Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:2, 3).
Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name (Luke 10:17).
It was an eye-opening experience for the disciples to discover that the demons were subject to them in Jesus' name. Subject (hupotasso) is a military term meaning 'to arrange under'. It pictures a group of soldiers snapping to attention and following precisely the orders of their commanding officer.
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).
Being in Christ, and all that it means to Christian maturity and freedom, is the overwhelming theme of the New Testament. For example, in the six chapters of the Book of Ephesians alone there are 40 references to being in Christ and having Christ in you. For every reference to Christ being in you, there are 10 to you being in Christ. Being in Christ is the most critical element of our identity.
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men (Romans 5:18).
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith (Colossians 2:6,7)
But go and learn what this means, "I desire compassion, and not sacrifice" (Matthew 9:13).
I used to ask my seminary students two questions:
1 What attributes, strengths and characteristics would you look for in a person with whom you could share your deepest personal problems?
2 Would you be willing to commit yourself to become that kind of person - someone others could confide in?
The Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17).
The Spirit-filled walk is neither characterized by license nor legalism, but liberty. Paul stated that we are "servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:6,17)
God made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:5,6)
What sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness (2 Peter 3:11)
We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error (1 John 4:6)
People who know they are having spiritual problems usually have severe perceptual problems too. Satan seems to be more present, real and powerful to them. These types of people usually hear opposing arguments in their head. They are constantly confronted with lies, told to get out of the counselling setting, or threatened with harm or embarrassment.