Faith versus Hope
Introduction.
We must study the word of God to acquire a positive actions in our faith to get positive results. People are confusing hope with faith. We must remember that hope is future, and faith is in the present tense. But faith is now!

What we have In Jesus

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1: 2-4

What Jesus Did!

For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
I John 3:8

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. Acts 10:38

Faith is Now!

Faith says, I receive the answer right now. I know I have it now! I am not hoping that I get it, I believe I received it. People have said to me well I believe I will have my healing sometime, that’s not faith it’s hope because it is looking to something indefinite, the future time. Faith says I have received my healing now in a modern translation of the New Testament says in Hebrews 11:1 “faith is giving substance to things hope for.” Faith is now, Hope is the future. If you need healing, you don’t want it in the future you want right now especially if you’re in pain. If you’re seeking salvation, or the baptism in the Holy Spirit you want to receive Him now not sometime in the future. If you need salvation you cannot put it off to the future that might be too late you need it now.

Ephesians 2 :8-9. “for you are for by grace you are saved through faith and that is not of yourselves it is a gift of God not of works least any man should boast.”
Romans 10:9-10, 13. it says “if they’ll shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in the heart that God has raised him from the dead they’ll shall be saved. For with a heart man believe it until righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved.”
This is present tense not future tense. So, we can see that the plan of salvation by faith not by hope we know you’re saved. Jesus said he was going to save us, and he did on the cross of Calvary.

How Do We Get Faith?
Romans 10:17, “So faith comes be hearing, and hearing the Word of God.” Another translation says’ Faith is the warranty deed, that the thing which we hoped for is finally yours”.
Hebrews 11:1, says the Faith is the evidence of things not seen.
• Finances- In finances or healing is that you confess that you need and thank God that you have it. When you speak unbelief, you are calling God a liar and siding with the devil.
• Prayer-In prayer we must use and agree with the Word of God. To know the Word of God is to know God. You cannot know God outside His word.
Mark 11:22-25, “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

What is your mountain? Is it the need for healing? Financial need? Remember that all is need is found in Jesus. He sat down at the right hand of the Father. He also seated us with Him in the heavenlies ad we are the fullness of Christ on earth.

Faith in Action
Here we have an example of a women who heard the message, believed in her heart, and moved in faith.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” Mark 5:25-34
Faith makes the impossible, possible. Matt. 19:26. I have heard people saying I am hoping and praying for whatever, but they never receive it. You must hold on to your faith. Stand strong against the lies of the enemy!

Conclusion
How you believe, (think) is how you will speak. And how you speak will is how you will live.

Faith versus Feelings

Introduction.
The central truth of this teaching regarding faith versus feelings is;
• #1 we need to find a promise of God for whatever you are seeking.
• #2; believe God ‘s word.
• #3; do not consider contradictory circumstances.
• #4; praise God for the answer.

We cannot understand God by our feelings. We are told to walk by faith and what God ‘s Word says to us. The only way will get to know God and understand Him and get acquainted with Him is through the word. Many people want goosebumps, they want to feel good, then they think their prayers are heard. God says without faith it is impossible to please him. Our faith should not be based on feelings but should be based on God ‘s word. This is not Christian Science. We base our faith on God and His Word not in the mind. I am not saying to ignore the symptoms of the body. I am telling you to get your body into line with what God’s Word says.

Abraham’s Blessings with Thomas’s Faith.
Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So, he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29
• Thomas’s faith was based on his feelings. This is much of the church today.

We have All Things
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:2-4

Healing is Spiritual
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor. 5:17
• Divine healing is received as you received the new birth. You believed, you spoke, you acted and you were born again.
• It is not based on how loud you yell, how much you cry. It is based on your faith.
• We walked in the natural but when it comes to God we walked by faith.

Carnality vs. Spirituality
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh (controlled by our five senses), but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded (controlled by our five senses) is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. Rom. 8:5-7 (KJV)
Listen to teachings on the Battle of the Mind, Think on Purpose, Words Have Power.

Don’t Consider Your Body
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Romans 4: 19-21

Formula for Faith.
The central truth of this teaching regarding faith versus feelings is
• #1 we need to find a promise of God for whatever you are seeking.
• #2; believe God ‘s word.
• #3; do not consider contradictory circumstances.
• #4; praise God for the answer.

If there are no great battles, there are no great victories.
How you believe, (think) is how you will speak. And how you speak will is how you will live.

Discipleship- A Long Journey in the Same Direction!

