2 Corinthians 5:21says: "For my sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him I might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what I ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].
After checking up the meaning of "Righteousness" and "Righteous" in Strong's Concordance, I am made to understand "Righteousness" as such: Being faithful to each others' expectations.
I am under the New Covenant which has been cut between God the Father and God the Son as Jesus the Man by the shedding of His precious Blood. God the Son Who came as Jesus the Man is my Representative in this New Covenant.
God the Son as Jesus the Man has satisfied all of God's expectations as the Covenantal party. As He is, so am I in this world. [1 John 4:17]. Therefore, I can expect God to be faithful to my expectations.
I can now come boldly unto the throne of grace, that I may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. [Hebrews 4:16]
This confident expectation is my covenantal right which Jesus has given me by and through and with His Passion, Death, Burial, Resurrection and Ascension!
I expect to be more blessed than Abraham.
Abraham believed in God's promise of giving His Beloved Son to be Jesus the Man and what this Man Jesus would do.
Abraham believed in the foreshadow of the good things to come. I have the good things Who came.
Therefore, I expect to see better blessings in my life than that enjoyed by Abraham. This expectation is my New Covenantal right secured for me by the Blood of God's only Beloved Son Who came as Jesus the Man to be my Savior, my Messiah, my Christ, the Anointed One to [Luke 4:18-19]:
Preach good news to the poor;
Announce release to the captives of satan;
Recover sight to the blind (both physical and spiritual);
Deliver those who are oppressed (down-trodden or condemned, bruised, crushed and broken down by calamity); and
Proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day, which is RIGHT NOW, when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound].
I received the oil of gladness from the Anointed One into my life as well as that of each and every member of my household; every single drop of it.
Yee-ha! No horse run!
Thank you Abba Father for giving up your only Beloved Son to be Jesus the Man as my Savor; my Messiah, my Christ!
If the Righteousness of God means "being faithful to each others' expectations", would it then mean that Faith is also wrapped up in that same Righteousness? Since I am the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, does it mean that this Righteousness is accounted for my faith? Is this the reason Abraham's faith was accounted for righteousness as Romans 4:15 tells us? I wonder...
(NB: This post reflects my personal understanding)
Selfish Reason I am doing it for very selfish reasons.
On that great day of separation, when the wheat is separated from the chaff, how am I to respond to the question posed by those God placed around me during my earthly stay, especially my immediate loved ones:
"All this time that I was with you, why didn't you tell me about it?
Whhhhhhhhy?!?"
What am I to say to them when they look me in the eye with the cry of intense pain and anguish?
Now that I am sharing, it is not that I would say "I told you so".
But at least I can say, "I tried", albeit not the best of approaches and eloquence, but I really tried.
My part is to share the Gospel. The convicting part rest with the blessed Holy Spirit.
The Gospel
We can REIGN in life RIGHT NOW and not have to wait till the sweet by and by.
This has been made possible by Jesus Christ Who precipitated the entire process of decay all the way to being tortured in hell for eternity. He was Resurrected because the divine Court of Justine has deemed all demands of justice satisfied in and by Him.
If Jesus did not come, I would have to go through all that decaying process and then kept in hell for all eternity to be tortured. But because Jesus Christ is God and lives outside time; beyond eternity, He has served the prison sentence of eternity, completely and beyond.
An example to illustrate this.
A man committed a series of heinous crimes and was found guilty. He was sentenced to imprisonment for 500 years. But he can only live up to 90 years. Hence, this man can NEVER serve the full sentence. Therefore, the just punishment for his crimes can NEVER be satisfied.
As a result of Adam's offense, mankind has been sentenced to imprisonment in torment for eternity. But as a man, we can never reach the end of eternity. But Jesus can. It is because Jesus lives beyond eternity; He created time! John 1:3 - All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.
2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that God made Jesus to be us.
"For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness]."
So, in a nutshell, Jesus came to take our place of sufferings and punishment not only in this world right now but also for all eternity. Since He has already served the sentence for and as us and have been released from prison more than 2,000 years ago for and as us, we are FREE! Right Now!
