Our Sanctified Imaginations

     Whenever Mark and I receive one of God's Beloveds into our home to participate with Jesus and the Holy Spirit in an Inner Healing session, one of the most important factors in the success of that session is the Beloved's theology. What does he or she understand about God? Since there are always underlying experiences in a person's life that have led to spiritual pain and wounds, it is paramount that we all comprehend the "spiritual mechanics" by which both the Most High God and our Adversary operate.
     Most of us are familiar with Paul's exhortation in Ephesians 6 to "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil... and in all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one." And just what are those flaming darts? How do they affect us, and how do we extinguish them?
     I want to start off by saying that I am not alone in contending that our minds are a battleground. In fact, many books by prominent Christians have been written on the subject. And how many of us can identify with this statement: I know that I have fears concerning _____, and whenever a thought about it pops into my head, I am soon imagining all kinds of bad things happening, before it even starts!"  That's how a fiery dart works. And it can serve to keep you in bondage to fear, guilt, shame, anger, self-rejection or any other of the many accusations the Enemy lodges against you.

     So, here's what perplexes me -- why do so many Christians let the devil use their imaginations against them, yet refuse to engage their imaginations with Jesus and the Holy Spirit to get set free? Just because Satan uses our imaginations for evil doesn't mean that God can't use them for our good! Don't the words of Joseph to his brothers in Egypt apply here -- "what you meant for evil against me, God meant for good"?
     I wholeheartedly agree with Walter Brueggemann, who is an Old Testament scholar and theologian who is widely considered one of the most influential Old Testament scholars of the last several decades. He wrote: “The key pathology of our time, which seduces us all, is the reduction of the imagination, so that we are too numbed, satiated, and co-opted to do serious imaginative work.” We are told that we can't trust our imaginations; that we open ourselves to deception when we use our imaginations. "Guided Imagery" has become the catchphrase of those Christians who think employing our imaginations in spiritual matters is a slippery slope. NOTE: I will agree that man's human imagination is subject to being corrupted when not empowered by and engaged with the Holy Spirit. But that's not what I'm talking about here.
     So let me ask you this ... doesn't our imagination play a huge part in our relationship and revelation of God? Here's how I see it ... YHWH is a Creator God, and from His mind He created the universes and all that is in them, including us. We are made in His image. We resemble Him. We may not have His Divine mind, but we are a reflection of His mind/intellect and the freedom that accompanies it. That's why man can create things, too: art, music, and plays for instance. And why we can tell you the color of our spouse's eyes; visualize the snow-capped Rockie Mountains; and describe the brilliance of an ocean sunset -- when we are not in any of their presence!
     And you want to know why it is imperative that Christians use their imaginations? Because we worship "the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see" (1 Timothy 6:15-16). Can you honestly tell me that you have never used your imagination when worshiping or "thinking upon" Jesus? Even if you only picture a familiar rendition of what He looked like, you must use your imagination to see that image in your mind. 
     The dictionary defines the word imagination this way: the action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses. And this is exactly the purpose behind Jesus using parables to teach His disciples. He was challenging them to lead a new way of life by hearing His "story", thinking about it, and applying it. It is impossible to understand the Parable of the Sower without using your imagination to "see" the different types of ground and what happened to the planted seed in each of the scenarios, and what that might mean in your faith walk.
     And that is how your imagination can be used in receiving Inner Healing. When we ask Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be present, the Beloved can picture what was once a wounding experience and see it as a healing event when Jesus walks into that experience. We know that He was there ... He told us that He would never leave us nor forsake us. So by seeing the reality of that truth -- instead of the lie the Enemy has been telling you all these years -- God allowed it to happen; God didn't care about what you were going through; God abandoned you in that moment -- the Beloved can receive a new image of that experience in the Light of God's love. What Satan once used to keep the Beloved in bondage is now seen as an act of being set free! The devil can no longer torment the Beloved in that memory because the pain of that wound has been replaced by the presence of Jesus in the memory and then sealed with His blood. What was once an open, painful sore in the mind, heart and spirit is now a scar; and scars don't hurt.

     Is the imagination "guided" towards healing in this scenario? Often the healing is spontaneous and instantaneous. But if it is guided at all, it is guided by the Holy Spirit. I believe God has given us His gift of imagination, and I have been blessed to witness Him speaking into that gift through the Holy Spirit, who guides a Beloved to receive the healing that only Jesus can bring.
     In conclusion, I want to say this about using our imaginations to hear from God. One of the most beautiful and inspiring Psalms in the Bible is Psalm 23. Strictly speaking [and without using our imagination] we can say it is a poem about God caring for us the way a shepherd cares for his sheep. But I can, in no way, discern the immeasurable love and power of God in those six short verses without using my imagination. Yes, my spirit can recognize the truth of the words, but it is my God-given imagination that allows my human mind to picture the green pastures and still waters of His provision and peace; my God-given imagination that speaks to my human heart that I have nothing to fear -- not even Death; and it is my God-given imagination that extracts the truth my spirit already knows ... I have an eternal inheritance awaiting me. 
      So, I will end with this thought ... Yes, we can know about Christ and God and the Holy Spirit by sticking strictly to the written Word and understanding it with our logical and reasoning mind. But to know Them is a different story. Knowing about Them and knowing Them are too different things. And I believe that we were created to tap into the creativity of the Godhead by using our imagination, the gateway into Their Presence. It is my prayer that you will reflect upon God and His goodness towards us, being open to revelations that God wants to share with you. Ask Him to sanctify your mind unto His and to use your imagination to glorify Him in the world. You do not have because you do not ask. It's time to ask. 

 Philippians 4:7    "Then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ". [As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.”]

