Month: January 2016

GRACE GIVING…


Spiritual Blog - Grace Giving

2 Corinthians 8:1-7 – “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us — see that you abound in this grace also.”  NKJV

 

Charity, generosity, and giving are an integral part of the biblical message and mandate.  I would suggest that it is impossible to study the Bible without being confronted with the subject of giving.  In considering the historical setting for this passage, we realize that one of the major ministries or efforts of Paul’s third missionary journey was gathering special relief offerings for the poor Christians in Judea.  He had done this before as we see in Acts 11 and now he feels directed of the Spirit of God to do it again.  It is interesting to note that Paul cited a forgotten beatitude in Acts 20:35, “…It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  I would suggest there was more than just gathering relief funds in Paul’s efforts and can see at least three additional desires in his heart.

 

  • He wanted this offering to Strengthen the Unity of the Church as the Gentile congregations shared with the Jewish congregations across the sea.
  • He wanted this Evidence for the Jewish churches to prove that neither he nor the Gentile congregations were enemies.
  • He Hoped that the Generosity of the Gentiles would silence the apparent jealousy of the Jewish Christians.

 

The problem surfaced that the church at Corinth was not doing its part.  They had made promises but failed to keep them.  In fact, an entire year had been wasted (v.10).  What caused the delay?  It was the spiritual condition of the church at Corinth.  Their spiritual temperature was incredibly low.  A rule of thumb, I have found, is when a church is not spiritual they are not generous.  Likewise, when a person’s spiritual temperature is low their generosity also lessens.  Another cause was the invasion of the Judaizers, who frequently siphoned off as much money as they could.  So Paul saw a problem.  He addressed it using nine (9) different words to refer to this offering, but the one used most was GRACE.  He informed them that “giving” was truly a ministry of GRACE and FELLOWSHIP.  (v.4)  The ministry of helping others is vital but its motivation must be from the Grace of God.  I have witnessed and participated in GRACE GIVING and there is nothing which provides more joy and strength to the life and church than this.   

            Let me pose a question for your consideration:  “How Can We Know We Are Practicing Grace Giving?”  I did not ask how we can know we are giving but our giving is GRACE GIVING.  Paul uses several pieces of evidence which are evidenced when our giving is motivated by GRACE.

Although I hesitate to do so, I will pause here and consider these pieces of evidence in our next devotional.  Until then, may the LORD give you an overflow of His grace, peace, provision and power!  Blessings abundantly!

 

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PREPARATION PRECEDES BLESSING…


Spiritual Blog - Ditches

2 Kings 3:16-19 – “And he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ 17 For thus says the LORD: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ 18 And this is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.”  NKJV

 

Everyone who recalls this account in the biblical record knows that the result was more than just providing water for Israel and Judah but when they prepared as directed by the prophet God worked an amazing miracle.  Not only did water flow into the ditches but when the Moabites looked at the ditches filled with a liquid substance they saw it as blood.  They thought the nations of Israel, Judah and Edom had turned on each other and the slaughter immense and rushed in to claim the spoils of victory.  That was their tragic mistake and were soundly defeated just as the prophet declared but, had they not done the preparation there would have been no blessing of victory.

There are other accounts in the Bible that clearly illustrate the need or requirement to make preparation to receive the blessings of the Lord.  The idea is rooted in the principle of “sowing and reaping”, the “law of harvest” and “giving and receiving”.   Remember in 2 Kings the widow who cried out in her dire circumstance to Elisha, he asked what she had in the house and her reply was a jar of oil.  He instructed her to gather all the vessels she could find in the house and from neighbors and as she complied the oil flowed until the vessels were filled.  She could have limited the blessing by limiting her obedience.

How about Naaman the Syrian when the prophet instructed him to dip seven times in the Jordan?  He resisted, at first, but then complied and when he did his healing became a reality.  Had he allowed his prejudice, pride, and expectation to prevent him from following the instructions and preparing for the blessing he would have died a leper in Syria!  Isaiah informed us that there had to be one who would PREPARE the way of the LORD and in Matthew we read that John the Baptist was that voice and John said, “I am not the Christ, but I am sent before Him… He must increase but I must decrease.”  John’s obedience and preparation paved the way for Messiah to be received and recognized.

There is no reconciliation without repentance, no healing for the blind man instructed to wash in the pool of Siloam and there is no blessing for you and me UNLESS we PREPARE a container in which to receive that blessing.  The Blessing is from the LORD but the obedience is our part of the equation.  The Law of Sowing and Reaping comes into play in all aspects and dimensions of life.  I heard something in my spirit about 2016 and beyond that, I will share.  I know some do not believe anyone can hear from God and I do not declare this was an audible voice but it was real in my heart and mind so I proceed.

