My King is the King of kings. I am a king, and He is my king. We are kings, and He is our King. He is my King and also my Father. I am a son of the Almighty King. I am a prince. We who are His offspring are princes.
All that is my Father's is mine. He has freely given them to me. His thoughts are higher than my own. I must let His thoughts fill my mind. His ways are higher than my own. I must walk in His ways and live according to His way of thinking. Any thought in my head that is not in His heart must be done away with.
Being a son of the King, I am a citizen of His world. Here, in His Kingdom, there is no sickness, disease, anguish, sin, or poverty. His Kingdom must come. His Kingdom is what creation longs for. His Kingdom is what the nations yearn for.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Glory of the Latter House
"The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former," says the Lord of hosts. "And in this place I will give peace," says the Lord of hosts.
~ Haggai 2:9
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
~ 1 Corinthians 6:19
But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
~ 2 Corinthians 3:7-11
When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house.
~ 2 Chronicles 7:1-2
Under the new covenant, we, God's people, are His temple. We are the latter temple. The glory available to us is a greater glory. It is a glory greater than that which filled the old temple. If the old temple was so filled with the glory of God that the priests could no longer be in the temple, how much more intense should be the glory of God that can fill us, a temple not made by human hands?
~ Haggai 2:9
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
~ 1 Corinthians 6:19
But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
~ 2 Corinthians 3:7-11
When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house.
~ 2 Chronicles 7:1-2
Under the new covenant, we, God's people, are His temple. We are the latter temple. The glory available to us is a greater glory. It is a glory greater than that which filled the old temple. If the old temple was so filled with the glory of God that the priests could no longer be in the temple, how much more intense should be the glory of God that can fill us, a temple not made by human hands?
The glory of the latter is greater than the former.
I am the dwelling place of the Spirit of God.
Lord, fill this house with your glory, for I am not my own.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Elementary Principles
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
~ Hebrews 6:1-3
Whoa! Hold on a minute. Did I read this correctly? This passage just referred to repentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptisms, laying on of hands, raising the dead, and eternal judgement as elementary principles of which discussion should left behind. Completeness, the meaning of the Greek word translated into perfection, is found beyond these.
I don't know about you, but I feel like raising the dead and laying on of hands is not something most Christians accept as part of the elementary principles of our walk with Jesus. When I read this, I think to myself, "If these are elementary principles, then why aren't they assumed as part of church life? If we are to be moving on, then what are we moving toward? These are pretty deep things."
I feel like repentance and faith in God are almost all we (a large majority of Evangelical Christians) ever talk about in our churches. I rarely see laying on of hands and even more rarely see the dead being raised, yet these are considered elementary principles in the Bible. This tells me there are some holes in the foundation of the American church.
~ Hebrews 6:1-3
Whoa! Hold on a minute. Did I read this correctly? This passage just referred to repentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptisms, laying on of hands, raising the dead, and eternal judgement as elementary principles of which discussion should left behind. Completeness, the meaning of the Greek word translated into perfection, is found beyond these.
I don't know about you, but I feel like raising the dead and laying on of hands is not something most Christians accept as part of the elementary principles of our walk with Jesus. When I read this, I think to myself, "If these are elementary principles, then why aren't they assumed as part of church life? If we are to be moving on, then what are we moving toward? These are pretty deep things."
I feel like repentance and faith in God are almost all we (a large majority of Evangelical Christians) ever talk about in our churches. I rarely see laying on of hands and even more rarely see the dead being raised, yet these are considered elementary principles in the Bible. This tells me there are some holes in the foundation of the American church.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Clinging to Christ
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of our God. There is a river full of life, and it flows from Emanuel's veins. This is my life source. I am nothing without it. Every day is a constant battle with the one who is jealous of my sonship. I am so weary of this battle. The River is my only hope. Jesus is my life source. I am nothing with out Him. He is the One Who lives. I am dead to sin because I have been crucified with Christ. I am alive in Him because I have been resurrected with Christ. I must see myself as a son. When God sees me, He sees His beloved son.
Every day is a constant battle to maintain this vision. The enemy knows that I have been exalted above him. The only way he can bring me down is to get me to agree with him. If I see myself as any thing less than a son of God and an heir of God through Christ, I have come into agreement with the enemy.
I am clinging to my Father. I am clinging to Jesus. He is all I have. He is all I can fully trust. I am hanging on for dear life. I am nothing but dust and ashes, yet I am the apple of His eye. It is not by my power at all that I am able to even breathe. Christ within me is what carries me. He is my everything. I can do nothing of any worth except that which Christ does through me.
