Clothed in His Righteousness

 “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:21‬

Yahweh God made garments from animal skins to clothe Adam and Eve.  Their first sight of death was an innocent sacrifice, killed for them.  God does not demand sacrifice; He provides the Sacrifice.  God did not clothe Adam and Eve with the skin of an animal because of a divine need to be appeased, but for Yahweh God’s unconditional love for them.  Adam was embarrassed about his nakedness, not God.  This is the embarrassing proportion of God’s love for mankind that Jesus hung naked on the Cross to clothe us with His righteousness and glory.  God clothed Himself in human skin, through His Son, for humanity to rediscover His image and likeness in our skin!  What love is this!  Worthy is the Lamb!

Grace is Sovereign

 “that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Death provided sin its platform and power to reign from; now grace has taken over sovereignty through righteousness to introduce unthreatened life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ over us.  We were not made sinners by our own disobedience; neither were we made righteous by our own obedience.  The same humanity represented in the one man Adam, is triumphantly represented in the One Man Jesus Christ!  Adam’s transgression no longer holds the human race hostage.  Let’s raise a Hallelujah to our Lord Jesus!

Love the Word

 “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: But he that hateth reproof is brutish.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon’s wisdom is that to learn the truth you must long to be teachable, or you can despise correction and remain ignorant.  Even the wise need correction and they appreciate its value but those that hate being corrected are stupid!  That’s why God gave His Word, so that we may find it profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, and that we may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. God speaks to us individually when we read and meditate on Scripture for ourselves.  Let’s abide in the Word.  Amen!

Free in Christ

 “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul says says that there can be no harmony between the value that Christ reveals in people and the worthlessness that Belial represents.  Faith-righteousness and work based-righteousness are two conflicting systems that can never match.  We are the living God’s physical address and He made us, we did not invent God.  He said that His dwelling place is us, and He will be our God, and we shall be His people.  So He lives and moves and has His Being in us, as we live and move and have our being in Him - we belong together.  I am His and He is mine.  That’s the unforced rhythm of grace as we learn to live freely and lightly in Christ.  Amen!

Old versus New

 “And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭29:36‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Under the old covenant, the law required to offer a bull as an offering everyday for seven days to purify them from sin.  They were to cleanse the altar and consecrate it by anointing it with oil.  In this shadow system of the law, sacrifices were repeatedly slain because no permanent cleansing was possible.  The principle of repeated repentance, as practiced under the law, does not make sense in the context of the new dispensation, because it would absurdly imply that Christ was being re-crucified and subjected to public shame over and over again.  This new order is not to be confused with the old!  Grace is not a cheap excuse for sin!  Let’s awaken to faith-consciousness once and for all.  We are free from the old rules and bondage of the duty-driven law of willpower.  It is impossible for the old system to match the new!  Thank You Jesus for freeing us from the old and making us new in Christ!

Alive to Christ & Dead to Sin

 “For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:10-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The amazing revelation to the apostle Paul that by His  sacrifice Christ died to sin’s power once and for all, but He now lives continuously for the Father’s pleasure. So let it be the same way with you! Since you are now joined with Him, you must continually view yourselves as dead and unresponsive to sin’s appeal while living daily for God’s pleasure in union with Jesus, the Anointed One.  His appointment with death was once-off.  As far as sin is concerned Christ is dead.  The reason for His death was to take away the sin of the world; His life now exhibits our union with the life of God.  This is equally relevant for us.  He died our death which means we died to sin, and are now alive to God.  Sin-consciousness can never again feature in our future!  We are in Christ Jesus - His Lordship is the authority of this union.  Hallelujah!

Christ Subdues All Things

 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭11:6-9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah’s prophecy of Christ subduing all things and filling the earth with the intimate knowledge of YHWH just as the water swells the sea.  The wolf nature of the flesh in humans is subdued by the Christ nature of the Lamb; the leopard which is a difficult animal to tame will lie down with the Lamb; the calf and the ferocious lion will be together led by a little child; the cow and the bear will graze together as friends as the lion and the ox eat straw peacefully together.  All hostility is removed and subdued as in an innocent , weaned child which is Christ’s nature being produced in us, so that like a child we have power over the serpent and bring light into into its hiding place.  God’s holy mountain of Zion is our permanent home where nothing evil or harmful is found.  Let’s allow Christ’s nature in us, through the Holy Spirit, to subdue all things and glory be given to our Father! Glory to God!

