Chapter XIX

I Know All of these Things,
BUT I Just Cannot Seem to Secure God’s
VICTORY in My Daily Life.

I believe Satan is severely adulterating and contaminating the thinking and mindset within the so called “Christian Church!” Some of the teaching and preaching that is presently spewing forth from the “Church” and some of Its well-known pastors and teachers are really messed up, and it is getting worse with each passing day! I believe that Satan not only has misconstrued the Gospel Message to the unbelieving sinner but also of those who believe they are “True Believers” in the Christian Church “TODAY.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 For the god of this world {Satan} has blinded the unbelievers’ minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God. AMP

Matthew 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders so as to deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones). AMP

2 Peter 2:1-3 BUT ALSO [in those days] there arose false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among yourselves, who will subtly and stealthily introduce heretical doctrines (destructive heresies), even denying and disowning the Master {Jesus Christ} Who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their immoral ways and lascivious doings; because of them the true Way will be maligned and defamed. 3 And in their covetousness (lust, greed) they will exploit you with false (cunning) arguments. From of old the sentence [of condemnation] {for they are NOT True Believers/not saved} for them has not been idle; their destruction (eternal misery) has not been asleep. AMP
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men {pastors and teachers} are false apostles [spurious, counterfeits], deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles (special messengers) of Christ (the Messiah). 14 And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light; 15 So it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. [But] their end will correspond with their deeds. AMP

Many “Christians” are being led astray in doctrine to the point of committing apostasy – spiritual suicide – their falling away from their true faith in Jesus Christ, His Word, and His Church. Many say, “Oh I still love God,” but we know once one stops going to church, the harder it is to go back and their love and faith for God diminishes! This quirk is NOT new! But it is becoming more pronounced/ obvious because it is happening to large numbers of our blood family members and our church family members – brothers and sisters whom we truly and deeply love! But God’s Word specifically states this will happen! Let’

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day {the “day of the Lord” is here – possibly the total abandonment by some of the Christian faith and going back to their “old sinful nature!”} will not come except the apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) {most probably the Antichrist} is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition), [Dan 7:25; 8:25; 1 Tim 4:1.] AMP

When we became “Born Again/”saved, we became “a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new {moral and spiritual profile and partaking of the Divine Nature of God} has come!” AMP {2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 1:4 [Read Chapters XII and XIII]} Our Brother Paul shares with us his struggles with the “old man/sinful nature” within him – his old mindset on the flesh serving the physical kingdoms of the world versus his desire to worship and serve God in His spiritual Kingdom here on earth, and the agony it caused him in his struggles with his faith! What a testimony!!! Are you struggling with this? Get on your knees and pray, asking God for the “sound mind of Christ” so your trials make Godly sense to you! The Gospel Message sure makes Godly sense to me!
Romans 7:5-25 When we were living in the flesh {living} (mere physical lives), the sinful passions that were awakened and aroused up by [what] the Law [makes{/reveals as} sin] were constantly operating in our natural powers (in our bodily organs, in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh), so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now we are discharged from the Law and have terminated all intercourse {contact} with it, having died to what once restrained and held us captive. So now we serve not under [obedience to] the old code of written regulations {the Law}, but [under obedience to the promptings {of GRACE}] of the Spirit in newness [of life]. 7 What then do we conclude? Is the Law identical with sin? Certainly not! Nevertheless, if it had not been for the Law, I should not have recognized sin or have known its meaning. [For instance] I would not have known about covetousness [would have had no consciousness of sin or sense of guilt] if the Law had not [repeatedly] said, You shall not covet and have an evil desire [for one thing and another]. [Ex 20:17; Deut 5:21.] 8 But sin, finding opportunity in the commandment [to express itself], got a hold on me and aroused and stimulated all kinds of forbidden desires (lust, covetousness). For without the Law sin is dead [the sense of it is inactive and a lifeless thing]. 9 Once I was alive, but quite apart from and unconscious of the Law. But when the commandment came, sin lived again and I died {was convicted of the sin in my life and} (was sentenced by the Law to death). [Ps 73:22.] 10 And the very legal ordinance which was designed and intended to bring life actually proved [to mean to me] death. [Lev 18:5.] 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity and getting a hold on me [by taking its incentive] from the commandment, beguiled and entrapped and cheated me, and using it [as a weapon], killed me. 12 The Law therefore is holy, and [each] commandment is holy and just and good. 13 Did that which is good {the Law} then prove fatal [bringing death] to me? Certainly not! It was sin, working death in me by using this good thing [as a weapon], in order that through the commandment sin might be shown up clearly to be sin, that the extreme malignity {harmful effect/physical and spiritual death} and immeasurable sinfulness of sin might plainly appear {be made known to me}. 14 We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a creature of the flesh [carnal, unspiritual], having been sold into slavery under [the control of] sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [which my moral instinct condemns]. 16 Now if I do [habitually] what is contrary to my desire, [that means that] I acknowledge and agree that the Law is good (morally excellent) and that I take sides with it. 17 However, it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin [principle] which is at home in me and has possession of me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.] 19 For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am [ever] doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not desire to do, it is no longer I doing it [it is not myself that acts], but the sin [principle] which dwells within me [fixed and operating in my soul]. 21 So I find it to be a law (rule of action of my being) that when I want to do what is right and good, evil is ever present with me and I am subject to its insistent demands. 22 For I endorse and delight in the Law of God in my inmost self [with my new nature]. [Ps 1:2.] 23 But I discern in my bodily members [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh]. 24 O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death? 25 O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. AMP

