16 This I say then, Walk in (live according to) the spirit (your Spirit controlled reborn spirit), and ye shall not fulfill the lust (the desires) of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit (lusteth) against the flesh: and

these are contrary the one to the other : so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

One of the key words here in verse 17 is "against". "For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh". The word "against" as used here means "in opposition to". You see, you and I are torn between two parts of our makeup, and both want to be in control. Those two parts are: 1) the flesh (ie. the Adamic nature and intellect) and 2) our reborn spirit (ie. The new man). Both the flesh and the spirit want to be in control and both lust for totally different things.

Since we know, according to the Word of God, that we are to be led and controlled by our reborn spirit and not by our flesh, we constantly experience a battle between these two parts of our makeup. The apostle Paul commented about this battle in the seventh chapter of Romans.

15 For that which I do I allow not (do not approve): for what I would (want), that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh (I myself serve) the law of sin.

You and I both know believers who are seldom ill. Whatever they do always prospers and they usually seem to get their prayers answered. You know --- everything just seems to be going the right way for them, at least most of the time.

And then we also know of those who regularly attend Church and involved in many of its activities, and yet they always seem to be saddled with some type of illness. Sometimes they don’t even have the necessary finances to adequately pay their bills. No matter what or how often they pray, it seems as though their prayers are seldom answered.

Well, what's the problem here? This just doesn’t seem right! How can this be? Is God a respecter of persons? No, of course not! If you are not sure what this is all about, then I would like for you to have an open mind and strongly consider the contents of this lesson. The objective of this teaching is to edify the reader - - - not to create condemnation. So please read he following with that in mind:

Personally, I believe those victorious believers, for the most part, actively live their lives on a daily basis, according to the Word of God --- according to spiritual Truth; And those believers who are not experiencing the abundant life, for the most part, primarily live their lives on a daily basis, according to the World's ways --- according to physical Facts. Primarily it comes right down to a matter of priority and choice for us. It depends on which lifestyle we chose to give the preeminence.

You see, it's a matter of Truth vs. Fact. Many times, whether we like to admit it or not, we make the wrong choice because of ignorance - - - ignorance concerning the meaning of the scriptures. Sometimes we don’t follow His instructions as we should, even though we might think we do. And sometimes we’re prone to think what we do really doesn’t matter that much. So let's take a look at and consider both of these areas individually. First of all, let’s examine the difference between Truth and Fact and secondly, let’s determine what part each plays in our every day Christian walk of life?

To start with, we need to understand that Truth and Fact are not the same thing. They're totally different. Actually they’re worlds apart. Unfortunately many believers experience problems because they see them as being the same thing. This mistake can sometimes be fatal!

First of all, let's take a closer look at FACT. What is a fact? There are many today who hold to the belief that if some situation is a proven FACT, it's just the same as being carved in granite. In other words, it's totally unchangeable, and nothing in this whole World has the ability to change it in any way, form or fashion! That’s just the way it is! They’re convinced that it represents the honest-to-goodness truth, regardless of what else might happen or what anyone else might say or do. As far as they are concerned, that would even include the written word of God! In other words, we're stuck with this particular situation and that's all there is to it! There's no use even discussing it any further. I think you will agree with me that's the way most people view a FACT today.

For example, because so many of God’s children are having physical problems today, let’s consider cancer. Assuming that the hospital lab tests and the doctor’s diagnosis of cancer has been made correctly, that would be considered to be a fact. And we could say the same for high blood pressure and heart disease and depression and even poverty. We could go on and on naming those negative type facts.

Pretend for just a moment that your doctor tells you that his tests reveal that a part of your body is cancerous. Being a child of God you go to the Bible and you read I Peter 2:24 where the Word of God says, "By whose (Jesus') stripes we were healed." Woe, wait just a minute! There must be something wrong here! Looks like we’ve got a conflict! One of these sources must be wrong, don't you think? From what I can see, these two statements look like direct opposites, don't they? Many of God's children are currently wrestling with this very dilemma! Do we have a Biblical problem? Is one of these reports invalid? We’ve been assured that the tests are valid.

