Fire Cleanses And Fire Empowers

Fire Baptism

Jesus baptises with the Holy Spirit and fire. Many forget the fire part of the baptism. John baptised that people may come to repentance. Jesus baptises with fire. There are two baptisms. One is through water and the other through fire. Most of us are content to receive water baptism to signify repentance and new birth in Christ. How many of us desire to be baptised in fire? Yet this is what is lacking in the church. Some would contend that there are three baptisms. One is water, Holy Spirit and fire. We must be prepared to be baptised in the Holy Spirit and fire to lead a victorious life.

Spiritual Warfare

Our flesh is always contending against our spirit. Our spirit is born again and redeemed but our flesh is being redeemed. We live in a body which will one day die. There is therefore a war between the flesh and our spirit. Demons can influence our soul and our body but not our spirit. This is what spiritual warfare is all about. There is a constant need to be on fire to resist the flesh. Most of us are content to be sitting back and compromising with our flesh. No one can compromise with the enemy and win. The Kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force. This is not physical force but spiritual. We have the Name of Jesus and the blood of Jesus as weapons to overcome the attacks we face daily. The word of God challenges us to keep vigilant lest we become complacent and lose  our salvation. We are called to be warriors against the forces of darkness that rule this world.

Victorious Living

How can we stand but to fight our battles on our knees. The Christian calling is to be on the front lines. We cannot take over the enemy's territory unless we fight. Our enemy are spiritual entities and just as Jesus confronted them so do we too. There is little teaching on this subject in churches and so the church is weak and blind. Today let us take up arms and be baptised in fire for the battle before us is fierce. We cannot afford to sit back and watch. We have to enter into the fray and take back what the enemy has stolen. We have the whole host of heavenly forces behind us as we step out in faith. We can change history as we do so in Jesus Name.

Physical Death Was Not Overcome At The Cross.

Death

Death where is your sting. Jesus overcame death at the Cross. However this refers to death of our spirit. When Adam sinned we all sinned and so died spiritually. Jesus came to reverse this death by dying on the Cross. We now are alive in the spirit and this is what we call the born again experience. This is resurrection power that raised us. Before His resurrection we were dead in our spirit. Now through His death we have come alive. Because He lives I have hope for tomorrow. His resurrection was the greatest event in history. Without His resurrection we are hopeless and lost. However we will still die a physical death.

Life

We will all die one day unless we are raptured or walk into heaven like Enoch did. This is the reality. Why were we left to face death? Death is what makes living so exciting. Death for a Christian is a promotion. Christ overcame death and now we too can overcome death. The fear of death keeps many caged in their prison. The reality of death limits us. However we need to operate in eternal life and not death. Jesus said that He has given us eternal life in the spirit. This life is for now and not the hereafter. We fail to live the abundant life Christ promised because we don't believe in eternal life. Eternal life has no beginning and no end. We need to shift our thinking from a limited God to a God of no limits.

Resurrection Power

Today let us operate in resurrection power. This power is available to us who believe. Jesus said I am the resurrection power and life. His life was the demonstration of what is possible when we believe in His finished work. He now has ascended into heaven so that we can now operate in the same power. Why don't we see the church operate in this power? We fail to do so because we fail to believe. Unbelief keeps us from availing of the power that has been afforded to us. We must move from a position of mental assent to an act of obedience and acceptance. This is the only we can overcome death and be victorious.

The Key To Managing Relationships Is In Managing Boundaries

Relationships

Relationships are good but they can also cause a lot of pain and heartache. Over time many decide to break up because of the pain caused. This is not a physical pain but a mental pain. Mental pain cannot be seen but is as real as physical pain. It is the internal distress felt through broken relationships. We all need to relate to others but many get confused when communication is not clear. Many are the expectations of others and needs unfulfilled result in pain and distress. When a relationship is based on unmet needs it becomes a battle of control. A person becomes controlling of another to meet their needs. These needs are based on a hunger for love and significance. 

