Does a Christian have two natures

 

1 Corinthians 15:34                                                         “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin.”

                                          "Does a Christian have two natures?

The first problem that comes up with this question is one of semantics. For example:- 1.many prefer "sin nature,"

2.others prefer "sinful nature,"

and still others prefer the ambiguous "flesh." Whatever the specific names used for the warring parties, what is relevant is that an ongoing battle rages within the Christian.

The second problem is the actual definition of "nature." How this significant word is defined determines how one sees the distinction between:

1.the “old man” and

2.the “new man” and

its relevant outworking in the life of the Christian.

One way to view "nature" is to understand it as a "capacity" within a believer. Thus, the old man is interpreted as the former way of life, that of an unbeliever.

In this sense, the Christian has two competing capacities within him:-

the old capacity to sin and

the new capacity to resist sinning.

Difference between Unbeliever and Believer: -

1.The unbeliever has no such competition within; he does not have the capacity for godliness because he has only the sin nature. That’s not to say he cannot do “good works,” but his motivation for those works is always tainted by his sinfulness. In addition, he cannot resist sinning because he doesn’t have the capacity to not sin.

2.The believer, on the other hand, has the capacity for godliness because the Spirit of God lives within him or her. He still has the capacity for sin as well, but he now has the ability to resist sin and, more importantly, the desire to resist and to live godly.

When Christ was crucified, the old man was crucified with Him, resulting in the Christian’s no longer being a slave to sin (Romans 6:6). We “have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:18).

At the moment of conversion, the Christian receives a new nature. It is instantaneous. Sanctification, on the other hand, is the process by which God develops our new nature, enabling us to grow into more holiness through time. This is a continuous process with many victories and defeats as the new nature battles with the “tent” in which it resides—the old man, old nature, flesh.

Apostle Paul faced the same within himself”:-

In Romans 7, Paul explains the battle that rages continually in even the most spiritually mature people. He laments that he does what he doesn’t want to do and, in fact, does the evil he detests. He says that is the result of “sin living in me” (Romans 7:20). He delights in God’s law according to his “inner being,” but he sees another law at work in “the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members” (v. 23).

Here is the classic example of the two entities, whatever terms they may carry. The point is that the battle is real, and it is one Christians will wage throughout their lives.

This is why believers are encouraged:

 1.To put to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:13),

2.To put to death that which akes a Christian sin (Colossians 3:5), and

3.To put aside other sins such as anger, wrath, malice, etc. (Colossians 3:8).

All this to say that the Christian has two natures—1.The old and 2. The new—but the new nature needs continual renewing (Colossians 3:10). This renewing, of course, is a lifetime process for the Christian. Even though the battle against sin is constant, we are no longer under the control of sin (Romans 6:6). The believer is truly a “new creation” in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and it is Christ who will ultimately “rescue [us] from this body of death.

Romans 7:24–25: God's Spirit Can Help Us Overcome Sin.

Let us pray -Lord, as we anticipate that gift that we have eternal life in You, we pray that You would help us in our battles with sin today and every day. God, deliver us through the power of Christ over sin. We see in Your word and believer in your son who while on faced sin but resisting sin, never once giving in to sin and helping us to do so. Amen

God bless you all

 

What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11)

 In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist makes a profound declaration about the coming Messiah: “I baptize you with water, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” . John baptized with water to signify repentance, but he was preparing the way for One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire—a spiritual baptism, not a physical one.

John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus (see Mark 1:1–4). John called people to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2). The word repent means to “change one’s mind.” In the Old Testament, repentance involved turning away from sin and turning to God (2 Chronicles 7:14; Ezekiel 33:11). Because the kingdom of heaven was near (or imminent), John preached that all should repent “for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4) and to show their change of heart by being baptized.

As John baptized and preached, he looked ahead to someone greater than himself (Matthew 3:11). In fact, the words he who is coming after me alludes to the messianic hope that had defined Judaism for generations: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2 compare with Isaiah 9:6–7).

