Power of Attorney

One of the most vital points of Christianity that every believer should know and function in, was recorded in Matthew's gospel when Jesus was preparing His departure from earth to take His position at the right hand of the Father. He says, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20) 

Notice, all authority had been given unto Jesus in heaven and on earth. But honestly, He did not need authority. He always had it. So, why was it given to Him now that He was leaving the earth? It was given to Him because He was and is the head of the church, His Body. He was the first-born from among the dead. (Colossians 1:18) He would now use that authority through the church, every believer. All the authority that had been given to Him was and is for the benefit of the church. (Ephesians 1:22-23) We see in Mark's gospel that Jesus gave the church the power of attorney to use His Name. This power of attorney gives to the believer access to all His authority. "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.” (Mark 16:17-18) 

Take note, that these things are done in "His Name." Jesus also reveals another important point concerning the use of this all authority. "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. 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 14:12-14) Again, we see Jesus giving believers authority to do the great things that He did while on earth as the Son of Man. Also, note, that He tells us to use His name when asking the Father to move on our behalf for His glory. This is not prayer. It is the use of the Name of Jesus to draw on His authority. The book of Acts gives case after case where men tapped into His authority and many people were blessed by it.

That all authority is still available to those who use the Name of Jesus. That authority has never been withdrawn. Let's be honest, if one part of that great commission has been abrogated, then all of it has been set aside and becomes nothing more than an option and not a command. If one miracle has been set aside, then all miracles have been set aside, meaning, the Name of Jesus no longer has any authority. But you and I know differently. We know that the Name of Jesus was given to us for miracle work. (Mark 16:17-20) We know that everyone of the five things mentioned in Mark 16, are things that the devil works at, endlessly, to bring upon the church and the unsaved world. These five miraculous manifestations are to take place, especially today, because Satan holds men in bondage. Satan has also robbed many in the church, which can be witnessed by the lack of a testimony of the victorious life that Jesus has provided them. Many have been robbed of the ability to lay hands on the sick and see their loved ones recover. Why? Because intellectual knowledge has opened the door to faithless theology, creeds and doctrines which have gained the mastery over the ministry of Christ, preventing Him to operate in and through the church.

Jesus said that as soon as men believed on Him, at once these signs should accompany them. At once they begin to cast out demons; at once they begin to speak with new tongues; at once they are masters over serpents, which are typical of demons; at once if they drink anything deadly they will not be harmed and at once they will lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. We must understand that God's attitude toward sin and disease has never changed. (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8) He was opposed to disease in the ministry of Jesus and the early church, and He is opposed to disease now. Believers must always think of Satan as the defeated one, as the one over whom every believer in Jesus' Name has dominion. In Jesus' Name every believer is the master of demons, disease and every circumstance that would try to hold them in bondage. In Jesus' Name every believer is the master of demons, disease and every circumstance that would hold the unsaved in bondage also, if they desire to be set free.

The Father in Christ has provided us with a perfect redemption, a perfect new nature, and perfect union with Christ. (John 15:5) We have a message that brings healing, deliverance, joy and victory to every person. Unfortunately, those outside of Christ, though they may see themselves as successful, only have a message of the things that are based on a world, which is under the sway of the wicked one (1 John 5:19) and not the Truth. It is only the Truth, God's Word, that sets mankind free and give the believer God's solution to the human problem. The Living Word in our lips makes us victors, makes disease and poverty subservient to us in the Name of Jesus in the same manner it was with Jesus in His earth ministry as the Son of Man. The Living Word in our lips brings God on the scene, bringing victory, love, peace, joy, healing, deliverance and freedom, where hopeless, anxiety, stress, worry, defeat and an inordinate desire for money, fame and power once ruled. So, be it known, every believer is anointed by God to go, uphold and enforce what Jesus has accomplished. PTL...