No, they're both valid and they’re both accurate. "Oh, wait a minute. How could that be?", you ask? Well, I'm glad you asked! For the answer, we'll need to go to and take a look at the SOURCE of both TRUTH and FACT. In my own personal opinion, I believe that a fact is a "real and valid physical manifestation" which is of (and associated with) this PHYSICAL World in which we live. On the other hand, TRUTH, is the pure spoken and written Word of God, which has been given to us by the SPIRITUAL World to set us free from these undesirable and evil facts. In other words, a FACT has a physical source and TRUTH has a spiritual source.

Now if you miss what I'm about to say, you'll miss a vital key to the basic message of this teaching. Are you ready? Here it is! "This Physical World in which we now live (including facts) is subordinate to the Spiritual World to which we have access through God in Christ. In other words, the Spiritual World has the preeminence over this Physical World.

We know that statement has to be absolutely correct because this entire Physical World was created by the Spiritual --- by Almighty God who is a Spirit! Amen? Question: Can you think of any created thing or being which has ended up being greater than that which created it? Absolutely not! The Potter is still greater than the pot and always has the preeminence over the pot. Amen? So the Spiritual World has the preeminence and authority over everything associated with this Physical World." It's TRUTH VS. FACT.

The Bible tells us that if we truly want to worship God, we "must worship Him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH" (John 4:24)! That means that there are two aspects involved with worship - SPIRIT and TRUTH. Now when SPIRIT and TRUTH connect and come together, that's when the Heavenly fire falls and good things really begin to happen!

Now please understand. I am not saying that we should ignore FACTS and deny their existence. Not at all! God has given us the ability to sense pain and heat and cold and body temperature, etc. as warning signs. But He has also equipped us with everything we need spiritually (ability and authority to use His name) to deny these manifestations any right to remain in our presence.

We have been given the authority to use the name of Jesus and to tell them to go. Amen? Why must they leave our presence and go? Because His name has greater authority than all others (Eph 1:21)! Every name of undesirable manifestations of this physical World has to bow to His name! Those manifestations are evil because they’re initiated by satan and he has already been completely defeated by Jesus Christ! They must bow to us because God has given us, the Church, the authority to use the name of Jesus to command every evil thing to leave our presence. The Creator of the entire universe Himself has given us this authority. And so the TRUTH is, "Greater is He that is in us, then he that is in the World." (1 John 4:4)

Behold, I give unto you power (authority) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them (spirits of antichrist): because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the World.

Now what about Truth? "What is Truth?" That's happens to be the same question Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, asked Jesus (John 18:38). Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?" But Jesus didn't answer. And then, in Chapter 19 and verse 10, Pilate said to Jesus, "Speaketh thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have POWER to crucify thee, and have POWER to release thee?" You see, this power that Pilate was speaking about was a FACT. So what Pilate spoke to Jesus was correct, wasn't it? It was certainly a Fact that Pilate had the power to crucify or release Jesus.

Now listen closely to what Jesus said next. He answered Pilate and said, "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above." Now right here you and I ought to have enough spiritual maturity to realize and understand that something must exist which has greater authority and greater power and greater might than every Earthly FACT! So what is it? It's TRUTH! And what is truth? Well, we're back to that same question again!

In the 17th chapter of the Gospel of John when Jesus was praying to the Father about the disciples whom the Father had given Him, Jesus prayed, "Sanctify them with thy TRUTH: thy WORD is TRUTH." So one thing that we must understand is this: TRUTH is God's living and written WORD. It's spiritual in nature. It’s from above, and always has greater authority and power than any Earthly evil physical FACT the enemy can create. So Church, if you and I are going to be more than conquerors, then we're going to have to chose to believe the TRUTH regardless of what the physical FACTS might indicate! TRUTH VS. FACT.

My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will give us the revelation that TRUTH has both the authority and the power to C-H-A-N-G-E the FACTS! We just must believe that "Nothing is too hard for God." Just as God has greater authority and power than any human, TRUTH has greater authority and power than any physical FACT.

