Roll The Stone Away

Martha said to Him, "I know that he (Lazarus) will rise again in the resurrection at the last day". Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this"? || John 11:24-26

Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him"!... Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, "take away the stone". || John 11:35-36, 38-39

In the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (all throughout John 11) we always see Jesus taking death and turning it into life. With Lazarus and Himself in the tomb, He always says to roll the stone away that keeps the dead person, dead. He does the same to us as believers. He tells us to roll away the stone, simply to come out and be with Him. He doesn't want us to stay in the tomb and rot away. He wants us to come out like Lazarus did, to Him, to Jesus, who tells us that HE is the resurrection and the life. We don't have to wait for the second coming of Christ to know Him... We wait for the second coming because we do know Him and we want to be fully with Him. The more you fall in love with Jesus the more you will expectantly await His return.

What is the stone in the way of your tomb? What is keeping you from coming out into life in Him? Is it insecurity, depression, anxiety, disbelief, impressing man/world, etc? What is it? It is never to late to take the stone away. Lazarus was dead for 4 days (physically) which most people considered to be a done deal... that there would be no way for Jesus to raise him from the dead now. But Jesus later says in John 11:40, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God"?

Nothing is to "set in stone" for the Lord. He is in the business of taking hearts of stone and turning them into hearts of flesh. Don't give up and think it is too late. Roll away the stone that is keeping you in the "tomb", that stone that is keeping you back, keeping you in death. Roll it away. Jesus is saying to you just as He did to Lazarus, "Come forth!".

How He longs for you to come forth. Just as it says in scripture that He weeps because of the love He has for Lazarus, He too weeps because of the love He has for you. He doesn't want you to stay in the tomb and in death. He sent Jesus so you could have resurrection life.

Wow. What a King.

Urgency of the Gospel

Hey friends. I am pretty much going to just type out a part of the book I am currently reading called Radical by David Platt. I can't encourage you enough to go out and get this book and read it. It has ministered to me and has fanned the flame in my heart for God's message to be known to His children. I can't recommend it enough!

Something I have noticed throughout my walk and within the body of Christ is that we are very prayerful. Which is great, don't get me wrong... but we have a command and an urgency with the Gospel. I know that I have done a lot of "waiting for the Lord's timing" and "waiting for guidance" in my life. Which again is great, but not when it comes to missions, ministry, and disciple making. We need to be a little more urgent.

The Lord has commanded all of us. Every single one of us! To go and make disciples. To make His glory known among the nations. Not just America. Not just Orange County. But the nations. Again, I am not saying local outreach is bad, AT ALL. But I am going to challenge myself and the rest of us if we are really in step with God's move throughout the world. Are we global minded Christians? Because God is a global God, so we should be global followers. Here is a part of the book Radical that is just insanely true and compelling. I hope you enjoy!

"He has not only give us knowledge about Christ, but he has also given us the presence of Christ and the promise of Christ to provide us with everything we need to take the gospel to them (talking about unreached people groups). Now imagine what it would be like to look into a pair of Bedouin (1.4 million person people group in Algeria that is 100% muslim) eyes and for the first time introduce this person to Christ. This is a cause worth living for. It is a cause worth dying for. It is a cause worthy of moving urgently on. We have the gospel of Christ in us, and we do not have time to waste. Some wonder if it is unfair for God to allow so many to have no knowledge of the gospel. But there is no injustice in God. The injustice lies in Christians who possess the gospel and refuse to give their lives to making it known among those who haven't heard. That is unfair.

I find it interesting that one of the most common questions asked today among Christians is "What is God's will for my life?" or "How do I find God's will for my life?" Many Christians have almost assumed the attitude that they would obey God if he would just show them what he wanted them to do. 

In the middle of a Christian culture asking, "How do I find God's will for my life?" I bring good news. His will is not lost. With 1.4 million Bedouins in Algeria who have never even heard the gospel, it makes little sense for us to sit over here asking, "What do you want me to do, God?" The answer is clear. the will of God is for you and me to give our lives urgently and recklessly to making the gospel and the glory of God known among all peoples, particularly those who have never even heard of Jesus.

The question, therefore, is not "Can we find God's will?" The question is "Will we obey God's will?"

Will we refuse to sit back and wait for some tingly feeling to go down our spines before we rise up and do what we have already been commanded to do?

Will we risk everything - our comfort, our possessions, our safety, our secutiry, our very lives - to make the gospel known among unreached people?

Such rising up and such risk taking are the unavoidable, urgent results of a life that is radically abandoned to Jesus."

