let this mind be in you

7/27/2019 Let This Mind Be in You

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Internet Edition


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Contents

1. Say Yes to Jesus 3

2. Born Again 18

3. Christ in You, the Hoe o! "#ory 2$

%. &eentan'e 3(

5. )aith %8

* +oe 59

-. Joy *%

8. he /aster0S#ae &e#ationshi -

$. he "#ory o! "od -*

1. uggets o! ruth 4rayer, )orgieness, reasures,

and See5ing Hi6 )irst

$*

11. he Anointing 1-

12. he "reat Co66ission 118

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Chapter One

Say Yes to Jesus

he 6agnitude o! "od7s #oe !or us and hat He does !or us atthe ery 6o6ent o! our siritua# 'on'etion hen e are 9ornagain 9y the Sirito! "od is one o! the 6ost ae0insiring 6ira'#es inthe or#d:

;hen e sin'ere#y re'eie the ree#ation o! hat e a'tua##ya'!ee#ings and uroses? o! His heart.

"od #oes us so 6u'h that He is i##ing to ta5e our dirty, sin!u#6inds >re6e69er those dirty @o5es e used to te## and dirty thoughts eused to thin5? and re#a'e the6 ith the 6ind o! Christ.

4hi#iians 2:5 says, Let this mind be in you which was aso inChrist Jesus. he ery thought that "od ou#d #et the 6ind o!Christ 9e in us is so suernatura# that it is i6ossi9#e !or thenatura# 6ind to understand. Hoeer, the thing that is so tota##y

and 'o6#ete#y e='iting a9out this is hat haens to our #ies ase 9egin to rea#ie and a'tua##y a##o this 6ind to 9e in us,which was aso in Christ.

Consider these three


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hroughout his #i!eti6e, 4au# taught a9out the 6ystery o! theages, hi'h as, Christ in you! the hope o" #ory$Coossians12-?. /any eo#e 'annot gras the ro6ise that hen e are

9orn again 9y the Sirit o! "od, Jesus Christ 'o6es to #ie His #i!ein and throu#h us. ;e a'tua##y hae the Sirit o! Christ, Hisa9i#ity, and His oer ithin us hen e are 9orn again 9y theSirit o! "od.

;hen I thin5 that e hae the a'tua# 6ind o! Christ, it is di!!i'u#t!or 6e to een stay on this earth. I !ee# #i5e I 'ou#d go into or9itand neer 'o6e 9a'5 hen I rea#ie that "od has #a'ed in our

hands su'h a ri'e#ess ossession as the ery 6ind o! Christ.

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9e'ause e hae a##oed this 6ind to 9e in us, which was aso inChrist Jesus.

In +u5e %% e read, It is ritten, /an sha## not #ie 9y 9read

a#one, 9ut 9y eery ord o! "od.

I! e are going to oerate ith the 6ind o! Christ, i! e aregoing to #itera##y ossess the 6ind o! Christ, then e are going tohae to 9e#iee hat this erse says. ;e are not going to #ie 9yhysi'a# !ood a#one, 9ut e are going to #ie 9y siritua# !ood,hi'h is the ;ord o! "od. I! e are going to #ie 9y eery ord o!"od, then e 'ertain#y need to 5no hat the ;ord o! "od says.

n#y then 'an e sit ourse#es don to a 9eauti!u# and e='iting!east a## the ti6e. "od #a'es His Sirit in us hen e re'eie thegi!t o! the Ho#y Sirit. herein #ies our sour'e o! oer to gie #i!eto the ;ord.

he ;ord o! "od, or the ;ord that "od sea5s, is a#ie and !u##o! oer, 6a5ing it a'tie, oeratie, energiing, and e!!e'tie. Doyou rea#ie that i! e #ie 9y the ;ord o! "od, e i## 9e !u## o!oer ;e i## 9e oeratie: ;e i## 9e energied. ;e i## 9e

a9#e to 9e a#ie in Christ and 9e e!!e'tie at a## ti6es. here is nohysi'a# !ood that i## gie you the sa6e tye o! energy, oer,isdo6, and dis'ern6ent as the ;ord o! "od.

;hy is the ;ord o! "od so oer!u# Be'ause our a##0oer!u#"od is the ne ho so5e the ;ord, and He ersona##y 9a'5shat He says.

here hae 9een 6any ti6es hen I hae 9een so e=hausted I!e#t I 'ou#d not go onFti6es hen 6y 9ody has 'ried out !or s#eeand rest. Instead, I hae gone into the ;ord o! "od and 'o6e outo! the ages an a'tua# tiger ith no #a'5 o! energy: othing i##in@e't energy and oer into your 6ind and 9ody #i5e "od7s;ord: So, i! e are going to #ie and 9reathe and 9e energied ande6oered 9y eery ord o! "od, then e 'ertain#y need to 5nohat the ;ord o! "od says.

+et us go to the eighth erse in that sa6e 'hater o! +u5e7sgose#. It reads, %nd Jesus answered and said to him! &'etbehind (e! Satan. )or it is written! &You sha worship the Lord

your 'od! and *im ony you sha ser+e., I! e hae the 6ind o!

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Christ, hat are e going to 9e doing ;e are going to orshithe +ord. ;e i## not orshi anything e#se.

;e are not going to orshi te#eision:

;e are not going to orshi 6oies:

;e are not going to orshi ho6es:

;e are not going to orshi !an'y '#othes:

;e are not going to orshi undesira9#e ha9its and attitudesFhi'h a'tua##y is orshiing on#y ourse#es. his is a !or6 o!ido#atry.

;e are going to orshi the +ord.

here are 6any eo#e ho orshi a te#eision set. hey i##sit in !ront o! it and orshi it !or hours. hey i## sit and at'hsoa oeras hour a!ter hour, 5noing !u## e## that there is nothingsiritua#, nothing to 9e gained, nothing that i## u#i!t the6, andnothing that i## edi!y the6 as they at'h the hu6dru6 Grogra6s day a!ter day.

I! e are going to tru#y oerate ith the 6ind o! Christ, then eare going to do e=a't#y hat Jesus did. ;e are going to orshithe +ord and nothing e#se: A## o! these things 9e'o6e o9so#etehen e rea##y ut Jesus !irst in our #ies. Sudden#y, the things o!this or#d i## gro strange#y di6 in the #ight o! His g#ory andgra'e i! e rea##y 5ee our eyes on Jesus. here!ore, 9e'ause ehae the 6ind o! Christ, e are not going to orshi the things o!

the or#d.;e are not going to orshi go#! ga6es on Sunday instead o!

going to 'hur'h.

;e are not going to orshi !ishing and 9oating e are notgoing to orshi guns or trohies:

;e are not going to orshi a'ations oer sering "od:

;e are not going to orshi entertain6ent, 'ountry '#u9s, orother or#d#y things oer the things o! "od. Do not #oe theor#d or the things in the or#d. I! anyone #oes the or#d, the#oe o! the )ather is not in hi6 >1 John 21(?.

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;hen e #et the 6ind o! Christ a'tua##y ossess us, and hene ossess the 6ind o! Christ, our 6inds i## 9e thin5ing ine=a't#y the sa6e dire'tion as Jesus. ur ansers i## 9e the sa6e

as His, and our dedi'ated, dai#y #ies i## 9e the sa6e as His. ;ei## 9e out there doing e=a't#y the sa6e things Jesus did:

Here is so6ething that is going to get a #ot o! eo#e. hat7shy I de'ided to ut this oint in at the ery 9eginning o! this9oo5. ne o! the 6ost di!!i'u#t areas !or 6any indiidua#s to usethe 6ind o! Christ is the area o! !inan'es. ;e do not haedi!!i'u#ty anting to 9e#iee to re'eie !ro6 "od. ;e haero9#e6s in giing to "od.

his area is so i6ortant in 6y #i!e 9e'ause "od dea#t ith 6eithin se'onds a!ter I had 9een 9orn again. I had not een 9eensaed a s#it se'ond hen the a#6ighty "od so5e to 6e. Hisords 'hanged 6y entire thin5ing a9out giing.

I had a#ays 9een a rea# tightad here giing to "od as'on'erned. I neer ent to 'hur'h ithout 'he'5ing !irst to see thatI had a sing#e one do##ar 9i## in 6y a##et. here asn7t a rea'her

in the or#d ho as going to get 6ore than a do##ar out o! 6e. Itou#d hae neer entered 6y 6ind to gie a !ie do##ar 9i##, a ten,or a tenty. enty do##ars ou#d hae 6eant that I as asendthri!t:

"od a#ays 5nos e=a't#y ho to dea# ith us on the #ee#here e are. I had not een 9een saed 6ore than to se'ondshen "od so5e to 6e.

here as no dou9t in 6y 6ind it as "od. I had gone !ro6sinner to saint in #ess than to se'onds. "od as a#ready sea5ingto 6e: I as oer@oyed:

he "od ho 6ade the unierse had ta5en ti6e out to sea5 to6e, and the ords He said ere the seetest 6usi' to 6y ears thatI had eer heard 9e'ause He said the6: I ant tenty er'ent o!eerything you7e got: I thought that as His 'harge !or saing

6e. I as so ignorant o! the Bi9#e that I didn7t 5no 6y sa#ationas !ree.

he i6ortant thing as that I 5ne it as the oi'e o! "od, andI didn7t hae to ait unti# three or !our eo#e 'on!ir6ed it. I heard

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"od and didn7t


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Is this hat Jesus said Does He say hide it, stash it, store itaay o, Jesus has other things to say. He says, "ie, and it i##9e gien to you >e6hasis added?. /any eo#e don7t 9e#iee in

the giing and re'eiing syste6 or the soing and the reaingsyste6. I! e ossess the 6ind o! Christ, hat e#se 'an e9e#iee ;e 6ust 9e#iee e=a't#y the sa6e as He does 9e'ause Hero6ised in His ;ord that i! e gie, e are de!inite#y going tohae our needs 6etFe='eeding#y a9undant#y >Ehesians 32?6etF6ore than e 'an drea6 or i6agine.

So6eone said to 6e one ti6e, Don7t you thin5 that is rea##yresu6tuous to gie and e=e't "od to gie 9a'5 to you

I said, o, !or the ery si6#e reason that hen I rayed thesinner7s rayer and as5ed "od to sae 6e, I e=e'ted "od to !u#!i##His ;ord. he one thing that "od is o9#igated to do, and ants todo, is to !u#!i## His ;ord.

;hen I gae Hi6 6y sins, He gae 6e !orgieness. ;hen I'on!essed ith 6y 6outh that Jesus Christ as +ord, He 'a6e into6y heart and saed 6e.

I e=e'ted Hi6 to do this 9e'ause He ro6ises it: here!ore,hen I gie, I anti'iate that "od i## gie it 9a'5 9e'ause He saidso in His ;ord: Be'ause e hae a##oed the 6ind o! Christ to 9ein us, e need to anti'iate that hen e gie, hen e tithe, andhen e 6a5e searate o!!erings oer and 9eyond the tithe, theseo!!erings are going to 'o6e 9a'5. here is a 6oney09a'5 guaranteethat is signed in the e esta6ent 9y the Son o! the +iing "od,

Jesus, ho says hen you gie, you are going to get it 9a'5.He doesn7t ro6ise a ossi9i#ity He ro6ises a rea#ity: Besides

our 9eing 9#essed 9y His return syste6, "od is 9#essed een 6ore9e'ause He re'eies 9a'5 our i##ingness to trust Hi6 as ourinest6ent adisor.

A##oing the 6ind o! Christ to 9e in us 6eans that e hae nodou9t in this area. It doesn7t say, ;e##, I thin5 "od i## do it !or

so6e9ody e#se, 9ut He on7t do it !or 6e. Be'ause the 6ind o!Christ is in 6e, I 5no that I 5no that I 5no that Jesus is goingto return it to 6e.

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He 6ay not a#ays return it to 6e hen I thin5 it shou#d 9ereturned, 9ut 9e'ause I ossess the 6ind o! Christ, I 5no that I5no that I 5no that it is 'o6ing 9a'5 to 6e. I a6 not going to

'hange 6y thin5ing that ou#d 'ause 6e to disagree ith Jesus./y thin5ing is going to #ine u ith His: Jesus 5nos our heartsand 5nos hether e se#!ish#y ant 6ore !or ourse#es orhether e ant 6ore !or the 5ingdo6 o! "od.

ne o! the greatest desires o! 6y heart is to get the 6essagea'ross to the 9ody o! Christ a9out giing to "od. I 5no hat itdid in 6y on #i!e hen I #earned to gie, 9e'ause unti# "od getsyour 6oney, He neer gets you: I use +u5e *38 oer and oer

again as I ta5e o!!erings so that Christians i## 9e#iee that henthey gie, they i## re'eie it 9a'5.

Eery on'e in a hi#e I say to 6yse#!, "od, eo#e neer getthe 6essage o! hat I76 ta#5ing a9out. I 5ee rea'hing on giingto "od and onder o''asiona##y i! any9ody rea##y hears hat Ihae to say a9out giing.

