Category Archives: Tracy Gatewood Alabama

Grace and the Law of First Mention

27 Monday Feb 2017

Posted by in Christianity, Grace, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, Law of First Mention, Leadership, New Covenant, Tracy Gatewood Alabama

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The Law of First Mention is commonly looked upon by biblical scholars and teachers as the place that the word seen for the first time sets the standard for the remaining references throughout scripture. As we know, the Bible is penned through men by the Holy Spirit and in the unchanging mind of God – a word remains in context from the first time spoken or mentioned. The word Grace can act as both Noun and Verb. The first mention of Grace is found Genesis 6:8 in the story of Noah and his family. Gen.6:8  “But Noah found grace (favor) in the eyes of the Lord“.  (Verb Grace – a verb you may recall is an ACTION word)

GRACE IS A GIFT
Like Abraham, Noah was found by God to be a just and righteous man. Gen.6:9 Noah walked in intimate relationship with God. The Lord gave to Noah explicitly detailed instruction on how to build an ark that would house Noah’s own family and pairs of every animal species – saving them from a destruction designed to wipe out an entire generation for their wickedness. A holy re-set on all of humanity.

The most used definition for Grace is ‘undeserved, unmerited favor‘. It denotes a gift from God, only obtainable by His enduring mercy. Grace cannot be purchased or performed, it is purely an extension of His loving nature. God’s love for us is far reaching and immutable.

Romans 11:6 “ But if it is by grace (His unmerited favor and graciousness) it is no longer conditioned on works or anything men have done. Otherwise grace would no longer be grace [ it would be meaningless]”.

JESUS AS TRUTH AND GRACE  –  JESUS AS TRUTH AND FAVOR
Has God revised His context of Grace since it was ushered in by the Last Adam – Jesus ? Christ Jesus is the actual embodiment of Truth and Grace.  If Romans 11:6 is accurate, where grace is not conditioned on works – Noah’s righteousness (right standing) came through His close relationship with God Himself and God’s own knowledge of Noah’s heart. When given the option to choose, God knew that Noah would be the one to move forward on this critical mission. There was little margin for error on the assignment.

The first mention of grace refers to how God saw Noah – Noah found grace (favor) in the eyes of  God.  Jesus, Abraham, Moses and Noah all found favor with God and each were given world changing assignments. All of these men were seen as righteous and  possessing mature character traits.   If grace is ‘undeserved, unmerited’  (one cannot earn it)  would it be fair to say that to just be nominated for the Assignment we must still have our attention focused on Him, possessing mature character and be in very close relationship? Devotion would be an even  better word. Devotion prioritizing Him. This involves no striving or work – it is simply a completely yielded, love relationship with the Father resulting in continual restful responses of service and obedience out of love and respect for who He is and what He has done. Being in position for the Assignment definitely requires faith –

Hebrews 11:7  [ Prompted] by faith, Noah being forewarned  by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for the deliverance for his own family. By this [his faith which relied on God]  he passed judgement and sentence on the world’s unbelief and became an heir and possessor of righteousness (that possession of being right into which god puts the person who has faith).

BEING SEEN WITH FAVOR BY GOD
Jesus as we know lived an irrefutably righteous life – much more so than Noah. When Noah “found favor in the eyes of God” he was not seeking it nor was God’s grace lost until it found Noah. The action of God’s grace was always there and still is. Jesus like Noah was favored by God and given an assignment that required complete focus, determination and rigorous discipline to complete. Jesus like Noah remained in very close communication and relationship with God – the Amplified states Noah walked in ‘habitual fellowship’ with God and we know Jesus did as well.  Jesus like Noah was honored by God with a Covenant (promise, pledge). Noah’s covenant covered him and his family’s safety and a very large zoo’s worth of animals.  God’s Covenant with Jesus served to save all of mankind from eternal damnation by exchanging our own sin for His sinless body and blood, retroactive from the beginning of time to the end of time.  Both assignments changing the course of mankind – one on earth the other for all eternity.

Should we consider Jesus as all Truth and Favor ? To have grace is to have favor and to know Jesus intimately is to have both of these. I could write a number of articles just on rounding out the favor in Jesus.  Interestingly,  Jesus never mentioned the word Grace (Charis in Greek) in His teachings however His actions of grace are abundantly evident throughout His teachings and interactions with people. He modeled grace and illustrated grace repeatedly in His spoken parables (prodigal son, woman at the well, the demoniac). Grace (Noun) was the word used liberally by the Apostle Paul to describe Christ Jesus and as Paul traveled he greeted people with Grace (Action) teaching people the meaning of God’s gospel of grace as embodied in His Son Jesus. Jesus was (and is) Grace and Paul had the responsibility to draw out the meaning of Grace.

His Grace is Active.

Acts 20:32
And now I commend you to God [placing you in His protective, loving care] and [I commend you] to the word of His grace [the counsel and promises of His unmerited favor]. His grace is able to build you up and to give you the [rightful] inheritance among all those who are sanctified [that is, among those who are set apart for God’s purpose—all believers].

Tracy Gatewood
Alabama

Twitter:  @TracyLGatewood
Facebook.com/TracyGatewoodChristianWriterTeacher
Author: Doorways of Grace, available on Amazon
Sharing ShortLink: http://wp.me/p1zoxs-198
Related Post:  The Assignment:  http://wp.me/p1zoxs-4C

The gift of salvation is a Grace gift – as one is drawn by the Holy Spirit to receive Jesus as Savior – there is no work or striving involved. It is simply a decision – an act of will, a surrender. Have you prayed to receive Jesus ?
Eph 2:8 For it is by grace [ God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgement and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own efforts] but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God.

A #Prayer on the #ArmorofGod

14 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Armor of God, Christianity, Gospel of Grace, Healing and the Armor of God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Keys to the Kingdom, Uncategorized, Wisdom

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The following is a prayer that is written for you and based on Ephesians 6:10 – 18 as well as the New Covenant promises made to all who believe in Jesus Christ. I hope that you will print this prayer and read it aloud as part of your daily reflection.