                                                                                                - David Platt



Here is a link where you can purchase your copy of Radical by David Platt. Seriously. Do it.
http://www.familychristian.com/radical-5010f17a1b61f073ceb86a10fbc77580.html

Word from the Lord - Fully Convinced

About 4 months ago the Lord told me to walk with Him. Physically. Everyday. Eventually that turned into running... but every time I go on a "worship run" (thats what I dork-ily call it) the Lord speaks to me or gives me vision/prophetic words. 

It has been SWEET to say the least but today after my run I felt so compelled to share this word. As I was listening to my music, "Break Every Chain" by Jesus Culture came on... which we all know is epic and a powerful song. But lately this song has been popping up ALL over the place... and the Lord spoke mightily to me through it.

I felt Him saying that this year, this season, this generation, is going to have the chain of D O U B T broken off of them. That this generation and you personally are going to see the Lord move in such a real, tangible, sign & wonder that you and this generation will be FULLY CONVINCED. We will be fully convinced that God is good! That He does what He says He will do! That He delights in us! That He not only loves us but that He enjoys us! That He likes us! That He gave us a purpose and a plan!

I really feel that this spirit of doubt, this chain of doubt being broken will set you personally on fire. You will be fueled with revival fire. Once we understand and experience the goodness of the Lord, we can't help but preach Him, live for Him, talk about Him, and do crazy things for Him. It just makes sense. Once you experience the grace, worthiness, and glory of Jesus Christ, God the Father, and Holy Spirit it will be a no brainer to give it all, to live solely for Him, and throw away everything for Him. 

So if that is you, I AM SO EXCITED. The Lord is trying to speak to you! He is telling you that your doubts and fears are totally ok... but He loves you too much to let you stay in them. He wants to break those chains and He WILL. Just like what the song says, "there is POWER in the name of Jesus, to break EVERY chain." Because of the blood of Jesus, you can have TOTAL freedom and authority. Proclaim His blood and His name over your life. Ask the Lord to show up! Ask Him to come and get His glory! He loves it when you ask Him to come, He loves it when you need Him, and He loves to bring renewal. Personally & corporately. 

So I speak out revival. I say Lord bring revival! Let it come, let it come. But may it start with me. May it start in the secret place and overflow. I say in the name of Jesus, doubt be gone! You have no place in a child of God's life. There just isn't any room for you and we say get out. We belong to the King of all the ages, the King of all the earth, the King of all the galaxies. We surely rest secure and have all we need. There is no need for you doubt, there is no need for you fear. Thank you Jesus that in your name the enemy HAS to flee. Raise up an army of revivalists. Raise up chain breakers for your Kingdom. Raise up children who are FULLY CONVINCED of their Father's goodness and power. In the name of Jesus we proclaim, Amen! 

If you already are fully convinced I also got a word for that. The Lord's move and Spirit is like the wind. Some days you can't feel it, some days it overwhelms you and covers you... no matter what the feel or sight... remember there is always wind. Even when you don't feel it, you must believe it. Because it is simply a fact. There is never a time where there is no wind on the earth... somewhere someone is feeling the wind. Someone is feeling the move of the Lord. Don't let your feelings keep you from participating in the move of God in your life and those around you and the entire world. Be encouraged. He is always moving and we can always join Him. I am praying for you as well. That the Lord will keep you daily engaged in His move and keep you radically dependent on Him. That He will continually reveal His promises to you and continually convince you of His goodness through His Word. 

Listen to the song "Break Every Chain" here!

Abide

verb (used without object), a·bode or a·bid·ed, a·bid·ing.

1.

to remain; continue; stay: Abide with me.

2.

to have one's abode; dwell; reside

3.

to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship, etc.; last.

To abide in Christ or with Christ means to remain in Him or with Him. It simply means to stay with Him, to dwell with Him, to be in a relationship with Him. This is the KEY to Christian life. This is how everything happens... through abiding. So many times we get jazzed up about signs and wonders (which are amazing!!!) but we don't ever get too jazzed up about reading our Bibles, praying in the secret place, and yielding to conviction. 

I see this a lot in people's lives throughout ministry too. They feel empty all the time and can't wait for the next service or worship night (which again... are amazing). But here is a secret. You can feel that way all the time! You can be filled and consistent and full of joy all the time. His Word brings so much stability, so much joy, so much peace, and so much faith. If we daily chose Him we will daily release Him. 