By His Stripes

Following the temptation of Jesus, "...He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali... And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan." (Matthew 4:12-13, 23-25) 

In every contact of Jesus with the people, He healed their sick. He did not turn any away. Everyone was healed. Some would have us believe that there are some cases which are not the will of the Father to heal. Others would say, that God uses sickness, diseases and injuries for a divine purpose in a persons life. Others, God has a specific time for healing and therefore allows sickness, diseases or injury to remain for a season. Yet, those same people will quickly see a physician and or take medicine though they declare it is not the will of God to heal them. This does not mean that physicians cannot help people, but, if it is God's will not to heal, for various reasons, then why do believers seek other means for healing. The fact is, there aren't any cases that are not the will of the Father to heal nor is it the Father's will that any die of disease. 

When Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches," (John 15:5) He meant we are united with Him as closely and vitally as a branch in the natural realm is connected to the vine. Therefore, as Jesus Himself could not have any sickness or disease as He is the vine, then it stands to reason that the believer, the branch, should have none of these things either. In the mind of the Father, it is abnormal for believers to be in bondage to sickness or poverty which would force His children to go to the world for help. The believer is of God. (1 John 4:4) He has been Redeemed out of the hand of the enemy. (Colossians 1:13) He is not only Redeemed out of the hand of Satan, he is also a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) He has the very nature and life of God in him. (2 Peter 1:4) He is the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21) These things have opened the door so that  believers can stand in the Fathers presence without the sense of guilt or condemnation.

The believer has the same liberty and freedom with the Father, now, that he will have after death when he goes to heaven. He stands before the Father, now, as Jesus stood before Him. The Father's love nature has taken the place of the fallen Satanic nature that held the believer in fear and bondage. The believer is no longer afraid of disease or adverse circumstances, because, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment..." (1 John 4:18) He is filled with the nature and life of God, and God's nature is love. (1 John 4:7-8) There is no ground for disease, sickness or poverty in the body of Christ. These new creations, "created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:24) are the "sons of God, heirs of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ." (Romans 8:15-17) They have God dwelling in them, the very life and nature of God Himself, in the person of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead has made His home in the believers body. (Romans 8:11) 

In the three and a half years of Jesus' ministry on earth as the Son of Man, there was a perfect coordination between Himself and the Father. (John 4:34, 5:19-21, 30, 14:6-11) Jesus' attitude toward disease and sin was the Father's attitude. He lived among the Jews, God's Covenant people, and healed their diseases, breaking Satan's dominion over all who came to Him. (Acts 10:38) When He went to the cross, He became the Substitute, the Sin-Bearer, the Disease-Bearer. When He was nailed to that cross, Isaiah 53 became a reality, "Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses) and carried our sorrows; (pains) Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5) 

The reality of this was also expressed by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Peter, "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed." (1 Peter 2:24) Notice, "by whose stripes you were healed." Healing was purchased for all as a portion of the meritorious work of redemption through Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John reveals, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh (Jesus) and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." The writer of Hebrews records, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) The Apostle John also tells us, "He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God." (Revelation 19:13)

As it was prophesied by Isaiah before Christ came to earth; confirmed by Peter after the resurrection of Christ and spoken by John and the writer of Hebrews, healing is for everyone, because as sin was dealt with through Christ, sickness too was dealt with. The Bible shows us that God does not show partiality (Romans 2:11) He and His Word have not changed (Malachi 3:6), therefore, healing is as much available today as it was throughout the history of humanity, especially since Christ has forever purchased it through His work of redemption. It simply comes to what Jesus tells us, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 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 7:7-11) Bless the Lord!   

Right Standing With God

The greatest revelation that man needs, is understanding God's ingenious plan of redemption that has completely settled every need of humanity. The situation that humanity faced was this; man sinned, so, was God able to produce a redemption that would redeem man from the hand of Satan, recreate him, that is, make him a new creation, remit, blot out, all sin, transgression and iniquity that man had ever done, take the sin nature out of man, give man God's own nature so that he could stand before Him without the sense of guilt, unworthiness, or inferiority and also stand before Satan no longer a slave, but as his master? The truth is, yes, God has provided man a redemption such as this, and has given to us, by-way-of revelation received by the Apostle Paul (written in his epistles) the unveiling of that redemption.

