Crucified & Exchanged

51 ¶And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. Luke 9:51-56

Many today long to take on the mantle of the prophet Elijah. With the state of the world today: economic downturns, famine, catastrophic storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, wars, political unrest, terrorism, crime and immorality even in the pulpit, there is a sincere desire to see God set things straight right now. Since God tarries, we — in the name of God — set out to set things in order. The first fire that falls is the most destructive kind of all: cruel, merciless, inconsiderate, disrespectful, mean rhetoric. With this weapon of mass destruction called the tongue, we denounce and accuse. We lash out without regard to potential collateral damage. No one is too important, rich, poor, young, old, strong or helpless to withstand our verbal napalm. We vent our wrath on the President — even on his wife and children. We blast the liberals, the homosexuals, the atheists, the socialists, the Blacks, the immigrants and those shadowy New World Order figures who meet in secret groves to plot the future course of the planet.

Its all to no avail though. Elijah’s fire fell and consumed. Our fire only hardens and tempers hearts like steel in a blast furnace. Things go from bad to worse. Like Elijah, we retreat to a cave to weep, pray and fast that God would come and heal our land. Maybe we start to think like the prophets of Baal. We think its the fault of the church, so we slash away at one another. We find fault with each other. We demonize and pronounce curses upon those for whom Christ died. And we leave the church full of gaping. bleeding wounds that seldom heal and always scar.

Jesus draws a contrast between the His Spirit and the spirit of Elijah. In this dispensation, the era of Grace, God is looking to draw all people to Himself. Every barrier that stood between us and Him has been removed, except one — our hearts.

We covet the mantle of Elijah, but do we want the rest of the garment Elijah wore. Do we covet life under the Law? Are we so confident in our own righteousness that we can stand boldly before a Holy God and accuse, judge and condemn another?

If we received mercy, we should be quick to dispense it to others. If we are reconciled to God through Jesus, we should wish the same for others. The Spirit of Christ manifests love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

This should be our spirit as well. Jesus is our Saviour, not Elijah. Jesus died for us, not Elijah. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith, not Elijah. Jesus paid it all, not Elijah. Jesus is Lord, not Elijah. We are to be conformed to the image of Christ, not Elijah. We put on Christ, not Elijah. Christ is being formed in us, not Elijah. Who’s Spirit are ye of?

Key to Wealth

Let’s affirm that 2011 will be the year that inpidually and as a nation, we will emerge from this economic miasma of lack, loss, and despair. In 2011 we will resolve to breathe, eat, drink, and revel in peace, hope, health, and prosperity.

God and Creator of all that is. There is no God but You. No other Power but You. You are the True Source: the Fount and Fountainhead.

As your child, I bask in the glow of Your blessing and Your love. I long to apprehend and absorb more and more of Your loving kindness. I am blessed and favored in ways far beyond my comprehension.

As You are a giver, I am a giver. As You bless me I will bless others as well. Expand the arena in which I might manifest the love and kindness of my God and Father. Increase my sphere of influence: place in my path the disheartened to encourage, the torn down to build up, those who mourn to comfort, the wounded to heal, and the rejected to love.

And I acknowlege that it is Your Spirit within by which I live move and have my being. You stir within me the will and the way to bless.

May the words I speak, the actions I perform, the things I create, and the impact I have on others be positive, of pure motive, non-judgmental, loving, and godly.

May the words, thoughts, and deeds honor You and uplift my fellow man. May I not bring shame on Your Name nor harm to my brethren.

Amen. And so it is.

(Read the full article by Allen here on examiner.com)

Open Your Gift NOw!

Some cults, Secret societies, Freemasonry etc. introduce you to truth by degrees. You have to prove your  worth before you advance in so-called illumination. In the true faith of God, you are given the Fullness of His Spirit. His Heart. His mind. You are given His word through the Scriptures. You are given His guidance, correction, encouragement, protection, and power.

You get the whole package at the new birth. Let me explain this by an analogy.Think of Christmas Day long ago. You went into the living room and saw the tree. You see your packages there. Some of the packages are labeled with your name. Under the tree are all the packages your parents intended for you to have. All you have to do is unwrap and begin to play.

It is likewise with the New and Living way we believers have. 2 Peter 1:3-4 says this:

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Given this divine power within, lets start unwrapping our package today.

• Open our faith package
• Unravel goodness
• Pull the wrapping off knowledge
• Cut the anti-theft packaging of self control
• Loose the bow on your perseverance
• Show off your godliness to everyone you meet
• Share brotherly kindness to those in need
• Take the lid off the biggest, bestest gift of all, your love.

