For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

 Our citizenship is in heaven:

 

Philippians 3:20-21

20     For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

     21     who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

 

            You’ve probably heard the song that says, “This world is not my home. I’m just a passing through.” Well, it’s not our home. The verse tells us that our citizenship is in Heaven. My citizenship is in the United States of America. I have all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of an American citizen. We have all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of a citizen of Heaven. Right now you are reading a book that tells you about some of your rights and privileges as a citizen. Some of your responsibilities are also mentioned. We should desire to meet our responsibilities as a citizen of Heaven. These verses tell us that this frail (by comparison) body will be transformed into conformity with the body of His glory. Hallelujah! It will be a mansion in comparison to the tent we live in now. But don’t think that we can’t receive benefits of our citizenship for our bodies here on earth. We can and should. We can’t do the best possible for God if we’re handicapped by disease or affliction. I know a lot of Christians believe we can glorify God by the way we handle our suffering (and we can). How much more though can we glorify Him by being healed? What non-believer would want to become a Christian if he/she thought that would mean having to suffer affliction to glorify God? People usually cannot get out and around to minister to others when they have afflictions. They also have to put out money that could be spent to further God’s Kingdom.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "Do not think that I have a second-rate body in store for you on that Day. It is a perfect body, just like My Son’s. It is a glorious body and will never wear out. It knows neither disease nor discomfort. It will be yours forever as you walk in Me. I will make sure that it is one that you will be proud of … that you can wear with no regrets or fear of what may happen to it. It is a glorious body, and it will sustain you for all eternity.”

 

            108. My citizenship is in Heaven from which I eagerly wait for my Savior who will transform my body into conformity with His glorious body by the exertion of that power which He has to subject all things to Himself.

The night before Christmas

 Good morning. Luke chapter 2: Caesar decreed that a census would be taken of all the inhabited earth. God uses things of mankind without them knowing He is, to bring about His plans. He needed to get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem for Jesus to be born as prophesied, and this was how He did it. Joseph was a descendent of David (and if the genealogy in the book of Luke is based on Mary, as many believe, then she too was a descendent of David, but through Nathan and not Solomon), and so that is why he went to Bethlehem where David was born. While they were there the days were completed for her to give birth. All of this had to work out at just the right time for what was prophesied to happen. She gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. What if there had been room? Would what followed have happened? The shepherds were told they would find the babe lying in a manger. They weren’t given GPS coordinates. It was thus obvious where to find Him. If Jesus had been born in the inn, would the innkeeper have allowed a bunch of shepherds who had taken care of smelly sheep to enter his inn? Such was the beginning of the King of kings. If we had needed a ruler, Jesus would have been born in a palace. Instead we needed a Savior who could relate to every person small or great. Father thank You for Christmas, when You sent Your Son to be born in a manger - to die for our sins.

For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

 Our Bodies:

 

            We have a building from God:

 

2 Corinthians 5:1-4

1     For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

     2     For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,

     3     inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.

     4     For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.

     

            Our bodies are about as sturdy as a tent in a tornado. By comparison, we have a house that God made for us that is eternal. The body people see when they look at us isn’t the real us. We’re on the inside looking out. We are a spirit; we have a soul; and we live in a body. Our body is like the spacesuit that astronauts wear. It’s so we can operate in this physical realm. That doesn’t mean that our bodies are unimportant. They are a temple of the Holy Spirit and we should treat them in the best manner possible. That way we can live a long and productive life glorifying our Creator.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My children, your eyes have not seen nor has your mind conceived what I have in store for you. I have a special treat for you when you come to meet me on that Day. I will provide for you a special treat to replace that body of yours. It is precious and immortal. It will never wear out like the one you have now. It is to be yours forever. I will hasten it to happen on that Day. It will be a glorious Day, and you will forever rejoice in it. I have set it in motion, and it will come to pass at the proper time. Do not regret the time that you have in your body. It is but a momentary flash in the eternity of Mine. You cannot conceive of what it will be like in your new body. It will be perfect, and it requires you to be perfect also.”

 

            107. I do not have to fear that if this earthly temporal tent, my body, is torn down that there is nothing more. I know for sure that He has made for me a house eternal in the heavens with which I will clothe myself.

And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven

 Gather the elect:

 

Mark 13:27

27     “And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.

     

 

Matthew 24:31

31     “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

 

            These verses demonstrate that no matter where we are when Jesus returns, His angels will collect us together to be with Him. This is true whether we’re dead or still alive when He returns. Like most doctrines in the Church there is debate and disagreement as to what this actually means. In this case, there is much dispute as to when this will happen. A very popular view is that this will happen right before the Great Tribulation that is mentioned in the verses prior to these two passages. Thus, the believers, dead or alive, will be “raptured”, receive their glorified bodies, and be taken to Heaven to be with Jesus for the seven years of the Tribulation. Some believe it will occur half-way through. Others believe it will be at the end of the Tribulation. And still others believe it won’t happen until after the Millennium … the thousand year reign on earth by Jesus during which Satan is chained. In the end, we shouldn’t be concerned about when it will happen. We should get our lives in order so that if He comes before the Tribulation, we’ll be ready to meet Him in the air. If it’s during or afterward, we need to be prepared to rely on Him to supply our every need. That’s because it’s going to be rather nasty during it.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "The time is soon coming when my trumpet will sound. It will be a blast heard round the world. No one can escape it. It will be a sound of great joy to you, but a sound of terrifying expectation for those who do not know Me. I have chosen you, and I will come to gather you together on that Day. It will not come as a surprise to you, for I will announce My coming to you My people. I will tell you when I am about to come. I will signal you through those who listen to My Spirit. I will not hide it from you. If you diligently harken unto My Spirit, you will know when I am about to come. I will not hide it from you, but will tell you as the time approaches. Do not hesitate to prepare yourself for Me. Those that wait will lose their desire to please Me. They will turn back from the plow. They will say it is not time and is not worth the loss of freedom. What they don’t understand is that My yoke is actually one of freedom. Accept My guidance in your daily life, and you will come to know My peace. It is one that worries not at the future, but looks eagerly forward to My coming and My Kingdom.”

 

            106. When Jesus returns He will send forth His angels and gather His elect, which includes me, from wherever we are located in Heaven, on earth, or under the earth.

This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day

                                                                         Chapter 10

 

Second Coming

 

 

           Jesus is coming again. Many people think it will be soon; but whether it’s in the next few days or the next few decades, He is coming back a second time. What does that mean to us? What is our destiny when He returns? The following verses give us some insight into exactly what our destiny is in regards to His second coming.

 

Process:

 

            Raise us up on last day:

 

John 6:39-40

39     “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.

     40     “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

 

John 6:54

54     “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

     

1 Corinthians 6:14

14     Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.

 

            It is not the Father’s will that we not make it to the end. It is His will that Jesus raise us up on the last day. We have believed in the Son, and so we have eternal life and will be raised up on the last day (remember our assumptions). He is not going to leave us stuck in the ground with no hope. It is not the end when we die. The world has no hope when it dies. We have an awe-inspiring hope. Again, hope is not wishful thinking. It is confident anticipation. This resurrection is not something that we have to work for to achieve. It is going to happen when Jesus returns.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I have not chosen you to fail. I have chosen you to succeed … to be established in the earth as a great people. I have not chosen you to let you wither on the vine. I have chosen you to be a great success. I will not abandon you like others have abandoned you. I will always be with you no matter what may come against you. You shall dominate the kingdoms of this world as you walk in My Spirit. I will not abandon you to disgrace. I will raise you up. Your faith in Me will not go unrewarded. You will be raised up in My glory. I will not abandon you to the grave, but will raise you up on the last day to My glory.”

 

            105. I have believed in the Son and so I have eternal life. He will not abandon me to the grave when I die. He will raise me up on the last day.

 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

 Other:

 

            Chosen race; Royal Priesthood; Holy nation:

 

1 Peter 2:9

9     But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

     

            Look at some of the things we are! We’re a chosen race. That doesn’t mean race in the natural. We’re a brand new race … Christian. We’re also a royal priesthood. There was a separation between those related to the king (David), and those who were of the priesthood (Aaron). The two didn’t mix, but we do. We’re also God’s possession. Why are we all this? So that we may proclaim His excellencies. That people can see what God desires in His children. We were all living in darkness. He called us out; but not just out of darkness. That would be great in itself. He called us into something … His marvelous light. He brought us out to bring us in … just like He did for the children of Israel … out of Egypt into the Promised Land.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are My chosen ones. I did not choose you from the world to be nothing. I chose you to be great among the nations. I chose you to show forth My glory in the earth. There is no other people that can compare to you when you walk in My Word. There is nothing that I would not do for you, My people. I have a plan for you in the earth, and you cannot know it apart from Me. I have a plan for you to conquer the world and all that’s in it. It is not a plan for failure, but a plan for success. You shall be a great people and a great nation in the midst of all the nations of the world. You shall become a part of My Kingdom as you walk in My Word and listen to My Spirit as He gives you directions. Then you shall reign as priests in My Kingdom. You shall do great exploits as you work together to bring about My Kingdom throughout the earth.”

