In HIM is Life

In 1966 singer/actor,  Frank Sinatra, recorded the song "That's Life." Here is the first stanza of the song; "That's life (that's life), that's what all the people say, you're ridin' high in April, shot down in May, but I know I'm gonna change that tune when I'm back on top, back on top in June." But what kind of life is there when you are on top one moment then go to the bottom the next? Actually, it is the only type of life that the world can provide, because it is based on a system that is completely corrupted by Satan. Jesus tells us, "The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy..." (John 10:10) Living life steeped in the world is why so many people are on a roller-coaster ride which never seems to end. They have bought into the world system so much and even though they sometimes feel hopeless and even hurt, they still believe that this is life. But is it?    

When Jesus walked on the earth as the Son of Man, He introduced a new type of life that no one had ever been exposed to. He put it this way, "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) What was this life? The Greek word here for life is, Zoe. It means eternal life, God's life, life as God has it. This new kind of life is the very nature of God. It has the ability to produce certain changes that can literally be seen in ones life. When one confesses the Lord Jesus Christ and takes Him as Savior, God's life immediately enters. Almost at once, you can see it in a person's habits. You can hear it in their speech. It changes ones conduct. It corrects bad habits and forms new ones and even causes ones countenance to radically change. 

It is essential to the believers life to come to understand the depths of God's life in us. The Apostle Paul tells us, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." (Romans 5:17 AMP) This means that every one of us who has been born again has received the life of God and has come into a kingly state. We are accepted by God to reign as kings in the realm of life. We are no longer slaves in the realm of spiritual death, but we have passed out of death, that is, Satan's realm, into the realm of life. Paul states it this way, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." (Colossians 1:13) Man was never made to be a slave. He was made in the image and likeness of God to reign as a king. 

Man was created on terms of equality with God, and he could stand in God's presence without guilt, condemnation or inferiority. Psalm 8:4-6 points to this very specifically, "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands..." The phrase, "For you have made him a little lower than the angels" is key to understanding how God created man. In the Hebrew word angels is Elohim, which is also the name given to God as Creator and Judge. So, a literal translation of this phrase is, "For you have made him a little lower than God." How wonderful it that? That means God has made us as much like Himself as he possibly could (man was not created as deity as God is, but a perfect man). He made us the same class of being that He Himself is. He made man with an intellect of such caliber that he could name every animal, vegetable, and fruit, and give them names that would describe their characteristics.

Let's look at this in creation. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7)  The Hebrew word translated "breath" is the same word translated "spirit" all through the Old Testament. In other words, God took something of Himself, which was spirit, the life of God, and put it into man. This is why Romans 5:17 is a verse of scripture that we need to get into our heart. God made man to rule as a king over the works of His hands. This should bring all believers to a revelation bringing an end to the weakness, we're just lowly sinners saved by grace, or beggars before a Holy God, message.

Although man lost his place, his dominion and authority over all the works of God's hand by high treason, it does not mean that he is without it forever, on the contrary. The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world, God put on flesh to restore mans position. The Apostle John tells us, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1, 14) Now on the grounds of what the Lord Jesus Christ did (that is, His substitutionary sacrifice), God is able to redeem us from sin and through faith in Jesus Christ is able to impart to us His very nature, eternal life, His very own life.  (1 John 2:25) God has adopted everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord and has placed us into His own family, so that we can call Him Father. (Romans 8:15-16)  

The Apostle Paul tells us, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." (Ephesians 3:14-15)  In the new birth, we are brought into union with Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, far to many believers only think that new birth is simply the forgiveness of sin. They don't know about the intimate union that we have in Christ. Jesus tells us of this very thing, "I am the vine, you are the branches." (John 15:5) The union that the believer has with Christ through the new birth has bestowed upon us the lost dominion and authority man had in the Garden of Eden. 

Look what Paul tells us concerning this very thing, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16) The Apostle John says it this way, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life, the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us, that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full." (1 John 1:1-4) 

I want to challenge you to read scriptures like these and speak them aloud. Right now say, "I am the temple of the living God. I've got God the Holy Spirit living in me. I have the God kind of life in me. I have fellowship with the Father and the Son." Some of these great Bible truths released from the lips of faith will release us, and enable us to dominate and reign in life as kings through Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be with you...

Life That Is out Of This World

When you here the phrase "Living the Dream" it is mostly used to describe ones success or personal achievement(s) that has made their life what they had hoped (dreamed) it would be. The Bible reveals two kinds of life and although there are several Greeks words for life, we will look at the two that are used the most to describe the life of mankind . The first word is "psuche" which means "natural human life" and the other word is "zoe" which means "life as God has it; everlasting life or eternal life." Most Christians tend to only see life from the natural perspective. This is very unfortunate, because those who only see life from the natural are robbed of the truth that sets us free.

Jesus made some incredible remarks pertaining to life (zoe). Here are just a few; John 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 10:10 "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." The apostle John tells us, John 20:31 "...these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."

Observing these few scriptures we see that the believer is not to muddle through life here on earth struggling in the natural kind of life. Believers are to enjoy the abundant "life as God has it." What does this mean? It means living the dream. One day, before we let Christ enter our life, we were all living in the natural realm of life. We were spiritually dead and did not understand that we were partakers of the fallen nature that was ruled by our flesh. We did not understand that man's fallen nature is the very nature of Satan. (John 8:44) We did not realize that all sin, misery, sickness or as the apostle Paul reveals, the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) were working death in us. But the time came when God began to draw us to His Son (John 6:44) and we confessed the Lordship of Jesus and received Him as Savior.

