WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.000 Chapter 17 Living in Confidence 2 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:11.200 As we come to the close of this journey together, I want to take a moment to reflect on the 3 00:00:11.200 --> 00:00:15.840 profound truths we've explored, and more importantly, to encourage you to take the 4 00:00:15.840 --> 00:00:20.240 next steps into a life of freedom, healing, and purpose. 5 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:23.160 What I've shared with you is more than just a collection of insights. 6 00:00:23.160 --> 00:00:29.040 It's a blueprint for the transformative relationship with God that you were created for. 7 00:00:29.040 --> 00:00:33.480 We've established that from the beginning, God's original design for humanity was rooted 8 00:00:33.480 --> 00:00:36.440 in relationship, not rituals. 9 00:00:36.440 --> 00:00:42.200 You weren't created to jump through hoops or check religious boxes to earn God's approval. 10 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:47.400 You were created to know Him personally, to walk with Him intimately, and to thrive in 11 00:00:47.400 --> 00:00:52.600 the love, grace, and freedom that comes from abiding in His presence. 12 00:00:52.600 --> 00:00:57.560 The story of humanity is one of lost connection and restoration. 13 00:00:57.560 --> 00:01:02.400 Heaven severed that broken relationship, but through Christ, God made a way to restore 14 00:01:02.400 --> 00:01:04.080 what was broken. 15 00:01:04.080 --> 00:01:09.360 The New Covenant is not about rules and religion, but rather love, grace, and direct connection 16 00:01:09.360 --> 00:01:13.520 to the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. 17 00:01:13.520 --> 00:01:18.560 It's about cultivating a vibrant, dynamic faith that transforms you from the inside 18 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:19.560 out. 19 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:24.840 So, what does it look like to thrive in a direct relationship with God? 20 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:29.360 It begins with understanding that the transformation you seek and that God wants for you is not 21 00:01:29.360 --> 00:01:32.640 something you achieve through self-effort. 22 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:40.040 The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 00:01:40.040 --> 00:01:47.360 gentleness, and self-control—Galatians 5, verses 22 and 23—these things are not characteristics 24 00:01:47.360 --> 00:01:50.040 you produce through sheer determination. 25 00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:54.780 These things are the natural result of God's Spirit working within you. 26 00:01:54.780 --> 00:02:00.100 This is where religion usually places the burden of change on you—your willpower, 27 00:02:00.100 --> 00:02:02.880 your discipline, your self-effort. 28 00:02:02.880 --> 00:02:05.800 But true transformation doesn't come from striving. 29 00:02:05.800 --> 00:02:08.100 It comes from surrender. 30 00:02:08.100 --> 00:02:13.640 It's the Holy Spirit who renews your mind—see Romans 12, verse 2—and gives you the mind 31 00:02:13.640 --> 00:02:20.420 of Christ—see 1 Corinthians 2, verse 16—and equips you to walk in alignment with God's 32 00:02:20.420 --> 00:02:21.800 will. 33 00:02:21.820 --> 00:02:26.120 What you present to the world as a reflection of Christ is not the result of how you've 34 00:02:26.120 --> 00:02:32.120 changed yourself but how God has transformed you and continues to do so. 35 00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:35.400 Living a Spirit-led life means being intentional. 36 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:40.480 It means pausing regularly to seek God's guidance, listening for His voice, and trusting 37 00:02:40.480 --> 00:02:41.880 His leading. 38 00:02:41.880 --> 00:02:46.360 Whether you're facing major life decisions or navigating the small everyday moments, 39 00:02:46.360 --> 00:02:49.040 invite the Spirit into the process. 40 00:02:49.040 --> 00:02:54.160 He is your teacher, your guide, and your source of wisdom and peace. 41 00:02:54.160 --> 00:02:59.880 To thrive in a direct relationship with God is to align your heart and spirit with His. 42 00:02:59.880 --> 00:03:04.320 It's living in the freedom of the new covenant, unburdened by guilt, shame, or the need to 43 00:03:04.320 --> 00:03:06.960 perform for His approval. 44 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:12.120 It's cultivating a vibrant life that reflects His love and grace not just in your personal 45 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:16.080 walk but in your interactions with others. 46 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:20.520 One of the most powerful ways to reflect Christ to the world is by living a life of 47 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:24.920 honesty, integrity, compassion, and humility. 48 00:03:24.920 --> 00:03:29.600 These qualities, when empowered by the Holy Spirit, become something far greater than 49 00:03:29.600 --> 00:03:31.760 their earthly counterparts. 50 00:03:31.760 --> 00:03:37.360 They are divine attributes flowing from the throne of heaven into and through you. 51 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:41.200 This is the essence of a life transformed by God. 52 00:03:41.200 --> 00:03:43.980 Living this way doesn't mean you'll never face challenges. 53 00:03:43.980 --> 00:03:48.420 It means that in the midst of trials and tribulations, you'll have the peace of God 54 00:03:48.420 --> 00:03:52.060 to guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 55 00:03:52.060 --> 00:03:53.740 Philippians 4 verse 7. 