Holy Spirit, You teach me all things, You lead me into all truth, You bear witness to Jesus, You cry in my heart, "Abba Father." Jesus (in John 15:7-8) instructed "if you abide in Me and My words abide in you..." as a basic condition for bearing fruit that would remain. Holy Spirit, teach us how to bring and keep this Word abiding in us.
One of the ways the Holy Spirit has been teaching us to strengthen our inner man through the word is the practice of "pray-read" the Word. Let me give an example.
This morning I was reading Psalm 107. It begins with "O give thanks to the Lord,.." - so I simple look up to Him and thank Him for my life, for saving me, for my wife and family, for ways He has blessed me.
for He is good - so I declare HIs good promises, You are so good to me, You give us abundant life whenwe deserve death, You take our sins, You are faithful to Your Word and Your nature.
for His mercy endures forever - using this truth I declare "You took my judgment on the cross, You greet me each morning with fresh mercy and a new start, You always rescue me when I turn to You in trouble, and I can count on Your mercy carrying me into eternity with You.
Then the psalm states, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary. What a privilege to declare "I am redeemed by Your blood and in You have paid in full my debt. Thanks to you, I am alive, free, and belong to You forever."
Later it says, "They cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses." It is easy to remember so many of the times when I did something stupid and when in trouble, I called on God to help me. AND HE DID! So I just thank Him for each time that comes to my mind.
Finally in verse 8, "Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy, and His wonderful works to the children of men!" God is absolutely awesome. Look at His glorious creation, from the beauty of the mountains, the sunrise, the stars, the trees and flowers, to the wonderful way that we are made, our eyes to see, our ears to hear music and sounds, to be able to speak and communicate our deepest thoughts with one another, for an inner person of the heart that can know love, peace, joy, truth, strength, and most of all, know the infinite creator of the universe as our closest friend who has chosen to live inside us. What an awesome, beyond comprehension, powerful yet intimate God! Oh Holy Spirit, help me always remember to praise Him for His goodness and mercy, for His wonderful works to me.
We could and should go on. I just wanted to share this morning how simple and yet powerful it is to pray-read the Word, to let it be the content of my conversation, and to begin to let that life-giving Word abide in me. May I ask you to do the same. The Holy Spirit is here to help us. Come, Holy Spirit, You are welcome in this place.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Monday, March 23, 2020
How to Take Your Proverbs 4 Medicine
Have you taken your medicine today? Do you expect it to heal you instantly or do you need to take it 3 times a day until all the sickness is gone? Do you take it because you believe it will overcome your health problem? Do you have someone's authority, probably a doctor, who has told you it works?
Good news! There is another medicine that has great reviews and authority that declares it works.
In Proverbs 4:20-22, "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings, do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh." The word "health" in verse 22 has the original meaning of to heal, to cure, to act as a medicine.
Sometimes people don't get instant results of healing when they declare, "By His stripes I am healed" or the words of Isaiah that Jesus quoted in Matthew 8:16, "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." So they give up and say I just don;t have enough faith. Let me ask a question, do you give up if you take one pill and the sickness isn't gone? Of course not. You faithfully take the pill 3 times a day until the symptoms disappear.
So the answer is to keep taking the medicine. It is not based on whether you have enough faith, it just depends upon you continuing to take the medicine until your health is restored. Every time you declare the Word something happens in the heavens and on the earth. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. You release life. Stay with it, keep paying attention to God;s Word, keep your eyes focused on the truth, and keep treasuring that thought in the midst of your heart. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. You don't have to judge how much you believe or how good your faith is, just read the word, think about it, and say it. Quit debating whether the medicine works, just take it.
Whenever I start to declare God's Word and am struggling to believe it (I believe, Lord, but help my unbelief!), God is so merciful He comes through for me so much more than I could have expected or imagined. He is so good. Do what is in your power to declare it and believe it. Say the verse out loud so your own ears hear it (faith comes by hearing), and take your medicine regularly--3 times a day--until you see the salvation of God.
Good news! There is another medicine that has great reviews and authority that declares it works.
In Proverbs 4:20-22, "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings, do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh." The word "health" in verse 22 has the original meaning of to heal, to cure, to act as a medicine.
Sometimes people don't get instant results of healing when they declare, "By His stripes I am healed" or the words of Isaiah that Jesus quoted in Matthew 8:16, "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." So they give up and say I just don;t have enough faith. Let me ask a question, do you give up if you take one pill and the sickness isn't gone? Of course not. You faithfully take the pill 3 times a day until the symptoms disappear.