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Heavenly Father,  I come before you with praise and thanksgiving for the many blessings that you have given me. It is your desire that I walk by faith and not by sight throughout all circumstances, standing on the promises of your Word which exhort me to put on complete armor (v6:12AMP)  so that I may stand firmly, resisting every intrusion of the enemy, drawing strength by the power of your Holy Spirit. I cast every care onto Jesus who has by His eternal blood, rescued me from every contagion, all lack, pestilence, and calamity.  Your Spirit is my strength in every time of need.

Now Father, having done everything to stand through all danger, I tighten the Belt of Truth around my waist that secures this armor and look to Jesus who is all Truth and Grace as He stands victorious on my behalf. I have been crucified in Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

Confidently, I put on the Breastplate of Righteousness which diligently guards my heart from condemnation and accusation as well as protects my chest cavity. I am the righteousness of God by faith in Christ Jesus, seated in Heavenly places at the Father’s right hand (2 Cor 5:21, Ephesians 2:6) therefore I am in right standing with God because of Christ’s sacrifice and my relationship to Him.

Gratefully, I put on the Shoes of Peace that allow me to stand firmly and with stability with no fear and in true understanding of the grace given to me by my Lord Jesus Christ. I also remind myself that you Lord are my Defender.

I lift my Faith as a Shield to quench every destructive emotional spirit sent to me by the enemy. By faith I lean my entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness.

I place the Helmet of Salvation and hope on my head to guard my mind and believe always in a confident expectation of good in every situation, praising God for my wholeness, restoration, financial protection, and deliverance from all evil. I ask for the manifestation of every blessing given to Abraham as a joint heir of his Covenant which has been purchased by the precious blood of Jesus.

With confidence and respect, I wield the Sword of the Spirit, which is the inerrant Word of God. I ask you Father to enable me to use your Word to defend me from Satan and for the purpose of claiming your promises.

Finally, I Pray in the Spirit in every season and persist in watching out for fellow believers, praying for them with depth and intensity as your Holy Spirit leads me. Thank you for giving me a burden for people who do not know your Son.  I ask for 20/20 vision in the realm of the Spirit to discern your wisdom and your will for me as well as for others.

I ask all these things in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ my Lord. 
AMEN (So be it)

Copyright 2015 Doorways of Grace Ministry
All Rights Reserved

Twitter: @TracyLGatewood

Related Post:
Healing and the Armor of God – a teaching post on the Armor of God   http://wp.me/p1zoxs-tg

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

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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
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You Can Do It Yourself

28 Tuesday Oct 2014

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

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Moses

Young children depend on adults to accomplish most every task on their behalf. As children grow they develop skills allowing them to complete a wider array of responsibilities without the aid of an adult. Most often a parent will provide oversight as a child performs a task over and over again until the responsibility can be entrusted to them to fully execute. It could be something simple, tying a shoelace, or a much more complicated assignment – walking alone to catch a school bus – but at some point a parent will look to the child and say, “OK, loved one, you can do this yourself.”

In the same way, our Father wants us to grow in knowledge of our own capabilities as His beloved children. Jesus’ sacrifice, has opened a gateway of blessings for you and for your use. Jesus has left His Holy Spirit to train, teach, guide, comfort and counsel – and to administrate blessings to God’s people. God’s Holy Spirit administrates and coordinates the work that the now resurrected Jesus finished on the cross. Christ Jesus is not walking the earth, but seated at the right hand of His Father, mediating the Eternal Covenant (Agreement) for which He gave His life while also interceding on our behalf.

Hebrews 7:25 AMP Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them.

We have been given His Spirit to assist in every aspect of living; to enhance and order our lives, enabling us to reach our destiny and purposes for the greater good of others.

Getting Free Can Be Beautifully Simple

Two primary benefits that the Spirit can administrate to an individual are healing and deliverance. Because God’s Spirit lives within us, we have the power and we have been given the authority to thwart disease, infirmity and emotional illnesses within our own bodies and minds; ie prolonged depression, suicidal tendencies, extreme and protracted fear and anxiety, even severe psychological conditions.

Praying to release healing is different than simply pleading with God to be healed – prayer of this type spoken aloud requires faith and understanding in the grace that has been provided through the stripes that Jesus bore, the eternal power of His blood and acknowledgment of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 3:13-14 AMP Christ purchased our freedom (redeeming us) from the curse (doom) of the Law (and its condemnation) by (Himself) becoming a curse for us, for it is written (in the Scriptures), Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree is crucified); Deuteronomy 21:23) To that end that through (their receiving) Christ Jesus, the blessing (promised) to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might (all) receive (the realization of ) the promise of the (Holy) Spirit.

Despite “religious” activity that does more to complicate the benefits of grace and the gift of the finished work, what is illustrated in scripture by Jesus with healing is really so beautifully simple. He did not require healing retreats, counseling referrals, hand holding, or even hand-outs. Jesus simply prayed with faith and love while oftentimes, laying hands on the afflicted person to transfer His healing power. The Holy Spirit within us is all that is needed to exert the same power that Jesus Himself has for all mankind. I believe there is one thing that Jesus wants you to know about praying for your own healing. By partnering with His Holy Spirit in faith-filled prayer, “You can do it yourself“.


Boot Camp with the Master Teacher

I have walked my own personal journey of revelation on this very important subject. Over a 10 year season, the Lord was gracious to heal me of 3 medically documented conditions; a misaligned hip turning arthritic, degenerative disc disease and a migraine headache / vertigo combination, starting out as a virus that lasted 5 years. Each time these conditions were overcome by prayer; twice as the Holy Spirit acted through my own prayers and once by a well-timed intercessor. These conditions have never returned.

During another 2.5 year Boot Camp season of trial, the Holy Spirit again trained me to enlist him to arrest emotional conditions of the mind through prayer; panic, torment, fear, depression, suicidal thoughts, and despair relating to poverty, lack, rejection, trauma, shame and abuse – and a rarely used, biblical referenced “technique” of identifying an offending emotional spirit and binding it.(Mark 3: 26-28) In wrestling with the spirit realm, binding is the “flying cobra hold” of healing prayer. Binding disengages a spirit, and renders it powerless.

