What is God like?
When God begins to pursue you and draw you into a relationship with himself, at some point you will experience a lingering and deep desire to open yourself to him. This is because God has known and loved you from all eternity and you are beginning to feel him connect with you. But, sometimes when one becomes aware of that desire to open themselves to God, they feel somehow blocked or held back. That generally means that one has conscious or subconscious beliefs about God that do not come from who he really is. Those beliefs and perceptions generate emotions that put the brakes on trusting him the way an innocent child can run into the arms of his gentle, joyful and affectionate father.

One simple remedy for those misconceptions is to look at Jesus. Look at what he said, and what he did. As you do, he who is Truth will shine the light of his face into your heart, into you inner self, so that you can see how lavishly good God really is. Then you can fully open yourself to him. Then you can come to him with all your needs, all your regrets, all your flaws and misdeeds. You can run to him and tell him all, and he will forgive you and wash the very core of your being and make you clean.

Looking at Jesus, we see that he called God, “Father.” He also said that if you had seen him, you had seen the Father, and that he and the Father are one. So, the words and the works of Jesus in the Gospels show us the heart of the Father. These Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament) are the eyewitness accounts of the life, death and resurrection of Christ. If you want to read them, you might start with Mark and then read John. In these accounts, and from other places in God’s Word, we can see and summarize the following truths about God. After each statement we have included references from the Bible so that, if you want, you can look them up on your own:
 

Things True of God
God is the eternal Father, and he is not distant and uninterested in you. He is personally present with you and is seeking you. He wants your attention and a relationship with you. He has good plans to give you a future and a hope, and he has already prepared works in advance for you to do in partnership with him. (Psalm 139:1-18; Matthew 28:30; Jeremiah 29:11; Ephesians 2:10)

Father God is not insensitive, unknowing and uncaring towards you. He is kind and compassionate and knows every single thing about you. (Psalm 103:8014; 1 John 3:1-3; Hebews 4:12,13)

The Father is not stern, and he has not placed unrealistic expectations on you. When you sincerely turn to him, he freely accepts you and joyfully supports you. (Luke 15:11-32; Romans 5:8-11; Romans 15:17)

God is not passive and cold. He is warm and affectionate toward you. (Isaiah 40:11’ Hosea 11:3,4)

God is not absent or too busy for you. He is always present and eager to be with you and to enable you to be all that he created you to be. (Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 13:5)

He is not an impatient, angry man who is shouting and waving his arms. Even if you reject him, he desires to embrace you and works to win your love. He is patient and slow to anger. When he does discipline, it is not rejection. It is him faithfully freeing you from self-destruction, and it is motivated by his love for you. (Exodus 34:6; Romans 2:4; Hebrews 12:5-11)

God has not and never will be mean, cruel or abusive towards you. The truth is that Satan and his demons are mean, cruel and abusive, but God is loving, gentle and protective. (Psalm 18:2; Matthew 11:28-30; Ephesians 6:10-18)

God is not denying you the pleasures of life. The Father is the author of life and, if you open to him and follow, he will lead you into love, joy and peace. (Lamentations 3:22,23; Galatians 5:22-24)

God is not trying to control and manipulate you. He will set you free from negative and compulsive attitudes, habits, addictions and demonic control. He will give you the freedom to grow in his grace. (Galatians 5:1; Hebrews 4:15,16)

God loves mercy and not judgment. He loves to forgive and embrace. When you sincerely turn your self and your life back to God, he freely and completely forgives all your sins and will never use them against you in the future. (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Romans 8:1)

When you turn to God, he becomes your Father and you become his beloved child. He will not reject you when you to live a perfect or sinless life. He is patient, and is right there to immediately pick you up, cleanse you, encourage you and go forward with you. He is the perfect Father and he is committed to you.


Talk to God and he will draw near to you
Say the following prayer aloud to God. Repeat it a few times and say it for a few days. Allow your own heart to hear the words so that it opens to the presence of God and what he has for you.

Father, I believe You are the eternal God, and Jesus is Your Son. I believe that You love me and sent Your Son to show me what a good, loving, protective, and powerful Father You are. I believe that Your Son Jesus lived a perfect and pure life, and then died on a cross as the punishment and sacrifice for my sins. For me You planned that on the cross, he was condemned that I might be forgiven. He was rejected and alienated, that I might be accepted and adopted by You. He was exposed and abandoned, that I might be protected. He was wounded and broken, that I might be healed. I believe that You did this for me through the death of Your Son. Thank You for giving up Your Son to make me Your child and to make me whole, and for raising him from the dead.

Lord Jesus, I believe that You are alive and that You are standing right before me. I open the door to my heart and life, and I ask You to come in and make me the kind of person You want me to be. I choose to follow You, and I confess that You, Jesus, are my Lord. I turn from my sins and trust You now to forgive and cleanse me. I especially turn from ___________ (name specific sins that dominate your thoughts and actions, and that you may even be ashamed of – speak right to Jesus and tell him). Free me from the weight of these things. I look to You to fill me and strengthen me with Your indwelling presence. I receive and accept the lavish and free gift of total forgiveness. I believe that Your sacrifice on the cross is more than enough to meet my need for forgiveness, wash my spirit clean from sin and darkness, and restore me to intimately knowing God as my Father. I open my heart to believe and receive the joy that comes from You forgiving me and removing my guilt and shame. Thank You. Thank You for making me clean and new in my spirit, and for joining me to Yourself and living in me by Your Spirit. I now belong to You, and You belong to me.

Assurance from God
God himself gives you an inner assurance when you believe that he is moved by and responds to your repentance and your faith in his Son Jesus Christ. Listen to what God has said in his word, the Bible:

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3:20)

As many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name. (John 1:12)

God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life. He who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:11-13)

The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with him.
(1 Corinthians 6:17)

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. (Romans 8:16)

You can trust these words in the Bible. In summary, Jesus calls us. If you hear his voice, open the door to your life and heart, and invite him in, he comes and literally dwells within you. Because you now entrust yourself to the Lord Jesus and have received him, God adopts you as his very own child, and he has become your Father.

The pure and holy eternal life of God the Father is in his Son. Whoever receives and has the Son, has this eternal life of God himself. God wants you to know that you have eternal life with him now and forever because you have received his Son. Christ comes into you by his Spirit and becomes one with your own human spirit. The Holy Spirit bears witness to your own spirit that you are now a child of God. When you repent, believe, and receive Christ, the Holy Spirit lets you know that God is now your Father and Jesus is your Lord and Savior.

God is your Father, heaven is your home, and Jesus lives in you by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is food and power for your spirit, light for your mind, and the main thing that God uses to talk to you.

Why is there spiritual warfare? Why is it an issue?

