Shalom,
I hope you have been finding and meditating on your "in Him" Scriptures. If you have, you've found that there are many more than you thought there were! I want to share something special with you today. In the Bible Reading Plan that we are following at The Spoken Word Church we just finished Psalm 119. We usually read the first 88 verses on one day and the last 88 the next day. I love Psalm 119 because EVERY verse talks about the Word of God! So I am posting the first 88 verses from the Amplified Bible today and the last 88 in the next post. See if you can find the reference to the Word in each verse and allow the importance of the Word of God to get inside of you!
Psalm 119 (Amplified)
1BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled (the upright, truly sincere, and blameless) in the way [of the revealed will of God], who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord (the whole of God's revealed will).
2Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are they who keep His testimonies, and who seek, inquire for and of Him and crave Him with the whole heart.
3Yes, they do no unrighteousness [no willful wandering from His precepts]; they walk in His ways.
4You have commanded us to keep Your precepts, that we should observe them diligently.
5Oh, that my ways were directed and established to observe Your statutes [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]!
6Then shall I not be put to shame [by failing to inherit Your promises] when I have respect to all Your commandments.
7I will praise and give thanks to You with uprightness of heart when I learn [by sanctified experiences] Your righteous judgments [Your decisions against and punishments for particular lines of thought and conduct].
8I will keep Your statutes; O forsake me not utterly.
9How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it].
10With my whole heart have I sought You, inquiring for and of You and yearning for You; Oh, let me not wander or step aside [either in ignorance or willfully] from Your commandments.
11Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
12Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes.
13With my lips have I declared and recounted all the ordinances of Your mouth.
14I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.
15I will meditate on Your precepts and have respect to Your ways [the paths of life marked out by Your law].
16I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
17Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live; and I will observe Your word [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].
18Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.
19I am a stranger and a temporary resident on the earth; hide not Your commandments from me.
20My heart is breaking with the longing that it has for Your ordinances and judgments at all times.
21You rebuke the proud and arrogant, the accursed ones, who err and wander from Your commandments.
22Take away from me reproach and contempt, for I keep Your testimonies.
23Princes also sat and talked against me, but Your servant meditated on Your statutes.
24Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.
25My earthly life cleaves to the dust; revive and stimulate me according to Your word!
26I have declared my ways and opened my griefs to You, and You listened to me; teach me Your statutes.
27Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on and talk of Your wondrous works.
28My life dissolves and weeps itself away for heaviness; raise me up and strengthen me according to [the promises of] Your word.
29Remove from me the way of falsehood and unfaithfulness [to You], and graciously impart Your law to me.
30I have chosen the way of truth and faithfulness; Your ordinances have I set before me.
31I cleave to Your testimonies; O Lord, put me not to shame!
32I will [not merely walk, but] run the way of Your commandments, when You give me a heart that is willing.
33Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep it to the end [steadfastly].
34Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law; yes, I will observe it with my whole heart.
35Make me go in the path of Your commandments, for in them do I delight.
36Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetousness (robbery, sensuality, unworthy riches).
37Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity (idols and idolatry); and restore me to vigorous life and health in Your ways.
38Establish Your word and confirm Your promise to Your servant, which is for those who reverently fear and devotedly worship You.
39Turn away my reproach which I fear and dread, for Your ordinances are good.
40Behold, I long for Your precepts; in Your righteousness give me renewed life.
41Let Your mercy and loving-kindness come also to me, O Lord, even Your salvation according to Your promise;
42Then shall I have an answer for those who taunt and reproach me, for I lean on, rely on, and trust in Your word.
43And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I hope in Your ordinances.
44I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].
45And I will walk at liberty and at ease, for I have sought and inquired for [and desperately required] Your precepts.
46I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings and will not be put to shame.
47For I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love.
48My hands also will I lift up [in fervent supplication] to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes.
49Remember [fervently] the word and promise to Your servant, in which You have caused me to hope.
50This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that Your word has revived me and given me life.
51The proud have had me greatly in derision, yet have I not declined in my interest in or turned aside from Your law.
52When I have [earnestly] recalled Your ordinances from of old, O Lord, I have taken comfort.
53Burning indignation, terror, and sadness seize upon me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.
54Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
55I have [earnestly] remembered Your name, O Lord, in the night, and I have observed Your law.
56This I have had [as the gift of Your grace and as my reward]: that I have kept Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].
57You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to keep Your words.
58I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful and gracious to me according to Your promise.
59I considered my ways; I turned my feet to [obey] Your testimonies.
60I made haste and delayed not to keep Your commandments.
61Though the cords of the wicked have enclosed and ensnared me, I have not forgotten Your law.
62At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous ordinances.
63I am a companion of all those who fear, revere, and worship You, and of those who observe and give heed to Your precepts.
64The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy and loving-kindness; teach me Your statutes.
65You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your promise.
66Teach me good judgment, wise and right discernment, and knowledge, for I have believed (trusted, relied on, and clung to) Your commandments.
67Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now Your word do I keep [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].
68You are good and kind and do good; teach me Your statutes.
69The arrogant and godless have put together a lie against me, but I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.
70Their hearts are as fat as grease [their minds are dull and brutal], but I delight in Your law.
71It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.
72The law from Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
73Your hands have made me, cunningly fashioned and established me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
74Those who reverently and worshipfully fear You will see me and be glad, because I have hoped in Your word and tarried for it.
75I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right and righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76Let, I pray You, Your merciful kindness and steadfast love be for my comfort, according to Your promise to Your servant.
77Let Your tender mercy and loving-kindness come to me that I may live, for Your law is my delight!
78Let the proud be put to shame, for they dealt perversely with me without a cause; but I will meditate on Your precepts.