In John 14:6 Jesus declared, "I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." Now since Jesus is THE LIVING TRUTH, then don't you think maybe we ought to be reading, believing, and living our lives according to what He says instead of what the Facts indicate? What do you think? In Matthew 24:35 Jesus also said, "Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but My Words (TRUTH) shall not pass away."?

Almost two-thousand years ago a man named Jesus was born of a virgin. Many have said, "That's not physically possible - it can't be done - it's just not possible for a virgin to give birth to a child". Well that's a physical fact, alright. It isn’t physically possible. But guess what! Spiritual TRUTH took authority over that physical fact and changed it into a physical reality! Amen? And the virgin birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the anointed One, actually became a reality and is now one of the foundational truths of Christianity. I believe this one event alone is overwhelming proof that TRUTH has the ability to change FACTS. Want more accounts? What about the parting of the Red Sea, and what about Jesus turning the water into wine, and what about all the healing Jesus performed? The Bible speaks of many events where physical facts were altered or changed by God's Word - - - by His Truth.

Now here's something else we need to learn and understand: TRUTH must be "experienced" in order to be effective and productive in our lives. Godly doctrine, no matter how correct and sound it may be, is not enough by itself. It must be individually "experienced" in order for the power to be released and change FACTS. What do I mean by that?

Well, the Scribes and Pharisees certainly saw Jesus as a FACT. They acknowledged that He was a man, and that He was from Galilee, but they also believed and therefore said, "Nothing good has ever come out of Galilee". You see, they met Jesus, they talked with Him and they listened to His Word. TRUTH was all around them, yet they never really experienced Him individually and personally. They were filled with unbelief.

Today there are many individuals who have experienced salvation through Jesus Christ, but they have yet to be yielded to Him to the extent that they might be baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire. And as a result, they have never experienced His power. I’ve heard it said, "Not experiencing the Holy Ghost Baptism is like having the Gospel of light without sight. You can have light but if you're without sight, you're still blind." I personally know that to be true because that's the way I experienced it. On resurrection Sunday evening, the apostles and some other disciples received the indwelling of the Holy Ghost (John 20:19-23). However, they were not baptized and filled with the Spirit until 50 days later(Acts 2:1-4)! Now concerning divine power and authority, let’s go to Matthew Chapter 28.

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them (the eleven apostles) saying, 'All power (authority) is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach (make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe (to do) all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (age).

In verse 20 Jesus said, "Teaching them (the new disciples) to observe (to do) whatsoever I have commanded you (to do)." What was it that Jesus commanded the apostles to do? For the answer, go to Matthew, Chapter 10. Verse 8 gives us exactly what He commanded them to do.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils (demons): freely ye have received, freely give.

Are you a disciple (student) of Jesus? Being endued (clothed, covered, immersed) with power from on high, is available only to believers through the Holy Spirit baptism. We're all familiar with Acts 1:8 where Jesus said, "But ye shall receive power, AFTER that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth." The word "power" in Acts 1:8 is the Greek word "dunamis" from which we get our English word "dynamite". After being baptized in the Holy Ghost, a child of God becomes like dynamite in God's hands.

However, it seems to me the vast majority of the Church, as we know it today, have not EXPERIENCED the power of TRUTH. Why? Most likely because a large percentage of believers today have yet to experience being baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire! They seem to have a lot of experience concerning FACTS, but very little experience when it comes to TRUTH.

Some say, "What good does it do to pray? I've prayed and believed for numerous sick people during my lifetime and most of them died anyway." Well, I'm sure that's a FACT, but the TRUTH is, Jesus was badly beaten and suffered tremendously on that cross for the express purpose of preventing us from ever having to be sick in the first place. I know that most of you readers know that, but how many of you understand it? You see, when that TRUTH connects with our reborn spirit, it will ignite the fire of God in our lives and that’s when we really become a threat to satan. Again, it's TRUTH VS. FACT.

