Ephesians 2:4-9 – “But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even though we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!— ⁶ and he raised us up together with him and seated us together with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ it is not from works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.”

As I read, prayed, and contemplated the Word of God, the Power of Covenant and the Strength of Unity were impressed upon me.   God’s covenant is not remotely similar to man’s contract.   Covenant is a blood bond that is only breakable in death.   Contracts are negotiated and often broken without severe consequences. Unity provides strength, enabling those unified to enjoy strong defense and have a measure of rest, knowing each has the other’s back.

In Ephesians 2, Paul draws attention to our former life before we came to know Christ.   He reminds us that those outside Christ are still motivated by the dark forces in this world.   Those cravings in them energize and embolden them.   If that were all we saw, depression would be the normal and expected condition.

In verse 4, he says, “But God…”   God’s response is Grace and Mercy.   In His unfathomable love, He saves, transforms, and elevates us to a position in Christ that exercises authority over the darkness.   Yet, many live subservient to the lies of the darkness rather than as Victors in Christ.

He urges us to remember where we were and where we are now. In verse 13, he says, “But now…”   Now, in Christ, we are no longer alienated from God. We are no longer subservient to the darkness but are one with Jesus.

If we are to impact this world as God desires, we must embrace God’s Covenant and have Unity in the Body of Christ.   In Ephesians 4, Paul reveals God’s method and plan to produce that condition, understanding, and ability.

The five-fold ministry is not a hierarchy, but rather a group of professors in God’s university.   They are Gifts given to us for a specific purpose: to equip, develop, educate, and train believers for ministry, service, and grace growth, and to have a spiritual foundation that enables the believer to stand and serve.

This is to be UNTIL- until the church is unified in the faith.   Until the church develops a functional and transformational knowledge of Jesus, His work, and purpose.   Until the church matures and grows into the measure of Christ’s full stature.

Jesus said that we would do the works He did unless we are developed into the measure of Christ’s full stature, which is not only unlikely but virtually impossible.   Christ in us is our hope and provides the ability to pull down strongholds.

We have a commission and a mission. But to fulfill our purpose on this Earth, we must know and embrace God’s Covenant and become one in Christ as a Body (His Body).

God says we are more than conquerors, but becoming that in practical reality requires development, commitment, and action. We grow in grace and need the equipping (training), which includes information and application. Church is not a place; it is a people. Gatherings are not for entertainment, but rather for information that carries with it the opportunity for application.   God has done His part, and now we must do ours. We set aside the old (sin and flesh) and embrace the new (grace and life).

I hear in my heart the word“Choices.”   I hear, “What is your choice?”   I hear, “What God has given us, we are accountable for the stewardship of.”   We are being fitly framed together!  God’s covenant provisions are only manifested in unity.   We have the provision to fulfill the vision.   I hear the Spirit of God asking, “Why not Now?”   Victory is ours!  Victory is not a gift but a developed condition. Press in! It’s yours.

I pray that the Lord will help each of us embrace the Promise of the Spirit and the Promised Spirit.

Galatians 3:13-14 – “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) ¹⁴ in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, this thought kept reverberating in my spirit: the promise of the Spirit and the promise by the Spirit.

Let me explain what was stirring within me.   The Promise by the Spirit refers to things or events, whereas the Promise of the Spirit pertains to a person, specifically the third member of the triune Godhead, the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 3:14, speaking of redemption by faith and grace, says about the crucifixion, “in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing (singular) of Abraham would come to the Gentiles so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.”

The Promise of the Spirit brings us into the fullness of the New Covenant.  He empowers us to become and be the manifestation of Jesus on earth. He makes the New Covenant a living reality in us. It is heartbreaking to encounter believers who only know about Jesus rather than experiencing Him.

The heart of God is for us to “know” Him.   I do not go to school, church, conferences, etc., to “know” God.  We can only truly “know” God by encountering and experiencing Him.   We “know” God by what He does because what He does is an extension of who He is.   It is His Revelation of Himself.   That Revelation is personal and intimate.   It is not learned in books alone!

People are perishing and living as paupers in the palace because they are taught how to know about God rather than being led into an encounter with Him.

We hear theory preached, not Revelation.  Theory will not transform – Revelation will.  By that, I mean experiencing Jesus.  One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to teach us the heart and mind of God.

The word translated as ” know” is “Yada,” which conveys the idea of deep intimacy.   It is intercourse.   Not sexual activity, but encountering God in the deepest level of intimacy and becoming one with Him.   That is a part of the promise of the Spirit.

Once that ‘Knowing’ becomes such a part of me, I become one with it. It is in me, and it is me. I live it because I am it.

That’s the New Covenant Life!   James said, “Don’t tell me you believe. Devils believe but are not transformed.”    Too many believe about and even believe in God but have not experienced God in knowing Him transformationally.

