The work that Jesus did for humanity as our Substitute, is the most thought provoking and even the most unimaginable reality that has ever taken place in the history of the world. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57) "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ." (2 Corinthians 2:14) Since the church of the Lord Jesus Christ has the triumph and victory over the devil, demons and evil spirits, then why does it seem so many believers are subject to the devil and his schemes? It is solely based on who, what and how believers view themselves corporately and especially individually. It all depends on how well they understand their position in Christ. For instance, if a believer’s view of the church is one of defeat, then most likely they face failure and defeat in their daily life. Due to a lack of understanding of their true position in Christ they have never used the authority they really possess.
Next, if a believer's view of the church as militant, then you will see yourself, in a sense, battling for position. Most likely, you have not received the revelation that you are seated in heavenly places in Christ, but are still battling to gain the victory over the enemy that you believe has not yet been defeated. However, if your view of the church is that of triumph and victory, which is the true biblical perspective of the Body of Christ, then you recognize your position and authority in and with Christ. You view things from the position of being far above all principality and power and might and dominion. The triumphant Church, in the truest sense, is a Body of believers who not only know, but exercise their authority in Christ and therefore “reign as kings or should live all their lives like kings in Life through the one individual, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17)
In this age when demon activity is increasing around the world, it is vital that believers know what their redemption in Christ entitles them to. We need to be fully convinced of the position and authority that is ours because of the victory Jesus has already won for us over all the power of the enemy. "Christ has utterly wiped out the damning evidence of broken laws and commandments which always hung over our heads, and has completely annulled it by nailing it over his own head on the cross. And then having drawn the sting of all the powers ranged against us, he exposed them, shattered, empty and defeated, in his final glorious triumphant act!" (Colossians 2:14-15 (Phillips) "Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death—that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14 AMP) "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)
The reason Jesus came to this earth was to put to nought the works of the devil and reduce him and his kingdom to nothing. The only way we can have confidence in our authority over the enemy is to know and walk in the light of God’s Word. We need to be fully convinced as to who we are in Christ, who Christ is in us and how the Father truly sees us. We must be fully convinced of our identity, position and authority in Christ. We do this through faith in Christ and His meritorious work as our Substitute, from the cross to His seating at the right hand of the Majesty on High. Knowing these thing, by faith, the church will stand victorious over all the works of darkness and see more souls saved, healed and delivered than has ever happened before. The grace of our Lord be with you...
Monday, June 24, 2019
Monday, June 17, 2019
Far Above
What a wonderful life that has been provided for humanity in the Father's brilliant plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. Let us look at how it unfolds. "and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:19-23)
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:1-10)
There is certainly a lot in these passages of scripture that we need to embrace as part of our inheritance in Christ. We see that, Christ was raised from the dead and the Father seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Notice that Christ is not seated above all principality and power and might and dominion, but seated FAR ABOVE all principality and power and might and dominion. Next, we see the Father made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Believers are seated with Christ in heavenly places, and as Christ is, believers are also far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
In other words, in our position in Christ, no demon, evil spirit nor the devil himself can deter us, unless we give them our consent. Our seating with Christ not only puts us far above all principality and power and might and dominion, but also means we reign with Christ from that position. The position of triumph! "For if one man’s offense meant that men should be slaves to death all their lives, it is a far greater thing that through another man, Jesus Christ, men by their acceptance of his more than sufficient grace and righteousness, should live all their lives like kings!" (Romans 5:17 Phillips) Notice, our position in Christ is a position of authority, honor, and triumph, not failure, weakness and defeat. We are in Christ, period! It is not a question of education or ordination but merely a question of believers apprehending our true position in Christ.
God reveals these truths to be so, "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19) "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89) "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8) God’s Word cannot fail any more than God Himself can fail. He and His Word are one. However, our faith in God’s Word will dictate our confession of it, and our confession of God’s Word is gauged by what we believe. I am not talking about the confession of sin, it is the confession of our position in Christ, of our legal rights, that is, what the Father has done for us in Christ, and what the Holy Spirit has done and is doing in us through the Word. May God help us by the power of the Holy Spirit to enter into the riches of our inheritance in Christ as we sit with Him far above everything that would attempt to lie and or deceive us of our place in Christ. So, stand fast on God's Word and confess our position in Christ. Grace and peace be with you...