In addition to unbelief, one of the greatest hindrances to TRUTH being released in the World is man's intellect. You have most likely heard someone very intellectually state, "Well, you know, we need to remember that God has given us a mind and He expects us to use it and quit bothering Him about every little thing!?" Do you know what that is? That happens to be an excuse for failing to walk according to their spirit. That person is simply trying to justify their walking according to their flesh! Man's spirit and man's flesh are at odds with each other - all of the time. The flesh is of the old nature and the reborn spirit is of the "new man" - the new nature.

Most of us have, at one time or another, prayed for someone who was very ill - - - someone who was dying. What happened? We called for the elders of the Church, we praised God, we anointed the sick with oil like the Bible instructs us to do. We prayed, we decreed, we declared, we bound, we loosed, - - - and they still died. Amen? Have you ever been there and done that? Sure, most of us have. Well, what happened? What went wrong? Let's go now to the Book of Proverbs, Chapter 6.

Now I don't know about every situation like that, but if we had some way of going back in time ---- if we had access to some kind of instant replay ---- after we left the sick person's presence we'd probably hear ourselves saying something like, "Oh me! It looks like if God doesn't do something pretty soon he’s not likely to make the night! Boy doesn’t he look bad!!??" And then we'd probably hear another person agreeing with us and saying, "Man! Isn't that the truth! It looks to me like he's got one foot in the grave already. I wonder if his wife has any pawl bearers lined up yet." Well, what am I saying? I'm saying that we were looking at and considering the FACTS. And because we were, our speech literally gave permission for the FACTS to have the preeminence over the TRUTH. As I said, "It's TRUTH VS FACT!

The believers who make up the Body of Christ today (the Church) have been given both divine authority and divine power to accomplish everything that God wants to be accomplished here on Earth. But, up to now, we haven't been very successful at it because we haven't been placing our trust in the TRUTH and allowing it to change the FACTS! We've been putting our trust in the FACTS! The Church, generally speaking, is guilty of being preoccupied and obsessed with judging Spiritual TRUTH by factual physical evidence and experiences instead of judging factual physical evidences and experiences by Spiritual TRUTH (the Word of God)! We’ve had it all backwards. Why? Because most of us have yet to learn how to walk in the spirit.

Actually we have been guilty of paying heed to the FACTS while practically ignoring the TRUTH. We've been guilty of choosing to give the preeminence to the Physical instead of the Spiritual. We should have been giving the preeminence to the TRUTH. Amen? We should have been judging physical FACTS and our experiences by what the Word says - by the TRUTH! While most believers would say they put the Word first, and give the Word first place in their lives, their words and actions betray them and reveal what's really in their heart!

We've all heard someone say, "I just don't know why I'm having all these physical problems, and why I'm not doing any better than I am." Well, they've either forgotten or maybe they were never taught that "death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Prov 18:21a). The reason they're having so many physical problems is because of what they've said in the past. The words they said in the past actually created their present. What was it they said in the past? Probably something like, "Well, you know, my Daddy had heart trouble and old uncle Jake had heart trouble, and Grandpa had heart trouble too. I guess heart trouble must run in our family, so I imagine one of these days I'll have heart trouble too."

Then when heart trouble knocked on their door and came their way, they really weren't too surprised. Why? Because they were expecting it! Just like you and I expect the mailman to bring the mail, they expected heart trouble to show up. You see, they believed the FACTS and doubted the Word of God. They even talked the FACTS, placed their expectations on the FACTS, and chose to give FACTS the preeminence over TRUTH, all the while never realizing what they were doing. And, sure enough, in due time, what they believed and spoke, worked to create and bring the reality of heart trouble into their life.

Now here's something else. One of the biggest lies the devil has ever promoted and sold to the Church is that people don't experience divine healing because they don't have enough faith. But that just doesn't happen to be the TRUTH Brothers and Sisters! Please turn to the 12th Chapter of Romans in your Bibles.

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you (Christians), not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man (among you Christians) the measure of faith.

