The Divine Exchange Christ Made for Us

 “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; My glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is what David declared when he fled from his own son Absalom who turned against him and tried to usurp his throne, “But in the depths of my heart I truly know that You, Yahweh, have become my Shield; You take me and surround me with Yourself. Your Glory covers me continually. You lift high my head.”  David, knowing God intimately, cried, “You, O Lord, are my taker”. The implication is that God shields us by taking us into Himself.  Jesus Christ is the taker of humanity, the One Who was made flesh.  He not only took our nature, He also took our sins that He might take us into His glory.  Such a glorious Gospel.  How can we not believe in the goodness and love of God for God is good and God is love forever!  Those who cannot accept this are damned, may God deliver them from damnation.  Amen!

Sealed Guaranteeing Our Full Inheritance

 “who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains how followers of Christ are sealed by the Spirit, “He knows we are His since He has also stamped His seal of love over our hearts and has given us the Holy Spirit like an engagement ring is given to a bride—a down payment of the blessings to come!”  The seven-fold seal of the Holy Spirit is: the seal of security in God’s love; the seal of authentication that marks us as God’s own; the seal to certify genuineness; the seal of ownership; the seal of approval; the seal of righteousness; the seal of promise to be fulfilled.  The mark of the beast is on the forehead and hand but the fiery seal of Christ’s love is over our hearts!  We are born of the Spirit, sealed with the Spirit, indwelt by the Spirit, baptised in the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, made one in the Spirit, given gifts of the Spirit, and given ministries by the Spirit.  He is a promise, a seal, and a guarantee of receiving our full inheritance.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are involved in bringing this to us.  Let’s believe it.  Hallelujah!

Nations Empty Plans Against Almighty God

 “Why do the heathen rage, And the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, And cast away their cords from us.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KUV

How dare the nations plan a rebellion. Their foolish plots are futile! Look at how the power brokers of the world rise up to hold their summit as the rulers scheme and confer together against Yahweh and His Anointed King, saying: “Let’s come together and break away from the Creator. Once and for all let’s cast off these controlling chains of God and His Christ!”  We see the nations across the world devising empty plans against Almighty God, in our times right now.  They imagine they control great power to wield, it’s laughable!  Definitely it is against God and against His Anointed One, our Lord Jesus Christ.  The finished work of the Cross is foolishness to the perishing world who have no fear of God in them, but it is the power of God to us who believe.  Friendship with the world is enmity against God.  Let’s keep our eyes on Christ.  Amen!

Caring for the Least Ones is Caring for Christ

 “I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭KJV‬

Paul told the Church, “Dear brothers and sisters, I have a request to make of you. Give special recognition to Stephanas and his family, for they were the first converts in Achaia, and they have fully devoted themselves to serve God’s holy people.” Whenever we minister to God’s people, we are ministering to the Lord.  Jesus made that clear when He said, “For when you saw Me hungry, you fed Me.  When you found Me thirsty, you gave Me drink. When I had no place to stay, you invited Me in, and when I was poorly clothed, you covered Me.  When I was sick, you tenderly cared for Me, and when I was in prison you visited Me’.  Then the godly will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty and give You food and something to drink? When did we see You with no place to stay and invite You in? When did we see You poorly clothed and cover You? When did we see You sick and tenderly care for You, or in prison and visit You?’ The  King will answer them, ‘Don’t you know? When you cared for one of the least of these, My little ones, My true brothers and sisters, you demonstrated love for Me’.  May we obey our Lord.  Amen!

The Trees Planted in God’s Kingdom

 “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of life. He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous.  God planted our lives from where we were, into a place of blessing.  We have been  transplanted into His heavenly courtyard, where we are thriving before Him, for in His Presence we will still overflow and be anointed. Even in our old age we will stay fresh, bearing luscious fruit and abiding faithfully.  The person who has trusted in Christ the resurrected and living God is like a tree planted on the riverbank, extending its roots into streams of water. It does not fear when scorching heat comes, for its leaves remain fresh and never fading even in a year of drought. It has no anxieties but continues to bear luscious fruit.  No matter what he sets out to do, he brings it to a successful conclusion.  Amen!