% Chid, Can nderstand

As e ere eating in our #o'a# 'a!eteria one day, a astor and his!a6i#y ere eating there, too. As a ay o! saying he##o, I #eanedoer their ta9#e and said, I 'a6e oer to get a 9ite o! your !ood9e'ause I didn7t hae enough. he astor7s eight0year0o#d soni'5ed u his 'ho'o#ate ie and gae it to 6e. I said, Honey, Iou#dn7t ta5e your ie. I as on#y 5idding.

He said, "o ahead and ta5e it, 9e'ause i! you ta5e it, I7## get9a'5 a #ot 6ore than hat is on that #ate right no:

He got the 6essage: He got the 6essage that hen you gie, it isgoing to 9e gien 9a'5K to you good 6easure, ressed don,sha5en together, and running a##K oer >+u5e *38? the #a'e. Isaid, "#ory to "od: and you 'ou#d hae heard 6e a## oer the'a!eteria. I! no one e#se sitting under 6y 6inistry hen I ta5e an

o!!ering eer #istened and 9e#ieed hat I said, I !ound one hodid. An eight0year0o#d 9oy:

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;e need to 9e#iee so !erent#y that, #i5e the eight0year0o#d 9oy,e i## 9e i##ing to gie u the 6ost se'ia# art o! our dinner,5noing that Jesus a#ays gies 9a'5 6ore: >And He did. he

+ord dire'ted 6e to ta5e an o!!ering !or that #itt#e 9oy at the ne=t'hur'h seri'e. It a6ounted to 6ore than L2:?

It is e='iting to 9e a Christian and to re'ognie hat e rea##y doossess 9e'ause e oerate ith the 6ind o! Christ. +u5e 81*reads, 3o one! when he has it a amp! co+ers it with a +esse or

puts it under a bed! but sets it on a amp stand! that those who

enter may see the i#ht.

Christians ought to 9e the 6ost 9ri##iant #ights in the or#d andthe #oudest 9#a99er6ouths in the or#d. ;e are going to do e=a't#yhat Jesus does 9e'ause e hae His ery 6ind.

;e are not going to hide our #itt#e #ight. ;e are not going to utour heads underneath a 9ushe# 9as5et and @ust hide ourse#es aay.Be'ause e are #i5e Jesus Christ, e are going to ho#d our 'and#esu high !or the ho#e or#d to see: ;e are going to ta#5 a9outJesus hereer e are. ;e are going to ta#5 a9out Jesus in

airorts. ;e are going to ta#5 a9out Jesus in the gro'ery store. ;eare going to ta#5 a9out Jesus at the seri'e station.

I! e a##o His 6ind to 9e in us, e are going to 9e !i##ed iththat oerhe#6ing, 9u99#ing desire to see that the ho#e or#dgets saed. ;e are not going to #et our #ights go out: ;e are goingto #et the6 shine 9righter and 9righter and 9righter a## the ti6e:

Char#es and I hae the 6ost 6are#ous ti6e in the or#dhereer e go. I! it is in an airort, e are singing. /any ti6ese sing in tongues. /any ti6es e @ust go through airortsraising "od and haing an e='iting ti6e. !ten eo#e a#5 u to6e and say, Are you a 9ride @ust 9e'ause e #oo5 so hay.;hat a onder!u# oortunity this gies us to itness. I say, Yes,e are the 9ride o! Christ, and e share Jesus ith the6.

Jesus neer hid His #ight under a 9ushe#. He #et His #ight shine

a## the ti6e and as Christians ho ossess the 6ind o! Christ, eshou#d a## do e=a't#y the sa6e thing.

hin5 o! the g#ory that is going to 'o6e to the )ather hen ea## do this. hin5 ho His heart i## #ea ith @oy hen eo#e

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9egin to #oo5 at us and 5no there is so6ething rea# suer se'ia#a9out us:

4hen *e said to them a! " anyone desires to come a"ter

(e! et him deny himse" and ta-e up his cross daiy! and"oow (e. )or whoe+er desires to sa+e his i"e wi ose it!

but whoe+er oses his i"e "or (y sa-e wi sa+e it. $Lu-e

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/any eo#e say, ;e##, 6y 'ross is 6y unsaed hus9and, thatdrun5en a#'oho#i'. He has 9een the 'ross I hae 'arried a## theseyears. He has 9een an a#9atross around 6y ne'5. He has eighed

6e don a## o! these years. He is the 'ross that I 6ust 9ear.Be'ause I 9ear it, I a6 going to 6a5e it into heaen so6eday.

So6e eo#e say, h, the 'ross I hae to 9ear is this si'5ness"od gae 6e. 4au# had a thorn in the !#esh, and "od neer hea#edhi6 >See 2 Corinthians 12-01?. he 'ross I a6 9earing is thissi'5ness that I hae that I i## neer get oer. But I i## g#ori!y"od, 9e'ause I i## 'ontinue to #oe Hi6 in site o! a## this.

Be#oed, that is not hat Jesus is ta#5ing a9out. I! e a##o His6ind to 9e in us, e are going to thin5 e=a't#y the sa6e ay Hedid:

%i+e to 'od! 8ead to Se"

;hy did Jesus 'arry His 'ross Be'ause it as so6ething that"od had sadd#ed Hi6 ith o, Jesus 'arried His 'ross so that He

'ou#d die i##ing#y to sae us. He 'ou#d hae 'a##ed e#ions o"an#es>/atthe 2*(3? to res'ue Hi6. He 'hose to su!!er and die9e'ause He 5ne the i'tory that He 'ou#d then share ith you and6e.

;hen e i'5 u our 'ross dai#y, it is to die to se#! so that oura69itions, our desires, our ants, our #ongings, and ourun


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"esh i+e by "aith in the Son o" 'od! who o+ed me and

#a+e *imse" "or me. $'aatians. 2:21

Jesus 'arried His 'ross to die !or us e need to 'arry our 'rossto die !or Hi6.

his death is a siritua# dying to se#! eery day so that a## o!these or#d#y aetites that 'o6e u are trodden don. hat is therea# 'ross that e 9ear:

he 'ross you hae to 9ear is not that unsaed hus9and. It is not

that unsaed i!e. It is not those unsaed 'hi#dren ho are outthere in the or#d. he 'ross you need to 9ear is the 'ross o! dyingeery day to se#! and earth#y desires.

I as ta#5ing to a gir# the other night, and she as5ed 6e to raythat eo#e ou#d sto hurting her !ee#ings. She said, 4eo#e areso 6ean to 6e, and I get 6y !ee#ings hurt a## o! the ti6e.

I said, o, I a6 not going to ray !or you. She as start#ed, so

I ent on to e=#ain ;hat you need to do is to die to se#! so thateo#e 'annot hurt your !ee#ings. Did you eer see a dead 6an getout o! a 'as5et and say to the astor, You hurt 6y !ee#ings9e'ause o! hat you @ust said a9out 6e

&e6e69er i! you are dead to se#!, you 'annot hae your !ee#ingshurt. 4eo#e 'annot hurt you 9y the things they say a9out you."od7s ;ord te##s us that e 'an e=e't to 9e erse'uted 9y eo#eho hae the 'arna# 6ind, 9e'ause the 'arna# 6ind is en6ity

against "od >&o6ans 8-?. ;e need to die to se#! eery day i! erea##y hae a##oed the 6ind o! Christ to 9e in us: ;e 6ustre6e69er to 5ee a## o! these or#d#y things out o! our 6inds andhearts at a## ti6es. hen e need to !o##o Jesus, hi'h 6eans todo the sa6e things He did on this earth, 9e'ause He says hoeerishes to sae his on #i!e i## #ose it >+u5e $2%?. In other ords,i! you 5ee orrying a9out saing your on #i!e and doing youron thing, you i## #ose it a##. But i! you #ose your #i!e !or Jesus7sa5e, you i## sae it. Sae hat Your ery #i!e: Your eterna# #i!e:

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se ;hat You Own

You 'an hae so6ething and neer rea##y ossess it: Years ago

eery gir# had to hae a hoe 'hest 9e!ore she got 6arried. hereere a#ays three things she had to 9uy !irst o! a##. She 6ight hae9een so oor that she didn7t on a air o! de'ent shoes, 9ut nose#!0rese'ting gir# ho e=e'ted to get 6arried 'ou#d eer get asteighteen years o! age and !ai# to start a set o! 'hina, si#erare, and'rysta#.

I started to or5 at the ery height o! the deression. Sa#ariesere un9e#iea9#y #o. I 5no hat it 6eans not to hae anythingat a##, 9ut one o! the !irst things I did a!ter I started or5ing as to9uy one ie'e o! 'hina. It too5 6e seen 6onths to ay !or it. henI 9ought one ie'e o! 'rysta#. It too5 a year to ay !or that: hen'a6e one si#er teasoon. I don7t thin5 I eer !inished aying !orthat:

/any gir#s did go on to !i## out the entire set o! 'hina, 'rysta#,and si#erare, 9ut 9e'ause a## o! these things ere so e=ensie

and it had ta5en so #ong to ay !or the6, they ere a## 'are!u##y utaay and neer used. hose se'ia# treasures ere ta5en out andused on#y at Christ6as, han5sgiing, and Easter. E='et to eat!ro6 the6 ery 'are!u##y, no one e='et /other 'ou#d tou'h the6or ash the6. he 'hina and 'rysta# ere so de#i'ate that there asa#ays !ear they 6ight 9rea5 or the si#er ou#d get #ost, so a## o!these e=ensie ite6s ere neer used. hey sat in 9rea5!ronts and'hina 'a9inets to 9e shon o!! to eeryone ho 'a6e to isit, 9ut

to en@oy 9y using the6Fneer:

You 'an hae the 6ost 9eauti!u# 'hina in the or#d, 9ut itdoesn7t do you a 9it o! good i! you don7t use it. You 'an hae the6ost de#i'ate 'rysta# and the 6ost ornate si#erare. It doesn7t doyou a 9it o! good i! you don7t use it. You on it, yes, 9ut you don7trea##y ossess it.

I en@oy eerything I on. I use 6y 'rysta#. I use 6y 'hina. I use

6y si#er. I! so6ething gets 9ro5en, !irst I as5, Did any9ody gethurt I! eery9ody is o5ay, I say, Ha##e#u@ah: A## those or#d#ythings 'an 9e re#a'ed.

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Be'ause I ossess eerything I on, I en@oy eerything to theut6ost. I do not sae things !or a #ater date. I 9uy a ne dress andear it the ne=t day. I use eerything I ossess, and I ossess

eerything I on.+et7s a#y this rin'i#e to the 6ind o! Christ. ;e shou#d not

ta5e hat e are gien at that 6o6ent hen e are 9orn again andut it u on a she#! and say, o, as soon as I get oer a## o! thesero9#e6s, I a6 going to ta5e the 6ind o! Christ o!! the she#! andsti'5 it in 6y head. hen I7## 9egin to use hat as gien to 6ehen I as 9orn again.

/any eo#e say, I a6 rea##y going to 9e a 'o66itted Christianas soon as I '#ean u the 6ess in 6y #i!e. Be'o6e a 'o66ittedChristian !irst then the 6ess in your #i!e i## get '#eaned uithout your e=erting a #ot o! e!!ort: &ea#iing that e ossess the6ind o! Christ and 6a5ing sure in our sirits that e 5no that e5no that e 5no that the thin5ing 6e'hanis6 e hae isa'tua##y the 6ind o! Christ i## ta5e us into suernatura# rea#6sand out o! the rea#6 o! the unsaed or#d.

;hat %re You +u5e %%?.

his doesn7t say that you i## #ie 9y on#y the ortions o!

S'riture that you #i5e or that ti'5#e your !an'y. So6e ortions6ay 9e a #itt#e hard to #isten to 9e'ause they a#y to you and 6ayhit a #itt#e '#ose to ho6e.

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;e need to 9e nourished 9y the ;ord o! "od and not 9yhysi'a# !ood a#one. ;hat Jesus is saying to 6e is, I! I a##o this6ind to 9e in 6e that as a#so in Christ Jesus, I a6 going to !eed

on the ;ord o! "od so that I a6 siritua##y a#ert and aa5e at a##ti6es.

one 'an go !or a !u## 6onth ithout hysi'a# !ood and not !ee#the e!!e'ts o! !ood deriation. /ost eo#e 'an7t 6iss one 6ea#ithout 'raing !ood. ;e hae 9een trained to eat dai#y. ur9odies are geared !or regu#ar !ood inta5e. ur 9odies i## re9e##oud#y i! e don7t gie the6 nourish6ent.

So6e Irish6en re'ent#y roed that you 'an stare to death#iing on#y on rayer. hey ere going to !ast unti# they got theiron ay. hey !asted they died.

+itt#e 9a9ies ou#dn7t #ast ery #ong i! e didn7t a''et theresonsi9i#ity o! !eeding the6. he sa6e thing is true in oursiritua# #ies. "od shos us in the hysi'a# #i!e hat haens tous in the siritua# #i!e i! e 9ehae the sa6e ay in 9oth areas.