This is super practical. It means waking up early and reading your Bible! It means waking up early and spending time with Him. Some people say "I am a night person so I will read my Bible then." And I personally just don't find that Biblical or effective. When you wake up, you must seek Him first. If you want to release Him, you must seek Him. Why wait until night time to fill yourself afresh with His promises and presence... then you are just gonna go to sleep! Do it in the morning. Read, pray, drink coffee, eat breakfast. Focus your mind on Him in the morning, it will set the tone for the day. Enjoy His grace and extend His glory.

The next thing I see help people when it comes to abiding is that it fills them! The Word of God is literally the bread of life! When you try and cut any type of sin out of your life (example: alcohol, sex, anger, jealousy, etc.) and you don't fill it with the Word of God, you are going to starve yourself and be weak and probably fall back into it. When you take something out of your diet, you must add something better, something healthier. When you take sin out of your diet, you must put God's Word in place of it. I see people just starving themselves and they wonder why they still feel empty even though they aren't sinning. 

He didn't die so you could stop sinning. He died because He knew you could never stop sinning. He died so He could have a relationship with you. He cares more about you abiding than you sinning. Naturally, when you abide, you sin less though. Because you are focused on Him and you are spending time with Him and the more you spend time with Him the more you are like Him. The more you look to Him, the more you see Him. The more you listen to Him, the more you hear Him. The more you trust Him, the more you will see Him move. He doesn't want converts, He wants believers. 

So that is my challenge to us. Let's be people who want to see revival in the secret place. Let's be a generation that rises early and seeks His face so that when people see our face, they can tell we have been with Jesus. May we be a generation that is disciplined and more concerned with committing our days to prayer and our minds to scripture than just trying to look and act more Christian. Don't try and change yourself, just fall more in love with Jesus. Seek Him. Don't seek self help, don't seek 12 steps, seek His face. Seek His face in the Bible, seek His face in prayer, seek His face in fellowship. Do life with Him. Invite Him in, give Him free reign in your life. That's all He wants. He wants us to love Him in return. He wants us to chose Him in return. He wants us to believe Him and His promises. 

What are you trying to cut out right now? Are you filling it with God's Word? Are you daily eating the bread of Life? Are you daily drinking the living Water? If not... then you will starve. You won't last long. Seek Him. He can change all the stuff you want to change, He can do all the stuff you want done... may not be how you expect it or want it. But He can do it. It will last for all eternity when He does it too. When you try, it is short and fleeting. Just fall more in love with Jesus. Abide in Him. That's how we produce the fruit. That's how people come to know Him... by seeing Him on display in my life, by seeing Him on display in your life. Let Him come and get His glory in you.

Thanks so much for reading. I pray that each one of us will chose Jesus. That we will want to live in a daily relationship with Him. For that is why He died Beloved's. He died for you, He died for me... just to have that relationship with us, His Beloved Child.

Some good scriptures on "Abiding"

John 15

John 6:35

John 4:14

Psalm 16:2

1 Chronicles 16:11

Psalm 16:11

Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1-10

2:1

-       We are alive in Christ! But we must never forget that we once were dead in our trespasses

-       Spiritually we were dead. There are different types of life, there is plant life, animal life, physical life, spiritual life, emotional life. We were dead spiritually, now we are alive spiritually. Someone can still be alive physically but dead spiritually.

-       We must be born again and we must die to live. We identify fully with Jesus Christ. We identify with His death, we identify with His baptism, we identify with His resurrection, and we identify with His power in the Holy Spirit and we identify with His future coming.

-       When Christ died, He was raised to life.

-       When we die, we are raised to life.

-       When we lose it all, we find everything.

-       When we give up everything, we obtain every blessing.

-       Trespasses speak of man as a rebel, sin speaks of man as failure.

o   But because of Christ, we are now neither!

2:2, 3

-       In one time we did live in sin. (describe that sin is anything that doesn’t proceed from faith, not just smoking, drinking, sex, etc.)

-       Walking in the world, which is very much so orchestrated by Satan

-       “once walked” is the old man which is now crucified with Jesus at the time of conversion.

-       The sin nature inherited from Adam influences the old man, but the world system and Satan do also.

-       “Once walked means it should be different for those what are made alive by Jesus Christ. A dead man feels comfortable in his coffin; but if he were to be made alive again, he would instantly feel suffocated and uncomfortable. There would be a strong urge to escape the coffin and leave it behind. In the same way, when were spiritually dead we felt comfortable in trespasses and sins; but having come to new life we feel we must escape that coffin and leave it behind.

