In part one of this article, we discussed the problem many Christians have with their old nature or their soul. In this article you will find out how to overcome your old nature.
I will make two assumptions here.
To accomplish any task, in this case changing what you don't like in your life,you need a set of 'tools' to complete the task. Let's suppose I asked you to drive a nail into a board, and I gave you a board, a nail and a screwdriver. You would probably begin to question my sanity. Let's suppose instead of a screwdriver, I gave you a 'toolbox' equipped with all the tools necessary to complete any task. You would obviously select a 'hammer', and get the job done. Well you're probably thinking, what does all this have to do with My problem. Well actually it has everything to do with your problem (whatever it is).
You see as a Born Again Christian you really do have a 'spiritual toolbox' that resides inside of you, in your new spirit. It has every tool necessary to overcome any situation in your life. The sad part is not many Christians are aware that they have these tools. These 'tools' that are inside you, will allow you to believe for a healing for you flesh and receive it. They will cause you to be joyful in any circumstance. You can have true peace in the midst of turmoil. You will have the ability to overcome habitual bad habits. Let's take a look at what these tools are.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25
From here on I will stop calling these 'tools' and call them what they really are. They are gifts from God. They are the very essence of God. They are what God is, and they reside on the inside of you. That is why the Word says "we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" Romans 8:37. How can I know that I actually have these fruits in me?
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
The Word refers to these fruits (gifts) in other places, confirming Galations 5:22-25.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
Notice that the world has its own version of peace. Which by the way never works. You have God's Peace!
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15:10,11
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:5
So that should be settled in your mind. If you are Born Again, then you obviously have the Spirit of God himself dwelling inside of you. You also have everything you need to overcome in this world. Keep in mind that after you die and go to Heaven, there will be nothing to overcome. There will be no sickness or disease. The devil will not be there, and you no longer will have any problems with your old nature because you will leave that behind when you leave this world. So obviously the only place you're going to need these fruits will be in this world.
When you have all of the fruits of the Holy Spirit flowing out of you, then you will be Christ like. Now don't get all bent out of shape because I said, "you should be like Christ". Many Christians think they could never reach that level in their Christian walk. They feel it is absoulety impossible to be like Jesus Christ in this world. Well if you happen to be one of those Christians then I have some really good news for you.
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:16,17
Don't you just hate it when that happens. You go through life thinking that something is impossible. Then someone comes along and proves that it not only is possible, but you are commanded to do it. Keep in mind the scripture you just read is not something God dropped in the 'suggestion box of life'. It is a commandment!
Although this article is not directly about sickness and disease, let me add this one comment as something to think about. Jesus is not sick, never was sick and never will be sick. "As he is, so are we in this world".
Let's clear up one thing right now. You cannot walk the Christian walk. You cannot bear any of the Fruits mentioned above. You wiil not be able to overcome anything in this world. If you were able to accomplish these things, then you wouldn't need Jesus Christ, and obviously you do! Jesus Christ is the only one that can truly walk in the Spirit. He is the only one that has overcome this world.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Now there is a reason why the Word in Galations 5 refers to these attributes of God as 'fruits'. To fully understand what is going on here let's look at John 15.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:1-5
We can see by this scripture that the only way we can bear any of the fruits mentioned in Galations is to 'abide in the vine'. The vine is Jesus, and Jesus is the Word (And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth John 1:14 ).
Now here is the "spiritual secret' of what is actually happening when you:
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 13:14
You have actually put on the Lord Jesus Christ. When the devil or any evil spirit tries to come at you, they will only see Jesus, not you! They must flee from Jesus! This is how you will overcome this world, through Jesus Christ!
Now when you are in this position, you are walking in the Spirit and now you can bring forth the 'Fruits of the Spirit'. How do you do that?
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee alsoWherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee... 2 Timothy 1:5,6
Here Paul was telling Timothy to stir up his faith, which was one of the fruits (Gifts) that was inside of him, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If we are to overcome then we too must get "stirred up". As Christians we seem to allow everything in our lives to get stirred up. We get stirred up and upset if there is not enough money to pay the bills. We get stirred up over the fact that somebody 'rubbed' us the wrong way. We even get stirred up over getting stirred up! Well now is your chance to get stirred up over something worth getting sitirred up over.
Start pulling the fruits out of your spiritual 'toolbox'(the Holy Spirit) and get the job done. You are going to have to speak it with your mouth.
If you need to use your faith, then say "I stir up the Faith of God that is in me. If you are having problems with a habitual sin, then stir up the temperance of God that dwells in you. If you are having a hard time forgiving or loving someone, then stir up the Love of God that is in you. If you have fear then stir up the Joy and Peace of God that is in you. Stay in and abide in the Word of God. Speak the Word. Hear the Word. Keep the Word comming forth out of your mouth every day. Don't quite and don't give in. Keep stirring up the fruits of the Holy Spirit and praise God over his Word. Step by step you and Jesus will get from your problem to the answer. When you are walking in the Spirit with Jesus, then failure is not an option.
The Word of God will begin to change the way you think and act. Your physical body will begin to respond to God's Word. Your soul (mind, and emotions) will begin to take on the very mind of Christ!
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16
Now get stirred up, and begin to act in accordance with the Word of God! You are not the same person you were before you met Jesus Christ. You are a new creature. God is your Father. Jesus Christ is your Savior. The Holy Spirit is in you. Don't let the devil feed you any of his old lies, because the old you is a dead person.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:11
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians|5:17
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:21-24
GO AHEAD AND GET STIRRED UP!!!