Man and Early Creation (Genesis 1:1,26-28,31 & Psalm 8:5)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and over six days he rendered the earth habitable and perfect for plants, animals and man. He created man in his own image and likeness and crowned him with his own visible glory and majesty. God gave man (Adam and Eve) authority to rule over everything on the earth and in the heavens above it. Man looked and shone like God and was fashioned to experience deep intimacy and fellowship with him. He was to fellowship with God, know him, represent him, and bring his will to pass on the earth. The kingdom of God was to reign on earth through the relationship and oneness of Adam and God.

Lucifer and the Angels (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:12-18)
In the third heaven, in the realm of God’s throne, and of angels and spiritual beings, Lucifer was the anointed cherub who spread his wings out over the throne of God and worshiped closer to God than any other being. He was anointed by God the Holy Spirit to worship, lead and administrate. He was a musician and led heaven in worship. He was over multiple sanctuaries where he led heavenly beings in worship. He was, on the day of his creation, the highest creation of God, the most beautiful, intelligent and wise. He walked in the presence of God, before his face, and was blameless. At some point, before he fell, he was even in Eden, the garden that God himself had created for man.

The Fallen Nature of Lucifer and his Angels (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:12-18; Revelation 12:4, 9; John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8)
But Lucifer became proud because of his beauty and splendor, and he was corrupted. He bartered with the angels, telling them that if they worshipped him, completely switching allegiance from God to him, he would give them a place of honor better than what God had given them. They would become gods under him and receive worship from those under them. One third of the angels were seduced and persuaded and defected from God and his kingdom to give worship and complete obedience to Lucifer.

In doing this the Bible says that Lucifer became corrupted and was “internally filled with violence.” He and his angels, having known and turned from the purity and absolute holiness of God, became completely and irrevocably evil. Lucifer became known as the Dragon (a massive evil being who quickly and easily overwhelms his prey), the Devil (which means “accuser”), and Satan (which means “adversary”). He is called the thief who comes only to steal, kill and destroy, and that he prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.

The Fall of Man (Genesis 3:1-13; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:14)
Lucifer, in his lust for worship and control, turned to man, who was beloved of God, and in the image of the God he now hated. He used his persuasion to deceive Eve into believing that God was holding out on them, and that they could become like gods themselves if they followed Satan’s influence. Eve was deceived and first transgressed God’s clear command. Adam was not deceived, but with eyes wide open he followed suit to be with Eve. Immediately they died to the glory of their inner union and oneness with God; in addition, they lost their glory-covering and were now naked, afraid, and guilty. God was with them but no longer dwelling in them. They lost the protection of the indwelling glory, and the out-shinning glory that covered them. They became vulnerable, and the strategies, impact, lies and mental and emotional control from the demonic began to infiltrate them.

The Transfer of Dominion on the Earth (Psalm 24:1 & 115:16; Amos 3:7; Luke 4:5-7; 2 Corinthians 4:3,4; 1 John 5:19; Ephesians 2:1,2)
The earth belongs to God by right of creation, but God delegated authority on the earth to man. God set it up so that he works through man. He does nothing on the earth except he first reveals it to his prophetic people who listen, believe it, pray it, declare it, and act on it. God gave man that place. But when Adam and Eve came under the influence of Satan and obeyed him, they came out from under the authority and covering of God; they dropped their own rulership under God to come under Satan. Instead of ruling and enforcing God’s will against Satan, they abdicated their authority and submitted to him. The dominion was transferred and its horrific outworking began. Satan began to take authority over them and the earth. Successive individuals and generations yielded more to Satan so that Satan, when he tempted and showed Christ all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, was able to say to him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory, for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. If You worship before me, it shall be yours.”

Scripture calls Satan the god of this world and says that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. His agents, the fallen angels, rule over humanity in regions, people groups, etc., and fulfill their strategies through demonic working. The kingdom of darkness works toward the goal of turning worship away from the true and living God, and of securing the hearts and minds of men for the control and worship of Satan. This is the spirit of the world. It is the outworking of Satan’s authority which he usurped from Adam.

Jesus Christ the Overcomer (John1:1,14; Hebrews 10:5-7; 1 John 3:8; John 14:30; Philippians 2:8; 1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 4:5,6)
In the midst of this Satan-dominated world, Jesus, the eternal Word and Son of God, became flesh and was born of a virgin. He came and lived to please the Father and do his will. He delighted to love the Father with his whole being and never, even for a millisecond, deviated from full hearted and sincere obedience to his Father. He never yielded to temptation, which would have given Satan authority over him. He stepped into, in his ministry, the authority that God had mandated for man to walk in. Wherever Jesus was to go and minister in the will of God, he destroyed Satan’s works and accomplished what the Father wanted. He was not yet, as a man, given all authority in heaven and on earth. But in the sphere of his calling and ministry he exercised complete, uncontested dominion over demons, disease and even the weather.

So Jesus overcame Satan, not by overwhelming force or hand-to-hand combat, but by never yielding to temptation. Shortly before his death, Jesus said, “The ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” He humbled himself and obeyed to the point of death on the cross. He is the spotless Lamb of God, having no spots and blemishes of disobedience and rebellion.

Satan couldn’t touch Jesus until he drank the cup of our iniquity in the garden of Gethsemane. Once he was identified with our sin, the covering of God was removed and Satan attacked him and began the process to put him to death.

The Man Christ Jesus – Obedient Suffering, then Glory, Honor and Complete Authority (Hebrews 2:9; 5:7-9; 9:14)  
During his suffering Jesus completed his overcoming as he continued to love the Father and obey him. This obedience of Jesus was rooted in his love as the Son for his Father. Hebrews 2:9 tells us that because of his (love-based) obedience to the suffering of death, God responded and crowned him with glory and honor. Even though he was the eternal Son become man, in order to qualify and be our substitute on the cross, he had to complete and experience loving obedience in the full range of human experience, especially under intense suffering:

“In the days of his flesh, he offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One who was able to save him (that is, be enabled to go through the intense mental, physical and spiritual suffering and then be raised up) from death, and he was heard because of his piety. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from the things which he suffered. And having been made perfect (he loved and obeyed under the full range human conditions, especially extreme suffering), he became to all who obey him the source of eternal salvation.” (Hebrews 5:7-9)

The Father answered the cries of his Son, and enabled Jesus through the Holy Spirit to offer himself on the cross without the slightest blemish of disobedience: “Christ, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without blemish to God.” (Hebrews 9:14)

Other Key Scriptures Describing the Obedience and Exaltation of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:8-11; Ephesians 1:20-22; Matthew 28:18)
 In Philippians 2:8-11 the Holy Spirit tells us, “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

And then in Ephesians 1:20-22 we read, “He (the Father) raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenlies, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And he (the Father) put all things in subjection under his feet.”

Jesus himself said, after his resurrection and right before he went back to heaven, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

The Position and Authority of the Believer (Ephesians 2:4-6)
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in out transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

The Scope of Spiritual Warfare & the Name of Jesus (Matthew 16:18,19; 18:18-20; Psalm 149:6-9)
There is intense work by evil spirits to keep unbelievers locked in ignorance, deception, blindness, false philosophies and false religions. Demons work to blind unbelievers to the reality of the Living God and Jesus Christ, and then upon death to take them into Hades where they will torture them.

