Romans 8:15 From Slavery to Family

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!”

What would hinder us from being led by the Spirit of God? Slavery to sin and fear. We are not slaves (For sin will not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace Romans 6:14)   Romans 7:24-8:2 shows the way out of slavery to sin.
-We are now in the family of God. 2 Cor 5:17 We are born again into God's family. Rom. 8:29
-We are sons and fellow heirs with Christ. What Jesus gets we get! Not to consume it on our lusts but to live in God's kingdom. Col 1:13 and to accomplish what God has for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Abba Father
What the passage is trying to convey is that we can have a close relationship with our Daddy Father.
John 14:23  “Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him.” Amplifed Our body is a temple for the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 6:19

2 Cor 6:16 “Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”

We are now not a servant or slave, We are sons and have the right to speak to God using the term Abba.

Romans 8:15
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again.

The spirit of slavery speaks to our inability to do what we want. Romans 7 talked of this. The spirit of slavery dominates, by keeping our mind on the flesh. Making provision for the flesh Rom 13:14. We are not to make provision for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

The flesh is a task master, not joy. Many do not turn to the Lord because they want to enjoy the flesh. Yes there is pleasure in sin for a season Hebrews 11:25 but in the end it turns bitter. Why not look beyond the present hour and be involved in things that will provide life healing and joy for the future.

Where is life? Is it from having fun, or serving Jesus? Jesus allows us to live. His words are life and guide us.

Fear comes from slavery. We don't need to fear if Jesus lives in us. There is nothing that will separate us from the love of God. With God we have all we need. He supplies all our needs. Philippians 4:19

Verse 14 talks of being led of the Spirit. It is this leading that brings us life. Fear comes from lack. The Spirit gives life and in this life there is no lack. John 10:10

Does that mean we can serve the flesh, repent and God will gives us whatever we ask? You can't serve God and your own desires at the same time. Make a decision to serve God and deny yourself. This leading of the Spirit allows us to live in the realm of the spirit and act in our position as sons of God. Yes God will forgive, but victory comes from faith not manipulating God. God is not mocked, whatever a man sows that will he also reap. Galatians 6:7 Instead yield to God and let His love fulfill your needs.

Then with this new understanding of living as sons of God, we can live free from fear and have that close relationship with our Daddy.

Being led of the Spirit and serving the flesh are opposed to each other. Which will you choose. Fear or life? Putting it that way is simple. Look beyond the moment to Jesus. Heb 12:2 just as Jesus looked beyond the cross to the joy set before Him after the resurrection.

Where the Spirit is there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Where fear is the flesh dominates. Decide, by setting your mind to move away from the flesh and into God's kingdom. The anxious thoughts will dominate as long as the flesh is served. Freedom comes from a mind set on the things of the Spirit.  So what should be the confession of a person who has his mind on the spirit? The Word of God. The hope that God promises. The life coming from the Word of God. Respond to your fears with the word of God. Praise God for His answer when fear comes. Praise in faith, that the answer will come, even when you don't see it now. Live in confidence that God will provide, even with a bad report. Psalm 112:7

2 Tim 1:7 God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and discipline. Power love and discipline are contrasted with timidity/fear. Power, love and discipline come from a mind set on the Spirit. So a mind set on the flesh is weakness, inability, anemic, apathy and undisciplined life.

2 Tim 1:8 Therefore join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God. It is the power of God that flows from a mind set on the Spirit that will draw us to work that seems to bring suffering. Yet this suffering itself will bring power. It says in 2 Cor 12:9 Power is perfected in weakness. A mind set on the Spirit of God will draw us to work,(from a mind set on the flesh point of view), that is not in itself wonderful. But because of the Spirit of God, things will change. God will come into the situation and bring life to sickness, success to failure, hope to the hopeless, love to the unlovable.

We receive the spirit of adoption as sons. We cry Daddy Father. A father provides for his sons. God the Father will provide for us. And the best provision is God's love will keep us.

