What God did in Christ changes everything. We are new creations in Christ, which allows us to live a supernatural life. We are not just earthly, natural people. We operate in a whole new realm.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2
When we give our hearts to Jesus, we experience the fulfillment of what God said in Ezekiel 11:19-20, as we receive a new heart and a new spirit, enabling us to walk in His statutes, keep His judgments, and do them.
However, we are not like the people under the Old Covenant, but as New Covenant believers, through our new birth, we have resurrection life and power available to us because we received the life and glory of God Himself through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
It is the Holy Spirit who teaches us, allowing us to learn how to walk with God in the realm of the Spirit. We receive the anointing of God’s power and activation of the gifts of the Spirit for ministry to others through the baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11). However, many believers are living far below what Jesus Christ has given us through His death and resurrection.
As we learn to operate in the realm of the Spirit of God, we can walk in resurrection life every day! God desires to pour His power out through us, just as He poured it out through Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:12 that whoever believes in Him will do greater works than He did because He was returning to the Father. Living a supernatural life is exciting, and obeying God leads us into a life of victory.
When we receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we become overcomers and possess within us the strength to overcome because the greater One lives within us (1 John 4:4; 5:4). We have everything we need to be victorious in life and are positioned far above the enemy, who is under our feet (2 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:4-7; Ephesians 1:21).
We must enter the spirit realm through Jesus, who is the door (John 10:7-9). The spirit realm is an invisible, eternal world that coexists in parallel with the physical, temporal world.
When people seek access to the spirit realm through another, illegal door, it brings them into the kingdom of darkness and bondage, for example, through New Age, witchcraft, and occult practices.
The kingdom of darkness lures and entices people by making evil appear beautiful and desirable, promising power, knowledge, and an escape from reality through fantasy. If you have accessed the spirit realm through any illicit means, you must repent and renounce those things.
Even as believers and followers of Christ, we must guard against deception and entering into the spirit realm through illegal means. However, when we follow Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, we do not need to fear being deceived by the enemy and operating in the spirit realm illegally.
On the cross, when Christ took our old, sinful condition, He gave us His righteousness in exchange. Therefore, we have right standing with God, the same standing with God that Jesus has.
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
The Apostle Paul tells us to put off the old man and put on the new. In other words, we are to change the way we live.
That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
The new man is who we are on the inside and who we are in Christ. As new creatures in Christ, our inner being desires to do the will of God and to do what is right in His sight. Our spirit man has been made a partaker of God’s divine nature through the Holy Spirit living in us.
However, our soul and body were not born again. We need to allow our spirit to dominate our body and soul. Therefore, we must strengthen our spirit so that it can take authority over the body and soul, and tell them what to do as we choose to walk in the Spirit, being led by the Holy Spirit and God’s word.
As we turn our attention to the things of the Spirit, we can bring the love and power of God to the world, manifesting His glory.
The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 4 to take who we are and what we have in Christ and put it on. How do we do that? By renewing our minds with God’s Word, which is full of life and power (Hebrews 4:12), and acknowledging every good thing that we have in Christ.
That the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Philemon 6
We possess supernatural faith, God’s faith (Mark 11:22). Our faith will bear fruit when we acknowledge every good thing by confessing, speaking, and acting in accordance with the Word of God. We must implant the Word of God, feeding on and meditating on it, and then act on it because faith is an act (James 1:21-24).
If you need more faith in your heart to meet the challenges of life, put more of God’s Word in there because faith comes by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17). No one can make deposits into your heart account but you. God has deposited everything in us through His Word that we will ever need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
We must let the Word abide in us and do it. Abiding is obeying Him. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do God’s will. In her book, “To Know Him,”[1] Gloria Copeland reminds us that the secret to an abiding life is to put the Word into our hearts in abundance until it overflows in faith, and the written Word becomes the living Word in our hearts and mouths. It’s this living Word that leads us moment by moment.
