Caring for Others is Caring like Jesus

 “so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Just a few months before, the Thessalonians were complete strangers to Paul, but now he states how dear they had become to his heart. “With a mother’s love and affectionate attachment to you, we were very happy to share with you not only the Gospel of God but also our lives—because you had become so dear to us.”  True ministry is caring for others with a father’s love and a mother’s love - not exerting control or abusive authority over those whom we serve.  The five-fold ministry are a gift to the Ekklesia to establish them in their faith and to present everyone in the full and mature stature of Christ.  There is such a vast difference between a gift and a reward.  We are God’s gift to one another and what we are in our individual expression is a gift to the world.  These are not a reward for personal diligence or achievement.  These gifts were never meant to establish one above the other, or to become mere formal titles, but rather to identify specific and dynamic functions, with one defined purpose - to bring everyone to the realisation of the fullness of the measure of Christ in them.  Hallelujah!

The Light of Life is Jesus Christ

 “They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; And thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: In thy light shall we see light.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭36‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A psalm of David, “All may drink of the anointing from the abundance of Your house. All may drink their fill from the rivers of Eden. The fountain of life flows from You to satisfy me. In Your light of holiness we receive the light of revelation.”  The word for “abundance” in Hebrew is actually butterfat or oil, a symbol of the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  The garden of Eden had flowing rivers of delight.  Eden means “pleasure”.  John the beloved disciple, introduced the Lord Jesus Christ as “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” This is the light that we all need, to know God, without it we know nothing.  Amen!

True Repentance brings True Transformation

 “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains about true repentance, “for everyone tells the story of the kind of welcome you showed us when we first came to you. And everyone knows how wonderfully you turned to God from idols to serve the true and living God. And now you eagerly expect His Son from heaven—Jesus, the Deliverer, Whom He raised from the dead and Who rescues us from the coming wrath.”  The Gospel of power will change lives.  The Thessalonians had renounced the worship of false gods and turned wholeheartedly to the True God and become faithful servants.  Every time true conversion (repentance) takes place, a life is changed.  This church was famous for: turning wholeheartedly to God; abandoning worshipping false gods; becoming passionate servants of Christ; eagerly anticipating Jesus Christ.  This is true for all who come to know Christ personally.  Nominal Christians or those born in Christian families disregard the power of true repentance, thinking that they don’t need forgiveness of sins.  This self-righteousness demeans the power of the finished work of what Christ did for humanity.  Therefore the result is powerless faith.  Let’s believe in true repentance and true transformation in Christ.  Amen!

Yeshua our Saviour

 “Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: Fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭35‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David sought his Saviour, “O Lord, fight for me! Harass the hecklers; accuse my accusers. Fight those who fight against me. Put on Your armor, Lord; take up Your shield and protect me. Rise up, mighty God! Grab Your weapons of war and block the way of the wicked who come to fight me. Stand for me when they stand against me! Speak over my soul: “I Am your strong Saviour!”  David had a deep understanding almost one thousand years before the Saviour was born, that God would become his Saviour.  The Hebrew word for “Saviour” is Yasha which is similar to Yeshua, the Name of Jesus.  May we experience the reality of Christ’s living Presence as our Saviour.  Amen!

Walking & Talking With Wisdom & Grace

 “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV

Paul teaches us to, “Walk in the wisdom of God as you live before the unbelievers, and make it your duty to make Him known. Let every word you speak be drenched with grace and tempered with truth and clarity. For then you will be prepared to give a respectful answer to anyone who asks about your faith.”  Living before unbelievers is likened to living in the wilderness as the children of Israel did.  During this earthly time, making Jesus known is our duty as we give it all we’ve got.  Our conversation is seasoned with salt by being compassionate, friendly, clear and making people thirsty for truth.  We don’t spoil our chances to touch others with the Word through a lack of wisdom.  We redeem the time by making most of every opportunity, by making people know the truth that sets them free - that Christ has redeemed them!  Amen!

Praising Our Way Out Of Difficulties

 “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭34‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this psalm at perhaps the lowest time of his life.  “When I had nothing, desperate and defeated, I cried out to the Lord and He heard me, bringing His miracle-deliverance when I needed it most.”  David was alone, just having parted from his dearest friend Jonathan; being chased by king Saul and his paid assassins; running and hiding in the cave of Adullam.  Yet the beautiful sounds of praise were heard echoing in the cavern.  We learn this lesson even for our situations today - that we praise our way out of our difficulties into God’s light.  That is what Paul taught in his epistle to the Philippian church, speaking by the Holy Spirit, “Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always.”  Let’s learn this lesson well, to not take offence and go into isolation, but to praise our way out of difficulties.  Amen!