God’s Rest

 “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3:19‬ ‭KJV

The point is this, that even though the children of Israel survived by supernatural means in the wilderness for forty years, they failed to grasp what God had in mind for them and their inheritance.  Their own unbelief disqualified them.  They did not die because of an inferior salvation from Egypt.  They died because they believed a lie about themselves.  We cannot blame the devil for our own unbelief.  We can experience God’s supernatural provision and protection and yet remain outside His rest.  The ultimate proof of faith is entering into God’s rest.  His rest celebrates the perfect work of Christ on the Cross.  For Christ is the complete fullness of Deity living in human form. And our own completeness is now found in Him. We are completely filled with God as Christ’s fullness overflows within us. He is the Head of every kingdom and authority in the universe!  God longs for us to discover our own completeness and perfection as seen from His point of view.  His rest is sustained by us in what He sees, knows, and says about us in reference to the finished work of Christ.  Jesus is what God believes about us!  Amen!

Seeking God & Finding Him

 “And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭8:17‬ ‭KJV

Isaiah trusted in the hidden God when he said that he will wait for the Lord Yahweh, who hides His face from the family of Jacob and he says that he will put all his hope in Him.  God keeps Himself hidden and is revealed by the Holy Spirit to each one who is raised up in righteousness with Christ.  That’s why we rest our confident trust in Him.  We are in Christ and are surrounded in Him as the children whom God has given Christ.  Let’s believe that we are the children of light whom God has raised up with Christ in righteousness.  Amen!

Highest Name

 “being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus is infinitely greater than angels, for He inherited a rank and a Name far greater than theirs.  He is beyond comparison in stature and significance to any prophetic messenger; His Name spells mankind’s salvation; the entire earth is His inheritance.  Jesus had told the Jews that they were busy analyzing the Scriptures, pouring over them hoping to gain eternal life. Everything they read there pointed to Jesus, yet they still refused to come to Him so He could give them the life they were looking for—eternal life!  Let’s believe in every promise in Scripture for through it we have eternal life right now.  Let’s believe Jesus and know that He is for us, in us and with us and His Name is the Highest!  Amen!

God Know Us

 “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The greatness of our God Who perceives every movement of our heart and soul, and understands our every thought before it even enters our mind.   Throughout our history God has spoken to our ancestors by His prophets in many different ways. The revelation He gave them was only a fragment at a time, building one truth upon another. But to us living in these last days, God now speaks to us openly in the language of a Son, the appointed Heir of everything, for through Him God created the panorama of all things and all time.  This Word powerfully penetrates and impacts our whole being - body, soul and spirit.  He knows the deepest impulse of our thoughts; engaging the secret longings of the heart!  Let’s be attentive to His every Word and bring our thoughts captive to His Word!  Thank You Jesus!

Enter God’s Rest

 “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As we enter into God’s faith-rest life we cease from our own works, just as God celebrates His finished works and rests in them.  Whoever enters into God’s rest immediately abandons their own efforts to improve what God has already perfected.  The language of the law is ‘do’; the language of grace is ‘done’.  Let’s not fall into the snare of unbelief but fully appropriate God’s rest, the celebration of the perfect redemption in which the exact image and likeness of God is revealed in human form.  Mankind’s innocence is redeemed.  Through the torn veil of His flesh, Jesus has triumphantly opened a new and living way for everyone!  Hallelujah!

Thirsty for God

 “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭12:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

On the final day of the feast of tabernacles, according to custom, the high priest would draw water from the pool of Siloam with a golden jar, mix the water with wine, and then pour it over the altar while the people would sing with great joy from the psalm and from this prophecy from Isaiah that with triumphant joy they will drink deeply from the wells of salvation.  Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when in the last day, that great day of the feast, He stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come to Me, and drink. He that believes on Me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  (But this He spoke of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.).  Let’s be those believers of the glorious Christ, who are filled with the Holy Spirit and the love of God shed abroad in our heart by Him to love Him and to love one another.  Amen!