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. Luke 9: 23-26

INTRODUCTION
The scenario of this scripture is that Jesus begins to announce His death. Peter jumped in and told the Lord that he should not die and the Lord rebuked him stating that he was listening to the devil. You would think that Peter was just trying to save the Lord of this death but what he was doing was trying to stop the plan of God for salvation. What is a disciple? A disciple is a person that not only follows the teaching of his teacher but also imitates his lifestyle. We all imitate someone or something. Some people want to be just like Warren Buffet, or Bill Gates or some other famous person. I think that teenagers want to be like some basket or football star. Some girls want to look like some model or actress. But how many times have you heard someone say they wanted to be like Jesus?
When one chooses to follow Christ, this is not an easy road to embark on. We are constantly being pulled way to follow our desires and our will. God wants us to depend upon Him and follow His example. He does not want us to rely on our own strength, wisdom, or how the world wants us to think and act. He wants to lead. He wants us to ask Him for every area in our life. God is extremely interested in you. However, we live in a culture and mentality that we want instant answers and instant success. We want everything we see on TV and more. We want everything at the speed of a microwave oven. We want instant success, instant discipleship, instant holiness, and instant answers to our prayers. How many people do you know that have many material things but are miserable? Christ stated that if you really want to find yourself it will be through serving others. His way is the way of self-denial and suffering at times. But there is true happiness to be found in giving your life in the service of God serving others. I am not talking about going somewhere special to serve God. Right in front of you there is someone who needs help. There is someone right in front of you who needs your forgiveness and love. Ask God how you can be useful and He will direct your steps. Now tell me, do you love God enough to get off your sofa and serve him?
DISCIPLES FOLLOW JESUS
When we encounter Jesus, we meet a man who calls us to come and die (Mk. 8:34-35). And he calls us to follow him and learn from him (Mt. 4:19, 11:29). It doesn’t matter whether we’re smart or stupid, rich or poor, young or old, Asian, African, or American. The only requirement is that we repent of rebelling against our Creator and cling to him through faith (Mk. 1:15; 1 Thess. 1:9). If we do this, we’re promised forgiveness of our sins and reconciliation to God (Col. 1:13-14; 2 Cor. 5:17-21). Jesus calls us to come and die so that we might live.
Scripture says that those who follow Jesus by faith are known as his disciples. Some suggest that disciples are the “super Christians” who are getting’ it done for Jesus, while Christians are just “normal believers.” Scripture, however, offers no support for this distinction. (See, for example, Mt. 10:38, 16:24-28; Mk. 8:34; Lk. 9:23, 57-62; Jn. 10:27, 12:25-26). We are either following Jesus or we aren’t there is no middle ground (Mt. 12:30).

DISCIPLES IMITATE AND REPLICATE JESUS
At the heart of following Jesus is Jesus’ call to imitate him and replicate him. As disciples, we are called to imitate Jesus’ love (Jn. 13:34), His mission (Mt. 4:19), his humility (Phil. 2:5), his service (Jn. 13:14), His suffering (1 Pt. 2:21) and his obedience to the Father (1 Jn. 2:3-6). Since he is our teacher, we are to learn from him and strive in the power of the Holy Spirit to become like him (Lk. 6:40). This growth in Christlikeness is a lifelong endeavor that is fueled by the hopeful expectation that one day we will see him face to face (1 Jn. 3:2-3).

DISCIPLES HELP OTHERS FOLLOW JESUS
As we follow our Lord, we quickly learn that part of imitation is replication. Having a personal relationship with Jesus is magnificent, but it is incomplete if it ends with us. Part of being his follower is to intentionally help others learn from him and become more like him. As a friend of mine says, “If you aren’t helping other people follow Jesus, I don’t know what you mean when you say you’re following Jesus.” To be his follower is to help others follow him.
Being a disciple that makes disciples happens in two ways. First, we’re called to evangelize. Evangelism is telling people who don’t follow Jesus what it means to follow him. We do this by proclaiming and portraying the gospel in our neighborhood and among the nations (Mt. 28:19-20). We must never forget that God has placed us in the families, workplaces, and circles of friends that we are in so that we can proclaim the gospel of grace to those who are destined to hell apart from Christ. We must help people learn how to begin to follow Jesus.
The second aspect of making disciples is helping other believers grow in Christlikeness. Jesus has designed his church to be a body (1 Cor. 12), a kingdom of citizens and a family who actively build each other up into the fullness of Christ (Eph. 2:19; 4:13, 29). We are called to instruct each other about Christ (Rom. 15:14) and to imitate others who are following Christ (1 Cor. 4:16, 11:1; 2 Thess. 3:7, 9). As disciples, we are to intentionally pour into other disciples so they can pour into still others (2 Tim. 2:1-2).

