Heirs

'God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.' [Hebrews 1:1-3]

This is a fabulous scripture, full of wonderful truth for us. Let's look at it point by point...

Heir of All Things
First, God appointed Jesus heir of all things. He is the very fulfillment of the Blessing of Abraham, who God promised would be heir of the world [Romans 4:13].

But wait...we are called the heirs of God, and fellow heirs with Christ! [Romans 8:17]

How about these scriptures?

'...all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.' [1 Corinthians 3:22,23]

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for you Father has chosen GLADLY to give you the kingdom." [Luke 12:32]

'Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, Who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.' [1 Timothy 6:17]

'So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer...and if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.' [Galatians 3:9,29]

Abraham was promised that he would be heir of the world, and Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise. He is the Seed of Abraham, and we are too!

Calling Things 2

When we first start to believe the Word concerning the words of our mouths and calling things that be not as though they were, we tend to focus on physical circumstance. In fact, most of Jesus' teaching around this centered on the physical...mountains, trees, physical bodies, etc.

But I learned a secret. It works for us on a personal, emotional level, too.

Joel 3:10 says 'Let the weak say "I am a mighty man."' Why? He is teaching us to call that which is not [yet] that it might become so. And in this case, he is using the power of words for personal development, not just over natural circumstances.

Proverbs 18:21 says 'Death and life are in the power [yad, or hand] of the tongue...' Yes, death is a physical, natural circumstance, but it is also an emotional state. When we are fearful, or anxious, or depressed, we are walking in the power of death.

Remember Job 22:28? 'You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; and light will shine on your ways.'

Use your mouth to decree your emotional well-being as well as physical. Nehemiah 8:10 says '...the joy of the Lord is your strength.'

Feeling like a wavering reed? Decree Psalm 112:7...'My heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.'

David knew this trick well. "When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul." [Psalm 94:19].

He even spoke to his soul!

'Bless the Lord, O MY SOUL, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name. Bless the Lord, O MY SOUL, and forget none of His benefits;

'Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit [destruction, grave, Hell],

'Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with GOOD THINGS, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.' [Psalm 103:1-5]

An aside...isn't this passage an outstanding outline of God's blessings, His will, for our lives?

Meditate on these things—see them as true in your life and decree them—it will come to pass!

Read Calling Things

Let's Pretend!

I know I’ve posted this a few times before, but it’s such a great exercise in faith that I’ve updated it and am putting it up here again. Enjoy!

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Ok, let's play a game.

Let's pretend that everything in the Bible is true. Close your eyes...we're going to pretend that we are filled up to all the fullness of God, and that everything we say comes to pass.

The Hebrew word daba' means both word and thing...so let's pretend that everything that comes out of our mouths are actual little things that float out like bubbles and go 'pop' and land fully grown on the earth!

Let's pretend that Satan has been stripped of his weapons and that we have authority over all his power...that all he can do is deceive us, and we don't fall for it, ever. No matter how things look, we have the power to see the invisible provision that is all around us. See how he runs away from us!

Let's pretend that we can talk to physical, natural things and they obey us. That we can talk to trees and mountains and money and fish and donkeys and rooms...and they obey us.

Oh, this is fun!

More...
Now let's pretend that we're capable of being in two places at once. That we can walk on earth in these wonderful 'earth suits' but we're also seated at the right hand of God in Christ in Heaven!

Let's pretend that nothing is impossible to us—we're Super People, a new race in the earth! That the Creator of all things is our Father, and that the Glorious King Jesus is our big brother! And that our job is to reign upon the earth! Let's have beautiful robes and crowns and scepters!

Let’s pretend that we are one Spirit with the Lord and filled up to all the fulness of God—that as He is, so are we in this world.

And don't forget to pretend that we're always surrounded by enormous warrior angels that guard us in all our ways! That their job is to minister to us because we're heirs of God.

Let’s pretend that we’re surrounded by shouts of deliverance and favor like a shield.

Let's pretend that everything belongs to us. That there are great and wonderful tables set before us, that our every heart's desire is granted, that our Father has given us all things richly to enjoy. That in Him, every promise of God is YES and our AMEN to the glory of God through us—that He is doing FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY than we can ask or think according to the power that works in us.

