2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. BEHOLD! All things are made new, and all things are from God."
This revelation hasn't entered into the hearts of most believers, still today. The same culture and wisdom of the world has blinded our minds to this Truth. Even though the Word had declared it through most of the new covenant letters and Epistles, we continue struggling with the Truth that through the new creation, we were created into righteousness. Lacking faith in this Truth of our being in right standing with the Father, has resulted in our having lack of faith in everything we do. It also has much to do with what we can receive from the Father, by not wearing our breastplate of righteousness in our daily walk. Ephesians 6:14 (Amplified) says, "Stand therefore (hold your ground) having tightened the bet of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God."
The breastplate covers the heart (spirit) and the organs of the body (Fruit of the Spirit) of our new creation man. This piece of armor was the covering for the vital organs of the body in warfare. It also covers the vital organs (Fruit of the Spirit) in the new creation man, who is a spirit. Without having the breastplate of righteousness (by not having faith in it), we open our new man up to the lies and accusations of the enemy and lose faith in our ability to receive or even hear from the Father. 1John 4:21-22 (Amplified) tells us, "And beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us (if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us) we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God. And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we (watchfully) obey His orders (observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us) and (habitually) practice what is pleasing to Him."
Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified) says, "But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (out)."
The religious mindset of today's churches, considers it as heresy, to say that "we are truly righteous before God." To the Father Who created you in righteousness, it's a lack of your faith in this Truth that holds you back from Him. 1John 4:20 (Amplified) says, "Whenever our hearts in (tormenting) self-accusations make us feel guilty and condemns us (For we are in God's hands) For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts) and He knows (perceives and understands) everything (nothing is hidden from Him)."
This isn't giving us license to deliberately continue in sin and willfulness after being born-again. Paul admonishes, "Don't allow the mistakes we make as we're growing up (maturing) in Jesus to condemn us and allow the enemy to strip us of our breastplate of righteousness and shield of faith." Thus, he says in Ephesians 6:16 (Amplified), "Lift up over all the (covering) shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked one."
When your faith isn't in your righteousness, then your shield of faith isn't quenching all the flaming missiles of satan, leaving you vulnerable in your armor. Then the enemy can torment you and keep you in the belief that "God won't hear or answer your prayers." The Lord speaks about the new creation family, through the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 54:13-14,15 (Amplified) saying, "And all your (spiritual) children shall be disciples (taught by the Lord and obedient to His will) and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children. You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness, in conformity with God's will and order) You shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you." In Verse 15 God continues, "Behold, they may gather together and stir up strife, but it is not from Me. Whoever stirs up strife against you shall fall and surrender to you."
Faith that is established in righteousness, is the power of your breastplate and is for the protection of your heart (spirit) from the condemnation and guilt (fiery missiles) of the wicked one. Ephesians 6:16 (Amplified) says, "This faith (covering shield) is removed in our lack of established righteousness." This causes us to lower our shields, so the strife that is stirred up in our lives (Remember, God said it's not from Him) and the enemy's fiery missiles can find their way into the heart (our spirit), bringing guilt and condemnation.
The enemy's strategy if to try and keep our unrenewed minds on "who we once were," instead of "who God created us to be in His new creation." The guilt and remorse of the old dead man, is the enemy's avenue into the new life we've now become. Trying to tell a believer that "he doesn't believe," is like Jesus dealing with the traditions of the old covenant people. It sounded religious to them, but it didn't work for them and made God's Word of no effect in their lives.
We must learn to take the things the Father has done and said about us, by faith, and believe that the shield of faith has been provided for us. Ephesians 6:11 (Amplified) tells us, "Put on God's whole armor (the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies), that you may be able successfully to stand up against (all) the strategies and the deceits of the devil."
God describes the shield that quenches all these flaming missiles in Isaiah 54:15 (Amplified) saying, "These are fiery missiles (the condemnation, strife, fear, terror, guilt, and all the other flaming missiles that come) But they are not from Me!" If your faith is contaminated by religious teaching that "God is firing these missiles at you," then you're not relying on the Truth that faith will stop them. You must know who your enemy is and it's not God!!!
Much of the teaching and preaching in today's Church, is slanted by our view of the old covenant, rather than the new covenant family. We continue expecting God to deal with us from the outside-in and not from the inside-out. The new creation man is a spirit man, that is made alive again by the Holy spirit Who has now come to live in us. We're able to again hear, see, know, be in right standing and walk with God, like Jesus did.
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