"In righteousness
shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not
fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. " (Isaiah 54: 14)
When you confess that you are "the righteousness of God in Christ" (2 Corinthians 5: 21), do you still entertain doubts, fears, or upset in your life?
"I will walk before
the LORD in the land of the living.
"I believed,
therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: " (Psalm 116: 9-10)
Belief is what we are called to (John 6: 29)
We are called to believe on Him whom God the Father has sent.
We receive everything through Christ Jesus (Romans 8: 31-32).
He is our life (Colossians 3: 4). He is the Kingdom in which we live (Colossians 1: 13)
When you confess your righteous standing in Christ, do you think that He has done everything for you, or do you still believe that you still have to do something more?
Since it is His life which flows through us, then we are not the ones who are trying in our own effort:
"I am crucified
with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who
loved me, and gave himself for me.
"I do not frustrate
the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is
dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)
We do not establish our own righteousness:
"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but
that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by
faith:" (Philippians 3: 9)
Stop trying to establish your righteousness, even in your confession. By faith rest in the truth that you have been made the righteousness of God in Christ, and watch His life flow through you!
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Don't Fight -- Rest
The temptation is not to give in to any issues in our lives, but rather to fight-- for in Christ we are already more than conquerors! (Romans 8: 37), and He causes us to triumph (2 Corinthians 2: 14)
The battle is in our minds:
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10: 4-5)
The Battle is won (Colossians 2: 13-15), but we must bring all thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ, forcing them to submit to the truth that does not change -- Christ seated at the right hand of the Father (Colossians 3: 1).
We are called to sit and let God make all our enemies into our footstool:
"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Psalm 110: 1)
and
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Vengeance belongs to the Lord (Romans 12: 19) -- he repays, He has the hands that save and protect us. We are called not to keep our lives in line, but rather to trust that He has everything taken care of for us.
Our job is sit down, to rest in Him, for He is our rest (Matthew 11: 28).
The battle is in our minds:
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10: 4-5)
The Battle is won (Colossians 2: 13-15), but we must bring all thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ, forcing them to submit to the truth that does not change -- Christ seated at the right hand of the Father (Colossians 3: 1).
We are called to sit and let God make all our enemies into our footstool:
"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Psalm 110: 1)
and
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Vengeance belongs to the Lord (Romans 12: 19) -- he repays, He has the hands that save and protect us. We are called not to keep our lives in line, but rather to trust that He has everything taken care of for us.
Our job is sit down, to rest in Him, for He is our rest (Matthew 11: 28).
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Satan Roars -- Because He Has Lost
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh
about, seeking whom he may devour:
"Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (1 Peter 5: 8-9)
When lions hunt, they do not roar, lest they scare away they prey they want to devour.
Our Enemy, the devil, has already been judged:
"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
"Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 8, 11)
He is judged, lost, cannot do anything to us. His one weapon, the law, has not further effect on us:
"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)
We were dead in our trespasses, but by Christ's death and Resurrection, we have now received His life. Yet when Jesus died on the Cross, not only did He die for ours sins, but He fulfilled the law (Matthew 5: 17; Romans 8: 4), once and for all, and forever --"blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us" -- and by doing so, Jesus "spoiled" or "disarmed" the demon powers who are against us.
The devil uses the law against God's Beloved children, attempting to impress on us reproach and fear for failing to measure up to a standard which we could never fulfill, and which has been in fact and forever fulfilled in Christ!
Satan has lost, and forever. Stand stedfast in the faith of your righteous standing in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21), resting in the conviction that no weapon will prosper against you!
"Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (1 Peter 5: 8-9)
When lions hunt, they do not roar, lest they scare away they prey they want to devour.
Our Enemy, the devil, has already been judged:
"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
"Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 8, 11)
He is judged, lost, cannot do anything to us. His one weapon, the law, has not further effect on us:
"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)
We were dead in our trespasses, but by Christ's death and Resurrection, we have now received His life. Yet when Jesus died on the Cross, not only did He die for ours sins, but He fulfilled the law (Matthew 5: 17; Romans 8: 4), once and for all, and forever --"blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us" -- and by doing so, Jesus "spoiled" or "disarmed" the demon powers who are against us.
The devil uses the law against God's Beloved children, attempting to impress on us reproach and fear for failing to measure up to a standard which we could never fulfill, and which has been in fact and forever fulfilled in Christ!
Satan has lost, and forever. Stand stedfast in the faith of your righteous standing in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21), resting in the conviction that no weapon will prosper against you!
