Freedom In Christ

Perhaps never before has the world faced such a time of bondage and uncertain times.

Every day in the news there are emerging stories of human trafficking, refugees, terrorism and international conflicts. Hospitals and general practitioners are full of patients dealing with depression, fear, anxiety, and addictions which are rising at an alarming rate. Looking at some of the biggest issues facing our generation today:

• Mental Health - depression affects one in five people with about ten percent of children diagnosed with a mental health problem at any one time. One in four people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year. Women are more likely to have been treated for a mental health problem than men.

• Poverty – over three billion people, live on less than US$2.50 a day and at least 80% of humanity lives on less than US$10 a day. According to UNICEF, 22,000 children die each day due to poverty, some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.

• Suicide – one million people across the globe die by suicide each year, which equates to one suicide every forty seconds. To put it into perspective more people choose to end their life each year than murder and war combined, with an estimated five percent of people attempt suicide at least once in their life.

• Abortion – according to the World Health Organisation, every year there are an estimated 40-50 million abortions, or 125,000 abortions per day. In the US, nearly half of pregnancies are unintended and four in ten of these are terminated, over 3,000 abortions per day.

• Climate Change – the past decade was the warmest ever on record with more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today than at any point in history. In the last century alone, sea levels rose roughly seven inches after not having changed noticeably in the previous 2,000 years, with more violent and frequent droughts, storms, hurricanes and fires around the world.

It appears the world has never been more in bondage, lost, broken and hurting than at any other time in history. The 21^st century offers many technological advances, achievements in travel and higher life expectancy. However, with this the world has found new waves of unprecedented violence, internet crime, excessive materialism, poverty, homelessness, wide availability of drugs, AIDS and more that other generations did not.

Is all this a coincidence with several connections? Judges 17:6 says, In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. When society turns away from God every aspect of society breaks down. Our world has completely lost its understanding of morality and run far from the standards of God. People are desperate for total freedom in mind, body and spirit but are looking for it today in all the wrong places. 

Even as believers we can too easily live in fear, depression, addictions and bondage. Jesus mission statement was a life in abundance, but how have we at times wandered so far? Wrong thinking, unbelief and lack of repentance are several reasons. So, is there any hope in the world?  

Christ Came To Set Us Free

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free…

Luke 4:18 NIV

         The word freedom is used dozens of times throughout scripture in many contexts but predominately in the context for the human soul. The gospel’s theme is one of freedom and the release of bondage ever since the Fall of Adam. Ever since God has been in the process of restoring mankind to Himself through His Son. Jesus mission statement was to set freedom to the captives. Any person today who is captive to sin, darkness or any type of bondage, Jesus is still passionate about setting free.

         People were never created to be in prison, slavery or in any kind of bondage. Even if it is our fault or the result of our decisions, to live in any type of bondage is the greatest of all evils. This is why Christ came to set us free. Nothing is impossible with God; even saving a broken and dying world. Jesus came to save and restore every person that comes to Him willingly and desires to become all God created them to be. He is fully committed to your journey no matter how difficult or complicated your life is.

A believer who is completely liberated is rare today. The Holy Spirit’s power in our life can put everything on the inside of us back together. Hebrews 4:16 says, Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. You can always approach an understanding person and Jesus understands everything you have been through. No matter how much of a failure you think you are, God still believes in you and desires to encounter you. He does not see who you are today; He sees who you can become.

It is my firm conviction that God doesn’t discriminate based on how deeply broken you are, what addictions you battle with your personal demons. The world will judge and reject but God never will. Jesus said clearly, For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners (Matthew 9:13). When we come to Christ and bring all of our baggage and mess, He entangles all of our knots and puts us back on the right track. He warmly invites all people to come into His presence with their darkest secrets, to become whole, free and liberated in body, soul and spirit.  

God is a redeemer who liberates every area of our lives into the image of His Son Jesus Christ, our perfect example to follow and imitate. He has the power to use every event in our lives, the good and evil, and turn it all around for good. To become everything God created us to be, to do all that He has planned us to do. From start to finish your life is a work in progress which is predestined as a masterpiece. No sin is too deep, no addiction too powerful for the imputed grace of God and the Holy Spirit to set us free.

When we choose to walk in His ways we will get His results. Choose Christ today my friend, and He can set you free. 

With God I Can Scale a Wall...