Setting Our Affection on Christ Alone

 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KHV

Paul explains this amazing revelation, “Christ’s resurrection is our resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the place of all power, honor, and authority! Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm. Your crucifixion with Christ has severed the tie to this life, and now your true life is hidden away in God in Christ.”  We see ourselves co-raised with Christ, included in Him, relocating ourselves mentally on the Throne Room realities of the executive authority of God’s right Hand!  Whatever we face in our daily lives, we don’t associate with the low-level energy of this world below.  Our mind renewed with the Word of God, now occupies our thoughts being heavenly-minded.  Christ, Who is our Life, is now manifested in us - He is our glory.  Hallelujah!

The Power of Praise & Worship

 “There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: A mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: Neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, Upon them that hope in his mercy;”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭33‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This poetic praise of David, brings out the power and strength of praise and worship.  “Even if a king had the best-equipped army, it would never be enough to save him. Even if the best warrior went to battle, he could not be saved simply by his strength alone. Human strength and the weapons of man are false hopes for victory; they may seem mighty, but they will always disappoint. The eyes of the Lord are upon even the weakest worshipers who love Him— those who wait in hope and expectation for the strong, steady love of God.”  Scripture has so many testimonies of people and armies, weak against their adversaries, but trusting in God, praising and worshipping Him, and coming out victorious!  Even prison walls and locked doors couldn’t keep Paul and Silas in bonds through the power of praising and worshipping our great and almighty God.  The early Church knew this power and were able to impact the nations for Christ, inspite of persecutions. Every day they went to the temple, to praise and worship God.  May we walk in this power daily.  Amen!

Only the Blood of Jesus Blots Out Our Sins

 “blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul reveals the continuous work of the Blood of Christ’s Cross, “He canceled out every legal violation we had on our record and the old arrest warrant that stood to indict us. He erased it all—our sins, our stained soul—he deleted it all and they cannot be retrieved! Everything we once were in Adam has been placed onto His Cross and nailed permanently there as a public display of cancellation.”  The “stained soul” has been erased of its filth, removing every stain.  The nature of Adam has been erased and the nature of Christ has been embedded into us.  We are totally free from every stain of sin by the power of the Blood of Jesus Christ.  All that was within us - the core of our past life and its memories of failure and disobedience has been removed.  A new DNA has been embedded now within us through the Cross and Resurrection Life of Christ.  What glorious news that Jesus became the scapegoat of the entire human race and the slate of accusations has been wiped clean.  Hallelujah!

Only the Blood of Jesus Christ Cleanses Us

 “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭32‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV 

David wrote this psalm after he had sinned with his loyal soldier’s wife and had the soldier put to death.  “What bliss belongs to the one whose rebellion has been forgiven, those whose sins are covered by blood. What bliss belongs to those who have confessed their corruption to God! For he wipes their slates clean and removes hypocrisy from their hearts.”  David brought disgrace to himself as king of Israel yet he found complete forgiveness in God’s mercy.  Paul wrote these verses when he explained to the Romans, salvation by grace through faith.  The Hebrew word for “forgiven” means “lifted off”.  Sin’s guilt is a burden that must be lifted off our souls.  This happens when we don’t hide our sins.  Sin actually means rebellion, failures, falling short, corruption, crookedness, the twisting of right standards and when such hypocrisies are not exposed, they become a burden which is hard to bear.    Only the Blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sins.  God’s mercy only comes to us by grace through our faith in His Blood Sacrifice.  Amen!

God Reconciled All Things Through Christ’s Blood

 “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul gives the revelation of this wonderful mystery of Christ, “He is the Head of His Body, which is the Church. And since He is the beginning and the firstborn heir in resurrection, He is the most exalted One, holding first place in everything. For God is satisfied to have all His fullness dwelling in Christ. And by the Blood of His Cross, everything in heaven and earth is brought back to Himself—back to its original intent, restored to innocence again!”  The Ekklesia is the visible expression of which Jesus is the Head.  He is the principle rank of authority Who leads the triumphant procession of our new birth out of the region of the dead.  His preeminent rank is beyond threat.  God is fully at home in Him.  Jesus exhibited God’s happy delight to be human.  He initiated the reconciliation of all things to Himself.  Through the Blood of the Cross, God restored the original harmony.  His reign of peace now extends to every visible thing upon the earth as well as those invisible things which are in the heavenly realm.  Hallelujah!

