But I know it now, and before the world I confess that I am walking in the light. I confess
that God is my Father and I am His child; that I am in His Family. Satan's dominion over
me has been broken, and I have in me now the very Nature and Life of the Son of God. He
gave it to me. I am a partaker of the Divine Nature. I have passed out of death into Life.
I know I am a Son of God, and if I am a Son, then I am an heir and a joint-heir with Jesus
Christ.
If that is true, then I have a standing with the Father just like the Master had, because He
has become my sponsor. He is my Savior and my Lord. I see it now. He has made me His
Righteousness, and I can now stand in the Father's presence just as I did in those first
glad days after I accepted Him. I have a right now to ask Him to come into my body and
make it His home.
I remember He said, "If a man love me, he will keep my word, and the Father and I will
love him, and we will come and make our abode with him." I wonder if that doesn't mean
that He will come and live in me Wouldn't it be wonderful if He would live in my body, so
wherever I went He would be with me; He would be in me.
Then Isa. 41 :10 becomes a reality : "Fear thou not, for I am with thee ; be not dismayed,
for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee : yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the
right hand of my righteousness." This is mine, all mine, and I dare confess it before the
world. Wonderful thing, isn't it? Rom. 8:11 at last is real: "But if the Spirit of him that raised
up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall
make his home in your body."
Yes, quicken your body; heal it if it is sick; make it strong if it is weak, and pour into your
spirit the consciousness of a victor, the sense of an overcomer. Heb. 13:20 then becomes
a living Reality: "Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great
shepherd of the sheep, with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus, make
you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in
his sight." How vividly real this can become to the heart, and it all comes when one dares
to confess what he is in Christ; and more than that: confess it in the face of everything.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
A repost from another site...on shame.
Taking Your Shame
Isaiah 65.12-16 contrasts the servants of the Lord God with those who did not answer when He called, did not hear when He spoke, chose that in which He does not delight, did evil before His eyes. In contrast to those who forsake the Lord, God’s servants eat while the others remain hungry. God’s servants drink while the others remain thirsty. God’s servants rejoice while the others remain in their shame. God’s servants sing for joy of heart while the others cry for sorrow of heart and wail for grief of spirit. God’s servants bless themselves in the God of truth. Indeed, for those who serve God, the former troubles are forgotten because they are hidden from God’s eyes.
God turns the captivity of shame to glory according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1.12) that those called by the gospel might obtain of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2.14). For the shame of sin and its consequent sufferings, God grants favor (Luke 4.18, 19). God turns shame into praise and renown.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak; The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
"I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly, who are among you, to whom its reproach is a burden. Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, and gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame." Zephaniah 3.16-19
How can these things be? The answer is found in Jesus Christ You can be delivered from shame by understanding and embracing in faith three great truths of the gospel of grace. Let’s look at them briefly.
First, Jesus bore the inherent shame of the cross itself. He endured the cross, despising its shame (Hebrews 12.2). The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1.18
The Phoenicians were the first to devise the art of crucifixion. Their goal was to find a slow, humiliating way of death fit for punishing criminals. They had experimented with drowning, burning, boiling in oil, strangulation, death by spear, and impalement, but these proved to bring death too quickly. Crucifixion involved nakedness, hours under a burning sun, jeering crowds, and physical torment beyond description. By the time of the Romans, crucifixion had become a science. Soldiers trained in its techniques followed specific rules as enemies of the Roman Empire lay victim of this evil. Why in one day more than 6,000 men suffered death by crucifixion following the revolt by Spartacus.
Jesus of Nazareth likewise suffered at the hands of these experts of the craft of crucifixion He was bludgeoned, brutally beaten, bloody beyond recognition Thorns some four to six inches in length tore into His scalp, protruding to form His crown. Jagged pottery and rocks knotted into leather cords of a whip lashed across His flesh. In this condition He was expected to carry a crossbeam through the streets of Jerusalem to Golgatha, the place of the skull. After five inch stakes were driven into His wrists, He was hoisted up against an upright pole or tree. A larger stake was pounded through His overlapped feet.
