Category Archives: Emotions

The Spirit of Peace

23 Sunday Jul 2017

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Emotions, Fear, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Mercy, the Spirit

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

TranquilityandPeace

I once heard Andrew Wommack say in a broadcast that ‘Peace is an emotion’.  I had always thought of peace as a state of being or a lack of emotion or even state of rest, never having considered peace to be like other emotional responses to adverse circumstances such as fear, shame, trauma, etc. As white is the absence of all color, peace, to me, has always been simply the absence of negative emotion. This week, I decided to do a word study on peace because let’s face it – peace is a big deal.  I am glad to say that we, as Believers, can stand confidently, #stableandfixed victoriously rooted in the soil of peace.

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.“

In this verse Jesus is telling us that 1) We now own our peace because it is being given as a gift from Him – the Amplified actually uses the word bequeath which is property given after death  2) We have been given the identical state of peace that Jesus Himself is able to access and 3) It was being given by Him through a different vehicle unlike any other way peace could be delivered and achieved for us on the earth.

So what is Peace and how is it possible to attain peace since we have been given its title deed? Jesus mentioned peace to the disciples multiple times near the end of His life on earth. Peace in the Hebrew (Old Testament) means ‘Shalom’, which is a rich Jewish word with multiple meanings; completeness, wholeness, soundness, prosperity,  quietness, contentedness. Peace in the Greek (New Testament) is similar: tranquility, felicity, safety, fearing nothing from God, content. Spiritual Peace in the Amplified is defined as peace with God, harmony, unity, and undisturbedness.

The very first words that Jesus said to the disciples when He returned to them following His crucifixion were ‘Peace to you!’ [John 20:19] He repeated that phrase again [John 20:21] moments before He breathed the Holy Spirit into them declaring “Receive the Holy Spirit!” Eight days later Jesus returned to be with His disciples and again His first words were ‘Peace to you!” [John 20:26].  Jesus found it important to proclaim, ‘Peace to you’ multiple times in a short span of days.

But why? Jesus had clearly given His disciples ownership of His peace prior to His crucifixion and then returned to them giving it over and over again. If one has been bequeathed a gift and knows it – why would the Gift-giver continue to present the gift multiple times? I believe that by Jesus releasing His peace – it was the same force that occurred when the storm was blowing when He said ‘Peace be Still’ – and then the wind died. In the same way, ‘Peace to you’, released His peace into the disciples, taking authority over any spirit that was not peaceful in that atmosphere. Here is why that can happen – Peace is a Spirit and we have dominion over every spirit on the earth.

Following 17 years of experiencing highly concentrated training sessions in the Holy Spirit’s Life Boot Camp, I have learned a few 18K gold truths, most of them through …. well let’s just say nothing associated with ease:  1) God is the source of everything. Period.  2) Holy Spirit is the best ‘Mind Manager’ ever devised (Physical Manager, too)  3) Jesus is all supply – lack of faith (fear) turns off His supply flow  4) It is only faith in Jesus that pleases God  5) A thorough knowledge of Who Jesus Christ truly is and an acceptance of the infinite, immutable love of God,  (understanding that He is always working on our behalf no matter what ) are the two most stabilizing forces that exist for any individual. 6) The work of Jesus is complete, finished. There were and have been many weeks in the Boot Camp I had to fight hard for what felt like elusive peace.

When Jesus stated in John 14:27, ‘Not as the world gives do I give to you ‘ – this was a sure word that His peace was arriving via [very] Special Delivery. Enter the Holy Spirit. There is no more crucial relationship for an individual than with the Spirit of Jesus. Holy Spirit is THE internal Comforter, Advocate, Counselor, Teacher, Helper assigned by Jesus to manage the Control Panel of our peace. I have previously written about the different roles of the Godhead but in the New Covenant, the Grace Covenant – we are charged to live led by the Spirit.  In today’s post,  I will detail one tangible, practical application to tackle torment and unrighteous thoughts that will provide relief by partnering with the Holy Spirit.  This is tried, tested and truly works.

Hebrews 10:22  Let us all come forward and draw near with true (honest and sincere hearts) in unqualified assurance and absolute conviction engendered by faith, having our hearts sprinkled and purified from a guilty conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water.  Hebrews 12:23-35   and to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to God, who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect [bringing them to their final glory], 24 and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant [uniting God and man], and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].

Just as blood was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat for the cleansing and forgiveness of sin on the Ark of the Covenant,  the sprinkling of blood on our minds has the same impact on unrighteous thoughts. Blood is the currency of Heaven. Blood is required for the remission of sin by God. The blood of Jesus is efficacious, flowing continually to cleanse from all unrighteousness.  When you call on Holy Spirit to sprinkle the blood of Jesus on your own mind as a cleansing agent from unrighteous thoughts; fear, shame, trauma, abusive memories, anger, anxiety, depression, rage, hatred, unforgiveness – He, as the Spirit of Jesus, will purify your mind from all torment and unrighteousness. The blood delivered by the Administrator of the New Covenant, The Spirit, ushers in the spirit of Peace.

When I pray for another person against depression, anxiety or any emotional turmoil – I direct a person to focus on Jesus and the crown of thorns that paid for our mental freedom. Then I bind up those spirits of fear, torment, despair, anger and anything else the Holy Spirit brings to my attention to release from this prison. [Only a Christian that reveres, understands and respects the holiness of the blood of Jesus should attempt these prayers.]  To Be Continued –

If you move forward to partner with Holy Spirit for your recovery from the attacks of emotional turmoil, I am very interested in your circumstances. Please leave a comment or let me know how I can pray for you.

#StableandFixed  #Jesus  #Emotions  #Healing

Tracy L Gatewood
Twitter @TracyLGatewood
Facebook: Tracy Gatewood Writer Teacher
Amazon Author: Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus
Sharing link: http://wp.me/p1zoxs-24p
#TeachersAreLeaders

 

 

 

We Are Not Given A Spirit of Fear

04 Sunday Jun 2017

Posted by in Emotions, Fear, Mercy, New Covenant, TracyLGatewood

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

CanvaFearlGirlBest
[Author’s Note: I have studied physical and emotional healing for 20 years and the Lord continues to deliver new ah-ha’s!  The effects of extreme negative emotions on the body, in particular fear, are undeniable. This article addresses “inherited” generational physical conditions. This will be new information for many of you. ]

II Timothy 1:7 AMP   For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven, cringing and fawning fear), but [ He has given us a spirit ] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. [ The 2nd letter of Paul to Timothy written while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. ]

In preparation of writing this article, I found these public definitions helpful :

Timidity – a lack of courage or confidence.

