Exercise our authority

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Exercise our authority

If you live conforming to your own nature, you are going to die, but if by the Spirit you kill the ways of doing things of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13

Paul tells "spiritual Christians" that if they live according to the flesh, they will die, for they feed what is corruptible. If you live according to the flesh, all you get is corruption.

There is a total opposition between the flesh and the spirit and there is no possible reconciliation between the two. God’s plan of redemption is to put to death the old carnal nature and bring to life a totally new nature, through his Holy Spirit in us. Even though God has completely provided for this transformation, we must make it effective in our lives. We have to put to death the actions of our body. God doesn't do it for us. He legally gave us the right, the authority and the power, but we must exercise them.

"Authority is useless if it is not exercised."

The Bible says "But to all who received her [the Word which represents Jesus], to those who believe on his name, she gave power [authority] to become children of God" (John 1:12) ). We receive authority when we are born again, but authority is useless if it is not exercised. The new birth is just a potential, the opportunity to evolve into something wonderful if we exercise our authority. If we do not take the step of exercising authority, in the Biblical way, over the problems and sins we face and which beset us, we will not make any progress.

We have to switch from one way of thinking, which is that of the flesh, to another, totally different. We need the help of the Holy Spirit. "For all [and only] those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (Romans 8:14)

A prayer for today

Thank you Lord for the blood of Jesus and the work of your Holy Spirit. I proclaim that by faith I put to death the actions of my body and open up to the totally new nature that your Holy Spirit is creating in me. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, redeemed, cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Amen.

Derek Prince

Source (The Thought of the Day)