The Time is Now

Can we collectively embrace that a wise and loving Father would create for us a way by which we can walk in fullness and joy to freely live the radical message of the Good News? If there was something consistently better, more accurate and more powerful than Jesus’ stripes to achieve our healing, wouldn’t it make more sense for God to point us in that direction rather than ask His Son to endure 40 lashes or wear a crown of thorns for our healing and deliverance?

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.

In 2010, there were 35.1 million inpatient discharges in the U.S., 100 million outpatient discharges and 51.4 million procedures performed in our hospitals. If even 15% of these intakes were avoided by Christians taking hold of God’s supernatural promises and benefits for them, that would be a tremendous victory. We must have resolve and determine to take hold of what Jesus has already done for us – He has gone before to prepare a grace-way for His people, just as God did for Moses and the Israelites. The present “Red Sea” of disease and infirmity, seemingly incapable of navigation, can be parted by rejecting fear, embracing faith in the work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit’s power, a power that lives within every person that has a relationship with Jesus. It is important now, more than ever, that we learn to walk out what Jesus has given us as a gift from the Father

Embracing the Gospel of Grace

04 Sunday May 2014

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

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Tracy Gatewood

Since the summer of 2010, I have been held captive by this topic of the Gospel of grace. The true meaning of grace has powerful, paradigm shifting ramifications that are impacting the worldwide church by bringing new and deeper revelation and understanding to each triune member of the Godhead. Has God held back this revelation of grace to release it across the earth now as a final attempt at bringing the highest numbers of people into His Kingdom just before Christ’s return?

1. The complete understanding of true grace is imparted by the Holy Spirit and comes through divine revelation.

I believe this to be the essential piece to the grace-understanding puzzle and the primary missing piece for church leaders that are teaching this from the mixed grace perspective or a mixture of law-based grace. When this true understanding is revealed by God one is shown clearly first the complete truth of the finished work of Christ and immediately following, is given the revelation of the power of the blood of Jesus. The two go hand in hand and receiving this is the first step towards understanding true grace. It is the recipient’s “Damascus Road” experience where blind eyes are opened. Those that have experienced this will immediately relate. This divine process makes it more difficult for those that have received this revelation of true grace – it is hard to be a pioneer of truth – everyone kicks against it, but when this understanding is received, you know that it did not come from you because you had never heard it taught. Why the revelation of true grace has only been doled out to so few is unsure but God’s call is irrevocable and His appointed teachers must teach. Studying this topic correctly takes ample time and requires the continual flow of revelation from the Holy Spirit. It’s not like studying for one stand-alone message or even a message series – the study that does this subject total justice requires immersion; not a sprinkle or even a dunk, you have to buy a snorkel and plan to stay underwater to study its depths for months into years to grasp the rich treasuries of the mysteries of Jesus and His grace.

Every leader is given particular insight into a subject or a category that entails an important assignment and task to complete. It is my observation that the teaching of true grace has been assigned to a very small number of people in this particular season to carry forward the work of the Apostle Paul, and they alone are the ones to teach it. Time is short and it is important that leaders remain in the lanes of their assignment.

2. If someone has correct knowledge of true grace, they understand the reality of living by the Spirit whom does not condone sin or evil behavior. Holy Spirit always reveals Jesus.

The primary argument that I hear repeatedly from people lacking grace revelation is something that I never witness happen among any true grace follower. They warn that a person walking in true grace (which they refer to as radical grace) has disregard for God’s laws and commands and because they do not adhere to God’s commands they consequently could never walk in the blessings of God nor could they ever live a Godly lifestyle and could be in grave danger of turning and walking back toward eternal damnation. The Law, of which there were 613 including the Big 10, was given by God and all were good, holy and just but these Laws were not meant to govern Righteous people or those that believe in Jesus and are under the New Covenant. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and He did. The old law based covenant is obsolete and now there is a much better way. The righteous are to be governed and directed by the Spirit. God has written His laws on the tablets of our hearts and they are no longer written on stone.

True grace acknowledges Jesus’ finished work and from His resurrection was birthed the Holy Spirit who each of us have within to rely on as comforter, advocate, teacher, revelator and holy internal transformational leader. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to transform into the likeness of Christ. He is the most underutilized and misunderstood member of the Trinity and He is for us RIGHT NOW. Grace teaches us to live with Holy Spirit dominant in our minds, lives and hearts daily, asking Him to take over so we can fully live the gift of what God has given to us through the death and resurrection of His Son. Does this sound like a plot to instill spiritual anarchy throughout the ranks of Christendom across the globe? No – it is the highest degree of spiritual maturity, requiring an uncommon relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

3. An understanding of true grace requires an understanding of the combination of faith and grace as the two work together and in balance.

Jesus cleared the way to the throne of God by His blood acting as the propitiation for all sin from the very beginning of the world to the very end of time and there is nothing we must add to this or can do to make God love us more. Any such action would rank higher than the blood of His Son, a Deity, whose blood was completely sinless. (Have you ever pondered where Jesus’ blood came from? It was the blood of God –) An action list includes fasting and tithing although these are healthy personal disciplines but never should be done in an effort to make God move or to get His attention. For example, giving a first fruit tithe acts as a reminder to place the church first and places one’s confidence on God because of Jesus’ sacrifice and finished work. Provision was covered in the atonement. He is Jehovah Jireh the Provider. Don’t try to get God to move by giving the tithe. Tithing acknowledges in confidence that He will provide and in fact, He already has. By faith in His work, have an expectation that Jesus will “deliver the goods” and right on time. In fact, be expectant that He will deliver them exceedingly, abundantly more than could ever be asked for or thought. Now that’s faith.