From this scripture we understand that every child of God has been given THE measure - the same measure - of faith. At one point, the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith (Luke 17:5-6). His answer? He said (and this is a paraphrase) - "You don't need more faith. It’s strictly a matter of you having faith or not having faith and using it or not using it! All you need to do is release your faith! When you speak My Word, you release faith. And when you release faith, you can move mountains." Let's go back again to the Book of Proverbs, Chapter 3 first and then we'll go to Chapter 4.

20 My son, attend to my Words (TRUTH); incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21 Let them (My Words - TRUTH) not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart (spirit).

22 For they (My Words - TRUTH) are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

23 Keep (guard) thy heart with all diligence; for out of it (the heart) are the issues of life.

Brothers and sisters, TRUTH can change FACTS! If sickness and disease attacks our body and the doctor tells us there’s no hope, assuming he’s made no mistake, then we have a FACT. But the TRUTH is, the stripes that Jesus bore on His body healed us 2000 years ago. And since the provision for our healing was paid in full back then, we remain healed, UNLESS we accept the devil’s packages of sickness, disease, and poverty. These are not from God. How do I know? I know because God’s will is that it be on Earth as it is in Heaven, and those don’t exist in Heaven!

Who (meaning Jesus) His own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes we were healed.

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities (sins); Who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies;

You see, these scriptures are the Word of God. Therefore they are TRUTH. It really boils down to this: If you and I expect to live above the FACTS of this physical life, then we're going to have to fill ourselves with the TRUTH of God's WORD, and we're going to have to do it on a continual basis - - - every day. It's a matter of maturing spiritually and that won't happen overnight any more than maturing physically happens overnight. Our problem is a lack of knowledge --- of being Word deficient.

Being Word deficient will cause us problems when it comes to receiving from God. Many times there are things we might be mature enough to pray for, but not mature enough to receive. When a believer is deficient in the Word, then he or she is much more likely to end up conforming to the World and its ways, which of course, brings much tribulation. In a case like that, the believer hasn't been transformed far enough away from his or her old Adamic fleshly nature because the mind hasn't been sufficiently renewed by the Word of God. Most of us have never spiritually matured to the point where we can be as successful in this life as we ought to be.

So what should we do about that? How do we get started, and where do we begin? Well, now that we KNOW that TRUTH has the ability to change FACTS, we should be in a good position to make a quality decision to begin believing the TRUTH regardless of what the FACTS indicate. It's not too late to begin. The Church desperately needs to mature spiritually and to increase in strength - - - to be effective in carrying the Gospel to a lost and dying World.

So if you’re a child of the living God, then you need to be a good representative of God. Since you legally have power of attorney to release God's power by using and speaking the name of Jesus over every undesirable FACT, then do so! We are all His ambassadors, and the World is out there crying for our help right now.

So remember, TRUTH declares, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." TRUTH says, "Guard your heart (your spirit) with all diligence." TRUTH says, "All things (good or bad) are possible to them who believe." So diligently consider what you pay heed to, believe, and act upon. What you hear and believe will get into your spirit, and what you permit to enter into your spirit will come out of your mouth in the form of words. TRUTH says, "From the abundance of the heart (your spirit) the mouth (your mouth)speaks." (Matthew 12:34b). So those things you hear and believe in your heart, will eventually come forth from your mouth (like it or not).

Then that which comes forth from the mouth will create and set into motion that very thing which is believed. TRUTH says, "Attend unto My Word - - - Mediate in My Word day and night, because when you do, it will cause you to act and speak and create accordingly, and that will cause you to be healthy, prosperous, and successful. That's My will for you" (Paraphrased).

You see, TRUTH actually is greater, in both authority and power, than any ungodly, undesirable, evil physical FACT. And if evil FACTS are ever to be altered, changed, or destroyed, then our belief and trust in the TRUTH (in the Word of God) must be utilized, experienced, and given first place in our hearts on a continual basis. It won't happen overnight, so don't become discouraged. You can do it because the Lord says you can, and He happens to know what He's talking about.

Now it’s up to you as to how you will respond to this knowledge. It’s your choice. Which will you choose? - - - It’s TRUTH vs. FACT!

By: Gerald D. Benbow