Fear – a painful emotion or passion excited by an expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger. Fear expresses less apprehension than dread, and dread less than terror and fright. The force of this passion, beginning with the most moderate degree, may be thus expressed;  fear, dread, terror, fright. Fear is accompanied with a desire to avoid or ward off the expected evil. Fear is an uneasiness of mind, upon which the thought of future evil is likely to befall us. Fear is the passion of our nature which excites us to provide for our security, on the approach of evil. [ Definition from the KJV Bible ]

It is interesting that Fear as defined is more related to apprehension or expectation of evil  rather than the actual occurrence.  The damage of Fear occurs more in the build-up to the unknown and in the unexpected  where it blooms, builds, breeds and then bleeds. It is in this breeding that Fear seeps from the mind into the soul and then into the physical body.  Fear is the Red Carpet on which every single negative emotional spirit confidently strides into the realm of a person’s soul. Fear is the devil’s key that turns, unlocks then swings wide open the door into the soul of a person that buys into its effects.

The conditions that stem from fear, anxiety and stress are numerous.   [ The spiritual root cause of stress is fear; a lack of trust, and unbelief. ]  The following are just a few conditions that are medically proven to have a spiritual root cause based in a spirit of  fear:  angina, hypertension, arrhythmia, mitral valve prolapse, all number of cardiovascular issues, coronary artery disease,  strokes  (also related to anger and rage), IBS, Colitis.  < ref.  A More Excellent Way,  Dr. Henry Wright  >   The roots of fear and condemnation are typically at the base of practically every disease.

Emotional damage from specific external circumstances are detrimental to the human body:  the after effects from  abuse, shame, trauma, rejection, and abandonment are the most damaging to the human mind and soul, requiring immediate healing attention before their effects take root and flow through the body. Typically the damage comes from protracted, or consistent occurrences of  these negative emotions ( fear, abuse, shaming, trauma, rejection and abandonment). Exposure to these extreme occurrences must be dealt with through spiritual means;  spirits must be dealt with by The Spirit.

There are numerous references to evil spirits, foul and unclean spirits in scripture. The following are found in the New Testament –

Matthew 10:1 AMP  And Jesus summoned to Him  His twelve disciples and gave them power and authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of weakness and infirmity.
< Example of an unclean spirit today would be an STD  >

 We have authority and dominion over our own bodies, our emotions and our physical well being.

The Jews thought even Jesus was possessed by a demon ( which was a very bad move on their part ) – and recognized spirits and demons as harbingers of disease and mental illness: John 8:48 AMP  The Jews answered Him, Are we not right when we say You are a Samaritan and that You have a demon (that you are under the power of an evil spirit)?

Referring to actions of the Apostles – Acts 5:16 AMP  And the people gathered also from the towns and hamlets around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled with foul spirits, and they were all cured.

Acts 8:7 AMP  For foul spirits came out of many who were possessed by them, screaming and shouting with a loud voice, and many who were suffering from palsy or were crippled were restored to health.

These same evil, foul and unclean spirits are alive and moving with great intentionality on the earth today. Medical science has now simply given them a sophisticated name. If a person is not delivered from a spirit – that spirit can remain in them throughout life. What happens in the next generation to the child of that parent that comes into the same disease, condition or infirmity ? What we call “inherited”,  typically was simply legal access opened by a spirit of fear or traumatic event, a spirit that should have never gained entrance in the first place.

Scenario:  Your parent goes through a traumatic occurrence; divorce, car accident, extended job loss with no income, etc. There is tremendous fear, trauma and possibly shame and if divorce is involved then rejection. This parent then develops cancer. This parent then develops fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis. This parent then suffers a stroke. Whatever the scenario – from that point forward – in the history of the child, it is assumed that they have an inherited “chip” for the disease that the parent developed due to their bodies response to an extreme emotional circumstance. They are now in fact considered predisposed to a disease, because an emotional spirit gained access causing a disease, infirmity or condition due to an extreme event that was not managed or delivered.

Do you see how important it is when Jesus exhorted us to ‘ Fear Not ‘?  What diseases are in your family line ?   Are you aware of the history leading to the onset of the disease ?

We do not have to live at the mercy of our ancestors emotions or external occurrences that opened doors to disease nor our own emotional wounds that turn into physical conditions.  As Christians we have been gifted with the Great Stabilizer,  the Son of God, Christ Jesus. When we walk in knowledge of Who He is and What He has done – it has an immediate affect on our bodies.

The following are focus points for all who believe –

1) Deep understanding of the authentic, infinite and immutable love of God and that His heart is always turned toward you  2) The Finished Work of Jesus through His sacrifice  3) A thorough knowledge of the New Covenant benefits, those promised to Abraham, Isaac,  and Jacob  in Genesis   4) When walking through seasons of lack, an unbending focus on Jesus who is ALL SUPPLY   5) Recognition of the advocacy and the leading of the Holy Spirit  6)  Understanding a lack of faith will block the flow of the favor of God.

Proverbs 1:32-33
For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them and the
careless ease of the (self-confident) fools shall destroy them

But whoso hearkens to me [ wisdom] shall dwell securely and in
confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil.

#stableandfixed

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
Sharing Link:  We Are Not Given A Spirit of Fear    http://wp.me/p1zoxs-1VW
Twitter  @TracyLGatewood
Periscope  Tracy Gatewood
Facebook: Tracy Gatewood Writer Teacher
Amazon Author: Doorways of Grace, My UnCommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus –

Related: Jesus the Bishop of Our Souls        http://wp.me/p1zoxs-vq
Related: Healing and the Armor of God      http://wp.me/p1zoxs-tg

My Name is Rose

29 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Emotions, Fear, Grace, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, New Covenant

≈ Leave a comment

Cameobrooch

“Hello my name is Rose”, said the elderly, kind-faced woman as she looked straight into my eyes. For a moment, I could not believe her words. I knew the point she was making, as it was impressed into my spirit. I received it with an emotional mixture of shock and extreme gratitude.

When Rose entered the store where I was working as a greeter that bleak Christmas season – she began to admire my cameo brooch.  “It is very unique – your brooch. A very fine example of a cameo. I collect cameos and I know them well”, she said. “This is a beautiful woman depicted on yours, rare, I have seen few like it”.   “It belonged to my grandmother, and I love it”,  I responded.  “One of my most cherished possessions,”.  “I can see why, ” she stated. As she began to walk away she turned, looking me straight in the eyes and said, “My name is Rose.  What is your name?”  My eyes widened, so startled I could barely speak, “My name is Tracy.  My grandmother’s name was Rose.” She smiled and then turned as she walked up the stairway and onto the selling floor.  I dropped my head so no one could see as a big tear rolled down my face. The times I had heard the name Rose used ever could be counted on one hand – less than 5 fingers even. I knew that she had been sent by God – an angel perhaps but certainly sent as one to deliver encouragement in the guise of my long deceased grandmother. He was letting me know that He was with me, and watching all that was happening in that extremely sad and difficult season of my life.