Because He is our Representative, His release from prison WASour release from prison! As He is, so am I!
We are free RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!
Romans 5:15-21 gives a contrast between the effects of Adam's Fall and the Perfect Finished Work of Jesus Christ.
15But God's free gift is not at all to be compared to the trespass [His grace is out of all proportion to the fall of man]. For if many died through one man's falling away (his lapse, his offense), much more profusely did God's grace and the free gift [that comes] through the undeserved favor of the one Man Jesus Christ abound and overflow to and for [the benefit of] many.
16Nor is the free gift at all to be compared to the effect of that one [man's] sin. For the sentence [following the trespass] of one [man] brought condemnation, whereas the free gift [following] many transgressions brings justification (an act of righteousness).
17For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
18Well then, as one man's trespass [one man's false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man's act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men.
19For just as by one man's disobedience (failing to hear, heedlessness, and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by one Man's obedience the many will be constituted righteous (made acceptable to God, brought into right standing with Him).
20But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God's unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded,
21So that, [just] as sin has reigned in death, [so] grace (His unearned and undeserved favor) might reign also through righteousness (right standing with God) which issues in eternal life through Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) our Lord.
His Story His story (history) as I understand It at this present stage of understanding is as follows.
When Adam, the representative of mankind, was conned by satan, all hell broke loose.
The immediate effect on mankind was having to sweat our brow to eat our bread and labor pain in child birth for women.
Genesis 3:16-17
16To the woman He said, I will greatly multiply your grief and your suffering in pregnancy and the pangs of childbearing; with spasms of distress you will bring forth children. Yet your desire and craving will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.
17And to Adam He said, Because you have listened and given heed to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it, the ground is under a curse because of you; in sorrow and toil shall you eat [of the fruits] of it all the days of your life.
Because Adam yielded to satan, he handed over the dominion of the earth to satan. Then satan entered the world as it's ruler (a crooked one). When Adam our representative became a captive of satan, we all became one too. We are powerless and without defense against this crooked ruler; subject to all his bidding. Satan also brought with him all his side-kicks of lack and the ultimate big one:DEATH. Mankind was not created to die.
Romans 5:12 - Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, [no one being able to stop it or to escape its power] because all men sinned.
Hence, from the FALL of Adam onwards, mankind was doomed to suffer from condemnation, stress, worries, anxieties, disease, loneliness, etc...a decaying or aging process that leads to death.
We can be with a bunch of great friends and yet feel lonely. We can have all the wealth and yet feel poor. We can be ever wanting and getting but never satisfied. This is the effect of the FALL.
But immediately after Adam's FALL, God promised to give one Man to save the world from the clutches of satan. This Man will be equipped or Anointed by God to [Luke 4:18-19]:
Preach the good news to the poor;
Announce release to the captives;
Recover sight to the blind;
Deliver those who are oppressed, that is, down-trodden, bruised, crushed or broken down by calamity;
Proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound.
Now, I don't profess to have understood what all that means but I am looking for understanding in the Bible and listening to sermons.
But what I do know is this: God sent His only darling Son to be that Man.
God gave the name Jesus (Savior) to His only darling Son Who gave up all His powers and privileges as God to become100% human in flesh and blood (He was more man than man can ever be - very man). He is the Messiah (meaning the Anointed One in Hebrew) or the Christ (also meaning the Anointed One but in Greek).
Philippians 2:6-8 tell us how much God's only darling Son gave up to become.
"Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!"
His job was to take the place of mankind to suffer the entire process of decay all the way until death, when mankind is to be tortured forever.
But as mentioned earlier, since Jesus lives beyond forever, He was able to serve the prison term of forever and was released. As He is our Representative, His release from prison WAS our release from prison.
Therefore, there is therefore NOW no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus [Romans 8:1]. For as He is, so am I [1 John 4:17]!
We do not have to suffer the effects of the FALL any longer!