Years ago, I was facing an imposing financial need of $500.00 to pay an obligation that was due and promised.  I realize that amount in today’s society might be considered a pittance but I had $55.00 to my name.  The Holy Spirit witnessed to my heart to “tithe on my need”.  That would mean placing $50.00 in the offering and retaining $5.00 to feed my family and care for our needs for the week.  I wanted to obey but my reason prevented me from doing so on Sunday morning and I kept the $50.00 in my pocket.  That night in the service I was so overwhelmed with the urgency and desire to obey that I literally threw the money in the offering.  I was elated and troubled at the same time.  The next day I ran an errand downtown and a person walked up to me, reached out to shake my hand and said, “Thank you for your faithfulness.”  They placed a piece of paper in my hands and I waited until I was alone to look at it and realized it was a check.  The amount was $550.00.  I cannot describe the emotion and awe I sensed in my heart.  God had done exactly what He said and had I not made the preparation through obedience I would not have received the blessing.

I sense in my spirit and believe that the Holy Spirit has spoken to my heart that the first 100 days of 2016 will determine and shape the next 1,000 days.  That what we do in the first 100 days will be preparation for the next 1,000.  Exactly what that means to each person will be different but I sense we are being told to MAKE PREPARATION in Obedience and then observe how He does what He does as a result.

  God bless you as you obey the Voice of the Spirit of God and prepare your hearts for his overflowing blessings and promises.   

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THE GLORY – Part III


Spiritual Blog - Glroy

Colossians 1:24-29 – “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”  NKJV

  

Let’s take another step in our consideration of THE GLORY of God that is revealed to and lives in our hearts.  The question that needs to be addressed is, “What is sin?”  A very simplistic answer is UNLOVE.  It is the disobedience that issues forth from that UNLOVE.  What happens when we sin?  What does sin do to us?  It blows us apart!  That is why sinners are so tragic, they are blown apart on the inside.  The Good News is that when we receive Jesus who is the Love and Glory of God we are made WHOLE.  Deep down at the foundation of our beings we are made WELL.  God’s kind of Love inside us is making us well, together and whole.  Therefore, we are not ashamed because it is the power to make people whole that has come to us.  The Gospel works!  This is the Good News that puts people back together again.

I have had Christians tell of their frustration in taking one step forward and two back or two forward and one back in their walk.  Do not allow frustration to overtake you for it is “from GLORY to GLORY.”  This is a process and the process is not over.  We being changed from Glory to Glory, but never forget we are being changed!  Please hear me!  It is not that we are trying to get the Glory or trying to Love like God Loves.  The Bible does not teach that one day you will have arrived and made it to spiritual perfection here on earth.  That is the idea presented in some teaching I have heard.  You tried and tried, struggled, prayed and worked and with a little help you have finally achieved perfection.  NO!  It is “Christ IN YOU, the Hope of Glory.”   It is not you.  It is not your struggle that somehow, someway, someday you reached the pinnacle.  It is HIM!  It is Christ IN us.  It is Jesus living His life through us.  It is not us trying to be like Him it is Him being Himself in us.  Can you see the problem in the idea of trying to be like Jesus?  That puts Him on the outside as the ultimate example and leaves us in hopeless despair trying to be like Him.  That is not GOOD NEWS!  The Good News declares, “God not only says that I have sinned and He has forgiven me, but He tells me that I am helpless but He has come to LIVE His Life IN ME and THROUGH ME!”  

Philippians 2:12, “Work out your own salvation…” has become a major stumbling block for much of the church world today.  This verse simply says, “Go out there and LOVE as Jesus loved.  Work out your [sozo]. Love, forgive and put aside resentment anger while allowing compassion and tenderness to live in your heart.  God and be like Jesus.  Work out your own salvation!”  HOW?  I am not kidding, HOW?  This verse declares, “With fear and trembling.”  That is very interesting.  What does that mean?  It is a Greek expression meaning:  “Work out your own salvation, with no trust whatsoever in your own ability.”  So, how do we do that?  The apostle told us to go do it and we understand that we are not to trust in ourselves…  The problem is most do not finish the verse.  The rest of the verse declares, “…for it is God, who works IN YOU to will and do of His Good Pleasure.”  That’s the picture.  He is INSIDE of us and brings a WANT TO and the POWER to do it.  God doesn’t obliterate me as the old song “all of Him, and none of me” suggests.