Have you ever reflected on your life one day and wondered where things went wrong? Or evaluated how ended up where you are today and questioned what this day has got to do with your destiny?

Life can throw us many difficult challenges and problems. Many times it is easy to question if where we are now is God’s best for us. But seeing through eyes of faith and digging deeper than our feelings are telling us, we can realise that God is doing a mighty work within us. Looking back this time next year, you will be so much a bigger and better person, you might surprise yourself.

The journey of faith is one of constant change, increase, growth and resilience to our mind, soul and spirit. Therefore it can be painful but highly purposeful. Any great leader in history has experienced this which is the process in how they eventually became great.

Pain has divine purpose and a great character builder. Oh pity the man of no pain, fear or suffering for they are not really living but merely existing and will achieve nothing at the end of their days.

Psalms 18:29 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

David had many real life battles, fighting wars with neighbouring countries who were hostile and dangerous. They had a bounty on his head and he was a huge target to take out. But David was a man after God’s own heart and a man of great prayer. He had a close relationship and trusted God with His life at every battlefield.

God in all His sovereignty and power sees through eternity and knows everything in advance before we do. Knowing this David trusted God and after receiving a word, without s second thought, went off and did God’s strategy boldly. Each word was a different strategy and principle to apply.

Likewise it is important to never make a principle out of your experience in your journey of faith. What works one day might not the next. We need to always be keeping a soft heart hearing from God and ready to do what He speaks to us in our heart.

Obey God in the thing He shows you, and instantly the next thing is opened up. God will never reveal more truth about Himself until you have obeyed what you know already – Oswald Chambers

We will all experience suffering which shows we are human and have meaning to our lives. The context can make the suffering go away with eyes of hope. Hope is a powerful force that tells us we can survive what we are going through as we see the end of the tunnel approaching.

Yes if you want to achieve something great in life, you will have many days of what feels like overwhelmingly pain. But take heart, God is doing a mighty work within you, and with God you can scale a wall.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all (Psalms 34:19). 

Mirror Mirror On the Wall

Have you ever been caught out with food between your teeth with someone important? What about a bad hair day during a potential date or nasty pimples around your mouth with friends?

It is possibly one of the worst feelings afterwards when you see a photo taken of yourself in a group and there you are, warts and all, which could have been easily avoided with 10 seconds in the mirror!

James 1:23-24  Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it is says! Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror and after looking at himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like....

It is a simple metaphor yet so powerful. Everyone wants to look good and presentable. But just like our physical body our spiritual body also needs examining and checking out.

Look at yourself and your walk with God – is it attractive, presentable, looking good? Are you strong in the LORD and in the power of His might? Are you making disciples, encouraging those around you, inviting others to church? How about giving, serving, bearing good fruit and strong in faith?

When we fail to live the Christian life those around us notice and take note. Many people are watching us and counting on us to be strong and alive in Christ. What you do matters!

One of the most sobering scriptures is 1 John 1:6-7, if we walk in darkness we lie and fail our faith we profess. We are either walking in the light (living in victory, freedom, joy and righteousness) or living in darkness (slavery, sin, depression, addictions and failure).

2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith: test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you – unless of course you fail the test?

Don’t be a hearer of the word but a doer of the word.  Examine yourself today and rate yourself out of 10 in faith, patience, self-control, purity, joy, your walk with God and how it is impacting your relationships.

If there is sin or dirt in your life clean it off and give your soul a good wash! Go to the throne of grace and get on your hands and feet before Him. Repent and turn towards God with a new heart desiring righteousness. His ways are higher, better and greater than our ways...every time.

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does (James 1:25).

Identity

Once there lived a beautiful princess in the mountains of the east. She was very fond of the songs of birds and every morning a little yellow canary used to come to her palace balcony and sing for her. The princess was very happy to see the lovely bird and listen to its music. The bird visited the palace daily and the princess waited eagerly for its visit every day. She was almost in love with him and wished he would keep company with her all day.

One day the princess caught the bird by chance and put him in a golden cage, serving the best food and water a bird could desire. But the bird was sad and refused to sing. In spite of its surroundings the bird began to grow weak day by day. One day the concerned princess asked the bird the reason for its behaviour. The bird seemed to communicate to the princess through the tone of its soft, painful chirps, “I only want to be set free.”