DISCIPLES INTENTIONALLY BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
Discipleship does not just happen. We need to be intentional about cultivating deep, honest relationships in which we do spiritual good to other Christians. While we can have discipleship relationships anywhere, the most natural place for them to develop is in the community of the local church. In the church Christians are commanded to meet together regularly, spur each other on in Christlikeness, and protect each other against sin (Heb. 3:12-13; 10:24-25).
The discipleship relationships that spring out of this type of committed community should be both structured and spontaneous. When we study the life of Jesus, we see that he formally taught his disciples (Mt. 5-7; Mk. 10:1) while also allowing them to observe his obedience to God as they lived life together (Jn 4:27; Lk. 22:39-56).
In the same way, some of our discipleship relationships should be structured. Maybe two friends decide to read a chapter from the Gospel of John and then discuss it over coffee or a workout at the gym. Maybe two businessmen read a chapter each week from a Christian book and then talk about it on a Saturday walk through the neighborhood with their kids. Maybe two couples do a date night together once a month and talk about what the Bible says about marriage. Maybe a godly older lady has a younger single woman over to her home on Tuesday afternoon to pray and study a Christian biography. Maybe a mom spends time at the park with other moms each week. Regardless of the format, some of our discipleship should involve scheduled times of reading, praying, confessing, encouraging, and challenging each other to become more like Christ.
Discipleship can also be spontaneous. Maybe friends go to a movie together and then grab ice cream afterwards to compare the movie’s message to what the Bible says. Maybe a father and a son sit on the porch and reflect on God’s glory being displayed in a sunset. Maybe you invite visitors from church over for lunch and ask everyone how they came to know Jesus.
We always need to be intentional, but we don’t always need to be structured. In fact, Deuteronomy 6 shows us that discipleship happens “when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (v. 7). Every moment presents an opportunity to discuss who God is and what he’s doing. Since we are always following Jesus, we always can help others follow him as well.

DISCIPLES DEPEND UPON GRACE
While it is true that a disciple of Jesus ought to help others follow Jesus, we must always remember that apart from the sustaining and empowering grace of God we can do nothing (Jn. 15:5). Whether you’re a pastor, a plumber, a policeman, or a stay-at-home parent, you never graduate from your need for God’s grace.
As we follow Christ and help others follow him, we’re constantly made aware that we need grace. We fail. We sin. We struggle. But thankfully, God’s grace abounds to his children. This is good news as we seek to follow Jesus together and daily be transformed into his glorious image (2 Cor. 3:18). May we faithfully follow Christ and help others to do the same until we see his face. Come soon, Lord Jesus!

The Integrity of the Word of God-Part 2

We know Father God through the Word
Our Christian life is to be lived progressively by faith applying His word to our lives. The Devil main object is always to doubt the divine fact stated in God’s Word. We must understand that we are not saying that our sinful nature is rooted out or removed. To say such would be false doctrine. Sin the old master is still about but the slave who served him is dead and no longer ruling. The gambler is no longer gambling. The alcoholic is no longer addicted. Addictions are overcome and lives are changed. Our members are no longer used for unrighteousness but for righteousness.
This deliverance is so real in our lives because the new birth, the new creation and its nature is no longer practicing a sinful life. I Jn. 3:9. So how do we keep this behavior going? We must believe that God’s Word is true. Jn. 17:17. So we can see it is an act of choice. We must choose whom we will serve. We must not resort to our sense-knowledge to discover the truth. We must resist and reject anything the contradicts God’s word. (Sense Knowledge versus Revelation Knowledge).

We must have Faith in the Word

We cannot understand God by our feelings. We are told to walk by faith and what God ‘s Word says to us. The only way will get to know God and understand Him and get acquainted with Him is through the word. Many people want goosebumps, they want to feel good, then they think their prayers are heard. God says without faith it is impossible to please him. Our faith should not be based on feelings but should be based on God ‘s word. This is not Christian Science. We base our faith on God and His Word not in the mind. I am not saying to ignore the symptoms of the body. I am telling you to get your body into line with what God’s Word says.
Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So, he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29
• Thomas’s faith was based on his feelings. This is much of the church today.

We are healed through the Word
The bible is a legal document. A legal contract between God and us. You have heard of
the last will and testament of a person. The New Testament is the last will & testament of Jesus Christ to us. Redemption and healing are the lawful right of the Christian. We have been redeemed from the curse of the law.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Gal.3:13-14

who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. I Peter 2:24
We must understand that the Words of our Lord are spirit and life. And healing is spiritual in nature.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor. 5:17
• Divine healing is received as you received the new birth. You believed, you spoke, you acted and you were born again.
• It is not based on how loud you yell, how much you cry. It is based on your faith.
• We walked in the natural but when it comes to God we walked by faith.

The Word on our Lips
There are many scriptures to talk about confession. Most people think of confession, associated confession of sin but there’s another confession there’s confession that speaks about who we are, and what we believe. I like to listen to where the people talk because that locate them where they are, you see words are locators you’re either speaking doubt in this belief or faith, and I live in God. When we speak, the word of God becomes a living thing on our lips, it brings on men unsaved men under conviction. It gives him face to act upon the word it causes a believer to trust in the lord, with all their heart you speak in the word of God, and speak in God’s words. You are God’s ambassador. God’s word in your mouth, filled with love from your heart burns the heart of the hearer.

