed in His Word.
Repentance vs Doing Penance.
Someone once said when he was going through a hard time in his life, " I suppose I am just paying for the life I lived before I became a Christian." However, when I was born again I was redeemed from the penalty of my former sins. If I was going to go on paying for my sins, then I would be going on to hell too! But that's not the truth since I'm now in Christ, (2 Corinthians 5:17.)
I need to pay attention to what the Bible says about redemption, a lot of people are defeated in life because they won't take a stand against the devil. They don't take a stand against what comes against them because they think it ought to be that way - they think they deserve what has come upon them. They don't know the difference between repentance and doing penance. They actually think they have to suffer for the wrong they did which is simply not Christian.
When I have repented God forgives me, and He does not retain any knowledge of what I did wrong.
ISAIAH 43:25.
25 I even I, am He that blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and WILL NOT REMEMBER your sins.
If God does not remember my sins then why should I?
Thank God, I have been redeemed not only from the power of sin; but also from the penalty. Jesus took my place and suffered the penalty of my sin for me.
A lot of people are allowing tests and trials to take place in their lives because they are not standing in their place of authority in Christ over Satan. And they are being robbed of deliverance and victory, because they think it ought to be that way. Of course tests and trials come upon us all, but that does not mean we are to allow Satan to walk all over us! If we are in Christ, God has promised us victory in every circumstance of life, see 1 Corinthians 15:57.
God does not hold my sin against me after I have asked for forgiveness. God forgives, forgets, and He cleanses me from all unrighteousness through the blood of Jesus ( 1 John 1:7 & 1:9.) Now the devil does not have any authority over me.
God has made me ABLE to enjoy my inheritance as a saint in light.
(Col 1:12.) He has made me ABLE to be partaker of my inheritance. Since God has done His part, I'll do my part. I'll glorify God by partaking of my inheritance and enjoying what rightfully belongs to me in Christ.
Part 2.
In this lesson we are going to continue looking what necessary to attain an effective faith.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17
14 Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: FOR WHAT FELLOWSHIP HAS RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, and what communion does light have with darkness?
15 And what concord has Christ with Beliel, or what part does he who believes have with a unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, " I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
17 "... come out from among them, and BE YOU SEPARATE ..."
Some Christian people read these scriptures and start practising segregation from the world, and think they are doing the right thing. However, there is a vast difference between separation from the world and segregation.
Some people read 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, and think they can't have anything to do with people in the world. But Jesus did not say that. He said, " You are the light of the world ..." (Matt 5:13-14.) As a Christian I am in the world but not of the world ( John 17:16.)I am salt in the earth and light in the world. However, I'm not to adopt the world's standards (2 Corinthians 17); I am to be like Jesus ( 1 John 2:6, & 4:17.)
Believers are called Righteousness and Light.
I want you to notice something else that God is saying to us in 2 Corinthians 6. First He talks about believers and unbelievers. Then He says, "... for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness ..." The believer is RIGHTEOUS and the unbeliever is unrighteous.
So I am a righteous new creation in Christ? That's what the Bible says I am, as a believer I am righteous.
14 Be not unequally yoked together with UNBELIVERS: for what fellowship has RIGHTEOUSNESS with UNRIGHTEOUSNESS and what communion has LIGHT with DARKNESS?
15 And what concord has Christ with Belial or what part has he who BELIEVES with an UNBELIEVER?
In this verse of scripture, The Christian believer is called, ' LIGHT,' meaning; that within my born again spirit there is nothing but Divine Glory and Light.
As a born again Christian my spirit is full of Righteousness and Light. The flesh is not righteous but it's only a small area within the mortal body and the Bible clearly states that I'm not in the flesh but in the Spirit (Romans 8:9.) However, what makes the difference in my life is seeing the truth of it, believing it with my heart and testifying to it with my mouth. Then the Holy Spirit will inhabit that testimony and confirm it's reality in my life.
As a Christian I am righteousness in Christ: " For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be the righteousness of God in Him"- Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21.)
Think on that for a while and let it soak into your spirit! For these scriptures are going to lead right on into steps of attaining an effective faith.
The Indwelling Presence Of the Holy Spirit.
The next step in this series of lessons is to know the reality of the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 4:4 says, "... greater is He who is in you, than he that is in the world." God Himself, after He recreated me and made me a new creation in Christ, is actually making my body His home!
When I was born again God the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity; came to live in me.
2 Corinthians 6:16.
16 ... for you are the temple of the living God, as God has said; " I will dwell IN them, and walk IN them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
God no longer dwells in a man made Holy of Holies. Through the new birth, my body has become His temple.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
19 What? Know you not that YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, you are not your own?
20 For you were bought with a price: Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which is God's.
I need to be ' conscious of God inside me ' In other words, I need to just simply take God at His Word, and believe and act on what the Bible says. "... greater is He who is IN you, than he that is in the world." ( 1 John 4:4.) He that is in the world is the god of this world, Satan. (See 2 Corinthians 4:4.) But thank God, He who is in me is infinitely greater in every respect than he who is in the world!