Follow after Love

“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul encourages us to go after a life of love as if our life depended on it—because it does. Let’s give ourselves to the gifts God gives us.  Agape is God’s only agenda! Let’s be love driven in our pursuit of spiritual gifts; love awakens our most earnest desire to speak with inspired revelation.  The best way to pursue love and spiritual gifts is to realise how pursued we are by Christ’s love.  Prophets revealed the oracles of God and hidden things in the old covenant.  In the new covenant of grace, Jesus is both the theme as well as the completeness of the prophetic word.  Every Scripture points to Christ.  The redeemed prophesy from sonship, declaring the Incarnate Word Who is the Heir of all things, the Author of the ages and we have our beginning and our being in Him.  Glory to God!

Be the Fruitful Branch

 “In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah was revealed about Jesus, the Branch of Yahweh Who will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and glory of the remnant of Israel.  Jesus is the Vine and we are His branches through whom the life of Christ branched out to bring forth the fruit of His Spirit.  The branch of the Lord that is beautiful and glorious reveals Christ’s divine nature because He took on the earthly nature to become the Fruit on the Tree of Life.  Heaven gave its beauty and the earth its fruit for you and me!  Amen!

Declared Innocent

  “who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭2:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul wrote to Titus that Christ sacrificed Himself for us that He might purchase our freedom from every lawless deed and to purify for Himself a people who are His very own, passionate to do what is beautiful in His eyes.  He gave Himself as sacrifice in exchange for our freedom.  We are redeemed from every obligation and accusation under the law and declared absolutely innocent.  Christ defines who we are because we are exclusively His.  We are His passionate people who excel in doing everything we do beautifully.  Let’s believe passionately that the redemption price has been paid for us and we are not our own!  Hallelujah!

The Third Day Truth

 “Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭5:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Queen Esther and her maids fasted for three days.  On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace opposite the entrance to the palace; and when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favour in his sight and he held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand.  Then Esther approached and touched the top of the sceptre.  Throughout the Old Testament, God speaks in a Messianic language, revealing His resolve to redeem His image and likeness in human form.  On the third day, Esther received favour from the king.  Jesus said that if they destroyed the temple, in three days He would raise it up.  Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  The resurrection of Jesus from the dead on the third day, and mankind’s mystical union with Him is the crux of the Gospel.  Let’s be carriers of this amazing Gospel, Amen!

Our Motivation

 “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:4-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul encouraged and taught his disciple Timothy that every soldier called to active duty must divorce himself from the distractions of this world so that he may fully satisfy the one who chose him. An athlete who doesn’t play by the rules will never receive the trophy, so remain faithful to God! The farmer who labors to produce a crop should be the first one to be fed from its harvest.  Paul taught Timothy to picture himself as a soldier who endures hardship for the cause of Christ and who doesn’t get himself distracted by civilian pursuits; he fully engages himself with the job at hand.  An athlete stands no chance of winning the trophy if he cheats in his training.  A farmer understands how much hard work goes into a harvest.  In all three examples, Paul reminds Timothy that our aim is to win the world with the Gospel; the world is the trophy and the harvest of the Cross.  This is our motivation.  Amen!

God Hastens to Accomplish His Word

 “Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭1:11-12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Eternal One’s Word came to Jeremiah asking him what he saw.  Jeremiah replied that he saw the branch of an almond tree.  The Eternal One commended Jeremiah and told him that He is awake over His Word to perform it.  The almond tree was called the ‘awake tree’, because it blossomed first, while the other trees were still in their winter sleep.  Mankind does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God - God’s original intent, His image and likeness incarnated, revealed and redeemed in human life - Jesus Christ.  Jeremiah prophesied that Jesus would redeem mankind through His death, burial and resurrection because He is the fulfilment of Scripture.  Thank You, Jesus!

Invisible God made Visible

 “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation of the Christ was that in Christ the image and likeness of God is made visible in human form so that everyone may recognise their true origins in Him.  He is the firstborn of every creature.  What darkness veiled, Christ unveiled.  The Son of God’s Love gave humanity the accurate evidence of God’s image in human form.  The Incarnation means that God can never again be invisible!  Christ is the divine portrait, the true likeness of the invisible God, and the firstborn heir of all creation.  Thank You Father for making Yourself visible to us through Your Son, Jesus Christ!  Amen!