• Power of Words for Salvation.
If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Rom. 10:9-10
• For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matt. 12: 37
• God in Us
Remember God works in and through you. Phil 2:13, I Jn. 4:4

• Emotional Stability
He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.
Prov. 21:23
The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.
Isa. 26:3

• Fear hath no Part in Us.
The fear of man brings a snare. Isa.29:25
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control.
2Timothy 1:7

‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isa. 41:10

• Financial Freedom
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19

• Healing
He born our sickness and carried our diseases. And by His stripes, we are healed.
Isa. 53:5 I Peter 2:24

• Hold Fast to Your Confession
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Heb. 10:23

Resist the devil by resting in what the Word of God says and by confessing the Word of God.

The Integrity of the Word of God-Part 1

The Integrity of the Word of God

Thus, sayeth Jehovah has repeated over 2000 times from Exodus to Deuteronomy. God and His word are One. The word of God is Jesus. In John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”
We must understand that Jesus is the living word in Hebrews 4:12 it says the following “the logos of God is a living thing active and more cutting than any sword with a double edged penetrating to the very division of the soul and spirit joint and marrow scrutinizing the very thoughts and conceptions of the heart” Moffitt’s translation We should notice carefully that it says and no created thing is hidden from him; All things lie open, expose before the eyes of him with whom we have to reckon. The word is called logos Jesus is the logos and the logos is a living person. Not in the book, not on the written page, but on the lips of the believer. This becomes the Rhema of God. The spoken word of God. Nothing is hidden from God the living word he searches us out, he finds us, he knows what we are all about.

The Word is our contact with God

The word is our contact with Father God. And His contact with us John 16 7-10 states, he convicts us of sin of righteousness and judgment. It’s true his word that he speaks to us and all these three areas.

We are convicted by the word
The word conviction can come from no other source than the Word there’s a threefold conviction.
• 1st God convicts mankind our union with Satan of judgment because of the world. The prince of this world is judge, and the natural man is just in Satan is a child of Satan, John 8:44-45 and 1st John 3:10
• 2nd God convictions of righteousness, showing that, although we are children of the devil, righteousness is available, and belongs to us through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 3rd God convicts us a sin because we believe not on Him. There’s only one sin for the sinner that will be judge. That is the rejection of Jesus Christ. This is the unforgivable sin.

We are Recreated by the Word of God.

The Word of God in parts to us eternal life. We’re not for the Word we would not know that there was redemption or substitution or a new creation. It is a preaching of the word of God that brings life to people who are lost. It is preaching the word of God that brings miracles to people, indeed. It is a preaching of the word of God that breaks the bondages of hell.
• Of His own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. James 1:18
• For you have been born again, not by a seed that perishes but by one that cannot perish—by the living and everlasting word of God. I Peter 1:23
• Therefore, if anyone is in the Messiah, he is a new creation. Old things have disappeared, and—look! —all things have become new! All of this comes from God, who has reconciled us to himself through the Messiah and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, for through the Messiah,[l] God was reconciling the world to himself by not counting their sins against them. He has committed his message of reconciliation to us. 2 Cor. 5: 17-18

Our Minds are Renewed by the Word of God.

Many Christians struggle through life, trying out defined the will of God. This is very plain and Romans 12: 2 that we will know what the acceptable will of God is by studying His Word. The mind is renewed by studying the word of God, and acting upon it. One can study the word of God for years, and come up with all types of degrees, but they do not act upon it, and become not a doer of the word the mind is not renewed. As you think is how you will speak, and how you speak is how you live.
• I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship Do not be conformed to this world, but continuously be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God’s will is—what is proper, pleasing, and perfect. Rom. 12:1-2
• May grace and peace be yours in abundance through full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord! His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the full knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence. Through these he has given us his precious and wonderful promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, seeing that you have escaped the corruption that is in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:1-4
• Keep on being obedient to the word, and not merely being hearers who deceive themselves. James 1:22

We are Indwelt by the Word

What does it mean by letting the word of God well, enough richly? This is one of the most striking sentences in the epistle. The word dwelling in us produces prayer fruit it is a word bringing forth his home. Kind in the believer’s life. It is not only committing the words of memory, which is valuable, but letting the world become an integral part of our beings. It lives in us, Christ, and the word are one. It is a word dwelling in us, which is equivalent to Christ personally being in you. Letting the word of God have his right of way in your life is letting Christ have his right of way in your life. The word dominating you is equivalent to lordship of Christ in you.
The scriptures state that this has been done for us in Jesus. This is the legal side of Father God. It is done. It is not going to be done. It has been completed. Jesus is the foundation for every point of a journey with Him. We know what Father God has done on his side, the legal side but is another thing to experience it on our side. This is called experimental knowledge. Our spiritual history is concerned with the journey but we must not be stuck there. We cannot allow it to dominate our thinking. God has done all and through Jesus, and He has included us in Him; we are incorporated into Christ.