In that revelation, the Holy Spirit through Paul reveals to us that righteousness has at last become available through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior and Redeemer. Paul climaxes it by declaring, "...because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just (righteous) and the justifier (righteousness) of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:25-26) When God becomes our righteousness, we become so righteous that there is therefore now no condemnation to us and that no one can bring a charge against us for it is God who has declared us righteous. (Romans 8:1, 8:33-34, 5:1)

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) The amazing fact of the new creation is that once one confesses Jesus as Lord and take Him as Savior they instantly become a new creation. The thing that kept us in weakness and bondage, unable to stand in God's presence, has been wiped out. In the place of our sinful nature which kept us in union with Satan, God has given every believer His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), which brings us into union with God. Therefore, eternal Life, a new nature, and a new standing before God has come to the one who has faith in Jesus Christ. Now, we can get our prayers answered, we can use the Name of Jesus and Satan will obey us. God has made us righteous with His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), and He has cleansed us with the blood of His own Son, Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:24:25)

We can stand in the Father's presence now as though sin had never touched us. As new creatures, we stand upon God's Words and release it from our lips of faith just as Jesus had faith in the Words of the Father and released it from His lips. When Jesus spoke to the sick and said, "Arise, take up thy bed and walk," the Father had given Him those words. Those same words are for us to use. We can say to the sick, "In the Name of Jesus Christ, come out of him," and the sickness must obey because they are the Father's Words. We can act on these words and know they will manifest because Jesus said,  "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. 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 14:12-14) 

Knowing the depths of God's plan of redemption in Christ, we will have faith in the Father's Words and release His mighty Word from our lips knowing that no Word of God returns void. (Isaiah 55:11) We will have faith in the Name of Jesus and also release His name from our lips knowing that every knee will bow to His great and mighty name. (Philippians 2:10) We will stand in the Father's presence without guilt, condemnation or unworthiness. There will be a fearlessness in us although need, want, sickness or demons may try to come against us. We will shout these truths, "I am the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ...I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me...I will not fear for God is with me...If God is for me, who can be against me" and know that God is faithful to His Word. PTL...

Forever Grateful

Attitude is defined as, "a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person's behavior." Interestingly enough, I found another definition for attitude that is specifically assigned to North America which is, "truculent or uncooperative behavior; a resentful or antagonistic manner." The word gratitude is defined as, "the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness." The Apostle Paul tells us, "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Notice, Paul says, "in everything give thanks." 

Honestly, we can always find something to be thankful for, especially the good things that come our way. But Paul is not saying, "in every good thing give thanks." As difficult as it may seem at times, believers are to have an attitude of gratitude at all times. Why? Every person, especially believers, owe a debt of gratitude to God for what He has accomplished for humanity through Christ. Take a moment and think about the man, Paul, who tells us "in everything give thanks." The Bible records Paul telling the church at Corinth of his trials, "In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness, besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?" (2 Corinthians 11:23-29)

These things do not sound like they are something to be thankful for, nevertheless, he was a man who was thankful in all things. The Apostle Paul was a believer who had learned the meaning of true thanksgiving, even in the midst of great adversity. Earlier, when he had been imprisoned in Rome, Paul wrote, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:19-20). Think of it. Always giving thanks for everything, no matter the circumstances! Thanksgiving for the Apostle Paul was not a once-a-year celebration, but a daily reality that changed his life and made him a joyful person in every situation. 