79Let those who reverently and worshipfully fear You turn to me, and those who have known Your testimonies.
80Let my heart be sound (sincere and wholehearted and blameless) in Your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.
81My soul languishes and grows faint for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word.
82My eyes fail, watching for [the fulfillment of] Your promise. I say, When will You comfort me?
83For I have become like a bottle [a wineskin blackened and shriveled] in the smoke [in which it hangs], yet do I not forget Your statutes.
84How many are the days of Your servant [which he must endure]? When will You judge those who pursue and persecute me?
85The godless and arrogant have dug pitfalls for me, men who do not conform to Your law.
86All Your commandments are faithful and sure. [The godless] pursue and persecute me with falsehood; help me [Lord]!
87They had almost consumed me upon earth, but I forsook not Your precepts.
88According to Your steadfast love give life to me; then I will keep the testimony of Your mouth [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].
Shalom in Him!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Shalom,
We will look at one last verse in our study of "in Him" Scriptures. Let's look in the Book of Ephesians:
Eph 1:3 (KJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
The very first word in this verse is "Blessed", the Greek word, eulogetos, which means: blessed or praised and comes from the Greek word, eulogeo, which means: to speak well of, to bless, to prosper, to celebrate with praises, to invoke blessings, to pronounce a consecratory blessing on, be the God and Father of our "Lord", the Greek word, kurios, which means: supreme in authority, controller, he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has the power of deciding, master, lord, a title of honor expressive of respect and reverence with which servants salute their master, Jesus Christ, Who "hath blessed", again, the Greek word eulogeo, which in this case, with reference to God doing the blessing, also takes on the added meaning of: to cause to prosper, to make happy, to bestow blessings upon, to be favored of God, us with "all", the Greek word, pas, which means: individually & collectively (each, every, any, all, everyone, all things, the whole, everything, "spiritual", the Greek word, pneumatikos, which means: non-carnal, supernatural, of Godly origin, "blessings", the Greek word, eulogia, which means: fine speaking, commendation, benediction, consecration, benefit, largess, blessing bountifully, a concrete blessing, in heavenly places in Christ. The Amplified Bible says this:
We will look at one last verse in our study of "in Him" Scriptures. Let's look in the Book of Ephesians:
Eph 1:3 (KJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
The very first word in this verse is "Blessed", the Greek word, eulogetos, which means: blessed or praised and comes from the Greek word, eulogeo, which means: to speak well of, to bless, to prosper, to celebrate with praises, to invoke blessings, to pronounce a consecratory blessing on, be the God and Father of our "Lord", the Greek word, kurios, which means: supreme in authority, controller, he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has the power of deciding, master, lord, a title of honor expressive of respect and reverence with which servants salute their master, Jesus Christ, Who "hath blessed", again, the Greek word eulogeo, which in this case, with reference to God doing the blessing, also takes on the added meaning of: to cause to prosper, to make happy, to bestow blessings upon, to be favored of God, us with "all", the Greek word, pas, which means: individually & collectively (each, every, any, all, everyone, all things, the whole, everything, "spiritual", the Greek word, pneumatikos, which means: non-carnal, supernatural, of Godly origin, "blessings", the Greek word, eulogia, which means: fine speaking, commendation, benediction, consecration, benefit, largess, blessing bountifully, a concrete blessing, in heavenly places in Christ. The Amplified Bible says this:
Eph 1:3 (Amplified)
3May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!
Do you notice that this verse says that He has ALREADY done it! He has already pronounced His blessing on us! This isn't something He is going to do in the future, when we get to heaven, although that WILL be glorious! NO! This says that He HAS ALREADY put that blessing in motion. From the time that you first received Jesus Christ of Nazareth as your Lord and personal Savior, and on into all eternity, He has already made provision for you! Everything you need or WILL EVER need, He has already made available to you. It is yours. He sees it as yours! Find out what the Word of God says belongs to you as a born again believer and believe it, receive it, expect it and act like it! You should say:
Because I am a born again believer, because I have received Jesus of Nazareth as my Lord and personal Savior, my Father God in Heaven has already provided for everything I will ever need to be successful, prosperous and in control of my life here on earth. He has called me, equipped me, and anointed me to fulfill His plan for my life. I will find out what the Word of God says belongs to me as a believer and I will walk in the light of it, to the glory of God!
Here is a list of more "in Him" Scriptures for you to study on your own:
- Romans 3:24
- Romans 8:1-2
- Romans 12:5
- 1 Corinthians 1:2
- 1 Corinthians 1:30
- 1 Corinthians 15:22
- 2 Corinthians 1:21
- 2 Corinthians 2:14
- 2 Corinthians 3:14
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 & 19
That's a start for you! There are many more. Begin your diligent study of the Word of God to find more for yourself, if you haven't already done so. Underline them, highlight them, copy them or whatever YOU need to do to get these Truths inside of you. It will change the way you look at yourself! You will begin to see yourself as God sees you and find a boldness for the Gospel that you may never have had before!