Staying Awake In Spiritually Tense Times

     If you are a follower of Jesus, it's only natural as we enter a new year to contemplate if the prophecies of the Bible [regarding the return of Christ] will begin to see their fulfillment. Yes, I understand that we are not to know the day or hour, but we are told to "stay awake" and "be ready" so that the thief will not undermine God's gracious plan for humanity.
     I must tell you that I don't obsess over the timeline of the Anti-Christ's appearance, nor am I preoccupied with looking for specific "signs" that forecast the End Times. But, as an ambassador for God behind enemy lines, I would be negligent if I didn't pay attention to what's going on in the world, and our nation, with a spiritually discerning eye.
     Jesus has a lot to say in Matthew 24 about how we are to conduct ourselves until His return; I believe both as individuals and as a nation. In verse 45 He says, "Who is the one qualified to oversee the master’s house? He will be a reliable servant who is wise and faithful, one He can depend on. The master will want to give him the responsibility of overseeing others in His house, for His servant will lead them well and give them food at the right time."
     As believers in Jesus, we are to be wise and faithful in our service to Him and the Father's Kingdom. But can you also see that this applies to the leaders of our country, who are responsible for overseeing this nation? I know there are a lot of people in this country praying for our nation and for our elected President. And whether you voted for him or not, I'm sure you are familiar with what Romans 13:1 has to say on this subject: Let every person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God’s appointment. 
     That may be difficult to digest, especially when we see so much going on in our country that seems ... well, so not what would be pleasing to God. Are you like me, and find yourself asking these questions ... Could God really be orchestrating the government of the United States? Or has He totally abandoned us because we first abandoned Him?
     It is not hard to see some of the things the Bible warns us about -- the anti-God rebellion of ancient Babylon will once again become a world system as we get closer to Jesus's return. Ancient Babylon promoted a common language and social unity; and a universal economic and political unity, as well. If you look closely -- if you are awake and ready and watching -- you can see the similarities of this Biblical prophecy and the efforts of the world political and religious leaders to promote economic globalization, and an ecumenical and universal faith. All this leads to a breeding ground for the rise of the Anti-Christ spirit.
     Let me be clear that I am not advocating that we recognize our current political leaders as working under the authorization or with the approval of God. The Lord knows I am not qualified to make that judgment. Only He knows if His plans and purposes are being accomplished by our elected leaders. What I do know is that we Christians need to do our part to prepare ourselves and our nation to be aligned with His purposes and what is dear to His heart. 
     For me that means being His servant and overseeing the commission He has left for me in the spheres where I have influence. It means being His instrument as He continues to set the captives free from their bondage to Satan. It means encouraging the Body of Christ to walk in their power and authority, instead of a powerless form of godliness. While I trust God to have His hand in our political and economic futures, I'm not focused on that aspect of the world. Instead, I am committed to being alert to the spiritual signposts that indicate the promises of the Bible, while fulfilling the assignment(s) He has given me. 
     Yes, the calendar page has turned and we have entered a new year. Our culture celebrates that milepost as the start of a new beginning. My flesh acknowledges the commencement of another year, but my spirit is crying out for the end to the rule by the god of this world. So, in this time of new resolutions, let us resolve to examine our hearts and service to our Lord; and let us ask God how to respond in prayer to what our spirits discern is a growing anti-God climate in the world. Let our commitment to God's Kingdom continue to grow as our field of labor expands and impacts our world.

Matthew 24:26    What joy and blessing will come to that faithful servant when the master comes home to find him serving with excellence!

We Serve A God Of New Beginnings

     Tomorrow we begin a new year. I can remember being a little girl and the thought of 2019 would have seemed like a lifetime away. In reality, it has been. I would like to say that I have lived a life well-spent, but the truth is that I have some regrets. I have not always lived a life pleasing to God. Yet His Word tells me that It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses [mercies] that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).
     Here's the thing I want everyone to know: If you are stuck in the past and can't move forward, God does not want you to stay there. By His grace and mercy, He has given us a way to have a new beginning and receive a new identity. Of course faith in Christ is at the center of a new beginning, but it is not a guarantee that you will live a sinless life. We are human, but that should never become an excuse. We are called to grow into the very image of Christ, and that means living righteously. But God is a God of second chances when we confess our sins and repent. And as we move forward, He does not want us to look back. That only gives the Enemy the right to taunt us with our failures and mistakes.

     Take a look at that Scripture again ... each morning is a new day with God; a new start and a new beginning to make progress towards a life that abides wholly in Him. This is a promise of deliverance from captivity by the Enemy, and of remaining in the presence of God, Himself. I know that may sound impossible if you are ending 2018 in pain. This year I have seen many people I love deal with failing health, failing marriages, and failing hope; it just seems that others, or their bodies, or God have let them down. And I'm sure there are those of you who are disappointed in yourselves, thinking that there is no future or way to move forward in your goals, including your relationship with God.  But that is NOT what the Word says!
     The Bible says in Lamentations that we have access to the Lord's mercy and compassion and faithfulness towards us. Whose fault is it if we don't take advantage of that, or walk in faith towards that truth?  I will admit that we fight a spiritual battle against an enemy that seeks to steal, kill, or destroy our hope, joy, and faith. He is too often successful in getting us to listen to the lies he whispers. But we have been given spiritual armor to effectively fight that battle. And as I've heard more than one pastor point out, there's not a piece of that armor that is positioned on our back -- it is all for our forward progress!  Looking back at our past mistakes and failures only serves to keep us from the new beginning and identity God wants to give us!
     The Bible gives us some good examples of people who overcame failure [or disappointment] to become who God created them to be. Joseph was solid into slavery by his brothers, accused of rape, and served undeserved time in prison, yet he never abandoned his loyalty and faith in God, nor stewardship of the leadership skills he possessed. Because he never lost faith that God's promises remain true, Joseph found himself in a position of influence where God could use him for His glory.
     If there ever was a man who suffered disappointment in his life, with no reason for hope, it was Job. He had it all, and then lost everything that this world measures as success. He lost his wealth, his family, and his health. The world tells him he's a loser and should just quit and die. But, like Joseph, Job remains loyal to who He knows God to be. He just waited [with patience] for God to deliver and restore him, and God does just that, restoring his fortune double-fold. I know that sometimes I look like I don't fit the image of a "winner" to either the world or the Body of Christ, but I believe God's promises to me as His child. I trust that He is molding and shaping me into who I am meant to be.
     And how many of us can identify with Moses, who used his past mistakes and failures as excuses for why he was unfit to serve the Lord? Let's face it ... when called upon by God, Moses was exiled, humiliated, and poor. He tried to tell God he couldn't do what was asked of him because he had killed, lied, ran away as a coward, betrayed his family, and furthermore, he was scared to speak in public! But after 40 years of running away, Moses was finally willing to believe that God's compassion for the Israelites would never fail, and that a new day of freedom was available and waiting for them. He came to believe more in God's new offer of mercy [and guidance] than in his own past mistakes. 
     And I think I would be remiss if I didn't mention Mary Magdalene. Although Church and cultural history have labeled her a prostitute, there is no real information about her life and character other than what is mentioned in Luke 8. Here, she is mentioned as having been delivered of seven demons by Jesus's compassion and mercy. Imagine the stigma of a woman in the Middle East who was possessed or tormented by not one, but seven, demons! Jesus didn't see a woman who was deserving of public castigation and humiliation, but the heart of a woman who would serve Him with complete devotion, ministering to Him during His death and resurrection, and serving His cause long afterward.
     But, for me, Peter represents the ultimate example of overcoming one's past mistakes and walking in a new beginning and identity. After all, Peter professed his eternal allegiance to Jesus, yet rejected Him three times in His hour of need.  But we must not forget that Jesus knew Peter would fail Him, but He still loved Peter. He still gave Peter the gift of salvation; and called him to His service anyway.  Do you not think that He will do the same for you? 
     Let us take these examples to heart and no longer be defined by our past, but look forward to new beginnings. We celebrate this concept in our culture. Why not in our spirits? Don't stay stuck, or focused on the past, or hinder yourself from walking into a new identity. Joseph didn't decide to languish in prison, misunderstood and failing to reach his potential. Job didn't roll up into a ball in the corner, accepting his fate and his losses. Moses could have hidden out in Midian, having lost his exalted title and position in Egypt, and never have been heard from again. Mary Magdalene could have given in to the demonic spirits and accepted her fate as an "undesirable". Peter could have spent the rest of his years in disgrace and shame and guilt for having abandoned his Master. 
     But each of these people answered a call upon their lives and were renewed, restored, and regenerated.  They were each given a new and higher spiritual nature and identity. They didn't accept the false identity the Enemy wanted them to embrace. Their faith in who Jesus was carried them beyond their pasts and into a transformed life full of hope and empowerment.
     That is what God wants for you!  I urge you to look upon this new year with expectation and a desire for a new and greater identity. Stop listening to the lies that the Enemy is telling you, and start this new year by declaring that you are a new creation; that God is doing a new thing in you; that you have a renewed spirit, mind, and heart; that you are forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God [on your life] in Christ Jesus... and finally, that our God is a god of Creation, not of destruction or disappointment. This new year is full of opportunities for you! Reach for them, accept them, and walk in them. And trust in God's faithfulness to grow you! Happy New Year!