Giving thanks to God in all things, should be one of the most distinctive marks of every believer. We must not allow a heart of ingratitude to have place in our lives, for it could effect our relationship with God and with others in a negative way. Nothing turns us into bitter, selfish, dissatisfied people more quickly than an ungrateful heart. Whereas, nothing will do more to restore contentment and the joy of our salvation than a true attitude of gratitude. Sometimes believers take for granted God's blessings, because we tend to look at, and think about the adversities of life above the blessings. Believers may even find themselves taking people for granted, or even complain and become angry because they do not meet our every wish. But we need to give thanks for those around us; our spouses, our children, our relatives, our friends, our church family, etc., all who help us in some way and are a part of our lives. Honestly, a believer that has an ungrateful heart is one whose heart is cold toward God and those around him mostly due, to, forgetting how dependent we are on God for everything.

Even though we may draw back from difficulties, yet not one of us is exempt from the trials that come in this life. In many parts of the world it is dangerous even to be a Christian because of persecution, and yet, in the midst of those trials we can thank God, because we know that He has promised to be with us and that He will help us. (Isaiah 41:10) We know that He can use times of suffering to draw us closer to Himself. The Apostle James tells us, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:2-4)

Always remember, God has given us the greatest Gift of all, His Son, who died on the cross and rose again so that we can know Him and have eternal life. (2 Corinthians 9:15; 1 John 2:25) Also, the day you and I came to Christ, it was not the end, but the beginning of a whole new life! God is with us, and He wants to help us follow Him and His Word. In ourselves we do not have the strength that we need to live the way God wants us to live. But the more we turn to Him daily, we will discover, "For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13 AMP)

Many countries have set aside a special day for thanksgiving. But for the believer, every day should be a day of thanksgiving. It is simply a matter of choice, to give thanks in everything, and to have an attitude of gratitude. So, let us not limit ourselves with a thankful heart only in the times of plenty, or one particular day of the year, but honor the Lord with a heart of thanksgiving in all things, "...for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Have a wonderful "Thanksgiving Day" every day.    

The Fruits of Righteousness

In John's gospel, we see Jesus giving some final instructions to the disciples before His death. One of the areas that He is discussing with them concerns bearing fruit. Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 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. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 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 15:1-8) 

The main crux of what Jesus is speaking deals directly with two types of people who associate with a church or say that they are a Christian. He tells us, "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." We see that as a vine-dresser, in the natural realm, removes all branches that are dead or that do not bear fruit, so God will also do to those who profess to be Christians, but give no evidence by their lives that they are truly united to the Lord Jesus. However, everyone that is a true follower of Christ, those connected to Him by faith; those who truly live by His grace and strength; those whose dependence is solely upon Him, as a natural branch is with the vine, God prunes, that is, He purifies, teaches, strengthens, gives more grace, gives them a purity in motive and in life, so that they may be more useful, that is, bear more fruit for His glory.  So, what does it mean to bear fruit or what fruit are believers to bear? 

The Apostle Paul 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." (2 Corinthians 9:10) For believers to increase or bear fruits of righteousness, we must discover what these fruits are. The way we do this is to look at the fruits of righteousness in the life of Jesus. The fruits of righteousness as seen in the gospels through the life of Jesus were not right actions only, but they were carrying out the will of the Father, in actions and in words. (John 5:19, 6:38) That meant healing the sick, feeding the multitudes, and all the other manifestations of His love toward man. These are the fruits of righteousness. If believers are to bear the fruits of righteousness, they will be imitators of Jesus. (Ephesians 5:1)

Jesus also tells us, "I am the vine, you are the branches." The vine supplies the branch with all that it needs to bear fruit, simply because is a part of the vine. The branch will also bear the same fruit as the vine. What this means, is, the branches of a grape vine will only bear grapes. The branches of a watermelon vine will only bear watermelons, etc. The fruits of righteousness in our lives will be a direct reflection of Jesus when He walked this earth. We will be a blessing to all we come in contact with. "In Jesus' name we will cast out demons; we will speak with new tongues; we will take up serpents; and if we drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt us; we will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18) We will also have the Holy Spirit's anointing to go forth to, "preach the gospel to the poor; heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19) Doing these things, that is, replicating the ministry of Jesus, is the fruit Jesus is referring to that believers are to bear, which Paul calls the fruits of righteousness. 

