Sunday, October 21, 2012

It's Time For Your Breakthrough!

Greetings in the name of the Lord readers!  I recently had the privilege of preaching on a Sunday morning at Life Tabernacle here in Wichita Falls, Texas, and I would to like to share that sermon with you today!  If you have ever needed a breakthough in your walk with God, or just with your life in general, this message will be a great blessing to you!  I am, as usual, posting my sermon notes so you can follow along, just click on the link below to listen to the message, and feel free to leave a comment...God bless and enjoy - Bro Jessie.

Click here to listen! http://apostoliclive.com/play_audio.php?audio=3697


BREAKTHROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE
TEXT – Main Text: Luke 8:22-25
Luke 8:22-25
22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
THESIS – It’s time for someone today to breakthrough to the other side…
GOAL-To help you breakthrough to the other side…
I –  THE NEED AND CALL TO GO ‘THE OTHER SIDE’
-Which side of the Kingdom are you on?
1 Peter 2:9
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

-The grass ‘ain’t always greener on the other side.’  That is generally a true statement, unless you are NOT on the SIDE of the Kingdom of God.  If you are not part of the Kingdom, you live outside this kingdom, and live in the other kingdom, let me just tell you, the grass IS greener on THIS SIDE…and it may be time to heed the Master’s invitation to break on through to the OTHER SIDE…
Ps 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 (In this Kingdom, on THIS side, The grass is greener because)He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: (On the wrong side, there’s drought for the soul, but on this side) he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3(One the wrong side, there is a depression, and a helplessness, but on THIS SIDE) He restoreth my soul: (On the other side, people wander through life, not knowing where they’re going or what they’re purpose is, but on THIS SIDE OF THE KINGDOM) he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 (It’s a cold, lonely world out there, but in this kingdom, even when) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, (I don’t have to be afraid, because perfect love casteth out fear)I will fear no evil: (And I never walk alone) for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 (This world’s financial system is getting ready to collapse, but my Daddy owns the the cattle on a thousand hills, On this side:) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: (Outside of the kingdom, there ain’t no power, but living for God, I’ve got power) thou anointest my head with oil; (one the wrong side there are no blessings, but on God’s side) my cup runneth over.
6 (Outside the Kingdom, on the wrong side, there is no grace, and there is no mercy, and there is NOTHING to be sure about, but if you ever break through to the other side, you’ll find out) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
-My worst days with God have been far better than my best days living for the world!
I’m here to challenge someone today, if you havn’t yet made up you mind to live for God, God is giving you an invitation to break on through to the other side…breakthrough to repentance…breakthrough in water baptism in Jesus’ name… breakthrough to the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
I’m preaching to those of you that need to break through…
From the side of sickness, to the other side of healing.
From the side of darkness, to the other side of His marvelous light.
From the side of a cursed life, to the side of blessing.
From dysfunctional, to proper working order.
From cold dead formal religion, to the other side of activated Book of Acts Christianity…
We need breakthroughs, in our prayer life, in our praise, in our worship, in our witnessing, in our finances, and our ministries…we can’t stay where we’re at – We must heed the Master’s call and break through to the OTHER SIDE…
I need to preach to the church in the wilderness for a moment – this is a clarion call for this entire movement, and for this local body right now – we must collectively, and you must individually follow the leading of the Spirit to THE OTHER SIDE of the promised land of revival, or we and you will die in this wilderness…
Deut 1:1-8
1:1 These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.
2(There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea.)
3 And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;
4 After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei:
5 On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,
6 The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:
7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.
8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.
-We must break through to revival now…
- If you don’t breakthrough now, you’ll die lost in Egypt, or wandering in the wilderness, never having reached your potential in God and never fulfilling your destiny…God’s not going to force you at gunpoint to get into the boat!
The Big Question is HOW do we break through…how…you ready for this:
FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP!
-If Israel wanted to make it out of Egypt…they had to follow Moses…and his instructions.
-If Israel wanted to make it out of the wilderness and into the promised land of Canaan, they had to follow Joshua.
-If the disciples wanted to go to the other side of the lake – THEY HAD TO FOLLOW JESUS AND GET IN THE BOAT
-If we want to break through to revival, we must follow the Spirit of Christ, and His leadership.
-If you don’t won’t to get on board with leadership – you don’t want a breakthrough, you want a shortcut.
Rom 8:13-19
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
We must of necessity take a birds eye look at the sequence of events in Luke 8, and I want you to notice a pattern of the Spirit I feel I have picked up on.
1.) Luke 8:1-21, Jesus spends his time teaching his disciples about the Kingdom of God, mainly the parable of the sower…
-This is a time of learning and discipleship – guess what -  God does not want you to merely learn about the Kingdom, he wants you to experience the Kingdom.  You start at this level, but you don’t stay at this level…
2. – And this brings us to our sermon…Jesus says, just like he is saying to many of you today, let us go over to the other side…
Let me define breakthrough in spiritual terms.
Break – a process of breaking (will, flesh, pride, etc.)
Through -  This is how God accomplishes the breaking – He takes you through something that will break the things in you that need to be broken, so he can rebuild you to His design – he doesn’t leave you there, he takes you through…and that leads us the storm.
3.) Storm – Many people never break through because they don’t want to go through the storm. 
23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
4.) When they actually get to the other side, Jesus performs three miracles, you’ve got to get this, this is significant –
-on the OTHER SIDE that God wants to take us there are signs, miracles, wonders, gifts of the Spirit…
1 – He delivered the so-called madman of Gadara of a legion of devils.
2. – He healed the woman with the issue of blood 12 years.
3. – He raised Jairus daughter from the dead.
Jesus demonstrated His Kingdom power in three areas that didn’t have a chance – devils, disease, and death.
-When we break through, there is no devil in hell, no disease on this earth, and no death yet to come, that can stop the Power of God from working in our midst!
The result of the breakthrough is two parts – demonstration, and impartation
Luke 9:1-6
9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

