And You Are In Him

Colossians 2:8 – 10 Amplified Bible

⁸ See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men's ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).

⁹ For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].

¹⁰ And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

Since we became Christians, we have trended in thought that we cannot be easily deceived by unscrupulous people or even the world’s system, or maybe that is just my issue. After all, I have “the Mind of Christ” I think, “and He guides me”. Lately, God has been showing me that I have deceived myself by spending most of my time, thought time, on worldly things. And since the “world” is run by our notorious adversary, the “father of lies”, how can I not be caught up in some of his deceptive practices. 

All our lives, from birth to the present, have been spent living in and being educated by the worldly systems, and our five senses have taught us to trust them rather than trust God. In turn, our spirits were receptive to the things of the world, and fully complied with the teachings of “sin nature”. We in turn relegate those things we see, hear, taste, feel, and smell as the only truth, such as, “I have to see it before I can believe it”. Or, “I heard someone say”, and the list goes on. We accept those things as truth, because we live in a physical environment. Sadly enough, even with God in us, we allow this world to rule over us, therefore living our lives thinking that it is on track (actually according to worldly standards), when it is a life of defeat. By defeat I mean, living outside of our true purpose, a tree planted in a garden of fertile soil and producing little or no eternal fruit. 

What I have briefly described (could be expanded into an entire book) is living from the soul (mind, will, emotions). While the spirit has been reborn, the soul has not been transformed into the “renewed” mind as indicated by Paul: Romans 12:2“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”.

But being born again, becoming a new creation, we have the power to resist those worldly things, and go in a new direction, towards a meaningful and eternal life with God the Father, through the door of the cross of Jesus the Christ. The door is open to everyone who will listen and follow Jesus… then comes the renewing of the mind…. transforming of the mind by reading and studying the Word of God.

Proverbs 4:20-24 (Expanded Bible)

 

²⁰ My ·child [^Lson], pay attention to my words;
   listen closely to what I say [^Lbend your ear to my speech].²¹ Don’t ·ever forget my words [^Llet your eyes slip];
   keep them always in mind [^Lguard them in your heart].²² They are ·the key to life [^Llife] for those who find them;
    they bring health to the whole body. 
²³ Be careful what you think [^LAbove all that you guard, protect your heart],
    because ·your thoughts run your life [^Llife flows from it]. 
²⁴ Don’t use your mouth to tell lies [^LHave nothing to do with a perverse mouth];don’t ever say things that are not true [^Lkeep loose lips far from you].

The transformed mind, in this context, is studying, meditating on, and living the “Word of God”, and being filled with the “Holy Spirit”, so that His Wisdom, His guidance, His strength, His ability, is a vibrant, living, reliable attribute that governs one’s life. “Christ in you, the hope of Glory” Colossians 1:27

Interjection:

(With a birthday coming this month, I had been thinking about my life and entertaining thoughts of things I would or would not change, and also about my age. Then I heard a voice say “you know your spirit doesn’t age nor lose its power. Christ, the Holy Spirit in you has not aged! It is the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead”[Romans 8] It has been the instigator or power behind and in every miracle ever performed, from healing of the sick to raising Jesus from the dead to every miracle today. That same spirit, through Jesus created everything on and in the earth”. Indeed, something to think about when we approach life today.)

I actually marvel at myself that I am so hardened in my mind that I can see the benefit (not all benefits) of living in in Christ, yet a part of me does not want to “change”… spiritual laziness. I’d rather settle for the status quo of shameful victimhood, than stand as a conqueror, because I have believed the deceptive lies of the devil; “it’s too hard”, or “you can pray later”, or “what will people say if”, or “I’m too busy”. Get the picture?  Yet whenever I listen to the Holy Spirit and follow His direction or exercise His wisdom, good things happens to others first, then to me. As a result, I act surprised when God says, “well didn’t you ask me for that?” So, at times, when the answer does come, I marvel at the how, and when it happens.

Therefore, I’m learning patience and trust. Maybe it’s trusting in Him, by faith believing Him and in Him, and being patient beyond my “worldly self”, to live up to that trust and faith. I trust Him to deliver whatever He wants to deliver, and He trusts me to act according to His word and direction. By His presence, He gives us all we need to withstand anything the adversary throws at us. His wisdom is more than enough to recognize the works of satan and defeat him. If it’s destructive, it comes from the devil; if it’s blessing, it comes from Father God. If it is anger or revenge, it’s from the devil; from God comes love and kindness. 