This may be something that is utterly new for many believers. Many know about the fruit of the Spirit, but for many, little has been known of the fruits of righteousness. Why is this? I believe it is mostly due to a lack of understanding and living in the realm of what we are in Christ; what Christ is in us and how the Father sees us. The moment one is born again, they become the righteousness of God, in Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21) The Holy Spirit immediately becomes our teacher and the Word of God becomes our food. (Luke 4:4) We should be studying, meditating on and pouring over God's Word. As we do, the Holy Spirit will illuminate it, make it a living thing in our hearts, renew our minds, assuring our legal position in God, in Christ, releasing the power of His Word through our lips and our actions, producing the fruits of righteousness. 

As we bear fruit, the fruits of righteousness, we will be taking Jesus' place. We will destroy the works of the devil, just as Jesus did. We will go forth unveiling the riches of Christ to others until their hearts break and they say, "What must I do to be saved." The moment they accept Christ, the works of the devil are broken over their lives, Jesus becomes alive in them, miracles are an every day occurrence, and they unveil to the world, that Christianity is supernatural. These very things should also be the norm of every one who has already confessed Jesus as Lord and received Him as Savior. So, let us go forth in the power of His might, bearing fruit, the fruits of righteousness, all for His glory. Amen?

Transformation Through His Love

Solomon states, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he..." (Proverbs 23:7) Jesus tells us, "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (Matthew 15:11) "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man." (Matthew 15:18) Basically, these verses of scripture deal with ones character. What begins in the heart must be carefully cultivated to come to full fruit in actions that bring glory to the Lord. The Apostle Paul tells us, "...whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31) Whether we want to accept it or not, God deals with the heart of all believers to develop their character so they may be vessels of honor for His use, and effective in their ministries. While the gifts of the Spirit are given freely, character development comes only with time through self-denial (Luke 9:23) and a greater dependence upon the Lord in every area of life. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The provision of the divine nature through repentance from sin, faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit belong to the divine sovereignty of the Lord. But the application of these become the responsibility of every believer to apply in their lives. God has given believers all things pertaining to life and godliness, (2 Peter 1:4); He has given us His Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8); He has given us His abundance of grace (Romans 5:17); and in Christ, believers lack nothing. (Colossians 2:9-10) Therefore, believers have all that it takes to develop a mature Christian character as they follow the Lord Jesus Christ. But, if believers do not do the things necessary for these promises to be fulfilled, Jesus tells us that they could lose the things that should be theirs. (Matthew 25:29)

The writer of Hebrews reveals specifics concerning the Lord dealing with believers, "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens,and scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:3-11)

Notice, the Lord deals with believers as "sons"; He deals with His sons through His great love; His dealing are for His sons to profit; His dealing yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. If every believer would keep these things in mind, they would never have anything manifest in their life but joy. (James 1:2) There are several purposes for God's dealings in believers. (The following are not all inclusive nor do they have a particular order) To transform us, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18) To purge us from  any and all dross (worthless rubbish) from our lives. (Matthew 6:24; Philippians 3:8) To cleanse us from all unrighteousness (Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 John 1:9)

To cause fruitfulness in our lives. (John 15:1-8) To prepare us for service. (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Timothy 2:19-21) To bring enlargement to our lives (Isaiah 54:2), in areas such as, our vision, our steps, our heart, our confession, our prayers, our ministry, our dominion, our love, our service, and in our gifts and callings. To provoke us to seek God, His Kingdom and His Word. (Matthew 4:4; Matthew 6:33) To produce more spiritual wine in us. (Ephesians 5:18) To give us a new focus and perspective of the world in contrast to the Kingdom of God. 

The Apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

The Apostle Paul also tells us to, "be imitators of God as dear children." (Ephesians 5:1) This becomes more evident as we yield ourselves over the the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, daily, as He builds the very character of Christ in us. So, let us, "put off, concerning our former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of our mind, and that we put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24) Amen...

Justified By Faith

The church has been very strong in teaching man his need of righteousness, but unfortunately, in doing so, many times the focus of the teaching has been about man's weakness and inability to please God. What teaching like this truly lacks, is the truth of what we are in Christ, what Christ is in us, how the Father sees us and how righteousness and grace are available to everyone. Looking at some of the music used in the church, whether hymns or contemporary music, we can see in many of the lyrics that our redemption is put off until after death, such as, we are going to have rest when we get to heaven; we are going to have victory when we get to heaven; we are going to be over-comers when we get to heaven; we are going to have peace with God when we get to heaven. It is as though believers have nothing here on earth except failure, misery, disappointment and weakness. But is this what scripture truly teaches concerning the believers new life in Christ?

If these things are so, then what is meant when scripture says, "and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." (Colossians 2:10) or when it says, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37) or, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) how about, "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." (Romans 8:1) or, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) So, when are believers going to be able to have these things? When do these things become a reality? Is it after we finish our course here on earth and stand with Christ in the New Heaven and the New Earth? When do these things become ours?

It should seem very clear that we live in His presence now; that we walk in His presence now. If Christ cannot present us before the presence of the Father now with exceeding joy, He certainly cannot present us before the presence of the Father after death with exceeding joy. The Apostle Paul tells us, "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 Apostle Peter tells us, "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed." (1 Peter 2:24) Both of these scriptures tell us, that in Christ, we live righteous in the here and now. God Himself is our very righteousness, now, and we are the righteousness of God in Christ, now.

Peter tells us, "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) I am convinced that the scriptures teach that we are partakers of the Divine Nature, now. To take this further, we see, "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) "We know that we have passed from death to life..." (1 John 3:14) 

The bottom line is, we are either new creations or we are not. We have either passed out of death into life, or we have not. When Paul says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you..." (Romans 6:14) he means exactly what he says. If you live a life of weakness and defeat, it is most likely because you do not know what you are in Christ, what Christ is in you and how the Father sees you. I believe the greatest need of the majority of believers today is to know these three highly important aspects of walking a victorious life through faith in Jesus Christ, right here, right now.

Look at these wonderful verses that are for believers now,  "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) "That He might sanctify and cleanse her (the church) with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:26-27) "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight." (Colossians 1:21-22) 

These are but a few of the hundreds of scriptures that confirm, these things have already been accomplished in Christ for the believer to walk in now. We stand before the Father, complete, cleansed, without spot or without wrinkle, reconciled, holy, blameless, above reproach, in Christ, now. Do you think that any believer filled with sin (as that term is used in scripture) could be in Christ and stand before the Father without spot, wrinkle, holy, blameless, righteous, etc.? If God could not take the sin nature out of us when we were born again; if the perfect blood of Christ cannot wipe out every bit of sin and He present us before the Father without wrinkle, reconciled, holy, blameless, above reproach, etc., now, then when can we ever be made right?

Simply put. When we know that Jesus died for our sins according to scripture, that the third day He arose again from the dead after He had put our sin away and satisfied the claims of Justice as our substitute; when we confess Him as Lord and take Him as our Savior, that very moment we receive God's nature and we become the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. This righteousness is not an experience, although it gives birth to many marvelous experiences. It is the nature of the Father imparted to every believer.

Therefore, I declare before the angels of heaven, before demons and all the hosts of hel1, that the redemptive work of Christ is absolutely complete in every way and able to present anyone who confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and takes Him as Savior, in the presence of the Father complete in Him, now. So, as we gain more and more revelation of these facts, we will walk this earth in the way God has intended the believer to walk, as masters, being more than conquerors and being free to stand in the Father's presence, now, without guilt, shame, condemnation or inferiority, totally complete in Christ. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36) PTL...