An unbeliever cannot be saved unless he is awakened and enlighten by:
It takes the name of Jesus, the word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to break through the demonic blindness and awaken a person to the reality of Jesus. Evil spirits control and watch over their hosts and will do everything they can to fight and hold on to their position in that person. Therefore, believers must sacrificially love the lost with the love of Christ, intercede and use the authority of the name of Jesus to bind the demonic, and free the person to hear the voice of the Son of God.

Believers must be gathered and come together under the direct Lordship of Christ and God-given Spirit-anointed leadership. They must be taught the word on how to love one another and grow in faith as individuals, families and as a church. They must learn how to:
This is the normal operating mode for the church. This is what Jesus uses to reach the harvest and to build his church in the midst of this sin and demon dominated world. He said, “You are Peter (petros – stone), and upon this rock (petra – bedrock of revelation of the Person of Jesus) I will build My church and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

As we obey the Lord Jesus, he builds. And Satan can’t stop it. We plunder hell.

What is inner healing? Is it in the Bible?

Consider this… “Physical healing” is not a Bible phrase, but it describes the love and power of God healing our bodies, the outward part of us, and as such it is found all throughout the Bible. It is very important to the Father, for the Bible teaches that it is he who provides healing and invites us to be healed. The Bible teaches that the Father freely and lavishly expressed his nature as Healer through the ministry of his Son:


Just as the phrase “physical healing” is not found in the Bible, neither are the words “inner healing” found there. Inner healing is a term we use to describe the healing work and love of the Father that is inward, or inner; that is, he opens our hearts to heal and deliver us from being stuck in negative beliefs and emotions. And this also is a very important aspect of Christ’s ministry. The following is a prophecy of Christ from Isaiah 61:1 that was quoted by Jesus of himself in Luke 4:18:


Any believer can receive healing for his body and heart through the promises of the word and his own Spirit-led relationship with the Lord. But it is very wise to fellowship with other believers where the scriptures on healing are taught and practiced, and where God is moving and healing hearts and bodies. We are to walk together in the light of God’s word concerning healing, both physical and inner, and pray for each other:


Using Biblical language, inner healing would probably best be described as an aspect of sanctification. Sanctification has two aspects to it. It means:

1.) To set apart from something common or even unclean, and
2.) To cleanse and set apart to God as his own and for his delight and purposes.

Other words and phrases from the Bible that involve what we call inner healing would include:


Through Christ, the Father has made provision for us to be healed, whole, and holy. You don’t have to be broken! You, child of God, don’t have to be broken! This is the Father’s will:


To many people, and even to many Christians, the term inner healing, and the deliverance from demons that often accompanies it, can sound and feel foreign. This booklet will give the Biblical basis and teaching for inner healing, and also of deliverance from demons in the context of inner healing. The focus of this booklet will be on your heart connecting by faith with the heart of Jesus and receiving the freedom that he has for you.

Our hearts can have broken, painful areas that contain lies planted there by the enemy about our worth, our identity, about who God is, about relationships, and life. If we truly believe the lies it will determine, at a deep heart level, what we feel and do. All of this can create an inner prison, small or large, that Jesus wants to bring us out of. It’s common for evil spirits to work with these prisons to amplify the fear, pain, anxiety, guilt, shame, etc. Jesus does heart-focused healing and freedom!

It’s about him answering the prayer of Psalm 139:23,24:

INTRODUCTION

Many persons do not realize that they break the first of God’s Ten Commandments when they do such things as:
These activities, and many others, break the first and second commandments.

If you seek to be led by, contact or worship any spirit being other than the living God, you open yourself to demonic power and bondage.  This brief booklet will help you to identify occult and false spiritual activity, and it will lead you through a prayer of repentance and renunciation, so that you may find forgiveness from God and freedom from demonic power.  Do not play games with God or the devil.  The prayers in this booklet will only work for the person who believes in Jesus Christ and has accepted him as the Lord of his or her life.  If you are serious, turn to him now and say,

“Lord Jesus, forgive me, come into me, and bring Your leadership into my life.  I will follow You.  Make Yourself real to me.”


OCCULT CHECKLIST

The following is a partial list of the type of things that involve being led by, contacting or openly worshipping a spirit being other than God himself.  As you read, ask God to show you any ways that you or your family line have done these things.  Get pen and paper ready, and as you go through the list write down all that you remember or that comes to your mind.  The Holy Spirit will help you with this.  So, quiet yourself before the Lord Jesus, ask him to show you what you need to see, and then record whatever he gives you.  If possible, do this with a mature Christian or Christian leader who hears form God, and who understands how to break curses arising from false worship and occult practices.  
All forms of fortune telling and divination – Astrology, the signs of the Zodiac and birth dates; palm reading; Tarot or fortune telling cards; reading tea leafs; using a spirit-board (such as a Ouija Board), a crystal ball, or a pendulum; using a divining-rod (also called water-witching) to find the location to drill for water; spiritual or psychic readings or consultations; etc.

All forms of witchcraft, magic and sorcery – Through these things a person seeks to exercise a supernatural power (that is not God’s), or appeal to a spirit being, to produce an event or to influence a person. This may be done for “good” or evil causes.  Often, this is done through rituals or techniques (incantations, spells, drugs, potions, curses, amulets, talismans – which are magic pictures, charms, etc.).   Many games (such as Dungeons and Dragons or Pokemon) are based on the exercise of occult power.  Under this category would also fall all pacts with Satan, and participation in covens, Satanism, Wicca, Voodoo, and other such things.  

All idol worship – This would include worshipping, praying to, offering sacrifices to, venerating or honoring, or displaying as an object of honor, any statue or representation of a god, spirit being, person or ancestor.  God has commanded, “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on earth beneath or in the water under the earth.  You shall not worship them or serve them; for I am a jealous God.” (Exodus 20:4,5)  If you have any Buddha’s or objects that represent or are used to contact spirits, get rid of them, even if you only think of them as works of art.

All attempts to contact the spirits of the dead, or any other spirit – This would include such things as contacting the “dead” through a medium or channeler in a séance, channeling a spirit being, or using a spirit as a “friend” or teaching guide.  These spirits are all lying demons.

All secret societies and organizations that involve secret vows, oaths and curses, and honoring the name of false gods – The vast majority of persons who join these organizations do not realize what they are doing. They do not realize that they are bringing curses on themselves, their family and future generations.  The Masonic organization is an example of this.  Many, many persons have been healed of ailments such as headaches, respiratory and heart problems when they renounced they own involvement, or their ancestors’ involvement, in Freemasonry.  The oaths and pledges taken in college fraternities and sororities also fall under this category.  Examples of other organizations are the Odd Fellows, Elks, Moose and Eagles Lodges, the Grange, Eastern Star, Daughters of the Eastern Star, Rainbow, DeMolay and Mormonism.