Pruning is a gardening term that can be used to describe a spiritual season where God trims away the dead leaves and branches that are not bearing fruit. The word ‘pruning’ sounds like a gentle snip, snip depicting a peaceful, singing gardener carefully pulling down a branch in a beautifully manicured English garden. As he trims,  it is only the old, really dead leaves and branches that are cut away. Nothing green is considered. Yet in reality, the pruning experience can resemble more like napalm where just a tilted tree stalk remains, standing practically naked bearing only twiggy branches and a few scant leaves. This had been my season as a bud-less sprig, unknowingly ripe for the shears.  😦

John 15:2    Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]. 

Isaiah 18:5    For before the harvest, when the blossom is over And the flower becomes a ripening grape, He will cut off the sprigs [without buds] with pruning knives, And [He will] remove and cut away the spreading branches.

A real pruning by a loving Father can only be considered good when seen from a rear view mirror advantage and at times even viewed only back through a multi-year lens. It is from this vantage point that I can provide a scope of work that begins to plumb the depths of any comprehension of  God’s goodness and His grace.  His unending, and infinite love – a love so deep and immutable,  that He would even see fit to tweak, this little speck of light down here on earth.

Below is an albeit incomplete collection of highlights on lessons learned through the cutting away –

Regarding the Godhead

God is all love. His love for each of us is so wide and deep. We can only truly understand this depth when we have lost everything (and perhaps everyone) then we can see that He is all we need.

Jesus the Son is the sole representation of our righteousness – not our works, striving or performance. When Jesus is acknowledged as the true source and supply – the benefits of the Covenant for which He died transpire supernaturally and with little human effort.

Jesus is all Truth and all Grace. Grace is a gift given by God to us – we do not earn grace. We are given grace because we are the righteousness of God by our faith in His son.

The Holy Spirit is our best friend and is an essential relationship to cultivate. He is the administrator and coordinator of the benefits of the Covenant. We more commonly know Him as the Comforter, Advocate, Teacher,  Healer.

The sacrifice of Jesus signaled  His finished work on earth. With this act began the Dispensation of Grace (the Church Age) which will end in the great taking away of the believers. He has paid for all sin from the beginning of time to the end of time – it was taken on His body for us. As Jesus’ dropped His head, declaring ‘It is Finished’ He dismissed His own spirit – told His spirit it was OK to leave Him. His life was not taken from Him. He left this earth of His own accord, and in His own natural timing.

Regarding Life

 Chance and Opportunity flow through Him and in His divine timing and the correct season. It is our responsibility to rest in Christ and allow His timing to unfold and His intersections of chance come to pass.

We are deemed righteous by God through Faith …. only. As we move forward in our faith, God moves forward to bring our desires (His desires ) to fruition.

Rejection, which can appear as a lack of opportunity,  is more often a redirection toward a promotion rather than a curse.

We as believers have dominion over evil and must take authority over circumstances through the name of Jesus and the blood of Jesus. We can ‘place a demand’  by prayer or through speaking on the New Covenant and what has been paid for through Jesus’ sacrifice.

Fear is a spirit and is as deadly as a fast growing cancer. Fear acts as a gateway for all of the dangerous emotional spirits to enter into a person’s soul.  Fear must be stopped in its tracks and bound up as quickly as it is discerned. Trauma, abuse, abandonment/ rejection, and shame are the most damaging emotions and all tie back to a fear root. These cannot be ignored and should be dealt with through emotional healing prayer.

Many of these points were discussed in depth in my book of testimony, Doorways of Grace.  If you are in a season of pruning, stay in the word and in prayer as God shapes a new and better you – mirrored more in the likeness and the understanding of His Son.

In Defense of Healing

15 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by in #HolySpirit, #Proverbs, Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Emotions, Fear, Gospel of Grace, Grace, Healing, Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, Sin, Tracy Gatewood, TracyLGatewood

≈ Leave a comment

Romans: 8:32 AMP He who did not withhold or spare (even) His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all (other ) things?

The theology of grace teaches we can walk healed and free because of the sacrifice of Jesus – as we contend through prayer to maintain the healing for which He has already purchased.  Recently I read a blog post on Prosperity Gospel written by a Texas seminary student that theorized  that the Atonement of Jesus’ sacrifice as detailed in Isaiah 53:5 referred to sin only and that His Stripes were not taken for the healing of Diseases. I vigorously disagree.

Matthew 8:17 AMP When evening came, they brought to Him many who were under the power of demons; and He cast out the evil spirits with a word, and restored to health all who were sick [exhibiting His authority as Messiah], 17 so that He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES [upon Himself] AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.”

IMG_1822-2 (2)

In Christ

 Isaiah 53:5 AMP But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement (needful to obtain) peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes (that wounded) Him we are healed and made whole. Vs 6 all we like Sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to His own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all.

1 Peter 2:24 AMP He personally bore our sins in His (own) body on the tree (as on an altar and offered Himself on it), that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds, you have been healed. For you were going astray like (so many) sheep, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian (the Bishop) of your souls.

Every person on earth is made up of three components: Body, Soul and Spirit (the spirit is activated when a person accepts Jesus and the Holy Spirit is imparted). The Soul is comprised of the Mind, Will and the Emotions. Jesus is now the Bishop, or Overseer, of every soul given to Him by God. God has given as a gift to Jesus every person that believes in Him. John 17: 24

The Great News – Our Sins for His Righteousness

It is Christ that imputes His righteousness to us Romans 8:10 AMP – Christ’s righteousness cannot be earned but through His sacrifice on the Cross, this righteousness has been given to us in exchange for our sin. It is not that we now live to strive for righteousness, for of course if we could be righteous enough, Jesus would not have had to become our sacrifice. He became a propitiation for our sins – our substitute by assuming our obligation to maintain a sin free life because we cannot, thereby He alone reconciled us to God.  1 John 4:10

It is through recognizing that He paid for our righteousness and that we now look to Him for our transformation into His likeness. I cannot but He can…. Not only that – because our sin was redeemed (bought back) by Jesus, God remembers our sins No More. From the beginning of our life to the end of our life, Jesus’ blood constantly cleanses us from our own sin. We are no longer under condemnation – we have been saved once and for all by a once and for all sacrifice. Oh what a Savior!

