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Romans 13:11-14 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. (KJV)
One of the most popular children’s songs is ‘rock a bye baby’ which is sung softly to get a child to sleep. The devil has his own version of that song to get carnal, baby Christians to fall back to sleep spiritually and miss out on what our Lord has for them. The enemy has many of God’s people out chasing a dream in the carnal realm thinking that something in the outward can bring peace and contentment to the Church. The enemy also lulls people to sleep getting them to think someday, when I am ready, then I will deal with this God stuff. John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he was dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever lives and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (KJV) The last couple of weeks we have discussed the term baptism, what it really means and what it no longer represents. We have seen that baptism is really a new way of life, that doesn’t take place until there is a death. The same holds true with a resurrection; you won’t rise up, until you put the old man down and leave him there. Our Lord operates in the now, even describing Himself as, I am. Isn’t it comforting to know that when the Lord said that He would never leave us nor forsake us that we have been assured that when we call upon Him, He responds “here I am”? Galatians 2:20-21 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (KJV) If we are to be Christ like then shouldn’t we be operating in the ‘I am’ also? Our new life in Christ and being baptized into His death is what allows us to live by faith in the realm of the Spirit. I no longer frustrate the grace of God with old, outdated, dead rituals of the flesh, but I now walk in a newness of life. John 14:5-6 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (KJV) The Bible asks the question how can two walk together unless they are in agreement? How can you know that you are truly going the right way unless you are heading there today, right now? You can have directions to a destination but miss getting there simply by missing one turn. The same thing can happen spiritually if you start thinking beyond today, or keep your mind in the past, thinking that something back there is going to bring peace today. Exodus 3:13-14 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, what is his name? What shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (KJV) So what answer will you give when encountering one of God’s people today? Will it be some old outdated response, or are you ready to give our Lord’s response? I know I am ready, are you? God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (KJV)
Throughout the scriptures it is stated that you need to believe, be baptized, and stay baptized, dying to self and the old doubting nature. There is a river of life flowing from the throne of God and His Son desires to see His people drink these living waters; and when you continue to operate in now faith, you will allow this river to flow and continue to drown your old man so that you may resurrect into the new life available in Christ. Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (KJV) You are set free from a death sentence to walk in the liberty we have in Christ, made possible by His sacrifice. While many claim God is in the damning business, the truth is, He desires not only to set His people free, but see them continue in it. As we see clearly illustrated, our Lord is operating in the now. Is your salvation and foundation built on a rock, or a crock? Romans 8:5-7 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (KJV) When we walk more by sight than faith we become our own worst enemies. If we lose sight of salvation and the old man starts coming back to life, and we start dying spiritually which will result in an eternity separated from God if not brought into check. If you are not experiencing the peace of God daily, then you have drifted off the path of life, and need to find out where you made a wrong turn. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (KJV) What time does your spiritual clock say? How about 1:30 (that is 1 Corinthians), which shows us who Christ is, and what we have access to so that we can continue to stay free. No wonder the enemy of the Lord is described as being antichrist; look at all that is left out when you eliminate the Son of God from the equation. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (KJV)
You cannot operate in now faith unless you get the opposition of your old way of thinking out of the way. You have to keep the lower nature subdued, or baptized in Christ so that He can have more of an influence on you than the things of this world. God is not concerned about what you have done in the past, or with all the good intentions you have promised Him for the future. In reality, the only thing you have to work with is the here and now; and the true evidence of our Lord will not be found in the religious outward realm, but in a hidden one that you will need to personally seek out for yourself in order for it to become a reality. Hebrews 11:4-6 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (KJV) Today, keep your heart and mind in now faith; believe that God is really working in and through you. You came to God seeking His plan of salvation, seeking real results and answers to your prayers; anything short of that is a rip off. You serve a God that created the heavens and the earth, who says nothing is impossible to those that believe. Quit limiting our Lord with mans’ outdated fallen interpretations of the Word and their dead works, and rise up so that you can truly worship Him in spirit and in truth. Romans 10:1-4 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. (KJV) Many who are called of God today have not chosen to let God work on their behalf because of a lack of spiritual knowledge. Many still hold to the outward literal interpretations of the Word, and miss the true meaning. God has chosen those who will go deeper, those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth to be the ones who will take His message to the world. When you go back to the works of the law, you put yourself back under the curse; Christ is the end of all that nonsense. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Mark 16:15-20 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (KJV)
Let’s begin where we left off last week with the term baptized and what it represents spiritually. Baptism is not some outdated ritual anymore, but a way of life which starts with a death, that being our old fallen nature. Take notice of a key word in verse 16 which says “is” baptized and not “was”. “Is” refers to an ongoing process which one will have to continue if they are truly going to inherit eternal life, and not find out someday that they have run the race in vain; that all their labor was in vain, empty and worthless. Romans 6:3-5 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (KJV) Remember the Bible is full of parables, symbols, and figures that use things we have seen in the outward to describe what is now taking place inwardly in the realm of the Spirit. Given the fact that God Himself is a Spirit then isn’t being in the Spirit the place you should be today, right now. Verse 4 reminds us that our old man is dead and buried, you know like your past? Romans 6:6-8 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: (KJV) So what time does your Spiritual clock show? How about now, today, this moment; do you believe more in Christ and what He has done on our behalf and less in what you think you are doing on His? Well, if you keep that doubting, pouting old man nailed to his spiritual cross will you be able to believe. Luke 11:21-23 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. 23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. (KJV) I don’t care how strong and gung ho you were in the beginning of your walk, if you let down your guard and allow the enemy to come back in and take over, the world and its carnal influences can have more of an effect on you than the Lord. Verse 23 is your wakeup call Church; if you are not with Him, well, then you are in opposition to Him. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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