Shalom in Him!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Shalom,
Continuing with our "in Him" Scriptures, we will look at Ephesians chapter 2 today:
Eph 2:1 (KJV)
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
The word "And" here is connecting this verse with the verses ending chapter 1. Mediate on those to get the full picture of what this verse is saying. We will start with this verse, though, for our teaching today. "You" is a plural word here, referring to all believers (the church, referred to in the chapter before). "Hath He quickened" is a phrase added by the translators to make the meaning more clear. It has no corresponding Greek word in the text, but the first definition in Merriam-Webster's online dictionary is "made alive". So we see here that we have been made alive, or, reborn, who were "dead", the Greek word, nekros, which means: spiritually dead (destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God because of trespasses and sins, destitute of force or power (inactive & inoperative) in "trespasses", the Greek word, paraptoma, which means: a side-slip, lapse or deviation; an unintentional error or a wilfull transgression; fault, offence or sin, and "sins", the Greek word, hamartia, which we have covered before on this blog and means: to miss the mark, to err, to be mistaken, to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or to go wrong, to violate God's law. The Amplified Bible says this:
Eph 2:1 (Amplified)
1AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins
This is the state in which each of us find ourselves after we make that first selfish decision or choice to do something our own way instead of God's way. When we choose to disobey God's law, His Word. Then we need a Saviour! The GOOD NEWS is:
Continuing with our "in Him" Scriptures, we will look at Ephesians chapter 2 today:
Eph 2:1 (KJV)
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
The word "And" here is connecting this verse with the verses ending chapter 1. Mediate on those to get the full picture of what this verse is saying. We will start with this verse, though, for our teaching today. "You" is a plural word here, referring to all believers (the church, referred to in the chapter before). "Hath He quickened" is a phrase added by the translators to make the meaning more clear. It has no corresponding Greek word in the text, but the first definition in Merriam-Webster's online dictionary is "made alive". So we see here that we have been made alive, or, reborn, who were "dead", the Greek word, nekros, which means: spiritually dead (destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God because of trespasses and sins, destitute of force or power (inactive & inoperative) in "trespasses", the Greek word, paraptoma, which means: a side-slip, lapse or deviation; an unintentional error or a wilfull transgression; fault, offence or sin, and "sins", the Greek word, hamartia, which we have covered before on this blog and means: to miss the mark, to err, to be mistaken, to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or to go wrong, to violate God's law. The Amplified Bible says this:
Eph 2:1 (Amplified)
1AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins
This is the state in which each of us find ourselves after we make that first selfish decision or choice to do something our own way instead of God's way. When we choose to disobey God's law, His Word. Then we need a Saviour! The GOOD NEWS is:
Eph 2:4-6 (KJV)
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
But God, Who is "rich", the Greek word, plousios, which means: wealthy, rich, abounding with, abundantly supplied, abounding in material resources, in "mercy", the Greek word, eleos, which means: compassion, kindness or goodwill toward the miserable and afflicted (joined with a desire to help them), the mercy and clemency of God in providing and offering to mankind salvation through Jesus Christ, "for", the Greek word, dia, which is a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act: through, by reason of, by the means of, His "great", the Greek word, polus, which means: abundant, plenteous, many, much, large, love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins "hath quickened (us) together", the Greek word, suzoopoieo, which means: to reanimate conjointly with, to make one alive together with, "Christ", the Greek word, Christos, which means: anointed, the Messiah, the Anointed One (with His anointing!), ("by grace", the Greek word, charis, which means: good will, lovingkindness, favor, benefit, gift, ye are "saved", the Greek word, sozo, which means: to save, deliver, protect, heal, preserve, do well, make whole, to keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction, to restore to health).
And "hath raised us up together" the Greek word, sunegeiro, which means: to rouse from death in company with, and "made us sit together", the Greek word, sugkathizo, which means: to give or take a seat in company with, to cause to sit down together, in "heavenly places", the Greek word, epouranios, which means: existing in heaven, things that take place in heaven, in Christ Jesus! The Amplified Bible says this:
Eph 2:4-6 (Amplified)
4But God--so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,
5Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation).
6And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
So what is our confession of faith? We should be saying:
I WAS crucified with Christ Jesus, my Lord. When He was quickened (made alive), I was quickened and made alive WITH Him! I was raised up together WITH Him and was made to sit together IN HIM in heavenly places! Today, positionally, I AM seated in the same heavenly places that Jesus is because I AM IN HIM! My citizenship is in Heaven! My home country is Heaven! I am an ambassador here on earth charged with representing Heaven to a lost and dying world. I am to present the Good News to all that will hear, so that they, too, can be raised up together and made to sit in those same heavenly places IN HIM!
We have been given a wonderful new life and a powerful ministry of sharing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone we come in contact with! Don't be selfish with what you've been given! Make sure you buy up every opportunity to share Life with those you come in contact with. You'll be storing up rewards in Heaven and be very pleasing to your Heavenly Father, Who wants that NONE should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance! (2 Peter 3:9)
Shalom in Him!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Shalom,
We'll continue looking at "in Him" Scriptures today, starting with Galatians 2:20:
Gal 2:20 (KJV)
20 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.
The born again believer, having believed in their heart that Jesus Christ came to this earth, died on the cross after being made sin with our sin, rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of Father, can make this confession of faith! We are saying that "I am crucified", the Greek word, sustauroo, which means: to impale in company with, to crucify with, and refers to our old sin nature, "with Christ", the Greek word, Christos, which means: the anointed One, the Messiah, "nevertheless", the Greek word, de, which means: but, also, moreover, "I live', the Greek word, zao, which means: to be active, blessed and endless in the kingdom of God, to be in full vigor, to be fresh, strong and efficient, to be powerful and have vital power in itself, "yet not", the Greek word, ouketi, which means: no longer, no more, no further, I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh (my human nature), I live by the "faith", the Greek word, pistis, which means: the conviction of truth, belief with the predominate idea of trust or confidence in of the Son of God, Who loved me and "gave", the Greek word, paradidomi, which means: to surrender, to yield up, Himself "for", the Greek word, huper, which means: in behalf of, for the sake of, ME! The Amplified Bible says this:
We'll continue looking at "in Him" Scriptures today, starting with Galatians 2:20:
Gal 2:20 (KJV)
20 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.