Even though many people have received Christ as Lord and Savior, a serious problem still exists in their life. Today, most Christians still equate sickness, disease, financial struggles, premature death and so on as a part of the Christian life. Many Christians blame God when these things come upon themselves, a loved one or someone they know? Many Christians see these things as part of God's sovereign plan for their life? Honestly, does this sound like "life as God has it?" Does this sound anything like what Jesus or John said in the above scriptures? Think about what they both said, "that they may have life (zoe), and that they may have it more abundantly."..."that believing you may have life (zoe) in His name."

When one confesses the Lordship of Jesus Christ and accepts Him as Savior, God immediately gives life as He has it, eternal life. Think about it from another perspective, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) Your spirit is made a new creation. This is an actual transformation of your old fallen, fleshly, satanic nature into the nature of God or "life as God has it." Now you can certainly allow the old nature to have place, but in God's eyes, it has been wipe completely out "old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (PTL)

As New Creation we are no longer sinners, beggars or even servants, but sons and daughter of the Living God. (John 1:12, Romans 8:16, 1 John 3:1) Look at what Jesus says, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him." (Matthew 7:11) Now let's think about this logically. If you were a parent who had only one child, would you want your child to have a life of sickness and misery? If you were a parent and had two or more children, would you want one of them to enjoy a good life and the others to struggle with sickness or misery? What about if one of your children did something that you did not approve of, would you want sickness or misery to come upon them as a means to correct them or change their character? Absolutely not to all of these questions!!!

Our hearts should break when we hear church leaders talk about our heavenly Father as a loving God (He most certainly is) who allows sickness and misery to be upon His children. That He allows sickness and misery to come upon His children as some mysterious blessings. That He uses sickness and misery as a way to discipline His children. That sickness and misery is one of His ways to either draw His children closer to Him or some sort of training tool to grow their faith. Jesus said, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36) So, if you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you are free to live the rest of your life right here on planet earth experiencing "life as God has it", free of sickness, disease, financial struggles, premature death, misery and so on beginning now. "Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23) This means YOU!!! (Hallelujah)           

New Life and More

Thank the LORD for the wonderful revelation He made known to the Apostle Paul concerning ones identification in Christ. For instance, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) The very moment that a person confesses with their mouth the LORD Jesus Christ and takes Him as their Savior they become born again. Of course we know this, but do you know that the moment one becomes born again they instantaneously become a supernatural, one hundred percent "New Creation." Furthermore, do we truly understand this from Gods perspective? We are no long common anymore. We belong to an unusual supernatural order of beings. The Apostle Paul tells us, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works..."(Ephesians 2:10) and "the new man was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:24) The Apostle Peter tells us, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…" (1 Peter 2:9)

In Christ, the born again person is a new creation in every sense. They instantly become partakers of Gods divine nature; "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 1:4) They instantly become partakers of Gods divine life; "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) God’s ability instantly becomes their ability; "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12) God's strength instantly becomes their strength;  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) His promises instantly become their promises; "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." (2 Corinthians 1:20)

His love instantly becomes their love; "...the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) His faith instantly becomes their faith; "So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have the God kind of faith." (Mark 11:22) His power instantly becomes their power;  "...My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9) His wisdom instantly becomes their wisdom; "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God..." (1 Corinthians 1:30); His righteousness instantly becomes their righteousness; "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21) The list goes on and on.

Unfortunately, for many Christians this is hard to believe. Far to many Christians live in the sense realm rather than the spiritual realm. In other words, their belief system is based upon what they can see, touch, taste, smell or hear, (John 20:24-25) which has nothing to do with believing and acting upon God's Word. Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh (senses) profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63) The word life is the Greek word "Zoe." It literally means, life as God has it; the very life of God; eternal life. Now we can understand why one instantaneously becomes a new creation in every sense. It is because the very life of God takes residence in the new believer immediately upon their confession of Christ. This has nothing to do with feelings. It is pure fact!

The next thing we see in 2 Corinthians 5:17 is, "old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." The old thing that Satan had control of has passed away. The believer is no longer spiritually dead but made alive in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:1) Jesus said of Himself, "the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me." (John 14:30) All believers must come to realize this very thing, Satan no longer has any authority, dominion, jurisdiction or power over them. All things have become new. The reality of the new creation is the most marvelous truths concerning the transformation of a lost, God hating, rebellious, Satan ruled person. The very life of God has dispossessed the entire former life and has filled the new believer with Himself. PTL

Now, through God's Word our faith is built up (Romans 10:17) and our recreated spirit is strengthened so that the soul (mind, will and emotions) is renewed and begins to respond to the recreated spirit and not the flesh. But this does not change the fact that the very nature and life of God is in the believer. For many in the church today, it is time to put an end to the ungodly habits of the flesh and negative confession from the mouth. It is time to let God’s life arise and call those things which do not exist as though they did. It is time to live in the abundant "Zoe" that Jesus gave His life for. It is time for believers to realize that eternal life is not a destination, but the "Zoe," life of God already exists in everyone who is born again. It is time to let the lost know that they too can have the same abundant "Zoe," life. Grace and peace be with you...

Life In Him

The apostle John had a particular reason behind writing what we see in the gospel according to John. (Keep in mind that although John did the writing, the Holy Spirit gave the inspiration). We read, "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:30-31) Please note, "that believing you may have life in His name." The word life is the Greek word "zoe" which means "life in the absolute sense; life as God has it; that which the Father has in Himself and which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself." This is the same quality of life that Christians are to experience their entire time on planet earth. With that said, let's look a little deeper into the gospel of John and see repeatedly what Jesus Himself says concerning His mission of revealing the Father's will, nature, character, purpose and plan.

