Tag Archiv: Discipline
21 Days of Dying
The Crucified Life
Copyright 2016 © Misty Holmes Dorsey
Practice Love
DAY 19
“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:9-13 KJV
We must allow the love of a God to become mature in us. Our desire is not just to get delivered but to be free. Know that when Jesus comes and truth is released one becomes free. The truth shall make you free. (John 8:32). One can get delivered but still have old path ways that can take them back to the place of bondage. Freedom destroys those ways and propels you to keep moving forward; focused on the prize which is in Christ Jesus.
People get delivered, but never come into newness. Freedom brings you into the newness.
To walk in great victory is to know that we are more than a conqueror, and greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world. We must allow the love of God to be shed abroad in our hearts so we can achieve the freedom God has promised. However, if love is absent or void from our lives we haven’t overcome and the joy that we are experiencing at that moment will only be temporal.
Satan looks for areas in your life where love is not mature. When he can see and identify those areas in our life he becomes a leech. A leech cannot survive unless it has something to feed on. If it has no host it cannot survive. When a leech finds a host they use their anterior suckers to feed on you.
When we have unresolved issues, we open ourselves up to leeches (demons and devices of the enemy). Once attached, leeches secrete certain enzymes into your blood stream. As a result, they will begin to bite.
Interesting, once they start biting, they will numb the area so you will not become of aware of the pain. Leeches have morphine-like substances in them that will neutralize the tissues. We cannot allow those with leech like characteristics to access us. We must close the door. Do not become a victim to the enemy’s devices. You do not want that area to become unresponsive and get stronger because it has been numbed. We must allow the power of the Holy Ghost to destroy it and all its forces that want it to stay.
Love is the key to grow and mature in God and wax strong is His glory! When you gave your life to Christ you were born again into love. Remember God is love.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son.
We must take on the mind of Christ and allow our mouths to speak what is in the Father’s heart. Hatred did not get Jesus anywhere, it was love. After all that has been done to our Lord, He still looked out to see all those that surrounded the cross at His crucifixion and utter:
Luke 23:34 (KJV)
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
This opens our eyes to the compassion of Christ. Many people are motivated in the Body of a Christ by many things, but true compassion comes when the Father’s heart becomes your heart.
We must become one with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Philippians 2:5 KJV
[5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Compassion is work. If we want victory over the enemy, we must put our lives in God’s hand. Not only our lives but also everything that has ever wounded, hurt, disappointed, rejected, abandoned, molested, lied, and etc. put into our Father’s hands. He is waiting and has been waiting on you. If you draw nigh, He will draw nigh unto you.
Tell you flesh that it will not hold on to these emotions, pains, regrets, disappointments, losses, and tantrums any more. Tell your flesh that today:
Galatians 2:20 (KJV)
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Know one thing, leeches hang around murky places. Don’t take yourself somewhere that you are open for an attack from the enemy. Submit to God, resist the devil, and all appearances of evil.
Whatever wants to or tries to attach to you it will have no room to do so. Allow the love and the blood of Jesus to flow through your mortal body.
Reflections:
Today practice love.
Luke 6:27-29 (KJV)
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
21 Days of Dying
The Crucified Life
Copyright 2016 © Misty Holmes Dorsey
21 Days of Dying
The Crucified Life
Copyright 2016 © Misty Holmes Dorsey
Love That Will Set You Free
DAY 18
Many have been wounded in the name of love and are carrying the hurt and the pain from that experience. When we love the way, God tells us to love it is different than the way the world tells us to love.
The world loves someone because….., but God loves because He is love. There are no conditions and strings attached. Some will love you because of your looks but what happens when the looks begin to change, is love still present or was your love based on some condition.
Matthew 5:44 (KJV) – But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
One might ask, how can this even be possible, love my enemies? What kind of language is that? Why must I love those who hate me?
John 13:35 (KJV) – By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
We must remember that we too where enemies of God and in great need of a savior. Jesus came to give us life and more abundantly. He still desires to heal, deliver, and set us free from the chains of bondage.
Romans 5:10 (KJV) – For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Colossians 1:21 (KJV) – And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled;
Know that before we were Christ He loved us and Christ had already paid a price for you and I. All that we have ever done and will do, it will not stop His love for us. He loved first and that love did not stop because of our faults.
When love is void in our hearts, forgiveness cannot come in. Forgiveness may appear to be present. However, when someone does you wrong, do we remember the old and allow the old hurt to flood our heart?
