God is talking to me today about surrendering to Him. He continues to remind me that we have this thing of pride and it makes us self-willed. Being self -willed keeps us in sin and from God's best. Being self-willed is thinking we don't need God.
Romans 6:17 But thank God, though you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed. 18 And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose, and action). AMPC
If we have surrendered to Jesus we have been set free from sin, but if we go back to being self-willed we will return to our sinful nature. To say Yes Lord —is easy to say, but as we enter into temptation, as the enemy puts on his gloves to take us from God, then is the real test.
Are we strong enough to resist? Not without Jesus. The enemy uses our flesh to tempt us. Are you going to give into your flesh, or are you going to stay surrendered when that temptation comes?
I can tell you what you are going to do. Without Jesus you will give into the temptations the enemy brings your way. With Jesus you will not give into the temptations and then the enemy will flee from you.
James 4:7 So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.
We can't do anything without Jesus, therefore without staying on the Vine we will be unsuccessful in resisting the enemy. Jesus said we can't do anything without Him. Therefore as we enter into temptation to keep from giving in to our flesh—we need to give into Jesus and become obedient with all of our heart.
How?
First things first —Get up everyday and spend at least—a minimum of an hour with Jesus. Then increase that time daily so you can become stronger in Him. Get a devotion coming into your email to start with. Get on your knees and worship Him, hear Him. Get your Bible out and read the things in it to feed your spirit. Your spirit man needs to eat to stay alive! If you don’t feed him he will die. If he dies you die. If you let him starve you will starve. If you starve your spirit you will give into your flesh. If you give into your flesh you have switched forces.
When you get up everyday and put God first you will have honored God and you will thrive on the Vine. On the Vine you are being pruned to produce good stuff in your life. Stuff like happiness, peace, joy and contentment. Healing, provision and so much more are produced on that Vine. Jumping off the Vine is like jumping into the fiery furnace. If you are dead you are collected like a dead branch and thrown into the furnace (John 15:1-8). How scary is that? Scary.
John 15:1 I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. 3You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you]. 4 Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. 6 If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. 8 When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine. AMPC
The thing is, is if we choose Jesus then Jesus wants good for us and the only way for that to happen is if we stay on the Vine. As He said if we jump off (disconnect) we’re dead. Staying on the Vine leads to eternal life, here and now and when we leave here.
The temptations are meant to get us off of the Vine just as in the days of Adam. If we obey the flesh (satan) we are unrighteous. Even though we have been made righteous by Jesus, if we resist Jesus we are unrighteous.
Being born again is our freedom not to sin, all we have to do is stay with Jesus by not disconnecting from Him. By feeding your spirit every day you will be strong enough, Jesus in you —to resist the pulls the enemy tempts you with.
Then you will be able to resist the enemy and then he will flee (James 4:7). Submit to God—(feed your spirit man) —resisting the enemy and then he will run from you!
In summation—Just surrender to the Spirit (give into His convictions) and you reap life, life here and everlasting life! You will gain, not lose!
For further study on the wiles of the enemy I suggest reading Mark 4.
lovelee<3