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Your life will be never a meaningless pursuit, that leaves you empty within, but will be one of purpose and fruitfulness, when you are teachable and humble in the hand of God, to pray as the psalmist does, Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; And may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. [Psalm 143:10] No labor in Him, will ever be in vain, for nothing is wasted in God’s economy. He is the God who causes all things, even what seems to be against you, to work together for your good, when you love Him, and have been called according to His purposes. [Romans 8:28] There will always be growth, and a progression in your life, towards a godly maturity, even as you forget what lies behind you, to reach forward and press on towards your divine goal, to lay hold of what Christ has laid hold of you. It is a wondrous privilege to be a part of God’s plan, and knowing Him is your greatest blessing, for it leads you in it’s path, to see you abound even in a time of lack and inadequacy.
In the Old Testament times, it is what happened in the life of Isaac, the son of promise. For, even in a time of famine, as he stayed in the will of God, that was quite impractical from a worldly point of view, he was enabled to sow and reap a hundred fold, during the same year. He went on to become so wealthy, that even his enemies came to him, acknowledging that he was a man who was blessed by God. [Genesis 26:12-28] And it is faithfully recorded in the scriptures, so that you and I, may be encouraged to walk in the truth of the sovereignty of God, that transcends what could be your present, temporary lack. His amazing grace was the empowering that lay at the heart of the generosity in a time of poverty, and joy in a time of affliction, that was seen in the Macedonian church, as the apostle Paul testifies , in his letter to the church in Corinth. [2 Corinthians 8:1-5]
And even in his own calling, Paul knew that it was all about the grace of God, and has made it very clear, time and again, in his epistles. His life and his ministry therefore, as he sets forth the path and the goal of it, is tremendously significant, for it calls you and I to emulate it, for the glory of God. The end purpose of it all, is all about God, to know Him more and more. It is the one thing, the goal that Paul elaborates upon, applying it to his own life’s journey, his race of faith, that began so dramatically, but with a very simple introduction, ‘I am Jesus…whom you are persecuting’! [Acts 9:5]
Knowing HIM :
That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering, being conformed to His death. [Philippians 3:10] The centrality of the Cross in the Christian faith, is what Paul pinpoints, and rightly so, though the Lord’s birth, and His entire life was miraculous. But, the Cross where the Lord gave up His life, to rise again, is the crescendo. And it is the death of Lord Jesus Christ, that you remember and proclaim, as you partake of His Table. ‘What I received from the Lord, I pass on to you’ are Paul’s words of introduction, concerning it, to ascertain that it is what the Lord Himself has prescribed. [1 Corinthians 11:23] The Cross towers over everything else, transformed by the Savior’s death, to be no longer a symbol of shame, but one of triumphant glory, a demonstration of God’s power, now and forevermore. And, knowing Christ, the Lord Jesus, more and more, happens in you, as you gain understanding of the truth of the divine exchange, or the wondrous transaction that took place on the Cross of Calvary.
The CROSS questions !:
Why did Lord Jesus have to die on the Cross? Why did He rise again? For whom was it done? And, just being thankful for what took place, without knowing the powerful reason behind it, will not profit you much. To know Him more and more, to taste and see His goodness, experience it in your life, requires an understanding of the magnificent truth. For the death that He died, He died to sin once and for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. [Romans 6:10]
Not because of sin, but, died to sin:
You and I die, because the wages of our sin is death. But it was not so with the Lord, for, He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him; And by His stripes we are healed. [Isaiah 53:5] Lord Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, died because of our sin, as penalty for it, and to break the power of sin. He offered forgiveness for our sins by His death, and to bring us back to God, He needed to break the power of sin in us. And even today, it is what you proclaim, in partaking of the Lord’s Table. It is the truth and understanding of the significance of the words of the Lord, ‘My Body, that is broken for you, My Blood, that is shed for you’. And it leads to the demonstration of the power of the finished work of the Cross in you.
The Risen Lord:
Christ died once and for all, that you and I may walk in freedom and liberty, set free from the power of sin and satan. And, it is why Paul goes on to focus on the death, and also the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For, the miracles that He worked while on earth, were signs, but at that point of time, were limited to a place. The effect of the Cross though is for all, and also from then on, from generation to generation, freely by His grace made available, to the one who believes. And, why did Christ have to die? Lord Jesus Christ died as a propitiation for your sins and mine, and the sins of the whole world. The death that He died, He died to sin, once and for all. [Romans 6:10] It is all about the sinful nature in man, that exists within him, from the time of his birth, for the first Adam, the representative of man at the very beginning, disobeyed God to sin, by going against His word to him. And, it is why, even a small child can so easily disobey.
But Lord Jesus Christ, having been born into this world as the last Adam, succeeded in the place of Adam’s sin, and the power of sin has been broken. Therefore, now, when you are born again in your spirit, you have the Holy Spirit, in you. And descending from Adam’s original sin, to that which separated you from God, Christ has given closure, and brought you back to Him. You are indeed saved completely, by His one perfect sacrifice, to become co heirs, and partners, co laborers in building the kingdom of God. He died so that you can live in unbroken fellowship with God, one that was His original plan for humanity, but was severed by the entrance of sin.
