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. 

The great thing about being in Christ is that my past is His past, and my present is His present, and my future in His future. Therefore, we should never live in regret about our past. We should never stress about our present, and we should never fear the future.

Colossians 1:17 He is before all things and in Him all things hold togetherColossians 2:9,10 For in Him all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form and in Him you have been made complete This is such an awesome reality of being in Christ. In Him, I am complete body, soul(including my emotions), and spirit. This reassures me that I’m not going to fall apart emotionally (even when it feels like I am) because He holds me together. When I get hit with anxiety, stress, worry, fear, depression, etc. , I can thank the Lord Jesus that I’m dead to those joy stealers, and that I am in union with His complete and whole emotions. Therefore, He will keep me from ‘losing it’ and from being enslaved from those cloaked enemies that steal, kill, and destroy the abundant life.  

Ephesians 3:17-19 ‘so that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith; and that you being grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.’

The reason you and I are able to comprehend ( lit. to grab hold) and experience the love of God is because, in Christ, we have been rooted (planted) in the love of God. We are already there positionally in Christ. It’s like being placed in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. We can have fun and experience all that’s around us because everything in the Magic Kingdom is at our disposal because we are there! In Christ, we have been placed smack dab in the eternal love of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is loving on you and me with the same love He has for Jesus, and Jesus is loving on you and me with the same love He has for the Father; and the Holy Spirit’s job is to make all this love a reality in our daily experience! So in Christ, let’s bloom where God has planted us, which is in His fullness!!