Moved the kind princess set the bird free. The bird flew instantly to its freedom. The next morning the bird was back with its usual song. It was only then that the princess realised an eternal truth: even the birds do not want to live in bondage, however well their environment, when they were created to fly and be free.

 Finding our True Identity

This is one elementary subject that most Christians still don't fully understand, and yet it is a powerful key to personal victory in every area of our lives. How you see yourself and what you believe true about your identity is everything.

Every individual has the power to choose what they base their identity in, for good or bad. This is especially important when negative circumstances come against us in life. Identity is similar to the foundation of our house. How strong the foundation is will directly impact the stability of the house when storms and adversity come our way. As a man thinks in his heart so is he.  

Identity is defined as the distinct personality of a person and the individual's comprehension of him or herself. What is important is that every person is created uniquely from every other person in the world. A person’s fingerprints, eyes and DNA will never be identical to anyone else. You are fearfully and wonderfully made!

                                 

Like the story of the yellow canary, what is inside you was put there by your creator and no accident. Your desires, dreams, values, convictions and skills are a song that is meant to be sung for all to hear and see. Man is most alive when he freely expresses himself and lives in the fullness of how he was created.

Many things can give us a sense of identity and purpose in life, such as work, relationships, success, skills, position, wealth and/or possessions. These are all good and bring meaning in life, but are not to become our identity. When our heart is attached to temporal things of this world and shapes our identity, we are on shaky foundation. Nothing is certain in life. We came into this world with nothing and will leave this life with nothing, but who we are as an individual will never change.

True identity is not what we do or own, but who we are as a person. If everything was stripped away from you, you would still be the same person made in the image of God.

That heart that’s beating within you, its no accident. The blood running through your veins, that’s purpose and destiny. In contrast, how often do we see and read of others facing an identity crisis? When a person has everything but feels empty, or worse, has everything materially, and loses it and their own soul.

True Identity = In Christ

Ephesians 1:3-6 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 

In Christ, we have solutions to our problems. By having access to His name and spirit, fear of rejection, failure, and death are all solved when God sees us “in Christ.” Struggles for personal meaning and value are no longer burdened by our own flawed efforts. In God’s eyes, no one is more important, and no one is more secure, than the one He has entrusted with the name of His Son.

Again, you are not what you do but who you are before God – loved, accepted, called and chosen for destiny. The term sinner saved by grace is fundamentally incorrect, because that identity is based on what you do, not who you are.

Who you are never changes before God. True, safe and strong identity is found in resting and living in who you are as a child of God. In this reality there is no fear of failure, no concern of striving and working to be accepted. There is nothing you need to do, just receiving the goodness of God and His blessings as His child. This is everything Jesus lived and died for us to experience, the abundant life He promised us.  

Look these things up in the Word of God for yourself and know the truth. For Jesus said clearly that if we continue in His Word, we will know the truth and the truth will set us free! (John 8:32)

Romans 5:8 - But God commanded his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

You are loved by God, not because of what you've done, but because of who you are. The Bible tells us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He longed to have a relationship with you even before you became His child!

Your true destiny is in your existence of being found in your Creator and Father in heaven which is eternal and never ends. Believe today that your identity is not found in this world, but who you are in Christ. 

  

Who You Really Are

While walking through the forest one day, a child found a young eagle who had fallen out of his nest. He took it home and put it in his barnyard where it soon learned to eat and behave like the chickens. 

One day a man passed by the farm and asked why it was that the king of all birds should be confined to live in the barnyard with the chickens. The child replied that since he had given it chicken feed and trained it to be a chicken, it had never learned to fly. Since it now behaved as the chickens, it was no longer an eagle.

"Still it has the heart of an eagle," replied the man, "and can surely be taught to fly." He lifted the eagle toward the sky and said, "You belong to the sky and not to the earth. Stretch forth your wings and fly." The eagle, however, was confused. He did not know who he was, and seeing the chickens eating their food, he jumped down to be with them again.

The man took the bird to the roof of the house and urged him again, saying, "You are an eagle. Stretch forth your wings and fly." But the eagle was afraid of his unknown self and world and jumped down once more for the chicken food.

Finally the man took the eagle out of the barnyard to a high mountain. There he held the king of the birds high above him and encouraged him again, saying, “You are an eagle. You belong to the sky. Stretch forth your wings and fly!" The eagle looked up to the sky. Then the man lifted him straight towards the sun and it happened that the eagle began to tremble. Slowly he stretched his wings, and with a triumphant cry, soared away into the heavens, never to return to the barnyard again.

