Pulling Down Personal Spiritual Strongholds

 Hebrews 1:14 (AMP)

Are not all the angels ministering spirits sent out [by God] to serve (accompany, protect) those who will inherit salvation? [Of course they are!]

What are spiritual strongholds?

In 2 Corinthians 10:4 the Apostle Paul explains that a born-again Christian’s weapons in the fight against the devil’s spiritual forces are not the usual weapons of the world like guns etc but are spiritual and have divine power. Divine power (the power of the Holy Spirit) is the only way a Christian can fight the enemy – Satan and his followers!

There are two types of enemy stronghold:

1.The strongholds that Satan has set up to control countries, cities and other areas of the physical world as told to us in the Book of Daniel.

Daniel 10:13 (AMP)

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in opposition to me for twenty-one days. Then, behold, Michael, one of the chief [of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

In the example in the above verse an angel of Lord is speaking to Daniel and telling him he was delayed in reaching Daniel by the kings of Persia. These kings are demonic commanders of the area of Persia set up by Satan.

The Apostle Paul in Ephesians and 2 Corinthians reminds us of the enemy’s territory.

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Satan has his ‘generals and other minions’ set up all over this world! If anyone ever tells you that you shouldn’t look for a demon behind every bush, rebuke them in the name of Jesus, they have believed a lie of the enemy and do not have the things of God in mind!

The Lord himself tells us to drive out demons!

Matthew 10:8 (NIV)

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

2. The second type of stronghold that we need to combat are the personal strongholds that we have allowed Satan to set up in our minds for various reasons which will be explained as we go along.

These are the strongholds (the second type) that I want to chat with you about in this article! We have all heard the saying, “The mind is the devil’s playground!” Well, the mind is where personal strongholds reside, and they are not playing games.

The devil can only set up shop in our minds if we allow him control of our minds through fear, lies and other ways that he intimidates, but as I have said, only if we allow him to!

A Christian should always be alert and mindful and ready for the attack of the evil one. The devil is out to destroy the Church, God’s children. He is already leading the unbeliever to destruction and does not have to focus on them. But the born-again Christian is his prime target, and the Bible warns us of this.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (AMP)

8 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.]

James 4:7 (AMP)

So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.

How are these personal strongholds established in a Christian?

Let me start this section by presenting you with my definition of a personal stronghold.

A personal stronghold is something, situated in a person’s mind, that proves to be a constant hindrance in a Christians walk to maturity. It is caused by an area of a Christian’s life that is not completely submitted to God and is fuelled by unbelief and the lies of the enemy.

Most born-again Christians, including myself, enter the Kingdom of God carrying baggage from their past lives as unbelievers. We can even allow strongholds in our lives after walking with the Lord for a number of years, especially during times lapsed faith in Jesus and willful sinning.

These can include many things such us drunkenness, lying, sexual sin, unforgiveness and many, many more. Even though, once we have come to the Lord, our sins have been forgiven and we are a new creation, we still have to deal with this baggage and release it to the Lord and receive restoration and healing.

The length of this ‘cleansing’ period depends solely on the individuals’ willingness to be obedient to the Word and the willingness to forgive others and oneself!

A mind that is fully submitted to God will heal much faster than the one that is not fully submitted to God!

Romans 8:5-8 (NIV)

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

From my own experience in my walk with the Lord over the last 34 years I can pinpoint a number of strongholds I have had to overcome at different times, and I know that others of my brothers and sisters in Christ have had the same thing. We have to deal with them and lay them down at the foot of the cross – give them to Jesus for He cares for you. Confess your sins to one another so that you may be healed!

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

How do we identify a personal stronghold?

A personal stronghold is something in a Christian’s spiritual life that sets itself up against God and continually manifests in our lives to hold our souls in captivity and prevents us from reaching spiritual maturity in Christ Jesus.

A personal stronghold manifests as a constant and relentless battleground in your life that you have been unable to shake off or overcome.

In the above diagram I have identified a number of strongholds that I have dealt with and am still dealing with from my own experience as a born-again Christian over the last 34 years. This list is by no means exhaustive as I am pretty sure you will be able to identify others from your own experiences.

Let’s examine six of these strongholds one by one and examine how we can overcome them ourselves and with the help of others praying for us and with us – spiritual warfare! I have chosen only six as the other strongholds usually manifest through them and can be dealt with in the same way.

1. Unbelief

Are there any areas of unbelief in your heart or areas of the Bible that you choose to ignore? We either believe all the Bible or we believe nothing. There is no fence sitting for a born-again Christian. If you are not for God, then you are against Him! Do you choose to ignore certain parts of the Bible or certain verses because you do not agree with them? Do you still swear when we are told in the Bible not to etc, etc?

Unbelief is a stronghold in your life and needs to be repented from or it will stunt your spiritual growth and cause you to become lukewarm and spiritually useless!

Revelation 3:15-16 (AMP)

15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold (invigorating, refreshing) nor hot (healing, therapeutic); I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust].

2. Unconfessed, hidden sin

Do you have unconfessed sin in your heart? Something that you are deeply ashamed of so you hide it and ignore it hoping it will go away by itself or is it something that has got you so hooked, like watching pornography, that you actually enjoy it?

However, what we keep hidden will remain hidden and continually hinder us until we bring it to light or God shines His light on it. The spiritual enemy of your soul thrives on secrecy and from this will establish a stronghold of unexposed sin in your life.

Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Unconfessed sin is an extremely destructive stronghold. You cannot hide from God and there is no sin He will not forgive apart from blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is attributing the works of God to the devil!

James 5:16 (NIV)

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Matthew 12:31 (NIV)

And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

3. Unforgiveness

If you are still nursing bitterness against someone, the enemy will take advantage of that to keep you in bondage. The person or people who wounded you may not deserve to be forgiven but we must forgive others because Jesus Christ forgave us for an even greater sin against God. Secondly, we forgive because it sets us free from the bondage produced by bitterness. If you don’t forgive others how can God forgive you?

Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

4. Occult involvement

Have you been involved in any form of occult activity, some of which you may still be participating in? For example: Wicca, Fortune Telling, Black or White Magic (even today’s “magic for entertainment”), Spiritism, conjuring spirits, yoga, secret societies such as Freemasons and the Magic Circle or even the so called “Fellowship of Christian Magicians”.

Many of these organisations have interwoven relationships and have the same patrons that are first and foremost high ranking and demonically controlled Freemasons.

Being involved in occult practices in anyway is like placing a “vacancy” sign on your life for evil spirits to enter freely. Have you knowingly or unknowingly dabbled in any occult-like practices in your past or have you any close relatives and friends that have? This could be where many your issues stem from.

Renounce and repent of any commitments or oaths you made to any of these groups that you have been or are still associated with and declare your submission to Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour of your life. As you do, remember that Jesus Christ is Lord of all, including Satan and his demonic followers and beings!

Ephesians 1:20-23 (NIV)

20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

5. Lies you have believed sewn in your mind by the devil through the words spoken by others or by your own vain imaginations.

These include lies about God, about yourself, and lies about how God sees you. Lies that the enemy has been playing over and over in your mind for years, which, in your pain, you’ve unfortunately bought into.

What lies have you believed? The truth of the Bible and the knowledge of Jesus will set you free. When you are in sin you are a slave to sin!

John 8:36

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

6. Hereditary strongholds

These are strongholds that are passed down through your bloodline. Certain unhealthy behavioural and thought patterns may present in your life that were also present in your father’s (or mother’s) life, and his father, and so on. Sometimes, unhealthy, even ungodly family traditions and family patterns are passed down from generation to generation to generation until someone deals with them Biblically, destroying them forever!

For example, your father may use the name of the Lord in vain as part of his everyday speech, so you do the same or your parents continually argued with each other, so you do the same. Your father was violent and abusive, so you are too. Someone you know was manipulating and controlling over you, so you do the same to others.

How do we deal with strongholds?

We need to be fully submitted to God and consciously resisting the devil, when we do this the devil will flee. A half-hearted and lukewarm attitude and lifestyle towards God is not good enough when engaging in spiritual warfare or indeed for any aspect of your Christian walk!

1. Use the authority you have been given by God in Christ Jesus to overcome the devil.

Luke 10:19 (NIV)

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Every born-again Christian has the authority to bind and cast out the evil one and other demonic activity in one’s life. We can self-medicate spiritually – we can drive out our own demons in the power of the Holy Spirit as we are submitted to Christ.

2. Prayer
Come before God continually in prayer against any stronghold and ask him to fill you with his Holy Spirit and fill you with the Spirit of Truth and you will be set free. Ask others to pray with you, those who you trust and who are mature in Christ. Confess your sins to each other (trustworthy brothers or sisters who are mature in their Christian walk and with whom you have a relationship with) and pray for each other.

James 5:16 (NIV)

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

3. Be in full submission to God
When we are fully submitted to God and are being led by the Holy Spirit, we will bring glory to the name of Jesus. When we are fully submitted to God in Christ Jesus there is no room for the devil to get a hold on us and it is the devil who sews the seeds of strongholds in our minds!

James 4:7 (AMP)

So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.

4. Be continually filled with the Holy Spirit
The Apostle Paul urges us to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit and living a life that is continually led by Him, we give the devil no foothold in our lives. Once you have broken down and cast out the strongholds that have gripped you, fill the void with the Holy Spirit and there will be no place in you for the devil and his lies! This is something that we need to be continually working on for ourselves.

Ephesians 4:27 (AMP)

And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness (my comment: these are all strongholds)].

Ephesians 5:18 (AMP)

Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.

5. Clothe yourself in the full armour of God.
God has given us all a suit of protective clothing – the Armour of God! Clothe yourself in it and never take it off. Wear it permanently around your soul like your skin protects your body! Your armour not only protects you when you are under attack, but also protects you and destroys the enemy when you are on the attack – spiritual warfare!

Ephesians 6:12-18 (NIV)

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Please read my blog posted on January 31, 2021: Why Is It Important For Christians To Be Clothed In The Full Armour Of God? https://rayskilton.blogspot.com/2021/01/why-is-it-important-for-christians-to.html

REMEMBER THIS:

YOUR VALUE AND YOUR WORTH AS A BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN IS NOT DEPENDANT ON THE LIES THE DEVIL TELLS YOU, BUT SOLELY ON WHAT JESUS DID FOR YOU ON THE CROSS AT CALVARY – VICTORY OVER THE ENEMY AND OVER DEATH!

His blood covers your sin! His blood gives you victory – you are more than a conqueror!

His blood set us free form all debt and when we live a life in the Spirit with a forgiving and repentant heart and loving others as He loves us – NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST YOU WILL PROSPER.

