You Become Like What You Focus On

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Cor 4:18

I am convinced Christianity was never supposed to be a set of do’s and don’ts.  It was meant to be a loving relationship with God our Father, Christ our brother and the Holy Spirit our helper.  It was meant to be what Brother Lawrence calls “an habitual, silent, and secret conversation of the soul with God.”¹  We have the choice of what we decide to focus on.  We decide how we will relate to God.  Take a moment and ask yourself “Do I find myself trying get right before having time with God?  Be honest!  I think we all have that tendency.  We can focus on self-righteousness (trying to keep the law in our own strength).  Or we can focus on His Righteousness received through faith in Him.  You see the law was given so that we would be aware of our sin and understand how far short of His righteousness we fall (Rom 5:20-21, 7:5-7, Gal 3:17-19).  All sin is ultimately against Him, the Perfect One.  God’s covenant with Abraham came 430 years before the law.  Abraham believed and it was credited to him as righteousness.  “Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham” Gal 3:6.  We are Abraham’s children (Gal 3:14).  The law was only added to the covenant to make us aware of our sin.  Here is the proof:

“So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.  You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal 3:24-29. 

“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.  Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out ‘Abba, Father.’  So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you an heir.” Gal 4:4-7. 

So we were not created to study the law and focus on it (self-righteousness) but we are to have faith and focus on the Father and His righteousness.  Scripture also bears this out (See Romans chapters 7 & 8).  Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires and the law condemns them.  Those who live by the Spirit have their minds set on God and faith justifies them with the very righteousness of God.  So if we focus on the do’s and don’ts, we are missing the bigger picture of what God purchased for us.  He purchased freedom from the tyranny of the law (the list of do’s and don’ts), so that we could focus on Him.  His Spirit in us (Rom 8:9, John 14:17) calls out to the Father (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6).  Let us focus on Him.  Remember where your heart is there your treasure will be (Matt 6:21).  Scripture shows us that if we focus on Him, He will make us like Him.  Here are some Scriptures to help you set your focus.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” – Heb 12:1-2

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” – Phil 3:7-9

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Phil 3:12-14

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” – Col 3:2

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Cor 4:18

“We live by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Cor 5:7

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.”  - 1 Cor 13:12

So the answer is not focusing in our inability to not sin or to focus in on the law (the list of do’s and don’ts) and how to keep it, but rather to focus ourselves on what He has promised us that we are and on His Nature (the thing we are trying to become like).  Remember you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.  Consider also a person reaps what they sow.  If you sow to the law you reap from the law and we know that the end of the law is death.  But if we sow to the Spirit, we have eternal life (Gal 6:7-8).  So, what does Scripture say about us?  I challenge you take time sit down and read through these verses, study them, memorize them, and appropriate them as your new identity.

We are a new creation – 2 Cor 5:17

We are Sons (and Daughters) of God – Rom 8:15, 1 John 3:1, Eph 1:5, Gal 4:4-7, John 1:12, Luk 20:35-36

We are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God – 1 Pet 2:9

We are Partakers in the divine nature – 2 Pet 1:4

We are citizens of heaven – Phil 3:20

We are seated with Christ in the Heavenly realms – Eph 2:6

We are friends of Jesus – John 15:15

We are prosperous and have a hope and a future – Jer 29:11

We are loved – Jer 31:3, John 15, Ps 103

We cannot be separated from His love – Rom 8:39

We are to experience the fullness of Christ and His love Eph 3:14ff

We are loved by the Father as much as He loves Jesus – John 17:23

We are God’s workmanship and He has good works lined up in advance for us to do – Eph 2:10

We are to do what Jesus did and greater – John 14:12

We are called to experience the fullness of God – Eph 3:19

We have been given all things that are the Father’s – John 16:14-15

If we are to become mature in Christ, we must embrace the truth God tells us about ourselves.  We must acknowledge the truth about who we are now that we are adopted into His family.  We have a new identity as His children.  Unless we embrace that identity, we will never fully accomplish all He has setup for us to do.  We must become the reigning Princes and Princesses of His kingdom and co-labor with Him for the establishment of His kingdom.  We must appropriate (take as our own) all His great and precious promises through faith in Him and in His Word.  Let us rise up saints and get to work about His business!