Let me give you an example that might help.  If someone sings a solo in church and you say to them, “That really ministered to me.  It was a tremendous blessing.”  But they say, in intended humility, “It wasn’t me, it was the LORD.”  My thought is, “I could have sworn it was you on the platform.”  You were, at least, a participant in the song!  “For I live…”  We are never more alive than when we are IN CHRIST.  Do not trust yourself, it is CHRIST IN YOU.  That means we can celebrate our uniqueness, I live, yet not I…

Are you following me?  We are working out our own salvation with no trust in ourselves but in Him who lives in and through us.  It is not trying to be LIKE HIM.  It is Him being HIMSELF in us.  That causes me to remember the teaching of Jesus on the Vine and Branches.  Remember He said, “I am the true vine and you are the branches.  Abide in Me and you will bring forth much fruit.”   A Vine Branch is the most useless branch in the world.  If a vine branch isn’t producing grapes it is totally useless.  Jesus choose this illustration purposefully.  The Vine itself is invisible.  It is an invisible life that comes through a trunk and will inevitably produce a leaf which produces a flower which results in Grapes.  I have never seen a VINE.  I have seen it expressed in a leaf, flower, grape or branch.  That is the only way I can touch the Vine.  It comes through a branch and is expressed.  The branch of the vine will do that.  All it has to do is be in the main trunk.  It simply has to be in a position to receive.  The branch does nothing!  It is not the life but the life flows through it.

Jesus is that invisible life that is flowing through us!  Remember the words of our Lord in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest…”  The word “rest” means recreation or vacation.  Jesus declares, “Come unto me all you who are weary and heaven laden and I will give you a vacation.”  What is a vacation?  When you cease working!   Jesus was not addressing the group we would call sinners, He is speaking to believers!  He is saying if you are tired of working and working trying to be good and be like Me, STOP just come to Me and I will be that in and through you!  Being a Christian means you get to quit working trying to be like Him you simply begin allowing Him to be Himself through you.

I know that is super simplistic but I hope you understand that your willpower will not make you like Him.  Only Him living His life through you can do that.  We need to learn to be Human Beings, not simply Human Doings.  Lord, I pray that You help us grasp the truth that it is, “Christ in us, the hope of glory” and not of works that we have or will do.  It is you being you in our lives and in that position and condition we radiate the Love of God to the world.

            Blessings as you go through this day!

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THE GLORY – Part II


Spiritual Blog - Glory

Colossians 1:24-29 – “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”  NKJV

In continuing with the thought of GOD’S GLORY, we need to consider an expression of love revealed in the Gospels.  Remember the first miracle in Cana of Galilee?  A wedding feast of a nameless couple and they have run out of wine.  That is bad!  Did you notice how Jesus did the miracle?  He did it quietly without fanfare.  He took approximately 180 gallons of water and no one knew it was happening.  Why?  So that no one would suffer embarrassment.  The host and the couple would have been humiliated with the revelation that they had run out of wine.  John said that when the water was turned into wine this was the FIRST TIME that Jesus had showed forth HIS GLORY!

Now, you might rightly ask, “What is so glorious about turning water into wine at a wedding feast?”  The fact that Jesus had incredible compassion on a couple of young people is amazing.  HE CARED!  When God became flesh and dwelt among us, it broke His heart to see a couple of young people embarking on a life together facing potential humiliation.  When John witnessed what Jesus did I can hear him say, “Now, there is the Glory of God!”  He demonstrated compassion, graciousness and caring in a very powerful manner.  John 17:22 is one of the most amazing verses in the Gospels.  Jesus was praying and it is vital that we hear Him.  “And the Glory which You gave Me I have given to them, that they may be one as We are one.”   It is “I” in them and “You” in Me that they may be perfected in UNITY.  You cannot miss what He said.  Jesus said that THE GLORY He has or is, He has given to all who believe.  The Glory is, “Jesus in us and we live through Him with His love shed abroad in our hearts.” 

Our natural minds have difficulty taking that in.  I am by nature a realist but the HOPE of the believer is not limited to the natural mind. The natural mind does not understand the things of God nor the desire that God has for us.  The natural mind would settle for being a “Good Christian.”  Whereas the mind of the Spirit of God is that THE GLORY that Jesus has is IN US shining forth to the world.  We are those who HOPE!  He declared it, therefore, I long for my life to be a reflection of “Christ in me.”  This is not intended to be a picture of what we will be in heaven but here and now on planet earth.

If you remember back to your childhood Sunday school days when the teacher quoted 1 Corinthians 2:9 and they’d stop the quotation saying, “That is Heaven.”  But in verse 10 we find, “But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit…”  The natural mind, natural eye, the natural ear cannot comprehend but the Spirit of God does and we are spirit beings. He communicates truth to our spirits.  The Amplified reads, “But to us, God has unveiled and revealed them to us by His Spirit.”   That is HOPE!  You and I can go through this day and the rest of our lives expecting the Love of God to be in our lives and radiate out from us.  We can Love as Jesus Loved!  That is a revelation of the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18 is a most interesting passage, “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 from the Lord, the Spirit.”  Another translation renders it, “We are constantly being transfigured into His very own Image, in every increasing splendor from one degree of Glory to another.”   That “IS” happening to us!  Therefore, never get down on yourself or be unfair to yourself. You ARE NOT the person you were or the person you will be.  There are things falling away from your life daily, things you never dreamed would go.  You have loved persons you never thought you could love.  YOU ARE and HAVE FORGIVEN!