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:1-10)
There is certainly a lot in these passages of scripture that we need to embrace as part of our inheritance in Christ. We see that, Christ was raised from the dead and the Father seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Notice that Christ is not seated above all principality and power and might and dominion, but seated FAR ABOVE all principality and power and might and dominion. Next, we see the Father made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Believers are seated with Christ in heavenly places, and as Christ is, believers are also far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
In other words, in our position in Christ, no demon, evil spirit nor the devil himself can deter us, unless we give them our consent. Our seating with Christ not only puts us far above all principality and power and might and dominion, but also means we reign with Christ from that position. The position of triumph! "For if one man’s offense meant that men should be slaves to death all their lives, it is a far greater thing that through another man, Jesus Christ, men by their acceptance of his more than sufficient grace and righteousness, should live all their lives like kings!" (Romans 5:17 Phillips) Notice, our position in Christ is a position of authority, honor, and triumph, not failure, weakness and defeat. We are in Christ, period! It is not a question of education or ordination but merely a question of believers apprehending our true position in Christ.
God reveals these truths to be so, "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19) "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89) "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8) God’s Word cannot fail any more than God Himself can fail. He and His Word are one. However, our faith in God’s Word will dictate our confession of it, and our confession of God’s Word is gauged by what we believe. I am not talking about the confession of sin, it is the confession of our position in Christ, of our legal rights, that is, what the Father has done for us in Christ, and what the Holy Spirit has done and is doing in us through the Word. May God help us by the power of the Holy Spirit to enter into the riches of our inheritance in Christ as we sit with Him far above everything that would attempt to lie and or deceive us of our place in Christ. So, stand fast on God's Word and confess our position in Christ. Grace and peace be with you...
Monday, June 10, 2019
Are You Struggling
The two greatest struggles for most believers is
believing and receiving our inheritance now. Many of the songs in congregations today, whether hymns or contemporary songs, either put off our inheritance until we get to heaven or beg God for them now. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in the heavenly places
in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3 ) Notice, "has blessed us." This is neither future nor are believers to beg. He "has" blessed us with every spiritual
blessing. Romans 8:32 gives us the same now reality, "He
who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He
not with Him also freely give us all things?" Everything that Christ accomplished in His redemptive
work belongs to the believer now. You do not need to beg God for it, simply do as Jesus has
instructed, "So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to
you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and
does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be
done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you
ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (Mark 11:22-24)
Philippians 4:6-7 gives us another angle concerning our inheritance in Christ. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." When we know what our redemption in Christ truly means, and what it means to the Father, not simply a place in heaven, then we pass out of the realm of worry, fear, doubt, unworthiness and inferiority and into the rest that God has provided in Christ. The Apostle Paul recognized this so much that he tells us, "Not that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therein to be independent of circumstances." (Philippians 4:11 TCT) Why can we be independent of circumstances? Faith! "For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7) It is intellectualism, reasoning in the mind, needing to see evidence in order to believe, or as Paul reveals, "...arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God..." (2 Corinthians 10:5), that robs believers of the things that the Father has freely given through Jesus Christ.
You see, redemption in the mind of the Father means a new creation, not a new renovation or a hybrid, but al1the privileges as the children of God, sons and daughters. It means that we have come into God’s family and have all the family rights and privileges now. "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…" (Romans 8:15-17) "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God…" (1 John 3:1-2) Scripture like these should be enough to cause us to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4), free from the old nature (Romans 6:6) but, again, it takes faith!
"For if, through the transgression of one individual, death made use of the one individual to seize the sovereignty, all the more shall those who receive God's overflowing grace and gift of righteousness reign as kings in Life through the one individual, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17 WNT) We are now reigning as kings in the realm of life through Jesus Christ. We have become masters. We are more than conquerors. We are set free, we are no longer held in captivity. We were slaves, defeated, conquered, held in bondage, but we are seated with Him on His throne. (Ephesians 2:6) And in the name of Jesus we become the bondage breakers for the rest of the human race. So, if you are struggling in any area of life, I have a simply suggestion for you, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom..." (Colossians 3:16) Why? "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) The grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all...