Ephesians 4:22-24     And He has taught you to let go of the lifestyle of the ancient man, the old self-life, which was corrupted by sinful and deceitful desires that spring from delusions. Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you. And to be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ-within as your new life and live in union with Him! For God has re-created you all over again in His perfect righteousness, and you now belong to Him in the realm of true holiness.

We Have Spiritual Gifts To Unwrap

     The rush of the Christmas season has passed, we've all over-eaten, and stacks of presents are everywhere. The joy of watching your loved ones unwrapping their gifts with joy can be the highlight of the holiday. Can you imagine how pleased it makes the Holy Spirit when we open ourselves up to receiving the gifts He has for us?  It is important for both the Kingdom of God and the Body of Christ that we believe, first of all, that we have gifts to be used; and secondly, that we earnestly desire to receive them all.
     I say this, because I know of some Christians who have expressed that they don't think they've been given any gifts, and others who think that desiring gifts is somehow exalting themselves. I personally do not believe that either of these suppositions is true. To begin with, 1 Corinthians, Chapter 12 is one of our "go to" Biblical destinations to find out what the Word says about our gifts. Verse one confronts an obvious stumbling block among the believers in the Church of Corinth. Various translations record Paul saying this about the spiritual gifts: "I don't want you to be confused about the gifts -- or misinformed -- or uninformed". So this was a very important topic in the First Century Church! So should it be today.

     Paul continues in what he wants the Corinthians to understand ... "Now there are distinctive varieties and distributions of endowments (gifts, extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians, due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit) and they vary, but the [Holy] Spirit remains the same". Paul goes on to explain that the Holy Spirit distributes these various empowering gifts to different people so that the Body of Christ [when considered as a whole] can expand the influence of the Kingdom of God upon the earth.
      There is to be no competition or envy among believers concerning the gifts because we all have a vital part to play in the Kingdom, and the gifts are the divine power source from God that confirms His Word and establishes His righteousness on the earth.  When we properly use the gifts imparted to us, the Body of Christ is equipped to change the world. You see, the imparted gifts are not for us, they are for the benefit of others. Yet, today, there seems to be such controversy and much discord among the Body regarding the pursuit of the gifts. 
     If someone is operating in their gift(s) -- yes, one may be empowered with more than one gift by the Holy Spirit -- I have seen that person ostracized and excluded from the Body because they don't resemble everyone else. I think there are times we have forgotten this important advice from Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:19: "A diversity is required, for if the body consisted of one single part, there wouldn’t be a body at all!" In other words, we should support each other's differences and be thankful for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in bestowing the impartations from God. Furthermore, we should be using our own divine power source to encourage others. Paul exhorts us in 1 Corinthians 14:1 to "earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts)". 
     There is a beautiful picture of this encouragement in Acts 13 where inspired prophets and teachers of the Church at Antioch heard this from the Holy Spirit: "I have called Barnabas and Saul to do an important work for me. Now, release them to go and fulfill it.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they laid hands on them and sent them off. Here, we see the Church working with the Holy Spirit to equip and send believers out into the world to share the Word of God and His Kingdom message. 
     Now, the modern Church does send missionaries into the world to share the Gospel. And, yes, many of them are endowed with spiritual gifts. And I daresay that these gifts of revelation, wisdom, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, and tongues are well-used and well-received among unbelievers who are seeing the manifestation of the Most High God for the first time.
     So, why is it so hard to get the Western Church to embrace the desire and pursuit of these divine gifts? Why are they so neglected, or even misused? What builds the Church up more as the representative of God's kingdom -- denying His empowerment, or selflessly strengthening and encouraging the Body to manifest His power and glory?
     I can only speak for myself, but as I have grown in my relationship with Jesus, I have also sought more of the Holy Spirit and God's empowerment through Him. Because He lives in me, I have access to all the gifts, and I have no problem saying I earnestly desire and pursue all of them! I know that these gifts provide supernatural power and ability to demonstrate God to those I come in contact with. I want to drink deeply of the Spirit [and cooperate with Him] to help unlock the potential of the gifts in others. Just as on Christmas morning, the anticipation of unwrapping a pile of gifts is something we look forward to. It's time for the Church to apply the same expectancy towards the spiritual gifts. Let us desire their distribution, activation and operation in our lives!

1 Peter 4:10    As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God’s many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor]. 
      

Exalting The Birth Of Jesus

     Today, I am unconcerned if Jesus was born on this day or on another. Today, I simply want to honor the indescribable and incomprehensible love of our Father in Heaven that He would send His Son -- a most intimate part of Himself -- to earth to identify with us and redeem us from our sins, transgressions and iniquities; in all the ways we have been rebellious against His Holiness.
     And I think it is important that we take the time to see what the Word has to say about this sacred event that is simple, yet so profound, for all of mankind. After all, we only have a few verses in the four Gospels that even attempt to describe it -- although it was prophesied for centuries before. So, let us consider what Matthew, Mark, Luke and John present under the inspiration of God, the Father, and His Holy Spirit. Perhaps we can comprehend the heart of God for us.