The Bible declares that the purpose of God is to conform you to the Image of His Son.  Worldly hope is laced with disappointment but biblical hope has God written in it.  Romans 5:5, “And HOPE does not disappoint, because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.”  Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the Power of God unto Salvation…”  Salvation does not mean simply saved from Hell.  The Greek is [sozo] – To make whole or well.  The Gospel has the Power of God for SOZO – Wholeness.  He is granting us TOTAL HEALING of the Spirit!

I still have some things I’d like to share on this subject so I will hit the pause button and hold my thoughts until tomorrow.  Until that time, it is my genuine prayer and desire that the LORD of Host infuses in your hearts Biblical Hope.  May His Glory be revealed in you powerfully.  BLESSINGS!

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THE GLORY – Reveals Biblical Hope…


Spiritual Blog - Glory

 

Colossians 1:24-29 – “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”  NKJV

 

Biblical HOPE is incredibly powerful and vital to those seeking to Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk and Live the Life in Christ.  It grips my heart each time I read, “Christ in you, the HOPE of Glory.”  Immediately, I contemplate the question, “What is Glory?”  I have previously given a definition of Glory as LOVE but a complete definition would be – “The Outshining of God.”  In that, it is WHO GOD IS and who God is, shines forth reaching and blessing man.  God is Love so Glory is Love but it is more it is WHO GOD IS shining forth.

In the Old Testament they “saw” the presence of God.  It came forth as a light or brightness that was virtually indescribable.  Remember Paul on the Road to Damascus and the Light (Christ) he encountered?  The Glory of God means the very heart of God.  It is Him shining forth to man.  Moses appeared to be fascinated with that and from the time God revealed Himself at the burning bush, Moses could not live with what He had seen of God, He was driven to know more.  Remember in Exodus 33:18 he prayed, “…Please show me Your Glory.”  God’s response was, “I Myself will make all My Goodness pass before you.  I will proclaim the Name of the LORD before you…”  That is important!

WHAT IS IN A NAME?  A name in the Bible didn’t simply mean the identifier by which you were called.  It always reflected CHARACTER or who you were or would be.  Therefore, God said, “I will reveal my Glory/Name” and in the next chapter, we read, “The LORD passed in front of Moses and proclaimed…”  (34:6). In that moment, a shimmering outshining uncreated light who is God passed before Moses and in the midst of it Moses heard, “This is Who I am.”  Moses saw the LORD, who is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness pass before him.

Lovingkindness is an interesting word.  There is a passage in the Bible that sums it up neatly, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  It means, “I will love you, love you, love you and never let you go!”  It is the idea that no matter where we go God is going to cling to us because He loves us.  That is Lovingkindness.  I can almost hear the conversation between God and Moses.  God saying, “Moses, you want to know what this Radiant Light is.  You want to know Who I am, My Glory.  I am Graciousness and Compassion.  I deal with people in a manner they do not deserve because I LOVE THEM.  I am slow to anger, abounding in a love that will never let you go.  This is who I am.”  That is the nature of God.

Romans 3:23 declares, “For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.”  Interesting!  One definition of SIN is, “man has come short of loving as God loves.”  The Glory of God is His LOVE!  That truly is the essence of sin for out of love comes obedience and in the Garden disobedience plunged the human race into darkness but at the Cross love lifted the race out of the miry clay and offers a rock to stand on in the Light of God’s Love.  Jesus comes as the revelation of God’s Glory.  In John 1:14, “…we beheld His glory, the Glory of the Only Begotten of the Father…”  John declared that as He walked with Him, the Word, the Eternal Out-speaking of God, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His Glory.  WE SAW LOVE!  We witnessed in Jesus a Love that was unearthly and beyond this planet.  We saw THE GLORY OF GOD!

There is much more to say but I will pause here and wait until tomorrow to proceed.  Until then I pray the LORD of Hosts shed His love abroad in your hearts and you walk as demonstrations of God’s Glory in your present world.  BLESSINGS!

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THE INFINITE VICTORY OF CHRIST – – Part IV


Spiritual Blog - Prayer

Ephesians 6:10 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” NKJV

  

I would suggest that the real Battle in Jesus’ Infinite Victory was fought in the Garden of Gethsemane.  This is where Jesus went through the agonies of which we read.  The Bible account only scratches the surface but are hints as to what was going on inside.  It was the Agony that was producing clots of blood which oozed from his pores.  The entire gamut of emotions raged in His being.  No human had every experienced what He was experiencing.