The Greater One Lives in Us.
Thank God, God the Holy Spirit dwells within me as a Christian. And because of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, it should be common practise for us to say in every crisis of life; " I am more than a conqueror. What does it mean to be more than a conqueror? It means I get stronger, as I go through the tests and trials of life, not weaker!
My continual confession should be, I am an overcomer because the Spirit of Almighty God the Creator of the Universe dwells within me; the power of the Holy Spirit is in me. Praise God, He causes me to succeed. I cannot fail on account of Him.
The Bible says, " let him who glories glory in the Lord." This was a major key to the apostle Paul's success as a Christian. He had learned that every test and trial of life was just an opportunity for the Power of Christ, the Holy Spirit to come upon in his time of need and deal with the problem.
In fact he goes as far as to say that glorying in the Lord is the mark of a true believer. " For we are the circumcision, the ones worshipping by the Spirit of God, AND GLORYING IN CHRIST JESUS and not trusting in the flesh." (Philippians 3:3.)
It is glorying in the Greater One who is in me that releases Him to be for me whatever I need, in every circumstance of life.
The Power Source Within.
Sometimes Christians who have been baptised in the Holy Spirit will when tests and trials come upon them, run around like a headless chicken trying to find someone to help them. They don't always appreciate that they have the Power source of God, the Holy Spirit dwelling within them; willing and wanting to help them in their time of need.
Many times people do not realise just who they have received when they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They think they have just experienced some kind of blessing instead of a Divine Person coming to dwell in them.
This has never been taught as it should of been taught. How many of us have been taught to trust the Holy Spirit who is in us? How many have been taught that you have in you all the Divine power you will ever need to be a success in this life?
Some Christians talk of the marvellous experience they had when they were first baptised in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues, but they think they have been left destitute ever since. They might say, " we don't have the power now; but are seeking it."
However, the fact remains that the potential of all the Divine power there is dwells within us! If we will begin to believe and confess what the Word says, then the Holy Spirit will rise up within us and give illumination to our minds and direction to our spirits and health to our bodies, and He will help us in every area of our lives.
At other times Christian people because they don't feel like they once did when they first received the Holy Spirit, they think He has gone, they've lost Him. But Jesus said in John 14:16, "... I will pray to the Father, and He shall give to you another Comforter, that He might abide with you FOREVER." God did not send the Holy Spirit as a guest to spend a few days with me. No, Jesus said, the Holy Spirit will abide with me forever.
Believers are the Body of Christ.
2 Corinthians 6:14-16.
14 Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness?
15 And what concord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has he that believes with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has the temple Of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
What are these verses saying? They are saying that as a Christian I am righteous in Christ, I am light in Christ; and as a consequence I have no concord with the devil.
In John 15:5 Jesus said, " I am the vine and you are the branches." A tree and its branches are one. As a Christian I am one with Christ, we Christians are the body of Christ. I am a fruit bearing part of Christ upon this earth, because it is the branches of a tree that bears the fruit.
Notice it also says, " And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? FOR YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD ..." We are the temple of God. God dwells within us, both corporately but also individually.
Let's look at the Amplified translation of this verse.
2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement (can there be between) a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God has said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people.
We are the temple of the living God, both individually and collectively!
We Have the Holy of Holies Within Us.
1 Corinthians 3:16. ( Amplified.)
Do you not discern and understand that you (the whole church at Corinth) are God's temple (His sanctuary), and that God's Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you - to be at home in you - (collectively as a church and also individually?)
"... to be at home in you ..." God is actually making me His home. No longer does God dwell in a man made Holy of Holies. In the Old Testament God's people had to go to the temple were the presence of God was, within the Holy of Holies.
The woman at the well in Samaria said to Jesus, "The Jews say you have to worship God in Jerusalem, but our forefathers worshipped God in this mountain" ( John 4:20.) Let's look at Jesus' reply.
John 4:21,23,24.
21 Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when you shall neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father ...
23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him.
24. God is a Spirit: And they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Jesus was indicating that the time was coming when man would no longer be confined to worshipping God in Jerusalem. The day was coming when man would worship God in his heart or spirit where God would make His abode with man. ( See Jeremiah 31:33 & John 14:16,17:23.)
Under the Old Covenant it was required that every Jewish male present himself at least once a year at the temple in Jerusalem before God. No one dared to approach the Holy presence of God for himself. Only a priest could go as far as the Holy Place. But Only the High Priest could go into the Holy of Holies, and then only once a year on the day of atonement with the blood of the atoning sacrifice.
If anyone other than the priests tried to draw near to God in the Holy Place they had to be put to death.
