Just yesterday, I was listening to podcast by Joseph Prince about how the enemy tries to build strongholds in our minds. Our enemy is a crafty liar. He tries to get us to think wrongly - especially about ourselves. When our adversary introduces a thought to us, he "decorates it" or camouflages it to look like one of our own thoughts. Mostly, he will feed the thought to your mind dressed like this:
1. Inside your mind, you will "hear" yourself accusing you with phrases like, "I am ___________." Then he fills in the blank with words like "stupid", "unloved", "lazy", "depressed", "sick", "sick-n-tired", "rejected", "hopeless", "helpless", "crazy", "not going to make it", etc.
The thought of, "I am ___________."(whatever bad thing the enemy has suggested) seems to you to be a revelation of who you "really" are, but IT IS NOT! It is a lie! It is an artful, subtle, crafty deception. Christ alerted us to the fact that our enemy is both the Father of Lies AND the accuser of the brethren. Notice: lies AND accusations. The accusation comes cloaked in the phrase, "I am _______" and there is a very important reason he uses this approach. There is a reason the enemy puts the accusation in the first person "I am".
If you have been following this blog for any length of time, you will remember how we learned the truth that our enemy takes the good processes of life and corrupts them, bends them, perverts them to work against us. The enemy "hijacks" the good processes that God has designed for our benefit. For instance, the process of " renewing our minds", God designed hat process to result in our transformation; our minds renewed to the mind of Christ and thereby us becoming conformed to the likeness of Christ. When we "think" like Christ, we become more like Christ (i.e. "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he").
So our enemy uses his "devices" (2 Cor 2:11) to cause us to think along his lines. He uses trickery and deceit to make us think like him. The RESULT? We are transformed, but the image is so wrong! We become like that wrong image (i.e fearful, doubting, bitter, envying, critical, accusing, sowing discord, being strife bringers, fault finding, depressed, angry, vengeful, complainers, whiny, morose, morbid, downcast, sarcastic, hopeless, apathetic, giving up, giving in, etc. DON'T BE IGNORANT OF HIS DEVICES!
When you "feel" these negative emotions, that is your clue the enemy is using a device against you!
It is him - NOT you.
Start interrupting this cycle. Bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and get your life back!
Now, back to the important reason why our enemy puts the accusation at the first person" I am ________."
Our Savior, the Living Word, says we are to "call those things that be not as though they are". For example, let the weak SAY, "I am strong."
- Weak is what "is".
- Strong is what "is not" (at the moment).
- Therefore you call yourself strong.
This is not delusional thinking, it is you using the faith that has been given to you by your Savior to call forth those things that need to be. You are made / designed in the image of God - the very God who SPOKE the worlds into existence - the same God who "upholds all things by the Word of His power." You speak what He says you are and you become that!
Say
"I am strong."
"I am loved."
"I am healed."
"I am redeemed."
"I am healed."
"I am accepted in the Beloved."
"I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus."
"I am more than an overcomer."
"I am patient."
"I am kind.
"I am peaceful."
"I am joyful."
You are calling things that be not as though they were. You say, "I am ___________."BECAUSE He is _____________. (that very characteristic). For example - I say, "I am patient" because Jesus is patient.
I say, "I am ______________" because He says I am _______________!
I say, "I am ______________" because He is the great I AM and He lives in me.
He is that way and He is in my earthen vessel "so that the excellency of the power is of Him"(2 Cor 4:7).
When I say, "I am ____________" I am yielding to Him, bowing to the truth instead of the enemy's lie. This kind of thinking and speaking shoves out the old, accusing "stinking thinking" of my enemy.
This is renewing my mind to the mind of Christ.
This is using faith to "overcome evil with good".
This is me speaking to the mountain and removing it. The mountain of garbage the enemy has been trying to get me to think, believe and say.
INSTEAD of his garbage thinking / his garbage image / his garbage report.
I choose LIFE!
I choose to think - believe - say what God says I AM!
I choose to call those good things that be not...and they come.
