Maintaining Ascendancy Over My Outer Man By the Sanctifying Power of the Holy Spirit
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being my Sanctifier,[i] the source of my power and love and of my control over my outer man.[ii] I agree with Father-God that I am iin Christ and, therefore a new creation, no longer in Adam because the old me has passed away (was crucified with and in Christ); behold, the new creation me is now alive.[iii] Consequently, I now know that I have been totally forgiven and reconciled to God, my Father through Jesus finished work.[iv] I submit to You and ask You to convince and establish me in the revelation that I am the righteousness of God in Christ,[v] the result of Your finished work of the divine exchange on my behalf. Please reveal and remove whatever is blocking the abundant life I now enjoy in Christ Jesus[vi] from being fully expressed through my outer man in holiness, love and power and with righteousness, peace and joy in You.[vii]
I choose to stand firm in the freedom with which Christ has made me free, and refuse to be held again under the yoke of slavery (the Mosaic Law).[viii] By Your sanctifying power,[ix] show me when I am walking according to the flesh[x]* (mental remnants of my former self[xi] such as self-centered attitudes and dispositions, wrong habits and mind-sets and, addictions, ungodly appetites, experiences, and actions – all dead works)[xii] rather than walking according to my new spirit-self, now in Christ, which is life and peace.[xiii]
In other words, reveal to me as necessary, Holy Spirit, the lusts of my body, the pride of life, the life of empty show[xiv] and the influences of both the world system[xv] and the devil.[xvi] I claim Your grace to discern, to hate and to reject every remaining influence of my former self, the world system and all agents and works of Darkness that try to use my flesh to defeat the new me.
[xvii]**Note: The following chart is intended to facilitate every believer’s New Covenant repentance (metanoya in the Greek), which refers to a change of mind that agrees with God and then lives accordingly. It accommodates the truth of being a new creation saint who takes responsibility for choosing to sin by walking in the flesh rather than according to the Holy Spirit. This revelation replaces the lie of being “just a sinner saved by grace” and, therefore, still (mentally) a slave to the sin nature in Adam (which has been crucified with Christ by faith and is now gone.)[xviii] Believing this lie (of having two natures) gives the Devil a foothold for accusation, harassment, discouragement, depression and/or oppression, meant to rob you of experiencing the Lord’s joy and, therefore, His courage and strength to resist the devil’s schemes.[xix] But knowing and trusting in Jesus’ whole Gospel of grace will set your outer man progressively free.[xx]
MAKE NO ACCOMMODATION FOR THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH[xxi]
| I Am: 1) a New Man, alive in Christ, | and rejecting the remnants of the former self (now dead and gone). |
| 2) accepting Your truth about You, my loving Father-God, | and rejecting the lies and misconceptions about You from the world system, my past,, the flesh, others and the devil. |
| 3) abiding in Your truth about the new me in Christ Jesus | and rejecting the misconceptions and lies about me from the world system, my past, the flesh, my experience, others and the devil. |
| Motives and Attitudes: | |
| Love and respect for the Lord, wise | instead of foolish, naive, gullible |
| submitted to, dependent on, abiding in Jesus | instead of independent, self-reliant, self-sufficient |
| believing in, trusting in and relying on You | instead of fearful, anxious, worried, cynical, suspicious, doubting, co-dependent |
| Spirit-led through my spirit, reasonable | instead of soul or body controlled /driven, irrational, emotion-based |
| holy, pure, living for God’s pleasure | instead of lustful, hedonistic, immoral |
| humble (confident in God) | instead of proud, arrogant, confident in self, boastful, show-off, self-centered, judgmental |
| honest, truthful | instead of deceitful, calculating |
| flexible, teachable, cooperative | instead of rigid, rebellious, obstinate, stubborn |
| unselfish, loving, compassionate, warm | instead of selfish, fearful, hateful, cold, intolerant |
| secure in Christ, courageous | instead of insecure, possessive, defensive, bound, introverted, having an inferiority complex |
| joyful, hopeful, positive | instead of gloomy, negative, critical, depressed |
| content, gracious | instead of covetous, jealous, envious |
| balanced, temperate, self-controlled | instead of driven, workaholic, scrupulous, hyper-sensitive, perfectionistic, guilt-ridden |
| calm, peaceful | instead of angry, anxious, agitated, aggravated |
| thankful, appreciative | instead of complaining, murmuring, demanding |
| wholehearted | instead of half-hearted, double-minded |
| trustworthy, stable, dependable, reliable | instead of undependable, compulsive, fickle |
| meek (power under God’s control) | instead of timid, weak, intimidated, restless |
| eager to serve as God directs | instead of controlling, domineering, bossy, pushy |
| inclusive, reaching out to others | instead of exclusive, bigoted, withdrawn, a loner |
| reconciler, peacemaker | instead of divisive, conniver, blamer, causing strife |
| forgiving – even before an offense | instead of unforgiving, resentful, bitter, revengeful, holding grudges |
| approachable, sensitive | instead of distant, indifferent, insensitive |