Basic Needs

Basic needs are met in childhood through parental love and guidance.  Many of these are not met and so as adults we tend to look for these in others. A deprived child will look for others who are deprived. They attract each other. We unconsciously attract others who have similar needs. This then sets up a cycle of events when both are expecting and demanding more from each other. This never works for a need can never be satisfied by another. We need to look to God to meet our needs and not another. When God is absent in our lives we will continue to manipulate others to meet our needs.

Boundaries

Boundaries become blurred and we read into things which are not there. When boundaries are blurred they lead to confused communication. Distorted and unclear communication leads to confusion and frustration. Clear boundaries keep a person objective and able to see things as they are. I don't say things and do things to manipulate the other person. I look to God to meet my needs. I operate in the overflow and am able to communicate clearly and this enables others to be relaxed. Anxious persons make others anxious. We influence our environment by how we feel. When we feel anxious and disturbed we disturb others. 

Solution

Clear and open communication is the way to establish clear boundaries. Boundaries are unconscious written rules that govern relationships. When I intrude into another's space I am wilfully breaking a boundary. This could be disastrous for sexual and emotional intimacy. This is how relationships get abused and result in domestic violence. Our unhindered emotions get the better of us. The solution is to be clear and open in our communication with each other. In this way we can slowly grow in our relationships and be loved and accepted.

Strategy For Good Sleep That Works

Sleep

Many people struggle with getting to sleep. They worry about not sleeping enough and this becomes a problem in itself. Worrying about anything will disturb your sleep. Sleep is important to our body and mental health. Sleep is the way we allow the stresses of the day to melt away and to recharge our body. Our body needs rest. We were not designed to work all the time. Even God rested on the seventh day! Sleep is vital to our bodily function and we need to have good sleep to lead a healthy life. Many who are sleep deprived suffer from various ailments in body and mind. One of the first signs of a mental disorder is the loss of sleep.

Strategies

There are many strategies to help one to relax and induce sleep. Some count sheep, others do relaxation exercises to relax the body and mind and there are techniques that can be used to induce sleep. Some of these work sometimes. Some resort to drugs to help induce sleep. All these are short term solutions. Sleep can be disturbed by many causes and so one solution does not fit all. One of the ways is to meditate on the word of God. God says that he whose mind is fixed on Him will find peace and rest. His word enables one to rest in His arms. In His arms there is rest and peace. 

God's Solution

Read the Bible before going to bed. Reading the word distracts your mind from daily worries and fixes it on God's word. It relaxes the mind and many find that reading His word helps sleep induction. The word of God is powerful and so power is released to quiet the mind. Meditating on scripture is another way to reap the benefits of His word. God heals the broken hearted and the wanderer is brought home. This is a proven way to induce sleep and stay asleep. There is no more powerful medicine than the word of God. It works especially when you read it aloud and by faith believe in it. Try it today and be at rest and sleep well.

Your Difficulty Is Your Opportunity To Triumph In Christ

Difficulties

Difficulties are part of life. We face different challenges as we live in a fallen world. A fallen world does not care about truth and justice. This is where as Christians we have to be the plumb line and not the bottom line for truth and justice. Many are the challenges we face daily but in Christ we can triumph. There is no challenge that we cannot face for He is with us. All we need to do is ask Him to help us. It becomes His problem when we ask Him to help us. We say, "What are we going to do about it?"

Holy Spirit

His Holy Spirit is our Counsellor and Guide. He was sent to help us. However we tend to do it our way than His way. This is when we run into difficulties. Our pride keeps us from surrendering our will and doing it His way. We want to claim points for doing it our way. We need to humble ourselves and ask the Lord to help us do it His way. In this way He will come to our help and show us His way. He said lay your burdens on me. He will carry our burdens. When we are yoked with Christ, He bears our burdens. 

