KEY SCRIPTURE: Galatians 3:3 KJV” Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

The brethren in Galatia were seriously reprimanded by Apostle Paul about their swift turn to the flesh. They had been introduced to the faith by receiving the word concerning Jesus death and resurrection. Some Jewish believers taught them that it was not enough to believe in the Lord Jesus for justification, they must also be circumcised to complete their salvation. They believed it and started teaching that They had begun in the Spirit yet they were seeking perfection through the flesh. Most people are not comfortable just to believe to be justified, they want to do something for justification. This is very unfortunate. Justification or being declared righteous is only by faith, never by what we do. Romans 5:1. Adam and Eve fell from grace because they were not satisfied in believing what God had done for them, they wanted to do something, so they would be like God (Gen 3:1-7)

The issue of circumcision is not a big matter these times yet there are some subtle ways that many Christians leave the spirit for the flesh. Throughout the Bible, men of God have used various tokens to minister the power of the Spirit. Some of these tokens include, the anointing oil, anointed water, handkerchiefs and mantles and many more. The danger in this is when people make fetishes out of these tokens. They worship it, rather than believing in God. . All these are means of forsaking the spirit for the flesh. 

One other way of forsaking the Spirit for the flesh, is when they have to see before believing. When Thomas missed the appearing of Jesus to the disciples, after His resurrection, he said the following.in John 20:25 KJV “The other disciples therefore said unto him, we have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” By Thomas’ confession he had decided to function solely in the flesh. Many children of God behave this way. The Lord said blessed are those who have not seen yet have believed. God lives in the Spirit realm, and will only relate with us from the Spirit. STAY IN THE SPIRIT.

CONFESSION

I live in the Spirit. The spirit realm is God’s realm. I access the spirit realm by believing God’s word. I do not permit anything to draw me from this place of trusting God’s word and placing my confidence in the finished work of my Lord Jesus.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Corinth 5:7 KJV” (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”

Galatians 5:4 KJV” Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace”.

KEY SCRIPTURE:2 Corinth 3:6 KJV “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life”.

Our key scripture reveals something very profound about us. It says we are ministers of the Spirit. To be a minister is to be a servant or a waiter. It takes supernatural beings to be servants of the spirit. The scripture says it is God who has made us able ministers. A waiter at the restaurant dispenses food. As ministers of the Spirit, we dispense the Spirit. We give out the Spirit. The essence of the Spirit is life. This means we give life. This places us in the very ministry of our Lord Jesus. John 20:21 KJV” Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you”.

One error that most Christians make is that we see ourselves as people who must be present at Sunday church services and attend other Christian functions and programs, and that is it. Unfortunately, we do not see ourselves as a people on a mission. We have been equipped by the Lord Himself, with divine life to give life to our would. The scripture says we have a more superior ministry to that of Moses. 2Corinth 3:7 KJV “But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:2Co 3:8 KJV “How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?” Moses ministry is called the ministry of death. We have the ministry of life.

Moses committed himself to his commission, and made a mighty impact in the lives of the Jews in Egypt. We have the Ministry of life, a more glorious ministry. We have been sent to bring life to a dead world. Men are dead in their sins. Eph 2:1. Stop considering yourself as a Sunday bench warmer, but a man or woman endowed with supernatural life and abilities to minister life to men, who are bound by death.2 Corinth 3:3 states that we are letters of the Spirit read by all men. This means our lives are supposed to be messages of life and light to many in darkness.

CONFESSION

GOD has made me an able minister of the Spirit. I minister life to a lost world. My ministry is a very glorious one, and so I commit myself totally to it.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Corinth 3:3 ISV “You are demonstrating that you are the Messiah’s letter, produced by our service, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

2 Corinth 3:9 ISV “For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, then the ministry of justification has an overwhelming glory.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Galatians 5:23 KJV “Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”.

In our previous study we saw that temperance or self-control, is love’s, expression of freedom from the obscure mastery of the flesh. There are a number of believers who are unfortunately controlled by self, instead of they, controlling it. Some are requesting for more practical ways to control the self. Some of the enquiries are as follows. How do I control my temper? How do I break free from watching pornographic materials? These challenges cut across every category of Christians, church members, church workers and even some Pastors.

In Romans 7:25, apostle Paul gives us how he broke free from the control and impact of the flesh. Rom 7:25 KJV” I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin”. Actions and deeds are always cooked up in the mind (Mark 7:21-22). Your mind must be filled with the truth. You must know and accept that because of the death and resurrection of Christ, of which you have been born again, you have been transformed into an holy person. Rom 6:6 KJV” Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin”. Please acknowledge that, that tendency to follow the flesh has been crucified. Say to yourself that you are no more bound to that action, whether bad temper, fornication or over eating.