All belief in and the practice of superstition and charms – Belief in superstition puts good or bad “luck”, and the power behind them, in the place of gods that must be obeyed.  This would include such things as obeying common superstitions, or using a horseshoe for good luck, or some other object to ward off evil spirits or bad luck.

All organizations that claim to have a spiritual emphasis, but deny salvation through Christ alone - Christ is the only, pre-existent and eternal Son of God who came from heaven, became a man, revealed the true God to us, lovingly bore our sins and paid the price for our forgiveness with his own blood, then rose from the dead and ascended to heaven as the true King of all kings and Lord of all lords.  No other person or spirit being can be who he is or do what he has done; no one else loves us like him.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No man comes to the Father but through Me.  Truly, truly I say to you. I am the door of the sheep.  All who came before Me are thieves and robbers.”  (John 14:6 & 10:7,8)

All worship in false cults and religions – Christian Science, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc.; Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.

“Listening to” (seeking out, reading or hearing) the “wisdom” that comes from occult, New Age, physic, cult and false religion material – In Deuteronomy 18:14 God tells us that we are not allowed to listen to those who practice witchcraft and divination.  You must renounce reading their books, seeking their advice, listening to their TV programs or instructional DVD’s or CD’s, going to their seminars, etc.  You must also throw away their material.
 
Prayer, petition or adulation to any being other than the living God – Pray only to the living God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  God in his word tells us that his Son gives understanding of who the true God really is.  We are to relate only to him, and to guard ourselves from praying to or worshipping all false gods and idols. (An idol is the image of a being who takes a place in our heart that rightfully belongs only to God himself).  

Some forms of entertainment, art, music and literature – It is the Creator himself who gifts people in these areas of expression and creativity.  Unfortunately, those God-given abilities may be employed in such a way that they carry evil or occult spirits.  

Some alternative medical practices – Any practice that is based in a false religious belief system will open one to the spirits behind that system.  Also, any health practice that seeks to impart healing or “energy” through the laying on of hands, and is not done by a believer in Christ in obedience to the Word of God, will not impart to you the Spirit of God or his power.  It will impart, or channel, another spirit to you.


PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE

When you have finished writing your list, read over the following prayers and declarations.  Then, in the presence of another believer in Christ, pray and speak them aloud:

Father, I submit to You and agree that seeking, contacting, following or worshipping any spirit being other than You (Father, Son and the Holy Spirit) is sin.  I confess that using any supernatural power other than Your word and Your Spirit is sin.  I confess that all other spirit beings, religions, philosophies or explanations that claim to be legitimate gods or sources of spiritual energy are impostures – they are false, evil spirits that are in rebellion against You.

I confess that I was disobedient to Your commandment, which was meant to protect me from these impostors.  I agree with You that the following things, that I or my ancestors did, are sin.  In the name of Jesus Christ I renounce my involvement, and my ancestor’s involvement, in these things…

(Now read aloud everything you have written down.  After you have done that, continue to pray aloud the following…)

Father, if I did these things before I became Your child, then I thank You that You have already forgiven me.  If I did any of these things after I became Your child, then I ask You, in Jesus name, to forgive me now.  Thank You for hearing me and forgiving me.  I call on You to cleanse, heal and restore me from all the effects that have come into my life as a result of breaking Your commandments.   In Psalm 34:7 You promise that “the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them.”  I choose to love, honor and respect You with godly fear, and I thank You for sending Your angel of deliverance to minister on my behalf.

Lord Jesus, I thank You for dying for my sins and for becoming a curse for me.  Thank You for redeeming me from slavery to the curses that result from breaking Your commandments.  Let it be known that, in the authority of the name of Jesus Christ, I renounce Satan and all his works, and all inherited sins and curses.  

Explanations From the Bible for Worship Expressions and Terms
You May See or Hear During Our Meetings

Our meetings may be more informal, expressive, and non-traditional than what you are familiar with. Listed below are explanations from the Bible for a number of worship expressions and terms you may see or hear during our meetings. It may be helpful to you to look these verses up and read them in context in your own Bible.

Abba, or Abba Father– A word in the Bible, used by Jesus and the apostle Paul, that is very close in meaning to our English word Daddy. It is a name of God the Father that describes the love that exists between Him and His children. Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6

Anointing – In the Old Testament a prophet would fill a ram’s horn with olive oil and then pour it out on an individual who was being set apart for the Lord’s service. The oil was symbolic of the Holy Spirit, who would then come upon and empower those individuals to do God’s work. When we speak of the “anointing” we are referring to the real presence and power of the Holy Spirit that is manifest in the life of the believer and when we gather together. Luke 4:18,19; Acts 10:38; 2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 John 2:20 &27

Anointing with Oil – This is often done when an individual is receiving prayer for healing. The oil symbolizes that the power of the Holy Spirit is present to heal now. James 5:14,15 & Mark 6:13

Banners and Flags– “We will sing for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners.” Psalms 20:5; Song of Songs 6:10

Baptism in the Holy Spirit – This is not water baptism. “Baptism in the Holy Spirit” refers to the initial time when the believer receives the infilling of the Holy Spirit. (Ask for a copy of our free booklet, Have You Received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit? (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 9:17; 10:44-47; 11:15-17; 19:1-7

The Body, or the Body of Christ – Generally we are not referring to the physical, resurrected body of the Lord Jesus. Instead, we mean His living church, joined to Him and each other by the Holy Spirit.  Ephesians 1:22,23 & 4:12; Colossians 1:18

Born Again – The Lord Jesus said, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) This happens when a person by faith accepts God’s gift of forgiveness and yields his heart and life to the Leadership of Christ. When he does that, the Father in heaven forgives him of all his sins, and the Spirit of Christ comes inside that person’s spirit and causes him to be reborn spiritually as a child of God.  

Communion, or the Lord’s Supper – As a church we corporately celebrate the Lord’s supper the first Sunday of every month. But we also have what we call “open communion.” The communion elements are usually available at every Sunday morning service. Any believer may go forward to take communion between himself and the Lord at any time during the worship, or when he comes forward to bring his tithes and offering. Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

Clapping – “O clap your hands, all peoples.” - Psalm 47:1  

Dancing – “Let them praise His name with dancing.” – Psalm 149:3; Also see 2 Samuel 6:14-16; Psalm 150:4

Deliverance – This describes being set free from negative pressures which are a result of demonic influence. Mark 1:34,39; Hebrews 2:14,15

