WITHOUT THE RESURRECTION THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST HAD NO VALUE
THE CROSS IS THE ENTRY POINT INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD NOT THE END. IT'S THE BEGINNING OF BETTER THINGS TO COME
EPHESIANS 1:15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
EPHESIANS 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height ---
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
DEATH AND THE GRAVE COULD NOT STOP GOD
JESUS RANSOMED HIS BLOOD FOR ALL THAT THE DEVIL HAD STOLEN FROM MANKIND. OUR FATHERS HEART AND INTENTIONS FOR US FROM BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF TIME WERE ALL RETURNED IN FULL. PLUS OUR ETERNAL SALVATION WITH HIM IN HEAVEN.
BUT PEOPLE ARE STILL STUCK ON THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T EARN OR DESERVE IT. TRUE. BUT, JESUS DID AND HE FREELY GAVE IT ALL TO US BY GODS GRACE. PEOPLE HAVE TO LOOK PAST THEMSELVES AND LOOK TO JESUS FINISHED WORKS ON THE CROSS
WE DON'T REALIZE THE FULLNESS OR NOT IN OUR HEARTS.... THAT IS WHY PEOPLE DON'T ACCESS WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY FREELY GIVEN TO THEM BY HIS GRACE.
THE DEVIL WANTS US TO FOCUS ON OURSELVES....NOT BEING WORTHY. BUT, GOD WANT US TO FOCUS ON WHAT HE HAS ALREADY PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM
WE FOCUS TOO MUCH ON OUR OWN SHORT COMINGS AND NOT ENOUGH ON GOD'S PERFECTION AND COMPLETION.
WE CAN NEVER ATTAIN THAT IN AND OF OUR SELVES. THE ENEMY KNOWS THAT AND WANTS US TO FOCUS ON THE WRONG THINGS INCLUDING ON MEN
THERE IS TOO MUCH NOISE IN LIFE SOMETIMES. WE JUST HAVE TO GO TO OUR QUIET PLACE ALONE WITH GOD. TO HEAR HS VOICE ALONE! AT THE END OF THE DAY....THAT IS THE ONLY VOICE THAT IS IMPORTANT AND SIGNIFICANT FOR OUR LIVES.
ENEMY LIKES TO KEEP US BUSY AND DISTRACTED. GOD WANT US TO BE QUIET AND REST IN HIS FINISHED WORK
GOD WANT TO RAISE US UP TO HIS HEAVENLY PLACES IN THE SPIRIT REALM. OUR SAVIOR JESUS HAS PROVIDED ACCESS...CHRIST IS THE DOORWAY TO THE FATHER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT SHOWERS US WITH ALL OF THE SPIRITUAL THINGS OF GOD. JACOBS LADDER, WHEN THE ANGELS CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN TO JACOB AND BACK UP OVER AND OVER. THAT IS WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES FOR US TODAY
GOD KNOWS ALL THAT WE NEED AND ALL THAT HE HAS FOR US TO ACCOMPLISH IN OUR LIVES FOR HIS KINGDOM....EACH OF US DIFFERENTLY. HIS HOLY SPIRIT PROVIDE ALL THINGS. THAT IS WHY IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT WE PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT TO ALLOW GOD TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL FOR OUR LIVES AND ALL IN THE EARTH HE HAS ALREADY PREORDAINED AND PREDESTINED US FOR.
IT IS NOT ABOUT US..... IT IS ALL ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. WE ARE MERE INSTRUMENTS....JESUS HANDS AND FEET TO REACH THE LOST AND BRING THEM TO THE FATHER.
‘I AM WHO I AM’
And God said to Moses, “I am who I am.”… - Exodus 3:14
Whatever your challenge is today, whether it is physical, emotional, financial or marital, the great I Am declares to you: “I am to you what you need Me to be.”
