Death becomes our footstool

We use to say that two things are sure in life. We all have to die and pay taxes !

But did you know that there are many living today who may never see death? The Bible says that the last enemy to be conquered is death..

Matthew 22:43-44 KJV

He says unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool?

Hebrews 1:13 KJV

But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies thy footstool?

What was the enemies that God would make a footstool for Jesus? I believe it was sin, sickness and death and this is confirmed in this next passage.

1 Corinthians 15:24-26   Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

The enemy to be destroyed is death! Death will become His footstool and it will, become our footstool as well because we are His body and everything under His feet is also everything now under our feet.

Ephesians 1:18-23  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places , Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,which is his body, the fulness of him that fills all in all. …

Everything under His feet is also under our feet because we are in Him and His body.

Over and over in scripture it speaks of the enemy becoming the footstool.. What is a footstool for? It’s for Resting.. When one sits down and they get real comfortable they often get a footstool to plop their feet on and get real comfortable. Today in Christ we are made to sit down with Him and our feet are resting on our enemies. Things that use to be an issue are no longer an issue at all.

Sin is not an issue it’s our footstool, today we have forgiveness of all sins and dominion over sin because we are now in Christ and we are seated with Him.. When He sat down , we sat down with Him.

In these last days we will see our last enemy as our footstool and the Last enemy is death… As we sit and rest in Christ and in His  righteousness then death becomes our foot stool.. Death is the last enemy to be defeated in these last days . The Bible speaks about those who are alive and remain at the coming of the Lord will be caught up with those who have fallen to sleep in Christ.  Those who are alive and remain today could be those who actually see the complete fulfillment of making the last enemy our footstool and conquered death .. The more we walk in grace and receive the gift of no condemnation then the more we will keep death at bay.. The more we embrace the reality truth that  we are forgiven and  healed and we rest and embrace these promises then the more that death  will be swallowed up in victory.

As we move into a greater revelation of God’s grace and the resurrection life of Christ that we will then see  death swallowed up by His life!

The Bible says that right now in Christ we who have believed have already been made to sit down with Christ in heavenly places.

 

Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

 

Jesus by himself purged our sins forever and then sat down and raised up together with Him and made us to sit down with Him. This is a present reality truth that God wants us to believe.. because it is true!

Now did Jesus conquer death? Yes! And now where does Jesus live? In us ! And if that same spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in is he too will make alive your mortal body by His Spirit in us.. Romans 8:11

The more we rest then the more God works. God is like the life guard that tells the drowning man quit splashing and instead hold on to my life.. We are saved and transformed by his life.. But we must stop splashing around in fear trying to save ourselves and cling to the only one who can.

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

It’s as we walk in grace and faith righteousness that we will rein in this life Romans 5:17. We will then begin to rule over sickness and even death but it is only by faith that these promises are realized. Many Christians today do not partake of all they have been given in Christ because they do not understand or believe all that Christ died to give us

1 Corinthians 11:29-30 For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Many today are sick and see the grave early because they have not properly discerned the Lords body, in other words they do not understand what The Lord fully accomplished for them when He took the stripes on His back and was nailed to the cross.

Psalm 103:2-3   Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; …

God not only forgave all our sins but He also provided away for us to be healed of all our diseases but because many do not know this or believe it they fall prey to sickness and even die earlier then God intended ..

Gods desire is to renew our youth and to give us a long good life

Psalm 91 With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

 

Psalm 103:4-5 KJV

Who redeems thy life from destruction; who crowns thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Bible says that those who wait on the Lord shall mount up with wings as eagles.

Isaiah 40:29-31

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

To wait means to look to The Lord with anticipation of receiving from Him.. Gods grace is available to every one of us, to strengthen us and yes even to renew our youth ..

I believe that many are going to have such an incredible revelations of  the finished work of Jesus  and of  Gods grace in these last day that age will begin to reverse and even death kept at bay!

Could it be possible that many will live longer and longer in the last days? Yes remember before the flood most lived up to 900 years old !  Adam lived to be 930 years old ! And this was after the fall and when sin was rampant in the earth! Noah himself was 600  years old when he finished  building the ark.. It interesting to note that Noah’s name means rest.. Noah found grace in the eyes of The Lord.. Rest will always find grace..  As we begin to rest in the finished work of Christ and receive the free gift of no condemnation that our youth could be renewed ..

It was only until right before the flood that God himself and because of rampant sin limited mans days to 120 ! 120 was not a blessing it was actually a judgment.. To keep man from self destruction..

Genesis 6:3   And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

After the law was given then mans years were even shortened more to around 70 to 80 years old. why is this because condemnation through the law brings death.

In 2 Corinthians 3  says that the law is the ministry of condemnation and death..

Many today die early from disease or dis-ease because of fear and condemnation. One of the healthiest things that we can do besides eating right is to believe right! As we believe the words of God it will bring health to our mortal bodies. Proverbs 4:22

Romans 8:11   And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.

Is it possible that our physical bodies could actually be restored by the power of Christ’s resurrected Spirit that now lives in us? Yes. I believe it is.

Jesus demonstrated power over death many times during His earthly ministry.. Jesus now holds the keys of death.. And Jesus now lives in all who believe..

John 11:25-26  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that be

Believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: [26] And whosoever liveth and believes in me shall never die.

John 11:43-44  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. [44] And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Listen I believe that before the rapture many might even come out of the graves! and walk around as a last day witness to bring people to Christ..

This has already happened once and could be a shadow of things to come in the very last days.

In Matthew we see that Jesus wasn’t the only one who rose from the grave!

Matthew 27:50-53   Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

In the last days it could be possible that many who are in the grave now will be raised back up and appear as a witness for Christ…again showing that Jesus indeed does have power over death.

Satan no longer has the keys of death, Jesus does..

Revelation 1:18  And the Ever-living One I am living in the eternity of the eternities. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead).

Christ conquered death and now holds the keys of death .. The sting of death has been taken away from those who are now in Christ..  Jesus took the sting out of death, Death is now i no Big deal for those who are in Christ when they  pass it’s simply  like going to sleep.. And waking back up .. In His  Kingdom..

1 Thessalonians 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57  Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. …

This could be the generation that sees no grave.. If you have already bought a plot .. I’m just saying , You may not need it…

 

 

Christian Universalist Deception

Did Christ pay for everyone’s sins? Doers God desire all to be saved? Is Grace for everyone? Yes ! but grace must be received through faith to be appropriated, How are we born again? Are we all born again automatically as soon as we are born into this world?  No we are born again and receive the nature of Christ as we believe the truth of the gospel and receive the free gift of righteousness from God.

We are not just saved by grace we are saved by grace through faith…

To believe all are automatically saved regardless of how they believe you’d have to commit intellectual suicide. You have to take out all Scriptures dealing with regeneration, with heaven and hell, with being born again of the Spirit

Universalism will often take scripture out of context which can at first appear true but is not consistent with scripture. For example: 1 Corinthians 15:22 As in Adam all died so now in Christ shall all be made alive.

Universalism believes that as In Adam all died, now all are automatically made now made alive in Christ. That is everyone is saved and in Christ, they just don’t know it. They must be awakened to the new nature that they already have .But are all really born again when they are born into this world? Is everyone automatically saved? Or are they saved only when they believe the gospel ?

According to the Universalist then Hitler and Stalin were even in Christ they just didn’t know it! You can see that this belief can get you way out in la la land real quick.

Jeremiah 13:23 said can a leopard change his spots ? No ! Neither could we change our own nature passed down to us from Adam.. We good could do good works but all the good works could never change our nature.. Something else besides good needed to happen. This is what Christ came to do.. As in Adam all died now in Christ all will be made alive but this new nature is only realized as we see our need for Christ and believe into Him. Not everyone is born automatically with the new nature of Christ. This is completely contrary to scripture. Romans 8:

Universalism is just a another deception of the enemy to keep multitudes away from acknowledging the truth, away from Christ and keep them dead in their sin. Universalism declares that all saved no matter what they believe ! All roads still lead to heaven No matter what you believe. You will be in Gods kingdom no matter what, but is this really what Christ taught ? Did Jesus say that he was just another way ?or  the only way?

 

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus is not a way but the only way to the father. Jesus is the only way the truth and the life.

Does God want to come into our lives and make us new in Christ ? Yes he does

But we must open the door and invite him in. God gave us a free will to choose.. life or death

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Ephesians 1:1-5. We see incredible promises that are all ours but this was addressed to the saints who were in Christ not to the aints who were not yet in Christ.

Ephesians 1:1-14   Greeting Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful a in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.  In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee d of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. …

Does God desire to bless us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places ? Yes He does but this only happens as we hear the word of truth about the gospel and believe in Jesus.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Jesus has paid the price for all sin and we do have an inheritance from God but we must believe and receive for these promises for them to become a reality our lives.

John 8:23-24 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

Jesus makes it pretty clear here that unless you believe in Him for righteousness forgiveness that you will die in your sins.. He didn’t say tht if you didn’t believe Him that it was all good because you are still saved

We must believe the gospel before Gods power can work in our lives.

