702. Born Identity: You Are Righteous
Preaching the Gospel to all the World!
I often hear people talking about a Grace Revolution taking place in the church today. I think it is more of a “Grace Reformation” that has the potential to sweep throughout the whole world!
Jesus said, ”And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.” —Matthew 24:14 (AMP)
Jesus did not say that the Gospel should, could or might be preached. He said this Gospel of the kingdom WILL be preached! Never in all of history has it been more possible for this scripture to be fulfilled than in the time we are living in today. The question we need to ask ourselves today is this:
“Will we be the ones to preach it?”
Are we ready to take this challenge to boldly go into all the world and preach this gospel as a witness to all nations?
The religious world is suspicious of the Gospel of Grace because they feel that they are losing control. That’s why Paul wrote to the believers at Galatia saying,
In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off]. — Galatians 5:1 (AMP)
Most of us are not easily hampered or ensnared by the scare tactics of condemnation, guilt, judgment and shame any longer. There are, however, other methods of hampering being used to try and restrict people today: the threat and accusations of heresy, false doctrines and error. Many men and women of God have become afraid to preach the Gospel of Grace and Peace because of the potential accusations that could be leveled against them!
The Word of God assures us that if we stay focused on Jesus and God’s love for people, there is no fear of deception, delusion or error!
Are we ready to take this challenge to boldly go into all the world and preach this gospel as a witness to all nations? Just like in the days of Paul and many other men of God throughout history who have preached this gospel in times of reformation, there is mounting pressure to compromise
this message. It’s a pressure warranting “so-called” balance, referring to the message of the gospel as hyper-grace, sloppy agape and greasy grace!
In Jesus is all Truth!
Paul, writing to the Church at Ephesus, said;
“But you did not so learn Christ! Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as all Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him]” — Ephesians 4:20-21 (AMP)
Even in the book of John, Jesus taught extensively on the Truth and the Truth being in Him! (John 14:6)
If we keep our focus on Jesus as the Christ, as the one and only reason and solution for our redemption and salvation, we are abiding in the truth, and the truth is in us!
The Guarantee of God
In the book of First Corinthians, Paul assures us of God’s ability to hold, keep and maintain us to the end!
“And He will establish you to the end [keep you steadfast, give you strength, and guarantee your vindication; He will be your warrant against all accusation or indictment so that you will be] guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)”. 1 Corinthians 1:8 (AMP)
The Holy Spirit of God
When we live in the awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in us and on us, it becomes impossible to go into error.
“But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall everything I have told you. Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you… Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]”— John 14:26 (AMP)
I’m not making light of heresy or error in any way. What I’m saying is that a fear of error will hinder us from the freedom of peaching the Gospel fully. God assures us that He will keep us from falling into error through the leading of His Holy Spirit that dwells in us!
Keep the Message Alive
Jesus said, “Staying with it – that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved.” — Matthew 24:13 (MSG)
If we are going to be the generation who is going to preach the Gospel as a testimony and witness to the whole world, we are going to have to keep this message alive!
So my charge and encouragement to us all today is this:
Stay with it to the end. Keep this Gospel alive! Do not give in. Do not give up. Do not go back. Do not recant!
700. Podcast 700 – Growing in Grace Highlights
Beyond Resurrection
Resurrection Sunday is by far the most dynamic day of the year for the Christian. All the hopes of humanity are fulfilled in the power that raised Jesus from the dead. It is so much more than a doctrine. The resurrection declares that a new creation has begun within the old creation, and the possibilities of transformation are mind-boggling.
If (since) Jesus is really raised from the dead, and we are given his life (the eternal kind of life), then we know we shall forever live with him. But there is more. We share the power that raised Jesus from the dead. The ramifications of that are limitless.
His Power for Those Who Believe
The apostle Paul prayed “that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints. And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:18-20 NRSV)
The same power that raised Jesus is in us who believe. It enables us to say "no" to the lures of sin, to forgive the offender, to love the undeserving, to lay our lives down promoting God's great redemption, to rejoice always, to believe against great odds, to walk on with hope when darkness seems to prevail, to sing through tears, to stand alone for the gospel, and to bless those who curse us.
It is truly supernatural. But we must acknowledge that the resurrection introduced a new kind of creation to the world. Those who share the resurrected life of Jesus are characterized by transformation. Their stories reveal drastic change.
Without shame, they own their desperation while embracing his gracious intervention. They know that they cannot live by the powers of their own personality. They need the "other worldly" power they receive from him. They expect that power to enable them to express an "other worldly" kind of love that never fails, though it is often working behind the scenes.
