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| Voice of Prayer: Picture by R. Twiner |
Paul
writes in Colossians 2:11-14: In Him
you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting
off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried
with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in
the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your
trespasses and the un-circumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all
trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against
us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed
it to the cross.
Two
points we must note here: first, it is God’s sovereign authority and almighty
power that is the source from which mankind derives any ability to share in the
exercise of the kingdom of God. And the second point, sinful man lost all
privilege, he had no claim to the early ruler-ship given to man in the garden
of Eden. The power is only restored to those who have received Jesus as Lord of
their lives, it is by the grace of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit!
Every
person who has lived on earth will die at some point in their life. We find
from this passage in Colossians 2, that
the apostle explains that a Christian is free from the bondage of death because
Christ's death has removed the charges of sin against us. Truth is given here;
yet today there are those who think there are many pathways to heaven and to
God. It sounds like a pick and choose
time of which god you desire to choose for your own privilege. But when we
continue to look into the pages of the doctrine given us by grace we find this:
that Jesus, in Revelation 1:18, adds another factor in our favor or the favor
for the saved one who has confessed Him as Lord of their life!
Revelation
1:18-19 NKJV states this: “I am He who
lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the
keys of Hades and of Death.” Jesus Christ paid the price. 19 Write the things
which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take
place after this.
Here
both present and future events are recorded.
That price was the penalty for our sins. At
the Cross Satan was the defeated foe. Christ Jesus has the power and has given
us authority too! The price paid for us was over the Second Death. Going
further we find this in Revelation 20 and verse 14: “Then Death and Hades were
cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death. Detail is given to us in Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly,
unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and
all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
BUT we
are to be prepared! As living stones, we are being built up as a spiritual
house. That is called the holy priesthood.
1 Peter 2:4-5: NKJV 4 Coming
to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and
precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a
holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through
Jesus Christ.
Yes,
this is confirmation to being prepared for something called the spiritual house
that looks like and sounds like a holy priesthood. As His “special people”, we
are the chosen generations, a royal priesthood, His own special people; that
we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1
Peter 2:9)
As the living sacrifices, we deliberately choose to allow the Holy
Spirit to change us into the image of Jesus Christ. That is, we allow the
doctrine of the kingdom that has come go deep into our hearts and change our
thinking where we follow after Jesus. We become obedient to His plan for our
futures. Salvation is important to come into His kingdom but the paramount
objective is to be leaders in His kingdom.
It is not
about how many people we have in a congregation nor is according to how we as
the leaders lead many people, but that we stand responsible to learn truth and
teach truth. Being created into Jesus Christ’s image teaches us that.
Leadership certainly is what God is looking for in you and in me! The most
important note here is that we overcome our carnal natures. When we begin to see
leadership in our lives leading others to truth then that becomes the norm for
us. It comes by living by the spirit man that is led by the Spirit of God.
It is
about being faithful as He is faithful. As we allow more of His truth in, light
dispels the darkness. We are to embrace and protect that which is truth. We should not take part with that which is to
unrighteousness. Many today are becoming
discouraged. They somehow choose not to stretch minds when thinking on Christ
Jesus and the standard He represents!
Remaining in Christ Jesus is the real test.
Keeping to the teaching of His truth shows where the heart lies! Many will say
it is about whether you go to church or if you are staying out of church. But
truly not about opinions but where the standard of God’s word is given without
any interference in each person’s life. People are to be given the whole truth
and not just pieces of it.
Then
when truth is given them, then that truth is to be proclaimed. It is not just
to be kept by you although that is important, but is about God who is desiring us who are grown spiritually
to lead in the future world that is coming when Christ Jesus becomes the seated
king in Jerusalem. If you cannot lead now, how could you possibly lead in the
future! May we not be cold, the frozen
chosen and the depleted of life not to recognize that it is God who turns up
the heat so that we not fall into a frozen lifestyle and frozen mentality that
things will continue just as they have. For Jesus is returning and God’s Word
will judge.
A Closing
Point: In Revelation 21: 2-9
describes the setting of the Jerusalem come down from heaven. In Revelation 21
and verse 9 tells of the Lamb’s wife. Verses 22-27 gives details that nothing impure will ever enter the
city’s gates. It is God’s “shekinah” glory that will be the light, yes, it
is His own presence to shine in as the “holy place”. Those who enter, those
nations and “the kings’ of the earth” will bring into this place their
splendor. These kings stand for the peoples of the earth who are the very
servants of Christ Jesus. Offerings will be brought to the throne of God. Those
who belong to God will enter here. Their names are written the Lamb’s Book
Life. Total loyalty will highlight these people. Truth will be their standard
and their character will have the witness that glorifies God.
Confirmation
is found among those who follow the process by submitting his all to God to
gain the life Jesus came to give us. It is in the here and now one will be
confirmed and not later. It is walking holy before God today remembering that
it is given that a person will die once and then the judgment.
Which
will we be at? Will we be leaders in the holy city of Jerusalem that is coming
or will we find a different destination?
New teaching at: Voice of Prayer
Hope has a Name: His Name is Jesus
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