So the answer is to keep taking the medicine. It is not based on whether you have enough faith, it just depends upon you continuing to take the medicine until your health is restored. Every time you declare the Word something happens in the heavens and on the earth. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. You release life. Stay with it, keep paying attention to God;s Word, keep your eyes focused on the truth, and keep treasuring that thought in the midst of your heart. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. You don't have to judge how much you believe or how good your faith is, just read the word, think about it, and say it. Quit debating whether the medicine works, just take it.
Whenever I start to declare God's Word and am struggling to believe it (I believe, Lord, but help my unbelief!), God is so merciful He comes through for me so much more than I could have expected or imagined. He is so good. Do what is in your power to declare it and believe it. Say the verse out loud so your own ears hear it (faith comes by hearing), and take your medicine regularly--3 times a day--until you see the salvation of God.
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Hear the Word, Think Truth, Bless the Lord
This morning I was spending some time in Psalm 103. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! What a great reminder that we need to let the " Word," which is spirit and life according to Jesus in John 6, take charge over our flesh and soul and simply obey.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems you life from destruction (KJV says the pit), who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles's. God has done so much for us. How can we focus on the negative when we are so blessed!
This morning in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, we are reminded by His Word that not only are my sins forgiven, but my diseases are healed. So I have been trying to fight the good fight of faith by declaring "Thank you, Jesus, for taking those stripes for me and carrying away my diseases and pains. By your stripes I am healed." and "Thank you, Holy Spirit,. You, who are the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, now give life to my mortal body." and "No weapon formed against me shall prosper."
Somehow I had forgotten the line that He crowns me with lovingkindness and tender mercies. To me "crowns" means makes me a king, or gives me authority to rule. HIs mercy allows and empowers me to take charge and declare God's kingdom over every circumstance. Praise God forever, when I realize how blessed I am, no wonder my youth is renewed like the eagles. I want to be like a little child that trusts his Mom and Dad and is excited and enthusiastic about all tthat they have planned for him. God has done great things for me, and now I trust Him to work all things for my good because I love Him and am called according to His purpose.
One more line, later in the psalm it talks about God showing His ways to Moses, and I remember an old song, "Teach me thy ways, thy ways O Lord. Show me thy paths, thy paths, O Lord. O my God, I trust in thee, let me not be ashamed, let not my enemies triumph over me." Truly, God;s ways are perfect and we are always right when we declare and take time to "Bless the Lord, O my soul!"
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Scriptures Encouraging and Building Hope in God
As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. (Psalm 18:30) Here are some promises that cause our hearts to embrace the perfect and good plan God has purchased and purposed for us. Hope is trusting and knowing God will keep His promises forever.
Psalm 147:11 The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and loving-kindness.
Acts 17:27-28 So that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being…
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Ephesians 1:17-18 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
Hebrews 6:17-19 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the ]immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we ]might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus,
Acts 2:25-26 (Psalm 16:8) I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.
Romans 15:4, 13 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Got Hope--It's What You See?
We live in a world that has lost hope. Even in America, there is such division and hatred that the majority of comments in the news and social media are negative. Discouragement and even suicide are often reported among teens. People do not see things getting better and therefore, in their own despair can only strike out in critical judgment.
Psalm 11 asks "If the foundations are shaken, what can the righteous do?" The more focused question is what is hope and how do we get hope?. We commonly use the word "hope" to mean "wish", such as we hope the Broncos win today. However, the Biblical definition of hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised. When man fell, he allowed sin and death to enter the human race, and a condition that Romans 8 describes as "the whole creation groans...from the bondage of corruption." Naturally our minds tend to likewise see things going wrong, have anxiety and fear from things out of control, and in general, expect negative circumstances. Have you ever heard of Murphy's law?
There is an answer. We can change the "old flat tire" of negative thinking and put on a brand new tire of "positive vision." Proverbs declares "without a vision, people perish." The Word of God was given to man to renew his thinking and transform his picture of life. As a man thinks so is he. Thinking is more than rational thoughts. It is the imagination, the picturing, the vision and goals that drive our actions and well-being. What do you see in your mind when someone mentions a dog? What if we added a large fierce dog? Or a small black and white beagle? The point is that words trigger a picture in our mind.
God wants us to have a living hope, an image that He makes "all things work together for our good."
His Word paints a picture of us being loved with an everlasting love, of being overcomers, and of being a people who enjoy abundant life and peace through His Spirit. He sent forth His Word and delivered them. His Word delivers us from our negative carnal thinking to embrace a new picture of us as now being His workmanship capable of being a light in the darkness. This truth opens up a whole new world of purpose and hope for the future. God Himself is for us and with us. How can we fail?