Hebrews 5:7, “In the days of His flesh when He offered up His prayers and supplications with loud cryings and tears…”  [Gethsemane].  “He prayed to Him that was able to save Him from death.  Who was heard because of His piety.  Although He was a Son, He learned obedience in the things He suffered.”  It was in Gethsemane Jesus faced and learned an Obedience He had never faced before.  He faced a CHOICE.  He saw Himself becoming SIN, our sin.  “He who knew no sin…” Now that one is going to take our sin on Himself and the entire sewer of human evil is going to meet and focus in Him.  That is incredible!  Jesus accepted that in Obedience.  In fact, Isaiah 53 tells us, “It pleased the LORD to bruise Him…The LORD laid oh Him the iniquity of us all.”  In Obedience, Jesus took our Iniquity.

Imagine the one who knew no sin standing before the throne of heaven accused of breaking every law and of unlove.  He stood before the courts of heaven AS SIN.  This is not a game.  It is not changing hats.  IT IS REAL.  Jesus faced the full hatred of the devil and the worst hell can hurl at Him.  He is, for that moment, under the devil’s power because sin is upon Him and that places Him in the hands of the devil.

Remember He is not standing there as one individual but the entire race.  He is going to meet the Lie and meet him unrestrained not as Job where the devil has restraints and could not kill Job.  This is the only time Jesus cried not, “My Father” but “My God” and followed that with “why has Thou forsaken Me?”  Jesus knew that no one had ever been or would ever be as dead as He at that moment.  He OBEYS “for” us and “as” us to save us.

Let me give you something more.  This is not a picture that we readily grasp.  Someone takes our place and what happens to them happens to us.  Remember the story of David and Goliath.  There was basically as a stalemate between the Israelites and the Philistines.  The challenge was “Let ONE champion come out and whoever wins would win for the entire nation.”  When Jesus went into Gethsemane He is ALL OF US.  He is the entire race!  Whatever happens, to Him happens to us.  The cup Jesus was given was to restore fellowship to God for the entire race.  This is ULTIMATE OBEDIENCE.  Jesus is forsaken by the Father. He lost all sense of the presence and love of the Father. It was the awful darkness of rejection and He experienced the Father’s wrath against sin.  In the midst of all that He OBEYS!  I truly do not believe we grasp what happened and view it romantically as a nice story.  It was horrendous!

The Cross was the place of the Curse, the Curse of Eden and the Curse of the Law.  Satan is drawn to this one.  I am convinced that Satan did not understand the Other Law that if one dies for another they all go free.  He only saw a potential victory.  When Jesus was placed on the Cross it was the Father saying to the devil, “Do your worst.”  When Jesus died on the Cross evil had done its worst and it failed.  Jesus is still there because He was the sinless sacrifice for sin and by His victory we all can go free!  The devil’s power and authority have been broken.  The First Adam gave Him control the Last Adam took it back. 

 When Jesus rose from the dead, death was now dead.  Satan was totally stripped of his authority and power.  Ephesians 1:19 – “The working of the strength of His might, which He brought about in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority and power, and dominion, and every name that is named.”  Colossians 2:15 – “When He had disarmed the rulers, and authorities He made a public display of them having triumphed over them.”  Revelation 5:6 – “I saw a Lamb as it had been slain.  And He came up to the Throne and He heard the multitudes upon multitudes of the ages saying, worthy is the Lam.  For thou, hast redeemed us by thy blood…”

    WE ARE FREE!   Free by the Blood of the Lamb!  Philippians 2:8 – “Unto Him was given a Name which is above every name.  That at the Name of Jesus, every knee should bow and every tongue confesses that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Jesus not only said the devil was the “strongman” but that the “strongman” could be BOUND and then His possessions taken.  Jesus took us from the devil…  Revelation 20 describes the Cross as the devil being bound.  He no longer has power.  The Psalmist said, “You have broken the teeth of the evil one.”  That is the picture of a shepherd.  When wild dogs or other animals would attack the shepherd would take his staff and break out their teeth.  They may continue to scare the sheep but cannot harm them because they are toothless.

Not only did the Last Adam defeat the devil but He brought forth a New Race (New Creations in Christ) filled with the Glory of God.  He brought forth a new race of Lovers!  Therefore, there are two races in the world.  Those who only go back to the First Adam and those who miraculously come forth from the Last Adam.  This new race finds themselves in the midst of a hostile world that would destroy them but if we are in the FINALLY, we are reminded that the world we face is a DEFEATED ONE!

