God-fidence

Disciplines of Spiritual Warfare: Knowing and Accepting Who YOU are IN Christ
Exerpts from "The Discipleship Series" by James and Martha Reapsome


Induction into God's army begins with a ceremony, you declare your allegiance to Jesus Christ and your willingness to serve him. You then begin a lifetime of spiritual training readying you for spiritual combat. Survival and growth depends upon your willingness to learn and to apply the basic disciplines of spiritual warfare:
Tactics and weaponry
Praise silences the enemy (Psalm 8:2; 22:3; 2 Chronicles 20; Hebrews 13:15)
Word of God (Luck 4:1-13; 4:4; 1 John 2:14, Ephesians 4:14, John 15:7)
Blood of Jesus (1 John 1:9, Revelation 12:13
Prayer (Acts 26; Acts 22)
Power of the Holy Spirit through the Gifts of the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10)
Discernment of Spirits (getting past the lies of the enemy)
Word of Knowledge
Word of Wisdom
Faith
Miracles (Mark 9:38-39)
Healing
Tongues, Interpretation, Prophecy, etc.
choosing your battles (recognizing spiritual battles), (Luke 4:1-13)
Lust of flesh
Lust of the eyes
Pride of life
Readying yourself for battle (Ephesians 4 & 5)
Knowing your enemy (Matthew 4),
Choosing weapons (Ephesians 6),
Confronting doubts and fears (Psalm 73),
Facing temptations (Genesis 39),
Overcoming struggles of this world (Galatians 5), and
Planning for the victory (James 4).


Having God's Word in your mind and in your heart builds the God-fidence required to present a strong and unified defense against the enemy attack.


Choosing Jesus means moving into the heat of the battle yet with God-fidence you are assured of the successful outcome: 1) you are not alone, and 2) Jesus Christ is stronger than your enemy. Therefore, the victory is already won!

Know Your Enemy

Matthew 4: The Temptation of Jesus
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'[a]" 5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'[b]"
7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'[c]" 8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'[d]" 11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Footnotes:
Matthew 4:4 Deut. 8:3
Matthew 4:6 Psalm 91:11,12
Matthew 4:7 Deut. 6:16
Matthew 4:10 Deut. 6:13
Pasted from <http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%204:1-11&version=31>

Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and his followers pretend to be servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11;14-15). Satan offers sugar-coated temptations, but we can see through and resist this enemy's clever strategy.

Why do you think you find defeat when you expect a victory because you are feeling spiritually strong and elated?
Pride can give you a false sense of security. When we come to know defeat we have not carefully prepared ourselves for the battle. We have open doors. We have to examine ourselves, ask the Holy Spirit to examine us to reveal open doors that we may have that is allowing the enemy the right to enter us.

Satan used Jesus' title as the Son of God (Matthew 3:17) as a way of attacking him through an open door, questioning his power and authority, trying to raise doubts and fears and apprehensions. This is representative of the fact that God's calling must be tested. The Spirit empowers us for our mission by leading us into a place that is dangerous and inhospitable (the wilderness) where we are tested (4:1, 3, 6). Restrained by God's favor, Jesus provides the perfect model for triumph during testing.

When God calls and empowers us to do something for him, we can expect to be tested commensurate with the seriousness of your call. Satan may not show up in person but you will be tested at a supernatural level and your hardships may seem unbearable apart form the grace of God.

Testing is good: it matures us that we know the depth of God's grace that sustains us. Truly triumphant and humble servants, boast not in success but in God's empowerment without which we cannot overcome. Jesus proceeded into the dessert only after the Father had empowered him in the Spirit.

Satan used three distinct attack tactics to tempt Jesus:
Hunger vs Authority: Jesus was not to demonstrate his power over nature to turn stones into bread. Jesus did not use his spiritual power as a formula for personal pleasure or gain. He acted from an intimate, obedient personal relationship with his Father. Humbled, Jesus knew that God provides bread in the wilderness and he accepted his Father's call in the wilderness and waited for his Father to act for him.