Teach Children to Honour God

 “And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.” “And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.”

1 Samuel‬ ‭2:35‬ ‭and 3:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Eli the high priest had sons who misused their position and a prophet came to Eli and prophesied that God would raise up to Him a faithful prophet who would do according to God’s heart.  In a miraculous way God gave a child to Hannah whom she dedicated to the Lord God of Israel and brought him to the tabernacle when he was weaned just as she promised to the Lord.  Samuel served God as a child and the word of God was rare and as were visions.  Eli hadn’t brought up his own sons to honour God so God Himself raised up Samuel and called Him to minister to God.  Samuel heeded God’s voice even as a child.  Let’s raise up our children to honour God and to hear His voice even as young children.  They’ll hear His voice and understand Him.  As Jesus said “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”  Let’s raise up the next generation to know God.  Amen!

Being Christ Like

 “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s simple remedy for being Christ-like is to let joy be our continual feast, and to be cheerfully happy at all times.  Let’s make our life a prayer, constantly engaging our thoughts in worshipful prayer. And in the midst of everything let’s be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for us in Christ Jesus.  Our gratitude is not based on anything fragile or fading, but secured in the fact that God’s purpose for us was concluded in Christ Jesus.  These three virtues as we focus on: unbounded joy; praying continually; and giving thanks to God no matter what happens in our lives - combine to form the wonderful expression of Christ’s life within us.  Amen!

Living Sacrifice

 “And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭9:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When Aaron had laid the offering on the altar, flames came from the Presence of the LORD God, the Eternal One and devoured the burnt offering and all the fat on the altar.  At the sight of this, everyone cried out and fell on their faces.  Today, in the new covenant of grace Jesus Himself is the High Priest who perfectly fits our need—holy, without a trace of evil, without the ability to deceive, incapable of sin, and exalted beyond the heavens! Unlike the former high priests, He is not compelled to offer daily sacrifices. They had to bring a sacrifice first for their own sins, then for the sins of the people, but He finished the sacrificial system, once and for all, when He offered Himself.  Now He asks us by the mercies of God, that we present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service.  The fire of the Holy Spirit which came first at Pentecost, will ignite the Presence of God in us when we become a living sacrifice surrendered to Him, so that we witness to our LORD God, the Eternal One, the Living God!  Thank You Holy Spirit!

Seamless Union with God

 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If we can receive an understanding of what Jesus said here, it would change our whole outlook and help us see from God’s perspective.  Jesus says that we must remain in life-union with Him, for He remains in life-union with us. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so our life will be fruitless unless we live our life intimately joined to His.  Our seamless union (Jesus in me and I in Jesus) is pictured in the vine: the shoot cannot bear fruit outside of this union.  In its abiding in the vine, fruit happens naturally - as with our abiding in Him.  When we understand this mutual union, we will naturally bear much fruit, which is impossible to happen apart from Jesus.  Let’s repeatedly say to ourselves - “I am in Christ and Christ is in me”, and allow the Holy Spirit to open our understanding of this awesome union.  Hallelujah!

The Victorious Bride of Christ

 “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is both a picture of the virtuous wife and an allegory of the end time victorious Bride of the Lord Jesus Christ - the Church, full of virtue and grace.  Who could ever find a wife like this one — she is a woman of strength and mighty valor! She’s full of wealth and wisdom. The price paid for her was greater than many jewels - the sacred Blood of the Lamb of God, her Bridegroom!  For it is the Blood of Jesus that continually cleanses us and makes us virtuous and righteous before our Bridegroom - there is no other way!  Let’s surrender to the Holy Spirit and present ourselves as a living sacrifice as holy and acceptable to God.  Let’s not be conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  The virtuous Bride will not bring disgrace to Jesus’s Name and He will not be ashamed to display her to the world.  Thank You Holy Spirit for preparing us to be the virtuous Bride of our Beloved Bridegroom!  Amen!

