Archive for June, 2010

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TO HIS GLORY

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Day 119

“Not to us O LORD, not to us but to your name
be the glory because of your love and faithfulness”
Psalm 115:1

Did you know that God’s great delight is to display and uphold His glory for our enjoyment? Read what He says to His people in the midst of their obstinacy; “For My name’s sake will I defer My anger, and for My praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off” [Isaiah 48:9]. These people were rebellious and not obeying God, yet He chose not to express His anger, but refine them so they will honor Him.

God will not give His glory to another. There can be no greater sin than for us to boast and believe we can accomplish things in our own strength. It is no different than a father in his home who is raising children. What if the children would never obey? What if they did everything on their own? What if they ruled the house? It would be to the parent’s shame. The rebellious children would rob the parent’s of their rightful place.

God has a righteous passion about His glory. He knows if we humble ourselves and lean upon Him, we will find delight in Him. By giving glory and honor to God, blessing Him for who He is and His love and faithfulness, we ourselves will be blessed. We will take delight in His glory.

“Bring my sons . . . whom I created for My glory”
Isaiah 43:6-7

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THE POWER OF GOD

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

Day 118

“That you may know . . .
His power toward us who believe”
Ephesians 1:19

We have been given a hope and glorious inheritance in Christ. It is Christ in us, our hope of glory. And this hope is firmly grounded in our God’s eternal promises to us. Our lives need to be centered on this hope. It will drive away our sinful tendencies if we focus on His salvation and Kingdom. The glorious inheritance is Christ’s to give us – a place and sharing in His Kingdom. We are the inheritors.

For the hope to be realized and the inheritance obtained; God has given His power toward us who believe. This power is the working of His strength in us fulfilling His purposes. We can rely on His infinite power to help us in life. The words ‘impossible,’ ‘trying,’ ‘if I can,’ ‘do it harder’ should not exist in our lives. It is only when we recognize our weakness can we lean on His strength. We become strong when our total dependency is on God.

Christ loves the church – “He gave as head over everything to the church, since it is His body …” That same power that raised Christ from the dead, exalted Him on high, is not dormant or dead. That power is as much alive today and it will not allow anything to stand in the way, including the full realization of us as believers. Praise be to God for He has equipped us to be completely victorious in life and see our full inheritance.

“Thine is the power”
Matthew 6:13

“He can therefore do all things”
Matthew 19:26, Mark 14:36

“Nothing is impossible for God”
Luke 1:34-37

“He is able to do what He has promised”
Romans 4:21

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ULTIMATE REALIZATION

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Day 117

“His glory shall be seen upon you”
Isaiah 60:2

There is a great realization to be seen. It is before our very eyes. God’s great workmanship is His masterpiece. The Father will have a family. And His Son has brought them into the heavenlies. Think about it; The Son has a body, His church; the Holy Spirit has a temple, His people.

Right this very minute the Father is working His purposes in us and bringing the corporate body into realization. The Holy Spirit is bringing the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, to growth and building itself up in love, as each part does its work [Ephesians 4:16]. We are the temple. This is the glorious masterpiece coming together.

Some think there needs to be unity in the Church and they understand this to be joining together and eliminating walls that divide us. They are wrong. The church was born in heaven and brought to earth for all those called out to belong to Him. If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another – and that is unity! Only those that do not see are divided. God is saving us, a people, not a system, structure or organization. WE are His glory and His glory will be seen on us.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a
glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed
into the same image from glory to glory,
even as by the Spirit of the Lord”
2 Corinthians 3:18

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RESURRECTION LIFE

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

Day 116

“We shall be saved by His life”
Romans 5:10b

The ultimate victory in our lives is to learn to live our life by Another. Paul stated this clearly when he said, “I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” [Galatians 2:20]. We will walk in complete victory if we live in total dependency upon Him.

We are saved from sin daily by adherence to and reliance on the Son of God. If we have complete trust in Him, we walk in freedom. The sad news, though, is many remain infants, never maturing into the fullness of Christ. We love our lives too much. We become entangled in the fabric of our society. Yet, Christ is ever abiding in us. He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us. We have been given everything to know and rely upon Him. He wants us to rely on Him, as John says, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us” [1 John 4:16].

