Sometimes in our Christian life we run into situations where it would seem more beneficial for us to sin.

We think we will go hungry if we don’t steal some food, We’ll lose our job if we don’t fudge the numbers., The ugly truth will be discovered. If we don’t lie.

Brothers and sisters, the way of the world may look more sensible and satisfying at times, but let me tell you something, God wants better for you.

When we encounter experiences like these and choose to sin, that is really a crisis of faith. We doubt that God can provide for us, or pull us out of the predicament we’re in. So, we take it upon ourselves. Proverbs 3: 4-5.

Let me tell you a story about the apostle Peter, when he was in a tough spot, and God showed himself faithful.

Acts 12: 1-10. “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to Harass some from the church. Then he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the days of unleavened bread. So. When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now, behold, an Angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; And he struck Peter on the side and raised him up., saying, “arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the Angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; And so, he did. And he said to him, “put on your garment and follow me.” So, he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the Angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the 1st and the 2nd guard posts, They came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; And immediately the Angel departed from him.

And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I knew for certain that the Lord has sent his Angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

In that dark, dark prison cell, his close friend having just been executed, him slated to be next, chains on his wrists, and a soldier on each side of him; What Christian, do you think appeared to be the most advantageous in Peter’s eyes?

I can think of one, renouncing his faith in Christ. If he had done this, he most likely would have been released from prison and accepted back into the synagogue. Life could have continued on as normal for Peter, a peaceful existence, fishing on the Sea of Galilee, raising a family and building a legacy.

Other than that, his head was soon to be separated from his neck. So, what did Peter do? Did he take the easy way out? No, his response to this crisis can best be described in his own words.

1Peter 4:18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

Amazing words. Peter put his confidence in the Lord, and God proved himself trustworthy.

Brothers and sisters, if we follow the apostle’s example, then God will do the same in our lives as well. It may not be anything as miraculous as an Angel busting us out of the slammer, but He will show up. Trust God and always put Him first, and He will work things into your life you never thought possible.

 

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

When we decide to put our faith in Jesus and confess Him as Lord, we are, at that moment, recreated in our Spirit.

Although we are still convicts on the outside according to the world around us, we are a completely new creation on the inside! Since we can’t visually see our spiritual being, we have to slowly learn about who we are now by looking into the only mirror that can show us who we truly are in the spirit- the Word of God. It can be difficult, in prison, to get a revelation of who we really are because everything we see reminds us of the mistakes we made to be locked up- our old identity. But what we have done is not who we are. We are a new creation!

Sometimes, this can be a difficult for others to see or to believe, upon our release back into Society. We may be labeled as felons or convicts. That’s why it’s so important for us to get a revelation of who we are now according to the Spirit.  We have been made new and are continually being transformed into the image of Christ as we continue to let the word of God shape us while we fellowship with Christ.

Our faith is in God that He is able to finish what he began in us. So there’s more than meets the eye! Your true identity is found in your spirit and you must continually seek to discover what  He’s placed in you . 2 Corinthians 5:16, 17 (NLT) says, “some have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. How differently we know Him Now!

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone, a new life has begun.” Don’t fall victim to an identity crisis, Know who you are-a new creation!

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that I am a new creation today in Christ Jesus and that I’m not who I used to be. Jesus,

show me what you have placed in my inner-man and help me to come to an awareness of who I truly am in You! Amen.

 

 

15-Year-Old Fatal Accident   1-23-2009

Testimonial of Ivory Jones “Momo”

Written on 2-17-2024.

 

Accused of felony murder and robbery with a firearm at the age of 15.  With God’s hand on my life, even with a lot of transgressions on my hands, I was certain to be delivered from the first.

 

Starting with the County Jail booking process, a medical assessment being a part of that experience, coupled with waiting first on a medical assessment, and then waiting on the results of that medical assessment. In addition, all this occurred at the same time I was on a segregated lock down. This was due to the nature of my crime, which required solitary confinement for a 60-day period.

 

Eventually, I was removed from my cell by two nurses who informed me if I didn’t consent to a tech shot and what seemed to be 4 huge antibiotic pills, that in as little as 4 months, it would be impossible to eliminate the STD I was carrying.  So, I consented, and God delivered me from that disease.

 

I came to the sad conclusion that while preparing for my defense, I would not receive family support.  My mother said these exact words… “I wash my hands; the people got you now.”