Authority vs Faith, Trust and Obedience; Satan wants Jesus to presume on his relationship with God, to act as if God were there to serve his Son rather than the reverse. This is also echoed later in the Bible of the Pharisee theology "if Jesus is God's Son, let God rescue him from the cross." When people become so arrogant as to think we have God figured out, we can easily miss God's true purposes and become Satan's mouthpieces. "Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?" (Lam 3:37)

Power vs Authority: abuse of his power and calling for selfish ends. God identifies Jesus as his Son and now the devil tries to redefine the nature of Jesus' sonship "(…) if you are the Son of God (…). Satan invites Jesus not to deny his sonship but to act according to worldly expectations for that role. This is a warning to all of us from God who has called not to let the world define the content of our call. We must acknowledge God's right not only to determine what to label our calling but also to define what that label means. We can begin our mission only once we have demonstrated that our commitment is to God who called us and that we will let him righter than human honor define the nature of our call.

Spiritual Battles

Carnal versus spiritual battles.
It is important to note that not everything that happens to us is a spiritual battle. We can mess up our own lives very well and often do while blaming it upon the enemy. We do this so that we don't have to take responsibility for something or be held accountable for our own deliberate acts or incompetence. Whether we have messed up our finances, relationships, defied the law and are punished with imprisonment, etc., it's easier to blame the enemy than to face what we have done. We make excuses so that we do not have to grow. The truth of the matter is that if we believe we walk in faith and experience a carnal or spiritual battle, we have an open door someplace and we need to ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit to repent and close the door. Anything not done in faith is sin - if you think you are without sin you lie!
○ Pride is deadly whether spiritual or carnal! It is important that YOU take ALL battles to the Lord whether spiritual or carnal - in fact you are suppose to (Psalm 139:23).
○ He can AND WILL turn any carnal battle into a spiritual victory! (Genesis 50:20.) You have to give it ALL to Him and ask him to search you to reveal the open doors to you (Psalm 139:23).
○ We are called to walk in love and to submit to the leaders that God has placed in authority including those within government and we are called to abide in the laws of the land KNOWING our confidence and love is with the Lord (Romans 13).

Recognizing healthy God-ordained relationships.
It takes work to maintain any healthy relationship. We monitor the health of our spiritual relationships in faith through fear and trembling. To build relationships we are constantly getting to know one another, the same is true of God. Although God does not change, as we grow in relationship with Him, we change and as we do, our relationship deepens with Him as He constantly reveals more of Himself and His character to us-we learn to trust Him in the little things just as He learns to trust us in the small things. As this trust grows, we are willing to trust Him in greater areas of our life and He is also able to trust us with larger tasks. Therefore, we must be constantly in prayer and in the Word asking Him to guide us and to reveal himself to us, and to conform and to transform us into His perfect will for His greater glory. The amouont of glory we give to God during this process mirrors our amount of trust through humility and thus the extent of our own surrender to His plan. We cannot fool God, he sees our heart - our deepest intentions.

Discernment.
Remember that the truth is completely portable and complete in and of itself. It does not need the understanding of this world or of men to be whole, complete, accurate, or true.
○ If what you are hearing cannot be preached in any pulpit anywhere in the world independent of culture and tradition, it is NOT biblical truth - it is a distortion of the truth blended with the understanding of this world, logic, or is laced with the understanding of men! God is not a respector of persons. His ways are NOT our ways!
○ If what you are hearing is not built upon the solid foundation of relationship through faith, it is a distortion of the truth! You must take ALL thoughts captive and DISCERN all spirits whether they appear to be from God or of God - the Pharisees were religious leaders and appeared to be the true men of God or God ordained. They lacked God-fidence by preaching tradition and culture, leaning upon their own knowledge and understanding rather than divine inspiration through relationship.
○ God-fidence is knowing the character of God better than you know yourself and TRUSTING that MORE than you can trust yourself AND others!
○ You discern by researching Biblical truths yourself. In prayer for guidance through the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the truth, look up the Biblical references offered and read what the Father is truly trying to say. Read the entire chapter or even the entire book of the bible to get the context the scripture is actually referring to. Cross reference words in the original Greek and Hebrew scriptures to find their true meaning. Do NOT lean upon your own or the understanding of others - you cannot build a relationship with anyone to whom you do not address personally and the same is true of God. Get the perspective of others, find how the Spirit moves in their lives; but ask for the Spirit of Truth to be revealed to you.

