Tags
abiding in Christ, ascendancy, ask and receive, authority, being born again, discerning the spirits, dying to self, experience, Flesh vs. Spirit, following Jesus, God's love, God's will, grateful, inheritance, joy, obedience, Oneness, Overcomer, prayer, resurrection power, Satan, self-will, suffering, T.A. Sparks, the cross, the enemy, the Lamb, Victory, walking by the spirit
As much as the overcomer position, that is, being seated with Christ on His very throne, seems to be an attractive prospect for many of us, as difficult it appears to ever get there. What I mean by this is not that overcoming would be something God had not provided in his plan for every child being born from above. However, we might know that there is a cost related to the whole issue, which is entailed taking up our crosses daily and following the Lamb wherever He goes (cf. Rev 14:4). We read that Paul told the Corinthians that “flesh and blood cannot not inherit the kingdom of God” (see 1 Cor 15:50 ESV). Some have taken that to mean that only in the hereafter we will get to know whether we would be heirs with Christ, seated with Him on His throne, or not. Yet sometimes Scripture seems to be simpler than our intellect might realize at first sight. This scriptural statement implies that only the spirit can inherit the kingdom of God, right? 🙄
It was only today as I have started to see more clearly how Satan keeps our minds busy and worried all day long. Not that I had not heard about it before, however, the theory once learned has come alive now, so to say. What I am referring to is the simple pattern Satan always uses to pull us down on his level as soon as we have begun to relax in the presence of God. You know this pattern that starts telling us to distrust God by asking, “Hath God really said?”
For some time I have been wondering whether the existence of the Kingdom of God might mean more immediate proximity to our everyday life than we might have ever thought or believed possible. It was only yesterday as I had another surprising experience with our Lord Jesus Christ. In a certain sense I was reminded of another occurrence about four months ago when Christ pulled me out of a very depressive state by the simple question, “Do you believe that I am the life?” (1) After that question back then I felt that the spiritual power of His words triggered several dead or sick ‘spots’ inside me so that a healing process, both spiritual and mental, could set in. Although my physical diseases have not disappeared by now, I sense God must have his reasons why He has not fully healed me yet.
None of us would expect a baby to test-drive a car, nor would anyone assume that children, on the whole, go to university, give guest lectures, and teach students lessons they really need to hear (exceptions confirm the rule). As much as this world admires geniuses, in spiritual life there is no shortcut to heaven. We have to go through every more or less painful lesson our Lord puts us through. However, we may know that every lesson learned and accepted makes us see more of Him in our lives.
Entering the Promised Land 