You Have Treasure on the Inside of You

Isaiah 40:31 But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

You were created to be free and to soar like an eagle in life. The great adventure of life is to be embraced, enjoyed and to never be taken for granted. Life is magnificent and a gift from God that He has given us in his goodness. When a believer presses into God and places their hope and trust in Him, we are promised that we will renew our strength and soar like eagles.

Sadly many are intentionally doing life with chickens, ducks, geese, seagulls and turkeys, when inside we have the heart of an eagle to achieve greatness. People who do not want to change, live in fear, anxiety, addictions and only speak negativity will never lift us high in life.

Bad company corrupts good character, every time. We are the product of our environment and will imitate in word and action who we hang around. That is not to suggest we are to write off anyone and never be their friends. But who you allow to speak into your life and your inner circle will indirectly and subconsciously shape your destiny.

It is not too late to be all that God created you to be! You have treasure on the inside of you. How you see yourself directly impacts every area of life, for as a man thinks in his heart so is he. Believe today that you are a eagle in life, who soars above the storms of life. For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). 

The Secret Place

Have you got a secret place? A place to go and hide away from the stress, noise and distractions of your world for an hour each week?

Every person needs a secret place to run to. A secret place no one else knows in times of joy, fear, doubt and indecision. It can be in private in a bedroom, or as public as a city park, wherever you find refuge and comfort. All of us face tough challenges and moments of weakness that can feel like our problems will over run us.

Jeremiah 29:13 - You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart...

One of the greatest blessings we can have as Christians is the ability to stop, listen, pray and hear from God directly who speaks into our soul in our time of need. There is nothing weird or super spiritual about it. Our faith opens the door to draw near to God and allow Him to speak into our conscience and spirit. When it lines up with the Word and resonates within us, you know you have heard from Heaven.

In prayer our PURPOSE is renewed and our vision for our future is clearer. It is no surprise that Jesus intentionally walked away from the crowds in the height of His ministry to hear from God to renew His purpose and go where He was needed. 

Matthew 6:6 - But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

The secret place should have two essentials: Solitude and Silence. Solitude is spending time with Jesus alone in the secret place of prayer. Silence is spending time with Jesus just listening.

Too often in prayer we do all the talking and don’t pause to listen. We need to take the time to listen to what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to our lives. As we’re going through the process of transformation, part of the work of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of sin and show us areas we need to work on as we grow into maturity.

As we spend time in the secret place of prayer, in solitude, silence and soaking on Scripture, we are transformed into the image of Jesus. This is why it’s good to get silent in solitude, so we can hear God speak to our hearts.

“The secret place is the place of conversion, the place where the old self dies and the new self is born, the place where the emergence of the new man and the new woman occurs… (where) I get rid of my scaffolding: no friends to talk with, no telephone calls to make, no meetings to attend… just me – naked, vulnerable, weak, sinful, deprived, broken – nothing before God” (Henri Nouwen)

In Matthew 6:5-6 Jesus contrasts true prayer with false prayer, prayer that is real with prayer that is sham. One kind of prayer is seen by God and is of inestimable value to Him; the other is seen by man and is useless. In this study we are to emphasise the fact that the vital requirement in every Christian is private prayer, for which there is no substitute.

Charles Spurgeon said, ‘The prayer of the heart is the heart of prayer’. Prayer is meaningless if our hearts are not in it. We must not pray as the hypocrites do, like play-actors. Look up the very solemn words spoken by Jesus and recorded in Matthew 15:8-9. How easy it is to engage in a form of prayer and yet for our hearts not to be in our praying! 

Psalm 91:1 - He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty...

Ideally we need to be in the right place and clear state of mind to hear and receive from God. The right place is that 'secret place' described in Psalm 91:1.  It is not a place in any city or state but that place where the believer spends one-on-one time with God. The right time is all the time, being in constant prayer, always being mindful of the presence of God.

God's secret place is a virtual place that becomes home or a comfort zone to you because He becomes a refuge and a fortress around you.  This is why David urges that one dwells in this place.  In other words, make this your home.  The intention of the secret place in not as a shelter in times of trouble but as a dwelling place.

Romans 12:12 – Be joyful in Hope, Patient in affliction, Faithful in prayer

God is constantly speaking to us.  He spoke in the old days the very same things that He is speaking to us today and all these we can find in the Bible. Each and everyone of us have different needs in our lives.  Moreover, there are certain situations in our lives that we cannot find answers to in the Bible.  For example, where we should live and what job to accept. The secret place of prayer answers these questions and guides our steps.

Oh the joy of answered prayer! Nothing can buy it or replace it. There are thousands of mysteries and wonderful treasures in the secret place. They are hidden and are only revealed to those who genuinely seek them.

Go to your secret place this week. To renew your strength, realign your purpose and get a touch from heaven. He is waiting to speak to you. 

Throne of Grace

Have you ever completely messed up, making what feels like the biggest mistake of your life?

Have you ever felt like crawling under a rock and hiding away from the world or worse wanting to die because of a bad decision? Have you felt like that mistake has defined you and you are marked for life as a result?

You are in good company, because the reality is we all have. But where you go and what you do with it is what really defines you. The world loves to label people, criticize and finally judge them without apology.

Popular labels today include: Divorced, drug addict, depressed, ugly, fat, poor, stupid, no hoper, loner, nerd, dumb, weak, player, looser, hooker, reject, failure and more. But this is not how God sees us.

1 Corinthians 1:26-27   Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

God’s love for us is not based on what we do or what we achieve. It is based on who we are in relationship with Him. Regardless of what you do, nothing will change the fact that you are His son/daughter in Christ. You are a son/daughter worthy of honour, therefore behave honourably.

Christianity is a faith of total forgiveness and freedom from all our mistakes. Don’t let any label or mistake keep you from this reality and believing otherwise. God knows we are not perfect and will fall in the future – that is why His Grace and Mercy are new everyday!

Hebrews 4:14-15  Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 

In the depth of your sin God understands and still loves you unconditionally. He sees the why behind the what. He sees the brokenness within you which you are trying to fill with things that never satisfy. He sees only the good in you and the potential that you can become!

Jesus never did sin, but He knows what it is like to have a craving that is almost overwhelming, a desire to escape reality. Every temptation that we will ever face in our lives, Jesus faced a similar temptation, yet without ever yielding to sin. When you have need of mercy, you need to consider Jesus and run to that throne of grace.

For many years as a Christian I was bound in condemnation, guilt and shame when I made a mistake. When I messed up in my world or faith, I would avoid social gatherings and stay depressed for weeks on end. I was bound in legalism and it took the saving grace of God to set me free.

It hasn’t been easy but when I fall I choose to no longer stay in guilt and shame. I go directly to God, confess what I have done and receive His Grace and Mercy. It is no longer my ability to stay perfect but Christ and the power of God’s grace. When you fall, pick something up – God’s Grace!

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We serve a God who sits on a throne of Grace, not judgement and condemnation. One of the greatest promises in the Bible is that we can come directly to God with confidence in our time of need. To receive forgiveness, grace and mercy, any time, any day.

To receive mercy we are advised to come boldly.  Hebrews 4:16 makes it clear, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” This phrase means “to approach frankly, bluntly, candidly, truthfully, and with confidence.” When the Bible talks about coming boldly before the throne of grace, it means “to come with a transparent honesty.” 

This is a person who comes to God and says, “Life has brought me to the very end of my rope, and I’m losing my grip. I need mercy from You or I am not going to make it.”

Believe today that GOD IS FOR YOU and never against you. He loves you unconditionally regardless of anything you ever do. He sees beyond your flaws and next weeks sin and sees your future potential, not the mistakes of yesterday and today.

God believes in you and is more excited and passionate about your future than you are! Receive His grace and mercy in your time of need and move on into all that God has for you.

Entering God’s Rest

You might be surprised that we can do more resting than doing any other activity... 

In it we rest our physical body, mind, spirit and soul which are all one and all essential to our total being. In rest every part of our being recharges and can fully function again to maximum potential.

We live in a world which is fast paced, doesn’t sleep and consumes tonnes of stimulants to keep us going. Many are proudly self-confessed workaholics, even when our body is crying out for a break. But this is not natural to our being and how we were created. Hebrews 4 describes the amazing blessings of resting and its future promise to those who love God. 

Hebrews 4:1-3  Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. ² For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.³ Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, ‘So I declared on oath in my anger, “They shall never enter my rest.”’