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away. ( Peter 1:3) This truth is like an anchor to the soul, that through the finished work of Jesus and with the same Spirit that raised Him from the dead now living in us, we are assured to make it.. We let the Word of God transform our thinking and what we see God has done and continues to do for us.
By faith, and faith is the assurance of things hoped for, we transfer our hope into reality. Take time to deliberately let the Word of God paint fresh pictures of hope and vision in you. Read it, think about what it says, picture this in your life, and continue to meditate on His truth until you can see it. God is faithful to be found by those who seek Him. What do you see?
Psalm 11 asks "If the foundations are shaken, what can the righteous do?" The more focused question is what is hope and how do we get hope?. We commonly use the word "hope" to mean "wish", such as we hope the Broncos win today. However, the Biblical definition of hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised. When man fell, he allowed sin and death to enter the human race, and a condition that Romans 8 describes as "the whole creation groans...from the bondage of corruption." Naturally our minds tend to likewise see things going wrong, have anxiety and fear from things out of control, and in general, expect negative circumstances. Have you ever heard of Murphy's law?
There is an answer. We can change the "old flat tire" of negative thinking and put on a brand new tire of "positive vision." Proverbs declares "without a vision, people perish." The Word of God was given to man to renew his thinking and transform his picture of life. As a man thinks so is he. Thinking is more than rational thoughts. It is the imagination, the picturing, the vision and goals that drive our actions and well-being. What do you see in your mind when someone mentions a dog? What if we added a large fierce dog? Or a small black and white beagle? The point is that words trigger a picture in our mind.
God wants us to have a living hope, an image that He makes "all things work together for our good."
His Word paints a picture of us being loved with an everlasting love, of being overcomers, and of being a people who enjoy abundant life and peace through His Spirit. He sent forth His Word and delivered them. His Word delivers us from our negative carnal thinking to embrace a new picture of us as now being His workmanship capable of being a light in the darkness. This truth opens up a whole new world of purpose and hope for the future. God Himself is for us and with us. How can we fail?
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away. ( Peter 1:3) This truth is like an anchor to the soul, that through the finished work of Jesus and with the same Spirit that raised Him from the dead now living in us, we are assured to make it.. We let the Word of God transform our thinking and what we see God has done and continues to do for us.
By faith, and faith is the assurance of things hoped for, we transfer our hope into reality. Take time to deliberately let the Word of God paint fresh pictures of hope and vision in you. Read it, think about what it says, picture this in your life, and continue to meditate on His truth until you can see it. God is faithful to be found by those who seek Him. What do you see?
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own opinions.
Guilty! The court of public opinion has spoken. Whether it is President Trump, Alabama for passing a law to end abortion of babies, or New York for allowing babies to die on the birth table, multitudes of vociferous tweets and chats fill the Internet. We clearly are in a day where people delight in expressing their own opinions (Proverbs 18:2). It seems impossible to not be affected by this tsunami of public comment.
What can a person who wants to be informed and yet not negatively influenced do? Some people have chosen to avoid social media altogether to prevent the complaining and criticizing from poluting their minds. Others try to either ignore those sites which with they disagree and only subscribe to like-minded people. Even more difficult to handle, Proverbs 26:4-5 states that if you answer a fool you become like him, and if you don't answer he thinks he is wise in his own eyes (he thinks he won!). There is seemingly no way out unless you live in a world where you are able to avoid fools!
There is a famous saying in Jeremiah 12:5 that declares if you get weary with the footmen what are you going to do with those on horses? Consider standing in the ocean, you can walk easily in the shallow water on a calm day, but you really have to brace yourself to not fall in the waves of a hurricane. The Word suggests the hurricane of thoughts and opinions is coming.
Get ready. Since clearly the battleground is in the mind, and the way to win the spiritual battle is to take every thought captive, there is only one solution, Know the truth. Jesus declared the Word of God is truth. The more the world pounds on us with their foolish opinions, the greater the need to be able to evaluate every thought with God's truth. What you sow is what you reap. Take as much time and enjoyment in understanding the Word as you do what others say in social media. Delight in understanding by asking the Holy Spirit to open up the truth of the Word so you see clearly. God is up for the fight, the only question is will you let Him renew your thinking? As a man thinks, so is he.
What can a person who wants to be informed and yet not negatively influenced do? Some people have chosen to avoid social media altogether to prevent the complaining and criticizing from poluting their minds. Others try to either ignore those sites which with they disagree and only subscribe to like-minded people. Even more difficult to handle, Proverbs 26:4-5 states that if you answer a fool you become like him, and if you don't answer he thinks he is wise in his own eyes (he thinks he won!). There is seemingly no way out unless you live in a world where you are able to avoid fools!