It is in Christ! And if we are in Christ, we (the spiritual we), have that same nature… same characteristics as the Christ…. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power]. Col 2:10

Revelation 1:8, 18 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,”[c] says the Lord,[d] “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”….    (18) “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

My prayer today, for all believers is that we come to the full and complete understanding of who we are in Christ; that we are not so involved in the world that we are concerned mostly with temporal things and lose sight of eternal things.  God’s commandments say; “to love Him with all our hearts and minds (our being) and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We all fail at these commandments, and hopefully recognize it and repent, because we have a Savior that has said in 1 John 5:14-15:  “14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 

Who are you in Christ? Are you listening and adhering to the world’s reasoning instead of God’s Word?

Blinded By the Dust

During the 1930s, the “great plains” of the US endured a plague of dust storms that ravaged the entire region, especially Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.  April 14, 1935 (known and Black Sunday) became an infamous day because of the great dust storm that blew through the area. Read below:

“The wall of blowing sand and dust first blasted into the eastern Oklahoma panhandle and far northwestern Oklahoma around 4 PM. It raced to the south and southeast across the main body of Oklahoma that evening, accompanied by heavy blowing dust, winds of 40 MPH or more, and rapidly falling temperatures. But the worst conditions were in the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles, where the rolling mass raced more toward the south-southwest - accompanied by a massive wall of blowing dust that resembled a land-based tsunami. Winds in the panhandle reached upwards of 60 MPH, and for at least a brief time, the blackness was so complete that one could not see their own hand in front of their face. It struck Beaver around 4 PM, Boise City around 5:15 PM, and Amarillo at 7:20 PM.”

The Dust Bowl got its name after Black Sunday, April 14, 1935. More and more dust storms had been blowing up in the years leading up to that day. In 1932, 14 dust storms were recorded on the Plains. In 1933, there were 38 storms. By 1934, it was estimated that 100 million acres of farmland had lost all or most of the topsoil to the winds. By April 1935, there had been weeks of dust storms, but the cloud that appeared on the horizon that Sunday was the worst. Winds were clocked at 60 mph. Then it hit.

"The impact is like a shovelful of fine sand flung against the face," Avis D. Carlson wrote in a New Republic article. "People caught in their own yards grope for the doorstep. Cars come to a standstill, for no light in the world can penetrate that swirling murk... We live with the dust, eat it, sleep with it, watch it strip us of possessions and the hope of possessions. It is becoming Real."

What does this have to do with anything today? In 2013, at least three dust storms passed through several towns in Arizona, and at least one so far in March of 2014. They were not of magnitude the one you just read about that on that fateful day in April 1935.

These storms are quite devastating to all living things that are in their paths. One person reported that it became so dark that a person couldn’t see his hand right in front of his eyes. Blinded by the airborne dust, one could hardly breathe. The only thing to do was to find shelter and wait until the storm passed.

Mankind is dealing with another kind of blindness today. A wave of spiritual blindness has swept across the entire world. Very few seem to know from where they came, and hardly any know where they are going. They think that this current world is all there is to life, blinded by lack of spiritual knowledge… knowing nothing of Jesus!!!

2 Corinthians 4:4 (New King James Bible)

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The Message Bible (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

^3-4 If our Message is obscure to anyone, it’s not because we’re holding back in any way. No, it’s because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won’t have to bother believing a Truth they can’t see. They’re stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we’ll ever get.

Our ancient adversary (the God of this world) is stirring up dust storms of lies, deceit, and “corruption” that are moving around the world. Man has become drunk with power and control, instead of serving the people they are seeking to control the riches of the nations, all under the guise of making everyone equal, socially and legally. They disrupt the nation by bringing false allegations against one group, so that another group (race or ethnic, healthcare, economic) will be dissatisfied. Lawlessness is in the government leadership (where laws and regulations are created and administered). People are taking sides and unrest is prevalent across the nation and around the world. While some seek power and control, the majority are left in confusion and strife. What better way to control a people than to divide and conquer, reducing or destroying any opportunity for unity of common good among the people. Turmoil is everywhere, yet people refuse to turn to God their creator. Even some Christians are being drawn into the confusion. They, we (I include myself), get caught up in worldly things, when it is so obvious that it is the work of the ancient adversary of God. We wind up filling our minds with thoughts that are not of God, as we lend our minds to the opposite of the mind of Christ. Blinded by the dust of illusions of creating our own destinies… easy prey for the devil, who comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

“There are some Christians that I think, sometimes they have been sprinkled with fear, rolled in doubt, stuffed with unbelief, and insulated to the WORD OF GOD. They will believe everything but the Word of God. Some will swallow the enemy’s biggest lie, but won’t believe God’s simplest truth…” Capps, Charles (2012-03-13). The Tongue, A Creative Force   

Proverbs 4

²⁰ My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings.²¹ Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart.