The Israelites when they left Egypt were promised a land of their own that they could possess and find rest from their slavery. But sadly, through unbelief, disobedience, rebellion and hardened hearts they never made it.

God too desires for us to enter our Promised Land of blessings and rest, here on earth and later in heaven. But human nature does not change, and we too can fall short of everything God has for us.

Though a rest is promised to us if we seek it, there is reason to think that many Christians fail reaching it who had expected to obtain it.

1. Those who are professors of religion but who have never known anything of true piety;
2.  Those who are expecting to be saved by their own works, and are looking forward to a world of rest on the ground of what their own hands can do;
3.  Those who defer attention to the subject from time to time until it becomes too late. They expect to reach heaven, but they are not ready to give their hearts to God now, and the subject is deferred from one period to another, until death arrests them unprepared;

Hebrews 4:6-7  Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, ⁷ God again set a certain day, calling it ‘Today’. This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.’

Many today hear the gospel and offer of Salvation through faith in Christ. But how many accept it with open arms, fully embrace it and live it each day? Our heart is unfortunately deceitful and double minded, desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). We can love God and people one moment and then turn without warning and become hateful.

Our sinful nature and our spirit are at a great war with each other. Sometimes our greatest enemy is ourselves which craves the evil things of this world which never satisfies. How many times do we do evil that we know we should not, and don’t do righteous deeds we know we should? (Romans 7)

It is in this place that our hearts can become hardened; we rebel, become disobedient and unbelieving and turn away from the living God. Human nature does not change.

Hebrews 4:8-11  For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. ⁹ There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; ¹⁰ for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. ¹¹ Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

Perhaps the greatest failure a person could ever make is to fail in their pursuit to entering heaven. To miss out on all that God had in store and experience all His blessings and promises for all of eternity. How dreadful the thought, to hear the gospel but to be too busy to investigate it properly and eternally perish in hell.

And how terrible to run well as a believer but yet to permit the devil, the world or the flesh to hinder in the few last steps! Christian watch out for yourself and examine if your faith is strong and real (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Hebrews 4:12-13  For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

All scripture is from God and profitable for every area of our lives when we apply it and live it radically. The bible is no book of fictional stories and fantasies – it is God’s love story towards a fallen creation who desires to only have relationship with us and to bless us with His promises.

One of these is the promise of rest – for our body, soul and spirit so we can fully enjoy everything He has for us. God’s Word is the GPS to our Promised Land of rest and finding our way through sometimes dark roads to our eternal destination of Heaven.

His Word reveals everything that we are, cutting deep like a butter knife into our thoughts and intentions! Scripture is a powerful weapon of Truth and Revelation against the lies of the enemy and this world that desire to lead us astray.

Hebrews 4:14-16  Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

If God rested from all His work creating the universe from nothing, we too must as well. How often can we be so busy and exhausted from serving at church, burning out and religious acts of good deeds?

Legalism is a tempting lifestyle to live in, for it promises good favour with man and God but when it becomes its own pursuit it leaves us with nothing but self-righteousness and bitterness. If God rested that means He left us an example to follow, which includes:

• Resting from church activities
•  Resting from a multitude of good works
•  Resting from work and employemnt
•  Resting from relationships
•  Resting from hobbies and leisure

Because we are promised in Psalm 62:1, My soul finds rest in God alone. 

Without Revelation the People Perish

One of the most essential disciplines as a Christian is to have regular revelations in your walk with Christ...

All believers need to be stirred and refreshed weekly to keep their Faith strong, pure and alive. We often experience a thousand discouragements a week and consequently need to constantly be in the word, worship and presence of God (private and corporate) to stay strong in faith.

Proverbs 29:18

NIV - Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.

NLT - When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful. 

ESV - Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

 

This proverb is one of the better known of the many proverbs in the book of wisdom but sadly the least practiced. The truth is you can have a head full of theology but no POWER in your spirit. Revelation keeps us centered in Christ and alive in our spirit.

Scripture warns us that human nature is to become complacent and settle in our walk with God. When believers stop having God ENCOUNTERS and discover new revelations of who Jesus is they begin to ‘cast off restraint’ or ‘run wild’.

In the Old Testament, many of the prophets warned the people to turn back to God and repent after receiving fresh revelation. They tapped into the true spiritual condition of the land and boldly spoke to the people who had abandoned God’s law.  