The born again believer, having believed in their heart that Jesus Christ came to this earth, died on the cross after being made sin with our sin, rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of Father, can make this confession of faith! We are saying that "I am crucified", the Greek word, sustauroo, which means: to impale in company with, to crucify with, and refers to our old sin nature, "with Christ", the Greek word, Christos, which means: the anointed One, the Messiah, "nevertheless", the Greek word, de, which means: but, also, moreover, "I live', the Greek word, zao, which means: to be active, blessed and endless in the kingdom of God, to be in full vigor, to be fresh, strong and efficient, to be powerful and have vital power in itself, "yet not", the Greek word, ouketi, which means: no longer, no more, no further, I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh (my human nature), I live by the "faith", the Greek word, pistis, which means: the conviction of truth, belief with the predominate idea of trust or confidence in of the Son of God, Who loved me and "gave", the Greek word, paradidomi, which means: to surrender, to yield up, Himself "for", the Greek word, huper, which means: in behalf of, for the sake of, ME! The Amplified Bible says this:
Gal 2:20 (Amplified)
20I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
We WERE crucified WITH Him! When He was made sin, it was with MY sin and YOUR sin! He had no sin of His own and He could not have died a physical death if he had not been made sin! There WAS no death in Him at all until that point! He was absolute life! Jesus Himself said that no one (man or devil!) took His life from Him. They could not, but He GAVE Himself to be made sin so that through His death we could be actually accounted as being crucified with Him! Our old sin nature is dead and we have been given His life! His Spirit in us recreated our dead spirit into His image and now He lives in us ALWAYS! That's where our confidence comes from! We'll see this more in our next Scripture found in Colossians:
Col 1:26-27 (KJV)
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
We see here that there is a mystery revealed in the Word of God! Even the "mystery", the Greek word, musterion, which means: a secret, a mystery through the idea of silence, a hidden thing or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding, a hidden purpose, which "hath been hid", the Greek word, apokrupto, which means: to hide, to conceal, to keep secret, from "ages", the Greek word, aion, which means: a period of time (including past), an unbroken age of the world, and from "generations", the Greek word, genea, which means: the time occupied by each successive generation, but now "is made manifest", the Greek word, phaneroo, which means: to render apparent, to appear, to declare, to make visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to make actual and visible, to make realized, to expose to view, to be plainly recognized, to have thoroughly understood who and what one is, to His "saints", the Greek word, hagios, which means: pure, morally blameless, consecrated, holy (set apart from the world and set apart unto God!): to whom God would "make known", the Greek word, gnorizo, which means: to make known, to certify, to declare, to give to understand, to become known, to gain knowledge of, to have thorough knowledge of, what is the "riches", the Greek word, ploutos, which means: wealth as fulness, possessions, abundance, valuable bestowment, plentitude, abundance of external possessions, of the "glory", the Greek word, doxa, which means: glory as very apparent, dignity, honor, splendor, brightness, magnificence, excellence, preeminence, majesty, a glorious condition, a most exalted state, of this mystery among the "Gentiles", the Greek word, ethnos, which means: a race, a nation, a people, a group, which is Christ (the Anointed One and His Anointing) IN YOU the "hope", the Greek word, elpis, which means: to anticipate usually with pleasure, expectation, confidence, faith, of glory! THAT was the mystery that has now been revealed to born again believers! The Amplified Bible says this:
Col 1:26-27 (Amplified)
26The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations [from angels and men], but is now revealed to His holy people (the saints),
27To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.
When we were born again, God the Holy Spirit came to live inside of each one of us! We have the Anointed One living in us! That's the hope, the expectation, the confidence that we can and should have! We ARE NOW in Him and HE IS NOW in us! The God of all the universe lives in you! The One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible lives in YOU!!! You can do everything He calls you to do. Jesus Himself said :
John 14:12 (KJV)
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
So what should be our confession of faith? We should say:
I am crucified with Christ. My old nature died when Jesus became sin with my sin and I became a partaker of HIS life when I received Jesus the Christ as my Lord and personal Saviour. The Spirit of Almighty God now lives in me! I have HIS life in me! The Anointed One and His Anointing is inside of me and I CAN DO all things through His power in me. It WAS a mystery, but now I know, He lives in me!
Meditate on that Truth until it becomes so real to you that you can't sit still but have to shout praises to God! Then KEEP meditating on it so you never lose the reality of the Truth that He lives in you!
Shalom in Him!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Shalom,
Let's get right into the Word of God to continue finding out who we are "in Him." Let's look at the book of 1 John:
I John 4:4 (KJV)
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
We are told that we "are", the Greek word, eimi, which means: I exist (used only when emphatic), to be, to happen, of God "little children", the Greek word, teknion, which means: a little child, used in the New Testament by teachers addressing their disciples, and "have overcome", the Greek word, nikao, which means: to subdue, to conquer, to prevail, to get the victory, of Christians holding fast their faith against the enemy (satan) and against temptations and persecutions, to win the case, to maintain one's cause, them (the spirits of antichrist spoken of in the previous verse) because "greater", the Greek word, meizon, which means: greater, larger, elder, stronger, is He (the Holy Spirit) that is in you, than he (satan, the devil and evil spirits) that is in the world. The Amplified Bible says this:
1 John 4:4 (Amplified)
4Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are born of God, we are partakers of His love, and we also have the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead living INSIDE of us! (See 1 Corinthians 3:16). The next time you face a seemingly impossible situation, instead of talking about how impossible it looks, say instead. "God is in me." Your confession of faith will allow Him to work on your behalf. Remember that the Master of all Creation lives in you and make this confession:
Because I have received Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit lives in me. The Greater One lives in me. He is greater than the devil, Greater than sickness and disease, Greater than any and every circumstance, and HE lives in ME!