We cannot be sentenced to imprisonment for eternity!
This is ONLY because Jesus Christ has taken my place and your place!
For us to go through all that again is a perversion of divine justice! A man cannot be punished for the same offense twice!
And there you have It, His story as I have come to understand It.
Food for Thought Luke 16:19-31
There was a certain rich man who [habitually] clothed himself in purple and fine linen and reveled and feasted and made merry in splendor every day. And at his gate there was [carelessly] dropped down and left a certain utterly destitute man named Lazarus, [reduced to begging alms and] covered with [ulcerated] sores. He [eagerly] desired to be satisfied with what fell from the rich man's table; moreover, the dogs even came and licked his sores.
And it occurred that the man [reduced to] begging died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
And in Hades (the realm of the dead), being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, Father Abraham, have pity and mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.
But Abraham said, Child, remember that you in your lifetime fully received [what is due you in] comforts and delights, and Lazarus in like manner the discomforts and distresses; but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who want to pass from this [place] to you may not be able, and no one may pass from there to us.
And [the man] said, Then, father, I beseech you to send him to my father's house--For I have five brothers--so that he may give [solemn] testimony and warn them, lest they too come into this place of torment.
But Abraham said, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear and listen to them.
But he answered, No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent (change their minds for the better and heartily amend their ways, with abhorrence of their past sins).
He said to him, If they do not hear and listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded and convinced and believe [even] if someone should rise from the dead.
Romans 10:17
The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed. [No one] for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. The same Lord is Lord over all [of us] and He generously bestows His riches upon all who call upon Him [in faith]. For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved.
But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed [in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance]? And how are they to believe in Him [adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him] of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?
And how can men [be expected to] preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings! [How welcome is the coming of those who preach the good news of His good things!]
But they have not all heeded the Gospel; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed (had faith in) what he has heard from us?
So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).
Radical Grace
God raised a man in our days to preach radical grace, radically.
God was most radical in sending His only darling Son to be the Man Jesus, The Messiah, The Christ; The Anointed One to save the world.
God has made a pastor out of this man and is speaking through him, among many others. I thank my Abba in Jesus' Name for leading me to His grace message by the blessed Holy Spirit through Pastor Joseph Prince.
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 says: "Do not spurn the gifts and utterances of the prophets [do not depreciate prophetic revelations nor despise inspired instruction or exhortation or warning]. But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast.
By the grace of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I am here to promote the Gospel message as inspired by the blessed Holy Spirit through Pastor Joseph Prince, in accordance with 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21.
May the grace and peace of my Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied in you by quantum leaps. In Jesus' Name. Amen!
I come to Jesus as I am; for as He is, so I am. His love for me is the mighty hand, that puts me safely on victory land.
Problems come and problems go; but through them all He protects my soul.
He accepts me the way that I am; for He IS my Great "I AM"! No phoney front or fake pretense, He loves me just the way I am.
All my bad and all my lack; Have all fallen on His back.
Through His burdens I have ease; In His sorrows I enjoy great peace. By His stripes I have been healed; And my glorious fate in His Blood was sealed.
Behold this divine exchange; His glory and honor for all of my shame. His gracious favor surrounds me as if a shield; Like a great unseen force field.
So unto Him you can cast your cares; And this Good News with you I share.
Come and meet Jesus leh! woo-yeh.... (NB: I am ploud of Singlish!)
I come to Jesus as I am because as He is so am I in this world. All my bad and lack He takes. All His good and abundance I take. For this is the new Blood Covenant at work; the New Covenant which Jesus ratified or put into effect with His precious Blood. The New Covenant which He willed to me with His Death.
This divine exchange is a continual process just as His precious Blood continually cleanses me from all sins.
Jesus Christ is my Great "I AM"!
He is my Health; He is my Wealth; He is my Strength; He is my Joy; He is my Peace; He is my Provider; He is my All in all!
Whatever upheavals are raging within me; though a host may encamp against me, my heart shall not be afraid. I am enveloped in the New Covenant as ratified by the precious Blood of Jesus!