Philippians 4:6-7 gives us another angle concerning our inheritance in Christ. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." When we know what our redemption in Christ truly means, and what it means to the Father, not simply a place in heaven, then we pass out of the realm of worry, fear, doubt, unworthiness and inferiority and into the rest that God has provided in Christ. The Apostle Paul recognized this so much that he tells us, "Not that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therein to be independent of circumstances." (Philippians 4:11 TCT) Why can we be independent of circumstances? Faith! "For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7) It is intellectualism, reasoning in the mind, needing to see evidence in order to believe, or as Paul reveals, "...arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God..." (2 Corinthians 10:5), that robs believers of the things that the Father has freely given through Jesus Christ.
You see, redemption in the mind of the Father means a new creation, not a new renovation or a hybrid, but al1the privileges as the children of God, sons and daughters. It means that we have come into God’s family and have all the family rights and privileges now. "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…" (Romans 8:15-17) "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God…" (1 John 3:1-2) Scripture like these should be enough to cause us to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4), free from the old nature (Romans 6:6) but, again, it takes faith!
"For if, through the transgression of one individual, death made use of the one individual to seize the sovereignty, all the more shall those who receive God's overflowing grace and gift of righteousness reign as kings in Life through the one individual, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17 WNT) We are now reigning as kings in the realm of life through Jesus Christ. We have become masters. We are more than conquerors. We are set free, we are no longer held in captivity. We were slaves, defeated, conquered, held in bondage, but we are seated with Him on His throne. (Ephesians 2:6) And in the name of Jesus we become the bondage breakers for the rest of the human race. So, if you are struggling in any area of life, I have a simply suggestion for you, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom..." (Colossians 3:16) Why? "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) The grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all...
Monday, June 3, 2019
It's All Grace
We can define grace as, the free unmerited favor of God to the undeserving and ill-deserving. Grace cannot be earned, it cannot be worked for, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8) The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8) God is able to make His favor, His strength, His ability, His energy, His grace, flow in abundance in and through us, and that we are being so perfectly supplied by Him that we have all sufficiency in all things.
The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Peter says it this way, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1:2-4 ) Therefore, let’s rid ourselves of reasoning and exercise our faith giving God’s Word the right-of-way in all things.
Paul also tells us, "Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God." (2 Corinthians 9:10-11) The fruits of righteousness are not only right conduct, that’s a given, the fruits of righteousness are also the very same kind of fruit that we see in the four gospels which reveal the ministry of Jesus in His Words and actions. For believers to increase the fruits of your righteousness in their lives they must have a superiority complex rather than an inferiority complex meaning. This means letting go of all guilt, condemnation, unworthiness, and inferiority and letting God’s Word loose in us to transform us. As God's Word is loosed in us, it will reveal who we truly are in the mind and eyes of our heavenly Father. It will free us from the old things, the old ungodly habits, thoughts and actions and we will live in true freedom, as His New Creation sons and daughters.
Our Heavenly Father desires, “the eyes of our understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:18-23)
Everything God did in Christ is ultimately for the benefit of the church, every believer. The Apostle John tells us, "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace." (John 1:16) Our confession is no longer of weakness, lack and or failure which is contrary to what God has made us when He recreated us. Instead, we confess, God is my Father and I am His child; Satan's dominion over me has been broken and I have the very Nature and Life of the Son of God in me now; I am a partaker of the Divine Nature; I have passed out of death into Life; I know I am a child of God which makes me an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ; I can stand in Gods presences without guilt, shame, condemnation, unworthiness and or inferiority because He has declared me the righteousness of Himself in Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
The Holy Spirit through the writer of Hebrews encourages us in saying, "Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21) What a tremendous Word of encouragement. How liberating this can become to the one who dares to confess what he is in Christ; what Christ is in him/her and knows without wavering, just how wonderful the Father truly see us. Our Heavenly Father has a exceedingly great inheritance for His children, so let Him live His Life in and through us so we can enjoy our share of our inheritance in Christ. Shout, THANK YOU LORD!!!
The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Peter says it this way, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1:2-4 ) Therefore, let’s rid ourselves of reasoning and exercise our faith giving God’s Word the right-of-way in all things.