That will increase your faith level! Let's look at Romans:
Rom 8:37
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.(KJV)
We'll begin by looking at the very first word in this verse. "Nay", the Greek word, alla, which means: contrariwise, no, notwithstanding, nevertheless, rather, in all these things "we are more than conquerors", the Greek word, hupernikao, which is a compound of the word nikao which we looked at in 1 John above ( to subdue, to conquer, to prevail, to get the victory) and the Greek word, huper, which means: over, beyond, more than, exceeding or abundantly above), the word hupernikao, therefore, means: to vanquish beyond, to gain a decisive victory over, to more than conquer, to gain a surpassing victory over, "through" the Greek word, dia, which means: the channel of an act, by the means of, by reason of, on account of, Him that loved us! That's our powerful God! The Amplified Bible says this:
Rom 8:37 (Amplified)
37Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
Let's get right into the Word of God to continue finding out who we are "in Him." Let's look at the book of 1 John:
I John 4:4 (KJV)
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
We are told that we "are", the Greek word, eimi, which means: I exist (used only when emphatic), to be, to happen, of God "little children", the Greek word, teknion, which means: a little child, used in the New Testament by teachers addressing their disciples, and "have overcome", the Greek word, nikao, which means: to subdue, to conquer, to prevail, to get the victory, of Christians holding fast their faith against the enemy (satan) and against temptations and persecutions, to win the case, to maintain one's cause, them (the spirits of antichrist spoken of in the previous verse) because "greater", the Greek word, meizon, which means: greater, larger, elder, stronger, is He (the Holy Spirit) that is in you, than he (satan, the devil and evil spirits) that is in the world. The Amplified Bible says this:
1 John 4:4 (Amplified)
4Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are born of God, we are partakers of His love, and we also have the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead living INSIDE of us! (See 1 Corinthians 3:16). The next time you face a seemingly impossible situation, instead of talking about how impossible it looks, say instead. "God is in me." Your confession of faith will allow Him to work on your behalf. Remember that the Master of all Creation lives in you and make this confession:
Because I have received Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit lives in me. The Greater One lives in me. He is greater than the devil, Greater than sickness and disease, Greater than any and every circumstance, and HE lives in ME!
That will increase your faith level! Let's look at Romans:
Rom 8:37
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.(KJV)
We'll begin by looking at the very first word in this verse. "Nay", the Greek word, alla, which means: contrariwise, no, notwithstanding, nevertheless, rather, in all these things "we are more than conquerors", the Greek word, hupernikao, which is a compound of the word nikao which we looked at in 1 John above ( to subdue, to conquer, to prevail, to get the victory) and the Greek word, huper, which means: over, beyond, more than, exceeding or abundantly above), the word hupernikao, therefore, means: to vanquish beyond, to gain a decisive victory over, to more than conquer, to gain a surpassing victory over, "through" the Greek word, dia, which means: the channel of an act, by the means of, by reason of, on account of, Him that loved us! That's our powerful God! The Amplified Bible says this:
Rom 8:37 (Amplified)
37Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
Don't say "I can't" or "It's impossible", instead, say what God's Word says about you. It may not look like it's so at the moment, but speaking God's Word into your situation will create that reality in your life. You will begin to become what you confess and fear will leave! Say this:
I am MORE than a conqueror because the Greater One lives in me. It's His power working on my behalf! I AM who and what God's Word says I AM! I can overcome every attack, test, trial and tribulation that comes my way because He has made me more than an overcomer! More than a conqueror!
Let's look at one more Scripture today:
Phil 4:13 (KJV)
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
The very first words here are powerful! "I can do" is the Greek word, ischuo, which means: to have or exercise force, be able, prevail, to be strong, to have power as shown by extraordinary deeds, to exert or wield power, to have strength to overcome, to be a force, all things through Christ which "strengtheneth", the Greek word, endunamoo, which means: to empower, to enable, to be strong, to endue with strength, me! The Amplified Bible says this:
Phil 4:13 (Amplified)
13I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].
What a powerful verse! I have strength for ALL THINGS through HIM Who "infuses" inner strength into me! Do you know what the word infuse means? The dictionary definition is this: to cause to be permeated with something (as a principle or quality) that alters usually for the better! It's what we do with tea when we put a tea bag in boiling water. That tea begins to permeate the plain water and that water is FILLED with the flavor of the tea! In that same way we are permeated with the power and presence of Almighty God! If that doesn't make you feel powerful in Him, I don't know what would! We should say this:
Through Jesus Christ, my Lord and personal Saviour, I can do ALL THINGS! I am ready for any situation and am able to be MORE than an overcomer through HIS power which permeates my very being! I cannot be conquered! I cannot be defeated! I CAN DO all things He asks me to do!!!
Continue to get God's Word inside of you! Allow it to come alive in you and become real to you. Your faith in the God of the Bible will soar! And your faith in what He says about you will also soar!
If you haven't yet received Jesus of Nazareth as your Lord and personal Saviour, I invite you to visit The Spoken Word Church website (link at the left of this blog) and find out how to make the most important decision of your entire life! You will never regret it!
Shalom in Him!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Shalom,
We'll continue our study of "In Him" Scriptures today with Romans 8:
Rom 8:2 (KJV)
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
If born again believers in Jesus of Nazareth would meditate on this verse until it becomes real to them, there would be no stopping them in their spiritual growth! We see here that it says: "For", the Greek word, gar, which means: Because, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, therefore, the law of the Spirit of "life", the Greek word, zoe, which means: Absolute fullness of life which belongs to God (or you could say life as God has it in Himself!), in Christ Jesus, "hath made (me) free", the Greek word, elutheroo, which means: to liberate, deliver, make free, to exempt from liability, "from", the Greek word, apo, which means: off or away, used of any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed, the law of "sin", the Greek word, hamartia, which means: to err, to miss the mark, to do or go wrong, to violate God's law, and "death", the Greek word, thanatos, which means: separation (either the spirit and soul from the body at physical death, the separation from the presence and promises of God for unbelievers, or the misery arising from sin which begins on earth but lasts for eternity in hell). The Amplified Bible says this:
Rom 8:2 (Amplified)
2For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.