But what about habitual sin  1 John 3:9 AMP points out, No one who abides in Him engages in the habitual practice of sin. The key here is the word Abide – like Abiding in the Vine. This does not mean that a person that is sinning habitually is not saved (although it is entirely possible) – it means they are attempting to tackle this sin struggling by their own works or performance – there is no win in their sin. To ABIDE in the grace of our Lord Jesus, recognizing His love and the immutable Love of God despite failings has the capacity to extinguish condemnation and fear while offering the ability to break the cycle of sin. And thankfully –

Where sin increases, Grace increases much more Romans 5:20 AMP
For sin shall no longer be your Master because you are now no longer under Law but under Grace – Romans 6:14 AMP
Furthermore, if we are believers in Jesus, our flesh has now undergone a Spiritual Circumcision:

Colossians 2:11-15 In Him, you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but by the [spiritual] circumcision of Christ in the stripping off of the body of the flesh [the sinful carnal nature], 12 having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God, [as displayed] when He raised Christ from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (worldliness, manner of life), God made you alive together with Christ, having [freely] forgiven us all our sins, 14 having canceled out the [g]certificate of debt consisting of [h]legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross. [My note: Debt certificate is a reference to the over 600 Jewish Laws.]

So this verse tells us that we no longer live helplessly under the oppressive nature of sin but we have been permanently disconnected from that nature by a spiritual cutting away of our flesh – as we are now “In Christ”.

 THE PRESIDING BISHOP OF YOUR SOUL

For 18 years I have studied physical and emotional healing and with that have personally experienced a season of of divine healings; two were structural, and one was from an illness. I have witnessed healing miracles of others and attended numerous healing conferences. Like some people love to attend college football games, I love a good healing conference (and, I too, am a college football junkie). My remaining remarks on the subject of healing have come through my own personal journey as well as watching circumstances of others at close range. I will not comment or theorize why some people become ill, or even die, unless I have personally observed their situations. Even then I may not have an answer but this I know to be true: there is a direct and undeniable correlation between disease, and our emotions. How we walk through extremely difficult and especially traumatic situations has a profound impact on our health and opening the door to disease.

It is almost without exception that I meet a person struggling with disease or a condition that does not have a spiritual root cause of their disease based on one of the following: Fear, Condemnation, Shame, Anger / Rage, Bitterness, and Unforgiveness or have gone through a protracted experience of Trauma, Rejection / Abandonment, or Emotional or Physical Abuse.  Cancer is one very difficult disease to track but, many people battling Cancer have previously walked through a season of trauma, or protracted period of intense Fear (can be Stress but all Stress is based in Fear). So how does Fear cause cancer?  One way is by giving access to a powerful spirit that wreaks havoc from within the mind, impacting the body, down to its cellular level. You can believe Fear also causes heart conditions and heart attacks. You can also believe that Fear is the spiritual root cause of  forms of mental illness – people in extreme poverty live in constant Fear for their survival risking their minds being exposed to schizophrenia, bi-polarity, paranoia.

Jesus is the Overseer of our Souls and the soul is the seat of our emotions. When we maintain our focus and trust on Jesus as our Overseer allowing Him to maintain a reign over (or rein on) our soul, our minds are at rest and we experience peace, and that peace permeates throughout our body. We are trusting God through our valleys and a bi-product of that is health and wholeness. We focus on Jesus and remain in Him. Your Faith is the Positive Response and Acceptance of What God Has Already Provided by His Grace.

So if the work of Jesus is finished, why is understanding emotions important? When one can identify the offending emotion, and underlying cause of the illness, they can release the cause of the emotion to Jesus, resting in what He has done for them by Covenant as enough to guarantee their health, finances, protection and safety.  Petition, Pray, Rest, Focus – again – Petition, Pray, Rest, Focus

“Bless the Lord, O’ My soul and forget not all His benefits; He forgives our iniquities, He heals our diseases, He redeems our lives from the Pit and Crowns us with Love and Compassion and satisfies our desires with good things and renews our youth as the eagles”  Psalm 103

There is a very important reason, imperative to understand in fact, why God admonishes us to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. A person impacted by deep emotional stress-ors for a protracted period can and must pray over their own mind and body, binding up their own emotions. Destructive emotions can be controlled and must leave because of the name of Jesus and must submit to the blood of Jesus.

1John1:2 NKJV  Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

I rest my case.

#healing   #emotionalhealing   #physicalhealing  #trauma   #fear    #faith

Tracy  Gatewood

Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
Website:  http://www.tracygatewood.com

 

 

The Brilliance of His Glory

06 Saturday Feb 2016

Posted by in #HolySpirit, #Proverbs, Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Disasters, Emotions, Fear, Grace

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Diamond (2)

100 miles below the earth’s surface in the mantle; located between the earth’s crust and its super-heated core, the substance called carbon is transformed into diamonds at 2700 degrees Fahrenheit.  The combination of a super-heated state and extreme pressure (equivalent to 4000 men standing in one place) changes the molecular structure of carbon, re-arranging its future by moving it from utilitarian pencil lead (graphite) to a brilliant, and precious cluster of diamonds.

Scientific opinion on the length of time it takes for diamonds to form range from millions to billions of years. The bible sheds light on this timing question – Ezekiel 28:13 “You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, the carnelian, topaz, jasper, chrysolite, beryl, onyx, sapphire, carbuncle, and emerald and your settings and your sockets and engravings were wrought in gold. On the day that you were created, they were prepared.” The bible confirms that precious stones were prepared on the day that the former archangel Lucifer was created. Satan is a created being as are all angels. Scripture continues, “ You were the anointed cherub that covers with overshadowing wings, and I set you so. You were upon the holy mountain of God, you walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire [ like the paved work of gleaming sapphire stone upon which the God of Israel walked on Mount Sinai. ] vs 15  You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until iniquity and guilt were found in you. ” Lucifer was the beautiful worship leader of heaven and his entire body may have been designed as an instrument of worship.

Diamonds buried deep in the crust of the earth are transported to or close to the surface through rock pipes that burst through the earth at Mach 1 speed. The diamond clusters are encased in igneous rock called kimberlite protecting the clusters on their journey to the surface. It seems miraculous that they even arrive at the surface for use. (Reference for AL readers, the journey of 100 miles is the distance between Tuscaloosa and Talledega or Birmingham to Carrollton, GA.)

Ephesians 2:10AMP – “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He pre-arranged and made ready for us].”