Oh Great and Mighty Father, Lover of our Souls, help us to believe in Your incredible gifts! You have given us a new identity; help us to embrace it as our own.  You give us all that you have; help us to take You at Your Word.  Help us to do the good works you have prepared in advanced for us to do.  Help us to become the people of God You want us to be.  Help us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds into the Holy Nation You have declared us to be.  Help us to co-labor with you for the establishment of Your Kingdom!  Amen!

Footnotes

1 Lawrence, Brother. The Practice of the Presence of God (Second Letter). From Meyers, Rick. E-Sword. Computer software. E-SWORD the Sword of the LORD with an Electronic Edge. Vers. 9.0.3. Web. <http://www.e-sword.net/>.

References

All Scriptures not specified are quoted from Life in the Spirit Study Bible (NIV). Stamps, Donald C., and John Wesley Adams. Life in the Spirit Study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003. Print.

We Have an Inheritance

“and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may

be filled  to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Eph 3:19

I believe that far too many of us live our Christian lives in pauperism.  We live as homeless street people, but the Father has reserved a place for us at His table.  Yes, we know Christ died for us.  Yes, we know our sins are forgiven.  But too often this is the stopping point.  Christianity is not meant to merely bring the Christian back to even on the scales of justice.  It is meant to save the world.  We have incredible resources available to us though our inheritance. Have we forgotten that the God who spoke the universe into existence is the same God we pray to daily? Have we forgotten that He is all powerful and can do anything as easily as anything else?  Have we forgotten that He knows everything, including where you left your car keys and the solution to that problem that has been hanging over your head for months at work?  Have we forgotten that He is always with us, in fact, he lives right inside us?  Have we forgotten He is infinite, kind, good, just, compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love?  Have we forgotten He who rules the universe, to whom all power and authority owe there origins, is our Father? 

What if we started going to God and asking for our inheritance?  We are all billionaires in His Kingdom.  We have a huge sum vested in our kingdom account.  Jesus died to give it to us.  The Father did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all.  How will He not also along with Him graciously give us ALL THINGS? (Rom 8:31-32).  Now Christ is interceding for us and promises nothing in all creation can separate us from His love (Rom 8:34, 37-39).  Remember, God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6). God promised Abraham, “I am your shield your very great reward” (Gen 15:1).  God does not show favoritism (Acts 10:34-35).  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8) and all the promises of God are “Yes” and “Amen” in Christ (2 Cor 1:20).  We have now become Abraham’s seed (See Gal 3 and 4).  So we know He is our very great reward.  It is Him and all His resources we are inheriting.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Eph 1:3).  Paul prays that we would understand the hope to which He has called us and His incomparably great power for us who believe.  Paul also prays that we might know of God’s glorious inheritance in the saints.  That’s right God counts you as HIS GLORIOUS INHERITANCE! (Eph 1:18-19)  I believe this is because God knows the value of the lives He has redeemed.  He knows the exact sum in their spiritual bank accounts, because it is the same balance that is in His own – infinite! 

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Pet 1:3-4)  Did you see it?  God wants us to participate in His divine nature!  Why?  He is our inheritance!  Paul prays that we may “…know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!   Amen.” (Eph 3:19-21)  The fullness of God is our destiny.  “And we who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor 3:18)  “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” (Heb 1:3)   “He [the Holy Spirit] will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it know to you.   All that belongs to the Father is mine.  That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.” (John 16:14)  God wants to give us Himself as our inheritance!  He has nothing better to offer, because there is nothing better than that to offer.  He is all that is true, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy (Phil 4:8)!  He is good, all good, all the time!  He is inviting us to participate in His nature!  He is inviting us to be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God!  He has sent us His Spirit to live in us and His Spirit is to take all that is God’s and make it known to us!