Spiritual battles.
A spiritual battle can be anything that displays or destroys anything that which is not consistent with the character and truth of the Father demonstrated through His son, Christ Jesus. It is IMPORTANT to know that NO ONE is immune from the attacks of the enemy! Jesus sustained many attacks from the enemy - he was not immune as the Son of God and neither are we! We need to be able to recognize not only attacks against ourselves, but also attacks against other believers, especially those in authority.
○ How do we recognize attacks from other believers? Because we are charged with the duty of exhortation and rebuking, often times believers are used by the enemy (and sometimes just knowingly because of spiritual pride, etc.) use the authority of exhortation and rebuking as reasons to accuse or to condemn. When other believers speak what they contend is prophecy, or accuse, or condemn, the enemy is using them to speak through. The open door lies with the accuser and condemner and is often spiritual pride.
○ When God speaks through others, he does so in love with the intent of His greater glory for His will to be done (not the will of the church or of our friends). His perspective is world-wide - universally true. His love is for everyone and reflects in true believers. If the decision is NOT for the good of the greater whole or will not give glory to the Lord, if it is inconsistent with His TRUE character (not the character often preached - look everything up!) it is not from God! Since we often cannot discern what God's plan truly is because we cannot fathom the depth, width, and breadth of His love, we have to take what is spoken to the Lord who will either confirm or deny. It is important that WE DO take ALL matters to the Lord, not our friends in body, but to the Father for guidance. He is the final and Most High authority and your relationship with Him is the MOST IMPORTANT, not relationship in the church or with other believers or even the authority structure within the church - but with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
○ This is not meant to discredit the church, church leadership, or other believers - remember that NO ONE is exempt from attacks of the enemy!

§ Not everyone who prophesizes is of God and not every "prophecy" is from God. This is why we need to take every thought captive and to weigh and discern ALL spirits - without respect from their source.
§ God will NEVER accuse or condemn. If someone is exhorting and it is not truth, that person is not acting under the authority from Christ or from the Father.

□ Exhortation and rebuking is done through love and in accordance with the character of the Father as displayed through His Son. If what you are hearing from an individual is not out of love, it is not from the Father.
□ If the person exhorts and rebukes and says that they love you, you must weigh their words with their actions and discern the truth. You must discern true believers by their fruits!
□ You know it's an accusation because they are speaking something that isn't true about you.
□ They are condemning if what they are speaking is not true or they fail to note that repentance is required for forgiveness.
□ People who are gossiping within a church, are NEVER of God and it doesn't matter what their position is within the church. There is nothing godly or holy about gossip!

In individual believers, assaults have the intent to destroy our faith and undermine our relationship with the Lord. They can harm you physically, emotionally, physiologically, mentally, and materially with the ultimate goal of destroying you or others spiritually. An attack on a believer can be masked, he is the great deceiver. The enemy can use you as a weapon to assault others as well. In this instance, you are both under attack.
○ Individual strongholds are reoccurring and consistent thoughts and beliefs that appear to be from God or holy, but lack a measure of consistency with biblical truths either in character, thought, faith, or deed. They are often passed from one generation to another and thus become what appears to be a 'generational curse.'