²² For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.

²³ Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

²⁴ Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you.

Are you going to seek shelter under the wings of God Almighty, or fall prey to the adversary?

Freedom From Pharaohs

Freedom from Pharaohs

I heard this phrase from a preacher recently: “Pharaoh’s bondage”, and was inspired to do some research into the Israelites bondage as slaves to the Egyptians for at least 400 years. This is according to Biblical history, and can be explored in the book of Exodus. Research on the Pharaohs of Egypt uncovers their history and the way they lived. They were powerful and lived as kings and queens. They were intelligent and kept mighty armies, who pillaged surrounding peoples and brought them into slavery.

The Israelites: God heard their cries and decided to set them free:

The Character and Purpose of God

 Exodus 6:1-5 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.”  God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.  I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they lived as aliens.  Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.

Through Jesus, God has established a covenant with all believers. Have you been crying out to be delivered or set free from worldly situations? You don’t have to imagine how powerful the bondage of sin is in your life, or in the lives of others. You see it every day, and you know that those who are held by worldly things are suffering just like you suffered. You know the powerful strongholds that were in your life, and maybe you are still struggling with one of Pharaoh’s armies, who bombards you daily with a barrage of negative thoughts, or enslaves you to unhealthy or destructive habits. Maybe they are thoughts of guilt that have kept you hidden in shame; or could it be unforgiveness, or anger that has kept you in chronic illness for years. No matter what category you put them in, they still belong to the “Pharaohs of Egypt”, satan’s minions, spirits of evil and wrong doing.

The time had come for Israel to be delivered from slavery. God appeared to Moses and reassured him of His character and purpose for Israel. God’s mighty hand would bring His people out from the bondage in Egypt! The people of Israel, and Moses learned a whole new aspect of God’s character. God said to Moses ‘I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.’

Just like God appeared to Moses, He also appeared in bodily form in the person of Jesus the Christ. His miraculous birth has been told throughout the ages, and celebrated each year by those who believe that He is the Son of God. His appearance, death and resurrection, marks the end of sin’s dominion over mankind. Man, through Jesus, has been given the opportunity to again take His place as God’s ruler on the earth. Two thousand years ago Jesus said, and still says today, “all things are possible to him that believes”, even being born again of incorruptible seed, the Spirit of the Living God, is available to him who believes.

Has God spoken to you lately? Maybe He spoke to you in church or through a friend, or on your commute. What did he say? How did you respond? God says to you today, “I am the Lord, and I have come to you through Jesus to set you free from bondage, for eternity.” Jesus says, “my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” “Come, follow me.”

The delivering God said: Exodus 6:6-8 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.’” 

God said to them in promises:

Here they are –“I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians; I will free you from being slaves; I will redeem you;

I will take you as my own people; I will be your God; I will bring you into the land; I will give it to you as a possession.”

These promises are for us today as well. Through Jesus, we have been set free from the yoke of sin… slaves no more! Redemption is ours for the asking; we are His people and He is our God. By His Spirit we can live in the Kingdom of God if we choose to possess it. Praise God, no more Pharaohs to deal with forever and ever!!!

God’s character towards His people hasn’t changed. The seven promises are true for us also who have been saved from the penalty of sin, and God desires them to be true of us in regards to the power of sin. The Lord delivers us from the power of Egypt (the world) so that we may come into the Promised Land, the Kingdom of God, (all that He is for us). But, we do face an obstacle, and that is our own personal “Pharaohs of bondage”, who wants to keep us in slavery.

In the person and character of Pharaoh we see the attitude of Satan that is manifested towards the Israelites wanting to leave Egypt. Pharaoh’s attitude and stubbornness is very obvious. In the first meeting between Moses and Pharaoh.

Exodus 5:1-2 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert.’” Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go.”

From that point on, until the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, God performed miracle after miracle, bringing down plagues and destruction on Pharaoh’s Egypt until he was forced to set them free. The last miracle God performed during the Exodus from Egypt was the parting of the sea. Nothing of such magnitude had happened before to the nation of Israel.

He is the same God today as He was during the Exodus. He hasn’t lost any power over any circumstance, nor any authority over His ancient enemy, satan. He can and will deliver anyone who calls on Him. He is ready and willing to perform a miracle in your life, to set you free from any and all bondage. Nothing is impossible with God.

God Himself wanted to and did act in mighty ways to set His people free. He performed astounding miracles in order to establish the Israelites as His people. He has done the most astounding miracle of all through Jesus Christ. He sent His Son to die and to be resurrected for mankind, so the we all could be set free from the bondage of sin. Pharaoh, and all the Pharaohs combined have no more authority over you.