1 Peter 4:8 (KJV) – And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity (love) shall cover the multitude of sins.
Know this love is the strongest weapon, and it will defeat the enemy in our lives and in the lives of others. Realize that it was love that led Christ to the cross, kept Christ on the cross, and rose Him from the dead. Love is so strong and powerful that it will cause demons, devils and witches to withdraw. When they see love the power in torment is cast out. Love’s assignment is to cover a multitude of sin and bring us into righteousness. Love will cause you to look past someone’s fault and see their need.
Right now, you may be questioning what is (Misty) saying to me – look past their fault and your fault, What? Doing this will cause you to see someone the way God sees them and still love them with agape love. God’s love is still doing it for us. Learning to let go is hard. Despite the difficulty there is a great reward that comes along with letting go and loving, even when it hurts. Above all, we must remember that Jesus did not let us go. He forgave us and continues to forgive us repeatedly.
Holding on to grudges and pain will cause your flesh to get stronger and cause you to miss out on God’s purpose for your life. Let it go and allow the love of God to cover you.
The enemy is always trying to tell us that no one loves you or cares for us. When tragedy arises, the enemy tells us that if God loves us this would have never happened. The devil hates love and all that God stands for after all the Bible tells us that God is love. (I John 4:8)
It is okay to open yourself up to God and love again the way God loves. When you love with conditions a door will open that will eventually cause you some pain.
Reflections:
Today reflect on where your love falls short or simply not present. Begin to journal and ask God to help you to love through His heart and His eyes. Allow Him to take your heart out of it and give you His heart.
21 Days of Dying
The Crucified Life
Copyright 2016 © Misty Holmes Dorsey
Overcoming Your Belly/Appetite (continued) DAY 17
“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 6:18 (KJV)
When overcoming the belly, it is important to hang around those who are likeminded, such as, believers who want the things of God for themselves and others.
When we serve our bellies, there is a spiritual indictment against us because we are walking in offence and division because we put our bellies before God. Our bellies do not have a brain or senses, and we must learn not to listen to our bellies when they begin to speak.
We are to pursue the things of God and not our appetite. However, our bellies want us to chase after things that will cause us to be spiritually broken and in bondage. We are to hear what the Holy Spirit tells us and turn down our plates.
We are to separate the flesh (world) from the spirit. The way we sustain the flesh is that we must give it food. Food will keep the flesh world strong. When our flesh is disciplined then our spirit man becomes strong.
After your flesh bites down on what it wants, it will begin to bite down on you. When crucifying our flesh, we must learn how to dismantle our mouth. Let not your mouth have a recourse. Your mouth and eyes can deceive you as well as others.
Genesis 3:1-24 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened,
21 Days of Dying
The Crucified Life
Copyright 2016 © Misty Holmes Dorsey
and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming
21 Days of Dying
The Crucified Life
Copyright 2016 © Misty Holmes Dorsey
sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. When we begin to overcome our bellies, we obtain a place with God.
The belly loves to satisfy our appetite. Your belly and your tongue have an affection for one another. Do not allow what you put in your mouth to bite down on you and deceive you. Thus, causing your spirit man to die. Your tongue loves to deal and relate to an un-regenerated mind. It will intimidate you and manipulate you.
The belly has a ministry on its own. It will pull on your tongue to speak and taste what it desires. Our bellies can be deceptive as it causes us to connect to what we see, hear, and desire without processing or counting the cost. We will begin to taste before we even see what we are eating.
The belly is evil. It is the seat of carnal affections. Therefore, we must overcome our bellies if we want to live a crucified life.
We must not worship or entertain our bellies. We want the deep things of God but they do not come without discipline. Our bellies can begin to speak to us and we won’t even recognize it. The belly must be brought under subjection. If not, one will sin and cause problems.
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
We must learn how to turn off the stove, the sink, the dishwasher, and the television. We must learn how to live in the aroma of prayer.
Genesis 25:29-34 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. 31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? 33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
21 Days of Dying
The Crucified Life
Copyright 2016 © Misty Holmes Dorsey
If we do not control our bellies, it will cause us to sell our birthrights and forfeit our inheritance.
Reflections:
Make a decision that crucifying your flesh is worth it. Allow God to talk to you about your appetite and why your belly wants to control your actions. Find Scriptures to shut that path down. Then rehearse those Scriptures and allow the Word to of God to renew your appetite, mind, and will.
21 Days of Dying
The Crucified Life
Copyright 2016 © Misty Holmes Dorsey
Overcoming Your Belly/Appetite
DAY 16
“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 6:18 (KJV)
Today, as I pray it is my desire that you come in a place with God that sets you apart from all unrighteousness and come into righteous living. This is one thing that the flesh will fight you with all the way. However, after you have killed something the thing that was fighting you is no longer in existence. We as sons of God must rid our mind, imaginations, and thoughts that would love us to resurrect those things that we nailed to the cross with Christ Jesus.
These daily devotions that you have been reading for these 16 days are about dying daily and living the crucified flesh. They will continue to help you kill your flesh and cause you to come to a place of knowing that you are possessing the gates of hell and taking the Kingdom of God by storm.
Today when we take a biblical look at the church through God’s eye, His mouth, and His heart does what we see does it line up with the Words of Christ. The Church is in a place of compromise because of our belly and fear. God is looking for His bride to come forth. We can’t be in the church and still behave and look like the world. We have not come to a place that we have transformed but we have come to a place that we have conformed. This conformity is because we have not dealt with those things that resides in our bellies.
Ephesians 5:1-8
5 Be ye therefore followers (imitators-ASV) of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
What does it take for us to not to allow our bellies to take control us? Why is it difficult to walk in the obedience of God and the established grace without abusing grace?
A lot of this is happening because people who are saved are not getting delivered. Meaning I accepted Christ, and Christ is in me, but I continue to do those things that are still satisfying to my belly. Why does it appear to be difficult or even a struggle to walk in the mind of Christ and allow His mind to be walked out in us? These are questions that I ask you to explore in your reflection time. Realizing that everyone will not have the same answers, but go ahead and reflect.
Philippians 2:5 – Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Do we even believe that Jesus is coming back for a church without spot, wrinkle or blemish? Our garments are stained because of our bellies and we need our garments to washed in the blood of Jesus. I am talking about the garments of our soulish realm. We cannot afford to have good intentions to be taken for evil.
Our garments are stained and our flesh is alive and refusing to walk in the newness of Christ. As it was with Saul and Samuel when the people wanted a king the eyes of the people are still looking in on the world instead of in the Kingdom and on God. We must stop reasoning out the will, mind, and the counsel of God in order to have it line up with our needs, wants, and desires. We must continue to get delivered from our false weakness and demons that have infiltrated our minds and the minds of other Christians.
We must be willing to get delivered from un-yielded places that refuse to yield to God’s plans and purpose for our life. I know you may be saying. “I don’t have any spirits or demons operating in me,” what about the places inside of you that choose not submit and yield to the authority of God.
Know this, you will not have a deep walk with God but a shallow walk with God, if you cannot turn your plate down and pray about those things and give them over to God daily. If you are always chewing or having your upper teeth meet with you lower teeth you most likely are not meeting with God.
The very reasons for fasting is so that we can obtain an audience with God not so He will give us what we want. If we can stop chewing and start praying and seeking His face, our yokes and demons will be starved and therefore, they will leave and die. Fasting along prayer will take care of your belly. Those two things will starve the belly and kill the desire that we have continued to feed. The flesh is undisciplined and does not want to stop eating to pray. Know when you are big in your flesh realm you are most likely small in the spirit.
Adam and Even in the garden of Eden when they started to chew the forbidden it was then that they begin to walk in some issues. When the tongue starts to taste, it begins to activate the appetite of the belly.
Romans 16:17-19 – Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
When dealing with your body it is important to take notice of what is around you. Paul is talking to saved folks – brethren. I beseech you – beg you to take notice of them (brethren – the church)
Paul says to mark them which cause division and offences – make them obvious to you and avoid them. Stay away from them do not fellowship with them. They need to get delivered and don’t allow them to pull you back into an old cycle that has been crucified.
Paul wants our eyes to open so we can see what is going on.
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 – Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
We need to get delivered. People who get delivered are few. People who are not delivered are many. We need to make a choice, which one do we want to be.
Reflection:
Know that your struggle is real. However, remember God is bigger and greater than your struggle and He is the answer for you belly. Submit to God and resist temptation. God has already made a way of escape that you do not have to conform to the world. Continue to reflect on questions in devotions and apply God’s Word to those things and walk out God’s Word in your life.