You get the idea...
Ok, doesn't that feel great? Now do it several times a day and see what happens. Close your eyes and see the unseen. Believe the Word and refuse to be moved.

Close your eyes and see your desires fulfilled—see the Word as true in your life, and be the person you long to be.

This is true Christian meditation. Then speak it out…testify to the earth and the spiritual realm that the Word of God is true in your life, now.

‘He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—for He says,

“At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.”

‘Behold, NOW is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”’ [2 Corinthians 5:21-6:1,2—emphasis mine]

Have faith in God. Hallelujah!

[ref Visual Prayer, See the Unseen, Pull Back the Curtain, What Are The Giants Saying To You, Trash Talk, The Purpose of Fear 3]

The Purpose of Fear 4

"No one can stop you but you." [Bill Winston]

The spirit of fear is sent to get you to stop in your tracks, period. It is sent to create doubt and unbelief to stop your faith from producing.

'For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?

So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.' [Hebrews 3:16-4:2]

And why were they in unbelief, which ultimately led to disobedience and NOT entering into His rest? Because they were terrified by the giants stationed at the edge of their Promised Land. Fear. Even though God had promised them victory, their fear stopped them cold.

Fear > Unbelief > Disobedience > Wilderness [the UN-promised land]

It is sent to bring the thing you fear upon you [Job 3:25]. The Israelites feared that they would die in the desert [Exodus 14] and die they did, just as they had believed and spoken.

Don't Look
Don't look at the circumstances. Don't listen to the voice of the deceiver. In the words of David Crosby, don't give in an inch to fear.

Instead, unite the Word of God with faith and enter into His rest [Hebrews 4]. For all of the promises of God are YES in Him. [2 Corinthians 1:20]

Read The Purpose of Fear, The Purpose of Fear 2, The Purpose of Fear 3, Fear--The Deadly Enemy

What Are You Saying To The Giants?

We know that Israel faced giants at the edge of the Promised Land [What Are The Giants Saying To You?]

Centuries later, they were facing giants again. Maybe the very descendants of the first giants, I don't know.

You know the story. It is one of the most widely-known stories in the Bible...even most non-believers know it. You can read it in 1 Samuel 17.

Saul was king of Israel, and was camped with his army in the valley of Elah, where the Philistines had gathered their armies for battle.

Get the picture...the Bible says the Philistines stood on the mountain on one side of the valley and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side.

Every day the Philistines' champion, a giant named Goliath, came out and challenged Israel to send someone out to fight him. And the Word says 'When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.'

And every time he came out to taunt them, the Israelite army '...fled from him and were greatly afraid.' [1 Samuel 17:24]

Hmmm...

Lies, Lies, Lies

Whenever you hear anything that contradicts the Word of God, it is a lie. Satan, the deceiver, is a liar and the father of lies.

When you start to think, “What will I do, how will I ever get out of this, there’s no way out for me,” know that it is not the mind of Christ, but antichrist.

There are many, many of scriptures promising deliverance and we know that in Christ, all the promises of God are yes [2 Corinthians 1:20]. There are specific promises for every situation—health, wealth, protection, family blessing, peace, joy, etc.

There are also several blanket, or ‘failsafe’ promises, particularly those found in John 14-17—basic ‘Ask whatever you will’ promises to cover anything not specified anywhere else.

Jesus Himself said “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom” [Luke 12:32]. And through Paul, that God ‘…richly supplies us with all things to enjoy’ [1 Timothy 6:17].

It is plain to see that God’s will is blessing—all gifts good and perfect [James 1:17]. Anything to the contrary is not of God, no matter what you’ve been taught in Sunday School.

So when you feel the fear rising, and begin to see all sorts of horrible things happening—don’t let your imagination run wild with thought and pictures of doom and despair. Realize that you’re being lied to.

Understand that the only power Satan has over you is the power to deceive you into doubt and unbelief—unbelief that he knows will result in your failing to receive your blessings from God.

Instead, do what David did. Trust in God and in His word. He will deliver.