YOUR ADVOCATE ALWAYS WINS YOUR CASE
1 John 2:1 - My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
If you want a glimpse of some real-life celestial drama, picture this: God the Father sits as Judge of the universe with Jesus Christ at His right hand, who is not only your High Priest, but also your Advocate.
When your accuser, the devil, comes along and says, “You have done this wrong and you have not done that right,” Jesus says, “Father, the devil is right, but My blood has paid for what the devil is accusing him of.”
Then the devil adds, “You have also not been reading the Bible or praying enough. And this morning, you told a lie.”
Again, Jesus will say, “Father, the devil has indeed reported correctly, but My blood has paid for all these failures.”
God the Father will then slam the gavel on the sound block and say, “Case dismissed! Next!”
You need to understand that God can justly declare you innocent and completely righteous because Jesus took your place at the cross, and shed His blood to pay for your sins and condemnation. (2 Corinthians 5:21) God is simply being faithful and just to what Christ has done.
When Jesus rose from the grave, He rose as your Advocate, your lawyer. But unlike most earthly lawyers who take on cases because it serves their interests and wallets, He is a lawyer who is personally interested in your happiness and well-being. Unlike earthly lawyers who are not caught up in the feelings and sufferings of their clients, Jesus went through great sufferings for you and paid with His own life so that you can receive all the blessings of God.
As your Advocate today, Jesus ensures that what He died and suffered to give you, you get! In heaven today, He defends and represents you to ensure that the healing, wholeness, protection and other blessings that He died to give you are enforced in your life. Beloved, have confidence in and rest in the ability of your Advocate!
Victory is not dependent on the pressures without, but rather on the Holy Spirit within.
Jesus has already given you victory over defeat. Your part is to simply believe and stand in that victory.
Christ has given us the power and the authority. Don't let the devil dictate you!
JESUS—KING AND LORD OVER THE STORM
Matthew 14:27 - But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
Are you going through a dark, difficult moment in your life? Perhaps the storm just rages on with no let-up and you are trembling in fear. You feel that any time now, you may just cave in and go under because you cannot beat this storm.
Be comforted that Jesus sees what you are going through and He always comes to where you are in your darkest hour. He did that for His disciples one stormy night on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus came, walking on the stormy waters, walking on top of the problem that was threatening to overwhelm them. He is indeed the King and Lord over the storms!
When your eyes are on Christ, even though the storms are raging and the winds are blowing, you will know that you are above your troubles and circumstances. When people ask you how you are doing under the circumstances, tell them, “I am not under the circumstances. I am on top of them because my God is above all!”
Don’t be fearful. He will come to you walking on the stormy waters. Hear His comforting voice telling you, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
And as you behold Jesus, you become like Him. You will find yourself doing things you did not know you could do. You will, like Peter, walk on water. This happens when you are occupied with the person of Jesus, with His resources, love, wisdom, ability, power and majesty.
My friend, even during the times when you take your eyes off Jesus, He never takes His eyes off you. And when you cry out to Him, He will immediately stretch out His hand to catch hold of you. You will not go under.
There may be times that you are not able to find your way back. Jesus will then hold your hand and walk you back to the boat. And like Peter, you will realize that with your hand in His, the storm will come to a standstill!
FIRM FOUNDATION
Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. —Matthew7:24
Earthquakes are prevalent in the Pacific Rim region known as the “Ring of Fire.” Ninety percent of the world’s earthquakes and 81 percent of the world’s largest earthquakes occur there. I learned that many buildings in the city of Hong Kong have been built on granite, which could help minimize damage in the event of an earthquake. The foundation of buildings is especially important in earthquake-prone regions of the world.
Jesus Christ told His followers that a stable foundation is critical in building lives. He said, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock” (Matt. 7:24-25). The foundation of Jesus Christ is what will give us the stability our hearts and lives need now and into the future.
By allowing the Lord’s wisdom to guide us in our relationships, decisions, and priorities, we find that He provides the most trustworthy foundation any life could be built upon.
Gracious Father, You are the Lord God, the King of heaven, and I choose to place my hope in You because You alone are worthy of my trust.
Jesus is the best foundation upon which to build a solid life.
REJOICE, HE'S COMING FOR YOU!