-       “The converts are to be reminded what they have been delivered from, as well as what they have been lifted into. They must be led to look down again into the pit, into the grave, from which grace called them out and set them free." (Moule)

-       “by nature children of wrath” we were born of Adam. Adam was told in the beginning to multiply according to his kind. He was a fallen man, all he produced which is me and you is fallen by nature.

-       1 Corinthians 15:45

2:4

-       But God … because of His great love: With but and because, Paul explains God's reason behind reconciling man to Himself, and these reasons are found totally in God. The reasons are His rich mercy and His great love, which He focuses on us.

-       It is God’s great love. Some people think God loves us because we are lovable. But the truth is that His love extends to the unlovely and the unlovable, the children of wrath that were described in the previous verse.

-       Every reason for God's mercy and love is found in Him. We give Him no reason to love us, yet in the greatness of His love, He loves us with that great love anyway.

-       Therefore, we must stop trying to make ourselves lovable to God, and simply receive His great love while recognizing that we are unworthy of it. This is the beauty and blessing of the Christian life.

2:5-7

-       God loved you when you were dead in your trespasses. When you were at your worst (Romans 5:5)

-       This is the requirement for being saved. You must first be dead, dead to every attempt to justify yourself before God. He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me … has passed from death into life (John 5:24).

-       “Made alive together with Christ”

o   This is what God did to those dead! He shared in our death so we could share in His resurrection.

o   The old man is crucified and we are new creations in Jesus with the old things passing away and all things becoming new.

-       “It is by grace you have been saved.”

o   Paul stresses to us that it has nothing to do with us. Nothing to do with man’s merit but completely to do with God’s love and grace.

o   Our salvation, our rescue from spiritual death is God’s work for the undeserving.

o   This is why we worship Him! This is why we love Him! This is why we obey Him and give it all for Him!

-       “Sit together in the Heavenly places”

o   This is the present position of the Christian

o   We have a new place of living, a new place of existence.

o   We are not those who dwell on earth but our citizenship is in Heaven

§  Philippians 3:20

-       We don't sit in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus, or at least not yet. Instead, we sit in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Since our life and identity is in Christ, as He sits in heavenly places, so do we.

-       “In the ages to come He will show the exceeding riches of His grace”

o   God will never stop dealing with us on the basis of grace, and will forever continue to unfold its riches to us through eternity.

-       "When all the saints shall be gathered home they shall still talk and speak of the wonders of Jehovah's love in Christ Jesus, and in the golden streets they shall stand up and tell what the Lord has done for them to listening crowds of angels, and principalities, and powers." (Spurgeon)

Riches of His Grace

- One way to see the greatness of the grace of God is to see how He begsman to receive it. When we offer a gift to someone and they refuse it, we are likely to allow them to refuse and leave them alone. God does not do this with us; even when we refuse His mercy He reaches into His storehouse of grace and persists with us, begging us to receive the free gift.

For we are His workmanship: God saves us not merely to save us from the wrath we rightly deserve, but also to make something beautiful of us. We are His workmanship, which translates the ancient Greek word poiema. The idea is that we are His beautiful poem. The Jerusalem Bible translates workmanshipas "work of art."

God's love is a transforming love. It meets us right where we are at, but when we receive this love it always takes us where we should be going. The love of God that saves my soul will also change my life.

“Good works”

Matthew 5:16

Let your good works shine brightly

All for His glory

Because of His grace

Love Thy Christian Neighbor

It is a sad day when we let the enemy use us as a tool of destruction. It breaks my heart to see and hear Christians discourage other Christians. It breaks my heart to see and hear Christians take God's Word and use it to cut others because they are hurt or bitter. It breaks my heart that we think "venting" or us "getting something off our chest" is more important than another person's feelings. 

I just want to give some insight on what I have learned over the years and through God's Word on what it looks like to exhort and rebuke another Christian. 

Nowhere in scripture do I see, "let if off your chest", "point out when someone does something wrong", or "tell someone else before you go to someone with a problem". I'll tell you what I do see... I see, "be slow to speak" (James 1:19), "encourage one another" (Hebrews 3:13, 10:24), and "build each other up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

If you are going to rebuke or exhort someone it MUST come out of a place of love. It must be because you want to see that person look more like Jesus. It can't be out of a place of anger, bitterness, or self-righteousness. If you are upset with how a person is living or acting; I challenge you to pray for them and live by example. What good do you think is going to come from pointing out someones weakness or failure? Would you succeed and be encouraged more by someone highlighting your failure or your potential? Which one do you think the Lord highlights for all His children including you?