Yet we often live as beggars in the street, just trying to find our next spiritual meal.  He has so much more for us!  We have a place reserved for us at the Father’s table!  What if we started thinking more like, “God because You are good, I want to experience your goodness and give it to those around me.  God because You are always and everywhere presence, I want to experience Your manifest presence.  I want to walk in continual awareness of Your great presence living in me.  I want to make others aware of Your great presence always around them and ready to be in them.  God because You know everything, and you delight in sharing with Your children, I want to know what only you could know and declare it to the world.  God because You are loving, I want to know Your love and give it away to all those I meet.  God because You are all-powerful, I want to experience Your power flowing through me to heal the dying world around me, to call things that are not as though they are and see them come into being, to proclaim the greatness of You and Your Kingdom and see signs and wonders following.  I want to see Your signs and wonders not to seek the gifts, but because the gifts are the nature of the Giver and I want to participate in Your Nature.  God I want to see You and Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven!”

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Col 3:23-24).

Oh Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, we humbly submit ourselves to Your plan.  Help us to fully avail ourselves of all You died to bring us.  Let our bank accounts in Your Kingdom not sit dormant, but help us to make heavenly withdrawals for deposit here on earth, that we might see Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.  We want to co-labor with You.  Help us understand our place in Your Kingdom that we might have full confidence in You and in Your abilities through us that you might receive through our works the glory, honor, and praise that You alone are so worthy of receiving as we co-labor with You for the establishment of Your Kingdom.  To You be all the glory forever and ever!  Amen.

References

All Scriptures not specified are quoted from Life in the Spirit Study Bible (NIV). Stamps, Donald C., and John Wesley Adams. Life in the Spirit Study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003. Print.

God Wants to Transform Us

“17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is

contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other…” Galatians 5:17

There is a battle inside every believer.  There are two natures at war with each other.  The sinful nature is battling against the Spirit and the Spirit is battling against the sinful nature.  God has put you in charge of deciding which nature will win.  Paul shows us this battle in graphic detail in Romans, Ephesians and Galatians.  Let’s have a look. 

5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness….13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  Romans 8:5-10, 13-14

See the sinful nature has its mind set on fleshly desires, even evil desires, but the spiritual person has their mind set on the things of the Spirit.  The sinful nature is opposed to God.  It is God’s enemy.  It does not consider Him or follow Him.  Indeed, it cannot.  The sinful nature lacks the ability to do good.  It is completely corrupted.  The Spirit IS good and cannot be anything but good.  So we must allow the Spirit to help us ‘put to death the misdeeds of the body.’  Let’s consider another insightful passage from Galatians.

7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.  8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:7-9

Here is the scripture that is quoted so often, ‘A man reaps what he sows.’  Notice the context here.  This scripture is talking about sowing to the sinful nature or sowing to the Spirit.  Whichever one we chose to sow to we will reap a harvest from.  God forgives your sin when you ask Him but the consequences of your sin may still come to ‘find you out.’  Long after we have been forgiven we are still reaping the consequences of our sin.  However, long after we follow the Spirit, we can be reaping spiritual blessing.  Let’s continue to dive into this.

16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.  18But if you are lead by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-25

God has given us His Spirit, living right inside us, to help us live according to the Spirit and not gratify the fleshly nature.  OK so how do we do this?  Let’s look at a few more scriptures.

 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature….9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator….16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom Colossians 3:1-5, 9-10, 16

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  2 Corinthians 10:4-5

As all of us reflect the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces, we are being transformed into the same image with ever-increasing glory by the Lord's Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

God wants to transform us by the renewing of our minds.  Our mind decides whether to follow the sinful nature or the Spirit, and where the mind leads the body, will, and emotions follow.  The mind leads us into sin or into holiness.  God wants to transform us into His likeness.  This is what the Christian faith is all about, becoming more like Him.  So we need to ask the Spirit to help us renew our minds.  We need to set our focus on Him (Heb 12:1-2, Phil 3:7-9, 12-14, Col 2:6-17, 2 Cor 4:16-18, 2 Cor 5:7), and take every thought captive until it obeys Christ (2 Cor 10:-5 [above], Phil 4:4-8).  We need to allow His Spirit to strengthen us in our inner man and bring us to the full measure of Christ (Eph 314:21 ;1:17-22).  We need to fill our minds with what the Word of God says about us and Himself (Eph 2:1-10).  If we do these things God will transform us into His likeness.  

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  2 Corinthians 3:18

Remember He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6)!  Those who love Him and are faithful to Him will win His favor (Prov 3:3-6)!  We have as much of God as we want to have…He has made Himself fully available.