 

Although a few weeks later, the only eyewitness against me was discredited. Yet my public defender continued to pressure me to plead guilty to the charges.  For obvious reasons that didn’t _{appear like good advice to me, I declined to do so. If the only eyewitness against me was} discredited as a reliable witness, why would I plead guilty? It simply didn’t seem right to me.

 

When I returned to the Juvenile floor, I shared what I had learned about the witness. We attempted to shape my defense for a better outcome, and not accept the 35-year sentence that had been offered. Our first effort was to fire the public defender, which to my dismay I learned was not possible.  He came in a week later with my request in his hand and in my presence wadded the request up and threw it into the trash. He stated that he was court-appointed, and he could not be fired.

He also confessed that he had already been in a 2-year long court battle on another murder case and again told me I needed to plead guilty to the 35-year term that was being offered.  I once again rejected the offer, and he pushed so hard I lost my temper and motioned for the Officer to remove me from the room.

 

A month passed and feeling defeated, I felt I had no option but to accept the 35-year offer, as I feared ending up with a (LWOP) which means life without parole. Immediately after agreeing to the plea arrangement, I was transported to a prison A&R reception center. Upon arrival my case manager informed me it was illegal for me to be there, and as I was using my REC-Time for a shower, she arranged for me to be the only inmate on the day room floor, which made the other inmates furious.

Normally once a person arrives at A&R it takes 30 days for O.C. to find a facility in which the new inmate will serve his time.  However, in my case it only took 3 days, and I was shipped out.

At my first yard, my first cell mate was a 42-year-old man, and I was still only 15. While I was settling in, he apparently informed his wife that they moved a 15-year-old in with him.  She then proceeded to call the facility saying it was illegal for us to be cell mates, and if I were to get hurt, she didn’t want her husband to receive any of the blame or responsibility.  So, I was made to report to the warden who warned me I was being closely observed because he felt uneasy about me being sent to his prison. Most likely he had the same fear as the wife of my cell mate, that he would be held responsible for any harm that might come to me.

And this was my introduction to prison life.

About a month later the administration informed me that I would soon be faced with a decision.  I would need to decide on whether or not I would give my testimony to some 17 – 18 year olds in the “scared straight program” aimed at high school students and would take place in the Chapel. This led to the yard being shut down during this time for a youth program based out of the chapel in which I was to be host. This program was based on my testimony and Gospel Rap revelation by Pastor Darren Elliot who was exalted in the church shortly after I named this program “God First.”

I would like to restate the conditions when I first entered into the prison system, and was only a freshman in High School. However, H.B.O. had created a new project titled “A Special Education & Incarceration Prison Project” to which I was a main and youngest subject in this documentary being aired across America in this series of edifying the Gospel by displaying my rap skills as part of my prison lifestyle.

As is the case with many young people who find themselves in this situation, without a support group, and not fully trusting in the Lord yet, I was struggling, and fell into following older familiar gang members. I picked up their habits and ways to survive. It led me to drug abuse, at first, just marijuana for a long time, until one day I tried “K2” a harder substance, along with a few other activities such as finesse and manipulation which goes hand in glove with practicing sorcery, fueled by gaining influence with gang leaders and facilitating drugs around different yards, and sad to say, I became a master at these activities.

And, of course this led to several misconduct charges for possession of drugs & cell phones… somehow throughout, and in spite of all this, I managed to earn my G.E.D. I was able to obtain an Electrical license, learned to type, and Horticulture Management and have maintained a maintenance job for 4 years.  Now I can boast of 7 years clear conduct, by allowing God’s Holy Spirit take me over… I owe my life to Jesus Christ.

 

 

…

 

No matter how broken things are in your life God will use that brokenness to fulfill his purpose.

There are many examples in his Word where God is glorified through broken lives. He is always enough to see us through whatever trial and tribulation that life throws at us. Once you come to a place in your life that God is enough, you are always at peace even in the midst of a storm. It is in these storms that our faith will be tested. We must choose to run into the arms of the Father as he whispers to us, no one will snatch you out of his hand. “I will always be enough”. 

Genesis 12:1 now Adonai said to Abraham, “Get yourself out of your country, away from your father’s house, and go to the land I will show you”. 

Abraham was asked to take his family and go to an unknown place away from his kinsmen. God wanted him to go immediately and not hesitate. Abraham trusted in God and left everything in obedience to Him, just as the disciples left all to follow Yeshua. We as God’s children are called to leave our old lives and follow Him to be Holy and set apart.  

Genesis 40:15 For the trust is that I was kidnapped from the Lord of the Hebrews and here too I have done nothing wrong that would justify putting me in this dungeon.  

