Baptism with the Holy Spirit

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

— Matthew 3:11

#6 in The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

Understanding the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not that complicated.

Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

You either have the spirit of God dwelling in you, or you don’t. Being baptized with or in the spirit is not a separate event from the born-again experience. When you hear and believe the Gospel, the Holy Spirit baptizes you into the body of Christ, and Jesus immerses you into His spirit or seals you with His spirit at the same time.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

John 1:33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

Ephesians 1:3 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

From then on, God lives in you.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

When you are baptized into the sin-removing, new creation generating authority of Christ by grace through faith, the Holy Spirit places you in the body of Christ, and Christ places His spirit in you. You are forever in-dwelt, sealed, and anointed with His spirit. You can then yield to the Holy Spirit to come upon you or fill you for fruit and power. More on this in my next sermon and article.

Baptism With Fire

What does it mean that Jesus will baptize you with fire?

Isaiah 4:4 when the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains from the heart of Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.

Charismatics assume fire equals power but it never meant that in the culture that wrote the Bible. Fire always denotes judgment or cleansing, never power.

“He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.—As heard and understood at the time, the baptism with the Holy Ghost would imply that the souls baptized would be plunged, as it were, in that creative and informing Spirit which was the source of life and holiness and wisdom. The baptism “with fire” would convey, in its turn, the thought of a power at once destroying evil and purifying good. The appearance of the “tongues like as of fire” that accompanied the gift of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost was an outward visible sign, an extension of the symbolism, rather than the actual fulfillment of the promise.” ~ Ellicott’s Commentary

When you hear and believe the Gospel, God goes to work in you, making you a new creature. He adopts you and places you into His family by His Spirit. Jesus becomes your Lord, Savior, high priest, salvation, sanctification, and a host of other things at that moment. When God gives you a new heart, Jesus goes to work immersing you in His spirit and cleansing your mere human nature from you. His judgment on your behalf goes to work in you, making it possible for you to be given His righteousness. You do not have to wait until another point in time to receive it be baptized with the spirit. You are a vessel that is able to contain the Holy Spirit of God from the moment you believe.

When Were the Apostles Baptized with the Spirit?

This can be a confusing question. We see Jesus breathe on the disciples to receive the spirit after he is resurrected. Then He tells them to wait in Jerusalem until they are endued with power. Then the spirit is poured out of Heaven, and they hear a rushing wind, at which point Acts says they are baptized with the spirit. Then in Acts 4 we see that Peter becomes filled with the spirit as he answers his accusers. How should we understand the receiving, baptizing, and being filled with the spirit?

John 20:22 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

What does "receive" mean? It means to receive.

Luke 24:49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Did he tell them to wait to receive the spirit? No, He had already given them the spirit. They were waiting to be clothed with power.

Acts 1:4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Why did they have to wait for the power? Because the Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out. I can’t say I fully understand why that is so, but we do have this passage as a precedent. “By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” John 7:39

We see that once the spirit is poured out in the earth, being born again, being baptized with the spirit, and being endued with power can all happen simultaneously.

From then on, it's ministered this way...

Acts 2: 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Being baptized in the name or authority of Jesus is to be born again. Receiving the gift of the spirit is to be baptized with the spirit. From that point, you can become clothed with the spirit. Being endued with power or clothed with the spirit seems to be an act of faith to access the grace/power that He placed in us.

Being filled with the spirit or under the influence of the spirit is an act of faith. Praying in tongues, experiencing the fruit of the spirit, and performing the spirit's gifts are all aspects of being filled with the spirit. How do you yield to the influence of the spirit to be filled with the spirit to experience his power in you and through you? That is the topic of my next sermon and article. Rejoice that you are sealed with the Spirit and He will never leave you or forsake you. You have been made just like Jesus so you can be confident in the last day of judgment. Until then you can be empowered by His spirit to participate in the increase of His kingdom. Watch the message above for more on this topic.

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Baptism In the Name / Body of Jesus Christ

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”

— 1 Corinthians 12:13

#5 in The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

Hebrews 6 tells us that we should be grounded in the foundations of the faith. One of those foundations is the doctrine of baptisms. Water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit get most of the spotlight in Christianity, but there is another baptism, baptism into Christ.

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - 1 Corinthians 12:13a

One of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to baptize people into the Body of Christ. He does this when someone hears and believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible authors use a few phrases to describe this event; being born again, made a new creation, going from death to life in Christ, are made new, undergo a circumcision made without hands, washed in the blood of Christ, and probably a few more.

When the Holy Spirit baptized you into the body of Christ, you are sanctified (cleansed of sin), given a new heart, and are indwelt by God’s spirit. The Holy Spirit cleanses you with the blood of Christ, which leaves you in a spiritually holy state, able to house God’s spirit. This cleansing also places you in a right state before God, he gives you the gift of righteousness.

All of this happens when the Holy Spirit baptizes you in the name of Jesus Christ, which happens when you hear and believe the Gospel.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This is an important phrase, “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” “Name” denotes authority. To be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ isn’t about what words are spoken when you are water baptized, it’s about being immersed into the authority of Christ. He becomes your Lord. When you are placed in him he removes your sin because his blood/authority has the power to do so.

This is a spiritual event that changes your inner man and makes you a new creature that will live forever in the presence of God.

Water isn’t involved in the baptism the Holy Spirit performs. Water Baptism is merely an outward expression of your baptism into Christ. Water Baptism is not necessary for salvation, but to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ IS salvation.

If you think of water every time you hear the word baptism, read this passage again.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Why are you baptized in the name of Jesus Christ? For the remission of sins. Can water wash away sin? No! What washes away sin? The blood of Christ.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

You are forgiven BECAUSE OF of the blood of Jesus, and you are cleansed BY the blood of Jesus because Jesus has the authority to cleanse you of sin. Water baptism does not remit your sin, only the blood of Jesus can. I’m not trying to belittle water baptism, I’m just placing emphasis on the spiritual baptism of being immersed into Christ.

Here are a few more passages on being baptized in the name/authority of Christ for more understanding.

Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Being baptized into Christ isn’t about being dunked in water, it’s ALL about being immersed into his death and resurrection. We die in him and receive new life in him because we are immersed into him. The old man dies and we become new.

Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

When you believe the good news that Jesus died to set you free from sin and death, and that you can have eternal life in him, you are plunged into Christ forever!!

Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Baptism with the Holy Spirit

Being baptized in the name of Jesus isn’t about which words are spoken when you come out of the water, it’s about being immersed in his death, and therefore his resurrection.

Another amazing thing happens at this point of baptism, Jesus baptized you with God’s spirit. Essentially two baptisms happen to you when you believe the Gospel, the Spirit places you into Christ, and then Jesus places the Spirit in you.

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Here we see that Jesus baptized us with the Holy Spirit. The Baptism with/in/of the Spirit is NOT a separate event. Peter tells us that we receive this gift of the spirit when we are baptized into the name of Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit acts as a high priest in our lives and administers the blood of Christ to us when we believe the Gospel. Once the Spirit cleanses us with the blood of Christ, Christ then places His spirit IN us. He has to clean us up before he can live in us.

What about Acts 2?

What about Apollos and the early church members that Paul encountered? Weren’t they born again but had not received the baptism of the spirit? Let’s investigate.

Acts 18:24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.

Acts 19:1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all.

These men were only baptized in the baptism of John. John’s baptism was for repentance but baptism into Christ is for salvation. These men were not born again. They hadn’t heard that they were supposed to believe on Jesus for the remission of sins. Once they heard this and believed on Jesus, they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

The spiritual event of being born again happened the very moment they believed. They were not taken to water to be baptized, the spirit baptized them where they stood.

Then Paul laid hands on them to participate with the spirit so they would walk in the power of God which could now come upon them. Paul did not lay hands on them to give them the spirit. Paul knew that when you believe, you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, just as Peter said in Acts 2:38

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I hope Acts 2:38 means more to you now. I pray you see the depth in this passage. Peter gives us the new birth process in one passage. When you believe you are placed in Christ, your sins are removed and you receive the Holy Spirit!!!

If you believe in Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit. You don’t have part of the Holy Spirit, you have all of him. You don’t have to wait for him to show up and empower you, he lives in you and empowers you from the inside.

I will go into this point in more detail in my next sermon/article. For now, rejoice that you are IN CHRIST!!

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A Practical Exercise in Cultivating the Fruits of the Spirit

#4 in The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

You can cultivate the fruits of the spirit if you renew your mind and set your heart to yield to God's spirit in real-life situations.. We hear lots of sermons on what we should do and believe but we also need practical instruction on how to cultivate the word of God for real life. This exercise and conversation will help you transform your responses so you choose the fruits of the spirit rather than the works of the flesh.

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Jesus Will Lift You Up When You Don't Bear the Fruits of the Spirit

“He cuts off (lifts up) every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.”

— John 15:2

#3 in The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

This week's sermon is about bearing the fruits of the spirit, but I want to focus on a specific point for this article. In Jesus' teachings about the Holy Spirit in John chapters 14-16, he makes what seems to be an alarming statement at the beginning of chapter 15.

If you read it at face value, Jesus seems to say that God will throw you into hell if you don't bear fruit. But this is NOT what he is saying.

If you look at the footnotes in your Bible for this passage, you'll notice that the phrase "cuts off" or "takes away" can also be translated "lifts up." The idea is that a grapevine that is sagging, weak, and struggling to grow grapes needs to be staked up so it can breathe and catch the sunlight.

If you aren't bearing fruit in Jesus, he will lift you up, not throw you away. Why does it say "takes away?" The English translators regularly translated at their discretion, sometimes getting words and phrases wrong from their original meaning. It doesn't mean God's written word has errors, it just means phrases don't always translate well to other languages from the original Greek in which it was written.

In John 15, Jesus says he desires fruit from you, and the only way you can bear fruit is to be in him. Why would he cut you off and throw you away for not bearing fruit if you need to be in him to bear fruit? It doesn't make sense.

We have to understand Jesus' warning for this passage to make sense. Jesus is warning his followers to keep the faith in him. He knows a time is coming when his followers would be persecuted, and many would leave "the way" and return to the sacrifices under the former covenant. Paul warns of the same thing many times in his letters.

Jesus desires that his followers keep trusting and believing in him, not to draw back from their faith in him. He makes a remarkable statement in verse 7 for those who remain in him or continue to keep their trust in him; "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." All I can say is WOW!!

You don't have to worry about Jesus abandoning you to hell if you aren't a good enough Christian. Just keep believing in him, and he will lift you up and carry you when you are weak. You can trust him with your life, and your eternal destiny is secure in him.

There is much to be said about bearing the fruits of the spirit, but this is the basis. Allow his words to abide in you. Remain in him, and you will effortlessly produce fruit that brings great glory to the name of God.

I hope you watch the sermon above for a more complete teaching on the fruits of the spirit.

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A Powerful Exercise to Help You Hear God

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

— John 16:13

#2 in The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

In the sermon above, Hearing God For Yourself, I walk you through a simple yet powerful exercise in hearing God after a bit of teaching. We focus on hearing the Holy Spirit testify of Jesus in the main areas of life; Identity, physical health, mental health, finances, relationships, career, and your calling. Click play to begin the video while you read the rest of this article.

God Is Always Speaking

The Holy Spirit lives in you. He is continually speaking to you. You hear him better than you think. I know that because when you were born again, God placed his spirit in your and gave you a new heart that is tuned to his voice. Your new nature allows God to live in your and speak to you through your heart, directly into your inner man. You hear him all the time, you probably just overlook his voice because you’re expecting something more intellectual or phenomenal.

You may not be confident in thinking and hearing with this new heart, but you can be confident. The good news is you can discipline yourself to hear and follow God.

I developed an easy process to anchor your mind and heart in the words of Jesus, so you’ll hear him in the most basic areas of life. If you can read the Bible, you can hear God. God will affirm and quicken his written word to become a living word for you. The quickened living word may have been written thousands of years ago, but the words of Jesus are life and truth, they’re able to give you life in every situation today.

Practical Application

Walk through the practical and easy-to-follow exercise in the video above.

Main Areas of life

• Identity

• Physical Health

• Mental Health

• Finances

• Career / Job

• Relationships

• Calling / Purpose

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The Holy Spirit Testifies of the Finished Work of Jesus

““But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”

— John 15:26 NKJV

#1 in The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

The scripture says much about the Holy Spirit. Here are just a few. The Holy Spirit lives in you to teach, comfort, help, strengthen, lead, and convict you. He will give you power, remind you of Jesus' words, and pray for you and through you. He bears his fruit through you. He sets you free, seals you in God with Christ, guarantees salvation, bear witness about Jesus, gives utterance for tongues, and gives life to your physical body. 

He knows God's thoughts for you, bears witness with your spirit that you are God's child. He washes you, sanctifies you, and justifies you. He makes you a minister of the new covenant, searches you, and blesses you.

He is your friend and counselor. He is called alongside you to help you in every situation. It is better that he is here with you than Jesus in the flesh. The Holy Spirit is God's very life source, living in you, to declare to you everything Jesus inherited for you in his glorification.

What Did Jesus Say About the Holy Spirit?

When Jesus teaches on the function of the Holy Spirit in John 14, 15, and 16, he describes a relationship. He is not an impersonal force in us, he is God with us. He is a present helper who will always lead us into life and truth. It is important that one of the first things Jesus said the Holy Spirit would do would be to remind us what he said.

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Why does he remind us of the words of Jesus?

John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

The Holy Spirit reminds you of the words of Jesus because they are spirit and life.

The Spirit will guides you by reminding you of the words of Jesus, but it's up to you whether they become life for you.

That may happen when you're reading the Word, when you're praying, or when you're driving. You may be thinking of an issue or praying for a solution from God and be reminded of something Jesus taught. At that moment, you have a choice to meditate on that word and allow it to take root in your heart so it will become life and feed/empower you.

That word may be a simple answer to a decision you need to make, or it may be the initiation of a profound life change. Either way, it's up to you to place that illuminated scripture on a pedestal in your heart and mind until it overshadows the issue you're praying about.

Once God's living word becomes possible in your heart, despite the physical situation, you have a chance to experience the manifestation of life directly from God. When you are reminded of something Jesus taught, take it as an opportunity to allow the written Word to become the living Word.

Don’t Ignore the Remembrance of Scripture

Often we listen for God, but we miss his influence because we're looking for a specific kind of answer. Our preferred methods of hearing from God are often inconsistent and subjective, based on feelings and emotions rather than his Word. When the Holy Spirit reminds you of something Jesus said, he's not trying to get you to memorize scripture, he's trying to impart something life-giving for that specific situation.

See the next article and sermon, You Can Hear God for Yourself, for a practical exercise in hearing the Holy Spirit remind you of Jesus' words. It’s coming in a few days.

The Holy Spirit Declares Your Inheritance

John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

The Holy Spirit will declare to you what belongs to Jesus. It just so happens that what belongs to Jesus also belongs to you. You are a co-heir with Jesus. Jesus has inherited an authority above all powers. In fact, he has inherited all things (Hebrews 1).

The Holy Spirit will declare to you what Jesus accomplished for you. He will remind you of the finished work on your behalf. He will reinforce your eternal identity. He will declare to you the authority of Jesus in any given situation. For example, if you are praying for healing, the Holy Spirit will declare that the stripes of Jesus healed you.

He will declare to you that you are God's child, there is no condemnation for you, and you have been delivered from the curse of the Law. Therefore healing is yours because the ability to heal belongs to Jesus. It is then up to you to believe what the Holy Spirit declares. 

Just because he declares it does not mean it will manifest in your life. This is where faith comes in. You must place your faith in the finished work of Jesus. Your faith is a seed. You must plant it in the soil of Jesus and remain steadfast until full manifestation. The Holy Spirit will quicken to you the specific attributes of your salvation in Jesus so you can see it come to pass in your life.

Too often, we allow the cares of this world, our issues with money, and the lust of another solution to uproot that faith/seed before it grows into an answer from God.

Mind renewal is a must in this process. God is speaking all the time. You hear him better than you think. Pay attention to the times the Holy Spirit reminds you of the words of Jesus, and allow the written Word to become the Living Word. Take the time to listen to the message above for a more complete sermon on this topic.

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Be Transparent Before God If You Want to Change

“When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.”

— John 6:5-6

God will test you to keep your heart pure before Him. But the tools of His tests are His Word and His Spirit. God is not crafting external tragedies to purify you, but He is speaking to your heart and presenting opportunities to increase your faith in Him.

In the passage above, Jesus “already knew” what He was going to do, He knew He would multiply the food and feed the people, but He invited His disciples into the process with a test, a question. Do you see it? The test Jesus gave was asking a question to see where they were in their hearts.

Your heart is the key. God is trying to stretch you to BELIEVE. Because when you believe, all things are possible. So God is not making your life hard to purify you. He’s inviting you into greater faith by presenting opportunities to believe.

If your heart is receptive, you’ll step into the opportunity, and He will manifest wonderful things through you. But if your heart isn’t ready, He continues to be God and looks for the next opportunity to help you grow.