Paul also tells us, "Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God." (2 Corinthians 9:10-11) The fruits of righteousness are not only right conduct, that’s a given, the fruits of righteousness are also the very same kind of fruit that we see in the four gospels which reveal the ministry of Jesus in His Words and actions. For believers to increase the fruits of your righteousness in their lives they must have a superiority complex rather than an inferiority complex meaning. This means letting go of all guilt, condemnation, unworthiness, and inferiority and letting God’s Word loose in us to transform us. As God's Word is loosed in us, it will reveal who we truly are in the mind and eyes of our heavenly Father. It will free us from the old things, the old ungodly habits, thoughts and actions and we will live in true freedom, as His New Creation sons and daughters.
Our Heavenly Father desires, “the eyes of our understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:18-23)
Everything God did in Christ is ultimately for the benefit of the church, every believer. The Apostle John tells us, "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace." (John 1:16) Our confession is no longer of weakness, lack and or failure which is contrary to what God has made us when He recreated us. Instead, we confess, God is my Father and I am His child; Satan's dominion over me has been broken and I have the very Nature and Life of the Son of God in me now; I am a partaker of the Divine Nature; I have passed out of death into Life; I know I am a child of God which makes me an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ; I can stand in Gods presences without guilt, shame, condemnation, unworthiness and or inferiority because He has declared me the righteousness of Himself in Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
The Holy Spirit through the writer of Hebrews encourages us in saying, "Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21) What a tremendous Word of encouragement. How liberating this can become to the one who dares to confess what he is in Christ; what Christ is in him/her and knows without wavering, just how wonderful the Father truly see us. Our Heavenly Father has a exceedingly great inheritance for His children, so let Him live His Life in and through us so we can enjoy our share of our inheritance in Christ. Shout, THANK YOU LORD!!!
Monday, May 27, 2019
Complete Freedom
Today, is the fourth Monday of the month of May and in the United States it is a national holiday entitled, Memorial Day. It is a day in which Americans remember the service men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives so that others may have freedom. They did not give their lives for the United States alone, but as they fought and died in the numerous conflicts throughout the world, they did it to bring an end to demonized dictators who enjoy(ed) killing, like Satan their father, have only one desire, to have power. They fought and died to turn back these satanic ruled people whose only objective was to steal, kill, destroy and or hold in bondage to slavery their fellow man in efforts to promote their tyrannical reign. Let us never forget those in the armed forces who have gone before and those today who are ready to do what it takes to defend and protect the citizens of the United States of America.
In a similar way, believers celebrate the fact that Jesus Christ also paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving His life to save (redeem, heal, deliver, make whole) all humanity from Satan, the most evil, murderous tyrant known to man. The Bible reveals to us, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38) and "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)
When we consider what Jesus did for mankind the mind can hardly comprehend it. The apostle Paul reveals to us through the Holy Spirit, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned." (Romans 5:12) and speaking of the state of all men since the fall, “…having no hope and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:12) This means that not one person in all of mankind had the ability to provide redemption. God Himself must provide man’s redemption. God must redeem man from the dominion of Satan. Death must be destroyed and man’s authority over the Satan must also be restored. We also must keep in mind that God is just, "…God is abundant in justice…” (Job 37:23) and therefore mankind could only be redeemed on absolute legal grounds. Even though God's love for man is unfathomable and the fact that He is also sovereign, He could not redeem man outside the realm of justice.
God would have to provide a substitute who would not have man’s satanic fallen nature but would be like Adam. He could not be mortal or immortal, but a perfect man as Adam was before the fall. He must fulfill the entire Mosaic Law, withstand the onslaught of all the devils attacks without sin, meet the demands of justice, (meaning that He would have to pay the penalty for man’s crimes against God) by suffering in man's place by becoming sin, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us..." (2 Corinthians 5:21) Being make sin the Redeemer would be separated from the presence of God by going to hell, which is the ultimate penalty for sin, until mankind had been fully and legally acquitted for their crime. In other words, Deity must suffer for humanity.