First, Jesus is by Himself and He has an encounter with a woman of Samaria at Jacobs well. At the end of His conversation with her, His disciples return to Him and urge Him to eat, but look closely at Jesus' response, "Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." (John 4:34) Notice Jesus' mission, "...to do the will of Him who sent Me.." So whatever we see Jesus do or and whatever He says, He is revealing the Father. Next, we see Jesus healing on the Sabbath which causes the Jews to be filled with indignation so severe that they sought to kill Him because He healed on the Sabbath. Again looking at Jesus' response to the Jews, we see, "Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel." (John 5:19-20)

Notice that Jesus does not initiate the things that He does, "...the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do..." Jesus only does what the Father Himself does. He only does the Father's will. Not only does Jesus' actions perfectly reveal the Father's will, but they are also proof that He is from or that He has been sent by the Father. Again, we see, "But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me." (John 5:36) "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (John 6:38) "...I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him."(John 8:26) "...I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things." (John 8:28)

Now let's look at another very important key in the life and ministry of Jesus. "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." (John 8:29) Not only does Jesus perfectly reveal the Father's will and nature, but everything that He does and says pleases the Father. Next, we see Jesus having an encounter with the Jews. Look at the words that Jesus speaks to them. "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him." (John 10:37-28) Jesus again, is pointing to the works that He does as the work of His Father. Finally, Jesus says something that should awaken every Christian from the slumber of doubt. If one cannot believe that He is the Christ, the Savior, God the Son, the Son of God, then the works that He does should bring one to understand that the Father is in Him revealing Himself through the works that Jesus is doing.

The fact that Jesus perfectly reveals the Father's will, nature, character, purpose and plan is the most crucial point of knowing the One and only Living, Almighty God and Father, especially to one who accepts Christ as Savior, confesses His Lordship from their mouth and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead. Of course this takes faith. Unfortunately, many Christians are taught and trained to believe the opposite. Once again I want to exhort us to let the Word of God assault and destroy all the thoughts, argument and perceptions that exalt themselves above the Word of God. In other words, let the Word of God prevail mightily in our lives and we will find that in doing so, we will truly experience "life in the absolute sense; life as God has it; that which the Father has in Himself and which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself." . 

Blessed Beyond the Curse

Exodus , which is the dispensation of the Law or the Law age the lasted for 1500 years. During this time God gives man a greater revelation of Himself. Not only does He reveal Himself through a visible manifestation of a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud (Exodus 13:21) and as a Law giver (Exodus 20:1-17), but one of the greatest revelations that God had given to man during this time, is that He reveals His very nature to him (Exodus 34:5-7) This is very important to understand because the LORD does not change (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8) The Apostle Paul tells us that the purpose of the Law is to show a sinner their guilt before God and stops them from justifying themselves (Romans 3:19), it brings the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20) and it defines sin (Romans 7:7). The Law does not give the knowledge of or define God, but only sin.

God sets up a temporary system to deal with mans sin (Leviticus 1 - 7, Hebrews 9 - 10) but we see something revealed that shows us God's true nature even though the Law had been given. In Deuteronomy 28:1-14 we see that God is the one who blesses not the one who curses or causes bad things to happen. However, in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 it seems to indicate that God does cause bad things to happen to His people. This is where many people have learned to believe that bad things come from God. After all God does not change and bad things are happening to His people so it must be true for today also. But let's take a closer look at what the Bible reveals.

"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:" (Deuteronomy 28:15) The first thing we need to note is that this does not say that God will cause all of the curses to come upon them, but the curses are a result of their decision to disobey God, sound familiar doesn't it (Adam and Eve). The curses would come upon them due to their CHOICE to disobey. It was the same thing that happened to Adam when he chose to disobey God and become the slave to sin and Satan. The same principle that applied to Adam also applied to Israel. However, God in His true nature of being merciful, gracious, longsuffering and abounding in goodness and truth, gives Israel the principle to live in His blessings and not the curses of sin and Satan.

"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

All Israel had to do was choose God rather than sin and Satan to live a blessed life on earth free of bad things happening to them. However, if we look through Israel's history we see that they repeatedly rejected God and became slaves to sin which opened the door for Satan to have his way with them. Remember, Adam had forfeited his perfect life and all his authority to Satan and in doing so took himself out from under God's freedom and blessings to become Satan's slave. It was the same for Israel. They did not choose God's authority, protection and blessings to flow in their midst which would bring health, wealth and long life (Deuteronomy 28:1-14) but chose to reject God and let sin and Satan have their way bringing curses and ultimately destruction upon them. We see this very thing occurring throughout Israel's history as recorded in the Bible (Deuteronomy 28:15-68 the curse for disobedience)

We must see things from a correct perspective. God created man in perfection and gave him choice. It was man who chose to reject God and accept Satan as his master and all the evil that came with it. It was Israel that God chose and wanted to bless. It was Israel who chose sin (Satan) to rule over them through their rejection (disobedience to) of God. God does not choose bad things to happen to man, He permits them to happen because He will not encroach man's will to choose. If man chooses sin and Satan then he will reap the destructive nature of that choice. However, if man chooses God, he becomes a benefactor of all the blessings that God has promised, it is just that simple.

There are many believer that might say, "I am a believer and I did not choose this sickness, disease, financial problems, etc. so it must be God's will." However, when you look closer you will find that a statement like this is made due to one of two thing. First, many believers let their body and soul have rule over their life and therefore open the door for sin and Satan to exploit them. The other is because many believers live their life in a natural type of faith that every person has. It is called sense knowledge faith or mental assent. It means that ones faith is based on ones mind and or senses, that is, seeing is believing, (John 20:24-25) and not revelation faith that emanates from the heart (recreated spirit) that is, believing that you have received even though there is no tangible evidence (John 20:29, Hebrews 11:1) These things prevent believers from understanding the fullness of redemption which God has provided through Jesus Christ.