As a personal illustration, my very first real estate sales transaction was $5,150,000 and that’s the truth.My very first transaction ever was a 7000 SF restaurant lease listing that was dropped into my lap that I leased to a respected, well-established concept. On the sales transaction, I received a hot tip on a corner lot from the Holy Spirit and acted upon it quickly and that is all the credit I can take for this event. Every conceivable novel-like twist and turn happened during the process for one solid year, but I remained steadfast in my belief that God had told me what to do and that Jesus had done the work for it to be delivered. If I repeated, I am the righteousness of God by faith in Christ Jesus once, I prayed it a hundred times to drive that concept deep into my own spirit, ease the fear and to bring me back to rest. The righteousness of Jesus has been imputed from Him into me and I am blessed and favored by God not because of what I do because of what Jesus did for me what I could never do on my own. Pay day was a blessed event.

Learn how to listen to the Holy Spirit and gain understanding of your responsibility of resting in Jesus’ Finished work. God gives us the power to get wealth. Begin to leverage grace through faith in Jesus finished work in your own life and watch as God brings you through a journey of growth in the knowledge of His Son individually customized for you. God wants to bless your life so you can be a blessing to others which expands His Kingdom so none shall be lost. Ask the Holy Spirit for favor in the marketplace and favor in the ministry place – He is the one that grants it.

4. Living with grace consciousness rather than sin consciousness elevates God to His rightful status, the One who loves us without condition and calls us to Him as His Beloveds.

The gospel message (if told accurately and received confidently), can be enough to break yokes of bondage, drive out demons, heal sick, restore peace to minds and set people free. Teaching the people about their victory in Jesus, providing a clear explanation of how He conquered the devil, combined with teaching God’s promises in these areas works miracles. The Holy Spirit shows up when the Gospel message is preached and His presence is all that is necessary because He is the one with the power. Jesus never condemned or struck fear in the hearts of those He healed because He is the embodiment of grace and truth. He walked the talk because He is the talk. He is the Word. The Word states you are seated with Christ Jesus in heavenly places. Could you be seated in heavenly places if you were a Sinner? No, God in His perfection cannot cohabit with sin. You are a precious, powerful Saint so embrace that and press through the fear and the condemnation and use this power given to you – you already have everything you need to be an overcomer. Your spirit was made righteous and perfectly holy when you accepted Jesus. You are a powerhouse! Isn’t this more effective than wallowing in the negative, shaming perception of seeing yourself as a sinner? Practically no one wants to remain in bondage. Faith and confidence supplies the grease on the wheel allowing you to turn faster from what you were doing, or repent – Metanoia – in the Greek, which simply means to change your mind. Move toward Jesus and get yourself out of the pit.

Aside from protecting the presence of God and guarding the Holy Spirit’s work within a church, it is a primary responsibility of a pastor to point always to Jesus – not to raise awareness of sin-consciousness, or modify behavior, but to put the focus on Jesus. Resting in Jesus and the truth of the gospel steers the mind around the condemnation that surrounds the sin. Perfect love, which God has for people, casts out fear – spend time focusing on God’s love and watch fear and condemnation dissipate, then move out.

5. Using true grace in intercession means you are always standing firmly from a position of victory already won and never from a defeated stance. Hallelujah!

Pray like you have already won what you are praying for. That’s right – you now have a duty to focus on God and praise Him for what He has already done for you based on the atonement and the finished work of His Son. Stop begging God to make you well, whole, provided for, peaceful or free. Jesus died to pay for what you need then went down to hell and beat the devil on his own turf. The proof of ratification of this new covenant was Jesus’ resurrection. It truly is Finished. Offense, think offense Could there be a stronger offensive line than Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit? Stop making yourself crazy. Continue to pray against demonic hindrances and wait for the need to manifest. Picture yourself as a Knight with armor, fully protected, with large bugs flying against your armor and bouncing off – that is what you are in the spirit realm as you remain covered in the blood of Jesus. Stop giving the demons more credit than the blood of Christ. They are defeated nuisances that can only harm if you allow them to harm which typically comes through attacks in the mind.

Take communion every day, thanking Jesus for His great sacrifice while recognizing that His body and His blood are within you providing every single thing necessary to protect and defend, provide, heal, make whole, and make right. Fear is a destroyer and is the devil’s favorite hiding place. When he makes a Grand Entrance, it is always walking on the red carpet of fear. Guard your heart and your mind by bringing back to daily remembrance the finished work of Christ Jesus and walk in faith of the grace He has placed on your destiny.

Tracy Gatewood
Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
Wordpress: https://tracylgatewood.wordpress.com
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An updated version of this article has been posted to my Hubpages.com account.

Superman, Jesus, and the Justice of God

20 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Bride of Christ, Christianity, Gospel of Grace, Grace, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Leadership, New Covenant, redemption, the Spirit, Tracy Gatewood, Tracy Gatewood Alabama

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DSCN2612-Jesus (2)
Man of Steel trailer  http://youtu.be/T6DJcgm3wNY?t=2s
Click the Trailer Link First

Psalm 91:17:  May the Favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands ~ yes, establish the work of our hands.

Superman (not his given name which was Star Trek-ish) was sent to Earth as an infant by his scientist father just before their home planet of Krypton was destroyed. His father’s remark upon releasing his son was, “My hopes and dreams travel with you.” The story recounts that the son was discovered and adopted by a Kansas farmer and his wife. They raised the child with the name, Clark Kent, who grew as a youth possessing good character and a strong moral compass. His parents began to feel that their child was the answer to society’s problems and that he was sent to them for a very special purpose. The young man aspired to something greater than his peers and much more than what society intended for him. Very early in life he began to display superhuman abilities, which upon reaching maturity, resolved to use for the benefit of humanity in the make believe American city of Metropolis. This bi-vocational crusader worked as a journalist for the Daily Planet, providing Clark a first hand view of crime scenes and a closer proximity for impromptu tussles with arch villain Lex Luthor. His compassion and love for people were evident to all. He possessed an underlying passion that made him known for Justice. Psalm 89:14  Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of God’s throne.