John acknowledges that he is inferior compared to the Coming One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11).

First, he says that the coming one is “more powerful” than he. Indeed, Jesus the Messiah is mightier than John in every respect: Jesus is divine (Colossians 2:9), sinless (Hebrews 4:15), and the Savior of the world (John 3:16). No one can compare to Him.

Second, John states that he is unworthy of carrying the sandals of the coming Messiah (Matthew 3:11). In other words, John is unworthy of performing the most menial task in the service of the Messiah. John the Baptist believed that the imminent arrival of the Messiah meant that John would need to step aside (John 3:30).

 Last, John compares his water baptism to the Messiah’s baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). John’s baptism was a symbolic act of repentance, whereas the Messiah would inaugurate two types of spiritual baptism: a baptism with the Holy Spirit and a baptism with fire.

The baptism with the Holy Spirit occurs when a person is born again and made a part of the body of Christ. All believers in Jesus are partakers of the baptism of the Spirit: “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13).

 The baptism by fire that John predicts could be seen in two ways:

 1. For those who confess their sins and repent, the baptism of fire alludes to the purifying and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. The same symbol is seen in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit descends on the disciples with a visible token: “They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them” (Acts 2:3).

 2. For those who refuse to repent, the baptism of fire has to do with judgment. “Our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). John the Baptist clearly had judgment in mind when he spoke of the baptism of fire, as he followed up that prediction with these words: “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12). Those who continue in sin and unrepentance are destined for the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14–15).

John the Baptist’s announcement of the coming Messiah reflects the culmination of messianic expectations and the uniqueness of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

Now that Jesus has ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9–12), we eagerly await His return (Philippians 3:20). And we continue to worship Him who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Demonic control of the saints

 Demonic Control of the Saints. It is critical that Christians understand their vulnerability

to demonic influence. Those who say a demon cannot influence an area of a believer's life have left us with only two possible culprits for the problems we face: ourselves or God. If we blame ourselves we feel hopeless because we can't do anything to stop what we're doing. If we blame God our confidence in Him as our benevolent Father is shattered.

 Either way, we have no chance to gain the victory which the Bible promises us. In reality we are in a winnable war against principalities and powers from the defeated kingdom of darkness. But their lies can gain a measure of control if we let them.

 Here are several indications in Scripture that believers can lose control or come under bondage.

 Luke 13:10-18. While Jesus was teaching in the synagogue, "there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all" (verse 11). Verse 16 states that her physical disability was caused by satanic bondage.This woman was not an unbeliever. She was "a daughter of Abraham" (verse 16), a God-fearing woman of faith with a spiritual problem. As soon as Jesus released her from bondage, her physical problem was cured.

 

Notice that this woman wasn't protected from demonic control by being inside the synagogue. Neither the walls of a synagogue nor the walls of a church provide a sanctuary

from demonic influence. If plaster walls are not a barrier to Satan, do you think your skin is? The spiritual world is not subject to such natural barriers, nor is it limited by the laws

of physics. Admittedly, this event occurred before the cross. But it is an indication that believers are subject to demon control.

 Luke 22:31-34. The apostle Peter is an example of a believer who temporarily lost control to Satan. Jesus said to him, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat" (verse 31). What right did Satan have to make such a demand? Peter had apparently given Satan a foothold through pride when he debated with the disciples about which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24). Even though Peter wholeheartedly intended to stand by his Master to the death (verse 33), Jesus announced that Peter would deny Him three times (verse 34), which he did. It's encouraging to note, however, that Jesus had already prayed for Peter's successful recovery from the incident (verse 32).

 Ephesians 6:10-17. This passage contains Paul's familiar exhortation to believers to "put on the full armor of God, 176 * The Danger of Losing Control that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (verse 11). What is the purpose of armor? To

prevent the enemy's arrows from penetrating the body and injuring the soldier. If it is impossible for Satan's arrows to penetrate us, there would be no need for us to put on the

armor. The instructions regarding spiritual armor suggest that it is possible for the enemy to penetrate our lives and gain a measure of control.