§ These are prevalent in individuals who have studied the Word without the guidance of the Holy Spirit but have rather leaned upon their own understanding, logic of the world, or the understanding of others.
§ Often times these people are avid church goers. They attend church regularly and are under the authority of church leadership.
§ These individuals can be in authority within a church! Often church leadership will preach tradition and culture rather than the truth - this creates strategic regional strongholds while impairing the entire body of Christ.
§ These individuals often appear to have a strong knowledge of the Word, but lack relationship in one or more area or facet. The enemy knows the word also and he knows the areas in which we do not have a strong relationship or faith (open door). Believing that we know the truth with our own mind rather than through our heart in total relationship and faith is an attack!

Geographic strongholds.
Strongholds: Regions, cities, public events, and common areas can fall under the attack of the enemy as well. This is evident when you enter a town, city, state, geographical region, etc., and notice that most individuals within the town practice the same unholy behaviors or share the same mindset concerning distorted biblical truths. Begin reading in Acts 17 verse 16 through to the end to find out how Paul recognized a regional idolatry and how it stirred in his spirit and what he did about it. Read also Acts 16 beginning in verse 6 if you think it always the will of the Father that you go into anywhere you like without the annointing and authority to do so!
○ The enemy has blocked the gift of Spirit in discernment over the area and this affects the hearts of the people.
○ These people can APPEAR to be walking with the Lord (and believe they are walking with the Lord) but are in fact practicing rituals, engaging in behaviors, or believing in truths that ARE NOT consistent with biblical principles but are in fact part of a culture or tradition - the ways of men (the world) rather than the true ways of the Father.

§ Remember the enemy knows and believes in God the Father as well as Christ Jesus and ALL the disciples both in the Bible and walking today. The enemy doesn't worship the Father or acknowledge, accept, or respect the authority of Christ or the Holy Spirit. The enemy however does know that believers do in fact worship the Father AND acknowledge the authority of Christ and the Holy Spirit.
§ The enemy knows the truth - knows the Word - and knows you very well, your weaknesses and desperations.
§ The enemy has no need to exalt God and wants nothing eternal from Him including salvation. The enemy has nothing to lose, hell was prepared for him and his angels as well as those who choose to follow the enemy. The enemy knows their destiny just as well as true believers know their destiny. AND the enemy knows the destiny of believers also and the enemy knows it is NOT with him.

○ This is truly a desperate situation because these individuals believe they are truly saved while they uphold the beliefs of men (tradition or culture) more avidly than the truths of the Father. This is idolatry and spiritual pride.
○ Twisting truth is the first tactic of the enemy because it is so easy to do. The enemy knows our weaknesses and knows that we breed our weaknesses into our offspring.
○ This stronghold is built up over time making it very difficult to both recognize by believers and thus to bring down.
○ It takes a specially trained spiritual warrior (God ordained and heavily anointed) to recognize the symptoms, signs, and distortion and then to pray accordingly the will of the Father - not our own will!
○ The Father reveals that there are false and foolish shepherds and how we can recognize them: "For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hoofs" (Zechariah 11:15-17). We these false leaders in authority by their selfish ambitions and personal agendas: they do not care for the lost sheep or seek to sanctify the young (newly saved believers), or to heal the wounds, or even to feed the healthy believers proper spiritual nutrition - but instead will often be brutal to the choice of the believers - those who walk the most holy paths.
○ When the Spirit of the Lord begins to pour out over an area, then His process of healing can begin: "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2Ch 7:14). The process is simply that believers must humble (repent) themselves, seek His face, turn from their ways - ONLY then will the Father hear from Heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land! Read and discern this entire chapter in 2 Chronicles.
Choosing battles.
You fight carnal battles with carnal weapons after consulting with the Father and following His guidance and processes in obedience, faith, and in truth.