;e 'annot get a#ong ith @ust an o''asiona# dose o! hysi'a#!ood. By the sa6e to5en, e 'annot get a#ong ith @ust ano''asiona# dose o! siritua# !ood.

ur sirits i## stare. ;e need to eat the ;ord o! "od eeryday.

here are ti6es hen I hae an oortunity to read 6ore than Ido at other ti6es. here are other ti6es hen there are so 6any

ti6e0'onsu6ing situations that I don7t get to read as 6u'h as Iou#d #i5e. I 9egin to !ee# siritua##y stared i! I a6 not in the;ord o! "od. "ie 6e three, !our, or !ie hours in the ;ord o!"od, and sudden#y I 'an !ee# 6yse#! 'o6ing a#ie again. he or#d9e'o6es sunshiny. he earth turns ar6 and rosy, and I a6 sittingright on to o! it.

he ;ord o! "od inside o! you i## 'ause you to gro andgro. You 'annot surie as a Christian i! you don7t 'ontinue to!eed and !eed and !eed on the ;ord o! "od. ne day you i## #oo59a'5 and rea#ie that instead o! 9eing a 'ra#ing, 'o#i'5y 9a9yChristian, you hae 9e'o6e a !u## gron adu#t siritua# giant.

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Jesus 9e#ieed the ;ord. I 9e#iee the ;ord. he 6ore I eat, the6ore I gro and the 6ore I 'an uti#ie the 6ind o! Christ. I! Isend 6ore and 6ore ti6e ith Hi6, He sends 6ore and 6ore

ti6e ith 6e. I! I re#inJohn /:5

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Chapter 4wo

?orn %#ain

he e=ression 9orn again has 9een used ery #oose#y oer the#ast !e years, and it is easy to see hy 6any eo#e do nota'tua##y understand hat the ter6 6eans. ;hen e are 9orn again,e a'


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o 9e 9orn again is in 6any ays the sa6e thing as 9eing 9ornthe !irst ti6e. ;hen e are 9orn again, our 9ehaior 'hanges. ourthin5ing 'hanges, our a'tions 'hange, and 6ost o! the ti6e een

our eniron6ent 'hanges.hat doesn7t 6ean e hae to 6oe out o! the house in hi'h

e are #iing hen e are 9orn again, 9ut our asso'iations>eniron6ent? 'hange 9e'ause e no #onger hae a desire to go tothe #a'es here e !or6er#y had !un. ;e no #onger en@oy theeo#e ith ho6 e reious#y asso'iated, 9e'ause e ossess ane ay o! thin5ing and a 9rand ne set o! a#ues. ;e go !ro6 atota# deenden'e o! one !or6, uon our on 9rain oer, to a tota#

deenden'e o! another !or6, uon the oer o! "od. ;e are goingto thin5 #i5e ne 'reatures.

ne Bi9#e trans#ation says that un#ess a 6an is a'tua##y orhonest#y 9orn again, he 'annot see the 5ingdo6 o! "od. his6eans that e 'annot 5no the 5ingdo6 o! "od e 'annot een9e'o6e a'


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return to the things o! this or#d 9e'ause e hae 'aught a g#i6seo! that er!e't hoe, hi'h is the eterna# 5ingdo6 o! "od.

+oo5ing again at the !i!th erse, e see that Jesus said, Mn#ess

one is 9orn o! ater and the Sirit, he 'annot enter the ingdo6 o!"od >+B?. Be'ause e hae #et His 6ind 9e in us, e are goingto 9e#iee e=a't#y the sa6e ay. ;e are not going to #et our 'arna#6inds 'o6e into #ay and say, ;e##, I hae gone to 'hur'h a## o!6y #i!e. I hae @oined 6y 'hur'h. I hae said the 'hur'h 'reed.hose things hae nothing to do ith 9eing 9orn again.

Jesus said, Mn#ess a 6an is 9orn again, he 'annot see the

5ingdo6 o! "od. 9e'ause e hae a##oed this 6ind to 9e in usthat as a#so in Christ Jesus, e are going to agree one hundreder'ent ith Jesus that e 6ust 9e 9orn again 9y "od7s Sirit9e!ore e 'an a'tua##y see the 5ingdo6 o! heaen. Yet on'e ehae tru#y 9een 9orn again 9y "od7s Sirit, e i## 9e a9#e to seeinto that siritua# rea#6 ith our re'reated sirits, or that ne 6anthat has risen u ithin us. ;e are going to shed the o#d '#othes,the o#d ro9es, and e are going to ut on the ne ones, 9e'ause e

are ne 'reatures in Christ.Se'ond Corinthians (1- te##s us, 4here"ore! i" anyone is in

Christ! he is a new creation od thin#s ha+e passed away behod!

a thin#s ha+e become new

;e are ne 'reatures in Christ. ;e are sar5#ing ne #ights inthe 5ingdo6 o! "od. ;e are trans!or6ed !ro6 the o#d ersons eused to 9e into the re'reated ersons that e no are. ;e shou#d

hae no desire to do the things e !or6er#y did, 9e'ause the o#dthings hae a## assed aay and a## things hae 9e'o6e ne >.1-?.

;e are going to act#i5e ne 'reatures:

;e are going to thin-#i5e ne 'reatures:

;e are going tospea-#i5e ne 'reatures:

o go 9a'5 into sin, the o#d ay o! #i!e, ou#d 9e the sa6erin'i#e as a gron 6an saying, I ant to go 9a'5 into 6y6other7s o69 9e'ause it as so ni'e and ar6, and I !e#t sose'ure there. n'e you are 9orn, you are no #onger that #itt#e 9a9y

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!#oating in the ater sa'5 in the o69. You are an indiidua# hois no #iing in the or#d, and you 'an neer 9a'5.

he sa6e thing is true o! a genuine 9orn0again e=erien'e. ;e

hae no right, nor shou#d e hae a desire, to go 9a'5 to the o#dthings o! the sin!u# or#d and 'ontinue arti'iating in the o#days o! #i!e. Be!ore I as 9orn again, I s6o5ed, dran5, 'ussed, andto#d dirty @o5es. I 'ertain#y as not an e=a6#e o! so6eoneossessing the 6ind o! Christ hoeer, on'e I as 9orn again, I9e'a6e a ne 'reation and the o#d things >. 1-? assed aay:

;hy %re Some Sa+ed and Others 3ot=

er and oer I hae ondered this one


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'o6es into, our sirits. ;e are 'on'eied 9y the Ho#y Sirit "od#ants His Seed, Jesus, and His #i!e, into our sirits, and !ro6 thatSeed, Jesus, e are 9orn siritua##y. &o6ans 8$ says, %nd

remember that i" anyone doesn,t ha+e the Spirit o" Christ i+in# inhim! he is not a Christian at a>+B?.

he g#orious day hen Jesus 9e'a6e 6y Saior and +ord, Ii##ed to !o##o Hi6. I #oo5ed u to "od and said, "od, I7## 6a5ea dea# ith You. I7## gie You a## o! 6e !or a## o! You:

"od too5 6e u on the dea# that I o!!ered Hi6, and een thoughI got the 9est o! the dea#, the de'ision o! 6y on inte##e't and

6ind has 5et 6e on the Christian road !or a## these years. I hae#ied ithout eer 9a'5s#iding, ithout eer


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Christ Jesus "or #ood wor-s! which 'od prepared

be"orehand that we shoud wa- in them. $


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he se'ond erse ertains to 9e'o6ing the ne 'reatures inChrist hen e are tru#y 9orn again. It #ain#y shos theridi'u#ousness and !uti#ity o! trying to #ie a Christian #i!e hi#e

sti## #iing in sin. You 'annot 'ra6 the ne 9irth e=erien'e into a#i!e that is sti## interested in the things o! the !#esh, 9e'ause theena#ty is that it i## 9urst at the sea6s the and resu#t i## 9eorse than your #i!e as in the 9eginning.

;hen you ut the ne ine, ne #i!eFhi'h is the ne 9irthe=erien'eFinto your #i!e, it has to 9e ut into a esse# that is'#ean and ure. You 6ay say, ;e##, hen I as5ed "od to !orgie6y sins, didn7t He !orgie the6 Yes, He did, 9ut i! you i## to

go your on ay and you i## to do your on thing, your te6#eis going to 9e '#uttered u again i66ediate#y ith sin. hen thene ine, or the ne 9irth e=erien'e, and the o#d ines5ins, orthe o#d #i!e, are 9oth ruined, and you are orse o!! than 9e!ore.Hoeer, hen you i## to 9e a ne 'reature in Christ and youi## to 9e a ne 'reature in your hysi'a# 9eing, then 9oth areresered.

It is i6ossi9#e to 9e tru#y 9orn again ithout a 'o66it6ent o!your i## to "od and a de'ision to sto !o##oing a!ter the di'tateso! your !#esh. he 6ost 6isera9#e eo#e in the or#d are thoseho hae said a sinner7s rayer and then hae gone 9a'5 to theiro#d ays o! #iing. he 6isera9#e, atheti' 'hur'hgoer ho says,I @ust 'an7t gie u 'igarettes 9e'ause I sti## #i5e to s6o5e is !ar6ore 6isera9#e than the indiidua# ho has neer said a sinner7srayer, 9ut @ust goes on en@oying 9eing a sinner.

It is @ust as hard to 9e a ha#!ay Christian as it is to try to 6a5e ane at'h ho#d on an o#d air o! @eans. You ut ne 6ateria# onto, 9ut the threads underneath are so orn out that they on7tho#d the threads o! the ne one.

*ow to


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8o it heartiy6eans that e shou#d neer 9e ha#!hearted inanything e do !or the +ord. Jesus te##s us in &ee#ation hat7sgoing to haen to us i! e are -now your wor-s! that you are

neither cod nor hot. coud wish you were cod or hot.So then! because you are u-ewarm! and neither cod nor

hot! wi +omit you out o" (y mouth $Fe+eation /:D56

D1.

Be'ause e hae a##oed this 6ind to 9e in us that as a#so inChrist Jesus, #et7s get red0hot, on !ire !or the +ord, 9e'ause thatas Jesus7 #i!esty#e. Jesus said that un#ess e ere 9orn again, e

'ou#d neer get into the 5ingdo6 o! "od, so #et7s 6a5e sure thate are tru#y ne 'reatures in Christ 9y 6a5ing that de'ision ithour i##s to sto #aying around and rea##y get serious ith "odright no.

+et7s say a rayer together to 6a5e sure you rea##y are 9ornagain 9e'ause you wito 9e a Christian:

)ather, I76 not interested in going to he##. I ant to go to

heaen. I as5 You to !orgie 6e and ash 6e in the re'ious 9#oodo! Jesus. +ord Jesus, ith 6y mind, 6y inte##e't, and 6y i##, Iinite You to 'o6e into 6y heart and to 6a5e 6e the 5ind o!erson You ant 6e to 9e. I i## to !o##o You. I i## to #iea9oe sin. I i## to 9e o9edient in eerything You te## 6e to do. Ii## to sere You. I i## to 6a5e a 'o6#ete 'o66it6ent o! 6y#i!e to You right no. han5 You !or saing 6e and hearing 6yrayer. In Jesus7 na6e.

So6ething haened to you in that s#it se'ond o! ti6e henyou ere 9orn again 9y the Sirit o! "od. ;hen e !u##y rea#iehat a'tua##y haens to us in that 6o6ent, it shou#d 9e the 6ostae0insiring thing that eer o''urs in our #ies.

Your 3atura (ind s 'od,s


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things o! "od, the 'arna# 6ind is at en6ity ith "od >&o6ans 8-?and 'annot understand the things o! the Sirit.

In one s#it se'ond, e @u6 !ro6 a sinner7s or#d ith a

natura# 6ind into the Sirit7s or#d ith a## the suernatura#a'tiities o! "od. In other ords, "od sti## oerates through us ashu6an 9eings, 9ut He does it in su'h a suer ay that it 9e'o6es asuernatura# ay.

here is a suernatura# thing that ta5es #a'e ithin us hen eare 9orn again. ;e no #onger 9e#ong to the Dei#. ;e 9e#ong to"od. ;e no #onger oerate ith the 6ind o! a sinner 9e'ause e

hae 9een gien the 6ind o! Christ. o e hae to #earn touti#ie the isdo6 o! Jesus and thus oerate ith His 6ind in'ontro#.

"od doesn7t say, A!ter you hae 9een saed si= 6onths, Ii##a##o you to &et this mind be in you which was aso in Christ

Jesus,>4hi#iians 2(?.

o, hen you are 9orn again, you 9e'o6e a ne 'reation >2

Corinthians (1-?. At that ery 6o6ent, een though you 6ay nota't #i5e it or !ee# #i5e it, you rea##y are a ne 'reature ith the 6indo! Christ.

So6e eo#e hae a ery dra6ati' e=erien'e. hey understandand 5no they are ne ersons ith ne 'han'es at #i!e. thers donot. It 9e'o6es a strugg#e unti# e #earn that e @ust hae tore'eie and a't on hat is gien to us.

