Names and Who Names You

How we see the Father is important. It’s critical in fact. If we think of Him as a distant and impersonal than we never approach Him and build our relationship with Him. Names have a lot to do with our perception.

The Father has many names that He has revealed, and those are great to study to get to know Him. My focus today are the names He calls us.

It should matter who gives us names. Those who are more important or who have more authority over us have the right to name us. What the Father says about us enables us to live out our destiny. When we know whose we are, “Who we Are” takes on a whole new meaning.

I’m going to start by reminding you who you are in Christ, then move on so you can discern your the Father’s destiny for you…

This is adapted from Neil T Anderson’s “The Steps to Freedom in Christ”

In Christ You Are Completely Accepted. The Father says that…
You are God’s child (John 1:12)
You are Christ’s friend (John 15:15)
You have been justified (Romans 5:1)
You are united with the Lord and You are one spirit with Him (1Cor 6:17)
You have been bought with a price; you belong to God (1Cor 6:19,20)
You are a member of Christ’s Body (1 Corinthians 12:27)
You are a saint, a holy one (Ephesians 1:1)
You have been adopted as God’s child (Ephesians 1:5)
You have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18)
You have been redeemed and forgiven of all your sins (Colossians 1:14)
You are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10)

In Christ You Are Totally Secure. The Father says that…
You are free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1,2)
You are assured all things work together for good. (Romans 8:28)
You are free from any condemning charges against you (Rom 8:31-34)
You cannot be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39)
You have been established, anointed and sealed by God (2Cor 1:21-22)
You are confident that the good work God has begun in you will be perfected (Philippians 1:6)
You are a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
You are hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)
You have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)
You can find grace and mercy to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16)
You are born of God and the evil one cannot touch you (1 John 5:18)

In Christ You Are Deeply Significant. The Father says that…
You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Mat 5:13,14)
You are a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15:1,5)
You have been chosen and appointed by God to bear fruit (John 15:6)
You are a personal, Spirit-empowered witness of Christ’s (Acts 1:8)
You are a temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16)
You are a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
You are God’s co-worker (2 Corinthians 6:1)
You are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)
You are God’s workmanship, created for good works (Eph 2:10)
You may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph 3:12)
You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! (Phi 4:13)

Here’s a video to help get these truths into your thinking…

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Does the Judgment of God Lead Us To Repentance?

I had a friend call me and ask my opinion about a warning someone handed him. I took some time to find the original source, and after praying about it I sent my friend this reply.

I found the post on David’s blog – http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/ scroll down to Saturday’s post.

My initial reaction is that I don’t agree its a sign of God’s judgment. God’s been showing me Is 54:9-10

Isaiah 54:9-10 (New Living Translation)

⁹ “Just as I swore in the time of Noah
that I would never again let a flood cover the earth,
so now I swear
that I will never again be angry and punish you.
¹⁰ For the mountains may move
and the hills disappear,
but even then my faithful love for you will remain.
My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”
says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

I can’t put these verses into a millennial period. I think it came with Christ who came:  “not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” His judgment is coming, but as long as we’re in an age of Grace. Will we have trouble in this world? Yes. But I’m done with giving the Father credit for the enemies’ work. If it looks like stealing, killing and destroying, we know where its coming from.

Does that mean what David’s warning about isn’t going to happen? Hardly. He’s a man who hears from God. But that doesn’t stop me from disagreeing with his analysis of it.

It’s the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. Is the world worthy of judgment? Yes. and so am I. But If Jesus said in John 3:17 that the son of man didn’t come to condemn the world, how can I condemn it now? Why would the Father condemn it now?

There is judgment in that we reap what we sow. The judgment of the abortions is the loss of potential in each life. We could have killed the one who would have found the cure for cancer, or eliminated AIDS, or who could have written the next great literary masterpiece.

And there is judgment in the future.  Christ is returning to judge the living and the dead. His followers will stand before the bema seat – the Olympic podium – and our works will be judged. Those who reject Him will be thrown along with hell into the lake of fire. We’re all going to be judged rightly, and none of us will be able to say “but at least I didn’t kill anyone.” There will be no justification for our actions. Make use of the grace that’s extended to us now.

I know people I love hold dramatically different ideas about God. And I honor them, as I must honor David Wilkerson. But as I wrote to my friend, I’m done with giving the Father credit for the work of the enemy.

And really does a loving Father beat His kids when they don’t know what they’re doing is wrong? A Good Father reaches out to protect them from hurting themselves.

