How you handle every situation you encounter forms your identity.
Your real identity should be Jesus in you.
God may know your name.
But can he recognize your image as His own?
Die to self in order to live for Christ. Gal 2:20, Mark 8:35, Phil 1:21
If you have been born again: baptized in water, fire and received the Holy Spirit, then your old sinful adamic nature died; Never to be resurrected again. Therefore, in any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old [sin nature] things have passed away. 2 Cor 5:17
But there is still a sin habit refusing burial. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matt 26:41. Flesh and spirit are at war: Galatians 5:16-17. The works/acts of the flesh are found in verse 19:
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Many toss around these phrases of accepting sin habits: “He ain’t finished with me yet. Or I’m a work in progress.” Creatures of habit do the same thing and go to the same places even after receiving the knowledge of Christ. Their cliché phrases are: “I know I’m not supposed to, but…”, or , “Force of habit” for their actions.
CHANGE IS A REQUIREMENT
Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. Rom 12:2 Renewing one’s mind is a continuous process, to eliminate the “same ole. same ole,” repetitive past behavior and establish righteousness.
WHO YOU REALLY ARE IS YOUR TRUE IDENTITY IN CHRIST
I was audibly asked by the LORD, in a rather irritated tone, “WHAT IS IT THAT I CANNOT TEACH YOU?
My question to you, Do you want to Learn?
God teaches lessons through the experiences you encounter.
How you respond or react to the situation is the passing test grade for whether [you being the church] spot, blemish, and wrinkle removal occur from the image Jesus is looking to take back with him. In order to enter heaven and see the Father, your spiritual image must be able to pass through the spiritual image door of Jesus. John 10:7-9; John 14:6
Problem is, instead of learning from the experience, some folk would rather have nuggets, quick reference guides, and tip sheets; Cliff notes for How to pass this test in 3 easy steps.
There are no short cuts with God Therefore the lesson is repeated.
God says: “Lessons are meant to be learned, not repeated.”
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Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Philippians 2:14-15
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He [Jesus] learned obedience by the things he suffered. Hebrews 5:8
Thorns in the side are irritating folk you just want to pluck out and cast into the fire. God says, “My Grace is sufficient for you.” 2 Cor 12:9
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Grace Growers are what Graham Cooke, based on his personal experiences, calls folk used in situations to cause you to grow in grace.
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I call them Mercy Makers from own personal experience with someone’s work performance I was not pleased. See below (posted on Facebook)
Feb 18, 2016 3:39am |
My Conversation with Our Father GOD – JehovahMe: We are commanded to Love. Can you Love someone and not Respect them? GOD: What do you not respect about them? Me: Their performance. The ability to get a job done with quality. GOD: Is this based on your standards? Me: In part. But as a whole, No. Others have the same sentiment. GOD: Then you are Not pleased by their actions.. Me: YES GOD: Then you show mercy. Me: How? GOD: The same way I show you mercy when I don’t like your actions. |
God has a way of silencing you!
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Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: Zachariah 7:9
Most recently (2019) regarding my encounters with a witchcraft manipulator, I was told by God, “Stop being intimidated.” “Be nicer.”
Changing your behavior is pacifying and temporal, which alone does not make you a new creature. A child of God is to Inform, not want others to Conform to your way. Furthermore, you are not to Conform to the ways of the crooked and perverse nation of people in the world.
You be the standard bearer.
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DAILY ask, Lord, what is your will for me this day?
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Lord, who do you want to be for me in this situation?
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How shall I respond?
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Be Slow to speak, slow to anger and quick to listen. James 1:19
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He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32
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For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man. Mark 7:22.
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And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11
Fruits of righteousness and the spirit [things God knows you are missing] Gal 5:22-24 must replace works of the flesh:
OLD-Adamic | NEW Wine (fruit) | LESSON to be LEARNED |
Adultery
Including Lust of eye upon another Matthew 5:27-29 |
Faithfulness
Love |
Taught modesty, singleness of eye |
fornication
perverseness
|
Temperance/self-control
Love |
Taught abstinence, holiness, purity, not place oneself/be caught in compromising predicaments;
Body is temple of the LORD. |
uncleanness,
|
Goodness | Taught mind of Christ |
Lasciviousness
lustful; lewd emotions
|
Self-control/self-hatred | Taught love of self and to hate evil |
Idolatry
worship of an idol or cult image, being a physical image, such as a statue, or a person in place of God.
|
Faithfulness,
|
Taught righteousness |
witchcraft,
manipulation/control over another, soothsaying, sorcery/magic, intermingling darkness and light, crystals, etc. |
kindness,
Love, Long-suffering |
Taught spiritual warfare |
hatred, | love | Taught love |
Variance
At odds/controversy/disagreement |
peace
Gentleness/meekness
|
Taught how to be peacemaker |
Emulations
Want to “be like Mike” ambition or endeavor to be equal or excel as others |
Peace,
Joy |
Taught contentment |
wrath,
strong vengeful anger or indignation |
Gentleness/meekness
Temperance/self-control |
Taught wisdom |
strife,
discord, quarrel |
Joy | Taught to be peacemaker |
seditions,
an instigator, cause of a revolt, tyrannical |
Gentleness/meekness, Peace, | Taught justice |
Heresies | Joy,
Temperance/self-control |
Taught to avoid gossip |
Envyings
jealousy, covetous |
Joy
|
Taught contentment |
murders
hatred |
Love | Taught love of life |
Drunkenness | Temperance/self-control
Love Joy |
Taught love of body as temple of the LORD |
Revellings
take great pleasure or delight and indulgence in boisterous festivities |
temperance/self-control
love |
Taught moderation and selflessness (greed) |