Greetings! Valentine's Day is just round the corner. I present to you the greatest Valentine of all times!
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Messiah, the Christ, God's Anointed One!
History of Valentine’s Day The name “Valentine” was derived from valens meaning worthy, strong, powerful).
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is a holiday observed on February 14 honoring one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. It was first established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD, and was later deleted from the General Roman Calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI.
Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine. The Valentines honored on February 14 are Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae). Valentine of Rome was a priest in Rome who was martyred about AD 269 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. His relics are at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome, and at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland.
Valentine of Terni became bishop of Interamna (modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been martyred during the persecution under Emperor Aurelian. He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome. His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino).
If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! [Matthew 7:11]
If you should feel rejected or unloved, know this: Even if the world whole forsakes you, the Lord will never leave you nor forsake you [Psalms 27:10, Deuteronomy 31:6].
God Loves You
In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins. [I John 4:10]
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life [John 3:16].
We Are The Reason
Jesus Christ, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not [c]think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped] or retained, but stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! [Philippians 2:6-8]
Above All
Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has [f]freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, that in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father [Philippians 2:9-11].
God Loves You...No Matter What
A Father and His Two Sons [Luke 15:11-32]
There was a certain man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the part of the property that falls [to me]. And he divided the estate between them. And not many days after that, the younger son gathered up all that he had and journeyed into a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and loose [from restraint] living. And when he had spent all he had, a ]mighty famine came upon that country, and he began to fall behind and be in want.
So he went and forced (glued) himself upon one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed hogs. And he would gladly have fed on and filled his belly with the carob pods that the hogs were eating, but [they could not satisfy his hunger and] nobody gave him anything [better].
Then when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger!
I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants.
So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently].
And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son [I no longer deserve to be recognized as a son of yours]! But the father said to his bond servants, Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet.
And bring out that [wheat-]fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel and feast and be happy and make merry because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to revel and feast and make merry.
But his older son was in the field; and as he returned and came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
And having called one of the servant [boys] to him, he began to ask what this meant.
And he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has killed that [wheat-]fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and well.
But [the elder brother] was angry [with deep-seated wrath] and resolved not to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him,
But he answered his father, Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me [so much as] a [little] kid, that I might]revel and feast and be happy and make merry with my friends;
But when this son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you have killed for him that [wheat-] fattened calf!
And the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was fitting to make merry, to revel and feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!
Jesus Loves You
He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him. Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. [Isaiah 53:3-5].
For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness] (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Tell of His Love
The Great Commission
Tell the world about God's love as demonstrated by the Death of His only Beloved Son on the Cross; Jesus Christ. He Himself sent Jesus Christ to die on the Cross just for you! While Jesus hung on the Cross, God's heart bled! But He bore the excruciating pain of watching His only Beloved Son die that horrible Death because that is the only way with which to save you and I from the clutches of the evil one who held us ransom. Jesus Christ paid the ransom price to set us all free. He willingly laid down is life to liberate us [John 10:17].
There is no greater love than this!
No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends. [John 15:13]
Remember Him
When you give flowers to your loved ones this coming Valentine's Day, remember the Lord Jesus Christ who loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God, a sweet fragrance. [Ephesians 5:2].
Bring to your remembrance the woman, an especially wicked woman ho anointed Jesus' feet with perfume. Those who know they are forgiven much, love much [Luke 7:37-50].
When you saviour the delicious chocolates melting in your mouth with the roasted nuts, remember the Lord Jesus Christ was toasted on the Cross. His Body was crushed and melted like jelly, exposing His bones [Psalms 22:17]. For [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He has no form or comeliness [royal, kingly pomp], that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him [Isaiah 53:2].
For whom did He do all that?
You!
The Greatest Martyr (Witness) of Love
God promised to give an Offspring to strike the head of the serpent in Genesis 3:15.