For many believers, redemption has been reduced to accepting Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior for the purpose of eternal life only, rather than seeing that redemption has completely restored man to what Adam was and had before the fall. This can only be realized through faith in Christ and in the integrity of God's Word. When believers come to realize that bad things do not come from god they we begin to understand that they no longer have to live in defeat nor will they have to live a life constantly trying to defeat the devil, because he is already defeated. (Colossians 2:15) They will rest in the LORD because their faith has brought them to know that it is "God who ALWAYS leads us in triumph in Christ..."

A Permanent Ending

 Death is defined in various ways. One definition is "a permanent ending to that which was alive." The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul, concerning a believers former life before Christ, and their new life in Christ, tells us, "For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him." (Romans 6:7-8) This literally means "he that has died" in a physical sense. Note that the physical truth points to the spiritual truth. What the Holy Spirit wants all believers to completely understand is that, has been freed from sin, means, justified, acquitted, absolved, freed from sin, period. That as Christ was once dead but now lives to God, and will no more die, so we, being dead to sin, but living unto God, should not obey sin, but should live only to God, not only in the next life but now! The believers identification with Christ (his/her union with Christ) is noted throughout Romans, "Died with Him" (Romans 6:3, 8)…"Buried with Him" (Romans 6:4)…"United together with Him" (Romans 6:5)…"Raised with Him" (Romans 6:4-5)…"Crucified with Him" (Romans 6:6)..."Alive with Him" (Romans 6:8). Believers need to see not only Christ’s substitution in these things but also our identification with Him in these thing. Paul goes on... 

"Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts."  (Romans 6:9-12) Reckon means, to not imagine or count something true that is not true. In verse 11 we see another faith declaration. Let's declare, "I conclude that it is true, I am dead to sin, and I am alive, I have life in Christ Jesus my Lord." The believer is to allow Christ, as King, to reign over him or her, not sin. Although the law of sin has not yet been eradicated from the believer, because the believer still has a mortal body that is subject to physical death, (physical death is the last enemy to be destroyed, 1 Corinthians 15:26), there is the constant need to say no to sin and yes to life in Christ Jesus. Paul now gives us very detailed instructions concerning our new life... 

"And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." (Romans 6:13) This is our identification with Christ’s death and resurrection. Sin is a spiritual law and needs a person, their body, as an instrument to express itself. The heart of the whole matter concerns yielding the body's members as an instruments of sin or instruments of righteousness. God will not encroach our choice, but exhorts us to live in a higher level of life which is actually true freedom. This life, simply put, is a life by grace through faith. The more we recognize how to live in the grace of God, the more freedom that we will experience. The following scripture makes this completely clear.  

"For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14) Paul is clear that the believer can live a victorious life in Christ. Sin does not need to have dominion (reign as king) over the believer. The believer can have dominion (reign as king) over sin. This does not mean that the believer has reached a state of sinless perfection, but rather the believer no longer needs to be ruled or dominated by sin. The believer is not under the law, that is, the dominion of the law of sin as the context is dealing with, nor is the believer under the law to Moses (see Romans 7), but the believer is under grace, which is actually being under the law to Christ. Grace is a higher and stronger law.

Grace as defined as, "[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) Simply put, grace is the free gift of God given gratuitously which is undeserved and unmerited, overflowing with superior love, superior favor and divine influence that gives believes the ability and desire to do God’s will, to fulfill His purpose, and is the source of all the benefits believers receive, which is released through faith. What we have seen here in Romans 6 is the sanctification and identification of the believer in and with Christ. Sanctification is the operation of the new law of life in Christ Jesus, a higher spiritual law, which makes us free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

Therefore, in the mind of God, when Christ was crucified, we were crucified; when Christ died, we died; when Christ was buried, we were buried; when Christ spent three days and three nights as our substitute in hell, we were in Him until the claims of justice were fully met; when Christ met the claims of justice, our old satanic, sinful nature was put away; when Christ was raised, we were raised; when Christ ascended, we ascended; when Christ sat down on the throne with all things under His feet, we also sat down on the throne with all things under our feet; as Christ lives, we also live; we are no longer slaves of sin; we have been freed from sin, and should walk in the newness of life! When believers come into the full knowledge of these things, we will experience what is commonly known as revival, but it will be normal Christianity, which is really true Christianity. The Christianity that we read in the Acts of the Apostles, filled with God's presence, glory and power. In other words, the way Christianity was intended to be until Christ returns. The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ be with you all...

God's Medicine

In defining what faith is, the same verse of scripture also defines hope, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]." (Hebrews 11:1 AMPC) The biblical concepts of faith (belief; a sure persuasion or conviction of the
truth of God's Word) and hope (confident expectation of good in the future) are entirely distinct. We see this revealed by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Notice again, that faith and hope are quite distinct. Faith is the substance, here and now in your heart,
of things that you are hoping for in the future. It is the assured confidence, it is being fully convinced of the reality of things not seen, and those unseen things are what God says in His Word. We also know that faith comes exclusively through the Word of God, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Looking at the Proverbs of Solomon, we find some wise words that show us just how important God's Word is. Although there is much revealed in Proverbs concerning God's Word, our main focus here is only three verses. "My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22)

There are four distinct things to be aware of; Give attention; Incline your ear to God's sayings; Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart. First, "my son, give attention to my words." When God speaks to us, we need to give Him our full and undivided attention. To receive from God comes down to one key point, how we listen. Are we listening with undivided attention to God's Word or are we listening to something else? Giving attention to God's Word is not only the key to opening His promises and blessings, but is the key to receiving and or increasing in faith. Many people read the Bible and never hear God because their minds are on other things. We must put ourselves into a position both spiritually and mentally, that enables us to hear what God is saying.

