Tag: #Romans8:13TPT

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Domain Name

In good and evil, names are directly linked with identity and domain. Domain being a field of action, thought or influence, as well as a realm or range of personal knowledge and/or governed territory (Dictionary.com).

Names reveal direction, purpose and unique character.

We see name changes in Holy Scripture that reflect transformation, like Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel and Saul to Paul (Ge 17:5, 35:10; Ac 13:9).

Name changes are linked with experiencing a change of heart and/or a way of life. They reveal God’s redemption for His people, His nations—from setting us up to raising us up to manifesting the expansion of His Kingdom through us. 

When we know and apply the Name of Jesus, we can take dominion as He wills. This must be rooted in love, as He put His laws in our minds and wrote them on our hearts to influence us to act accordingly (He 8:10). When we fully yield to Him, He expands His covenant of victory-salvation in and through us on earth. 

Alternatively, acting on sinful flesh weakens us. Therefore, pretense has to go as we are made stronger in Him. Pretense is anything that is not of God, such as lies, indulgences, addictions and even priorities that are out of order, according to Holy Spirit. 

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV reminds us that Jesus said, “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”

Romans chapter 8 has a lot to say about the opposing domains of flesh and spirit. In verse 13 TPT Paul says, “For when you live controlled by the flesh, you are about to die. But if the life of the Spirit puts to death the corrupt ways of the flesh, we then taste his abundant life.”

Yes, we grow in grace, love and insight that enables us to choose excellence and be filled with His fruits of righteousness  (Phil 1:9-11). Yes, God takes us from glory to glory. And yes, when we know better, He expects us to do better. As we seek Him, He will invite us higher. 

Living in His domain of truth, love and overflow is a choice.

So, we are to serve God faithfully, as one after God’s own heart, and let His power flow through us as His delegated authority to take dominion for His Kingdom.

Acts 3:16 reminds us that “It is the faith that comes through believing in Jesus’ Name that has made the crippled man walk right in front of your eyes!”

God sets us up to help fulfill His Gospel. Obedience unto God is everything, as we prove our trust in Him as our Source for life, given even through wise strategy in life or death situations. This is how Moses and Joshua knew God in pivotal moments of Kingdom expansion.

We serve God on earth out of the complete victory Jesus already won for us. It’s a matter of choice to believe and take courage to do it His way above our own, the latter of which always leads to less than His best life for us.

So, let’s be reminded of John 10:10 TPT, which says, “A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!”

Pray with me if you will…

“Our Beloved Father, dwelling in the heavenly realms, may the glory of your name be the center on which our lives turn” (Matt 6:9 TPT). 

Thank You that You are the living God, who endures forever, that Your kingdom will never be destroyed and that Your dominion will never end (Da 6:26).

Thank You for rescuing us from the dominion of darkness and bringing us into the Kingdom of the Son You love, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Co 1:13-14 NIV).

We choose to humble ourselves unto Your will and ways to experience Your expansion through us. Help us rest in Your love and please You.

Thank You for enabling us to let go of lesser comforts that weaken us spirit, soul and body, as we reach for You as our true Source of comfort, love and strength. 

Restore and revive our lives. Open before us the right path and lead us along in Your footsteps of righteousness so that we can bring honor to Your name (Ps 23:3 TPT).

Thank You for Your delegated authority, Your power to act on Your Word by Your Name and see miracles come to pass on earth as it is in Heaven.

And help us to live with You every moment in Your house, beholding Your marvelous beauty, filled with awe, delighting in Your glory and grace (Ps 27:4 TPT).

In Jesus’ Name above all names, 

Amen.

This devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Solid Ground

Has anyone else seen the recently-released Elvis movie? My husband and I saw it and I was glad I did.

The movie revealed a hardscrabble side of Elvis’ story that many, including myself, didn’t know in detail. At times, it was painful to watch, wondering how anyone could endure such extremes.

Viewing it from a Biblical perspective enabled me to see how the enemy tried relentlessly to work poverty and lack throughout this man’s life to gain ground…to steal, kill and destroy” (Jn 10:10).

God alone is our Holy Ground, our Solid Rock, our Solid Gold, our Dominion. He owns it all and is above it all. With Him everything He is and wills for us is possible. With Him, we don’t have to do it our way or the world’s way. We don’t have to depend on fools.