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Romans 8:14 Leading and Sonship

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

You can't be led by the Spirit of God if you don't do anything. It is not knowing but doing that shows sonship.

Does being led by the Spirit of God mean we don't do anything if we don't sense God leading us? One thing I have as a guide is the Holy Scriptures. I use these as a general guideline. God leads us by these. I don't have to have God tell me to have devotions. I know that by the Bible telling me to have devotions. It is a basic leading of Scripture. When I stop and have devotions I am being led of the Spirit because the Bible says to have devotions. John 6:63 says it is the words of God in the Bible that are of The Spirit and are God's leading generally. Then as I have devotions I will get a leading more directly from the Spirit of God. If I don't get a more specific leading, I still go by the general leading of the Scriptures.

I knew a guy who skipped work to have devotions. This is not the leading of the Lord. We need to fulfill our responsibilities.

Being led by the Spirit is being led by the word of God sensitive to further leading specifically by the Holy Spirit. We don't always need a specific word from God to do what He is calling us to do. Paul was led to go as a missionary in Acts 13 and as he was going the Spirit directed him more directly by a dream.

It also says in Isaiah 30:21 we will hear a word behind us saying go this way as we are moving.

It is important to be moving in obedience to the direction we have and it is by this obedience we will receive more direction of the Holy Spirit. Acts 5:32 Obedience brings direction. First wait and understand the will of the Lord. Then act on the will and the Holy Spirit will give us more direction as we are going in the light we have. If we wait for specific before we go we may never get started.

Link to my articles on God's will.


Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.” Notice it is a path that grows brighter and brighter not our understanding while we are sitting in a chair. It is our going in obedience that brings more light.

God leads His sons. When we become Christ's followers we are His sons.  God's sons are known by being led by the Spirit of God.  A person that is not being led by God, would not be known as a son of God. They could be God's son but they are not walking in it. They would be drifting away from God's leading. Hebrews 2:1

Lord, I ask for your leading and willingness to be led by you. Let us be effective in your kingdom. In Jesus name this will happen.

How can we tell the difference of our own desires and the Lord's desires for us? Walk in the light you have. 1 John 1:7 As you share your faith walk with others and they with you, encouragement will come. Philemon 6 The more you are in the light the more your light or direction will come. Stay in the word and relationship with the Lord and fellowship with others and direction will come.

Does the direction you think is from God, bring you closer to the Lord or further away? Do you want to share it or do you want to hide it. What is of God will bring eagerness to share it. John 3:19-21

Are you walking as a son of God? If you are you will be led. Live as a son. Talk to God as a son. Expect God to meet your needs and spiritual desires as a son. Learn what is your inheritance as a son and use this for His kingdom. What has God put on your heart to do for the Kingdom? Use the storehouse of your inheritance to accomplish and help you accomplish what God is leading you to do.

Notice that in verse 13 the context is to put away the deeds of the flesh. We are led in how to walk with God by hearing from His word.

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Key Points of Daily Christian Life

Salvation / Kingdom Living – We can live above the world. Isaiah 40:31; Galatians 3:13; John 10:10

We are a friend of God. David, Abraham, Daniel were friends of God and Jesus is our friend as we devour the Bible to live it. Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:3; Psalm 119:148, 165

Love people – Our purpose is not to have a good set of doctrines, but to love others. Yes we need to rightly divide the word of God. And guide others that are straying. It is the Bible that reveals Christ to us and guides us in loving others.

Zeal – Zeal of the Lord is what accomplishes things. Isaiah 9:7 Be excited in what you are doing. If you are not excited about it, why are you still doing it? If we have responsibilities, then we will have the anointing to accomplish what God has given us to do. With anointing there is the Holy Spirit and with the Holy Spirit there is joy and power.