Please be gentle with your comments… I’m fasting from negativity

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Your Thoughts on Complaining

Whenever you’re on a search for the truth, it never hurts to ask for someone else’s opinion. I’m picking up on something that I want to be sure makes sense throughout Scripture before I start making assertions.

You can tell, I thinking this can become controversial and I’d rather be set straight now before my mind is set.

Let me give you the background…

2/3rds of the Psalms are Psalms of Lament. They give us a language to poor our heart out to the Father.

Here’s the question…

Do you know of any Psalms of Lament that are congregational?

Here’s what I mean with the question…

There are Psalms like Psalm 142 (NIV)

¹ I cry aloud to the LORD;
I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy.

² I pour out my complaint before him;
before him I tell my trouble.

³ When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who know my way.
In the path where I walk
men have hidden a snare for me.

⁴ Look to my right and see;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.

⁵ I cry to you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”

⁶ Listen to my cry,
for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.

⁷ Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me.

Notice Verse 7 says … Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me. Which implies to me that this is a personal Psalm of Lament, not a congregational one.

It is perfectly legitimate to pour out our hearts to the Father in private…. my question is, are we to do it in public?

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 (New International Version)

Can we follow this verse and still complain to others?

Before you get too practical on me, I agree we all need somebody we can entrust our pain to. Friends, pastors, counsellors are there to help. I’d never advocate pasting a smile on your face and pretend you’re happy… but I may suggest choosing to smile can make you feel happy.

You’re thoughts are helping me with my latest writing project, so the more you can let me know, the more appreciative I will be of you.

Hope you’re enjoying Life Above the Negativity

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Have You Considered This Approach?

I was going to wait until the pre-printing eBook was available to send you before I started giving excerpts from my latest booklet – “Life Above Judging”. I still haven’t settled on a cover yet, or else you’d at least see that here. It turned out to be the last thing I did with this project. Now that makes sense if you know how to self-publish, but if you know me and how I work, it is a little off.

Anyway, I’m looking for feedback on this material before it goes to press. So you can leave comments below or contact me here.

Enjoy!

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Life Above Judging

I was speaking to a Comparative Religions Class at a local university on the topic of the early church councils. Much of the early debate of our spiritual ancestors revolved around the nature of Christ. Councils were called to settle disagreements.

The Council of Nicea (325) was called to settle the controversy the followers of Arius promoted by teaching that there was a time when Christ did not exist. The Council of Nicea met to decide: “Was Jesus Christ God or was He just a man?”

Teaching about the Council of Nicea led beautifully into asking the class the same question. I took a less direct approach.

I asked, “Have you ever been offended by someone telling you Jesus is the only way?” All but three were quick to agree. This was a secular university.

I responded, “I’m a follower of Jesus and I ask your forgiveness for others who name His name and use His words to condemn you. Jesus said He didn’t come into the world to condemn it. I’m sorry for the others who have done it in His name.”

That got their attention, so I continued, “It would be perfectly legitimate to feel offended at Jesus, if He was just a man and He said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life.’

But what if He was more than a man? What if He was the one who put 400 million stars in our galaxy and 400 million galaxies in our universe, and who knows how many more universes there are left to imagine? What if there was no philosophy good enough and no good work great enough to measure up to the standard of such a Being beyond our comprehension?

It would mean Jesus wasn’t being exclusive when He said He was the Way, it would mean He was being inclusive, making a way where we couldn’t make one on our own.”

The students sat in stunned silence. More than a few were wiping tears from their eyes.

It’s the kindness of God that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). So why do we act as if it’s our judgmental attitudes that will lead others to it?

The discussion around judging goes beyond that, because we live in a fallen world where fallen people – and even the redeemed – pass judgement without full knowledge. We have all been unfairly judged and some have been condemned of sin without thought to reconciliation. How do we live life above judging?

Let’s start by getting a clearer understanding of what the Bible says concerning judging…

More to come…

Have you ever used this approach? Do you agree with it? Will you try it sometime? Love to hear.

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What Does the Bible Say About Judging?

This comes from my new booklet on judging. I raise questions here that I’ll answer in the next post. I’m in the process of editing that booklet, and have decided to change the name of it to “How to Judge and Not be a Jerk”. Thank you everyone for your feedback.

I’m working on five more booklets that flesh out “How to Live Life Above the Negativity”. These are companions to my book “Life Above the Negativity – from 10 minutes a day” We’re almost done this year’s international campaign. Find out more at LifeAbovetheNegativity.com.

It concludes on Easter Sunday. We’ve had people continue to sign up for 40 daily emails at 40DaysFromNegativity.com and it’s amazing to see how it’s spread around the world.

