Advancing Encouragement By:
Bishop James Jr. Hairston

Romans: 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Today is another day of freedom in Christ Jesus. However, there are some people that are looking at themselves in the flesh and they see themselves with all of their flaws, short comings, faults and sinful behavior that brings them to a place of condemnation. Are you a believer, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior asking for forgiveness? Then you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are no longer in the flesh but in the spirit. The idea of this passage of scripture is leading us into a context for this entire chapter of seeing yourself as a wonderful, powerful, mighty, precious, spiritual being, loved, cared for and protected by Jesus Christ under His Sovereign power. First of all as Paul opens this discussion up to nip it in the bud that if you are a believer then stop condemning yourself and seeing yourself as worthless, hopeless, shamed, weak and a good for nothing. Believe it or not Christians or people in general may feel this way about themselves. Paul said but you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you, in verse 9a. He also said in Romans: 8:10: And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Your body is no longer in control of your life because of Christ righteousness that was imputed to you. Now you are alive in Him breaking out of your bondage of sin, shame, and guilt that is in your past you are no longer that person because the Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God, in verse 16. You see, you are special, a Kings child who is now living in the spirit where you no longer can see your flaws, short comings, faults, shame and guilt as your person but freedom in Christ Jesus as a wonderful, precious, mighty, strong, powerful, special spiritual being in Christ Jesus. This is who you are that no longer walks after the flesh but after the spirit of the living God. Today, accept who you are in Christ Jesus, believe it in your heart and watch a transformation take place right now as we speak, in your heart mind and soul. The Spirit of the Living God has set you free and you can now live today no longer condemning yourself in Jesus Name…

James Jr. Hairston