+et 6e gie you a si6#e e=a6#e o! hat I 6ean. I dou9t i! youre6e69er hen you ere 9orn in your natura# #i!e. So6ethingery dra6ati' haened to you on that day hen you a'tua##y9e'a6e a searate erson oerating indeendent#y o! your 6other.Mnti# that ti6e, you ere deending on the !ood and the strengthand the nourish6ent in your 6other7s 9ody to gie you thene'essary su9stan'es to gro.

n'e you entered the or#d and that u69i#i'a# 'ord as 'ut, adrasti' 'hange too5 #a'e. o #onger 'ou#d you deend on your6other in the sa6e ino#untary ay as you had 9e!ore. You had to#oo5 to outside sour'es !or nourish6ent. o #onger did you hae

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a## o! your #i!e0giing su9stan'e !#oing into your 9ody throughthe u69i#i'a# 'ord.

Sudden#y, you 9e'a6e a #itt#e entity a## 9y yourse#!. 4ro9a9#y a##

you did as 'ry, s'rea6, ho##er, and s#ee in 9eteen 6ea#s. h,you 'ou#d igg#e your hands and !eet, 9ut your rodu'tie a'tiityas ery #i6ited.

I #i5e to 'o6are an in!ant7s dee#o6ent ith the Christian #i!e.he 6o6ent you are 9orn again, that u69i#i'a# 'ord to the Dei# is'ut. You hae 9een !ed 9y the Dei# u unti# the ti6e you ere9orn again. n'e that 'ord is 'ut, he 'an no #onger !eed you his

#ies. You hae 9e'o6e a searate and se'ia# erson in the5ingdo6 o! "od.

/any eo#e thin5 they shou#d 9e siritua# giants and !u##y6ature right o!! the 9at. &are#y does that haen. I hae neer5non a 'hi#d ho 'a6e out o! his 6other7s o69 a#5ing and#eaing and raising "od. ;hen you are 9orn again, it is the sa6egroing0u rin'i#e that a#ies to your hysi'a# dee#o6ent.

here are so6e things that are natura# !or us to do as 9a9ies.Crying is a natura# re!#e= 9a9ies use to 'o66uni'ate ith theor#d that they are un'o6!orta9#eFet, 'o#d, hot, or hungry. Assoon as their needs are 6et, they go o!! to s#ee.

But hat haens i! they hae 9een gien the rong !ood Haeyou eer heard o! 'o#i' /any 9a9ies hae it at one ti6e oranother. But do you 5no hat hey a## gro out o! it.

Co6are this to the Christian #i!e. ;e ta#5, #isten, read, eat, ands#ee as 9a9y Christians. But hat haens i! e don7t get enoughto eat 4erhas e eat so6ething that e aren7t a9#e to digest.4erhas e eat the rong !ood and get si'5. I 'a## this Christian'o#i'.

So6eti6es things get so 'o6#i'ated that e thin5, h, I 'an7tunderstand this. I don7t understand this, so I 'an7t ossi9#y #ie theChristian #i!e.

A## you rea##y hae is a 'ase o! Christian 'o#i', and you need to5ee on a 9it !urther. You7## get oer that Christian 'o#i'. o 'hi#d

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eer gre u into his adu#t years 'ontinuing to hae 'o#i'. &are isthe 'hi#d ho eer has it a!ter he rea'hes to years o! age.

he sa6e thing shou#d 9e true in our Christian #ies. As 9a9y

Christians, 6ay9e e are entit#ed to a #itt#e Christian 'o#i' on'e inahi#e hen e are !irst 9orn again 9y the Sirit o! "od. Hoeer,e need to get oer it and go on in the +ord, groing and rea'hingout to others. ;e no #onger shou#d 9e #ying there in our'o6!orta9#e 9a9y 9eds s'rea6ing, ho##ering, 5i'5ing, and !ussing.

Just as 9a9ies ra'ti'e a#5ing, e 6ust ra'ti'e the siritua##as "od has gien to us. Ba9ies tri, !a## don, and 9ruise their

5nees, as e## as their noses, as they #earn to a#5 But they don7tstay don. Young 'hi#dren see the e='iting things adu#ts are doingand are deter6ined to a't #i5e 9ig eo#e do.

Ba9y Christians hae to do the sa6e thing. "et your eyes onJesus and a##o this mind HtoI be in you which was aso in Christ

Jesus >4hi#iians 2(?. You 6ay !a## don, 6a5e 6ista5es,9ruise your ego, and hae your nose 9ent, 9ut you hae 9een giena## the too#s ne'essary to gro and dee#o in the Christian #i!e.

Just as in hu6an dee#o6ent, hoeer, i! you don7t e=er'ise yourar6s, #egs, and oi'e, they i## shrie#, die, and 9e use#ess.

"et 9usy and e=er'ise your siritua# 6us'#es:

'od wied to ma-e -nown what are the riches o"

the #ory o" this mystery amon# the 'enties:

which is Christ in you! the hope o" #ory.

FCo#ossians 12-

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Chapter 4hree

Christ in You!the *ope o" 'ory

he 9oo5 o! John is ro9a9#y the greatest o! a## o! the "ose#s in#ine ith hat 4au# rea'hed Christ in you! the hope o" #ory>Co#ossians 12-?. Jesus said so6e tre6endous things a9outHi6se#! 9eing the true ine and the )ather the true ine0dresser in John 1(1.

. %?.

Jesus is saying to us that i! e do not abide in Hi6, e 'annothae the !ruit and the !ruit!u#ness He ants us to hae. He said,ness you abide in (e>. %?, or un#ess e go into Hi6 sotota##y and so 'o6#ete#y that our on se#!0natures ho##ydisaear, then e 'an hae 6u'h !ruit. ;ithout Hi6, e 'an haenothing.

He ro'eeds to say, " anyone does not abide in (e! he is castout as a branch and is withered and they #ather them and throw

them into the "ire! and they are burned>. *?. But erse - in that'hater 'ontains so6e oer!u# ords " you abide in (e gointo /eK, and (y words abide in yougo into youK, you will askwhat you desire, and it shall be done for you.

;hat a ro6ise o! "od: Anything and eerything e ant i##

9e done, i## 9e a''o6#ished, i## 9e gien, i! e @ust so 6u'h asdesire it, i! e i## @ust so 'o6#ete#y i66erse ourse#es in Hi6and go into Hi6 that there i## 9e a9so#ute#y no re'ognition o!hat e used to 9e 9e!ore e 9e'a6e Christians.

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Jesus a#so said,

%s the )ather o+ed (e! aso ha+e o+ed you abide in (y

o+e. " you -eep (y commandments! you wi abide in (y

o+e! Gust as ha+e -ept (y )ather,s commandments andabide in *is o+e. $John D5:96D1

He ants us to go into His #oe, so that e i## e=erien'e inour on #ies a #oe that is a9oe and 9eyond anything e ou#deer 9e 'aa9#e o! doing in the natura#. He ants us to do so inorder that His @oy 6ay re6ain in us, He ants us to hae His @oyoerating at to seed ithin us at a## ti6es.

n'e hen . +. and Daisy s9orn ere at our ho6e, e erea## ta#5ing a9out Christ in you! the hope o" #ory >Co#ossians12-?. I 6entioned to . +. that the !irst thing I eer #earned as a9rand0ne 9a9y Christian as that Jesus Christ #ied in 6e. Heas surrised that it as '#ear to 6e so a power o" rue>in hea+en and on

earth has been #i+en to (e >/atthe 2818 A/4?, and thenJesus turned right around and said to us, ?ehodB ha+e #i+en youauthority and power to trampe upon serpents and scorpions! and

$physica and menta stren#th and abiity1 o+er a the power that

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the enemy $possesses1! and nothin# sha in any way harm you>+u5e 11$ A/4?.

So6eti6es it is di!!i'u#t to des'ri9e the a'tua# e=erien'e o!

5noing that you 5no that you 5no that Jesus Christ is #iing9ig inside o! you. It 'an 9e tough e=#aining ho you Na#5 in!aith and 9e#iee that Jesus is a'tua##y #iing ithin, yet this5no#edge gies you un#i6ited oer:

;e shou#d neer rea'h the "ose# i! e 'annot do the "ose#.I! e rea##y 9e#iee Jesus #ies inside o! us, then e ought to 9ea9#e to do eerything that as done in the Bi9#e.

Christians #ie !ar 9e#o the #ee# o! here "od ants the6 to#ie. ;e see5 the #esser things, e are satis!ied ith the #esserthings, and e !ai# to rea'h u and to rea'h out into those higherheights o! g#ory into the or#d o! the un5non, into the or#d o!the unseen, into the or#d that has neer rea##y 9een ta6eredith:

"od ants us to rea'h out to a ne or#d: He ants us a## to

oerate in the suernatura#. ;hen e rea##y 9e#iee Jesus Christ is#iing in and through us in the oer o! the Ho#y Sirit, e i## 9e#oaded ith enteos, hi'h 6eans enthusias6. It 6eans "od ithin.;hen you hae Jesus Christ #iing in you, you are going to 9eenthusiasti': "od ithin e


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I !e## so 6ad#y in #oe ith Jesus that don the drain ent the'igarettes, the a#'oho#, and a## o! those horri9#e ha9its that I had9e!ore I got saed. I a6 e='ited a9out sa#ation 9e'ause sa#ation

gae 6e the oer to 9e the 5ind o! erson "od ants 6e to 9einstead o! the 5ind o! o6an the Dei# ants 6e to 9e. /anyeo#e hang onto the Dei# een a!ter they thin5 they are saed9e'ause they are not i##ing to #et "od 6a5e those 'hanges in their#ies that need to 9e 6ade. I guarantee you that any 'hange "odants to 6a5e ithin us is !or the 9etter. Eerything He does is ani6roe6ent in our #ies:

/any eo#e say, h, I hae to gie u this. o, you don7t

hae to gie u a thing. He #i!ts you a9oe the desire to do thethings you did 9e!ore you got saed: hat is hy I a6 so e='iteda9out sa#ation. It gae 6e a ne out#oo5.

I 9e'a6e a new creation >2 Corinthians (1-?. I 9e'a6e a ne'reature. /y 6ind as reneed. o #onger did I hae the o#ddirty, !i#thy 6ind that I had 9e!ore I got saed. hat is hy I a6 soe='ited a9out sa#ation, 9e'ause Jesus Christ #iing ithin 6e

6a5es 6e 9u99#e u and @ust 9urst ith e='ite6ent oer hat Hehas done !or 6e:

;e are a#so going to 9e e='ited a9out hea#ing the si'5. ;e arenot on#y going to 9e e='ited e are going to 9e suer e='ited:

Be!ore I re'eied the 9atis6 ith the Ho#y Sirit, so6ethinghaened that I i## neer !orget. A 6an a#5ed u to 6e in St.4eters9urg, )#orida, and said, "od has gien you the gi!t o!

hea#ing. ;hy don7t you use it Be!ore I had a, 'han'e to oen 6y6outh, he @ust #ain disaeared right in !ront o! 6y eyes >Ionder i! he as an ange#?. ;hoeer he as, I hae neer!orgotten that ery se'ia# 6o6ent hen so6eone said, You haethe gi!t o! hea#ing. hat stayed in 6y 6ind, and I thought, ;o:Cou#d that eer haen to 6e

Ese'ia##y during the ho#iday season, I #oo5 at so6e o! the

unhay !a'es o! eo#e in the gro'ery store, in the shoing'enter, and in the 6a##. hese eo#e are !ranti'a##y ra'ing around,trying to !ind the anser to #i!e. &unning, running, running,running, #oo5ing, #oo5ing, #oo5ing: ;hy Be'ause they hae not

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yet !ound the anser to #i!e. hey haen7t !ound that Christ inyou >Co#ossians 12-? is the on#y true sour'e o! g#ory: ;e don7thae to 9e running, running, running, 'onstant#y trying to !ind the

anser. ;e hae it: hat7s hy e 'an 9e enthusiasti', 9e'ause"od ithin us 6a5es it ossi9#e.

;hen I got saed, Jesus oened 6y 6outh, and I haen7t shut itsin'e: And I don7t intend to shut it, 9e'ause it is that enteosithin6e that 6a5es it i6ossi9#e to ta#5 a9out anything e#se e='etJesus.

Jesus in us i## a##o us to 9e'o6e the ne 'reatures that e are

ro6ised. ;e are not going to 9e digging u the gar9age o! theast, saying, h, 9ut I had a## these a!u# things in the ast. ;ho'ares Ouit 9ragging a9out your ast. Start ta#5ing a9out ho youare no and hat Jesus did !or you.

;e are going to 9e#iee in our ne #i!e, and e are going to9e#iee in our ne 'reation.