Scripture will be Fulfilled

 “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus prayed to the Father just before He was arrested saying that while He was with these that the Father had given Jesus, He was guarding them and keeping them in the Father’s Name. Jesus told the Father that not one of them was lost, except the one that was destined to be lost, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.  This is the beauty of the Holy Word,  that it has to be fulfilled.  David had prophetically spoken in a psalm - “Even my ally, my friend, has turned against me. He was one I totally trusted with my life, sharing supper with him, and now he shows me nothing but betrayal and treachery. He has sold me as an enemy.”  Eating a meal together with a friend was a sign of covenant relationship.  Every Word will be fulfilled if it hasn’t been already.  Let’s be those who receive revelation knowledge of the Word by the Holy Spirit.  Thank You Father for Your Word given to us!

Our Amazing Kinsman Redeemer

 “For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:13-14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David had already seen Jesus on the Cross as a worm and not as a man.  Here Isaiah reminds the decadent Israel telling them that Yahweh is their mighty God Who will grip their right hand and not let them go, telling them not to be afraid, He is there to help them.  Even though Jacob (Israel) feels like a worm, they may not fear for their Kinsman Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel is there to help them.  There is a species of worm in the Middle East which female lays eggs between its body and the tree and the hatched baby worms feed on her living body and the blood remains as a crimson stain on the tree.  When Jesus died on the Cross, His Blood left a crimson stain and He gave birth to the Church.  He nourishes us and sustains us with His broken Body and shed Blood.  The Kinsman Redeemer was a male relative, culturally responsible to act on behalf of a relative who needed to be rescued from slavery, trouble or danger.  Let’s believe that although God is holy, He stooped through Christ to tenderly lift up the unholy.  Our Amazing Kinsman Redeemer!  Amen!

Sinners to Saints

 “giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:12-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul received this wonderful revelation of grace wherein we are grateful to the Father Who qualified us to participate in the complete portion of the inheritance of the saints in the light.  The light of the Gospel reveals what God accomplished through Christ, to transform the sinner into a saint.  He rescued us from the dominion of darkness - the sense-ruled world dominated by the law of performance - and relocated us into the Kingdom where the love of His Son rules.  Let’s receive the Gospel of grace, not only in our minds, but also in our hearts.  Thank You Jesus for qualifying us to receive our inheritance in the saints as joint heirs with Christ and to be glorified together with Him!  Glory to God!

God’s Righteousness is Our Faith

 “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”

‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Righteousness by God’s faith defines life.  Instead of reading the curse when disaster strikes, Habakkuk realised that the Promise outdates performance as the basis of mankind’s justification.  The good news is the fact that the Cross of Christ was a success.  God rescued the life of our design - He redeemed our innocence.  Mankind would never again be judged just or unjust by their own ability to obey moral laws.  It is not about what someone must or must not do but about what Jesus has done!  It is from faith to faith, and not a person’s good or bad behaviour or what we interpret as blessing or curse.  Let’s look away from the law of works to Jesus - He is the Author and Finisher of faith.  Thank You, Jesus!

Found in Christ

 “and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul wanted his passion to be consumed with Christ and not cling to his own “righteousness” based in keeping the written law. Paul’s only “righteousness” was Christ’s, based on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ—the very righteousness that comes from God.  When it counted, Paul wanted to be found belonging to Christ, not clinging to his own righteousness based on law, but actively relying on the faithfulness of the Anointed One.  This is the true righteousness, supplied by God, acquired by faith.  Let’s like Paul, be found in Christ and not in all the wrong places of the duty-and-guilt-driven religious performance snaring us into the dead-end of self-righteousness, seduced by the law of works!  It’s the faith of Christ that reveals our identity, that righteousness, which defines who God believes we really are.  This righteousness is sourced in God and gives us the substance and authority of faith.  Let’s be found in Christ!  Amen!

Wisdom Eludes Mockers

 “A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: But knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

In today’s world there’s so much knowledge available at one’s fingertips but no solutions to the ills of our world.  The intellectually arrogant seek for wisdom, but they never seem to discover what they claim they’re looking for. For revelation-knowledge flows to the one who hungers for understanding.  There’s cynicism and sarcasm but wisdom eludes mockery, though they seek it, but insight comes quickly to those with understanding.  True wisdom and understanding comes by the Holy Spirit Who has been given to the Church to fulfill God’s purposes on earth through the shed Blood of Jesus Christ.  Let’s ask God to raise a new generation of disciples who are hungry to fulfill God’s purposes by surrendering themselves to walk in wisdom and understanding and glorify our heavenly Father.  Amen!