The booklets are written to followers of Christ, with heavy emphasis on the Biblical basis for living life positively. I’ve been encouraged to write Cross-over material for a general audience and as I work through the material, I see the potential to take universal truth and plant seeds about the heart of the One who made the Universe.

We’re also praying about and investigating setting up one-on-one coaching to help people work out the implications of living life above the negativity. Let me know if you’d be interested.

That’s probably enough of an update. Love to have your feedback on this section of the booklet. It really is to whet the discussion that follows it up. You’ll be able to see it after Easter, when I post it.

Happy Easter, may it truly be a time of resurrection.

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Don’t Judge

Jesus made some interesting statements that we often overlook. He said:

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (New Living Translation)

OK, I was just checking to see if you were reading every word. Almost everyone knows John 3:16, but how often have you quoted the next verse?

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:17 (New Living Translation)

Look at what Jesus says later in John…

I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. John 12:47  (New Living Translation)

Is this the Jesus you’ve been taught? Is He the one you live to show?

Before you decide I’m off balance, consider what Paul wrote the Romans. He’s just finished writing about the complete reprobate-ness of the culture in chapter one and he follows it up in chapter two with -

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
Romans 2:1-4 (New Living Translation)

It’s clear; we’re not to judge people who are not yet inside the church.

But we’re told to Judge…

OK, I can hear the booklets getting ready to close, so I need to bring it back to the whole counsel of God. Let’s put John 12:47 into context. Jesus did continue the teaching found in Acts 10:42, 2 Timothy 4:1 and 1 Peter 4:5 in the next verse…

But all who reject my message and me will be judged on the Day of Judgment by the truth I have spoken. John 12:48 (New Living Translation)

And you and I can’t live this life with the creed “They’re not hurting anyone” to excuse sin in others.

Proverbs 25:26 says:

If the godly give in to the wicked,
it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring. (NLT)

Furthermore, not only will Jesus judge the living and the dead, we are told to judge as well.

Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? 1 Corinthians 6:2-4 (New Living Translation)

And we are told specifically to:

Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (NIV)

But if we are to judge, how do we work out the implications of His other commands in our life?

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
Matthew 7:1-2 (New Living Translation)

We need a better understanding of judging.

_________________

The “better understanding” is coming…

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Discerning Discernment

Here’s another excerpt from my latest booklet “How to Judge Without Being a Jerk”. Before it goes to press, I’m happy to send out the print-ready manuscript to anyone who wants to take a look and tell me what you think. The last few months I’m really getting a clearer view of what the Father is teaching me in the process we’re in. I’m looking forward to sharing what I’m sensing He has in store for us.

Please comment about my thoughts on discernment:

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The Greeks had a word “krino”. It meant to, “discern,” “decide” and “condemn”. We most commonly translate “krino” into English as “judge”.

It’s easy for us to move from discernment to condemnation without any thought of it. But the Bible tells us not to be so hasty:

Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously. John 7:24 (Amplified Bible)

So how do we discern? How do we decide? And how do we condemn?
Discern…

Spiritual discernment is how the Spirit shows the church or individuals what  the Father wants them to do and be.

Discernment is more than just a skill. Discernment is a gift from God before it is anything else. Yet there are clearly skills you put to use when activating your gift, and you can become better at it through training and experience.

These are the main criteria the Bible gives us to look for when we discern a situation:

• Is it governed by love 
    (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)?
• Does it center us onto Jesus the Christ and Lord 
    (1 Corinthians 12:3)?
• Does it direct us to Scripture, not away from it 
    (Isaiah 8:19, 20)?
• Does it builds up the church and its members 
    (Ephesians 4:11-12)?

Discernment is a supernatural gift, and – as with all gifts of the Spirit – when it’s not done in love, it perverts into something ugly.  People who use discernment without love are critical people. They easily condemn.

Love keeps discernment in its proper, life-giving place.

If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.
1 John 3:14 (New Living Translation)

Move in the gift of discernment. Here’s how:

We are told to “eagerly desire” spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:29, 14:1, 14:12 and 14:39).  You operate in it by and through faith and in a continual attitude of worship. There is not space to draw this out further, so let’s simply summarize how to move in the gift of discernment:

1. Eagerly desire discernment
2. Operate in it by and through faith
3. It’s activated in worship.

Gifts can come through impartation, so let’s move on to it right now. Have you been eagerly desiring discernment? It can be yours right now. Believe that you’ll receive this gift, then act on what He shows you.