If you unwrap and unleash the divine power within you: If you seek and discover and use this power more and day by day, here is what will happen:

• You will be a productive and effective Christian.
• You will do the works of Jesus.
• You will be a blessing to a hurting world.
• You will be about doing good.
• You will be a healer all that were oppressed of the devil because God is with you, in you working through you.

You say, “what about those weak and ineffective Christians?” Why are they living lives devoid of peace, power, and passion? Is it because they don’t go to church regularly? They don’t tithe? They don’t submit to so Pastor, Apostle, Guru, Life Coach?

No. Perhaps they have lost their vision. The are short sited and their memory has failed. Though God has lifted them out of the miry pit of sin and depredation, forgiven their sins, they go back to living as those who do not know their sins are forgiven. They return to a works based, reward and punishment religion with is the antithesis of the Gospel.

But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 2 Peter 2:22

Let’s end on a positive note. I can say it no better that Apostle Peter:

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.



Face of Jesus

In the crucified and exchanged life, we die to ourselves live for Christ. We decrease that He might increase. We exchange ego (the great I) for for a total new identity in Christ. But just who is this Jesus? Who is He to us and in us?

There are 3 Phases in the life of Jesus

• Pre-incarnate Jesus
• Incarnate Jesus
• Post Resurrection Jesus

I won’t get into the pre-incarnate Jesus beyond stating what scripture states:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17

We will talk more today about the incarnate Jesus:  son of Joseph, son of Mary.

Of his childhood we know very little though there is much speculation by those inside and outside the body of Christ. We know that he was the child of Mary who was betrothed to Joseph. The the marriage had not consummated. Mary was still a virgin. Luke 1:26-38 tells us of Gabriel announcement of the plan of God to bring the Savior into the world through her. (continue reading…)

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11, KJV

The Apostle commands us to put on the amour of  God as protection against the wiles of the devil.  In the context of Ephesians 6,  wiles can be defined as:

Satan is certainly crafty. He has had time to observe mankind for thousands of years. Psychologists think they understand human nature:  they know nothing compared to the adversary. Satan is an enemy whose primary goal is to offend God and destroy men.

One strategy Satan has is to exploit mankind’s prideful nature. He wants us to take pride in ourselves, our abilities, our resourcefulness, our willpower, our inner strengths.

“If anything good is to be it all depends on you and me”

We believers rely upon our will and strength to make the changes necessary to live this new life. We put harsh restrictions upon our body. We make vows and pledges to do better. We seek out  3, 5, 10, 12 step programs for success. We attend conferences and watch nights. We fast and pray, fast and pray, fast and pray looking for a breakthrough.

Now, these things in and of themselves are not bad. We need to get serious and DO SOMETHING! But we must take it to heart that we are not alone in this. God is working in us and through us to achieve our transformation.

“for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13

It is God working in us to achieve our good, expected end. It is God who gives us the power to make the changes. With this knowledge, we learn to work with God.  Like a ship facing a large wave, we need learn to turn  and ride with  the wave. Trusting that God will — regardless how rough the seas — work out everything for our own good.

How can we illustrate the process of putting on the new man? Many of us have had serious problems with our lawns recently.  In my old neighborhood especially, there was an explosion of chickweed everywhere. Add the usual lawn pests: crabgrass, clover, plantains and my yard was pathetic.

I planted grass seeds, fertilized, and watered my lawn. I figured that if I planted good seed, the new grass would grow and crowd out the weeds.  I was patient knowing that good lawns down come up over night. But what I found happening instead was that all my efforts to cultivate good seed only helped the weeds. My lawn looked even worse for all my efforts.

Desperate, I considered tilling up the yard and starting over.  I eventually tried some advice a friend gave: use some of the “weed and feed” type products. I hesitated using these because I did not want to harm the good grass and my flowers and shrubs. But I tried anyway and it worked. Within weeks I saw a major improvement. I had an almost perfect lawn

Perfect Lawn

What made the difference? Killing the old lawn that was full of weeds and other undesirable plants. The new seed could not grow as long as the weeds had a foothold. The “weed and feed” product was designed to selectively kill  the weeds and spare the grass. And moreover, the “weed and feed” provided a nurturing environment for the seed I had  already planted to flourish.

And so it is with believers in Christ. God has planted a seed within us. The very Life, Nature, and Spirit of God is ours. We are “born again”, “born from above”, “new creations.”  But within our minds the old creation hangs on.  The weeds choke out the new life.

Jesus said it this way:

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.  Matthew 13:22

We need to renew our minds. We need to crucify the flesh or sinful nature. The soil is good only once the weeds are gone  Then new life can burst forth and grow.  Apostle Paul says:

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him Romans 6:6-8

“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty”