Sons And Heirs
Do you know who you are and what you have been given?
Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
It is interesting just what it was we received when we became sons of God through faith in Christ. You see we inherited something as sons.
What did we inherit? God Himself!
Before knowing Christ by faith and being born again by the Spirit we were estranged to God. We were His enemies. As soon as faith appeared in the heart to believe in Jesus and confess Him as our Lord we became the very righteous of God, and God became our Father.
It would be quite enough to just be blessed with inheriting God! But we inherit more! We inherit things here and now and things yet to come.
Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
We became a joint heir with Christ. We inherit what Jesus inherited! We get the same body He had in His resurrection.
Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Being absolutely convinced in faith of these truths produces a confidence that can stand in the face of oppositions, hardships, persecutions, false accusations, misunderstandings, and being rejected by those of this world. It can withstand being rejected even by your own blood relations who oppose the truth.
That is what filling up the sufferings of Christ really is. It is what constitutes suffering with Christ. Christ did not suffer sickness, disease, starvation, and many of the other things so often labeled as the way of suffering. Jesus suffered ridicule, scorn, opposition, rejection, being misunderstood, falsely accused and opposition to all that He was seeking to offer so freely.
This world and all it has to offer pales in comparison to what is already yours through promise. By faith you get to live according to such promises, because many are available to manifest in your life, here and now. You also get to live as though the ones yet to come are already yours because faith is not in the seeing in the natural so much as it is seeing by the Spirit that which cannot be seen in the natural.
It will prove difficult to enjoy the promises as being yours if you are unconvinced of being a son and an heir. Being convinced of such things requires faith. Not faith in having earned it, but faith in Jesus.
All this is yours only by faith in Jesus and the finished work of the cross. The promise of the Holy Spirit is yours by faith alone, not by any merit to speak of. This is the New Covenant Jesus spoke of. A covenant where by simple faith in Jesus you are made a son and heir!
Wisdom Bears Fruit
Who are your friends?
Wisdom Bears Fruit
Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” 20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
John the Baptist diet was locusts and honey so those opposed to him could not accuse him of being a glutton or a winebibber. So they accused him of having a demon instead.
Jesus attended a wedding feast, and by this time, He had also gathered to Himself certain men who left all to follow Him. In other words, Jesus was the influencer, not the other way around.
Due to their former occupations, His followers were not held in high regard among some. But wisdom is justified by her children. Jesus knew who He was choosing, and why. The men and women He chose did great things in His name to spread the good news of Jesus throughout the world. They bore fruit that proved His wisdom in choosing them to start with. We should bear in mind though that Jesus was always the leader. He was never the follower.
To hear how some speak today of what Jesus was like you get the impression Jesus was more like sinners than He was the righteous. That somehow He was more comfortable with people who did not care much for God, or His ways. That Jesus was perhaps a follower too, which would be inaccurate. Jesus came to bring light and life to those who are broken and in need of God’s mercy to help them. He came to make new creations that would be filled with the Holy Spirit and follow Him.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
That means Jesus walked in wisdom according to grace and truth. Jesus was an influencer.
Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
The ones who followed Jesus called Him Rabbi, meaning teacher. They joined themselves to Him so they might learn from Him. Jesus was not influenced by them and learning from them. He was leading them. He was the influencer and teacher. Jesus did not abandon the wisdom he had given to Solomon.
Proverbs 12:26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
for the way of the wicked leads them astray.
This same wise counsel is carried over into the New Testament.
1Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
We are not superior to those who have not yet come to Jesus, or even those who defiantly oppose God. We should seek to provide hope and answers wherever possible. We should especially seek to walk int he power of the Spirit.
One thing is certain, we should not be seeking to make a close inner circle friend out of someone who is defiantly opposed to God and His ways.
When it comes to relationships in life it is important to use wisdom. For how you choose in this area of your life will greatly impact your present, and your future. You have a choice in this area, so choose wisely. I encourage you to allow those who demonstrate wisdom to be your confidants and close friends.
Hope That Does Not Disappoint
You can live in hope
Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
The reason hope does not disappoint is because the Holy Spirit was given to us and He brings with Him the love of God by revelation and experience.
This is the expression of the fullness of God, and it is the fruit of believing in the work of the Holy Spirit that gives us revelation of the love of Christ.
Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
The importance and benefit of the role of the Holy Spirit in a believers life should never be underestimated, or marginalized. To do so is to set up a person to miss out on the possibility of knowing, experiencing, and living in an awareness of the love of Christ that unlocks a manifestation of the fullness of God that is already theirs because of the completed work of Christ.