Second, "Incline your ear to my sayings."  Incline here means to bend or bow down, your ear. One cannot bend their ear without also bending the head. Inclining your ear, therefore, means that you are actually inclining your entire head. This implies an attitude of humility as well as one of being teachable, one who is giving attention. An essential requirement for receiving God's Word is to lay down our preconceptions and prejudices, open our ears, and listen carefully to what God says. We must also guard our hearts from rejecting His Word because it doesn't agree with some things that we have been taught as being true. This is why we must look into God's Word  without preconceptions and prejudices. We should come to God and say something like this, "Lord, You are the Teacher, I am the student. I am willing to let You teach me, so I bow down my ear, and I listen to You."

The third thing is, "Do not let them depart from your eyes." The key thought here can be summed up in the word focus. With natural eyesight, incorrect focus causes blurred vision. In the same way, unless we focus our spiritual eyes, we will always have a blurred vision of spiritual reality. Jesus said, "The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness." (Luke 11:34)  We must read
the Bible with a good eye that affirms, "This is what God says, this is what He means, and I believe it the way it's written."

The fourth thing we see, "Keep them in the midst of your heart." The purpose of giving attention to God's Words, inclining your ear to His sayings and not letting them depart from your eyes, is so that Gods Words and sayings will reach the inner person, the heart. When His Words get to the heart, they will do what is promised. In the natural world, for some medicine to be effective, it has to be released into the bloodstream, or it will not do what it's supposed to do. Spiritually, God's medicine is effective only when it's released in our hearts so that it can flow to every area of our lives. What one has in their heart will determine the course of their life, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) Jesus tells us, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45)

Simply put, if we have the right things in our heart, our life will go right. If we have wrong things in our heart, our life will go wrong. So, let us keep God's Word in the midst of our heart not just in the midst of our mind, because it is going to affect the entire way that we live. Therefore, if we take God's Word according to how He has prescribe it, He guarantees us that His Words "are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." God has given us free will, the right to choose. It is up to every believer to decide whether they will take the prescribed medicine, God's Word, in the way He tells us, that we may find life and health which God has pledged to gives us...

Bearing Fruit

The born again nature does not need to strive to produce righteousness. All it has to do is be or stay united with Christ. So, the Christian life is to be a life of yielding, not struggling; union, not effort. Jesus reveals a beautiful analogy during His final instruction to the disciple before His returned to the Father, He says, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." (John 15:1) He tells us that He Himself is the true vine. The word "true," here, is used in the sense of real, genuine. From Him, as with a natural vine, comes all the proper nourishment to all the branches, whether large or small. Therefore, Jesus is the real, genuine source of all strength, ability and grace to all, especially believers. 

Next, He tells us, "My Father is the vinedresser." The vinedresser is the one who has the care of a vineyard. Taking care of the vineyard entails nurturing, trimming, and protecting the vines to insure their proper growth and welfare. In this analogy, we see that the Father gave, or appointed his Son Jesus, to be, the one and only source of all blessings to man and for believers, those who are united to Him by faith, He gives the ability to bear much fruit. Jesus goes on to say, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 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 15:2-5)

Branches are the fruit-bearing part that need very careful pruning. If the branches are not pruned, and are not pruned at the right time and in the right way, they will cease to bring forth fruit. The same life that is in the vine flows through the branches and the life in the branches brings forth the appropriate kind of fruit. Jesus also gave us a warning that is very important. He tells us that we have to expect to be pruned. With that, let's look at some real life scenarios in the lives of believers. Some believers have problems because they are not bearing fruit. They struggle with situations that are the results of their bad decisions and or actions. On the other hand, other believers experience problems because they are bearing fruit. The reality is, those believers who are experiencing problems while bearing fruit are simply being pruned. If you have ever seen a vine pruned, the process seems almost ruthless. The branches are cut back so far, you would think the vine would not be able to produce branches that would ever bear fruit again. But the next year there is more fruit than the year before. 

Another notable thing that we see in this analogy, is the work of the entire Godhead. We see that the Father is the vinedresser, Jesus is the vine, but also the Holy Spirit as the One that flows through the vine and into the branches. The life of the Spirit flowing through the vine into the branches is what brings forth fruit. Keep in mind that this is not the fruit of our best efforts, nor the fruit of religion, but the fruit of the Spirit. When the Father is pruning us, we must not give up in the midst of the process, but remember our oneness with the vine, Jesus; the purpose of the Father's pruning, to bear more fruit; and the work of the Holy Spirit, feeding the branch with the nutrients to bear more fruit. This process comes by us recognizing that we must abide in, that is, remain united to Jesus by faith and live our Christian life completely dependent on Him. 

In every area of the Christian life we are not to rely on our natural ability of doing what God requires. Let's be honest, most believers live according to the natural realm trying to do things on their own, yet, Jesus tells us, "for without Me you can do nothing." He tells us this because He is "the (only) way, the (only) truth and the (only) life." (John 14:6) So, let us come to the place in our lives (if we are not there yet) to, "Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6 AMPC), or as Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:7-8) Amen...

What Is Life All About

For thousands of years, man has been searching for answers to these questions, "What is life all about...Why am I here...Where did everything come from?" Now, according to evolutionist, in short, these three questions are answered in this way. Billions of years ago, out of a random act of nothingness, evolved the most basic of microbes and over time became a dazzling array of complexity, which is call light and matter. However, the theory of evolution came by way of a great guess and even today, evolutionist cannot prove with absolute, non-conflicting evidence that their thinking is even remotely more that a guess. Even though they admit that they cannot prove evolution, they refuse to believe that everything seen and unseen was created by a Creator. Unfortunately, their intellectual approach to these things has and will always prevent them from discovering the truth to these three questions.

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 
But the natural man (those who learn through the five senses) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:13-14) The Holy Spirit through the Apostle James reveals, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic." (James 3:13-15) Only through the Holy Spirit and the wisdom of God can man discern and understand the reality of "What is life all about...Why am I here...Where did everything come from?