Romans 1:16   For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 8:9 But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the Holy Spirit of God really dwells within you directs and controls you. But if anyone does not possess the Holy Spirit of Christ, he is none of His he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God.

Does everyone have the Spirit of Christ? no Do all belong to Christ no. The only ones who have the new nature are those who have been born of the Spirit and made new 2 Corinthinas5:17

Is everyone saved? No was Hitler saved I don’t think so ! was Stalin saved?  Is salvation available to all the Hitler’s and Stalin’s, Yes! But only those who believe and receive the gift will be saved and receive the Spirit of Christ, and let me just say once you are born again He will change your desires and your desire will not be to kill and slaughter people.

We are saved by grace but it’s through faith. You have to believe

Romans 10:1-3 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Religion cannot save you, that’s why Jesus told Nicodemus you must be born again . He didn’t tell Nicodemus you will automatically be born again.. He said you must believe., To be born again .

John 3:3  Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:4-8 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’  The wind e blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life, For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

God desires all to be born again but the new birth only comes as we believe.

Romans 10:9-13 Says 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 believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 God will save us but we do have to call , confess and respond to the truth that Christ is our redeemer and our righteousness.

1 Timothy 2:4 God desires all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

God desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth , are all are saved?  Then why is God still sending out his people to proclaim the truth of the gospel so that men would believe and be saved?  What’s the point?

2 Peter 3:3-9 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

If all are automatically saved then what does God have to be patient about? What is He waiting for? God  is waiting for men to believe and be saved! To come into the ark.. Those outside the ark which is the ark is a  type of Christ will experience the final wrath and judgment of God.. The door of grace is now wide open for whoever desires to come into Christ may come and once you’re in, then you are in and sealed by the Holy Spirit but the choice is still yours.. If you believe that all roads lead to heaven no matter what you believe you could be disappointed, but all who believe in Christ will never be ashamed.

 

 

The Power Of Imagination

The definition of  imagination : Is the ability to form new images and sensations in the mind that are not perceived through senses such as sight 

Imagination is a very powerful force that God has given to each of  us that can be used to either bring life or death  depending on what our imagination is set on.

2 Corinthians 10:5  says that we are to  Cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

The Bible says that we are to cast down every evil imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of God..What is an evil imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of God?

An evil imagination is imagining things that are contrary to God’s word, for example an evil imagination can be a born again believer that sees himself unworthy and unrighteous even though Gods word says  the very opposite of this.

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Proverbs 23:7 says as a man thinks in his own heart so is he. So we see by this verse crucial it is for us to see ourselves the way God see us. If we see ourselves as an unworthy sinner that’s just saved by grace then that’s what will manifest in and through our lives, but if we see ourselves the way that God sees us and that is a brand new creation in Christ then that’s what will manifest in and through our lives.

If you are  born again and in Christ then you are righteous period and there is nothing that can undo or unravel your new righteous nature in Christ… In other words you are not righteous one day and unrighteous the next ! Your righteousness is not based on your performance but on the obedience of  one man who is Jesus . Jesus  took our sin and became sin that  we might might become the righteousness of God in Him ( 2 Corinthians 5:21)  but if  satan can make you believe the lie that your righteousness is based on your own performance then he  can keep you  bound in false condemnation and on shaky ground.  If satan  can cause you to  agree with him and imagine  that your a no good lousy, unclean, rotten person that God  just tolerates and is disappointed with  most of the time ,then satan can also keep you from confidently partaking in the kingdom of God and the divine nature that you now have in Christ.

God never wants us to call unclean what He has made clean or unrighteous , what Jesus has already made righteous.. I’m reminded about the vision that God gave to Peter concerning the Gentiles.

Acts 10:15  ( amp )And the voice came to him again a second time, What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, do not you defile and profane by regarding and calling common and unhallowed or unclean.

If you ever  hear a little voice that says your no good, Gods not happy with you, your unclean then tell that voice to take a hike! And say what God has cleansed and pronounced clean I will not call unclean! Instead agree and confess what Gods word says you are ” I am the righteousness of God in Christ old things have passed way and all things have been made new and now nothing will ever be able to separate me from the love of God that’s in Christ Jesus! What God has  made clean I w refuse to call unclean and who God has made righteous I refuse to call unrighteous.

The Bible said  it was through one mans disobedience that many were made unrighteous but it was through one mans obedience who is Christ  that many will be made righteous. Romans 5:17.

This is why Gods word tells us in  2 Corinthians 10:5  to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ because it’s  only through Christ obedience that we have been made righteous.

Again satan knows the power of imagination that it can either be used to build up or to destroy  so satan uses the power of imagination to  get people to imagine  things about themselves that are not true , which then puts them on a path of condemnation and self destruction.

I heard a story the other day about a beautiful young lady that said when she was in high school and a cheerleader in top fit condition that one day a young man came up to her with a drawing of her that made her  look much larger then she really was, the young man then began to tell her ” this is what you really look like from behind!”  Well  what the boy had drawn wasn’t at all true, but the young lady began to imagine it was true to the point that it eventually lead her into a severe eating disorder that almost killed her.. Most eating disorders are based on false imaginations. They see themselves fat even though they are skin and bones .. This is the power of imagination that satan often uses to kill , steal and to destroy people. This young lady eventually received Christ and the lie was broken over her life! She said that after she found her new identification in Christ that she began to see the truth about who she was and what God had created her to be. She now shares her testimony around the country helping to break the false imaginations and lies off of  others who have found themselves trapped in the same demise as she was.

The power of imagination reminds me about a familiar story in the book of Genesis when a group of people got together and decided to build a tower that would reach heaven.

Genesis 11:4-6 AMP

And they said, Come, let us build us a city and a tower whose top reaches into the sky, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered over the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the Lord said, Behold, they are one people and they have a all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible for them.

God said that nothing they have imagined to do will be impossible for them! This shows the power of imagination at work.

God actually came down and confused their language because if He wouldn’t have then they would have continued to build things and do things out of their own imagination that they were not ordained by God  to do.

Today many things today have been built out of mans sheer imagination in the name of God  and for God but God really had nothing to do with the inspiration behind these things. Many things have been more the result of mans good Idea rather then Gods inspired Idea. Another  trick of the enemy is to get the church busily involved in all types of programs and building projects that again are more good ideas then God ideas. A lot of money and time has been wasted on man trying to build things to really make more of a name for himself then for the glory of the Lord

So what about a Godly  imagination ?  What is a Godly imagination? A Godly imagination is an imagination that is in harmony with the knowledge and the will of God. A Godly imagination always begins by agreeing and responding to the word of God . Once we agree  with Gods word then its through Godly imagination that we will then begin to take hold of and see the promise before it actually manifests in the physical realm .We see many examples of how Gods people began to see Gods promises  in their imagination before they actually saw the manifestation of what had been promised into the physical realm

Hebrews 11:7    Says by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith

Noah saw the flood before it came, how did he see it? He saw it in his imagination as he first believed Gods word and moved to build an ark.

Hebrews 11:10  says that Abraham … looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. How did Abraham see this city that would come in the future ?  He saw it as he believed Gods word and moved out in what God had shown him to do.

Hebrews 11:11 says that by faith  Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

How did Sarah receive strength to conceive in her ripe old age? She choose to first believe Gods promise and then she saw herself having a child in her old age just as the Lord had promised.

Whatever God has promised,  He then wants us to see ourselves  already having obtained the promise. For example , God does not want us  to ever imagine ourselves sick, busted and defeated! He wants us to see ourselves , healthy , righteous , and strong ! God says let the weak say I am strong and let the poor say I am rich.

Its as we see in our imagination  what God has already given to us by promise,  that we will  then see  manifestation of  His promise come to past.

Hebrews 11:1 confirms this truth. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

Again the enemy knows the power of Godly imagination so he is always busy trying to sew things  into our hearts that will cause us to then imagine things that are not true and that in turn will keep us  distracted and bound?

Often times Christians will meditate more on the news  more then they will on the word  and then they begin to imagine the things coming into the world are going to happen to them , so instead of moving in faith they are often moving in fear.

Many Christians soak in TV commercials  that  then sew things into their hearts about sickness and disease until they begin to imagine themselves getting sick.. Any time I hear a commercial talk about the flu season I turn the channel ! I say no way not me ! By the stripes of Jesus I was healed 2000 years ago.. I am not going to imagine myself sick and diseased but healthy and whole!

satan knows the power of imagination so this is what he uses to try and  put us on a course of self destruction and defeat .. satan always comes to kill steal and destroy and the most effective way he does this is through our own imagination.

This is why Gods word tells us to immediately  cast down every evil imagination that would try and exalt itself against the knowledge of God.

Now I’m not saying that all video games  are evil but the violence on many of these video games today have proven to be very harmful and have actually become  the root cause for even some young people to then move out and act out what they were imagining on the games!