By choosing Jesus, you choose authority and power over Pharaoh’s power. He cannot hurt you anymore. The chains that held you have been broken, and now you are free! You have the power to resist and overcome anything the world may throw at you. Jesus has done it all. Jesus made it clear when he said this: Luke 10:19

“19 Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.”

Paul adds his understanding of what Jesus has done for us in Romans 8: 31 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?](G)

32 He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?

33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?]

34 Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us?

God in His great love for man sacrificed His own son so that His crown of His creation (man), could be again considered “son”, with all the privilege, power and authority that His Son Jesus has. Father God loves us, born again believers, just like He loves Jesus. There is nothing else! Nothing can compare! It is far above anything any man can imagine. God’s own doing, He did for us!!!

I hope that you take some time during this Christmas season to reflect on the true story of Christmas. From the birth of Christ Jesus to the “new birth” he brought to all mankind; the reconciliation of man to God. It is the greatest gift ever given. The only cost is the act of choosing God over Pharaoh; good over evil; freedom over bondage; peace over turmoil; eternal life over death. The cost is little, but the reward is greater than you can imagine.

Praise God!

I pray that you will seek God with your whole heart this Christmas season, and that Jesus himself will appear to you in the act of love and compassion. Father God, may all who read this note, find revelation of you, more and more and more, until love itself seeps out of every pore of their body; in every word spoken; in every act performed, and through the spiritual eyes of Christ Jesus. Rain down on all believers the power of the Holy Spirit until we are continuously filled every day; able to perform your purposes for our lives. Empower us with supernatural abilities to perform miracles for those who are in need. Prepare our hearts to share the love of Jesus whenever and wherever You choose. Through your great love, you set us free from Pharaoh, and we choose that freedom. Father we choose to follow you; we choose to be your representatives on this earth. We love you, and place these petitions before you with confidence and assurance that you have heard them, and they have already been answered.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen

Your Choice, Your Will

Recently I read this statement: “Don't you see that all your misery comes from the strange belief that you are powerless? Helplessness is the condition of sin. No one actually believes that the Son of God is powerless, and those who see themselves as helpless must believe that they are not sons of God”. (A Course in Miracles)

Almost immediately, my thoughts went to my position in this world we live in; the “world” system. Questions like, “How can I compete with the Government, or major corporations, or the many, many powerful and rich people in our society? The world is run by powerful entities and most of them deny God. What can I do to combat their power? Who am I to think that I can take them on and win? The questions began to come at a quickening pace, and I had to take control immediately.

Have you ever been in the frame of mind where you were thinking about your place in the world? Some of us have health issues, family issues, economic and finance issues, and many other pressing things that seem to crowd in on us until we feel powerless or helpless. One little thought can trigger a whole stream of negative emotions that come streaming in. If you are human, you have those thoughts and emotions. Just think, you seem to always choose between your weakness and the Christ in you, and what you choose is what you think is real. (A Course in Miracles). A history of “living in the world” begets our being, and we exist, day to day, in a world foreign to His Kingdom. From birth, a sin-ruled nature governed our lives; we were helpless to that nature. We had no choice but to be true to that nature. Many times we wondered what was wrong. Why could we not stop? Why could we not get rid of those things that kept us bound? Yes, those feelings or emotions left us helpless to the call of that sinful nature. The more helpless we felt, the more we indulged, and the more bound to it we became. You can even go so far as to say, some of us chose powerlessness and helplessness, simply because it was the most familiar place to be, and what was familiar became a habit; and that habit then became a way of life.

Almost as soon as I thought about being powerless and helpless, a little voice said very quietly, “you are not helpless, you are not powerless; actually you have the power to shut God out of your life”. As I mused on that revelation, God said ‘it is your will that has the power. Just by your will alone, you can deny my existence and keep me from working in your life. You may acknowledge MY existence, and be born again, but still not renew your mind with the Word, and hinder the Holy Spirit from working in your life, all by your will.”

The next day the scripture verse below dropped into my heart and mind:

Acts - 17:28 "for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some

           of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’

In one enlightened moment, (because God choose you from the foundation of the world), you acted on the call of your spirit to be set free. You accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior. You made the choice! Your will was in play, and you chose to lose the prodigal nature, and put on God’s divine nature. God called and you answered. He chose and you accepted. You were born again! No longer are you a slave to sin. The sin-ruled nature has been destroyed, and the nature of love has overtaken your being. You now are in Him and have your being (share His being). No more does sin have power over you. Before that moment, sin had dominion over you. Now the tables are turned! You have dominion over sin; satan has no more power over you. Sickness and disease has no more power over you than it has over Jesus. You are a new “man” in Christ Jesus! Incorruptible and destined to victory after victory, you walk in the blessings of God that belong to you. You laugh in the face of weakness and fear. You tell them to leave and they flee in terror! Satan and all his cohorts are under your feet.