Committing Ourselves to God the Holy Spirit

 “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭31‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV

David’s praise to God as he prophetically spoke the same words Jesus spoke on the Cross, “Into Your hands I now entrust My spirit. O Lord, the God of faithfulness, You have rescued and redeemed Me”. Jesus taught us to depend on the mighty Holy Spirit, at every moment of our life.  The same Holy Spirit Who spoke in David, through Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection, has been sent to all who believe.  Jesus said, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”  Let’s commit ourselves and everything we do, to God the Holy Spirit.  Amen!

Thanksgiving Prayer with Praise & Worship Gives Us God’s Peace

 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains the power of thanksgiving prayer and the peace that comes from it, “Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ.”  Let no anxiety about anything distract us!  Let’s translate these moments into prayerful worship, and let’s soak our requests in gratitude before God.  Our requests don’t surprise God Who knows our thoughts from afar and is acquainted with all our ways - yet He delights in our conversation and childlike trust.  In this place of worship and gratitude, we witness how the peace of God within us reveals our oneness with Christ Jesus beyond the reach of any thought that could possibly unsettle us.  This is not a fragile sense of peace that can easily be disturbed, this is God’s peace, the peace that God Himself enjoys.  It surpasses all our reasonings and it floods our hearts and minds with a tranquility that takes charge of our emotions and well-being in fragile times!  Let’s enjoy God’s peace.  Amen!

Everyone Believing in Christ Will Not Perish

 “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭30‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this psalm for the feast of dedication, “I’ve learned that His anger lasts for a moment, but His loving favor lasts a lifetime! We may weep through the night, but at daybreak it will turn into shouts of ecstatic joy.”  The wrath in God’s anger was poured out on Jesus when He hung on the Cross taking the punishment for the sin of all humanity.  The shouts of ecstatic joy came in the morning when resurrection life was gifted to mankind as Jesus conquered death and rose again.  It is God’s will, His promise, His covenant with us for this is the way God loved the world—He gave His only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in Him will never perish but experience everlasting life.  What an awesome gift and what an awesome Gospel.  Amen!

Identifying With Christ’s Death, Burial & Resurrection

 “that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

What a revelation Paul gives of Christ’s resurrection life, “And I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus and to experience the overflowing power of His resurrection working in me. I will be one with Him in His sufferings and become like Him in His death.”  Paul wants to comprehend the dynamic of Christ’s resurrection which is the evidence of our righteousness!  In the revelation of God’s economy of inclusion, we actually co-suffer with Christ and we co-died together with Christ!  Because we are already fully represented in Christ’s sufferings, death and resurrection, we are greatly inspired when faced with contradictions now.  Jesus was handed over to be crucified for the forgiveness of our sins and was raised back to life to prove that He had made us right with God!  Let’s believe with our whole heart what Christ had done for us through His death, burial and resurrection.  Amen!

Peace in the Storm

 “The LORD will give strength unto his people; The LORD will bless his people with peace.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A psalm of David where he extols the voice of our God of glory, “This is the One Who gives His strength and might to His people. This is the Lord giving us His kiss of peace.”  In the Jewish synagogues this psalm is read on the first day of the feast of Pentecost.  The Christian Church was born on Pentecost two thousand years ago when the mighty “storm” of the Spirit came into the upper room.  The last word of this psalm is peace though it begins with a storm.  God brings His people peace in the midst of storm.  May we know the peace of God in the midst of all our stormy situations.  Amen!

Christ’s Obedience is Our Example

 “and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul makes this astounding revelation, “He humbled Himself and became vulnerable, choosing to be revealed as a man and was obedient. He was a perfect example, even in His death—a criminal’s death by crucifixion! Because of that obedience, God exalted Him and multiplied His greatness! He has now been given the greatest of all Names!”  Christ’s obedience and humility took Him from the Throne to the Cross by emptying Himself and becoming a servant and human.  He humbled Himself and became vulnerable and revealed as a Man.  He was obedient until His death and died a criminal’s death on the Cross.  In all of this He was obedient to the Father for He said,“I speak to you eternal truth. The Son is unable to do anything from Himself or through His own initiative. I only do the works that I see the Father doing, for the Son does the same works as His Father.”  May we abide in Christ’s obedience with the same passion that He has.  Amen!