...I will come and get you...' John 14:3 NLT
Jesus said, ‘…I am going to prepare a place for you…When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am.’ (John 14:2–3 NLT) This was a groom–to–bride promise. In Christ’s day, when a couple received permission from both their families to marry, the groom would return to his father’s home and build a house for his bride. And by promising to do the same for us, Jesus elevated funerals to the same level of hope as weddings. From His perspective, the trip to the cemetery and the walk down the aisle warrant identical excitement. Both celebrate a new era, a new name and a new home. Rejoice, your heavenly Bridegroom is coming to take you away on His arm! Does that sound too good to be true? Check the record. If you can find one time in all the 66 books in the Bible where God made a promise He didn’t keep, you’ll have reason to doubt this one. Your final glimpse of life will trigger your first glimpse of Jesus. Because Christ’s tomb is empty—His promise isn’t. He made it 2000 years ago, and He’s been working on your new home ever since. Can you imagine what it’ll be like? Living on a tiny, barren island called Patmos, John the Revelator wrote, ‘…There was no more sea.’ (Revelation 21:1 NKJV) Every morning when John arose the sea was all around him; it was the barrier that separated him from his loved ones on the mainland. Think about it: once in your heavenly home the separation will be over.
THE BLESSED HOPE
'Looking for the blessed hope...' Titus 2:13 NKJV
The blessed hope of the resurrection isn’t like a lottery where only one person out of millions hits the jackpot. And it’s not a wishful sentiment offered at gravesides to comfort the grieving. It’s a hope built on certainty. Jesus said, ‘…Because I live, you will live also.’ (John 14:19 NKJV) Paul explained: ‘…There is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when He comes back.’ (1 Corinthians 15:23 NLT) Paul was writing to Corinthian Christians who’d been schooled in the Greek philosophy of a shadowy afterlife. Someone was trying to convince them that corpses couldn’t be raised—neither theirs, nor Christ’s. And the apostle couldn’t bear such a thought. So with the brilliance of a great attorney in his closing argument, he reviews the facts: ‘…[Jesus] was raised from the dead on the third day… He was seen by Peter… the Twelve… more than 500 of His followers… Last of all… I also saw Him.’ (1 Corinthians 15:4–8 NLT) How many witnesses were there? A handful? No, hundreds! And they didn’t see a phantom or experience a sentiment. Graveside eulogies often include phrases like: ‘She’ll live on forever in our hearts.’ This isn’t what Jesus’ followers meant. They saw Him ‘in the flesh’. And if you’ve trusted Christ as your Saviour, one day you, too, will see Him in the flesh. At death, your spirit will go to be with Him, and at His return, your resurrected body will rise to meet Him in the air. ‘So shall we ever be with the Lord.’ (1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJV) Awesome, absolutely awesome!
I WILL BE WITH YOU ...
When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! - Isaiah 43:2, TLB
We all go through difficult times in life. Maybe a loved one let you down. Maybe you didn’t get the job or promotion you wanted. Maybe you’re having a challenge in your health. Sometimes it can feel like a raging river of emotion inside, but God promises that He is with you. He won’t let you down. He still calms the storms that rage around you!
What did the disciples do when they were in a great storm in Mark 4? They called on Jesus! They turned to Him when they didn’t know what to do, and He brought peace to their circumstances. Today, if you are going through circumstances you don’t understand, know that it’s no surprise to God. He’s already prepared a way of escape for you. Call on Jesus, today! He’s closer than the air you breath! He loves you with an everlasting love, and He promises that He is always with you!
YOU ARE SET FREE FROM THE CURSE!
And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.LUKE 13:11-13
One of my favorite stories in the Gospels is of Jesus healing a woman bowed over with a spirit of infirmity for 18 years. Imagine never being able to see the sky or rainbows, but only the dust of the earth and the grubby feet of people—what a painful existence she lived!
I love how Jesus saw her and immediately called her over to receive a miracle from Him. The woman had been bound in this condition for 18 years, a number which represents bondage in the Bible. When Jesus said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity,” He was proclaiming liberty over her and setting her free from the bondage of the devil. He laid hands on her and she immediately received her healing.
Today, you have already been set free from the curse of sickness by Jesus’ one perfect sacrifice at the cross. Believe it and proclaim your liberty won by His finished work
“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17).
There is no attack of the enemy that can be successful against the Christian who knows and believes God’s love. Satan’s “weapons” may form, but they won’t succeed in their mission to destroy you.
THE DIVINE EXCHANGE
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.2 CORINTHIANS 8:9
The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 8:9 that for our sakes Jesus became poor so that we through His poverty might be made rich. At the cross, Jesus took on all our sin and poverty. He was humiliated, spat upon and stripped naked. The Roman soldiers even gambled for His clothes.
The One who fed more than 5,000 people, gave fishermen a net-breaking, boat-sinking load of fish, and who placed the gold, diamonds and rubies in the earth, took your place of poverty at the cross, just so that you can take His place of abundance. A divine exchange occurred at Calvary—your sin for His righteousness and your poverty for His provision.
My friend, Jesus is the reason you can be the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath. He is the reason you can be blessed to be a blessing. Put your trust in His presence in your life and what His finished work has accomplished for you!