You fight spiritual battles with spiritual weapons after consulting with the Father acting under the authority of Christ Jesus, using spiritual weaponry AFTER repenting, forgiving, cleansing, and putting on your spiritual armor AND then being sent into the battle under the annoiting of the Holy Spirit. Do not go into battle that you have NOT been ordained to fight (even if you feel you are ready!). Read Acts 19:13-16 if you think it is up to you fight ANY spiritual battle in the name of Jesus if you have NOT been annoited to do so! Acts 6:16-17 "Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not." The Father prepares the heart of the inhabitants to receive the word and if the Father has not completed His work then YOU cannot just enter into anywhere you believe you should go. YOU MUST BE ORDAINED to do so!

Only through Christ can you know victory!
○ Exercising spiritual authority over carnal battles doesn't work. You have to recognize the spiritual nature of the battle, admit that the battle is the Lords, consult with the Lord concerning the victory, and then fight the battle (as directed by the Holy Spirit in the absence of flesh and personal will) through direction of the Holy Spirit.
○ Fighting battles without asking the Lord to search your heart and mind and to show you what to do and how to do won't work.
○ Using carnal weapons to fight carnal battles without knowing who you are in Christ and consulting with the Father won't work.
○ Fighting spiritual battles without repenting causes unnecessary casualties of spiritual war.
○ Fighting spiritual battles and strongholds in yourself, others, or over geographic regions won't work if you don't follow God-ordained processes.
○ Praying your own will rather than the will of Father is witchcraft. Learn how to pray and when to pray AND never lay hands on anyone until you get the matter cleared up!
○ If you think you know the mind of the Father and the perfect will of God, stop thinking! (Romans 8:26-27, Romans 11:34, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Job 38:36, Psalm 7:9, Jeremiah 19:5)

Salvation: Fear and Trembling

A wise and sobering challenge:

What does it mean to work out our salvation in fear and trembling?

We can only work out a salvation that God has already worked in us. This means that first we must accept the salvation given to us by faith - Jesus died for us, this is how God works salvation in us - by faith! We are then called to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27). Since we are saved by God in Christ Jesus (and sealed by the Holy Spirit), we should act like we are saved and bear spiritual fruit.

Galations 5:22-23;  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Ephesians 5:8-10   "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord."

The word Paul uses for for salvation can and does also refer to deliverance in the Greek. Paul uses the same Greek word for salvation to refer also to deliverance from other things other than eternal condemnation (Philippians 1:19, 1:12-17). The same word used again in 1:28 means eternal salvation and deliverance from opposition.

Paul begin this message in Philippians 1:27-30 where he calls for unity in the faith. As he continues, Paul explains that the unity is needed because our faith is always under attack.

Unity is a sign of destruction of the opposition, a sign of deliverance. Enemies of faith can not prevail against believer’s who are unified. Salvation is both physical and temporal (deliverance from the condemnation and ways of this world), as well as spiritual and eternal. God works through temporal sufferings of the opposition (this is deliverance or salvation from the temporal sufferings). The victory is won!

In Philippians 2:1-4 Paul explains unity:
• We are encouraged that we are united with Christ
• We can feel comfort from his love
• We are secure (sealed) in fellowship with the Spirit
• We exhibit tenderness and compassion, and
• We seek to make joy complete by being
     ○ like-minded
     ○ share the same love
     ○ are one in spirit and in purpose
     ○ do everything out of humility considering others better than ourselves
         (Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit)
     ○ look not only to your own interest, but to the interests of others

Philippians 2:5-7 gives a model for our humility as the Lord Jesus who obeyed His Father. The Father exalts those who humble themselves and fear the Lord.

Philipians 2 continues the ‘wise and sobering challenge:’ What we do in private is as important as what we do in public “as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence” continue to allow God’s will to work through you in deliverance and hence, salvation.

While obeying (working out salvation with fear and trembling, through humility and submission that Christ exemplified) God delivers us from the opposition. When we display the characteristics of our salvation, it is God working His will through us!

Unity proves believer’s to be “blameless and innocent” in this corrupted world. We then shine as lights of the Gospel.