Trusting in Our Relationship with Christ as Lord & King

 “The LORD is their strength, And he is the saving strength of his anointed. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: Feed them also, and lift them up for ever.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭28‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this psalm when he was exiled because of the rebellion of his son Absalom.  He was not longing and looking for his throne but for God’s Throne. “You will be the inner strength of all Your people, Yahweh, the mighty protector of all, and the saving strength for all Your anointed ones. Save Your people whom You love, and bless Your chosen ones. Be our Shepherd leading us forward, forever carrying us in Your arms!”  The strength that David knew in his God, was a result of his intimate relationship with Almighty God.  Let us have such a trusting relationship with our Lord Jesus that even in the midst of betrayal (from a loved one as well), we receive strength from God to trust Him.  Amen!

Christ Be Magnified in Us

 “according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul reveals this sure point for us, “No matter what, I will continue to hope and passionately cling to Christ, so that He will be openly revealed through me before everyone’s eyes. So I will not be ashamed! In my life or in my death, Christ will be magnified in me.”  With the deepest and intense yearning and with the concentrated desire we abandon all other interests,  and with outstretched hands in expectation and with uncovered face, we passionately cling to Christ. The accurate account of the magnificence of Christ is incarnate in us - whether we live or die, it makes no difference.  Christ defines our life; death cannot threaten or diminish that.  Let Christ be magnified in us.  Hallelujah!

The Light of God’s Love is Our Salvation

 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬

David’s praise to God even before he was anointed as king, “The Lord is my revelation-light to guide me along the way; He’s the source of my salvation to defend me every day.  I fear no one!  I’ll never turn back and run from You, Lord; surround me and protect me”.  John introduced Christ,  “In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it or put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”  Again, John said, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”  The light of God’s love shines within us when He sent His matchless Son into the world so that we might live through Him.  Amen!

Faith leads to Obedience which leads to Victory

 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul encourages believers to fight the good fight of faith by putting on the armour of God. “Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken word of God. Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers.”     When we ponder redemption realities we have the headgear that protects our mind and inspired thoughts give voice to God’s Word - this is our spiritual sword.  Prayer is an ongoing conversation and it is much more than a one-way conversation.  Praying in the spirit also includes every form of prayer - prayers of request, thanksgiving, worship and interceding for all to realise their saintly innocence.  We don’t necessarily have to do all the talking but be attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit, talking in and to us and through us.  Let’s be obedient to follow God’s instructions to be victorious.  Amen!

Thanksgiving for Being a Living Sacrifice to God

 “I will wash mine hands in innocency: So will I compass thine altar, O LORD: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all thy wondrous works.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭26‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David says in this psalm, “When I come to your altar, Yahweh, I’ll be clean before you, approaching with songs of thanksgiving, singing songs of your mighty miracles.”  He realises that to approach the Presence of God requires him to be clean and pure focusing on God and His marvellous works in his life, testifying of them with thanksgiving in his heart.  When Christ initiated the new covenant He said, “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the Blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?” Because the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.  We are thankful to Him for cleansing and sanctifying us to be a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God through His Son, Jesus Christ. By being thankful to God, our Father, we present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to Him, which is our reasonable service.  Amen!

Surrender leads to Transformation Which leads to Glory

 “that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains the relationship of Christ with the Church.  “All that He does in us is designed to make us a mature Church for His pleasure, until we become a source of praise to Him—glorious and radiant, beautiful and holy, without fault or flaw.”  This is what Christ’s love does to us - makes us honourable, esteemed, splendid, gorgeous, infused with glory!  Those who experience the love of Christ personally will be able to surrender all character flaws, knots and offences, grudges and wrinkles, chips on the shoulders and negative personality traits.  Only when we nail these on the Cross does the Holy Spirit transform us to experience Christ’s immeasurable glory.  Amen!

The Greatest Gift from Christ is the Forgiveness of Sins

 “For thy name's sake, O LORD, Pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭25‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David’s psalm, “For the honor of your name, Yahweh, never count my many sins, and forgive them all— lift their burden off of my life!”  The Hebrew word used here for “forgive” or “pardon” is a rare word used only twice in the Old Testament and comes from a root word meaning “to lift off a burden”.  Mankind was not created to live with the burden of sin which the first Adam got into. That is why Jesus Christ said “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Through Jesus coming to earth as the Son of Man and His death, burial and resurrection, He gave mankind this great salvation to become a new creation through faith in Him.  As it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit’. In this new creation life, your nationality makes no difference, nor your ethnicity, education, nor economic status—they matter nothing. For it is Christ that means everything as He lives in every one of us who believe.  Receiving forgiveness of sins is the greatest gift from Christ.  Amen!