We must see ourselves in Christ so we can possess all that we are in Christ! In his book, “In Christ,”[2] Mark Hankins explains that the terms “in Christ,” “in Him,” and “in whom” refer to who we are in union with Christ. I recommend looking up scriptures that contain these words and meditating on them, so you will know who you are in Christ and can use them when the enemy tries to tell you something contrary to God’s word.
If we want to live a supernatural life, we can’t just visit with the Lord, but as Psalm 91:1 says, we must dwell in the secret place of the Most High. It is essential to maintain our union and communion with Him. As we spend time with the Lord, we begin to think, talk, and act like Him. Our part is to maintain our fellowship with the Lord, and His part is to do the work through us.
By maintaining a living connection with God, we establish a connection with His authority and power that surpasses every power and authority in the name of Jesus. We draw our strength through union with Him and daily putting on the armor of God:
In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Ephesians 6:10 (AMPC)
It is the Holy Spirit who dwells within us that is our direct connection to God the Father and enables us to stay in continual fellowship and union with Him because He is the Spirit of the Father (1 Corinthians 2:11-12).
Certain things belong to us simply because we are in union with Him. For example, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption are ours because we are in Christ.
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30
Wisdom is God’s way of thinking. As we cultivate our relationship with the indwelling Holy Spirit, He will teach us, guide our steps, and also give us supernatural counsel, which is available 24/7.
Jesus made us righteous, which means having a right standing with God. Jesus is made unto us sanctification, which means separation from the world and dedication to God. We are complete in Him, and what He began in our lives, He will complete the work He wants to do in us and through us (Colossians 2:9-10; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:27).
We can declare these things over ourselves daily. You can do that right now, say: “Jesus is made unto me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. I am in Him.”
Let’s investigate further to find out what we have in Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:3-14
Jesus wants us to be His disciples – to be all in; to forsake all for Him. We must die to self daily, including our own ambitions and desires (John 12:20-26; 1 Corinthians 15:31). We must be totally dependent upon the Lord (John 15:5). Fully surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ; following Him and obeying His Word; putting God’s will and plans before our own. Praying for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-13).
Our entrance into the kingdom was assured forever when we placed our faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, and our salvation is free. However, becoming a disciple of the kingdom costs something: it involves how we choose to spend our time, talents, and so on, for God’s glory rather than our own.
Disciples are needed to impact and change the world and the nations in which they live. Disciples should live for and share Jesus! We aim to positively impact our communities, neighborhoods, churches, workplaces, and beyond for the sake of the kingdom of God. However, many believers turn away from following Him because of the cost. We saw this even in the ministry of Jesus (Luke 9:57-62; John 6:60).
Jesus gave us a mandate of discipleship when He said:
If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Matthew 16:24
Jesus says that whoever does not bear their cross and follow Him cannot be His disciple (Luke 14:27). What is our cross? Typically, it’s something we don’t want to do, but He is asking us to do! Denying ourselves isn’t the same thing as submission. We deny ourselves so that we can submit to God. It is not the situation that is the cross, but our response to that situation that is the cross.
When we completely surrender ourselves to Jesus as His followers, we will experience a supernatural life and the abundant life He has promised us (John 10:10). Surrender in God’s kingdom doesn’t mean weakness; it means embracing His power to overcome and stepping into victory.
The goal of discipleship is to become conformed or transformed into the image or likeness of Christ in our character, conduct, attitudes, and actions (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). Jesus said in John 13:35 that “All will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.” People should be able to tell by our walk and talk that we are followers of Jesus (Galatians 5:22-26; John 13:35; Ephesians 4–6).
It was in the Spring of 2016 that I realized I had not fully surrendered my heart, will, and life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I hadn’t realized we must consecrate and surrender to Him daily. He was asking me to put Him first and to do His will instead of my own. He was showing me what it truly means to lose my life and live for Him (Matthew 16:25)! I still face trials and tribulations, but each day I have His presence, love, joy, peace, and grace as I daily surrender to Him, walking in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is transforming me into the image of Christ as I cooperate with Him (2 Corinthians 3:18).