Just before Jesus died on the cross, He said, “It is finished!” Meaning the old order of worship with it's sacrificial system had finished, it was fulfilled in Jesus' sacrifice of Himself: “...the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29)
In Matthew chapter 27 we have part of the account of what happened when Jesus died on the cross.
Matthew 27:50,51.
50 Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up His Spirit.
51 And behold the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom..."
The curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place was torn in two from top to bottom and the Presence of God left the temple. The old order of things had past away and God has not dwelt in a Holy of Holies built by man to this day.
A Better Covenant.
As Christians we now live under a New Covenant with better promises (Hebrews 8:6.) The Holy Divine Presence of God's Spirit dwells within my born again spirit which is now the Holy of Holies, my soul is now the Holy place and my body is now God's holy temple!!!
The Greater One Within Us,
Can Make The Impossible – Possible.
God has actually made my body His home, His dwelling place. Are you conscious of your body being God's temple? We could not be conscious of Him living within us and talk the way we do sometimes.
When a certain type of need or task arises, most people are quick to say, " I can't do that." Why do we say such things? Because we are looking to our own natural sufficiency, and we know we don't have the ability.
But if we know that God the Holy Spirit is within us, then we know that He has the ability. Since He is within us we can stop saying, " I can't do it;" and start saying, " I can because I am trusting In Him." We can say, " I can because greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world."
It does not matter what impossibilities I am facing, I can confidently say, " The greater One within me makes me successful. The Greater One dwells in me. Believing that with my heart and speaking it out of my mouth will release the ability and power of God in my life!
The Holy Spirit Is A Gentleman.
The Greater One the Holy Spirit is within me, but He is not just going to take over my life and run it on His own.
Evil spirits will try to do that, they try to control people and make them do things against their will. But through out the Bible the Holy Spirit leads, guides and prompts us. He desires my cooperation and He won't do anything without it. The Holy Spirit works in harmony with the Word of God. When I meditate on the Word the Spirit and the Word testify together as one to build me up and strengthen my inner man. And then, when I speak out the Word it carries with it Divine power to accomplish what I speak.
You see the Holy Spirit is sent to be my Helper, (John 16:7 Amplified.) I am in a partnership with Him, I believe and speak forth his Word and He confirms what I believe and speak with signs following. God the Holy Spirit is in me, and He is my Helper.
Hebrews 13:5-6.
5... for He has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 So we may boldly say, THE LORD IS MY HELPER, and I will not fear what man shall do to me.
Ephesians 3:16-17 ( Amplified.)
16 May He grant you out of His rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the (Holy) Spirit [Himself] - indwelling your innermost being and personality.
17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell - settle down, abide, make His... home - in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.
How does the Holy Spirit permanently make His home in my heart? The answer is through faith.
Paul was writing to born again Christians who were already filled with the Holy Spirit. He wrote, " May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell - settle down, abide, make His... home - in your hearts!.." What Paul is talking about is allowing the Spirit of Christ to settle down and be at ease in our hearts with out quenching of grieving Him. It does not mean that He goes away. Jesus wants to be comfortable and at home in my heart, He wants to settle down in a union of fellowship with me and He does that through faith.
The Holy Spirit Works Through Us As We Act in Faith.
The trouble with a lot of Christian people is they are often looking up to Jesus or God the Father in Heaven to come and help them in their time of need. But the truth is that Jesus is in us through the Holy Spirit. (See John 14:16-17.)
I thank God, that God is in me as born again Christian.
God inhabits His Word. In step one we saw that the Word was living and active, and Jesus said His words are Spirit and life.
Every time I confess, pray or sing the Word in faith I am releasing the Spirit of the Word - the Holy Spirit within me to confirm or fulfil that word in my life.
I'm going to trust the Holy Spirit in me, and learn to be conscious of the fact that God is inside me. As I do He will rise up within me and give illumination to my mind, and direction to my spirit.
Mark 9:23 says, “All things are possible for him who believes.” And Matthew 19:26 says, “... with God all things are possible.” All the things that are possible with God, are also possible with the one who believes because the one who believes has the God with whom all things are possible dwelling within him.
Now put God and His Word to work for you, for He will surely rise up in you and give illumination to your mind, direction to your spirit, and health to your body. Yes, He will manifest Himself through you even to others and through your hands as you lay them on others; for the Lord your God, He it is who dwells within you.
How are you getting along with these lessons? Is your faith being built up? Are you being strengthened within? That is what God's Word does for you, God's Word builds your faith.
So you could say to yourself, quietly if you are among others, or out loud if you are by yourself, " Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world." "The Greater One dwells within me, I am depending on Him. He will make me a success, the Creator of the universe is in me. God has made His home in my spirit and my body is God's temple."
The natural mind might baulk at that, but when these great truths take a firm hold in your spirit then all the good things you have inherited in Christ will become a reality in your life.
Mediate on these great truths and feed your spirit on God's Word. Think on, acknowledge and give thanks for the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within you, and see how real He becomes to you.
