In the third week of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry my revival group went on a retreat. Early the first morning I read in Romans: “The Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” As I was reading, the Holy Spirit challenged me, saying, “You don’t believe this.”
Two hours later, my revival group pastor opened his Bible and began to read the exact same text from Romans, saying what the Holy Spirit had just spoken to me. My pastor shared a story about Kathryn Kuhlman, in which a reporter asked about her previous marriage and divorce. Her response was, “That person is dead.” I knew that I needed to believe that my old man was dead. Dead men can’t hold on to or overpower you – they’re dead!
The Holy Spirit showed me that I believed that I was still bound to sin. He told me that I believed the Gospel had limited power. I believed I was destined to live a life of sin management. That is not the Gospel; God isn’t rehabilitating the old man. My old man died with Christ, and I am a new man living in and by the Spirit in Christ Jesus.
This continues to be the most incredible journey as I learn to rest in my identity as a new man. The battles in my head are significantly diminished, and I deal with them more effectively. I’m learning to fight the spiritual battle with more success, and at the same time I’m working on developing more self-control. My failures don’t devastate me, nor do they captivate me. Reading and praying the Scriptures out loud, along with using the Scriptures as personalized declarations, has become powerful in changing my mind-set.
I’m freer to pray for people and respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading. The separation I’ve felt between other men and myself is diminishing. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude toward God, who now appears to me to be significantly more powerful, kinder, and more interested in my life. I am also truly thankful to those who are supporting and encouraging me in this journey.
My life is completely different now that I’m living as the new person that it totally free from my old way of life, versus living from my old life (self and mindset) and doing my best to control/managing my behavior. I now have the option to live a life that is actually free.
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