If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you've seen the first part of 1 Corinthians 1:20 quoted over and over. It is such a wonderful, neglected scripture, confirming the spiritual reality that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us...so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles. [Galatians 3:13,14]
Every promise is YES in Him...He has fulfilled all the requirement of the Law so that we may enjoy every blessing. I write about this a lot, because it seems that we are constantly being told that we must still earn our blessings, both in church and in the world.
Jesus said "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has CHOSEN GLADLY to give you the kingdom." [Luke 12:32] It is His will that we have His kingdom—it is not His plan to withhold it from us, and anything contrary to that fact is a lie.
Look at the Lord's prayer. Jesus prayed "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Most Christians believe this means the millennial reign of Jesus in some distant, magical time, and we've had a lot of help believing that.
Today
'And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."
'And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."' [Luke 4:16-21]
And what a fabulous Scripture it is! The Favorable Year of the Lord refers to the Jubilee, that 50th year where all debt was wiped out, where slaves went free and no one worked...
He said that all of these wonderful things, prophesied by Isaiah, were fulfilled TODAY. TODAY, TODAY, TODAY.
The Second Part...
Now let's look at the second part of 1 Corinthians 1:20...
Now let's look at the second part of 1 Corinthians 1:20...
'...therefore also through Him is our AMEN—so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled—to the GLORY OF GOD through us.'
Why would He give us His kingdom? Why would He choose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him? [Ephesians 1:4] Why would He, with Him [Jesus], freely give us all things?
So that the Glory of God would be demonstrated through us! To the world, to the enemy—we are to demonstrate His glory in the earth!
Consider Romans 12:2:
'And do not be conformed to this world, but BE TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, SO THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT THE WILL OF GOD IS, that which is GOOD and ACCEPTABLE and PERFECT.'
In other words, change your mind so you can prove how wonderful God is! How wonderful and perfect His will is!
Please note that it does NOT say so we can prove how God blesses us be giving us cancer or killing our children or burning down our church!
How about these Scriptures?
'Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom THERE IS NO VARIATION OR SHIFTING SHADOW.' [James 1:17]
'For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; NO GOOD THING DOES HE WITHHOLD from those who walk uprightly.' [Psalm 84:11]
'But BY HIS DOING you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us WISDOM from God, and RIGHTEOUSNESS and sanctification and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord."' [1 Corinthians 1:30,31]
Complete
Colossians 2:9,10 says 'For in Him ALL THE FULNESS OF DEITY DWELLS IN BODILY FORM, and in Him you have been made complete [full]...'
Colossians 2:9,10 says 'For in Him ALL THE FULNESS OF DEITY DWELLS IN BODILY FORM, and in Him you have been made complete [full]...'
Put this together with 1 John 4:17...'By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because AS HE IS, SO ALSO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD.'
And again, "The glory which You have given Me I HAVE GIVEN TO THEM, that they may be one, just as We are one..." [John 17:22]
Then there's the [I think] most mind-blowing Scripture in the Bible [that no one believes], '...and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be FILLED UP TO ALL THE FULNESS OF GOD.'
In Colossians 1:11, the Holy Spirit Himself prays that we be strengthened with ALL POWER!!
So What's the Problem?
If these things are true, and they are, what's the problem?
If these things are true, and they are, what's the problem?
Why are so many Christians struggling with sickness, lack and oppression of every kind?
Proverbs 23:7 tell us 'For as he thinks within himself—reckons in his soul—so he is.' That's why we're told to renew our minds if we want to prove the good and perfect and acceptable will of God!
Yes, Jesus taught us to speak to the natural world to change things, as does much of the rest of the Bible [particularly Proverbs and the Psalms]. But before speaking, we must BELIEVE! [Mark 11:22-24]
We've been deceived, alright...right out of our inheritance! In the Old Testament, we read that all things belong to God...in the New Testament, we're heirs of God, fellow heirs with Christ, and all things belong to us! [Romans 8:17, 1 Corinthians 3:21,22]
If Jesus is the fulfillment of Scripture—the very Word Himself, and we are in Him and He is in us—what about Isaiah 57:14? 'And it WILL be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, REMOVE EVERY OBSTACLE OUT OF THE WAY OF MY PEOPLE."'
How about Isaiah 26:7...'The way of the righteous is smooth; O Upright one, make the path of the righteous level.'
Or Psalm 1:1-4?
'How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD
And in His law he meditates day and night.
'He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he PROSPERS.'
Did you realize that Jesus is the fulfillment of Psalm 91 for us? For our families?
Before the Curse/After Jesus
Let's look at Adam, before the fall. His job was to reign upon the earth and commune with God. God did everything else—provided a wonderfully abundant place to live, provided a beautiful soulmate...He even brought the animals to him to name! [Girls, there were even jewels and gold there...Genesis 2:12!]
Let's look at Adam, before the fall. His job was to reign upon the earth and commune with God. God did everything else—provided a wonderfully abundant place to live, provided a beautiful soulmate...He even brought the animals to him to name! [Girls, there were even jewels and gold there...Genesis 2:12!]
You know the story. Adam severed his relationship with God, then it was all struggle and toil. Mankind could only prosper to the extent that he was strong...this is called a CURSE!
You see, in God's eyes, it is a curse to have to struggle without Him, and a blessing to live in His provision! He then began to make covenants with men, to bless them if they would permit it!
Until the final Covenant—Jesus, the Last Adam and the Firstborn of Many Brethren [that's us]. 'He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS? [Romans 8:32]
Christ has REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE, having become the curse for us!
In Deuteronomy 30, we see how God looks at things. He set before the Israelites LIFE AND PROSPERITY, and DEATH AND ADVERSITY. See how He linked those things together? Not life and adversity or death and prosperity [in the sweet by-and-by]...just the opposite! And Jesus came to give us life!
The Jesus Race
2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us 'Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE; the old things have passed away; behold new things have come.'
2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us 'Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE; the old things have passed away; behold new things have come.'
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil [1 John 3:8] and He made clear just what those works are..."The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly—have abundance. [John 10:10]
He came to create a new race—He was the Last Adam, and the Firstborn of many brethren! A race of God-filled men and women, with authority over all the power of the enemy [Luke 10:19] who would show His Glory and His good and perfect and acceptable will!
I think, and this is just my opinion, that when Jesus told us to speak to things, believing that they would obey, He was giving us the Kingdom way of living in the earth. He was reinforcing everything the Book of Proverbs taught...the easy way, the Kingdom way of reigning in life!
But where are they? Cowering in churches, sick and broke. Why? Because they don't know any better! They don't know who they are In Christ or what God's will for them really is! They don't know that the Holy Spirit prayed that they be FILLED UP TO ALL THE FULNESS OF GOD [and that His prayers are answered...]
It's time to renew our minds to the Word of God, so we can PROVE what is the good and perfect and acceptable will of God! To walk as Jesus, our Brother and example did, speaking to the natural world, walking away from crazy mobs, healing the sick and raising the dead.
Rambling...
Yes, I'm rambling, it's true. I'm having a hard time expressing what's in my heart.
Yes, I'm rambling, it's true. I'm having a hard time expressing what's in my heart.
Here it is [the point].
Believe God and enter into His rest. [Hebrews 4]
Start to expect the blessing instead of the curse. When people tell you how hard life is supposed to be for Christians, don't listen. Meditate on the Word of God—as God told Joshua,
"No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. [Joshua 1:5,8,9]
Read my post Easy Does It and all the ones on Yad. Go ahead, read them all—they're all about this!
Maybe it's easier than we think, or have been taught. Enter into His rest, demonstrate His glory. Renew your mind, expect good—expect blessings and miracles to come easily to you. Speak His good Word into the earth and expect it to come to pass.