     Would it surprise you to know that a lot of what we incorporate into the "Christmas story" of Jesus's birth comes from Christmas carols that have come down to us through the years? We hold dear the images of shepherds and angels on high; the exhausted holy family looking for shelter among inns that had no room; the birth in "a manger" among farm animals, with the Wise Men from the Orient in attendance. The sentiments touch our hearts, but to get the true source of Jesus's birth, we must take a look at the Gospels and their four very distinct and different renditions.
     The Gospel of Mark is thought to have been the first of the Gospels to have been written, and has been variously attributed to John Mark, a companion and interpreter for the Apostle Peter; to Peter, himself; and to an anonymous First-Century Christian. Since it is the oldest of the Gospels, it is interesting that Mark records nothing of the birth of Jesus. This book begins with the calling of John the Baptist to preach in the wilderness. Jesus doesn't appear in this narrative until He comes to be baptized at the River Jordan by John.
     Regarding the birth of Jesus, the Gospel of Mark writes from a "narrative of omission", meaning the purpose of this Gospel is not to focus on the Holy birth, but to point us to the service of the Lord. Mark is writing to the believers in Roman society [who were used to social classes steeped in honor and status]. He wants his readers to understand it is not important where a servant is born or from which family he comes – it is his service that defines him. Therefore he paints for us a picture of hidden and radical service by One given all authority (our Lord), and calls the audience of this Gospel to follow the example of Jesus that [as Lord] defined His mission and ministry by His service to others. Mark is not denying the holy birth of Jesus, but rather focuses on His holy mission.
     Matthew, in contrast to Mark, is writing to an audience of Jews and begins his Gospel with a detailed geneology that shows us Jesus is a descendant of both Abraham and King David. It is his intention to make readers understand that Jesus will be a king greater than David, and a teacher/leader greater than Moses.
     Matthew's Gospel makes a simple statement of conception by the Holy Spirit and then makes Joseph, "a just man", a central figure in the birth narrative. Matthew gives us details of the search by the Wise Men from the East who came to Jerusalem looking for the King of the Jews. When the anti-Christ spirit in King Herod sought to destroy the Christ child, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and instructed him to take the child and His mother to Egypt and remain there until Herod had died, whereupon they were to return to Nazareth. Matthew lets us know all this was according to the prophecies in the Old Testament, and is the fulfillment of Hebrew Scripture .... Emmanuel, God with us.
     Luke's Gospel narrative of the birth of Jesus is written to the Gentiles, and focuses on the role of the Holy Spirit and gives attention to the women in the story (Mary, Jesus's mother, and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist). It is the longest narrative of the life of Jesus in the four Gospels, and gives us a broader picture of the social status of Joseph and Mary and the humble circumstances of Jesus' birth in a stable. It is especially noteworthy that Luke makes it clear that angels announced the impending birth of the Holy child to ordinary shepherds in the field, rather than to the rich, privileged and powerful Wise Men (astrologers) of the East. They had ascertained the time of Christ's birth according to the stars and the prophecies.
      There is beauty in Luke's rendition as he shows us God ridding Himself of His divine nature to be born as Jesus, a human child; born among the poor but reflecting God's desire that men experience His peace and good will towards all.
     At this point, I would like to make mention of another attribute of Luke's narrative. He takes great care to share the interchange between Mary and the angel Gabriel, and the revelation that she would conceive a child in her womb when "the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God".
     In these latter years, there has been much effort to disprove "the virgin birth" by claiming it is a product of a mistranslation; citing that the Hebrew word for"virgin" actually means "young woman". But this does not take into account that at the beginning of his Gospel, Luke takes the time to explain that he was writing "an orderly account" of the things believers had been taught according to the "eyewitnesses and ministers of the word". In other words, Luke was doing his own investigation, and critics have long surmised that he had ample opportunity to speak to interview witnesses to Jesus's birth, including Mary herself. 
     The details with which Luke presents his story seems to indicate that he has derived his information from a primary source; either Mary, herself, or someone to whom Mary had relayed the intimate details of the events with the angel Gabriel and the Holy Spirit. Remember, Luke was a physician, so he would be qualified to investigate a virgin birth, and it is clear he believed Mary's account.
     Now for the final account of Jesus's birth, we take a look at the Gospel of John.  His is quite different from the human accounts of Matthew and Luke. John presents the Lord's birth in heavenly and spiritual terms... His birth began in Heaven; "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. " John goes on to describe Jesus's birth in powerful and undeniable language: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father". 
     Although John does not mention Mary, Joseph or any of the other people that Matthew, Mark, or Luke mentions, he is nevertheless making it clear that he believes the birth of Christ is the most important event in mankind's history... "In Him was life and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it". 
     So what are we to make of these four very different and distinct narratives of the birth of Christ? He came as the King of the Jews, worthy of obedience and worship (Matthew); He was born as the compassionate human Savior to the poor, overlooked, neglected (Luke); Jesus as Lord, comes to show us a new way; free from the limitations of social status (Mark); and Jesus is God, born in the flesh to give us a new beginning and to shine His light into the darkness of this world.
      So whether the Christ child, the Anointed One who came to save the world, was born today or not doesn't really matter. What is important is that we believe He is who the Gospels say He is -- God in the flesh; holy and incorruptible; the Light of the World ; and the Savior of the lost world. So, let us all come together and worship Him in reverence and fear... "For there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men."

Thank you to Dr. Corné Bekker, Assistant-Dean of Rhema Bible College in Johannesburg , South Africa, for his writings comparing the Birth Narrative of Christ in the four Gospels.
 
Luke 2:10-11    But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid. For I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! For today in Bethlehem a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah. 

Where Is The Holy Spirit In Your Life?