Colossians 2:13-15 (AMP)

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (worldliness, manner of life), God made you alive together with Christ, having [freely] forgiven us all our sins, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross.

Be continually filled with the Holy Spirit and you will not falter. This is what the Word of God says:

Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

If you are not sure of how to deal with things and the strongholds the Lord has revealed to you, get help from your brothers and sister in Christ who are mature in their walk and who fully understand Spiritual Warfare!

But never forget that you and you alone are responsible for your walk as a born-again Christian!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father
I pray in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour that you would reveal to me the hidden strongholds and the strongholds that I have ignored and have allowed to form in my life and help me to overcome them and cast them out by the power of your Holy Spirit that my life from now on will be filled by your Holy Spirit and will bring all glory to Jesus. Amen.

All glory, honour and praise belongs to Jesus!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

Last update: 18/12/2023

Beware a seared conscience!

 

What Should A Christian’s Conscience Be Like?

What is our conscience?

Let’s have a look at how two well-known dictionaries describe our conscience:

Cambridge Dictionary: the part of you that judges how moral your own actions are and makes you feel guilty about bad things that you have done or things you feel responsible for

Collins Dictionary: Conscience is doing what you believe is right even though it might be unpopular, difficult, or dangerous.

So, from these two definitions we see that our conscience is that which is in us by which we can judge our own morality (our own actions), what we do right and what we do wrong according to our own morals and moral upbringing. This also impacts our ‘feelings’, we feel good when we do good things and bad when we do bad things. Using the standards of today’s society, we have a problem in that what one person’s definition of what is right or wrong, may be completely different and even totally opposite to another person’s definition of right and wrong!

But for a born-again Christian our conscience should be governed and modelled in Christ Jesus and the Bible and led and guided by the Holy Spirit in all our actions and speech!

Where is our conscience located?

God created man in three parts, spirit, soul and body – see my blog posted on 9 May 2021. https://rayskilton.blogspot.com/2021/05/how-did-god-create-us-spirit-soul-and.html

Our conscience lies within the realm of the soul in what we call our conscious mind. The conscious mind is where our conscience functions along with our thought and reasoning processes. In the New Testament writings, the soul is often referred to as the ‘flesh’.

Let’s write the below verses indelibly in our hearts and minds so that our conscious minds will always be led by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:5-8 (AMP)

5 For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose]. 6 Now the mind of the flesh is death [both now and forever—because it pursues sin]; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace [the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God—both now and forever]; 7 the mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God’s law, since it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh [living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses] cannot please God.

Now, we’ve had a look at how the world defines ‘conscience’ from two well-known dictionaries, so let’s now have a look at how the Bible defines ‘conscience’ from the original Greek text.

The transliteration of the Greek word used in the New Testament texts is ‘suneidésis’ (soon-i'-day-sis) and means conscience/consciousness. This Greek word is derived from two other separate Greek words, ‘syn’ which means ‘together with’ and ‘eido’ which means ‘to know, to see’ in the moral sense.

Consequently, the expanded meaning is: conscience (in the Biblical context) is that which joins moral and spiritual consciousness together as part of being created in God’s image. Consequently, all people (believers and non-believers alike) have this God-given capacity to know right from wrong because each is a free moral agent.

In the case of born-again Christians, ‘right’ is in accordance with Biblical teaching! In this way our conscience tells us when we are doing right or wrong and we are consciously aware of our right and wrong actions and speech because we have God’s standards by which to judge ourselves! Our conscience is a ‘self-judging’ tool whereby we can examine ourselves to see if we line up with the Word of God in all areas of our lives!

What kind of conscience should we have as born-again Christians?

We should have a clear conscience before God and man!

The Apostle Paul tells us that we should always strive to have a clear conscience before God and man! He tells us that because he is born-again (a follower of the Way) he always strives to keep his conscience clear before God and man! And as he says, we should imitate him as he imitates Christ!

Acts 24:16 (NIV)

14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT)

And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews tells us this:

Hebrews 9:14 (NIV)

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

Hebrews 10:21-22 (NLT)

21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

These verses tell us that when we repent of our sin and accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we become born-again, and our consciences are cleansed by the blood of Jesus and when we are baptised in water our bodies are symbolically washed clean – we become a new creation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

The Apostle John puts it this way:

1 John 1:7 (AMP)

but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

The conscience of the born-again Christian is guilt free because of the blood of Jesus and when our ‘flesh’, our soulish realm, slips our consciences should be immediately ‘pricked’ so that we can repent, and the clear conscience restored!

See my blog ‘What Happens When A Born Again Christian Sins?’: https://rayskilton.blogspot.com/2021/09/what-happens-when-born-again-christians.html

In Romans 9 Paul tells us that it is the Holy Spirit that enlightens the born-again Christians conscience, we are convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit. A clear and good conscience can only be maintained through living life in the Holy Spirit!

Romans 9:1 (AMP)

I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me [enlightened and prompted] by the Holy Spirit,

In 1 Timothy 1 Paul is warning Timothy to watch out for and oppose the false teachers and prophets that have risen up in Ephesus and tells him to command these people to not teach false doctrines any longer.

1 Timothy 1:3-4 (NIV)

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.

Paul goes on to tell Timothy in verse 5, that the aim of this command, the command to oppose false prophets and teachers, is love (the agapé love of God) which can only come from those of us that have a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith in Christ Jesus!