Living by faith – God is pleased with faith. Hebrews 11:6 All that we do should be of faith . We have faith 2 Peter 1:1 Faith is available for us to use. Mark 11:22 Do what you believe is of God and don't do what you doubt is of God! Romans 14:22-23

Purpose – Ephesians 2:10 Without a vision the people perish. Proverbs 29:18 Find God's purpose for your life and do it with gusto, zeal, joy and in the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

People of prayer – We can't function if we don't stay in touch with our King. Jesus was always slipping away to pray. Luke 5:16 If you are not getting an answer, ask why.  James 1:5; Isaiah 30:21

Tongues – Vitality flows from the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will teach us all things. John 14:26 All things, which is more than just doctrine. He will teach us all things. Pray in tongues to learn. 1 Corinthians 14:14,18 Jude 1:20

Fellowship – Go to church and get encouraged. Hebrews 10:25 Walk in the light and have the fellowship of God. 1 John 1:7

Share the gospel – Shoes are part of the armor of God. Ephesians 6:15 They are related to sharing the gospel. Without shoes, a solider would be ineffective. If we don't share the gospel there is a weakness in our armor and we can be knocked out.

Give – It is more blessed to give than to receive Acts 20:35 Ephesians 4:28 Where you put your money, is where your heart is.

Pray and Go – Go about your work and shout victory. If you can't, pray till you can. Luke 18:1

Romans 8:12 Not Living According to the Flesh

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—

If we live according to the flesh we must die.

Is this physical death or spiritual death.  The death is a loss of our place in Christ. It is a sleep, so to speak where we become unaware of Spiritual things.

The power of death is overcome in Jesus. Romans 8:2 When we turn back to the ways of the flesh we give up this freedom and fall back again into  the slavery of the flesh.  We don't take advantage of what we have and revert to the natural.

Christian life is a life of faith. If we live in the flesh and our mind on the things of the flesh, we ignore our rights and grace offered to us. The natural fleshly desires will dominate our life. God offers spiritual health and life, but if we ignore our position in Christ we will sink into death.

I have found it is easy to reject a sickness that comes against me at the beginning, but if I let it continue, it will take more work of belief to get rid of the problem. It is the same in the spirit. If we reject sin quickly, we return to living for Jesus. If we let sin continue, we can fall into slavery to sin easily. 

Look at our conscience and be at peace with God. If there is something that is bothering us confess it. If there are people that you are holding grudges against forgive them. If someone holds something against us, make it right. We are not held accountable for our past, because we are under the blood of Jesus. Note: there are consequences for our sin against others and we will live with these consequences. Christ has forgiven us and we can live as Paul lived with a clear conscience because he believed in the saving work of Christ and the provision that was provided.  You can't walk in faith without a clear conscience. Live at peace with everyone as much as you can.

Fearing God will keep us from sin. When I recognize that Jesus is right with me I turn away from sin. When I ignore the fact that Jesus is right with me I am more likely to let my mind return to the things of the flesh. When I am about the things of the spirit, the things of the flesh fall away.

Planning on sinning and holding a grudge will cause us not to be in the spirit but instead the flesh. This insistence to remain in the flesh will do damage to our body, soul and spirit hurting our ability to continue in the spirit.

Hebrews 12:6-8 There is a chastening from the Lord among His children. For He treats them as sons and brings them to a repentant state. When we stay in the mindset of the flesh God will have to chasten us to bring us back. Usually for me, it is a word of Scripture that humbles me.

We live by faith in the Son of God, as we die to our fleshly life. Galatians 2:20 This means to set aside the desires of our flesh and live for the purposes of Christ. We have the Spirit living within and He gives life to our spirit and body. We are not under obligation to live any more according to the flesh. We can live according to the Spirit of God.  We can choose life instead of death. Prov 18:21

Samson lived a life according to his fleshly lusts. Judges 13 - 16 His life turned out bad and was blinded and lost his strength because of his inattention to live for the Lord. He was still a judge, but lost his power until his death. Christians can lose their ability for effectiveness by not being attentive to the things of the Spirit. Let us not be sluggish but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:12

Don't neglect what God has given you. Meditate on God's promises and how to use them.