Continue to tell yourself, always that you are free from that action. Every action is an execution of some instruction, either from God, demons, others or yourself. When you speak to yourself, you are giving your being a prescribed instruction to follow. Say,’ I have self-control and I will, not allow the flesh to dictate to me’. Remember that, the scriptures teach that a very big ship is controlled by a very small compass. The tongue is a small member, yet it can control how one behaves. The one who    speaks the right words acts rightly all the time (James3:2).  Do not allow your mind to hang on those things that led you into sin. When you have suggesting in your mind that instructs you to go that way, just say ‘no, I have control over this lifestyle, I will do what God’s word says. Never allow any negative word or thought to stay without responding with the scripture.

CONFESSION

The Holy Spirit has shared his love abroad in my heart. I have self-control. My flesh or my mind does not lead me in any way. I do what God’s word says always. I have joy, peace and a continual feast. Glory be to God.

FURTHER STUDIES

James 3:2 ISV “For all of us make many mistakes. If someone does not make any mistakes when he speaks, he is perfect and able to control his whole body”.

Romans 8:13 ISV” For if you live according to human nature, you are going to die, but if by the Spirit you continuously put to death the activities of the body, you will live”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 16:32 KJV “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city”.

 A car without breaks is a casualty going somewhere to happen. Self-control in the life of a Christian, is like breaks in a car. Without it your end can be easily predicted as a disgrace.

 A Christian who controls the self, can never be denied a lasting greatness, so long as he or she maintains his diligence in whatever he or she is doing. Self-control is ruling over your spirit. Satan and his demons are not the real problems of Christians, but the self in a man. Self is the big enemy of the Spirit. Galatians 5:17 KJV “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would”. Self-control is the answer to the confusion seen in Gal 5:17

LIVING in the Spirit, means killing the flesh or the self (Rom 8:13) (Remember that the flesh in this context is not the body but rather the influence of the body on the mind). It must not in any way dictate anything to you. The scripture in Romans 8:10 says the flesh is dead if Christ is in you,

 Self is an obscure master over men, yet when one is born again, self-control becomes love’s expression of true freedom. 1Corinth 13:5 KJV”(love) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Love behaves properly. Love’s actions are always in the light of pleasing God and blessing men.

NO Christian must be led by the flesh or self. You share in the very nature of God. Through your faith in the scriptures you are a partaker of the divine nature. You are a spirit being living in this body. You have escaped the corruption of the flesh. (2nd Peter 1:4). A little bit of self that controls you corrupts you, and introduces death into you. Rom 8:6 KJV “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”. Remember that because of your knowledge of God you have received all things that pertain unto life and godliness. Self and its dominance will deprive you of this life and godliness. Thank God you have self-control and can always put the flesh or the self under check.

CONFESSION

I am filled with love and I am free from all carnal persuasions of the flesh or self. I have total control over my flesh. Every investment of the Spirit in me is preserved because self is under control.

FURTHER STUDIES

2Peter 1:3&4 KJV” According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”.

Colossians 3:1 KJV” If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3:12 KJV “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering”;

 Meekness is the strength of love, and it makes very heavy burdens light. In Matthew 11:29, 30, the Lord Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls, For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” The Lord instructed that we must take His yoke. He added that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. How could the man who carried the sin, sicknesses and shame of all humanity on him, say all these is light? He says it is meekness that enabled Him to bear all these heavy, humanly impossible loads with such ease. He invites us to learn from Him, so we could find rest unto our souls.

 Meekness means emptying yourself of self, such that the Spirit takes over. There is no weight or burden you can’t bear when the Spirit takes over. The natural illustration is when a ship carries thousands of tons of goods, far heavier than itself, yet it does not sink. The ship has a hollow part at its base filled with air. Just as hollow balls floats on water, it works with the same principle. This creates an upthrust or a force from the water that keeps it floating, no matter the weight. Pride, the opposite of meekness is to be filled with yourself. With the above explanation a proud man would just sink. One sign a man is proud is that, he has no rest for his soul. You bear every load yourself. Psalms 17:10 KJV They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

 The meek is a benefactor of the blessings of the land.

Psalms 37:11 KJV “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Meekness is an attitude of selflessness and a low mindedness. Meekness is the true enemy to the enemy of the Spirit nature, that is, the flesh.

Meekness makes you teachable Psalms 25:9 KJV” The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way”. How can the child of God walk in meekness? Meekness is the nature of your spirit. That is who you are. Believe and accept that you are meek. Say it continually. I am meek, and very teachable. Keep feeding your soul with the word of God.

CONFESSION

I am meek and lowly in heart. I have the strength of the Spirit to bear any task no matter how tedious, it may be. I am very teachable and so I walk in the mysteries of God’s blessings.