Oh, God who dwells in heaven and in the hearts of men, come and lead us into life everlasting.  Show us by your Spirit the paths we should walk in.  Help us be transformed in our minds that we would chose freely to follow you, for you are good!  Help us to rely upon your Spirit and to live according to your Spirit that we might reap the rewards of knowing you and being filled with your presence, purity, and power.  To your name alone be all the glory!   Amen!

References

All Scriptures not specified are quoted from Life in the Spirit Study Bible (NIV). Stamps, Donald C., and John Wesley Adams. Life in the Spirit Study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003. Print.

God Lives in Us

“Christ in you, the hope of glory”

Col 1:27

When I ask you where God’s presence is, what do think of?  Heaven?  Out there in the universe?  In church? What about in our homes? What about in ourselves?  Here is the truth: God is everywhere simultaneously present. (Ps139:7, 8; Jer 23:23, 24; Acts 17:27; Col 1:17). 

Let’s take a look at the general pattern of the presence of God through the Scripture.  In Genesis 3 we see God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day.  Here Adam and Eve spoke to Him face to face.  Then they sinned against God and He ejected them from the garden.  His presence now seems more remote. A few people experience Him, Moses and the burning bush, Jacob wrestles with God, the priests at the dedication of the temple, David manages to get a hold of God as a shepherd boy, but by and large the presence of God is just out there somewhere as far as the average person notices.  It is like this for several thousand years. Then Immanuel (God with us) is virgin born, God incarnate, and we are back to face to face with God again. 

However, now humankind has a different situation.  We were created in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27, Jam 3:9) but now we are riddled with sin, in fact, our very nature is corrupted.  We carry within us the results of sin—a nature that cannot please God (Rom 8:5-8; Eph 2:3; 1 Cor 2:14).¹  So Jesus dies on our behalf and promises to send the Holy Spirit.  “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.  The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him.  But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17.  Now God has given us Himself to live in us.  When Holy Spirit gives birth to our spirit (John 3:6; Tit 3:4-7), we are “saved” or given eternal life (John 3:16).  “…God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”  1 John 5:11-12.  So when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we become children of God and His Spirit dwells in us.  So we have these two natures, our sinful nature and the spirit, at war within us.

“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.  And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.  But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.  And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in you.  Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.  For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit your put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Romans 8:9-14.

So His Spirit is at work IN us to help us put to death the misdeeds of the flesh and live according to His righteous ways.  So how do we deal with this battle within? I believe Romans 12:1-1 gives us a clean starting point,  “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  How do we be transformed by the renewing of our minds then?  Here are some scriptures to show us the battle within and the way out of it:

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by it deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Eph 4:22-24. 

“Rather clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”  Rom 13:14.

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.  But if you are are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law….But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Gal 5:16-18, 22-25.

“…since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator….but Christ is all and is in all.” Col 3 9-11.

We need to allow His Spirit to be at work with in us.  Let’s look at this from another angle.  If we try to diagram the Trinity and man’s relationship with God we can see easily the resemblance between the Trinity and our relationship with God.

  Trinity                   Man &

(Godhead)                 God

   Father                     Father

   \         \                    \         \

    \        Son                \        Son

      \       /                      \       /

   Holy Spirit                 Man

                         (indwelt by Holy Spirit)²

He has given us Himself and all He has as our inheritance.  He has invited us into the circle of relationship in the Godhead.   Seems too incredible to believe doesn’t it?  Here are some scriptures which attest to the truth.

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes he will guide you into all truth.  He will not speak of his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.  All that belongs to the Father is mine.  That is why I said the Spirit will take form what is mine and make it known to you.” –Spoken by Jesus in John 16:13-15

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”  Ephesians 1:3

“The Spirit himself testifies that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…” Rom 8:17

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”  Romans 8:32

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 2 Peter 1:3-4

So it is Jesus tells us, “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) 

We are not alone.  He has promised to never leave us or forsake us and He lives right inside us making the things of the Father known to us.  Let us lean on Him and allow Him to work in us.

