FAITH REVEALS OPPOSITION

It is the truth about the Christ in you that will make you free to walk in the Spirit. God has spoken and His Word is documented. There will be a manifestation of the sons of God globally. Somehow you must come to believe that you are a part of this revelation. God has allowed you to hear and see the things you have entertained of Him to prepare you for this day. There is no more time. You must accept who you are in its entirety.

2 Peter 1:4

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.

We are the only creatures in the universe who have taken on the divine nature of God. We are His offspring, the many brethren of Christ. We are

not of this world. We are heavenly beings living in an earthen vessel.

Philippians 3:15

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Though illuminated by the presence of God, the fleshly mind must be trained and disciplined to maintain the mind of Christ. (at salvation we received the mind of Christ as well as the knowledge of Christ, which we are to walk in. However, if our thoughts are contrary to the mind of Christ at any given time, God will reveal even this to the son. All things have become new, and we are even as Christ is in this world.

It is the responsibility of Faith to reveal any mental attitude that is unlike God. Faith is faithful to reveal any disposition that opposes God's purpose in your life. Its purpose is for you to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. The disposition of your mind must be measured against the mental attitude of a Son of God as taught by Jesus and the other Apostles:

1.TAKE NO THOUGHT (St.Matthew 6:24-34, St.Luke 12:22-44).

2. INSTRUCTED TO ABOUND AND TO SUFFER NEED (Philippians 4:11-12).

3. APPOINTED TO SUFFER (1 Thessalonians 3:1-4,1 Peter 4:13, 2 Timothy 2:17).

4. NEEDS ARE SUPPLIED BY THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY (Ephesians 3:16).

5. ASK, SEEK AND KNOCK FOR THE INFILLING OF THE HOLY GHOST. (Matthew 7:7, St. Luke 11:9).

You must be honest about your sentiments concerning the above teachings. Are they simply messages taught by Jesus and others? Or, do they really set the precedence for your walk in The Faith? Most Christians do not regard these teachings as relevant to their everyday lives. It is almost as if they believe them to be for some other special chosen group such as the apostles. They have been so deceived and brainwashed as to the mind and heart of God, until the truth seems to have gotten lost somewhere between the “Name it and claim it,” and “Money cometh” messages.

THE TRUTH ABOUT FAITH IS GOING TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THE CHURCH.

The Lord is teaching us how Faith works in all areas of our salvation. He is teaching us how Faith operates in:

SANCTIFICATION – to purify, make holy or consecrate.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

JUSTIFICATION – to regard as just or innocent.

Romans 3:30

Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

CHASTENING – instruction, training and disciplinary correction.

Hebrews 12:7

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

RIGHTEOUSNESS – the acts and character of God.

1 John 3:7

Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

Faith sets the parameters for all that we will know and experience in our walk with the Lord.

HOLINESS – Holiness is an acceptable relationship with God.

To walk in holiness is to have a pure heart towards man and God. Those who are sincere are quick to repent (should it become necessary) and forsake sin. It is not a walk that vacillates between the light and the darkness of this world. The Word has the power to sanctify the body, soul and spirit. You are not considered holy until the heart is pure. It is the issues of the heart that defile or edify the sons of God.

OPPOSITIONS TO HOLINESS:

1. A refusal to allow the Word to change certain mindsets, ways, traditions, or erroneous beliefs. 2. Iniquity – to break the law of God in thought, word or deed. This stops the flow of love.

Titus 2:14

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

3. Unforgiveness – To hold a matter in the heart without love or mercy.

4. Unrepentant towards sin – The Esau syndrome; unable to produce a broken or contrite heart

regarding sin.

5. Pride – Confidence in and regard for self.

Holiness produces an anointing that destroys yokes in the lives of others. Even to witness in someone else’s life is powerful enough to create a desire for God. Though the Father created you holy, it is your walk in holiness that makes an impression on your fleshy mind. Walking in the righteousness of God is the training mechanism for the fleshy mind. If you are consistent in your walk, the mind will come to prefer holiness, even as the conscience does. Sin will become repulsive, even to the fleshy mind.

GODLINESS – Godliness is that relationship with our fellow man that is acceptable to God.

Below is a listing of just a few of the mindsets godliness produces. You must examine these to see if you stand in the center of The Faith.

1. Love your neighbor as yourself. You must learn to love beyond the offenses, desires, emotions, or

abuses inflicted upon flesh.

2. Esteem your brother higher than yourself.

3. Look not on your own things, but on the things of others.

4. Sinless – refusing to commit sin with or against your fellowman. (bringing your body under submission

to the Word)

5. Walking in the Spirit – a life that reveals God and ministers life to others.

OPPOSITIONS TO GODLINESS:

1. Selfishness or Pride

2. Jealousy which is resentfulness and suspicion

3. A lack of love and mercy

One of the most subtle ways a lack of love manifests is when an act of love or mercy is needed, but you consider what it is going to cost you regarding finances, inconvenience, hardship, displacement of the flesh, or the like. If you do not fall in love with God's people, the lust in you will cause you to become a stumbling block. You must stand in the gap for others by being willing to suffer in the flesh.

LEGALISM – Legalism is an attitude or mindset that is absent of:

1. Grace: God's influence which changes or affects the heart and is reflected in the life.

2. Faith: the operation of the Holy Ghost; faith is the operation of God (Colossians 2:12).

3. Virtue: fruit that is tested; the power of restoration (Galatians 5:22).

Legalism does not allow the Holy Spirit to operate to a point of change. The legalist is a rule worshiper. He is inflexible in the sense that he never considers being merciful and extending grace in a situation. Legalism causes you to become self-righteous, seeing yourself as the standard for life. Once a life has been affected and the disposition of the mind has changed, the Word will have had an effectual work. At that point, you will be able to move out of legalism. Until the disposition of the mind changes, you will only do that which you deem as right, which may or may not be that which is righteous.

PRIDE – Pride is that which is self-exalting.

It strengthens legalism and makes you a judge of your fellowman. Pride can also produce a god-complex or certainly cause you to think of yourself more highly than you ought. On the other hand, it can also produce low self-esteem, which is seeing yourself as less than what God has created.

All of these oppositions can be overcome by walking in the Spirit. It is not hard to be holy. It is simply hard to get you to believe in what God has done in you. Embrace the truth and you will overcome sin and iniquity. The Lord has called you more than a conqueror. He is a God who cannot lie. Trust in His Word. You will be amazed at the peace found in obedience to the faith of Jesus Christ which is living within you.