Falling - Sometimes, when God manifests His power, people literally fall down. At that time His Spirit may be revealing a truth, directly to a person’s heart, that he has not understood; or He may be bringing healing or freedom; or one’s body simply may not be able to stand upright in the presence of His power.  The following are six examples from the Bible of people who either fell or who were not able to stand in His presence: “The cloud filled the house of the Lord so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house… When therefore He (Jesus) said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground… And when I saw Him (Jesus), I fell at His feet as a dead man… So, he (the angel Gabriel) came near to where I (Daniel) was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face… while he (the angel) was talking with me I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground, but he touched me and made me stand upright… He (Paul) was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, and he fell to the ground… When I (John) saw it (the glory of the Lord), I fell on my face.” 1 Kings 8:11; John 18:6; Revelation 1:17; Daniel 8:16-18; Acts 9:3,4; Ezekiel 1:28
 
Gifts of the Spirit – Listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, these are nine distinct ways that the Holy Spirit will supernaturally manifest His presence and power through a believer in Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

Inner Healing – This term describes God’s love healing the heart and emotions from the effects of trauma and negative conditions and beliefs. Psalm 147:3 & Isaiah 61:1

Kneeling – “Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” – Psalm 95:6

Laughter and Joy – Reverence, awe and silence are right responses to God’s presence, but the Bible also teaches that the Father fills the mouths of His children with laughter and gives them great joy. “Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with joyful shouting. In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” – Psalm 126:2 & 16:11 Also see Nehemiah 8:10; Job 8:21; Luke 10:21; Acts 13:52; Galatians 5:22  

Laying On of Hands – A means whereby spiritual power, the anointing, is transferred from a believer to another person. Mark 16:17,18; Acts 6:6; 8:17; 9:17; 13:3; 19:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; Hebrews 6:1,2.

Lifting Up Hands – This is a biblical way to acknowledge God’s presence and express the worship that is in your heart. “May my prayer be counted as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as the evening offering” – Psalm 141:2. See also Psalm 28:2 & 134:2; 1 Timothy 2:8

Loud United Praise to God – “The whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice” – Luke 19:37

Prophecy – This is one of the gifts, or manifestations, of the Spirit. It simply means that God impresses on a believer’s heart a “word” or direct message from Him for another person or group of persons. It does not have to relate to future events to be a “prophetic word”. 1 Corinthians 14:1 & 3

Silence – There are times when the Holy Spirit just wants us to be still in His presence. Psalm 62:1,5; 65:1; Revelation 8:1

Shouting – “Let them shout for joy and be glad” – Psalm 35:27; Psalm 47:1

Tongues and Interpretation – These are two of the gifts of the Spirit of God. Speaking in tongues is the God-given ability of a believer to
speak and pray in a language that he has not learned by natural means. Unless its companion gift of interpretation is also in operation, the “translation” is not understood, but the individual is speaking words supplied by the Holy Spirit to:

At times a believer will receive the interpretation of what he is speaking. Also, at times, the Holy Spirit will prompt a believer to speak in tongues out loud in a service so that it may be followed by a public interpretation – it is then equivalent to prophecy and is a means that God may use to speak to His people. (Our booklet Have You Received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit? will give you more instruction on this topic.) Mark 16:17; Acts 2:1-4, 10:44-46, 19:1-6; 1 Corinthians 14.

Visions and Dreams – “And it shall be in the last days,” God says, “that I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” Acts 2:1 Also see Acts 9:10-12; 10:9-20; 16:9,10

We’ve tried, in this information sheet, to offer explanations from the Bible for some of the things you may see during the worship here.  Please feel free to talk to the pastor or one of the members about any questions you may have.

This blog was taken from Facebook posts written by Kevin Riodan

Opening Doors to Healing

Before you read this, I’m just letting you know - there may be some who will disagree with what you’re about to read on the relationship of demons and sickness. That is your prerogative. I’ve written this from what I have seen over ten plus years of praying for the sick. In those ten years of ministering healing and deliverance, I have come to realize that while there are no absolute approaches that will always work every time (this is especially true in deliverance), there are some medical conditions where the scriptural approach of casting out demons has consistently proven to result in the healing that God has promised.

I believe one of the biggest reasons why the church sees so few healings is because of it’s ignorance of the demonic role in sickness, or it’s unwillingness to deal with the demonic for fear of being controversial. Whether for ignorance or controversy, our unwillingness to consider the demonic role in sickness has been a detriment to the church. Deliverance is as much a part of the gospel as healing is. According to Mark 16:17, the driving out of demons should accompany the preaching of the gospel. If this vital ministry is being ignored in the church, then the full gospel is not being preached in your church.

In 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul writes about the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit, he refers to healing as being in the plural. Here Paul teaches that the Holy Spirit manifests himself through “giftS of healing”. In other words, there is more than one gift of healing. We see in scripture, and it has been proven to me by my experience in functioning in healing and deliverance, that deliverance is an essential, God-given part of the healing gift.

For example, we read in Luke‬ ‭13:11-13: “And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God.”‬

Throughout the gospels we see Jesus healing the sick and driving out devils. In scripture we see Jesus dealing with a deaf-mute spirit, epileptic spirit, and he heals Peter’s mother-in-law by rebuking a fever.

My eyes really came open to this years ago when I was brand new in healing. I was praying for a woman with breast cancer. As I prayed, she began to feel something moving in the breast where she had cancer. It moved from her breast up her chest, to her throat and came out of her mouth. At that point, she was the second person I had ever seen healed.

Since that experience over a decade ago, I have seen literally thousands of people healed of various sickness, pain, and mental illness, both within the church walls and outside of them, through the driving out of demons.

There are some who have accused me of believing that there is a demon under every rock and behind every tree. While that is not entirely true, I do believe that there are more demons under more rocks and behind more trees than the western church wants to believe. Try as they might, you really can’t argue with people’s testimonies.

The reality is that many sicknesses are directly caused by a demon. Countless times, I’ve simply commanded a demon out and the pain and all other symptoms left with it.
For others, sickness is a physical problem where healing is prevented by an occupying demon. There have been times where I have laid hands on an individual and prayed for healing to no avail. I then asked questions, determined the root such as unforgiveness. I led them to forgive, drove out the demon, prayed for healing, and healing came immediately.

There are certain illnesses that I pray for, that I will automatically go after a demon. They are as follows: asthma, COPD, allergies, all cancer, lupus, migraines, severe reflux, fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome (and most syndromes for that matter), epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative arthritis, scoliosis, diabetes, neuropathy, stomach/intestinal issues (many stomach issues are actually a spirit of fear), anything that cannot be diagnosed (you can’t diagnose a demon), schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression. I will deal with demons every time the sickness or pain is caused by trauma. When it comes to other sickness and pain, I will deal with demons depending on the circumstances surrounding the sickness.

I have been asked, “Do I need to address the demon by its exact name for it to come out?”  My answer is that when it comes to sickness, it is usually either a spirit of infirmity, affliction, pain, sickness, death, or trauma. Or the spirit is named after what it causes, for example: cancer, diabetes, migraines, allergies, sciatica, etc.

It is unfortunate how many times a person has gone forward for prayer, didn’t receive healing, and was told it was due to their lack of faith or that it wasn’t God’s timing. Sometimes all it takes is a two-minute prayer, a sharp command in the name of Jesus for deliverance, and years of pain goes away.