Monday, February 18, 2013
You are a Priest -- No Need to Run to One!
When I was attending a local church, an institution which followed a more traditional liturgy and adhered to a set of views which many may consider out of date today, one of the older gentlemen who attended the same mass as I would come up to me every week, asking:
"So when are you going to join the seminary?"
He felt obliged, or obligated, to proffer to me the opportunity to become a priest, a minister in the church. I was in no way interested in that service, for at the time I was just content to get in, get some new insight, and then get out.
Every Sunday, though, this man would come up to me during the mass, asking the same questions: "When are you going to become a priest?"
Then I read in the Bible:
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" (1 Peter 2: 9)
In Christ, every believer is both a king and a priest! We do not need to run to a priest in order to access God:
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4: 16)
The notion that certain people have more access to God than others is sheer folly, and unscriptural without hesitation:
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
God the Father looks at every believer in the Body of Christ, and He sees each of us just like His Son:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17).
The next time that the older gentleman approached me in church, he asked me the same question, and this time I answered:
"Haven't you heard?" Surprised, he then asked me, "What's happening?"
Then I shared with him the same truth which is available to all who believe:
"We are all members of a royal priesthood!"
Don't let anyone tell you that you must do or say or think a certain way in order to be a priest for God. In Christ, we have all received the ministry of priesthood in the same order as our High Priest, Jesus Christ!
"So when are you going to join the seminary?"
He felt obliged, or obligated, to proffer to me the opportunity to become a priest, a minister in the church. I was in no way interested in that service, for at the time I was just content to get in, get some new insight, and then get out.
Every Sunday, though, this man would come up to me during the mass, asking the same questions: "When are you going to become a priest?"
Then I read in the Bible:
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" (1 Peter 2: 9)
In Christ, every believer is both a king and a priest! We do not need to run to a priest in order to access God:
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4: 16)
The notion that certain people have more access to God than others is sheer folly, and unscriptural without hesitation:
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
God the Father looks at every believer in the Body of Christ, and He sees each of us just like His Son:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17).
The next time that the older gentleman approached me in church, he asked me the same question, and this time I answered:
"Haven't you heard?" Surprised, he then asked me, "What's happening?"
Then I shared with him the same truth which is available to all who believe:
"We are all members of a royal priesthood!"
Don't let anyone tell you that you must do or say or think a certain way in order to be a priest for God. In Christ, we have all received the ministry of priesthood in the same order as our High Priest, Jesus Christ!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Spirit of Sonship is Conviction of Righteousness
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)
The Holy Spirit in us tells us that we are children of God, that we have been adopted into His family as sons:
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Romans 8: 14)
How do we know that we have this Spirit in us? First, we believe that in Christ, we receive no condemnation (Romans 8: 1)
We believe on this then confess this out of our mouth:
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10: 9-10)
And no one can say that Jesus Christ is Lord, except by the power of the Holy Spirit:
"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (1 Corinthians 12: 3)
Now, this same Spirit of Sonship lives with in us to convict us of three truths:
"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16: 8).
Sadly, many believers all too quickly conclude that all three is destined for the believer -- yet that is not the case at all.
"Of sin, because they believe not on me;" (John 16: 9)
If you are now a believer, then you are no longer convicted of sin. You were convicted of sin, then you believed, and now the Holy Spirit convicts you of something much better:
"Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more" (John 16: 10)
We, beloved, are convicted of righteousness, the same righteousness as Jesus Christ Himself (2 Corinthians 5: 21) Any thoughts of judgment, shame, regret, or fear are NOT from God, but from the enemy!
"Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 11)
This enemy who would attack us with his fiery darts has been judged, and therefore he can do us no harm!
As a child of God (1 John 3: 1), you have within you the constant reminder that not only are you a child of God, but that conviction that you are fully, totally righteous in His eyes!
The Spirit of Sonship, in effect, is the Conviction of righteousness!
The Holy Spirit in us tells us that we are children of God, that we have been adopted into His family as sons:
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Romans 8: 14)
How do we know that we have this Spirit in us? First, we believe that in Christ, we receive no condemnation (Romans 8: 1)
We believe on this then confess this out of our mouth:
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10: 9-10)
And no one can say that Jesus Christ is Lord, except by the power of the Holy Spirit:
"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (1 Corinthians 12: 3)
Now, this same Spirit of Sonship lives with in us to convict us of three truths:
"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16: 8).