Concentration Feeases 'rowth

;e are not going to 'on'entrate on ro9#e6s. ;e are not goingto ta#5 a9out the6, 9e'ause ta#5ing a9out ro9#e6s 6a5es the6gro and gro and gro and gro: 4retty soon e areoerhe#6ed 9y ro9#e6s. "et your 6ind o!! the ro9#e6s and onthe anser. ;hen you 9egin thin5ing a9out Jesus and hat "odhas done in your #i!e, your ro9#e6s are @ust going to s#i aay,

disaear, and 9e as though they neer ere.he Jesus in us has a hunger !or the ;ord o! "od. he 6ore e

get into "od7s ;ord, the 6ore e dis'oer that as e 9egin togro, e 9egin to rise and rise and rise. ur ro9#e6s don7t riseith us. he ro9#e6s stay ay don there. But as e rise, e get!urther and !urther aay !ro6 our ro9#e6s, unti# sudden#y theyare so insigni!i'ant that e 'an7t see the6 any6ore.

ne o! the 9est e=a6#es I 5no o! in this area haens henyou ride in a #ane. ;hen you !irst ta5e o!! !ro6 the airort, you#oo5 out the indo and you 'an see eerything #ain#y and in

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'#ear detai#, 9ut the higher the #ane rises, the s6a##er the houses9e'o6e.

he sa6e thing is true ith your siritua# #i!e. As you 9egin to

go into those siritua# rea#6s, the ro9#e6s get s6a##er, s6a##er,and s6a##er, unti# sudden#y they are so #itt#e you 'annot see the6any6ore.

Christ in you! the hope o" #oryis going to 6a5e you e='iteda9out the oer o! "od to oer'o6e in eery area in your #i!e:

4he time is "u"ied! and the -in#dom o" 'od is at

hand. Fepent! and beie+e in the #ospe.

F/ar5 11(

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Chapter)our

Fepentance

Char#es and I are 9#essed to hae an e='iting 6inistry that goesaround the or#d. It is an internationa# 6inistry that tou'hes the#ies o! eo#e not on#y in the Mnited States, 9ut a#so in 6any othernations. As a resu#t, e re'eie 6ai# !ro6 eo#e o! dierse'u#tura#, so'ia#, e'ono6i', and ethni' 9a'5grounds.

Surrising#y, the 'ontents o! these #etters say the sa6e thing. A#etter sent !ro6 a 'ity here in the Mnited States i## 9e si6i#ar to a#etter sent !ro6 a 'ity in Euroe.

A!ter a hi#e e 9egan to noti'e a attern in the needs e=ressed9y eo#e in their #etters and dis'oered that se'i!i' siritua#ro9#e6s are not 'on!ined to any arti'u#ar #o'a#e. ne ro9#e6 inarti'u#ar is 6entioned reeated#y a## oer the or#d. It see6s thateo#e eeryhere are strugg#ing and !ai#ing in their atte6ts to

#ie a Christian #i!e. But, s !ar as e 'an deter6ine !ro6 their 6ai#,these eo#e are triing oer ste one o! #iing an oer'o6ing,i'torious, !u#!i##ed #i!e as a 9e#ieer.

4hat step is repentance.

&e'ent#y, I read a #etter !ro6 a #ady in Oueens#and, Austra#ia,that as a6aing#y si6i#ar to a #etter I had @ust read !ro6 so6eonein igeria. Another #etter !ro6 a 6an in Indianao#is, Indiana, asa#6ost the sa6e. hey ere a## saying, I ant to #oe "od, and Iant to a#5 the Christian ay. I a6 trying to #ead a good 6ora##i!e, 9ut hat is the 6atter ith 6e In ea'h 'ase the riters o!the #etters deserate#y anted to sere "od, 9ut their #ies see6ede6ty and 'o#d, and they 'ou#d not see the 6ani!estation o! "od intheir ersona# situations. Ea'h one #itera##y 9ro5e 6y heart.

Ea'h #etter a#so had another si6i#arity. A## o! the riters rotethat they had said the sinner7s rayer 6any ti6es >one een rotethat she had rayed it a9out !i!ty ti6es?, 9ut they had not seen anyresu#ts !ro6 their rayers. heir #ies see6ed to @ust go on as

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9e!ore ith no rea# #i!e, no hungering !or the ;ord o! "od or thethings o! "od, and they ere as de!eated as they had 9een 9e!orethe rayers.

In /atthe %1- e read, )rom that time Jesus be#an topreach and to say! Repent! "or the -in#dom o" hea+en is at hand>e6hasis added?. hat is the i6ortant ste the eo#e !ro6Austra#ia, igeria, Indiana, and a## oer the or#d hae 6issed inentering into the tye o! Christian #i!e the ;ord o! "ode=e6#i!ies.

/ar5 11%01( says the sa6e thing. It states, 3ow a"ter John

was put in prison! Jesus came to 'aiee! preachin# the #ospe o"the -in#dom o" 'od! and sayin#! &4he time is "u"ied! and the

-in#dom o" 'od is at hand. Repent! and believe in the #ospe>e6hasis added?. n'e again the ;ord o! "od instru'ts us in thero'ess o! siritua# groth. ot on#y did Jesus say to reent, 9uta#so to 9e#iee.

Fepentance

he di'tionary de!ines repentanceas, to !ee# ain, sorro, orregret !or so6ething that one has done, or #e!t undone to 9e'ons'ien'e stri'5en or 'ontrite to 'hange one7s 6ind a9out so6east a'tion, intention in 'onse


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orth#ess, you ou#d 9e ery sorry. You ou#d regret haing uta## o! your 6oney into hat turned out to 9e a 9ad inest6ent. hisis a !or6 o! reentan'e, 9y aoiding so6ething 9e'ause you hae

dis'oered 9y e=erien'e that it asn7t a ise thing to do.Another He9re ord !or reentan'e isshuwb, hi'h 6eans to

turn 9a'5. It 6eans not reeating so6ething 9e'ause you hae#earned that there is a 'onse


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stri't#y a 6enta# 'hange o! 6ind. It is sense 5no#edge that says,I a6 going to straighten u 6y #i!e. It is not good !or 6e to 9es6o5ing 'igarettes, 9e'ause the Surgeon "enera#7s reort said it

'ou#d 9e har6!u#, so I a6 going to


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don7t indis'ri6inate#y arrest eo#e ithout a reason. A#though eanted to he# the young 6an, e did not hae the !reedo6 !ro6the Ho#y Sirit to rush don to @ai# and try to get hi6 out.

"od gies you 'onne'tions hen you need 'onne'tions and5ees you !ro6 going o!! the dee end to he# so6eone hoerhas shou#d not 9e he#ed at that arti'u#ar ti6e. hrough a!riend in the o#i'e deart6ent, e dis'oered that the young 6anas not inno'ent#y hau#ed into @ai# as he had '#ai6ed, 9ut as'harged ith 9eing 'aught in a ho6ose=ua# a't. he young 6anhad #ied to us @ust to use our in!#uen'e to get hi6se#! out o! @ai#. Heas not sorry at a## !or hat he had done, 9ut as sorry he had

9een 'aught. He anted a


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here are so6e eo#e I 5no >I76 sure you 'an re'a## so6e,too? ho hae had one seeding ti'5et right a!ter the I other. hatsays, I a6 on#y sorry I got 'aught. I a6 on#y sorry I had to ay

9ig, 9ig !ines 9e'ause I as going 8( 6i#es an hour in a ((06i#es0er0hour seed one. hat is not reentan'e. Instead, that erson9e'o6es 6ore 'are!u# in at'hing his rearie 6irror thanat'hing his seed. o Christian shou#d eer get a seeding ti'5et.And i! he does, it shou#d 6a5e hi6 reentant enough to 'hange hisdriing ha9its to 'o6#y ith #o'a#, state, and !edera# #as.

"od7s ;ord te##s us to o9ey the #a. I don7t hae to orry a9out'he'5ing the rearie 6irror a## I hae to 9e 'on'erned ith is

"od, and He 5nos hether I a6 going oer the seed #i6it ornot. So6e eo#e thin5 I don7t drie !ast enough, that I a6 s#o. Itta5es 6e a #itt#e #onger to get there, 9ut I get there. "od has ange#saround 6y 'ar. Ha##e#u@ah: he ange#s get o!! hen you drie oerthe seed #i6it, so I ou#d rather drie the seed #i6it and 6a5esure they stay there:

;hat 5ees 6ost eo#e a#5ing the straight and narro

So6eti6es they a#5 that ay not @ust 9e'ause they ant to, 9ut9e'ause they are a!raid o! the 'onse


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a rea# 'hange o! 6ind, an attitude toard sin, not 6ere#y the'onse


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But een though I rea#ied I as not rea##y saed, I as re#u'tantto 6a5e a de'ision, I 'ontinued to s6o5e, drin5, and #ie 6y on#i!e as I a#ays had. But the Sirit o! "od 'ontinued to 'oni't 6e

and sho 6e I as a sinner. A9out nine 6onths #ater I 'ried out,h, "od, hae 6er'y on 6e, a sinner:

hat day, "od rea'hed don and saed 6e. ot on#y had I'a##ed on "od !or 6er'y, 9ut 9eneath the oi'e that as5ed !or he#as a heart that as 9ro5en and 'ontrite. ;hen "od saed 6e, I5ne I as saed. In !a't, I as so euhori' that !or a9out todays I didn7t een 5no ho I as: But I 5ne Jesus Christ as#iing in 6y heart: I re6e69er thin5ing, He7s in there: He7s in

there: Jesus as in 6y heart, so I s#a66ed the door, #o'5ed it,thre aay the 5ey, and said, Jesus, You 'an neer get out o!there:

he ery se'ond I said that, 6y #i!e 9egan to 'hange, not 6i#d#y,9ut drasti'a##y: I a'


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!or eeryone to do this, I ent 9a'5 oer 6y entire #i!e oer andoer again the sa6e thing ou#d haen. I ou#d 9egin to so9. Iou#d 'ry and 'ry and 'ry. So6eti6es I ou#d 'ry !or to or three

hours and 'ou#dn7t een re6e69er hat I as 'rying a9out.It as not a sad 'ry o! re6e69ering things #i5e, I #ost 6y

6other. I #ost 6y !ather. I #ost 6y hus9and 9e!ore I as 3( yearso#d. It as not that 5ind o! a 'ry I 'ried on ea'h o! thoseo''asions. It as a 'ry that as a'tua##y a g#ad 'ry. So6eho orother, I see6ed to 9e so99ing !ro6 the inner6ost deths o! 6yheart. I 'ou#dn7t !igure out hat I as 'rying a9out, and yet, henI !inished and !ina##y !e## as#ee, I !e#t good. /y 9ody !e#t good,

6y sou# !e#t good, and I @ust !e#t good a## oer. he ne=t 6orning Iou#d thin5, I 'an7t stay aa5e eery night 'rying, so tonight I7##go right to s#ee.

But hen night 'a6e and I ent to 9ed and 9egan to #oe "odand ta#5 to Hi6 in the


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as that I had di!!i'u#ty te##ing "od I as a sinner. ;hen He!ina##y did sho 6e and 'onin'e 6e that I as a sinner, I 9eganto see a## the things I had done in 6y #i!e that I had re!used to

ad6it ere sin.;hen you are oen to "od, the Ho#y Sirit i## 9ring to your

re6e69ran'e 6any things. Ea'h night I ou#d re6e69erso6ething e#se, as i! I as utting a sear'h#ight into 6y inner6ost9eing. n'e again, 6y 9ody ou#d 9e torn ith so9s. It as a 'ry!ro6 the ery deths o! 6y heart as I so99ed and so99ed, te##ing"od ho sorry I as and ro6ising Hi6 I ou#d neer do it again.

hat sa6e tye o! reentan'e 6ay not hae haened to you, 9utI 9e#iee that 'hur'hes need to rea'h 6ore a9out reentan'e,9e'ause getting saed doesn7t 6ean @ust saying a sinner7s rayer.You i## dis'oer that you i## a#5 the Christian road as "odants you to a#5 i! there is true reentan'e in your heart. he'onde6nation 6ost eo#e hae in their Christian #ies is 9e'ausethey hae not tru#y reented and turned the oosite dire'tion.

)or#et Your @ast

he ne=t 6ost i6ortant thing is to go on and !orget your ast.;e need to rea#ie that our sins hae not on#y 9een !orgien 9y"od, 9ut !orgotten as e##, 9e'ause He 9uries the6 in the deeestsea, neer to 9e re6e69ered again. ;e need to a''et the!orgieness o! "od in our #ies, and go on !ro6 there.

"od is not going to thro you out !or so6e #itt#e sin you'o66itted a!ter you got saed. he 6inute you do so6ethingrong, as5 His !orgieness right then and there and neer do itagain. ;e don7t need to orry un#ess e 5ee on doing the sa6ething oer and oer again. )irst John 1$ says, I! e 'on!ess oursins, He is !aith!u# and @ust to !orgie us and to '#eanse us o! a##unrighteousness.

he%mpi"ied ?ibestates that erse this ay

" we H"reeyI admit that we ha+e sinned and con"ess our

sins! *e is "aith"u and Gust Htrue to *is own nature and

promisesIand wi "or#i+e our sins $dismiss our

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awessness1 and continuousy ceanse us "rom a

unri#hteousness>e+erythin# not in con"ormity to *is wi

in purpose! thou#ht and action.

ne o! the things that a6aes 6e a9out "od is that i! you said asinner7s rayer right no, and then !ie 6inutes #ater re6e69eredso6e atro'ious sin you had 'o66itted and said, h, "od, did you!orgie 6e !or that a!u# sin I 'o66itted 3- years ago "odou#d say, ;hat sin 9e'ause He doesn7t een re6e69er.