Father, right here and now we impart the gift of discernment on those who read these words and who by faith and in love choose to act on the gift of discernment that You freely bestow.  Lord, give them dreams, give them visions, give them a deep inner knowing. Empower them to speak out in faith and in love. Father, we ask also for the gifts of wisdom and knowledge needed to accompany discernment. Thank you for being a Good Father who gives good gifts to His children who ask.

Now listen to what the Father says. Don’t look at the situation to find solutions; look to see the Father’s will. The gift is yours. Stir it up. Use it. Impart it to others.

________

Contact me if you’d like a digital copy of this entire teaching.

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When the test is on…

It feels like a long time since my last post. I appreciate all the feedback and encouragement. I’ve been in thought over the direction my posts have taken and have decided to move back to the original purpose of this blog – talking about experiencing more of our Supernatural Father.

I saw a post on Twitter that made me see the need to move back to encouraging people to listen to the Father, since He’s almost always talking. In fact, my oft said statement “The only time the Teacher is silent is when the test is on.” Can be countered with “His temporary silence speaks volumes in what He’s entrusted in us.”

This, and a passion to put together a working theology for the nameless, faceless revolution that’s happening right now has led me to decide to turn this blog back from practical application to ponderance and awe.

Don’t worry, I’ll be setting up another blog for the “How – to” of a radical faith in an amazing God. But until I finish the shop at ExpectancyMinistries.com it will have to wait. I have 35 posts ready to go and the domain waiting to be set up, so I’ll let you know when it’s good to go.

When the test is on, the Father may seem distant.

When the test is on, you may feel abandoned.

When the test is on, you may doubt what you once knew.

But when the test is on, you can find comfort in the Psalms knowing others have gone through it before you.

When the test is on, you know He’s entrusted you with something great because He’s trusts you to handle it correctly.

When the test is on, you know He’s good. He hasn’t set you up to fail, the good work started in you will be completed.

I’ve had to remind myself of this lately. So I hope you don’t mind me reminding you as well.

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What to Do When the Power’s Off

Today wasn’t quite the day I envisioned when I began. Just as I was finishing uploading one website and about to upload another, the power went off in my house.

My first thought was to finish the email I was writing on my laptop before the non-existence battery died, then I realized I couldn’t send it as the router and modem were out.

No worries, I copied it and saved it and closed the lid.

When God gives me time I ask what I should do.  I’ve been itching to start EmpoweringInspiration.com as a blog for practical inspiration for life in the Spirit. The posts have been written for the next few months, but without power I couldn’t start that.

Then I thought I could go soak in the hot tub… but there would be no jets and it would only cool the water. I could go work out on the elliptical trainer… but that plugs into the wall and it’s not much of a workout without resistance. So I thought I’d read the Bible.

And it was great. It was alive. It was encouraging and challenging. But I couldn’t help but thinking how reliant I am on power.

I cleaned up some chocolates that shouldn’t be in my line of site and put them in the freezer… and I realized the food in the fridge wasn’t being kept cool. No one could call except on my cell and that battery wasn’t going to last forever. I went out to meet with my intern for lunch and when I got back the power was still off.

And it was time to check twitter…. no worries, I had my iPhone. That app didn’t work, and neither did the one to update this blog… what was God trying to tell me?

There is an obvious analogy – we can’t do much without power. We may have batteries that may or may not be able to hold a charge, but if they aren’t charged up, there won’t be much life in them.

The same is true in our spiritual lives. Apart from Christ, we can do nothing. We can try on our own power, but that’s limited at best. We can’t operate for long on our own without plugging in.

All in all, it was a peaceful day for me. I didn’t (yet) accomplish my goals, but I was able to spend unexpected time with the Father. And He was fun to be around. I’ve decided to get back to more regular time with Him, without having to use the lack of power as an excuse. And I’ve also made peace with a few significant decisions in our lives, ministry and business all because I took the time to plug in.

Be blessed.

BTW next week I start posting 2x a week on this blog. I’m focusing on developing a working theology for the nameless, faceless revival that’s happening all over the world.

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What Could It Mean to Have the Kingdom Within?

I’ve started a new blog at EmpoweringInspiration.com. It deals with applicable inspiration for life in the Spirit – a how-to of living in step with the Father.

DrinkFromtheDeep.com returns to it’s initial purpose of experiencing more of our supernatural Father. I’ve been called a mystic, and I took it as a compliment. It was given by a retiring clergy from another denomination. In our conversations around quantum physics, I’m convinced he came to a new relationship with Jesus. He was used to different language, so when he said “you’re a mystic” without a hint of distain, I knew it was meant as a compliment.