We should use our words to ONLY encourage and build up. That doesn't mean you can't call one another higher or speak truth, but you MUST do it in love. You must do it out of love for them, not yourself. 

If we are operating and acting out of bitterness or hurt, than we are not rooted in the Word of God and our security in Him. In Psalm 119:165 it says, "Great peace have they which love Thy law, and nothing shall offend them."

We should be so rooted in who the Lord says we are that when people do stuff to upset or hurt us, we simply respond with compassion on them. Just as Jesus responded "forgive them for they know not what they do" when He was dying on the cross, we too should respond when something like a petty comment is made against us. Make sure you don't rebuke out of you own insecurity as well. It is good to pray and seek the Lord before you speak to anyone about anything, let alone an offense you have against someone.

Now if you feel led to rebuke or call a brother or sister higher I recommend that you do it! That is the beauty of community and doing life together! We can encourage one another and help each other look more like Jesus. That is our sole purpose while on earth. To Love God and love others. To show the world that Jesus is alive and real! So go to that person directly, don't chat about it with other people, and don't expect them to read your mind! They won't know they hurt you unless you tell them. People aren't mind readers, you must communicate. But when you go into a situation like this you must already have forgiveness ready and available to extend. You must go into it wanting reconciliation and wanting Christ to be glorified. If they did something unjust to you, remember that justice and vengeance belongs to the Lord! Not you. You are called to love, encourage, and bring joy so that others may taste and see that the Lord is good. It is so much bigger than your feelings, it is about the testimony of the God of the universe. 

Remember you are commanded to forgive! "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another as Christ Jesus forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32) - "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14-15) 

How can we hold something over someone? How can we not forgive? We have been forgiven for all eternity through Jesus Christ and so you must forgive your brothers & sisters! Everything on this earth is temporary. Remember that. Remember you are on the same team! You are spending eternity together! And that this battle isn't against flesh & blood. (Ephesians 6:12)

Anytime unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, and hurt are in the picture we must recognize that those are not from the Lord but from the enemy, who is trying to bring disunity, anger, mistrust, and bitterness into the Church so that the Lord won't win more for His Kingdom, for His army!

In John 17:21 Jesus prays to God the Father that we would love one another so that the world will see Jesus! John 13:35, Jesus says that they will know you are my disciples by how you love one another. Our unity as believers is what sets us apart from the world! Our forgiveness that we extend when it isn't deserved is what sets us apart from the world! We must love and forgive as Christ forgives. He keeps no records of wrongs & is always forgiving. We must rebuke and exhort as God does which is completely gentle and completely gracious, with no reserves or hold backs. 

I love this quote from Max Lucado,

"When those who are called to fish don’t fish, they fight. When energy intended to be used outside is used inside, the result is explosive. Instead of casting nets, we cast stones. Instead of extending helping hands, we point accusing fingers. Instead of being fishers of the lost, we become critics of the saved. Rather then helping the hurting, we hurt the helpers. The result? Church scrooges. “Bah humbug” spirituality. Beady eyes searching for warts on others while ignoring the warts on the nose below. Crooked fingers that bypass strengths and point out weaknesses. Split churches. Poor testimonies. Broken hearts. Legalistic wars. And, sadly, poor go unfed, confused go uncounseled, and lost go unreached." 

Love your neighbor, including your Christian neighbor. We are all in this for the same reason and same purpose. May God be glorified in the Church, may God be glorified in our friendships, and may God be glorified in our lives!

In Him,

Lindsay Kulick

Ephesians 1:15-23 Bible Study Notes

Ephesians 1:15-23 Bible Study Notes

1:15 - "love for all God's people"

            -This is good to take note of. Because of their faith in God, they had tremendous love for one another and that is evidence of God's work in your life. Good works & loving people does not save you or give you salvation but it is definitely evidence that you have received the salvation of your soul!

            - 1 John 4:20, John 13:14, John 13:34, 35

1:16 - "remembering you in my prayers"

            -Paul reminds us that we must not only preach to people but pray for people! He was always praying for people & their churches, not just preaching to them.

1:17 - "I keep asking that God... will give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better."

            -Not spiritual gifts... not prophecy, not dreams, not interpretation, but wisdom. Paul asked that they would simply know God better. Do you know God? Do you know that He is the Good Shepherd, the Faithful Father, the One who loves you enough to die for you, knows what you need and died to set you free and gives you all your needs? Is that the God you know? How did you come to know God? Through His Word or through other people & society? Who do you think God is?