Oh Sovereign Lord, Maker of all that is, help us to become aware of your great presence within us!  Help us to live as the new creation you have made us.  (2 Cor 5:17).  Help us to rely upon your Spirit within us to help us put off the old sinful nature and be clothed with Christ and the new spiritual nature He has given us when we believed in Him.  Help us to remember we are never alone for you are always with us.  Help us to live as if we know you are always with us watching our every action.  Teach us how to rely on your Spirit for power to do what is right, for you paid such a high price to make us your co-heirs and give us the kingdom (Luke12:32).

Footnotes

¹ Some of the following Scripture references gleaned from “Regeneration.” Life in the Spirit Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan 2003,  p1609

² Tackett, Dell. The Truth Project. (Colorado Springs, CO: Focus on the Family) Lesson 8: Unio Mystica: Am I Alone?, 1 DVD.

God is Sovereign

“Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.” Psalm 115:3

The Sovereignty of God is an important attribute when we consider who God is and what He is like.  Sovereign is defined by Merriam-Webster as “one that exercises supreme authority within a limited sphere.”¹  This does not quite describe God’s sovereignty.  God’s sovereignty is supreme authority over all that exists.  God is in complete control.  He is “…God the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords…” 1 Tim 6:15-16.  God is ether completely sovereign or not God at all.  There cannot be something He does not rule, or He would cease to be omnipotent.  There cannot be something God does not know or He would not be omniscient.  Every atom, every quark, every perpetual motion particle (or whatever they find tomorrow that’s smaller), every little thing is under God’s control.  Find this hard to believe?  So do I, but it is, nevertheless the truth.  “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” Col 1:15-17.  He is in complete control, holding all things together; even the bodies of those who refuse to believe He exists. 

OK so by now, if you are like me, you are asking the question, “What about…?”  The answer is “Yes” He is in control of that too.  A. W. Tozer points out in his book Knowledge of the Holy some of the stumbling blocks we trip over trying to understand the sovereignty of God.  What about free-will?  What about evil, death, and pain in the world? God has, in His infinite sovereignty, holiness, wisdom, and goodness, allowed man to have a free-will.²  When man exercises his free-will, for good or bad, he reinforces the will of God that man should have free-will.  However, this free-will must necessarily create the opportunity for evil to exist.  Man must be able to choose good or evil if he is to be a morally free agent.  Now, man not being perfect, as God is, will eventually make an evil choice.  This is what we call sin.  Sin has corrupted the world and all that is in it – except God Himself who cannot be less than perfect or ceases to be God at that point.  So we live as fallen people in a fallen world, but God, who knew the consequences of free-will (the death of His Son as a substitute for our lives as a sacrifice for our sin), went ahead and created the world anyway.  Imagine how it must bless Him when we choose to do good and live for Him!  He has chosen to make His dwelling inside of us to help our frail wills to be able to choose good.  Tozer points out only a sovereign God in complete control would allow His subjects free-will.³  Were He not sovereign, He would be afraid to do so.  One day, He has promised to end all evil, death and pain.  Only a sovereign God in complete control could allow evil for a time and then fully expunge it.  If He were not sovereign, evil would become out of His control and He could not put an end to it.  So man has free-will and God is sovereign.  Evil exists and God is sovereign. 

When we contemplate God we must we willing to accept two things which look contradictory can exist in perfect harmony where He is involved.  He is merciful and righteous.  He dispenses blessing and wrath.  He is three in one.  He has compassion and righteously judges perfectly.  He is sovereign and has given man free will.  He is sovereign and evil does exist for a time.  One day He will roll back the sky like a scroll and reveal He is whom He claims to be, but woe to those who have not believed until that moment-they may never get the chance to accept Him as Savior. 

