Victory Hamilton Mill

While on the journey to emancipating God’s greatness, letting go of unforgiveness is an essential part of the process. Many of us have not forgiven ourselves for our pasts, but holding onto sins, failures, and mistakes only hinders us from living in the fullness of God’s destiny. The reality is: We don’t have to stay stuck. It’s time to toss the bag, to let go the weight we’ve been carrying, and walk in the freedom of His love!

We have a God who wants to set us free so we can live the life Jesus purchased for us to the fullest! We also have an enemy who sets traps of offense to keep us bound. One of the main areas he attempts to cause offense is actually between us and God. We don’t talk about it often in church, but we’re going there. Why? Because God has placed His greatness in us, and it can only be emancipated when we open our hearts to Him.

We’re living in a time when many of us have been elevating ourselves and our points-of-view rather than valuing others. As followers of Jesus, we are to meant to be salt and light, bringing the flavor and beauty of Christ to a lost and dying world. How exactly? We have to be intentional about valuing others above ourselves. When we begin to see people as the Father does and remember the grace He’s shown us, we can impact the world for His glory—fulfilling the very purpose we were given from the start.

The journey of emancipating greatness was never meant to be a solo one. We were created for community! We need one another now more than ever, and living in isolation isn’t a part of God’s plan. We are better together, called to use our gifts to help one another along the way. Let’s link up!

God is leading us forward into the emancipation of the greatness He’s placed inside of each and every one us. It has always been His plan to rule the earth in partnership with His people, for us to shine His light in the world and make disciples using the gifts and dreams He’s given us. For that to happen, for us to live full of joy, satisfaction and significance, we have to get prepared—to begin walking in health so that we may reproduce greatness in others! Are you ready to dig a little deeper?

In the beginning, God created. In His very own image, He created you. You were uniquely designed, unlike anything else in all creation. Everything about you is a gift from the Father, beautifully handcrafted and thoughtfully placed inside of you. Our great God made you for great things, and He wants to see those things come to life in you!

Matthew 5:15 tells us: “… a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone …” We live in a world that is getting darker, in a time when more and more people are hopeless, depressed, and getting lost as they try to find their way. God has sent us to be the lampstand, to allow His light to shine bright upon us for all the world to see! He wants to use you to guide His people to Himself. Will you stand for Him?

Joy is not a feeling. It isn’t something that’s based on our finances, health, or any other present circumstances; it’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Because Christ came, even in the midst of difficult times like the one we’re currently living in, we’re able to experience the joy of His presence forever! The question is: how do we activate it? Find out in part three of our current series.

Have you ever been in a season when life wasn’t turning out the way you thought and God seemed silent—like He was nowhere to be found? It’s easy to have faith when everything is going well, but how do we trust God when we’re waiting for the fulfillment of His promises? We remember who God is and all He’s done. We say “yes” to the opportunity to choose faith, to trust that the same God who was with us in the past is in our midst even now and will be with us in the future. He’s the same yesterday, today and forever. Don’t let your heart forget that He is always good!

Many Christians set aside the four weeks leading up to Christmas to celebrate Advent. It’s a time of remembrance and expectant waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ. During this season, we are reminded that in the midst of what’s happening in our world, in the good and not-so-good, we can rest knowing that hope is not lost. We can experience the fullness of peace and joy as we reflect on the fulfillment of prophecy—that the promised Messiah came and is coming again! He is Immanuel, God with us, and He’s still at work in all things!

When we say “yes” to Jesus, each of us becomes a different person. We are born again, belonging to a nation higher than the one where we physically reside. When we get saved, we become a part of God’s kingdom. We are now citizens of heaven, sons and daughters of the king of kings! So, what’s our role as Christians living in the world, especially in times like these? Let’s talk about it. TAKE ACTION Next Steps: There’s still time to participate in the last couple of days of our 9 Days of Prayer and Fasting, ending with the U.S. presidential election on Tuesday, November 3. Visit victoryatl.com/9days or text NineDays to 203040 for daily prayer topics.

God created mankind in His very own image, and He sent Jesus to shed His blood on the cross for us all. As followers of Christ, we are ultimately here to shine His light so others may know Him. In spite of the devil’s never-ending attempts to divide us, the Bible tells us that our God makes the whole body fit together. So, even in our differences and disagreements, we can still be unified. When we choose to come together in His love, incredible things have the chance to unfold. It’s time to raise a standard against the enemy and show the world the beauty and power in unity!

We live in a world where many believe there are no consequences to sex outside of God’s original design. However, we know that isn’t true, as many have suffered pain, abuse, and shame regarding sexuality. But it was not this way from the beginning. Before sin entered the world, sex was pure. The blessing is that healing is available to every one of us, and it is possible to walk in the freedom Jesus wants to give us. TAKE ACTION Visit www.ExplicitSeries.com for additional resources to help in some of the areas you’re dealing with or have questions about. If you’re ready to take a step toward healing and freedom from any sexual struggles, text HEAL to 203040. Your information will be kept confidential. We’re here for you!

God’s original design for the gift of sex didn’t include pornography, but the enemy loves to take what God intended for good and use it for evil. Pornography has become more readily available than ever, and many are being socially conditioned to believe that there’s no problem with it. But the truth is that we are worth so much more than our bodies and our desires. We were created by God in His image, and He longs for us to see ourselves and others as valuably as He does. TAKE ACTION Next Steps: Visit www.ExplicitSeries.com for more resources and to ask any questions you’d potentially like us to address throughout the series. Make sure to check back each week for updates!

Sex is a gift. While it has been defiled and broken, the truth is that God invented sex! It’s a part of His original design, and He tells us Himself that it is very good. Though many live in guilt and shame surrounding the topic, it was never meant to be that way. God created sex as an expression of intimacy, and it was always intended to be a blessing. TAKE ACTION Next Steps: Visit www.ExplicitSeries.com for more resources and to ask any questions you’d potentially like us to address throughout the series. Make sure to check back each week for updates!