We don't owe, have an obligation or are trapped to be ruled by our flesh in anything. We are not under obligation, have a debt, or owe anything because of our sin. We are free in Jesus! We do have to pay our debts to others, but Jesus has forgiven us and set us free in the spirit.

Our freedom from this obligation or debt allows us to use our life for other things. Just as a mortgage free house frees up your budget to use your money for other things. A mortgage free house makes life easier. One is not under the weight of paying the the mortgage but has freedom to live more as they would like.  We are free to live in the Spirit of God. Romans 8:1 talks of this freedom from condemnation. Then we are free to live for the Spirit by putting our minds on the things of the Spirit. This is what we are made for. Freedom is to live as we were made to live. Bondage keeps us from living as we were made. With the freedom is the joy of the Lord.

We are free from the curse of the law. Galatians 3:13

We are now free to life for Christ. We don't have to pay the flesh its desires. We are free to live as our heart desires, because we are new creatures in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17

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Go to the next verse Romans 8:13

God Always Answers Prayer.

Luke 11:9-11 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11 Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?”

Matthew 7:7-8  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

1 John 5:14-15 “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”

1 John 3:22 “ and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.”

John 9:31 “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.”

John 14:12-14 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

John 16:24,27 “24 Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.”

John 15:7 “ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

John 15:16 “ You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”

Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

James 1:2-8 “2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Psalm 10:17 “O Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble;
You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear”

Psalm 102:17 “He has regarded the prayer of the destitute
And has not despised their prayer.”

Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”

Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

Making Truth Effective - 12 - Importation of Truth

There comes a time when you are in the Word and and in  relationship with God that truth just flows. 

Grace allows the word to flow to us. And we have this grace as we are walking in the light. Stay in the light and continue to seek more of God and His grace.

Making Truth Effective 11 Revolution of Truth

As we follow the new truth we become an example for others to follow. We let our light shine before men. We spur others to love and good deeds. We bring the standard of living further by living the life we have received from Jesus. We become the living epistle. We move from just following what others say to being a cutting edge minister. We don't just talk about it, we pattern it.

Our speech shows God's truth. The promises start to manifest through us.

Having this new insight and living it does not mean we are perfect. It is the same with us as we listen to others. We should not reject what others say about the Bible, if what they are saying is true. If what they are saying is true we should pay attention to them,even when there are other parts of their life that is not Godly. Don't take the attitude of pride and reject other teachers because of their short comings.  Prove all things and hold fast to that which is good. Accept people and gently encourage them where it is needed.

Look at David. He followed God with his whole heart. At the same time there were things in his life that were not right. He was a murderer and adulterer. David did repent when he was confronted.

Have a heart for truth and seek God with all your heart.

Making Truth Effective - 10 - Transformation of Truth

These last 3 stages move quickly. There is a clarity of truth in our lives now.

When it is worked into our lifestyle, we have a boldness and confidence in what we are saying. Our conscience testifies with the Holy Spirit that it is truth. Romans 8:16 “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,” We have access to the things promised to God's sons. What Jesus, the first born Son of God has, we have access also. This brings confidence as we live as sons and not as unworthy intruders. When we take our place in Christ, what is offered to us is available to us. We can bring what is God's will, from heaven to earth. Matthew 6:10

People will call you prideful, deceived, fanatical etc. to discredit you. Time will prove all things and the fruit of Biblical truth will show the wisdom of making this truth part of our lives. Our conscience will support us and shield us from peoples negative reactions.

Our mind has been transformed by the truth of the Scriptures and we are not walking by sight but by faith.