Consider the journey that us mere mortals take – just the right sperm must connect to just the right egg in the perfect time and season, created from just the right two people that came together to make you. God knitting you together in the womb of a woman that He chose – you are His workmanship, and the one that has the attributes He needs in the very correct time and season necessary for use. Transporting you from that womb out to earth, then growing you up, keeping you from getting killed or killing yourself – you, a creation of His own design and making, not for display on a person but for personal display on behalf of His Kingdom as a gifted, brilliant light uniquely faceted to reveal hope, healing and transformation to the world.  Accepting God’s Son, doing so drawn by His grace, you are transported to Heaven and seated at His right hand – in Christ Jesus. Crucified with Christ and risen with Him. Wow – what a journey ! [ Ephesians 2:6]

It is also in these inevitable furnaces of life, that re-arrange a person from soft lead to a diamond. The Greek word for diamond is adamas or the word adamant meaning hard, or unconquerable.  We can be confident and comforted that in these furnaces we are encased In Christ Jesus, our own personal Kimberlite and as we are propelled through life, He not only surrounds us but more importantly, His Spirit lives within us. Unlike the formation of diamonds from heat and pressures from external forces – a Christ Follower’s brilliance shines through the pressure and heat from the inside out as Christ is more precisely engineered within His workmanship; the grace-birthed warrior inching closer to the goal of unconquerable. The process, never one of ease, is made more bearable by the Spirit’s power and counsel, while remaining steadfast in the knowledge of the infinite, immutable love of God.

As His masterpiece, you are a Thoroughbred, fashioned for His purposes through the paths that He set for you to walk until you are fully endued with knowledge and understanding on your purpose.  The word “understanding” is referenced in the book of Proverbs 52 times and means to actively seek discernment, mature comprehension and interpretation. Wisdom and understanding are two separate things. Understanding gives one the full ability to execute, strategize or even accurately communicate to others, involved in the assignment.  Might, a third crucial element for purpose, is the great power and strength to walk out understanding.  Might is what is required to erupt from the core up through the surface and into the place of accomplishment to finish the course.  When you pray for your purpose, O Diamond,  ask God for wisdom, understanding and the spirit of might!

Proverbs 4:7 AMP  “The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]! And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation]”.

As standard bearers, Master-worked for His Kingdom, we must reflect the brilliance of His glory, allowing His light to shine through us,  penetrating into the darkness of the earth.  We are new creations, re-engineered by God for the purposes of the work of His Kingdom.

#Christianblogger  #Author

Tracy L Gatewood
The Brilliance of His Glory: http://wp.me/p1zoxs-B5

Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
Website:  tracygatewood.com
Author: Doorways of Grace – Amazon
Facebook.com/TracyGatewoodChristianWriterandTeacher
God Bless America

 

 

Prayer and the Law of First Mention

05 Saturday Dec 2015

Posted by in Christianity, Emotions, Fear, Grace, Healing, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Tracy Gatewood, Unity

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, ,

IMG_1542(1)

God’s Kingdom system works with a set of guidelines much different than secular processes. Leaders are promoted through servant leadership principles, as well as heart attitudes versus achievement through measurable goals and increased revenue. Finances are considered God’s and as stewards, they are protected through a system of tithes and offerings (sowing and reaping).  Prayer is considered the vehicle of communication to God allowing for wants, needs and desires to be met. Prayer also releases blessings on others, healing, prosperity, safety and offers praise to God. The first nod to prayer is found in Genesis 4:26 AMP “And to Seth also a son was born whom he named Enosh. At that point men began to call (upon God) by the name of the Lord.” {Seth was the son of the first Adam }. Although no “how to” guide or FAQ was provided on prayer within the Old Testament scriptures, praying to God was and still is instinctive.

The first recorded prayer is found in Genesis 18 and resembles more of a negotiation between Abraham and God regarding Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham petitions God repeatedly to save these cities from destruction because there were righteous (in right standing with God) people among their numbers. Abraham and God had a unique level of relationship – more like old friends, freely conversant – casual yet respectful.

Genesis 18:23-28 “And Abraham came close and said, Will You destroy the righteous (those upright and in right standing) together with the wicked? Suppose there are in the city fifty righteous ; will You destroy the place and not spare it for the sake of the fifty righteous in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing – to slay the righteous fare as do the wicked! Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth execute judgment and do righteously? And the Lord said, If I find in the city of Sodom fifty righteous (upright and right standing) I will spare the whole place for their sake. Abraham answered, Behold now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord. If five of the fifty righteous should be lacking – will You destroy the whole city for lack of five? He said, If I find forty five, I will not destroy it.”

This negotiation  / prayer continues until the Lord agrees not to destroy these cities for even the sake of 10 found righteous.

Can this dialogue be considered prayer? I must say yes. Prayer is simply communicating with God and primarily in the form of petitions or requests to Him (James 5:13-18). Abraham was clearly petitioning for the survival of these cities which makes this the focus of the very first recorded prayer. A righteous man (and a prophet) stood and interceded for the cause of cities, assuming that there were righteous people living there because his relative Lot and family were in Sodom. We must therefore assume that a merciful God hears the prayers of the righteous on behalf of cities and nations even accepting prayer as the preferred method to achieve His results because of the example of the Law of First Mention.

Unfortunately for the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, God’s 2 angels in the appearance of men dispatched to find the 10 righteous were they themselves greeted at Lot’s by a homosexual mob surrounding his house, demanding the two come out and “play”. Genesis 19:4-5 { I am not making this up.} From that point it was Das Boot for the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. It is interesting to note that God, prior to the prayer conversation with Abraham, was already in the process of dispatching these 2 angels as intel to these cities to confirm what He already knew. Had the angels found righteousness among the people, they would have lived. Lot and his family’s lives were spared and were led from this city by the angels of God. (we know Lot’s wife did not make it out). The bible records Genesis 29, “When God ravaged and destroyed the cities of the plain, he (earnestly) remembered Abraham (imprinted and fixed him indelibly on His mind), and He sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when He overthrew the cities where Lot lived“. Although He did not see fit to spare these cities, God remembered Abraham’s prayer and took care of his family.

The Law of First Mention means that it is the first time an important word is used in scripture therefore it is the most complete and accurate meaning serving as a key to its understanding and a foundation for its biblical concept in subsequent chapters. The fundamental concept in the first occurrence remains dominant, and colors all later additions to that doctrine. The word Prayer is not used in Genesis 18 but the action of prayer is described. The first time the word prayer is mentioned is in Genesis when God Himself instructs Abimelech to ask Abraham to pray for him following his near miss in taking Sarah, Abraham’s wife, as his own concubine. God spoke to Abimelech in a dream and instructed him to restore Abraham’s wife so that Abraham would pray for him so that he might live. With God’s own acknowledgement of prayer and request to pray – no one can deny the weight that it carries on the earth and in the heavenlies. Even though Abraham lied to Abimelech about his wife (twice) – God still rescued him and brought him favor because of His established covenant. (see Genesis 15 ). This was a clear act of grace which was extended because of God’s covenant with Abraham.