The challenge is that we are transformed by God’s will when we are in unity and as we humble ourselves toward our brothers and sisters in faith. When we kneel to serve one another, God’s will working in us helps us to stand during the difficulties of this world. In Philippians 2:12, we do not have a call to work to gain eternal salvation (we can't do this anyway, it is by faith that we are saved), we are instead called to victorious deliverance from spiritual defeat in our sufferings because we obey and submit to the will of God working in us through His Holy Spirit that transforms us.

This is what is meant to work through your salvation (deliverance) in fear and trembling…it is the fear of the Lord, God’s will who works through us and secures our salvation or deliverance from the ravages of this world.

Spiritual Core Competencies

Foundational core competencies are rooted upon integrity, honesty, fairness, and equality. Spiritual foundational core competencies are a process and include the core competencies of integrity, honesty, truth, fairness, and equality but they manifest differently in the believer. The process itself is intended to ‘weed’ out the unfaithful by tests of faith through which we must persevere (remember Jesus in the desert?). It wasn’t until AFTER Jesus persevered in the desert that he became filled with the Holy Spirit and began preaching. During this testing, it was found that his intentions were honorable and his through his faith, he was sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Credibility is established by our intent. Rooted within intent you will find truth, integrity and honesty. In order to speak the truth, you must know the truth. Knowledge and instruction is given through God’s Holy Spirit.

Authority is established through faith in believing that our God is just and that His mercy is justice.

With authority, comes power. Jesus was able to cast out demons, heal the sick, and to forgive infirmities. He was given both the power and authority over all the earth and he passed his authority and power onto believers to continue His work in His name.

Because of the power of God through the Holy Spirit, Jesus and His followers are able to influence others.

Spiritual foundational core competencies are required as clearly illustrated by the following scriptures.

The process begins through faith. Credibility (knowledge bridged with intent) becomes authority and with the authority comes the power of the Holy Spirit and with this power, comes influence. We can make a difference!

Credibility

• Exodus 8:10 “Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.”


• Deuteronomy 2:7 “For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.”


• Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;”


• Deuteronomy 8:2 “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.”


• Isaiah 45:3 “And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.”


• Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

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Intent

• 2 Samuel 7:20 “And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.”


• 2 Samuel 14:20 “(…) and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.”


• 1 Chronicles 28:9 “know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.”

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Authority

• 1 Kings 17:24 Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.


• 1 Kings 18:36 “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.”


• Isaiah 55:5 “Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.”

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Power

• Hosea 13:4 “Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.”


• Exodus 9:16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.


• Exodus 15:6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.


• Deuteronomy 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.


• Deuteronomy 9:29 Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm.


• 2 Samuel 22:33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.


• 1 Chronicles 29:11 Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.


• 1 Chronicles 29:12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.


• 1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.


• 1 Corinthians 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.


• 1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.


• 1 Corinthians 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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Influence

• Ephesians 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.


• Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,


• Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,


• Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.


• Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,


• Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.


• Matthew 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.


• Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.


• Mark 3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:


• Mark 6:7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;


• Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.


• Luke 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.


• Luke 4:36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.


• Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.


• Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.


• Luke 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.


• John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:


• John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.


• John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.


• John 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.


• 1 Corinthians 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.


• Ephesians 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

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Faith

• Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,


• 2 Corinthians 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.


• Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.


• Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.


• Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:


• Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.


• Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.


• Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,


• 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

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Process

• 2 Corinthians 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,


• 2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.


• 1 Corinthians 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:


• Acts 4:
  
  • 7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
  
  
  
  
• Acts 10:38 How 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 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.


• Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.


• Romans 8
  
  • 1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  
  
  
  
• Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

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Sensitivity

The Holy Spirit works in our heart, quiet and unseen, slow and constant. He works in the very foundations of our hearts bringing about a transformation. The Spirit's influence in our lives isn't always easy to see, but it's always present.

At this time I have to remember to pray for heightened sensitivity to the Lord's quiet influence in my heart, and for help to put these many new discoveries into His words to share with others' the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Too, we are to be ready both in season and out of season:

• "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned" (Isaiah 50:4, KJV).
• "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Colossians 4:6, KVJ).
• "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:2, KJV).