They also expect the Father to answer their prayers according to that same power. They are not praying to simply relieve stress. It is not self-talk. They are aware that they are partners with God in getting his purpose done on earth, and that they are privileged to pray while he is delighted to answer.
Living By His Power
Truly celebrating Resurrection Day includes living each day considering the glorious explosion of power demonstrated that day. Each day is an opportunity to see that power again. Our needs are inviting us to enter the realm of resurrection-living. We don't have to wait until next Easter to celebrate resurrection. We live by the power that raised Jesus from the dead.
Help us champion truth, freedom, limited government and human dignity. Support The Stream >>
The post Beyond Resurrection appeared first on The Stream.
Beyond Resurrection
Resurrection Sunday is by far the most dynamic day of the year for the Christian. All the hopes of humanity are fulfilled in the power that raised Jesus from the dead. It is so much more than a doctrine. The resurrection declares that a new creation has begun within the old creation, and the possibilities of transformation are mind-boggling.
If (since) Jesus is really raised from the dead, and we are given his life (the eternal kind of life), then we know we shall forever live with him. But there is more. We share the power that raised Jesus from the dead. The ramifications of that are limitless.
His Power for Those Who Believe
The apostle Paul prayed “that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints. And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:18-20 NRSV)
The same power that raised Jesus is in us who believe. It enables us to say "no" to the lures of sin, to forgive the offender, to love the undeserving, to lay our lives down promoting God's great redemption, to rejoice always, to believe against great odds, to walk on with hope when darkness seems to prevail, to sing through tears, to stand alone for the gospel, and to bless those who curse us.
It is truly supernatural. But we must acknowledge that the resurrection introduced a new kind of creation to the world. Those who share the resurrected life of Jesus are characterized by transformation. Their stories reveal drastic change.
Without shame, they own their desperation while embracing his gracious intervention. They know that they cannot live by the powers of their own personality. They need the "other worldly" power they receive from him. They expect that power to enable them to express an "other worldly" kind of love that never fails, though it is often working behind the scenes.
They also expect the Father to answer their prayers according to that same power. They are not praying to simply relieve stress. It is not self-talk. They are aware that they are partners with God in getting his purpose done on earth, and that they are privileged to pray while he is delighted to answer.
Living By His Power
Truly celebrating Resurrection Day includes living each day considering the glorious explosion of power demonstrated that day. Each day is an opportunity to see that power again. Our needs are inviting us to enter the realm of resurrection-living. We don't have to wait until next Easter to celebrate resurrection. We live by the power that raised Jesus from the dead.
Help us champion truth, freedom, limited government and human dignity. Support The Stream >>
696. The Spirit Vs. the Flesh (Walking in the Spirit)
The Galatians were earlier accused of having fallen from grace because they were trying to be perfected by the law of works (Galatians 3:3 & 5:4). As children of God, we receive an inheritance as a gift because we are an heir, not because we are living in a way that is going to be considered morally acceptable. This is not to diminish or disregard the importance of behavior - Paul’s exhortation is for us who are in Christ to behave in a way that reflects the true righteous nature of who we’ve been born to be in Christ. This is not accomplished by our empty efforts of trying to produce our own fruit, but by the Holy Spirit within us. Now we can bear His fruit, apart from the law of works.
Resolving Insecurities
Success in life is all about wholesome, positive relationships.
But here are some eye-opening facts:
- 87% of our success is directly related to our ability to get along with others!
- 90-95% of all the people we come in contact with are moderately to severely insecure!
- We are included in that 90-95%!
An insecure person doesn’t know their true value, so they feel rejected, unaccepted and abandoned. Unresolved insecurities control and influence our decision-making processes, which ultimately determine our future and hinder our success!
Nothing kills relationships quicker than unresolved insecurities. They destroy relationships, driving more people out of business and ministry than anything else.
Most people just hide their insecurities, living behind masks and denying their true selves—and believers are sometimes the best at it!
But in hiding our insecurities, we slowly lose who we were created to be.
Hiding your insecurities is like treating cancer with an aspirin—it might make you feel better for a couple of hours, but it won’t fix the problem.
Doing My Part
Getting along with others actually has more to do with us than with them.
1. I Must Deal with My Own Insecurities
Knowing God and His love will positively affect our relationships, but we still need to work on our people skills. The true mark of a mature Christian isflexibility and tolerance.
May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop MATURITY in you so that you can GET ALONG with each other as well as Christ gets along with us. —Romans 15:6-7 (MSG)
And Christ gets along with us based on who HE is—not on us.