How does this come about? We confess what God says who and what we have in Jesus. Doing this makes room for His resurrection power to work in us and through us. As we stand fast in what the Word of God says it become experientially true in us. So, in our walk with Him our attention is fixed on Him on Him. Abiding is obedience.

Faith makes the objective facts (Legal Facts) on Father God’s side makes those facts true subjectively (Experientially) for us and is us and we walk in faith and not by our five senses.

• If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:7-8

• ..that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,.. Eph. 3:17

Harvest Evangelistic Association 2022 Year End Review

First, we like to thank each and every person that has partnered with us for reaching those without hope to have hope and a new life in Christ Jesus. It is because of your on-going support that we have been able to reach many people with Christian teachings, videos, face to face ministry, counseling, bible studies, using the messaging system, and emails preaching and teaching as the Lord opens doors. Every penny that is given to the ministry by our partners goes to help promote the Kingdom of God. We do not receive any personal salary.

Our Mailing List
We have a mailing list of approximately 600 people both national and internationally. This year of 2022 we sent out videos both in English and Spanish biweekly to each one on these lists. That comes to 1200 videos per month. This means in the year of 2022 we sent out 14,400 videos to the people who are on our mailing list by using messenger or email accounts. Our use of technology by either the computer or our phones are a tremendous instrument to further the gospel.

YouTube Teachings
Please remember that since May of this year, we had to start a new channel. We have produced 100 teachings on our YouTube channel both English and Spanish. This involved an approximate total of 600 hours of prayer, research and development in making the videos. We have 104 people who have subscribed to this new channel. We have had this year a total of 2,732 views of the videos that we have developed. And on the website that we have had 4,116 views of the website.

Christian Counseling
We have conducted with 542 people either personal emails, messaging, letters sent and or group Christian teaching and counseling sessions in churches or conferences either face-to-face or conducted by Zoom in the United States and abroad which resulted in approximately 300 hours of intervention. We had a total of 44 people who gave their hearts to Jesus and 60 people who rededicated their lives to Jesus Christ.

Prison Ministry
Our outreach in the State Prisons of Lancaster California teaching and preaching. We have approximately 100 inmates attending our services in Lancaster State Prison both in English and Spanish each Sunday. This is a total of 4,400 visits by men in the Sunday service this year. Many of these men have either known the Lord and others with us have rededicated their lives to Christ. And 37 men so far have accepted Jesus as their personal savior for the first time. Out of these 100 men 40 have begun to take classes in our Bible Institute. We have given out a total of 8500 books, tracts, teachings, etc.
And we have a total of 60 people who are currently enrolled in the bible institute both in the prison and others who are taking these classes. We have given each student bible study material covering the New Testament and different themes such as Salvation, Divine Healing, Baptism in the Holy Spirit, How to Evangelize, and the Doctrines of God, How to Pray, etc.

Miles Driven in the Service of the Gospel.
We have traveled over 30,000 miles delivering services and material to different people and ministries teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Contributions Given
We have given to families, individuals, and ministries $8,707.00 to help them financially.
With your generous support we have provided approx. over 10,000 teachings in a printed format in both English, Spanish, and Taiwanese as we have ministered to different people and ministries. This material is made up of Bibles, Bible studies, books, booklets, and tracts.

Partners who Contribute
And we have 15 families, individuals, and ministries who are supporting the ministry on a regular basis that help make all of the above ministries possible. I just want to let everyone know that there have been four inmates that have also sent donations for the ministry. And we want to thank each and every one of you! To those who have donated to the ministry we will be sending out to you a breakdown of the costs for each category. Also, we will be sending to you your report of your contributions for your tax deduction purposes.
Our Total Donations came to $24,535.00. Our total cost for the ministry was $24,307. We are debt free with a balance of $228.00

Once again thank you for your continued prayers and financial; support helping us reaching those who have no hope!
Claudia and Dr. Timothy Emerick
Harvest Evangelistic Association.com
HarvestEvangelisticAssociation@aol.com
818-624-1038

Harvest Evangelistic Association
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Why Two?
Introduction
This will be a teaching that will bring many of our preconceived ideas regarding the Old Testament and its relationship to the New Testament into question. I ask you to keep an open mind as I walk through with you the meaning, and the purpose of this theme. I want to ask you if the Old Testament was sufficient why did Father God need to create the New Testament?