Do you want to grow? Do you want to be ready when God presents the next opportunity? Here’s how.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?

Don’t examine yourself to find sin, examine yourself to find faith. Examine yourself to see if you’re honest with yourself. Examine yourself to sell if you're allowing God to search your heart. Look into your heart and put the work in to be ready for the next time God presents you with an opportunity.

Labor to Rest

Walk through Psalm 19 and discover the power of honesty before the Lord. He's on your side, but you must be submitted to His precepts in your heart. Discover the power of allowing God to test your heart and invite you into greater faith.

Psalm 19 NASB

7 The Law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.

10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much pure gold; Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, Your servant is warned by them; In keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.

13 Also keep Your servant back from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be innocent, And I will be blameless of great wrongdoing.

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

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Be Honest with God and Yourself If You Want to Change

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in an everlasting way.”

— Psalm 139:23-24

King David was a deeply flawed man. He went against God’s instructions and authorized a census that led to a deadly plague. He lusted after Bathsheba, another man’s wife. And he arranged to have Bathsheba’s husband killed so he could have her. Yet God called David “a man after his own heart.”

Why?

Because David knew a secret, he knew that God desired mercy over sacrifice. He knew that God was good with mercy that endured forever. He knew the true character of God which caused him to relate to God based on his true nature rather than through his own sinful nature.

David knew that he was sinful before God, but he knew that God would have mercy on him. This created freedom within David before the Lord. David was able to bear his heart to God and ask for things that seemed to be illegal under the Law at the time. David should have been rebuked and killed for what he did, but he had a heart connection with God that transcended judgment.

This understanding within David led him to pray great and wonderful things. He asked God to create within him a clean heart. It’s as if David knew God’s intentions to give us a new heart through the work of the Messiah.

David knew a secret. He knew that God was good and merciful. This allowed him to be open and honest with God, without fear and with the expectation that God would cleanse him and forgive him.

We can learn this lesson from David. We have peace with God. Our relationship is whole with God. He has exhausted his anger toward our sin in the atoning work of Jesus. We are now free before the Lord. Free to be open and honest for the purpose of experiencing his transformative power.

If we are afraid of God, we will not go to him for help. But if we know he loves us and will help us without judgment, we will open our hearts to him, be honest and allow him to go into the dark places in our hearts to help us.

Be Honest

You must be honest with God and yourself if you want to consistently hear and follow God. God speaks the language of truth. His leading will always be rooted in truth. If there is any self-deception in your heart, you will miss God and blame Him for the troubles you brought on yourself. If you're not honest with yourself, you will not be submissive to God's truth when it arises in your heart.

You'll hold on to justifications and excuses. You’ll hold on to pride and fear. You’ll continue in sin and minimize its effects in your life. You carry bad attitudes and judgments toward people when you’re not honest with yourself. But you can walk away from those issues and experience God in your inner man.

It is possible to allow God to search your heart and reveal areas where you are hindering his grace in your life. The areas you hide from God and lie to yourself about are the areas where you have the most pain. The areas where you’re willing to remain deceived are the areas in which you’re still struggling.

But you can be free. You can bear your heart to God and allow him to do a deep work of healing within you. As he heals you and supplies grace to transform, step into the power that arises and make the changes. Each step you take becomes easier. As you confess your sins and admit your failures, you open yourself to God’s power in your areas of weakness.

He already knows. You’re not hiding anything from God. You just don’t know how to trust him in those areas. King David’s lessons can help you. He’s been through it. Read through the following Psalm and bear your heart to God. Read from the perspective of a beloved, righteous child of God, but be honest with yourself in the areas you know need to experience change.

Psalm 51 NASB

A Contrite Sinner’s Prayer for Pardon.

For the music director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone into Bathsheba.

1 Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithfulness; According to the greatness of Your compassion, wipe out my wrongdoings.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my wrongdoings, and my sin is constantly before me.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in guilt, and in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in secret You will make wisdom known to me.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; Cleanse me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness, let the bones You have broken rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins and wipe out all my guilty deeds.
10 Create in me a clean heart, God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach wrongdoers Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You.
14 Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, the God of my salvation; then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
15 Lord, [k]open my lips, so that my mouth may declare Your praise.
16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise.
18 By Your favor do good to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You will delight in [m]righteous sacrifices, in burnt offering and whole burnt offering; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.