God’s truth in Psalm 23:1 TPT tells us that “Yahweh is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough.”

God instructs us in 2 Timothy 2:22 TPT to “Run as fast as you can from all the ambitions and lusts of youth; and chase after all that is pure. Whatever builds up your faith and deepens your love must become your holy pursuit. And live in peace with all those who worship our Lord Jesus with pure hearts.”

So, obedience to His instructions is how we can “stand on level ground” as we praise Him in the “great congregation” (Ps 26:12 NIV).

It’s only when we distance ourselves, lose sight of Him as our captivation and go our own way to put other things above Him (instead of in submission to Him) that we set ourselves on a trajectory that misses God’s best. Disobedience, even sins of our youth, can cause us to get caught up in enemy snares and miss longevity’s blessings (De 30:19).

If we don’t return to God through heartfelt repentance, we can miss God’s best life for us to the point of sin overtaking us, which always leads to some sort of death, possibly even physical.

This truth can be found in Romans 8:13 TPT, which says that “For when you live controlled by the flesh, you are about to die. But if the life of the Spirit puts to death the corrupt ways of the flesh, we then taste his abundant life.”

On earth, the kind of end God desires for us to come to is the end of ourselves—our selfishness, lusts of the flesh, all else that doesn’t please God.

Because God is with us, we can hit the wall of our wrongdoings and be awakened to new life as He reveals to us the error of our ways. In our moments of true confession, He can meet us with revelation, where we can come to recognize the only good thing in us at all, is Him and His virtue of goodness—nothing of our own.

This is the beginning of our deeper awareness of our greater freedom in Christ. This gracious revelation makes our dependence upon Him clearer and motivates us to be more obedient with a grateful heart.

God’s truth is that He exalts the humble, which are those who live in submission to Him. So, sometimes, our best prayer is, “Lord, fix me. Get me where You desire I be.”

Colossians 3:2 NIV warns us to “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Chapter 3 goes on to advise us to “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming” (Co 3:5-6 NIV)

The NIV study note for verse 6 clarifies that the wrath of God comes “on those who are disobedient.”

Still, God will offer us turning points before it’s too late. He may gently work through others before we hit the wall.

Psalm 40:2 TPT reminds us that “He stooped down to lift me out of danger from the desolate pit I was in, out of the muddy mess I had fallen into. Now he’s lifted me up into a firm, secure place and steadied me while I walk along his ascending path.”

To be sure, God has a higher life for each of us.

Do you remember the story of the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8:3)? When Jesus bent over and wrote in the dust on the ground with His finger in John 8:8? The Word “ground” in this scripture means “standing-place” (Strong’s #1093). It is the place where we lay it all at His feet and stand with Him on solid ground. It’s the place where we live out destiny in preparation for eternity.

As Jesus wrote for the woman caught in adultery, He changed her story by giving her a new beginning and a new directive, a true life to be lived—reflective of His mercy and grace—to go and “sin no more” (Jn 8:11).

She could continue with her new life on God’s ascended way for her, because He gave her directives along with His grace-power to fulfill them. He lifted her out of her low-life stupor without condemnation (1 Co 15:34).

I believe that as this woman was set free by Christ, she came to know Psalm 55:22 TPT, which says, “So here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you.”

I believe she knew that Jesus was where Heaven meets earth and that He loved her more than anyone else could (Jn 3:16-17, 1 Jn 2:15).

I wonder whether Elvis ever knew these truths beyond where his talent took him.

When God restores our lives, He restores our dignity, integrity and beauty. Heaviness falls away as we enter His weighty glory. Unchained, we find true answers and walk to a new melody. This is His promise of His grace, without which we would never make it in the land.

Truth always comes as we trust God, and it’s best if it comes sooner than later. Let’s not make deals with the devil (1 Jn 2:16). Let’s take it all to The Lord and follow His lead, so we can keep truly ascending and not get caught in a trap with no way out.

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for releasing me into Your best plan for me. “See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting way—the path that brings me back to you” (Ps 139:24 TPT). Help me put my trust in You. Whatever has gotten out of control in my life, help me bring it into submission to You. And “Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough you bring to me. Hold me close to you with a willing spirit that obeys whatever you say” (Ps 51:12 TPT).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

This devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.