Jesus loves you! That cannot be disputed with any integrity. Jesus loves you! He gave Himself for you. While you were still a sinner Jesus died for you. Before you could do anything for Him, He loved you and gave Himself as a sacrifice for you.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
This particular revelation is a great source of hope! But, this revelation is only yours by the aid of the Holy Spirit. You do not come to this revelation on your own. You, and I, need the Holy Spirit’s help if we are to see, and to know, the love of Christ that brings a manifestation of the fullness of God into our lives, and fills us with hope to spare!
Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
How does this say you abound in hope? It is by the power of the Holy Spirit! This is so much more than just a Christian slogan, or fanciful idea, regarding the Holy Spirit. Hope that does not disappoint comes to you when you remain humble and reliant upon the Holy Spirit. It is by experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit through communion with the Holy Spirit! It is by fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit.
With all this in mind today I leave you with these encouraging words from Scripture that convey my own heart concerning you.
2Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
According To ..
Do you know how to live the daily Christian life?
In the New Covenant things dramatically changed from what they had been under the Old Covenant of Law.
Under the Old Covenant of Law people were given rules to live by. If they could avoid breaking any of those rules they would be blessed. If they violated even one of those rules they would be cursed.
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
Under the New Covenant, life with God is done by having the Holy Spirit as our guide and comforter who leads us according to the will of God, and reveals Jesus to us in an ever increasing way.
New Covenant life is life according to the Spirit. It is a way of life where the just live by faith.
Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.
Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Galatians 3:11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”
Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
Galatians 2:16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Galatians 3:12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
A life lived according to the Spirit, is a life lived by faith in the Son of God. Confidence doesn’t come from law based obedience, but rather from relationship based surrender that is born of faith. A faith that flows and grows by means of Holy Spirit revelation. A very relational faith indeed.
True New Covenant faith based obedience will never out pace your relationship understanding and experience with Jesus. The closer you are to Him, the greater your surrender will be to His ways. It is a surrender that transforms you into His image and leads you into greater adventures with Him. It is a surrender that moves you to rely even more upon the Holy Spirit for help.
You can never really know and experience all that you were created for until you learn to lose yourself in Christ. Losing yourself in Him leads you to humble yourself and rely on the Holy Spirit, just as He humbled Himself, became a man, and relied fully on the Holy Spirit.
You are never more like Jesus than when you are humbly and fully relying on the help of the Holy Spirit to know and to do according to the Father’s will in your daily life.
Increasing Faith
You can grow your faith
In my last sharing, “A Lack Of Faith,” I spoke of how a lack of faith hinders receptivity. It doesn’t render God powerless or do away with His willingness it simply renders the person powerless to receive and be a part of what God wishes to do.
This should cause us to realize the importance of being built up in our faith. Hopefully ministers of the word will be encouraged to make sure that what they speak and teach gives place to faith. Faith is, and should be, of great importance to any and every believer. It should be a staple of the equipping call to the five fold ministry gifts.
Since everything God wishes to do here on earth requires the church (Born again believers in Jesus) to be in a position to hear from Him and then believe He has empowered them by His Spirit to get it done, faith matters greatly.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Make no mistake about the fact that God rewards diligent seekers. Being a diligent seeker however begins at the point of one’s faith. You see, it is faith that moves a person to diligently seek God with a yearning to hear Him speak and reveal His desires to them.
So we should be eager to learn what the Scripture says abut increasing faith.
One instruction is found in Jude 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
There’s something about praying in tongues that is very powerful. It is a faith builder because to pray in such manner invokes faith to start with. You see to pray and believe that it is actually a language understood by God is an act of faith to start with. To do so in increasing measure is a faith builder. It is an act of believing.
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The word in the Greek interpreted as the word of God is Rhema. Rhema means an utterance. It is the act of hearing God speak. So whether it is through a person who is preaching or through reading the Scriptures and realizing it is God who is speaking to you, that is when faith is activated.
This means a believer should be seeking God in prayer, in the reading of Scripture, listening for the Holy Spirit to speak in the moment, and praying in the Spirit. Those who diligently give themselves to these practices, as an act of relating with God as opposed to a mere religious duty, increase their faith.
So it is important to ask ourselves, Am I reading the Scriptures from a place of relationship with God? Am I praying from a place of relationship? Am I open to praying in the Spirit? Am I listening to hear God speak to me regularly? It is by these relationship tools that we increase our faith in Him. Because it is by knowing Him that faith comes.
A Lack Of Faith
Jesus is willing, are you ready?