Nothing is forced on God.  He is never “put between a rock and a hard place.”  He has limitless power to solve problems.  He has limitless knowledge to apply to problems.  He has no problems.  Satan and God are not equal and opposite powers.  Satan is a created, limited being who is not omnipresent, omniscient, or omnipotent.  These qualities belong to God alone.  Indeed, they by definition could only belong to one being.  So here we find tremendous relief and ultimate confidence in our walk with Him.  God is sovereign.  All things are under His control and He will set all things straight in the end.  He is not governed by our time frames, nor is His required to end our pain or suffering on our schedule.  We should always pray in faith for God to heal, yet we must remember He is sovereign and our prayers do not govern Him.  Be certain, He cares.  He has provided the ultimate remedy, evil and pain and suffering and death will cease to exist at some point.  We must wait patently and look for His return and accept what He gives whenever He gives it.  However, His sovereignty does not negate our need for faith, nor our pursuit of Him.  He is faithful to His promises and a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  He cannot lie and, therefore, all is promises are true.  God is a person of complete fidelity and integrity.  He can be unconditionally trusted.  The sovereignty of God does not scare us because we understand His nature.  He loves.  He is good.  He is faithful.  “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom….The lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made….The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made….The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Ps 145:3, 8, 9, 13,18.

For more illumination on the sovereignty of God, look up the following scriptures: Gen 18:14, Ps 115:3, Ps 135:6, Jer 32:27, Dan 4:35, Matt 19:26, Luke 1:37.

Oh, Lord God Almighty, Sovereign Potentate, ruler of all that is, we humbly bow in Your Presence which dwells right inside us.  Help our feeble minds to comprehend more of you.  Help our souls to dwell in the awareness of Your awesome presence and power.  Help our spirits to commune with Your Holy Spirit living in us.  Help our bodies to display the actions which represent You.  We subscribe all power to You, and we thank You for giving us free-will.  Help us use it to glorify You, for you alone are worthy of all our affections and actions.  You alone are the best thoughts we could think.  You alone show us the best way to live.  Let our heart, soul, mind, strength and spirit be ever focused on and captivated by You, the Only Great and Mighty One!  Amen!

Footnotes

¹ http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sovereign

² Tozer, A. W. The Knowledge of the Holy: the Attributes of God, Their Meaning in the Christian Life. New York: Harper & Row, 1961. 108-113. Print.

³ Tozer. 111.

Resources:

All Scriptures not specified are quoted from Life in the Spirit Study Bible (NIV). Stamps, Donald C., and John Wesley Adams. Life in the Spirit Study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003. Print.

Duffield, Guy P., and Nathaniel M. Cleave. Foundations of Pentecostal Theology. Los Angeles, Calif.: L.I.F.E. Bible College, 1983. Print.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/9170/SPROUL10.HTM

God is Holy

“Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?  Who is like you—majestic in holiness,

awesome in glory, working wonders? Exodus 15:11

To try and understand God, or an attribute of God, we must by necessity compare that which we know against that which we don’t know.  And it is just here that we think of God as unholy before we can think of Him as Holy.  Holy is to be set apart separated from everyday common use.  Holy is absolute perfection.  Holy is to be completely pure, entirely without evil.  We know of nothing in our everyday lives with which to compare absolute good.  There is no comparison; for it is not a measure of how holy, but a case of completely holy.  He is the standard and cannot be measured by it.  He is in every respect other than we are; He is totally wholesome.  He is morally perfect.  He has no limitations in His moral excellence.  “There is none holy as the Lord.” (1 Samuel 2:2)  Yet He commands us “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)

Holiness is another moral attribute of God.  We can possess a certain level of holiness but we cannot truly understand holiness.  Just when God begins to reveal His holiness, we find ourselves utterly deplorable like Isaiah. We say with him “‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined!  For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty’” (Isaiah 6:5).  God’s holiness is something we must receive from Him and endeavor to preserve.  He washes away our sin and calls us righteous.  All our righteousness is like filthy rags to Him (Isaiah 64:6).  Such goodness, such purity, such perfection cataclysmically rejects and brings righteous judgment upon the slightest hint of imperfection.  It is through this lens of holiness that the grace of God shines so extraordinarily, incalculably, intensely brilliant.  The mere thought that God could reach down out of His absolute, unconditional perfection and embrace the sinner is nearly unthinkable until grace and mercy leak in, first a drop then a trickle then like a tidal wave after the colossal dam has burst but this is an inaccurate picture also.  For God is perfectly balanced within Himself, so that grace and mercy are presented at the same time as His holiness.