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 45:4 KJV “And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things”.

Ephesians 4:2 KJV “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”

KEY SCRIPTURE:1 John 4:18 KJV “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

In our previous discussions of faith in relation to love as a fruit, we saw that faith is manifested in love as faithfulness and secondly as trust that believes the actions and statements of our associates. In this study we consider faith in God perfected by our love for God. Our key scripture states that perfect love casts out fear. This simply means perfect love builds strong faith in God. Faith in God is maintaining our allegiance to God. The more we commit ourselves to loving the Lord the more we would maintain our allegiance to him. John 14:23 KJV Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man loves me, he will keep my words: “. What is faith? The simplest definition for faith is believing what God’s word says, and doing it.

Abraham is described as a man of great faith, because he was a man who had grown in his love for God. He was described as a friend of God. James 2:23 KJV “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God” .As fruits develop through proper cultivation so, when we keep a close fellowship with the Holy Spirit through prayer and Bible studies, we would grow in our love for God, resulting in strong faith in Him. He said if you abide in me and my words abide in you, you would bear much fruit. (John 15:5)

The gift of faith as stated in 1 Corinth 12 is different from the fruit of the spirit manifesting faith.1Corinth 12:9 KJV. To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;”

 The gift of faith is a manifestation of the spirit at a particular moment as the Holy Spirit wills (1 Corinth 12:9.) The gift may manifest mightily in a day-old Christian. This is not so with the fruit. It is not every child of God who may manifest the gift of faith, yet every child of God has the fruit of the Spirit that is love. This kind of faith takes time to grow through fellowship and obedience to the word. Faith like a man’s muscles is made stronger through exercising your muscles. Over a period of consistent doing of the word of God,

CONFESSION

I abide in the Lord by letting His word abide in me. I bear the fruit of love for God and my faith in God grow. My faith is made stronger through my commitment to doing what the word of God says.

FURTHER STUDIES

Galatians 5:6 KJV” For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love”.

1 John 4:17 KJV “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:1 Corinth 13:7 KJV” Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things”.

In our previous study we considered love as faithfulness or being truthful to all relationships. We now consider love as an expression of believe or trust for others in various relationships. Our key scripture states, love believes all things. This does not suggest the person of love just believes everything, both truth and error. This is not the message the verse seeks to portray. What it means is in a relationship   like the marriage setting, or a friendship relationship, parties because of love do not doubt actions, and statements of each other. Love builds trust.  Many homes are hurting and are almost near a break up because there is no trust among them. This condition results mostly because, they were not faithful to each other. Trustworthiness builds trust.

When a relationship finds itself in such a state, certain actions must be taken to restore serenity.

1.The party who is acting unfaithfully must acknowledge he or she is destroying that God given union. He or she must repent and decide to be faithful.

2 At this instant the offended party must accept the new position of his or her partner. Express your Love, by forgiving and believing the decision of your partner. What about, when that individual keeps repeating his unfaithfulness? If a partner behaves this way, then there are a few issues to know.

1 Such a person has not known what love is, and so acts unfaithfully.

2 Forgive him or her as Jesus taught, and pray for him, and share God’s word with him, or her.

Keep loving this person. 1Peter 4:8 ISV ” Above all, continue to love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins”. Your deep love coupled with prayer and scriptural instructions, would help you to win your partner.

Mistrust in a relationship is very heartbreaking. In certain turbulent times, some partners can look into their spouse’s eyes and tell them I will never trust you. This is one of the worse words, that could ever flow from any person’s mouth. Tell him or her, I know your actions would only be better and not worse, and I would always love you. Such words would break every bad behaviour, because they flow from the bowels of the Spirit.

CONFESSION

I am a person of the Spirit. My heart is filled with the love of the Holy Spirit. I have chosen to trust all those, I am associated with. I do not give up on them when they fail. I give them the opportunity to make amends

FURTHER STUDIES

Colossians 3:12 & 13 KJV Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Proverbs 18:24 KJV A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinth 13:8 ISV “Love never fails. Now if there are prophecies, they will be done away with. If there are languages, they will cease. If there is knowledge, it will be done away with”.

In this study we are considering the faithfulness of love. Love does not disappoint. To be faithful is to be true to whatever expects your commitment. It is to be constant, loyal, or to have integrity. Faithfulness always brings refreshment to all who receive him. Proverbs 25:13 ISV” Like cold snow during harvest time   is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes his masters”. The faithful husband refreshes the wife, and the wife her husband. The faithful politician refreshes his citizenry, and the faithful pastor refreshes his congregation. The faithful friend refreshes his or her friend.