Christian mystics historically have taken truth from the natural to explain the supernatural. That’s what I’m attempting to do here. And it starts with a discussion around having the Kingdom within us…

When Jesus was on earth, He spoke in parables about the Kingdom. These parables weren’t understood by the casual listener. Even those closest to Him had to ask Him to explain what they meant.

Over the centuries, the church has greatly abused what Christ said about the Kingdom. We’ve considered it an earthly kingdom when He himself said “It’s not of this world” (John 18:36). We’ve assumed the church is the Kingdom when it’s in fact the means by which the Kingdom advances. Most of us don’t live in a society where a Monarch holds political power, so we’ve remained ignorant about the Kingdom.

I’m not saying I have all the answers. The analogy I’m about to lay out is limited to the Kingdom within us and that is such a small part of the Kingdom we know and experience this side of eternity. I’m working through another analogy for the Kingdom that’s in the world, but the imagery isn’t coming as easily. I’m part of an individualistic society, it’s more difficult to think in terms of the whole… and I have a head cold right now that’s making it difficult to think at all.

So here’s a thought I’ve been working on that helps me understand the Kingdom in the life of any individual. I hope it helps you understand a bit more about the Kingdom of God within you (Luke 17:21).

The Kingdom is like a pregnant woman. The seed in her starts small and grows (Matthew 13:31-32). She may or may not know she’s pregnant at first, but the changes in her body become obvious over time.

Life begins at conception. It’s not fully formed and will naturally mature. But the woman can never say “I’m a little bit pregnant”.  She’s no less pregnant than someone in her last trimester. Life is within her. To carry a child is a magical, yet perfectly natural part of who she’s been created to be.

Sometimes a women has a hard time to conceive (Matthew 13:19).  A baby can be aborted spontaneously without thought or malice (Matthew 13:20-21). Abortion can also be a choice (Matthew 13:22).

Whatever the reason is for the child not being born, healing of emotional and sometimes physical wounds need to occur before conception is attempted again.

We know somewhat what a newborn will look like. They have characteristics of their parents that become even more prominent over time. However, no matter what we dream our child may look like or accomplish, there is always the opportunity for those dreams to be exceeded.

So to it is with the Kingdom.

No analogy is perfect and I hope this one didn’t stir up grief for anyone. For me, it helps to understand the Kingdom within me. I am my Father’s child and as I grow I become more like Him.

As I said above, there is much more Jesus said about the Kingdom and much of that is better understood as  being  “anywhere the King reigns” .

As soon as I settle on a picture for that which makes sense, I’ll submit it here for your comments. In the meantime, I’d appreciate knowing what you think about this analogy.

Trevor

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Why are You Living There?

Have you ever gone out for a ball game in May thinking “I hope it’s stopped snowing”? Well, that’s my thoughts for today. Snow in May… not uncommon in Edmonton, but certainly unwelcome by most. It makes me think “Why am I living here?”

I’ve been running into people lately and after a conversation ask them the same thing. No, usually I’m not telling them they should leave Edmonton. I am trying to convince them to live out of Romans 8 instead of Romans 7.

What do I mean by that? Well, usually somewhere in the conversation they’ll quote something like “The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. ” Romans 7:14-15 (NLT)

Then when I tell them “But you’re dead to sin” they go on… “I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.” Romans 7:19-20 (NLT)

Please understand, I know I’m putting words in their mouths. I don’t know anyone whose memorized a great deal in the New Living Translation. But the sentiment is consistent. “I sin, therefore I am a sinner.”

I’ve never seen anyone live out their destiny with that attitude.

I get it. I understand we struggle with sin. I know that what Paul wrote seems to apply so well to our situation that it’s easy to quote it as a vindication for our experience. But you are not a slave to sin. If you sin, it’s your choice. Good thing you have a Father who, when we confess our sins, is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

The main problem with quoting that section of Romans 7 is that it is taken completely out of context.  Paul is describing his life under the Law. When we see ourselves as worms and worthless, not only as we saying the Father is a fool for entrusting us so great a mystery, we are living under the law… So why are you living there?

Move onto the truth of Chapter 8. I get so excited reading the whole chapter, I’m going to include it here. Read it out as a declaration. Know your Father is good and He’s in a good mood. He hasn’t made junk. He’s promised never to get angry with you again (Isaiah 54:9-10)

What the law was powerless to do, Christ accomplished on the cross. So why are you living under the law? Let Romans 8 get into your thinking. Memorize it. Declare it. Enjoy it. (The emphasis are mine… it’s too good to leave alone….)

Romans 8 (NIV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.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, 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.

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. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

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. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 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.

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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