-ALTAR CALL- INVITATION TO BREAKTHROUGH
-emphasize salvation
-for the saints emphasize leadership
-proclaim deliverance from disease and devils
-signs that you’ve broken through – NOISE – CRYING(like a baby that has broken through the birth canal)
-boom – like a plane that has broken the sound barrier

Friday, August 31, 2012

The Only Truth That Liberates

Greetings all!  I love living for the Lord!  It is such a privilege to be a part of the Kingdom of God.  Recently I was able to speak to our church on the subject of truth itself.  It is God's will for any one who is bound by anything, sin or sickness or anything else to be liberated.  Christ is the Great Liberator if you will.  I feel that this message contains a key to deliverance in every life.  I have included my personal sermon notes in this blog so you may follow along.  To listen to the audio message, just click the link below.  Thank you for visiting my blog, I hope this message blesses and inspires you, and points you to the only Truth that can truly liberate!

http://apostoliclive.com/play_audio.php?audio=3534


THE ONLY TRUTH THAT LIBERATES
INTRODUCTION
Texts – John 8:30-36; Romans 6:16-23
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Romans 6:16-23
King James Version (KJV)
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Thesis – There are many in bondage tonight, in bondage to sin, a habit, their past, false doctrines and false concepts; God wants to liberate everything in this house: The Truth (Christ) makes men free, liberates them, but in order for it to do so, it must be ACTIVATED truth…
Goal – Our goal tonight is relatively simple, we need to gain an understanding of the only truth that liberates; we need to have an understanding of HOW to activate, the ONLY liberating truth – And once we have that, I believe God will indeed liberate anything and anyone in this house that desires to be set free, if by faith, they can activate the Truth that they’ve heard…
-God desires to deliver, and loves to liberate…
Luke 4:18-19
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:17
King James Version (KJV)
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.