Kevin on Facebook - www.facebook.com/kevin.streetfisher
Kevin’s Website - www.setfreeweekends.com

How to Connect with Your Creator and Discover His Will for Your Life

God told the prophet Jeremiah:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. I have appointed you…

This applies to you. God planned you and knew you ages before he formed you in your mother’s womb. He made you unique from all others, and He longed to have you as his own intimate, obedient child. While you were yet in the womb he consecrated you and appointed you to a specific destiny.

The apostle Paul said this:
He who had set me apart, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me…

Then, at the end of his life, Paul wrote:
The time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course…

God broke into Paul’s life when he was a young man. Christ was intimately revealed to him, and by faith he began to radically follow him. At the end of his life he could say, I have finished the course!

Until Christ became real to him, Paul had no idea of the destiny he was called to while yet in his mother’s womb.

Up to that point, he was missing, really missing, the purpose for which he was born. But he encountered and followed Christ – he plugged in and walked into his destiny. It can happen to you.


Examine Yourself

If you are simply living a natural life and doing things that you are able to do through your own power without God, you are not plugged into Christ and his will for you. God longs for you to consistently experience and give away to others his supernatural love and power. Listen to what he says in his word:

Know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God…He is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or imagine, according to the power that works within us. (Ephesians 3:19,20)

If you are daily living a lifestyle that is according to your own plans, and you are not experiencing a life that is stretched out beyond your own ability and imagination, you are missing the purpose for which you were created.


How can you plug in and walk into your destiny?



Father, You knew me before You created me. You longed for me and called me from my mother’s womb to follow You. Divine destiny awaits me. I choose to find and do Your will for my life. Change me. You know my weaknesses and my sins – forgive me and fill me with Your Spirit. I do not want compromise; I do not want to be cold or lukewarm towards You. Put me on fire! Jesus, I will follow you.

Introduction and Key Verse
John 15:1 — “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” (NASB)

John chapters thirteen through sixteen record the Lord’s final teaching to the twelve disciples. Alone with the twelve, he was celebrating the Passover meal in an upper room of a house. Immediately following this close and intimate time with his disciples he was taken into custody, falsely tried, scourged and crucified. In this middle of this time with them he gave them one of the most profound and tender metaphors in all of Scripture. With only hours remaining before his arrest, he did not give them a theological lecture or a complex doctrinal system. Instead, He gave them a picture—simple, familiar, earthy, and deeply rooted in the Old Testament story. He says:

“I am the true Vine.”
“My Father is the Vinedresser.”
“You are the branches.”

In a few words, Jesus summarizes the entire Christian life: union with Himself, dependence on His life, and the Father’s loving oversight of our growth. To fully appreciate the depth of this metaphor, we must understand its Old Testament background, its historical context, and its spiritual implications for every believer who abides in Christ.

Old Testament Foundations: God’s Vineyard and Israel’s Calling
Many times, Jesus referred to commonly known and understood Old Testament stories and pictures that taught spiritual truths. In his teaching he also used pictures from agriculture, nature, business or everyday life. When he called himself the vine and his Father the vinedresser, his disciples instantly recognized the imagery of the vine as used in the Old Testament. Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is described as God’s vine or vineyard, planted to bear fruit for His glory. The following are examples of this:



Jesus the True Vine: The Fulfillment of Israel’s Calling
Against this backdrop, Jesus’ words shine with extraordinary meaning:
“I am the true vine.”

The word true (Greek: alēthinos) means “genuine,” “ultimate,” “real,” or “that which fulfills the pattern.” Jesus is not merely another vine—He is the Vine to which all the Old Testament imagery pointed. He is declaring:
In calling Himself the true Vine, Jesus implies the existence of false vines:
Jesus replaces every false source of life. Only He supplies the life that produces spiritual fruit.

The Father the Vinedresser: God’s Loving, Skillful Care
Jesus immediately adds: “My Father is the vinedresser.”

The vinedresser (geōrgos) is the master gardener—the one who prepares, plants, tends, prunes, lifts, washes, and harvests the vineyard. His work is personal and constant. He knows each branch and what it needs.

A first-century vinedresser in Israel:
Every part of the vinedresser’s work expresses care, not harshness; purpose, not punishment.

This is the picture Jesus gives of the Father’s relationship to believers. God oversees your entire spiritual journey with perfect wisdom and loving attention. Nothing in your life is accidental. Nothing escapes His care.

True Vine and Branches: The Living Illustration
To the disciples—and to anyone familiar with vineyards—the metaphor of a vine and its branches was vivid, practical, and unmistakable.






New Testament Spiritual Truths Illustrated by the Vine and Branches
Jesus’ metaphor draws together some of the most profound doctrines in the New Testament.


The True Vine and Vinedresser in the Believer’s Life
This metaphor provides a framework for understanding every stage of spiritual growth.
Conclusion: A Life in the Hands of the True Vine and the Vinedresser
Jesus’ simple image brings together the entire story of Scripture. Israel was the vine that failed. Jesus is the Vine that cannot fail. The Father is the Vinedresser who lovingly shapes each believer into the likeness of His Son. And we, the branches, live by the life of Christ flowing through us.

Your spiritual life is not left to chance. You are rooted in the True Vine. You are tended by the Father. And the fruit that grows in your life is the very life of Christ being expressed through you.

To abide in Him is to live daily in this reality:
Because the Vine is true, the fruit will come.
Because the Vinedresser is faithful, the harvest is certain.
And because you are in Christ, your life is sustained by His unending, unstoppable, ever-fruitful life.

“Lord, open my eyes to see as You see, and soften my heart to love as You love.”

Key Verse - Matthew 9:36 (NIV)
“When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

To see and respond to the world through the eyes and heart of Jesus is one of the most radical transformations the Holy Spirit can work within us. It's not about physical sight, but spiritual perception—seeing beyond the surface into the soul, beyond offense into brokenness, and beyond behavior into God-given worth.

Jesus never just saw people—He perceived them deeply. He looked into the hearts of Pharisees and sinners, disciples and strangers, the faithful and the forgotten. Whether He was confronting, healing, weeping, or teaching, His actions always flowed from divine compassion and truth.

When we allow His Spirit to shape our vision, something beautiful happens:
Scripture Meditation
Seeing with Jesus’ Eyes Means:
Reflection Questions
Prayer

Application Challenge
This week, intentionally slow down and look at the people you normally pass by—at work, in traffic, at the store, at home. Ask Jesus silently, “How do You see them?” Then respond from that place. Keep a journal and record the moments where you felt His heart guiding your response.

Final Encouragement
The more we gaze at Jesus, the more we begin to see like Him. As our hearts are transformed, so are our eyes—and when our eyes change, so does the way we move through the world.

“And we all… beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.”  2 Corinthians 3:18

Our Inheritance in Christ

The Christian life is not a random journey but an inheritance to be received and walked out. Paul writes in Colossians 1:12: “Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” God Himself has qualified us—this inheritance is not earned by our performance but given through Christ.