The cities and nations of the world now more than ever before are in need of resources and protection. God has clearly given us a method to hear from Him on his strategies and to call in the forces necessary to equip us in this great time of need. Jesus Himself has paid the ultimate penalty to preserve and protect His own. It is time for the unified righteous to pray boldly and confidently as this would be the will of God in these heavy, tumultuous times. #pray #prayer #Abraham #Genesis #God  #localchurch #church

Tracy Gatewood
Copyright 2015 – Doorways of Grace  All Rights Reserved
Twitter @TracyLGatewood
Author: Doorways of Grace
Facebook: Tracy Gatewood Christian Writer and Teacher

 

 

Jesus – The Bishop of Our Souls

10 Saturday Oct 2015

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Emotions, Fear, Grace, Jesus

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Jesus teaching

Every person on Earth is comprised of three things:Spirit, Soul and Body.   A person’s Soul is comprised of the mind, and their will and the emotions. The soul is the epicenter for activity impacting the mind and mental health activity. If your soul is wrecked, then it impairs you mentally, emotionally and from there almost always transmits to the physical body. A Soul Under Control is the Key to maintaining a strong mind and top functioning mental health. 

There are 4 primary situations that can wreak havoc on the mind, will, and in the emotions (soul)  of any individual: Any experience involving Trauma, Shame, Rejection / Abandonment, and Abuse if not dealt with quickly can minimally take years from which to recover and in severe cases has the ability to change the entire trajectory and destiny of a person’s life. These occurrences will attack a person’s soul with such force it leaves them reeling, feeling shredded.  The Cross and the finished work of Jesus is the only pathway to Freedom.

Your Soul is a powerful force and should and can be in a place of peace and rest.There are important reasons the Lord exhorts us to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and take captive every thought. As the inevitable storms cross the bow of your boat, picture your boat as the Ark of Jesus. Storm clouds roll all ’round but because of the grace of God, you are safely, and securely lashed onto the Ark of Jesus Christ. When FEAR grips your mind, stand against it,  reminding yourself that you are in Christ Jesus and pray from a stand of VICTORY already won despite the circumstances. The devil is brilliant at distracting us from our priorities by throwing counterfeit issues into our paths. Don’t bite the bait, but swim straight,  remaining on course and past the dangling Hook of Distraction. Don’t take the bait of Satan.

1Peter 2:21 AMP: “When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; (when) He was abused and suffered, He made no threats of (vengeance) but He trusted (Himself and everything) to Him Who judges fairly. He personally bore our sins in His (own) body on the tree (as on the alter and offered Himself on it), that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.For you were going astray like (so many) sheep, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian (the Bishop) of your souls. {Isaiah 53:5,6 } ”

Upon His resurrection He ratified a New Covenant for us,  releasing His Holy Spirit into all that believe Him entrusting themselves to His authority and oversight. The Chief Shepherd, and Bishop of our Souls, can be trusted. When you focus your mind with full force on His Deity, His Loveliness, His Mercy and Kindness, the response in the Soul becomes one of rest and peace.

John 14:27 AMP: “Peace I leave with you; My (own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to You. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)”

Friends, if you know Jesus, He has actually already given you peace – you now own it, it is now yours for the taking but you must take.  Ask His Holy Spirit to protect your heart and mind and renounce any spirit of fear, or condemnation that you may have mistakenly accepted as yours. The Bishop is just one prayer away and is waiting to help you now.  Give your Soul a “Self-Check” . Are you dwelling in the Secret Place where you can remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty ?   (Psalm 91:1)  The Bishop is waiting for you there.

Tracy xoxo

Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
Sharing Link: http://wp.me/p1zoxs-vq
New Book: Doorways of Grace  is my personal testimony available on Amazon.
#stableandfixed

Jesus The Constant

22 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Emotions, Fear, Gospel of Grace, Grace, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, New Covenant, redemption, Sin, Tracy Gatewood

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Whitedove

Proverbs 15:4 AMP  “The Lord has made everything (to accommodate itself and contribute) to its own end and His own purpose – even the wicked (are fitted for their role) for the day of calamity and evil.”

In these apparent end of time days, it does provide comfort to understand that God has His hand on all things. When Judas betrayed Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, this set the stage for the final days culminating by setting into motion the redemptive agreement that was struck before the beginning of the Earth. God does have a Plan and He uses the good and the evil to bring about His own purposes. As undeniably wrong as it was for Judas to betray the Son of God over a few pieces of silver (or over anything), had Judas walked away from the high priests remaining with Jesus, the Plan of God and the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus to redeem all of mankind from the sin that separates would have at the very least been postponed. These acts of betrayal and sacrifice had to occur and did so in their correct time and season.

Proverbs 16:33 AMP ” The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord (even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him)”.

In these days of common unrest, rebellion and lawlessness where the entire world is boiling over and at breaking point, I must conclude that this is the way of the season and part of the Plan. And if that is so in this great unrest, I am even more glad that I know Jesus who is The Constant in this story, being with us from the beginning – even before people inhabited the Earth. He draws us to Himself as the Great Shepherd, knowing that His sheep hear His voice finding profound comfort, peace, safety and stability in and through Him. Those who know Him, The Constant, also understand Him as the great High Priest. He rose from the dead as High Priest. Interestingly, His grave clothes were linen – as were also the garments of the Levitical high priests of His day – as if those who buried Him in the tomb foreknew His Destiny.

Hebrews 6:5-6 AMP “So too Christ (the Messiah) did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed and exalted by Him Who said to Him, You are My Son: today I have begotten You. As He says also in another place, You are a Priest (appointed) forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 4:16 – 15 AMP “Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest who has (already) ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession (of faith in Him). For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but Who has been tempted in every respect as we are yet without sinning.”

But now in these days when God is using both good and evil to accomplish His purposes, we must be strong and not despair through the journey, understanding that He will bring all things together for good that know and love Him. As stated by the Apostle Paul: Romans 8:28 AMP We are assured and know that ( God being a Partner in their labor) all things work together and are (fitting into a Plan) for good to and for those who love God and are called according to (His design) and purpose.

The players in the Plan, both good and evil, have been set.  We must remember that we are the Citizens of Heaven, representatives of the Kingdom of God and worldwide Ambassadors in His Embassy, the Church.  This is not our home – our home is with Him.