Sadly, many believers all too quickly conclude that all three is destined for the believer -- yet that is not the case at all.
"Of sin, because they believe not on me;" (John 16: 9)
If you are now a believer, then you are no longer convicted of sin. You were convicted of sin, then you believed, and now the Holy Spirit convicts you of something much better:
"Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more" (John 16: 10)
We, beloved, are convicted of righteousness, the same righteousness as Jesus Christ Himself (2 Corinthians 5: 21) Any thoughts of judgment, shame, regret, or fear are NOT from God, but from the enemy!
"Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 11)
This enemy who would attack us with his fiery darts has been judged, and therefore he can do us no harm!
As a child of God (1 John 3: 1), you have within you the constant reminder that not only are you a child of God, but that conviction that you are fully, totally righteous in His eyes!
The Spirit of Sonship, in effect, is the Conviction of righteousness!
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Righteousness Secures the Troubled Heart
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." (John 14: 1)
Faith is what calms the troubled heart. Faith in what?
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)
What does believing on Jesus Christ afford to us, in that our hearts are no longer troubled? Paul gives a strong clue:
"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; " (Ephesians 6: 14)
The righteousness, the full justification that we receive in Christ, we became sin for us that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5: 21) -- this assurance guards our heart.
Isaiah confirms the same:
"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." (Isaiah 32: 17)
If we seek peace, if we want a calm heart in the face of any adversity, we receive this peace by trusting in Christ Jesus our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1: 30).
For this reason Jesus said:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)
Let not your heart be troubled, Beloved. He has everything else!
Faith is what calms the troubled heart. Faith in what?
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)
What does believing on Jesus Christ afford to us, in that our hearts are no longer troubled? Paul gives a strong clue:
"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; " (Ephesians 6: 14)
The righteousness, the full justification that we receive in Christ, we became sin for us that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5: 21) -- this assurance guards our heart.
Isaiah confirms the same:
"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." (Isaiah 32: 17)
If we seek peace, if we want a calm heart in the face of any adversity, we receive this peace by trusting in Christ Jesus our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1: 30).
For this reason Jesus said:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)
Let not your heart be troubled, Beloved. He has everything else!
Friday, February 15, 2013
Focus on the Vine, not the Fruits
“But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith,
"Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5: 22-23)
The Bible is very clear: the FRUIT -- singular -- of the Spirit -- IS -- singular again!
The notion that we are to cultivate these different fruits in our lives is unscriptural.
Teaching each of these attributes of God's Spirit as if they are distinct and independent makes no sense, either.
Paul makes clear the composite whole of the results of the fruit of the Spirit:
"I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5: 16)
We are not called to focus on the fruit. Trees do not strive to bear fruit, but rather the branches rest in the trunk, in the main part of the tree, out of which flows the sap, which travels into the branches, and thus brings forth the fruit.
This illustration Jesus gave to His disciples just before He was sent to be crucified:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." (John 15: 1)
then
'Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." (John 15: 4)
We do not focus on the fruit, we do not focus on ourselves, but we focus on the vine. We rest in the Same Power who framed the universe by speaking forth, the same God who became a man to live out the life that He now lives in every believer.
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 5)
Do not focus about the FRUITS, for every aspect, from love to goodness to temperance, is brought forth in us by the Holy Spirit, who manifests Christ in us, our hope of glory. Focus on the Vine, for in Him is the fullness of life!
"Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5: 22-23)
The Bible is very clear: the FRUIT -- singular -- of the Spirit -- IS -- singular again!
The notion that we are to cultivate these different fruits in our lives is unscriptural.
Teaching each of these attributes of God's Spirit as if they are distinct and independent makes no sense, either.
Paul makes clear the composite whole of the results of the fruit of the Spirit:
"I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5: 16)
We are not called to focus on the fruit. Trees do not strive to bear fruit, but rather the branches rest in the trunk, in the main part of the tree, out of which flows the sap, which travels into the branches, and thus brings forth the fruit.
This illustration Jesus gave to His disciples just before He was sent to be crucified:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." (John 15: 1)
then
'Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." (John 15: 4)
We do not focus on the fruit, we do not focus on ourselves, but we focus on the vine. We rest in the Same Power who framed the universe by speaking forth, the same God who became a man to live out the life that He now lives in every believer.
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 5)
Do not focus about the FRUITS, for every aspect, from love to goodness to temperance, is brought forth in us by the Holy Spirit, who manifests Christ in us, our hope of glory. Focus on the Vine, for in Him is the fullness of life!
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