To have “true Kingdom teaching (KT),” we must change the way of our worldly thinking commonly known as “stinking thinking” to a Godly mindset. There are numerous New Testament Scriptures that reveal this “battle” for our mindset and what we MUST do to have VICTORY over the mindset that continues to cause us to sin!

I cannot emphasize this enough!!! We MUST utilize the sound mind of Christ to know the will of God to have daily VICTORY in our lives!:

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. AMP
2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind {sound mind – KJV, NKJV} and discipline and self-control. AMP

1 Corinthians 2:16 For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. [Isa 40:13.] AMP

Isaiah 11:2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him {Jesus Christ} — the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord — AMP

I believe our knowledge of being saved by God’s free gift of grace and His promise to forgive ALL of our sins IF we repent does NOT give us the complete picture of God’s forgiveness of our sins:

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; 9 Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.] AMP

1 John 1:9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. AMP

What is NOT getting through to those of us who think we are “Born Again” but we are still deliberately sinning is that repentance means to turn 180 degrees from our sins and to STOP sinning which we do NOT do! Our inability to stop sinning is Satan’s “hook” into us. We repent but still continue to sin – we do NOT change! We MUST change!!! WE ARE FORGIVEN SINNERS!!!

1 John 1:8, 10 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts].
10 If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts]. AMP

We are a “new creature in Christ” {2 Corinthians 5:17}! The following text is very convincing and convicting of this premise:

1 John 3:4-10 Everyone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; for [that is what] sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violating of God’s law by transgression or neglect — being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will). 5 You know that He appeared in visible form and became Man to take away [upon Himself] sins, and in Him there is no sin [essentially and forever].

6 No one who abides in Him [who lives and remains in communion with and in obedience to Him — deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] commits (practices) sin. No one who [habitually] sins has either seen or known Him [recognized, perceived, or understood Him, or has had an experiential acquaintance with Him {You are NOT saved!}].
7 Boys (lads), let no one deceive and lead you astray. He who practices righteousness [who is upright, conforming to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action, living a consistently conscientious life] is righteous, even as He is righteous. 8 [But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one {Cain was such a person – evil to his core – Genesis 4:7}], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done]. 9 No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God’s {divine} nature abides in him {2 Peter 1:4} [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God. 10 By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow believer in Christ). AMP

