Because I am in union with Christ, all that is true about Him is true about me. He not only died for me, but He died as me. Therefore, I was crucified with Him. I was buried with Him, and I was raised with Him a new creation in Christ. All of my identity is found in Him. Now, my story, past, present and future is His-story
Ephesians 2:14 For He Himself is our peace…
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you…..
Romans 15:33 Now the God of peace..
Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush satan under your feet..
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart…
1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace…
2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now May the Lord of peace Himself…
Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace..
Peace is not just something the Lord gives us. Rather, peace is His very nature. He is peace. Therefore, since we are in Christ and He is in us, we possess His peace-all of it. Peace is the fruit of the life of Christ within us that we bear, not produce. So when we need peace, we don’t have to ask Him for it, we just thank Him for it because He has already given peace to us in Christ. Simply, by faith, we just receive who He is and what He has already done. A sample prayer would be as follows: “Lord Jesus, I thank you that You are my peace, and right now, I receive Your peace.”
Colossians 3:3-4 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life is revealed, then you also will be revealed in glory
In the above verses the word hidden does not convey the idea that something has been hidden that cannot be found. However, the word hidden carries the idea that something like treasure has been buried just for you, and it can be easily found. The Lord doesn’t hide things from us but for us. The treasure that we discover is not only the person of Jesus but our true identity as well. My identity cannot be found in anything other than Christ Himself. This is an incredible truth. It’s no wonder the enemy of our soul has so twisted the pursuit of our selfhood. As you and I seek Christ and who we are in Him, our true selves will naturally come forth. Thank your Lord that our worth and value are found only in You.
I love the radical teachings commonly known as ‘The Sermon on the Mount’. It’s found in full in Matthew chapters 5-7. It’s simply what the life of Christ looks like living in and through us. Trying to walk this out without utter dependence on Jesus doing it through you would be impossible. One of my favorite verses in this teaching is found in Matthew 5:48. It states, “You are to be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” Another version of this scripture is found in Luke 6:36, which declares, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Therefore, and according to these passages, one of the most Christlike characteristic displayed through a believer is mercy, and mercy is chiefly given through forgiveness. We are to be a people who quickly forgive and a people who do not withhold mercy from each other. Like someone once said, “Unforgiveness is a poison we drink thinking that it affects another.” Also, as I say all the time in counseling, forgiveness is supernatural, meaning that it takes Another living within us to accomplish this act (John 15:5 -apart from me you can do nothing). As a means of encouragement, there is a blessing that follows those who are quick to give mercy, which is an outpouring of mercy on their lives (Matthew 5:7). I don’t know about you, but I need all the mercy I can get.
Hebrews 10: 10, 14. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus once for all……for by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified
Amazing scriptures! In Christ, we have been made perfect-no spot or blemish, and we have been sanctified (made holy) for all time. This is the result of the finished work of the cross. Therefore, we can come to the ‘throne of grace’(Heb 4:16) with full confidence based on Jesus’ accomplishments and qualifications and not ours. By the blood of Christ, we have unhindered access to the King’s court. The Lord’s desire is that we come before Him with full assurance of faith (a confident boldness) with no consciousness of our failures. When you visit someone its very important to know that you are welcomed by them and that the person you are visiting is delighted to see you. This happens every time we pray. Remember, everything pertaining to the Christian life is based solely on the merits of Jesus.
Hebrews 10: 12-13 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made f footstool for His feet.
Jesus accomplished everything on the cross when He said, “It is finished.” Satan and his minions were not only defeated, but according to Colossians, they were disarmed and humiliated as well. Since we are in Christ seated with Him in the heavenly places, what is true about Him is true about you. According, to the above verses, Jesus is in the process of making His enemies, which are your enemies, footstools for your feet. Be encouraged to know that whatever demonic force is attacking you eventually will become a footstool for you! All the schemes that were meant for evil will bring you into a place of rest and victory in Christ. Therefore, let’s not glorify the enemy or give him more power that he deserves. After all, he’s just fabric for your footstool one day.
I’ve ministered to a lot of people through the years, and one thing I’ve found to be true is that many Christians either have one foot in the past, which makes them live with a sense of regret (a form of sin consciousness)or they have one foot in the future, which makes them live with worry, and anxiety (the fruit of fear). The Lord wants us to have both feet planted in the here and now. That’s the only way we can truly abide in Christ. To abide means to remain or to stay. I can only receive the life of the vine(Jesus) if I’m planted in the moment
Scripture tells us that we speak out of that which fills our heart or in simpler terms, we speak whatever we are entertaining in our minds. Another way to put it is that we declare the thoughts with which we are agreeing or with which we are coming into union. Therefore, we can be the voice of God to ourselves and those around us by listening to His voice and by speaking His life giving words. As well, the flip side is also true. We can be the voice of the enemy to ourselves and to those around us if we are entertaining his voice which comes via fear, guilt, shame, and condemnation. Remember, Jesus always declares those things that offer life and peace(even if He is corrective), and the enemy always speaks lies and declares those things that bring death, bondage, and robs life from us in any way.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.
Grace is God’s limitless and continual affection, acceptance, ability, and activity as a free gift in the person of Christ, to me, in me and through me.
I’ve wondered on several occasions how a believer can rejoice in the Lord when he or she is suffering from extreme physical or emotional pain due to uncontrollable circumstances. I sought the Lord concerning this dilemma, and He shared some good stuff with me. The word rejoice in the Greek is rooted in the word grace, and it’s literal translation is to lean into (like leaning into someone’s chest) and draw from the grace of God. If grace is His ability, activity, affection, and acceptance, then when we rejoice we are drawing from His very life flowing to the need within us. Therefore, you and I can rejoice in any situation as long as we are drawing from the unfathomable riches of Christ
If we know that we a fiercely loved by God, then all of our fears, such as rejection, abandonment, insecurity, etc., will be cast out, and we won’t be bent toward others to meet that love need and to make us feel secure. Our hearts will be healed, and the love of God will be flowing in our lives to others. Therefore, we can approach any situation thinking how can I love and serve here instead of looking to be loved and served.