If you Imagine yourself poor  and no good then thats probably what you are going to become. The Bible says whatever we behold is what will eventually manifest in our lives. If we say things like  I’m no good white  trailer trash ! Then that’s probably what will manifest in our lives. I’m reminded about a scene in a movie called remember the Titans where a very large white boy on the football  team comes in and tells the coach  ” I’m no good white trailer trash ! The coach then puts his  arm around him and begins to speak life and hope telling him that he was not who he said he was and that he was smart and would be very successful in life.. As the young man listened to the coach’s words and began to see in his imagination  that  what the coach had spoken over him  was true , his entire continence began to  change from one of  hopelessness and despair to confidence and life.. This is the power of the word and  imagination..

This is why it’s so important for us to preach  and teach the hope of the gospel into peoples hearts. Most in the world today do not really know how God sees them or even feels about them. They often see whatever  the world has been telling them but we have the good news and with words of life we can see people come out of despair and in to Gods  life

What is a Godly imagination? It’s believing and seeing who God says you are in Christ in spite of how your see yourself .. As you see yourself the way God sees you it will transform your life .

 

Greasy Grace Church

Do you really understand how important to me the title of this Blog post is?  If you had any idea how God has changed my theology over the past couple of years, your head would literally spin!  Actually even six months ago you would have never seen me preach and teach some of the things I am preaching and teaching today.  What happened to me?  The only answer is more of Jesus!

I used to preach against the so called, “Greasy Grace Churches!”  I didn’t have too much use for them because I felt that they were just trying to draw large crowds to a message of sin and compromise.  I would hear some of these pastors on TV and I would do nothing but criticise them and write them off as worm wood!  Now, just look at me….I’m one of them!  People are now writing me off as worm wood!  Wow!

I have a dream burning in my spirit…it’s a dream of awesomeness, not mine, but God’s wonderful awesomeness! My dream is to see thousands of people drawn to our area, being drawn by the freedom that only the New Covenant can give.  I want to see folks understanding the true love of God.  I want to see those who have no faith in Christ be told that they are loved by God, that He has already taken care of their sins and that by simple faith in Christ that they too can go forward into all of the wonder that livng in Grace gives, and then watch the Holy Spirit totally transform their lives!

I want to see those who have been beaten down with religion come alive!  My heart aches for those who are being taught that they are such rotten people. I hurt for those who are trying very desperately to “serve the Lord!”  I want to see condemnation broken off of everyone, especially off the Household of Faith!  I know too many Saints who feel that they can never measure up, that living for God is just too demanding!

I want to see all of those who have been hurt by religion come into true freedom in the Lord.  I especially want to see all of those that I have hurt in the past, by my religious teachings, thoughts and life, come into true freedom and function as the living, breathing Body of Christ on this earth! For the thousands of people who love God, but have been hurt by the Church, even in our region of Florida, I want to see them fully functioning as Christ’s Ambassadors on this earth.  They have so much to offer to the world, but because of their hurts and pains are staying away from church because they have not truly found the true Church!  Know what I mean?

Sunday morning as my wife was teaching such a wonderful Grace filled lesson, my heart began to ache for all of those who do not understand what it is that we are teaching.  I pray that they too will be able to see Grace, to understand the New Covenant, and to be able to go forth in total victory over religion!

Yes, I want our little church here in Citrus County, Florida to become a true “Greasy Grace Church!” Oh…before I forget to mention this, my last thought here, some would say, “Now Brother Larry, you can’t go too far into this Grace thing because people will abuse it, you know!”  You know what I think of that type of statement, by the way, one of the most used arguements by those who detract from the Grace message?  I think that the true abuse comes from Religion.  A system that keeps God’s people trying to perform, trying to please the Lord, etc., that is the true abuse!  I trust the Holy Spirit to keep those who truly understand New Covenant Grace…I trust Him to keep us all going on the even keel.  When we get off the mark, He’ll bring us back!  Yes He will and He does….He keeps our ship floating rightly!

Grace and Peace! Article by  Dr. Larry Sivermen

Greasy Grace

The accusation of “greasy grace” is prevalent among those who resist the message of grace! The term has been adopted by those who feel the message of grace somehow promotes an irresponsible lifestyle or what some call “easy believism.” In fact, some feel they must attack what they believe to be a destructive error in the body of Christ! But their accusations are not new; they are, in fact, as old as the Gospel itself!

The accusations against the proponents of Grace have been around since the Apostle Paul declared it. He too was accused of promoting sin and reckless living. Listen to what he said, And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned (Rom 3:8, NLT). Almost 2000 years ago his detractors assaulted him with the same accusations that are being leveled today. In his case, it was often the Judaizer, the legalist who believed on Jesus but rejected faith righteousness, that attacked and slandered this Gospel.

The starting place of unraveling the conflict over the grace message begins with a Biblical definition of grace. Religion has narrowed the application of grace to something that only occurs at the new birth. By so doing they narrow the definition and what we expect from God. The current accepted definition of grace is simply unmerited favor. This is not a wrong definition as much as it is an incomplete definition. According to the best resources available grace has a very broad meaning of divine favor, power, ability, capacity, strength, influence on the heart, that which causes joy, and that which comes by unmerited favor.

In Romans 5:1 Paul identifies grace as that which makes us able to stand. Throughout his writings he closely links grace with faith righteousness. When we accept righteousness as a gift from the finished work of the Lord Jesus, we then realize grace is the power and capacity that works in our heart and gives us the power to stand, or live in that righteousness. This becomes even clearer as Paul emphasized in the book of Galatians that apart from grace we are left to seek righteousness in our own strength. Apart from grace our only option is what the Bible calls dead works. Dead works are not the bad things we do, they are the good things and the religious things that we believe will make us righteous; which is synonymous with the rejection of Jesus. After all, if man could have been made righteous by his strength he had no need for a Savior, therefore Jesus died in vain! If righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain (Gal. 2:21).

For all these centuries the battle against grace has actually been an argument in favor of legalism, although many anti-grace people would never see themselves as legalists. It has been a lack of faith in the finished work of Jesus and His ability to work in the hearts of believers. The argument always sounds noble, after all, how could one be wrong if they are battling for people to live more godly lives? They even insist on living this more godly life for the glory of God! But that is the issue! Righteousness accomplished by our works does not glorify God; it glorifies man and counts as nothing the blood of the Lord Jesus!

The Apostle labeled works righteousness as a horrendous heresy worthy of the worst punishment from God (Gal 1:6-9). While making men religiously pious, it actually separated them from Christ. In Galatians Paul makes it clear that this is the work of men who do not believe the Gospel. Their primary motive is clearly the desire for the control of others! In 1 Cor. 15:56, Paul clearly warns that law, the attempt to be made righteous through personal effort, is the power of sin and it alienates us from grace (Gal 2:21), the only power able to overcome sin! If grace is God’s ability and power to live in righteousness we must look in faith to the power that raised Christ from the dead to raise us up in this newness of life!

In Paul’s case, his attackers had absolutely no excuse. They were blatantly opposed to the work of Christ and the New Covenant. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for those who consider themselves to preachers of grace today. Many who preach “grace” seem to be confused about its Biblical meaning and its inalienable connection to faith righteousness! Some water down the message of grace. Some mix it in with heresies like Ultimate Reconciliation and Inclusion. Many years ago, while conducting several meetings with a fellow minister, I would have people come to me after the services and say, “When Brother _______ preaches I feel like it’s alright to sin, but when you preach I feel like I can overcome sin.” Too often supposed grace preachers leave the believer feeling that sin has no destructive power. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

The reason we need grace is because it is the only power that will deliver us from sin and its destructive power. The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). God sent Jesus to deliver us from death, by delivering us from the power of sin. But He also came that we might have life to its fullest!  That doesn’t happen just because we are delivered from sin. It only happens when we live in the power of righteousness! Apart from grace we are no more capable of winning over sin as Christians than we were as sinners. Those who seek to alienate us from grace unwittingly bind us to the power of sin by alienating us from the power of righteousness!

A major confusion concerning the message of grace is when ministers use it synonymous with mercy. When grace and mercy are presented as synonymous one gets the idea that grace is not God’s power to get you out of sin, but instead His ability to overlook your sin. Thayer’s Lexicon gives this as a definition of mercy: kindness or good will toward the miserable and afflicted joined with a desire to relieve them. Eph 2:4-5 says, But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us. God is compelled by His love to deliver us when we struggle with sin, thus He offers grace: the power, ability and capacity to live in righteousness, given freely and with no merit of our own! It is all about God and His loving nature! However, when mercy and grace become synonymous there is compassion for those who fail, but there is no power to overcome!

When mercy and grace are seen as they truly are, we have the perfect picture of a God who always loves us, but is always calling and empowering us to break free from the power of sin. Mercy and grace are both indispensable realities. Because God is merciful when we do not deserve it, He continues to offer us grace, i.e. the power to overcome sin by the power of righteousness.

Regardless of those who abuse the message we cannot use that as our excuse to reject any aspect of the New Covenant. To do so reflects a deeper corrupt motive. Maybe it comes from the need to protect our doctrine. Possibly, we are more concerned about our egos than we are the truth. Or perhaps it is an issue of codependent control. The message of grace will make people depend more on God than on me and I may no longer be the hero. I will lose my ability to control their life. Regardless of the reason the abuse of a message by some never gives us the right to reject the message!

