Tag Archives: Healing

We Are Not Given A Spirit of Fear

04 Sunday Jun 2017

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

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

Prayers of Grace – Day 2

06 Tuesday Sep 2016

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Jesus, Keys to the Kingdom, the Spirit, Wisdom

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Whitedove

Most  Precious Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your mercy and great kindness.  Your love endures forever.  When I ask, you impart gifts from your Holy Spirit and as needed,  the gifts of love, patience, kindness, self-control are brought to me without delay. Through my failures and successes, you have equipped me with sound wisdom, but your correct time and seasons are without fault or error to impart this wisdom.  I seek timing, leading and most importantly, even more of your wisdom.

Because I walk in undeserved, unmerited favor, I live expectant  that doors of great opportunity unlock on my behalf and in their correct time and season. The favor of the Lord opens doors that no man can shut. The favor of the Lord is upon me, and He confirms and establishes the work of my hands. Because of the New Covenant and the finished work of Jesus, my career is blessed, my family is blessed and my ministry work is blessed. I have been granted the keys to the Kingdom. Because I have dominion on the earth, what I bind on earth will be bound in heaven.

I decree that the favor of the Lord surrounds me like a shield against all enemies. When I call forth the blood of Jesus as protection – I speak into existence an impenetrable fortress.   I am always above and I am never beneath. I am always the head and I am never the tail. Jesus has acquired all heavenly wisdom and because I am in Him and He is in me seated in heavenly places at the Father’s right hand – His Spirit counsels and teaches me skillful and Godly wisdom for any circumstance. I have the Spirit of Jesus Christ living in me and possess the identical power that raised Him from the dead and back to life. Thank you, God for the gift of your Spirit to me.

In the Name of Jesus I Pray – AMEN  (So Be it)

Prayers of Grace –
Tracy Gatewood

Twitter:  @TracyLGatewood
FB:  Tracy Gatewood Christian Writer and Teacher
Author:  Doorways of Grace, available on Amazon

 

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

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
Wordpress Direct:http:// tracylgatewood.wordpress.com
Author on Amazon: Doorways of Grace; My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus
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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
Wordpress direct: tracylgatewood.wordpress.com
(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

RELATED ARTICLES
My Journey with Jesus Part Two http://wp.me/p1zoxs-gR
The Assignment http://wp.me/p1zoxs-4C
The Wisdom of God http://wp.me/p1zoxs-6

Faith, Forgiveness, Favor

02 Sunday Dec 2012

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Bride of Christ, Christianity, Emotions, Grace, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, Sin, Uncategorized

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Hebrews 9:11-14  AMP
“When Christ came as High Priest of the good things that are already here, He went through a greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal (not temporary) redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

When Christ was crucified, His Blood served as the total redemption for every sin committed from the beginning of time to every sin that would ever be committed. God’s wrath was taken out on one perfect sacrifice in strategic points on Jesus’ body, redeeming every known sin; perfectly and completely. This sacrificial act also had the power to cleanse our consciences from actions that lead to death so we can get about the business of building His Kingdom. (read the verse).  Jesus has sprinkled His own Blood on the Mercy Seat of Heaven, allowing us access to the power of Heaven to work through any obstacle. Now Heaven is actually in you – your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit does not simply vacation at your address ( you are not Aspen), He lives in you  ALL THE TIME.

Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect and complete, it had to be done this way because we cannot purchase our own freedom from sin or acts of sin. There was no higher sacrifice than God’s own Son. Jesus never struggled with sin so we look to Jesus as our hope to destroy the power of sin (in this case unforgiveness)  instead of our own willpower. It takes God’s grace to overcome unforgiveness and other sin. When partnered with your faith, God can transform and release you from unforgiveness and sin, when your willpower will not. When we accept Christ, we access His nature; He is in us and we are in Him. We must have a higher degree of faith in His character and His willingness to heal, deliver and transform us,  than faith in ourselves.

Romans 5:20 NKJV
Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more!
Romans 5:20 AMP
But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded.