There is a famous saying in Jeremiah 12:5 that declares if you get weary with the footmen what are you going to do with those on horses? Consider standing in the ocean, you can walk easily in the shallow water on a calm day, but you really have to brace yourself to not fall in the waves of a hurricane. The Word suggests the hurricane of thoughts and opinions is coming.
Get ready. Since clearly the battleground is in the mind, and the way to win the spiritual battle is to take every thought captive, there is only one solution, Know the truth. Jesus declared the Word of God is truth. The more the world pounds on us with their foolish opinions, the greater the need to be able to evaluate every thought with God's truth. What you sow is what you reap. Take as much time and enjoyment in understanding the Word as you do what others say in social media. Delight in understanding by asking the Holy Spirit to open up the truth of the Word so you see clearly. God is up for the fight, the only question is will you let Him renew your thinking? As a man thinks, so is he.
Thursday, July 12, 2018
How to Build Yourself Up in the Spirit
Since man is triune--spirit, soul, and body (1 Thess 5:23-24)--it is important to know how these three parts are meant to work together and how God instructs you to keep each strong. The average person, even many Christians, don't realize that your spirit (not God's Spirit, although certainly empowered and strengthened when in harmony with His Spirit) is designed to be in charge of your soul and body.
Your spirit is described in the Word as the inner man, the hidden person of the heart, and the real you that became new when you accepted that Jesus Christ died for you and you received Him as Lord (comparable to Boss or ruler) of your life. Your spirit is much like the voice of God, which Elijah heard as a still small voice, but nevertheless, undeniable. It is that inner witness or peace, your "knower" that just has a surety of God's presence and His direction. The Holy Sprit reveals truth to your spirit, and communicates or bears witness (gives evidence) to your spirit in order to guide or lead you into God's will.
Jesus, in his discussion with Nicodemus in John 3, declares that what is born of the Spirit is spirit. In other words, building up your spirit is something only God does. The principle of "What you sow is what you shall reap" is demonstrated in the building up of our spirit. As we choose to obey His Word and the instructions given, the Holy Spirit, strengthens and edifies our spirit. A picture of God's kingdom in Hebrews 12 describes "the spirits of just men made perfect."
Therefore, it is important to note the specific Biblical steps or actions that God has promised to reward by strengthening our spirit. Let's consider four fruitful ways to cooperate with the Spirit of God that produce growth.
By far, the most direct way given in Scripture is found in 1 Corinthians 14:4, "he who speaks in a tongue edifies himself." Clearly praying in the spirit bypasses the mind, for the Word declares we are uttering mysteries in the spirit which the mind does not understand. Paul wished everyone prayed in tongues. Jude talks about the difficult times coming yet gives valuable instruction so we do not fall in the evil day, "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God..." Obviously tongues is not the final goal, rather an essential step to allow God to edify and build up our spirit so we can overcome the flesh and the world and rather be transformed into the likeness of and can have the ability to walk like Jesus.
Secondly, Jesus declares that the words He speaks are spirit and life (John 6:63). Paul commends the Ephesians (Acts 20:32) "to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." So when we take steps to let the Word dwell in us richly, the Holy Spirit who is the author of Scripture, can reveal Jesus, His nature and heart. God's Word is nourishment and life for the spirit, truth to renew the mind (Romans 12:2) and convert the soul (Psalm 19:7) and direction how to present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).
Third, God gives grace to the humble. When we pray, we humbly acknowledge our need for God and declare His promises trusting Him to do it. Taking time to seek God, to enter His presence with thanksgiving and praise, and to worship or surrender all that we are to Him, allows the Spirit of God to give grace which empowers us. Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)
Fourth, in Romans 8:13 where Paul describes the spiritual battle between spirit and flesh, we are instructed, "if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Jesus describes fasting as a way to become a new wineskin that can hold the new wine. Fasting, when led by the Holy Spirit, along with focusing on God's Word, is a strong way of feeding the spirit man and starving or denying the flesh from dictating your actions. Choosing to obey the spirit rather than feed the flesh demonstrates who rules your life. Setting the mind on the flesh (just what it wants) is death, but setting the mind on the spirit is spirit and life. Parallel to obeying the Spirit in fasting, is obedience to Spirit-leading in any other matter, which exercises our "spirit" muscles from strength to strength, and gives newness of life.
Scripture is filled with examples of people who were mighty in spirit and able to accomplish great things in God. We too "can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Paul prayed for us in Ephesians 3:16, "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man."