We have been discussing knowing the reality of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. We said that Christians need to be conscious of God inside them. We need to be assured and aware that, " greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4.)
Then we can go out and face life's problems with a confidence born out of the fact that the Greater One in us, is infinitely greater than any of life's problems. We can know that we are fortified from within with God's strength and God's ability.
If we know that the Greater One is in us, we will not be moved by tests and trials. We won't be perturbed by anything that happens because we know that the Greater One in us will enable us to overcome in every circumstance of life, as we trust Him.
As I said before it is almost an unknown practise for Christians to say in every crisis of life, " I am more than a conqueror, I am in the victory because the Victor dwells within me. He can cause me to overcome, He can make me succeed I cannot fail on account of Him.
Adapted from, 'The Faith Bible Study Course,' By Kenneth E Hagin.
Probably his most powerful and influential book.
I changed a lot of the text below into a series of personal decrees
for my own use. I hope that whoever reads it will use it to make
their own personal decrees too.
Blessings,
Tonyb
HEBREWS 4:12.
12 For the word of God is QUICK, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The NIV says the Word of God is living and active ... That is what quick means, the Word of God is alive or living ( see also John 6: 63.) But it is only life to you as you accept it (believe it) and act on it. (Speak it forth)
Therefore the first step to attaining an effective faith is to settle on the absolute integrity of God's Word. The Word should be of foremost importance in your life.
The Word Comes First.
The gifts of interpretation of tongues and prophecy are inspirational vocal gifts given in order to inspire us and line up with the written Word of God. And if someone gives an utterance that does not line up with the written Word of God, then it is not the Holy Spirit in manifestation. It is someone speaking from their own thinking or by a wrong spirit. We need to judge these things in the light of the written Word.
The Word of God is of the foremost importance because it is God speaking to us now/today. When you settle on that fact, you have gone a long way to understanding faith. We should treat the written Word with the same reverence and respect that we would, if Jesus was here in the flesh speaking to us.
Know the Reality of Our Redemption in Christ.
The second step necessary to attain an effective faith is, to know the reality of our redemption in Christ. We should understand redemption not just as a doctrine or a creed. But as a definite experiential knowing that in Christ we have been redeemed from the authority of Satan. ( Col 1:13.) Through the new birth I have been translated into the kingdom of God's own Son, the Kingdom of God. I have been born into the very family of God.
Delivered From Satan's Kingdom.
Colossians 1:12,14.
12 Giving thanks to the Father, who has made us able to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who HAS DELIVERED US FROM THE AUTHORITY OF DARKNESS, and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:
14 In whom WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, even the forgiveness of sins.
Thank God I am able to be a partakers of my inheritance, I can enter into my inheritance in Christ now.
Read verse 13 again: " Who has delivered us from the authority of darkness ..." This verse does not say that God is going to deliver me, it says He has already delivered me. When I was born again I was translated into the kingdom of His Son, the kingdom of God.
The word, ' darkness ' speaks of the kingdom of Satan, it is everything that Satan is. But in Christ I have been delivered from Satan's kingdom.
Now notice Colossians 1:14 says, " In whom we have redemption through His ( Jesus') blood ..." The devil cannot lord it over me, for I have been redeemed through the blood of Jesus. (Blood in scripture means a sacrificial death has taken place on our behalf) Let's look at Revelation 12:11.
Revelation 12:11.
11 And they overcame him ( Satan, the accuser of the brethren ) BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, and BY THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY...
The blood of Jesus is the basis for my victory. But I have to add my testimony to it, or I have to add my confession to it.
I have to stand my ground against the enemy with my confession of faith in what the Word says about me. Satan as the god of this world will try to exercise authority over me. But I have to realise that I have been delivered from the authority of darkness - the authority of Satan through the blood of Jesus.
By virtue of the new birth, I have been translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son, Jesus Christ ( Col 1:13. see also Col 3:1,3) In Christ I have redemption through His blood, and I can overcome the devil every single time, no matter what the test or trial is. Because of the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony, my confession of faith in what the Word says about me. I thank you Lord there is power in your blood!
So as a new creature in Christ, Satan's dominion over me has ended! Jesus is the Lord and Head of the new creation. The Church is the Body of Christ, and Christ is the Head of His Body. The whole Body of believers - those who have been born again - are one new man in Christ.
Satan has no rights to rule over the body of Christ, Christ is the head of the Body and He is the one who is to rule and reign through His own Body; both corporately and individually.
Redeemed From Sickness.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
What, know you not that your body is the TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT which is in you, which you have of God; and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought with a price: ( the blood of Jesus ) therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit; which is God's.
Here the Bible says not only my spirit, but my body is bought with a price, so glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
Notice it says, "... glorify God in your body ..." Does God get any glory out of the devil dominating me physically with sickness and disease? Could God get any glory out of my body, which is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, being deformed or afflicted by the enemy with sickness of disease? No certainly not!