No longer am I allowing my enemy to call those garbage things into being. No longer am I allowing him to usurp the authority that has been given to me by Christ.
INSTEAD...
I take hold of my thoughts (and words) and bring them captive to the obedience of Christ. I only speak what I hope for, not what I dread. I only entertain the thoughts that stem from Christ's love. I stop permitting the enemy to use my thoughts to hate me. I stop letting the enemy renewing my mind to his warped image. I do not accept his woeful report. I do not allow his accusations to creep into my thinking. He is a creep and God gave us authority over every creeping thing. Pick up that mighty weapon of authority over all the power of the enemy and stop letting him harm!
Christ said to us,"Behold (look and keep on looking) I give YOU power over all the power of the enemy and NOTHING shall by any means harm you." (Luke 10:19) Use that authority to stop your enemy's barrage f lies and accusations. Stop cooperating with him. Stop accepting his report of how bad he wants you to think you are. Start believing your Savior's report instead.
You are loved.
You are accepted.
You are righteous.
You are an "able minister of the new covenant".
You are a king under the King of Kings.
You are all these things and MORE because He has made you by what He has done on the cross.You didn't make yourself that good thing. You don't become these things by your doing or your performance; you are "made" this by His doing in the finished work on Calvary.
You "become" those things experientially by:
Beholding Him (2 Cor 3:18).
Believing Him.
Saying what He says you are.
"I am ___________."
Then fill in the blank with His good report and you will see those good things come! Put this into practice and you will see the good results!
P.S. Also put this into practice on behalf of those humans in whom the enemy is trying to get you to reject, be offended at, be upset with and write off. Instead of using your mouth to report on their shortcomings, say what Christ says they already are by His doing then watch the transformation in your attitude and in their lives.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Grace prayer
Today at our grace Bible study we prayed this prayer which was taken from a podcast by Joseph Prince. It so beautifully captures the acknowledgement of Christ's finished work on Calvary and expectation that faith and hope bring into our lives.
"Father, I confess Jesus is my Lord and Savior today. Lord, you are the head of my life. I completely yield myself to you. My will is now your will, my plans are now your plans. As a new creation in Christ Jesus I accept the gift of righteousness and all that gift includes- health, prosperity, peace, joy and life abundant. I put aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets me and I now look to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. According to your Word, I can now reign in this life as a king. The power of sin and death in my life has been overcome. No longer am I ruled by the forces of evil, but by the God above all gods. I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me. I determine today to walk conscious of my right-standing with you, Lord. And with every step to draw closer and closer to you. Thank you for the gift of righteousness. Because of that gift, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Amen."
Use your mouth to bring these truths to the forefront of your mind and your hearing ears. Call those things that you hope for...call those things that be not as though they were. Call on the NAME of the Lord and you will be saved (in the Greek "sozo" which means saved, healed, rescued, prospered, protected, provided for, delivered). The word confess is used several times in this prayer and it simply means "to say the same as" or "to say along with" God. You are saying, along with God, what Christ has done on your behalf. By this act of faith in what HE says, you are receiving the grace that Calvary supplies. This is you using your tongue to speak life.
Come hear about the abundant life that grace brings. Our Bible study meets every Thursday (July 12th is our next meeting) from 10am-12pm at Zion Christian Church in the south lobby. Excellent childcare is provided. We are studying "Unmerited Favor" by Joseph Prince and books will be available for purchase ($9) at the Bible study. If you have any questions about the meeting, just leave a message below. Hope to see you there and share with you the power of grace!
"Father, I confess Jesus is my Lord and Savior today. Lord, you are the head of my life. I completely yield myself to you. My will is now your will, my plans are now your plans. As a new creation in Christ Jesus I accept the gift of righteousness and all that gift includes- health, prosperity, peace, joy and life abundant. I put aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets me and I now look to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. According to your Word, I can now reign in this life as a king. The power of sin and death in my life has been overcome. No longer am I ruled by the forces of evil, but by the God above all gods. I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me. I determine today to walk conscious of my right-standing with you, Lord. And with every step to draw closer and closer to you. Thank you for the gift of righteousness. Because of that gift, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Amen."
Use your mouth to bring these truths to the forefront of your mind and your hearing ears. Call those things that you hope for...call those things that be not as though they were. Call on the NAME of the Lord and you will be saved (in the Greek "sozo" which means saved, healed, rescued, prospered, protected, provided for, delivered). The word confess is used several times in this prayer and it simply means "to say the same as" or "to say along with" God. You are saying, along with God, what Christ has done on your behalf. By this act of faith in what HE says, you are receiving the grace that Calvary supplies. This is you using your tongue to speak life.
Come hear about the abundant life that grace brings. Our Bible study meets every Thursday (July 12th is our next meeting) from 10am-12pm at Zion Christian Church in the south lobby. Excellent childcare is provided. We are studying "Unmerited Favor" by Joseph Prince and books will be available for purchase ($9) at the Bible study. If you have any questions about the meeting, just leave a message below. Hope to see you there and share with you the power of grace!
Monday, June 11, 2012
The Son's Heartbeat for You (JP)
Daily Grace Inspiration from Joseph Prince
The Son's Heartbeat For You
3 John 1:2, KJV
2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Let's say that you are now in your nineties. Someone comes along and asks you, "Sir, you have been a Christian for a very long time. You have seen much and done much with God by your side. You have prayed all kinds of prayers too. So what would you place as top priority when you pray for people?"
I believe the apostle John was asked a similar question and his reply was, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." When the apostle John wrote 3 John, he was already a very old man and probably the only disciple of the original 12 who was still alive. It had been so long ago since he last walked alongside his beloved Lord, and witnessed His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.
The apostle John had also leaned on the Lord's bosom on the night of the Last Supper. And I believe that there on Jesus' bosom, he must have felt the heartbeat of the Son of God - that loving and compassionate heartbeat which had caused Him to go about "doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil". (Acts 10:38) In fact, two-thirds of Jesus' ministry on earth had to do with healing the sick.
And now, nearing the end of his life, and after all he had heard, seen and experienced, the apostle John prioritized, above all things, health as well as prosperity. He said, "I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers." He knew the Lord's heartbeat. He knew that the Lord wants and will always want these for His people.
Jesus had prioritized divine healing during His earthly ministry. And Jesus, who is "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8), will do the same for you today. His heart still beats for you. He will never miss an opportunity to do good to you, to heal you of your broken body, emotional scars and weary spirit, and to prosper you!
The Son's Heartbeat For You
3 John 1:2, KJV
2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Let's say that you are now in your nineties. Someone comes along and asks you, "Sir, you have been a Christian for a very long time. You have seen much and done much with God by your side. You have prayed all kinds of prayers too. So what would you place as top priority when you pray for people?"
I believe the apostle John was asked a similar question and his reply was, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." When the apostle John wrote 3 John, he was already a very old man and probably the only disciple of the original 12 who was still alive. It had been so long ago since he last walked alongside his beloved Lord, and witnessed His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.
The apostle John had also leaned on the Lord's bosom on the night of the Last Supper. And I believe that there on Jesus' bosom, he must have felt the heartbeat of the Son of God - that loving and compassionate heartbeat which had caused Him to go about "doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil". (Acts 10:38) In fact, two-thirds of Jesus' ministry on earth had to do with healing the sick.
And now, nearing the end of his life, and after all he had heard, seen and experienced, the apostle John prioritized, above all things, health as well as prosperity. He said, "I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers." He knew the Lord's heartbeat. He knew that the Lord wants and will always want these for His people.
Jesus had prioritized divine healing during His earthly ministry. And Jesus, who is "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8), will do the same for you today. His heart still beats for you. He will never miss an opportunity to do good to you, to heal you of your broken body, emotional scars and weary spirit, and to prosper you!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
I am justified OR I am justified!?!?!
If you have been in the church world for any length of time, you have heard that we are "justified by the Lord Jesus Christ. Many preachers have explained justification this way: "just-as-if-I'd-never-sinned" and that is a valuable definition. However, there is more - MUCH more. I am going to teach you a simple, yet VERY effective way to use this truth to triumph over your enemy! Also, I'm going to teach you how to turn this truth against your enemy so you overcome his evil with the good Christ brought to you.
The scriptures tell us that Christ paid for our sins and stubborness, but there is more to what Christ did. Look at this...
Rom 4:25, "He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised for our justification."
When the Holy Spirit raised Jesus Christ from the dead, it was the validation to all mankind that Father God had accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for ALL mankind. God's good report says that I am justified. I am justified whether I feel like it, or whether or not I think so, and certainly whether or not the enemy is accusing me. The truth is... I AM JUSTIFIED.
The point I'm trying to make today is that I can say what my Savior says, "I am justified" which means I'm free from the accusing voice of my enemy and my own self. When I am saying the same thing as my Savior, it is called "confession" CON means "with" and fess means "to say". Confession means "saying the same as". We confess / say the same as Christ. I say with Christ, "I am justified".
However, there is a subtle, crafty slant on justification that my enemy is all too eager to supply. When I say I am justified, but I'm meaning I'm justified to feel bitter because of what a person said. Or I'm justified in holding a grudge because of what a person did to me. Or I'm justified in holding an offense until that person makes it right. Or I'm justified to accuse them because they are wrong.
We all know who is the accuser of the brethren. His name is Satan. He is a crafty liar and a deceiver, so when I agree with his accusations; or when I agree with his mindset; I am behaving like him. I am speaking like him. I am thinking like him and because of that, I get the result of his handiwork which is turmoil, discord, bitterness, depression, strife, hatred and overall misery.
I experience misery whenever I believe my enemy in any way. Conversely, I will have peace when I believe my Savior in any way. Even in the smallest degree of believing my Savior, I experience peace. I experience joy.
Rom 15:13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
I can say with my Savior, "I am justified" and experience freedom. I can say, "I am justified" in the face of my accuser and see his arguments fall to the ground.
If I believe the lie of my enemy that I am justified in being offended or cold to that person or judgemental, I have strengthened his hold on my life, my mind, my body and my soul. Don't give your enemy an inch - don't give him a toehold - don't give him even ONE of your thoughts. Instead, bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
Take it another step further and think on these things that are "true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Phil 4:18
Then take it yet another step further and get free from that offense (that snare) by praying FOR the very one you are tempted to judge.
By taking these steps that are clearly laid out in His Word, you experience the truth that He ALWAYS leads you in triumph and He ALWAYS gives you the victory. (2 Cor 2:14 and 1 Cor 15:57).
My job description as a Christian says:
I am a believer ( I believe Christ above what I think or what I feel or above what circumstances say).
I am a follower ( I follow the example of Jesus Christ who prayed for those who despitefully abused Him when He said,"Father forgive them, they don't know what they're doing.").
I can follow His example OR my subtle enemy's example. The results will be vastly different even though they started from the same circumstance. The result of following Christ's example is joy and peace and LIFE!
John 20:31 "But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."
When I agree with my Savior., I get to enjoy the benefits of my salvation, HOWEVER, when I agree with my enemy - I get to eat the fruit of his way and my own doing. My justification is still the truth, yet I'm not enjoying the freedom that truth brings me if I'm agreeing with my enemy.
So today, if you have believed you are justified in nursing that grudge or "chatting" about that person's shortcomings or criticizing another human; you have taken the bait and the enemy is trying to hoodwink you into giving up your freedom and submitting to his slavery. As the J. B. Phillips translation so aptly says:
Rom 6:15 "You belong to the power which you choose to obey, whether you choose sin, whose reward is death, or God, obedience to whom means the reward of righteousness."
So are you justified or are you justified?
The scriptures tell us that Christ paid for our sins and stubborness, but there is more to what Christ did. Look at this...
Rom 4:25, "He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised for our justification."
When the Holy Spirit raised Jesus Christ from the dead, it was the validation to all mankind that Father God had accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for ALL mankind. God's good report says that I am justified. I am justified whether I feel like it, or whether or not I think so, and certainly whether or not the enemy is accusing me. The truth is... I AM JUSTIFIED.
The point I'm trying to make today is that I can say what my Savior says, "I am justified" which means I'm free from the accusing voice of my enemy and my own self. When I am saying the same thing as my Savior, it is called "confession" CON means "with" and fess means "to say". Confession means "saying the same as". We confess / say the same as Christ. I say with Christ, "I am justified".
However, there is a subtle, crafty slant on justification that my enemy is all too eager to supply. When I say I am justified, but I'm meaning I'm justified to feel bitter because of what a person said. Or I'm justified in holding a grudge because of what a person did to me. Or I'm justified in holding an offense until that person makes it right. Or I'm justified to accuse them because they are wrong.
We all know who is the accuser of the brethren. His name is Satan. He is a crafty liar and a deceiver, so when I agree with his accusations; or when I agree with his mindset; I am behaving like him. I am speaking like him. I am thinking like him and because of that, I get the result of his handiwork which is turmoil, discord, bitterness, depression, strife, hatred and overall misery.
I experience misery whenever I believe my enemy in any way. Conversely, I will have peace when I believe my Savior in any way. Even in the smallest degree of believing my Savior, I experience peace. I experience joy.
Rom 15:13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
I can say with my Savior, "I am justified" and experience freedom. I can say, "I am justified" in the face of my accuser and see his arguments fall to the ground.
If I believe the lie of my enemy that I am justified in being offended or cold to that person or judgemental, I have strengthened his hold on my life, my mind, my body and my soul. Don't give your enemy an inch - don't give him a toehold - don't give him even ONE of your thoughts. Instead, bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
Take it another step further and think on these things that are "true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Phil 4:18
Then take it yet another step further and get free from that offense (that snare) by praying FOR the very one you are tempted to judge.
By taking these steps that are clearly laid out in His Word, you experience the truth that He ALWAYS leads you in triumph and He ALWAYS gives you the victory. (2 Cor 2:14 and 1 Cor 15:57).
My job description as a Christian says:
I am a believer ( I believe Christ above what I think or what I feel or above what circumstances say).
I am a follower ( I follow the example of Jesus Christ who prayed for those who despitefully abused Him when He said,"Father forgive them, they don't know what they're doing.").
I can follow His example OR my subtle enemy's example. The results will be vastly different even though they started from the same circumstance. The result of following Christ's example is joy and peace and LIFE!
John 20:31 "But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."
When I agree with my Savior., I get to enjoy the benefits of my salvation, HOWEVER, when I agree with my enemy - I get to eat the fruit of his way and my own doing. My justification is still the truth, yet I'm not enjoying the freedom that truth brings me if I'm agreeing with my enemy.
So today, if you have believed you are justified in nursing that grudge or "chatting" about that person's shortcomings or criticizing another human; you have taken the bait and the enemy is trying to hoodwink you into giving up your freedom and submitting to his slavery. As the J. B. Phillips translation so aptly says:
Rom 6:15 "You belong to the power which you choose to obey, whether you choose sin, whose reward is death, or God, obedience to whom means the reward of righteousness."
So are you justified or are you justified?
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
I AM what?!?
"Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." We all have heard this scripture, but did you know God says this twice in the New Testament (Acts &Romans) and it is a quote from the Old Testament. When God says something that many times, we know there is great power in that word for us. "Whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved."
What did God tell Moses is His Name? He said," I AM that I AM." He is the great I AM. The Lord instructed us in His Word:
Let the weak say I am strong.
Let the poor say I am rich.
Look at that instruction / statement closely:
Say I AM strong!
Say I AM rich!
We are saying His Name. We are saying His characteristics. We are also saying this truth and applying it to ourselves and our un-toward circumstances of being weak and poor.
The saying and the believing result in the receiving. Say that again. Let that important truth sink deep into your thinking patterns. Allow that truth to regulate your speech patterns!
SAYING -BELIEVING- RECEIVING.
As I SAY His word, BELIEVING His word, I will soon be RECEIVING His word's effects!!
Soon, my weakness is swallowed up in receiving His strength by calling His name. Soon, my poorness is obliterated by receiving His riches by calling on His name. His riches are the supply to stamp out my lack. "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches..."
When you are experiencing sickness, you say the truth of His report..."by His stripes I am healed." By doing this, you are changing the circumstance and overcoming the "evil" of sickness with the "good" of healing. You are "calling those things that be not as though they were". You are calling on the name of the Lord (I AM healed) and you are being saved "sozo" which means- "rescued, delivered, safe, heal, protect, preserve, made whole."
Your mouth is given to you for a very important purpose. The purpose is NOT to report on how you feel or what your circumstances look like. That is walking by sight and emotion. The purpose of your mouth is to say His report instead. Your mouth saying the truth about His report by faith is bringing those very things into existence in your world. Those things you have need of already exist in glory (His Spirit realm)and you get to receive them (in the here and now earth realm)by believing and saying.
Many believers believe those things exist, but they say with their mouth only what they see.
Walking by faith means we believe what we do not see AND we say what He says even though we do not yet see it! But we will see it come into manifestation in our world by believing and saying. When you believe in your heart and speak - "you shall have whatsoever you say."
Say, I AM strong. Say, I AM rich. Say, I AM healed. Say, I AM loved.
Utilize the power of His Name and the power of His word to get His will done in your life.
What did God tell Moses is His Name? He said," I AM that I AM." He is the great I AM. The Lord instructed us in His Word:
Let the weak say I am strong.
Let the poor say I am rich.
Look at that instruction / statement closely:
Say I AM strong!
Say I AM rich!
We are saying His Name. We are saying His characteristics. We are also saying this truth and applying it to ourselves and our un-toward circumstances of being weak and poor.
The saying and the believing result in the receiving. Say that again. Let that important truth sink deep into your thinking patterns. Allow that truth to regulate your speech patterns!
SAYING -BELIEVING- RECEIVING.
As I SAY His word, BELIEVING His word, I will soon be RECEIVING His word's effects!!
Soon, my weakness is swallowed up in receiving His strength by calling His name. Soon, my poorness is obliterated by receiving His riches by calling on His name. His riches are the supply to stamp out my lack. "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches..."
When you are experiencing sickness, you say the truth of His report..."by His stripes I am healed." By doing this, you are changing the circumstance and overcoming the "evil" of sickness with the "good" of healing. You are "calling those things that be not as though they were". You are calling on the name of the Lord (I AM healed) and you are being saved "sozo" which means- "rescued, delivered, safe, heal, protect, preserve, made whole."
Your mouth is given to you for a very important purpose. The purpose is NOT to report on how you feel or what your circumstances look like. That is walking by sight and emotion. The purpose of your mouth is to say His report instead. Your mouth saying the truth about His report by faith is bringing those very things into existence in your world. Those things you have need of already exist in glory (His Spirit realm)and you get to receive them (in the here and now earth realm)by believing and saying.
Many believers believe those things exist, but they say with their mouth only what they see.
Walking by faith means we believe what we do not see AND we say what He says even though we do not yet see it! But we will see it come into manifestation in our world by believing and saying. When you believe in your heart and speak - "you shall have whatsoever you say."
Say, I AM strong. Say, I AM rich. Say, I AM healed. Say, I AM loved.
Utilize the power of His Name and the power of His word to get His will done in your life.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Transformation...interested?
All the promises of God in the Old Testament and New Testament are Yes! (you many have it) and Amen! (let it be so) in Christ Jesus. Every time you see a promise of God, you may obtain it through Jesus Christ. There is one particular promise that you will be ecstatic to receive. He promises that we would be transformed and made to be more like Jesus by a singularly, easy process.
It doesn't cost any money, you don't have to go to college - it is yours for the receiving.
That doesn't mean it won't take effort on your part, but the effort you expend is not grievous and results in HUGE benefits to you.
"Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2. Renewing means bringing in a fresh supply of truth. Your "mind" includes your thoughts, your thinking processes and the resulting words of your mouth. The transformation is you becoming who you are meant to be.
Did you know the word for "transformed" (the process that happens to you) is the EXACT same word used in Matt. 17:2 and Mark 9:2 "transfigured" where Christ was transfigured? Peter, James and John got to see Jesus as He truly is. Light. Glory shining from His earthen vessel. They heard His gracious words and saw the authority He carried. Even being above Moses/Law and Elijah/Prophets. The three disciples also heard Father say, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased, hear you Him."
In the same way, when you are transformed, people will see the likeness of Christ in you. They will hear your grace-filled words. YOU will sense the love Father has for you and how well pleasing this transformation of you is in His sight. The humans and the kingdom of darkness will see the results of you using the authority given to you by Christ Himself. Christ says to us in Luke 10:19, "Behold I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means harm you." And in Luke 10:17 and again in Luke 10:20, Jesus tells us "the spirits/devils are subject to us in His name".
Father God desires that all of His children with their various personalities (individual wiring) will have this in common...the character of Christ Himself. The love He has for God and humans.
In the very same way Christ was transfigured, you are transformed.
You become all the things you've desired in your heart to be.
The next installment will be the tutorial on how this transforming / transfiguring can occur in your very own life!
It doesn't cost any money, you don't have to go to college - it is yours for the receiving.
That doesn't mean it won't take effort on your part, but the effort you expend is not grievous and results in HUGE benefits to you.
"Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2. Renewing means bringing in a fresh supply of truth. Your "mind" includes your thoughts, your thinking processes and the resulting words of your mouth. The transformation is you becoming who you are meant to be.
Did you know the word for "transformed" (the process that happens to you) is the EXACT same word used in Matt. 17:2 and Mark 9:2 "transfigured" where Christ was transfigured? Peter, James and John got to see Jesus as He truly is. Light. Glory shining from His earthen vessel. They heard His gracious words and saw the authority He carried. Even being above Moses/Law and Elijah/Prophets. The three disciples also heard Father say, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased, hear you Him."
In the same way, when you are transformed, people will see the likeness of Christ in you. They will hear your grace-filled words. YOU will sense the love Father has for you and how well pleasing this transformation of you is in His sight. The humans and the kingdom of darkness will see the results of you using the authority given to you by Christ Himself. Christ says to us in Luke 10:19, "Behold I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means harm you." And in Luke 10:17 and again in Luke 10:20, Jesus tells us "the spirits/devils are subject to us in His name".
Father God desires that all of His children with their various personalities (individual wiring) will have this in common...the character of Christ Himself. The love He has for God and humans.
In the very same way Christ was transfigured, you are transformed.
You become all the things you've desired in your heart to be.
The next installment will be the tutorial on how this transforming / transfiguring can occur in your very own life!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
You become what you think.
Picking up where we left off - Proverbs, the books of wisdom, tells us that pleasant words are SWEET to our soul and nourishment to our bones. The word nourishment in the Hebrew is the word picture of your bones taking a drink. The reverse of Proverbs 16:24 would be that unpleasant words are BITTER to your mind and emotions and dryness to your bones. The words you speak God have a profound effect on your health and wellbeing.
So how do you get pleasant words to come out of your mouth? EASY! You simply use the system God has designed:
You decide what to think
You entertain the thoughts you have accepted
Your heart speaks these thoughts out of your mouth
Your words begin to have their effect in your soul and body
Pleasant words come from pleasant thoughts. The reason God told us to think on things that are true, honest, noble, lovely, praiseworthy and of good report is because, soon, those very things will be coming out of our mouths. You become what you think. The old adage, “You are what you eat” is true spiritually as well. If you feed on (meditate on, entertain, rehearse, think and rethink) on those honest, lovely, noble thoughts – they become part of you and they come out of your mouth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)