Dr. John G. Lake was a missionary to Africa when the deadly bubonic plague broke out. He cared for the sick and buried the dead. When asked by other doctors who came to help what he had been using to prevent his getting the disease himself he said this, "Sirs, I believe the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. And as long as I walk in the light of that law of Life, no germ will attach itself to me." When they questioned him further about this he suggested that they take some of the foam that would come from the mouth of the dead and examine it under a microscope. They would find that for a certain amount of time those germs would be alive. He told them that if they filled his hand with them and checked under the microscope, the germs would die instantly. They did as he said and it happened exactly as he said it would. When they wondered what caused it, he told them, "That is the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus." So what should WE, who have received Jesus as our Lord and personal Saviour, say? We should say this:
We'll continue our study of "In Him" Scriptures today with Romans 8:
Rom 8:2 (KJV)
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
If born again believers in Jesus of Nazareth would meditate on this verse until it becomes real to them, there would be no stopping them in their spiritual growth! We see here that it says: "For", the Greek word, gar, which means: Because, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, therefore, the law of the Spirit of "life", the Greek word, zoe, which means: Absolute fullness of life which belongs to God (or you could say life as God has it in Himself!), in Christ Jesus, "hath made (me) free", the Greek word, elutheroo, which means: to liberate, deliver, make free, to exempt from liability, "from", the Greek word, apo, which means: off or away, used of any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed, the law of "sin", the Greek word, hamartia, which means: to err, to miss the mark, to do or go wrong, to violate God's law, and "death", the Greek word, thanatos, which means: separation (either the spirit and soul from the body at physical death, the separation from the presence and promises of God for unbelievers, or the misery arising from sin which begins on earth but lasts for eternity in hell). The Amplified Bible says this:
Rom 8:2 (Amplified)
2For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.
Dr. John G. Lake was a missionary to Africa when the deadly bubonic plague broke out. He cared for the sick and buried the dead. When asked by other doctors who came to help what he had been using to prevent his getting the disease himself he said this, "Sirs, I believe the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. And as long as I walk in the light of that law of Life, no germ will attach itself to me." When they questioned him further about this he suggested that they take some of the foam that would come from the mouth of the dead and examine it under a microscope. They would find that for a certain amount of time those germs would be alive. He told them that if they filled his hand with them and checked under the microscope, the germs would die instantly. They did as he said and it happened exactly as he said it would. When they wondered what caused it, he told them, "That is the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus." So what should WE, who have received Jesus as our Lord and personal Saviour, say? We should say this:
I am born again. I am in Christ Jesus. Therefore, the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death! My previous fellowship with sin and death has been destroyed by the power of the Life of God in me!!!
Because we ARE "in Him", we can have confidence in this Scripture found in the Book of James:
James 4:7 (KJV)
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We who have received Jesus as our Lord and personal Saviour are in Him. Therefore we can "Submit", the Greek word, hupotasso, which means: to subject oneself to, to obey, to be under the authority of, to submit to ones control, ourselves to God. Then we must "resist", the Greek word, anthistemi, which means: to stand against, to oppose, to withstand, to set oneself against, the "devil", the Greek word, diabolos, which means: a traducer (betrayer, liar), false accuser, slanderer, satan (prince of demons and the author of evil), "and", the Greek word, kai, which means and but also means: indeed, "he will flee", the Greek word, pheugo, which means: to flee away, to seek safety by flight, to vanish, to escape out of danger, from (the word apo used above) you! The Amplified Bible says:
James 4:7 (Amplified)
7So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.
You and I, as born again believers, must submit ourselves to God by submitting to His Word. We must do what the Word says do, then resist the devil. Stand strong and firm against him and all of his lies (anything contrary to what the Word of God promises). What will happen then? He will flee from our very presence! He will run from us as though in terror! He will run from the danger he faces from being in our presence! Not because of who we are, but because of WHOSE we are, in Him! What should we say then? We should say this:
I am a born again child of the God of the Bible! I am in Him. I choose to obey the Word of God. I am a doer of that Word. Therefore I can resist, withstand, stand firmly and strongly against any work of darkness. Any work of the devil. And he flees from me, he runs for his life from me, in terror of what the Word of God in my mouth will do to him! Thank you, Jesus!
Keep meditating on your "in Him" Scriptures. You are becoming a force that no devil wants to reckon with! Praise the Lord Jesus!
Shalom in Him!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Shalom,
I hope you've been looking into the "In Him" Scriptures for yourself! Find them, highlight or underline them, meditate on them until they become real to you. When you do, you will have so much confidence in who YOU are in Him and how God sees you through Him! Today we'll look at 1 Peter:
1 Pet 2:24 (KJV)
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
This verse starts with: Who His own self (verse 21 shows us that this is referring to Jesus) "bare", the Greek word, anaphero, which means: to take up, to bear, to carry, to take upon oneself, to place on oneself anything as a load to be carried, our (He had NONE of His own!) "sins", the Greek word, hamartia, which means: to miss the mark, to err, to violate God's law, in His own body on the tree "that", the Greek word, hina, which means: in order that, so as, so that, to the intent that, we "being dead", the Greek word, apogenomenos, which means: absent, deceased, to be removed from, to depart, to sins, "should live", the Greek word, zao, which means: to live , to enjoy life, to have true life, to be active, blessed and endless in the kingdom of God, to be in full vigor, to be fresh, strong, efficient, active, powerful and efficacious, unto "righteousness", the Greek word, dikaiosune, which means: equity of character, Christian justification, the condition acceptable to God, integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling and acting,: by Whose "stripes", the Greek word, molops, which means: a bruise, a wound that trickles blood, a wale (a streak or ridge made on the skin especially by the stroke of a whip), "ye were healed", the Greek word, iaomai, which means: to cure, to heal, make whole. The Amplified Bible says it this way:
1 Peter 2:24 (Amplified)
24He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.
