Disappointing Jesus is painful.
When we fall the pain is clear and the disappointment and grief clearly present.
There is no need to stumble or fall in such a way as to be devoured!
Because we'veStumbled
Sinned
Fallen Short
Missed the Mark
Trespassed
Failed
IMMEDIATE choices and actions are needed.
Walking in the Spirit requires intentional steps.
Walking by faith and not by sight requires focused attention.
We are engaged in a battle in which God's blessings and Kingdom fill up our lives and overflow onto the world. A displacement is required; more of the Spirit and Word deeply abiding in us and flowing like a river inside and out to the world.
We are fighting a roaring lion.
He is prowling and looking for someone to devour.
Walking with Jesus is never passive. When we fall it requires immediate action.
1. First identify which enemy are you fighting?
The World? - the fallen order of things. Strongholds and spiritual traps seek to bring you and I into captivity. (2 Cor 10:3-5) It can be a process getting free from deep sins that revolve around our community/family relationships or identities. Partying. Pornography. Sexual sins. Homosexuality. So many of the sins we break free from are rooted in a culture or system that keeps us coming back and enslaves us. Good News. Jesus defeats every captivity. He took captivity itself captive to rescue us! (Ephesians 4:10)
The Flesh? Desire, Deceit and Despair The flesh when fed even a little encouragement awakens and delivers temptations that flow from our fallen and broken desires. Sow to the Spirit and you won't feed the flesh. Build a disciplined life (1 Tim 1:7) filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:17) and the Word of Christ (Col 3:14) dwelling richly in you.
The Devil? The whole array of fallen angelic beings that prowl about looking to put out the flame of your first love, worship and service to the King of Kings. These wars typically come in a Mind Battle. Thoughts dropping into your mind that are untypical or out there. Simply resist the devil and he will flee. (James4:7)
Though all three relate and can be avenues for the enemy to entrap us and tempt us, they each carry their own particular means of seeking to pull us into sin.
There is no need to stumble or fall in such a way as to be devoured!
2. Second - Remember when you first came to Christ?
Do what you did at first.
Remember, you had a good grasp on the fact that you were a sinner walking around with filthy rags and ashes? Jesus forgave us. You and I confessed our sins and were forgiven. He will do the same today.
RUN BACK to HIM.
The Mercy of God overwhelms the sins of our lives forever. Grace pours in and starts healing.....
When we repent.
When we agree with God.
When we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Just like we did at first.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. I John 2:1
3. Know this, your enemy will try and kick you when you are down.
The prowling lion, our enemy Satan, will seek to keep you in that state of disappointment and self righteousness as long as possible. If he can trap you into thinking you are unworthy of the grace of Christ or to focus on your accomplishments outside of grace and first love dependence, he will. Somehow we forget we are saved by grace. We start thinking we are now righteous of our own accomplishments in spiritual pursuits. The Enemy will try and lead you here when you are hurting from a fall. He will show up to instill some religion and appeal to your flesh. The only appeal is to the grace of God and the Blood of Jesus.
We all feel it. The disappointment in ourselves that we have seen him and known him and we stumble into our old ways or sins. We deplore ourselves and beat ourselves up. We wallow around not wanting to approach Jesus and get free and forgiven again. All because we feel we "should be further along than this". Or we say to ourselves "we are not worthy of Christ because we've fallen again". The Old man carries religion quite well. The flesh loves to put on religion instead of the Blood of Christ. It suits our self - righteousness better.
Paul called out the religion in the Galatians when we asked them if now they no longer needed the Spirit to walk with Christ.
This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Galatians 3:3
4. Make a point of getting "over yourself" and step quickly into grace and freedom.
Imagine how Peter felt after he denied Jesus. All those amazing things experienced and he ends up denying three times his most intimate friend on earth. That friend being the Son of God. When we walk with Jesus we see ourselves over and over in the view of his majesty, holiness and power. At certain points along the journey we really see ourselves again from the vantage point of our old man and it hurts.
We are saved by grace through faith. That doesn't change along the way. Don't ever forget you are saved by GRACE.
See this is an opportunity for healing, new life and deeper love.
The fact that we feel remorse or guilt is an affirmation that we have seen him and known him. We demonstrate the presence of the Holy Spirit. Be grateful that he is after you in love and calling you back to the WAY.
He leads us back to Jesus. He convicts the world of sin.
He reminds us of all Jesus said. John 14:12-16
5. Restore an atmosphere of Word and Spirit all around and in you.
Paul calls us to "let the word of Christ dwell richly in us" (Col 3:16) and to be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:17-18). The result of these two things moving in greater and greater measure in and through us is....
wisdom
psalms,
hymns,
spiritual songs,
singing with gratitude in your heart,
songs from the Spirit,
making music from your heart.
Restore the praise, Word, and fellowship that is yours in Christ immediately.
Step past your feelings and into a faith filled grace filled response to the Lord. Confess your sin. Ask the Spirit to cleanse you and free you. Surrender to Jesus again.
2016
Look forward, eyes filled with Abundance, Boundless, Victorious vision in Jesus.
Get a copy of my Prophetic Review 2016 - Salvation's Mountain Erupting with Open Doors, Shifts and Invitation.www.jeffreynoldsministries.com
Thanks for Reading!
I love your comments. Ideas and thoughts.
Please share em.
Re-shares are great. thank U.
Here are some other blogs posts that may interest you.
1.http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2015/01/7-things-enemy-devil-doesnt-want-you-to.html
With much love in Jesus
You can do this thing! He's got you.
Jeff Reynolds ---
Brother Jeff
www.jeffreynoldsministies.com
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