#HOPE   #GRACE   #LOVE

Tracy Gatewood
Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
Website: http://www.tracygatewood.com
Author: Doorways of Grace
Amazon Author bio: http://www.amazon.com/Tracy-Gatewood/e/B00Y8Q4UT4

 

 

 

Fear and Your Self Deliverance

19 Sunday Jul 2015

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Emotions, Fear, Gospel of Grace, Grace, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, redemption, Sin, Tracy Gatewood

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Jesus and Thorns

Fear University
Session #7 


ALL Christians have the ability to self-deliver from mental and physical illness and disease through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. 

In August 2010, I had a very unexpected technicolor encounter arriving special delivery via Holy Spirit showing Jesus on the cross, as He revealed to me that His work was indeed finished. Wide awake, I watched as Jesus gave up His own Spirit, signifying that He gave it up of His own will (dismissing His Spirit) and did so when He was ready.  His life was not taken from Him, but His work was complete. Since that time,  I have inched my way forward through teaching, writing and learning more about this grace but have also been impacted mostly by the healing component of grace.

God’s Healing Generals: Oral Roberts, T.L. Lowery, Lester Sumrall, Amy Semple McPherson, Kathryn Kuhlman, John G. Lake and Smith Wigglesworth transferred their powerful healing anointing into people in need. These are the selfless greats that worked diligently to heal thousands for God. The utilization of saints to impart healing miracles still works today but by God’s grace, the revelation has come to light that the Healer Himself lives inside each of us who accepts Jesus as Savior and it is God’s Holy Spirit that will do His work from the inside out. God’s Spirit can hold His own internal Camp Meeting on your behalf.

When Jesus exchanged his life for your life on a cross at Calvary, He purchased for you an eternal covenant that included divine healing and the right to good physical health and a sound mind. In my observation, almost all health issues generate in the mind and flow to the body.  People sin and can give legal right to a spirit of disease and infirmity.  You must understand that God works through a legal process using blood as the currency of Heaven. When Jesus shed His blood for you, His blood was infinitely more valuable than the blood of any Old Testament sacrificed animal. His death and resurrection was required to be your once and for all sacrifice.

Through the actual process used to redeem sin through Jesus, He accepted the assignment to go through a horrific scourging before He was put on the cross. A crown of thorns was shoved onto His head, mocking Him as King of the Jews. Every place that blood poured from Jesus’ body purchased our legal right from God to be free from the penalty of death by sin from the beginning of our life to the end. We can be healed and walk in health; mind and body because of the scourging of His body.  To embrace the concept of what Jesus did for us is fairly simple – but the hardest part is having the faith to believe that it works.

When a person accepts Christ, his/ her spirit comes alive or is activated. The Holy Spirit takes up residence within and assumes His role as Comforter, Counselor, Teacher, Helper and Healer. He is also the Administrator and Coordinator of all of the gifts. When the Holy Spirit sets up shop within you – a whole host of marvelous things can now unfold, not the least of these is calling upon Him as Healer to apprehend spirits that cause emotional / mental concerns as well as physical. (Cancer is a demonic spirit and by and through the grace established through Jesus, a person may be delivered.)

Through your authority in Jesus, your body, when spoken over,  must submit to the Spirit even down to the cellular level for your health.  You can actually speak to your systems (immune, metabolic, etc), chemicals (commanding hormones, etc to align), organs to calibrate to normal levels.  You can release a command, even a decree to your mind and body to align with God’s perfect will in the name of Jesus and by the blood of Jesus. Most people will think this is crazy.  Most certainly, there are doctors called into God’s service to tend to His people as healing missionaries, but none of them can conduct a creative miracle or a healing miracle  – these only occur through God’s Spirit.

Mark 3:27AMP
But no one can go into a strong man’s house and ransack his household good’s right and left and seize them as plunder unless he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may thoroughly plunder his house.

If you are ready to plunder physical and mental/ emotional disease and infirmity, the first step is identifying then binding the offender. All emotions are spirit based: fear, condemnation, panic attacks, bitterness, jealousy, trauma, anxiety, depression. Life for us mere mortals can become extremely challenging, bringing with it legitimate reasons to experience any of the above but it is when these initial responses continue on for days, into weeks or worse, turn into months or years, is when there is a demonic component and we must stop, then take notice and action.  Redirecting our minds back into proper alignment through reading the word of God and understanding His deep, immutable love and grace, dismantling the house of the Strong man (binding) and acknowledging the work of Jesus Christ, arrests the demonic and produces freedom. When you pray,  pray like you have the rights of ownership because you do by His blood. Pray like you own the title deed to your healing because you do.

It is important for those with understanding to pray for others. Many Christians do not feel good enough or adequate to take this step. You can pray for someone despite your failings, or any shortcomings. Don’t let satan convince that you are an unworthy vessel. You were made clean through the power of the cross of Christ once and for all. There are natural consequences of sin, no doubt, but your spirit is totally clean and pure. Do not allow yourself to get down into condemnation or false teaching on this topic. We connect with God with our spirit to His Spirit.

Each day focus on the loveliness of Jesus, His purity, His beauty and His perfect, unyielding love for you. Speak to Him and ask Him to transform your mind, calibrating it to His mind of perfect peace, of love, of tranquility. Fix your eyes and thoughts squarely on Jesus. By elevating your mind above your health and healing needs, concentrating on Him relieves burdens and breaks yokes in ways we cannot through our own thoughts and self analysis.

Jesus bore your sickness, disease, infirmities and emotions on the cross so that you would be free. Live free.

Follow Me on Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
2015 Book: Doorways of Grace
Sharing Link:  http://wp.me/p1zoxs-u0
Related Post: Fear University Session #6  http://wp.me/p1zoxs-tS

Fear University is a 7 Part Series. Parts 1-5 are featured on my Facebook account and not available on WordPress. I have also written recently:

Healing and the Armor of God
https://wordpress.com/post/tracylgatewood.wordpress.com/1814

Prayer for the Armor of God
https://wordpress.com/post/tracylgatewood.wordpress.com/1844

Healing and the Armor of God prayer

07 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by in Armor of God, Blood of Jesus, Bride of Christ, Christianity, Emotions, Fear, Gospel of Grace, Grace, Healing, Healing and the Armor of God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Leadership, New Covenant, redemption, Tracy Gatewood

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Armor of God image

Few of us live with the reality that there is a spirit realm that has an ability to impact our minds through thoughts, ideas and suggestions. All thoughts, good and bad, right and wrong are not all completely generated from within our minds. Because our flesh has actually been circumcised – cut away, made separate from us [ Colossians 2:11]  we can, through the power of the Holy Spirit and because of Christ’s sacrifice take dominion and authority over our flesh and this disruptive spirit realm.

