Living by Faith in the Joy & Power of the Spirit

  As you embark on your adventure into the joy and power of the Spirit, it is vitally important that you learn to use your two spiritual weapons:  the hedge of protection and the hedge of thorns.  Utizilizing both of these will give you a spiritual victory that you may have never known before... Years ago, a young man came to see me and was totally distraught after discovering that his wife had been unfaithful to him and was living a life immersed in sin as she was frequenting bars and picking up men on a regular basis.   The couple was both 33 years old and had 3 young children so I knew the situation was critical for this young man.    I told him about the "hedge of thorns" found in the book of Hosea, and explained to him that he and I could agree together to pray a hedge of thorns around his wife.   We both began to pray and trust  God to be faithful to His Word... When the hedge of thorns has been prayed and placed around someone, it...

 In I Peter 5:8, we are warned in Scripture that Satan is moving all about seeking those whom he may devour--and one of his primary goals is to rob you of your spiritual joy and victory.  I Peter 5:8 tells us that he looking to devour you spiritually and that comes from the Greek word, katapiein, which means to rob you or destroy you spiritually.   Since God knows us and knows our areas of spiritual battle and conflict, He has also chosen to gift each of us with two special spiritual weapons:  the hedge of protection and the hedge of thorns.  Let's begin by focusing on the teaching concerning the "hedge of protection." The teaching about the hedge of protection comes from the first chapter of the book of Job when it says:  Job 1:5 "And it came about when the days of feasting had completed their cycle, that Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all."   Th...

 As you begin to embark on this new spiritual adventure and journey, there are some very simple guidelines to integrate in your spiritual walk with "the Paraclete." Remember that the word "Paraclete" means "one that walks beside" so that means that the Holy Spirit will be walking beside you every step of the way...  There is no need to be afraid of the Holy Spirit but just welcome Him into your life and then concentrate on learning to hear from Him... First of all, learn to develop such an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit that you feel comfortable speaking or talking to Him directly.   He took up residence in your heart and life when you were saved and now He's walking right with you every step of faith that you take.  Learn to share things with Him and open your heart to him in your times of prayer.   Second, learn to listen to what He is saying to you.  Every person is unique in their walk of faith so simply ask Him to speak to you and...

  The question is always asked "how do we learn to release the tremendous spiritual power that is within us?"   This is a valid question and is usually asked by every serious believer who is endeavoring to grow in their spiritual life.   Not to be simplistic but there are some simple steps that will lead you experiencing and unleashing this spiritual power in your life.  First and foremost, be sure of your salvation experience and know that you have accepted Jesus as your Saviour.   Once that is settled, you are ready to embark on your spiritual journey and a lifetime of walking by faith and living in the Spirit.  Here are some simple guidelines that might help: 1.  Spend some quality time in the Word.  Just make it a consistent practice in your life.   2.  Find a time every day to converse and communicate with the Lord Jesus.   Tell Him what you want, what you need, and what you want Him to do and it will m...

                             The Completed Work of Christ Intercession   **   Tells us what Jesus is doing for us today. **   By-product is peace, comfort, assurance, and confidence. **   Gives us an example of what we are to be doing today. **   Takes the focus off of us and our ability to “remember what to pray for” and puts it in the hands of Jesus and His “shepherding” the children of God. Text: Isaiah 53:12   “Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.” Hebrews 7:24,25   “but He, on the other hand, because He abides forever, holds His priesthood permanently.   Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Romans 8:26, 27   "And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the...

 If you are to ever walk in victory in the Spirit, then it is imperative that you have a solid Biblical understanding of the spiritual power you are infused with when you are born again.  Study these Biblical principles and unleash the power of the Spirit in your life! The Empowering of the Spirit   Scripture texts:  Acts 1:8   “but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” Luke 9:1   “And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and to heal diseases.” Luke 10:19   “Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you.” II Cor. 12:9   “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’” Eph. 3:20   “Not to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”   Spiritual Truths:...