Joesph was sold to be a slave by his brothers who were jealous of him. He was thrown into prison for a false accusation of rape and forgotten there. Yet he still put his face before God and trusted in his sovereignty. When we trust that God is enough in our lives, he will use what looks like a defeated situation and allow us to come out looking victorious.  

Judges 7:19  Guideon and the hundred men with him arrived at the edge of the camp a little before midnight, just after they changed the guard. They blew the shofars and broke into pieces the pitchers that were in their hands.  

The broken jars are a symbol of how God uses our broken lives to accomplish his purpose. He used the small array of 300 men to defeat a massive army. Their fear was turned to faith once they God was enough.  

2 Kings 4:4 Then go in, shut the door with you and your sons inside and pour oil into all those containers and as they are filled, put them aside 

This woman was in a hopeless situation. Her sons were to become slaves to pay a debt her husband had before he died. Elisha instructed her to fill all the jars she borrowed with oil to pay the debt. God will use what little we have and increase it.  God will always be enough to fulfill our needs.  

Luke 9:16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish and looking up toward heaven, made a brakhah, broke the loaves and began giving them to the talmid (Disciples) to distribute to the crowd.  

Only God can feed thousands with a small meal. Wherever an impossible situation presents itself in your life look to the heavens to our Father who will always make the impossible possible.  

Psalms 71:5-6

5 for you are my hope Adonai Elohim in whom I have trusted since I was young.  

6 from birth I have relied on you; it was you who took me from my mother’s womb 

Despite all the enemies David had coming at him in his life he trusted in God to be his hope and salvation. Let that be a reminder to us that no matter who is against us God is always for us.  

2 Corinthians 12:9 but he told me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness. 

Paul had a thorn in his side. He asked God to take it from him three times, but God says his grace is enough. Let this be a lesson for us that no matter the hardships we are going through that it is God who will see us through. It’s such a delight to know God is our rock and salvation.  

Luke 4:4 But Jesus answered him saying, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God.  

Satan came to Jesus after he fasted for forty days, knowing he was hungry he tempted him to turn a stone into bread. Jesus knew it was God’s word that will sustain him. So, when Satan comes to tempt you at your most vulnerable moment fight him off with the Word of God. God alone is our strength and shield. He will always be enough to guide us through times of darkness, times of storms, and times of loneliness, you can always trust in him.  

Adam Gillespie 

October 15, 2022 

Contributed by Adam Gillespie

We Must Continue to Fight

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you testified so well to your faith before many witnesses.

As believers in Christ, we must never have the misconception we are to lay back on the sidelines. That life will be easy, and we will never face trials and tribulations. Once we have made the decisions for Christ. Our enemy (Satan) will fight to get you back. Our spiritual enemy opposes the Christian pursuit of godly ideals. So, Paul urged his younger friend Timothy to plunge into this conflict. The goal is worth fighting for and it requires fighting for. So, my Christian brothers and sisters lets boot up and suit and get ready for war.

Ephesians 6:10-11

10. Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord In union with this might strength!

11. Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the adversary.

The only way we can withstand the attacks of the enemy is to put on the full armor of God that he supplies remember this struggle does not, not take place in the physical but in the spiritual. It is essentially warfare on the spiritual level with an enemy we cannot see.

1 Samuel 17:32 David said to sha’ul no one should lose heart because of him; your servant will go and fight this, Philistine.

You see David have the faith in God knowing he would hand this philistine over to him to defeat him. So, what enemy in your life that you need God to defeat for you? Have faith and he will do it.

1 Samuel 17:37 Then David said “Adonai, who rescued me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will rescue me from the paw of this Philistine! Sha’ul said to David “Go, May Adonai be with you”

Each battle that God gets us through prepares us for the next one. But we must do our part and walk by faith, not by sight.

1 Samuel 17:51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine took the giant’s sword, drew it out of its sheath, and finished killing him, cutting off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead they fled.

We to when we draw on the strength of God to defeat our enemies they will flee as well. When we make a practice of this in our lives, we know we can face anything with God!!

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Moreover, take a stand against the adversary, and he will flee from you.

In this chapter, James is talking about letting go of selfish motives. We must be enemies of the world, not friends. The only way that we can face our enemy is to submit to God. Once we fight the enemy (Satan) in the power of the Holy Spirit the enemy has no choice but to flee.

Daniel 6:22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths, so they would not hurt me, this is because before him I was found innocent, and also, I have done no harm to you, your majesty.