A!ter I as saed, I 'ried !or to or three 6onths eery night.A## the nasty things I had eer said to anyone 'a6e 9a'5 to 6y

6ind. I re6e69er that I #ied to a tea'her hen I as in the !ourthgrade. I thought to 6yse#! h, "od, that as su'h a #itt#e #ie.hen I rea#ied there is no su'h thing as a #itt#e #ie. A## #ies are 9ig#ies. I said, h, "od, I a6 sorry !or that. I a6 sorry 9e'ause I asthe #eader in the '#ass, and I to#d a #ie to the tea'her. hen thereou#d 'o6e those 9u'5ets o! tears, the so99ing that ra'5ed 6y9ody, and then !ina##y the ea'e o! "od:

;hat does reentan'e rea##y 6ean It 6eans turning aay,

turning as !ast as you 'an in the other dire'tion, and going as !astas you 'an go aay !ro6 sin.

/any eo#e do not ant to gie u sin 9e'ause they are notrea##y sorry they sinned. "ir#s 'o6e to 6e oer and oer againhen e are on the road and say so6ething #i5e this

I ant to say a sinner7s rayer again. I ant to as5 "od to!orgie 6e. I ent to 9ed ith a 9oy #ast night and I 5ne Ishou#dn7t hae done it.

I say, Did you eer do it 9e!ore

heir anser is stereotyed h, yes, eery Saturday night,eery ;ednesday night, too, and then uesday and hursday ithanother guy, 9ut I ant to say a sinner7s rayer again.

I guarantee you that 5ind o! a erson i## 9e 9a'5 at the a#tar the

ne=t Sunday 9e'ause she i## do the sa6e thing a## oer again.;hy Be'ause that indiidua# as not genuine#y sorry. he 6inuteyour heart rea##y and tru#y reents, and you say, h, "od, I a6sorry. I turn 6y 9a'5 on that, and I i## neer do it again, that is

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the day hen god#y sorro i## 'o6e into your heart. And god#ysorro is the 6ost @oy!u# e=erien'e in the or#d 9e'ause it #eadsto your eentua# hainess in the +ord. I 9e#iee the reason I a6 so

hay and !ree today is 9e'ause o! the reentan'e that 'a6e into6y #i!eFa reentan'e that said, "od, I i## neer, neer do itagain.

;hen I s6o5ed 6y #ast 'igarette, there as neer a 1 Corinthians *1$?. I asso sorry 9e'ause I 'ou#d see those 9#a'5 #ungs in 6y 9ody !u## o!

goo, and I as sorry I had eer done su'h a thing to "od7ste6#e. I 9e#iee that is the reason I hae neer 9een te6ted 9y a'igarette !ro6 the day I as set !ree.

he sa6e thing is true o! a#'oho#. he day "od set 6e !ree !ro6a#'oho#, I as sorry I had eer had a drin5 in 6y #i!e. I as sorry!or the ti6es I had 9e'o6e drun5. I as sorry: I reented itheerything that as in 6e, and as a resu#t o! genuine reentan'e, I

don7t hae enough strength in 6y hand today to #i!t one oun'e o!gin, his5ey, od5a, ine, or 9eer, 9e'ause hen you reentun'onditiona##y and 'o6#ete#y, there i## neer 9e a desire to doanything against "od.

% )ina 8ecision

he #ast "ree5 ord is ametameetos, hi'h 6eans

irreo'a9#e. In other ords, "od, I a6 turning 9a'5. I a6turning 9a'5. I i## neer a#5 that ay again, 9e'ause I hae6ade an irreo'a9#e de'ision, a de'ision that 'annot 9e reersed orannu##ed. You 6ay 9e ametameetosand not 'ry a tear a## youneed is true reentan'e in your heartFgod#y sorro.

He9res %12 states, )or the word o" 'od is i+in# andpower"u and sharper than any two6ed#ed sword! piercin# e+en to

the di+ision o" sou and spirit! and o" Goints and marrow! and is adiscerner o" the thou#hts and intents o" the heart. ;e 6ay !oo#ourse#es so6eti6es in our 6oties or intentions, 9ut "od 5nos

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our hearts. He 5nos true reentan'e, and true reentan'e i###aun'h you into the oer'o6ing #i!e you hae desired.

I a6 going to as5 you to do so6ething se'ia# !or yourse#!.

;hen you go to 9ed tonight, say this rayer and 6ean it !ro6 theinner6ost arts o! your 9eing

)ather, I a6 not @ust saying a rayer. I a6 not @ust sayingords. I a6 saying so6ething !ro6 6y heart. +ord, I a6sorry !or eery aenue in 6y #i!e that is not #easing toYou. I a6 sorry !or those things o! the or#d onto hi'h Ia6 sti## '#inging. )ro6 this day !orard, 9e'ause I a6

reenting in 6y heart, I i## turn around and go in the otherdire'tion. I i## #oo5 to You !or strength. I i## #oo5 to You!or oer. I i## neer again #oo5 to 6yse#!. )orgie 6e !orthe things to hi'h I hae '#ung, and +ord Jesus, 'o6e into6y '#ean and reentant heart to stay !oreer. Jesus, #easeossess 6e so that I 'an ossess Your '#ean and ure 6ind:

Create in me a cean heart! 'od! and renew a stead"ast spirit

within me >4sa#6 (11?.

" you ha+e "aith as a mustard seed! you wi say

to this mountain! &(o+e "rom here to there!

and it wi mo+e and nothin# wi be

impossibe "or you.

F/atthe 1-2

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Chapter)i+e

)aith

Be'ause e #et the 6ind o! Christ 9e in us, e shou#d #oo5 uon!aith e=a't#y as Jesus does /u'h has 9een said in re'ent years in anatte6t to 'ategorie and #ega#isti'a##y de!ine !aith. I 5no ehae a## heard ser6ons and ser6ons uon ser6ons des'ri9ing!aith, and I 5no e ourse#es hae gien 6any ta#5s on thesu9@e't o! !aith. Hoeer, #et7s ta5e the ord aart and #oo5 at it

through the eyes o! Jesus and ith the 6ind o! Christ.

I! I ere to 6a5e one si6#e, un'o6#i'ated senten'e des'ri9ing!aith, I ou#d say that !aith is si6#y re'eiing hat "od says./editate on that de!inition. +et your 6ind e=and and go into a##di!!erent dire'tions to see i! that doesn7t rea##y 'oer a## that !aithis. )aith is @ust haing enough trust in "od to 9e#iee in your hearteerything He says, ritten or so5en. I! you 9e#iee hat "od

says, then you i## 9e a9#e to re'eie hat He has !or you.)aith is not so6ething that 'an 9e 'on@ured u, nor 'an it 9e

e6otiona#ied to a oint here it 9e'o6es 6ore e!!e'tie.

E6otiona#is6 i## o!tenti6es 'ause us to 'ross oer into the areao! resu6tion rather than a##oing our on !aith to dee#o and9e'o6e strong.

he ti6es in our #ies hen our !aith has 9een the ery strongest

hae not 9een suer0hyerenti#ating ti6es hen e ere sittingith a grou o! other 9e#ieers 9egging and #eading ith "od !or6ore !aith. o, the greatest 6o6ents o! our !aith hae 9een in the


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Dou9t and un9e#ie! are 9oth oosites o! !aith. ;hen e a##o


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6y serant i## die. He as ery 'a#6 and said, Sea5 a ord,and 6y serant i## 9e hea#ed >/atthe 88?. Hoeer, !ear,hi'h is the oosite o! !aith, i66ediate#y 'a6e into the dis'i#es.

hese to 'ir'u6stan'es are onder!u# e=a6#es o! hat haenshen you 9e#iee and hen you don7t.

+et 6e as5 you a /atthe 2818 JG?.

Jesus had a #ot to say a9out un9e#ie! to His dis'i#es. /atthe

1-1%F21 is a good e=a6#e o! this. A 6an 'a6e to Jesus ith anei#eti' son and to#d Jesus that he had 9rought hi6 to thedis'i#es, 9ut they 'ou#d not 'ure hi6. Jesus re9u5ed the de6on,and it 'a6e out o! hi6. he 'hi#d as 'ured. hen the dis'i#essaid, ;hy coud we not cast it out=>. 1$?. Jesus7 anser tothe6 as, ?ecause o" your unbeie">. 2?.

Mn9e#ie! and !aith are to a9so#ute oosites, and Jesus neerhad any un9e#ie! in His 6ind, His heart, or His Sirit. But then

#oo5 at hat Jesus said. He didn7t say, " you had #reat bi# "aith!you coud ha+e done it. *e simpy said! " you ha+e "aith as a

mustard seed! you wi say to this mountain! &(o+e "rom here to

there, and it wi mo+e! and nothin# wi be impossibe "or you>.2?.

Jesus is not saying to us that 9e'ause e ossess His 6ind eare going to ossess great !aith. He si6#y says, Hae that #itt#e

tiny 5ind o! !aith that has no roo6 !or dou9t and un9e#ie!.;e need to 9egin to 9e#iee that it is not trying to 6anu!a'ture,

to eae, or to drea6 u an i6aginary 5ind o! !aith, 9ut it issi6#y getting 9a'5 to #itt#e 9asi' rin'i#es here e 9e#ieeeerything Jesus said.

o 6e, one o! the 6ost e='iting e=a6#es in the entire Bi9#ehere !aith is 'on'erned >and I 5no there are 6any and ea'h o!

us has a !aorite? is the story o! Shadra'h, /esha'h, and A9ed0ego.

hin5 o! their si6#e !aith hen they re#ied toe9u'hadnear7s


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be cast immediatey into the midst o" a burnin# "iery "urnace. %nd

who is the #od who wi dei+er you "rom my hands= >Danie#31(?.

I #oe their anser. hey said,

O 3ebuchadneKKar! we ha+e no need to answer you in this

matter " that is the case! our 'od whom we ser+e is abe to

dei+er us "rom the burnin# "iery "urnace! and *e wi

dei+er us "rom your hand! O -in#. $8anie /:D>DE1

+oo5 at hat they said ne=t ?ut i" not! et it be -nown to you!O -in#! that we do not ser+e your #ods! nor wi we worship the

#od ima#e which you ha+e set up >. 18?.

he thing that is so 9eauti!u# to 6e in this arti'u#ar story is the!a't that they ere i##ing to gie their #ies to roe that "od is"od. So6eti6es, to roe that, e hae hyer0!aith e get outinto an area here e thin5 e are utting "od on a sot so Hei## hae to do hat e ant. In rea#ity e are 6ere#yde6onstrating a #a'5 o! !aith.

I re6e69er years ago there as a ro9#e6 in the state o!/ississii here terri!ying riots ere going on 9eteen the9#a'5s and the hites. A 6an a#5ed out in !ront o! a 9u##doerand said, "od i## rote't 6e. But I hae nes !or you. he9u##doer ran right oer hi6 and 6ashed hi6 !#atter than a !ritterand 5i##ed hi6. He as o9ious#y not oerating under the 9#essingo! "od hen he did this. Hoeer, Shadra'h, /esha'h and A9ed0ego had a re#ationshi ith "od that as so !ir6 that theye=erien'ed a suernatura# 6ira'#e. hey 5ne 9eyond a shadoo! a dou9t that they ere 'o6ing out unhar6ed.

)aith or )ib=

/ay9e your !aith is #i5e 6ine. here are ti6es hen I hae !aith!or hateer situation is in !ront o! 6e, and then there are ti6es

hen 6y !aith is not


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here I i## 9e#iee "od !or the thing I 6ight not hae 9een a9#eto 9e#iee Hi6 !or one year, to years, three years, or ten years9e!ore.

ne year hen Char#es and I ere at the 4+ C#u9 !or theirannua# arade, to searate ti6es "od gae 6e si6#e !aith to5no that I had heard His oi'e, and 9oth instan'es resu#ted in ourseeing the g#ory o! "od.

n Sunday night there had 9een hundreds o! tents a## oer thatgreat Heritage MSA 'o6#e=, and it 9egan thundering and#ightning the rain 'a6e don in 9u'5ets. It as #i5e a 6onsoon.