Once we have seen Him and received Him, we move from knowing about to knowing and becoming one with Him.  At that point, it is impossible not to live Him!   We become what He manifested on Earth.   In John 17, Jesus said, “This is eternal life…”   What Is?  “That they may KNOW Thee, the only true God.”

By Jesus’ definition, eternal life is not a possession but a relationship. It is becoming one with Him, who is life! 

Let us move from theory to experience.  Let us move from knowing about to knowing.    Let us move from striving to be to being.   We have the promise!  The only thing holding us back from being manifestations of God in this present world is us.

Have a victorious day being who Jesus says you are!

Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call on me in prayer, and I will answer you.  I will show you great and mysterious things that you still do not know about.”

Once again, I was stirred in my spirit during the night.  I believe I heard an extremely urgent warning and call to prayer.   I hesitate to announce what I believe I heard for several reasons.

• I am sure I would be treated like Jeremiah because it goes against the flow of what many are prophesying.
• Another is that I want to be sure I heard God.   If I did, He will confirm it, and I will declare it without regard to people’s opinion of me (that is unimportant).

Once again, as I was awakened, the clock was 3:33, and this time, I had zero doubt that it was God’s call to prayer and sensed that it was a call for ALL TO PRAY, not just me.

Today, the Book of Jonah was part of my reading.   No, I’m not running away from declaring a word from God, but it reminded me of God’s compassion and intense love for mankind.  When Jonah delivered the message of impending judgment, they repented, and God relented.

In Micah, I was reminded of God’s desires.  Micah 6:6 asks a question we should be asking: “With what should I enter the LORD’S presence?”  Then, in verse 8, we are informed of God’s desires.  “He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the LORD really wants from you: He wants you to carry our justice, to love faithfulness, and to live obediently before your God.”

A storm is brewing in this world, but there is hope!   If we diligently pray, repent, and return to God wholeheartedly, I believe there is HOPE!

We must have the faith, confidence, and commitment of the 3 Hebrew children.  They did not bow, and they did not burn.

2 Corinthians 4:7-18 reveals that Hope is the source of our strength.  “But we have this treasure in clay jars so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.  We are experiencing trouble on every side but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed…” He reveals the secret to this confidence in verse 18.  “because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen.  For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.”

Regardless of the circumstances, our focus must be on God.   Pray for God’s justice to prevail.   Seek to have and manifest God’s love, love others, and live obediently to His precepts.  In that position and condition, we will experience the Psalm 91 provision and be able to declare, as Paul did in 2 Corinthians 4: We are survivors, thrivers, who live confidently, knowing that no matter what, we stand because He can!

Our part is effectual fervent prayer, total commitment, and complete obedience.  His part is to shield us and carry us through.  Don’t fear the storm!

Have a fantastic day in the presence of the LORD!   Call upon Him, and He promises to answer you! 

Jeremiah 42:10 – “If you will only stay in this land, I will build you up.  I will not tear you down.  I will firmly plant you.  I will not uproot you.  For I am filled with sorrow because of the disaster that I have brought on you.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, I was challenged regarding prayer, faith, expectation, and God’s response.

In Jeremiah’s day, when Babylon captured Jerusalem, a group came to the prophet for a word of direction.   They wanted to flee to Egypt but sought the prophet’s direction.  He said (my paraphrase), “Stay put, don’t go.  If you stay here, in this storm, I will take care of you, and you will be safe and prosper.”  (Jeremiah 42:10).

They didn’t listen, placing themselves under the curse proclaimed in Jeremiah 34:17 – “Therefore, I will grant you freedom, the freedom to die in war, or by starvation, or disease.”   Simply put, you will choose your destruction by your disobedience.  Don’t blame God for your wrong choices.

Obedience brings favor, while disobedience brings disaster.   In Acts 12, we see something incredible about God’s favor.  Herod was on a rampage, seeking to kill the apostles.  He had killed James and had Peter in prison, planning to execute him, too.   They could have all run and hid, but had remained faithful to God’s call.

The church was earnestly praying for Peter.   Prayer is powerful, even if it is not coupled with expectation.   We are told that the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous have success.   It did not say ‘expectant’; it said ‘fervent’.  It’s far more powerful if expectation is part of the equation, but still powerful and evidence of another reason to ALWAYS pray and not faint.

God delivered Peter, and when he went to the house where the prayer meeting was taking place, they did not believe he was there.   They told Rhoda, “You are out of your mind!”

Never stop praying. God is working, and using this example, we see that He honors earnest, fervent prayer.  Ask and keep on asking.  Knock and keep on knocking.   Seek and keep on seeking.   Be not weary in well doing (earnestly fervently praying is well doing), for the harvest (answer) will come in God’s timing.

Stay where God has planted you and do what He has instructed you.  Pray earnestly and fervently without ceasing.  He will surprise you!   He never fails!   Expectation (faith) amplifies its power, but pray regardless of your level of expectation.  He is still God!

May your day be filled with His presence, and may you achieve His purposes in your life!