NAIL IT TO THE CROSS, FOR REAL!!!

When we FOLLOW CHRIST JESUS, we die to doing things our own way! Our will, our desires, our passions, our aspirations, and even our rights, HAVE been crucified with HIM---

This we struggle with, as the flesh IS concerned about self, but IN HIM, and the knowledge HE teaches us, we learn to, bit by bit, let go, and to RELY ON HIM in said struggles; HE is NOT going to leave us to ourselves IF we TRUST HIM, and DEPEND upon HIM to LEAD THE WAY---

HE came to this Earth, and existed AS A MAN, THEREFORE HE KNOWS, full and well, our EVERY battle, in which case, HE left us enough instruction TOWARDS surviving the tests, trials, and tribulations of this world, IN which we HAVE our part to fulfill, which means while RELYING ON HIM, we ALSO, OBSERVE HIS WILL, and OBEY HIS directives, FOR they ARE left with purpose towards our safety, security, and sustainment in ALL matters!!!

We die to doing things our own way! Mind boggling for many, still it IS TRUE, and serves our partnership with THE LORD! We CANNOT serve both the flesh, and THE LORD, for the flesh IS in perpetual conflict with what is of THE SPIRIT, which IS our REALITY, and TRUTH! For sure, it IS contrary to the ways we were reared in, and that IS WHY we struggle greatly with this part of growing INTO our TRUTH...

How difficult it IS TO recall, and remember as we exist in this world that we ARE no longer led by the world, instead, by THE LORD *GOD*, AND HIS WILL! How confusing it seems when our worldly instincts kick in to respond according to the world, when we KNOW not to! Ah, HE KNOWS, and understands, which is why THAT we are AWARE, and AWAKE, and CONSCIOUSLY attempting TO improve daily, it is well with us; that is, as long as we REMAIN IN HIM, even when being tripped...

HE IS TRANSFORMING us! Our part IS to be WILLING, and to contribute TO this BY ever being rooted IN HIM, and HIS WILL, despite our frequent stumbling, and to RETAIN knowledge, FOR the sake of understanding AS we are experiencing in this realm, THAT when we are tripped, we are not trapped! He who endures until the end, he will be saved (MATTHEW 24: 13)! MANY WILL fall away, MANY WILL be chained to the flesh, BECAUSE of the world, it's ways, and the stubbornness of the heart! MANY REALLY like it on Earth, and CAN'T see past to THE GLORIOUS KINGDOM, EVEN those who believe IN HIM, and once thought they could follow HIM: it is NOT an easy thing to die to the flesh, and to put the spiritual being, and *GOD* first, and foremost; it just ISN'T comfortable in lieu of the endless enticements, temptations, and longings, HOWEVER, THIS will PROVE HIS people unequivocally!!!

THE LORD gave us instruction to COUNTER that which leads us to err, to sin, and those pesky behaviours borne of lust, greed, wrath, sloth, envy, gluttony, and pride, as these ARE the things which the enemy USES to cause us to trip, and trap us with! We ARE weak due to the egocentric being, THINKING we HAVE a right to exist as we want, as that IS how the world has deceived us! Now, IF we ARE OF THE LORD, we KNOW that all this HAS been nailed to the cross, as we strip off the old self, and step INTO the new being; meaning, our rights to the flesh ARE past, and insignificant now!!!

We CAN'T exist in the world's ways, and in HOLY ways, they are in direct opposition! Of course, since it IS a process, we WILL struggle in our new being, YET, we are encouraged to NEVER give in TO that which intends to take us away from our TRUTH, and our LORD *GOD*!!!

I KNOW a LOT of people freak out when they read, or hear that even their rights have been crucified with the old self, but consider what these rights really represent; they are little more than whisperings of the evil one attempting to convince you of his argument with *GOD*, which is that he IS equal unto HIM, and DOES have the right to believe, speak, and act so, which IS rebellion undisputed, and absolutely wrong in all respects, for THE LORD *GOD* IS SOVEREIGN, entirely...