I am a woman of the Word and the Spirit. The Holy Spirit in the One who leads us into all truth (John 16:13). I am growing in the things of the Spirit and stirring up the gifts He has given me. He is the One who brings revelation and helps us to apply the Word to our lives. Jesus said in John 8:31-32 that if we abide in His Word, we are His disciples indeed, and we shall know the truth, and the truth shall make us free. Hallelujah!
Have you counted the cost of discipleship to the Lord Jesus Christ? He is calling you to come deeper into Him. He is saying that “If you are going to follow Me, you have to put Me first. Your love is for Me first before anyone or anything else.” The cross is an instrument of death. We must die to self and take up our cross and follow Him. Make no excuses!
We are the body of Christ, the church (1 Corinthians 12:27), and He has a mission for us in advancing His kingdom on earth. Jesus is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle and a church that is effective in her assignment to disciple nations (Ephesians 5:27; Matthew 28:19-20).
Because there is a cost to discipleship, each one of us must count the cost, as Jesus said. We must press forward, as the Apostle Paul said:
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
Now is the time to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal if anything is holding you back from completely surrendering to Jesus, completing what God has called you to do, and finishing your race well. To win the race, we must put God first in all areas of our lives. It doesn’t matter whether we have been walking with Him for years or are a new believer; there is always room for more of Him in our lives.
God desires that we know Him and grow spiritually. Daniel 11:32 says that the people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits. We are part of God’s end-time army and the bride of Christ, who know who they are in Christ, the power of His name, the might of His Spirit, and how to walk in faith.
God wants to manifest His glory and power through our lives today. But we must totally surrender our wills and plans to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, in other words, die to self. If we want to walk in God’s power and experience supernatural demonstrations, we must know Him intimately and surrender our control to Him.
We are not called to live an ordinary or boring Christian life when the same power that raised Christ from the dead dwells within us (Romans 8:11).
“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8
When we step out in faith, walk, and live in the Spirit, God can manifest any gift of the Holy Spirit at any time, when and where it is needed. God’s kingdom can be manifest on earth!
Prayer (To be prayed out loud)
Heavenly Father, I repent and ask Your forgiveness for every time I have chosen to live for myself instead of surrendering to You and obeying You. I consecrate and surrender my life to You today.
Baptize and fill me afresh with the Holy Spirit and fire. Because Christ is in me, I carry His anointing. I declare Luke 4:18-19 over me:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
I bind and rebuke any spirit of fear, doubt, or unbelief and ask You for boldness to step out by faith into the supernatural gifts You have given me as the Holy Spirit leads me.
Let my eyes see what Your eyes see, and my ears hear what Your ears hear. Help me to have Your compassion, to love people as You do, and reveal Your heart to them.
Give me divine opportunities to heal the sick, cast out demons, and demonstrate Your kingdom with signs and wonders. Let Your glory be manifested through me as I die to self daily and live only for You, in the name of Jesus, Amen.
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
As we enter the season of Thanksgiving this November, let us remember to have a heart of gratitude and thank God for His goodness and faithfulness in the countless ways He has brought us through this year. Gratitude is a spiritual weapon that shifts atmospheres and opens heavenly realms. God is inviting us to encounter Him in a fresh way this season.
May the Lord bless and keep you. May your heart overflow with gratitude for all that He has done, and let hope arise within you with expectation to receive all that God has promised you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (AMPC) are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
[1] Gloria Copeland, “To Know Him: Beyond Religion Waits a Relationship that will Change Your Life” (Tulsa: Harrison House, 2005)
[2] Mark Hankins, In Christ: This Changes Everything (Alexandria: Mark Hankins Ministries Publications, 2023).
Living the Abundant Life 