Now you understand what Paul meant when he said “what can man do unto me”. Now you understand what he meant when he said: Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you”. It is the same Spirit that was there at the world’s foundation, hovering over the earth. That same spirit that has been the force behind every miracle ever experienced by mankind throughout history. He has been the healer of every disease that has blighted the human race, and get this, He remembers every one of them. He brings all that to you, for you to accept and use, to fulfill the great commission.

Now, are you powerless or powerful?  Are you helpless are a victor who triumphs in Christ. “Choose, once again if you would take your place among the saviors of the world, or would you remain in hell, and hold your brothers there”. (A Course in Miracles)

Just think, in the old nature you chose weakness, because you thought it was the only reality, that is, until you chose Jesus. Now you know the Christ in you is real. There may be times when parts of your un-renewed mind (the flesh) want to go back to the false safety of the sin-ruled nature, but the Holy Spirit reminds you that it has all been wiped away forever. Even if you could go back to that old nature, it is now an uncomfortable existence. It would only be in your imagination, a ghost of a memory. You have tasted the freedom of being in Christ. You have experienced His unconditional love. You have witnessed miracles by His hand. You have overcome your most powerful enemy and now he is under your feet, not for a few minutes but for eternity.

Go ahead and live your life in victory. God has laid it out. It is already done. That most powerful part of your being that God gave you as a human being is in play. It has held God at a distance long enough. Now is the time to embrace his divine nature. Use the will to open the door to His ability, His power, His wisdom, and His knowledge. “… For it is God who is at work in you, to will and to work His good pleasure”. Philippians 2:13.  Unleash the power of the “new born spirit”, that new creation, who is a million times bigger than anything your human imagination can invent. The time has come to lay down the past. It is but an illusion that keeps you in bondage to the old nature; That keeps you under the power of a darkened self, with no hope, and no contact with God.  God’s nature, God’s power, God’s victory in you. Your Choice, Your Will.

All Have Sinned… Have Been Set Free

We all struggle with the human condition: thoughts, physical maladies, work problems, economic problems, and those secrets from our past, of which some haunt us, even daily. Some of us are stuck in the grieving process; some with chronic physical problems, and some with strongholds that we can't seem to shake.

There are times when we feel alone and helpless, even ashamed because we compare ourselves with others who don't seem to have "issues". Then what happens? We get depressed! Cycles are formed. Many times we have formed triggers that will initiate the onset of certain conditions, and the cycle starts over again. 

Even born again believers goes through these things. It is sad to discover and admit that we, along with other born again believers, get caught up in the "world's" ways of doing things. We seek worldly solutions, when if we truly grasped that the world is controlled by the one who has caused all our problems, we would begin to seek the truth about ways to overcome these conditions from another source. That source is the God of the Bible. While it is true that many seek out religion, and have found comfort to some degree, but not the absolute peace and joy in Jesus Christ. Most religions are designed by man.

When we truly understand that we have been "educated and trained" by a world system that is an enmity against God, we just might realize that victory over the devil is real; Jesus purchased it for us, and gave it to us. All of the human conditions outside of God; SIN, sickness and disease, wars, and etc. have all been placed under the feet of the believer; they have no power over the believer. All it takes is to believe. Believing from the depths of our being; heart, soul (mind, will, emotions), sub-conscious, bone marrow, cells, and DNA. It is not simple or easy, but God says it is possible, "all things are possible to Him that believes".

These conditions cannot be conquered without God and His saving Grace, and your acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Romans 3:22-24 (New Living Translation (NLT)

22) We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ, and this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

 23) For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24) Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Without God, man cannot help but sin; it is in his nature, inherent and almost uncontrollable. Born into sin, man has no choice but to follow that path.

With God, man has a choice. He does not have to sin. Sin nature has no more power over the person who has accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

 2 Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified Bible)

17) Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

 2 Corinthians 5: 21 (Amplified Bible)

21) For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [[a]endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].

 Are you a born again believer? Then think about this; while the devil had you in bondage, helpless to sin, he could not hold you there. You heard the gospel message, accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and behold, you were, and now are a new creature in Christ Jesus. With that one decision, God moved you from under the devil’s feet(authority), to being the Devil’s master(authority over) in Christ Jesus!

 If the Devil could not hold you while you were under his authority, what power does he have over you now? Absolutely NONE!