Grandpa Robert spoke about how people were coming out in the midst of this Pandemic and thanking God for holding the storm back. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 was shared at the opening of the day.

Last week was Praise and Worship, filled with worship songs and beautiful testimonies. As a recap, we have been studying the cross-reference scripture of 2 Corinthians 5:17, from the list of scriptures we had first done in our discussion on new creature. Today we will start at Romans 8:9 and then go back to 2 Corinthians 5:17 to keep us on point where we are.

Reading of Romans 8 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. Initial discussions will be done by the readers and then everyone else will add into the discussion.

In this chapter, Paul says old things are passed away. Question for today is about – “What if someone who might still be affected by the past. How do we know we have become new when we have not let go of the past?”

• If you are able to still go to a party and still act as if nothing changed; remember someone on the Line had shared this before, adding that the Spirit grieved them so and they couldn’t go.
• Things you used to do, you no longer have a desire to do them; you realize there’s a season in your life and you don’t feel any more pleasure.

• Had not been to a New Year’s party for a long time and was invited by a friend in 2018; God had removed me from that place and I couldn’t go. Another testimony was when I was involved in the Elks Lodge because someone else asked me to join; Bro. Severian brought this to light for me and I moved away from that; my husband at that time asked if I wanted to come away all together and I told I had to.
• For me, it’s music – love Luther Vandross and Prince, who sets a tone for romance and love; while this is good for marriages, I have to be careful for I am still single and puts me in a different space where my flesh rises to where I am now; have to protect my ear gates and lessen the time listening to this for they may be residual or familiar spirits this music is speaking to my flesh; this ties back to our discussion on Ephesians 6, where we see the fight is not against flesh and blood, but spirits and principalities.
• Looked at the question in an opposite way – for me, I have to let go of the past; been hurt a whole lot, but He has helped me to truly overcome and forgave me of all my sins; I’ve seen true growth areas – deal with the hurts, pray about it, and go forward.
• In hearing the words “not let go” in the question, I can say like Sis. Yolanda that I like Luther Vandross too and Teddy Pendergrass – makes me think of someone I was with and the flesh rises; there is a soul tie here; and like Sis. Gina, regarding past hurts – I know that I have not forgiven them when I still treat them the same; how I still go to the club, but do not party as much as in the past.

• Cross-referenced Isaiah 43:18 – “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.” Here it takes only a thought and our mind if we continue to focus on what someone did to us; this is what is on our mind; for example, a person can be abusive, but they don’t understand why and they don’t understand why they can’t work from this spot; it’s because of the focus on that area.

Great question and scripture reference; for me, it is not as much about that we all are going to be tempted, but it is that the Spirit mind has to conquer it.

• If your first thought is on being a new creature, then the Spirit mind should take over; however, the adversary will continue to bring these thoughts to your mind, but you don’t have to act upon them. Last week, some spoke that “they’re not there yet” – but we have to speak victory.
• Cross-referenced Romans 12:8-9 through verse 21 – I was guilty of all these things, but I can prevail over these things with the Word.

Added – have to look at the reason why I still want to go to the party, even with being a new creature.

Added – some may speak statements in the air “I will never forgive you” – have to realize that power of life and death is in the tongue and by doing this, you give power to whatever you are speaking into the atmosphere.

• Jennifer spoke on “soul ties”, this is where promises are stated and a covenant is formed from these words spoken; have to break this by speaking honestly about where you are and asking God for help.
• Also have to be honest with ourselves and not get angry when someone comes to us about something in our lives; just go to God in prayer and ask Him for help; there has to be a relationship with the Word; can’t continue to do this and disregard the grace of God.
• Agree that we have to be honest with ourselves; goes back to that area where we may have blocked it and not understand why and not be able to address it.

When I first went to college being a young born-again Christian, found myself on the balance beam – we can’t bring them to Christ because of where we are; only difference between them and us was due to grace – know how that life is; I’m just a new creature in Christ and sometimes we hurt people with our new relationship with Christ.

Thanked all for the responses to the questions and moved to discuss Romans 8:1-6.

On Romans 8:1-6

• Have to show people life and pace and they can have it too; we are ambassadors and can’t think we’re better than anyone else.
• With “condemnation” – there are two columns: good and bad; your price has been paid for at the cross – just like Bro. Greg spoke that you have to acknowledge where you are and know that it is a daily fight. We live in flesh and flesh is sin – I too like Luther Vandross, but balance it with listening to Mahalia to fight.
• Those sins have been forgiven you and because of what He did at the cross, we receive a new birth and start off as babes in Christ and grow. As we mature, we are learning and allowing the Spirit within us to increase our learning. Have to know the difference of our natural life (then) and our new life (Spirit within us).

Summary: discussed the question and Romans 8:1-6. Next week, we will start with the cross-reference scripture of Romans 8:7 and move forward.