You do not continue to try to win what you have won.  You do not continue to try to win a war that is won. You live in the victory of that triumph!  That is why the message is not to fight, fight, fight but STAND, STAND, STAND!  Jesus’ Victory was total and complete.  We are more than conquerors through Him UNLESS we continue to believe the Lie!  I never make fun of the devil for I respect power.  I know where the real power is, it is behind the bars of the Cross and I stand in the Name of Jesus.  He is Lord!

Now is the time that we stop trying to win a won war and start enforcing and enjoying the Infinite Victory of Christ!  God bless you as you go through this day!

 

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THE INFINITE VICTORY OF CHRIST – Part III


Spiritual Blog - Strongman

Ephesians 6:10 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”  NKJV

In continuing with consideration of the Infinite Victory of Christ and our Triumph I call your attention to the LORD’s description of the devil in the Gospels where, He called him “the strongman” and described the human race as the “strongman’s possession.”  The devil holds the unregenerate race in his control.  I am not saying they are demon possessed but bound.  I am describing a condition in which man who was made to walk in the Glory of God, filled with that Glory and radiate that Glory is bound by the devil.

What is the Glory?  What is it that we have come short of in our sin?  Exodus 33 & 34 informs us that the Glory of God is LOVE!  It is the love that God is.  It is the love that will not let us go.  It is the love that will die for its enemies.  It is the Agape of God.  Do you get that picture?  Man, made in the Image of God, was made to be a receiver and reflector of that Glory.  That man was made to radiate the Love of God everywhere.  He was made to be Lord over the Earth so that the whole Earth might be filled with the Glory of God.  This Earth was to be ruled by mankind who would radiate the Glory of God!  That is the plan and man blew it.

That was the Plan but there is a problem.  All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.  But what is the definition of sin?  A super simplistic definition would be failing to love as God loves.  That would make sin Unlove!  Sin is missing the mark and the mark was obedience.  Sin is not the “acts” we so often call sin but the disobedience wherein man lost his identity (united with God) and the meaning of life (to love as God loves).  This man came out of the Garden of Eden lost.  He can no longer fulfill his purpose and he is confused, stumbling through life trying to make sense of it all.  He is living in darkness, bound by the evil one.

There is another law that I am convinced the devil didn’t know nor did man.  It was a law outside of time.  Here in time, there is “The Law” but there was “Another Law” echoed by Peter when He said, “The lamb slain BEFORE the foundation of the world.”  Before there was time, a planet, man or the devil in the heart of God there was a Royal Law that is bound up in Who God is.  It is His nature.  It is the Law that “One who is sinless can take the place and be the substitute for the sinner.”  The sinless one can lift the curse!

When God said NO to the fig leaves and clothed them with the fur of an animal the idea was there.  The animal had to die so their shame could be covered.  Then God gave the cryptic word to Adam and Eve that one day the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent.  See it?  Someone would come and be a deliverer!  In fact, all the sacrifices of the Old Testament are hints of this Law.  The animal dies in our place so when Jesus comes and is identified as “The Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the World” we see the Law in full effect.  The Bible calls Jesus THE LAST ADAM, not the second one.  He is the LAST because IT IS FINISHED!  The work of salvation complete!  The doorway to Eternal Salvation has been opened.

The First Adam was DISOBEDIENT the Last Adam was OBEDIENT.  Philippians 2 declares that He was obedient even to the death on the Cross.  That is the point of the temptation of Jesus.  The devil was trying to draw Him out into disobedience but Jesus obeyed.  That brought us to the Grand Finale for it is the Obedience of Jesus that broke the power of the devil.  It is that Obedience that brought forth a New Race who are ONE WITH CHRIST!  The First Adam brought forth a race and the Last Adam brings forth a race.

Obedience must be freely chosen.  It cannot be coerced or forced.  Jesus, when He went to the Cross, did so willingly and voluntarily.  He chooses to take the place of all mankind and thereby is the one who stripped the devil of his power and authority.

I know I am going long but there is a bit more I desire to share and will do so tomorrow.  Until then may the Lord bless you and keep you is my prayer!  Blessings!

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THE INFINITE VICTORY OF CHRIST – Part II


Spiritual Blog - Spirit

Ephesians 6:10 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” NKJV

 

Picking up where we paused yesterday talking about the Infinite Victory of Christ and the strangeness of this Spiritual War we are engaged I suggest we consider Ephesians 2.  Paul addressed the prince of the power of the air, the god of this world and the children of disobedience among whom this spirit works.  In our modern world, we too often, refuse to accept the reality of an unseen spirit realm.  We are far too sophisticated and educated to believe in superstition, as it is often called.  If you were to go around many of the primitive tribes of this world you would find they understand a universe of spirits or a spirit realm.  They are wrong in what they believe but they realize the existence of a spirit realm.  Life is far more than what you can see, feel or taste and that realization makes them ten steps closer to the truth than the professor of humanism who only sees what he sees and believes what he can touch or taste.