Again in Ephesians 1:3 we are reminded: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Everything we need to live the life God calls us to—victory, wisdom, strength, grace—is already given to us in Christ. We are not trying to earn our inheritance; we are learning to walk into it.

A Pattern in the Old Testament

The Old Testament gives us a vivid picture of this process. The land of Israel was the inheritance of the people of God. In the book of Joshua we see how they “took the land” step by step, city by city, victory by victory.

God said to Joshua in Joshua 1:2–5: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, cross this Jordan… Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you… No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. I will not fail you or forsake you.”

The same principle applies to us: every promise of God in Christ becomes ours as we step into it by faith. We take ground spiritually the way Israel took ground physically.

What Happens When We Stumble?

Israel’s story also warns us. After the mighty victory at Jericho, Israel suffered a surprising defeat at the small town of Ai (Joshua 6–7). This teaches us two things:

1. Great victories do not make us immune to temptation or defeat.
2. We cannot coast on yesterday’s success; we need God’s presence and dependence every day.

When we lose a battle or give in to temptation, it does not mean our inheritance is gone. Instead, we humble ourselves before God, identify why we stumbled, repent, make changes, and then rise to go forward again. God’s grace is greater than our failure.

Jesus’ Radical Call to Deal with Temptation

Jesus spoke plainly about dealing with sin in Matthew 5:29–30: “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out… If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off…” His words remind us that we must decisively cut off whatever causes us to sin—habits, environments, or influences that pull us away from Him.

The Reality of Stumbling

Who walks perfectly? James says plainly in **James 3:2**: “For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man.” We all need grace. This keeps us humble, dependent on God, and compassionate toward others.

Speaking Life When We Fall

What we say to ourselves matters. Proverbs 23:17–18 teaches us to speak what is right: “My son, if your heart is wise, My own heart will be glad… when your lips speak what is right.” When we fall, we must speak God’s truth—not despair or condemnation—over our lives.

God Holds Our Hand

Where is God when we stumble? He is not standing off in judgment; He is holding our hand. Psalm 37:23–24 declares: “The steps of a man are established by the Lord… When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the one who holds his hand.” And Psalm 73:21–24 echoes: “Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory.”

God never abandons His children in their struggle. He walks us through correction, restoration, and growth.

Assuring Our Hearts Before God

When we stumble, our emotions often accuse us. But 1 John 3:18–20 reminds us: “We shall assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.”

We must come to the light, be honest with God, repent, and cut off the source of temptation. We then believe that God is still with us, even when our feelings lag behind. Faith takes God at His word.

Restoring Others With Gentleness

Our attitude toward a struggling brother or sister matters. Galatians 6:1–3 instructs: “Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness…” We restore gently, bearing one another’s burdens, not looking down but looking inward.

Hebrews 3:13 also says, “Encourage one another day after day… lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” This is the atmosphere of the Christian community—encouragement, not condemnation.

Walking in the Light Together

The Christian life is not lived alone. 1 John 1:7 says, “If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Walking in the light means honesty with God and with each other, creating a community where cleansing flows freely.

Pressing On Toward the Goal

Paul sums up the Christian attitude in Philippians 3:12–14: “Not that I have already obtained it or have become perfect; but I press on… forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

We are called to keep moving forward—neither pridefully assuming we’ve “arrived” nor despairing when we fall short.


The Five “C’s” of Regaining Ground

1. Confess

To confess is to say the same thing God says. 1 John 1:5–9 promises that when we walk in the light and confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us. Confession brings our hidden struggles into God’s light, where His cleansing immediately flows.

2. Cancel

Sin gives the enemy a foothold. Ephesians 4:26–2 warns us not to “give the devil a place.” After confession, take back any ground given to the enemy: “I am forgiven and cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Devil, I cancel and take back the ground I gave you. This area of my life now comes under the authority of Jesus Christ.”

3. Command

Having canceled the enemy’s claim, you now resist him in Jesus’ name. James 4:7 says, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Command the enemy to leave and cut off his influence in your life.

4. Commit

Entrust your life to God’s keeping. Feed your faith with God’s Word and fellowship. Decide to trust Him fully and to be strengthened in Him daily. As you do, victory becomes your lifestyle.

5. Continue

If you fall, get up immediately. Proverbs 24:16 says, “A righteous man falls seven times and rises again.” Refuse to wallow in self-pity or condemnation. Jesus is with you—walk on with Him.

Conclusion: Keep Moving Forward

Gaining ground in Christ is a lifelong journey. Losing a battle does not forfeit the war. When we stumble, God’s hand is still holding ours, ready to lift us up and set us on our feet again. We learn to confess, cancel, command, commit, and continue.

Like Israel, we will take our inheritance step by step, city by city, promise by promise. We keep our eyes on Jesus, press on toward the prize, and walk together with our brothers and sisters in the light. God’s grace is greater than our failure, and His purpose for our lives is steadfast.

Scripture Focus:
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” — *2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)*

One of the most powerful truths in the New Testament is the reality that a person who comes to Christ does not merely receive forgiveness. Something far deeper occurs. God performs a work of new creation within the believer. The Bible describes this transformation with the phrase “the new man” or “new self.”

Understanding this truth is essential for every believer. Many Christians struggle because they still think of themselves primarily in terms of the old life rather than the new life Christ has given them.

Scripture teaches something remarkable: in Christ, God has made us new.

The New Man Is a Work of God’s Creation

The apostle Paul explains that salvation involves more than moral improvement. It is an act of divine creation.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” — *2 Corinthians 5:17*

God does not simply repair the old nature. He creates something new. The believer is spiritually united with Christ in His death and resurrection.

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” — *Galatians 2:20*

Because of this union, the believer now participates in the life of Christ. The old identity rooted in sin and separation from God has been replaced with a new identity rooted in Christ Himself.

Paul describes this new self as something believers must learn to live from.

“…put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” — *Ephesians 4:24*

The new man reflects the character of God. He is created in righteousness and holiness.

The New Man Has New Desires

When a person is born again, the Holy Spirit begins to reshape the desires of the heart.

“For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” — *Romans 8:5*

Before Christ, our desires were centered on self. After Christ, something new begins to emerge within us. We begin to desire what God desires. The believer begins to hunger for righteousness.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” — *Matthew 5:6*

We also begin to desire a deeper knowledge of Christ.

“I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” — *Philippians 3:8*

And we begin to love others in a way that reflects the love of Christ.

“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” — *1 John 3:16*

These desires are not self-generated. They are evidence of the life of the Spirit working within us.

The New Man Lives from a New Identity

One of the greatest struggles believers face is learning to live from the identity God has given them. The New Testament repeatedly tells us who we are in Christ. We are **children of God**.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.” — *John 1:12*

We are **God’s workmanship**.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” — *Ephesians 2:10*

We are **temples of the Holy Spirit**.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you?” — *1 Corinthians 6:19*

We are even described as being **seated with Christ in the heavenly places**.