 Our world is hurting and dying, because there are rarely faithful people. Pro 25:19 ISV” A bad tooth and an unsteady foot—   that’s what confidence in an unreliable man is like   in a time of trouble. “This should never be said of a child of God. Every Christian has the Spirit of Christ. He is supposed to be led by the Spirit and not his or her flesh. Rom 8:9 KJV” But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his”. The Spirit of Christ is, love that manifests trustworthiness.

Romans 8:10, teaches that, ” But if the Messiah is in you, your bodies are dead due to sin, but the spirit is alive due to righteousness.” YOUR ability to express the nature of the spirit is to know and except that now that you are in Christ, your body or the flesh no longer is in charge of you, referring to your spirit. Refuse to let the flesh dictate anything to you. Gal 5:16 ISV” So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will never fulfill the desires of the flesh. “Please keep saying to yourself always, that I have love, and I am very faithful to God, to my wife or husband, to my work, to my nation and to myself. (Being faithful to yourself is to keep to the resolutions you decide)

 CONFESSION

I am born of God, and have the Spirit of Christ. My flesh is dead because of sin, so it never leads or controls me, but the Spirit does. I have love and I am trustworthy. I diligently commit myself faithfully to all my engagements. Thank you, Lord.

FURTHER STUDIES

Proverbs 12:22 ISV” Deceitful speech is reprehensible to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.”

Proverbs 22:12 ISV. The LORD watches over anyone with knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the unfaithful.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Galatians 5:22 KJV” But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”

We now consider the manifestation of love as gentleness. These character traits are beautiful actions that makes one fitting into every place he or she finds himself or herself. Wives and husband’s must seek to portray these manifestations of love, and we would have heaven in our homes. The Greek word used for gentleness is also translated as kindness or goodness. The underlying meaning is being useful, that is moral excellence. Apostle James paints a vivid picture of this gentle trait. James 3:17 KJV” But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy”. He calls it the wisdom from above.

AS a Christian or child of God, please consider your character disposition in this light. I will list them as the scripture presented them.

1.Purity or holiness

2.Peaceable

3.gentle

4.Easy to be intreated or considerate

5.Full of mercy

6.Full of good fruits

7.Without partiality

8.Without hypocrisy

Such a person is simply useful or indispensable. Dear child of God this is the nature of your spirit. That is who you are. If your actions and behaviour is different from this gentle attribute, then take some moments to reflect over your life. Tell yourself you are gentle and very useful. Go through each of the traits listed above and repeat to yourself that, all these things are in you.

 Dear child of God, stop complaining about any wrong character traits in you. If you complain for example, about your bad temper, you are affirming that, that is who you are. In the dynamics of human behaviour, we behave according to who or what we believe and accept ourselves to be. Give more attention to the reading and reflection over the word of God. The mirror principle from 2nd Corinth 3:18 states that, as we behold what the scriptures teach, we are changed or transformed to be what we are beholding.

CONFESSION

I have a gentle spirit. I am very useful to any place I find myself. I am considerate and kind. I judge actions from a very sincere attitude

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Corinth 3:18 KJV” But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord”.

Ephesians 4:24 KJV” And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 18:21 KJV” Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven”.

The ability to be patient with the inconsistencies and shortcomings of others is to be able to forgive their flaws. Forgiveness is the doorway to throw away garbage and dirt that people deposit in our lives. To be hurt by the OFFENCE of another is like placing fire in your bosom. The only way to free yourself of the pain and injury of that hurt is to throw that fire away. This is what forgiveness is all about.

Hebrews 12:15 KJV” Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”. To refuse to forgive will hurt you, breed bitterness and trouble you as well.

From Hebrews 12:15, besides. unforgiveness troubling you, it causes you to fall from the grace of God. The implications of falling from the grace of God is too costly. It means you have forfeited your salvation because of an OFFENCE. The Lord answered Peter in our key scripture that he must forgive his brother who offends him, seventy by seven times in a day. This is about 490 times. What is the master saying over here? He is saying have longsuffering for your neighbour. Is this possible? If the Lord asked us to do so, then it is very possible.

The real benefactor of forgiveness, is the one who has been offended. When you demonstrate love 

bearing with the shortcomings of others, you save yourself from so much emotional pain.

The major cause of unforgiveness is pride. Love is the answer for pride; 1Co 13:5 KJV” (love) Doth not behave {unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Show forth this love nature by walking in the Spirit. The way of the spirit is to do what the word says. Remember that when you accept to do what God’s word says, you receive the ability to do it.

CONFESSSION

I forgive all as often as they may offend me. I have  great patience towards all men, at all times. The Holy Spirit has shared the love of God in my heart.

FURTHER STUDIES

Eph 4:32 KJV” And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”.

Colossians 1:11 KJV” Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”