1 Timothy 1:5 (NIV)

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

When we lose these three facets by embracing false teachings our Christian walk becomes meaningless. God created us with a conscience to use for aligning ourselves with Him. A conscience fully committed to the Lord is a good conscience, any other doctrine other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified is false and rubbish and will eventually lead to one having a seared conscience!

Today, as born-again Christians it is our duty to foster a good conscience before God and man by following Jesus, being led by the Holy Spirit, and knowing the Word of God, the Bible, and not only knowing the Word but being doers of the Word as well! A good conscience is informed by all things Godly through the Holy Spirit!

1 Corinthians 2:2 (NIV)

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Psalm 119:11 (NIV)

I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you.

A Christian should have a conscience that immediately convicts them of wrongdoing and sinful behaviour against God and our fellow human beings especially those with weaker consciences than ours. When we sin against a brother or sister in Christ who has a weaker conscience than ours, we wound their consciences and thus we sin against Christ as well!

1 Corinthians 8:12-13 (NIV)

12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

A life free of ongoing and un-confessed sin, lived under the command of the Lord, will produce a good conscience “without offense” to God and man! A good conscience will produce a believer who is “after God’s own heart” and one who is spiritually mature.

A good conscience will testify to the world that you belong to Jesus and that you are truly a Godly and righteous person. It is this kind of testimony that leads people to Christ and us to spiritual maturity.

2 Corinthians 1:12 (AMP)

12 This is our [reason for] proud confidence: our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world [in general], and especially toward you, with pure motives and godly sincerity, not in human wisdom, but in the grace of God [that is, His gracious lovingkindness that leads people to Christ and spiritual maturity].

James 3:13-16 (NIV)

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

Let the conviction of the Holy Spirit through your conscience lead you to an ever repentant heart and spiritual maturity in Christ Jesus! Cultivate a good conscience without ceasing!

Now that we know what a born- again Christian’s conscience should look like, let’s examine through scripture what will happen to us is we ignore the Holy Spirit’s conviction of our conscience.

We will develop a defiled conscience!

In the Book of Titus, we are told that if we ignore developing our conscience into a “good conscience” by the leading and conviction of the Holy Spirit we will develop a conscience that is defiled and unbelieving towards God. We will then become worthless in the eyes of God. Titus calls this a mind and conscience that has become corrupted through continued sin and an unrepentant heart and by this kind of act we deny God.

Titus 1:15 (AMP)

5 To the pure, all things are pure; but to the corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure; both their mind and their conscience are corrupted. 16 They profess to know God [to recognize and be acquainted with Him], but by their actions they deny and disown Him. They are detestable and disobedient and worthless for good work of any kind.

A SEARED CONSCIENCE

If we continue in this way and remain unrepentant, we will eventually develop what the Apostle Paul calls a ‘seared conscience.’ Paul states that, in the end times, people will abandon their faith in Christ Jesus and follow deceiving spirits because their conscience has become seared – false teachers and prophets!

1 Timothy 4:1-2 (AMP)

But the [Holy] Spirit explicitly and unmistakably declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, paying attention instead to deceitful and seductive spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 [misled] by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared as with a branding iron [leaving them incapable of ethical functioning],

Seared is a medical term referring to cauterization. A seared conscience becomes desensitized to the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit and thus morally insensitive to what is good in Biblical terms.

If you continue to sin and turn away from God, you will become still more apathetic about moral and spiritual things. This speaks of one losing all moral restraint. The false teachers and prophets we have in the world today have seared consciences and have lost all moral restraint. That are doomed to destruction and lead many others to the same fate.

2 Peter 2:1-3

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

The Christian’s hope and strength in Christ Jesus is in the convicting and restraining influence of the Holy Spirit working through our consciences.

Repeated willful and unrepentant sinning hardens the conscience so that it becomes seared like cauterised scar tissue. The neglected and resisted conscience becomes more insensitive to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and will eventually stop giving warning signals about wrongdoing.

Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven
I pray in Jesus’ name that you help me to listen to your voice through the Holy Spirit and that you help me to develop an ever repentant heart. I pray too Lord that you would help me to develop a good and clear conscience and take notice of the conviction of the Holy Spirit as He pricks my conscience when I do wrong and to kneel before you in humble repentance. Amen.

All glory, honour and praise belongs to Jesus!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

From Resurrection to Ascension: What was happening?

Why Did Jesus Appear to Various People After His resurrection?

Before we examine our main question let’s have a look at how Jesus tried to prepare the disciples for His coming crucifixion!

The first time Jesus predicted His death and resurrection to the disciples was in Matthew 16 just after He asks them, “Who do you say I am”? It was only Peter who was able to say, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” But sadly, not long after this Peter denied him!

Matthew 16:21 (NIV)

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

The second time He predicted His death was just after He healed a demon possessed boy in Matthew 17:18.

Matthew 17:23 (NIV)

22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.

The third and final time He told them was in Matthew 20 when they were on their way to Jerusalem where Jesus lay down His life for us, His Church!

Matthew 20:17-19 (NIV)

17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, 18 “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

So, here we see Jesus preparing the disciples for what was about to happen, His death on the cross!

In Matthew 16:22 we see Peter taking the Lord aside and saying to the Lord in complete disbelief that His crucifixion will never happen. This of course leads to him receiving a very stern rebuke from the Lord because of his unbelief!