Matthew 13:53 When Jesus had finished these parables, He moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, He began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in His own town and in His own home.” 58 And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
It’s amazing how fickle people can be. People can be caught up one minute in amazement and applaud someone, and then the next minute offer ridicule or bring into question the person they were just amazed by and applauded. That’s what happened to Jesus.
The people questioned His authority based on what they knew of His family. Even though they heard Him speak and knew of the miracles He had done elsewhere, they struggled to believe Him.
They knew His family, they knew He was raised by a carpenter. They knew Jesus after the flesh (so to speak), and they leaned on their natural knowledge of Him, so much so, that they struggled in their faith towards Him.
Their lack of faith resulted in Jesus not doing many miracles there. To me, that lends itself to the idea that Jesus had just as much desire to do miracles in his home town of Nazareth as He had anywhere else. But a lack of faith resulted in that desire not being met. Does that mean that a lack of faith made Jesus powerless?
I do not believe for one minute that a lack of faith rendered Jesus powerless, nor could it diminish His authority in anyway. I believe it rendered the people powerless to receive what He had to offer them.
For examples sake let’s pretend I desire to send you a large amount of money just to bless you. I let you know that I need you to download a specific app on your smart phone for me to do so. If you do not believe me you will not download the app to your phone. But in this instance the app is the only way for me to bless you. So although I desire to bless you, and have the ability to do so, I cannot do so because you are in no position to receive it.
Faith is the pipeline through which the things of the Spirit flow. The kingdom operates on this earth according to faith. Without faith a person is not able to receive what it is that Jesus wishes to give. It doesn’t rob Him of His power, willingness or ability, it simply offers no place to receive what it is He wishes to give, or to do. This is proven by the fact that a person cannot be saved without believing.
When Jesus said, “Be unto you according to your faith” He wasn’t saying faith made Him do things. He was already willing to do them, a persons faith simply offered a place for them to happen.
It is why the Scripture says that without faith it is impossible to please God. A lack of faith gives no place to what it is that God wishes to do, or to give.
It is never that God is unwilling or reluctant when it comes to His will to bless and empower us for His purposes. Heaven has been open since the cross. There’s an eternal readiness at the throne of grace to offer mercy to help. But, for us to be able to walk in the fullness of Who He is, and what He wishes to do, we must have faith to receive. Those who walk in faith are often blessed by the willingness they encounter on the part of Jesus.
Things Not Seen
They seeing is believing but is that really true?
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Now based on what I am reading here in Ephesians, there’s an aspect to what is described that cannot be witnessed in the natural by the eye of man, but yet it is very real indeed.
Others may witness, with their own eyes, the change that occurs in the life of a believer in Jesus no doubt. But did they see that person raised up together and seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus?
It is not the statement of others who knew us before we came to Christ that they witnessed us being raised from the dead. They may testify to a change they see in us, but they would not declare they saw us raised from the dead. Yet, the testimony of Scripture and heaven itself is that we were raised from the dead.
I sincerely hope you do not imagine that the Scriptures are dishonest, or only speaking of figurative things. I personally believe the Scriptures are describing spiritual realities as plainly as we tend to describe natural ones.
This is just another example of how the unseen realm of the Spirit is more real than the natural realm we are so familiar with.
This language being used in Ephesians is describing the place of authority that Jesus occupies. In that sense there are aspects of it that can be seen in the natural when believers in Jesus exercise their authority in spiritual matters. But who sees us seated with Christ in the heavenly places according to natural realities?
The only time there is any type of natural witness to what is spoken of in Ephesians is when a believer, or the church, exercises spiritual authority that manifests here on this earth.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Luke 10:18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
You and I have authority based on Jesus’ authority and the fact that He has seen fit to grant it to us. This authority is to be used for His purposes not our own. It is yet another aspect of unseen things in the Spirit being more real than that which can be so easily seen in the natural. On occasion it manifest in the natural. But for it to do so someone must believe it to be true and exercise it here on this earth. I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit for revelation on this matter and to walk in the spiritual authority Jesus has given to you as believer in Him. The reality of it manifesting relies on you believing you possess it. No one can use what they do not believe they possess.
What Is Real?
Do you know what is real?
1Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
Everyday we experience things that shape our perspective on life.
The things we can see, taste, touch, smell or hear are extremely real to us because they impact us in so many ways. It’s natural to have these things affect us.
Because it is such a regular experience in our lives we have a tendency to be more attuned to the natural.
In fact, because of how inundated with these experiences we are, we tend to think of things in the natural being our greatest reality.
But is what we can see, touch, taste, hear or smell the most real?
Is what we feel most deeply in life the greatest reality?
Is it possible that what we cannot see in the natural is more real than what we can see?
