CHANGE & What is true freedom

CHRIST GOSPEL CRUSADERS MISSION, OSOGBO

2014 YOUTH CONFERENCE

GUEST MINISTER: Dr. Israel Adeyemi Owoade

                                    President, Covenant and Light Gospel Mission, Ile-Ife.

Date: 29th -30th August, 2014.

Theme: CHANGE.

Theme Interpretation: CHANGE, according to Oxford Advanced Learner Dictionary

v It means to become different

v Also to make somebody / something different

v To pass someone/ something from one state to another

v To stop having one state, position, or direction & start having another

Theme passage: Eph. 2.10

“For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Understand our original place in God

a.      Man was created in God’s image for: (i) Fellowship and (ii) dominion

Gen. 2:26-28, Ps.8:3-6

b.      The blessing pronounced on man by God after man was created legalized or mandated man’s dominion that was ordained to pass through 4 stages:

(i)                Fruitful - full of fruit of dominion i.e. having evidence / proof  of dominion

(ii)             Multiplication -multiplying the fruit of dominion; reproducing the evidence or proof of dominion time & again everywhere & anytime.

(iii)           Replenish–fill the entire earth with the proof evidence of dominion having man’s exploit spread & represented all over the earth (world).

(iv)           Subdue- take change! Take root downward all over the world in the area of dominion to bear fruit upward; having undeniable, mouth-opening, failure-proof evidence of dominion all over the world.

Note: 1. Even now, whatever your career, vocation, calling or business, GOD still wants you to display your dominion mandate in that area as you’re fruitful,  multiplying, replenishing & subduing  your own locus operandi world over.

    2. Fellowshipping with God is the only all-time principal requirement to make our dominion-mandate successful, impactful & failure-proof. i.e. the fellowship coupled with the blessing was supposed to power our dominion-mandate.

c. Man was crowned with glory and honour. Ps.8:5. Meaning, Man was created by God for glory. Is.62:3, 43:7,21

d. While God sits and reigns in heaven, He made man to reign on His behalf on earth. Ps.115:16

Understand the catastrophic change

(a)  The mystery of the man of iniquity.  2 Thess.2:3-4

“Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come, except there came a falling away first and that MAN OF SIN be revealed, the SON OF PERDITION. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”  (see also. Eze.28:12-19, Is.14:12-19)

v The devil, the man of sin, the tempter, sinned of his own volition and was judged immediately of God.

v Following this he headed for the earth to usurp authority (dominion) from man whom God made the king of the earth. Rev.12:7-9,12. He did it successfully. Lk.4:6

v He lured (enticed, deceived) man into sinning against God. Gen.3:1-11, 6:5

v Sin then passed down to the entire human race from the first man. Rom.5:12,15

(b)   The mystery of iniquity (sin). 2Thess.2:7

“For the MYSTERY OF INIQUITY (SIN) doth already work: only he who now letteth will let; until he be taken out of the way.”

1.      The nature of sin – Adam’s nature, rebellious nature, (flesh) Gen. 6:5 Rom.5:12,15

2.      The acts of sin as defined by:

ü  Manifestation (work) of the flesh. Gal. 5:19-21, Mk 7:20-23

ü  Transgressing the law. 1Jn.3:4,8

ü  All unrighteousness. 1Jn. 5:17 Rom.8:4,8

ü  Whatsoever is not of faith. Rom.14:23, Jn.3:15-19, Mk.16:16

ü  Failure to do good. Jam.5:17, Rom.7:8-24

NB. Every act of sin still follows that process of enticement that resulted into the nature of sin. Jam.1:13-15

(c)  The effect aftermath/consequence/ complication of sin: death.

“….. the soul that sinneth, it shall die” Eze.18:4,20

“ The wages of sin is death….”Rom.6:23

“…and sin, when it is finished bringeth forth death. Jam.1:15

NB. This is different from the death mentioned in Heb.9:27. This is a mere departure from the body to face the reality of eternity. However, @The dawn of eternity, there shall be judgment:

·        Justificationàlife

·        Condemnationàdeath 

However, there is a temporary dimension to death that follows condemnations from sin. It is defined as separation from the life, nature, person, power & presence of God for a time determined by repentance if carried out by the offender. i.e. God substrated totally from man’s experience following sin.

But the eternal dimension, when one dies physically after committing a sin without repentance, is separation from the life, nature, person, power & presence of God into the terror of hell fire in the company of the devil & his demons forever.

Understand the redemptive (re-creation) change (move) of God through Christ. Rom.5:8

“But God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinner Christ died for us.” (compare Jn.15:13)

“But one in a certain place testified, saying what is man that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Thou made him a little lover than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet for in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lover than the angels; for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

For both he that sanctified are all of one; for which cause, he is not ashamed to call them brethren. Heb. 2:6-11 (also read Heb.2:14-18)

v As spelt out in the above scripture the door of glory was re-opened to every man. Eph.4:7-8

v “..and the riches of this mystery is Christ in you the hope of glory…. Col.1:27

Meaning Christ in you is the guarantee that you can look forward to share in God’s glory. Col.1: 27 (The Message)

And what is the glory of God? The glory of God is the Dominion of man on the earth powered by God through (a) man’s fellowship (communion, rapport, intercourse, knowing) with God (b) the blessing God pronounced and He still pronounces on man from time to time.

This brings us back to our theme passage: Eph. 2:10

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” Meaning:

Ø  Every man, esp. those created newly in Christ Jesus are God’s workmanship – tool, instruments- recruited by God to join Him in the work He does.

Ø  This work which is to fill the whole earth with glory as water comes the sea. Num. 14:21, Ps.72:18-19, Hab.2:14, Is.11:9

Ø  Understand that when man exercises God-powered dominion on the earth, the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as water covers the sea.

Ø  Remember, this was the same work God was ready to do through us before the fall. This was the same work God ordained before (at the foundation of the creation) that we should walk in them.

Ø  This is the good work men!

How is God going to do it?

Ø  Through the mystery of God-powered dominion of man on the earth

Ø  The reason for the outpouring of the Holy Ghost into and on us. Acts.1:8, Eze.36:27

Ø  The principal duty of the Holy Ghost is to power our newly created spirit man to, among others:

·        Fill us with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord (Hab.2:4) so we can translate same literarily to glory on the earth. i.e. he shall receive information that is of Christ and show it unto us so we can through the same fulfill our dominion mandate and in the process fill the whole world with God’s glory. Jn.16:12-14

Ø  Remember, this was the was Jesus Christ filled the earth with the glory of God in that the fullness of the deity in person of the Holy Ghost dwelt in Him and then:

·        He could of Himself do nothing but He only judged as He heard of God through the Holy Spirit .Col.2:9  Jn.1:14, 5:19,30

·        He only did whatever He saw the Father doing. Jn.5:19-20

Ø  This way:

·        Christ’s fame spread abroad (worldwide). Lk.4:14

·        Testimonies emerged from every challenge of life that got his attention

·        He went about doing good: healing everyone oppressed of the devil, feeding the poor, helping the hopeless. Acts.10:38; raising the dead, opening blind eyes, opening deaf ears and healing the lepers.

·        The list of Him filling the world with God’s glory is endless!

·        And one beautiful thing about it is that; He staked his integrity, faithfulness & almightiness to the fact that “Greater works shall he do that believes in him.” Jn.14:12

Ø  Hence we are his newly recruits to do this works of filling the earth with God’s glory. Acts.19:15

Ø  Glory to God in the highest!

Ø  Friends, understand the glory movement of God that is on the earth today Hag.2:6-9:

“For this saith the Lord of hosts; yet once it is a little while & I will shake the heavens & the earth & the sea, and the dry land;

And I will shake all nations & the desire of all nations shall come: & I will fill this house with glory, saint the Lord of hosts.

The silver is mine & the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.

The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts & in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts”

v A little information about the former house:

·        Solomon’s temple. 2Chron.5:1-7:2

  “….that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord, so that the priest could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God 2Chron.5:13c-14.

“Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven & consumed the burnt offering & the sacrifice & the glory of the Lord filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house.” 2Chron.7:1-2.

·        Individual saints that constituted God’s building (temple)  in the OT up until John the Baptist:

“For we labourers together with God, ye are God’s husbandry ye are God’s building.” 1Cor.3:9

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, & that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1Cor.3:16.  

“Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” 1Pet.2:5.

“In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Eph.2:22.

v Talk of the exploits of Daniel, David, Shadrach, Meshach & Abdenego, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Solomon, Isaiah, to mention a few.Heb.11:1-40

v Indeed the former house was full of glory!

v Even John the Baptist, considered to be the greatest born of woman had his life & ministry filled with glory.

v But we’re told he that is least in the kingdom of heaven (under the shower of this latter house glory) is greater than him. Mat.11:11. Meaning, we, latter days saints, shall surpass him in glory!

·        The exploits of Jesus who was considered to be: *Greater than Jonas. *Greater than Solomon. Mat.12:41-42, Lk.11:31-33, Mk.6:3 whom Himself said:

“… he that believed on me, the works that I do shall he do also & greater works than these shall he do: because I go to my Father.” Jn.14:12

v Understand that when we do greater works than Jesus did then:

Ø  the glory of this latter house has surpassed the former. Hag.2:9

Ø  Shall be fulfilled the following prophecies: Obadiah 21, Deut.26:16-19, Is.2:2-5, Micah 4:1-5, Zech.8:23    

v In the light of this, I came to announce to you one principal (major) need of God:

(a)     “And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge & stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Eze.22:30 ( compare Jer.5:1)

Except the earth is re-claimed by the glory of God through the instrumentality of Christ-powered man, the earth is heading for destruction due to the mystery of iniquity that doth works at present.  No wonder the account in Rom.8:19-23

(b)    Friends, heed the call of God in this question form: Is.6:8

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying whom shall I send & who will go for us…?”

TEACHING 1: BE THE BRIDGE: A QUALIFIED LIFE. (Fri. 29/8/14 7:30-9pm)

·        God is looking for men & women who will be the bridge! Eze.22:30

·        God is looking for men & women to recruit into this glorious army of the end time who shall fill the world with the knowledge of His glory. Hab.2:14

·        God is looking for men & women who shall rise up in practice to fully maximize their potential as His workmanship created after Christ unto good works which He hath ordained before that we should walk in them. Eph.2:10

·        God is looking for men & women to recruit into His army of great & a strong people who shall run like mighty men, climb the wall like men of war; & march everyone on his ways without breaking their rank as described in Joel 2:1-11

·        I have come as God’s masterpiece! I have come as God’s spokesman; to “Blow the trumpet in Zion to sound an alarm in this holy maintain of God! Let all the inhabitant of the land trembled for the day of the Lord cometh for it is nigh at hand” Joel 2:1

·        Let everyone that has breathe; let everyone that is born again heed this clarion call.

·        Let everyone hearing me be swift to make him/herself qualified to be the bridge.

·        How many people are ready to respond the way Isaiah responded?

·        How many people are saying, “Here am I send me?” Is.6:8

·        If that is what you’re saying here are the qualification—the pre-requisites, the requirement  because:

·        Though the invitation is opened to everyone born of a woman; everyone must qualify him/herself. Hence, it is an open invitation with responsibilities attached:

1.      New birth Jn.3:3,5, 2Cor.5:17

Ø  Remember, “that which is born of the flesh is flesh & that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Jn.3:6

Ø  “It is the Spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth noting.” Jn.6:63

Ø  ^“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that after the Spirit the things of the spirit.

For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be.

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Rom.8:5-8

2.      Righteous living. 1Jn.3:7-10

·        Understand that there is a gift of righteousness earned at redemption. 2Cor.5:21, Is.61:10

·        But this is not a license to continue in sin. Rom.6:1-8

·        For it is he that doeth righteousness that is considered righteous even as Christ is righteous.1Jn.3:7

·        For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men ( including you there, including you here, including me also).

Teaching us to say no (denying) ungodliness and worldly lusts but live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world;

Looking for that blessed hope (Col.1:27), and the glorious appearing of the great God & our saviuor Jesus Christ;

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11-14   

3.      Working relationship with the Holy Spirit. Acts.1:8

·        “For it is the Spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth  noting…” Jn.6:63

·        Understand that there is a quickening unto salvation—redemption by the Holy Spirit because no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit 1Cor.12:3

·        Also there is a quickening unto empowerment, enhancement, robustness, subduement, etc by the same Holy Spirit. For it is written: Rom.8:9-11

·        “But ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit if it be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

And if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin but the spirit is life because of righteousness.

But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.

·        What will this working relationship with the Holy Ghost do for you?

(a)  It will ensure for you 100% access to divine guidance / direction. Rom. 8:14, Jn.14:26, 15:26, 16:12-14, 1Cor.2:10,12

(b)  It will birth a vision that will define your own dominion mandate on the earth. Joel 2:1-11.

(c)  It will sharpen in you the mind of Christ through the operation of divine wisdom. 1Cor.2.16, 6-10

(d)  It will let loose the sevenfold dimensions of the ministry of the Holy Spirit as highlighted in Is.11:1-3

(e)  It will power your faith for exploit—earth subduing dimension of productivity. 2Cor.4:13; Dan.11:32

(f)   It will fuel and fan joy unspeakable in you. Is.12:3,61:3, 1Pet.1:8

4.      Mountain moving, unconquerable, conquering faith. Jn.14:12, Eph.6:16, 1Tim.6:12  Mk.11:22-24

v However, remember that prayer, bible study / mediation / practice,  and joyful / praiseful heart will power your:

Ø  Righteous life and living

Ø  Working relationship with the Holy Ghost

Ø  Exploit – recording faith

for effectiveness in fulfilling your God giving dominion-mandate as you are fruitful, multiplying, replenishing (filling) and subduing your own world with the glory of God just as water covers the sea.

v It is your turn therefore to shine

“Arise, therefore, and shine for your light has come and the glory of God is risen upon you.” Is 60:1-22

TEACHING 2: WHAT IS TRUE FREEDOM? (Sat.30/8/14. 7:45-9am)

Text: Rom. 6:1-23

Freedom according to Oxford Advanced Learner Dictionary means:

·        the state of being able to do what you want, without anything (anyone) stopping you.

·        the right to do or say what you what without anyone stopping you.

·        the state of not being a prisoner / slave

·        permission to be someone or do something without restriction.

v True freedom therefore is the liberty, rest, enthusiasm, joy unspeakable, glory, fulfillment, enjoyment, God’s commitment to the total well-being of a man depicted by abunndant life on the earth in time and a guaranty of a well rewarding everlasting life in heaven (abundant life, everlasting life) which a man enjoys when he is released from the dominion of sin that leads to death and comes under the obedience of grace which is the gift of God. Rom.6:23, 8:1-2, Jn.10:10, Jn.8:32, 1Cor. 15:19, Jn.3:15-21

v True freedom is enjoying the rest (liberty) that Jesus Christ had brought to us all as believers. i.e. being free from sin to serve the living God. Mat.11:28-30 Rom. 6:18, 22

“Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”.

v Gal. 5:1,13 (NIV)

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love.”

v Meaning true freedom = rest

Rest means to cease from every struggle Heb. 4:10

Understand the Inner conflict (struggle) Gal.5:17

“For the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would”

·        There are two natures searching for prominence in every believer—one is anti-rest and the other is pro-rest:

ü  the nature of sin—anti-rest, and

ü  the nature of obedience (Christ)—pro-rest

·        Refresh the nature of sin and the acts of sin in the mind of the people—as taught yesterday:

ü  Nature of sin – inherent in man; inherited from and in the first Adam.  Rom. 5:12-21

ü  Understand that the nature of sin is forceful in nature; it forces its way into prominence in the life of every believer esp. the irresponsible ones.