I – TRUTH: ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES
Truth is not just a doctrine, or a religion, or a denomination, TRUTH, REAL TRUTH, IS JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.
If your version of the “truth” doesn’t bring you into a living, breathing, personal daily relationship with God, then it is not the full truth, I don’t care what the label on the church sign says.
Before anyone in this house can get free, we must make sure that we are trying to activate the RIGHT Truth!
Does is matter what I believe?  YES!!!
Jude v.3,4
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:6-12
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Practical examples: generic, off brand stuff – don’t accept the substitute: soda, energy drinks, ravioli, ladies purses, airlines, medicine.  (The worse it tastes the better it works.)
Jesus Christ, the Gospel, Acts 2:38, holiness, signs miracles and wonders is still the TRUTH, and it is still the only truth that truly liberates, but EVEN the REAL truth, in order for it to liberate must be activated.  How do we do that.

II – HEAR THE TRUTH/ENCOUNTER THE TRUTH
There’s really two steps to getting free.  That first part was for free, that’s not really a step, just a prerequisite.  The first step to liberation is, you have to encounter and or hear the Truth.
If you are not willing to listen to what God has to say, and what the crazy, red faced, sweaty, apostolic preacher has to say, you can’t get free.  If you’re not willing to crack open the Bible and be open minded and open up your heart to let the truth in, you can’t be saved.  I’m going to prove it with scripture.
Mark 12:28-30
King James Version (KJV)
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.


John 10:23-31
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
Romans 10:13-17
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
NOW we’re on to something – when he said faith, it made me think of something…we need faith to be saved, which is liberation from sin, right?  If we can follow where this faith-concept will lead us, we should be able to discover how to get liberated….
Gotta hear it – gotta be open to it. – Got to have an encounter with it…Not going to hear much Truth if you don’t come to church…Not going to hear much Truth if your texting the whole service…

III – OBEDIENCE ACTIVATES TRUTH
Not everyone that encounters the truth, or even hears the truth gets liberated, necessarily.  For example, the rich young ruler of Matthew chapter 19.’
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
-saved means you’ve been liberated from sin, and hell, and death, and damnation, and condemnation, but notice there’s two pieces, two parts to the whole machine at work if you will – ONE is grace – grace is the UNMERITED favor that GOD supplies – That grace that He shows us is a demonstration of His love, just like his Life, and and just like His death on the Cross – GRACE –
BUT THE OTHER PART IS FAITH. GRACE is God giving man an undeserved opportunity to be liberated, FAITH is MAN RESPONDING IN TURN BY OBEDIENCE – And that is the only TRUTH that liberates – obeyed truth… I can prove it with one example: Noah.
Genesis 6:5-8 - And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
By substitute truth standards, Noah is actually already saved because he found grace…But he isn’t saved yet, because GRACE right after that, produced TRUTH, and the TRUTH said, Noah, build an ark, I’m going to destroy the world with a flood…
14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.
21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
Hebrews 11:6-7
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
If truth is going to liberate, it must be responded to by faith, which is the obedience that truly activates it.
Romans 6, our text again…
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

CONCLUSION – LIBERATION IS JUST ONE OBEYED, ACTIVATED TRUTH AWAY.
Acts 2, revisit the plan of salvation to be obeyed – liberation from sin occurs because this truth is activated – remission of sins, don’t accept any substitutes for Jesus name baptism.  Or the baptism of the Holy Ghost…Get the real thing. “they that gladly received were baptized…”
What if your sick, in some way in bondage to illness, or disease, or sickness.  Is there a truth you can obey to get set free, oh yes there is my friend, God delights to deliver from sickness and will do so tonight.
A struggling saint bound by condemnation, liberation just a prayer of repentance away…

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Comeback From Condemnation

Recently I had the privilige of preaching this to our home church here in Wichita Falls.  Because of the amount of positive feedback I've gotten concerning this message, I would like to go ahead and post here on my blog both a link to listen to the message as well as the actual notes that I preached from so the listener can follow along!  I hope this message continues to be a blessing, as it has been and continues to be to me.

http://apostoliclive.com/play_audio.php?audio=3280




Comeback from condemnation

TEXT: Michah 7:8, Romans 8:1

 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.

Romans 8:1-3

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirt…”

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

-Introductory remarks; God wants to heal us of condemnation, we have too many Christian who have punished themselves, and disqualified themselves on the basis of the mistakes they have made-God would say to us tonight, He has written off no one, He still has need to use us, imperfect though we may be…

-yes we need to walk after the Spirit, but we need to gain a better understanding of what that means –

-crucifying the flesh and being crucified with Christ: two different things, one is a matter of action, the other is a matter of legal identity.