Although men were against Daniel to have him killed Daniel trusted God knowing there was a death sentence waiting for him for doing so. Daniel didn’t fight in his own might. He entrusted himself to God. We to must fight our enemies with the same mindset, If God is for us, who can be against us. (see Romans 8:31)

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Paul knew his life would be soon over. He knew he had fought and ran the race well that God had set before him. Mainly the minister of the Gospel. He spent the first part of his life fighting against God then spent the rest fighting for him. He remained faithful to the lord, and service for him, this enabled him to face death courageously. Let us be encouraged by this. Continue to fight the good fight of faith. An award awaits us, to forever be in his presence, Hallelujah!!!!

Contributed by Adam Gillespie

Is there something in your life that you hold dear to you that God is calling you to sacrifice on the altar? Or does something have you in chains that God wants to free you from? Well then, I encourage you to bring it to the mountain of sacrifice and leave it at the altar. God is waiting.

Genesis 22:2 He said “Take your sone your only son, whom you love, Yitz’Chak (Isaac)and go to the land of Moriah. There you are to offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain that I will point to you.”

Abraham and Sarah were promised a child long ago. When they were past the years of Sarah to bear children, the promise came to fruition, and Isaac was born. The son of promise at the age of 13 God told Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to him on Mount Moriah the same place where Christ died on the cross for our sins.

Romans 4:3 For what does the Tanakh (scriptures) say? Abraham put his trust in God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness.

We too, if we put our complete trust in God his righteousness will be bestowed on us. Is God asking you to trust him to use you for his glory? Is he asking you to trust him when he says this job isn’t what you need right now? This relationship will only lead you away from me not towards me. Whatever struggle you are in right now take it to the mountain of sacrifice and put complete trust in God who knows what’s best for you.

Psalms 54:6-7

6. Then I will generously sacrifice to you; I will praise your name Adonai because it is good,

7. Because he rescued me from all trouble, and my eyes look with triumph at my enemies

David wrote this Psalm while being pursued by Saul and all his enemies. David knew God was still good and daily looked to praise his name. Even when all your enemies have surrounded you praise God and lift him up. Acknowledge that he will rescue you from all troubles. Sacrifice at the altar all fear and doubts.

Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of Adonai, “Whom should I send? Who will go for us?” I answered, “I am here, send me!”

During this time the Northern and Southern Kingdoms were declining spiritually. Judgment was upon them.  Isaiah set himself apart for God rather than fall into sin and be of service to God. Is God asking you who will go for me?

Ruth 1:16-17

16. But Ruth said, “Don’t press me to leave you and stop following you, for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.

17. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried May Adonai bring terrible curses on me and more as well if anything, but death separates you and me.

This is where Ruth who was a gentile became a Jew, Like Abraham forsakes her land her birthplace, and her father’s house to convert to the ways of God. God’s calling on our life requires much sacrifice. All you, all in for God?

Luke 9:23 Then to everyone he said, “If you anyone wants to come after me, let him say no to himself, stake up his execution stake daily and keep following me.

We must daily deny our flesh and allow the Holy Spirit to give us new Godly desires

The word cross in the Greek Strong’s 4716 says this: Crucifixion is metaphorically used of renunciation of the world, that characterizes the true Christian life.

Matthew 10:37 Whoever loves his father or mother more than he loves me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than he loves me is not worthy of me.

To be a true disciple of Christ one must always put him first even if it means losing relationships with family members. Being identified with Christ will come at a cost. Jesus must mean more to us as Christians than all other relationships.

Contributed by Adam Gillespie

Even In the Darkness

All of us have gone through dark times in our lives and some of us are going through it now. We have even asked God where are you at? And why are you allowing me to go through this? Take comfort in knowing that even in the dark God is at work on your behalf. When you are having a sleepless night fretting and worrying about situations in your life know that you can cast all your cares on him. For he cares for you. (See Peter 5:7)

Exodus 14:21 Moshe (Moses) reached his hand out over the sea and Adonai caused the sea to go back before a strong East wind all night. He made the sea become dry land and its water divided in two.

The Israelite’s who just left Egypt were in fear of the Egyptians who were in pursuit of them. Moses assured them God would save them (see Exodus 14:13-14) God worked all night pushing the sea back on both sides to pave the way for the Israelite’s while their enemies are pursuing them. That’s the way God works for us. He brings us to safety and protects us from our enemies.

Genesis 50:20 You meant to do me harm, but God meant it for good so that it would come about as it is today, with many people’s lives being saved.

