The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth…

Whether you are a new believer who is just beginning to develop a personal relationship with the Lord or you are a seasoned Christian who has determined to strengthen your relationship with the Lord, or you find yourself in the midst of an overwhelming storm of life, the starting place for being more than a conqueror is with the “basics.”  Below are listed a number of key points that once accepted will put you in a position to receive the abundant life God desires you to have.

1.  The Bible is the inspired Word of God.
   II Timothy 3 :16 says that every Scripture is “God-breathed (given by His inspiration)” (AMP).  No other book has endured the assault against its authenticity and accuracy than the Bible has.  Not only has it survived, but the Bible remains the number one best-selling book of all time!
2. God is good.
   James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift is from above and comes from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning. That means that there is no angle from which you can view God and not see His Goodness.
3. The devil is bad.
   John 10:10 says that the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy.  Jesus said in the same verse, “I am come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.”   Whatever your situation, ask yourself if what you are going through is bringing you life more abundantly.  If it is not, it is not from God.
4. The devil was defeated by the shed blood of Jesus.
   I John 3:8 says that the purpose of Jesus coming to earth as a mere man was to destroy the works of the enemy.  The devil today is defeated, but he still is in the earth, acting as an “outlaw”.  An outlaw in the natural world continues to break the law until someone in authority stops him.
5. We, as believers, have the authority to enforce the defeat of the devil.
   Jesus said in Matthew 16:19 that we have been given the keys of the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus is no longer in the earth in bodily form.  The Bible calls us His Body. We are His eyes, His voice, and His hands until He returns.  If we do not use the authority we have been given, the devil will be free to continue acting like an outlaw and doing what he legally has no right to do.
6. We enforce the devil’s defeat through the Name of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus and the Word of God.
   Ephesians 1:20,21 says that Jesus has been seated at the right hand of the Father…far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named… not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. Philippians 2:9 says that God has exalted Him and given Him a name that is above every other name.  When we speak the name of Jesus in faith, the works of the enemy must stop.
   Sin is what separated us from God.  The shed Blood of Jesus is what cleansed us from our sin and restored us to a position of righteousness (right-standing) with God. Revelation 12:11 says that we overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony.  When we apply the Blood of Jesus to whatever situation we are facing, we are reminding the enemy that he was defeated once and for all when Jesus died and was resurrected.
   Finally, we enforce the defeat of the enemy by speaking the Word of God over our lives.  We are to follow the example Jesus set.  When he was tempted in the wilderness by the devil He responded, “It is written….”  When we speak the Word of God in faith, we are saying what Jesus would say if He were here.
7. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to empower and enable us to do the works Jesus did and commanded us to do until His return.
   Jesus said in John 16:7 that it was better for Him to go away because a “Helper” would be sent.  Imagine with all that Jesus did while He was on earth, He said it would be better for Him to go away.  The Holy Spirit activates the Anointing, the ability of God Himself, within us.  Without the help of the Holy Spirit we will lack understanding and direction and power to accomplish God’s purpose for our lives.

If much of this is new to you, relax and simply ask Jesus to help you sort things out.  Open your heart to Him and just start talking – the way you would talk with others.  To be honest, nothing you have to tell Him is really news to Him (Psalm 139).  You take one step toward Him and He will run to you!!