II Corinthians 3:2 No you yourselves are our letter of recommendation (our credentials), written in your hearts, to be known (perceived, recognized) and read by everybody. You show and make obvious that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, not written with ink but with (the) Spirit of (the) living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

For it is by and through an accepting Father when we accept His Son that we are loved with a depth and a height and a width we cannot fathom, an infinite love like the deepest ocean.  As those who know Jesus, we are individual testimonies for God; testimonies to His goodness and the message of His grace – a human sign and wonder for everyone in a sphere of influence or community to see as a flashpoint of light in a surrounding darkness. Imagine if you had that much influence over someone’s soul and spirit that everywhere they went they were a walking billboard for who you are and what you could do for them. You would wish to insure that they were seen as nothing less than Royalty, walking in favor and blessing, because after all ~ they represent your creation and your Kingdom.

Enter Jesus. In this great mystery, God Himself divested all of His glory and Godliness, and took on human form to be born of a woman.  The true Man of Steel fed 5000 with 5 small barley loaves and 2 fish (Mark 6:30-39), turned water into (alot of) wine (John 2:1-10), miraculously healed multitudes of suffering people and ratified an Eternal (permanent ) Covenant made between He and God by being resurrected from the dead (John 20:1-21). Try that one on Superman!  Although our beloved Super-hero had a strong moral compass, and a deep passion for justice, Superman could only save but could never be a Savior.  Jesus’ full power for us comes through His death, as He releases His Spirit to all that will believe and rest in Him. The truly powerful understand that His work is Finished and equally, that they have been made righteous ( meaning in right standing)  and holy in the sight of God through the blood of the Son. Everything given to Jesus by His loving Father has now been given to us. Remarkable.

Yep, there’s a new Sheriff in town, the Holy Spirit lives inside each one of us now. Our new moral compass is embedded with a direct line to the will of God, we need only to learn how to hear what He is saying.  God’s laws are now written on the soft tablets of our hearts by His Spirit, not on stone or paper. His peace and rest have been paid for, owned by us all along when we met Jesus. A peace and rest accessed confidently through the Holy Spirit’s power and the Finished work. This is a Grace (verb) gift and undeserved, unmerited favor (Amen, she says.)  We have inner justice that displays as radiance outwardly as we lean and rest all of our defenses on God’s promises to fight our battles and to make our crooked places straight. When we remain transfixed on Jesus (this takes some time and a new perspective) He smooth’s out the way. We look not to the left nor to the right, and give up our right to battle circumstances on our own, listening for direction,  understanding that what He will do for us is a better way than our own.

Luke 2:46-52 NAS Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.” 49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. 51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Our Father’s Houses serve as Embassies for His Kingdom; local churches, that are extensions of heaven on earth, and places of refuge for His “Ambassadors”.  Churches are protected places of common ground for renewal and refreshing, where people who live for Kingdom purposes are fed, tended and nurtured by Pastor-Shepherds that have been appointed and called by God. It is in our local churches where God’s Kingdom should truly live as we calibrate to Christ as our High Priest (read Hebrews) and Great Shepherd while understanding or learning to walk out our Kingdom purposes, and where we can be gently reminded of God’s promises as well as our authority in Christ Jesus.  We must each find our own  “embassy” of fellowship that best undergirds our Kingdom purposes and enables us to make His name Known.

Twitter:  TracyLGatewood
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Forrest, Moses and the Mercies of God

08 Sunday Sep 2013

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Emotions, Grace, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, Mercy, New Covenant, redemption, Sin, Tracy Gatewood Alabama, TracyLGatewood, Uncategorized

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Moses

FORREST GUMP TRAILER 3:12

FIRST please click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPIEn0M8su0


Psalm 5:12 AMP For you Lord, will bless the (uncompromisingly) righteous (him who is upright and in right standing with You); as with a shield You will surround him with goodwill (pleasure and favor).

Forrest Gump is a beloved movie character that stole hearts across America. Despite Forrest’s well below average IQ and slow speech, a flow of God’s mercy and compassion were evident in his life. He was blessed with a mother that worked diligently to give him a life of normalcy, he possessed extraordinary athleticism, and had a vast list of achievements; All American football star to war hero and as a Medal of Honor winner he even met two Presidents. Forrest also played on the winning National Championship Ping Pong team that traveled to China.

Forrest purchased a shrimp boat and asked Lieutenant Dan to go into business. When a Hurricane blew through Forrest’s south Alabama shrimping fields, every shrimp boat but his was destroyed, leaving the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company to net all the shrimp for their own gain. Following the death of his mother, Forrest chose to remain close to home, allowing Lieutenant Dan to run the business and invest their personal earnings, which Dan did in a “fruit company” called Apple Computers. Forrest became a multi-millionaire and given the ability to retire at an early age, all the while carrying an innocence about him that surrounded him like a shield. Favor is a shield.

Romans 9:15-20 AMP For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy and I will have compassion (pity) on whom I will have compassion. So then God’s gift is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God’s mercy. (It depends not on one’s own willingness nor on his strenuous exertion as in running a race, but on God’s having mercy on him). For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, I have raised you up for this very purpose of displaying My power in dealing with you, so that My name may be proclaimed the whole world over.

In real life, God’s gifts are not bestowed to an individual due to intellect or performance. Although God may bestow a gift on a person because of character displayed during a season of difficulty, a person cannot intentionally earn His gifts through works – gifts are administered by the Holy Spirit and given out at His discretion. Holy Spirit gives each person spiritual gifts and abilities that no man can take away, and gifts God wants used for His glory and important Kingdom purposes. Moses, like Forrest, was slow of speech, but up in years yet was given a great mantle of responsibility by God. After hearing God speak through a burning bush that never really burned, he left armed with a wooden rod (Staff) and a discerning inner circle, charged with leading a few million people out of Egypt, no small feat. (Exodus 3:1-21)

Moses could have passed on the assignment but we know Moses today because he trusted in the nature of the One who made the request. Moses was given uncommon favor to accomplish an uncommon assignment which was not without its share, too, of uncommon hardship and difficulty. Mercy and compassion become highly valued attributes around hard and difficult times. We thank you Lord for your mercy.