Horror ensued as Jesus found His arms in a "V" position, paralyzing the pectoral muscles. Able to draw in air but not exhale, relief came only with pressing down on the stake holding His feet. For three hours this went on. Jesus moaned from the depths of His being. Not as others who died by crucifixion, Jesus, very God and very Man, had laid upon Him the sin and iniquity of humanity. This singular, sacrificial victim, this Lamb of God, experienced the shame of the cross as the Father turned away from His own Son, now made sin. Jesus was forsaken. In wrenching agony He committed His spirit into the hands of His Father and died. He bore the shame that comes as the consequence of sin and guilt.
Secondly, He bore the curse. (See Deuteronomy 28.) In suffering such total humiliation, He became a curse for those who would live by faith in Him. The just shall live by faith. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, Paul tells us in Galatians 3.13, 14 having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hands on a tree’), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Shame, falling out of favor with God, not knowing the glory of God, being driven from His presence, is the curse. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 6.23).
Thirdly, Christ died outside the camp. On the Day of Atonement the bodies of the animals whose blood was brought into the sanctuary, into the Holy of Holies. by the high priest for sin were burned outside the camp (Leviticus 16.14, 27). Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate (Hebrews 13.12). Jesus was crucified outside the city of Jerusalem (John 19.16, 17). He bore reproach as the Sin-bearer. He suffered shame.
Jesus Christ is God’s answer to shame. Jesus became sin that through His shame those who believe in Him, repenting of their sins, might receive the favor, the glory of God. In Jesus, God offers the only way to remove shame. In an obedience to His Father that took Him to the experience of suffering the humiliation of the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the wrath of God, the agony of rejected love, the curse of the Law. Outside the camp, He took the reproach, the rejection, the consequence of sin, the shame.
Isaiah 65.12-16 contrasts the servants of the Lord God with those who did not answer when He called, did not hear when He spoke, chose that in which He does not delight, did evil before His eyes. In contrast to those who forsake the Lord, God’s servants eat while the others remain hungry. God’s servants drink while the others remain thirsty. God’s servants rejoice while the others remain in their shame. God’s servants sing for joy of heart while the others cry for sorrow of heart and wail for grief of spirit. God’s servants bless themselves in the God of truth. Indeed, for those who serve God, the former troubles are forgotten because they are hidden from God’s eyes.
God turns the captivity of shame to glory according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1.12) that those called by the gospel might obtain of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2.14). For the shame of sin and its consequent sufferings, God grants favor (Luke 4.18, 19). God turns shame into praise and renown.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak; The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
"I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly, who are among you, to whom its reproach is a burden. Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, and gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame." Zephaniah 3.16-19
How can these things be? The answer is found in Jesus Christ You can be delivered from shame by understanding and embracing in faith three great truths of the gospel of grace. Let’s look at them briefly.
First, Jesus bore the inherent shame of the cross itself. He endured the cross, despising its shame (Hebrews 12.2). The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1.18
The Phoenicians were the first to devise the art of crucifixion. Their goal was to find a slow, humiliating way of death fit for punishing criminals. They had experimented with drowning, burning, boiling in oil, strangulation, death by spear, and impalement, but these proved to bring death too quickly. Crucifixion involved nakedness, hours under a burning sun, jeering crowds, and physical torment beyond description. By the time of the Romans, crucifixion had become a science. Soldiers trained in its techniques followed specific rules as enemies of the Roman Empire lay victim of this evil. Why in one day more than 6,000 men suffered death by crucifixion following the revolt by Spartacus.
Jesus of Nazareth likewise suffered at the hands of these experts of the craft of crucifixion He was bludgeoned, brutally beaten, bloody beyond recognition Thorns some four to six inches in length tore into His scalp, protruding to form His crown. Jagged pottery and rocks knotted into leather cords of a whip lashed across His flesh. In this condition He was expected to carry a crossbeam through the streets of Jerusalem to Golgatha, the place of the skull. After five inch stakes were driven into His wrists, He was hoisted up against an upright pole or tree. A larger stake was pounded through His overlapped feet.
Horror ensued as Jesus found His arms in a "V" position, paralyzing the pectoral muscles. Able to draw in air but not exhale, relief came only with pressing down on the stake holding His feet. For three hours this went on. Jesus moaned from the depths of His being. Not as others who died by crucifixion, Jesus, very God and very Man, had laid upon Him the sin and iniquity of humanity. This singular, sacrificial victim, this Lamb of God, experienced the shame of the cross as the Father turned away from His own Son, now made sin. Jesus was forsaken. In wrenching agony He committed His spirit into the hands of His Father and died. He bore the shame that comes as the consequence of sin and guilt.