The achievement of forgiveness can occur by faith, if it cannot be achieved through self will or emotions.  Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, resting in His own work, and praying for all of His Saints.  If you are “in Christ” you are no longer a defeated Sinner but a very precious Saint in the eyes of God. His Spirit lives in you – would He call His Spirit a Sinner? Would God who created the Universe put His very Spirit in someone that was a Sinner that could still be sinning?  Yes, He did. And that person, after accepting by faith that His Son paid for all sin,  is now called A SAINT. If that is not grace, I do not know what is.

Ephesians 4:32 states, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Take each unforgiven person before the Lord and tell Him that because you are forgiven by Him through Jesus’ sacrifice without deserving forgiveness for your own sins, that the person that hurt you is now forgiven in your sight, then release all anger in Jesus’ Name and believe that God will do the transforming work. Forgiving by faith (not through emotion), puts God in the driver’s seat. Forgiveness is not for people that deserve it.  Extending forgiveness is simply extending grace ~ undeserved, unmerited favor.

Tracy Gatewood
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Direct: tracylgatewood.wordpress.com
Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
Website: http://www.tracygatewood.com

Related Articles:
tracylgatewood.wordpress.com/the-assignment/
 tracylgatewood.wordpress.com/canceling-the-code/
tracylgatewood.wordpress.com/the-crimson-flow-of-freedom/

I drove down to the Bay Revival 11/30 to hear Steve Hill teach on ( I assumed) the subject of healing because he has spent the last 3 years battling melanoma and appears to be well. Instead Pastor Steve spent well over an hour talking about sin.  Bummer. It was a good sin sermon but nonetheless, it left me flat. At the close of the service, he asked everyone to raise their hand that needed forgiveness from sin and then asked everyone that had raised their hand to come to the front for prayer for forgiveness of their sin. I started working through this;  (1)  I am forgiven of all sin through Christ’s final sacrifice that also redeemed me back from Adam’s fall and an Adamic nature (2) That Holy Spirit lives in me to work in and partner with me to conquer all sin (3)  The veil in the temple was torn signifying that I can now come into the very presence of God to speak to Him and repent from any sin issue. I have Jesus Christ as my High Priest seated at God’s right hand, advocating me to God. When I have a sin issue, I can repent (change my mind) either on my own, with the assistance of accountability friends or in partnership with the assistance of the Holy Spirit . Certain pastors possess an anointing to break spirits and yokes that bind us.  Sin is no small issue. Sin matters greatly to God because His Son had to die to defeat its power. Holiness matters greatly to God, too – but getting there through condemnation, perfectionistic works / or fear-based judgement is not the New Covenant way.
I AM FORGIVEN.

Tracy’s Prayer on the way home ~

Dear Father – I love you so much and thank you for this day. Thank you God for forgiving me for every sin I have or ever will commit because you see me through the lens of the sacrifice of your Son. Jesus, I am so grateful today for what you did for me on the Cross. I am filled with such joy and gratitude and hope because your actions defeated Satan, and sin cannot control me and your Father sees me clothed in a white robe of righteousness. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, an heir and Offspring of the seed of Abraham and every covenant blessing has been redeemed for me. I rest in the work of Christ and so very grateful that I am cleansed and protected by His holy blood.  Holy Spirit, I ask you for favor today in every place I go – and thank you for being my teacher, my comforter, my counselor and best friend. Please administrate and coordinate every area of my life today in a way that is pleasing to God.

Then I prayed for family, friends, people in authority … and today I added prayer for the U of A to win the SEC Championship. (RTR!!)  Prayer  Works! This was great for Tuscaloosa!

From The Beginning

18 Sunday Nov 2012

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Bride of Christ, Christianity, Grace, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, Sin

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Psalm 89: 19-29  AMP
Once You spoke in a vision to Your devoted ones and said, I have endowed One who is mighty ; I have exalted one chosen from among the people. I have found David My servant with my holy oil I have anointed him, With whom My hand shall be established and ever abide. My arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not exact from him or do him violence or outwit him, nor shall the wicked afflict and humble him. I will beat down the foes before his face and smite those who hate him. My faithfulness and My mercy and loving-kindness shall be with him, and in My name shall his horn be exalted (great power and prosperity shall be conferred upon Him). I will set his hand in control also on the (Mediterranean) Sea, and his right hand on the rivers (Euphrates with its tributaries). He shall cry to me, You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation! Also, I will make him the firstborn the highest of the kings of the earth (Rev. 1:5). My mercy and loving-kindness will I keep for him forevermore, and My covenant shall stand fast and be faithful with him. His Offspring also will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. (Isa 9:7, Gal. 3:16).