Matthew 16:22 (NIV)

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

In Matthew 17:23 above the verse ends by telling us that the disciples were filled with grief, a despairing grief. They were unable to grasp that His death would end in great joy at His resurrection and this would bring life to mankind, man’s salvation through Him! Again, unbelief was there!

And, of course in Matthew 20 we read that two of the disciples (brothers) were seeking ‘position’ in heaven either side of Jesus. So very much a fleshly desire which led to the other disciples having a ‘go’ at them – verse 24 tells us that the other disciples were indignant! Very human indeed - self-seeking and totally missing the point of salvation!

So, from what scripture tells us I think we can safely say that at the crucifixion the disciples and the other followers must have been feeling pretty down and defeated and unbelieving!

Now from here let’s go back to our original question and answer it from scripture!

Why did Jesus appear to various people for 40 days after His resurrection?

Well, there are a number of reasons that I have come across from studying the scriptures but I’m pretty sure that you can find many more yourselves. Here is what I’ve found!

1. To fulfil centuries of Old Testament prophecy of His death and resurrection.

Isaiah 53:3-5 (NIV)

3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,

a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

Like one from whom people hide their faces

he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain

and bore our suffering,

yet we considered him punished by God,

stricken by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

This is one of many Old Testament prophecies of Jesus, his birth, death and resurrection!

2. To fulfil His own prophecies.

Shown above in Matthew 16, 17 and 20.

These are the two main reasons for the resurrection which prove that God always had His son in mind as mankind’s Saviour. It was always God’s will!

But woven in between the fulfillment of prophecy are many other 'salvationary' facets such as:

• To finish the work of redemption. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, it would mean that he was not the son of God and that he did not conquer death and there would be no route for man to receive salvation and reconciliation with God. It is his resurrection that proved that redemption was finished. Indeed his blood was sufficient to pay for mankind, if not, he would not have been raised from the dead.

• It is proof that death has been defeated, and divine, everlasting life is now available to believers and that we as His children are able to enter God’s presence – the Holy of Holies.

Revelation 1:17-18 (NIV)

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

• To empower us with the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit so we can rule and reign in this life and to fulfill the command that we call ‘The Great Commission’.

Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

• To show us that our future resurrection is assured and that we as believers in Christ will receive everlasting life.

John 11:23-26 (AMP)

23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise [from the dead].” 24 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise [from the dead] in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies; 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me [as Savior] will never die. Do you believe this?”

• For our justification which is what completes our salvation

Romans 5:1 (AMP)

Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

Right, now that we have established why Jesus was resurrected, let’s move on to what He was doing during the forty days between the Resurrection and the Ascension which is something that is rarely preached from the pulpit – at least in my limited experience!

We have already established that the disciples and probably many of the Lord’s other followers were grieving and feeling pretty depressed and sad. Now the Lord knew this, and He knew that He would need to give them both natural and supernatural encouragement.

Now, what better way to get someone’s attention than an earthquake! We read in Matthew 28 that after the Sabbath at dawn there were a number of people at the Lord’s tomb. There were a number of guards and there was Mary Magdalene and Mary, Martha’s sister.

So now an earthquake strikes and and an angel appears and rolls away the stone that seals the tomb. The angel was pretty awesome in appearance as well, he was like lightning and his clothes were as white as snow. Now the guards were so petrified that they became frozen with fright! But the women, obviously made of much sterner stuff, wanted to chat! The angel spoke these famous and encouraging words to them:

Matthew 28:5-7 (NIV)

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

The two Mary’s, afraid but full of joy, scoot off to tell the disciples but Jesus Himself appears to them (Mary and Martha) on the road where they fell at His feet and worshipped Him. Here He encourages them to also go and tell the disciples that they should go to Galilee, and He will meet them (the disciples) there.

The two Mary’s do as they are instructed, and the disciples head for Galilee to meet Jesus where they worship Him, and He gives them ‘The Great Commission’ – Matthew 28:16-20 above.

In the Book of John, we get more detail of the happenings than we do from Matthew the Tax Collector. John, who had a more intimate relationship with the Lord, gives us a more ‘loving’ view of things when the disciples meet Jesus in Galilee.

In John 20 we are told that Peter and John, when told that the tomb was empty and that Jesus had arisen, didn’t really believe it and ran to the tomb to see for themselves and of course all they found were the grave clothes. They then went back to the other disciples.

It is after this that Jesus supernaturally appears to the disciples who had locked themselves in a room where they were staying because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders – John 20:19-23. Jesus suddenly appears to them from nowhere and says, “Peace be with you!” He then shows them the wounds in His hands and side! It is at this point that the disciples, except for Thomas who wasn’t there, start to truly believe in Him as the Messiah, the Son of God!

Now, when Thomas hears this news from the other disciples, he still doesn’t believe! So, Jesus in His great compassion and love, appears to the disciples again a week later in the same room when Thomas is there. Again, the Lord says to them, “Peace be with you!” He then shows Thomas His wounds, and he touches them. It is at this point that Thomas finally believes and makes this delaration, “My Lord and my God!” – John 20:26-28.

It is only at this point, even after walking with Jesus together for just over three years, that all the disciples, minus Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him, finally and truly believe that Jesus is the Messiah! It is here that their redemption is complete! If Jesus hadn’t have appeared to them this would not have happened, and Christianity and the Church would not exist, neither then nor today!