But there is an even bigger picture. There is more at stake than we have imagined. Grace is the power to live, do and be all that God has promised in the Covenant that was established in the blood of Jesus. Salvation is far more than just the “born again” experience. The word salvation means, saved, healed, delivered, blessed, prospered, protected, and made whole, set apart and all else that comes to us in Christ. Eph 2:8 says, by grace you have been saved through faith. So now we realize, I am saved, healed, delivered, blessed, prospered, protected, made whole and set apart by grace! Without grace I have no capacity or power to experience any of what God has promised. Everything God offers me is a work of God’s grace that I receive by faith. Apart from grace I am alienated from healing, prosperity, peace and the thousands of promises that belong to the believer.

Those who preach grace as mercy, or any hint of irresponsibility must repent and publicly correct their erroneous doctrine. Likewise those who oppose and speak against grace must repent of their doubt and publicly rectify their error. Both sides of this conflict are destroying innocent people who are looking to us to point them to the Life promised in the Lord Jesus! And we all should seek to know and experience God’s grace by first believing in the gift of righteousness offered to us in the Lord Jesus. Then, we should expect God to manifest His power of righteousness in us! This is the power and hope of the Gospel preached by the Apostle Paul and promised by the Lord Jesus!

Regardless of our reason, resisting the doctrine of grace is tantamount to resisting God. There is no separating God from His word. The Psalmist declared the connection between His Word and His name. For You have magnified Your word above all Your name (Ps 138:2). When any truth is presented in the Word of God there really is no option but to accept it, believe it and allow God to instruct us in its application. Regardless of our confusion or opinion, if Jesus is Lord, and if we are believers, we will trust and submit to His Lordship, and we will give ourselves fully to the truth.  Article by Jim Richards

The Born Identity

The Born Identity
The number one theft in the world today is Identity theft.. If a thief can steal your identify then he can ruin your credit and cause a lot of hardship , chaos and frustration to come into your life..
Many Christian’s today live a very defeated ,frustrated and even a spiritually bankrupt life that’s full of chaos because the thief has made them blind to what God has already given them in Christ. Today Re- Discover your new born Identity in Christ and be free from the lies of the thief .

John 10:10                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Satan is a thief and one of the main things that he is after is to steal your identify in Christ

Satan does not want us to know who we are in Christ , because he knows once we see this it’s game over for him.

Once we see our true identity in Christ then the condemner can never condemn us again because we know that we have already been made to be the righteousness of God in Christ and that now there is now no condemnation for those in Christ.

Once we awake to our true identify in Christ we will then see our selves , righteous, holy and complete in Christ.. because as He is so are we now in this life.

It’s as we see ourselves already complete in Christ that we can then cease from all our striving to become like what God has already made us to be in Christ  and instead walk in the Peace  and Rest that God has called us to walk in.. Many Christians lack peace because they are still trying to become what God has already made them to be.

The quicker that we can simply acknowledge and believe who we already are right now in Christ then the quicker that we will then be able to effectively reach others for Christ.

Philemon 1:6 KJV

That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

The most effective way for us to communicate our faith to the world is by agreeing with God about what He has already created us to be in Christ.. The most in affective way that we communicate our faith is to not be in agreement with who God says we are in Christ..

When the world looks at us what do they see? Do they see a poor, struggling,condemned fearful person trying their best to become like Jesus? Or do they see a a person who is full of life, joy,confidence ,peace and rest ?

When we ask the world to come to Jesus what do they see that we are inviting them into ? Do they see us inviting them into our fears, struggles and condemnation or into His rest ? What did Jesus invite people too?

Matthew 11:28-30 (Amp) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will o ease and relieve and p refresh q your souls.Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, t good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

Jesus invited people to a place of rest and peace, not more struggle.. Maybe more people would be interested in receiving what we had if they saw what we had was actually a better then what they had.

It is only as we see our new Born Identify in Christ that we will ever experience lasting peace and rest for our souls.

2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP

Therefore if any person is ingrafted in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old previous moral and spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

If you are born again , then you may look the same outside but you are not the same inside! You are a brand new creation in Christ , the old you has been done away and the flesh and new has come. You right now are righteous and complete in Christ, this is your new identification and as we believe who God says we are in Christ that we will then walk in true rest and peace.

We must agree with our new true born Identity . The old really has been done away and the new has come and is of God..

Today in your Spirit and in the sight of God you are as righteous as Jesus is, because you are in Him ..and not only that you have been joined with Him and have been made to be one with Him so as He is so are we in this life.

Is Jesus struggling to be like the Father? Is Jesus struggling to be righteous or Holy ? Is Jesus trying to earn His way into the Kingdom of God? Absolutely not! He’s already there! Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the father right now and guess where the bible says we as believers are right now in Christ ? We are seated together  with Him because we are now in Him. We must renew our minds to the reality truth of How God sees us right now in Christ if we are going to cease from all our struggles and enter His rest.

Ephesians 2:5-6. .. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

We are already sitting in heavenly places in Christ.. This is our new present reality , in Gods eyes Ive already arrived!. I’m not trying to get there by my works but by grace God has already made me to be there. Why would God do this? The next verse tells us why.

Ephesians 2:7-9 KJV

That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We need to just stop all our religious struggles of trying to become what God has already made us to be and to do things to get to a place where we already live. In Christ I have arrived! Now as I believe this then grace takes what is already a reality on the inside and beignets to manifest it through my body to the rest of the seen world.

We must agree with our new born Identity which is in Christ.

Remember the movie the Bourne Identity ? Jason Bourne because of trauma inflicted to his body developed  a condition called amnesia or a loss of memory..Jason forgot who he was.

Jason Bourne began to discover skills that he didn’t realize that he had.. Jason Bourne also had an apartment , wealth, even a swiss bank account filled with money and passport ! Jason  slowly then  begins to re-discover who is by the reading and studying of certain documents about him.

Wouldn’t it be frustrating to not know who you are? What if we all had a secret identity that we hadn’t yet figured out? I love this movie, because the whole movie is about a guy re-discovering who he  already was  and  re-discovering skills that he already possessed.

Many Christians are like Jason Bourne.. They have spiritual amnesia , they still do not know who God has already made them to be in Christ and they do not know the skills that God has already given them to walk in. Many Christians live a lot of frustration trying to be what God has already created them in Christ to be.

Did you know that God has already created us in Christ and already equipped us with special skills for His glory?

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do?

There is one scene in the Bourne identity that I love and felt The Lord draw my attention to and it was a scene where Jason is on a train and looking at his own reflection in the window and he dosnt say it but you can hear him think it.. Who am I ?

The Bible is really more of a mirror then a manual. The bible  is Gods way to show

us who He really is and who He created us to be . As we look into the mirror of the word we begin to re-discover who we really are in Christ ,  we see that we are already approved by God because of Jesus and we are healed from our spiritual amnesia .

2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The bible is the mirror given to us by God that reflects our true self in Christ. As we believe the image we see then we are transformed from the inside our by the grace of God

When Adam fell in the garden he bumped his head and developed a condition called spiritual amnesia . Man forgot who he was and why he was created. God through Hid word and the Spirit heals our spiritual amnesia so that we may re- discover who we really are and who He created us to be.

Awake to Righteousness

Faith Righteousness is crucial to seeing everything else work in our lives. Faith righteousness is the only true righteousness that is acceptable with God. There are only two kinds of righteousness faith or self righteousness. Gods word tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and a His righteousness and all other things will be added to you..

 In Romans 10 we see the Apostle Paul praying for His fellow kinsmen              

Romans 10:1-4 Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer for Israel is that they might be saved. For I bear then record that they have a zeal fro God but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted to the righteousness of God, for Chris is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes

Self righteousness comes to an end and true righteousness of God begins when we quit trying to establish our own righteousness through our own good works and simply believe that Christ’s obedience to the cross was sufficient to make us 100% righteous before God… How do I know when I’m engaged in self righteousness?

 

Self righteousness is based on our own conduct, our own works, our own performance and self effort. if we feel like we are not measuring up and that somehow we need to do more to become more  right with God then its self righteousness . If we are feeling that God is not very pleased with me because I have not behaved like I should  then that’s a  self righteousness attitude. Faith righteousness believes it’s righteousness is based solely on Jesus Christ and the finished work of the cross and is a result of the new birth.

Faith righteousness is not about us and what we do for Jesus, it’s really all about what Jesus has already done for us. The righteousness of God is a done deal and can only be received as a gift by faith and never achieved by any work we do.

In faith righteousness I’m not trying to get more righteous , holy , redeemed I agree with Gods word that I am already righteous, holy and redeemed in Christ. . When I first received Jesus a supernatural thing took place called the new birth. When the new birth took place the Bible says that our old sin nature was taken away and put to death ! And God put a new nature  in its place.. Our new nature has now been joined with the Lord Himself so as He is so are we in this life. (1 John 4:17)  So today we are as righteous right now as Jesus is. Faith righteousness believed this we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:21.  Self righteousness does not believe this.. Self righteousness believes we are initially saved by grace but then we must maintain our right standing with God through works.  When we turn from grace and faith righteousness be=ack to the law for righteousness, then we have fallen from grace! Many in the church today have fallen away from grace and back to the law of self effort.