Being ready means knowing scriptures for the Word of God is our credibility upon which we can stand.

Recently in the coursework of my formal studies, I posted a comment in general regarding experiences I have had within the church focusing on the importance of discerning that which is taught and preached. The professor wrote to me and suggested that I use credible resources to back up my posts, theories, etc. At first I became offended by this suggestion as I believe that the eye-witness testimony of the scribes working through the Holy Spirit who wrote the Bible is sufficient resources, better too than religious scholars who were not or ever will be present.

I carried this bitterness through the course at which time I continued in prayer that the Lord change my heart with regards to this situation. I felt so insulted and the public reprimand in front of my fellow peers in the classroom multiplied my humility. During the latter days of the class, as we were winding down our studies into summaries posted in Dialogue, I became aware that although our class was about organizational communication, many of the students posted responses that the class only served to reinforce that which they had already known - stating that they were not changed in any way. This puzzled me as without challenge there is no growth and thus our efforts become futile.

I challenged the students in the forum in the area of honesty by posting a comment concerning whether or not our words and our actions actually balance, for this is the true root of honesty through which integrity is born. It was evident through the posts of many students that their words were merely empty because their actions and attitudes were not in balance. After reading several posts it became clear to me how I could use the humility the instructor posted publically for good! When a fellow student posted that he thought honesty was based upon his desired outcome, I cited several formal references to the meaning of honesty and of truth (referring to the lawful meaning as well) that I found on Answers.com - credible resources that cannot be refuted and were not out of the Bible (he is offended by spiritual matters - possibly an unbeliever or under the influence of deep rooted religious spirits).

This demonstrates and affirms what the Lord says "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive" (Genesis 50-20, KJV). Their united attempts to discredit my posts through a requirement of sources (not required of other students, I might add), which was not meant for the good of the whole - God was able to turn around and make it good - just as I had asked. This is grace under fire and answers to prayers - testimony and evidence that God remains on the throne as per His promise to His people He will protect us.

I am thankful too that the Holy Spirit revealed this to me and that I was delivered from the bitterness of this root. I know now that in all things especially spiritual, Biblical matters, that I must know the Word and it's source and be able to reflect and call upon it in order to establish credibility. This credibility becomes authority and with the authority comes the power of the Holy Spirit and with this power, comes influence. We can make a difference!

Purpose versus Plan

I've been so concentrating on the purpose for my life that I've completely overlooked the point that I already know my purpose. As a believer, an apostle, the ecclesia, our purpose is to worship - to magnify Christ (Mark 12:30), evanglize (Col. 4:5), ministry (1 Peter 4:10), discipleship (Phil 2:5) as well as to prepare for life in eternity.

Today we studied the second in a six part series of "The Purpose Driven Life: 40 days of purpose." It occured to me that it all sounds like a rerun, I've heard this before (after all I've read the book and I also have it on CD). I then discovered that it isn't purpose I am seeking, but God's plan for my life.

I'm not talking about God's plan for salvation, I know that, I live it. I'm talking about God's plan for my life, with the talents, gifts, and skills that he has so generously imparted to me, what am I do to glorify Him? What would glorify Him? That is my purpose: to glorify Him by living His plan for life, not my own, but rather His life through me.

I read another blog today about a woman who sounds a lot like me however she is about 12 years younger. She has similar talents and skills. I am a full-time student majoring in Management and Leadership and I am doing very well with my studies. But how am I to serve God and to glorify Him with the talent and skills he has so graciously bestowed upon me? I suggested this to person that perhaps she should consider Life Coach or Change Management, which are two considerations I am looking into.

As a Life Coach I would be in good position to help mentor others, even disciple younger Christians into maturity in Christ so that they too, can expedite their purpose and God's plan for their life. Can it be true? Can I really serve in such a capacity and make a difference that glorifies the Father?

Points to ponder through purpose versus plan...