As Adam die both spiritually and physically ("a death you shall die," or, "dying you shall die." Genesis 2:17 Hebrew) and "and they made His grave with the wicked, but with the rich at His death..."(Isaiah 53:3 deaths, plural, in the Hebrew) Jesus too would have to experience both to reverse Adam's transgression. If Jesus' physical death was all that was required to redeem humanity, then sin is nothing more than a physical condition. If physical death deals with the sin issue, then every person that physically dies pays the penalty of his/her own sin. If sin is only a physical condition and can be dealt with through physical death, then we must conclude that God has no right to send someone to hell (although He really doesn't, it is an individuals choice to receive or reject Jesus) because the physical death of every person would be sufficient to satisfy justice and give them a pass to eternal life.
However, we know that this is not true. Jesus must suffer in both realms, physically and spiritually. Physically because that is the only way that spiritually dead humanity could eliminate the Son of God; spiritually, because it’s the only way that God could legally redeem man taking away Satan’s claim to humanity. It also stops man from accusing God of being unjust when they reject His way of redemption. Jesus indeed went to hell and suffered as a substitute for all mankind. His physical death was infinitesimal to what He suffered in the spiritual realm. If humanity could have been redeemed apart from Christ, then Jesus becoming a substitute for humanity and being sent to hell would have become the most heinous crime ever committed in all of creation.
But thanks be to God who was willing to take upon Himself man's liability by suffering an incomprehensible death in two realms as man's substitute. So, let us never forget what the Father did through Jesus to give humanity complete freedom from Satan's power. Let us never forget and rejoice continually on our Memorial Day, the day you and I were born again. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you...
In a similar way, believers celebrate the fact that Jesus Christ also paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving His life to save (redeem, heal, deliver, make whole) all humanity from Satan, the most evil, murderous tyrant known to man. The Bible reveals to us, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38) and "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)
When we consider what Jesus did for mankind the mind can hardly comprehend it. The apostle Paul reveals to us through the Holy Spirit, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned." (Romans 5:12) and speaking of the state of all men since the fall, “…having no hope and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:12) This means that not one person in all of mankind had the ability to provide redemption. God Himself must provide man’s redemption. God must redeem man from the dominion of Satan. Death must be destroyed and man’s authority over the Satan must also be restored. We also must keep in mind that God is just, "…God is abundant in justice…” (Job 37:23) and therefore mankind could only be redeemed on absolute legal grounds. Even though God's love for man is unfathomable and the fact that He is also sovereign, He could not redeem man outside the realm of justice.
God would have to provide a substitute who would not have man’s satanic fallen nature but would be like Adam. He could not be mortal or immortal, but a perfect man as Adam was before the fall. He must fulfill the entire Mosaic Law, withstand the onslaught of all the devils attacks without sin, meet the demands of justice, (meaning that He would have to pay the penalty for man’s crimes against God) by suffering in man's place by becoming sin, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us..." (2 Corinthians 5:21) Being make sin the Redeemer would be separated from the presence of God by going to hell, which is the ultimate penalty for sin, until mankind had been fully and legally acquitted for their crime. In other words, Deity must suffer for humanity.
As Adam die both spiritually and physically ("a death you shall die," or, "dying you shall die." Genesis 2:17 Hebrew) and "and they made His grave with the wicked, but with the rich at His death..."(Isaiah 53:3 deaths, plural, in the Hebrew) Jesus too would have to experience both to reverse Adam's transgression. If Jesus' physical death was all that was required to redeem humanity, then sin is nothing more than a physical condition. If physical death deals with the sin issue, then every person that physically dies pays the penalty of his/her own sin. If sin is only a physical condition and can be dealt with through physical death, then we must conclude that God has no right to send someone to hell (although He really doesn't, it is an individuals choice to receive or reject Jesus) because the physical death of every person would be sufficient to satisfy justice and give them a pass to eternal life.
However, we know that this is not true. Jesus must suffer in both realms, physically and spiritually. Physically because that is the only way that spiritually dead humanity could eliminate the Son of God; spiritually, because it’s the only way that God could legally redeem man taking away Satan’s claim to humanity. It also stops man from accusing God of being unjust when they reject His way of redemption. Jesus indeed went to hell and suffered as a substitute for all mankind. His physical death was infinitesimal to what He suffered in the spiritual realm. If humanity could have been redeemed apart from Christ, then Jesus becoming a substitute for humanity and being sent to hell would have become the most heinous crime ever committed in all of creation.