It is the Father’s intention for you to live your life fully unto Him. Christ’s incredible resurrection power raised us from the dead and made us alive. That resurrection power is working in us now so we may walk in a continuous union with the living Christ. Knowing God’s sovereignty, His complete control over every facet of our life, sets us free to do His will and have a constant joy and peace.

“Much more they which receive abundance of
grace and of the gift of righteousness
shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ”
Romans 5:17

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THE BODY OF CHRIST

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

Day 115

“There is one body”
Ephesians 4:4

When you were born, you were born in a family. When you were born again, you were born in a new family. Many see salvation as an individual act, but it really isn’t. Although there is an individual response to God’s calling, your birth made you a part of a family known as the corporate body of Christ. It is God’s house, known as the church. It is here that you work out of your salvation [Philippians 2:12].

The word ‘together’ is closely bound with your salvation. Paul says in Ephesians He has “quickened us together in Christ”, and “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus [2:5-6]. Our togetherness is corporate and corporately we were included in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. In other words, He has taken this glorified humanity with Him back to heaven – “we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones” [5:30]. We are now corporately seated with Him in the heavenlies!

As we live out our temporal life here on earth, God has given us a new kingdom to live in. It is here we are “gathered together in one” [1:10] and we are “fitly framed together” [2:21]. This is God’s marvelous plan for us. We find His love, His strength, His forgiveness, His peace, His provision, and His blessing in the body of Christ.

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual
house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”
1 Peter 2:5

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HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS

Friday, June 25th, 2010

Day 114

“He [man] is the image and glory of God”
1 Corinthians 11:7

We are the image and glory of God.

Have you ever considered this? Christ, as the firstborn and our Elder brother, has reconciled and restored us to our rightful place as sons of God. We were created to have an intimate relationship with God our Father. Because we were made in His image and likeness, we have part of His nature. God has placed that in every person and this is the reason why man cannot find full satisfaction and peace unless he is restored to his original purposes. Only God can satisfy man’s hunger and thirst.

Christianity isn’t being ‘good’ or doing the right thing. It isn’t even about getting rid of sin. Being a Christian has everything to do with going home and taking our rightful place in the household of God. The meaning of faith is the restoration of our life in full dependency on our Sovereign God and Father. Although not divine, we are like God who created us. We are now partakers of the divine nature [2 Peter 1:4]. It is the ultimate goal of a Christian to be Christ-like because we have been predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son [Romans 8:29].

Do you know before the foundation of this world God called you according to His own purpose and grace through Christ Jesus [2 Timothy 1:9]? Yes, you were chosen in Him. And now you are the glory of Christ. Great opportunity is open to you to be a light to others, revealing our glorious Lord and His excellency. You can be a blessing to many, a messenger of reconciliation, telling them the Good News. What a privilege to be a testimony of God’s goodness!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a
new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new”
2 Corinthians 5:17

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THE LORD’S PASSION – PART 3

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Day 113

“He might be the firstborn among many brethren”
Romans 8:29b

Jesus was to be the firstborn of many brethren, leading them to be conformed to His likeness, members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones, and set apart as sons of God. His love was so immense and so deep towards us that for the joy set before Him He endured the cross, despising the shame, to save us [Hebrews 12:2]. This is why He is declared the Author and Finisher of our faith.

That passion which brought Him to humble Himself and die on a cross is the same passion He has for us today – “The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” [Romans 8:26b]. We are loved so much by God that the Holy Spirit yearns for the day we are free from every sin so we will glorify God forever in the perfection of holiness and joy. That groaning that cannot be uttered is the deep cry of His heart. He is working God’s purposes out in our lives.

The Spirit which He made to dwell in us yearns for us even unto jealous envy [literal James 4:5]. It is the holiness of God stirred into activity against sin. Do you hear the cry of the Father’s heart? Read how He cried over His children: “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I cast you off, O Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboim? My heart is turned over with Me. All My compassions are kindled” [Hosea 11:8].

