Our Greatest Adversary Is Our Flesh!

A lifestyle of victory doesn't mean that you won't have problems, but rather that you will overcome them all!

David faced the lion, then the bear, then the giant. Don't put a limit on how many times you will be willing to have victory over things.

If you draw a line in the sand with God, He will cross it just to test your flesh.

Joseph spent a long time in the prison. Not because his faith was lacking, but rather because he was being formed by God and that was to accomplish God's purposes.

Paul was thrown into prison multiple times and beaten multiple times, he was shipwrecked... for being a man of faith and loving God. Yet he wrote most of the new testament.

Galations 5:24
"And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires."
The proof of being a believer is that we crucify the flesh.

'When we overcome our flesh, we get God's best.'

Our flesh is fighting the Spirit and the Spirit is fighting our flesh. Don't let filters of the flesh block what the Spirit of God is saying to your spirit.

Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

The Spirit needs to oversee the soul, not the other way around.

2 Keys to Overcome the Flesh:

1. Live by the Spirit
   Don't do things that are contrary to the spirit. It is like working out and eating junk food.
   Exercise is what our body needs, junk food is what our body craves.
   Feed the spirit, starve the flesh
   
   Practical ways to live in the spirit:
   
   * Spend time in prayer
   * Take time to worship
   * Build Godly relationships
   


2. Get into the Word
   The Word directs our actions
   The Word develops our thoughts

Walk - 'to conducts one's life, a way of living'

• Read the word


• Get to church to hear the Word


• Practice the Word

It isn't easy to control the flesh. We have to make a decision to walk in the spirit! Add your comments below for what God is doing in your life during this amazing series on Thankfulness!

Dr. Toni Alvarado - 3 Promises in a Season of Transition

We welcome Bishop and Dr. Toni Alvarado for the 'Living Your Best Life' conference at HWC!

Joshua 1:1-5 (click to read)
The Wilderness is a place of 'just enough'... but we're on their way to the place of 'more than enough', the Promised Land.
Some seasons have to die for new seasons to be birthed. You can't 'get over' until you 'get up'! The death of Moses made room for Joshua. The death of one thing always makes room for something else.
A promise does not mean 'no problems'!
Joshua proved his worthiness as a successor with three tests:

• He waited in place for Moses for 40 days. He did not move out of place!
• He and Caleb were of a different spirit and saw the potential rather than the problems when the ten spies were sent to spy out the land!
• He had no problem going into battle while Moses stayed on the mountain. He had Moses' hands held up so that the battle would be theirs.

God gave Joshua three promises:

• Victory over his enemies.
• He reminded them of his faithfulness and that He never changes.
• He would never forsake them.

What sometimes looks like an obstacle is really an opportunity! The transition we are going through is God's opportunity as HWC is getting ready to see a great harvest; a harvest of souls, a harvest of God's outpuring and blessing like we have never seen before! Praise God!

Bishop Jonathan Alvarado - 'The Exception'

We welcome Bishop and Dr. Toni Alvarado for the 'Living Your Best Life' conference at HWC!

Numbers 9:1-14 (click to read)
The Exception:
Glory is the result of a connected past (don't pursue the new without reflecting on what God has already done!)
'Wilderness': Not where you want to be but different than where you were.
Your timing can get messed up in the wilderness... but it is there that you are on God's clock!
God is not constrained by the wilderness. If He said it, He will do it! Don't change anything! He that began a good work in you is faithful to perform it!
Pay attention to the details, for your deliverance is in the details!
When you are in the wilderness, it's not time to be deep, it's time to be obedient!
Sons and daughters listen to their parents! More so when in the wilderness.
Don't allow your flesh to get in the way because your flesh is like the dead corpse in the text. It will defile you. The flesh that you thought was dead was really just dormant. Even David cut Goliath's head off after he was already dead. If you don't cut off the head of the fallen enemy in your youth, it will come back to haunt and harass you later on in your life.
The men who became unclean, came clean to Moses. They didn't stay unclean. They confessed their mess before it was exposed. However, when you are in the wilderness, it is not the time to mess up.
Moses went before God on their behalf for 'The Exception'... God said they could still keep the Passover. God is willing to make an exception even though you don't deserve it. His grace and mercy are greater than His judgement!
The Problem:
People who are unclean want to worship, but people who are clean, won't worship! God has no problem accepting and excepting sinners, it is those who are clean but won't do what they are called to do that stop His hand from blessing them!
It is a question of the will. God uses wilderness times to separate the willing from the unwilling.

Please testify on this blog about the victory God is giving you as you say 'Yes' to him in the wilderness.

This Is Only A Test!

This week, Pastor Kevin showed us '2 Things To Do To See Victory' in the midst of the test:

1. Control the Flesh

“A person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken down walls.”
Prov 25:28

Pastor Kevin was very clear in telling us, "This is a word from God for everyone here!!"

We will get to the best if we control our flesh... but just how do I control my flesh?

We need to keep feeding our spirit – this is the time to:

• Pray More
• Bite My Tongue
• Read the Word More
• Bite My Tongue
• Get in Church Every Week
• Bite My Tongue
• Get Around Godly People More
• Bite My Tongue

2. Respond Wisely

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

WISDOM - Proper response to do the Godly and righteous thing.

GENEROUSLY- Liberally or with an open hand, not holding back.

It was made very clear that 'God Has VICTORY For Me!' Please testify on this blog about the victory God is giving you through the test, as you become more and more thankful.

4 Things About Your Test

Pastor Pam preached a breakthrough message about Victory through the test!

1 Cor. 10:13 - "For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not [a]adjusted and [b]adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to [c]a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently."

It might not be my way, but victory is on its way!

1. You’re Not Alone - If they made it through, you can too!
   Somebody else has already gone through what you are going through.
   
   
2. God is Faithful
   In the midst of a test, don't blame God, trust God!
   2 Thes 3:3 - "Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one]."
   Psalm 27:5 - "For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock."
   'Faithful' - 'to be trusted in all things'
   
   
3. You Can Do It!
   He will not allow you to be tested beyond your ability to endure!
   'Allow' means 'to give permission'
   
   
4. God has a plan for your VICTORY!
   'Resolution' means 'A way of resolving or a way out'
   God was not taken by surprise in your test! He already has a way out!
   
   
   You will be VICTORIOUS!
   

Please testify about your victory through the test, as you are becoming more thankful daily.