Now before we go on let’s look at just a few scriptures of many that confirm our new righteous nature in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP

Therefore if any person is ingrafted in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old previous moral and spiritual condition has passed away, behold the fresh and new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:21  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.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption

These scriptures confirm that when we were born again , we were also made to be everything that Jesus right now ! And this was not by our doing  , This was  all Gods doing !  When we  first received Jesus , God  took  away the old , re created us and put us into Christ and now all things have been made new and are of God.. All means All .. In your new born again Spirit all things are new and  of God

Righteousness is what we have been given and righteousness is what we have now been made to be in Christ.

It’s is vital for us to know this and believe this because , it is only through faith righteousness, believing we are fully righteous in Christ that grace is then enabled to then work in our lives! And it is only through faith righteousness that we can enter the rest of God and partake of all that we have already been given in Christ.

Have you ever taken a water hose that was fully turned on and then pinched it off? When you pinch the water hose of the water flow stops.. This is in essence what happens when you turn from believing that you are already righteous in Christ and then turn back to self righteousness .

Self righteousness restrict the flow of Gods grace in your life but faith righteousness releases Gods grace to flow.. I am seeing that faith righteousness is the key to everything that God has already given us..it is through faith righteousness that we will either walk in victory or live in defeat in this life..

When the Apostle Paul speaks of fighting the fight of faith , He was really talking about holding on to faith righteousness! He was telling us that there are a lot of elements in this world that are constantly trying to move us away from faith righteousness and back into a self righteousness based on works and the law of self effort and sad to say one of our greatest contenders has always been legalistic religion.

I have always said the place that you need to make sure that you have the full armor of God on is in most church’s .. Because many are ignorant of faith righteousness often times the message you will here will be more about you doing things to either get right with God or stay right with God. It is seldom about what Christ has already done and more about what you need to do.

How do we recognize when we are hearing a message that may sound good but is laced with self righteousness? When a message is always referring to what you need to do in order to be acceptable and pleasing to God then it is a self righteous message . When a a message that will often imply that  what your doing is still not enough to be pleasing to God. When you hear  messages like ” Jesus died for you so what are you doing for Him?  This may sound right and even get a lot of amens , but this kind of message is simply an attempt to motivate you into doing through guilt and shame.

Guilt, shame , and condemnation is never the way that God motivates his people. The Bible is clear that love is to be the only motivation behind all we do. If  what we do is not motivated by love then all we are doing really  profits nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor , and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love , it profits me nothing.

Love is to be our great motivator and the only way we can  ever love is to first believe and receive the great unconditional love that God has for us . True love always begins with Gods love for us, not our love for God.

1 John 4:10  In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins.

1 John 4:9  In this the love of God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son, the only begotten or unique Son, into the world so that we might live through Him.

Gods great motivation for all He has done and is now doing in us , is Love.. John 3:16 for God so loved us that He gave His only begotten son to not only die for us  but so that we could also be righteous  and complete and even live our new lives through Him. One huge thing that we have not understood is that Jesus did not come just to die for our sins but He  came to give us a new righteous nature and a new way to live.

The Apostle Paul had an incredible revelation about this new way of living in Christ that took place through the new birth. We like Paul also need to fully understand what Jesus came to do .

Galatians 2:19-21 MSG… What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

The old was was about rule keeping for righteousness but the new way is about all about being righteous in Christ and it’s all about Christ being in me and Christ living in me and though me! It’s about being filled with The life of Christ.. Jesus didn’t say that I came to give you a new set of rules but I have come that you might have life and have life more abundantly.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The biggest way that the thief who is the devil steals what God has already freely given to us in Christ is to turn us away from grace and faith righteousness back to a system of performance and rule keeping for righteousness but Paul said to go back to the old rule keeping system is to abandoned all that Christ came to do.

Hebrews 10:8-10 ESV

When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

God never did take pleasure in the old law, rule keeping , sacrificial way of doing things because it could never make anyone righteous before Him. But where the old way failed Christ came and accomplished and He did it once and for all time!.

Romans 5:17-21 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

I hate to pop your bubble ! But It is not because of our great obedience that we have been made righteous before God but it’s through the obedience of Christ that we are now righteous.. Righteousness always begins and ends with Jesus, not you. Any message that you hear that even implies that your right standing with God has to do with you is not the gospel of Christ. The gospel of you is not the gospel of Christ !

We are saved, redeemed,holy and sanctified because of one mans obedience and that one man is Jesus, not you.. And it begins and ends with Him not you.

If we turn from Christ for righteousness and back to ourselves we will only experience great disappointment , frustration and condemnation.

Condemnation ,frustration,fear,shame and feelings of unworthiness are all the result of believing in the gospel of you..

Today we are righteous and holy because we are in Him who is righteous and Holy, so as He is so are we in his life.               1 John 4:17

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2 Corinthians 5:21 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 11:2-4 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

It does not matter what your past is … Once you receive Christ then you are as a chaste Virgin.. Before Him , you are as pure as the driven snow ! You are as pure and innocent as a chaste virgin .. This is how God sees you in Christ and this is how God wants you to now see yourself.

We are not to allow the devil to move us away from the simplicity that is in Christ. This simplicity says I am who God says I now am in Christ.. Period !

Galatians 6:15  For neither is circumcision now of any importance, nor uncircumcision, but only a new creation the result of a new birth and a new nature in Christ Jesus, the Messiah.

God is telling us that It’s not about what you do or don’t do , it’s about what’s Christ has already accomplished and it’s about the new creation.. The new you that’s now in Christ…this is your new identify … 2 Corinthians 5:17.. God wants us to see who we are now in Christ and as we see our new self then all else will flow out from this.

Colossians 1:25-28 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Our main call is to teach Christ is in you , the hope of glory and to present  every man already perfect in Christ.

We have seen the bumper stickers that say I’m not perfect  just forgiven ? Well in Christ you are not just forgiven you are are perfect

In Christ we are forgiven , chaste and  perfect .. We are already complete in Him, you are heaven ready , but now to become earth ready we need to believe what Gods word says about our new true spiritual condition..we are as righteous as we are ever going to be..

 If we are born again and in Christ  then we are never to question what God has already accomplished for us in Christ.. I am, righteous , I am holy,I am all these things because I’m in Christ…what God has made me to be does not fluctuate .. My righteousness in Christ does not fluctuate with my behavior.. .. Or how I feel. Your righteousness   Or right standing with God is because of Jesus plus nothing else..it is not Jesus plus what I do . It’s Jesus plus nothing else.

Once you settle this truth about faith righteousness in your heart and you believe the truth about righteousness of God by faith then you can move out of condemnation and out of full time ministry to your self and then move into the full time ministry that God has called and prepared for you to walk in even before the foundation of the world..

Self is not my source for righteousness , Jesus is my only source for all true acceptable righteousness with God                      2 Corinthians 5:21

Today a lot of people in church have walked in a lot of self righteousness, but the good news is that many are waking up to the only true approved righteousness of God that comes through faith in Christ alone.. And because they are waking up to faith righteousness they are then being delivered for the dominion of sin..

2 Peter 1:3-4  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2 Peter 1:4-9 ?.. he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. …

What things was Paul speaking about ? Paul was spreading about righteous works and fruit , religion will tell you that if you lack fruit it’s because your not trying hard enough to produce the fruit but Paul said to because we have forgotten that we have been purged from our old sins which include all sins and even the  sin nature .

Fruit comes as a result of our believing that we are 100% forgiven and new in Christ.. Right believing will lead to right living. We are transformed from the inside out, not the outside in.

2 Corinthians 3:9  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

The ministration of righteousness will always exceed in glory.. As we understand that we are the righteousness of God in Christ  then we will begin to experience His exceeding glory ..

Gods ultimate purpose is to manifest His exceeding glory I us and through us! And there is only one way that this is going to happen , it will only happen through the ministration of righteousness that comes through faith.

When Moses came down with the law there was glory on Moses face, so even with the law which was called the ministry of death and condemnation there was a certain amount of glory but under the new covenant of grace and faith righteousness there will be a manifestation of great exceeding glory.. This exceeding glory in the last days will be the visible glory of God that will be seen on all those who believe that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness.

Isaiah 60:1-3  Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

In the last days which by the way I do believe that we are living in right now. There will be gross darkness and great glory at the same time . As I heard Bob Jones say once in the last days we will see both gory and glory simultaneously .. .

This is the worlds darkest time and the churches brightest time . It’s time for the church to shine! And she will shine as she  moves away from self righteousness and wakes up once again to Gods righteousness that can only be realized through faith in Christ .

Gods exceeding glory is made manifest only through the ministration of His righteousness according to the new covenant of grace.

As we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness then all these other things will be added to us. If we will simply put these two things first , then everything else will work and flow including grace.. Grace only works through faith righteousness. Grace cannot work in self righteousness .

Grace only works through faith righteousness .. Which will result in freedom, joy and life.

Romans 5:20-21  But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded,So that, [just] as sin has reigned in death, [so] grace (His unearned and undeserved favor) might reign also through righteousness (right standing with God) which issues in eternal life through Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) our Lord.

