LOVING CORRECTION 2
(week 32/15)
OLUBI JOHNSON AND KUNLE SOKOYA
Last week, we saw the VITAL need for CONSISTENT CORRECTION AND INSTRUCTION from the Word of God, because our hearts (souls: wills, minds and emotions) still have the sin-nature in them, even though, our spirits are born-again; and so our hearts are deceived and blinded by Satan in many situations.
This week, we will see how to do this in more detail.
We must cultivate a LOVE FOR CORRECTION, because our hearts with the sin-nature in them hate correction and instruction:
Jeremiah 17:9 AMP: The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]? [Matt. 13:15-17; Mark 7:21-23; Eph. 4:20-24.].
Psalms: 50:16-17 AMP: But to the wicked, God says: What right have you to recite My statutes or take My covenant or pledge on your lips, (17) Seeing that you hate instruction and correction and cast My words behind you [discarding them]?
By the CONSISTENT APPLICATION OF the blood, the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit once every 6 hours (Dt. 6.7, Mk.13.35) and at every opportunity (2 Kgs.13.19) and by this in every temptation with our thoughts (2 Cor.10.5, Pr. 20.8), we will GRADUALLY develop a love and in fact come to CHERISH correction and instruction fulfilling
Psalms 119:75 KJV: I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Psalms 141:5 AMP: Let the righteous man smite and correct me–it is a kindness. Oil so choice let not my head refuse or discourage; for even in their evils or calamities shall my prayer continue. [Prov. 9:8; 19:25; 25:12; Gal. 6:1.]
As this happens, we will GRADUALLY receive INCREASING MEASURES of light and revelation, like (Peter had to receive MORE LIGHT to know that not only was Jesus the Christ, but that He was to die for our sins (Satan had blinded and deceived Peter in that regard (Mt. 16.13-23))) that will now be our defense against deception and satanic blindness and bring us IN LIGHT into our inheritance of the Spirit without measure:
Ecclesiastes 7:12 NKJV: For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.
Colossians 1:12 NKJV: giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
So in summary:
1. Stop trusting your heart ALONE:
Proverbs 28:26 NKJV: He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
Accept that God is faithful even when His correction seems grievous and/or foolish to your natural thinking:
Psalms 119:75 NKJV: I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
Job 13:15 NKJV: Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
1Corinthians 2:14 NIV: The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Rather, let the Word of God, confirmed, amplified and clarified by spiritual leaders (Heb. 13.7,17) be the FINAL AUTHORITY on every issue. Do not run away from the counsel of spiritual oversight:
Proverbs 15:12 KJV: A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
Proverbs 18:1 NKJV: A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.
Do not indulge in self-pity and seek sympathy from others.
2. Always accept correction in principle even when the details seem either wrong or unclear to you: trusting the Holy Spirit to reveal details to you over time as you pray and read His Word
John 16:12-13 NKJV: “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. (13) However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
3. Confess your sin, receive cleansing by the blood, the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit: ask God for mercy and pray in the spirit for wisdom (1 Cor.14.2, 2.7) and strength (Jude 20-21).
Reject condemnation and despair:
Romans 8:1-2 NIV: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (2) because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Psalms 42:5-6 NIV: Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and (6) my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
If applicable, apologize sincerely to people involved.
4. Maintain a honest and humble heart by praying as a daily habit in the spirit with travail (Eph. 6.18, Col.4.12, Gal.4.19, Rom.8.26, Heb.5.7); applying the blood, the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit to your heart once every 6hrs (Dt. 6.7, Mk.13.35), and at every opportunity (2 Kings. 13.19) and in every temptation WITH OUR THOUGHTS (2 Cor. 10.5, Pr. 20.8) AS A HABIT.
5. Read your bible daily as a habit for spiritual nourishment (Matt 4:4) and guidance (Ps. 119.105; Rom 8:14).