But thanks be to God who was willing to take upon Himself man's liability by suffering an incomprehensible death in two realms as man's substitute. So, let us never forget what the Father did through Jesus to give humanity complete freedom from Satan's power. Let us never forget and rejoice continually on our Memorial Day, the day you and I were born again. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you...
Monday, May 20, 2019
Let's Be Imitators
The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "I say then: walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law." (Galatians 5:16-18) This is the struggle that exists within every believer who does not dedicate their body for God’s service and renew their mind. (Romans 12:1-2) It is the struggle that goes on and on between the believers recreated spirit with their unregenerate soul, (mind, will, emotions) and body, until and unless they apply faith and rely on the Holy Spirits guiding.
Paul goes on and tells us, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:22-25) These nine wonderful attributes are instantly downloaded, if you will, into our recreated spirit the moment one is born again. Look closely at what Paul tells us, "and those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Walking in the spirit and living in the realm of the fruit of the spirit has absolutely nothing to do with self will or feelings, but recognizing our new identity in and with Christ. Of course this takes faith.
"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children." (Ephesians 5:1) Our heavenly Father's desire is not to simply dwell in us but to reproduce Himself in us. When you think about it, the very genius of Christianity is the ability of God to build Himself into us through His Word, so that in our daily walk we live like Jesus did when He walked this earth. "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you." (Galatians 4:19) Although the process of building Christ into us may be slower than we desire, nevertheless, it makes Jesus men and women out of us. We must not only keep in mind, but also confess that, we are created in Christ Jesus. We are His Creation, and until Christ is formed in us, the world cannot see anything but religion in us.
The fact is, the Father is actually building His Love, His righteousness, His strength, His wisdom, His very self into our spirits. But are we letting Him do it. Are we convinced in our oneness with Him. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) Are we convinced that, "...as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17) As we study and meditate on the tremendous revelation given to Paul revealed in His Epistles, we become convinced that the ultimate quest of every one of those Epistles is the building of the life of Jesus in every believer. If you are not absolutely sure that the Father is at work in us, then takes some time and meditate on these facts. Know that the Father loves us more than we love ourselves. He is more ambitious for our success than we are and He is, “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20) We are made fruitful when we come to the reality that His ability is at work in us. Again, God's Word only becomes a reality when we receive it and act upon it through faith.
For many it has been somewhat difficult to comprehend that God is at work in us. Therefore we need to practice being God inside minded. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John tells us, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4) We need to remind ourselves daily that we have God in us, and that He is there to build Christ into us, to build His Word in us, transforming us to be more like Him. If we simply accept His Word without prejudice, let it take root, be implanted, become a part of us, remembering that Hebrews 4:12 tells us that God's Word is living and powerful, then we will not struggle with who we are in Christ, who Christ is in us and how the Father truly sees us and be imitators of God. As believers apply faith to these realities, they will never again talk doubt, fear, unbelief, sickness, lack or failure. Grace be with you...
Paul goes on and tells us, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:22-25) These nine wonderful attributes are instantly downloaded, if you will, into our recreated spirit the moment one is born again. Look closely at what Paul tells us, "and those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Walking in the spirit and living in the realm of the fruit of the spirit has absolutely nothing to do with self will or feelings, but recognizing our new identity in and with Christ. Of course this takes faith.
"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children." (Ephesians 5:1) Our heavenly Father's desire is not to simply dwell in us but to reproduce Himself in us. When you think about it, the very genius of Christianity is the ability of God to build Himself into us through His Word, so that in our daily walk we live like Jesus did when He walked this earth. "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you." (Galatians 4:19) Although the process of building Christ into us may be slower than we desire, nevertheless, it makes Jesus men and women out of us. We must not only keep in mind, but also confess that, we are created in Christ Jesus. We are His Creation, and until Christ is formed in us, the world cannot see anything but religion in us.
The fact is, the Father is actually building His Love, His righteousness, His strength, His wisdom, His very self into our spirits. But are we letting Him do it. Are we convinced in our oneness with Him. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) Are we convinced that, "...as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17) As we study and meditate on the tremendous revelation given to Paul revealed in His Epistles, we become convinced that the ultimate quest of every one of those Epistles is the building of the life of Jesus in every believer. If you are not absolutely sure that the Father is at work in us, then takes some time and meditate on these facts. Know that the Father loves us more than we love ourselves. He is more ambitious for our success than we are and He is, “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20) We are made fruitful when we come to the reality that His ability is at work in us. Again, God's Word only becomes a reality when we receive it and act upon it through faith.