The third time Jesus appears to the disciples is on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Seven of the eleven had gone fishing at Peter’s suggestion, they were Peter, Thomas (Didymus), Nathanael, James and John the sons of Zebedee and two other unnamed disciples but probably Andrew (Peter’s brother) and Philip.

It is for these disciples that the miracle of the miraculous catch of fish takes place – John 21:1-14. This confirms to the disciples that it is indeed the resurrected Christ that has been appearing to them – blessed assurance.

But even more significant than the miraculous catch of fish, it is on these Galileean shores that the Lord reinstates Peter after his heartbreaking denial of Christ at his arrest and trial. This too is the very place that Peter was first called by the Lord to follow him!

John 21:15-17 (NIV)

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Peter denied the Lord three times and in the above verses Peter confirms to the Lord three times that he loves Him! It here, at this point that I believe that not only does Peter realise that he has been forgiven but just as importantly, he is able to forgive himself and let go of self-condemnation. A lesson many of us today can learn from today!

After his reinstatement Peter emerges to be one of the principal leaders of the Church and the Apostle to the Jews. He remains a pillar of the Church until he Himself is eventually crucified by the Romans (supposedly upside-down) a number of years later in Rome.

If Jesus had not appeared to the disciples to encourage them after His resurrection none of this would have happened. Man would have no way to be saved and reconciled with God! God’s plan revealed!

The Apostle John also tells us that during this time Jesus did many other things, and I mean ‘big time’ many, that were not recorded!

John 21:25 (NIV)

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

In Acts 1 the author, the Apostle Luke, tells us in a nutshell what Jesus was doing in these forty days!

Acts 1:3-5 (NIV)

3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

During these forty days the Lord’s focus was on the disciples and telling them about the kingdom of God, proving to them that He was alive and encouraging them and building them up in their faith – Jesus is the kingdom of God. He also gave them the command not to leave Jerusalem until they received the gift the Father had promised – baptism with the Holy Spirit! Jesus knew that if the didn’t receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit they would be unable to fulfill the Great Commission – Matthew 28:16-20 above!

The Holy Spirit will equip them, empower them and lead them in all truth in all things! And He will do the same for us, His Church, today! We just have to receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit and be continually filled!

John 16:12-15 (NIV)

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

The Apostle Paul in his letters teaches us so much more about the importance of living life in the Spirit and being led by Him! I would encourage all my readers to study Romans 8 in particular!

Just before Jesus was taken up into heaven, He leaves the disciple with these incredibly powerful and energizing words:

Acts 1:8 (AMP)

But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”

And after Pentecost that is exactly what the disciples and the Lord’s other followers did! And this is what today’s Church should still be doing, both individually and corporately!

Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

This was the start of the New Testament Church, the Church that today’s Church should be emulating in every way! But sadly, many false prophets have arisen in these times and have led many astray. These Churches are no longer preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified and modelling themselves on the New Testament Church of the Bible. They are following the whims and fancies of man’s desire for fame and fortune modelling themselves on friendship with the world, turning the Lord’s Church into businesses that are lovers of money and leading many to destruction, including themselves.

James 4:4 (AMP)

You adulteresses [disloyal sinners—flirting with the world and breaking your vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend [that is, loving the things of the world] is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

1 Timothy 6:10 (AMP)

For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.

It is only through the Holy Spirit that God’s children have Jesus Christ living in them and apart from Jesus we can do nothing!

It is only through the Holy Spirit that we will fulfill the will of God for our lives!

It is only through the Holy Spirit that we will be able to do on earth even greater things that our Lord!

It is only through the Holy Spirit that we will be overcomers of the world and much, much more!

Prayer
Dear Lord
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would help me to imitate you in every way. I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and lead and guide me in all truth and on the path that you have willed for my life. I asked that you fill me with your love that I may love others as you love me – unconditionally so that I may glorify your name! Amen.

All glory, honour and praise belongs to Jesus!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

What is the 'JOY' of the Lord?

 

Dear Readers

Thank you so much for joining me on this site. I pray that that the scriptures in this article would bless you richly and that through them God would reveal himself to you, as He has to me, by the power of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of Jesus! As you read on, I pray that you would hear what Jesus has to say to you through the Holy Spirit.

What is the joy of the Lord?

Let’s start by examining the Greek word for ‘joy’ in the above verse Romans 15:13.

The Greek word for ‘joy’ in this verse is ‘chara’ (pronounced ‘khar-ah’) and is a transliteration (Transliteration is the process of transferring a word from the alphabet of one language to another. Transliteration helps people pronounce words and names in foreign languages) of the original Greek word (using the Greek alphabet) Χαρά (xará).

This Greek word is also used for the word ‘joy’ in Galatians 5:22, joy being one of the nine facets of the fruit of the Spirit!

So, getting back to the full Greek meaning of ‘joy’ we see that it embraces all this: joy, delight, a source of joy, joy because of the grace of God, God’s extended favour to, a leaning towards, be favourably disposed to), the awareness (of God's) grace, favour, love and joy in our lives ("grace recognized") – Strong’s 5479, 5485, 5463.

When we look at this word picture of the biblical context of ‘joy’ we see that it is not all about dancing and skipping around like a carefree child. No, it’s all about cultivating a lifestyle of being immersed in Jesus and the Bible in the power of the Holy Spirit. Immersing ourselves in the agape love of God and drawing our joy (from our relationship with Jesus) to meet and overcome the obstacles we face in our daily lives from Jesus through the Holy Spirit by God’s amazing grace and our recognising God’s grace in our lives! This is where the Christian’s strength comes from – the joy of the Lord!