I need to see these things clearly in the light of God's Word, and then I will learn to take a stand against anything that attacks my body; just as I would against the other attacks of Satan.
Lets turn back to Colossians 1:12, which says, " Giving thanks to the Father, which has made us able to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."
Healing is revealed to me as part of my inheritance as a child of God, as I walk in the light.
In Mark 7:23-30 Jesus called healing the children's bread, it's my blood bought right.
The Bible tells me I have dominion and authority over the devil through the blood of Jesus, which includes sickness and disease.
Matthew 8:17
So that it was fulfilled spoken by Isaiah the prophet: He took up our weaknesses and bore our diseases.
1 Peter 2:24
Who Himself carried up our sins in His body onto the tree, in order that dying to sins we might live to righteousness; by the wounds of whom we are healed.
In Revelation 12:11, it is revealed to me in God's Word that by the blood of Lamb and the word of my testimony I overcome Satan. And as a born again Christian, I have already been delivered from the power of darkness and have been translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son. ( Col 1:13.)
Now notice that this verse says, " Giving thanks to the Father, which has made us able to be PARTAKERS of the inheritance ..." ( Col 1:12.) Thank God I can partake of my inheritance right now, I have an inheritance now!
I am delivered from the authority and power of darkness now. I am translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son now. I have deliverance and redemption from the hand of Satan now.
I can overcome the enemy now by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of my testimony, my confession of faith in what God's Word says about me.
I can glorify God in my body and in my spirit now. I am the custodian of my own body. I am to glorify God in my body and in my spirit, which are the Lord's.
Know the Reality of the New Creation.
You should know the reality of the new birth for yourself... the moment I accepted Jesus Christ as My Lord and Saviour, I was recreated in Him by the Holy Spirit. That is when the legal act of redemption, which was wrought in Jesus' death and resurrection became a reality in my own life. In the new birth I have in my spirit the very life and nature of God.
I am a son of Almighty God, He is my very own Father; and we are His very own children. We know we have passed out of Satan's kingdom - the realm of the spiritual death - into the realm of life through Jesus Christ.
In 1 John 3: 14 he said, " We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren ..." We are the family of God, we were born into the family; we could not join the family of God we had to be born into it.
In the new birth God has become my very own Father and I am His very own son. I have as much freedom and fellowship with my Heavenly Father as Jesus had in His earthly walk, because God loves me as much as He loves Jesus. ( See John 17: 23.) God loves me as much as He loves Jesus.
Colossinans 1:18
18 And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the FIRST BORN FROM THE DEAD; that in all things He may have the pre-eminence.
I was born again and redeemed from spiritual death, too, but Jesus is the first-born from the dead ( Revelation 1:8.) I was begotten of God, but Jesus was the first one begotten of God ( see Revelation 1:5 & Hebrews 1:6.) 1 Peter 1:23 says, Having been begotten not by corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the living and abiding word of God.
Thank God, I am begotten of God. I am born of God, I am a child of God; I am a co-heir with Jesus Christ ( Romans 8:17.)
I did not make myself a new creatures, God did. And Jesus is the Author and Finisher of my faith, ( Hebrews 12:2.) Thank God I am a new creature created by God in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus ...
I did not make myself who I am or what I am - God did, and I need to be careful about passing judgement on God's creation.
Some people have thought they were being humble by saying, " I am so unworthy." But God did not make an unworthy new creation.
If you see yourself as being unworthy, you are not looking at yourself in the light of the New Testament epistles. Many Christians look at one another from the physical natural stand-point and miss the spiritual reality of the new creation.
Christians who say they are unworthy are not being humble they are being ignorant. We are God's workmanship re-created in the likeness and the image of God which is, righteousness and true holiness. When you belittle yourself, you are complaining about what God has done for you in the new birth; you are belittling His work in your life. You are speaking against to the Word of God.
I am God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. I'll not keep looking at myself from the natural standpoint. I'll keep looking at myself in Christ and I'll look much better. God my Father does not see me as others see me. He sees me in Christ. I need to look at myself the way God looks at me, as it is revealed in His Word.
Repentance vs Doing Penance.
Someone once said when he was going through a hard time in his life, " I suppose I am just paying for the life I lived before I became a Christian." However, when I was born again I was redeemed from the penalty of my former sins. If I was going to go on paying for my sins, then I would be going on to hell too! But that's not the truth since I'm now in Christ, (2 Corinthians 5:17.)
I need to pay attention to what the Bible says about redemption, a lot of people are defeated in life because they won't take a stand against the devil. They don't take a stand against what comes against them because they think it ought to be that way - they think they deserve what has come upon them. They don't know the difference between repentance and doing penance. They actually think they have to suffer for the wrong they did which is simply not Christian.
When I have repented God forgives me, and He does not retain any knowledge of what I did wrong.
ISAIAH 43:25.