 James 3:14-16. James indicates that if we yield to jealousy and selfish ambition, we may open ourselves to being controlled by wisdom which is "earthly, natural, demonic" (verse 15).

 1 Timothy 4:1-3. Paul wrote, "Some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" (verse 1).The need to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ cannot be overstated (2 Corinthians 10:5).

 We must be able to discern the difference between true guidance from God and the incredible amount of counterfeit guidance that is everywhere in our world.

 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. This passage contains Paul's instructions concerning a man in the Corinthian church who was living in an incestuous relationship with his father's wife (verse 1). He was a man so deluded by Satan and controlled by immorality that he apparently flaunted his illicit relationship before the whole church. Paul's judgment on the matter was severe: "I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (verse 5). Paul was ready to allow Satan to have his way with the man for awhile in hopes that he would finally say "I've had enough" and repent.

 Some wonder if a person at this level of immorality is really a Christian. But if this man were a non-Christian Paul would not have disciplined him, because the church is only required to discipline those within its membership. This man was a believer (at least Paul treated him like one) who had allowed himself to become trapped in immorality. Paul's hope was that he experience the natural consequences of his sin, repent, and be set free from his bondage.

Ephesians 4:26,27. Paul instructed, '"In your anger do not sin, Do not let the sun go down while you are stil  angry, and do not give the devil a foothold" . The word "foothold" literally means a "place." Paul is saying that we may allow the devil a place in our lives if we fail to speak the truth in love and manage our emotions. Anger which turns to bitterness and unforgiveness is an open invitation to demonic control (2 Corinthians 2:10,11).

1 Peter 5:6-9. Peter warned, "Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (verse 8). The word "devour" means to consume or to swallow up. It is the same word used in 1 Corinthians 15:54: "Death is swallowed up in victory." To be swallowed up by something certainly conveys the thought of being controlled by it. If believers are not vulnerable to being controlled by Satan, Peter would not need to alert us to the possibility. 

The context of Peter's warning suggests two conditions which may predispose a believer to vulnerability. In verse 6 we are encouraged to humble ourselves before the Lord. Perhaps with the painful memory of the consequences of his own self-exaltation in mind, Peter indicates that whenever we resist pride we resist Satan. And verses 7 and 8 suggest that if we don't learn how to cast our anxieties on the Lord, we make ourselves easy prey for Satan.

Acts 5:1-11. This is perhaps the most definitive passage on Satan's ability to control believers. At the close of Acts 4 we discover that members of the young Jerusalem church

were voluntarily selling property and giving the proceeds to the apostles for use in ministry. "But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land?... You have not lied to men, but to God'" (verses 1-4).

The issue was not that Ananias and Sapphira withheld part of the proceeds, but that they lied about it, apparently saying that what they gave was the total amount they received.The consequence of the couple's sin was immediate and sobering: They died on the spot (verses 5,10).

Some who have difficulty with satanic control of believers have argued that Ananias and Sapphira were unbelievers. I don't buy that argument. First, Acts 4:31 states that this event took place within the context of the Christian community, of which Ananias and Sapphira were obviously members. Second, Acts 5:11 records, "And great fear came upon the whole church." If God were judging someone outside the church, why would great fear come upon those within the church? There was great fear among believers because God had dramatically displayed His attitude toward believers who live a lie. Third, the severity of

the punishment indicates that God was underscoring the importance of truth in the community of believers. Unbelievers lie all the time, and they usually are not as swiftly and thoroughly judged as were Ananias and Sapphira. I believe that God was communicating early in the church's history that our major problem is not communism, drugs, or false religions; it's giving in to Satan's deception.