Let’s take an example from Nehemiah who restored the protective walls around Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

We too can be like the Jews during Nehemiah’s time where even in the midst of adversity and strife, physically, mentally and spiritually, the joy of the Lord is our strength and in Him we are overcomers and can still enjoy our life in Christ Jesus and continue to spread His kingdom.

Romans 8:31-39 (NIV)

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Our life as born-again Christians here on earth is all about Jesus. Jesus – God, Jesus – the man and Jesus – the Bible – Jesus the Spirit – The Holy Trinity. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing, and we are nothing, without Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, our lives are meaningless – a chasing after the wind! In Jesus we can overcome the world and all that the devil can throw at us!

John 16:33 (NIV)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

In Christ Jesus our joy is found in His strength and in this we have peace and the ability to overcome the world! Apart from Jesus we can do nothing!

John 15:5-8 (NIV)

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

And of course, as I mentioned earlier, ‘joy’ is one of the nine facets of the fruit of the Spirit and follows directly after ‘love’.

Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

When we, as born-again Christians, are living our lives in the Spirit the fruit of the Spirit will be manifest in us and through us to the world. This is the lifestyle that God uses in His children (the Church) to draw people to salvation by the power of the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit will add to the number of believers when our lifestyles truly reflect Jesus and when we live life in the Spirit.

Now, nothing that God does happens by chance, He is a God of order and is all knowing. He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end!

It is not by chance that the Apostle Paul in the above verses (the fruit of the Spirit) mentions love first and then immediately places joy thereafter. He was following the example of Jesus when He was talking to His disciples in John 15 about remaining in Him.

Let’s examine this carefully and analyse the following verses!

John 15:9-14 (NIV)

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

In verses 9-11 above the Lord is telling us that He loves us in the same way the Father loves Him, and He then encourages us to remain in His love. He then tells us how we can remain in His love and thus in the Father’s love – by keeping His commands. Being obedient to His Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit!

Why does Jesus tell us this?

Verse 11, so that His joy, the joy that He has received by the grace of the Father (remember here that Jesus was without sin), may be in us and that because of this our joy will be complete!

2 Corinthians 5:21 (AMP)

He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].

Romans 15:13 (AMP)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.

Now, my dear readers, the joy of the born-again Christian is not found in earth’s physical realm and lasts but a moment, but it is found in the spiritual realm through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour and in the power of the Holy Spirit and endures throughout eternity!

The joy of a born-again Christian is not experienced through our soulish emotions and how we are treated by others or on how good we feel about the things that happen around us, it is experienced in the depth of the love God has for us and the depth of the love that we have for our Saviour Jesus and our willingness to live life in the Spirit and to be fully obedient to God’s Word and to ‘love your neighbour as yourself!’

Remember Jesus endured the cross because of the joy that the Father had set before him, this is the same joy we receive when we repent and accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour! Through Jesus we each have our cross to bear, and through Him in the power of the Holy Spirit we are overcomers and so our joy remains eternal!

Hebrews 12:1-2 (AMP)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, 2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].

As the Apostle Paul says let us finish our race which is the completion of our work on earth that God Himself has predestined for us to do! We can only do this when we are in Christ Jesus and are filled with the holy Spirit which enable and empowers us to live life in the Spirit – the Christian life that God intends for us!

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray that your joy would be in me so that my joy may be complete regardless of the physical circumstances that surround me. Help me Lord, to cultivate a lifestyle that will be immersed in you and your Word in the power of the Holy Spirit. Father let your will be done in my life and not my will! Amen.

All glory, honour and praise belongs to Jesus!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

Hold Fast to the 'NEVER' of Jesus.

When you become a born-again Christian, your life belongs to Jesus. You have willingly submitted yourself to His authority over everything you do and speak. You have become a new creation because you recognise that you are a sinner, you have repented of your sin and because Jesus paid the price for your sin by dying on the Cross you now have the right to become a child of God! And because Jesus redeemed you by dying for your sin you receive eternal life in Him – He is your Lord and Saviour.

In this article I am going to talk to you about the power, peace and protection we receive when we hold fast to the promises He makes us through the word ‘never!’

Now, before we go into the ‘never promises’ let me just remind you of these few Biblical truths.

Jesus is the Bible, and He has always been in existence, everything was made through Him and in Him we have life!

John 1:1-4 & 14 (NIV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus never changes, the Bible, His Name is as relevant today and tomorrow as it was at the beginning of creation.

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

All scripture, Old and New Testament, comes from God and is relevant to us in different things and at all times.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (AMP)

16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

1 Corinthians 10:11 (NIV) brackets in text are mine

These things happened to them (Old Testament) as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.

So, it is my personal view that all scripture is as relevant today as it was at any other time in history. Jesus never changes!

With this in mind let’s now have a look at just how important the ‘nevers’ of Jesus are to our lives today and for the rest of our futures as born again Christians!

Let’s examine what Jesus tells through the scriptures about His ‘never’.

Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8 (NIV)

6Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

8The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

In the above verses is Moses is addressing Israel and Joshua and is telling them not to be afraid of what lies ahead of them because the Lord is with them and will go them and ahead of them.