            -Our "Christian" life must be centered around the knowledge of Him. Of knowing Him... in His truth, as revealed by His Word, and to correct our false ideas of who we think He is.

1:18 - "that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you,"

            -The heart is the very core of life. The source and sustaining thing in our body. We as Christians must have both our eyes and our heart open and enlightened to see the hope that is found in Christ Jesus, the hope we are called to.

            -Paul wanted them to know the hope and security in life that God has called us and has a specific calling for us to fulfill.

            -This is a beautiful promise! That each life has purpose and each part of the body is needed, no matter how small or big. Everyone can be used by God, if they are willing. And it isn't easy. In order to live out our calling we must have the drive to persevere in order to see our calling fulfilled.

            -This hope also talks about the longing we have and the hope we have to be fully in God's presence in His eternal Kingdom. We have a glorious future ahead of us as well, ruling and reigning with Jesus for all eternity, perfectly whole in Him.

    - "What are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints"

            -We are God's inheritance! Pretty crazy to believe... what do we have to offer Him? We usually think our inheritance is in Him (which is true) but His is also in us!

            -That is what Paul was trying to remind the church in Ephesus and all of us, that we are so precious in His sight, so valuable to Him that He considers us to be His inheritance!

            -Most of you are probably thinking how can He make me His inheritance? I am nothing but a lowly sinner whose good deeds are filthy rags.

            -Yet God can make riches out of a poor man, because He invests so much in them. He has invested riches of love, riches of wisdom, riches of suffering, riches of glory. These things make us rich in Him and rich to Him.

    - "and His incomparably great power for us who believe."

            -We must remember that we serve a God of love but also one of power who shows His strength on behalf of people.

            -Many Christians don't know this power or have only seen it from a distance. God wants resurrection life and power to be real in the life of a believer.

            -"The very same power which raised Christ is waiting to raise the drunkard from his drunkenness, to raise the thief from his dishonesty, to raise the Pharisee from his self-righteousness, to raise the Sadducee from his unbelief." (Spurgeon)

--- Remember: this is a Spirit anointed prayer by Paul. Paul was constantly being lead along by the Holy Spirit and constantly speaking and praying the things of God.

1:19b-21

            "That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."

            -"as the might strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead."

                        -With His mighty power available to us, there never needs to be a power outage or shortage in the Christian life.

                        -"If the death of Christ is the supreme demonstration of the love of God … the resurrection of Christ is the supreme demonstration of his power." (Bruce)

            "far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name..."

                        -We don't really fully grasp the ranks of the heavenly and angelic realm but we do know that Christ is above all and we are in Him, which means we are reigning and ruling with Him above all else. We have ultimate authority because of Jesus Christ.

                       

1:22

            "And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the Church."

                        -If all things are under His feet, than all things are under our feet. We reign and rule and have authority with Christ because we are apart of His body. When you see someone you don't say "Hi Mica, Hi body" - Mica's head is attached to her body making her entirely Mica, not two separate parts.

                        -This is why it is so important to know our standing in Christ. Anytime Christ is mentioned or talked about you need to identify yourself with Him. Because you are in Him. Once you have experimentally received what Christ did for you, you are then recognized with Him in front of God the Father.

                        -This should give us extreme confidence and security as a believer, to know that we rule and reign with Christ. He died so you could be secure and confident! He died so you could have authority over everything in this world and this life, He died so that you could be victorious in Him. Until you accept and understand your standing and identification in Christ, you won't live a victorious and confident life.

                        -I challenge you ladies to read Romans 5, 6, 7, & 8 for 30 days. Everyday. Visiting who you are as a sinner, and who you are now in Him, walking in the newness of life. Your life should be radically different. If it isn't, press in. Return to the Lord, revisit who you are in Jesus Christ and the victory and authority that comes with it.

Here are the links to the "Identification" Audio Messages I was talking about and HIGHLY recommended at Bible Study:

Identification Audio Message 1

Identification Audio Message 2

Identification Audio Message 3

Identification Audio Message 4

Identification Audio Message 5

Had such a sweet time with you ladies last night. So so blessed by your genuineness and honesty before the Lord and the rest of us at Bible Study! I appreciate and look forward to every Tuesday night being able to teach and learn with you all! Many blessings to you gals today and this week! 

REMINDER:

31 Bits Party N E X T Tuesday! 

My House - 6pm