Healed by His wounds & effect in you:
Christ Himself bore our sins on the tree, that we having died to sins might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed. [1 Peter 2:24] It is why Christ died, and it is what He has accomplished on the Cross. You have been healed by His wounds; and you can be dead to sin, to live as a sinner, but a son or daughter of God. And on His side, He has already done it; ‘It is finished’ were His words on the Cross. All that you need to do in order to experience it, in you is to appropriate it. And, it is faith in you, that connects you to the finished and perfect work of the Living Redeemer. The fuse wire in the switchboard of your home can be likened to it; for it is through it that electricity from the power station, travelling through cables and transformers enters, to light up the many bulbs and appliances in your home, when you switch them on. In this time of lockdown, when mobility is so restricted, watching a live event, or worshiping on the Lord’s day, all becomes possible; but there needs to be a source.
The connecting source:
And it is your faith, that connects you to the truth and power of the Cross, to light up your life, driving away the darkness of sin, the weight that you need to lay aside, in order to run the race set before you. For, any challenge that comes against you in this world, to hinder your progress in the will of God, will ultimately be against your faith in God and His word. And it is your faith, that overcomes the world. It connects you to the source, the accomplished work of Christ on Calvary.
The faith connection:
Grace and faith are the building blocks in the kingdom of God, and the Cross of Jesus Christ, it’s crowning glory. And it is with a right understanding of the operating procedure of faith in you, that you can experience the powerful benefits, of what transpired through it.
Belief – heart – right relationship – righteousness:
That if you confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus, You believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [Romans 10:9] It is the gospel, and the role of faith in it, presented in simple and uncomplicated terms. For, when you truly believe the word, in your heart, and faith is birthed in you, you enter into a right relationship with God, that is the righteousness of God, in Christ. And when you confess this truth, with your mouth, you enter into salvation, the sum total of all the blessings of God, in Christ, and through the Holy Spirit, who now dwells in you, as a deposit, guaranteeing your salvation. Thus, when you confess Jesus, as Lord, what He has accomplished for you, becomes your life’s experience.
For, with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, one confesses unto salvation. [Romans 10:10] The process of salvation, thus, teaches a very important principle, that underlies the working of God in every area of your life, the need for a confession of His word, concerning it, for it to prosper, and come to pass. And this truth, can be remembered in simple terms, as the writer of the book of Hebrews has expressed it , HE Himself has said, ……, So we may boldly say… [Hebrews 13:5,6] And, even as you meditate upon God’s word, you so often see the Lord, moved with compassion speak words of healing over the suffering, the lost, and the broken, who came to Him. May it speak to you, at your point of need, that you too may find healing and wholeness, as you receive it in your heart with faith, to confess it with your mouth, and be restored, for, ‘Since He Himself has said………you also, may boldly say’. And His word that comes to you, even as you appropriate it by faith to confess it, will never return void, but will accomplish the purpose for which it is sent. For, He who said it, is the One who died on the Cross, to break the power of sin, defeating the evil one. He certainly has the authority to say it. And He is in you, so you can boldly say it, to take authority over your troubling circumstance.
Healing and peace:
And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction’. [Mark 5:34] They were the Lord’s words, to the woman among the thronging multitude, who reached out to touch the hem of His robe in faith, knowing and believing that she would be healed of her long standing affliction. And today, in the problem that could be going on and on in your like, physical or otherwise, you too can proclaim it in faith to receive peace and healing. For, He who has spoken it, is the One who has carried away all your pain and sorrow on the Cross, the chastisement for your peace was laid upon Him, and by His wounds, you have been healed. Knowing and understanding the truth that all that is needed for your healing, has already been accomplished on the Cross, to also believe in it, and appropriate it, is what makes it your personal experience. And having risen again from the dead, He now lives forevermore, the Eternal High Priest, who pleads to the Father, on your behalf. Moreover, a glorious purpose of God, then becomes possible in you, as Paul goes on to explain.
Indwelling of the Spirit:
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead, will also give life to your mortal bodies, through His Spirit, who dwells in you. [Romans 8:11] Paul has described here, what will happen at the Lord’s second coming, the Day of Resurrection. And, a foretaste of it, is something that you can experience even here on earth. For, Christ died to sin, on the Cross. He dealt with what was separating you from God, to bring you back to Him, restoring your relationship with Him. The Spirit of God then dwells in you, to strengthen you. And in His strength, you can put to death, the dictates of the flesh, that would lead you to sin. For, the One who has dealt with it all, now lives in you. [vs 13]
Peace with God – a relationship with Him:
A glorious destiny now becomes yours, with the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, to bring you into a wonderful relationship with God, of peace and intimacy with Him. It is glorious transformation, from being a sinner to be a child of God. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. [vs 14] It is in an intimate and personal relationship with Him, that you can now approach the Almighty God, as you know Christ more and more, to experience Him in your life, as your God, your Lord, Your Shepherd, Your Healer and Provider.
Your victory:
Thus, your victory comes in the challenging situations of your life, when He is ‘Your God’ Your closeness to Him, in knowing Christ more and more in a personal relationship counts. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through ‘our’ Lord, Jesus Christ. [1 Corinthians 15:57] Christ has done it all on the Cross of Calvary, to defeat the power of sin and satan, so that you may prosper and not perish. And it is as a child of God, that He leads you forward, to experience all that He has accomplished for you, through His death, resurrection, and indwelling of His Spirit.
May we therefore, with with grateful hearts, offer our thanks unto the Father, for giving us His Son Jesus Christ, to be our wondrous Savior. Where we should have been crucified, He was crucified, to rise once again on the third day, and to live in us. He certainly enjoys the right, to live His life, in and through us, as we are led by the Spirit of God, to live as His sons and daughters, for the glory of His Name.
In the Name of Christ Jesus Amen.