 Ananias' problem was that he had allowed Satan's deception to fill (control) his heart. The word "filled" in Acts 5:3 is the same word used in Ephesians 5:18: "Be filled with the Spirit." It is possible for the believer to be filled with satanic deception or filled by the Spirit. To whichever source you yield, by that source you shall be filled and controlled. When you allow Satan to deceive you in any area of your life, you are vulnerable. God had to dramatically intervene in the early church to reveal what the primary battle would be

If Satan could go undetected into your church or your marriage or you personally and get you to believe a lie, could he control your life?

RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESISTING CONTROL: -We should not say, "The devil made me do it." No, he didn't make you do it; you did it. Somewhere along the line you chose to give the devil a foothold. He merely took advantage of the opportunity you gave him. You have all the resources and protection you need to live a victorious life in Christ every day. If you're not living it, it's your choice. When you leave a door open for the devil by not resisting temptation, accusation, or deception, he will enter it. And if you continue to allow him access to that area, he will eventually control it. You won't lose your salvation, but you will lose your daily victory.

Many Christians today who cannot control their lives in some area wallow in self-blame instead of acting responsibly to solve the problem. They berate themselves and punish themselves for not having the willpower to break a bad habit, when instead they should be resisting Satan in an area where he has obviously robbed them of control. Anything bad which you cannot stop doing, or anything good which you cannot make yourself do, could be an area of demonic control.

SIN VERSES GROWTH

 If we see the 1 John 2:12-14 which says: -

12.I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

13.I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one.I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.

14.I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.

 First John 2:12-14 describes three levels of Christian growth in relation to sin. The first level is compared to "little children" (verse 12). Little children in the faith are

characterized by having their sins forgiven and possessing a knowledge of God. In other words, they are in the family of God and have overcome the penalty of sin, but they haven't grown to the full maturity.

 The second level is "young men" (verses 13,14), those who have overcome the evil one. These are aggressively growing believers who are strong because the Word of God abides in them. They know the truth and how to use it to resist Satan in the battle for their minds. They are no longer in bondage to uncontrollable habits, and they have resolved the personal and spiritual conflicts which keep many Christians

from experiencing freedom in Christ. They are free, and they know how to stay free.

 The third level is "fathers" (verses 13,14), those who have developed a deep personal knowledge of God. Their faith Enticed to Do It Your Way is securely founded on a close, intimate, loving relationship with God, which is the goal of our spiritual growth. Having challenged us to combat sin's power in our lives through a commitment to growth, John goes on to describe the avenues through which Satan tempts us.

 The word of God says that we grow from childhood to fathers level and if not growing then let us analyze where the problem is. Let the word of God work in us like a mirror as mentioned by James James 1:23-27 

 “If you listen to the Word and don’t live out the message you hear, you become like the person who looks in the mirror of the Word to discover the reflection of his face in the beginning. You perceive how God sees you in the mirror of the Word, but then you go out and forget your divine origin. But those who set their gaze deeply into the perfecting law of liberty are fascinated by and respond to the truth they hear and are strengthened by it—they experience God’s blessing in all that they do! If someone believes they have a relationship with God but fails to guard his words then his heart is drifting away and his religion is shallow and empty. True spirituality that is pure in the eyes of our Father God is to make a difference in the lives of the orphans, and widows in their troubles, and to refuse to be corrupted by the world’s values”.

 God bless you all

Courage in Christ comes from our unity with Christ

As a believer we need courage and need not be fearful and we should ensure that our courage rests upon which make us invincibly strong. Eph.6:10 “Be strong in the Lord” is one of the most important verses we will ever come to understand. It is very cornerstone to our knowing that we are invincible in spiritual warfare.

The phrase “In the Lord, In Christ appears 40 times in book of Ephesians. Every believer is inseparability united with Christ. We are placed by God into oneness with His person and work. 2 Corinth. 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

What does it mean to be in Christ and what is there that make is invincible strong. Let us see through the Bible 

1.To be “IN CHRIST” means we are in mighty victory of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a great source of power for victory His name represents in Phillipians 2:9-11 - “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”.