Can you i6agine 'a6ing out in a tent ith riers o! ater to!eet dee running through your tent

By the ne=t 6orning the tents had rea##y disaeared. ;e had toget u at (1( A./. to 9e at 9rea5!ast 9y * so that e 'ou#d getin!or6ation on the !#oats. ;e ent donstairs, and it as sti##ouring don rain. It as so6e o! the soggiest eather e hadeer seen and as 9#a'5 as night outside.

he sta!! at 4+ ut us in ans and too5 us to the arade site.Een though the rain had s#a'5ened, the s5ies re6ained oer'ast. Itas one o! the g#oo6iest days eer. ;e '#i69ed u on our !#oat,and it as so et, the ater on the !#oat seeed onto the #ong dressI as earing. he entire 9otto6 o! 6y dress !or a9out si= to eightin'hes as soa5ed in ater.

A9out that ti6e, a reorter !ro6 one o! the #o'a# te#eisionstations 'a6e oer to as5 i! he 'ou#d hae an interie ith us. Hesaid, ;hat do you thin5 the 'han'es are !or the arade

I said, o chanceat a##. ;ith "od there neer is an e#e6ent o!'han'e. I si6#y said >9e'ause "od so5e to 6y heart?, he sun7sgoing to 'o6e out, and there7s not going to 9e a dro o! rain on thearade.

I ish you 'ou#d hae seen the e=ression on the 6an7s !a'e. Ias oerating in a suernatura# rea#6 o! !aith, 9e'ause I hadositie 5no#edge that I had heard "od. I as #oo5ing at the rain,the oer'ast s5y, and 6o6entari#y >in the natura#?. I thought,;hat did I say And right on te#eision eeryone heard 6e say,here isn7t going to 9e any rain on the arade.

(%


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"od had gien 6e that suernatura# !aith He gies to ea'h andeery one o! us on those ery se'ia# o''asions. A9out 3 6inutes#ater there as a #itt#e tiny 9#ue #a'e in the s5y no 9igger than a

6an7s hand. ;ith E#i@ah, it as @ust the reerse. He sa a '#oudthe sie o! a 6an7s hand. >See 1 ings 18%1F%(.? here as a#itt#e tiny 9#ue sot and Char#es nudged 6e and said, Honey, ta5ea #oo5 at that 9#ue sot u there it7s no 9igger than a 6an7s hand.

I said, Ha##e#u@ah: But it7s going to gro and gro and gro.ot a sing#e dro o! rain, not one sing#e dro !e## on that entirearade:

;e 6inistered a!ter the arade on the 4+ te#eision sate##itenetor5, and so6eone ran u to 6e and said, here7s a 6ute hereho has neer so5en in a## her #i!e. She7s tenty0eight years o#d.

I thought, I7## ray !or these short ar6s oer here 9e'ause that7seasier. You see, I hae one hundred er'ent !aith !or so6e things,9ut hen it 'o6es to a 6ute, I don7t a#ays hae 1 ings 1$12? o! "od. He said, Is it any harder !or 6e tohea# a 6ute than it is to hea# a 9a'5 or 'hange the eather Idroed those ar6s and thought, Ho si##y: Isn7t it ridi'u#ous thate #et the Dei# 'o6e and te## us that e 'an do the #itt#e things,9ut not the 9ig things I said, ;here is that 6ute

"od had sudden#y oured on 6e a tre6endous gi!t o! !aith, and I#oo5ed at her and thought, hat7s no harder than anything e#se."od7s oer is a#ays the sa6e. He doesn7t 6a5e anydi!!erentiation in here it !#os.

his !aith that I had heard "od as 9ursting ithin 6e and Isaid, Sti'5 out your tongue. She stu'5 out her tongue at 6e, so I@ust #aid 6y !ingers on her tongue and said, You du69 sirit, inthe na6e o! Jesus, I hae 6ore oer than you hae, so 'o6e out

o! her right no.

)or tenty0eight years she had neer said a ord in her entire#i!e, and I hisered in her ear, Say /a06a. And she said, Say/a06a: I as neer so sho'5ed in 6y #i!e 9e'ause I7e neer

((


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heard a 6ute ye## that #oud#y hen he or she got hea#ed. She rea##yye##ed, and so I said, Say 4a0a. And she said, Say 4a0a.

Sudden#y, it daned on 6e that she had neer heard her on #is

say /a6a 9e!ore, so I ointed to her 6other, a 9eauti!u# gray0haired #ady standing near9y hose heart as @ust 9ro5en 9e'auseher daughter had 9een 6ute !or tenty0eight years. I ointed to herand said, /a6a.

he gir# #oo5ed at her 6other and said, /a6a: )or the !irstti6e in a## o! her #i!e she 'ou#d sea5 the 9e#oed tit#e o! theo6an ho had ta5en 'are o! her a## this ti6e: ;hat a @oyous

6o6ent that as:Ho I raise "od !or that suernatura# gi!t o! !aith that He gae

6e, and yet it as so si6#e, 9e'ause I 5ne I had heard "odsea5.

I didn7t or5 it u.

I didn7t get e6otiona#.

I @ust heard "od and re'eied hat He had !or 6e. )aith issimpy recei+in# what 'od has "or you. "#ory:

Jesus hea#ed a dea! 6ute as re'orded in /ar5 -32F3-. he'rod ho sa the hea#ing ere astonished 9eyond 6easure,saying, &*e has done a thin#s we. *e ma-es both the dea" tohear and the mute to spea-,>. 3-?.

Doing the sa6e things Jesus did hi#e He as on earth !or the

g#ory o! "od is a tenty0!irst 'entury e=a6#e o! ossessing the6ind o! Christ Jesus: He7s a#ie:

)aith is a groing ro'ess. It is not a @u6 in and I7e got ita## situation. It is a ro'ess o! dee#o6ent. I 9e#iee eeryro9#e6 e !a'e and su9se


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I said, I! you hae to as5 6e, you are trying to ride on 6y !aith,and you 'an7t do that you hae to oerate on your on !aith,9e'ause hen you hae to as5 so6e9ody, NShou#d I 'ontinue to

stand in !aith7 that 6eans your !aith has aered, and you hae#ost 9e'ause you hae not 'ontinued to 9e#iee "od.

he thing that is so e='iting in the story a9out Shadra'h,/esha'h, and A9ed0ego is that their !aith neer aered a sing#e,so#itary 9it. hey didn7t hae to


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not e a'tua##y 9e#iee or hether e are @ust sea5ing ords. Heants us to rust Hi6, and He is g#ori!ied hen e do.

I thin5 i! e i## @ust try to un'o6#i'ate !aith 9y ta5ing out a##

the suer hyed !aith 'on!essions and get 9a'5 to the si6#i'ity o!9e#ieing !aith, e7## 9e a #ot 9etter o!!.

@roper 4imin# s


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#itt#e things o! "od. It ta5es @ust as 6u'h !aith to hear "od in the#itt#e things as it does in the 9ig things.

So 6any ti6es eo#e !ee# that they hae heard "od hen it is

rea##y a thought that 'o6es !ro6 their !#esh or !ro6 the Dei#FIdon7t 5no hi'h. he oi'e they hear 'auses the6 to say, "odto#d 6e I a6 going to hae a 9ig 6inistry and I76 going to gooerseas and I76 going to sea5 to hundreds o! thousands o!eo#e.

hat sa6e indiidua# has neer #ed one erson on his 9#o'5 tothe +ord.

;as that "od or !#esh sea5ing

I! e rea##y ent 9a'5 and 'he'5ed that thought again, e ou#ddis'oer in a## ro9a9i#ity that it 'a6e !ro6 the !#esh and not !ro6"od. ;hen you 'o6e right don to it, a thought #i5e that is #i5e#yto 9e !or your on g#ory rather than !or the g#ory o! "od.

ne o! the things e hae dis'oered is that i! you #isten "od, the things you a''o6#ish i## 9e !or His g#ory and not !or

your g#ory. hat is a#ays a good test as to hether r not it is youor "od. I! you are dead to se#!, the desire o! our heart i## 9e to#ease "od i! you are not dead to se#!, he desire o! your heart i##9e to #ease se#!. I! e 'he'5 our 6oties, it is easy to dis'oerhat !aith rea##y is and ho si6#e it is to oerate in 'o6#ete!aith at a## ti6es.

Big !aith is anting to #ease "od. Char#es @ust said that, and

there is a tre6endous truth in that state6ent.;hy did Jesus hae so 6u'h !aith Be'ause He anted to #ease

"od.

He ho #oes /e i## 9e o+ed by (y )ather! and

wi o+e him and mani"est (yse" to hi6.

FJohn 1%21

($


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Chapter Si

Lo+e

Be'ause e ossess the 6ind o! Christ, e a#so ossess His eryheart0'ry:

;e ossess the 'o6assion and the #oe o! Jesus Christ. N;eossess the sa6e attri9utes as "od 9e'ause Jesus and His )atherare one.

Be'ause e are parta-ers o" the di+ine nature>2 4eter 1%? o!"od, e hae the 6ind o! Christ, the nature o! "od, the a9i#ity o!"od, the 'hara'ter o! "od, the isdo6 o! "od, and the dye o!"od:

Ho shou#d e treat those around us Ho shou#d e treatthose e #oe I! e rea##y do hae the 6ind o! Christ, ho shou#de treat those e don,t#oe

;e are surrounded ith #oe: ;e are !i##ed ith #oe: ;e ar'oer!#oing ith #oe: ;e are running oer ith #oe:

;hat a rii#ege, hat a @oy diine, hat a g#orious 5no#edgeto 5no in our hearts that a## these things are ours 9e'ause 9e#ong to Christ Jesus and 9e'ause e ossess His 6ind.

4ro9a9#y one o! the 9est e=a6#es in the Bi9#e a9out ossessingthe 6ind o! Christ 'on'erning #oe is in the 9oo5 o! John.

4he Li+in# ?ibe9eauti!u##y e=resses su'h a ro6ise o! "od7s#oe. "od7s #oe !#oing into us ena9#es us to rea'h out and #oethose ho need #oe so 9ad#y. Jesus said, 4he one who obeys meis the one who o+es me and because he o+es me! my )ather wi

o+e him and wi too! and wi re+ea myse" to him >John1%21 +B?.

In erses 23 and 2%, e read these ords o! Jesus, wi ony

re+ea myse" to those who o+e me and obey me. 4he )ather wio+e them too! and we wi come to them and i+e with them.

%nyone who doesn,t obey me doesn,t o+e me.

*


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;hat an a9so#ute#y 6ind09ogg#ing state6ent !or us to 9e aareo!: A## e hae to do is o9ey "od, and then 9oth Jesus and the)ather i## 'o6e and #ie in us. hey i## #oe us, #oe in us, and

#oe through us. he or#d out there that needs so deserate#y to9e #oed is going to !ee# the agae #oe o! "od that !#os throughour eins si6#y 9e'ause e are o9edient to Christ Jesus.

A #ong ti6e ago, I heard so6e9ody say that "od ou#d not shareHis g#ory ith any9ody. Hoeer, i! you read the 9oo5 o! John,you i## see that e are the g#ory o! "od. ;hat an a9so#ute#ye=traagant state6ent to 6a5e. Yet it 'o6es dire't#y out o! the;ord o! "od:

Jesus to#d us in the !i!teenth 'hater o! John that He is the ine,and His )ather is the gardener >. 1?. He to#d us to a9ide in Hi6and #et Hi6 a9ide in us >. %?.

I #oe hat Jesus says in that 'hater

ha+e o+ed you e+en as the )ather has o+ed me. Li+e

within my o+e. ;hen you obey me you are i+in# in my

o+e! Gust as obey my )ather and i+e in his o+e. ha+etod you this so that you wi be "ied with my Goy. Yes!

your cup o" Goy wi o+er"owB demand that you o+e each

other as much as o+e you. $John D5:9>D2 4L?1

Do e !u##y rea#ie hat e rea##y hae in Jesus Christ He#oes us so 6u'h that He ants our 'u o! @oy to 9e !i##ed. Be'auseI ossess the 6ind o! Christ, I a6 going to 9e !i##ed ith the @oy o!Jesus a## o! the ti6e: ;hat a 9#essing:

4ossessing the 6ind o! Christ 6eans agreeing tota##y, 1er'ent ith eerything Jesus said. I! He says He 'a6e so that re'ou#d 9e !i##ed ith His @oy, then I a6 going to 9e !i##ed ith His@oy, and 6y 'u o! @oy is going to a9so#ute#y oer!#o.

;hat does Jesus say a9out #oing one another He says, Idemand, hi'h a#so 6eans I 'o66and you to #oe one anotheras 6u'h as I #oe you. I re


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hat is the 6ind o! Christ. he desire o! Jesus is that e #oe our9rothers and sisters in Christ as 6u'h as He #oed us.

Carna 4hou#ht @roduces Criticismhere are ti6es in the Christian or#d hen 9rothers and sisters

9egin to 'riti'ie and 'onde6n ea'h other. his is the 'arna# 6ind,hi'h is the ene6y o! the #ans and uroses o! "od.

;hen you 'riti'ie a 9rother or sister in Christ, you are not 9eingo9edient to Jesus, ho 'o66ands us to #oe one another in e=a't#ythe ay He #oes us.