Do you need healing? He says, “I am the Lord who heals you. (Exodus 15:26) And as you believe Me, you will see your healing manifest thirtyfold, sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”
Are you groping in the dark, not knowing what to do? He says, “I am the light of the world. (John 8:12) When you walk in Me, you will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Are you looking for a way out of a bad situation? He says, “I am your deliverer. I will reach down from on high, take hold of your hand and draw you out of the deep waters.” (Psalm 18:2, 16)
Are you wondering if there is more to life than merely existing from day to day? He says, “I am the resurrection and the life. (John 11:25) I came to give you life. And where there is life, there cannot be death. You will have life and life more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Are you fearful of what is ahead of you? He says, “I am the good shepherd (John 10:11), who leads you to pastures of tender, green grass and waters of rest. You will not suffer lack.” (Psalm 23:1–3)
Are you confused by the opinions and reports of man? He says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. (Revelation 1:11) I have the final word in your life. The doctors do not have the final word. The experts do not have the final word. I have the first word and the last word in your situation.”
My friend, do not be fearful of the problems you face. The great I Am declares to you, “Fear not! For I am to you what you need Me to be!”
Thought For The Day :
God declares to you, “I am to you what you need Me to be.”
Heart to Heart
For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct [Him] and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ, the Messiah, and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. - 1 Corinthians 2:16
Isn't it exciting to realize that you can hold the thoughts and feelings and purposes of God's very own heart in your heart? Isn't it thrilling to know the Creator of heaven and earth wants to be one spirit with you and transmit His thoughts to your mind?
First Corinthians 6:17 says that when you were joined to the Lord you became one spirit with Him. He came into union with you so that He can talk to you heart to heart. God wants you in this harmony with Him so that His thoughts can become your actions. He wants you to walk so closely with Him that you never lack power to overcome the evil of this world. He wants you to be so in tune with His Spirit that you are able to feel His heart of compassion toward those around you who are hurting or bowed down with sickness and pain. He wants to be one with you, so He can reach out through your hands and fulfill His purposes in the earth.
Make a fresh commitment today to walk in union with your God. Give your attention to His Spirit in your inner man. Determine to yield to His voice and not to the voices of the world or the flesh!
Allow the mind of Christ to flow through you!
THE ANTECEDENTS OF TRUE REVIVAL
"Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the
way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is
coming," Says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1 NKJV)
History has clearly taught us that true revivals don’t
happen arbitrarily or randomly. No generation in the past has ever experienced
a mighty move of God by chance. If any generation desires God’s overwhelming
presence, it must prepare the way for God. God is not an intruder or
gatecrasher who will force His way into our affairs when not invited or wanted.
It is our responsibility to prepare the way before the Lord
and seek Him with all our hearts, and when we do, the Lord will not fail to
come to His temple, the Church. The Scripture states: "Behold, I send My
messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek,
will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom
you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts.” (Mal. 3:1
NKJV). “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your
heart.” (Jer. 29:13 NKJV). If we fail to prepare the way before God and seek
God wholeheartedly, we may not experience true revival in our generation.
In the first part of this piece we began to examine the
antecedents of revival, that is, the important things that we need to know or
do before we can expect true revival to break forth in our generation. We are
examining some vital issues that our Lord Jesus Christ raised with His
disciples on His way to Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead, for “whatever
things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the
patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Rom. 15:4 NKJV).
First, the Lord would have us to know why today’s Church is
spiritual sick and weak. It is a must for us to know from where we have fallen.
Jesus said: "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do
the first works…” (Rev. 2:5 NKJV). We must acknowledge that it is our refusal
to abide in Christ - the true vine and to continue steadfastly in the teachings
of Christ that has debilitated us spiritually. God said: “I will return again
to My place till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face;
In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me." (Hos. 5:15 NKJV).
Second, the Lord would also want us to be assured of His
unwavering and everlasting love for His Church notwithstanding her
unfaithfulness and backsliding. Nothing can ever separate us from the love of
God which is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:38-39). On His way to Bethany, Jesus
reiterated His love for Lazarus, saying to His disciples: "Our friend
Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." (John 11:11 NKJV). Anyone
who does not love the Church in spite of her present disheartening condition
cannot be employed by the Lord for her revival and restoration.