The Good News that Jesus is Alive

 “and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul includes the bodily appearance of Jesus to His followers as part  of the Gospel to be believed.  “Then He appeared to Peter and to the twelve apostles. He also appeared to more than five hundred of His followers at the same time, most of whom are still alive as I write this, though a few have passed away. Then He appeared to James and to all the apostles. Last of all He appeared in front of me, like one born prematurely, ripped from the womb.”  What Paul states as the heart of the Gospel is: Christ’s death; the fulfilment of prophecies; Christ’s burial; Christ’s resurrection; and Christ supernaturally appearing to His followers. James was Jesus’s half brother and didn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah, until Jesus’s resurrection.  After James believed he wrote his epistle and became a leading elder of the church in Jerusalem.  Paul himself became an apostle in a sudden, unexpected way when the resurrected Lord Jesus chose him.  The Lord has chosen us who believe to fulfill His purposes.  Amen!

Repentance Toward God is the Key Issue

 “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent In dust and ashes.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭42‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Job answered God, “I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise! I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor.”  This is what God says about repentance, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back and change your way of thinking, turn back in repentance from your evil ways!’    This is what Jesus said at the start of His ministry, “Repent, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  When Job repented, God blessed him immensely and restored all his losses.  When we repent today in the new covenant, we acknowledge that Christ’s death on the Cross was for our personal sins and His Blood cleansed us from all sin, and in exchanged makes us not only children of God but joint heirs with Christ.  Therefore, let’s humble ourselves with an attitude of repentance and insignificance in the Presence of the Lord, and He will exalt us, He will lift us up, He will give us purpose. Amen!

Building Up the Body of Christ

 “Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains about speaking in tongues, “My dear friends, what good is it if I come to you always speaking in tongues? But if I come with a clear revelation from God, or with insight, or with a prophecy, or with a clear teaching, I can enrich you.”  These four ministries that build up the Church are: clear revelation from God; insights of truth that come from intimate knowledge from God through experience; prophecy, the calming affirmation which is not predictive but influential to advance the spiritual welfare of the body; teaching which clarifies doctrine in practical ways.  These are all necessary for the Church today as it was then, without competition or comparisons and ego trips - and with that sweet humility that makes all things beautiful and in order.  Amen!

All Creatures Tremble before Almighty God

 “Upon earth there is not his like, Who is made without fear. He beholdeth all high things: He is a king over all the children of pride.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭41‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭KJV

God is directing Job to the sea monster Leviathan, “There’s nothing on this earth quite like him, not an ounce of fear in that creature! He surveys all the high and mighty— king of the ocean, king of the deep!”  Leviathan is an embodiment of chaos and identified with the demon of the deadly sin of envy, also it eats up the damned  thrown into the deep.  Thankfully, its end is annihilation in the lake of fire.  Here, God is directing Job’s attention to the might of this creature, which before God is powerless.  When Jesus’s disciples woke Him up from sleep during the storm at sea to save their lives, He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” and the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”  In the storms we face, our response is to release faith in our Almighty God before Whom all creatures tremble!  There will always be peace.  Let’s learn to operate in faith and not in fear, for then we will always be victorious.  Amen!

When Love is Absent..

 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s excellent treatise on God’s love, “If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal”.  This love is a burning, fiery love coming from the inner depths of the heart as an eternal energy, an active power of bonding hearts and lives in secure relationships.  It is the highest form of love, it is the love God has for His people.  It is such an intense affection that it has to be demonstrated - a loyal, endless, unconditional commitment of love.  Feelings are attached to this love.  It is not abstract but devoted to demonstrating the inward feelings of love toward another with acts of kindness and benevolence.  Speaking in tongues is not the point, love is.  It is neither celestial angelic eloquence, nor the mastery of human language that persuades and doesn’t matter how poetic, prophetic or profound it sounds, conversation is reduced to the hollow clanging cymbal noise when love is absent.  Jesus, mankind’s Saviour, rescued God’s image and likeness in human form revealing this love by His awesome grace.  Amen!