Yes, He is a God determined to bring His children home.

“It is Christ . . . who is even at the right
hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us”
Romans 8:34b

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THE LORD’S PASSION – PART 2

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Day 112

“He might be the firstborn among many brethren”
Romans 8:29b

What is the purpose of Jesus coming to the earth and becoming man? Many say to save sinners, but that is not correct. Jesus’ purpose is stated in the word and prophesied before He came; “Behold I have come (in the roll of the book it is written of Me) to do Thy will, O God” [Hebrews 10:7]. He came to be the firstborn among many brethren, to do what Adam and every man after him failed to do – obey God the Father. In doing the Father’s will, He saved man.

For us who love the Lord, this is a very important understanding to have. He came to be our Elder brother. He came to show us the way, be an example, and then die for us. He came not only to save, but make us holy and place us in His family. We have been restored from that which was lost. God, who foreknew us, has also predestined us to be conformed to His likeness [verse 29a]. The sum of the Jesus’ ministry is declared in Hebrews, “bringing many sons unto glory” [2:10]. Our Elder brother has made us members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones [Ephesians 5:30].

Our glorious Lord and Savior does not consider himself complete apart from those who He came to save! His glory is US! What a tremendous revelation of Jesus’ ministry! He has taken this glorified humanity back to heaven – “So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers” [Hebrews 2:11b]. You are foreknown by God, predestined, called, conformed, justified, and glorified in Him, our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ.

“Looking unto Jesus the author
and finisher of our faith”
Hebrews 12:2

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THE LORD’S PASSION – PART 1

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Day 111

“He might be the firstborn among many brethren”
Romans 8:29b

Great respect was given by the Old Testament households to the firstborn. He had headship over his brothers, authority over younger members of the household, succeeded to the father’s authority, special claim to the father’s blessing, and he received a double portion of inheritance. It meant foremost in time, place, order and importance.

Was Jesus the first firstborn? No, He wasn’t. Adam was. Created in His image and likeness for fellowship, God gave man preeminence over every living thing and over the earth itself. More importantly, God created Adam a living being with a free will. He did this to bring the highest order of creation in man. But, Adam was not proven. There were choices before him. Out of everything given to Adam, there was one thing he was instructed not to do. He made a choice and it wasn’t for God. Because of this sin, Adam lost his birthright. He became a living soul. He was not saved. And the word tells us that by him came death to all men (1 Corinthians 15:21).

Adam’s choice made it impossible for man to be saved. Man cannot save himself. Sin blocked that road. God’s divine plan, which was set before creation came into existence, did not change. God chose who was to be His. But, when man could not save himself, He sent His only Son to become the firstborn among many of brethren. He sent Jesus to be the second Adam and firstborn of a new race!

“Both the One who makes holy and those
who are made holy are of the same
family. So Jesus is not ashamed
to call them brothers”
Hebrews 2:11

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MERCY AND FEAR OF THE LORD

Monday, June 21st, 2010

Day 110

“He hath not dealt with us after our sins;
nor rewarded us according to our iniquities”
Psalm 103:10

Goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives. It is His mercy that reached down and rescued us, delivering us out of the hands of Satan. It is His mercy that keeps, heals and brings us into His glory.

But what does the fear of the Lord have to do with mercy? Great mercy comes to those who fear the Lord and great mercy is what we need. ‘Great’ means to be strong and put to more strength. The fear of the Lord is an attitude of the heart that looks to God with respect and awe, knowing that He has all power, wisdom and goodness. The fear of the Lord leads to obedience. It will cause us to make decisions that the flesh does not want to make and to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. This attitude pleases our Heavenly Father in the same way that we are pleased when our children respect and honor us.

God has no desire to make our way hard and miserable. We make our own way hard and miserable with our unrighteous thoughts and attitudes. God’s grace is always there to take care of our sin and His mercy to cover the effects of sin. Our Father wants us to know His mercy and to respect and trust Him. . That really isn’t very much to ask, is it?

“But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting
to everlasting upon them that fear him”
Psalm 103:17

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