It was to the prophets who looked for the grace to be revealed. They believed something regarding a promise from God and even though there was zero evidence in the natural for it they spoke as though it was more real than life itself in the moment.
In the Bible there are a great many declarations made concerning believers that involve matters that cannot be seen in the natural.
To a true believer, the things that are attached to real promises from a very real God are more real than anything we know in the natural.
Who has seen God? Yet we know that He exists and is alive.
Who has seen heaven, yet we stand in faith that it is real and that those in Christ will be there. We speak of it without apology or embarrassment. We even defend the idea of it when others seek to downplay it’s reality.
The realm of God which is very supernatural is actually more real than anything we see in the natural. Everything in the natural has an expiration date on it. The supernatural is eternal. It is what will be when all that is in the natural ceases to exist.
This is why we are able to stand firm in our faith on the promises of God even when it seems ridiculous to do so. Scripture says, all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ. You my friend are in Christ. Circumstances may seem to indicate something completely alternate to what God’s promises say, but you are allowed to stand on the promises and speak as though that which cannot be seen is more real than what can be seen. This is because the supernatural is truly more real than the natural. So I encourage you today to stand on the promises God has given you, and make no apology for a confession of believing Him about it, and taking Him at His word. After all, it is by faith that we truly please Him.
Jesus Is Willing
Jesus is far more willing than many give him credit for
I love the way Luke captures a moment in time in the life and ministry of Jesus in chapter 5 of his gospel writing.
A leprous man falls at the feet of Jesus and says to Him, “Lord if You are willing I know you can cleanse me.” Jesus responds with, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
Everything we can read about Jesus in the Bible demonstrates His willingness to show compassion and heal people who were hurting, or in need. Jesus showed Himself willing every time He was approached with needs whether it was one person, or many. In fact, Scripture records for us the phrase, “He healed them all.”
What I find amazing in each testimony found in Scripture about the willingness of Jesus to heal, or do a miracle, Jesus puts no one through a litmus test to determine if they deserved the healing or miracle.
Jesus did not set any performance or moral conditions on the person for receiving from Him the power to heal, or to be given a miracle in their situation. Jesus does often tell them to have faith, or to fear not, or that it will be unto to them according to their faith.
By coming to Him in the first place they were already exhibiting an act of faith on some level, and Scripture reveals Jesus’ willingness to meet them at the point of their need.
What a loving, compassionate and generous Lord and Savior Jesus is. What a great privilege it is to know Him and be His!
Scripture tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Jesus does not change, His heart and attitude have not taken a turn for the worse. He is not now in a mood to reject you instead of showing you compassion and mercy.
In fact, you are encouraged to come boldly before the throne of grace to find mercy to help in your time of need.
Oh how I love my Jesus!
I want to encourage you today that whatever you may be going through. Jesus loves you and His is willing to help you. I believe His words still ring true today, “I am willing.” Just turn to Him in faith at any level and ask Him for mercy to help. I am certain you will receive it.
Be encouraged in Him today! Go to Him for His help and guidance. I can say with assurance that you will not be disappointed. The Holy Spirit will make it abundantly clear that you have what you need.
Letting Go
Some things have to go to make room for what is new
I used to have an old shed in my backyard that had things in it that were very outdated. It had been there for decades and had accumulated quite a few things over the years.
But the time came when it needed to go in order to make way for the future. It’s funny how difficult it can be to let go of things due to sentimental reasons, or some sort of nostalgic connection.
There are some things that are needlessly held on to for no other reason than the comfort of knowing it’s history. It serves no real purpose, and even interferes with moving on, but yet as human beings we have a tendency to hang on to them.
One thing is for certain it is hard to experience a breakthrough in life if we refuse to let go of things that hold us back. Letting go is important. It is also Biblical.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
Paul desired to go forward, make progress. He wanted to advance even further in the upward call of God in Christ. Basically, I take it to mean Paul desired to be more and more conformed to the image of Christ in His daily living. But notice, how Paul realized he must let go of things. Not only must he let go of them, but he must even forget forget them. Paul refused to allow any sense of sentimentality or nostalgia to interfere with his progress in this matter.
When I tore down my shed it was because I needed to make room for new things. To make that room I had to let go of some old things. This is never more true than when it comes to ideas, notions and even long held traditions and beliefs that are found to be out of step with the New Covenant.
Galatians 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Letting go of something means you are making room for something new and better. This could never be more true than when it comes to letting go of Old Covenant ideas and beliefs or practices in order to make room for everything that is New Covenant. This is what New Covenant repentance really is. It is allowing the Holy Spirit to bring revelation of the truth of the New Covenant into our thinking and then letting go of how we used to think to make room for the truth of the completed work of Christ Jesus.