The law ( self righteousness) only  gives strength to sin and it’s result is always frustration, condemnation and death.  In Faith righteousness grace is enabled to work to bring forth life ..

Someone once said that there is only about 12 inches between heaven and hell, that’s the distance between what is already a reality in your heart and what you believe in your mind. What we believe will cause is to live a defeated Christian life or a victorious one.

God has already written the truth about grace and faith righteousness on our hearts, now we just need to get our thinking straight to line up with the reality that is already in us. If ypu are a born again believer you  do not have a spiritual problem it’s all mental

We must Stop the insanity of trying to become what God has already made us to be. We are already righteous in Christ , we just need to awake to His righteousness the only  true righteousness of God  which is by faith in Jesus.

Grace Qualifies You for Ministry

Grace for Ministry

I will never forget sitting in a church several years ago and as visiting evangelist asked the congregation who here today is in full time ministry ? Needless to say the only one who raised his hand was the Pastor but the true answer for this question is really everyone who has ever been born again is also born into full time ministry .

So my question is this ,Have we actually disqualified many people from being engaged in  full time ministry by giving them the wrong impression or idea about what full time ministry really is?

Full time ministry is not about paid position in the church , full time ministry is not about a degree we earned in college neither is it a title such as Pastor , Bishop , or Priest , full time ministry is about making ourselves available to the one who now lives in us.

2 Corinthians 5:20 AMP

So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We as Christ’s personal representatives beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor now offered you and be reconciled to God 

Every Born again believer has been reconciled back to God, it’s a done deal ! Now God wants to make His appeal through us so that others may be reconciled to Him as we were. The way this effectively happens is when we lay hold of God divine favor which is grace , believe that He now lives in is and then  yield to His promoting.  

Romans 12:1 AMP

I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies presenting all your members and faculties as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

Presenting yourself a living sacrifice to God … Is true ministry .

Ministry is making yourself available to the One who lives inside of you.. Present yourself ,  make yourself available ..to Christ , to His ministry.  We need to understand that all true   ministry is His .  It’s not my ministry ! It’s His ministry ! It’s  about Christ life that God has placed  in me now flowing through me out  to others..  This happens as we present ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice and we refuse to be conformed to this world and instead we renew our minds to the truth of the gospel..  Gods grace qualifies us for full time ministry.

Every born again believer has true ministry in Christ, which means  Everyone is qualified and equipped  for ministry.

Religion and self righteousness will disqualify you from ministry but Grace will always qualify you for ministry. So many in church today feel disqualified or unqualified for ministry this is a lie that needs to be broken off the minds of believers. If we are in Christ and He is in us then we are more then qualified for full time ministry. Why ? Because it’s not about you it’s about the one inside of you.

Jesus did something incredible when He rose from the dead, He became a life giving Spirit . Jesus duplicated Himself in the life of everyone that receives Him.

1 Corinthians 15:45 AMP

Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit restoring the dead to life.

The Bible says that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead no lives in me.

 

Romans 8:11 AMP

And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.

Reconciliation is the gift that God has place in every believer to reconcile people backto himself.

Every believer is qualified for true ministry .. I don’t care if you are one day old in the Lord or if you have been saved 50 years and have 10 degrees.. True ministry is not about degrees or education it’s about first is Christ in you ? Do you believe Christ is in you?   And are  you available to Him? Are you willing to respond to whatever he says  or what he prompts you to say and do?

Colossians 1:29

Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.

I’m always amazed when people who knew I Pastored a church  for several years ask me why I got out of the ministry? This really has shown me that most today have no clue what true ministry is.. Again it’s not about a title or position , it’s not about a wooden thing called a pulpit! It’s about Jesus in you expressing himself through the unique as you walk around in your everyday life. If Christ is in you then you are qualified to be engaged in full time ministry. I don’t care if your a farmer or a coffee shop owner you take Jesus every where because He is in you.

I have probably ministered to more people as a coffee shop owner then I ever did in a church building. For one I’m in the world , I’m in the market place I’m where Jesus told us to go and shine the light!

Jesus did not tell the world to go into every church and hear the gospel. He told the church to go into the world and preach the gospel, He told us to go and shine!

Matthew 5:14

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Remember the women at the well ? She  immediately became  engaged in full time ministry and brought revival to an entire city..  She was so excited she could not help but tell people about Jesus. To be honest what we need in more church’s is more joy and less fear.

So many in church look like they have been baptized more in lemon juice then then in grace

When you get a hold of Gods grace it will fill you with peace and joy!

How did Jesus do ministry and how did Jesus say future believes would do ministry ? Jesus was filled with the Spirit and He said that we too would be filled with the spirit.

John 14:17

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but ye know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.

 

God is working in me both to will and to do His good pleasure.. Ministry is not about you trying to muster up the courage to give someone the four spiritual laws, it’s about resting in and being confident that God is in you and He has given you the anointing and will give you the right words to speak to very one to meet every need. Ministry is not a formula we follow! Ministry is being led by the One in you. This is how Jesus did it and this is how we are to do it.

Education is good and it helps to renew our minds to who we are now in Him.. But too often men have leaned too much on what they know instead of who they know lives in them..we do not need a degree to be engaged in ministry .

 

Most of the early church including many of the apostles were uneducated .. . Peter , James and John were all uneducated fishermen .. How did they do ministry… They did it by knowing what God had put in them, they did it by silver and gold  I don’t have but such as I have i give to you.

The God of this world has blinded the hearts and minds of the world so they will not believe the truth.. God wants to use us to open their blind eyes..

Min true ministry we do not preach ourselves but Christ … Who is the center of our ministry? Is it me? Is it my denomination ? Am I trying to get people into my brand name of church or into  Christ? Are we  trying to build a franchise  or lead people to Christ? True ministry will make Christ the center.

1 Corinthians 1:12-17 KJV

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

Which name are we focused on, our name , our church name or Christ? Who was crucified for us? We must keep Christ the center, all true ministry flows form Him.

1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV

For we are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, you are God’s building.

The church is not the building of God.. We are Gods building and we are all ministers together with God .. Believe this, God is in you and wants to express himself through you today.

Believing the Right Gospel

The gospel is not the gospel of fear, condemnation and uncertainty but life , peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost

If we are believing the right gospel then there will be no fear of  impending judgment or condemnation. If we are believing the wrong gospel then we might have short spurts of joy and peace but for the most part we will walk around with a lingering sense of condemnation and unworthiness .  The Apostle John lists four  critical things that every believer needs to understand, embrace and confess in order to stay free from the fear of judgment.

First that God lives in us , Second that we now Live in God, third that God loves us unconditionally and completely and fourth as Jesus is so are we in this life..

If we do not believe that we are already complete in Christ and that God loves us unconditionally then chances are fear and condemnation rather than life and peace will dominate our life.. If we have been convinced to believe that its our performance and not the cross that justifies us before God  then we will always walk with a lingering sense of uncertainty about judgment day. In the back of our minds we will wonder of we have really done enough to be pleasing to God

1 John 4:15-19 ESV

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. …

As we believe and receive Gods great love for us then His perfect love for us will cast out all fear of Judgment from our lives..

Those who fear Judgment have not yet believed Gods love for them, they still feel that God is still not very happy with them and that God is going to punish them for not measuring up.

It is true that Religion will drive you crazy and Religion has in fact has put many into the nut house..

Many who are in mental institutions today are in there because in their own minds they feel they have committed the unpardonable sin. They have been convince that God is going to punish and judge them for something that they have done and that there is no way for them to escape Gods eternal judgment.

What’s even sadder is that many Christians sit in church’s today feeling the same way! Many a Christian attend church every Sunday and hear the same condemning message that is filled with things like ,, Jesus died  for you !  So what are you doing for Him? You will stand before God one day and He will show  the  this is your life video  and who knows you might even hear the words depart from me you didn’t do enough to earn your right to come in

Today many Christians actually dread going to heaven for fear of the judgment day.. But is this what the Bible really teaches? That we are suppose to fear Judgment day? No in fact it says the opposite! It says that if we are in Christ   Then we can look forward to the day do Judgment. Why because as He is so are we in this world.. If we have received Christ then we we will stand before God on the Judgment day in Christ and in Christ’s righteousness not in our righteousness but in Christ’s righteousness . This is what it means, as He is so are we in this world. We are righteous today  not because of  our righteousness but because we are now in the righteous one, who is Christ.  2 Corinthians 5:21

The Bible says that perfect love casts out all fear of Judgment but in most of our church’s today fear seems to be the main way that we try to motivate Gods people into doing things.

We use fear to get them to serve, to give, to read their bible and even attend church.. Yes there is a healthy fear of God that is a reverent respect for God and who God is, but fear of Judgment is not a healthy fear and it is not the way to motivate any born again believer.. Gods people will be motivated by Gods great love for them and the fact that He is for them and not against them, Gods people will become highly motivated as they come into the truth that God has completely  once and for all time forgiven them of all sin.. As we preach the good news of Gods love and grace  then the people of God will become highly motivated by the Joy of knowing Him and knowing ;  you will not have to use fear or shame to try and  motivate and prod them into doing things for God.