Many people want to continue to live in the Old Testament. Don’t get me wrong I know that the Old Testament is the word of God, but its purpose was presented for many different reasons. In the Old Testament, there was a priesthood, a place of worship and rules of worship. in the Old Testament, there were no born-again Christians. In the Old Testament, God did not dwell within his people. In the Old Testament, there are no new creations as it states in the New Testament. It was a partial truth of the earthly life and mission of the Messiah Christ Jesus. Remember that scripture is progressive in nature up to the coming of Jesus and His redemptive work on calvary.
We must understand that the old man ends with the cross and the new man begins with the resurrection of Christ. It says in the scripture “if any man is in Christ he is a new creature old things are passed away and behold they are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. The cross terminates the first creation and out of death there’s brought a new creation in Christ the born-again person. I truly believe we don’t understand the new creation. In the Old Testament you will never find anyone born again. In the Old Testament you’ll never find anyone where God dwells within them. In the Old Testament man had to go to the temple to communicate with God. In the New Testament God is within us. We are His temple. We communicate with Him through our spirit.

If we are in Christ then Christ comes to us by free grace without any effort on our part but is built on the solid ground a simple faith. How does this become real in our experience. This is the essence of this teaching. Recognizing who we are in Christ. Understanding that our old man is dead and we are new in Christ. Abiding in Him is realizing that God has done the work in Christ and not in us. And the all-inclusive death of Adam there is the all-inclusive resurrection in Christ.
Many people want to live in the Old Testament. The Old Testament was a tutor pointing Israel to the coming Messiah. God‘s laws were written on stone in the Old Testament and the New Testament his laws are written upon our heart. The New Testament does what the Old Testament could not do. The Old Testament showed men their sins but there was no power to overcome them because Christ had not died and resurrected yet.

Why don’t we see the teachings and the themes presented in the epistles in the Old Testament or the gospels? The reason is once again that the epistles were written to the new creation church. There are no new creations,’ born-again people in the Old Testament. There were no born-again people presented in the gospels. In fact, we found that even those who closely followed Jesus did not understand His purpose. They did not understand his plan of redemption, nor the reason why he had to be crucified. It was not until the end of gospel of Matthew that Peter had the revelation from the Holy Spirit When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, but who say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. Matt. 16:13-20. So, when was this complete. It was not until the completed work of Jesus on Calvary with His death, descension into hell, His resurrection and glorification. Now He is seated at the right hand of Father God and scripture stated we are seated with Him. And all power is given us to us as His church. We are the eyes, mouth, hands, and feet on our Lord Jesus on earth.

Father God revealing His Son, Christ Jesus in the Gospels!
We can see even in the gospels we see God the Father pointing to Jesus.
In Matt. 17:1-7, “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses (The Law), and one for Elijah (The Prophets). “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”

Also, our Lord said that in the hearing of the scripture that he quoted was completed. In Luke 4:21, “He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus stated do not think I have come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law. What do you mean fulfill the law? Fulfillment of the law was to complete what it could not do. The Law only showed man his sinfulness but did not give him the power to overcome sin and its dominion. In His death and resurrection not only did Jesus pay the ultimate price of his death but He created a new race that never existed on the face of the earth before these are called Born Again Christians. The New Testament church should live in the epistles. You do not see in the gospels the biblical truths as stated in the epistles. The Gospels narrate the life and history of Jesus but not of the resurrected church. That is clearly expressed in the Epistles. This is why the epistles were written. It was and is written to the Resurrected Church. To those who are born again! In 1 Cor. 15:45, “And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam (Jesus) became a life-giving spirit. His words are spirit and life. Romans 8:29. Jesus is the first begotten of many brethren.

Father God speaks through His Son Jesus Christ
God, who at various times and in various ways (many different glimpses of the truth) spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets in the words of the prophets) , has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Heb. 1:1-4.

The Old Testament vs. the New Testament
For this reason, Christ ·brings a new agreement from God to his people [L is the mediator of a new covenant/contract]. Those who are called by God can now receive the eternal ·blessings [inheritance] he has promised. They can have those things because Christ died to ·set them free [redeem them] from the ·sins [transgressions; violations] committed under the first agreement [covenant; contract]. Heb. 9:15
God called this a new ·agreement [covenant; contract], so he has made ·the first agreement [the first one] ·old [obsolete; outdated]. And anything that is ·old [obsolete; outdated] and worn out is ready to disappear. Heb. 8:13

Then He (Jesus) said, “Here I am, O God, to do your will.” So, God does away with all the old sacrifices and puts the sacrifice of Christ in their place. Heb. 10:9
[ For] Christ did not go into ·the Most Holy Place [a sanctuary; holy things] made by ·humans [ hands], which is only a copy [model; or prefiguration] of the real one. He went into heaven itself and is there [appears] now ·before [in the presence of] God to help us [for us; on our behalf]. The high priest enters the ·Most Holy Place [sanctuary; holy things;  Holy of Holies] once every year with blood that is not his own. But Christ did not offer himself many times. Then [Otherwise; In such a case,] he would have had to suffer many times ·since the world was made [from the foundation/creation of the world]. But Christ came [appeared] ·only once and for all time [once for all; 7:27; 9:12, 26; 10:10] at the end [culmination; climax] of the present age [time; the ages] to ·take away all [nullify; abolish] sin by sacrificing Himself. Heb. 9:24-26.