If you wish to really walk in the freedom that is yours in Christ, you must learn the art of letting go. It is the starting point of any real breakthrough spiritually speaking.
Continual Supply
You are never without power
I recall when a record freeze hit Texas and wreaked havoc on thousands of peoples lives. The loss of power led to hardship and misery for many. They were not equipped to handle that type of situation because it was so uncommon there.
There’s a lesson for all of us in that historical event. A loss of power proved to be very dangerous in such a vulnerable situation. All it took was the perfect storm with a loss of power and people suffered greatly, some even died.
As believers we will go through storms that catch us by surprise. They may hit us in an area, and in a way, we never would have expected. We need to know that we will never lose our power because our connection is sure. If, in our thinking and belief our connection depends on our performance it is not sure.
As believers in Jesus the Holy Spirit is our supernatural power supply. Knowing what keeps us connected with Him at all times is of great importance. We know we will go through trials, tribulations and hardships. Some will come as big surprises. But to push through and persevere we will need to know that we are connected to our power supply.
The key is to being certain is knowing you are in Christ, and Christ is in you. Jesus is your continual source for unhindered, unbroken and fully active connection.
Your ability to go before the throne of grace and find mercy to help is not based on your own performance, it is based on the performance of Jesus which was perfect and complete. That is why we bring every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus. Not our own obedience, but His!
By reminding yourself of Jesus’ performance on your behalf you can rise above your coming short of the mark. You can even, in times of great challenge and difficulty, discover you have a connection and the power necessary to thrive, not just survive.
This is why you can count it all joy when you go through diverse trials. When you learn to rely on the finished work of Christ you discover the ever present always available power of the Holy Spirit to carry you through the toughest and most dangerous storms of life.
Jesus will never leave you, nor will He ever forsake you. Once you are His, He will forever be for you. The Holy Spirit is the One who makes this your reality. He is always present to help if you will just let Him. He is so much more than a third string bench sitter in the Godhead. He is meant to be the evidence of the ever present reality of Christ with you and in you. Be open to Him and let Him do what He does best. I promise you will not regret it.
Given Good Things
You have gifts that re powerful
The Old Covenant came with blessings and curses based on one’s performance in it.
The New Covenant came with gifts from the Holy Spirit and blessings based on the performance of Jesus and one’s faith in Him.
On the day of inaugurating the Old Covenant Law 3000 people died for breaking it.
On the day of inaugurating the New Covenant of Grace 3000 people were saved after the disciples in the upper room received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Whenever the Holy Spirit is welcomed into a persons life in fullness He brings His gifts along with Him.
1Corinthians 12:4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
This makes it clear the Holy Spirit brings diversity of gifts just as Jesus gives a diversity of ministries (Ephesians 4).
It is the same Spirit at work In every diverse gift just as it is the same Lord who administrates the diversity of ministries, (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor & Teacher).
What are the diversity of gifts the Holy Spirit brings with Him?
1)Word of Wisdom
2)Word of Knowledge
3)Gift of Faith
4)Gift of Healing
5)Working of Miracles
6)Prophecy
7)Discerning of spirits
8)Different kinds of tongues
9)Interpretation of tongues
Each of these gifts are given as a manifestation of the Spirit with the intention that it will profit the gathering of believers.
These gifts are a good reason gathering matters. To receive of them, and to give them, one needs to be involved in gathering.
This means as a believer you have the opportunity to be used in a gift, and according to Scripture you should desire the gifts of the Spirit. These gifts are a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, and an evidence of the grace of God at work. They testify of belonging to Jesus and being a part of the kingdom of God. They serve the body to bring encouragement and strengthening. I encourage you to make yourself available to the Holy Spirit to be used as a conduit for one of these gifts. After all it is the Father’s will that we be submitted to the Holy Spirit. Jesus is magnified when these gifts are properly being used.
There Are Things We Are Meant To Desire
What do you desire?
1Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Too often I have witnessed well meaning preachers and teachers emphasize 1Corinthians 13 to the degree that it minimizes the importance fo the gifts altogether.
They get so caught up in the love chapter that they come across as though love is supposed to get rid of any need for the gifts. This is an unfortunate outcome to have happen.
We are never meant to emphasize a truth in Scripture to the point it ends up excluding another very important truth. You see an emphasis on the gifts should not exclude the call to exercise the gifts from a motivation of love for others.
That means an emphasis on loving others should be done in a way that also emphasizes the importance of using the gifts to benefit others.