Let us further examine some important antecedents of
revival.
Third, the Lord would have us to accurately see, know and
understand the exact present condition of the Church. While the Lord Jesus drew
near Bethany to revive Lazarus, He began to help His disciples to see and
understand the exact present condition of Lazarus, for they had thought that
Lazarus was just sleeping.
The Scripture reveals: “These things He said, and after that
He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him
up." Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get
well." However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was
speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly,
"Lazarus is dead.” (John 11:11-14 NKJV).
Like the undiscerning Disciples of Christ on their way to
Bethany, many believers today are completely ignorant of the true spiritual and
moral state of today’s Church. Such ones need to cry to the Lord to anoint
their eyes with eye salve so they can see as the Lord sees (Rev. 3:18). Like
the Laodicea church, the Church today is boasting, saying, "I am rich,
have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' --and do not know that you are
wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. “(Rev. 3:17 NKJV).
We are certainly not yet ready for true revival if we
continue to take pride in our large congregations which are largely spiritually
immature, carnal or sensual, or in our gigantic cathedrals and imposing
edifices void of God’s presence, or in our material prosperity at the expense
of our spiritual prosperity.
Many believers are at ease in Zion because they are
undiscerning and oblivious of her corruption and ruins. You cannot see today’s
Church as the Lord sees her and your heart will not be burdened to passionately
and continuously cry out to the Lord to purge His Church and revive her again.
Like Ezekiel, your eyes need to be opened to see beyond the superficial growth
and prosperity of today’s Church before you can be one of God’s revival
partners in this generation (Eze. 8:5-10).
Lastly, having helped them to understand the exact present
state of Lazarus, the Lord Jesus now said to His disciples, "Nevertheless
let us go to him." (John 11:15 NKJV). Until you also begin to see as the
Lord sees, you cannot be His partner in revival. Although revival is primarily
the Lord’s work, yet He seeks for suitable men to bring into partnership with
Him for revival. When they set out on their journey to Bethany, Jesus expressly
declared His intention: "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may
wake him up." (John 11:11 NKJV).
It is the Spirit of the Lord who quickens, revives or gives
life (John 6:63, 2 Cor. 3:6). However, the Lord always loves to work in us,
with us, and through us. Although it was the Lord Jesus, the Resurrection and
the Life, who raised Lazarus from the dead by His voice, yet He had some works
for His disciples to do. First, the Lord asked them to take away the huge stone
that had been laid against the mouth of the cave before He called Lazarus to
come forth (John 11:39). Second, after calling Lazarus forth from the dead, the
Lord said to His disciples, "Loose him, and let him go." (John 11:44
NKJV).
Beloved, although it is the Lord alone who can revive
today’s spiritually dead Church, yet He is seeking for partners or vessels that
He could work with, work in and work through. The Spirit of God is calling into
partnership with God for revival the believers whose eyes the Lord has opened,
having anointed their eyes with eye salve so that they may accurately see the
ongoing spiritual and moral corruption and degeneration in the Church and be
burdened to cry out to the Lord for the revival and healing of His Church.
The Lord is also seeking for concerned and compassionate
believers that He will empower and embolden to take away every “stone” that the
wicked hirelings or spiritual undertakers in our generation have laid against
“the caves” they had constructed to keep the sheep of God in perpetual bondage.
The Lord is presently recruiting men and women who will wield the sharp “Sword
of the Spirit” to cut and loose the grave clothes the greedy hirelings or
spiritual undertakers have used to wrap the face, bind the hands and feet of
God’s sheep in their caves. Friend, would you be one of God’s revival partners
in this generation? Let the Lord know your response now!
Prayer: My Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I want to be Your partner
in the revival of Your Church. Anoint my eyes with eye salve that I may begin
to see as You see. Dear Holy Spirit, strengthen me to wait patiently upon the
Lord to receive His divine instructions and orders and to carry them out
promptly and completely, in Jesus’ name. Amen
WALTER KAMBULOW
FACEBOOK:
WALT KAM
Gordon
Williams http://gordwilliams.com/
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