You already have it. Whatever it is you are pressing for in prayer, you already have it available to you. I’m sure there are a few voices shouting “Amen” to that statement. But unfortunately in the Christian community, experience tells me that there are many more voices sighing in despair that have tried to “believe enough” in the power of their prayers in the past only to be disappointed in the outcome. So often, dare I say most of the time, people approach God in prayer hoping that if they pray “correctly” they will be successful in getting God to do something for them. They go through all kinds of mental and emotional gymnastics to make sure that they are in the best position possible to get God on their side and to act according to their desires. I can relate. Been there, done that, just didn’t buy any t-shirts! Wanna know the secret? It, whatever “it” is, the need that you are wanting met through prayer, has already been met. Ephesians 1:3 tells us that God has blessed, past tense, us with every blessing possible. 2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life … Continue reading
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The answer is YES! No matter how many promises God has made, the answer is yes. “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20). The answer is yes to every promise of God, NOT because of our success at being good enough to make it come to pass, but because of His faithfulness and what Christ accomplished at the cross. However, we do have a responsibility in that process to see His promises activated. It is through Christ that we are to proclaim the “Amen”. Amen is the spoken affirmation meaning “so be it” or “let it be so”. The Message translation says it in this way, “God’s yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident.” The “Amen” spoken by us is a true act of faith. Hebrews 11:6 states, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards tose who earnestly seek him.” It is also our responsibility to know just what it is that He has promised so that we can confidently proclaim … Continue reading
My husband worked in the lighting industry for nearly 30 years. As a result he became very accustomed to handling (literally) electricity. Don’t try this trick at home! He would take a cord with wires exposed at one end, plug it into the wall; hold the live wires between the fingers of one hand and in the other hand hold the base of a light bulb. The bulb would light up with seemingly no ill effects on my husband. Now, obviously his ability to keep the bulb burning for any length of time, or his ability to run enough power through his body to run appliances or to supply a house – not going to happen! It’s impossible. I chose that example because so often what we try to do as Christians is to be our own power source to put ourselves in right standing, to be considered righteous enough by God to receive blessings from Him. It is as impossible for us to make ourselves righteous enough to receive anything from God as it is for a human being to be the source of electricity to run a household. We readily receive the concept of the free gift of salvation, but … Continue reading
Sin does not separate us from God’s grace. In fact, where sin increases, grace increases all the more (Romans 5:20). Does that mean it’s OK to sin? Absolutely not! Sin is always destructive. Christ died to release us from its grip. But if sin does not separate form God’s grace, is there anything that can? The answer is a resounding yes! The Greek word for grace is charis, and is defined as “the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance). Separating ourselves from His grace does not negate our transfer to heaven at the end of this life, but it can separate us from His power being free to move in and through our lives in this life. So what is it, if not sin, that can cause us to fall away from grace? Galatians 5:4 gives us the answer. “If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have fallen away from grace (from God’s gracious favor and unmerited blessing)” (Amplified Version). … Continue reading
“If ANYONE says to the mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea’ . . . ” In Mark chapter 11 Jesus says for US to speak to the mountain. He does not say, “Ask God to move the mountain for you” and then wait around for something to happen. Then He goes on in verse 24, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” In the Garden He gave Adam authority over the earth. We have all been placed in a position of spiritual authority just by the simple fact that God has placed man in that position. That is an interesting position to be in. There are people that when placed in a position of authority, crumble and can’t/won’t make a decision. If they do make a decision it’s not a very wise one. There are those that given the chance to be in that position abuse the power – for example, the Pharisees. Because we all have been placed in that position, spiritually speaking, what are our guidelines for using that authority effectively and correctly? It’s not complicated. In verse 23 Jesus … Continue reading
“That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. It is with your heart that you believe and are justified.” (Romans 10:9-10) It is believing what JESUS did that brings us to salvation. It is NOT what we do. It is not in making sure that our confession is up to date. It is not in our church attendence. It is not in being faithful attendees of the right classes in the right order. It is not in anything we do or don’t do. Our justification/righteousness is HIS righteousness covering us. That’s it. Nothing else. You can’t add to it or subtract from it. One of the criminals crucified next to Jesus got it. (Luke 23:39-43) One of the worst, receiving society’s punishment understood who Jesus was. Hanging on the cross he reprimanded the other criminal for mocking Jesus and then made this statement, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” There was no time for acts of contrition or following man-prescribed ceremonies. He believed that Jesus was who He said He was and confessed his belief by acknowledging Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus’ … Continue reading
So how is that incredible, incomparable power that Paul talks about in Ephesians 1 released in our lives? The same way all of His amazing promises are released in our lives. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” So often we wait for God to do something to make things better for us. He has already done it ALL. Remember, “It is finished”. His part of the new covenant relationship through Jesus Christ is finished. Meditate on Ephesians 1:19-21. Picture yourself in Christ, seated above all the powers that could try to come against you. Close your eyes, see it, sense it, know it, believe it. Confess means to agree with what has been stated. Confess with your mouth, out loud, that your position as a new creation in Christ has opened the door for His mighty power to flow through you. … Continue reading
So often we face life so defeated, discouraged, stressed. Believers, WAKE UP!! In his letter to the Ephesians, chapter one, again in his prayer for all believers, Paul prays for us all to be aware of the “incomparably great power for us who believe”. He continues, “That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and SEATED HIM AT HIS RIGHT HAND, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given.” As a believer, guess where you are seated. Ephesians 2:6 tells us that God raised (past tense – it’s DONE) us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms IN Christ Jesus. Because Christ is above every evil power and authority and we are IN Christ, we are also, right now, above every evil power and authority. That should give you tremendous joy and hope knowing that there is no power that can overtake you. How is that power released in us? Come back tomorrow and we’ll continue. Know that you are amazingly blessed today. Linda