“It’s An Inside Job”
It’s An Inside Job
This message is about being intentional and strategic in how we relate to the things we are believing God for and the current state of the world. When I say ‘relate to’ I mean how we think about things that are affecting us. It’s an inside job is a message to remind us that life is spiritual. The spiritual is more real and just as significant as our day to day lives. This is why we must remain aware of what’s going on, on the inside. God is concerned about our heart, the issues of our heart, our prevailing thoughts in all areas of life. The Bible tells us that as a man thinks in his heart so is he. It really is an inside job. We are being intentionally bombarded with multiple distractions.
I consulted Holy Spirit on this word and why I am feeling the way that I’ve been feeling. There has been a sense of exhaustion, fatigue, poor appetite (which is never my problem). I have been feeling like I need to rest up and conserve as if preparing and training for an upcoming war. Feeling a burden to pray for things that cannot be seen naturally. A battle that will require the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). A literal war that requires girding up our minds with the Word of God. Of course we should always do this but this is different. There is an intensity to it. A fight that requires deep worship in spite of feeling drained, in spite of all distractions, in spite of feeling betrayed, in spite of all the good, bad, the beautiful and ugly.
A battle that must be fought spiritually from within. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. It’s an inside job requires us to set a watch over our minds. The battlefield in the mind. The battle for our mind. The remnant of Christ is on the front line. The purpose of the attack is spiritual. The goal is to attack, weaken, and divide the true church. It’s spiritual. It’s an inside job. The enemy is coming for the mind of the leaders, including in local churches. It’s not the same ole same ole, it’s elevated warfare designed to distract, discourage, prevent, divide, take back territory and conquer. We declare Isaiah 54:17!
The enemy’s tactics involves silent division in the Body of Believers; locally and worldwide. We know it’s happening publicly but it is also brewing secretly. Rooted in offense. Where people think their private conversations are only expressions of how they feel. These are devoted, well meaning, dependable people of God who are faithful and committed to building the Kingdom of God. These conversations are not meant to devour and destroy spiritual growth. However our words are on assignment. There is power in our words. We can build up and tear down with our thoughts and our words. This includes families, churches, and entire nations. The Bible tells us that the power of life and death is in the tongue. We have to set a watch over our thoughts, feelings and words.
There is a silent rebellion brewing against leadership! This rebellion cannot be ignored because it is spiritual. The enemy is attacking from within because of jealousy, gossip, disagreement, misunderstanding, lack of good communication, false humility, spiritual fatigue, and being disgruntled. The enemy operates through small factions, clicks, and alliances. We have to be very careful. We must be aware that, while we are praying against ungodly outside forces interfering and trying to thwart the plans of God, sometimes the sin that opens the door is ‘inside the camp’. An inside job.
Ephesians 6 tells us that we are not battling against flesh and blood but it’s spiritual. Would a family that truly loves one another intentionally tear down each other? Intentionally put a wedge between the members of the family or group? Of course not, but the enemy doesn’t play fair. God is concerned about our heart. He’s very concerned about our feelings and emotions however they cannot lead our conduct. We must be led by Holy Spirit!
We must quickly forgive and rebuke/resist the thoughts of our mind that do not align with Jesus’ instructions given to us throughout the Bible. That do not align with the purposes and plan of God. That do not align with our current assignment. We must be careful in the words that we speak especially when we are ambassadors for Christ. Our words carry weight whether spoken publicly or secretly. The thief comes to kill, steal, and to destroy. The thief carries out the plan by influencing leaders and people who have influence over others. Exhaustion brings out the best and the worst in us. Including emotional exhaustion.
Spiritual fatigue is an open door. Have you heard the saying that we shouldn’t make important decisions when we’re tired. Many times we’re going about our day to day activities spiritually lethargic. Our minds and bodies do get weak but we must remain spiritually strong. What we are dealing with is not merely natural or physical, it’s spiritual. In this season we have to spend more time praying in the spirit, praying in tongues, and deep worship. Sincere worship is necessary; it’s required to get through this. This season and battle requires the true worshippers to worship God in spirit and in truth.
We must take the time, make the time to sit in His presence and worship Him. Not just in public. Everything must flow from our worship because, it is an inside job. Please read John chapter 4, Jesus knows that we can get tired, he knows we need times of refreshing. Jesus has made provision for this but we must receive it.
AI Overview
Based on 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, the weapons of Christian warfare are not physical (carnal) but are divinely powerful for tearing down spiritual strongholds, arguments, and lofty opinions raised against God. These weapons are designed to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
Key spiritual weapons that we must use include:
- The Word of God: Described as a sword that is living, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.
- Prayer and Fasting: Essential tools for engaging in spiritual battle.
- The Name of Jesus: Used for authority and victory.
- The Blood of Jesus: Signifying redemption and victory over the enemy.
- The Armor of God: Including truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, and salvation.
- Praise and Worship: Used to combat darkness.
These weapons are utilized to fight unseen spiritual battles rather than human beings, focusing on dismantling spiritual strongholds like fear, prejudice, and idolatry.
“We are only human”. Yes we often say things like, “I’m human” but we are also spiritually equipped to handle all these things. It’s an inside job is both a personal and collective exhortation to remember that we must set a watch over our minds, thoughts and words because it is all spiritual. We must lean in and yield to Holy Spirit.
