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Posts Tagged ‘Life-Giving-Spirit’

Day Eighty-Nine, The Way is Already Made

Posted in Under-the-Influence, Devo Shorts 2011, tagged , , , , , on December 22, 2015| Leave a Comment »

“Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel – which, when translated, means, God with us.” Amp Mt 1:23

A way is already made. Mary has already been pregnant. God is already with us!

The question for all of us is, “What have you done with that Truth?”

As Jesus Christ was formed supernaturally into Mary His mother, so He is still being formed into people just being saved this day.  His life and Kingdom have not failed to advance in any way.  In fact it is true that since the days of John the Baptist the Kingdom of God has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it (Mt 11:12).

The question is: “Have you laid hold of it as well?”

Has the life of Jesus Christ found a place in you?  Has He now been formed in you?

Do you know while there are many religions in the world, not one of them except Christianity can profess to have a solution for this worlds’ ills that is “out of this world?” And in fact it is not our solution at all, but that of God the Father!

That is correct! “Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it.  He did not emerge out of history; He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being the human race can boast of – HE is a Being for whom the human race can take no credit at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate – God coming into human flesh from outside it.” (Oswald Chambers)

As you and I come to the Lord in faith, asking for His life to dwell in us – He is Emmanuel, God with us (and within us) in every sense of the word.

As John the Baptist heralded His coming – a way was prepared – the King’s Highway! For everyone who could believe it and receive it – that way was made within them. The King’s Highway is not a royal road that you drive upon to find the Lord. But rather, it is a way formed within us, a way of life and light that gives entrance to the Kingdom of God to dwell within us and where the King and His principles of life rule and flourish within.

But it is from out of this world that it came. And as it is from out of this world, it trumps and overcomes every issue of this world! So whatever you are facing this day: moral dilemmas, financial lack or ruin, relationship conflicts, health challenges… every challenge in this world finds an answer in the life of Emmanuel – God with us! The challenge is… can you believe it?

We are called as believers to guard our hearts above all that we guard – for out of it flows the issues of life (Prov 4:22-23). It is in that very place, the heart of man the spirit, that the life of Emmanuel resides as the Holy Spirit! And out of your heart flows with the issues of His life… but only if you have first received – Him. You can have His way, and the Highway… today!

What better gift to have this Christmas – than His life flourishing in you! Merry Christmas!

 

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Day Thirty-One, Under-the-Influence

Posted in Under-the-Influence, Devo Shorts 2011, tagged , , , , , , , on December 19, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Day Thirty-One

 

The Image That We Bear

 

“And just as we have borne the image [of man] of dust, so shall we and so let us also bear the image [of the Man] of heaven.”  Amplified 1Cor 15:49

 

          There is a game that I once played — a pseudo-intellectual social game, where you compare yourself to one of the four earthly elements: fire, water, wind, or earth.  You describe yourself by saying… “if I were one the elements I would be…” and you give the reasons why you are more “like” that element than another.  It’s a way of presenting yourself by a comparison – with some insight – but less threatening than doing it directly.  But in a very real sense – you testify to the elemental image that you bear resemblance to.

          Let’s take that notion a step further.  In Luke 20:24 Jesus is speaking to the chief priests and scribes who are once again seeking a way to trip Him up so they can arrest Him.  They flatter Him, “we know You speak and teach what is right, and You show no partiality to anyone…” (Lk 20:21).  Then they ask Him a question: “Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar or not?” (vs. 22)  Jesus defuses their attempt to entrap Him with directness:  “Show me a denarius (a coin)! Whose image and inscription does it have?”  When the crowd answers, “Caesar’s” – then Jesus instructs them to render under Caesar what is his, and to God what is God’s.  If we only assign this passage an understanding of coinage – we have lost its greater import!

          You and I bear an image – of whose we are.  According to 1Cor 15:45-50, we first bore the image of the first Adam – who was earthly minded and made of dust.  But our destiny and calling is to bear the image of the last Adam (Christ) – Who is a spiritual life, Who is heavenly minded and “of” heaven.

          You cannot separate here the image that is born from the quality of the mindedness.  If we are have an earthly minded focus – the image we bear is the first man Adam’s.  If we possess a heavenly-minded focus – we bear the image of the last Adam, Christ.  The image is directly tied to the mind-set.  One follows the other without deviation.

          Now if we assume we bear the image of Christ – but our mindset remains earthly – we MUST ASSUME WE ARE WRONG about Who’s we truly are.  Caesar’s coinage never bore another image – but his!  The MINDET WE HAVE WILL REVEAL THE IMAGE OF WHO’S WE ARE:  either the first Adam’s or the last Adam’s.

          The truth is:  we all have assuredly borne the image of Adam.  We have all had a true natural birth.  We have a real physical body of flesh.  Now we must begin to bear the image of the Man of heaven – the last Adam – if we are His by a second birth!  So examine your mindset.  Is it always preoccupied with earthly things:  your life, what you will eat and wear and earn and do here today?  Or has Christ been allowed to give you His mindset which is occupied with the things that occupy Christ?  As we are told in Colossians, we set our minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.  We are to aim and seek the eternal treasures which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Col 3:1-2).

          Let us each now bear the image of Christ – His ownership of us!  Let Christ become to you the Life-giving Spirit that He is – restoring the dead to life.  Allow His life bring a new image to bear in you – that we all will reflect His glory, and His ownership of us – to the world who knows Him not!

          Bear His image – for His glory!  Be-loved!

         

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