Joseph was reassuring he would do no harm to his brothers for what they did to him. He knew God meant it for the good. You see Joseph was hated by his brothers, they sold him into slavery. He was imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, yet in those dark times of Joseph’s life, God was working on his behalf, and was shown favor wherever he went. Joseph ultimately knew God that no matter the rough times he was going through God would see him through.

Psalm 23:4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines, I will fear no disaster; you are with me; your rod and staff reassure me.

David in his younger years was in danger of losing his life at the hand of Saul for his jealously. His own son Absalom chased him off his throne and wanted him dead so he could be King, yet David knew God would protect him even in his darkest times of life.

Psalm 27:10 Even though my father and mother have left me Adonai will come for me.

Even when those closest to us have abandoned us and we feel alone rest in the assurance God will never leave us or forsake us.

Job 35:10 But no one asks “Where is God my maker, who causes glad songs to ring out at night

If you are having a sleepless night for one reason or another, ask the Holy Spirit to fix your eyes on God who will comfort you. Praise him and fix your eyes on Him and He will give you peace beyond understanding.

James 4:8a Come close to God and he will come close to you.

No matter the tough times you are going through God assures us in his word he draws close to us if we draw close to him. So, humble yourself, cry out to God, and seek him wholeheartedly.

Acts 16:25-26

25. around midnight, Shaul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, while the other prisoners listened attentively.

26. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake that shook the prison to its foundations. All the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.

Even amongst the prisons, we are living in no matter what they may be, fear, thoughts of suicide, mental illness etc. if we can praise and worship God in the midst of all that those chains will fall off and the prison doors open

Luke 22:42 “Father if you are willing, take this cup from me; still not my will but yours be done.

The cup Jesus is talking about here is a cup of suffering. We need to call upon God when no matter the pain and suffering we are going through. We just need to trust that God is at work and his will, will be done.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who by his power working in as is able to do far beyond anything we can ask or imagine

No matter the darkness you may be in right now the power of God working in you will see you through. His thoughts and ways are beyond our understanding don’t give up.

Contributed by Adam Gillespie

Sanctification

is a progressive work of God and believers that make us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives. This is a process which continues on in someone’s lifetime. We will not completely become like Christ in this lifetime. At the moment of regeneration, a moral change begins in our life. We are beginning to be renewed by the Holy Spirit.

John 17:17 set them apart for holiness by means of the truth-your word is truth

Jesus is speaking here and asks the Father to set apart his children for holiness by his word. As his children for we are to live out his word in our lives to become Christ like.  God’s word is truth therefore we should allow our hearts and minds to be yielded by it.

Romans 6:11 & 14

11: in the same way, consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God, by your union with the Messiah Yeshua

14: For sin will not have authority over you, because you are not under legalism but under grace

To be sanctified on a daily basis you must be dead to sin and no longer be a slave to it. We are under grace, not the law.

Romans 6:17-18

17: By God’s grace, you who were once slaves to sin, obeyed from your heart the pattern of teaching to which you were exposed

18: and after you had been set free from sin, you become enslaved to righteousness.

God’s grace is bigger than our sin.  We are freer from the bondage of sin and are slaves to righteousness which reaps eternal life. Just as we use to offer ourselves to more and more sin, we are now to offer ourselves to more and more righteousness for sanctification.

2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us, with faces unveiled, see as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, and we are being changed into his very image, from on degree of glory to the next, by Adonai the spirit.

As we go on in this Christian life we are becoming more and more like Christ.

Philippians 3:13-14

13: Brothers, I, for my part do not think of myself as having yet taking hold of it, but one thing I do; forgetting what is behind me and striving towards what lies ahead

14: I keep pursuing the goal in order to win the prize offered by God’s upward calling in the Messiah Yeshua

Paul is saying that he is not perfect. He keeps pressing on toward the goal Christ has called him. To become more Christ like we to need to keep pressing forward and not worry about the past. Christ has saved us for a purpose.

Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is continually being renewed in fuller and fuller knowledge, closer and closer to the image of its creator.

Now that we are new creatures in Christ, we are to put on our new selves daily and look more and more like the Messiah our savior.

God’s Role in Sanctification

Most of the work of sanctification is done by God.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 May the God of shalom (peace) make you completely holy-may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless for the coming of our Lor Yeshua the Messiah.

It is God who makes us holy and gives us the desire to become more and more like his son.

Philippians 2:13 For God is the one working among you both the willing and the working for what pleases him.