When people are in love and excited they will do much more then people who have been beaten and threatened .

 Religion loves control. When leaders walk in religion they begin to think  that’s it’s their job to corral the sheep, police the sheep, beat the sheep and to make sure that the sheep are always behaving right. Through the years religious leaders have set themselves up to actually become the way to know God.. The church system has often  become  the  only way that Gods people can ever truly  be fed or hear from God and in extreme cases the only way to even be forgiven and accepted by God. Now I know it is very important for the saints to assemble together and even the more as we see that day approaching but when we imply that people cannot know God or be forgiven unless they are in the church building every Sunday then we have crossed the line.

I myself am a Pastor and presently pastor a church so I feel like I do have some authority to speak on this issue. Pastors and leaders are not called to police the sheep, corral the sheep or beat the sheep , we are called to feed the sheep and point them to their ultimate Shepherd who is Christ.   Psalm 23  says that The Lord Is my Shepherd  and in John 14:26 Jesus said the Holy Spirit who He would send would be the one who would ultimately teach us and lead each of us into all  truth .. 1 John 2:27 says we don’t even need a man to teach us because the Holy Spirit would be our teacher.. Our way to God is not through a man or priest  it is now through Jesus Christ that we have access to the father.

Ephesians 2:18 KJV

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Yes we respect leaders who The Lord has set in place to help us and teach us but we do not have to got to a leader  in order to access God we have full access to God by the blood of the lamb and by the spirit of truth.

Our call as leaders is to feed the sheep with the gospel of grace that will then in turn free the sheep to enjoy a personal relationship with God..

Let me just say that I believe Religion will be chopped in these last days ! And Gods people will then be free to once again walk with God and know God in a very personal and intimate way. The Ax is laid to the root of the religious tree and is being chopped !

In the early church religion began it’s quest for control by following Paul around and preaching a mixed message of grace and law . They would say yes believe in Jesus for  the initial salvation experience but then after you are saved then there are certain things that God requires you to do to maintain your righteousness. The message they preached was very deceptive because it made sense to the carnal mind and appealed to the flesh.. It makes perfect sense that of we are saved that we should then then go out and and try doing our best to do righteous things for God. The problem with the mixed message was not that  the doing of righteous things was bad but  that the righteous things then turned into the way of our continued acceptance with God. As we believe in the finished work of the cross and receive Gods unconditional love for us righteous works will flow out from our lives and become the fruit of our right believing.. But righteous works in themselves never justify us before God, only the blood does that.

Every letter that Paul wrote was aimed at was bringing the church back to the finished work of Jesus. One by One , Church by Church , City by City believers were being seduced away from the cross and back Into performance for righteousness.. ( the gospel of peace )

One of the greatest needs in the church today is the need for leaders to trust that grace will work in Gods people not only for salvation but for daily living, but we must trust that Gods grace is sufficient and we must allow grace to have space to work..

Many pastors actually are afraid of grace .. Because they do not understand grace they thing to much grace is dangerous! That too much grace will cause the church to go wild in sin and reckless behavior. Many think that Grace will only cause lazy couch potato type Christians, so pastors feel they are the ones who must keep the sheep in line, police the sheep, and drive the sheep into doing right things for God. Let me just say this that grace knows how to teach the sheep  , lead the sheep and motivate the sheep far better then we could ever motivate them, but we must trust grace to work.

Titus 2:11-15 KJV

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

What was the message to leaders here? That leaders were called to exhort Gods people to learn to be led and taught by the spirit of grace on how they should live and conduct their lives in this world. It did not say that leaders should tell people how to live but that leaders should exhort Gods people to be taught by Grace  on how to live..now we have a decision to make as leaders are we going to trust grace to teach Gods people how to live, are we going to trust grace to work I. gods people  or are we going to continue to try and do the Job of grace?

If we will preach the gospel and continue to remind people of their new identity in Christ and trust grace to work then we will see far different results then we have ever seen through religion.

The most dangerous leader is the one that has a great passion for people but does not believe in the power of grace to change people. ( the gospel of peace )

Instead of trusting the Holy Spirit to change people they often resort to carnal methods to either try and change people,or contain people.. Because there containment methods seem to help prevent people from running wild in sin and  they think they are successful in there methods but the question is in there hearts are they really free or just going through the motions?

Gods plan is not for us to just go through the religious motions of Christian behavior but to be free and full of the  life of Christ .. For this to actually happen then we must start believing the right gospel.

Self Righteousness or Faith Righteousness

Is Jesus coming back just to judge us for all our doing? and if so how much doing will be enough to be acceptable  to Him? Does anyone really know ? and do those who teach and preach that we should get busy doing things for God really know how much doing is enough? Is salvation really based on what we do for Christ or what Christ has already done for us and what He is now presently doing in us? Which message produces the most peace? The one that says get busy doing stuff for God  or God may not be pleased with you? Or is it the message of the cross that says it has already been done Jesus paid the price. It finished?

We often preach a message that is full of double talk and brings confusion to those who hear it. A mixed message will produce a mixed up people.

For example we say come to Jesus without works, without one plea , it’s grace , undeserved , unearned favor from God and then when someone receives Christ we almost Immediately bring out the to do list of things that they must then begin doing in order to maintain their rightness with God .. What happen to its a free gift thing?

If its by our works that we are saved and not just the cross then why don’t we just tell people from the beginning that salvation is really not free but that there are strings attached? That God in the end is really going to judge you more on things you do for Him like bible reading, church attendance, tithing, prayer and works .. The cross was just the hook to get you in but your own works are really what keeps you in..

I recently watch a Christian motivation program on TV that said .. It’s not just about believing it’s really   about your doing,  are you doing enough for Jesus? Are you a fan or a  follower? Jesus died for you so what are you now doing for Him? ..  Then in a flash they then said It’s really  not just about your doing it’s about your believing in Him but believing isn’t enough because it’s really  about your doing  and really doing isn’t enough either ,  if what your doing isn’t being done with love for God.  So are you believing enough ? Are you doing enough? , are you loving God  enough?  Are you loving God with all your heart , mind , soul and strength ? Are you really a follower of Jesus?  Or just a fan? Are you really doing enough? Maybe you need to get busy doing more ? are you kind enough, are  loving enough? Are you reading your bible enough ? Are you praying enough , are you giving enough?

So after watching this program for 30 minutes my only thought was .. enough is enough ! It’s time for Christians to stop the insane double talk  and get off the religious  tread mill of am I doing enough?  and  instead learn to simply  rest in Christ and believe what He did at the cross was enough! . When Jesus said it is finished , He was saying all that needed to be done was done through my death… Now He calls us to  ceases from all our doing for righteousness  and enter into His rest (Hebrews 4:10) Jesus has called us to  believe and receive all that He has already done and given to us makes us complete in Him and then simply to rely and respond to what He is now prompting to do in and  through us.

What  am I called to do? I’m called to do what ever He shows me to do. Isn’t that how Jesus  did it? He did the things the father showed Him to do. Jesus was led by the Spirit who lived in Him and we are called to now live the same way. Its not about us getting a list out and then trying to do everything on the list. This will either drive you crazy or make you hypocritical. No its about walking in peace with God and whatever He prompts you to do then you do what He shows you to do..

The Bible is not a to do manual it’s about Emmanuel ..  It’s about God with us and now God living in us and through us.. This new living way that God has called us to walk in, is called newness of life or walking after the spirit and not after the letter . The letter kills but the Spirit gives life.

Those who are involved in a letter, performance driven to do gospel,for the most part lack Joy and wreak with criticism and  judgment and to be honest they make a very poor witness for Christ. Self righteous dead works do not glorify God the only glorify the flesh and dead works will make you critical towards others. Much of the world does not want the Christian way because they often see people in church who are more critical   , judgmental and more depressed then those who do no even know Christ.. Condemnation is not a great way to attract people to Christ but when the world begins to see a church filled with life, joy and peace then they will want what we have. For the church to begin to express the true kingdom of God then the church must turn from self righteousness and dead works and turn back to faith righteousness.

Self righteousness is always concerned with what it is doing to become or maintain it’s righteousness. Self Righteousness will always make you conscience of self  but Faith righteousness will make conscience of Christ and when we are conscience of Christ then perfect peace will come whos mind is stayed on Him.

Faith Righteousness is a free gift given to is by God apart from works (Romans 5)  because of Christ’s obedience we are made righteous period .      2 Corinthians 5:21    And we are to never put a question mark where God puts a period..

Once you received the free gift of righteousness then you are righteous and nothing can ever undo what God has made you to be . Sin can unravel your life but not your righteousness nature in Christ  . Once you are born again , God did something extra ordinary! He joined himself with you and now nothing will ever be able to separate you from Him again.. You are stuck with God forever! Romans 8:31-39

1 Corinthians 6:17  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

As you see yourself one with The Lord then every definition of separation or distance from God is cancelled.  Now you don’t see God  way up in heaven and out of our reach  but now  you see that God is in us and even one with us..                                         As the Apostle Paul says it in His famous sermon on Mars hill.

Acts 17:28 KJV

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Romans 5:19   says that we are not made righteous because of our obedience but Christ obedience,  as we believe this truth it  will disarm the devil or the accuser in our  lives . The devil cannot accuse someone who fully  believes who God says that they are now in Christ apart from their performance..

This is why the scripture says that the devil was disarmed when Jesus nailed the law which was based on our performance to the cross (Col 2:14-15) . If the devil comes to me and says your not doing enough , I simply tell slew foot that it’s not my doing that makes me righteous but it is what Christ has already done that makes righteous ! Many leaders in church today actually re-rearm the devil by turning Gods people  back to a law based, performance  gospel.. The devil is having a hey day with many Christians who do not  understand who they are now in Christ. If you are in Christ then as He is so are you! Is Jesus Righteous? Then so are you for as He is so are you in this life. I John 4:17

Much of our so called spiritual warfare has been created by our own wrong believing.. as we begin to believe right  and submit to the truth of the gospel  then we will see the devil has already been defeated and that he is more terrified of us then we should ever be of him. (James 4:7)

 

So what about 1 Peter 5:8 ?

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:

The ones that satan is seeking to devour are those who are in religious deception who  still believe in a performance driven gospel for righteousness .

Romans 10:3-4

For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one who believes.

To disarm the devil we must submit to the only righteousness of God  which is by faith in Christ, To re-arm the devil is to turn back to self righteousness. As we submit to God and rest the devil then he will flee from us James 4:7 The devil does not want to even be near to the Christian that has awakened to faith righteousness and Grace.

Self righteousness always has self in mind for righteousness. Or am I doing enough to be right with God? This is self righteousness .. Faith righteousness  always has Christ in mind and the  cross in mind . Faith righteousness agrees with the cross and says Yes Christ did all that I might become the righteousness of God in Him and now I receive freely  the abundance of Gods grace and the free gift of righteousness .                               (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is only as we choose to receive the abundance of Gods grace and the free gift of Righteousness that we will ever be victorious in this life !

As we renew our minds to the truth of faith righteousness, this truth will enable us to reign in this life by one Jesus Christ.

Self righteousness will always keep our attention set on self..or am I doing enough to please God?. Any message that moves our attention away from the finished work of Christ for righteousness and back to self is not the gospel of Christ. Our attention is not to be on self but on Christ. Perfect peace only comes to those who’s minds are stayed on Him.. We are also encouraged to set our affections on things above where Christ sits.. There is a big reason for this because the Bible says that right now we are also seated with Him. in Gods eyes we are not still trying through our own works to get into Gods kingdom, In Gods eyes we are already there in Christ !

Ephesians 2:5-6 KJV

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Why did God do all this for us? There is only one answer and that’s Love.

Ephesians 2:4

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.

Faith does not see it self trying to get into Gods kingdom , Faith sees that we are already in Gods kingdom because of what Jesus has already accomplished for us Col 1:13 . Yes there is a future manifestation of what we are already a part of but we need to see that in Christ we are already citizens of the kingdom of God and God is not going to revoke our passport  if he doesn’t see enough works  accomplished  in our work book.

When we stand before God then God will see us one of two ways, He will either see us in Christ or in Adam but when you received Christ you were removed from Adam and placed into Christ.

Now that we are In Christ we are no longer in Adam ,we are now in the righteous one who is Christ.. We need to not only believe in Christ but we need to believe into Christ.. Many believe in Christ but not into Christ. Until we believe into Christ we will always see ourselves somewhat incomplete. To believe into Christ means more then just believing what He has done for me but it is believing what Christ has done with the old me and what He has now done in me..

Jesus did much more then just forgive us our sins , He then made us into a new creation in Him. We were actually baptized into Christ and made to be one with Him.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The old thing that passed away was my old nature that once lived in Adam but that old man was crucified with Christ and the new me is now one with Christ . I am in Him and He is in me.. It is by faith that we come to fully understand this..

I am now a new creation in Christ old is gone the new has come. again never put a question mark where God has put a period.

Romans 6:4

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

We are not half old and half new.. We are a new creation in Christ.. Yes we still have the same old body that most of us would love to trade in right now for a new one and we still have some old mind sets that need to catch up with our new created self  but  as  we  believe and confess  the truth about who Gods says we are now in Christ , that we will then begin to see transformation take place from the inside out.

Not only have we believed a mixed gospel but we have also believed in a mixed nature. We have been taught that we have two natures in us, that we possess the old nature and the new nature in the same house but this is not true. Today we have one new created nature created in Christ and the old is dead and gone! When Jesus came in He did not ask the old nature to move over and make room for him, Jesus is not roommates with the devil, Jesus evicted the old man !

The mind that is set on self righteousness will always keep people away from grace and keep Christ from working in their lives but as we embrace grace and faith righteousness then His resurrection power  that is in us will  then quicken our mortal bodies (Romans 8 ) Either we ( flesh ) are working or Grace is working but both cannot work at the same time. We must give up our futile efforts of trying to change by our own human effort and instead trust grace.

To know that we have received the free gift of righteousness and to know that we are a new creation in Christ is the key that will  set us free from the dominion of sin and allow grace to work in our lives . Grace can only reigns through faith righteousness.  (Romans 5:21)

Well what if I sin? What happens then? Do I then have to be born again all over again?  In Short ..No!

Let me ask you a question “If you fall into water you may get wet but you will not turn into a fish will you? .  Yes there are earthly consequence to falling in sin but you falling into sin will not change your righteous nature..

To illustrate this I had a friend once who was talking on his phone and because he wasn’t paying attention he fell right into his pool fully clothed  while on his phone! He didn’t turn into a fish but he did suffer the consequences .  He was soaking wet  and his phone ruined,  his communication was also  affected for a moment but he did not turn into a fish..

Sin can unravel your life, sin will burn you, sin will hurt you that’s why God says don’t do it! But sin will not cause you to be unborn. The prodigal son suffered the consequences of sin but he never stopped being the fathers son.

There are only two kinds of people on earth those in Adam and those in Christ. There is no middle man..  Your either In Adam or in Christ.

I Corinthians 15 :22 45 and 47 in Adam all died but In Christ all are made alive.. 45 the first Adam was made a living soul but the last Adam was made a life giving Spirit!  Today you are either dead or alive.. You are either  dead in Adam or Alive in Christ.. , the good news is that you can easily be made to be one alive in Christ simply by choosing to believe and receive  what Christ has already done for us.. 2 Corinthians 5:21

2 Corinthians 5:21

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.

The mindset of self righteousness will keep you away from what grace has already made available to you.. Self righteousness puts more faith in what it does for Christ more than in what Christ has already done for it .

Why can’t people just accept that they are righteous by faith in what Christ has done? It’s called the flesh loves glory .. Flesh wants to take credit for it’s right standing with God but we must put our foot down and say no to flesh that wants to take credit for what Christ has already accomplished. This is what it means to deny your flesh.. We are to deny flesh from taking credit for what Christ has already  accomplished.

Romans 4:3-5 We must refuse to earn or work for righteousness . Righteousness is a free gift not something earned .. Period . As I believe this then the Bible says I will experience His life and Peace Romans 5:1 if I choose not to believe this then I will walk in condemnation.

Romans 4:5-8 KJV

But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.] Even as David also described the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputes righteousness without works, Saying , Blessed  ( Happy to the point where others will be envious ) are they (who know their) iniquities are forgiven, and whose ( who know and believe that their ) sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Romans 5: speaks of this free gift of righteousness given to us because of Christ’s obedience .. If we will believe that we are righteous because of Christ’s obedience then grace is able to go to work in us to change us and free us.. Grace is not a doctrine , grace is the spirit of Christ that now works in us..and grace can only work through faith righteousness.

We who believe are now in Christ and not in Adam. The old is gone the new has come.

Galatians 6:15 KJV

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

 in Christ it’s about a new creation.. It’s not about what you do it’s about what has been done and what God in Christ has made you to be

In Christ We are now a new creation that has never existed.. We are not re created after the first Adam but after the last Adam who is Christ.

We must see ourselves now fully in Christ  not in Adam and not in both.. We are not in both Adam and Christ it’s one or the other ..if you are in Christ then you are a new creation in Christ. This is key to your transformation.

Once we are convinced of our permeant position now in Christ  and that our righteousness is a free gift because of Christ obedience then grace will begin to flow in and through our lives.

2 Peter 1: 4-9  gives us a major key to partaking of His divine nature, deliverance, freedom and  fruitfulness    is firmly know and believe that we have been once and for all time fully  forgiven and purged from all sin.. Not some sin but all sin..  God no longer wants us to have a sin conscience but a righteous conscience . A righteous conscience will cause us to partake of His divine nature. A sin conscience will keep us from partaking of His divine nature. We are not doing the church a favor by constantly wagging our boney fingers at them and pointing out sin. God has called us to be preachers of the new testament not the old.  Under the old their was constant reminding of sin but In the new testament God says I will forgive and remember their sins no more. Today we are called to remind people about Gods crazy love for them and about who they are now in Christ. As Gods people embrace Gods precious promises for them then they will begin to partake of the diving nature that has been created in them and they will escape the corruption that’s in the world because of lust

2 Peter 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.