Too many Christians ARE trying to exist in THE LORD, and in the world; they are caught up in those errs which WILL endanger their very soul, as they CONTINUE in the flesh, and HOPE in the spirit! NO, we WON'T be perfect in our journey TO THE KINGDOM, but IF we are TRUE PARTNERS of HIS COVENANT, we ARE existing IN the spirit as much as is feasible, AS we are BEING made perfect for HIS GLORY, and our eternal sharing IN HIM...

ROMANS 8: 5-13...
5+++Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
6+++The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 
7+++The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 
8+++Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9+++You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 
10+++But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 
11+++And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12+++Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 
13+++For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Believers may be chastened of the Lord, but will not be condemned with the world. By their union with Christ through faith, they are thus secured. What is the principle of their walk; the flesh or the Spirit, the old or the new nature, corruption or grace? For which of these do we make provision, by which are we governed? 

The unrenewed will is unable to keep any commandment fully. And the law, besides outward duties, requires inward obedience. 

God showed abhorrence of sin by the sufferings of his Son in the flesh, that the believer's person might be pardoned and justified. Thus satisfaction was made to Divine justice, and the way of salvation opened for the sinner. 

By the Spirit the law of love is written upon the heart, and though the righteousness of the law is not fulfilled by us, yet, blessed be God, it is fulfilled in us; there is that in all true believers, which answers the intention of the law. The favour of God, the welfare of the soul, the concerns of eternity, are the things of the Spirit, which those that are after the Spirit do mind. 

Which way do our thoughts move with most pleasure? Which way go our plans and contrivances? Are we most wise for the world, or for our souls? 

Those that live in pleasure are dead, 1Ti 5:6. A sanctified soul is a living soul; and that life is peace. The carnal mind is not only an enemy to God, but enmity itself. The carnal man may, by the power of Divine grace, be made subject to the law of God, but the carnal mind never can; that must be broken and driven out. We may know our real state and character by inquiring whether we have the Spirit of God and Christ, or not, ver. 9. Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. Having the Spirit of Christ, means having a turn of mind in some degree like the mind that was in Christ Jesus, and is to be shown by a life and conversation suitable to his precepts and example.

If the Spirit be in us, Christ is in us. He dwells in the heart by faith. Grace in the soul is its new nature; the soul is alive to God, and has begun its holy happiness which shall endure for ever. The righteousness of Christ imputed, secures the soul, the better part, from death.

From hence we see how much it is our duty to walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. If any habitually live according to corrupt lustings, they will certainly perish in their sins, whatever they profess. And what can a worldly life present, worthy for a moment to be put against this noble prize of our high calling? Let us then, by the Spirit, endeavour more and more to mortify the flesh. 

Regeneration by the Holy Spirit brings a new and Divine life to the soul, though in a feeble state. And the sons of God have the Spirit to work in them the disposition of children; they have not the spirit of bondage, which the Old Testament church was under, through the darkness of that dispensation. The Spirit of adoption was not then plentifully poured out. Also it refers to that spirit of bondage, under which many saints were at their conversion.  

Many speak peace to themselves, to whom God does not speak peace. But those who are sanctified, have God's Spirit witnessing with their spirits, in and by his speaking peace to the soul. Though we may now seem to be losers for Christ, we shall not, we cannot, be losers by him in the end.

Ah, you see? There is MUCH more concerning our NEWNESS IN CHRIST JESUS, which we OUGHT to take to heart, and allow to root deeply within, as the knowledge opens up to understanding, which then guides us in all matters! We WON'T be FREE until we MAKE the conscious, and conscientious DECISION to rid of the shackles which the world HAS placed on us; ALLOWING THE LORD *GOD*, our SAVIOUR, and HOLY SPIRIT TO LEAD us THROUGH what intends to darken our minds, our hearts, our opportunity TO enter into THE ETERNAL, and BLESSED KINGDOM, WHERE we WILL FOREVER ENJOY the fruits of our labours, tests, trials, and tribulations; our efforts geared towards TRUTH shall NEVER be in vain!!!

PRAY, PRAISE, WORSHIP, REJOICE, and BE GLAD THAT there IS this opportunity TO align TO THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, and HONOUR HIM IN ALL you ways, ALL of your days, HE IS WORTHY, and IS THE ONLY HOPE for ALL!!!

LWINSOR © 2018
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS