For the People of God there remains a REST!!
Hebrews 4:9 "There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God." "10. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11.Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." "...Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. "
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That rest is Jesus. We don't work our way into God's heart, we yield our way into God's heart. "We love Him because He first loved us!" We didn't summon God. We did not lure him or seduce him or talk him into loving us. He first loved us!
Our creator, seeing that we are subject to all manner of evil, became like us to suffer the same trials and temptations we do, in fact it says: suffer unto obedience, that we would have a redeemer. That redeemer is one that knows all that you think he couldn't know. Hebrews 4:15."For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin"
Hebrew 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
New Identity ... Born Again
If any one is in Christ, he/she is a new creation, old things are passed away, behold all things have become new. Have you ever seen a caterpillar? Have you ever seen a butterfly? They are two different creatures entirely. Yet they come from the same creature essentially. The butterfly, though it doesn't look, feel, or operate like it, was in fact, at one time a caterpillar. A sluggish, chubby, grubby worm that crawled on the ground nibbling every leafy thing it happened upon, til one day it becomes entombed in a cocoon and inside it is transformed. Scientists tell us that the caterpillar actually dies inside the cocoon and a new creature is formed. One day, after many with no movement, no action, the cocoon begins to wobble and move and become a bit distorted. Slowly breaking through the encasement a butterfly begins to emerge, not even resembling a caterpillar. Then after pumping some blood into it's wings it takes flight!
Jn 3:3-7 Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of heaven unless he is born again." Nicodemus asks Jesus, "How can an old man be born? Can a man enter his mother's womb a second time?"...Jesus answers him "... flesh gives birth to flesh and spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, you must be born again..." II Corinthians 5:17 says .."If any one be in Christ he is a new creation..." A new creation is born out of our souls union with Christ.
When you are in Christ you die and a "new creation" is formed. Today, shake off the image in your minds eye that says you are not good enough, not loved enough, not met your goals enough, not measured up enough. Missed the mark, you're a lowly worm, a failure, a misfit. The accuser of the brethren likes to remind you of who you are outside of Christ. I want to remind you of who you are in Him! You are cleansed, redeemed, purchased with a greater price than you could have ever paid, empowered, equipped and free. When the enemy says you are anything other than what agrees with at least the few descriptive words i gave you, speak your truths, outloud, clearly and more than once. Today, if you are not sure exactly what you are in Christ. Get in Him. Cocoon up!! Give it all to Him and emerge cleansed of the old. It's the word, it has to work! If any man/woman is in Christ he/she is a new creation!! If you are unable to be free you haven't died yet!
Jn 3:3-7 Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of heaven unless he is born again." Nicodemus asks Jesus, "How can an old man be born? Can a man enter his mother's womb a second time?"...Jesus answers him "... flesh gives birth to flesh and spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, you must be born again..." II Corinthians 5:17 says .."If any one be in Christ he is a new creation..." A new creation is born out of our souls union with Christ.
When you are in Christ you die and a "new creation" is formed. Today, shake off the image in your minds eye that says you are not good enough, not loved enough, not met your goals enough, not measured up enough. Missed the mark, you're a lowly worm, a failure, a misfit. The accuser of the brethren likes to remind you of who you are outside of Christ. I want to remind you of who you are in Him! You are cleansed, redeemed, purchased with a greater price than you could have ever paid, empowered, equipped and free. When the enemy says you are anything other than what agrees with at least the few descriptive words i gave you, speak your truths, outloud, clearly and more than once. Today, if you are not sure exactly what you are in Christ. Get in Him. Cocoon up!! Give it all to Him and emerge cleansed of the old. It's the word, it has to work! If any man/woman is in Christ he/she is a new creation!! If you are unable to be free you haven't died yet!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Let it go!
Today we lay aside the weights that so easilly beset us, and run the race set before us.
We are instructed to not hold onto dead weight. We need to let go when God says let go, fixing our eyes on the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus! What does this mean? It means, if it sets you back, weighs you down, holds you from something you need to do, pins you to a negative emotion, saps your energy, distorts your view, or obscures your vision, let it go!!
We are instructed to not hold onto dead weight. We need to let go when God says let go, fixing our eyes on the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus! What does this mean? It means, if it sets you back, weighs you down, holds you from something you need to do, pins you to a negative emotion, saps your energy, distorts your view, or obscures your vision, let it go!!
Is God concerned with what day it is?
This is your day!!
The Bible says: Today is the day of salvation. When God deals with you it is always in the "now", today, this moment, this time, this hour-today. God is concerned with you, right now, right where you are!
Yesterday is gone. We do not have yesterday to give, it is gone. It is not within our power to offer it. We may make mention of it. We may be reminded of it. We may even hold it in our minds eyes as if beholding it all over again, but the truth is, it is gone forever!! It's consequences may remain. What changes it effected may be stationary, but the past itself is gone, withered and disappeared. Time, it is like that, here one minute, gone the next.
So, it is my desire that you are encouraged to live each moment, not in the past nor worried about the future, but making the most of each day. The Bible says: "Seizing the day or else evil will come in and devour it like a flood." "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!"
I felt lead to begin this discipleship blog with this word "Today is the day of salvation" Let's apply this truth to the doorposts of our hearts. Today, right now, we are free, transformed, renewed, redeemed, cleansed, holy, loved by our perfect father in heaven and we are temples that the Holy Spirit dwells in.
While it is still today, let us dwell on the magnificence of so great a salvation. Let us remember how much he loves us and draws us to himself to fashion us into a sparkling bride.
Today, is our day. Today, we love, today we live, today we forgive, today we are forgiven, today we are free, today we laugh, today we relinquish the past and refuse to spend our lives looking into the rear view mirror. Today we look forward to the future but more than that we appreciate the wonder of this day.
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