Free Christian Ebooks http://walthope.tripod.com
http://walthope.wordpress.com
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100302133262254344211/posts
1 John 2:1 - My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
If you want a glimpse of some real-life celestial drama, picture this: God the Father sits as Judge of the universe with Jesus Christ at His right hand, who is not only your High Priest, but also your Advocate.
When your accuser, the devil, comes along and says, “You have done this wrong and you have not done that right,” Jesus says, “Father, the devil is right, but My blood has paid for what the devil is accusing him of.”
Then the devil adds, “You have also not been reading the Bible or praying enough. And this morning, you told a lie.”
Again, Jesus will say, “Father, the devil has indeed reported correctly, but My blood has paid for all these failures.”
God the Father will then slam the gavel on the sound block and say, “Case dismissed! Next!”
You need to understand that God can justly declare you innocent and completely righteous because Jesus took your place at the cross, and shed His blood to pay for your sins and condemnation. (2 Corinthians 5:21) God is simply being faithful and just to what Christ has done.
When Jesus rose from the grave, He rose as your Advocate, your lawyer. But unlike most earthly lawyers who take on cases because it serves their interests and wallets, He is a lawyer who is personally interested in your happiness and well-being. Unlike earthly lawyers who are not caught up in the feelings and sufferings of their clients, Jesus went through great sufferings for you and paid with His own life so that you can receive all the blessings of God.
As your Advocate today, Jesus ensures that what He died and suffered to give you, you get! In heaven today, He defends and represents you to ensure that the healing, wholeness, protection and other blessings that He died to give you are enforced in your life. Beloved, have confidence in and rest in the ability of your Advocate!
Victory is not dependent on the pressures without, but rather on the Holy Spirit within.
Jesus has already given you victory over defeat. Your part is to simply believe and stand in that victory.
Christ has given us the power and the authority. Don't let the devil dictate you!
JESUS—KING AND LORD OVER THE STORM
Matthew 14:27 - But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
Are you going through a dark, difficult moment in your life? Perhaps the storm just rages on with no let-up and you are trembling in fear. You feel that any time now, you may just cave in and go under because you cannot beat this storm.
Be comforted that Jesus sees what you are going through and He always comes to where you are in your darkest hour. He did that for His disciples one stormy night on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus came, walking on the stormy waters, walking on top of the problem that was threatening to overwhelm them. He is indeed the King and Lord over the storms!
When your eyes are on Christ, even though the storms are raging and the winds are blowing, you will know that you are above your troubles and circumstances. When people ask you how you are doing under the circumstances, tell them, “I am not under the circumstances. I am on top of them because my God is above all!”
Don’t be fearful. He will come to you walking on the stormy waters. Hear His comforting voice telling you, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
And as you behold Jesus, you become like Him. You will find yourself doing things you did not know you could do. You will, like Peter, walk on water. This happens when you are occupied with the person of Jesus, with His resources, love, wisdom, ability, power and majesty.
My friend, even during the times when you take your eyes off Jesus, He never takes His eyes off you. And when you cry out to Him, He will immediately stretch out His hand to catch hold of you. You will not go under.
There may be times that you are not able to find your way back. Jesus will then hold your hand and walk you back to the boat. And like Peter, you will realize that with your hand in His, the storm will come to a standstill!
FIRM FOUNDATION
Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. —Matthew7:24
Earthquakes are prevalent in the Pacific Rim region known as the “Ring of Fire.” Ninety percent of the world’s earthquakes and 81 percent of the world’s largest earthquakes occur there. I learned that many buildings in the city of Hong Kong have been built on granite, which could help minimize damage in the event of an earthquake. The foundation of buildings is especially important in earthquake-prone regions of the world.
Jesus Christ told His followers that a stable foundation is critical in building lives. He said, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock” (Matt. 7:24-25). The foundation of Jesus Christ is what will give us the stability our hearts and lives need now and into the future.
By allowing the Lord’s wisdom to guide us in our relationships, decisions, and priorities, we find that He provides the most trustworthy foundation any life could be built upon.
Gracious Father, You are the Lord God, the King of heaven, and I choose to place my hope in You because You alone are worthy of my trust.
Jesus is the best foundation upon which to build a solid life.
REJOICE, HE'S COMING FOR YOU!