The Fullness of Christ in Us

 “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬

Paul teaches about the Church receiving the fullness of Christ through the five-fold ministry operating in believers.  “These grace ministries will function until we all attain oneness into the faith, until we all experience the fullness of what it means to know the Son of God, and finally we become one into a perfect man with the full dimensions of spiritual maturity and fully developed into the abundance of Christ.”  Perfection cannot come into the Body of Christ without the example and teaching of the five-fold ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.  The purpose of these ministries is to present everyone on par and in oneness of faith, believing exactly what the Son of God believes and knowing accurately what He knows concerning us.  Standing face-to-face in equal stature to the measure of the completeness of Christ and the fullness of Christ in us.  Hallelujah!

Rejoice for Christ’s Presence

 “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; And the King of glory shall come in.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭24‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬

David’s psalm as He experiences the Presence of God in his relationship with Him. “So wake up, you living gateways, and rejoice! Fling wide, you eternal doors! Here He comes; the King of Glory is ready to come in.”  In Hebrew, “lift up your heads” is a figure of speech for rejoicing.  We are the living gateways who rejoice as the LORD draws near to us.  In the new covenant, God has chosen to dwell in us who are His holy temple.  Let’s awake to the Presence of God dwelling in us by rejoicing, and bringing heaven on earth. The Lord Jesus told us, “I Am the Gateway. To enter through Me is to experience life, freedom, and satisfaction”.  What a reason to rejoice.  Let’s awake to righteousness and rejoice evermore, praying ceaselessly to bring heaven on earth.  Amen!

Allowing the Grace of God to Flow through Us

 “to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV

Paul explains the mystery of the Gospel of grace.  “The purpose of this was to unveil before every throne and rank of angelic orders in the heavenly realm God’s full and diverse wisdom revealed through the church.”  Every invisible authority and government in the arena of the heavenlies was confronted with the display of God’s genius.  The Church disperses the varied magnitude of God like a prism, in human form and it is the “university of angels”!  Every believer is a “professor” teaching the heavenly realm the mysteries and wonders of the grace of God.  The angels investigate through our lives the treasures of grace, like the cherubim who gaze upon the mercy seat.  This glorious Gospel contains wonderful mysteries that even the angels long to get a glimpse of.  Let’s allow the grace of God to flow through us to others.  Amen!

The LORD is My Shepherd

 “He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this psalm, a favourite with many, when he was a young shepherd serving his father, Jesse, while he was keeping watch over sheep near Bethlehem. “That’s where He restores and revives my life. He opens before me the right path and leads me along in His footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to His name.”  So often life drains out of us through our many activities, but David found that God restores our well-being by pursuing what pleases God and resting in Him.  It is a common trait for sheep on the hillsides of Israel to circle their way up higher.  They eventually form a path that keeps leading them higher.  David refers to this, that each step we take following our Shepherd leads us higher, even though it seems we are going in circles!  Let’s choose to follow our Great Shepherd.  Amen!

Fulfilling Our Destiny

 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV

Paul beautifully explains this, “We have become His poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny He has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it.”  Our lives are the beautiful poetry written by God that will speak forth all that He desires in life.  The good works make up our destiny as we yield to God, which is when our prearranged destiny comes to pass and we are rewarded for simply doing what He wanted us to accomplish.  God has done everything possible to find spontaneous and effortless expression of His character in us, in our everyday lifestyle.  Let’s yield to God everyday, every moment.  Amen!

Christ Gave Us Victory through the Cross

 “Deliver my soul from the sword; My darling from the power of the dog.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭22‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David prophesying the Cross of the Messiah, a thousand years earlier, “Give me back my life. Save me from this violent death. Save my precious one and only from the power of these dogs!”  As it says, “darling” is the unique One and Only Son of God.  On the Cross, Jesus is giving birth to the Church - and He cared less that His body was being torn apart, and more about our protection and salvation.  He prayed for us as He faced the death on the Cross, so that each of us who believed in Him, became that one and only child, the unique “darling” in Christ.  It goes on to talk about the “power of the dog” which are the evil spirits bent on destroying Jesus on the Cross.  Praise God that Jesus won as He destroyed all the works of the devil.  But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Hallelujah!

Celebrating God’s Lavish Generosity on Us In Christ

 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul gives this wonderful revelation of the mystery of God. “Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus—all because he sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts!”  In poetic articulation Paul unfolds the message of the mystery of Christ as representing mankind.  He is absolutely passionate in his prayers and desires for everyone to see how completely associated they are in Christ.  Paul sees heaven, not as a distant goal for us to strive towards, but how completely God has lavished upon us every blessing heaven has in Christ.  This is a revelation to dwell upon and meditate on, so that we celebrate God’s amazing generosity even in our inner man!  Amen!