An indication that the Lord planned the execution of the New Covenant from the beginning of time is found in Psalm 89 which depicts David as a type and shadow of the New Covenant Jesus Christ. The terms of Jesus’ Agreement in walking out the covenant with the Father were agreed upon from the beginning; God would never allow Jesus to leave His sight or His Presence while He was on the earth, The Spirit was sent to assist Him without measure, (it is the Holy Spirit that conceived Jesus in Mary, empowered Jesus to walk to Golgotha and resurrected Him from the grave),  great reward and honor would be bestowed upon His return. Jesus agreed to be born of a woman; to become human in form, divesting Himself of His glory. He accepted the assignment of becoming a humble servant and understood before He came that wicked people would dishonor and attempt to destroy Him before His work was complete. Jesus, our Chief Advocate and Mediator of the New Covenant, faithfully agreed to walk out the terms of the agreement with His Father to insure that His Offspring and Seed would be guaranteed all the benefits planned for them.

As we know, the Eternal Covenant made between God and Jesus for all Believers (accepting by faith His Sonship and understanding He is the required sacrifice for all sin ) was a blood covenant requiring His life. Jesus by His own volitional will, came in the volume of the Book it was written, and timed with perfect precision. (Hebrews 10:7  AMP Behold, here I am O God ( to fulfill ) what is written of Me in the volume of the Book . vs 9: Behold here I am, coming to do your will). We now have the ability to live a life pleasing to God, with that ability given to us by God Himself.  John 6:32 NKJV Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world”.  Does this confirm with you how much is the love of God?

Psalm 89: 30-37  AMP
If His sons forsake My law, And do not walk in My judgements, If they break My statutes And do not keep My commandments, Then I will punish their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless My loving kindness I will not utterly take from Him, Nor allow My faithfulness to fail, My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: His seed shall endure forever, And His throne as the sun before Me: it shall be established forever like the moon, Even like the faithful witness in the sky.
This passage also represents a foreshadowing of the crucifixion: Isaiah 53: But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

John 17: 1-5 AMP
When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come.  Glorify and exalt and honor and magnify your Son, so that your Son may glorify and extol and honor and magnify You. Just as You have granted Him power and authority over all flesh (all humankind), (now glorify Him) so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. And this is eternal life: (it means) to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with and understand) You, the only true and real God, and (likewise) to know Him, Jesus as the Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), whom You have sent.  I have glorified you down here on the earth by completing the work that You gave me to do.  And now, Father, glorify Me along with Yourself and restore me to such majesty and honor in Your presence as I had with You before the world existed.

The Agreement was struck in Heaven before the creation of the world, then Jesus walked out the terms of grace, by grace.

While walking out the Agreement, the Great Shepherd of the sheep ~ 
(1) showed the people they have access to divine healing/freedom by healing them
(2) showed the people they have access to God’s provision by feeding them
(3) showed the people that peace could be attained by focusing on Him
(4) admonished all people to Fear Not and removed their fear
(5) taught and cared for multitudes as their shepherd and teaching pastor / rabbi
(6) taught forgiveness and showed the people they must forgive
There is also every reason to assume that Jesus even knew the names of the people He would encounter while on earth, the ones that would be coming into His own body, The Church.

He finished the work of the New Covenant (new agreement) at the Cross. Jesus shed blood in 7 places; His back took lashes from a rod, both hands and both feet took nails, His head wore a crown of thorns, and His side was pierced by a Roman soldier. The Number 7 is the number for  perfection and revelation.

2 Timothy  1:9 AMP
(For it is He) who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness (to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness); (he did it) not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began  (eternal ages ago).

Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
WordPress: wordpress.constructionzon.com

Related Articles:
The Crimson Flow of Freedom  http://wp.me/p1zoxs-1Y
Canceling the Code  http://wp.me/p1zoxs-19
The Assignment    http://wp.me/p1zoxs-4C