Freely Give

Romans 8:21
“that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”

When Christians walk in freedom they walk in God's glory. Walking in God's glory is walking in God's power. Living in God's glory and power will give us victory over the problems that we face. The earth itself can be changed by faith. John 14:12; various Scriptures of Jesus having power over this world.

Always remember that having power without the willingness to live through the suffering (Romans 8:17) of the gospel negate faith and express selfishness. We can't live in the power of God and live in selfishness at the same time. (Also unforgiveness Mark 11:25; Pride Habakkuk 2:4 John 5:44)

The freedom that comes from Jesus will give us the power to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. When we learn to freely receive from Christ we can freely give. Matthew 10:8

Romans 5:1-5 teaches that God's grace comes by our accepting it by faith. Faith accepts God's grace and also looks to Christ instead of the flesh when trials come. We rejoice in Christ in the trial Romans 5:3 not because of the trial but because of the confidence that we have in Christ. There is victory in life. We don't fear an evil report, because  of our trust in God. Psalm 112:7 Trials just bring us into more glory and victory.

Our hope will not disappoint because the love of God brings us victory. Romans 5:5; Rom 8:39; Love brings the ultimate victory. Jesus overcame the world by His love expressed on the cross. The baton has been passed to us and we overcome the world by living in the spirit and not the flesh. Romans 8:5-13. We live in the Spirit Rom 8:13 and bring this life, John 6:63 taught in the Scriptures and experienced by having a relationship with Christ. And the relationship with Christ is expressed by loving others with faith in practical ways.

Understanding Scripture is not just mental assent. Our minds need to be renewed with the Scriptures so that when we go through trials of life we respond from our hope in Christ and the promises from the Scriptures instead of our minds and natural selfish defense or desires. Trials are a test of faith. How we respond shows if we are passing the test (2 Cor 13:5) or not. If I am not passing the test, I continue to renew my mind in Jesus. Romans 12:1,2.

If I am passing the test, I should continue to renew my mind as I meditate on Scripture. Psalm 1:2,3; Joshua 1:8; John 15:7

Freedom comes from knowing the truth. John 8:31,32. But again knowledge of Scripture is not mental assent but is spiritual knowledge which is expressed by works. If we don't use spiritual knowledge we really don't know what we think we know. James 1:22 We come to know by hearing and doing not just by hearing. Faith without works is dead. James 2:17 The way to learn spiritual knowledge is to hear and believe and apply what we believe with love towards others. Sunday morning church often times does not provide this outlet for learning. After the morning teaching the word they heard is plucked out of their heart Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:5  (notice I did not say out of their mind) and becomes just a vague memory or for the diligent a point of arrogance. 1 Cor 8:1.

Let us not be sluggish or arrogant, but instead let us respond to Christ and His teachings in love for others. Freely you have received, freely give.

Hebrews 6:11, 12 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Walking in the Spirit vs Walking in the Flesh.

Walking in the Spirit vs walking in the flesh.

Walking in the Spirit is living with your mind set on the things of the Spirit.
To stay away from sin is not walking in the spirit.

What are the things of the Spirit?
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."

To set your mind and live according to what the Bible teaches along with being sensitive to the Holy Spirit is walking in the Spirit.

Walking in the Spirit is not obeying the Bible. John 5:39,40
Walking in the Spirit is living for Christ as the Bible teaches.

Watching TV and eating pop corn is neither of the flesh or of the Spirit. Where your mind is while you eat and watch TV will determine whether you are in the flesh or the Spirit.

Romans 8:5-8
" For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

Romans 8:11

Rom 8:11 "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."

The Holy Spirit is giving me life to live on this earth and be effective in the kingdom of God. And not just a little dose of life. But LIFE EVERLASTING. And this life everlasting can reach out to others and bring life to them.

The Holy Spirit brings the word to our remembrance and this word is life. John 14:26; John 6:63 The Word of God is so rich.

The Holy Spirit is dwelling in us. This life within is waiting to burst out. Praise God. The Holy Spirit gives life as I listen to Him. Thank you Jesus.

Rom 8:11 "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."

Sickness really is a part of our body not operating right. For the Holy Spirit to give life to our body is to heal what is wrong with us. He raises us up from the sick bed with newness of life.

Rom 8:11 "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."

But if the Spirit

We have the Spirit at our new birth. And we have the baptism of the Spirit. But there needs to also be refreshing of the Spirit of God. It is not so much that the Spirit needs to be revived but we need to be revived with the Spirit of God.