This also applies to each one of us today! In whatever the Lord tells you to do, He will always go ahead of you and with you and He will never leave or forsake you no matter how difficult and fearsome the task appears to you. Hold on to His never in whatever He tells you to do. Be brave and courageous as you step out in faith and obedience to do what He has told you to do. He has a ‘promised land’ for each and every one of His children.

Psalm 9:10 (NIV)

Those who know your name trust in you,

for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

In Psalm 9:10 the writer tells us that the Lord will never forsake those who seek Him. But we have an action part in this, we have to know Him (be born-again) and trust Him – have complete faith in Him alone and we must actively seek Him – know the Word and actively pursue a relationship with Him.

Psalm 55:22 (NIV)

Cast your cares on the Lord

and he will sustain you;

he will never let

the righteous be shaken.

In Psalm 55:22 the writer tells us that the Lord will never let the righteous be shaken.

Who are the righteous? We are, the true Church, those of us that are born-again and have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. The Lord will keep us and sustain through all things no matter how difficult, no matter how dire and heart-breaking things may seem, we need not worry. The Apostle Peter puts it this way:

1 Peter 5:7 (AMP)

casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].

God knows everything about us, He cares about us. Nothing in our lives will take us further than what we can handle if we remain in Him!

Matthew 24:35 (NIV)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

In Matthew 24:35 we are told that the Bible will never pass away it will be with us always – Jesus is the Word! We will get a new heaven and a new earth as the old will ‘be burned!’ But the Word will remain the same.

2 Peter 3:7 & 10 (NIV)

7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Revelation 21:1-2 (NIV)

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

On Judgement Day those in Christ Jesus will go to heaven for eternity to dwell with God in eternal life but those outside of Christ Jesus will go to hell for eternity, separated from God forever – eternal death!

John 4:14 (AMP)

But whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. But the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water [satisfying his thirst for God] welling up [continually flowing, bubbling within him] to eternal life.”

Jesus in John 4:14 above tells us that when we are in Him (born-again) our souls will be satisfied by drinking in His Word. The Holy Spirit will fill us and we too, like Jesus, will become rivers of living water to eternal life! This is also echoed in the book of Revelation!

Revelation 7:16-17 (NIV)

16 ‘Never again will they hunger;

never again will they thirst.

The sun will not beat down on them,’[Is 49:10]

nor any scorching heat.

17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne

will be their shepherd;

‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’[Is49:10]

‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’[Is 25:8]”

The promises in the above two verses were also foretold in the Book of Isaiah!

John 11:25-26 (NIV)

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

In John 11:25-26 Jesus tells us that He alone is the resurrection and the life and those that believe in Him (born-again believers) will be resurrected and will receive eternal life. We will dwell in the presence of God forever where there will be no more tears and no more sickness.

Revelation 21:3-4 (NIV)

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Make sure you are truly born-again and that your heart is completely sold out to Jesus or the promise in the above verse will not apply to you!

Romans 10:11 (AMP)

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will not be disappointed [in his expectations].”

The Apostle Paul in Romans 10:11 tells us that when we believe, rely on and trust in Jesus for all things we will never be disappointed in our Godly expectations!

2 Peter 1:10-11 (AMP)

10 Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin]; 11 for in this way entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided to you.

The Apostle Peter in the above verses tells us that we will NEVER STUMBLE when we ensure, this is action on our part, that we lead a lifestyle that confirms our relationship with Jesus, a lifestyle that complies with his Word and is accompanied by putting His Word into action. This lifestyle will ensure that we become imitators of Christ and that we will grow spiritually as this is our only way to eternal life!

Hebrews 13:5,-6 (NIV)

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”[Dt 31:6]

6 So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?”[Ps 118:6-7]

The writer of Hebrews in the above verses has a double ‘never’ for us, “NEVER WILL I LEAVE YOU; NEVER WILL I FORSAKE YOU” is a quote taken from Dt 31:6. This not only reinforces the relevance of the Old Testament for today, but also the fact that Jesus never changes. The verse also commands us to keep ourselves from the love of money and to be content with God’s provision for us!

Revelation 3:5 (AMP)

He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God] will accordingly be dressed in white clothing; and I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, and I will confess and openly acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels [saying that he is one of Mine].

Jesus, in the verse above, promises us that He “WILL NEVER BLOT OUT OUR NAMES FROM THE BOOK OF LIFE” if we stand firm to the end and overcome the world by believing in Him as our Lord and Saviour – by being born-again. He will also acknowledge us as being His own before the father and His angels.

Dear readers

Hold on to the ‘nevers’ of Jesus as all his promises are Yes and Amen! God's promises will lead you on the path of righteousness in Christ Jesus and will lead you to Christian maturity in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Our Lord has promised us that if we remain in Him and remain true and obedient to His Word:

• NEVER WIIL I leave you nor forsake you.

• NEVER WILL I let you be shaken.

• NEVER WILL MY words pass away.

• NEVER WILL you be hungry or thirsty – you will be filled with God for eternity.

• WE WILL NEVER STUMBLE in our spiritual growth and walk to maturity.

• I WILL NEVER BLOT OUT YOUR NAME FROM THE BOOK OF LIFE!

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV)

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would help me to hold fast to your promises and to never forsake you and your Word. Help me, I ask, to be obedient to your Word in every way and keep on filling me with your Holy Spirit that I may glorify the name of Jesus. Amen.

All glory, honour and praise belongs to Jesus!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!