...I will come and get you...' John 14:3 NLT
Jesus said, ‘…I am going to prepare a place for you…When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am.’ (John 14:2–3 NLT) This was a groom–to–bride promise. In Christ’s day, when a couple received permission from both their families to marry, the groom would return to his father’s home and build a house for his bride. And by promising to do the same for us, Jesus elevated funerals to the same level of hope as weddings. From His perspective, the trip to the cemetery and the walk down the aisle warrant identical excitement. Both celebrate a new era, a new name and a new home. Rejoice, your heavenly Bridegroom is coming to take you away on His arm! Does that sound too good to be true? Check the record. If you can find one time in all the 66 books in the Bible where God made a promise He didn’t keep, you’ll have reason to doubt this one. Your final glimpse of life will trigger your first glimpse of Jesus. Because Christ’s tomb is empty—His promise isn’t. He made it 2000 years ago, and He’s been working on your new home ever since. Can you imagine what it’ll be like? Living on a tiny, barren island called Patmos, John the Revelator wrote, ‘…There was no more sea.’ (Revelation 21:1 NKJV) Every morning when John arose the sea was all around him; it was the barrier that separated him from his loved ones on the mainland. Think about it: once in your heavenly home the separation will be over.
THE BLESSED HOPE
'Looking for the blessed hope...' Titus 2:13 NKJV
The blessed hope of the resurrection isn’t like a lottery where only one person out of millions hits the jackpot. And it’s not a wishful sentiment offered at gravesides to comfort the grieving. It’s a hope built on certainty. Jesus said, ‘…Because I live, you will live also.’ (John 14:19 NKJV) Paul explained: ‘…There is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when He comes back.’ (1 Corinthians 15:23 NLT) Paul was writing to Corinthian Christians who’d been schooled in the Greek philosophy of a shadowy afterlife. Someone was trying to convince them that corpses couldn’t be raised—neither theirs, nor Christ’s. And the apostle couldn’t bear such a thought. So with the brilliance of a great attorney in his closing argument, he reviews the facts: ‘…[Jesus] was raised from the dead on the third day… He was seen by Peter… the Twelve… more than 500 of His followers… Last of all… I also saw Him.’ (1 Corinthians 15:4–8 NLT) How many witnesses were there? A handful? No, hundreds! And they didn’t see a phantom or experience a sentiment. Graveside eulogies often include phrases like: ‘She’ll live on forever in our hearts.’ This isn’t what Jesus’ followers meant. They saw Him ‘in the flesh’. And if you’ve trusted Christ as your Saviour, one day you, too, will see Him in the flesh. At death, your spirit will go to be with Him, and at His return, your resurrected body will rise to meet Him in the air. ‘So shall we ever be with the Lord.’ (1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJV) Awesome, absolutely awesome!
I WILL BE WITH YOU ...
When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! - Isaiah 43:2, TLB
We all go through difficult times in life. Maybe a loved one let you down. Maybe you didn’t get the job or promotion you wanted. Maybe you’re having a challenge in your health. Sometimes it can feel like a raging river of emotion inside, but God promises that He is with you. He won’t let you down. He still calms the storms that rage around you!
What did the disciples do when they were in a great storm in Mark 4? They called on Jesus! They turned to Him when they didn’t know what to do, and He brought peace to their circumstances. Today, if you are going through circumstances you don’t understand, know that it’s no surprise to God. He’s already prepared a way of escape for you. Call on Jesus, today! He’s closer than the air you breath! He loves you with an everlasting love, and He promises that He is always with you!
YOU ARE SET FREE FROM THE CURSE!
And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.LUKE 13:11-13
One of my favorite stories in the Gospels is of Jesus healing a woman bowed over with a spirit of infirmity for 18 years. Imagine never being able to see the sky or rainbows, but only the dust of the earth and the grubby feet of people—what a painful existence she lived!
I love how Jesus saw her and immediately called her over to receive a miracle from Him. The woman had been bound in this condition for 18 years, a number which represents bondage in the Bible. When Jesus said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity,” He was proclaiming liberty over her and setting her free from the bondage of the devil. He laid hands on her and she immediately received her healing.
Today, you have already been set free from the curse of sickness by Jesus’ one perfect sacrifice at the cross. Believe it and proclaim your liberty won by His finished work
“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17).
There is no attack of the enemy that can be successful against the Christian who knows and believes God’s love. Satan’s “weapons” may form, but they won’t succeed in their mission to destroy you.
THE DIVINE EXCHANGE
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.2 CORINTHIANS 8:9
The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 8:9 that for our sakes Jesus became poor so that we through His poverty might be made rich. At the cross, Jesus took on all our sin and poverty. He was humiliated, spat upon and stripped naked. The Roman soldiers even gambled for His clothes.
The One who fed more than 5,000 people, gave fishermen a net-breaking, boat-sinking load of fish, and who placed the gold, diamonds and rubies in the earth, took your place of poverty at the cross, just so that you can take His place of abundance. A divine exchange occurred at Calvary—your sin for His righteousness and your poverty for His provision.
My friend, Jesus is the reason you can be the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath. He is the reason you can be blessed to be a blessing. Put your trust in His presence in your life and what His finished work has accomplished for you!
Free Christian Ebooks http://walthope.tripod.com
http://walthope.wordpress.com
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100302133262254344211/posts
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