That Offspring is to be without spot or blemish. He is to be THE Anointed One or Messiah (in Hebrew) or Christ (in Greek), Anointed to [Luke 4:18-19]:
1. Preach the good news to the poor; 2. Announce release to the captives; 3. Recover sight to the blind; 4. Deliver the oppressed, that is, those who are oppressed (condemned), bruised, crushed or broken down by calamity; 5. Proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord, that is, the day (time or season) when salvation and the free favours of God profusely abound.
Elohim our God, Jehovah our Lord, Abba our Father sent His only Beloved Son in Whom His soul delights to be that Offspring; our Messiah. And God gave Him the Name Jesus [Latin form of the Greek Iesous or Yeshuain Hebrew], meaning 'God saves', “salvation”, “Saviour”.
It was His immense love for us that His only Beloved Son was sent in the guise of sin to die the death of the cross.
Since Valentine’s Day is a reminder of the act of love, wouldn’t you agree with me that Jesus of Nazareth is the greatest Valentine , the greatest martyr or witness of love of all times?
No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends [John 15:13].
Recommended Resources
Reduce Me To Love Loving and being loved is what makes life worth living. It gives our lives purpose and meaning. It’s time to learn to truly accept God's unconditional love and obey His command to reach out in love to others.
In this powerful book, Joyce provides biblical insights and draws from her personal experiences to illustrate how God changed her life and to introduce you to a life filled with God’s love.
This love will change your life by showing you how to …
Know what “reduce me to love” means
Love in a way that blesses you and motivates you to love others
Accept God’s unconditional love for you
Love as Jesus did
Discover the peace, joy and strength that come through true love
Revolution. The word itself sparks hope, ignites passion and inspires loyalty. A love revolution isn’t only a great idea but a necessity if we’re going to see some of the tragic injustices in the world today turned around, including the heaviest tragedy of all—humanity’s broken heart.
This book outlines a new way of living that can change your life and world by providing…
Inspiring stories of Love Revolutionaries—people like you who changed their world by loving others
Practical application exercises and simple acts of God’s love for everyday life
Life-changing times of prayer
Fascinating quotations and insights from history
Startling statistics
This isn’t just a call to action; it’s a call to being . . . being the person who helps a friend in need, who helps a stranger in need, who practices uncompromising acts of kindness! Become the love revolution!
Can what you do stop your heavenly Father from loving you? Will He still bless you after you have failed? In this moving two-DVD album, Joseph Prince delves into the parable of the prodigal son, and opens up fresh revelations about your Abba's deep and unending love for you. Besides the unconditional love and acceptance, the father in the parable also gave his son precious gifts — the robe, ring and sandals. Find out the spiritual significance of these items and see how they depict the blessings your Father has for you today. Listen and let your heavenly Father's love wash over you and embrace you into wholeness!
To live in God's favor is to live a life filled with hope, abundance and joy. God has a new beginning in store for you Whatever difficulties you've faced, God uses your challenges to stretch you and enlarge your vision to move beyond disappointments and experience his blessings. In this audio series Joel Osteen shares valuable keys that will help you live in faith, stand strong and overcome anything that comes against you.
Capturing the unique excitement of Lakewood Church's weekly services and broadcasts, "Living in Favor, Abundance and Joy" collects material from three of the most popular volumes of live recordings offered on the Lakewood website. You'll hear Joel Osteen's distinct and effective mix of spiritual perspectives on real-world challenges, including:
- Letting go of the past
- Taking the limits off of God
- Being grateful for the gift of today
- Having a relaxed and easy-going attitude
- Controlling your moods
- Holding on to your joy
Don't settle for the status quo. God says that you are going to have the most peace, the most fulfillment. You may not have seen it yet, but if you make room, you will not lack in any area.
Introduction Satan reigns when we sense not the Love of God for us.
The Deception Satan was able to deceive Adam through Eve because Adam did not have a sense of God’s love for him. All the material blessings in the world did not give Adam that sense of God’s love. [Adam had everything in the world to himself – Genesis 2:16]. Similarly, all the material blessings in the world cannot give us the true and genuine sense of God’s love for us.
It therefore shows that sincere love for God and gratitude towards Him could not be created. If it was possible, Lucifer would not have fallen. Pre-planned Love God has planned to show mankind [destined to be His children] how much He loves us by sending His only Beloved Son to die for us. He planned this even before He created us and that Adam, our representative, would betray His Love.
Ephesians 2:5 For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent].
God wanted us [the crown of His creations] to learn and experience His love for us so that we would love Him back in all sincerity. In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins [1 John 4:10].
Grace Preceded The Fall God knew that His children would betray His love. Yet, He was ready to extend His Grace, to be given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [2 Timothy 1:9]. This is so that when sin abounds, grace superabounds [Romans 5:20].
Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil I believe God created this tree as a means for Adam to love Him back. If Adam had sensed God’s love for him, his response, when tempted, would have been: “How can I do what God has told me not to do? How can I do that to Him Who loves me so much?”
Today, this is the motive for not sinning against God for how can we sin against such great love as demonstrated by the Death of our Lord Jesus Christ [the Messiah, God’s Anointed One] on the Cross?
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was created because God is Righteous and Just. He provided the means to Adam for requiting His love. Today, God has also provided the means and the reason for loving Him back; our Lord Jesus Christ [God’s Anointed One].
1 John 4:10 In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins.
Sensing God’s Love How can we begin to sense God’s love for us?
2 Corinthians 8:9 says that we become progressively acquainted with and recognize more strongly and clearly the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [God’s Anointed One] by looking at how much our Lord Jesus Christ [God’s Anointed One] has given up for us.
That though He was [so very] rich, yet for our sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty we might become enriched (abundantly supplied).
Although our Lord Jesus Christ [God’s Anointed One] being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped and retained. But He stripped Himself of all privileges and rightful dignity so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave) by becoming like men and was born a human being. And after He has appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself still further and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the Cross! [Philippians 2:6-8].
And our Lord Jesus Christ [the Messiah, the Anointed One] did all that while we were still in enmity with Him! [Romans 5:6-8].
Can you beat that?
Now it is an extraordinary thing for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die. But to die such a horrible death for an enemy? Out of this world!
But God shows and clearly proves His own love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us!
God is so rich in His mercy!
Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation).
Sinning in Love An Impossibility As we progressively come to realize and sense God’s love for us, let not sin therefore rule as king in our mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies, to make us yield to its cravings and be subject to its lusts and evil passions.
Let us not continue to offer or yield our bodily members and faculties to sin as instruments or tools of wickedness. But let us offer and yield ourselves to God as though we have been raised from the dead to perpetual life, and our bodily members and faculties to God, presenting them as implements of righteousness.
How shall sin have dominion over us now that we are not without the sense of God’s love for us?!? What then are we to conclude? Shall we sin because we have a sense of God’s love for us?!? Certainly not! It is an utter impossibility! It is oxymoronic!
Conclusion There is only one way to sense God’s love for us.
It is by beholding the greatest love of all – God’s Love on the Cross!
2 Corinthians 3:18 And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.
As we behold the greatest love of all, we love in return in the likeness of the intensity and sincerity of His love for us.
Recommended Resources
Reduce Me To Love Loving and being loved is what makes life worth living. It gives our lives purpose and meaning. It’s time to learn to truly accept God's unconditional love and obey His command to reach out in love to others.
In this powerful book, Joyce provides biblical insights and draws from her personal experiences to illustrate how God changed her life and to introduce you to a life filled with God’s love.
This love will change your life by showing you how to …
Know what “reduce me to love” means
Love in a way that blesses you and motivates you to love others
Accept God’s unconditional love for you
Love as Jesus did
Discover the peace, joy and strength that come through true love
Revolution. The word itself sparks hope, ignites passion and inspires loyalty. A love revolution isn’t only a great idea but a necessity if we’re going to see some of the tragic injustices in the world today turned around, including the heaviest tragedy of all—humanity’s broken heart.
This book outlines a new way of living that can change your life and world by providing…
Inspiring stories of Love Revolutionaries—people like you who changed their world by loving others
Practical application exercises and simple acts of God’s love for everyday life
Life-changing times of prayer
Fascinating quotations and insights from history
Startling statistics
This isn’t just a call to action; it’s a call to being . . . being the person who helps a friend in need, who helps a stranger in need, who practices uncompromising acts of kindness! Become the love revolution!
Can what you do stop your heavenly Father from loving you? Will He still bless you after you have failed? In this moving two-DVD album, Joseph Prince delves into the parable of the prodigal son, and opens up fresh revelations about your Abba's deep and unending love for you. Besides the unconditional love and acceptance, the father in the parable also gave his son precious gifts — the robe, ring and sandals. Find out the spiritual significance of these items and see how they depict the blessings your Father has for you today. Listen and let your heavenly Father's love wash over you and embrace you into wholeness!
To live in God's favor is to live a life filled with hope, abundance and joy. God has a new beginning in store for you Whatever difficulties you've faced, God uses your challenges to stretch you and enlarge your vision to move beyond disappointments and experience his blessings. In this audio series Joel Osteen shares valuable keys that will help you live in faith, stand strong and overcome anything that comes against you.
Capturing the unique excitement of Lakewood Church's weekly services and broadcasts, "Living in Favor, Abundance and Joy" collects material from three of the most popular volumes of live recordings offered on the Lakewood website. You'll hear Joel Osteen's distinct and effective mix of spiritual perspectives on real-world challenges, including:
- Letting go of the past
- Taking the limits off of God
- Being grateful for the gift of today
- Having a relaxed and easy-going attitude
- Controlling your moods
- Holding on to your joy
Don't settle for the status quo. God says that you are going to have the most peace, the most fulfillment. You may not have seen it yet, but if you make room, you will not lack in any area.
How to trust God with your precious destiny Note: The article is extracted from Joyce Meyer's "Enjoying Everyday Life" magazine. Be a partner with Joyce Meyer's Ministries and receive a copy on a regular basis.
See how Hand of Hope, Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions, is reaching out to the four corners of the world to help hurting people.
NB: We are not affiliated with Joyce Meyer Ministries. We are sharing what we find beneficial.
Women go through a lot of different stages in pregnancy, some more enjoyable than others. And the stage right before the birth when the pain is so intense that a woman thinks she's going to die - that's when the doctor won't say anything to her but push.
Maybe you're pregnant with a dream or vision from God. SOme of you are in the beginning stages and you're really excited about what God's called you to do. Others are in the waiting stage thinking, When is this thing ever going to take shape? And a few of you are in that painful stage when God's getting ready to deliver a blessing and you need somebody to keep yelling, "Push!" Well, I hope that's what my teaching does for you.
I could not begin to tell you all the times in my life when I wanted to give up on God's vision for me because I honestly felt like I cannot take this anymore! But God gave me the grace to keep going. And I want you to know how important it is for you to keep going too.
I want to see more people who are willing to go through the process even though it takes much longer than they'd like it to take. And I want to encourage you that as a Christian you can do it.
What To Expect When You're...Expecting
Get a new mindset. Plan to wait. Expect your vision to take longer and cost more than you ever thought it would in the beginning. Just get it into your head that no matter how long it takes or how hard it gets, you're going to keep going.
"The way we carry children and give birth to them is a great example of how we'll give birth to everything in our life."
A lot of us try to make things happen quickly. We look for the fastest, easiest way to get things done because we just don't want to wait on God. One of the surest ways to know if you're operating in the flesh is if you're frustrated all the time.
The Bible says it's only by faith and patience that we inherit the promises of God. And you can wear yourself out trying to earn those promises or you can receive them as a free gift through Christ. Many of us will learn this lesson simply by going through it ourselves. But I want you to know there's a better way.
