For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.   — 2 Corinthians 6:16b-18

Can you believe that?  Can you believe that you are the temple of God?  That He dwells and walks in you?  You can claim that you are who God says you are.  You are not claiming it so that you become it, or so God will do it, but you are claiming it because that is who you really are!  You are a temple of God-–not going to be, hoping to be, trying to be-–you are!  You will either claim the old man and his traits or the new man and his traits.  Whatever you claim, you will associate and identify with.  Claim to be a sinner and you will live like one.  Claim to be a righteous man and you will live like one.  You can choose your new nature!  Nobody can claim your new nature for you but you.  You were sickly, you were a failure, you were subject to sin, anger, impatience, fear, worry, and doubt-–but now you are a new creation, the righteousness of God, the temple of Almighty God.  When you believe and claim this identity, your relationship with God will change.  You will go from a “God and His people” (2 Cor. 6:16b) to a Father and son (2 Cor. 6:18) relationship.  You will begin to act like God is your Father, to think like God is in you, and to treat the devil and demons like you are a new creature, a son of God.  The Son, Christ, in you, will be manifested to the world, and you will begin to destroy the works of the devil (Col. 1:27; 1 John 3:8).  Just through believing, associating, and identifying with the new person He has made you to be by the new birth will cause you to grow up in Him in all things.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

— John 1:12

When you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you became a child of God, and you were given power to grow up to be a son of God.  The word “power” in this verse means authority, legal right, or privilege...“to become a son of God.”  Who has this authority or right?  You do!  What if someone never uses this power?  They will remain a child, tossed to and fro all their life (Eph. 4:14).  Notice that God’s desire is for you to grow and become a son, or else He would have never given you the power and right to do so!  A son of God is a mature Christian who is led by the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:14) and who goes about destroying the work of the devil (1 John 3:8).  His main focus is no longer on himself but is on helping others to grow and live free.  Jesus was proclaimed by God to be the Son of God on the day the Holy Ghost came upon Him; He was immediately led by the Spirit into the wilderness, and afterward began to teach, preach, heal and deliver God’s people (Matt. 3:16, 17; 4:1, 23).  You have the ability and privilege to grow up to be a son of God!

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

— 1 Peter 2:2

Here is the key to spiritual growth:  the Word of God.  When you received Jesus as Savior, there was a desire put in you for the Word of God.  Much like milk in the natural helps a baby to grow, the Word of God will grow you up spiritually in the things of the Spirit.  The Word is your spirit food, and what you eat will make a difference in your life.  Tradition and religion will bind you and keep you a child, but the pure milk of the Word will grow you, or give you progress, in your salvation.  Never lose your hunger for the Word!  Sometimes you may have to force-feed yourself because of your feelings and emotions, but your desire will follow your attention!  Sit under the Word every time you have a chance; get CD’s and downloads that will help you grow.  The Word is God speaking to you, so listen to it and act upon it.  Soon you will not only have life, but life more abundantly; soon you will not only be saved, but you will come into the knowledge of the truth.  The more truth you receive, the more free you will become.  The more free you become, the greater the potential to free others.  Desire the milk of the Word!

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

— Romans 8:14

A child (an immature offspring) of God is led by circumstances and natural situations: they are happy today, sad tomorrow, on top today, underneath tomorrow.  But one who partakes of the Word will soon learn to be led by the Spirit, or by the Word.  The Word never changes, so the son of God remains stable in all times, good or bad.  He is being led daily by the Spirit of God.  Where is the Spirit leading him?  He is leading him into all truth (John 16:13)!  Why is He leading him into all truth?  Because he desires him to know the truth so the truth will make him free (John 8:32).  The Spirit and the Word working together will re-train or reprogram your thinking to think in line with God and His thoughts.  Once you are brought into agreement with God’s Word, you will have the ability to live as God lives.  The more free you become, the greater your ability to teach others, and set them free.  Change in your life comes through a revelation of the truth.  You have been given the power, the right, the privilege to believe God’s Word.  You make the choice to read it, hear it, and apply it to your life.  The more you abide in the Word, the more you will abide in Him (John 15:7).