We are meant to desire spiritual gifts, especially that we might prophesy.
In the inner man that desire exists. Unfortunately, it is possible to be so in tune with things in the natural that the desires of the inner man get silenced. But this should not be allowed to take place. We should diligently seek to live according to the Spirit.
The one sure way you can be of great benefit to others is to allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in your life and use you according to His supernatural gifts that are intended to do a work in others that is profound and powerful.
His anointing is far more beneficial than any eloquent words I might say rooted in sentimentality, or some other motive. N one knows better what a brother or sister needs than He does.
The same is true when it comes to the gathering of the saints. You can be used in the gifts to bring something life changing into the moment. When it is the Holy Spirit at work there is someone who is about to get strengthened in their inner man from your obedient yielding to Him. It could be a strengthening that makes a difference in whether or not another rises to victory in a situation, or yields to discouragement and defeat.
A preacher on a Sunday is not the only means of supply for all that the body of Christ needs. It takes the body of Christ being equipped and yielded to the Holy Spirit to cultivate life changing encouragement according to the Spirit.
I encourage you to ponder this in your heart and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how He desires to use you. Ask Him for revelation in this matter and surrender yourself to His wisdom, power and direction.
The gifts of the Spirit are a supernatural New Covenant blessing! We should enjoy every blessing we are offered in the New Covenant. The only Covenant Jesus established with His own blood. He shed His blood to make all these things pertaining to the Holy Spirit possible. We’re not meant to live the new life alone and without help. His help comes with His gifts. I encourage you to desire His gifts, especially that you might prophesy.
Do You Know?
Do you know what is available to you?
Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Before we go any further after reading this amazing prayer of Paul we must consider the kind of people Paul is addressing in his letter.
Paul is addressing the church at Ephesus. He is speaking to born again believers in Jesus. He is not speaking as an evangelist to lost people trying to get them saved. That means this fullness of God spoken of is not about being saved. It is about another wonderful privilege.
Paul is speaking of how Christ dwells in the heart that is true, but his reason for praying this way has to do with the believers being rooted and grounded in love.
What is so important that Paul would offer a prayer of this nature on their behalf?
Because when a person does not know how loved they truly are they struggle to trust as they should. You see the filling spoken of here has to do with the person of the Holy Spirit who is the essence of all the fullness of God.
For a person to trust the word of Christ regarding the gift of the Spirit which is the promise of the Father, they first must really know how greatly loved they are and how deeply they can trust Christ. To not know this hinders their ability to receive all that He might offer.
Not really knowing the amazing love of Christ leads to questioning whether or not everything Jesus is offering them is truly of benefit to them. Especially when it comes to the Holy Spirit and how odd they might find it to be. You might be surprised to know how many think of the Holy Spirit as more of risk than that of a privilege and honor.
It is the desire of God the Father, and Christ the Son, that believers be filled with all the fullness of God! In other words, that believers be filled with the Holy Spirit.
To me this is speaking of the baptism of the Spirit and the continual opportunity to be filled daily. The giving of the Spirit in such abundant measure is the riches of His glory, and only the Holy Spirit can strengthen the inner man with might.
I encourage you today to seek to grow in your knowledge of the love of Christ and begin to boldly ask to be filled with all the fullness of God. Be wide open to the Holy Spirit and let Him strengthen you with might in your inner man today and everyday.
More Glory
Do you know what you possess within?
In the Old Testament there is recorded several occurrences of the glory of God filling a tent or structure made by man’s hands. These structures were built to be a dwelling place for God here on the earth. When His glory filled them it was dramatic and powerful.
But these structures were not what God was really after. They simply served a momentary purpose. The real aim f God was to dwell in mankind.
His ultimate goal?
Habakuk 2:14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 40:5 The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
It is at Christmas time each year that the church puts its focus on the fact that a child was born and He would be called Emmanuel (God with us).
It’s so sad that many still do not realize how powerful that reality is. You see the glory of God fills the earth because new creations filled with the Spirit fill the earth.
Born again believers are the temple of the Living God here on earth now and they are where He manifests His glory! You and I are meant to be manifestations of the glory of God as we go through life.
The glory we get to experience is a far greater glory than that of any of the Old Testament generations during the time of the tents and temples built by men.
You have the God of glory living within you! He has brought with Him an un-diminishing glory. A glory that does not fade like that which Moses experienced when he came down from the mountain and hid his face behind a veil. Christ has brought with Him an ever increasing glory!
The only way to experience this is to believe what the word of God says about it. You and I are to be filled with the Holy Spirit to an overflowing measure and thus be expressions of His glory on this earth. But this experience is received and enjoyed the same way our salvation is, by faith!