     I'm not sure exactly when it happened, but there was a huge shift in my theology and relationship with the Father and Jesus when I came to understand the full personality and ministry of the Holy Spirit. It wasn't that I didn't believe in the Holy Spirit, it was just that in my 30+ years as a Christian I had been given no guidance for a personal knowledge or experience of Him as His own separate and equal Being. It had always been presented to me that He was an extension of Jesus; a substitute or understudy, so to speak. But as I began receiving revelation from the Word, I could see and intuit that He was God Himself, just as Jesus was. And with that knowledge came the desire to know Him and experience Him, as the Bible tells me I can.
     But here's the thing... as that began to happen, I also began to see a distancing or separation from some of my fellow Christians. I was told that the kind of experiences I was looking for weren't possible for today's Believers; that the power and fire that rained down on the First Century Believers was only to jump-start the Church; that the closing of the Canon has left us with centuries of faith in the saving grace of Jesus, so we don't need those manifestations. But is that really the case?
     Here is what seems so evident to me: God birthed the Church at Pentecost and poured out His Holy Spirit upon it. He baptized it in the Holy Spirit, filled it with the Spirit, and anointed it with the Spirit. In case you need Biblical confirmation of this, here it is: Just before Jesus ascends into Heaven, he gives His disciples (who would start His Church) the following instructions ...  "Don't leave Jerusalem... in a few days you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:4-5)". He also told them, "But I promise you this -- the Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be filled with power" (Acts 1:8). Then in Acts 2:4, Paul tells us "They were all filled and equipped with the Holy Spirit and were inspired to speak in tongues -- empowered by the Spirit to speak in languages they had never learned!". The Modern Church will tell you that Jesus is only proclaiming these promises for those twelve men.

     Yet, it seems to me that the Bible is telling us that when the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of God -- is present there are evidences of His power. Centuries of faith should not have changed this truth! God doesn't change! If there is no proof or confirmation that the Holy Spirit is moving in power and fullness, can we say He is present and active? The filling of the Holy Spirit is not just a theological term that expresses "faith in Jesus," it is a real experience that transforms one's life inwardly (activates your spirit), but also equips you and anoints you outwardly for the ministry God has called you to. There is very real power that comes when the Holy Spirit is present in a person or a Church's life.
      I would also suggest that the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit is not a one-time occurrence -- whether in a person or the Body of Christ. It is something that is meant to last and grow. "Revivals" are great for stirring the souls and spirits of people to seek that encounter with the Holy Spirit, but our experiences are not to be temporary events. The out-pouring of the Holy Spirit is to be continuously and increasingly evident.
     But how many Christians today believe this? Why is the experience of the First Century disciples not the goal of us Twenty-First Century disciples? Why is it so easy for Believers today to dismiss the importance of experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives? If we can embrace the idea that these fleshly bodies are now the Temple where Jesus resides, why can we not believe Paul when he tells us in Ephesians 2:22, "This means that God is transforming each one of you into the Holy of Holies, His dwelling place, through the power of the Holy Spirit living in you!" Paul is not speaking to the twelve disciples here. He is speaking to believers in Christ. Furthermore, he is teaching that there should be a transformation in our lives through the power of the Spirit living in us. That means the power is active, not passive!! There should be evidence of His presence in our lives!
     At times, I fear we are not too far removed from the Christian heresy of the 4th Century called the Pneumatomachian heresy. Those who believed in this false teaching denied the full divinity of the Holy Spirit and taught that He was a created being, subject to the Father and the Son. In fact,
Pneumatomachians were called “opponents of the Spirit” or “Spirit fighters.” Sadly, today there are Churches that feel dry, dead, and empty of the Spirit; as if He has left the building. Speaking in tongues, healing, or prophesying and revelation, which were all evidences of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Early Church, are denied and even denounced as false Christianity. 
     What makes more sense to me is that as the teaching of the power of the Holy Spirit in us (which Paul clearly confirms) is removed from the Church, the Spirit departs from where He is not wanted. You see, when the Holy Spirit is welcomed and present in the Body of Christ, there is a peace and righteousness in God's House -- both in the church building and in the individual believer. He cleanses the Temple of the Lord; convicting us of our sin and empowering us to walk in the same  power and effectiveness that Jesus had when He was anointed of the Holy Spirit; giving each of us our calling/ministry to continue Jesus's work. 
     When the Body of Christ attempts to limit the supernatural empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the effects upon the Church are real -- Divine revelation and illumination of Scripture is replaced with [and limited to] denominational doctrine; we seek other teachers instead of receiving heavenly insight from the Holy Spirit. In addition, our prayer life becomes centered in our flesh instead of flowing out of the anointing and power of the Spirit. We must ask ourselves if we are yielding to the Spirit and inspired by Him when we pray, or if our prayers emanate from our minds and soul.
     I can only speak for myself, but I don't want to be an empty vessel. I want to be filled up to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. I want to experience manifestations of His Presence and I won't limit displays of His power in me as I surrender to God's calling on my life. I will seek and ask for the fullness of the Spirit in my ministry and in the gifts He bestows upon me. I will be subject to the Spirit's teachings and His wisdom. And above all else, I will testify that Jesus is the Lord of my life, having been empowered to speak of His saving power through the leading of the Holy Spirit. I praise God for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and I welcome Him as the means of God's gifts, signs, wonders, miracles and revelation in my life and this Age. Holy Spirit, You are welcome here!

Ephesians 3:20-21    Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power [of the Holy Spirit] at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
 

God's Unfinished Business

     As I commented in yesterday's post, God desires that His plans reach their fullness and potential; His plans for humans and nations. But there is more to this idea of fullness and fulfillment. And I believe we must read the entire Bible -- both Old and New Testament -- to see the big picture of what God plans to bring to fullness.
     As we read through the Torah, or Old Testament, it becomes apparent that there are several institutions and systems that seem to never achieve their fullness as God designed them. Let's take a look at just a few of them. The first would be the Judicial System. God set forth a system of government and justice. He appointed wise judges to apply His laws. Their job included not only legal matters, but often included military and administrative authority over the nation of Israel, as well. But as we read the history of the Israelites, we see that God's plan for a Judicial System that followed His commandments and laws was not fully realized. The Ten Commandments, given at Mt. Sinai were broken time and again, and we see that they failed to complete the military conquest of the Canaanite tribes as God commanded them. The Bible says in Judges 2:16-19, Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so.  Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them.  But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.