Without prophetic revelation people lose touch with God, backslide and finally perish forever separated from God. Why? Because of lack of knowledge. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. . . . [They] have forgotten the law of God” (Hosea 4:6).

In all honesty, I can’t guarantee that you will still be following Jesus when you stop having God encounters. Many believers backslide by simply being distracted by the things of the world and place priority with God from No. 1… to 2… 4… 8…12…. until He no longer becomes a priority.

So what brings personal revelation? Simply taking time out of our busy world and going to the secret place of PRAYER. It is getting a word from God in every season and unlocking heaven into our spirit regularly which will ensure that we ENDURE as believers at a time when many are turning away.

Revelation is the FIRE to your faith which brings your spirit alive and makes you unstoppable in your world of influence. A fresh new lease of life comes within you. No argument or negative circumstance can take away your revelation easily. Revelation releases the RESOURCES of heaven, for example:

• When you are healed of sickness by the revelation of Christ as healer, no one can argue against it.
• When God provides the dream job and abundant provision at a time of great need, no one can argue against it.
• When your personal world is falling apart and God is your shield and sword and comes through for you, no one can argue against it.
• When God silences your enemies and critics in one day on your behalf, no one can argue against it!

 

The position of our HEART determines what you receive from God. A negative, wounded and critical spirit will receive little from God. But a cheerful, expectant and soft heart will DOWNLOAD the mysteries of Heaven, fresh ideas, creativity and words of knowledge for others.

When you get a revelation TRUTH becomes alive to you! Lies are uncovered and strongholds of negative mindsets peel away. Jesus said when you know Him you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free (John 14:6). The Truth of Jesus Christ is often the FIRST revelation we receive but it can not stop here.

What are the 7 revelations we need to regularly receive to endure in the Faith?

1) Identity in Christ - Get a REVELATION of the cross and what it accomplished for you personally. That it was your sin, your shame and your judgement that Jesus took for you. That because of the Cross you are perfectly forgiven, justified and righteous before God (Rom 3-5).

2) The Father Heart - Get a REVELATION of God’s unconditional love for you which is not dependent upon works, success, appearance, being perfect or popularity. Your identify, value, belonging and purpose are found in the Father Heart, nothing else. Upon this foundation will your faith endure when the storms of life come (Matt 7:24).

3) Power of Prayer - Get a REVELATION of the power of prayer. We renew our PURPOSE in the secret place of prayer. Beware of your thoughts and mindsets. This is important as our mindsets are so powerful. They reflect the condition of our heart and open or close heaven over our lives. Often the loudest voice wins at the end of the day, so pray until something happens. Take the 30 minute challenge of just speaking in tongues and let your confession only be of faith. Finally if all else fails, speak what is not into existence! (Rom 4:17)

4) Power of the Word - Get a REVELATION of the power of the Word of God. Scripture is where revelation starts. Read until He speaks to you. Believers who willingly and earnestly submit themselves to the word of God are naturally blessed in all they do. ‘All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable’ (2 Tim 3:16).

5) Power of your Faith - Get a REVELATION of the power and authority of your faith. Faith lived effectively is strong, immovable and above circumstances. It has substance, meaning it can be seen and touched. Jesus said many times ‘according to your faith let it be’. Whatever measure of faith you have is what you can only receive. The unseen is very real - what happens in the spiritual directly effects the physical (Matt 18:18).

An easy example to measure it is Faith with $100 value can easily take hold of a $50 need, possibly for a $150 need, but not a $10,000 need. Our Faith should grow every year to the point where we can cash in to the bank of heaven and withdraw during a time of great need for ourself and others.

6) Fear of the Lord - Get a REVELATION of the fear of God, which is reverence towards His greatness and power. A healthy holy fear is essential to living in obedience to His commands where love for God does not always motivate. 'Without holiness no one will see the LORD' (Heb 12:14).

7) Living for Eternity - Get a REVELATION that our life is merely a vapour compared to eternity when we pass from this life to the next. Everything that we do now has eternal ramifications. Live for the Kingdom of God and investing your life into the local church which is heavens vehicle on earth (Matt 6:33).

This week get a fresh revelation from God and seek Him in prayer. Knowledge is power and revelation is INVINCIBLE to your faith. Share what you have received with others and discover anew the wonderful mysteries and blessings we can access with our relationship with Christ.