“…and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” — *Ephesians 2:6*

This means our identity is no longer defined by our past sins, failures, or wounds. Our identity is now rooted in Christ and His finished work.

Learning to Walk as the New Man

While the new creation is a completed work of God, learning to live from it is a daily journey. Paul encourages believers to actively “put on” the new self.

“…since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.” — *Colossians 3:9–10*

This renewal happens as we set our minds on the things of the Spirit, fill our hearts with the Word of God, and walk in daily fellowship with Christ. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live out the life God has already placed within them.

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” — *Galatians 5:25*

A Final Encouragement

The message of the gospel is not simply that God forgives sinners. It is that God makes sinners new. If you are in Christ, the old life no longer defines you. God has given you a new heart, new desires, and a new identity. You are a new creation. And as we learn to live from that new life, the character of Christ becomes increasingly visible in us.

Reflection Questions

1. In what ways do I still see myself through the lens of my old life rather than my new life in Christ?
2. What new desires has God placed in my heart since I began following Christ?
3. How can I intentionally walk in the Spirit and live from my identity as a new creation this week?

Most of us admire faithfulness, but we also know how hard it can be. We start strong, then life happens. Stress rises, disappointment hits, people let us down, our own emotions swing, and suddenly “being consistent” feels out of reach.

That’s one reason Galatians 5 is so encouraging. When Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit, he isn’t handing us a spiritual self-improvement project. He’s describing what the Holy Spirit produces in a person who is learning to live by the Spirit. Among those fruits is what many English Bibles translate as “faithfulness” (Galatians 5:22).

Spirit-produced faithfulness is not simply trying harder to be dependable. It is a steady, trustworthy reliability formed in us by God—making us consistent in love, truth, and obedience over time.

Here’s what that kind of faithfulness looks like where we live it most: relationships, ministry, and suffering.

Faithfulness in relationships: becoming “safe to trust”

One of the greatest gifts you can give the people in your life is simple steadiness.

Spirit-produced faithfulness doesn’t mean you never fail. It means your life has a growing consistency—where your words carry weight, your love doesn’t vanish when you’re irritated, and your character doesn’t change depending on who’s in the room.

What it looks like:
You keep your word. Jesus taught that our “yes” should be yes and our “no” should be no (Matthew 5:37). Faithful people don’t make casual promises. They speak carefully, then follow through. And when plans must change, they don’t hide—they communicate promptly, humbly, and clearly.

You stay loyal in love. Faithfulness doesn’t mean pretending nothing is wrong. It means you don’t abandon people emotionally the moment conflict shows up. The Spirit helps us put away bitterness, harshness, and slander, and instead move toward forgiveness and repair (Ephesians 4:31–32).

You live with integrity when no one is watching. Faithfulness is private as well as public. Paul spoke about taking care to do what is right “not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of people” (2 Corinthians 8:21). The Spirit forms a life that doesn’t depend on appearances to do what’s right.

A simple heart-check:
If the people closest to me had to describe me in one word, would they say “steady” or “unpredictable”?

Faithfulness in ministry: being trustworthy with people and with the message

Scripture treats faithfulness as essential for anyone serving the Lord. Gifts matter, ability matters, opportunity matters—but faithfulness is what makes ministry safe.

Paul says it plainly: “It is required of stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). In other words, if you’ve been entrusted with people, with influence, with resources, or with the message of Christ, God is looking for trustworthiness.

What it looks like:
You handle the message with integrity. Faithfulness means we don’t reshape the gospel to gain approval, avoid criticism, or chase trends. Paul refused to “tamper with the word” or present himself with hidden agendas (2 Corinthians 4:2). The Spirit produces courage and honesty—so we can speak the truth in love.

You handle people with steadiness. Faithful ministry shows up. It follows through. It doesn’t disappear when things get complicated. People learn that they can reach you, trust you, and count on you—because your love doesn’t run on convenience.

You handle responsibility cleanly. Whether it’s money, leadership, or visibility, faithfulness means transparency and integrity. Paul modeled careful accountability so that the ministry would be above reproach (2 Corinthians 8:20–21).

You invest in others who can be trusted. Paul told Timothy to entrust truth to “faithful men” who would be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2). Spirit-produced faithfulness reproduces itself. It raises up others who will stand steady too.

A simple heart-check:
Do people experience me as consistent and safe over the long haul—or only inspiring in short bursts?

Faithfulness in suffering: staying anchored to God’s character

This is where faithfulness stops being a “nice trait” and becomes a lifeline.

When life hurts, the temptation is to become spiritually inconsistent. We stop praying. We withdraw. We interpret God’s love through our pain. We make quick decisions just to get relief.

Spirit-produced faithfulness is what steadies us in that storm. It is the Spirit enabling us to keep trusting and obeying even when we don’t understand.

What it looks like:
You continue to do good even when outcomes are slow. Paul says, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Galatians 6:9). Faithfulness keeps walking.

You refuse to judge God’s heart by your circumstances. One of the most comforting lines in the New Testament says, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). When our strength wavers, God’s character does not.

You keep praying and obeying without demanding immediate proof. Suffering can produce perseverance and tested character when we keep turning to the Lord (Romans 5:3–5; James 1:2–4). Faithfulness says, “I will keep seeking God, even here.”

You remain steadfast even under pressure. Revelation includes this call: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Faithfulness is not the absence of fear—it is loyalty to Jesus in the face of fear.

A simple heart-check:
When life hurts, do I become more unstable—or more anchored?

Three simple summaries you can remember

If you want a simple way to carry this through your week, try these one-liners:

In relationships: “My yes stays yes over time.”
In ministry: “I can be trusted with people and with the message.”
In suffering: “I stay anchored to God’s character, not my circumstances.”

How do we grow in Spirit-produced faithfulness?

The fruit of the Spirit grows where the Spirit is welcomed. If you want to grow in faithfulness, start with a prayer like this:

“Holy Spirit, make me steady. Form faithfulness in me. Strengthen my character. Teach me to keep my word, love consistently, serve with integrity, and trust God when life is painful.”

Then practice faithfulness in small ways:
Keep one promise this week that you’ve been tempted to ignore.
Have one honest, peacemaking conversation you’ve been putting off.
Show up to one responsibility you’ve wanted to avoid.
Keep praying through one hardship instead of shutting down.

The Spirit loves to take small “yeses” and grow deep roots.

A closing encouragement

Faithfulness is one of the ways God makes our lives shine. It builds trust. It strengthens families. It protects churches. It steadies hearts in suffering. And it points people to the faithful God who never changes.

If you’re weary, start here: God is faithful. He is steady toward you. And as you walk with Him, His Spirit can form that same steadiness in you—one day, one decision, one “yes” at a time.

If you’d like prayer or encouragement, please reach out to us. You don’t have to walk alone.