Even though man may be confronted with an unexplained creation of which he, himself, is a part, with all of its fixed laws that govern it, within all creation a Master Designer is revealed to man. By that, I mean, everything in creation was designed that it might fulfill a certain purpose, the reason for
its existence. Even evolutionist will agree, that everything has a purpose, a reason to exist. Therefore, to accept as fact that everything that exists some how found its purpose, why it exists from nothingness, comes from exactly what the Apostle Paul said, "But the natural man (those who learn through the five senses) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

When we look at creation as revealed in Genesis and how everything came to be, it is quite apparent that the purpose of creation seems to completely surround man. In fact, if we take man out of creation, creation with its resources and its beauty has no reason for existing. If God created the universe as a home for man, He must have had a reason for creating man. Today, more and more scientists are realizing that behind creation there is an intelligent Creator.

God, in His desire for man to know Him, formulated His inner thoughts and purposes into words, which man can see with his sense of sight, and hear with his sense of hearing. It's called the Bible. The Bible is God's revelation to man, and because we have no other channel through which we can know God or contact Him, we turn to that revelation to find out what He has told us of His reason for creating man. Of course to find revelation through the Bible, one must be born of the spirit. Jesus tells us, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God...Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:3, 5-8) and, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) and, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63)

Again, looking at Genesis we see, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:1-2) Notice, that God did not consider anything that He created before He considered the earth. Therefore, we conclude that the earth is the focal point of the rest of creation. However, if the earth is the reason for the stellar heavens, what is the reason for the earth? Again, looking at Genesis Chapter One we find the account of Creation. Creation consists of a series of spectacular acts by God. These creative acts culminate in the creation of man.

When man was created, we see that God's creative activity came to a rest. (Genesis 2:1-3) Man was the goal of God's entire creative movement. Man was the last and the highest of God's works. The earth has no reason for existing outside of man. It was only when God placed upon this earth a man created in His image and likeness, was there a reason for the vast universe which had been created. God had endowed this man with the capacities to enjoy the beauty of His workmanship, and to utilize its resources. The reality is, man is the only creature who can enjoy its beauty or use its resources to their fullest. (Psalm 8) 

This brings us to the next question. What is the reason for man ? Until we know why God desired to create man, we do not know the entirety of God's reason for creation. So, let us look into the reason for mans existence. God's Word tells us, "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters says the lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:18), and, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." (Ephesians 3:14-15) and "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God." (1 John 3:1) Through these few scriptures we find the reason for man. The Father heart of God desired sons and daughters to share in His creation. This yearning passion took form, and God planned to create a man who would walk with Him as His child.

The Bible also reveals, "Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]." (Ephesians 1: 4-5 AMP) Although the Apostle Paul is sharing this revelation with the church, nevertheless we see that in the mind and in the loving heart of Father God, there resonated a desire to have a family before He created the heavens and the earth. 

What does all of this mean to us?  Basically, God Himself has placed the highest premium possible upon man. There is absolutely nothing else in all creation that God loves more. Unfortunately, Satan has been very subtle in blinding the minds of man to the Father nature of God. The average Christian has had no real consciousness of God as being his or her loving, caring Father. To comprehend and live a life filled this the wonderful knowledge, that we have a Father God who loves us beyond measure, it can only come by revelation through God's Word by the Holy Spirit. Once our spiritual eyes are enlightened, opened, to this truth, we will see our purpose in Father God's brilliant plan, and rest in His surrounding, abounding love. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." (Hebrews 11:3)  

So, knowing these things should cause believers to never see themselves as unworthy, or unable to please our Heavenly Father. Simply put, ever person, especially believers should see themselves as Father God does, of unlimited value. However, we can only understand these things by faith not through intellectualism. With that said, I challenge you to pray and receive from the Holy Spirit the prayer the Apostle Paul prayed for the church, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your 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." (Ephesians 1:17-18) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all... 

Abundant Life

There are four Greek words in the New Testament, translated life. One of these means manner of life; another means human life; another behavior; but there is another Greek word for the kind of life that Jesus brought to the world. Jesus tells us, "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) The word "life" here mean, life in the absolute sense; life as God has it, that which the Father has in Himself, which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself, which has been given to all who confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him as Savior. That they may have it (life) more abundantly literally means, that they may have abundance, or that which abounds. Therefore, Jesus tells us that in Him believers have, life as God has it, the very life of God, eternal life, and we have it now. 

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "...that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:19) This shows that this new life, the life of God, can fulfill in us any promise of any requirement in the Bible. This means that the life of God in us, can fulfill all that the Bible requires or promises and it is precisely what the life of God in us was or is to accomplish. The life of God in us, will make us more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) in spirit, soul and body; it transforms us from glory to glory into the image of Christ; it turns belief into knowledge; it is the source of all the divine graces; it gives God's wisdom; it overcomes the world, the flesh and he devil; it works in us that which is well pleasing in his sight. By filling us with His own life, God Himself becomes our life, our peace, our righteousness, our purity, our strength and our health. God wants to do in us, all that he did in Christ for us. The life of God in us should move us to proclaim as King David, "God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:26)  

Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches..." (John 15:5) The Vine's life is in the branches. The life of the branches is a part of the life of the vine. It is Christ's will that all the branches shall be full of His own life. When one is full of the life of God, they are one with God just as the bay is one with the ocean. Paul tells us, "But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him." (1 Corinthians 6:17) In other words, our recreated spirit and His Spirit are blended into one. Believers need to get this in their heart because the Holy Spirit wants to be unhindered in His wonderful and continuous work of releasing the life of God throughout our whole spirit, soul and body. Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63) The Apostle Paul tells us, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2) 