We can agree with Spiritual truth but not believe it. We can know truth but not live it. When we believe God's truth, that truth will hold us and be powerful in our lives. We will express boldness and confidence in God's truth in our lives. If we are tentative about the truth, we are not there yet. Faith and belief are bold and confident.

When truth has transformed us there is a change in our soul. Instead of looking at the truth from the outside we look at the truth on the inside. We have this truth because we have Jesus living within. We draw from Him when we need His strength. We are in Christ and have this overflowing fountain of the Holy Spirit within sustaining us.

Making Truth Effective - 9 - Assimilation of Truth

Ch 9 the
In this chapter the game plan of having a habit

From this website https://liveboldandbloom.com/12/habits/how-to-make-good-habits-stick

Start ridiculously small.
Get hooked on your habit.
Have clear intentions.
Schedule
Celebrate small wins.
Design your environment.
Make it easier to do your desired activity.
Surround yourself with Supporters.
Pre-commit to your habit.
Announce what you are doing.
Have discipline for failure.
Change your mindset.
Don't break the chain of success.

Making Truth Effective - 8 - Application of Truth

Continue to seek action steps to apply what we are learning. Something new like this does not come naturally. We need to focus and be creative on ways to bring new truths into our life.

With meditation on applying new strategies, bringing this new truth into our life, will get easier. Remember, trying and uncomfortable work will be required. Food that we have eaten and is in our stomach, has not become effective for our strength. It is after it has passed to our bloodstream that food becomes effective.

People will respond to a teaching saying how good it was. This is only half way into a change in our life. It is necessary to apply the teaching to our daily lives for it to be effective. Remaining in God's work John 8:31 means we will not give up on it when life is hard. It is our responsibility to utilize God's truth in our life.

The Spirit of truth lives within us. John 14:16-17 “ I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”

With the Spirit we have help to live as we should. He will help our prayers. Romans 8:26 And when our prayers are of faith, we will receive answers because of God's promise of an answer. 1 John 3:22; 1 John 5:14-15

As the spark of God's word reaches us we won't have to be goaded to follow God, but instead we will do it with joy and peace.

Isaiah 55:11-12 “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
12 “For you will go out with joy
And be led forth with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,”

Making Truth Effective - 7 - Commitment to Truth

Now that a new truth is found and understood. The encouragement by others may fall away and all we have is our own will to follow this truth. Discipline and Devotion to the Lord and His leading us, will be what propels us.

We
can be tested with this truth by an inward struggle. This struggle involves old habits, old emotions and old thoughts. In Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks within himself, so he is.  . . . “ it says that what you think about is what you become. If we want to change to use the truth we have learned we need to corral our thoughts to line up with the truth we are learning. If we need praise and encouragement to continue we won't last. Let us set our heart to follow the Lord in the good times and the rough times.

The second test comes from our friends, family, people we run across and our culture. Will we continue when they ridicule and question our intelligence? What will we do then?

Develop a good culture where we can be encouraged by our friends and peers. When we stay verbally and mentally committed to the truth we are able to grow in the knowledge and faith.

John 8:31-32 “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Many know a bunch of Bible principles, but haven't experienced freedom in Christ. It is not just the learning but the continuing that brings us the knowledge and freedom.

Making Truth Effective - 6 - Confirmation of Truth

At this stage, a choice is made willingly. For truth to be confirmed, some action should be taken, even if it's just a baby step. Thinking of plants, truth is like a blade of grass breaking through the top of the soil. Seeds germinate, and our understanding of truth will take effect in our actions. God's word brings a spark of life and this life will give rise to a statement of our intent.

Romans 10:8 “But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,”

We will speak from what is in our heart, the things we are learning from the Lord. Faith requires speaking. Learning will express what is within.

A new lesson needs nurture to grow just as a baby needs to be nurtured. Our speaking and meditating on the new truth protects it and builds confidence with us within.

Prayer, thankfulness and speaking God's promise are what I use as I process new things.