ü  Can you identify with the struggle of Paul? Rom.7:14-21

ü  Understand that the nature of sin operates through the law of sin which promotes carnality and leads to death. Jam.1:13-15

ü  Also, not that the nature of sin only is what obtaining in unbelievers, sinners, irresponsible/compromising believers.

·        However, the nature of obedience (Christ) is birthed in every believer at the new birth. 2Cor. 5:17

ü  New birth à the nature of Christàthe law of the Spiritàlife in Christ Jesus (all that spirituality entails)

ü  Understand that the nature of Christ is not / never forceful; it urges (persuades) its way into prominence. Rom.8:1-13

·        It then means every believer is faced daily, and moment by moment with a  choice:

ü  either to comply with the force of the law of sin which feeds the nature of sin to produce carnality leading to death; i.e. deprives of rest or

ü  to dance to the urging of the law of the Spirit which feeds the nature of Christ to produce spirituality unto life in Christ Jesus;i.e. guarantees rest

·         To cease from the struggle of carnal nature (Gal. 5:17, Rom. 7:14-25) is to enter rest—true freedom.

This then calls for:

(1)  New birth Rom.8:1-2, Eze.36:26

·        This is a positioning for righteous life or living. Rom.8:7-8

·        It means new birth potentiates (i.e confers potential) for righteous living / life

·        However, the actual practice or living the righteous life is a combination of will and the work of grace (the sanctifying works of the Holy Spirit)

·        By will I mean righteous believing (trust in grace) that promotes righteous behaviour through:

self determination               

self discipline                                                                            Heb.4:11,3:12,

conscious effort                                                                        Titus 2:11-14

willful (not wishful) obedience to the teaching of grace

·        Understand that salvation is not a liberty (freedom) to sin. Rom. 6:1,15

·        However, it’s that that brings into our conscious awareness the fact that we are debtors (now that we are born again) not to the flesh, to live after the flesh (Rom.8:12, 6:7, 14) but to the nature of Christ to live in righteousness.

(a)  New birth (salvation) connotes baptism with Christ in His death for a resurrection unto His glorious life and living. Rom. 6:1-10

ü  when you understand this mystery of baptism you enter into this true freedom (rest) we are talking about.

ü  when you understand this mystery of being planted together in the likeness of His death, you become insightful that your old man is crucified with him for the total destruction of sin nature; so that you’re now free from serving sin to serving Christ. Rom.6:6, Gal.2:19-21

ü  when you understand the spiritual truth embedded in being dead with Christ you are free indeed to live unto God in righteousness and holiness. Rom.6:7-14, Gal.2:19-21, Jn.12:24-26

(b)  New birth connotes (demands) reckoning (counting, considering) yourself dead indeed unto sin: Rom.6:11a. This calls for:

ü  letting not sin (nature) reign in your mortal body. Rom.6:12

ü  obeying  not the lust of sin nature. Rom.6:12

ü  yielding not your members (eyes, ears, mouth, tongue, legs, etc) instrument of unrighteous unto sin. Rom.6:13a

(c)  New birth connotes (demands) reckoning (counting, consider) yourself alive indeed unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom.6:11b. This calls for:

ü  yielding yourself  (your members—eyes Job 31:1, ears, tongues Eph.4:29, legs Ps.1:1-3, mind Phil.4:8-9) unto God as instruments of righteousness. Rom.6:13b

ü  obeying from heart that form of doctrine (the truth) which was deliver you. Rom.6:17b, Eph.4:21-24, 1Tim.4:16, 2Cor.11:10, Jn.8:32 i.e. you are taught to the point that the truth is in you to the fullness as it is in Christ such that from the abundance of the truth inside of you, your entire life oozes out godliness, wisdom & power of God. Mat.12:33-35