Learning to Live in Reliance on God
You know what I pray for now on a regular basis? I pray for a holy ease. I don't expect everything in my life to be easy. But I believe even in the hard stages of life you can be spiritually at rest. That's when you know God's all over it. The work may be hard, but it's good. And you know in your spirit there's going to be a harvest because you're not trying to do something yourself - you're relying on God.
What did Jesus say? Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest(Matthew 11:28). God's power comes to us freely, enabling us to do with ease what we could never do on our own with any amount of struggle and effort.
The Incentive You Need to Keep Pushing
The way we carry children and give birth to them is a great example of how we'll give birth to everything in our life. There's a seed, the stages of preparation, and the transition to a birth - a new thing that's coming. And if you have to go the long, hard way to learn it, which most of us have to do, then so be it.
No matter how long it takes, just know this: God's working with you the way it has to be done, for reasons that only He understands. But God has a good plan in mind. And the last thing you want to do is give up in the middle and miss out on God's reward.
Every trial you face is an opportunity for you to see Jesus and His grace in a new way! In this uplifting message by Joseph Prince, see how the answer to your trouble is not more money or human advice, but a fresh revelation of Jesus in the Word that pertains to your need. See how He reveals different aspects of Himself for every need, and be encouraged by the sheer style by which He provides for and saves you. The more you know Jesus and His heart of love for you, the more you’ll experience grace upon grace to overcome every trial!
Your human body was designed to operate out of rest, not stress! In this 2-DVD album, you’ll learn the significance of biblical rest, and discover how you can rest in Christ despite your negative circumstances. Find out how God has gone before you and is working behind the scenes for your good even when nothing seems to be happening. As you get a fresh revelation of how God’s abundant grace causes you to surmount every difficulty, you’ll arise with renewed strength and a new attitude of thanksgiving and victory. Put an end to worry, fears and restlessness dominating your life today!
This DVD Album contains 2 Sermons with 2 Discs
1. Rest! God Is Working Behind The Scenes (1 DVD: approx. 1hr 22 min) 2. Your Inheritance–All Things Work For Good (1 DVD: approx 1hr 30min)
Do you have unanswered questions about your future? Are there things that you would really like to know?
Well, a lot of what your future holds is up to you. This inspiring four-part series will prove the significance of not basing your future on your past.
In her straightforward and sometimes humorous style, Joyce will explore questions such as:
Has your “get up and go” got up and gone?
Has life gotten confusing?
Are you prepared for what God has prepared for you?
Make a decision today to gain new insight and live a future with enthusiasm and passion. Learn to cooperate with God, and see the dreams He’s given you become a reality.
Does it ever feel like life is getting the better of you? Maybe you realize you can’t actually do everything you’ve committed yourself to. Well, Joyce wants to encourage you to keep on going in God’s strength.
This book will show you…
Promises God has given to His people
Solid, tried-and-true tools to tackle life’s challenges
Stories of successful people who were tempted to quit
How to work with your God-given abilities
Don’t let the devil convince you to give up. Stay focused on God’s plans, and He will fulfill His promises and equip you with perseverance.
Your best days are in front of you! Despite challenges, and when it’s hard to see better days ahead, now more than ever, it’s time to believe for favor and restoration. Through God and His strength, you can rise above any circumstance and fulfill God’s best plan for your life. God is already at work making all things work together in your life. Now it’s your time to believe and to walk in the fullness of God’s blessings.
John 16:21-22 likened Jesus' disciples to a woman in labor.
21A woman, when she gives birth to a child, has grief (anguish, agony) because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she no longer remembers her pain (trouble, anguish) because she is so glad that a man (a child, a human being) has been born into the world.
22So for the present you are also in sorrow (in distress and depressed); but I will see you again and [then] your hearts will rejoice, and no one can take from you your joy (gladness, delight).
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
This series of free pregnancy e-books serves to give an idea of the pregnancy experience. Very suited for men. May this series help in relating better to John 16:21-22 when we experience labor pains in our Christian walk. For a start, may it help the men love and appreciate their wives just that little bit more.
