|
Romans 8
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
The whole chapter of Romans 8 is profound. I’ve posted here just a portion of the beginning, Some of it may be very familiar to you. But, I want to encourage you — especially if this is familiar to you — to look beyond the first verse, and really try to absorb the weight of Truth the Apostle Paul is laying out here. I’d like to highlight a few points.
1. We are no loner condemned, becase we are FREE! (verse 1)
Verse one is always a favorite because so often the devil tries to make us think that we have ”blown it” when we sin, and accuse us that our efforts to live for God are fruitless.
It is so good to know that we no longer are trying in our own strength to fulfill God’s righteous requirements and hope to earn His favor. The Spirit of life has SET US FREE from the law of sin an death.
2. The law was powerless to remove our sin. So, the Son of God came as a sin offering, to remove the very power of sin from us! It no longer has power over us! (verses 2-3)
This point is worth stopping and meditating on. It is a past tense AND a present tense reality! When we put our faith in Christ, we are made compeletely clean in that moment. The stain of our sins is removed, the curse of sin is removed, AND the power of sin nature is conquered. Do you know what that means?!?! It means that by His mighty power at work within us TODAY, we CAN LIVE HOLY! We have no obligation to live in sin or to sin at all! That is why it says that “the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met IN US”. It’s obvious that Jesus fulfilled all righteousness, but this is saying that by His power, WE can live righteously!! 3. Because of the life of Jesus IN us (and us being found “in” Christ), the righteous requirements of God CAN BE fully met IN US! (verse 4)
(This part blew me away as I was studying this passage with the youth last week)
Do you see what that says?? God’s holy standards can be FULLY MET IN YOU AND I!!!!
I find this so remarkable, because:
-It’s easy to think that Jesus fulfilled God’s righteous requirements, but
-It’s hard to imagine that I could ever live so perfectly, and
-MANY people blame sin nature for their habit of continually living in sin
This passage shows us that OUR LIVES can be walked out in righteousness, IF we CHOOSE to live by the Spirit. It’s not automatic. We DO have to CHOOSE. We get to choose every day to say yes to God as He leads us, guides us and empowers us by His Holy Spirit living on the inside. Conversely, we can choose NOT to listen or obey Him. When we choose the latter, we sin. But, sin is not some overwhelming force that grabs us and takes control of us, as some would seem to describe it. If we are in Christ, it holds no power over us — NONE! But, we can choose to give ourselves to sin.
4. Our reality in Christ is to live in accordance with the HOLY Spirit and to have our mind controlled by the Spirit. His Spirit will also give divine LIFE to our bodies! (verses 5-11)
It’s our choice! Life or death. Freedom or condemnation.
Which will you allow to control you?
|
April 2009
Monthly Archive
April 29, 2009
April 21, 2009
Daniel 10 (New Living Translation)
1 In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future-times of war and great hardship. 2 When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. 3 All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed. 4 On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, 5 I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6 His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people. 7 Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. 8 So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 9 Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. 10 Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. 11 And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling. 12 Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. 14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.” 15 While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. 16 Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. 17 How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.” 18 Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. 19 “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.” 20 He replied, “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come. 21 Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. . .
I’ve posted quite a large portion of Scripture here. But, I believe it’s worth our attention, in light of the message from last Sunday. It points out several things in relation to our seeking God and believing for Him to break in (personally, corporately, locally, nationally and/or globally). Let me try to summarize as simply as possible what this account illustrates, and which is so profound
1. Daniel had heard from the Lord what He was going to do.
2. Daniel responded to the Word by seeking the Lord in prayer and fasting.
3. At the very moment Daniel began to seek the Lord, his prayer was heard AND the answer was given. -God waits for a man or woman (you or me!) to respond to His Word BEFORE He will release the reality of that Word! Do you know the influence and power you have in Heaven and on Earth through prayer??
4. Daniel had to remain steadfast in faith while seeing NO answer to his prayer. -He believed God was able to do all things. -There was a war going on in the spirit, which was initiated and FUELED by Daniel’s intercession and persevering in faith.
5. After waiting in faith, Daniel has this encounter with the Lord, BUT the breakthrough still has not come! The war is still going on in the heavenlies!!
6. The Lord’s message to Daniel was: “I LOVE YOU!” and then He encouraged Daniel and strengthened him to continue to STAND in faith!
7. Then the Lord gave Him revelation of the Word that would empower Him to continue to fight until the breakthrough was made manifest (Chapter 11).
What would the Lord say to US through this??
I think it reminds us that He does not lie and that He will do all that He has said He will do, wether through the the Word or prophetic utterance. BUT, we are called to SEEK HIM faithfully UNTIL we see it and NOT give up. There is a war going on that is holding back the breakthrough and our stance to continue to BELIEVE and INTERCEDE is what fuels the battle and WILL bring the answer from Heaven to Earth.
May we be people of faith AND prayer!
-Jessie
April 14, 2009
Hebrews 11: 1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for. 3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
The Hebrews 11 verse is often quoted, yet, I believe with good reason. It’s so important! It’s also hard to fully understand! So, why shouldn’t we think of it and meditate on it often? 
We call ourselves people of faith, after all! The 2 Corinthians verse echoes the theme: Living by faith means that life isn’t always as it seems, and we cannot judge by what our eyes see.
These both will serve as a continuation of the message from last Sunday and a lead in to this coming Sunday’s message.
What is faith?
-We are SURE of what we HOPE for — i.e. we don’t have it yet, but we’re convinced of it anyway.
-We are certain of what we don’t see — as the previous, it’s as if we “see” what’s invisible.
Wow. That’s kind of crazy. But, if believing God was as easy as knowing a few concrete facts and required no faith, what kind of God would we be serving?? Not One worthy of being served, in my opinion. To look to the All Powerful One SHOULD lead us to EXPECT the impossible and to believe for the unbelievable, right? Beyond that, without faith it’s IMPOSSIBLE to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Well, we better start looking for ways to exercise our faith, don’t ya think? Life is more fun that way, anyhow.
Faith is the strength that is unseen. It is completely unmoved by outward circumstance. When circumstances beat us, we can actually find ourselves being RENEWED on the inside! Why? Because we see that all things work together for our good as we love the Lord! So, if He allows trouble to come our way, we can REJOICE because we understand that eternal glory is being worked in us. Our current struggles, be they financial, emotional, relational, physical . . . they are TEMPORARY and will soon pass away.
If we can keep our focus on JESUS, the One who is “unseen”, we will not lose heart, for we will “see” that an eternal reward and eternal glory are being gained by NOT giving up! We must continue to believe and not waver! For, in due time, we WILL see the harvest! We will see the answer! God’s name WILL be vindicated, in every way. He WILL receive all honor and power and glory!
You will never regret what you did in faith, even if you were wrong.
You will regret times that you shrank back out of fear.
Lord, increase our faith!
-Jessie
