Archive for July, 2018

Being One With Him

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2018

Out of His Love, Jesus became one with us in sin so that we could become one with Him in righteousness.  This revelation is expressed by the Beloved Disciple in 1 John chapter 4:

19 We love Him because He first loved us.

Jesus initiated the relationship with you and me thus allowing us to be reconciled to Our Heavenly Father and live a joyful life with blessing.  However, we must choose this path because FATHER wants a relationship based on our willingness and desire to walk with HIM.  Unconditional Love only comes forth by an autonomous desire to express itself without condition.  Jesus Loved me enough to die for me without any assurance I would decide to become a believer.  The same is true for all of mankind yet His Love attracted us to be reconciled.  As I mature in Love, I see people differently and desire the best for them and want them to be fulfilled in this life as I am. 

John further wrote on this revelation:

17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

When the fullness of FATHER’S Love is revealed to us, we no longer walk in fear but instead have a boldness and assurance that our steps are ordered by The Holy Spirit.  Our words become as honey and dissipate fear rather than promote it.  We now truly identify with Christ in our walk and can say without question “As He is, so are we.”  This can only become a reality if we truly grasp and walk in Agape Love for Love becomes our character.  There are those who may walk in faith and quote that passage but it is only wishful thinking until the revelation of Love comes forth.  Faith without Love becomes self-centered and soulish.  Those who attempt to walk in faith without Love are primarily focused on their own needs rather than the needs of others.  Thankfully, Jesus was willing to set aside Himself for us.

In Galatians chapter 6, Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT:

14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

When Jesus went to the cross, He did it for you and me thus His action of Love satisfied the requirement of being crucified to the world.  Legally, I died with Him on the cross and legally I have been raised with Him as well.  Once I accepted Christ as my Savior, His crucifixion became a reality in my life but moreover, His resurrection became a resulting reality as well.  We must never allow this act of Love to become commonplace in our consciousness for it is the basis of our walk.

If we are one with Him, can people see Jesus in us?  If not, we must change until we express the same Agape Love as Him.  As FATHER’S Love permeates every aspect of our walk, we will become more fruitful in our relationship with others.  FATHER’S purpose will become our purpose and we will no longer be moved by the world’s noise for it is temporary by nature anyway.  FATHER’S way is sure and is constantly promoting life and restoration.  As our walk matures, we will surely be able to express the full reality of the statement “As He is, so are we.”

Draw Near To FATHER

Monday, July 2nd, 2018

James wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 4:

7  So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.

Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people].

9  Be miserable and grieve and weep [over your sin]. Let your [foolish] laughter be turned to mourning and your [reckless] joy to gloom.

10  Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].

It is FATHER’S desire to draw close to each of us.  Just consider the big picture: HE gave us HIS Son to restore and heal us in mind and body, HE gave us HIS Word to instruct us, and HE gave of HIS SPIRIT so that we could walk with HIM on a moment by moment basis.  The benefits of drawing near to FATHER are immense if we will only embrace HIS directives in our lives.

We must cleanse ourselves of our past by repentance.  Afterward, we should no longer reckon ourselves guilty and bring up those past sins in our consciousness for The Blood of Jesus was and is sufficient.  The devil will attempt to condemn us of those past acts but we are to plead the Blood and the devil will flee.  He will not challenge this reality unless we are double-minded.

Many people overrate their ability because of temporary success.  I say “temporary” because as things change, their success may turn to failure in a short period of time.  Anyone can work the current Babylonian system but it is a severe taskmaster and will turn on you in a moment.  When I was at IBM back in the late 70’s, the standard comment of the supervisor was “I appreciate what you did yesterday but what are you going to achieve today?”  The Babylonian system always wants more than you can achieve and punishes you if you fall short.  No mercy!

When we draw near to FATHER, our purpose in life becomes clear and we begin to live a fulfilled life.  Peace fills our soul and we are no longer moved by world events.  We know FATHER is watching out for us and we arise each day in anticipation of being led by The Holy Spirit.  Be assured that the devil will place obstacles before us but know that FATHER is pleased to instruct us concerning how we approach those obstacles.  The devil will tempt our flesh just like he tempted Jesus.  As we become mature and respond by walking and speaking according to The Word, the devil will flee as he did when he tempted Jesus.  Yes, he will try again but he will not be successful as we remain in fellowship with FATHER.

Drawing near to FATHER is not meant to be complex and require any extreme measures.  We do not have to jump through hoops to get HIS attention, we simply need to submit to HIS SPIRIT and Word.  HE wants our fellowship so that we will become mature Sons and Daughters, and as a result, fulfill our purpose given to us from the beginning.  HIS unconditional Love is HIS motivation to draw near to us.  Don’t wait to draw near, start today.  The peace alone is worth it.

Reaffirming Love

Sunday, July 1st, 2018

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 2 Corinthians chapter 2:

 

5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. 

6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 

7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 

8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 

9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 

10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 

11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

 

Until people are fully immersed in Love, they will do something to grieve you and me.  There is a time to punish such actions but as Paul said, forgiveness and comfort are not to be withheld either.  When a member of a family has caused immense grief and fellowship is broken, the family must allow righteous judgment to come forth for corrective purposes.  However, we must allow Love to prevail and reassure the member that Love is greater than their actions which caused the grief in the first place.

 

As the saying goes, “We judge everyone else by their actions, but we judge ourselves by our intent.”  Each of us needs to be cautious about our views of others.  That is why we must always look at the fruit… including our own.  Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 7:

 

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 

2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 

3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 

4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 

5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

 

Let us walk and be led by The Holy Spirit when we are wronged by another.  Evoking judgment due to an obvious wrong may be necessary but let it be done in the view of restoration.  Love covers a multitude of sins as Our Elder Brother can attest to by His Blood.  Let us pursue a walk consistent with the high standard established by Our Heavenly Father which is based on Love.