The day is coming, and now is, when the deceitful philosophy of the world, the pattern of living for our own fleshly desires, and the rejecting God's standards for holiness has released a flood of decadence in the earth. The morals of our society does affect us. Jesus painfully said, "many will fall away." What will keep us from succumbing to this increasing pressure? The key is to be strong in our spirit, our inner man, so we have the ability and strength to discern and reject the "lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the body and of the mind," (Ephesians 2:3). Unless God builds the house, unless we choose to let the Spirit build our spirit, our mind and flesh will dominate and we, like Solomon, will be drawn away from the Lord and His truth.
My heart cry (and the cry of the Spirit!) is for you is to build yourself up in the spirit, that "inner person of the heart" that is "very precious in the sight of God" 1 Peter 3:4
Your spirit is described in the Word as the inner man, the hidden person of the heart, and the real you that became new when you accepted that Jesus Christ died for you and you received Him as Lord (comparable to Boss or ruler) of your life. Your spirit is much like the voice of God, which Elijah heard as a still small voice, but nevertheless, undeniable. It is that inner witness or peace, your "knower" that just has a surety of God's presence and His direction. The Holy Sprit reveals truth to your spirit, and communicates or bears witness (gives evidence) to your spirit in order to guide or lead you into God's will.
Jesus, in his discussion with Nicodemus in John 3, declares that what is born of the Spirit is spirit. In other words, building up your spirit is something only God does. The principle of "What you sow is what you shall reap" is demonstrated in the building up of our spirit. As we choose to obey His Word and the instructions given, the Holy Spirit, strengthens and edifies our spirit. A picture of God's kingdom in Hebrews 12 describes "the spirits of just men made perfect."
Therefore, it is important to note the specific Biblical steps or actions that God has promised to reward by strengthening our spirit. Let's consider four fruitful ways to cooperate with the Spirit of God that produce growth.
By far, the most direct way given in Scripture is found in 1 Corinthians 14:4, "he who speaks in a tongue edifies himself." Clearly praying in the spirit bypasses the mind, for the Word declares we are uttering mysteries in the spirit which the mind does not understand. Paul wished everyone prayed in tongues. Jude talks about the difficult times coming yet gives valuable instruction so we do not fall in the evil day, "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God..." Obviously tongues is not the final goal, rather an essential step to allow God to edify and build up our spirit so we can overcome the flesh and the world and rather be transformed into the likeness of and can have the ability to walk like Jesus.
Secondly, Jesus declares that the words He speaks are spirit and life (John 6:63). Paul commends the Ephesians (Acts 20:32) "to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." So when we take steps to let the Word dwell in us richly, the Holy Spirit who is the author of Scripture, can reveal Jesus, His nature and heart. God's Word is nourishment and life for the spirit, truth to renew the mind (Romans 12:2) and convert the soul (Psalm 19:7) and direction how to present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).
Third, God gives grace to the humble. When we pray, we humbly acknowledge our need for God and declare His promises trusting Him to do it. Taking time to seek God, to enter His presence with thanksgiving and praise, and to worship or surrender all that we are to Him, allows the Spirit of God to give grace which empowers us. Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)
Fourth, in Romans 8:13 where Paul describes the spiritual battle between spirit and flesh, we are instructed, "if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Jesus describes fasting as a way to become a new wineskin that can hold the new wine. Fasting, when led by the Holy Spirit, along with focusing on God's Word, is a strong way of feeding the spirit man and starving or denying the flesh from dictating your actions. Choosing to obey the spirit rather than feed the flesh demonstrates who rules your life. Setting the mind on the flesh (just what it wants) is death, but setting the mind on the spirit is spirit and life. Parallel to obeying the Spirit in fasting, is obedience to Spirit-leading in any other matter, which exercises our "spirit" muscles from strength to strength, and gives newness of life.
Scripture is filled with examples of people who were mighty in spirit and able to accomplish great things in God. We too "can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Paul prayed for us in Ephesians 3:16, "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man."
The day is coming, and now is, when the deceitful philosophy of the world, the pattern of living for our own fleshly desires, and the rejecting God's standards for holiness has released a flood of decadence in the earth. The morals of our society does affect us. Jesus painfully said, "many will fall away." What will keep us from succumbing to this increasing pressure? The key is to be strong in our spirit, our inner man, so we have the ability and strength to discern and reject the "lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the body and of the mind," (Ephesians 2:3). Unless God builds the house, unless we choose to let the Spirit build our spirit, our mind and flesh will dominate and we, like Solomon, will be drawn away from the Lord and His truth.
My heart cry (and the cry of the Spirit!) is for you is to build yourself up in the spirit, that "inner person of the heart" that is "very precious in the sight of God" 1 Peter 3:4
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