It is only by His grace we should see Him.  It is only by His mercy we should know Him.  It is only because He has given Himself to us to cover ourselves that we can begin to reveal our fallen selves back to Him without fear of His perfection ruinously destroying us.  In short, He helps us to help ourselves receive from Him.  Indeed all throughout Scripture when God shows Himself to His people, fear and trembling are the normal reactions of those to whom He has revealed Himself.  The command not to fear is usually given to these precious souls who experienced the Presence of God.  I believe part of this has to do with the incredible revelation of His Holiness combined with a nearly inconceivable understanding of our wretchedness compared to Him.  Yet He reaches out and lifts them up and gives them the stamina they need to be in His presence.  He gives them Himself to counter the encounter of Himself.  So we see divine holiness balancing justice and mercy, and choosing which and how much of each (or both) should be applied to any given circumstance through His all-knowing perfect wisdom.  One thing is certain, those who come in contact with the bona fide presence of God cannot but be altered in some way.  For the Christian it is a sharing of His holiness that we could participate in the divine nature (1 Peter 1:3-4).  So we can proclaim with the seraphs “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3).

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves form everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).   This is our calling friends, to put off the old self with its sinful desires “and to put on the new self created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).  “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.  And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ…but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Romans 8:9-10, 13).  Remember it is the Holy Spirit who is living in you.  The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in you when you are a Christian (Eph 1:19-20; Romans 8:11).  So God is enabling us to live holy by His Holy Spirit living in us and helping us to put to death the sinful deeds of the body and live for righteousness.

Oh, Lord God Almighty, Holy One, we praise your name and renown!  You are perfect, O Lord.  Your holiness out shines the Sun. Your perfection is greater than the universe. You are the Father who lives in unapproachable light.  You are the light of life.  You are wonderful, magnificent, and truly awesome!  Your greatness no one can fathom.  Your beauty is beyond compare.  We are humbled you consider us.  We are amazed you would rescue us.  You paid the incredible ransom.  You adopted the orphan.  You live among the poor and needy – you live INSIDE us.  Great God, help us to avail ourselves of Your awesome power, Your Holy Spirit, living inside us, that we might choose to walk in righteous ways and endeavor to be holy as you are holy.  It is nearly beyond hope, but there it is, You promise to help us become like You.  Father, build in us Your likeness.  Jesus, help us be dependent on the Father and Spirit as you where when You walked this earth.  Sweet Holy Spirit have your way in us and help us choose Your way above our own that we may be like Him whose name we bare.  In Jesus’ Almighty Name, Amen!

References

All Scriptures not specified are quoted from Life in the Spirit Study Bible (NIV). Stamps, Donald C., and John Wesley Adams. Life in the Spirit Study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003. Print.

Finlayson, R. A. "Holiness, Holy, Saints." New Bible Dictionary. Ed. J. D. Douglas and N. Hillyer.      Second ed. Wheaton: Tyndale, 1962. 486-488. Print.

Duffield, Guy P., and Nathaniel M. Cleave. Foundations of Pentecostal Theology. Los Angeles, Calif.: L.I.F.E. Bible College, 1983. 69. Print.

"Holiness." Dictionary of Biblical Imagry. Ed. Lelan Ryken, James C. Wilhoit, and Tremper Longman,      III. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1998. Print.

The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible New International Version The Old Testament and The New Testament Thompson's original and complete system of Bible study A complete numerical system of chain references, analyses of books, outline studies of characters and unique charts, with pictorial maps and archaeological discoveries. Ed. Frank Charles Thompson, et al. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Bible Publishers, 1983. Print.

Tozer, A. W. The Knowledge of the Holy: the Attributes of God, Their Meaning in the Christian Life. New York: Harper & Row, 1961. 103-107. Print.