The Apostle Paul instructed the Church at Ephesus to put on the complete Armor of God as a primary source of resistance in combat against “spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) spheres” v6:12 AMP. “ Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day (of danger) and having done all ( the crisis demands), to stand ( firmly in place). v6:13 AMP  Notice the Apostle Paul says here to stand, so we must be able to do it. We must stand rooted from a position of victory, not pleading from a defeated stance. Our victory has already been won by Jesus.

A little known truth is that most disease begins from within the mind and travels through the body wrecking health – either through emotional spirits (ie fear, bitterness, condemnation, anxiety, trauma, shame, abuse)  or generational spirits that repeat patterns of disease from prior generations. Through prayer, we can take authority over spirits of disease and infirmity and the Spirit of God will move forward to do His work [ Matthew 12:28 ]. Like prayer, the partaking of the Lord’s Supper should become a daily part of times of devotion; properly discerning the Body and expressing gratitude and appreciation to Jesus for the lashes that He took, to purchase health and healing. The blood spilled from His head by the crown of thorns purchased healing, and restoration for our minds to enable rest. Prayer and the Lord’s Supper are readily available and much easier than driving to a pharmacy.

Fear is enemy #1. The spirit of fear is the red carpet on which the enemy makes a grand entrance to walk out onto the stage of a person’s mind. Fear is like heavenly oxygen to the enemy, an atmosphere in which he thrives. Both fear and condemnation open portals from hell, allowing the raw sewage of paranoia, bitterness, anger, malice, mistrust, confusion and even lust, and addictions to pour forth into a person.  It is for these reasons, Jesus commands us not to fear. If we remain free of fear, the enemy has nothing on which to grab hold to move us into poor decisions, and life altering reactions, or to damage our emotional or physical health.

The following is Ephesians 6:14 -18 from the Amplified version which highlights the key components of armor as described by Paul:

Eph v6:14
Stand therefore, (hold your ground), having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put the breastplate of integrity, and of moral rectitude and right standing with God.
The belt of Truth is Jesus who is the Truth and the One who holds the armor together, keeping it securely in place. The breastplate of righteousness guards the heart and chest cavity.  For those who have accepted Jesus as Savior, we are the righteousness of God by faith in Christ Jesus, so therefore in right standing with God. Righteousness is a free gift that cannot be earned, nor can it be lost. Guarding the heart, which is the gateway to the soul (the soul is comprised of the mind, will and emotions), could be second in importance only to the direct protection of the mind.

Eph v6:15
And having shod your feet in preparation (to face the enemy firm-footed stability, the promptness and the readiness produced by the good news) of the Gospel of peace.

Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace. This rich Jewish word also means wholeness, safety, completeness, perfection, prosperity. Strong’s Concordance further states that shalom means rest and the absence of agitation or discord.  Jesus is Shar Shalom, the Prince of Peace and the Prince of Rest. Jesus bequeathed peace to His followers [John 14:7]. We possess it and own it by right as a gift from Him. When you are prepared you can be at peace – in peace there is no fear, and without fear, the enemy has nothing on which to grasp.

For many of us, it takes more than just the knowledge that Jesus gave us peace to actually be peaceful. Enter God’s Holy Spirit to bring a person into rest as the comforter. I love Philipians 4:6-7 AMP Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace (shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort is, that peace) which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Eph v6:16
Lift up over all the {covering} shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked (one).
As previously mentioned, our minds can become mine fields of thoughts, ideas and suggestions that are not our own nor are they from God. It is our responsibility to fix our focus on Jesus, keeping minds focused on things above and not beneath while standing on faith in His finished work. Faith defined in the Amplified is the leaning of the entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power.

Have you ever put out a candle with a wet paper napkin and heard that quick sizzle sound when the candle snuffs? That is a quench. Your faith acts as a shield around your mind, extinguishing harmful effects of negative thoughts, keeping them from penetrating further into your soul. Ask the Holy Spirit to apprehend every spirit that is not from the spirit of God out of your mind. This works.

Eph v6:17
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
Like Hebrew word Peace (Shalom), the word Salvation (Sozo) has multiple meanings translated from the Greek: healed, made whole, forgiven from sin, saved, deliverance, financial prosperity. It is a beautiful word of hope. We are seated in heavenly places and free in Christ Jesus, holding all hope; a confident expectation of good throughout any  circumstance. When the Holy Spirit revealed to you the truth about Jesus and you asked Him into your heart, that same revealed truth and acceptance of your willingness to be healed can through that same action provides your healing. The word Sozo means salvation and healing. Your mind is made whole, and healed by putting on the helmet of knowledge that Jesus’ death and resurrection was all that is required for your restoration, and that the blood of Jesus will re calibrate your mind and emotions to a state of rest and freedom if it is applied.

The Sword of the spirit is the Word of God and one of the two offensive weapons in the Armor of God prayer.  Reading the word of God provokes a cleansing action over your mind, rinsing away dust, debris and toxic thinking that collects on a daily basis. Reading the Word aloud allows not only you to hear it but you-know-who hears it as well. Significant power is released into the atmosphere when speaking God’s Word aloud. In God’s Word there is Spirit and life! The Word, and the Blood and Name of  Jesus are the most powerful tools of weaponry for a Believer. No foe or circumstance can withstand these three sources of Holy Spirit packed dynamite.

Eph v6:18
Pray at all times (on every occasion and in every season) in the Spirit, with all manner of prayer and entreaty. To that end, keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding on behalf of all the Saints (God’s consecrated people).
Praying in the Spirit refers to a heavenly language, or a prayer language, that is only revealed to God and unlocks great mysteries in and by the Spirit. We are exhorted by the Apostle Paul to use our prayer language at every opportunity and to intercede for fellow Believers. To intercede means to stand in the gap for a person, nation, or organization. We are to be very intentional with our prayer habits and intercession. We live now under the Eternal Covenant of Grace, leaning with full confidence into Jesus and the blessed assurances that have been purchased for us.

Here are the verses in sequence without my comments:  Ephesians 6:10-18 AMP

10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

11 Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

13 Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.

16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God.

18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).

Tracy Gatewood  Alabama
TWITTER: @TracyLGatewood
FACEBOOK: Tracy Gatewood Christian Writer and Teacher
SHARING LINK: https://tracylgatewood.wordpress.com/2015/06/07/healing-and-the-armor-of-god-prayer/
Copyright Doorways of Grace Ministry – All Rights Reserved