The lesson of the lady with an issue of blood is an example of how we can put truth to work. (Mark 5:25-28) This passage shows how God's faith laws (Romans 3:27) work when we learn new truths in the Bible.

The first 6 steps of the 12 are listed here. She heard, she thought, believed, spoke, and acted.

When we learn something from the Bible, the promise will make a change in our life, if we believe it.

Another example from Scripture is Jehu riding to deal with Jezebel. (2 Kings 9) He came up to Jezebel and said, “Who is on my side?” The officials who looked down at Jehu were under the authority of Jezebel. Jehu told them to throw down Jezebel. They did and killed her. We can do the same thing with things that afflict us.

We can be set free from what is attacking us as we learn to apply God's truth effectively. The truth will set us free. Meditation of these two passages will teach us:  Mark 5:25-34 and 2 Kings 9

Don't consider past ways of dealing with problems. Let the Bible teach truth for freedom. Review the steps of the “Process of Truth”.
Learn from the woman with the issue of blood. She heard, she thought, believed, spoke and acted.

The next 6 steps further explain how to reach even higher levels of victory.

Making Truth Effective -5 - Conclusion of Truth

With the understanding of new truth, there will a change in the way we think. Our mind rejects the old thinking and embraces the new.

Take for example, Santa Clause. When we were little kids most of us believed in Santa Clause. Then as time passed, his supernatural ability seemed impossible and we accepted this fact as our friends told us that he was not real.

Christians see truth when they accept Christ as their savior. It is a total mind change but it takes a while for thought processes to change. Truth is thought of as an idea, but in fact truth at its core is not an idea but is Jesus Himself. John 14:6 “... I am the truth...”

The way truth wins out in our mind is through humility, meekness, and humbleness. With pride we reject our being wrong. With humbleness we are willing to change directions. We are able to let go of old ideas and embrace the new. It is the excitement of the new that allows us to let go of the old. As we see this new truth we don't want to side step the truth but instead we embrace it.

Many will say I tried to follow things I learned in the Bible in the past but it didn't work. When we embrace what is true these objections fall away. If they don't fall away we really have not come to believe this new truth.

2 Corinthians 13:8 “For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.”

Truth works in us as a process. If someone has not worked in years. They can't expect to be offered a job without preparing themselves for the change in their life. There is a process and as we apply ourselves change will come.

When we see the opportunity a new truth offers we will be anxious to grow into this new reality. It will be on the forefront of our mind.

Take God's word that is speaking to you and meditate on it and see it happening for you.

Making Truth Effective - 4 - Resolution of Truth

Once an idea has been learned, there is a war within our minds. Two sides are being formed. The question is being bantered back and forth. Is this idea true or not?

(There are many people who have dismissed the Bible as not true or not livable. A vibrant Christian can't stay in this mindset. A vibrant Christian will look to Scriptural teachings as they really are, the teachings of Jesus. Jesus is not a liar or a deceiver. Numbers 23:19)

Something has to give with the dichotomy of these conflicting ideas. The old way of looking at things and doing things will have to change if we accept new truth. This old way will have to go. How will we respond to God's truth when we hear it? Our life is like soil. The way we receive God's words will show what kind of soil we are made of.

When seed is sown among weeds, it won't have a chance to grow because of competition. To accept God's teachings, the weeds in our life will have to be pulled out, but how? It is possible to renew our minds. Romans 12:1-2 We renew our minds by going over and over the Scriptures we are learning. Pondering and considering them, stating they are true. Emphasize each phrase and let the ideas seep in.

(Note: without laying down our life for Christ and denying our fleshly desires, we won't be able to accept God's words. They will be foolish to us. Romans 12:1)

Our life will move to where our mind dwells. The more we saturate our minds with the truth of God's word, the less we will be thinking that truth is not effective.

Making Truth Effective - 3 - Revelation of Truth

Receiving Revelation from the Lord.