Once Dead-Now Alive!
This is a very important time to understand that the people in the Old Testament were spiritually dead. There was no one born again. This is a New Testament action because Christ redemptive work on Calvary was not performed yet.

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Eph. 2:1-6

To you, who were spiritually dead all the time that you drifted along on the stream of this world’s ideas of living, and obeyed its unseen ruler (who is still operating in those who do not respond to the truth of God), to you Christ has given life! We all lived like that in the past, and followed the impulses and imaginations of our evil nature, being in fact under the wrath of God by nature, like everyone else. But even though we were dead in our sins God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, gave us life together with Christ—it is, remember, by grace and not by achievement that you are saved—and has lifted us right out of the old life to take our place with him in Christ in the Heavens. Thus, he shows for all time the tremendous generosity of the grace and kindness he has expressed towards us in Christ Jesus. It was nothing you could or did achieve—it was God’s gift to you. No one can pride himself upon earning the love of God. The fact is that what we are we owe to the hand of God upon us. We are born afresh in Christ, and born to do those good deeds which God planned for us to do. Phillips NT

And you [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins. In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God]. Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God’s] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind. But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved ([a]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Amplified Version.

Benefits of the New Testament

Seated with Christ
“And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Eph. 2:6-9. The word SIT reveals his secrets of having a heavenly life. We can associate the word Sit means to Rest. What is the place of rest? What is a place of rest? To some it might be partying. To some it might be going to Vegas. To others it might be going a long trip. What does God mean by a place of rest? God wants us to have an abundant life without the chains that bind us. God rests is not struggling with the pressures of life that comes to all of us. Gods rest is long life in Him. God’s rest is healing, deliverance, lack or worry, peaceful and happy marriages. To be friends and enjoys each other’s company. Our rest is built on Jesus and His Word. Not just hearers but doers.

Christianity is not begin with walking it begins with sitting. It states in Hebrews 1.3 that Jesus Christ who made purification of our sins SAT down at the right hand of the Father. Equally understanding that our individual Christian life hidden in Christ is by faith and we also are seated together with Him in the heavens. Christianity does not begin with a big DO but with a big DONE. The Christian life from start to finish is based upon the principle of utter dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ and His work at Calvary.

In other words, our life, our load, our future, our everything depends on the Lord not ourselves. Our Christian life totally depends on the finished work of Christ. Our Christian life starts when we understand what Father God provided for us in Christ Jesus.

Free From the Law!
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Gal. 3:10-14.
• What was the curse? Poverty, sickness, and spiritual death. Deut. 28:15-45.
• Why do some people still not walk in victory? Disobedience and lack of faith.
Who We Are in Jesus
• In Him we live, move, and have our being. Acts 17:28.
• We are His workmanship created in Christ. Eph. 2:10.
• He became sin for us, who knew no sin that we become the righteousness of God IN HIM. 2 Cor. 5:21.
• Therefore, there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. James. 5:16.
• But we are in Christ Jesus made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption. I Cor. 1:30.
• In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Eph. 1:7.
• Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear son. In whom we have redemption through His blood even the
forgiveness of sins. Col. 1:13-14.

Hold Fast!
We must learn to speak success and not failure. We must understand that when we “keep our tongue for the negative confession we keep our life from problems affecting us.” Proverbs 21.23. When we don’t speak of positive confessions “we are snared taken captive by the words of her own mouth.” Proverbs 6.2. It says it that we are either justified or condemned by what we speak. Matthews 12:37. Remember that which is not of faith is sin. Rom. 14:23
Why does scripture tell us to hold fast? True belief or doubts is shown by the way in which one thinks, speaks and lives. To swerve from this would be to wander off the path to the right or the left into some error or contradiction. It is because we have an enemy Satan who will fight you every step of the way. That is his job and he is very good at it.
When Things Get Hard Speak unto that Mountain!
Problems come to all of us but unless your house is built on solid foundation it will not survive. We are called overcomers by the word of our testimony. Our words and lives must consistently declare the word of God.
• We need to declare that we are a new creation 2 Corinthians 5:17

• We need to declare that we are the righteousness of God 2 Corinthians 5:21

• We need to declare that we have been set free from the bondages of hell. Colossians 1:12–14

• We need to declare that we are not inferior or failure or frustrated. 2 Timothy 1:7

• We need declare that we redeemed from the curse of the law and we are not bound by sin sickness or spiritual death. Gal. 3: 10-14

• We need to declare that we are prosperous and have good success. Joshua 1:8.