The being identified as the devil or Satan is not a minor figure in the Bible.  I have been around Christians who seem to believe in dual gods, one good and one evil.  The devil is not God with a capital “G”.  There was a time when the devil was not!  God is the ONLY true and living God and He is eternal.  There was a time when that being we call Satan came into being.  Something happened in him causing him to fall and be cast out of heaven.  There is much we do not know about the devil.  The Bible refers to him as “The Great Dragon” or “The Serpent of Old” who is called “The devil and Satan.”  He, according to Revelation 12, is the deceiver of the whole world.  (That should explain some of what is happening in our present world on every front.)

Jesus said that the devil was a “murderer from the beginning”.  He said of the devil that there is no truth in him and whenever he speaks he speaks a lie because he speaks of his own and is a liar and the father of lies.  He is a master deceiver!  Do you know what “The Satan” means?  It means “the gossip”.  He is the accuser seeking to do murder and the original liar.  He seeks to usurp and destroy all that God created.

Man made in God’s Image and Likeness was placed as lord over all the earth and has become the particular hatred of the devil.  If you do not understand just how much the devil loathes man you will miss much of what the Bible teaches.  He seeks man’s destruction and it is not a passing fancy or idle threat, it is a full-time job.  You catch a glimpse of this in the Book of Job.  The devil poses a real problem because he is a liar and mankind doesn’t seem to realize just who he is.  He comes across as the benefactor of the human race and his suggestions appeal to the carnal nature of man.

Sin virtually never looks bad.  I do not believe that most people sin knowing exactly what they are doing.  Remember what Jesus said, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.”  Satan never comes in looking like a murderer and never sounds like a liar but he is.  There is a truth that too often we seem to overlook or completely miss that is vital to our understanding of the Infinite Victory of Jesus and the Triumph in which we can and should walk.

When the man “disobeyed” God in the Garden of Eden he “obeyed” the devil.  His “disobedience” to God caused his relationship with God to be severed.  The fellowship with God was broken but not neutral.  If he “disobeyed” God and is severed in his fellowship with God that means he is “united” with the devil and that is the picture of the human race coming out of the Garden of Eden.  This is now a race that is united with the devil.  It is important to remember that God made Adam Lord of the Earth and since man has united with the devil, Satan becomes “legally” the administrator of the planet.  God allowed that because He had placed lordship of the earth in Adam and Eve’s hands and they broke fellowship in disobedience and thereby obeyed the devil relinquishing their lordship into his hands.  It was a LEGAL ACTION.

Likewise, the devil became the legal administrator of the curse of death.  The man who was made to be Lord of the planet is now a whimpering slave of the devil.  To verify what I’m saying I ask you to consider Luke 4 where the devil said to Jesus, “All the kingdoms of this word… I will give you this domain and its glory for it has been HANDED OVER TO ME, and I give it to whomever I will.”  Some will argue this but I challenge you with this thought – If it were not true Jesus would never have let it stand.  Satan said, “It has been handed over to me…”  That’s the key!  It was not his originally.  The man was the Lord of the Earth.  Therefore, the first Adam handed it over to the devil through disobedience.  1 John 5:10, “The whole world lies in the power of the wicked one.”  Terrifying!  That means that the entire world system lies in the power or domain of the evil one.  There is a real spirit of disobedience working in the children of disobedience!

I’m painting a grim picture but need to do so to show you the Infinite Victory of Christ and our Triumph.   We will put this on hold until tomorrow but until then may you walk in the fullness of Christ’s victory, power and love.  Blessings abundantly!

 

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THE INFINITE VICTORY OF CHRIST…


Spiritual Blog - Victory

Ephesians 6:10-20 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  13 Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints —  19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.” NKJV

 

This is a very familiar passage.  This is a subject that has been discussed, debated and even dismissed in Christian circles for years.  Some of the discussions have been biblically based and some human theory that sounded logical and good.  However, this is a matter that is of utmost importance to every Christian in this time.  It is incredibly important because there is a Spirit Realm.

I have no desire to deal in human curiosity regarding the Spirit World but have a great desire to learn about, discuss and teach the Infinite Victory that Jesus has over the devil and the triumph we can and should walk because of His victory.  WE ARE IN A WAR!  However, it is a very strange war.  There is the idea often advanced in Christian Circles that we must “go out and fight” this war.  There is the idea there is a power that we must go out and overcome.  I declare to you that is incorrect.  We, the people of God are those who are celebrating a victory not trying to win one.