Solution

Come today and empty your load on Him. He is our Father in heaven and He loves to help us. Israel wandered in the desert for forty years due to disobedience. Let us spare ourselves the same fate and surrender to His will. Let us pray your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is the only way to triumph in Christ. Let us not complicate matters by trying to do it our way. Most of our difficulties are due to choosing not to surrender to Him. All of life is a training ground for us in preparation for rulership. We will one day rule on earth. Let us be trained to triumph in righteousness and not give in to evil.

Reading The Word of God And Knowing The Word

Knowledge

There is so much knowledge we can have yet this knowledge is of no use if it is failed to be applied. We can talk about the subject without knowing the subject. This is what happens through our institutions of learning that teach us to amass a lot of knowledge but fail to apply it. Learning of itself is not bad but useless if it cannot be applied. I can learn a lot about tennis or football but if I don't play it, what use is it?  Most of our lives is spent on learning about things but few learn to live it. This apples to the word of God too. We have a lot of mental knowledge but little heart knowledge.

Heart Knowledge

Mental ascent to the word of God remains in the mental realm. To manifest the word of God it needs to become a knowing or heart knowledge. When I know the Healer, He becomes my healing. I can know all about the Healer but nothing manifests. Most Christians can be divided into two camps. The ones who know about the word and those who know the word. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is an experiential event. It is not just an acceptance but a manifestation. In most cases there is evidence of the manifestation like praying in tongues. One needs to discern the difference. The baptism in fire can also result in manifestation like in a change in your character.

Solution

Is this the reason the church appears to be powerless and lifeless. We do a lot of external things to appear useful but are these only an appearance and not the real thing? God is Spirit and He manifests His power through His Spirit. Have we been deceived in to accepting the lesser because we have failed to teach on knowing God? Call on the Holy Spirit to infill you and baptise you in power and in fire. Hunger for this experience till you know you have it. This is the only way the church is going to be the head and not the tail. God give us all a hunger for knowing Him more.

The Tree Of Life Is Jesus

The Tree Of Life

The tree of life was in the garden of Eden and Adam and Eve were able to eat of it freely. In the garden was also the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God forbade them from eating of this fruit as they would die. However the devil was able to tempt them to do so. Through this sin of disobedience they fell and so did all creation with them. Since then all of creation has been affected by sin. This is the reason why Jesus has to come to redeem us. He did this by dying on the Cross for us. Now the tree of life lives in us when we trust His salvation on our behalf. Jesus comes to live in us through His Holy Spirit.

Fruit

The tree of life bears fruit that nourishes our spirit. Our spirit then affects our soul and our body. The words of life bear fruit in us and we enjoy it and share it with others. This is the way God had planned it from the beginning. However the devil cannot be part of this redemption. He is condemned to hell with his angels. However he wants to take as many as possible to hell with him. This is why we need to share the good news of the gospel to all who will listen. There is no other way to be saved. 

Salvation

God planned from the beginning that we were helpless to save ourselves. He therefore has provided for us a lamb as a sacrifice on our behalf. Come and receive His salvation today. He died for all, yet all will not receive Him. Most will reject His plan of salvation. Most will be happy to continue to eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. This is what we see in our fallen world. The wars within and without confirm our fallen state. There is no redemption other than through Jesus. He has promised us eternal life. Come now and be saved in Jesus Name.

Switch Your Mode Of Operation From Taking To Giving To Reverse Your Situation

World System

Most of us have been programmed by the system of the world to operate like the world. The system of the world is based on power and so the most powerful rule the world. The main motive is to win at any cost. We see this acted out in families, organisations and governments. It is a selfish system based on me, myself and I. The world tries to build on the basis of a team but that is only a cover up for attaining ends. The end is still to achieve the best for oneself. The Kingdom of God is based on love and giving. 