God’s work in our lives causes us to fulfill his will in our lives to be free of sin and to do what pleases him.

1 Corinthians 1:30 It is his doing that you are united with the Messiah Yeshua. He has become Wisdom for us from God and righteousness and holiness and redemption as well.

Jesus earned our sanctification for us because of who he is we have an example to follow. In him, we have hope of eternal life.

Our Role in Sanctification

We depend on God to sanctify us. We are to take steps to be more like his son and strive to obey God and his word.

Romans 12:1 I exhort you, therefore brothers in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you.

Since we are brought from death to life, we should offer our lives to God as slaves of his righteousness.

Romans 8:13 For if you live according to your old nature, you will certainly die, but if by the spirit you keep putting to the death the practices of the body you will live.

To become like Christ our old nature must be put to death daily. To practice righteousness on a daily basis produces a life reflecting who Christ is.

Hebrews 12:14 keep pursuing shalom with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the lord.

Becoming sanctified we must become holy turning off the old desires of our sinful nature and produce fruit that pleases God.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 What God wants is that you be holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality.

Sexual sin is one area that entangles a lot of us, but if we continue to pursue holiness and become like his son we will be from that old nature.

Hi Jim, 

Here are four of my husband’s Bible studies that he wrote. He is currently incarcerated in Canon City Colorado and leads a weekly Bible study. He has wanted to find a way to share his Bible studies with others outside the prison walls. He and I both hope these bless others. I can send more as well, he sends his writing of these to me weekly to type up for him. by Jolynn Gillespie

This is the first Lesson!

“Who We Are in Christ

Contributed by Adam Gillespie

Before the foundation of the world, we were elected by God the Father to be in Christ which brings us the reward to be called a son or daughter of God. Our relationship with God is in some way connected to our relationship with Christ. In Christ, we have redemption from the power of sin. In Christ the old man is dead, and the new man arises (see 2 Cor 5:17). We are in Christ and Christ is in us.

God Always Had a Plan

Ephesians 1:4   In the Messiah, he chose us in love before the creation of the universe to be holy and without defect in his presence.

It was God’s grace that he chose us to be his holy children, not because of anything we have done. It is in the Messiah that we have this blessing of salvation, redemption, and justification. In Christ, we can share in the blessings and inheritance that Christ has.

In Him We Are Righteous

Romans 5:19   For just as through the disobedience of the one man, many made sinners, so also the obedience of the other man, many will be made righteous. 

1 Corinthians 1:30 It is his doing that you are united with the Messiah Yeshua, He has become wisdom for us from God, and rightlessness and holiness and redemption as well!!

Philippians 3:9 and be found in union with him, not having any righteousness of our own based on legalism but having that righteousness which comes through the Messiah’s faithfulness, the righteousness from God based in trust.

Without being in Christ we are just disobedient sinners who have no right standing with God. It is through the perfect sinless life of Christ, his death burial, and resurrection on our behalf that we are righteous. He took our sins and gave us his righteousness.

He Bore Our Sins

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made this sinless man to be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully share in God’s righteousness

Isaiah 53:6 We all like sheep, went astray; we turned each one, to his own way; yet Adonai laid on him the guiltless all.

1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the stake, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness, by his wounds we are healed.

By him taking all our sins on the cross God sees Christ’s righteousness not our sins. In him, we have the freedom to die to our sins so now we should not let sin rule in our bodies. We must give our lives over to him.

In Him, We Have a New Life

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is united with The Messiah, he is a new creation-the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new.

1 John 5:11 and this is the witness: God has given us eternal life and this life is in his son.

2 Timothy 1:1 From Sha’ul, an adversary of the Messiah Yeshua by God’s will, which holds forth a promise of life through being united with Messiah Yeshua

So, from these scriptures, we see we do have a new life in Yeshua. This good news should cause us to deny ourselves and pick up our cross daily and follow him. The first Adam brought death the second Adam (Yeshua) brought life.

In Christ, We Are to Live for Him

Romans 15:17 In union with the Messiah Yeshua, then, I have reason to be proud of my service to God.

1 Corinthians 15:31 Brothers by the right to be which the Messiah Yeshua our lord gives me I solemnly tell you that I die every day

Paul knew what he had in his savior Yeshua the Messiah. He knew what it was to die to his flesh every day and to live for him. He was proud to be constantly working for God and bringing many into the fold. He also knew who he was outside of Christ. So, let’s remember the children of God who we are in Union with the Messiah.