It is the Holy Spirit that grants favor but it is God Himself, again in His enduring mercy and lovingkindness, that has set forth the principle of Grace by offering the life of His Son to complete the terms of an Eternal Covenant. Grace is both a Noun and a Verb. It is Grace that we can walk by faith in what Jesus has done and in close partnership with the Spirit to accomplish all that God desires for us. It is through Grace that God offers us a way around the sin conscious Law and the continual cycle of self-effort, self-consciousness and performance – a way that leads to death; death of relationships, spiritual death and even physical death. We cannot achieve through our own self effort being good enough to receive God’s gifts or even His mercy and compassion. If we could be good enough, there would have been no need for Jesus to die to redeem (buy us back) from Adam’s fall and sin.

When you accept Christ You are given as a Gift to Jesus From His Father. Isn’t that a beautiful revelation of the love that God has for each of us?

John 17:24 AMP  Father, I desire that they also whom You have entrusted to Me (as Your gift to Me) may be with Me where I am so that they may see My glory which You have given Me (Your love gift to Me): for You loved me before the Foundation of the world, O just and righteous Father, although the world has not known You and has failed to recognize You and has never acknowledged You, I have known You (continually): and these men know and understand that you have sent Me. I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your Self and I will continue to make (You) known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them (felt in their hearts) and I (Myself) may be in them.

Certainly we are all far more important to Jesus than a box of chocolates. Each one of us is a perfectly faceted jewel containing unique qualities fashioned by the hand of God, gifted and skilled for critical missions that only we can fulfill. We must only accept our mission knowing that the power of Christ lives within us and the mercy of God is with us to assist with our assigned task.

Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
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Happy Independance Day

04 Thursday Jul 2013

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

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HEBREWS 8:10-12 AMP For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint their laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God and they shall be My people. And it will nevermore be necessary for each one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or each one his brother saying, Know (perceive, have knowledge of and get acquainted by experience with ) the Lord for all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins and I will remember their deeds no more.

The Lord is describing the New Covenant, and that we no longer must live with the aid of the Mosaic laws, but that He Himself has put in each of us an innate ability to know right from wrong, and that understanding will come through His Spirit. The Holy Spirit is imparted to us by Jesus Himself when we accept by faith that He is the Son of God and understand that His sacrifice was required to pay our sin debt. Equally important for us to note in this passage, not only are we being given the Holy Spirit but God’s statement that He will remember our sins no more. God has established a higher and better, and more fair approach for those that believe in Jesus. We are not to be sin-conscious, but filled by and with faith as righteous children of God, our righteousness paid for by Jesus Himself. Righteousness could mean Right Living – but like the Ten Commandments, we could never live right enough so we look again to Jesus who paid for our righteousness. Romans 1:17-19 AMP – For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live by faith. For God’s (holy) wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven against ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness make it inoperative. For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God Himself has shown it to them.
In other words, live by faith in the Gospel and stop your sinning because you know that you are doing it.

Colossians 2: 13-15 AMP And you who were dead in trespasses and in the un-circumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful, carnal nature), (God) brought to life together with (Christ) having (freely) forgiven us all our transgressions, having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This (note with its regulations, decrees and demands) He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to His cross. God disarmed the principalities and power that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, triumphing over them in Him and in it (the cross).

Most calling themselves Christians have a clear understanding that when Christ was crucified, that He paid for their sins. God being Holy and Perfect, can never look upon sin so He placed all of the sin of the entire world committed from its beginning to its end on His Son. Jesus took all of His Father’s wrath so that we would never be judged for our own sin. Colossians 2 refers to the nailing of laws to the cross of Jesus, because they were hostile to His people. These refer to the Laws of Moses. How could laws that seem so perfectly just be viewed as hostile to God’s people by God Himself? Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy, Honor your Father and Your Mother, Do Not Murder, Do Not Commit Adultery, etc… you know them. Remember, the Holy Spirit wrote the bible and this is all in there. It is not the laws themselves that were hostile, but that for them to be fulfilled – ALL of them had to be adhered to perfectly for us to remain out of God’s judgment. This was an impossible exercise for His people to accomplish making these decrees and demands HOSTILE and also making His people SIN conscious rather than GRACE conscious. (Grace is undeserved, unmerited FAVOR)

And because God is God, He knew we would miss this one, and so planned from the very beginning in agreement with His Son (before the earth was formed in fact) that Jesus would return and walk out this agreement on earth that would complete a new, more perfect and everlasting covenant. This is the Gospel and the (very) Good News – because what Jesus gave us as the gift of grace, no man can boast. He freely gave up His life of His own volitional will (now if that’s not more grace, I do not know what is) to open the door so that all the blessings promised to Abraham, as his seed, are given to us.

Because God recognizes a legal system, His covenants can only be ratified through blood which always results in death. A person’s Last Will and Testament only becomes activated at the time of that person’s death, and the same with God’s New (and Final) Covenant for His people, which too became active at Christ’s death. His resurrection signified that the actual exchange at the cross took place proving to everyone that He had completed His assignment. After showing His disciples that He was ok and that His work was finished, He filled them with His Holy Spirit, giving them passion and momentum to forward what He had taught but now with holy, dunamis power. He then went back to Heaven, to hang out and rest next to His Daddy where He prays for us and mediates His covenant. His return to earth after his crucifixion demonstrated to all of the (now former) powers and principalities that previously ruled the earth that He had successfully completed the job of disarming them and He was now heading Home, but not before He released His Spirit which would give them an additional kick in the pants. There was no one ranking higher than Jesus, the sinless, blameless Son of God, that could pay for our iniquities; addictions, adultery, thefts, lies, envies, lusts, slanders, unforgiveness ….. you get the picture. It had to be Him – this was a very big job!!!