It’s an inside job is about the inner working of Holy Spirit. Our inner man must yield to Holy Spirit. We must rely on Holy Spirit to teach us and reveal the Word to us. To study the Word under Holy Spirit’s influence. We rely on what we know and the things we have always done, the things we have learned over the years. We have a firm foundation but it is time for us to ascend. We have to go into the spiritual realm to do the work. The mundane is over! Romans 12: 1-8 says,
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation (Dissimulation is the formal act of hiding one’s true feelings, character, or intentions behind a false appearance). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
We need the transformer to help us in order to do the work. Our inner transformation, the inside job involves the inner working of Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. We are bombarded with the opinions of man, our own opinions, thoughts and feelings but we must rely on the Spirit of Truth to show us, us. To reveal to us the true condition of our heart. We may truly believe that we are right in our own eyes. This is how the enemy gets in…..through pride. We emphasize our positions of authority whether in our households, families, churches, government, the world. We emphasize what we can do…..externally. Holy Spirit will work within (on the inside) to change us from the inside out.
We are on the same team, the head of the household may have to make final decisions and lead the family. Much like a Pastor is graced on how to lead the flock or the members of the church. All members are valued and important but the anointing and the grace rests on the Leader. The head of the family or the leader may give permission and authority to other members but God still wants the team members to respect His authority and choice of leadership. We are still on the same team, members of the same family. One family, one body, one local group of believers but One who has been sent by God for the leading of the Body. The Lord is our Shephard and He has assigned Under Shephards. The authority and the grace ultimately comes from God. So while we may think we are ‘discussing things’ we are rebelling. Secretly rebelling against the head? We are actually rebelling against God.
Second Timothy 3:16, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness KJV. 6 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. NLT.
It’s an inside job is about the internal working of the Word of God in us which transforms or changes our outward behavior and even our thought processes. The Work of Holy Spirit in us…….is the inside job. Whether in each of us as individuals or when we gather collectively…..it’s an inside job where we lay ourselves at the altar and sacrifice. We sacrifice our issues, lay them at the altar.
I’d like for you to think of a job as a task, role, position. Job—particular piece of work or task that needs to be done or achieved. Our goal is to get the job done. We all have a role and a position. We all need help and we do have a Helper. In order to allow Holy Spirit to helps us we have to first be willing to change. Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ is powerful yet gentle. He does not rush in and overrule our will. We must humble ourselves and invite the Helper in. Invite Holy Spirit into every room every closet all the hidden areas of our life. Invite Him into the private conversations and coalitions that we have built. Repent and get back in alignment. God is concerned about the condition of our heart, not public appearances.
We can all put up a public front, but in our hearts, with our mouths we backbite and devour one another. We strike out at our leaders and secretly rebel. The enemy of our soul uses these things to inhibit our sincere worship and spiritual growth. I want to encourage you today to repent and relinquish all bitterness. Secret resentment is not ok, it will hinder you and find expression in other areas.
I encourage you to Stop striving and Obey God with the help of Holy Spirit. Guard your heart and set a watch over your words. The words we speak are a reflection of the inner condition of our heart. And we have to be real with ourselves.
What’s in your heart.
Our words, thoughts and actions have consequences……We have to be very careful and mindful. We have to honor and respect what God is doing. We have to be patient and not form conclusions too soon. Respect God’s process. Honor God’s choices. We can’t allow spiritual fatigue and focusing on external things to have us whispering, talking about, and putting our mouth on things we should not touch. Secret unaligned conversations, clicks, and emotional chatter create interference in what God is trying to do. God loves you dearly but there are spiritual principals that come with consequences. “Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm”. Psalm 105. There are different way to ‘touch’. We can touch physically. We can touch God. We can touch with our words also.
According to the Bible, particularly James 4:1, strife, quarrels, and conflicts originate from sinful, selfish, and passionate desires warring within a person. External fighting is seen as a manifestation of an internal war between the flesh and spirit, often rooted in pride, jealousy, and greed (google.com).
Many times we do things out of the condition of our heart…..we study based on what’s in our heart. We discern and form conclusions based on the condition of our heart. We make decisions and choices out of the condition of our heart. We teach, preach, pray and prophesy, work, interact based on what is in our heart. We even see ourselves based on what’s in our heart. If you are dealing with envy, backbiting, jealousy……..cast it all on God, repent, and ask Holy Spirit to help you transform and change your way of thinking.
It’s an inside job is an exhortation to view life from a spiritual aspect. Where we gain clarity to make changes, to adjust our attitudes, to repent of rebellion, to humble ourselves and to remain attentive to the Teacher–Holy Spirit. In Luke, it says that Mary pondered all these things in her heart. We too must ponder, consider, think about, treasure and sometimes release ‘all these things’. I close this message, “It’s an Inside Job” with 2 Scriptures Philippians 2:13—
- For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. NLT
- For it is [not your strength, but it is] [a]God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. AMP
- For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Psalm 133: NLT
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.
1 How wonderful and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony!
2 For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
that was poured over Aaron’s head,
that ran down his beard
and onto the border of his robe.
3 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
even life everlasting.
Psalm 133: KJV
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