25 I even I, am He that blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and WILL NOT REMEMBER your sins.
If God does not remember my sins then why should I?
Thank God, I have been redeemed not only from the power of sin; but also from the penalty. Jesus took my place and suffered the penalty of my sin for me.
A lot of people are allowing tests and trials to take place in their lives because they are not standing in their place of authority in Christ over Satan. And they are being robbed of deliverance and victory, because they think it ought to be that way. Of course tests and trials come upon us all, but that does not mean we are to allow Satan to walk all over us! If we are in Christ, God has promised us victory in every circumstance of life, see 1 Corinthians 15:57.
God does not hold my sin against me after I have asked for forgiveness. God forgives, forgets, and He cleanses me from all unrighteousness through the blood of Jesus ( 1 John 1:7 & 1:9.) Now the devil does not have any authority over me.
God has made me ABLE to enjoy my inheritance as a saint in light.
(Col 1:12.) He has made me ABLE to be partaker of my inheritance. Since God has done His part, I'll do my part. I'll glorify God by partaking of my inheritance and enjoying what rightfully belongs to me in Christ.
Part 2.
In this lesson we are going to continue looking what necessary to attain an effective faith.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17
14 Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: FOR WHAT FELLOWSHIP HAS RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, and what communion does light have with darkness?
15 And what concord has Christ with Beliel, or what part does he who believes have with a unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, " I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
17 "... come out from among them, and BE YOU SEPARATE ..."
Some Christian people read these scriptures and start practising segregation from the world, and think they are doing the right thing. However, there is a vast difference between separation from the world and segregation.
Some people read 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, and think they can't have anything to do with people in the world. But Jesus did not say that. He said, " You are the light of the world ..." (Matt 5:13-14.) As a Christian I am in the world but not of the world ( John 17:16.)I am salt in the earth and light in the world. However, I'm not to adopt the world's standards (2 Corinthians 17); I am to be like Jesus ( 1 John 2:6, & 4:17.)
Believers are called Righteousness and Light.
I want you to notice something else that God is saying to us in 2 Corinthians 6. First He talks about believers and unbelievers. Then He says, "... for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness ..." The believer is RIGHTEOUS and the unbeliever is unrighteous.
So I am a righteous new creation in Christ? That's what the Bible says I am, as a believer I am righteous.
14 Be not unequally yoked together with UNBELIVERS: for what fellowship has RIGHTEOUSNESS with UNRIGHTEOUSNESS and what communion has LIGHT with DARKNESS?
15 And what concord has Christ with Belial or what part has he who BELIEVES with an UNBELIEVER?
In this verse of scripture, The Christian believer is called, ' LIGHT,' meaning; that within my born again spirit there is nothing but Divine Glory and Light.
As a born again Christian my spirit is full of Righteousness and Light. The flesh is not righteous but it's only a small area within the mortal body and the Bible clearly states that I'm not in the flesh but in the Spirit (Romans 8:9.) However, what makes the difference in my life is seeing the truth of it, believing it with my heart and testifying to it with my mouth. Then the Holy Spirit will inhabit that testimony and confirm it's reality in my life.
As a Christian I am righteousness in Christ: " For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be the righteousness of God in Him"- Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21.)
Think on that for a while and let it soak into your spirit! For these scriptures are going to lead right on into steps of attaining an effective faith.
The Indwelling Presence Of the Holy Spirit.
The next step in this series of lessons is to know the reality of the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 4:4 says, "... greater is He who is in you, than he that is in the world." God Himself, after He recreated me and made me a new creation in Christ, is actually making my body His home!
When I was born again God the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity; came to live in me.
2 Corinthians 6:16.
16 ... for you are the temple of the living God, as God has said; " I will dwell IN them, and walk IN them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
God no longer dwells in a man made Holy of Holies. Through the new birth, my body has become His temple.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
19 What? Know you not that YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, you are not your own?
20 For you were bought with a price: Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which is God's.
I need to be ' conscious of God inside me ' In other words, I need to just simply take God at His Word, and believe and act on what the Bible says. "... greater is He who is IN you, than he that is in the world." ( 1 John 4:4.) He that is in the world is the god of this world, Satan. (See 2 Corinthians 4:4.) But thank God, He who is in me is infinitely greater in every respect than he who is in the world!
The Greater One Lives in Us.
Thank God, God the Holy Spirit dwells within me as a Christian. And because of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, it should be common practise for us to say in every crisis of life; " I am more than a conqueror. What does it mean to be more than a conqueror? It means I get stronger, as I go through the tests and trials of life, not weaker!
My continual confession should be, I am an overcomer because the Spirit of Almighty God the Creator of the Universe dwells within me; the power of the Holy Spirit is in me. Praise God, He causes me to succeed. I cannot fail on account of Him.
The Bible says, " let him who glories glory in the Lord." This was a major key to the apostle Paul's success as a Christian. He had learned that every test and trial of life was just an opportunity for the Power of Christ, the Holy Spirit to come upon in his time of need and deal with the problem.