All life is due to the direct action of the Holy Spirit. It is His work to impart to us continually the actual Life of Jesus. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." John 14:6) Jesus is the true source of life for our spirit, soul and body. His work of increasing the divine life in our spirit, soul and body is hindered or limited when we do not apply faith to these realities. When Jesus said, "that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly," He, in essence was saying, we cannot have His life in the measure that He desires unless we are filled with the Spirit. David says, "My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word." (Psalm 119:25 KJV)

Notice that the quickening as David said, is, "according to thy (God's) word." The Holy Spirit inspired these words and it is His blueprint from which He works while carrying on His great work of quickening. To be quickened according to God's Word, means to be full of His life in our spirit, soul and body. Paul tells us, "For in Him (Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Him..." (Colossians 2:9-10) Therefore, in Christ believers can be full of everything that the Vine contains. The abiding branch not only has life, but is full of life all the time. It is by the
Holy Spirit's fullness, as Paul says, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23) and "For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." (2 Corinthians 4:11) that all believers by faith can enjoy now.

Therefore, let us pray every day, as David said "Quicken thou me (give me more life) according to thy word." Let this prayer be our first prayer every day. It is God's way of "...fulfilling all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power" (2 Thessalonians 1:11) in and through us. The Holy Spirit wants to release an abundance of the life of God in us to the extent that everything He has revealed concerning us in God's Word shall be fulfilled in us. We must keep in mind, that the measure of the life of God in us, only becomes a reality according to our trust in God's Word.  When we pray, "give me more life according to your Word" we know that we are praying according to His will. The Apostle John tells us, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14-15) We can, therefore, obtain the answer, according to His Will which is His Word. This includes every promise and blessing that we find in God's Word.

What a glorious privilege it is that whenever we feel the greatest lack, we can pray to the Giver of Life, "give me more life according to your Word." Jesus said, "He who believes in Me, (His Word) as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38) The Apostle John tells us, "...Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17) Our Heavenly Father wants to be an inexhaustible fountain of life within us springing up and flowing out in "rivers of living water." So, let us exercise our faith and let these truths "transform us into the image of Christ, from glory to glory by the Holy Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18) May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you...

Anointed to Destroy the Works of the Devil

One of the strongest Scriptures on healing is Romans 8:11, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." This refers to physical healing. This is the Holy Spirit taking the life of Jesus and manifesting it in our physical bodies releasing in it health, strength and life. The same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-23) is now working in our mortal bodies, making them free from sin and sickness. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John tells us, "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) 

Jesus did His part of destroying the works of the devil. After the resurrection when He left the earth to return to heaven, He gave us the Holy Spirit, (John 16:7), His Word (the Bible) and the ability to use His Name (Mark 16:17) that we, His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) here on the earth, might go on destroying the works of the devil. The reason why sin, sickness, disease and poverty are in the church today, is because of our not taking our legal place in Christ. They exist simply due to a lack of training to do the work that Jesus said we were to do. (John 14:12) Our work should be the continuation of His earthly ministry and that of the early church, destroying the works of the devil. 

The weapon we are to use is found in the next two verses in the gospel of John, "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:13-14) The word "ask" in these verses means, to demand something due. The name of Jesus is to be used in the way we see it used by Peter who spoke to the lame man at the gate of the temple, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6) This is not prayer. This is casting out demons in Jesus' name. This is not demanding God to do anything, but simply demanding something due that Jesus has provided through His death and resurrection. It is like going to the bank where you have a thousand dollars in an account and you want to withdraw five hundred dollar from the account. You are not making a demand on the bank teller, per se, but simply making a demand that which is already yours.  

There is healing for the sick in His Name, there is power to break disease and sickness in the hearts and lives of all people in His Name. Can the Name of Jesus keep us from sickness? Can it keep us from want? Can it keep us from fear, and dread? Can His Name be used today just as He suggested in Mark 16:17-18? "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." If  Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and we are His ambassadors, His instruments to do His work, then yes, we too are to destroy the works of the devil in His Name. 

The fact that Jesus bore our sin by sacrificing Himself and that He provided the remission of all sin, that is, He has taken away every bit of sin as though it never was, proves that we should not be in bondage to sin or sickness, because they come from the same source, the devil. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14) "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1-2) Every believer in Christ is free from sin, free from disease and free from condemnation. 

Therefore, if sin cannot lord itself over the believer, then disease cannot lord itself over the believer either, because, again, they come from the same source. The nature and life of God that has come into you will give you life and health. "With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation." (Psalm 91:16) Salvation means; deliverance, help, prosperity, save, security, victory, made whole, healing. This puts us into the realm of the supernatural because we are linked with Christ, "I am the vine, you are the branches..." (John 15:5) The life in the Vine is in the branch. As soon as the branch is wounded, the Vine pours life into it, so it can continue to bearing fruit. 

Therefore, Jesus' very life is poured into His body, healing the members of sickness, disease, and want, so they can go on bearing fruit to the glory of God. So, let us arise, take our place, and go out and carry this message of deliverance and victory to others. 

That's Life

In 1966 singer/actor,  Frank Sinatra, recorded the song "That's Life." Here is the first stanza of the song; "That's life (that's life), that's what all the people say, you're ridin' high in April, shot down in May, but I know I'm gonna change that tune when I'm back on top, back on top in June." But what kind of life is there when you are on top one moment then go to the bottom the next? Actually, it is the only type of life that the world can provide, because it is based on a system that is completely corrupted by Satan. Jesus tells us, "The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy..." (John 10:10) Living life steeped in the world is why so many people are on a roller-coaster ride which never seems to end. They have bought into the world system so much and even though they sometimes feel hopeless and even hurt, they still believe that this is life. But is it?    