Secondly, He bore the curse. (See Deuteronomy 28.) In suffering such total humiliation, He became a curse for those who would live by faith in Him. The just shall live by faith. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, Paul tells us in Galatians 3.13, 14 having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hands on a tree’), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Shame, falling out of favor with God, not knowing the glory of God, being driven from His presence, is the curse. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 6.23).
Thirdly, Christ died outside the camp. On the Day of Atonement the bodies of the animals whose blood was brought into the sanctuary, into the Holy of Holies. by the high priest for sin were burned outside the camp (Leviticus 16.14, 27). Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate (Hebrews 13.12). Jesus was crucified outside the city of Jerusalem (John 19.16, 17). He bore reproach as the Sin-bearer. He suffered shame.
Jesus Christ is God’s answer to shame. Jesus became sin that through His shame those who believe in Him, repenting of their sins, might receive the favor, the glory of God. In Jesus, God offers the only way to remove shame. In an obedience to His Father that took Him to the experience of suffering the humiliation of the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the wrath of God, the agony of rejected love, the curse of the Law. Outside the camp, He took the reproach, the rejection, the consequence of sin, the shame.
Monday, March 28, 2011
If there is anything good that happens in life it's from Jesus.
John 10:9-11 (New International Version, ©2011)
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Let's rememebr that when bad things happen, and they do. Things that are not just dumb mistakes or causes of entropy, but things that are willfully done for evil come from Satan. The Bible points out that the thief (Satans) work is to steal kill and destroy. Every instance of these actions involved with the human race is a result of the work of the Devil, or enemy if you are in the Kingdom of God. This is his work he is constantly looking to destroy good.
We often cannot understand how a person can do evil as it seems to not be in us (remember it isnt in you if you are a new creation). Those who are not new creations, however, are described as we once we, in Romans 3:9-11 (New International Version, ©2011)
When we see the works of the enemy (Satan), whether it is violence, pride, vanity, self worship, or anything that takes glory from God and brings evil to his creation we can see the enemy for who he really is. Do not see that God is causing some trouble for you to learn from, it is not God. It says in James 1:16-18 (New International Version, ©2011)
If it is good it is from God. If it is evil it is from the enemy of your soul, your body, and your spirit. The son in the Kingdom of God can find comfort here:
1 John 5:3-5 (New International Version, ©2011)
3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Let's rememebr that when bad things happen, and they do. Things that are not just dumb mistakes or causes of entropy, but things that are willfully done for evil come from Satan. The Bible points out that the thief (Satans) work is to steal kill and destroy. Every instance of these actions involved with the human race is a result of the work of the Devil, or enemy if you are in the Kingdom of God. This is his work he is constantly looking to destroy good.
1 Peter 5:8 (New International Version, ©2011)says,
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
We often cannot understand how a person can do evil as it seems to not be in us (remember it isnt in you if you are a new creation). Those who are not new creations, however, are described as we once we, in Romans 3:9-11 (New International Version, ©2011)
No One Is RighteousDispite what secular humanism would teach us, there is no good in everyone. The potential people have to to become good, through the new birth in the belief in Jesus Christ.
9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
C.S. Lewis says, ""[Pain] removes the veil; it plants the flag of truth within the fortress of a rebel soul." --The Problem of Pain
When we see the works of the enemy (Satan), whether it is violence, pride, vanity, self worship, or anything that takes glory from God and brings evil to his creation we can see the enemy for who he really is. Do not see that God is causing some trouble for you to learn from, it is not God. It says in James 1:16-18 (New International Version, ©2011)
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
If it is good it is from God. If it is evil it is from the enemy of your soul, your body, and your spirit. The son in the Kingdom of God can find comfort here:
1 John 5:3-5 (New International Version, ©2011)
3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Friday, March 11, 2011
It's Near
PepsiCo. and other food companies are under pressure from the White House to make their products healthier. = End Times
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Old things
People in general America have a fascination with the new. New computer, new phones, new books, new dirotos flavors, name it there is likely a new. This really isn't at all superising knowing that we are created to embrace a new creation state.
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