His name is above every name and that speaks of a place of security and invincible strength. Every knee shall bow in submission to the power of that name satan and his Kingdome is also included. 

It is important daily to pray the security and strength of His name over personal life, family life and call on God upon your life. It is the name of Lord Jesus Christ that we are strong and invincible.

2. To be IN “CHRIST” means we are united in CHRIST in all of its victory that He achieved in His redemptive work. At salvation God puts us into all of His victory Christ achieved in His incarnation. On of the most astounding truth about the redemptive work of Christ is that in the person of Christ, God himself became a human being, which is one of the great Mistry of the eternity. As per Hebrew 2:14-15 in His reincarnate form, as one of us that Lord Jesus Christ achieved our redemption and totally defeated the Kingdome of darkness.

1 John 4:2-3 says every spirit that acknowledge that Chrost has come in flesh is from God and that does not acknowledge is not from God and is antichrist which is coming and already there in the world. 

The truth that God’s entering the world in person of Christ, the truth God was in Christ, that God himself became a human being, is a devastating threat to satan Kingdome. John tells this truth is so devastating and threatening to the Kingdome of darkness that fallen angels will not freely admit that Jesus Christ has come in human flesh. 

And victory over satan belongs to us through our union with Christ in His incarnation. It is experienced by those who appropriate and use this mighty truth against the enemy. Just use and see how defeating it is to your adversary if you focus the truth of your union with Christ in His incarnation against satan and his kingdom. 

He lives as a human being without sin and that was worthy of God’s best blessings. Tempted in every way and was without sin. He was always in fellowship with the heavenly father, always utterly holy and worthy of God’s best. As we walk in the world His worthy human life belon to us. It is ours and God sees us in Him. We do not expect those manifold blessing day by day because of how good and successful we are in living a prefect life. No, we expect His blessing because of our incarnate savior lived a perfectly worthy life and we are in Christ.

3.To be “IN CHRIST” means we are in the work and victory won by Hos death.  The suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ are equally vital to our invincible position in warfare praying. “Since the Children are flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by His death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 

In redemption’s plan God puts believers into the death of Christ with all of its victory over our enemies. We must aggressively lay hold of our union with Christ in His death and apply it as a part of our responsibility in invincible warfare. It is conveyed to us in Romans 6:11-12 “In the same way count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus”. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

The fact that we commanded not to let sin reign in our body is evidence that believers can have this problem. And if the believer’s do not appropriate and apply their union with Christ in His death, sin in various expression will rule. We are responsible to count to affirm as truth that we are dead to sin’s rule. We ae united with Christ in His death because of that truth we are dead to the rule of sin /satan but alive to God’s reign. 

The cross and blood of our savior are great threat to Satan’s kingdom because in the cross, Jesus Christ brought satans Kingdome to nothing. As a believer we must apply the death of Christ, claiming all of the benefits to our person lives, to our families and to our ministry for the Lord so that we too become invincible with Christ in His death. And having disarmed the powers and authorities he made s public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the Cross (Col.2:15).

4. To be “IN CHRIST” suggests further victory in His resurrection also. The same mighty power that raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the grave belong to us and is ours. Even after becoming believers/ Apostle in Christ, while writing to Philippians say “I want o know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like His in His death and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead’ (Phillip. 3:10-11). Being in the Lord means that mighty power of resurrection is ours to be known and use to make us invincible in our warfare.

5.To be “IN CHRIST” has further application to our being seated with Christ in the heavenlies. “And God raise us up with Christ and seated is with Him in heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ephs.2:6). After His resurrection the Lord Jesus was: -

“Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come”.  And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph.1-20-23). 

