Grace, a Divine Influence

 Transition is painful because transition is change, and we do not take to change very readily! Our newly born-again spirit has a desire for change and to bring glory to our Lord; but the carnal man or the unrenewed areas of our mind and the flesh or body/old-life habits are hard to die (Rom.7:7-25/8:1-39). Most if not all our resistance to change is found in this part of our life, which makes the devil's job very easy in overcoming the believer concerning spiritual growth and change. “Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” Heb.12:11. Always keep in mind, that true spiritual growth and development takes time, patience, pressure, and pain! These things are the fruits of righteousness; or rather, the fruits of the Work of the Spirit of God within the inner-man/ inner-life of those who believe! “…Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” Phil.2:12-13 (This is a Work of the Spirit). Most Christians are looking for a quick fix or simple answers to these important questions concerning sanctification and transformation. When the Bible speaks about the overcomer, the key characteristic found in those who overcome is endurance or perseverance. “And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it”.  Num 13:30; Deut.3:18; Matt.11:12; Rev.21:7; 2 Tim.4:3; 2 Thess.1:4; Mark 4:17; 13:13; James 1:12; Heb.6:9-12; 2 Pet.1:3-4, 9-12. To overcome means to prevail over; to subdue and to conquer; to get the victory over it! ”Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin”, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you”, For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body, ye shall live”, “…but they that are after the Spirit (do mind or put their mind on) the things of the Spirit” Rom.6:6; 8:5, 11; 13.