John Ramirez: ‘Are You Going to Live, Stay or Die?’
When it comes to the things of the spirit, one thing is true: we have the option to either stay as we are or to grow more Christlike. Regardless of where you are now on your faith journey, one thing remains clear: God has a plan and a purpose for each of us in 2024 and beyond.
In a recent message, evangelist John Ramirez emphasized that where you are right now doesn’t have to be the end game of where you are going. Spiritual starvation does not have to be the end of what God has for you. As Ramirez asked, “Are you going to live, stay or die?” Instead of experiencing spiritual death and delay, there are three keys worth understanding so you can grow instead of staying or falling away from victory in Christ.
Vision: God is the God of vision. He sees everything we will ever encounter, and He knows all of the challenges and uncertainties we will face. God can help us navigate through these circumstances, while it is Satan who wants to keep us in a box, highlighting the areas where we didn’t quite measure up.
“I understand what’s around me, but it doesn’t dictate where I’m going,” Ramirez said of this point.
As Christians, we must refuse to let our past or current circumstances define us. Our current spiritual condition does not determine our destiny; rather, it serves as a testimony to what God is going to do in our lives. Vision is not merely seeing with our physical eyes; it’s about perceiving God’s purpose and direction for what He has next. It’s about understanding where He is leading us and trusting in His plan, even when the path seems unclear.
Understand Spiritual Warfare: There is nothing that the devil wants to do more than try to distort or steal the vision God has given us for this life. In order to truly walk in the fulfillment of all that God has for us, we must be willing to block out all the distractions and negative influences trying to attack our identity and purpose.
Just as Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness, we too will be tempted and tried, which is why it is critical for us to understand how to fight the good fight of faith in the spiritual battles to come. Yet, like Jesus, we can combat the enemy with the truth of God’s Word and the clarity of His vision for our lives.
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“Whatever you have to fight for, maintain and finish with, the devil’s after because if he can take it from you, he can deplete you, he can fragment you from somewhere in order to control you,” Ramirez said.
In the face of spiritual warfare, the devil will try to convince us that God’s promises are unattainable or that our purpose is insignificant. Yet Scripture very clearly reminds us over and over again that God is a God of covenant who absolutely never breaks the promises He makes to His people.
Gain Knowledge and Wisdom: Without godly wisdom and vision, it is impossible to follow in the path that God has for each of us. When we lack wisdom, it is easy to fall into the snares Satan wants to trap us in by questioning the very vision that God has for us.
“The devil wants to take your answer, he wants to take your vision, [and] give you question marks,” Ramirez said.
What Satan wants to do is contrary to what God has planned. God’s promises are ‘yes and amen,’ and as Proverbs 2:6 tells us, “For the LORD gives wisdom; out of His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
By understanding God’s vision, knowing that the devil wants to attack that vision and going to the Word of God and in prayer for wisdom and discernment about that vision, Jesus can take us from spiritual death and stagnation to a vibrant life found only through Him. {eoa}
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Abby Trivett is a marketing copywriter and coordinator for Charisma Media.