     Another of God's institutions that has not seen its fulfillment yet are His Holy Feasts. God commanded the Israelites (to whom we are grafted in) that each of the Feasts were to be "a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast". It is important that we recognize that each of these Feasts is part of an interacting and interdependent system of events that form a whole picture of the salvation of man. God instituted them as a reminder to us of His plan to reconcile mankind back to Him. The Spring Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread and Pentecost are a dress rehearsal and reminder of Jesus's First Coming and his sacrificial death for the remission and forgiveness of our sins through His shed blood; Christ's resurrection as the first fruits of salvation and our promise of eternal life; and the gift of the Holy Spirit that gives us power and enables us to continue in obedience to a life in Christ.
     But we call this system of Feasts unfulfilled because there are Fall Feasts which point to the Second Coming of Christ, which, as we know, hasn't happened. Yet, observing these Feasts, we can look forward with eager anticipation to The Feast of Trumpets. the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles, which are a picture of Christ's return to rule the earth and judge the wicked; to become "at one" with Jesus through remorse and repentance for our sins; and the time that Jesus will dwell with us on the earth during the Millennial Kingdom, before He ushers in a New Heaven and New Earth.
     We can also take a look at the Priesthood that God instituted with Aaron and the Levites and see that it was not fulfilled as God planned. From Aaron and his descendants, God has planned for priests to minister to Him in the Temple and to act as mediator between Himself and man. In the Old Testament, the Levitical priests bore the responsibility of overseeing the sacrifices to God required by the Mosaic Law.  But the Levitical priesthood was never meant to be permanent. We Believers of the New Covenant know that Jesus came to end that sacrificial system and became our High Priest. But we also know, according to 1 Peter 2 and Revelation 1 that we are joined to Christ, who has "made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father". Furthermore, the fulfillment of this truth will see us reigning as kings over the earth with Him when the fulfillment of God's plan takes place.
     So, when we take the whole of Scripture into account, I find it is a mistake to declare that the Old Testament shows that these institutions and systems (which also include the Agricultural System and the Settlement of the Land) have fallen short, never to reach their full potential. But if we look closer at the Old Testament, we will see that it actually prophecies future fulfillments yet to come. 
     The Book of Isaiah prophecies of these future fulfillments: Isaiah 2 describes the Millennial Kingdom in which “the Torah will go forth from Zion”; Isaiah chapters 60 to 66 speak of a renewal of Zion and resettlement of the land; Isaiah 66 makes reference to food laws, Levites, new moons and Sabbaths. The last 9 chapters of Ezekiel have a lot to say about future fulfillments of God's plan. A new Temple is built, described in utmost detail (chapters 40 to 41), that is then filled with the glory of God (chapter 43), with a new priesthood and sacrificial system (chapter 44), including all the feast celebrations (chapter 45), led by the Messianic King (chapter 46), in a renewal of nature and agriculture (chapter 47), and resettlement of the land according to the tribes of Israel (chapter 48).
     But that's not all. The end of the Book of Joel describes a restoration of Zion both spiritually and economically after the events of the end times. Micah speaks of the former kingdom being reestablished. Zechariah 14 also describes a restoration of feasts and Temple worship after the Second Coming of Messiah.
     Can you see how the Old and New Testaments are a complete picture of God's redemptive plan for mankind? What might look like unfulfilled promises in the Old must be taken in conjunction with the prophecies that find their fulfillment in the New Testament. When read through this lens, it's not hard to see that there will be a renewal and observance of the Torah during the Millennial Kingdom with the priorities and significance of all that Jesus taught. The bottom line is that the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus came to declare will be fulfilled in the Millennium; and it will establish God's original plan for order on the earth for Israel and all the nations. God has unfinished business on the earth, but as Scripture shows us, the fullness is yet to come and it will happen! Praise God!

Thank you to Asher Intrater, founder and apostolic leader of Revive Israel Ministries, and a Messianic leader in Israel, for his insight on the fulfillment of God's promises and plans for the redemption of all mankind.

Ezekiel 12:28     Therefore say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Not one word of mine shall be prolonged any more: the word that I shall speak shall be accomplished, saith the Lord God. 

God's Plan For The World

     At this time of year, it's hard not to reflect on God's plan to send a part of Himself to redeem the world. And when I think that He appeared as an innocent baby to "the lost sheep of Israel", and that I have benefited from their inability to recognize Him, I am overcome with gratefulness and thankfulness. Yet I know that He is not done with His chosen people and that one day His mercies will be new upon them when the full number [who will receive Jesus as their Messiah] will be saved; when they once again operate in the full power and character that God has bestowed upon them; and when they enter into their full purpose of leading the world to faith in the One True God.
     I remember the first time that the Word made this clear to me as I read the Book of Romans. I suddenly saw God's plan in its fullness -- His plan for both "the Jews" and "the Gentiles", and my role in that plan. And let me be clear, I know that, as a Christian, I have been grafted into God's plan, and it is His desire that everyone on earth be included. At this time of year, the world needs to remind themselves of how simple God's plan really is. In a nutshell, God created and destined the world to be perfect in His sight, so that everything would reflect His goodness and bring Him glory. There it is, it's that simple!

     Furthermore, when He created you and me, He saw us in our perfect fullness, as He meant us to be. And even now, when I disappoint Him because I fail to walk in my full potential, He still sees someone worth dying for. He still sees me as He meant me to be! That thought should stir the spirits of everyone reading this! And I don't know about you, but it makes me want to be that perfect self I was designed to be. But how do I/we get there?
     The one thing we all need to understand is that to get to the point where we truly reflect His goodness and bring Him glory, it is a reality that [in our human condition] we will experience the ups and downs; successes and disappointments; joys and heartbreaks of this life. And we should never lose sight that Jesus is there with us through it all. If we stay focused on Him, we should grow in our knowledge of who God is, who we are in Him, and in the process, become more and more like who He created us to be. 
     It is God's plan to bring us into our full potential -- not to be who the Enemy or the world tells us we are. When He sent the part of Himself that is Jesus, He personally came to show us how He sees us; where we are falling short of His glory; and to redeem us from everything that separates us from Him... including our uniquely individual human natures, our past, our family iniquities, and the lies of the Enemy to steal, kill, or destroy our God-given identities.
     And I think that Christians really need to know what that word redeemed means -- to gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for payment. And then we need to understand just how big that payment was! Can we even wrap our human minds around the magnitude of the suffering Jesus endured as He paid the penalty for all the sins of all mankind for all time??? God willingly did that for us! And in the process implemented a way for us to once again reach that full potential of who we really are.
     But here's the thing.... His plan is even bigger than you and me! Throughout the Bible, God's Word tells us of His plan to redeem nations as well as peoples.... I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Just as God created each of us to be perfect in His sight, He had the same plan for nations. Can you imagine what our nation would look like if we were walking in His original plan for us? It may be hard to accept, but God created every nation with a specific calling. Even though our history books explain only the works of man that have resulted in the conditions of nations, God has always been involved. 
     I know it's hard to believe there is a calling on our country when we look at the corruption in our government, the numbers of abortions, the confusion over sexual morals, and the decay of the family. But if God has created this nation (as Christians believe), then He has a calling on it. God has not given up on us. He is working our redemption through the believing remnant in this nation and every nation on earth that calls Jesus King. 
     And that brings us back to this season we know as Christmas. Remember that God came to the "lost sheep of Israel" to redeem them as His chosen people among the nations. But there was a plan, and it is still being played out. And I have never heard it explained any better than these words from Tal Haroni, a Messianic Jew in Israel: "God wanted to have all nations in His Kingdom. He never wanted anyone left out. He wants everyone to see and experience His glory. So first, He showed who He is to Israel, and then at the right time He opened the way for everyone else. But the people of Israel had to be “hardened” in order for each and every nation to discover God. Now, it’s all coming back – the nations, the Gentiles, as they begin to enter into the fullness of their redeemed cultures. As they walk in their God-given fullness, they call the people of Israel back to their God-given calling. When the nations reflect God’s goodness, the people of Israel can be redeemed, too. This is how we will see the world fully redeemed, and walking in its full potential as God intended it to be". 
     In this season, let us give thanks for the plan of God to redeem the world. It began with Israel, and by His grace and mercy, we have received redemption through them. Pray for God's plan to be completed through you and me, as we reflect God's goodness and glory, resulting in God "grafting Israel in again" (Romans 11:23-24). Praise be to our Glorious and Merciful God who loved the world so much that He sent His Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life!