| accepting of people (not sin) | instead of rejecting people, prejudiced |
| trust in people (with discernment) | instead of suspicious, fearful, cynical |
| patient, longsuffering | instead of impatient, impulsive, |
| organized, efficient, disciplined, punctual | instead of confused, disorganized, procrastinating |
| Acting: | |
| unselfishly, generously | instead of selfishly, miserly, greedily |
| peacefully, friendly | instead of provoking, bothersome, irritating |
| bravely, courageously | instead of timidly, shyly, cowardly |
| Speaking: | |
| lovingly, kindly, gently | instead of harshly, with hostility or meanness |
| respectfully, | instead of combatively, yelling, sarcastically |
| appreciatively, thankfully | instead of grumbling, whining, complaining |
| constructively, positively | instead of teasing negatively |
| encouragingly, sympathetically | instead of discouragingly, demeaningly |
| the truth responsibly in love | instead of slandering, gossiping, attacking |
| honestly, accurately | instead of deceptively, lying, exaggerating |
| genuinely praising, affirming, edifying | instead of critically, with condemnation or flattery |
[i] 2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we ought to thank God always concerning you, brothers, having been loved by (the) Lord, because God chose you from (the) beginning to salvation in sanctification of (the) Spirit and belief of (the) truth….” Also see Romans 15:16 and 1 Peter 1:2.
[ii] 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give a spirit of cowardice to us, but of power and of love, and of self-control (or sound mind).”
[iii] 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old (man) has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
[iv] 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 “All this is from God Who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world (including you and me) to Himself, not counting their (my) sins against them (me).” Also see 1 John 2:2
[v] 2 Corinthians 5 21: “For our sake He (God) made Him (Jesus), who knew no sin, to become sin (the Adamic nature) so that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.”
[vi] Galatians 2:20 “… And that (life) I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, the (One) loving me and giving Himself on my behalf.”
[vii] Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in (the) Holy Spirit.”
[viii] Galatians 5:1 “Then stand firm in the freedom with which Christ has made us free, and do not be held again with the yoke of slavery (the Mosaic Law).”
[ix] 2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we ought to thank God always concerning you, brothers, having been loved by (the) Lord, because God chose you from (the) beginning to salvation in sanctification of (the) Spirit and belief of (the) truth….”
[x] Romans 13:14 and Galatians 5:19 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and do not take thought beforehand for the lusts of the flesh.” “Now the works of the flesh are revealed….” Also see 1 Corinthians 3:3.
*Note: Also see John 5:19 and Footnote # 134 for more on the word “flesh.”
[xi] Colossians 3:1 “…for you have died and your life has been hidden with Christ in God.” Also see Romans 6:6-11
[xii] Hebrews 6:1 “ …not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works….”
Also see Hebrews 9:14 that describes the work of Christ’s Blood in cleansing the conscience from dead works.
[xiii] Romans 8:4 and 6 “So that the righteous demand of the law might be fulfilled in us, those not walking according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. … For the mind of the flesh is death: but the mind of the spirit is life and peace.”
[xiv] I John. 2:16 “… because all that which is in the world: the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
[xv] Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind … .” (This the grace-based repentance of the New Covenant.)
[xvi] James 4:7 “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Also see Ephesians 4:27.
[xvii] **Note: New Covenant repentance is not focused on the Law-keeping and sinning against it since the Law was never given to Gentiles and is now obsolete for believing Jews. Jesus’ perfect sacrifice accomplished the total forgiveness of all sins of all mankind and also mankind’s reconciliation to God (from His point of view), according to 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. The higher law of the Spirit of Life set believers from the law of sin and death, according to Romans 8:1-2. Now, the essence and corresponding proof of true New Covenant repentance is the willingness to agree and comply with God’s big picture perspective (His Divine Logic) on every matter. Such mind renewal, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit living within each believer, will necessarily result in right believing that leads to right living in the outer man. For an extensive study of this vital topic and far more, read my book Is There An Elephant In YOUR Church?, published by and sold on Amazon.
[xviii] Galatians 2:20 “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old (self) has passed away. Behold! The new (creation spirit-self) has come.
[xix] Nehemiah 8:10b “Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
[xx] John 8:32 “‘And you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.’”
[xxi] Also see John 5:19 and Footnote # 134 for more on the word “flesh.”
Coming next week – Chapter 12: Renewing My Mind with the Revelation of Father-God’s Total Forgiveness of All of Mankind’s Sins
life, that is, Jesus himself.