Revelation 1 John was in the Spirit on the Lord's day and received the book of Revelation. It is putting our minds on the spirit of God that opens us to receive from God. When we allow our minds to stay on the things of the flesh that we miss out.

Psalm 119:130 “The unfolding of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.”
John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”

When God's light comes to us with understanding it sparks life within. Often I would read the Bible as if in a race to get through it. It is when I read the Bible to prayerfully ponder its meaning over and over that I receive light. Bible memory helps me in pondering Scriptural truths as I go throughout the day. Some say they can't memorize. Can you memorize your phone #? If you can, you can memorize.

What enables us to see this light of the Spirit? John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” It is being born again that enables us to see. What has happened to me is I go to sleep spiritually and don't act and use what I have.

John was in the Spirit on the Lord's day. It was a day dedicated to serve and worship God. It is when I live for  God that I am able to see what the Lord has. When I live for myself nothing happens.

Matthew 18:3 “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” When I am able to not argue or debate Scripture, but instead accept it, then I am on the road to revelation.

There is a difference to saying you agree with an idea and believe it. I move from agreeing with Scripture to believing it by mediation and following.

Making Truth Effective - 2 - Perception of Truth

What how and whom
What are you hearing?
How are you hearing it?
Who is tell it to you?

There is much that comes across our life and takes our attention. Be careful what you pay attention to. Also guard the time spent in listening to things that are not productive to your life. That is not to say there can be no idle or recreational times. But guard those times that they are not counterproductive to what is your purpose.

The first thing is to decide to seek the Lord. When we hear we also need to know who is talking. How are they explaining the idea. And what are they saying.

It doesn't matter who says it or how they say it or what they say. We will make a decision on the validity of the message. It makes it easier to accept what someone is saying if they say it in a way that is pleasing to us. Don't reject teaching out of hand. On the other hand there is a filter we use to accept when to listen and when to not listen. Be humble and consider what others say. Sometimes we realize that a teaching is good but the teacher is not worth following. Matthew 23:3

My experience is that I am inundated in teaching and ideas. Where should I spend my efforts? Prayerfully read the Bible each day and let that set the tone for all the other things you hear.

What we hear can be life giving or bring death. Seek to perceive when you are hearing words of life.

John 6:63 NASB “ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”

Return to Chapter 1.
Go to the next chapter.

Making Truth Effective

John 8:31-32 “ So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

I have been meditating on this scripture off and on for the past few months. I came across a booklet by Timothy Jorgensen called the “Process of Truth”

There are 12 chapters and I am expecting this study to help me in my understanding of John 8:31-32

The Reception of Truth
The Perception of Truth
The Revelation of Truth
The Conclusion of Truth
The confirmation of Truth
The commitment of Truth
The Application of Truth
The Assimilation of Truth
The Transformation of Truth
The Revolution of Truth
The Impartation of Truth

Each day I will comment on the next chapter. Today is chapter one.

The reception of truth takes a commitment of our attention. In the Sower parable there are 4 soils listed. Roadside soil, rocky soil, thorny soil and good soil. The roadside soil are the people that reject the seed of Jesus' teachings out of hand. They don't spend time considering it. Rocky soil are those who accept the teaching but give up on it when problems arise. Thorny soil are the people that are consumed with the worries and pleasures of life. Good soil are the people that receive the word and let it bear fruit in their life.

Note: The Sower parable is recorded in Matthew 13; Mark 4; and Luke 8.

To give a teaching from the Bible a chance to impact our lives, we need to get rid of the distractions that come our way.

Radio, TV, internet, social media, people, problems, other interest. All of these may be valid and useful but should be put aside to give the idea being presented in the Bible or from a teaching at church or a book or a mp3 message or a youtube message a chance. The messenger is presenting a message from the Bible and to allow God's truth to effect our lives, distractions need to be dealt with so we can let the message take effect.

Don't multi-task but instead give the idea your full attention.