• And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because
of[a] his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:11

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Believe, Speak and Act!

Introduction.

Faith is an action. Faith is Now! Faith says, I receive the answer right now. I know I have it is not hope that they get the job done it is believing that it’s done. People have said to me I believe that someday I will have my healing, that’s not faith it’s hope because it is looking to something indefinite, the future time. Faith says I have received my healing now in a modern translation of the New Testament says in Hebrews 11:1 “faith is giving substance to things hope for.” Faith is now Hope is the future. If you need healing, you don’t want it in the future you want right now especially if you’re in pain. If you’re seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit you want to receive Him now not sometime in the future. If you need salvation you cannot put it off to the future that might be too late you need it now.

Believe, Speak, Act

This is an example of a women who suffered many years with her illness. Her faith made her whole. Not the faith of Jesus or the apostles. It was her faith that made her believe in the message of Jesus. Speak the word of faith and then she acted on what she said.

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’”
But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Mark 5:25-34 (KJV)

Word of God
The Lord God confirms His word with signs and wonders.

As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Matthew 10: 7-8 (KJV)

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27 (KJV).

Obstacles to Growing in Faith.

We are to walk by faith not by our five senses. Our carnal mind (five senses) will always resist God. Satan uses our five senses to confuse and deceive us from following and holding on to God’s word.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh (controlled by our five senses), but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded (controlled by our five senses) is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. Rom. 8:5-7 (KJV)
Listen to teachings on the Battle of the Mind, Think on Purpose, Words Have Power.

Work to Rest!

The work comes from us resting in the word of God. The enemy will hit you time and again to frustrate and confuse you regarding the written Word spoken by God.

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. Hebrews 4:11 (KJV)
• How do we Work to enter into Rest (peace of God)? By believing and resting in His Word. Rejecting all that is false. Renew our speech, Walk according to the Law of Love & Obedience. Rom. 12:1-2. (KJV)

How you THINK, will determine how you will SPEAK. And how you speak will determine how you will LIVE.

Battle of the Mind
Introduction
Many people don’t understand that there’s a constant battle to occupy your mind. God is giving us a tremendous gift of choosing of whom we will hear and obey. As God speaks to his people to accomplish great things the enemy speaks to his people to kill, steal and destroy. Satan also speaks to the children of God to confuse them and twist the truth that they have learned. Let us look at what the word of God says and how to win the battle of the mind.

Renew Your Mind
This is a constant on-going battle to keep your mind on God.

Rom. 12: 1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2 Cor. 10: 3-6
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Fight the Good Fight of Faith
You must use the Word of God to speak again the evil one.

I John 4: 4
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
I Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Use the Word of God
The Word of God is your weapon to stand strong against the enemy.

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
James 4:7-9
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (The devil will run from us in terror). You resist with the confession of your mouth!
I Peter 5:8-9
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Who resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Remember how you THINK, is how you will Speak. And how you speak is how you will LIVE!

The Cross Kills!
Rom. 6:7
For when we died with Christ, we were set free from the power of sin.

Talk about positional and progressive sanctification. Romans 6:7 speaks about positional sanctification being free from sin and made right with God. And progressive sanctification talks about striving to live a holy life.

I have a book in my library that I have been reading by F.J. Huegel called “Bone of His Bone”. He states the following…” The Cross Kills. The man who exposes himself to Calvary soon discovers that a hidden fire burns within his bones. The old “self-life,” so resentful, so fussy, so greedy, and so touchy, so haughty and so vain, so blind to all save its own particular lust, so ready to sacrifice the good of the many if only its own glory may be secured — the old “self-life” can no longer resist the impact of Calvary”.

As you know several years ago, I went through a very difficult surgery to correct a blockage of a much-enlarged prostate. I did not know that the poison I had running through my body was killing me little by little and my body was shutting down. I was asking the Lord why this is taking place at this time in my life when I have so much to do. I feel that He stated the following. I was not taking care of myself in regard to my annual medical check-ups so I was not aware of the problem until it was too late. Reflecting upon this I think that this is how sin works in our life when we don’t stay close to the Lord. We overlook many things that can ultimately be deadly to us. We allow those favorite sins to creep into our lives little by little until it has a strangled hold on us and can’t get away.

What are those things in your life that we find it hard to surrender to the Cross? It is lying, cheating, gambling, stealing, and taking advantage of others, lust, speaking badly about others, or criticizing? To us they may look somewhat innocent but in the long run they are our death. Sin has power. When we let it in little by little it is killing us, and we aren’t even aware of its strangled hold on us. But the GOOD NEWS is that Christ has broken the power of sin over us if we let Him. But we must be sick of our sin and turn our back on it understand that God has set us free!

What is killing you little by little?