When devoting or even rededicating your life to Christ, initially; there is a new found enthusiasm in your new walk with the Lord. I know in my experience, you are overjoyed and full of life. Ready to pick up every book in publication to increase your knowledge on all the things of God. You have a new pep in your step, your heart sings a joyful song of praise. It truly is an exciting time knowing that all old things are put away and you are washed by the blood of Jesus, with a fresh new anointing and now you are ready to fight off all devils...but wait a minute, slow down for a second. All though you have said your prayer of repentance, no question you are now saved but one thing you have to be mindful of, overcoming years of sin is not a one and done deal. It is a process which I will go into more in depth.
Now to you new believers and those who have recommitted to walking with Christ, yes all old things are passed away and you are made into a new creature. I can't stress enough, allow God to continue to work on you. For instance, say if you are overcoming any kind of addiction whether it be alcohol, drugs, sex, excessive partying or any other addiction for that matter. Do not think for one second that the enemy is going to leave you alone. Those very things that you are walking away from is the very same vices that the enemy will use against you to bring you out of the will of God. You have to remember that all the enemy has to do is tempt you, plant a thought in your mind and the moment things are not so rosey in your new walk with Christ, then back you go to the very things that God has delivered you from.
The key to having a successful walk with Christ and in this section, I am going to be very up front. I will mention things that may not be comfortable to you but has to be brought to light so that you don't stumble. Always remember, this is a day to day process, allow God to work on you. Change is a timely process, but you have to allow God to work through you and learn to listen to His voice for instruction.
First things first, to those who have been sexually active, obviously if you have decided to turn your life around and walk with Christ, your temple belongs to Lord and you should honor the Lord in all of your ways. For those that have lived with someone that you are not married to, once you make that change in your life, your lifestyle has to change. By the world standards, we are taught that it is okay to be free, be liberated and do what ever we feel. According to the word, this is what God says about any relationship outside of His will for us. Here are some scriptures that speak about our new walk and what God specifically says about sex outside of marriage.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
So as you can see, God has a zero tolerance rule for any kind of sexual acts outside of marriage. Any relationships of that nature will interfere with your covenant in your new walk with Christ. Now this is one area that the enemy will use to get your flesh stirred up. He will tempt you with anything possible to convince you that you are not strong enough to abstain from the desires of the flesh. In your new walk, know that temptation will intensify even more so than when you were living in sin. One rule of thumb, be mindful of the things that you allow to enter into your spirit, everything from music, magazines on down to the things we watch on television can plant a thought in your mind which the more you think on it, if you are not strong in the spirit, you will fall into the enemies traps. Remember, the only thing the enemy can do is plant a suggestion in your mind, you meditate on it long enough then you will be right back to doing everything that you were delivered from.
The keys to a successful, victorious walk in Christ, you have to feed your spirit man. In the word it says in Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Basically, stay in the word day and night, feed your spirit. Now read what is written in Galatians 5:13_20:
5:13 For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not libery for an occasion to the flesh, but by love to serve one another.
5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfull the lust of the flesh
5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the spirit against the flesh:(sensuality, gluttony, alcoholism, drugs, pride, strife, bitterness, etc;) and these contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things the ye would.
5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the lawa.
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleaness, lasciviousness (meaning unbridled lust).
5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance (meaning heart burning jealousy), emulations (meaning inordinate ambition), wrath, strife, seditions, heresies(meaning to cause division).
Now, I know that covered a good portion of why God states the importance of seeking after the things of the spirit. When we walk in the spirit, it provides us a life of peace, understanding and a greater capacity of Gods wisdom so that we allow the Lord to order our steps so that we may do what we are called to do. As you can see, as it is written; those things of the flesh can only bring forth harm and ruin to our lives. Read what the word says in Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Whatever you do in your new walk, feed your spirit with the word and pray ceasingly so that then, you allow God to give you direction in what it is that he wants you to receive. Make sure you attend church and bible study often and lastly, surround yourself by like minded believers who can help you as well as pray with you so that you may overcome any strongholds of your past. God loves you and desires you to lead a victorious life but it is up to you to take the necessary steps needed to ensure you have a successful walk in Christ. Lastly, if you do slip up, don't be too hard on yourself, confess it to the Lord and ask him to remove the very thing that is a hindrance so that you can be set free. You must pray diligently because the enemy is not going to rest, after all, he is after your soul. John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
This will be the first of many teaching series in hopes that this can help you in any areas of weakness, know that we all have them but by the blood of Christ, he can deliver us from them all if we allow Him. May you all be blessed and know that God has got you covered. Many blessings to you all!
~Divine Love~
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