* Changed by the Spirit of God WHO lives in us.

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

After we are born again, we have the Spirit of Jesus living in us, that Holy Spirit.

We still have our flesh but now we also have the Spirit to take us in the way of God and to recreate us in the image of Christ, The Word.

The nature of "the old man" is put to death as we yield to the Spirit of God.

Where we were once "railers" ... striking out at others by abusive language ... now that Spirit that is in us restrains us and takes us another way.

railer:  to assail with scornful or abusive language, vituperate.  scold.  to speak contemptuously ...

Now being cursed we bless, because that Spirit in us takes us another way from our flesh.  We learn to pray when we are offended, even to pray for that person who offended us.  We go completely opposite from our nature by that Spirit of God who now dwells in us and takes us a way opposite to the natural man.

Malice is replaced by love as we hope for the salvation of the one who railed against us.


***

While some were once adulterers, now we do not want to go against God and hurt another person even if we could do so with our own flesh.  The sin of adultery often hurts many people other than the two involved in adultery.  How can we who are of God rejoice in doing harm?  We do not rejoice when others are hurt because of us.  Now we refrain from hurting other people.

(I find adultery offensive and hurtful even when it is portrayed in movies, and I avoid even the "hints" of such for I take no delight in people hurting themselves and their own families this way.)

***

Many ministers are "extortioners", promising their congregations blessings if they give.  When I gave offerings at church, I never thought of getting something in return.  I just gave because I was so very grateful for my salvation, knowing I did nothing to achieve salvation.  It was a gift from God.

While there are blessings attached to giving, many ministers misuse this to "extort" money from the congregation, causing them to think God will withhold from them unless they give.  This is nothing but extortion.

Unfortunately pastors who try to force people to give do not realize the following.

We, who are of God, want to give because of that which we know God gave to us!  And we give freely, rejoicing in joy over that which God has done for us.

***

We do that which is "right" because of gratitude for that which God has done for us in redeeming us from our sins and pulling us out of the worldly life we once lived.

And now we have the power in us by the Holy Spirit to go in the way that is right in the sight of God and to put away our own fleshly desire which would do evil.

***

Thus the apostle Paul says:

II Corinthians 5:17   Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Colossians 3: 5-10    Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:  For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of HIM that created him:

***

The natural man wants to win out over other people in order to exalt himself above others.

We, in Christ, come to the position where we want to make ourselves of no reputation as did Jesus.

Philippians 2:5-8    Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, HE humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Instead of wanting to exalt ourselves among men, we want God and Jesus and The Holy Spirit to be exalted.  And therefore we speak of what God did in us rather than what "we" did.

***

A woman once spoke to me about what "power" women hold over men.  I could see she delighted in that and longed for that.

But I want God exalted, the power of God to be evident.

These things separate us to God and show the Spirit of God working in us controlling our natural flesh.

This is our desire:  That God in all things, in us and through us, be exalted.

*****