56 00:03:53.740 --> 00:03:58.740 The wisdom of the Spirit to guide your steps and the assurance of God's love to sustain 57 00:03:58.740 --> 00:03:59.860 you. 58 00:03:59.860 --> 00:04:02.460 This is the abundant life that Jesus promised. 59 00:04:02.460 --> 00:04:07.780 A life of purpose, joy, and intimacy with your Creator. 60 00:04:07.780 --> 00:04:11.700 Now is the time to take what you've learned and put it into action. 61 00:04:11.700 --> 00:04:14.460 The journey ahead is not one you take alone. 62 00:04:14.460 --> 00:04:15.460 God is with you. 63 00:04:15.460 --> 00:04:20.540 His Spirit abides within you and He has provided everything you need to thrive in a relationship 64 00:04:20.540 --> 00:04:22.540 with Him. 65 00:04:22.540 --> 00:04:25.900 Here are some key steps to move forward with confidence. 66 00:04:25.900 --> 00:04:27.380 1. 67 00:04:27.380 --> 00:04:29.300 Cultivate a direct relationship with God. 68 00:04:29.300 --> 00:04:33.940 Make daily time for conversation, for scripture study, and listening. 69 00:04:33.940 --> 00:04:39.260 Seek the Spirit's guidance in all areas of your life and trust God to lead you. 70 00:04:39.260 --> 00:04:40.420 2. 71 00:04:40.420 --> 00:04:43.380 Reimagine your spiritual community. 72 00:04:43.380 --> 00:04:48.020 Find or create a Spirit-led gathering where you can grow, serve, and worship alongside 73 00:04:48.020 --> 00:04:50.060 like-minded believers. 74 00:04:50.060 --> 00:04:54.500 Embrace the freedom and authenticity of the Ekklesia model. 75 00:04:54.500 --> 00:04:56.020 3. 76 00:04:56.020 --> 00:04:57.860 Live out your faith. 77 00:04:57.860 --> 00:04:59.780 Reflect Christ to the world through your actions. 78 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:05.200 Let the fruit of the Spirit flow through you and let your life be a testament to God's 79 00:05:05.200 --> 00:05:13.200 transformative power. Four, trust the Holy Spirit. Above all, lean into the Spirit's 80 00:05:13.200 --> 00:05:18.480 guidance, wisdom, and power. He is your source of strength, peace, and transformation. 81 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:25.040 A final word of encouragement. Before you close this book and step into the next chapter of your 82 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:32.080 journey, I want to reiterate a simple yet profound truth one last time. You were created for a life 83 00:05:32.080 --> 00:05:37.840 of intimacy with God. The longing in your heart for something deeper and more meaningful is not 84 00:05:37.840 --> 00:05:43.280 a coincidence. It's the divine spark within you calling you back to the One who made you. 85 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:48.720 The path we've walked together in these pages is not about abandoning your faith. 86 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:54.080 It's about rediscovering it in its purest form and realigning it with Heaven's intention. 87 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:59.920 It's about breaking free from the constraints of man-made rules and stepping into the freedom 88 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:07.280 and fullness of life in the Spirit. God's love for you is unwavering. His desire for a relationship 89 00:06:07.280 --> 00:06:14.400 with you is relentless. He sees you, knows you, and wants you to experience the joy, peace, and purpose 90 00:06:14.400 --> 00:06:20.880 that come from walking closely with Him. And the best part? You don't have to earn it. You don't 91 00:06:20.880 --> 00:06:28.560 have to strive for it. It's already yours. All you have to do is say yes. As you move forward, 92 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:36.000 remember, your faith is not defined by flawed institutions or past wounds. It's rooted in the 93 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:42.800 unchanging love of God. The Holy Spirit is your teacher, guide, and comforter, equipping you to 94 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:50.480 live a life of purpose through transformation. Community is not about where you meet but how 95 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:58.320 you gather, with authenticity, devotion to God, mutual edification, shared purpose, and service to 96 00:06:58.320 --> 00:07:06.960 one another. And lastly, worship is not confined to a time or place. It's the overflow of a heart 97 00:07:06.960 --> 00:07:15.040 aligned with God. So, here's my prayer and declaration over you. You will walk confidently 98 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:20.960 in the arms of your Heavenly Father. You will hear His voice clearly, feel His presence deeply, 99 00:07:20.960 --> 00:07:27.360 and trust His guidance completely. You will live a life that reflects His love, not because you 100 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:32.720 strive to change yourself, but because He is transforming you from the inside out. 101 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:40.000 This is the life you were created for, a life of intimacy with God, freedom in the Spirit, 102 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:47.120 and purpose in His kingdom. Embrace it fully, live it boldly, and watch as God does more in you 103 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:53.920 and through you than you could ever imagine. My blessings to you. The rest of the journey is yours 104 00:07:53.920 --> 00:08:00.400 to take. Your past doesn't define you, your mistakes don't disqualify you, and your doubts 105 00:08:00.400 --> 00:08:06.800 don't deter him. God is ready and waiting to meet you right where you are, to speak to your heart, 106 00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:10.320 and to lead you into the fullness of who He created you to be.