Romans 14:11     Just as it is written: “As surely as I am the Living God, I tell you: ‘Every knee will bow before Me and every tongue will confess the truth and glorify Me!’ ”

 

"The Love Of Most Will Grow Cold"...

     My soul has been in turmoil the last few days as I have witnessed a lack of kindness, tolerance and solicitude in the world. I say "in the world" because this insensitivity has ranged from my inner circle of friends to the public venue; across the secular internet and within the Body of Christ. It is truly as if people's hearts are "growing cold".
     But why should I be surprised? Jesus prophesies that this will happen in one of the most revealing chapters in the Bible, Matthew 24. After disclosing the general signs of the end of this age, and before He declares the sign of the "abomination that causes desolation", Jesus tells us that "You can expect to be persecuted, even killed; for you will be hated by all the nations because of your love for me. Then many will stop following me and fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many lying prophets will arise, deceiving multitudes and leading them away from the path of truth. There will be such an increase of sin and lawlessness that those whose hearts once burned with passion for God and others will grow cold.  But keep your hope to the end and you will experience life and deliverance" (Matthew 24:9-13).

      I believe that this is a passage that is both relevant to the Disciples at that moment, as well as being a prophetic revelation to us in the 21st Century. It is not hard to look around and see how we Christians treat people unlike us; let alone how judgmental and condemning we can be towards fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. With the prevalence of online blogs [this one included], videos, internet ministries, and Christian media conglomerates, it is no wonder that Jesus warned us of the possibility of "lying prophets". As I have urged from the beginning, anyone reading this blog must never take my word as God's Truth. I always encourage readers to take what I share and have a discerning spirit about how it lines up with the Truth of God's Word in the Bible. I am still growing and maturing in my faith, so what I share is what I believe God is revealing to me in my spirit and by His Word ... at this time in my journey. I know that I am in a process; am being grown into the image of Christ, so growth and development is a part of the path I'm on. I do not expect everyone to agree with me, but I would hope that we could honor each other as heirs of the covenant of salvation through Jesus Christ.
     But I will tell you that I have received my share of hateful comments from fellow Christians, and have witnessed anything but love from my fellow believers whenever I have written on a subject that does not align with denominational doctrine or accepted tenets of modern Christianity. Furthermore, over the last couple of years I have witnessed a level of ungraciousness, disrespect, and outright cruelty from media outlets who hold themselves up as the bastion of Christian beliefs -- and the incivility has been towards other Christians! You have internet sites that run the range from offering diversified Christian resources from a charismatic/Pentecostal belief system to internet sites that hold to the Second London Baptist Confession (1689) and are unabashedly orthodox in their belief system. Needless to say, while reading articles on these sites I have often felt as if I was in the middle of a Pharisees and Saduccees debate -- all Law and no Grace!
     Yet I also take note that Jesus tells us the reason hearts that once burned with passion for God and [love for] others have grown cold is that "there will be such an increase of sin and lawlessness". My spirit discerns that He is not just talking about sin and lawlessness among unbelievers, but this iniquity will also abound in believers, due to the deception of "lying prophets" who lead believers away from the path of truth. 
     It is so easy to see this happening in our culture today. We have prominent and influential Christian singers who don't know what the Bible says about homosexuality. We have young college athletes who are being castigated over insensitive tweets made as a teenager. And, yes, we even have Supreme Court Justices who are paraded before the public over spurious charges about behavior decades old. And if nothing else, the media frenzy that followed in the wake of these three incidents should tell us that anyone of us is vulnerable to public scrutiny; and whether we sin by not doing something we should have [such as failing to help someone when we have the ability, or the Holy Spirit nudges us], or we sin by doing something we shouldn't have [such as adultery, molestation, pornography], we can expect to be persecuted in the public square. 
     What happened to compassion and mercy? And how is that to intersect with Truth and the Fear of God? And I'm addressing that question to Christians as much as I am secularists! There are those who want to advocate for loving people who make mistakes, while understating and diminishing the Truth. There are still others who think the Truth should be presented explicitly and uncompromisingly without the appropriate attitude of love. Are either one of these a complete picture of the attitude taken by Jesus? How are we to approach this problem we have in our culture of going too far in one direction? 
    Aren't we called to love others while standing for God's Truth and Principles? Can't we show kindness and mercy while still upholding a moral and Godly belief system? We don't have to condemn and judge when someone strays from the path; yet, we don't have to condone every unholy and sinful position in the world, calling it "grace and mercy". Jesus actually tells us in Matthew 24 that people will stop following Him and fall away; betray one another and hate one another. That's Believers He's talking about! We MUST hold fast to our first love and His ways! And we must disciple those who come to faith in Him! We are His representatives in the world, and if we don't know how to defend God's Principles and do it in a loving manner, then our hearts will grow cold and we will be unable to exhibit our Hope before the world. It is in this Christmas season that we tell the world our Hope was born. Our hearts are warm with sentimentality and love and peace towards others. May we seek to always keep our hearts this dedicated to God; never wavering from His Truths, but always presenting them in love. Do not be swayed by popular culture, social media, or even Christian websites. Let God's Word shine a light upon the path you are to take, and the world will be a kinder, gentler place.