In fact he goes as far as to say that glorying in the Lord is the mark of a true believer. " For we are the circumcision, the ones worshipping by the Spirit of God, AND GLORYING IN CHRIST JESUS and not trusting in the flesh." (Philippians 3:3.)
It is glorying in the Greater One who is in me that releases Him to be for me whatever I need, in every circumstance of life.
The Power Source Within.
Sometimes Christians who have been baptised in the Holy Spirit will when tests and trials come upon them, run around like a headless chicken trying to find someone to help them. They don't always appreciate that they have the Power source of God, the Holy Spirit dwelling within them; willing and wanting to help them in their time of need.
Many times people do not realise just who they have received when they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They think they have just experienced some kind of blessing instead of a Divine Person coming to dwell in them.
This has never been taught as it should of been taught. How many of us have been taught to trust the Holy Spirit who is in us? How many have been taught that you have in you all the Divine power you will ever need to be a success in this life?
Some Christians talk of the marvellous experience they had when they were first baptised in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues, but they think they have been left destitute ever since. They might say, " we don't have the power now; but are seeking it."
However, the fact remains that the potential of all the Divine power there is dwells within us! If we will begin to believe and confess what the Word says, then the Holy Spirit will rise up within us and give illumination to our minds and direction to our spirits and health to our bodies, and He will help us in every area of our lives.
At other times Christian people because they don't feel like they once did when they first received the Holy Spirit, they think He has gone, they've lost Him. But Jesus said in John 14:16, "... I will pray to the Father, and He shall give to you another Comforter, that He might abide with you FOREVER." God did not send the Holy Spirit as a guest to spend a few days with me. No, Jesus said, the Holy Spirit will abide with me forever.
Believers are the Body of Christ.
2 Corinthians 6:14-16.
14 Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness?
15 And what concord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has he that believes with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has the temple Of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
What are these verses saying? They are saying that as a Christian I am righteous in Christ, I am light in Christ; and as a consequence I have no concord with the devil.
In John 15:5 Jesus said, " I am the vine and you are the branches." A tree and its branches are one. As a Christian I am one with Christ, we Christians are the body of Christ. I am a fruit bearing part of Christ upon this earth, because it is the branches of a tree that bears the fruit.
Notice it also says, " And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? FOR YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD ..." We are the temple of God. God dwells within us, both corporately but also individually.
Let's look at the Amplified translation of this verse.
2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement (can there be between) a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God has said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people.
We are the temple of the living God, both individually and collectively!
We Have the Holy of Holies Within Us.
1 Corinthians 3:16. ( Amplified.)
Do you not discern and understand that you (the whole church at Corinth) are God's temple (His sanctuary), and that God's Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you - to be at home in you - (collectively as a church and also individually?)
"... to be at home in you ..." God is actually making me His home. No longer does God dwell in a man made Holy of Holies. In the Old Testament God's people had to go to the temple were the presence of God was, within the Holy of Holies.
The woman at the well in Samaria said to Jesus, "The Jews say you have to worship God in Jerusalem, but our forefathers worshipped God in this mountain" ( John 4:20.) Let's look at Jesus' reply.
John 4:21,23,24.
21 Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when you shall neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father ...
23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him.
24. God is a Spirit: And they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Jesus was indicating that the time was coming when man would no longer be confined to worshipping God in Jerusalem. The day was coming when man would worship God in his heart or spirit where God would make His abode with man. ( See Jeremiah 31:33 & John 14:16,17:23.)
Under the Old Covenant it was required that every Jewish male present himself at least once a year at the temple in Jerusalem before God. No one dared to approach the Holy presence of God for himself. Only a priest could go as far as the Holy Place. But Only the High Priest could go into the Holy of Holies, and then only once a year on the day of atonement with the blood of the atoning sacrifice.
If anyone other than the priests tried to draw near to God in the Holy Place they had to be put to death.
Just before Jesus died on the cross, He said, “It is finished!” Meaning the old order of worship with it's sacrificial system had finished, it was fulfilled in Jesus' sacrifice of Himself: “...the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29)
In Matthew chapter 27 we have part of the account of what happened when Jesus died on the cross.
Matthew 27:50,51.
50 Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up His Spirit.
51 And behold the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom..."
The curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place was torn in two from top to bottom and the Presence of God left the temple. The old order of things had past away and God has not dwelt in a Holy of Holies built by man to this day.
A Better Covenant.
As Christians we now live under a New Covenant with better promises (Hebrews 8:6.) The Holy Divine Presence of God's Spirit dwells within my born again spirit which is now the Holy of Holies, my soul is now the Holy place and my body is now God's holy temple!!!
The Greater One Within Us,
Can Make The Impossible – Possible.
God has actually made my body His home, His dwelling place. Are you conscious of your body being God's temple? We could not be conscious of Him living within us and talk the way we do sometimes.
