Jim Martin Ministries/Grace Ministries International
4184 East Patterson Dayton, OHIO 45430
© 2001 - All Rights Reserved
www.jmmgrace.com

Dear Friends,

I believe one of the greatest promises God ever made to the Body of Christ is recorded in 2 Corinthians 3:18,

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Contained within these words is an iron-clad guarantee that God’s life in us gives us the potential to be transformed into someone who is not deified, yet a replication of who Jesus was during His time here on earth. The toughest part is believing that such a thing is true. But since it is impossible for God to lie, then this verse is a revelation of unchangeable truth, even if man’s religious traditions teach otherwise.

I think one of the reason many Christians doubt their incredible potential to be like Jesus is the fact that so many things in their lives never seem to change. Whether it’s a sin issue, laziness, apathy toward church attendance or some other habit or behavior, so many Believers live year after year without seeing things change.

During prayer, the Lord began to help me understand this dilemma. In fact, He helped me see that no Christian is immune to this struggle; that all of us have either gone through the battle to change, or we are going through it now. The truth is, as we are transformed from one level of glory to the next, change is required.

The greatest arena of battle is not with the devil or the problem area of our life; it is with the flesh and emotions which are so incredibly resistant to change. As I was praying God began explaining what it is going to take for Christians to rise above the flesh and their emotions. I want to share with you what He said, along with the scriptures He gave me.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13)

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.    (1 Corinthians 9:27)

In the verse from Romans, God is explaining the key to victory begins with understanding that the power of our born again spirit, which houses His life and nature, is fully capable of subduing anything of our flesh and emotions. Then, in the verse from 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul says he “keeps under” his body. The phrase “keep under” is the image of a fighter beating his opponent into submission. In this he is revealing that the flesh and emotions are stubborn and must be kept in control at all times.

But notice he said that he, and not God, is the one bringing the flesh and emotions into subjection. This is where so many Christians are making a huge mistake: they are expecting God to invade their lives with His glory and bring about transformation and victory over the flesh; yet God has made it very clear in His word that we are responsible for our own lives.

Having given me the verses in Romans and 1 Corinthians, here is what He said, along with the additional scriptures He gave me,

A horse is a tremendous means of transportation in areas where a motorized vehicle cannot travel. But in spite of its great potential, a horse must be broken and brought into submission before it can be saddled, a bit put in its mouth and mounted for riding.

In the same fashion, your flesh and emotions are meant to be controlled, not controlling. You are the one totally responsible for bringing your flesh and emotions into subjection to your born again spirit. I will impart my anointing to help; but I will not subdue your flesh and emotions for you, for they are yours.

This is the greatest battle you will ever face. Satan fights to influence your flesh and emotions so that you will make decisions that lead you away from my presence. Every decision you have ever made outside of my will can be traced directly back to your flesh, emotions and feelings.

Some horses are so stubborn and strong willed they are essentially impossible to fully break so they are safe for anyone to ride. But there is nothing about your flesh and emotions which cannot be broken and brought into total subjection to your born again spirit. The more you fight, the more ground you will conquer.

Do not make excuses for failures, for they do not come from your spirit. I have given you every spiritual gift you need to live in victory. Stop trying to analyze how these things work. Stop trying to grasp with your mind why change comes. Accept that praying in tongues, worship and fasting move you forward into the total victory revealed by my word. Stop saying you don’t know what to do to change. Those words indicate you are not receiving what I have already said. If I say something works, then it works whether you believe it or not.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.   (Galatians 6:9)

But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.   (2 Thessalonians 3:13)

If you do not bring your flesh and emotions into subjection, their voice will shout louder than my voice when I speak. You will then give in to the voice which is the loudest in your life. Just like a trainer puts in long, hard hours breaking a horse – day after day, sweating and getting dirty in the process – you must realize it is hard work to break your flesh and emotions. It is a lengthy process which requires great diligence on your part.

However, your victory is absolutely guaranteed because my life in your spirit is always more powerful than anything of your flesh and emotions. If there is any attribute of my life in you that has not yet fully manifested in your life, is it because I have not released it to you or because you have not yet received it and allowed it to manifest?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:    (Ephesians 1:3)

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power   (Colossians 2:10)

You ask, “Why do I seem to be beaten all the time,” in a specific area of your life. It is because you are not fighting hard enough to overcome it. If you believe I have given you the victory, that my life in you is greater than any struggle, that my word is sharp enough to cut away the problem, that you can do all things through Christ which strengthens you, that with me all things are possible and that you are edified above the problems by praying in tongues, then you simply aren’t fighting hard enough to change.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.   (1 Corinthians 15:57)

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.   (Galatians 5:16)

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.   (Hebrews 4:12)

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.    (Philippians 4:13)

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.   (Matthew 19:26)

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.   (1 Corinthians 14:4)

Too many of my children have been taught to use their faith to believe for money and material things. I say you should use your faith to bring about change. If you believe my word, then apply it to conquer every area of your life and bring it into subjection to my life in you.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.   (1 Timothy 6:12)

You have been made a king; exercise your royal authority over those rebellious areas of your life. Live like a king and a conqueror who is empowered with all of Heaven’s authority and power. Never accept defeat. Fight until you win, and you will win every time.

Do not allow yourself to become an enabler of your flesh. Never make excuses; for then you become an enabler. You will never experience defeat unless you submit to defeat. Do not bow your knee to the flesh and thus give it authority over your life.

You are more acquainted with your own feelings and emotions than you are with any other person, including me or Satan. Remember, when you believe a lie you empower the liar. Likewise, when you yield to the flesh, you empower it in your life. Yet, I have empowered you with my life. I have never known defeat; I have never been beaten. This is why I say you can live in victory every day and in every area of your life.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.    (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.   (Hebrews 4:16)

As you can see, God has not left us to ourselves. Though it is our responsibility to get our lives in order before God, He has made His grace, anointing and the ministry of the Holy Spirit available to us to help. Yes, it is possible to live the way God desires. He has already made Himself available to us; now, we must do our part to live in that victory. You can do all things through Christ which strengthens you, and His grace is sufficient for you to live as more than a conqueror!

Your fellow servant unto Him,

Jim

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