In recent months, I confess, that I have pondered the practice of churches offering their attendees the opportunity to “nail to the cross” their unforgiveness, shame, porn addictions and various other muck and weaknesses. I am now so grateful to understand that Jesus has already taken away all of this JUNK on His own body. A person nailing an iniquity to a cross in their own strength may not be truly aware of the magnitude and the complete truth of what Jesus has accomplished. “It is Finished!” – their acts do not count against them as sin. What we are left to manage is our own emotional condemnation; guilt, shame, or a weakness of will (unforgiveness) etc but God is not seeing any of these iniquities (iniquity means to go your own way) because He now sees all of us through the lens of the Blood of His Son. Jesus’ perpetual flow of blood never stops, constantly cleanses, purifies and even sanctifies those that belong to Him. Christ is in you, you are in Him and you are the righteousness of God through Jesus. If there was anything you could do in your own strength – even nailing your bad actions to a cross – then that act would be more transformational and more effective than Christ’s own sacrifice. Turn by faith to God and speak His promises to yourself ALOUD and thank Him and Jesus for what they did for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse you from unclean spirits and torment that plague your soul and body. You yourself are a One Stop Deliverance Shop! Jesus has already released us from oppression! Freedom is in the simple Gospel message – Jesus has paid it all. Believe and you can receive. Happy Independence Day!

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My Journey With Jesus Part Two

02 Saturday Feb 2013

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Emotions, Grace, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, Sin, Tracy Gatewood, Tracy Gatewood Alabama, TracyLGatewood

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North Point Auditorium
North Point Community Church auditorium during 7:22, Louie Giglio teaching, 1999

I was working for an Atlanta church that was growing as fast as the national debt. The decision to close my business was not made lightly but I continued to sense that God was trying to do something very different and He had my undivided attention because of the intense pain. I was numb with pain. Had I recovered and brushed myself off, and continued on as usual running my business and ignoring these promptings, I would have missed one of the most important seasons of my life that God wanted to use. By not medicating the pain of this very deep betrayal through breakneck secular ‘busyness’ God was able to heal me one layer at a time; peeling off the past while re-framing the future.

Living at a more deliberate and much slower pace throughout this traumatic event allowed me to watch God’s hand moving on my life, shuffling people and circumstances into place in His perfect timing in the precise time of need and almost always at the very last minute. I knew it was Him because no one else could do what I was seeing happen. It was remarkable to watch this process unfold adjusting to new realities; church worker rather than business owner, singleness, entirely new group and type of friends. My position provided instant access to new relationships with hundreds of single adults and I was even the one planning their entertainment so always had something fun to do and people to be around. God did not miss one detail. One afternoon in late 1999, I was standing totally alone in the church’s main auditorium (above photo) then watched as I saw myself teaching to hundreds and hundreds of people. I was not thinking about becoming a teacher, this just happened, like an out of body experience – wide awake and watching myself on a stage teaching. (I know this sounds wierd but this is what happened). I knew exactly what city I was in teaching and it was not Atlanta. This scene replayed twice more in 2000 with no warning, searing a distinct picture of an auditorium in my mind.

Nine years later, the first week of July 2009, I met with my pastor and after explaining that I was moving from Birmingham, (I had moved there in 2002), displayed a picture of the Atlanta church auditorium filled with people and recounted the spirit scene teaching story. His response was that I had gotten what he had gotten (“Tracy, you got what I got!”) referring to his own experience with God showing him something in a supernatural fashion that confirmed a very important decision.

I put my house on the market in Birmingham, and nine months of misery later, sold it to a member of the family that owned the office complex in which my Birmingham church began. The woman walked in the door said she saw her piano in my living room (I did not have a piano in my living room), walked through twice, left and wrote a contract the next day. It was the ugliest house in an otherwise very beautiful area so I was grateful she only came over once before she wrote the contract. That was God, too. I also owned an investment condominium that I had been trying to lease for many months – my father told me that I would have to live in it (because I was paying the mortgage and all utilities) if I did not get it leased before I left. The Thursday before the Saturday that I moved, a young woman called, saw it then wanted it, then asked if she could pay me for one full year in advance because she had no credit history. Nobody does that. There was God again. She was moving into my condominium as my movers were loading up their van at my home. These circumstances marked the beginning of another season of transition and change.

When God wants to build your spiritual muscle, He will allow you to walk through neck deep waters of opposition for a protracted period. It doesn’t feel like a gift at the time but if you survive the stretching without becoming bitter from the losses, remain yielded to the voice of God and find its purpose, it can become a gift. He will remain with you at the front of the boat – the Captain, giving you instruction, comfort, guiding, teaching, consoling, advocating, bringing connections / contacts in your path to assist you – but you must continue to row and if you actually fall in the water, you must start to swim. I love to walk along the river and watch the University of Alabama rowing teams glide across the water and listen to the coach in the opposite boat giving instruction, keeping the team in perfect rhythm to achieve their best result. This is what the Holy Spirit will do for every Believer if they will listen and not depend on the voices and the pressures of other people. Your experience is one that He customizes uniquely to you, in His own way and timing.

{ I must stop here and make some distinctions about the Godhead; it is Triune – The Trinity is God, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit – a great mystery but so perfect in their individual responsibilities and assignments to each of us, it is crucial that we understand that they are separate but still the same. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who is the Father of all things. Jesus sits even now at the right hand of God to intercede for His people all day and all night. He is our High Priest and mediates from heaven, the covenant made between Himself and God on man’s behalf, and sealed with His own body and blood. The Holy Spirit is equal yet less understood, but is God and lives within each person that has accepted that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and understands that Jesus’ blood paid their sin debt (redemption). It is the Holy Spirit that is the Captain in the boat referred to earlier: He is a person; a Comforter, an Advocate, Teacher, Consoler. The Holy Spirit is actually The One that conceived Jesus in the virgin womb of Mary, He empowered Jesus to walk to the cross, and rose Jesus from death to life.} It is essential to attend a church that teaches on every member of the Trinity, acknowledging the importance of each distinct One.