Another, similar verse is found in Matthew's Gospel:
Matt 8:17 (KJV)
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
This verse begins with (so) That "it might be fulfilled", the Greek word, pleroo, which means: to make replete, to cram, to furnish, satisfy, execute an office, finish a task, verify a prediction, to consummate, to complete, to carry through to the end, to bring to pass, which was spoken by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet, saying, Himself "took", the Greek word, lambano, which means: to take up a thing to be carried, to take in order to carry away, to make one's own, our "infirmities", the Greek word, astheneia, which means: feebleness of mind or body, disease, sickness, infirmity, weakness, and "bare", the Greek word, bastazo, which means: to lift (with the idea of removal), to take up in order to carry or bear, to bear what is burdensome, to bear away, to carry off, our "sicknesses", the Greek word, nosos, which means: a malady, disease, infirmity, sickness. The Amplified Bible says this:
Matt 8:17 (Amplified)
17And thus He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, He Himself took [in order to carry away] our weaknesses and infirmities and bore away our diseases.
So what should our confession be from these two verses of Scripture? We should be saying this:
By HIS stripes I WAS healed! God's Word tells me that I was healed almost 2000 years ago by the stripes that Jesus bore. If I was healed THEN, I AM healed NOW! Healing belongs to me because I am in Christ.
God remembers when He laid on Jesus not only the sins and iniquities of us all, but ALSO, AT THAT SAME TIME, all of our sicknesses and diseases! Jesus remembers that he bore them for us. That is why the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to write, "...by Whose stripes ye were healed." This belongs to us because we are "in Christ". He provided it for us. Confess that Jesus is your redemption. Confess that you are redeemed. Confess that satan has no more dominion over you. Now hold fast to that confession. You have been delivered out of the kingdom of darkness. Refuse to allow satan to dominate you. Don't accept sickness--reject it! It no longer belongs to you! Hallelujah!
Keep searching out the "in Him" Scriptures to find out what else He has provided for you. Find out who you are "in Him" and BE that person!
Shalom in Him!
I hope you've been looking into the "In Him" Scriptures for yourself! Find them, highlight or underline them, meditate on them until they become real to you. When you do, you will have so much confidence in who YOU are in Him and how God sees you through Him! Today we'll look at 1 Peter:
1 Pet 2:24 (KJV)
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
This verse starts with: Who His own self (verse 21 shows us that this is referring to Jesus) "bare", the Greek word, anaphero, which means: to take up, to bear, to carry, to take upon oneself, to place on oneself anything as a load to be carried, our (He had NONE of His own!) "sins", the Greek word, hamartia, which means: to miss the mark, to err, to violate God's law, in His own body on the tree "that", the Greek word, hina, which means: in order that, so as, so that, to the intent that, we "being dead", the Greek word, apogenomenos, which means: absent, deceased, to be removed from, to depart, to sins, "should live", the Greek word, zao, which means: to live , to enjoy life, to have true life, to be active, blessed and endless in the kingdom of God, to be in full vigor, to be fresh, strong, efficient, active, powerful and efficacious, unto "righteousness", the Greek word, dikaiosune, which means: equity of character, Christian justification, the condition acceptable to God, integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling and acting,: by Whose "stripes", the Greek word, molops, which means: a bruise, a wound that trickles blood, a wale (a streak or ridge made on the skin especially by the stroke of a whip), "ye were healed", the Greek word, iaomai, which means: to cure, to heal, make whole. The Amplified Bible says it this way:
1 Peter 2:24 (Amplified)
24He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.
Another, similar verse is found in Matthew's Gospel:
Matt 8:17 (KJV)
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
This verse begins with (so) That "it might be fulfilled", the Greek word, pleroo, which means: to make replete, to cram, to furnish, satisfy, execute an office, finish a task, verify a prediction, to consummate, to complete, to carry through to the end, to bring to pass, which was spoken by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet, saying, Himself "took", the Greek word, lambano, which means: to take up a thing to be carried, to take in order to carry away, to make one's own, our "infirmities", the Greek word, astheneia, which means: feebleness of mind or body, disease, sickness, infirmity, weakness, and "bare", the Greek word, bastazo, which means: to lift (with the idea of removal), to take up in order to carry or bear, to bear what is burdensome, to bear away, to carry off, our "sicknesses", the Greek word, nosos, which means: a malady, disease, infirmity, sickness. The Amplified Bible says this:
Matt 8:17 (Amplified)
17And thus He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, He Himself took [in order to carry away] our weaknesses and infirmities and bore away our diseases.
So what should our confession be from these two verses of Scripture? We should be saying this:
By HIS stripes I WAS healed! God's Word tells me that I was healed almost 2000 years ago by the stripes that Jesus bore. If I was healed THEN, I AM healed NOW! Healing belongs to me because I am in Christ.
God remembers when He laid on Jesus not only the sins and iniquities of us all, but ALSO, AT THAT SAME TIME, all of our sicknesses and diseases! Jesus remembers that he bore them for us. That is why the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to write, "...by Whose stripes ye were healed." This belongs to us because we are "in Christ". He provided it for us. Confess that Jesus is your redemption. Confess that you are redeemed. Confess that satan has no more dominion over you. Now hold fast to that confession. You have been delivered out of the kingdom of darkness. Refuse to allow satan to dominate you. Don't accept sickness--reject it! It no longer belongs to you! Hallelujah!