Kingdom Living

This requires a major shift in our thinking. A shift from me, myself and I to we, ours and Kingdom is not a minor feat. It calls on us trusting God rather than man. God is our Provider. We go to work because we want to earn a living. However our workplace should be the place where we are placed to witness of God's goodness not our place of provision. This is not how we think. We mainly think that we have to work to earn a living and therefore are forced to compromise with the world. When we come to the place where we acknowledge God as our Provider than things begin to change.

Giving

In the Kingdom we are blessed by giving. We are looking for opportunities to share God's love in many ways. We share our goods, money, time and resources with others. We desire to bless others rather than use them to fulfil our needs. This is what we are called to do yet even in the church we see the system of the world operating. The world has infiltrated our churches. It is time to reverse this trend and begin to be the light and salt we are called to be. Let us give to others and build a loving community where there is no lack. Let us look to God as our Provider and shift the world to God's ways. His ways are the best way of living. Let us begin today.

Lust Is Based On Fantasy. Love Is Based On Action.

Lust

Many are the drivers of our behaviour. When our emotions are aroused we will be driven to do things unimaginable. We have to discern what is driving us. If lust drives us then it is mainly based on our fantasy. Fantasy is our fallen imagination that thinks we can get away with some of our forbidden desires. Many rapes and sexual misadventures are based on lust. Lust is a big driver in many risky adventures. The lust for power, fame and self aggrandisement are some of the results of lust. Sexual lust has broken many marriages. Love on the other hand is based on action.

Love

Love is the determined action to serve another. It is not driven by selfish desires but selfless concern. It always gives and desires to bless than to take. Think always what is driving you in a particular situation. If it is lust then reject the desire before it is too late. Once desire is formed it is difficult to reverse the action that follows. Impulsive actions many times leads to a good life suddenly destroyed. What is the solution to this dilemma where in Romans 7 Paul eludes to this situation of knowing what to do but not doing it?

Solution

The solution is to surrender our will to the Lord. Many of us want to live a Christian life but on our terms. This is not possible. This is clearly illustrated in Romans 7. The flesh will not yield to the Spirit. Only total surrender will result in the flesh being reckoned dead. Once we know our place in the Spirit we will be able to overcome the flesh. The flesh will have no more power over us. Remember sin is a powerful force that works through our flesh. We need to submit to God and walk in obedience to the Spirit and not give in to the ways of the flesh. This is the victory we have in Christ Jesus who won the battle on Calvary.

The Secret Place Is Our Hiding Place Against The Attacks Of The Devil.

The Secret Place

The secret place is where the Spirit of God resides. We too are seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. This is the place where we need to operate from. We still live in our body but our spirit is seated in heavenly place. This is our secret place where we wield authority and operate in the flesh. Most of us are unaware of this position we have in Christ. To operate in the Spirit is to operate from our secret place. We cannot win the war against our enemy but from our secret place. The enemy has no place in our secret place. He is banned from the throne room of God. We reside in the third heaven while our enemy taunts us from the second heaven.

Our Position In Christ 

Our position in Christ is a privileged position. This is where we relate in the spirit with the Holy Spirit. We have the mind of Christ and so can rule and reign on earth with His mindset. Our communion with Him is what will get us over the hurdles that we face in life. All around us maybe crumpling and failing but within us we are overcoming. We can overcome because the overcomer lives in us. We know how the disciples went through a lot of persecution but rejoiced in the midst of it. We too can rejoice when troubles come our way because we live from within and not from without. Even when all appears to be lost, we still live in victory because we know we win in the end.

Kingdom Of God Is Within Us

This is how we need to live. The Kingdom of God is within us where Jesus is King. Where else would we want to live? In His Kingdom is love, peace, joy and all the fruits of the Spirit. We can also operate in the gifts of the Spirit. We are spirit beings and therefore our home is where the Holy Spirit is. Here there is no death or decay because we have eternal life. The physical world is just a temporary phase. Our mind is set above and we feast daily at His table. Now we can live life to the full knowing that it is He who called us to this life. We have been chosen for a time like this. Let us be His light and life to a broken world we live in.