When a certain type of need or task arises, most people are quick to say, " I can't do that." Why do we say such things? Because we are looking to our own natural sufficiency, and we know we don't have the ability.
But if we know that God the Holy Spirit is within us, then we know that He has the ability. Since He is within us we can stop saying, " I can't do it;" and start saying, " I can because I am trusting In Him." We can say, " I can because greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world."
It does not matter what impossibilities I am facing, I can confidently say, " The greater One within me makes me successful. The Greater One dwells in me. Believing that with my heart and speaking it out of my mouth will release the ability and power of God in my life!
The Holy Spirit Is A Gentleman.
The Greater One the Holy Spirit is within me, but He is not just going to take over my life and run it on His own.
Evil spirits will try to do that, they try to control people and make them do things against their will. But through out the Bible the Holy Spirit leads, guides and prompts us. He desires my cooperation and He won't do anything without it. The Holy Spirit works in harmony with the Word of God. When I meditate on the Word the Spirit and the Word testify together as one to build me up and strengthen my inner man. And then, when I speak out the Word it carries with it Divine power to accomplish what I speak.
You see the Holy Spirit is sent to be my Helper, (John 16:7 Amplified.) I am in a partnership with Him, I believe and speak forth his Word and He confirms what I believe and speak with signs following. God the Holy Spirit is in me, and He is my Helper.
Hebrews 13:5-6.
5... for He has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 So we may boldly say, THE LORD IS MY HELPER, and I will not fear what man shall do to me.
Ephesians 3:16-17 ( Amplified.)
16 May He grant you out of His rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the (Holy) Spirit [Himself] - indwelling your innermost being and personality.
17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell - settle down, abide, make His... home - in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.
How does the Holy Spirit permanently make His home in my heart? The answer is through faith.
Paul was writing to born again Christians who were already filled with the Holy Spirit. He wrote, " May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell - settle down, abide, make His... home - in your hearts!.." What Paul is talking about is allowing the Spirit of Christ to settle down and be at ease in our hearts with out quenching of grieving Him. It does not mean that He goes away. Jesus wants to be comfortable and at home in my heart, He wants to settle down in a union of fellowship with me and He does that through faith.
The Holy Spirit Works Through Us As We Act in Faith.
The trouble with a lot of Christian people is they are often looking up to Jesus or God the Father in Heaven to come and help them in their time of need. But the truth is that Jesus is in us through the Holy Spirit. (See John 14:16-17.)
I thank God, that God is in me as born again Christian.
God inhabits His Word. In step one we saw that the Word was living and active, and Jesus said His words are Spirit and life.
Every time I confess, pray or sing the Word in faith I am releasing the Spirit of the Word - the Holy Spirit within me to confirm or fulfil that word in my life.
I'm going to trust the Holy Spirit in me, and learn to be conscious of the fact that God is inside me. As I do He will rise up within me and give illumination to my mind, and direction to my spirit.
Mark 9:23 says, “All things are possible for him who believes.” And Matthew 19:26 says, “... with God all things are possible.” All the things that are possible with God, are also possible with the one who believes because the one who believes has the God with whom all things are possible dwelling within him.
Now put God and His Word to work for you, for He will surely rise up in you and give illumination to your mind, direction to your spirit, and health to your body. Yes, He will manifest Himself through you even to others and through your hands as you lay them on others; for the Lord your God, He it is who dwells within you.
How are you getting along with these lessons? Is your faith being built up? Are you being strengthened within? That is what God's Word does for you, God's Word builds your faith.
So you could say to yourself, quietly if you are among others, or out loud if you are by yourself, " Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world." "The Greater One dwells within me, I am depending on Him. He will make me a success, the Creator of the universe is in me. God has made His home in my spirit and my body is God's temple."
The natural mind might baulk at that, but when these great truths take a firm hold in your spirit then all the good things you have inherited in Christ will become a reality in your life.
Mediate on these great truths and feed your spirit on God's Word. Think on, acknowledge and give thanks for the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within you, and see how real He becomes to you.
We have been discussing knowing the reality of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. We said that Christians need to be conscious of God inside them. We need to be assured and aware that, " greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4.)
Then we can go out and face life's problems with a confidence born out of the fact that the Greater One in us, is infinitely greater than any of life's problems. We can know that we are fortified from within with God's strength and God's ability.
If we know that the Greater One is in us, we will not be moved by tests and trials. We won't be perturbed by anything that happens because we know that the Greater One in us will enable us to overcome in every circumstance of life, as we trust Him.
As I said before it is almost an unknown practise for Christians to say in every crisis of life, " I am more than a conqueror, I am in the victory because the Victor dwells within me. He can cause me to overcome, He can make me succeed I cannot fail on account of Him.
Adapted from, 'The Faith Bible Study Course,' By Kenneth E Hagin.
Probably his most powerful and influential book.