This warfare we in which we are engaged is not to somehow win a victory.  That is what makes this war strange.  We are those who proceed from a victory!  This is a war that is not fought it is a war where we STAND and having done all to stand, WE STAND!  We are not fighting the devil we are overcoming him.  We are not fighting trying to win but enforcing that which has already been won by the Lord Jesus Christ.

The key word in the passage above is the word FINALLY.  You see, the apostle Paul has given us the information in the first five chapters and having all the details of the war he says, “Finally”.  That is not a finally as in a preacher coming to a conclusion of a message but it is a finally in the apostle saying, “I’m wrapping this up and putting it in a neat package so you can digest it.”  I suggest that we often read the Bible wrong and take isolated verses whereas if we read the Epistles properly we will read the entire letter in one sitting.  This is a letter and as in any letter, you do not simply read a paragraph a day you read the entire letter and thereby gain an understanding of what the letter is all about.

When Paul says FINALLY he is declaring that the knowledge presented in the first 5 1/2 chapters is describing a CELEBRATION of the Triumph of Jesus Christ over all the powers of evil.  He tells us that our problem is not flesh and blood.  Our struggle is against the rulers, power, world forces of this darkness and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  This is Spiritual Warfare.  I am convinced that many fail to grasp the message of the Bible and especially the New Testament because they do not understand we live in a world that is more than physical and material.

We are spirit persons!  We happen to live in a body residing in a material universe but there is a spirit world in existence that we do not see.  We are spirit people and more than bodies or the passions of our flesh.  God created us in His own image and God is a Spirit and we are spirit beings.  That’s what separates us from the rest of creation.  I am not like the animals for I am a spirit created to have fellowship with God.

 Because of the Fall in the Garden man has become united to the wrong spirit and that has produced the conditions that exist in this present world.  The whole of the chaos, confusion and destruction have its roots in the Fall and the wrong uniting.  Jesus came to right that wrong and bring us the Victory which is realized in Salvation and walked out in the Abundant Life He affords.

More on this but we will pause here and say, God bless you and may you walk in His fullness as you go through this wonderful day He has made.   Rejoice!

 

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HEARING GOD or HEARING ABOUT GOD…


Spiritual Blog - Hearing God

John 10:27 – “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”  NKJV

My title is not an attempt to diminish the importance of hearing about God but to emphasize the importance of HEARING GOD.  I would never de-emphasize the value of education in all walks of life including the ministry but I would never desire to overemphasize the importance of formal education and ministerial training.  I have known some who have impressive credentials educationally who know about God but were seemingly very limited in the power of His person in their lives and ministries.

Jesus said in John 8:47, “He who is of God hears God’s words…”  Isaiah spoke of hearing God in 30:21 saying, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it’…”  Paul instructed Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  Therefore, the value of God’s word cannot be questioned in our lives and labors.

We know that the LORD instructed the disciples in the Gospels to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…”  We also read in Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach unless they are sent?…”

Spiritual Blog - This is the Way

I recall once hearing a group of ministers discuss a fellow pastor who had not been to Bible College or Seminary and some laughingly said, “He won’t last a year because he won’t have anything to say without proper training.”  He not only out lasted each of them in their respective works but the LORD used him to bring revival to the community so powerfully that the entire community developed an outreach to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the needy and care for people in the natural and spiritual.  He did not know Hermeneutics or Homiletics but when he spoke he spoke as one who had been in the Throne Room of God and His words were powerful reflections of God’s heart and love.  It could be said of him as was of the disciples by the Sanhedrin in Acts 4:13, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled.  And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” 

Spiritual Blog - Faith Comes by

I am thankful for my Bible training but more importantly I am thankful for a personal relationship with the LORD.  I am more interested in hearing God than I am just hearing about God.  I want to introduce and expose people to “Christ in me”.  Yes, we preach about God but our objective is to not have them simply hear ABOUT God but to HEAR God and thereby have their lives changed eternally.

Again, I am thankful for the education and training I have received, it has helped me avoid error more often than I can relate but it is secondary to my HEARING GOD.  May the LORD be with you as you go through this day He has made rejoicing and being glad in it!  BLESSINGS!

Addendum:

If you have ever experienced a tornado you realize that hearing about one is vastly different than actually hearing one.  I grew up hearing how the cry of a panther sounded like the blood curdling scream of a woman in distress but one night standing in the middle of a field in the black of night near a creek I heard one.  No description I heard about compared to what I heard.  Jesus said, “If I stand at the door and knock (hearing required), I will come in to him…”  I know some believe that it is impossible to hear God and without splitting hairs over the audible voice of God let me declare that the voice of God to the heart is quite real and would be far more frequent in our lives if we tuned in to His station and tuned out the world from time to time!

 

 

 

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