Romans 8:5-17 For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit. 6 Now the mind of the flesh [which is {worldly common} sense and reason without the Holy Spirit {James 3:15}] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]. 7 [That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot. 8 So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him. 9 But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you] {IF you are truly “saved!”}. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God] {He is NOT “saved!!!”}. [Rom 8:14.]
10 But if Christ lives in you, [then although] your [natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the {your} spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes {credits to your account in God’s Book of Life} to you]. 11 And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you. 12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, but not to the flesh [we are not obligated to our carnal nature], to live [a life ruled by the standards set up by the dictates] of the flesh. 13 For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons {and daughters} of God. 15 For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! 16 The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. 17 And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. AMP

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things] — these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]. 17 And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever. AMP

2 Timothy 2:3-4 Take [{along} with me] your share of the hardships and suffering [which you are called to endure] as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of [civilian] life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him. AMP
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. [Ex 25:8; 29:45; Lev 26:12; Jer 31:1; Ezek 37:27.]
17 So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor, [Isa 52:11.] 18 And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. [Isa 43:6; Hos 1:10.]
Chapter 7:1 THEREFORE, SINCE these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God. AMP

But you/me can be convicted by God the Holy Spirit of our habitual sinning and we MUST change our lives to become Christ-like:

1 Peter 4:1-4 SO, SINCE Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose {using your sound mind of Christ} [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God], 2 So that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living by [his] human appetites and desires, but [he lives] for what God wills. 3 For the time that is past already suffices for doing what the Gentiles like to do — living [as you have done] in shameless, insolent wantonness, in lustful desires, drunkenness, reveling, drinking bouts and abominable, lawless idolatries. 4 They {your “old friends”} are astonished and think it very queer that you do not now run hand in hand with them in the same excesses of dissipation, and they abuse [you] {make fun of you – Hey look, he/she’s “got religion. How sad! You’re NO FUN ANYMORE!”}. AMP

If you/we do NOT deliberately stop sinning, we are slowly committing “spiritual suicide” ultimately leading to spiritual separation/death in our relationship with God. As this happens, we cannot accept God’s forgiveness and heavy guilt comes into our lives, and we start to think about how worthless we are and our ONLY hope is “physical suicide” – physical death will end it all BUT it does NOT!!! Your life MUST NOT and DOES NOT end in either spiritual or physical suicide!!! Your spirit lives on for all of eternity! You can overcome this!!! BUT you MUST LOVE YOURSELF!!!

Ephesians 6:12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms {spiritual dictatorships}, against the powers, against [the master {demonic} spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. AMP

James 2:8 If indeed you [really] fulfill the royal Law {the Law of Christ – 1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2} in accordance with the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as [you love] yourself, you do well. [Lev 19:18.] AMP

I believe everyone who is contemplating/planning suicide does NOT love himself/herself. If you do NOT love yourself but have grown to hate yourself {and/or others}, the Bible clearly states that you are a “murderer” who does NOT have eternal life with God abiding in him/her!

1 John 3:15 Anyone who hates (abominates, detests {himself/herself}) his brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding (persevering) within him. AMP

Do NOT allow Satan to DESTROY you! His work is very clear. His desire for you is to separate you from God and destroy your relationship with Him forever! Christ’s gift is diametrically opposed in that He wants to “love on us!”:

John 10:10 The thief {Satan} comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I {Jesus Christ} came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). AMP
Romans 8:31-39 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] [Ps 118:6.] 32 He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?] 34 Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us? 35 Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? 36 Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. [Ps 44:22.] 37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, 39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. AMP

I have come to the conclusion that IF you are not experiencing and illustrating a spiritual hunger and thirst for God, His Word, and His truth in your life, you will NOT experience the spiritual intimacy with Him that provides the spiritual VICTORY that you are seeking in your daily life which puts your salvation in jeopardy!!!

John 17:17 Sanctify them {us True Believers} [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth. AMP
2 Corinthians 10:2-5 I entreat you when I do come [to you] that I may not [be driven to such] boldness as I intend to show toward those few who suspect us of acting according to the flesh [on the low level of worldly motives and as if invested with only human powers]. 3 For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, 5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), AMP