The Sword & The Trowel: The Battle Within (Nehemiah 5-6)

While the enemy drives us through fear, the good shepherd transcends that fear, and he calls us to himself in love. He doesn't drive us, he leads us. He says, follow me, stay close to me. That's how good shepherd lead a flock of sheep. They don't drive them. They say, come near, come close, trust in me, follow me. I know you don't understand it. I know your circumstances make you feel like you gotta compromise. I understand the panic. Trust me. [00:26:18] (32 seconds)  #FollowTheShepherd

But when we do that, there's a battle Because the more you feed the sarx, the more you lean into the sinful nature, the stronger its drive will be in your life. Just like the more you indulge in the holy spirit, the more powerful his voice will become in your life. Like if you feed the sarks, if you feed the flesh, if you indulge in that temptation toward things like greed or envy or sexual immorality or pride or slander, the truth is we don't devour sin, sin will devour you. [00:20:36] (36 seconds)  #FeedTheSpirit

Because that's true deliverance. That's true life and freedom. To lean into what he has to say, to feast daily upon the bread of life in Christ. To realign your life with what matters to him most and hear him, receive him when he declares that you matter to him. That he cares about you. And you can cast your anxieties upon him because he cares about you. [00:25:42] (33 seconds)  #FeastOnChrist

See, grieve is just one way that the flesh or the sinful nature, it's just one way that it's driven by fear. Like in the bible, to fear something means to give an ultimate weight in your life. It's the heaviest thing in your life and therefore you fear it because it's the most weighty and therefore it takes priority over everything else. So if you fear poverty or you fear famine, then you give an ultimate weight. And when that pressure comes on you, you'll do anything to avoid it. [00:14:47] (32 seconds)  #WeightOfFear

But what if God's calling you to key into the greater roar of the greater lion? Remember, Satan's a counterfeit lion. The lion of Judah is the real one. He's trying to rip off who Christ actually is, the lion of Judah. What if he's calling you to lean into the roar of his word and his holy spirit over your life? [00:25:17] (26 seconds)  #RoarOfTheLion

When what you prioritize most is on the line, you'll compromise even God's ways and God's heart and God's desire in order to get it because you fear that thing more than you fear God. You give weight to that thing or situation more than you give weight to God even if it means exploiting the people around you. [00:15:19] (23 seconds)  #ChooseGodOverFear

The truth is when we indulge the flesh, it's like ringing the dinner bell for the demonic. It's willfully inviting your enemy in even though you have victory over him in Christ when we say to God, my will be done instead of your will, oh God. What we're really saying is, have your way, Satan. That's that sounds harsh guys, but you need to hear that. [00:23:07] (28 seconds)  #ResistTheFlesh

Circumstances you may be in because of past sin even or simply because we live in a fallen world but it it circumstances that happen. Listen, no matter what it is, more sin is never the solution to a sinful situation ever. It's always through faith and repentance. And I know that's easier said than done. But listen to me, guys. Radical bondage often demands radical deliverance, a radical holiness. [00:27:01] (29 seconds)  #RadicalHoliness