ü  producing fruits unto holiness which results in everlasting life. Rom.6:22. i.e. you start to produce fruit in keeping (in tandem, in reflection of, in congruent with) repentance / righteousness. Mat.3:8, Lk.3:8,  Gal.5:22-23

v Understand that these processes free you from the operation (force, influences) of the law (of sin & death) but brings you under the grace (i.e. the influence of  the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, sin then, shall not have dominion over you. Rom.6:14, 7:6

v Understand that you are a servant of whomsoever you yield yourself to obey whether:

ü  of sin (nature) unto death or                                  Rom.6:16, Mat.6:24

ü  of obedience unto righteousness

v Understand that you need to be free from the service of one (sinful nature) to enter into the service of another (obedience nature), you need to be free from the service of the dominion of sin to enter into the service (liberty) of the obedience of righteousness. Rom. 6:16, 7:1-6, Mat.6:24

v When one is under the dominion of sin, death that results is the bondage that the soul of every man loathes (hates, dislikes very much, detests). Rom.6:23, Jam.1:13-15

v When one is under the obedience of grace, life that results is the gift of God (the very true freedom, the rest, the enthusiasm, the glory, etc) that the soul of every man desires, seeks and gun for vehemently. Rom.6:23, 2:7,10

(2)  Sanctifying, engracement and empowerment work of the Holy Ghost.

Eze.36:24-28, 1Cor.6:9-11

v Remember, salvation (new birth) takes away in us the stony heart out of our flesh and puts in us a new heart—a heart of flesh i.e. a heart that is easily broken by the word of God. Eze.36:26, Is. 66:2

v It means salvation prepares us qualified for the Holy Ghost to dwell in us and rest upon us. Eze.36:26-27

v When the Holy Ghost dwells in us (1) He causes us to walk in God’s statutes (teachings, commandments, and law) and (2) Keep His judgement and (3) do them. Eze.36:27

a.      He powers us for Godliness(Godly Character)

Ø  the indwelling Holy Ghost produces the fruit of the Spirit through our regenerated spirit. Gal.5:16,18,22-23,25, Eph.5:9-10, 4:18-32.

Ø  the Holy Ghost performs His sevenfold dimensions of operation in and through us. Is.11:1-3

Ø  as the Spirit of holiness (Rom.1:4); the Spirit of the fear of God He powers (empowers) us for holiness – righteous living. Is.11:1-3, Rom.6:19

v When the Holy Ghost comes upon us, we are enabled (empowered, engraced) to operate:

b.      in the wisdom of God:

Ø  our mind becomes the Christ mind through the influence enablement, empowerment, engracement of: the Spirit of knowledge, the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding, the Spirit of counsel. Is.11:2-3

Ø  This way our mind is powered to function as the mind of Christ – wisdom / excellence per excellence.

c.      in the power of God:

Ø  under the influence of the Spirit of (the Lord) power. Is.11:2-4, Acts1:8, Ps.66:3. Remember, it takes power to slay the wicked—the devil, (Is.11:4) to destroy and devastate all of his works / activities.

v Lastly, we are positioned

(i)    to be successful in self determination, self discipline and conscious effort through:

(ii) for the holy Ghost to carry out His sanctifying, engracement, enablement and empowerment work through:  

1.      Scripturally based, heart-felt prayers both in tongues and in understanding.

Lk.18:1, Col.4:2,  Mat.26:41, I Thess.5:17, Jude20

2.      Holy Ghost-inspired, meekness-driven study, meditation & practice of

scriptures the word of God. Is.66:2,  Ezra 9:4, Ps.25:4,9,12, 2Tim.2:15, Col.3:16

3.      Teaching & admonition of one another in psalms, hymns & spiritual songs singing with grace in your heart to the Lord. Col.3:16-17

v These 3 are the powerful tools through which we build our spiritual strength (muscles) against the day of adversity. Prov.24:10, Mat.7:24-27

v Instead of fainting in the day of adversity(when rain descends, flood comes, wind blows) build up yourself in faith as you (i) pray in understanding & in tongues,  (ii) read, study & practice the word of God, (iii) singing (psalms, hymns, spiritual) songs that multiplies grace in your heart (spirit man) toward the Lord.

v CONCLUSION: Micah 6:8           Acts 20:32