Keep searching out the "in Him" Scriptures to find out what else He has provided for you. Find out who you are "in Him" and BE that person!
Shalom in Him!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Shalom,
We will continue with some more "In Him" Scriptures today. We will look in Romans first:
Rom 5:17
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
This verse starts with the word "for", which is the Greek word, gar, which is: a primary particle assigning a reason, because that, no doubt, seeing then, therefore. Then continuing, if by one man's "offense", the Greek word, paraptoma, which means: a side-slip, a lapse, a deviation, an unintentional error or a wilful transgression, sin, trespass, "death", the Greek word, thanatos, which means: separation (of the spirit and soul from the body at physical death) (of the unbeliever from the presence of God), all the miseries arising from sin, the nature of the devil which is the exact opposite of God's life, "reigned", the Greek word, basileuo, which means: to rule (as a king), to exercise the highest influence, to control, to govern, "by", the Greek word, dia, which means: through, by the means of, on account of, because of, for this reason, one; much more "they which receive", the Greek word, lambano, which means: to take with the hand, to lay hold of in order to use it, to take in order to carry away, to take what is one's own, to claim, to procure, to seize, to take possession of, "abundance", the Greek word, perisseia, which means: surplus, superabundance, gain, profit, of "grace", the Greek word, charis, which means: graciousness of manner or act, benefit, favour, gift, liberality, pleasure, what affords joy, delight, pleasure, sweetness, charm, loveliness, good will, lovingkindness, and of the gift of "righteousness", the Greek word, dikaiosune, which means: equity of character, justification, acceptable to God, integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, shall reign (same as above!), in "life", the Greek word, zoe, which means: the absolute fullness of life which belongs to God, life real and genuine, life active and vigorous, life as God has in Himself(!), by One, Jesus Christ! The Amplified Bible says:
Col 1:13-14 (Amplified)
13[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.
So what should our confession be from these verses? Say this:
We will continue with some more "In Him" Scriptures today. We will look in Romans first:
Rom 5:17
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
This verse starts with the word "for", which is the Greek word, gar, which is: a primary particle assigning a reason, because that, no doubt, seeing then, therefore. Then continuing, if by one man's "offense", the Greek word, paraptoma, which means: a side-slip, a lapse, a deviation, an unintentional error or a wilful transgression, sin, trespass, "death", the Greek word, thanatos, which means: separation (of the spirit and soul from the body at physical death) (of the unbeliever from the presence of God), all the miseries arising from sin, the nature of the devil which is the exact opposite of God's life, "reigned", the Greek word, basileuo, which means: to rule (as a king), to exercise the highest influence, to control, to govern, "by", the Greek word, dia, which means: through, by the means of, on account of, because of, for this reason, one; much more "they which receive", the Greek word, lambano, which means: to take with the hand, to lay hold of in order to use it, to take in order to carry away, to take what is one's own, to claim, to procure, to seize, to take possession of, "abundance", the Greek word, perisseia, which means: surplus, superabundance, gain, profit, of "grace", the Greek word, charis, which means: graciousness of manner or act, benefit, favour, gift, liberality, pleasure, what affords joy, delight, pleasure, sweetness, charm, loveliness, good will, lovingkindness, and of the gift of "righteousness", the Greek word, dikaiosune, which means: equity of character, justification, acceptable to God, integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, shall reign (same as above!), in "life", the Greek word, zoe, which means: the absolute fullness of life which belongs to God, life real and genuine, life active and vigorous, life as God has in Himself(!), by One, Jesus Christ! The Amplified Bible says:
Rom 5:17 (Amplified)
17For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
What should our confession be here? We should say:
I have received abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness. I reign as a king in my domain in this life through Jesus Christ. I have the fulness of God's life in me!
Let's look at another verse:
Col 1:13-14 (KJV)
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Who hath "delivered", the Greek word, rhoumai, which means: to draw to oneself, to rescue, to deliver, from the "power", the Greek word, exousia, which means: privilege, force, capacity, competency, freedom, mastery, delegated influence, authority, jurisdiction, liberty, right, strength, permission, ability, of darkness and "hath translated", the Greek word, methistemi, which means: to transfer, to remove from one place to another, change of situation or place, into the "kingdom", the Greek word, basileia, which means: royal power, kingship, dominion, rule, authority to rule over a kingdom, of His dear Son. In Whom "we have", the Greek word, echo, which means: to have, that is to own, to possess, "redemption", which is the Greek word, apolutrosis, which means: a releasing or liberation procured by payment of a ransom, through His blood, even the "forgiveness", the Greek word, aphesis, which means: release from bondage or imprisonment, pardon, letting them go as if they had never been committed(!), of "sins", the Greek word, hamartia, which means: to miss the mark, to err, to be mistaken, to do or go wrong. The Amplified Bible says this:
Col 1:13-14 (Amplified)
13[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.
So what should our confession be from these verses? Say this:
I have been set free by the precious blood of Jesus! I have been delivered from all the power of the enemy! I have been placed FOREVER in the family of God and in the Kingdom of Light and Life and Love! I can overcome the evil one no matter what he tries to bring at me because his dominion over me has ended and Jesus' dominion has begun! Hallelujah!
Now, again, we have to remind you that these promises are only for believers. For those who have accepted and received Jesus of Nazareth as their Lord and personal Saviour. If you have never done that, I invite you to go to The Spoken Word Church site (link on the left) and find out what it takes to be a born again believer. And then follow on to find out what is available to you as a child of God!
Shalom in Him!
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