God is Gracious

For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved

favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 1: 17

Now it has been said that grace is “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.”  Further, it has been said that mercy is not getting what we deserve (death and hell - the fruits of our sin) and grace is getting what we don’t deserve (life and heaven and all the goodness and character of God – the fruits of God’s righteousness).  Grace gives us all that God has even though we deserve not the slightest bit of it on our own merit, but through God’s goodness, mercy, and grace He grants it to us anyway.  Without fully accepting God’s grace and benevolence, we are incapable of pleasing Him.  He gives us His goodness so we can be good, His mercy so we can forgive others, His love that we can love others, His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, honesty, purity, integrity, loyalty, etc., so we can be those things to the world.  Every last drop of goodness in you is at His bestowing because He is merciful and gracious.  He withholds nothing from us (Psalm 34:8-9, John 16:14-15, John 14:12, Eph 1:3)

We must remember as we discuss the attributes of God that they are not separate from each other but flow as a river out of His presence.  He is the source of all good things.  So the mercy and grace which we so callously dissect are really one and inseparable in Him.  So it is with all His attributes.  Could God be loving and not good?  Could God be eternal and not infinite? Of course not.  So we may look at mercy and grace as separate objects and we will do so but we must remember they work together and are not separate entities.  God does not shut off His grace or righteousness so He can be merciful nor does He shut off His mercy or righteousness to show grace.

This idea becomes more troublesome as we look at the law and grace.  The law demands absolute perfection of obedience, but mercy and grace make up for our lack.  So God does not abolish the law with mercy and grace, but rather He fulfills its requirements when we fall short.  It is important, as A. W. Tozer notes, that we not look at the Old Testament as the Law and the New Testament as Grace which eliminates the law.  God does not change.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  So, of course, grace and mercy existed in the Old Testament.  And we do find evidence of it there.¹  Abraham is called the friend of God.  Joseph whose circumstance God used for good.  David is remembered in the new testament (See Acts 13:22) as a man after God’s own heart.  Really, this murder and adulterer is a man after God’s own heart?  Yes he is.  Read his Psalms 103, 145, 3-32, 34-41, 51-65, 68-70, 86, 95, 101, 103, 108-110, 122, 124, 131, 133, 138-145.  Most of my favorites are in there 23, 34, 63, 103, 139, 145.  David’s response to God’s rebuke through the prophet Nathan concerning his adultery with Bathsheba tests us point blank in Psalm 51 “You [God] do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”  In a time when the only known recompense for sin was sacrifice, God allowed David to see His mercy and grace.

The mercy of God forgives our sin when we accept Christ as our Savior.  In the legal ledger we are just in the black with a balance of zero. The grace of God makes us rich beyond compare.  The legal ledger does not have enough space to say how rich we are.  Mercy makes the decision to save us and grace gives the resources to do so.  Mercy pardons punishment, grace endows rescue and reward.  A. W. Tozer defines them in Knowledge of the Holy as follows , “As mercy is God’s goodness confronting human misery and guilt, so grace is His goodness directed toward human debt and demerit.  It is by His grace that God imputes merit where none previously existed and declares no debt to be where one had been before.  Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines Him to bestow benefits upon the undeserving.”²  So we see mercy and grace at work in the salvation process because they are both part of God and He does not suspend one to use the other.

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” – Eph 2:4-7

Grace makes us sons and daughters of God (see Rom 8:14, 1 Jn 3:1, Eph1:5, Gal 4:4-7, Jn 1:12, Lk 20:35-36), gives us all spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3), seats us in Heavenly places with Christ (Eph 2:4-7 above), gives us is power (Eph 1:18-21), and gives us His incomparably great love (Eph 3:17-19, Rom 8:35-39). Oh the riches we possess in the grace of God!

Oh God, highly exalted and benevolent one, grant to us that we would understand the gift of your grace, the place you have given us as children of God, the honors you bestow upon us, the riches you have made available to us.  Give us the humility to embrace all that you have for us and use it for your glory.  Help us to believe in all that you have done and appropriate it for ourselves.  Enable us not to take for granted all you purchased for us in Christ.  Help us to be the children of God that our lives would draw others to you.  Give us your mercy and grace to extend your unconditional love to all those around us and to return it you as our gift of grace.

Footnotes

¹ Tozer, A. W. The Knowledge of the Holy: the Attributes of God, Their Meaning in the Christian Life. New York: Harper & Row, 1961. 93-96. Print.

² Tozer. 93.

References

All Scriptures not specified are quoted from Life in the Spirit Study Bible (NIV). Stamps, Donald C., and John Wesley Adams. Life in the Spirit Study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003. Print.

Tozer, A. W. The Knowledge of the Holy: the Attributes of God, Their Meaning in the Christian Life. New York: Harper & Row, 1961. Print.