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?

God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good.

You have heard this a gazillion times. But do we really believe it? When we are tested with sickness, financial need, relationship problems, trouble at church, etc.  do we question what God is doing  and why? In our heart of hearts are we certain that God is good?

Job mocked by his wife: La Tour, Georges de

Of course God is good. But there some misunderstandings about the character of God fed by tradition, false teachings, and human experience which leave us double minded concerning this issue.

We say, “God is good….but.”  But God will strike us with a curse if we do this or fail to do that. Maybe like me you have heard religious leaders say that God  puts sickness or failure on someone to bring him closer to Him.

What is the truth? Let’s look at the premiere text on the question of human suffering and the culpability of God.

Here is the opening scene. Job is making a sacrifice, a preemptive move in case his children have done or are doing something sinful. At the same time, there there is an assembly in heaven with the sons of God and Satan presenting themselves before him. God knows that Satan has an agenda: he is all bothered by Job and his prosperity. God says to him:

The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”

Satan –whose name in Hebrew means the Adversary — says in effect:

“Sure Job is blameless and upright. He has everything given him. You protect him from evil. He has never been tested. Let me at him: Give 5 minutes with him an I will have him cussin’ you to your face!”

So God tells him, “Ok do your thing, but don’t touch the man himself- hear me? Don’t touch a hair on his body!”

So the Adversary does his thing. And what is his thing? Not bursts of fire from his fingertips or serpents streaming out of the ground. Satan doesn’t do the kind of things we see in the movies. He instigates the kind of things that are unfortunately all to common in this world.

• First a band of murdering thieves (Sabeans)  steal his oxen and donkeys and kill his servants
• Next, fire rains down from heaven and kills his sheep and their attendants. This could have been a meteor, or debris from a volcanic eruption.
• Then, more murdering thieves ( Chaldeans this time) come and take his camels and kill the servants
• Finally, a great wind — a hurricane or tornado — strikes the home where his children are partying. The building collapses on them and kills them.

These tragic events can be explained as par for the course in this fallen wars. There are people suffering in this way all over the world. And we blame God. We call floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados, and other natural disasters, “Acts of God.” When a child is senselessly killed by another human, we tell the grieving that “God Took Another Angel Home Today.”

We blame God for what the Adversary is doing.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11)

In the next post: we will continue our look at the question, “Is God good all the time?” by looking again to the book of Job and particularly the words Job’s 3 friends: Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.

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…)

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”

How do we define faith? Some times I can understand the meaning of a word better if I understand its antonym. An antonym is:

A word that expresses a meaning opposed to the meaning of another word, in which case the two words are antonyms of each other; “to him the antonym of `gay’ was `depressed’” (The Free Dictionary)

The antonym of the word  faith or belief is the word doubt. In the English New Testament,  several Greek words are translated as “doubt.”

The Way of Salvation is not a secret by any means. You don’t have to have a “spiritual leader” or mentor to show you how to be saved. You don’t have to practice asceticism. There is no need to enter mystical or ecstatic states of mind

You don’t have to comb the earth for the right teaching or study long hours to learn the correct doctrine. “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart” Romans 10:8, Deuteronomy 30:14.

Instead the Word tells us:

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[e] 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13, NIV

Salvation is by faith in Christ. This is at once simple and complicated. It is easy and it is most difficult. But it boils down to faith. If we believe on Jesus, we will put our trust in Him to live in us and through us. Our life becomes His life. We live a life fully devoted to God and fully devoted to our fellow man.

In this new and living way, there is no room for the sinful nature. Our every thought is living Christ. In this new life, our reference for behavior is not 613 does and don’ts:  toucheths and toucheth nots.  Our reference for behavior is Christ.

If I am loving God with all my heart, mind, soul, strength, resources, and time — and I am loving my neighbor as my self — sinning is no longer an issue. There is no longer a need for sin consciousness. I don’t have to mind my legal Ps and Qs. I don’t have to worry if I am committing sin unknowingly.  I don’t need to tie a string a round my finger to remind me that I might fall: my mind is Christ.

Greetings and welcome to our website, Crucified & Exchanged. This Internet ministry was born out of a move of the Holy Spirit in the Lives of me, Allen and my wife, Candra to begin  ministry in the city of High Point North Carolina. Over the past few months, God has deepened and broadened our vision for ministry.

Our site is based upon Galatians 2:20;

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

As sons and daughters of God, we are born again, spirit creatures. We are made in the image of God. We are a new species so to speak. Our former mode of existence is past. Our former self died and was buried. In the manner of Jesus, we died and yet we were raised to new life. An exchange was made: a substitution of natures. Our new nature is Christ.

We have the mind, spirit, and love of Jesus abiding within us. Jesus lives in us. We act as he does. We care as he cares. We minister as he ministers. We worship as he worships. We work as he works.

Before, we lived a life completely circumscribed by the requirements of the law.

“Touch not; taste not; handle not”; Colossians  2:21

We all failed miserably at this kind of life. We learned as Paul taught, the rules of holy living could not help us deal with out lusts. In fact we found ourselves in the dilemma of the man of Romans 7:

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.

For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

The purpose of this website is to explore a way of escape from this quagmire.   Paul says again:

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

We will explore The Way.  We will explore the way we can walk in the Spirit. How can we renew our minds? How can we can live in this world as children of God — walking, talking, loving, giving, healing manifestations of the Father.