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!

______________________________

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.

The Prodigal

Everyone knows the story of the Prodigal Son. Read on to refresh your memory...

'And He [Jesus] said, "A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
"Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
"But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.
"So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.
"Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. "And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. "And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.'
"But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. "But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'
"And he said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 'But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'" [Luke 15:11-32]

The prodigal son was a SON...this is a wonderful picture of a Christian who sinned after he was saved.

Everyone knows that sins are wiped out when we are reborn. But as a Christian, I have struggled with forgiveness as a mature Christian.

The Lord showed me in an instant that this well-known story, often told as an example of a sinner coming to God, was about a SON!!!

And how did the Father react? He was so excited...He put the best robe and the family ring of authority on him and threw him a great party!

The elder son? He got mad that his Father forgave his brother and left in a huff. The Father entreated him to celebrate with Him, but wasn't interested.

He was a son, too...what we might call today a judgmental or legalistic Christian. And he didn't like the Father lavishing grace onto the fallen one.

The Moral...
The moral of the story? There are three that I see.

First, if you've fallen as a Christian, forgiveness and grace belong as much to you as they do to the newly saved. God is your Father, and He loves you. He's standing at the gate, watching to see if He can catch a glimpse of you coming home. And when He does, He will run to meet you and restore you completely.

Because in His sight, you'll always be His son, His heir, created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. [Ephesians 4:24]

Second, if you're the elder brother, don't judge the prodigal. Love him and rejoice with your Father...it could be you tomorrow!

Third, if you're the prodigal, don't pay any attention to the elder brother. Love him, pray for him, receive him back when he slips even though he wasn't as kind to you.

As exciting as this story is for the new believer, how much more wonderful for the believer who has made mistakes, missed the mark and just plain sinned!

Based on I John 1:9, confess it...that's how you get rid of it, not when God finds out about it! Repent and run home! Run to your Father, Who is standing by the gate, waiting and watching.

Run home! To open arms and complete restoration! To Love and Light and Compassion and Forgiveness...run home!

Hallelujah!

Don't Harden Your Heart

Or, Enter His Rest 3...
Six times in two chapters [Hebrews 3,4] the Holy Spirit, writing through Paul, repeats the same scripture. Six times!

I think there might be a clue here...

''Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tried Me by testing Me, and saw My works for forty years. Therefore I was angry with this generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart, and they did not know My ways;' As I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'" [Hebrews 3:7-11]

'But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said, "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me.

"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 3:13-19]

''Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tried Me by testing Me, and saw My works for forty years. Therefore I was angry with this generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart, and they did not know My ways;' As I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'" [Hebrews 3:7-11]

'But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said, "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me."

'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 3:13-19]

Already Blessed [re-post]

What's your inner image? Are you struggling to find the magic key that unlocks God's blessings? Trying to make the mark, to be good enough to actually receive the promises of God now, in the earth? Feeling frustrated, blocked on every side?

What you've got is an inner image problem. One nurtured by erroneous teachings and pervasive cultural thinking, to be sure, but a problem nonetheless.

Let's get back to biblical basics. If you've been born again, you're already forgiven, already delivered, already an overcomer...already blessed.

Made Righteous...Already
We've been made the righteousness of God in Christ [2 Corinthians 5:20]. By His doing we are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption...[1 Corinthians 1:30,31]. Crucified with Him, buried, raised up together with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places [Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:5,6; Colossians 2:12-14].

Do you see yourself as more than a conqueror, called to reign in life, doing the works of Jesus? [Romans 8:37; 5:17; John 14:12]

Picture Him at the tomb of Lazarus...before calling him out of the grave, Jesus said "Father, I thank you that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me...” [John 11:41, 42].

1 John 4:17 says '...as He is, so are we in this world.'

This spiritual state of being one Spirit with the Lord [1 Corinthians 6:17] is an accomplished fact. We are already seated with and in Him in heavenly places. We are already forgiven, for sins past, present and future. Our confession of them cleanses our bodies and minds, but the spirit within is Jesus—always righteous, always perfect, full of grace and glory.

New Covenant
As the Church of God, the Body of Christ in the earth, we need to stop thinking like Old Covenant people. Yes, all of the promises of the Old Covenant are fulfilled for us in Christ, all are 'yes' in Him for us [2 Corinthians 11:20]...but we don't have to earn them anymore. We are redeemed from the curse of the law—Jesus became that curse for us so that we would receive the blessing of Abraham [Galatians 3:13,14]. The curse of the law was, in essence, what happened to you if you failed to obey the law. The blessings were what you got if you did obey.

Jesus took the curse for us—we get the blessings because we're in Him, the very seed of Abraham! To the Father, we look like Jesus—we've already perfectly fulfilled all the law, and are already blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ [Ephesians 1:3].

Blessed with Abraham
Consider this:

'So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.' [Galatians 3:9]

'"The LORD has greatly blessed my master [Abraham], so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys."' [Genesis 24:35]

One of the blessings of Abraham was great wealth—in most churches, we're told that it's okay to be comfortable, but God forbid that we aspire to great wealth!

I've got news for you...it's already ours! It's our birthright! Romans 8:32 says '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?'

Another one of Abraham's blessings was that his descendants [us] would possess the gates of their enemies [Genesis 22:17]. Jesus told his disciples, when they were not even born again, that they had authority over all the works of the devil! But we, the very body of Christ in the earth, live defeated lives, always struggling against unseen foes that we assume are far more powerful than we!

Image Correction
Start to imagine yourself like the Bible says you are. You're like Jesus—in fact, you are Jesus in the earth! Your old self was crucified with Him, and you've been reborn, one Spirit with the Lord! You are, individually and collectively, the Body of Christ. Called to reign in life! Correct that old inner image and refuse to listen to anything contrary to the Word of God, no matter who or what it is! You are not under the Old Covenant—you are a new creature in Christ! Old things have passed away! [2 Corinthians 5:17]

Instead of wondering 'Can He, will He [fill in the blank] for me?' thank Him for what He's already done! His Word is settled forever [Psalm 119:89] and He has decreed you blessed! He has already said 'Therefore there is NOW NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus...' [Romans 8:1] He has already declared you accepted in the Beloved! [Ephesians 1:6] Strengthened with all power in your inner man! [Colossians 1:11]

Jesus said that He and the Father would come and make their abode—their dwelling—in the ones that love Him! [John 14:23] That He would send a Helper—the Spirit of Truth—to be with us forever. [John 14:16,17] All Three Persons of the Trinity, dwelling in these earthen vessels...

Philippians 4:8 tells us to dwell on the excellent and praiseworthy. Surely the indwelling Trinity and the forever settled blessings of God are among those!

Dwell on it. Meditate on it until you can see these unseen truths. They are yours now.

Calling Things

What were the prophets of old doing? They were speaking the Word of the Lord...calling into being that which does not exist! [Romans 4:17]

I heard a minister say that Romans 4:17 does not apply to us...it is talking of God only, and it has been twisted into something that is not true. He spoke with disdain, as if this awful heresy was some disgusting lie, promoted by unscrupulous heretics!

I couldn't believe my ears! The very chapter of Romans 4 is talking about Abraham, whom God called Father of Nations before he was the father of nations. He did it first, from the foundation of the world, then He told Abraham to do it! Abraham called himself that which he obviously was not until he was!

In fact, Abraham is called the Father of us all! [Romans 4:16] Hallelujah! He is the very example of faith, calling himself the Father of Nations until a baby was conceived and born!

In truth, He became the Father of three nations...Israel, the Church and the Arab peoples!

How about salvation? How exactly does the new birth take place?

'But what does it say? "The WORD is near you, in your mouth and in your heart"—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.' [Romans 10:8-10]

Before you start to confess that Jesus is your Lord, He isn’t…but by the time you're finished, He is! You start by speaking what is not, and it results in that which is!

What about Jesus, telling us to speak to mountains and trees? Jesus called the most unstable man in Bible history a rock...and he became one!

What about Joel 3:10? 'Let the weak SAY I am a mighty man'

Actually, the entire Word works like that, from "Let there be light" in Genesis to "I am coming quickly" in Revelations. God speaks and we speak.

It's how you were born again, it's how you access everything in the Kingdom.

Hallelujah!