Galatians 2:20-21

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

-I am is not a statement of action, it is a statement of identity.  Who are you Paul?  I am – crucified with Christ.  Was he actually on the same physical cross that Jesus of Nazareth died on, no – this is a legal identification – when we repent, and are baptized, we are crucified with Christ legally in the spirit realm.  What does that mean – it mean I am LEGALLY and SPIRITUALLY no longer identified by this flesh body that my spirit lives in, I am identified with the body of the Perfect One who died on the actual cross…I am identified not by the flesh on the outside, but by the Jesus that lives on the inside…

II Corinthians 4:7-12

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

I Corinithians 15:31 – “I die daily.”

-why did Paul die every day?  Because he had too.  Overcoming your flesh is not a one shot deal – just because you spoke in tongues a little bit, prayed through, shouted and danced a little bit on Sunday – that doesn’t you’re flesh isn’t going to greet you first thing Monday morning…

we make a huge mistake: we think we wake up Monday morning we’re going to be this super spiritual invincible prayer warrior, and then we get caught off guard when we do or say or think something in error…

Can I give the church a liberating wake up call tonight?  It doesn’t matter HOW spiritual you get, you’re flesh nature ain’t going nowhere!  It will still be there, after you’ve prayed for four hours, fasted for fourteen days, preached a great sermons, taught three Bible studies, prayed 10 people through – you’re going to be dragging your flesh every single step of the way!

-THE STRUGGLE-

Galatians 5:16-17

16 But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).

17 For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.

-how long that gonna last – TILL YOU DIE.  PHYSICALLY.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

So what’s the problem?

-The problem is because we have flesh, we are prone to mistakes, and to errors, and to failures, and to sin…and when those things occur there’s this little voice that starts whispering:

-you dirty rat, you rotten sinner, you hypocrite, you’ve failed God for the last time, you’ve run out of grace, out of mercy, you can’t do the work of God any more, YOU’RE NOT SPIRITUAL!

-it’s the voice of condemnation-

Romans 8:1 –

Romans 8

King James Version (KJV)

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

We condemn ourselves when we make a mistake, or are just tempted to make a mistake, because we define our identity on the flesh that we live in…

Here’s what condemnation is: identifying yourself on the basis of your mistakes, weakness, failures, your past, faults, shortcomings,etc, we identify ourselves because of those as not worthy to live for or work for God, and we stop pursuing God and that’s how people backslide…

-Can I liberate someone tonight – God does not define you on the basis of your flesh – he identifies you on the basis of spirit man –

-going to try it again – God doesn’t define you on the basis of the things you struggle with in your flesh – he doesn’t define you on the basis of your mistake – or your sin –

He defines you on the basis of the Cross, WHERE HE PAID FOR YOUR SINS…

-WE MUST OVERCOME THIS IDENTITY CRISIS – when we make a mistake we cannot condemn ourselves, disqualify ourselves, we don’t have the right!

-this whole thing is about investment value: even good ball players strike out every now and then.  Lebron James misses a shot every now and then…but the GM and the coach don’t pull him in the front office and kick him off the team because he made a mistake or because he had a bad game –for two reasons: 1. They know that he has the potential with a little more practice to do better 2. They paid too a high a price to get him…they’re too deeply invested

Do you have any idea of the value of the price that Christ paid for you?  He’s too invested in you to kick you out of the church because you made a mistake or had a bad day, and he knows you have the potential to do better.

-Jesus and Peter –

Peter: Hey Jesus, I’ll never deny you, you can count on me ( and he meant it too.

Jesus: Peter, you’ll deny me three times before the sun comes up, but I’ve prayed for you that your faith fail not.

God’s not surprised by your mistake, but he wasn’t so much concerned about Peter’s mistake, but how Peter would respond to his own failure

-you may have failed in your flesh, but God is challenging someone to pick up their faith and walk on anyway…

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

-walking after the Spirit has to do with our conduct, but that is a result of the greater meaning – the meaning is not just that conduct ourselves spiritually – it has to do with how we identify and define ourselves.

