Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12)
You formerly walked according to the prince of the power of the air the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2)
Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty (1 Chronicles 29:11).
During a conference, I noticed a lady who wouldn't sing with the rest of the group and seemed quite agitated. She slipped me a note after a morning session: "Please don't leave town without helping me. I have been diagnosed as having multiple personalities and a dissociative disorder."
For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13)
We present Jesus as the Messiah who came to die for our sins. We tell people that if they accept Christ they will go to heaven when they die. What's wrong with that? First, it's only half the gospel. Second, it gives the impression that eternal life is something we get when we die. Jesus had to die for sins in order to cure the disease that caused us to die. Then He gave us life, making us new creations in Christ.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Psalm 18:2)
Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God (Galatians 4:7)
As you consider the importance of your spiritual identity and the spiritual identity of your children, meditate on these passages:
The spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16)
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:26,27)
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27,28)
Here are 12 simple steps you can use to walk through the process of forgiving someone who hurt you in the past.
1 Ask the Lord to reveal the names of the persons who offended you and the specific wrongs you suffered.
2 Face the hurt and the hate. If you are going to forgive from your heart, you must let God search the depths of your heart.
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay" says the Lord (Romans 12:19)
Forgiveness does not mean that you must tolerate sin. Isabel, a young wife and mother attending one of my conferences, told me of her decision to forgive her mother for continually manipulating her for attention. But Isabel tearfully continued, "She is no different. Am I supposed to let her keep ruining my life?"
Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6)
By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples (John 15:8)
How can you know if you're being led by the Spirit or the flesh? Very simple - look at your behaviour. If you respond to a given situation by exercising love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, you are following the Spirit's lead (Galatians 5:22,23). If your reactions and responses reflect the deeds of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21, you are following the flesh.