2. Find Something Good in Others.
Those who are not like us may seemstrange or weird. We find reasons not tolike, accept or get along with them.
Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody… —Romans 12:17 (MSG)
Nothing kills relationships quicker than unresolved insecurities. They destroy relationships, driving more people out of business and ministry than anything else.
Confronting others to “straighten them out” will always create strife, even if we are right!
3. Stop Taking The Easy Way Out.
Sometimes it’s easier to simply avoid other people. But this should be a last resort. Don’t get me wrong—some you just have to love from a distance!
Those of us who are strong and able in the faith… lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us…. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” —Romans 15:1-2 (MSG)
4. Settle in Your Heart That It’s Okay to Disagree.
Usually this is a big problem for insecure people.
Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with…Treat them gently.—Romans 14:1-3 (MSG)
5. Remember, People Will Always Be People.
It’s impossible to have relationships and not have offenses!
Then said he unto the disciples, “It is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!”—Luke 17:1 (KJV)
This is one of the greatest things I’ve learned over the years. It’s not what happens to me, but what happens in me that really matters!
6. Learn to Listen to Others.
We must be willing to listen to other people!
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.—Proverbs 17:28 (KJV)
Clearly, flexibility and tolerance are the true marks of a mature Christian.
695. Love Is Better Than Law
694. Delivered from Bondage (The Law of Commandments)
Who is Man?
Throughout my years as a Christian, I’ve observed that most of the struggles believers face have their origin in the inaccurate or erroneous beliefs we hold regarding the true nature and character of God.
Just as there is a grossly inaccurate belief in the hearts of many believers regarding the true nature and character of God, there is also an equally destructive and crippling view regarding the true value, worth, dignity and identity of man.
If we are not taught a proper, biblical sense of identity and self-worth, we will seldom experience God in an intimate and meaningful way!
And if what we believe about the Bible, God, and ourselves doesn’t agree with the revelation of the gospel in the New Testament, we may never experience God’s Word working consistently and effectively in our lives!
Establishing a Biblical Self-Worth
Religion and legalism have caused many to lose track of their true identity and worth, leaving them stripped of a healthy, biblical sense of who they are.
Traditionally we’ve been taught that being human is either evil, weak or deeply unspiritual. In many ways, true “spirituality” is believed to be about denying, disowning and escaping our humanity through legalism and moral discipline
Something Other than Human
As Christians, we’ve been encouraged to disown our basic humanity by doing all we can do (prayer, fasting and imposing moral disciplines) to reject our human emotions, passions and instincts!
As a result, many believers struggle to reconcile who God is and who they are as human beings!
For so many, it’s almost unthinkable that a holy God would have any connection with their deepest human dreams of enjoying everyday life. But it’s only in our union with God that we discover the fulfillment of being human!
If we correctly interpret Scripture, we find that God’s whole purpose for creating us is to be HUMAN. In the eyes of God, the very fact that we are HUMAN defines our true identity and value to God!
For so many, it’s almost unthinkable that a holy God would have any connection with their deepest human dreams of enjoying everyday life. But it’s only in our union with God that we discover the fulfillment of being human!
God’s Eternal Intentions, Plans, and Purposes
According as he hath chosen us in him (Christ) before the FOUNDATION of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. —Eph. 1:4-5 (KJV)
God’s eternal plans have always been for us to find our origin and identity in Jesus Christ!
EMMANUEL—God with Us!
Who, although being essentially one with GOD and in the form of GOD [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make GOD GOD], did not think this equality with GOD was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like MEN and was born a HUMAN BEING.—Phil. 2:7-8 (AMP)
EMMANUEL—God One of Us!
Therefore God will never be ashamed of you being part of His family!
For the one (God) who makes men holy and the men who are made holy SHARE A COMMON HUMANITY. So that he is not ashamed to call them his BROTHERS … And again …in these words: ‘Here am I and the children whom God has given me’. Since, then, “the children” have a common physical nature as HUMAN BEINGS, he (God the Son) also became a HUMAN BEING, so that by going through death as a MAN he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; …It is plain that for this purpose he (God the Son) did not become an ANGEL; he became a MAN, in actual fact a descendant of Abraham.—Hebrews 2: 11-18 (Phillips)
Therefore, the gospel is an emphatic declaration that GOD NOT ONLY LIKES HUMAN, BUT LOVES HUMAN!!
HE ACTUALLY BECAME ONE!
693. Children of Inheritance – Not Slaves Under the Law
692. A Life of Faith Apart from the Law
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