Every day is a constant battle to maintain this vision. The enemy knows that I have been exalted above him. The only way he can bring me down is to get me to agree with him. If I see myself as any thing less than a son of God and an heir of God through Christ, I have come into agreement with the enemy.
I am clinging to my Father. I am clinging to Jesus. He is all I have. He is all I can fully trust. I am hanging on for dear life. I am nothing but dust and ashes, yet I am the apple of His eye. It is not by my power at all that I am able to even breathe. Christ within me is what carries me. He is my everything. I can do nothing of any worth except that which Christ does through me.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Dear Noah
Rain had never been seen. What made you so sure you heard from God? A flood had never been seen. How did you know to build a device never before seen or conceived in the mind of man? How did you remain steadfast in the midst of the mockery, criticizm, and shame? What was it about the voice of the Almighty that strengthened your heart and bestowed upon you such great resolve? Did you falter? Did you doubt? Were you judged? Were you rejected? How great it must have been to see your family preserved because you looked like an arrogant fool.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Healing For Today
Lately, my wife-to-be has been ridiculed by someone close to her for believing in the gift of healing. While I try not to respond to such things because arguing is generally pointless, I do formulate responses in my head. Here is my response...
It is not I who lives but Christ within me (Galatians 2:20). Jesus healed people, cast out demons, raised the dead, loved sinners, and really pissed off religious people. Hmm...
If Jesus did this stuff in the Bible, lives through us today, and is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), shouldn't these things be happening in our lives? I think so. My point is that Jesus can heal people through us, and He wants to heal people spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically by our hands. The apostle Paul understood this and lived it out.
"Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles."
- Acts 15:12
"Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul"
- Acts 19:11
"And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."
- 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
I think it's rather interesting that Acts 19:11 uses the word unusual to describe the works God was doing at the hands of Paul. To me, healing is not that unusual. What might these works have been? I have some ideas, but I'll keep those to myself.
It is not I who lives but Christ within me (Galatians 2:20). Jesus healed people, cast out demons, raised the dead, loved sinners, and really pissed off religious people. Hmm...
If Jesus did this stuff in the Bible, lives through us today, and is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), shouldn't these things be happening in our lives? I think so. My point is that Jesus can heal people through us, and He wants to heal people spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically by our hands. The apostle Paul understood this and lived it out.
"Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles."
- Acts 15:12
"Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul"
- Acts 19:11
"And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."
- 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
I think it's rather interesting that Acts 19:11 uses the word unusual to describe the works God was doing at the hands of Paul. To me, healing is not that unusual. What might these works have been? I have some ideas, but I'll keep those to myself.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Bored...
I am bored at work waiting for 4:30 to come. It's pretty sad that this is how I've chosen to kill the time.
7 minutes left...
God is my Father. I am Hi son and I love Him. He loves me more than I could ever comprehend. When He looks at me, He sees His beloved son in whom He is well pleased.
6 minutes left...
He does not see my sin because Jesus already took care of that. He sees the righteousness of Christ.
5 minutes left...
The holy Spirit is my power source. I am talking about dunamis. Dunamis is the Greek word from which we get power in 1 Corinthians 4:20
4 minutes left...
...and 1 Corinthians 2:4-5. This is miracle-working power to do the work of God.
3 minutes left...
This is the power to love the outcasts, heal the sick raise the dead, deliver the captives, multiply food, and the list goes on forever...
2 minutes left...
...because God is infinite. Noe eye has seen what He has in store for us, His kids. I am tired of going to church and watching ...
1 minute left...
...people do religion and miss out on encountering God. This should be the purpose of us gathering. Let's not gather to celebrate a building but a Holy Spirit that has endued us with power.
7 minutes left...
God is my Father. I am Hi son and I love Him. He loves me more than I could ever comprehend. When He looks at me, He sees His beloved son in whom He is well pleased.
6 minutes left...
He does not see my sin because Jesus already took care of that. He sees the righteousness of Christ.
5 minutes left...
The holy Spirit is my power source. I am talking about dunamis. Dunamis is the Greek word from which we get power in 1 Corinthians 4:20
4 minutes left...
...and 1 Corinthians 2:4-5. This is miracle-working power to do the work of God.
3 minutes left...
This is the power to love the outcasts, heal the sick raise the dead, deliver the captives, multiply food, and the list goes on forever...
2 minutes left...
...because God is infinite. Noe eye has seen what He has in store for us, His kids. I am tired of going to church and watching ...
1 minute left...
...people do religion and miss out on encountering God. This should be the purpose of us gathering. Let's not gather to celebrate a building but a Holy Spirit that has endued us with power.
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