I encourage you to believe in the goodness of God and the promise of His glory dwelling in you as His temple today, and everyday.
A Fruit Of Love
Have you been disciplined by the Lord lately?
(NKJV) Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.
(The Message) Hebrews 12:5 So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. 6 It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects.
When I was around five years old my three older brothers decided to teach me how to ride a bike. At the time we lived way out in the country and had a really steep gravel driveway. I had just learned to stay balanced around the house when I saw my dad a ways down the hill with a man he had been helping to survey some land. My dad was standing in from of the mans open driver side door with some tools in his arms when I yelled out, “look dad I can ride” and started down the hill. I began gaining speed fast and my dad was yelling, “hit the bakes, hit the brakes!” I yelled back, “I can’t!” Just then I ran straight into my dad, the tools went flying, my dad went backwards into the car door, but I was safe.
You see if my dad had not stopped me there was a long way to go down that hill and at the end a road with traffic, it would have been really bad. But, my dad stopped me. He used his body to do so and it wasn’t pretty, but I was safe.
When you come to Jesus, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit all three commit to your wellbeing and development spiritually. God will look out for you in an effort to see you grow and succeed, and He knows there will be many lessons along the way.
My dad sat me down to purposefully and seriously instruct me after that incident, not because he stopped loving me and wanted to disown me. It was because He loved me and wanted me to be able to ride my bike with confidence. He wanted me to know how to stop my bike in any situation and realize how important it was to know how before riding anywhere I wished. His concern was for my well being. That is how it is when Jesus comes to our rescue and we are corrected by His instruction. Correction is not unloving, it is a sure sign of belonging, being loved and cared for at a much deeper level than unwarranted praise could ever offer. It says this very thing in the Scriptures we began with.
You might be going through a time where the Father is sitting you down to instruct you in some area but do not be discouraged by it, be encouraged. It means you belong to Him and you are greatly loved. Listen carefully, and get up knowing you are now empowered to do differently. Let His joy and peace rule in your heart even during those times and you will experience great success.
The Ultimate Justifier
Have you thought about how complete your salvation is lately?
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
There’s a lot that could be said of these verses of Scripture.
There’s now the righteousness of God apart from the law that has been revealed. That means this righteousness spoken of is not because of the law. Yet it was witnessed by the Law and the Prophets (The Mount of Transfiguration). That establishes the authority and validity of this righteousness spoken of.
This amazing righteousness spoken of here is in and upon people who believe in Jesus only by grace. There is no difference in them that made it be upon them in the sense of them being any better than others to merit it. All humanity has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God so there was nothing special about those who have this righteousness that made them candidates for it. They became this higher state of righteousness when they simply believed in Jesus and received Him as Lord and Savior.
God Sovereignly appointed this responsibility of being the only One who could make a person righteous to His only Son Jesus. It is God who set the terms in place and therefore He is the One who gets to say clearly how a person is able to be made truly righteous and no one gets to alter it.
God had not ultimately punished anyone for their sins before. God had been patient and forbearing and had passed over sins that had been previously committed. People had not felt the fullness of His wrath and He did so in order to demonstrate His righteousness when Jesus would come and would give Himself as a sacrifice to pay for the sin of the world.
He did this to demonstrate that He alone is Just and therefore He alone could be the Justifier of anyone who has faith in Jesus.
All this means that there’s absolutely no way anyone can make themselves more righteous than they are already made to be when they put their faith in Jesus.
To even imagine that anyone could add to the righteousness they have so freely received would be an attempt to rob God of the glory of His very own righteousness imputed through faith in Jesus.
1Corinthians 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”
Today I encourage you to make your boast in what Jesus did and refuse to give any place to any thought of having earned even a hint or privilege with God through your own obedience or good works. Make it your aim to give all the glory for your right standing with the Father to Him with a full understanding of how He worked it all out for you in Jesus. Oh what a great love we have come into! Oh what a great God we have come to belong to. Oh what a great salvation is ours to enjoy. Rejoice in the Lord for this today and always.
Has God Indeed Said
Want to take hold of the promises?
In the beginning of creation the serpent used a cunning trick to deceive the first woman.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
This tactic is still being used today especially as it pertains to the promises of God. Believers are challenged in their faith concerning the ever present very real presence of God in the person of the Holy Spirit.
They see with their natural eyes situations and circumstances, they feel with their natural senses certain things in their bodies and it is so real. So when a promise like that of being healed, delivered, or having been given great favor becomes challenged with a subconscious “Has God Indeed Said.”
In another place in Scripture we find an important truth regarding the things seen verses things unseen.
2Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 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.
The things of the Spirit are eternal and more real than what we can see, feel or touch here in the natural. Everything in the natural is temporary. Everything in the Spirit is eternal and will have no end.
Understanding this truth can help determine what is sought after more, the spiritual promises made by God and authenticated through Christ, or the natural solutions man in all his limited wisdom can devise.
It might seem foolish to a natural man for someone to put their trust in a promise from God, but to a person of the Spirit it is like breathing fresh air. The promises offer a hope and a future that far exceeds the answers and promises of men in their limited wisdom.
Believing and taking God at His word is the one thing that is always guaranteed to please Him. It is the the obedience we’ve been asked to engage in. So I encourage you today to silence that cunning voice that wishes to camp out in the subconscious always challenging the good thing God has said and His wise counsel. I encourage you to take God at His word just as it is given, even the promises that right now seem too good to be true due to all the circumstances surrounding you in this moment. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you, by your faith in Jesus, to push forward into the greater things God has for you.
Free Indeed
Do you know how free you really are?
There once was an elephant who had spent its life tethered with a rope around its foot. The rope set limits on how far the elephant could go. It was about a 30 ft radius from the post the rope was attached to. As far as the elephant knew it was really living. One day the owner of the elephant needed some money and decided to sell it. A kind and gracious man came and bought it desiring that the elephant be set free. He took it to a beautiful wide open space where it could roam as far as it wished. The man removed the rope from its foot but the elephant would not go past the distance it had learned for so long in its life. It would only move about 30ft and no more even though it was no longer tethered to a post. It did not realize just how free it truly was.
Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
A life of trusting in and being governed by the law is not the way of the New Covenant. Jesus came to set us free from the law. He came to break condemnation being under the law put on our lives. His work at the cross established us in the very righteousness of God so we might live by faith in Him. The just shall live by faith.
Paul said it this way in,
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Your rope my friend has been removed in Christ. Before you are open fields of grace in which to adventure with Him!
Do not let some well meaning person convince you to go back under the law as a mean of keeping, enhancing or improving your position with God in any way. God is only impressed with His Sons righteousness which you already possess by believing in Jesus. God the Father is to be approached and known on the basis of that righteousness alone.
Never let anyone lead you to think the righteousness Jesus gave you was not enough. It is for freedom Jesus set you free. Do not return to any type of yoke of bondage. Enjoy and rejoice in what you’ve been so freely given by a gracious Savior. Enjoy Him today and always by simply believing in Him and in what He accomplished.
A Greater Glory
Have you come to believe just how much glory you possess?
2Corinthians 3:7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
Under the Old Covenant, established by Moses using the Ten Commandments given by God to set the terms of what would be required to have any hint of a relationship with God as a people, there was a glory. At the start it caused the face of Moses to shine. But that shine was already starting to fade as he came down off the mountain where he had just been with God.
The relationship of the Old Covenant was tenuous at best because it relied on the ability of the people to stay in step with the law to remain right with God and receive His blessing s as opposed to being cursed. We all know how miserably Israel failed at saying right with God.
When we think of glory we think in terms of an effect in a moment. But is that a correct way to see it?
The ministry of righteousness excels in glory. What exactly does that mean and what does it look like?
It means we get to enjoy a relationship that doesn’t fade based on our ability to keep the law. It means God is now relating to us based on a righteousness that was imputed to us through Christ. That means the relationship holds. The presence of God remains with us even when we cannot discern it due to our neglect of it.
The glory of His presence is expressed in us and through us by the person of the Holy Spirit. In fact, when we read about the glory that came into the temple on the day Solomon dedicated it, and we marvel about how the priests could not stand and do their work because of the intense cloud and weightiness of the presence of God, we should get excited. Not because we are in a quest to capture the experience in similarity, but because the glory that is ours when we are together is greater than that which took place at Solomons temple.
God’s glory is tied to our relationship with Him and our belief in Jesus. If we will but believe as the Scripture says concerning Jesus we are welcomed to partake of the fullness of God through coming to know the love of Christ and believing in His finished work.
In Christ you are right now a part of a New Covenant far more glorious than that of the Old one. You have stepped into a ministry of righteousness covenant authenticated with the very blood of God’s Son and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise.
A ministry of righteousness that far exceeds the ministry of death that was written and engraved on stone tablets so long ago. You have come to a greater glory, a greater experience of His presence, a greater continuance of closeness with Him that you never had to earn!
I challenge you to ponder these things in your heart and mind and let the Holy Spirit give birth to an even greater revelation of all that is yours to experience and know in Christ!