For many it has been somewhat difficult to comprehend that God is at work in us. Therefore we need to practice being God inside minded. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John tells us, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4) We need to remind ourselves daily that we have God in us, and that He is there to build Christ into us, to build His Word in us, transforming us to be more like Him. If we simply accept His Word without prejudice, let it take root, be implanted, become a part of us, remembering that Hebrews 4:12 tells us that God's Word is living and powerful, then we will not struggle with who we are in Christ, who Christ is in us and how the Father truly sees us and be imitators of God. As believers apply faith to these realities, they will never again talk doubt, fear, unbelief, sickness, lack or failure. Grace be with you...
Monday, May 13, 2019
Pleasing the Father
Jesus said, "I always do the things that are pleasing to my Father." (John 8:28 ) The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease
to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of
His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." (Colossians
1:9) I can honestly say that there are many believers who truly crave living the kind of life that is always pleasing to our Heavenly Father. However, it does not come simply because it is a craving or desire. It comes with a cost. Although, in the Father's eyes, by being born again, we are pleasing to Him, still, in order to have a deeper walk with the Master, we must look to God's Word. There we find how to live a life that is pleasing to the Father in all that we do.
The Apostle Paul reveals things that the believer must do to have that deeper walk with the Lord. There is a "putting off and a putting on" by faith, the old sinful, fallen, demonic nature that we all had prior to our conversion in Christ. Paul tells us, "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth…" (Colossians 3:5) "...and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him." (Colossians 3:10) "...be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:23-24) Believers, by faith, are to put off the old man, and by virtue of being a new creation in Christ, we are to put on the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.
We see, the new man was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Unfortunately, many believers are kept from coming to a true liberating sense of their new creation identity because they are fed a diet of sermons that promote guilt, condemnation, unworthiness and or inferiority rather than righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Not only this, but some believers continue to look at their past sins and or failures and then inflict themselves with the same. Paul exhorts us to, "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:11) "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2) "casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)
We do these things through the Word of God. The Apostle Paul tells us, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16) Look what the Word of God is doing in the believe as we look to it. It is releasing God's wisdom, as well as teaching and admonishing us and most importantly, it also increases our faith, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
God has prepared every believer to walk in His will. His ability has been given to every believer. His strength is at our disposal. The good deeds that He would have us perform are within
the range of our ability, that is, the ability that He has given to us. "[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who
is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the
power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." (Philippians 2:13 (AMP) "Now
to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at
work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do
superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]." (Ephesians 3:20 AMP) Let us allow the Word of God go to work in and through us renewing our mind and increasing our faith. The more we do, to more we will be living in this wonderful realm of grace pleasing the Father in all we do. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all...
The Apostle Paul reveals things that the believer must do to have that deeper walk with the Lord. There is a "putting off and a putting on" by faith, the old sinful, fallen, demonic nature that we all had prior to our conversion in Christ. Paul tells us, "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth…" (Colossians 3:5) "...and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him." (Colossians 3:10) "...be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:23-24) Believers, by faith, are to put off the old man, and by virtue of being a new creation in Christ, we are to put on the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.
We see, the new man was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Unfortunately, many believers are kept from coming to a true liberating sense of their new creation identity because they are fed a diet of sermons that promote guilt, condemnation, unworthiness and or inferiority rather than righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Not only this, but some believers continue to look at their past sins and or failures and then inflict themselves with the same. Paul exhorts us to, "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:11) "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2) "casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)
We do these things through the Word of God. The Apostle Paul tells us, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16) Look what the Word of God is doing in the believe as we look to it. It is releasing God's wisdom, as well as teaching and admonishing us and most importantly, it also increases our faith, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
As our faith grows, believers who have struggled with the old nature will find that their recreated spirit will dispossess the old man with all the condemnation, guilt, inferiority as well as the arguments and thoughts that have permitted the condemnation, guilt, inferiority to have place. Look what our Father says concerning the believer, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) The New Living Translation says it this way, "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created
us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long
ago." (Ephesians 2:10)
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