-Justification doesn’t come by obedience to the law, but Christ’s death, which we identify with by repentance, not lack of error, or lack of sinful desire or temptation, but REPENTANCE-

Repentance doesn’t take the sin nature out of your flesh – KEEP DREAMING – it puts you as a person, your identity in a place that has a provision for your sins…

-We need to be led by the Spirit right? The first place the Spirit is going to lead you is to repentance

Matthew 4

 1. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred…

Rom 8:3 – God condemned sin in the flesh: amplified: “subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power –

Its not flesh that’s deprived of its power –its sin.

You’re flesh still has desires, needs, wants – it’s the sin that results that doesn’t have any legal hold over you anymore.  Sins effects on us legally and eternally are nullified by the blood, paid for by Christ on the cross-

What does that mean – The devil has no right nor power to condemn, even if I make an error, or make a mistake – and here’s the kicker:

Neither do I.  I don’t have a right to condemn myself, or to disqualify myself – it would be insult to Calvary.

Satan is called the accuser of the brethren for good reason.  If Christians never made mistakes, he wouldn’t have anything to accuse us of – he accuses us because we make a mistake – YOU DID THIS, AND YOU FAILED GOD –

If we get to listening to that junk it will lead us away from God, if we make a mistake, we need to run to God just as fast as we can…God steps in and says to the devil “It’s ok, he’s with me, that thing you’re accusing him of, I already paid the price for so get your hands off my kid”

YES we need to be led by the Spirit – the Spirit, the word will teach us, but our carnal nature going to be drug right along with it, looking for the first opportunity to do something stupid.

We must learn to be consistent…

Realistic tips on how to be led by the Spirit and overcome the flesh:

YOU WILL NEVER GET TO A PLACE IN YOUR WALK WITH GOD THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THE FLESH – but we can learn to minimize it, corral, and control it by the word of God and the power of the Spirit.

-crucifying the flesh is not a one shot magic wand that happens at church one night because you shouted enough – crucifying the flesh is a daily process, FIGHT, to learn how to do the right thing, and minimize the opportunities to do the wrong thing

-be honest with yourself, don’t feel like you have to be perfect or pretend to be perfect all the time

-identify specific weak areas and target them with safeguards and accountability-this minimizes potential damage

-study scriptures that deal specifically with you area of struggle.

-WALK –one step, one day at a time, and if you happen to trip or stumble, get up and keep walking – allow conviction to lead you to repentance

Realize your true identity

Do not allow condemnation to rule your decisions, or emotions.

Here’s another point, and I’m not pastor of this church, not about to be, not pastoring to night…but if I could just say something in the hypothetical…

There are three accusers.  One is the devil.  The other is our self.  The third accuser of the brethren…are the brethren.

Galatians 6:1-3

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.

Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and [a]troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete [b]what is lacking [in your obedience to it].

For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another’s load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself.

This is where we have missed the mark. We have created a church culture that doesn’t allow people to be transparent and to get help when they have a struggle, because they are afraid of what the saints are going to say…we’ve created a culture where we pursue holiness, inward and outward, and we should – but we have come to a dangerous place of identifying and defining ourselves by outward standards of measurement and by the places we don’t go and the things we don’t do-so that when one of us doesn’t measure up we have mistakenly taken that as a license to judge.

Tell you the final step in liberation from condemnation?  Let the pastor take care of church discipline – its his job, not yours.  Your job is to give out some grace…

-recount the story of the woman caught in adultery John 8:1-11

Church, its time to put the rocks down and be willing to get your hands dirty to help out someone that has made a mistake, because they just like you have flesh.

-We need to create a place of healing, not a place of putting people out of their misery…

I Sam 16:17 – God looketh not on the outward, but on the heart.

No, grace is never a license for disgrace – but its nice to no its there when I need it, and because we have flesh we need it…

ALTAR CALL  - HEBREWS 4:14-16

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

-men of God who fell, who are being restored-

-you can be restored here tonight-