1 Peter 3:15    "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as Holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect [reverance, fear]" 

God's Promises In The Midst of Spiritual Warfare

     About a year ago I found a research paper that detailed over 200 promises that Jesus made about this life and our life to come. It was a carefully compiled list of promises that were categorized into the following classifications: 1) Promises Jesus made regarding the Future when He returns in glory; 2) Promises relating to His follower's lives in the Present; 3) the Unconditional Promises based only on faith in Jesus; 4) the Conditional Promises bases on conditions such as obedience, prayer, and humility; 5) the General Promises that are made to all who believe them and fulfill their conditions; and lastly 6) the Promises that were made to particular Individuals or Groups. The researchers poured over the four Gospels, listing every promise made, and omitting none. As you can imagine, it is an exhaustive and comprehensive list.
     For instance, in John 4:14, we find a General promise that is for the Present and carries with it a condition ... whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. That is a promise that belongs to every Believer [in every age], with the condition that one partakes of the Living Water offered by Jesus. Then there is the promise found in John 10:9-11, I am the Gateway. To enter through me is to experience life, freedom, and satisfaction. A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow! I am the Good Shepherd who lays down my life as a sacrifice for the sheep. This is also a promise for the present; for us Believers -- the abundance of this promise is available to all who have faith in Jesus as their Savior; their Deliverer. 

     I could go on and list the more than 200 promises that are ours in Jesus, but you can study them yourselves by following this link. The point I want to make is how we are to consider these promises in the light that we still have need of Deliverance after coming to faith in Jesus; and if these promises are true, why is there the continual reality of spiritual warfare? These are questions that I think every Christian grapples with. We are told that we are seen as righteous in the eyes of the Father; not to argue or complain so that we "may become blameless and pure". In fact, Paul tells us in Colossians 1:21-23, Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence— if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.…
     Did you catch the emphasis I made in bold? Christ's death on the Cross accomplished what God planned. It reconciled us to Him and we are seen as holy and blameless and clean and righteous ... IF we are able to hold firm to what Jesus said about the Kingdom of Heaven on earth and avoid the attempts of the devil to steal, slaughter and destroy our hope. But how many of us can say we do not lose hope at times when we suffer the slings and arrows of those fiery darts our Enemy is so good at launching right into our minds and hearts? Are we free of doubt and fear and self-rejection and anger and bitterness and unforgiveness? Can we truly say we are satisfied on every level with our life and walk in Truth and Spirit, filled to overflowing with the abundance of life that Jesus died to give us? If you're like me, I have moments when I experience that abundant life in its fullness. And I truly try to keep my mind renewed and joined to the mind of Christ; as well as abiding in Him [living my life in union with Him]. But the truth is, I am behind enemy lines here on earth and I am on a journey of spiritual maturity until the day I am face-to-face with my Deliverer. 
     The truth is, it is a supernatural transformation that takes place in us to grow us into the image of Christ. It is also true that we will face trials after coming to faith in Jesus. This does not negate the promises of Jesus. Instead it allows us to experience the Grace of God, which is more than unmerited favor, but is the power of the Holy Spirit in us to help us get through and endure those trials. And from that power of God's Grace in those circumstances, we are being trained up to experience the fruit of the Spirit's presence in those trials: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control/discipline. 
     It is a reality of the Believer's life that we receive Jesus's promises of eternal life, inheritance and rewards, forgiveness of sins; power and authority; bread of life and living water; rest; provision; words and wisdom; justice; a place He has prepared for us; and so much more. But it is also a reality that we are likely to experience intense struggles; fiery darts of anger, lust, or rejection; physical illnesses or infirmities; ridicule and rejection from both inside and outside the Body of Christ; persecution and oppression because of our faith; worry and stress from worldly responsibilities; inner wounds and disappointments; and pressure to give in to the world's temptations and sins. It is at these times that the Believer must recognize that while his or her salvation is never at stake, unless they have achieved the epitome of spiritual maturity, it is likely that they will continue to be engaged in spiritual warfare for the remainder of their life.
     Jesus made that clear [at least to me] when He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. Remember Jesus fasted for the 40 days He was in the wilderness, so the devil knew He was hungry, and tempted Him to turn the stones into bread. But Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 and said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”. This is one of the most effective tools of spiritual warfare that I try to encourage all who come to Mark and me for Inner Healing and Deliverance ... Renounce the lie spoken by the devil and proclaim the truth of the Word of God. But I love the fact that Jesus uses "bread" as a symbol of that full life He promises. In John 6:33, He says, For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. For me, that fullness of life is real when I proclaim Psalm 18:2: "The LORD is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; He is my strength; God in whom I trust. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety."
     The truth is that Jesus delivers me daily as I turn to Him in those moments when my spirit or body or mind are under attack. You see, I get it that I am a threat to the Enemy who doesn't want me sharing the good news of how Jesus has saved me, delivered me, and is providing me with both physical and spiritual "bread" -- that full life that can only be found in partnership with Him and Holy Spirit. That is why I believe He tells us to pray, Give us this day our daily bread. He's inviting us to be in union with Him; to allow Him to empower us to defeat the works of the devil and to do the things He did -- all the while offering Himself as our Deliverer and Savior. 

     That's why I believe it is important, as we disciple Believers and equip the saints, to make it clear that Scripture never promises a trouble-free life in Christ -- not in this world, at least. What we are given are promises of hope and forgiveness and power and authority and answered prayer in this day, with a future that offers eternal life and rewards/inheritance and a place in God's Kingdom that will never end. But we are also told we will be Overcomers and Conquerors in this life. If Jesus has paid the price for our sins (which He most certainly has), and you interpret that to mean "no more sorrow, no more pain" in this life, then why would Jesus tell us in John 16:33, In the world you will have tribulation? I submit to you that Scripture gives us the answer ... When we are born again, Christ lives in us. And while He tells us we will have tribulation, He also tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world. Furthermore, the Bible tells us "everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith".
     So, here's the bottom line.... our faith in Jesus gives us hope in the promises of God for this present life and our ability to endure the struggles and trials and tribulation while we are in the world. It is a fact that there is opposition in this world to the Light of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. For those of us who represent God's Kingdom on earth, we can expect resistance as we go forth in this hostile environment. But we are assured that we will be conquerors and overcome the evil strategies and power of the spirit forces of wickedness that come against us. And how do we do that? By partnering with Jesus and the Holy Spirit [whose powers are in us] to break the strongholds of bondage coming against us -- and that is called spiritual warfare. 
     I will close by saying that Hope and War may seem like polar opposites in a relationship with our Savior/Deliverer. But we find the reality of both as we derive our hope from our faith [Christ in us], and the ability to endure and overcome anything that comes against us by the same means -- Christ in us empowers us to be victorious over our Enemy. Though there be times of trouble in this world, we can celebrate the hope of a bright and eternal future.

Psalm 50:15    And call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall honor and glorify Me.