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The Secret to Living by Faith

“As you believe the truth, you will access the grace to walk in the truth”

— Clint Byars

We can’t obey God in our own strength. We can’t please God in our own faith. In fact, like Jesus, we can do nothing of ourselves regarding spiritual fruit. Thankfully God gives us grace to live the abundant life. God’s grace teaches us to live holy. And grace strengthens us to rise above sin and failure. When properly accessed, God’s grace becomes everything we need to live a godly and fruitful life.

We must use faith to access grace. Keep in mind that faith is a response to what God has done in Christ. Faith is not your own capacity or strength to believe. Faith does not convince God to give you grace, grace is always available. Faith acknowledges that we are weak, and He is strong in us.

Faith says yes, Jesus, you already paid the price and have already given it to me by your spirit. Now I’ll renew my mind and remind my heart that Jesus is enough. We can then expect grace to come alive in us when we live by faith.

Another key component to living by faith is knowing that you are already justified. If you approach God like the prodigal son, feeling worthless and unqualified, your heart will not be receptive to the good things God has for you that you can receive by faith.

The Just Shall Live By Faith

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoiced in hope of the glory of God.

The just shall live by faith, but you must know that you are justified to approach God for grace confidently. When you believe you are justified, you'll live by faith. When you live by faith, you'll access grace. When you access to grace, you will live by his spirit and obey him from the heart. You must be convinced that you are justified through the blood of Christ so you will remain confident before God and not disqualify yourself from receiving from him.

Ephesians 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Our faith is not in our faith, it’s in him. Living by faith is not living by the strength of my ability to believe. Living by faith is living persuaded of all that Jesus has accomplished on my behalf. If I am facing something in life that Jesus affected on the cross, I have the right to believe that what Jesus paid for should be the reality in my life rather than the temporary circumstance I may be facing.

As we stand in grace, by faith in Jesus, God’s logos will manifest in our lives and change things. The nature of spirit will change this physical world. This world was designed to be influenced by God’s spirit. God has now placed his spirit in you, so you have the power to influence the world for the Word’s sake. No matter what you see, keep believing that God’s spirit is at work and manifestation is in progress. Like a tree in the winter that will eventually grow leaves and bear fruit, so will the heart that lives persuaded of the finished work of Jesus.

Galatians 3:11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 

But again, a key to living by faith in Christ to access grace hinges upon your confidence that you are justified. It’s vital that you know the Gospel and continually persuade your heart of it, so your heart will be receptive to the influence of God’s spirit.

Romans 3:21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. 22 And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

YOU WILL LIVE BY FAITH WHEN YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE JUSTIFIED AND RIGHTEOUS

YOU WILL ACCESS GRACE WHEN YOU LIVE BY FAITH

YOU WILL LIVE THE ABUNDANT LIFE IN EVERY AREA THAT YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS

BELIEVING THAT YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH IN HIM, AND THAT YOU ARE JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, SHOULD RESULT IN A HEART THAT THINKS SPIRITUALLY AND CONTINUES TO LIVE PERSUADED OF THAT FINISHED WORK, WHICH RESULTS IN WALKING IN GOD’S INFLUENCE IN YOUR LIFE.

Jesus Lived By Faith

Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

How do you live on the Word’s that come out of God’s mouth? How do we live under the influence of this unseen spirit that is active in our lives?

Knowing the written is paramount. The living Word of God is in you, but it will verify the written Word. Jesus went to the written Word, and it became strength for him. You can do the same thing.

You can go to God’s Word and feed on it, and it will become strength to you. Think of the situations you need God to move in your life and then discover what Word you need to live by. Not just in practice but for strength. Do you trust that planting his Word in your heart and mind will be strength and life for you?

It takes faith to believe and experience the fruit of God’s word in your life. But your faith doesn’t make it work, it simply aligns your heart to experience what is already seeking to grow into your life from God. So faith is more about assuring your heart in the promises of God, it’s not about trying to get God to move for you. Faith is assurance that God keeps his promises and Jesus already qualified you for them.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. 2 This is why the ancients were commended. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see!!!!

Meditate in His Word until His promises and what He says is possible is more real than what you’re facing. Use it as a lamp to light your way. Feed on it to think spiritually, so you'll stay in faith and live by every word that God gives to your heart, which ultimately is his grace working in you. Then you will be led and taught by God.