When Jesus walked on the earth as the Son of Man, He introduced a new type of life that no one had ever been exposed to. He put it this way, "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) What was this life? The Greek word here for life is, Zoe. It means eternal life, God's life, life as God has it. This new kind of life is the very nature of God. It has the ability to produce certain changes that can literally be seen in ones life. When one confesses the Lord Jesus Christ and takes Him as Savior, God's life immediately enters. Almost at once, you can see it in a person's habits. You can hear it in their speech. It changes ones conduct. It corrects bad habits and forms new ones and even causes ones countenance to radically change. 

It is essential to the believers life to come to understand the depths of God's life in us. The Apostle Paul tells us, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." (Romans 5:17 AMP) This means that every one of us who has been born again has received the life of God and has come into a kingly state. We are accepted by God to reign as kings in the realm of life. We are no longer slaves in the realm of spiritual death, but we have passed out of death, that is, Satan's realm, into the realm of life. Paul states it this way, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." (Colossians 1:13) Man was never made to be a slave. He was made in the image and likeness of God to reign as a king. 

Man was created on terms of equality with God, and he could stand in God's presence without guilt, condemnation or inferiority. Psalm 8:4-6 points to this very specifically, "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands..." The phrase, "For you have made him a little lower than the angels" is key to understanding how God created man. In the Hebrew word angels is Elohim, which is also the name given to God as Creator and Judge. So, a literal translation of this phrase is, "For you have made him a little lower than God." Incredible! That means God has made us as much like Himself as he possibly could. He made us the same class of being that He Himself is. He made man with an intellect of such caliber that he could name every animal, vegetable, and fruit, and give them names
that would describe their characteristics.

Let's look at this in creation. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7)  The Hebrew word translated "breath" is the same word translated "spirit" all through the Old Testament. In other words, God took something of Himself, which was spirit, the life of God, and put it into man. This is why Romans 5:17 is a verse of scripture that we need to get into our heart. God made man to rule as a king over the works of His hands. This should bring all believers to a revelation bringing an end to the weakness, we're just lowly sinners saved by grace, or beggars before a Holy God, message.

Although man lost his place, his dominion and authority over all the works of God's hand by high treason, it does not mean that he is without it forever, on the contrary. The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world, God put on flesh to restore mans position. The Apostle John tells us, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1, 14) Now on the grounds of what the Lord Jesus Christ did (that is, His substitutionary sacrifice), God is able to redeem us from our sins and through faith in Jesus Christ is able to impart to us His very nature, eternal life, His very own life.  (1 John 2:25) God has adopted everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord and has placed us into His own family, so that we can call Him Father. (Romans 8:15-16)

The Apostle Paul tells us, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." (Ephesians 3:14-15)  In the new birth, we are brought into union with Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, far to many believers only think that new birth is simply the forgiveness of sin. They don't know about the intimate union that we have in Christ. Jesus tells us of this very thing, "I am the vine, you are the branches." (John 15:5) The union that the believer has with Christ through the new birth has bestowed upon us the lost dominion and authority man had in the Garden of Eden. 

Look what Paul tells us concerning this very thing, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16) The Apostle John says it this way, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life, the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us, that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full." (1 John 1:1-4) 

I want to challenge you to read scriptures like these and speak them aloud. Right now say, "I am the temple of the living God. I've got God the Holy Spirit living in me. I have the God kind of life in me. I have fellowship with the Father and the Son." Some of these great Bible truths released from the lips of faith will release us, and enable us to dominate and reign in life as kings through Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be with you...

Who Dunn It? - Part 7

The entire earth ministry of Jesus is one of the most exciting events in the history of man. It was completely focused on Jesus revealing the Father's will, nature, character, purposes and plan to humanity. His ministry and what is revealed in the Gospel's is the foundation for all doctrine in the church. However, many of the doctrines accepted by many sectors of the church since the Protestant Reformation completely exclude the very things that Jesus said and did. This was not so in the early church. We must remember that the doctrine that the Apostle Paul referred to in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 was the revelation that God Himself gave to him from he Old Testament concerning Christ. He did not have the New Testament. It had not yet been written. Galatians 1:11-18 reveals Paul's previously advanced knowledge of the Old Testament scriptures and the revelation of Christ the he received directly from God during the three years that he spent in Arabia.

It was Paul himself that said, "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."   (I Corinthians 3:10-11) First, the apostle Paul warns us to "take heed how we build." He goes on to tell us that he builds upon Christ. So all doctrine must be built upon Christ. Any doctrine the circumvents Christ will always lead to error.

I mention the above in greater detail than in the last part of this series because of the importance of us fully understanding the ministry of Jesus as He reveals the Father's will, nature, character, purposes and plan. If we do not see these facts, we can be drawn into believing the erroneous doctrines accepted in the church that promote sickness and disease as a part of God's will for His children. Remember, Jesus only spoke and did what was from the Father. He did not initiate any of His words or actions. They all came from the Father. Let us now look at addition scripture that reveals the Father's Will concerning healing as seen through the ministry of Christ.

The Apostle Peter was sent by God to preach Christ to Cornelius and His household and makes this statement, "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) If God does not change (Malachi 3:6) and Jesus Christ (the Word became flesh) is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) then we must accept the fact that Jesus is still doing good and healing all who are oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." How does He still do this? Through the church, His Body!

The Apostle John tells us, "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) Sin is the work of the devil and as we discovered in a previous part of this series, sin and sickness come from the same source, the devil and therefore they are synonymous.

Finally, the writer of Hebrews records, "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14) Although this refers to spiritual death and eternal life, let us be honest, sickness and disease in any form steals life. It is death in progress. Jesus not only destroyed death, but took away the power of the one who had the power of death. "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) It is the devil that brings sickness and disease upon people, not God. As we clearly see, Jesus brings life. There is absolutely no life in sickness and or disease. If we truly believe that God's Word is truth, and it most certainly is, then me must exercise faith and accept His truth. The grace of the Lord be with you...