Special Note – This article is a follow up to Part One which is essential for the clear understanding of Part Two.
Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
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(these articles are released through Linkedin, WordPress { TracyLGatewood} and Twitter @TracyLGatewood)

<Related Articles
My Journey With Jesus Part One tracylgatewood.wordpress.com/my-journey-with-jesus-part-one/ January 2012
The Assignment tracylgatewood.wordpress.com/the-assignment/ December 2011
Purpose Driven Bride tracylgatewood.wordpress.com/purpose-driven-bride/ June 2011

My Journey with Jesus part one

01 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Emotions, Grace, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Tracy Gatewood, Tracy Gatewood Alabama, TracyLGatewood

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I was a late bloomer in knowing Jesus. As a child, I grew up attending church every Sunday, sitting there week after week believing that I had everything necessary to get to heaven when it was my time to “pass”(I never liked that term – still don’t). In college and in my 20’s I steered clear of churches but in my early 30’s I lived on an Atlanta street that bounded the largest Presbyterian church in the country. The pastor was an older gentleman and great communicator of masterfully crafted moral essays that made my sharp young mind really think about moral virtue, where I was headed and why, but he rarely mentioned Jesus.

Time wore on and 4 days shy of my 35th birthday, I married a quiet, reserved man unknowingly that was hiding a profoundly advanced sexual addiction.The next 1.5 years were chaotic adjusting into newly married life, moving twice and for him – trying to slay this addiction before I found out about it. Did I mention advanced. Three years into the marriage, after his repeated job losses, I was well fed up with the bizarre, unexplained behavior. The confrontation finally occurred, the truth came out and the magnitude of the circumstances were beyond anything that I could understand or imagine. We attended a great church but were not deeply involved and I was a base level believer. Immediately following the “exposure” he moved out to live with his Sponsor (I had no idea what that meant),and lived away from our home for over a year. It was during that time of total devastation that my walk with Jesus started as does this story.

At 37, I had no friends that had been divorced and had waited late in life to marry, determined never to end up a divorce statistic myself. My parents divorced while I was in college so I fully understood the damaging impact on families and individuals that walk through that trauma and wanted no part of it. I became acutely aware that I needed a place of belonging and began to search earnestly for answers to all of the pain. I was told of an evening bible study that was meeting up the street from my Dunwoody home; it was called 7:22 and geared toward college students and younger singles. I knew no one going there but heard that the teaching was sound, and it was taught by some guy named Louie Giglio. I had also tried out a church a few times that was meeting on Sunday evenings while they raised the funds to build their own. It was called North Point Community Church with a pastor named Andy Stanley. He was an excellent speaker. I watched him actually teach straight from the bible, at times word for word,making sense of the bible for me for the very first time. I was hooked, learning about Jesus. He was cool. (I mark this as the time that I accepted Christ and began my relationship with Him and was baptized shortly thereafter in a North Point elder’s pool) Both of these meetings were occurring at the same church about 2 miles from my home. Within 4 months, I was working for North Point and about 6 months following that,became responsible for non production aspects of 7:22 (volunteers, prayer, resource sales, customer service, etc.) 7:22, an interdenominational service for Atlanta college and single adults, grew to a weekly attendance of 2800.

Although the Lord had miraculously opened a door of grace for me through this dark time, I was still actively searching for answers. Jesus seemed very far away, He was up there with God, but I needed Him down here with me ~ desperately. My marriage had imploded ending 12/1999, I could no longer afford my home, my now former husband had no job and had returned to his south Alabama family and I had closed my successful business and had no active relationship with my own family. Jesus felt way “out there”, and I needed Him to be way “inside”. My prior idea of personal success had always been defined very differently. I felt like I was treading water with no sign of moving upward, little understanding of my identity in Christ or the importance of the contribution I was making to others.

During this very confusing time, I left my position at the church in 12/2000 and began to prepare to leave Atlanta which felt like a tremendous relief. I put the house on the market and watched as month after month passed – no one came to look at it. I wanted to leave Atlanta so badly I could barely stand it. In the waiting, I was told of a 28 week program that would assist with my healing and I decided to participate. I felt the Lord’s confirmation to me to take that direction. I took the house off the market and took the class. Each week, a guest lecturer spoke on an important topic of healing and then our leaders prayed over us for one solid hour each week- we were not allowed to speak, and prayers of healing were prayed over each of us and our individual circumstances.

I am convinced that the reason that I am healed and restored today over this situation is because I forgave my former husband and from the effects of these healing prayers. I am free of that damaging wound purely by the grace of God and the active working of the blood of Jesus. (the latter of which I have not understood until the last five years).

My journey with Jesus has been like a magnificently penned novel to me. I can only guess that God needed to make up for lost time so He has “expressed” my walk like being on a moving sidewalk at the airport. At times though this has felt like the world’s longest learning rodeo; roped, branded, calf wrestled to the ground , running oh yeah, plenty of that. Whew. My journey has brought me to crossroads where I had to make decisions based on what I was hearing from God that were completely counter to what seemed the right road to take in my (or anyone’s) natural mind. Sometimes he helped me by closing all of the doors except one, sometimes He just waited to watch what I chose – wanting to see if I trusted.

From the beginning, I made a decision not to speak publicly about what happened with my marriage and am doing so for the first time. {Note: This post was written 2013 }. Only a handful of people know the entire story, this being an abbreviated, truthful and appropriate version. I am quite pleased to report that 8 years ago, he remarried a widow with 3 children and walks delivered, healed and free from the torment of sexual addiction. To God Be the Glory.

http://www.268generation.com Louie Giglio has 541,000 Twitter Followers
http://www.northpoint.org Andy Stanley has 515,000 Twitter Followers
Tracy Gatewood has 205 Twitter Followers
Hmmmm – I wonder what Jesus is trying to tell me!

Twitter – @TracyLGatewood
Website – tracygatewood.com

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My Journey with Jesus Part Two http://wp.me/p1zoxs-gR
The Assignment http://wp.me/p1zoxs-4C
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