We Live By The Faith of Jesus

Allow me to add one more layer of nuance to faith. When we are born again, we place our faith in Him to be saved. From then on, we have the capacity to be empowered by His faith. Faith is a gift (grace) from God that works just like wisdom or a word of knowledge. The gift of faith will arise from your heart when you take the time to persuade your heart of the character and trustworthiness of God.

When the gift of faith comes alive in your heart, you can do what Jesus did. You can follow and obey God as Jesus did. When you allow yourself to be empowered by the faith OF Christ, you are truly living by faith

Galatians 2:19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith OF the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

DON’T NEGLECT GRACE GO TO HIS WORD TO RENEW YOUR MIND AND BECOME EMPOWERED AS IT BECOMES ALIVE IN YOU.

When faith access grace, it becomes power for us.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Believing that you are righteous by faith in Christ and that you are justified by His blood will result in a heart that thinks spiritually and continues to live in Christ’s finished work. You can not live the abundant life Jesus came to give you in your own strength, you need His grace.

When you live persuaded of your righteousness in Him, your heart will apply His Word, and you will follow Him and obey Him. Do everything you can to stay in faith toward God and expect His grace to be alive within you; when you are weak as well as for everyday living. Trust in Him for everything. Know His Word and apply it to your life’s circumstances. When you live this way, you will see God’s blessings and promises overtake your life beyond your wildest imagination.

I pray you watch the full sermon above. As always, this article is a snapshot of a much bigger picture in the sermon. I pray it’s a blessing to you.

Watch the whole series LIVING UNDER GRACE on YouTube.

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Be Bold and Confident When You Approach God

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoiced in hope of the glory of God.”

— Romans 5:1-2

God wants to help you when you are weak, but you must be bold enough to go to Him when you need help. Don’t allow the guilt and shame of failure to keep you from going to God. He already knows what you’re going through, and He already punished Jesus for your mistake.

You know we can go to Him for mercy after we sin, but do you know you can go to Him for grace before you fail? There’s even better news; you don’t just go to God for help in failure, continually asking for forgiveness; you can walk away changed. There is mercy to forgive and grace to help strengthen you, so you don’t repeat the same sin habits. That is the power of grace.

How To Get Grace To Work

There is a pattern and process to accessing grace by faith. The Word of God tells us how to use faith, and we can trust that grace will come alive in our hearts when our faith is focused properly.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoiced in hope of the glory of God.

Ephesians 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Placed by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Here’s the pattern. Our faith is in Christ and the work He has done for us. Our faith is in the fact that He has given us righteousness as a free gift. Because of this gift, we have access to God for mercy and grace to help. His grace helps us by making us strong in our inner man.

We can conclude that our inner man is continually before God’s throne, receiving mercy and grace. Stand in that faith, so grace moves from your inner man to your outer man.

Be Bold and Confident

We “enter” that place with boldness and confidence because our confidence is in Christ and what He accomplished. And again, He accomplished making you righteous before God and qualified you to be a partaker of the saints' inheritance in light.

You belong there. You belong with God, you belong before God, and you are qualified to receive help from Him.

There is an element of repentance involved in going into God’s throne room for mercy and grace. We do confess our sins to God in this process, but confess means “to say the same thing.”

TRY THIS: Envision yourself before God saying, “God, you set me free from the flesh, you set me free from the Law, I am righteous, I am not a sinner, the sin that’s killing is not my master, you are my master. I want to glorify you with my life. Thank you that you placed all your wrath for my sin on Jesus. I open my heart to receive grace to strengthen me. Thank you for forgiving me, and thank you for helping me.”

It’s important to clear your conscience before God, but also expect to walk away with the power to change. Don’t hold on to your guilt and shame and call it humility. Feeling bad for your sin doesn’t cause God to forgive you. The blood of Jesus does. Acting contrite as if you’re sorry for your sin and seeing yourself as dirty before God is still self-righteous. You’re still trying to relate to God based on your behavior.

Don’t stand before God conscious of your behavior, stand before God conscious of your identity in Christ, and watch grace radically empower you beyond all you can ask or imagine.

Confess your identity before God and receive the power to change!!

Living Under Grace series

I pray you join us at Forward Church in person or online. Join us live on YouTube or Facebook Sundays at 10 am EST. Watch this series on YouTube.

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