The words Jesus spoke to us are spirit. John 6:63. And it is by the Word of God that we are revived.
Psalm 119:25, 40, 50, 107, 159,

It is the great peace that comes to us as we love the Word of God. Ps 119:165

Jesus was raised from the dead by the Spirit of God. Jesus who had all the sin of the whole world on Him was raised from the dead by the Spirit of God. It is this same power that will give life to us throuth the Spirit of God. Thank you Jesus for your spirit.

The Spirit of God dwells in me. I am the temple of God. Not that I am special but God is special to choose man to live with. Who am I to have this Spirit? Yet I have this same Spirit that raise up Jesus from the dead and He went to sit at the right hand of God the Father. And now He is making intercession for me to the Father as I speak the words of The Spirit of God spoken to me through the Bible.

Now I have this life but life is to be lieved and used not horded. If I try to hoard it disapates. If I give it grows within me.

The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. The glory of the Father raised Jesus from the dead. Romans 6:4 So the Holy Spirit took the Father's glory to raise Jesus from the dead. I see glory as light. The Holy Spirit took the Fathers bright light to raise Jesus from the dead. And what is the light? Ps 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. The word of God is the light of God. The Holy Spirit took the word of God to raise Jesus from the dead. And this same word of God will also raise us from the deadness of the flesh to walk in the newness of the spirit. Let the Word of God richly dwell within you.

Without Jesus being raised there is no hope of the gospel. And if we are not raised we are walking in the flesh and not the spirit. Where there is spirit there is life. What does the Spirit do? He reminds us of the Scripture. The words of Jesus are Spirit and they are Life. He who has hears to hear let him hear.

The Spirit dwells in me. I don't have to search for Him just quiet myself to listen. He will speak if I will stop speaking and obsessing, and staying busy to look important.

Why should we try to look important? We have the living God the creator of the heavens and the earth within us. We have more than the answer to our needs dwelling within. We have fullness of joy dwelling within.

The Spirit will also give life. Just as He did for Jesus He will do for me. It is the same word He will do. And greater works will we do because Jesus returns to the Father. What is Jesus doing with the Father? He is praying for us. John 14:14 If you ask Me anything in my name I will do it." If Jesus is assuring us that He will answer our prayers. Then won't He answer His own prayers that He is giving to the Father?

Walk in the Spirit with Disagreement

Water rushing down the hiking trail.

Walking in the Spirit in the midst of disagreement and opposition. Don't look to the problem look to what the Bible says and follow a course of reconciliation and peace making.

So what do you do when you have an enemy that is out to hurt you? You give a blessing in response.

What to do when experiencing opposition. Refer to the word in prayer for the peace of God and the direction of God and the will of God and the grace of God and the love of God.

The attitude of Abraham is a good course to take. Give way and take the lesser value alternative. God will bless you and support you as you walk in faith.

Romans 8 God will be with you and help you and support you and guide you and bless you and you can't go wrong walking in faith with God on your side.

You don't have to protect yourself. You can trust God to provide for you and be with you and give you a life of faith and joy and fulfillment.

Luke 12:15 not even when we have an abundance to does our life consist of our possessions. True life and joy comes from walking in the Holy Spirit and His word breathed to you.

With this attitude real problems become miniscule. Why? Because we are assured of God coming through for us and we have peace in the midst of turmoil. Then when the turmoil leaves not only will you be blessed in this life you will be blessed in the Spirit as well.

Life in the spirit does not look at what can be seen but what can't be seen. Life does not just consist of what you can see taste feel hear and smell. Just as radio and TV waves are here so is the Spirit of God. We accept the reality of the TV and radio waves without a problem. Let us accept the Spirit of God as well. He can do so much for us as we look to Him.

Walk in the Spirit not the Flesh

Romans 8:6-15
Romans 8:6-11
We set our minds on the things of the Spirit to have life. Christians have the Spirit in them which was given at salvation. Eph 1:13 As we follow the leading of the Spirit and not the desires of the flesh we have spiritual life.

Romans 8:12-14
To live by the Spirit is to make no provision for the flesh (Rom 13:14) and to put to death the deeds, desires, wants, wishes of the flesh.
“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14

verse 15 is the first step of this life of the Spirit. God is our Father and we can call Him Abba, Daddy.

The Lord's prayer starts out with, “Our Father which art in heaven. Prayer to God is the beginning the middle and the end of spiritual life. Life flows from this interaction. We can't deny our flesh if there is nothing to replace it with. Now people do deny it in action but not in thought. Sometimes people can deny both action and thought and not live in the Spirit but they are not happy. Joy comes from the flow of the Spirit. And they are unfruitful because life flows from the Spirit not ideas or rules.