Thank you for walking with me through these lessons. I’m looking forward to hearing from you today as you share your experience of the past 13 lessons.
I know I have shared my experience to some degree throughout this course. Still, I offer the following summary of the changes I have experienced by God’s grace after learning to walk in the Spirit under the shadow of the Cross.
First, God has brought me into wonderful intimacy with Jesus, close union with Him walking by the Holy Spirit. Even when in tragedy, I was being comforted by the promises of the Gospel during these lessons. I had lost my youngest son to murder. Shawn was only 28 years old. I was completing lesson 11 when this happened. It was God’s word and the promises that came with walking in the Spirit that continues to sustain me. I found that His grace is sufficient.
“And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV)
I have been reminding myself all through this course, “I have been crucified with Christ.” I would remind myself in prayer as I laid in bed before going to sleep; I am crucified with Him. And before I got up as I awoke, again, I would pray to remind myself; I am crucified with Jesus.
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV)
Jesus loved me and gave Himself there on the Cross for me. My relationship with Jesus has grown as I went through these lessons myself.
Second, as I reflected on love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, I saw that all of these qualities are given to me as I abide in Christ at the Cross. The Holy Spirit applied the cleansing blood to my life and gave me the power to live out these qualities. With that said, I am still growing and will not be complete until I see Jesus face to face. By His grace, I spend time daily in the Bible and pray.
“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1 NKJV)
Third, I’ve been set free from the works of the flesh. The Cross has been set up to tear down those temptations as I flee to the Cross and am washed by the blood of the Lamb. I see that I am in a real battle, and the power of the Cross is greater than the flesh, sin, and the devil.
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” (Revelation 12:11 NKJV)
Fourth, this message of the Gospel (Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection) is not just for me. I am looking for opportunities to share the hope and joy I am finding because of what God has done in my life.
Fifth, I now have only one message to proclaim, “Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2) I want to see others have the same excitement in sharing the only message that will set us free from the bondage of sin.
Look for ways to use these lessons to start a Bible study at your church or in your home. Look for ways that you can proclaim the power of the Gospel and see God work in the lives of others.
“I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD, You Yourself know. (10) I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly.” (Psalm 40:9-10 NKJV)
Now I’m eager to hear from you. What changes have you experienced?
Continue to the next section, where you'll have the opportunity to share your experience.