In re'ent years e hae seen 6any o! the #arge 6inistries get'riti'ied and !a#se#y a''used 9y other Christians. his 'riti'is6 isthe resu#t o! oerating in a 'arna# >!#esh#y? rea#6 instead o!oerating in #oe 9y ossessing the 6ind o! Christ at a## ti6es.

his sa6e 'riti'is6 'auses stri!e and diision in 'hur'hes:

I! e see a 9rother or sister doing so6ething e don7t #i5e and

sudden#y !ee# 'onde6nation toard hi6 or her, e shou#d stoi66ediate#y. ;e ought to go to the6 in "od7s #oe, not in hate,;e 6ust 'ontinue in a 9eauti!u# attitude o! #oe, saying, +oo5,9rother or sister, your rogra6 see6s to hae a ro9#e6. +et7sdis'uss so6e other otions. +et7s ray a9out it. ;e 6ust a't in#oe @ust as Jesus did.

he A6#i!ied Bi9#e has so6e 9eauti!u# ords on ho eshou#d !ee# 9e'ause e ossess the 6ind o! Christ

)or the uttered words that You #a+e (e ha+e #i+en them.

%nd they ha+e recei+ed and accepted them! and ha+e come

to -now positi+ey and in reaity>to beie+e with absoute

assurance>that came "orth "rom Your presence. %nd they

ha+e beie+ed and are con+inced that You did send (e.

am prayin# "or them. am not prayin# $reuestin#1 "or the

word but "or those You ha+e #i+en (e! "or they beon# to

You. % (ine are Yours! and a that are Yours beon# to(e and am #ori"ied in $throu#h1 them>they ha+e done

(e honor! in them (y #ory is achie+ed. $John DE:0>D

%(@1

*2


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Do you rea#ie hat He said Jesus said i! e 9e#ieed itha9so#ute assuran'e that He 'a6e !orth !ro6 the resen'e o! thene are His g#ory: 4ossessing the 6ind o! Christ 6eans 9e#ieing

e are the ery g#ory o! Jesus Christ Hi6se#!:Isn7t that dangerous !or he## hen you 5no that you are the

g#ory o! "od A9so#ute#y. I! anything shou#d 6a5e you #oe thea#6ighty "od een 6ore than you #oe Hi6 right no, it is the5no#edge that you are the ery g#ory o! Jesus Christ:

I #oe hat John says @ust a #itt#e 9it !urther in that sa6e 'hater.Gerse 1* says, hey are not o! the or#d, @ust as I a6 not o! the

or#d. he !irst ti6e I eer read that erse, I near#y e=#oded.&ight a#ong the side o! 6y Bi9#e I rote, 4+F 4raise the+ord:

4ossessing the 6ind o! Christ 6eans that e do not hae to goa#ong ith the or#d:

;e do not hae to go a#ong ith the things the or#d te##s us todo:

;e do not hae to go a#ong ith our eers:

;e do not hae to dress as eery9ody e#se does:

;e do not hae to a'


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4ossessing the 6ind o! Christ is a su9@e't that has no 9eginningor ending. You 'an !ind Jesus in eery 9oo5 in the Bi9#e, hetherit is the #d esta6ent or the e esta6ent. Eery thought o!

Jesus as saturated ith and soa5ed in "od7s #oe !or eo#e. ;ei## a#so 9e saturated ith and soa5ed in the sa6e #oe !or eo#ei! e ossess the 6ind o! Christ. hin5 #oe: "od7s #oe:

4he Goy o" the LOF8 is your stren#th.

Fehe6iah 81

*%


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Chapter Se+en

Joy

Joy is a ri'e#ess and ina#ua9#e 'o66odity aai#a9#e to theChristian. ot so6ething that 'an 9e 9ought or so#d, 9ut a gi!taai#a9#e to eery 9orn0again 9e#ieer !ro6 the +ord Jesus Christ:

/y on @oy started the day I as saed. ;hen I rea#ied that a##6y sins ere !orgien, I as so 'o6#ete#y oerhe#6ed iththan5sgiing that 6y @oy @ust 9u99#ed u and oer!#oed. ;hat ane=#osie thoughtF6y sins ere !orgien, a## o! the6: I #itera##ya##oed in the g#ory o! that 6o6ent !or ee5s, and then rea#iedthat so6ething 6ore had to 9e done to 5ee that u #ee# goingstrong a## the ti6e:

I! e ant that eterna# sring o! @oy e##ing u and 9u99#ingoer in us at a## ti6es, e need to get into the ;ord o! "od !or asiritua# !east. ;e 6ust ta5e 9ig 9ites and 'ontinue 'heing unti#

our sou#s are !at. he rea#, #asting, genuine @oy neer 'o6es unti#e are siritua##y !at:

Jesus had a #ot to say a9out @oy, and sin'e e ossess His 6ind,e need to agree ith Hi6 in eery area.

" you -eep (y commandments! you wi abide in (y o+e!

Gust as ha+e -ept (y )ather,s commandments and abide

in *is o+e. 4hese thin#s ha+e spo-en to you! that (y Goy

may remain in you! and that your Goy may be "u. $JohnD5:D>DD1

his arti'u#ar S'riture e=#ains 9etter than any other #o Jesus!ee#s a9out @oy. He had to ossess @oy, or Jesus ou#d not haesaid in that #ast erse, My Goy may remain in you $emphasisadded1. *e epected that we woud ha+e Goy and #adness! or *e

woud not ha+e said! %nd that your Goy may be "u >e6hasis

added?.Jesus said His @oy and de#ight ou#d re6ain in us, and our @oy

ou#d 9e !u##, !u##, !u##: ot @ust a artia# 'u o! @oy, 9ut one that is!u## 6easure, 'o6#ete and oer!#oing: A## o! this is ours i! e

*(


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i## @ust stay ita##y united ith Hi6 at a## ti6es. He ants us tohae the a9so#ute 6a=i6u6 o! @oy in our #ies at a## ti6es. "#ory:

Joy Feeases Stren#thChar#es and I hae o!ten 9een as5ed ho e 6aintain the he'ti',

grue#ing s'hedu#e e 5ee a## the ti6e. ehe6iah 81 gies theanser, he @oy o! the +ord is your strength:

/ari#yn Hi'5ey as ta#5ing to us re'ent#y a!ter e had returned!ro6 a suer #ong tri, and she said, he @oy o! the +ord is yourtota# strength, isn7t it You7d neer 9e a9#e to a''o6#ish hat you

do i! you didn7t a9sor9 your strength !ro6 the @oy o! the +ord:

Another !riend said a9out us, hey re!use to #et anyone oranything stea# their @oy. hin5 a9out that !or a 6o6ent. I! youa##o 'ir'u6stan'es or eo#e, or yourse#! >9y negatie thin5 a9outyourse#!? to ta5e your attention aay !ro6 "od and seri'e toothers, you i## !ind yourse#! 9e'o6ing dis'ouraged, dis'ontent,deressed, orried, utight, or haing so6e other in'orre't, se#!ish

attitude 'o6e into your heart.

I! you ant so6ething to sa your strength !ast, #et that haento you: But i! you ant to 5ee strong and hea#thy, #et the @oy o!the +ord 9e your strength:

;hen Jesus to#d His dis'i#es that He ou#d 9e going aay, 9utthat He ou#d send the Co6!orter to the6, He 5ne they did notunderstand His ords. He 5ne they ere her an#uish #i+es pace to

rapturous Goy and the pain is "or#otten. $John D:D9>2D4L?1

I! you are a 6other, you 'an re6e69er hen you had your 9a9y.Do you o!ten re'a## ho 6u'h it hurt o, e se#do6 do. /others

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5no ho ain!u# 'hi#d9irth 'an 9e, and yet hen you see thatdar#ing #itt#e 9oy or gir# "od gae to you, your anguish gies ayto raturous @oy, and the ain is !orgotten. I i## neer !orget the

!irst thing I said to the do'tor a!ter 6y son o6 as 9orn. Hisdaddy as oerseas !ighting !or the ay, and I anted a 9ron0eyed 9oy that #oo5ed @ust #i5e his daddy. he nurse had said to 6e,Don7t s'rea6 unti# the #ast ain, 9e'ause re6e69er ea'h one isgoing to 9e orse than the one 9e!ore, so hen the #ast one gotthere, I as aiting !or the ne=t one that neer 'a6e: hen 'a6ethe good nes a!ter a## the 9ad ains. It7s a 9ig 9oy:

I said, /y 'u runneth oerF#et 6e 5iss hi6:

/y 'u o! @oy as oer!#oing a## oer the #a'e. I asn7t eena Christian, 9ut in that 6o6ent hen 9irth a'tua##y too5 #a'e, Iinstant#y !orgot a## the ain, and a## I 'ou#d thin5 9out as ho Ianted to 5iss that #itt#e 9und#e o! hu6anity "od had gien to 6e.Just as the S'riture had said, *er a#uish #i+es pace torapturous Goy and the pain is "or#otten>John 121 +B?.

Jesus said, You ha+e sorrow now! but wi see you a#ain and

then you wi reGoice and no one can rob you o" that Goy >. 22+B?. 3o one can rob you o" that Goy: Be#oed, don7t you eer#et any9ody ta5e that @oy out o! your #i!e. he Dei# i## do his9est to ro9 you o! eery 9it o! your Christian @oy, 9ut re6e69er,it7s Jesus7 @oy that you hae:

Continuing ith John 1*23F2%, e read

%nd in that day you wi as- (e nothin#. (ost assuredy!

say to you! whate+er you as- the )ather in (y name *e

wi #i+e you. nti now you ha+e as-ed nothin# in (y

name. %s-! and you wi recei+e! that your Goy may be "u.

Be'ause e ossess the 6ind o! Christ, e need to agree ithHi6 in eery sing#e area, and @oy is one area that He ta#5ed a #ota9out. Christians shou#d neer run around ith #ong !a'es, 9ut eshou#d 9e !u## o! the @oy o! the +ord at a## ti6es. Een right no, I

ray !or su'h a 9ig 'u!u# o! @oy !or you that you i## instant#y 9e9u99#ing oer ith the @oy o! the +ord.

;ere you a seet sinner or a nasty one In our !a6i#y a#ays say that Char#es as the seet sinner and I as nasty

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one, 9ut the end resu#t ou#d hae 9een the sa6e !or 9oth o! us.4raise "od, the no resu#t is e=a't#y the sa6e !or ea'h o! us. ;eare 'onstant#y oer!#oing ith the @oy o! the +ord. A## you hae

to do to re'eie @oy into your #i!e is to re6e69er hen you ere9orn again, your sins ere a## !orgien and they ere 9uried in thedeeest seaFneer to 9e re6e69ered again: >See 4sa#6 1312.?I! that doesn7t 6a5e you run oer ith the @oy o! the +ord, nothingi##: Just to 5no that your sins are gone, gone, gone is enough to9ring @oy to the or#d7s unhaiest erson:

Jesus ants us to hae an eer#asting su#y o! @oy and gies usthe 'onditions to hae that neer0ending su#y. In John 1(-, He

says, " you abide in (e! and (y words abide in you! you wi as-what you desire! and it sha be done "or you. I! you i## gieso6e e=tra 'onsideration to that S'riture and 6editate uon it,you i## dis'oer so6ething that shou#d 6a5e you @u6 !or @oy.A## you hae to do is a9ide in Hi6, and then hateer you as5i## 9e done !or you. his 6ight see6 strange that you 'an @ust as5anything and it i## 9e done !or you, 9ut e need to re6e69er thathen you a9ide in Hi6 or go into Hi6, your desires i## 9ee=a't#y the sa6e as His desires. hat7s hy He gies us so 6u'h#eeay toas- what you desire.

he ordGoyis used 1$$ ti6es in the Bi9#e, so it didn7t @ust s#iin there a''identa##y. he ara9#e o! the ta#ents is an e='iting storya9out Jesus sea5ing @oy into eo#e ho ere o9edient to Hi6.;hen the 6an returned ith !ie additiona# ta#ents on to o! theorigina# !ie, Jesus so5e ords to hi6 that shou#d en'ourage

anyone ho is not !u## o! the @oy o! the +ord. Jesus ants us to 9e@oy!u#. ;e done! #ood and "aith"u ser+ant you were "aith"uo+er a "ew thin#s! wi ma-e you ruer o+er many thin#s.


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4he -in#dom o" 'od is not eatin# and drin-in#! but

ri#hteousness and peace and Goy in the *oy Spirit >&o6ans1%1-?. I! e7re #iing in the 5ingdo6 o! "od, then e hae not

on#y righteousness and ea'e, 9ut a#so @oy, @oy, @oy in the Ho#ySirit:

Jesus @oy 'annot 9e erased, o9#iterated, 'an'e#ed out, or9#otted out 9y anyone 9ut ourse#es. Jesus ants you to hae @oy inyour heart at a## ti6es 9e'ause the greatest he# in the ti6e o!ro9#e6s and tri9u#ations is that eer#asting @oy that Jesus uts intothe hearts o! those ho #oe Hi6 and ar

let this mind be in you

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