The ascension of Christ into glory was the sealing moments of His finished triumph and portrayal of His supreme Victory “for above all rule and authority” Being seated with Christ there, our “IN CHRIST” position is a truth demonstrating our “IN THE LORD” authority to resist the devil and to defeat him.  We are united with Christ in all His ascended authority and power.

Finally, to be strong in the Lord means we know and apply the truth of the word of God in our life and walk in Victory every day. There is much more in the little phrases in the Lord , In Christ  which help us to understand our unity with Christ and that make us invincible storing and satan roaring never need to frighten us if we are in Christ

We are new creation in Christ

If we do not fully understand our identity and position in Christ, there is likely to believe that there is little distinction between ourselves and non-believers.

Paul describes who we were before we come to Christ in Ephesians 2:1-3 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others”.

and as a born-again child of God what we are

2 Peter 1:4 the Bible says “by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”.

Roman 8:9 “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His”.

Ephesian 5:8 also says “You were formerly darkness but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light” 

Also 2 Corinthian 5:16-17 says “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”.

We are new creation after receiving salvation by grace but the flesh pattern are still present. These flesh patterns / learned habit patterns of thoughts and previous conditioned responses prompt us to focus us on our interests. But it is to be noted that we are not in flesh, as our old self was but we are now in Christ. Please note that we can still chose to live according to flesh (Roman 8:12-13). Paul did not identified believers based on their flesh patter or learned habit patterns.

We may struggle with some of those flesh pattern but that is not who we are.  New Testament explains who we were before being saved. At salvation our old self which was motivated to live independent of God and therefore characterized by sin, died (Roman 6:6) and new self-united with Christ came into life. 

Because our spirit /soul is in union with Christ by His grace and we are identified with Him: ---- 

1.In His death – Roman 6:3, Galatians 2:20

2.In His burial ---Roman 6:4

3.In His resurrection--- Roman 6:5,8,11

4.In His ascension---Ephesians 2:6

5.In His life     --Roman 5:10-11

6.In His power –Ephesian 1:19-20

7.In His inheritance ---Romans 8:16-17, Ephes.1-11-12

Your old self has to die in order to sever your relationship with sin, which dominated it. Being a saint or child of God doesn’t mean that you are sinless 1 John 1:8. But your old self has been crucified and buried with Christ, you no longer have to sin 1John 2:1.

We sin because we chose to believe the lie or act independently of God.

May God bless you

The ways to strengthen ourselves in time of attacks

Sometimes, we experience our greatest attacks, when we are closest to our calling. I believe everyone experiences prolonged periods of waiting in certain areas. Mentioned below are few ways, we can strengthen ourselves in the Lord in these times.

 Strengthen Yourself In The Lord

 1. Sing to God - God who is holy, inhabits the praises of His people. His presence will come to you at that moment and change your atmosphere and perspective. When everything is going to chaos, if you want to be strong in the Lord, learn to sing to Him.

 2. Speak In Tongues - We are commanded to sing in tongues, speak in tongues, and pray in tongues. You have to actively engage with them to get strengthened.

3. Speak To Your Soul - David did this a lot, especially throughout the Psalms (Psalm 42:2-7). You have to realize that you are not your thoughts. You have thoughts. In the same way, you are not your emotions; you have emotions and you can speak to them.

4. Strengthen Others - We actually strengthen ourselves in the Lord, when we are feeling tired yet choose to strengthen others. The Bible makes it clear that he who waters others will be watered himself. There is strength in serving but there is no strength in self-pity.

5. Subdue The Enemy - We don't fight thoughts with thoughts; we fight thoughts with words. With demonic stress, you have to open your mouth and tell the devil to stop and get out of your way. Realize your oneness with Christ in His whole being i.e. Person, Position, Victory. We are not supposed to run from the devil; we are only supposed to run from sin. We stand and resist the devil and he flees from us.

 If you handle your hard times with care, they will become good times. How do you handle your hard times with care? Strengthen yourself in the Lord your God.

 

God bless you