 

            104. I am of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. I will proclaim His excellencies for he has called me out of darkness into His marvelous light.

 

 

            We need each other. God designed the system so that we would. Otherwise, some would go off into a corner of the world with their own little group and never associate with other believers. When we work together, the whole becomes bigger and better than the sum of its parts. It is our destiny as a group. We can’t become individually what He wants without becoming collectively what He wants and vice versa.

Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

 Unity of the faith:

 

Ephesians 4:13

13     until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

 

            This passage is talking about the apostles, prophets, etc. being given to the Church. What we want to look at though is that there is a promise of us attaining to the unity of the faith. Right now, there isn’t a lot of unity of the faith in the Body of Christ. This indicates that one day there will be … every one of us attaining to it. We’re also promised that we will become mature Christians one day … to the point of being to the measure of the stature belonging to the fullness of Christ. We all have a long way to go; but we’ll get there one day. We can depend on God to do what He said He will do in us.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My desire is for a perfect body; not some scraggly corpse. You are not dead, nor dying. You are alive in Me. You shall come together in Me and shall grow into what I have desired for you. You will no longer argue and fight over My Word. You will come to the point that you agree on My commands. It may not look like it now, but it will happen eventually. You cannot disagree on My Word and become what I have in mind for you. You have to put aside your petty grievances and trust in Me to fulfill all that I have said that I would do through you. You are the apple of My eye, and I have no desire for a fragmented body. It is to be perfect and whole. It cannot be that, as long as you fight over things that are unimportant. Trust in Me to bring you into agreement with My Word. I will not fail, and neither will you. I have said it, and it will come to pass. My Son has proclaimed it, and it will come to pass. You shall be made whole. You shall agree with each other over My Word. You shall mature into the one that I have planned from the beginning. There is no other plan in effect. It will happen in My time and in My way.”

 

            103. I will be of those who attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of Jesus to a mature person to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Him.

“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

 Unity:

 

            He is in our midst:

 

Matthew 18:20

20     “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

 

            Of course God is inside each one of us; so wherever you are, He is. However, this means more than that. He is promising to manifest Himself when two or three of us gather together in His name. It doesn’t have to be a Sunday morning church service. It could be a Friday night prayer meeting. Or, it could even be a husband and wife. In these cases and others, we can be sure He’s there. Since He’s in all believers, He wouldn’t need to tell us that He would be in our midst unless it was more than a statement of the obvious that He is there. He is in our midst to meet our needs … to make Himself known to us and others. He will speak to us to comfort us, to guide us, or to supply anything that we need.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I am with you My children wherever you are. There is no boundary too big or too small for My people. I am with you wherever you go. I will meet with you between the cherubim above the mercy seat. I will talk with you, and I will listen to you as you tell Me of your desires and needs. I will never turn My back on you, but will always be open to hear all that you have need of. Come together in My name and see what glorious things that I have in store for you. There is nothing that I won’t do for My children when they seek My face diligently.”

 

            102. I will gather together with other believers for when two or three of us gather together in His name, He is in our midst.

In whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

 Holy Temple:

 

            Holy temple of the Living God:

 

Ephesians 2:21-22

21     in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,

     22     in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

 

2 Corinthians 6:16

16     Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,

“I will dwell in them and walk among them;

And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

     

            Wow! Is this overwhelming or what? We’re not just members of each other; we’re part of a building … and not just any building … a holy temple in the Lord. The point of this temple is for God to dwell in. As a holy temple in the Lord, we should act like it. If we could visibly see God in our midst, would we think and act the way we do? Hopefully we would not. We need each other to help complete this holy temple. Let’s work together to bring it about quickly so Jesus will return soon.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are all needed My children. You are all special. There is no one who does not have a place in My body. You are all a part of what I have planned. I will make you into a glorious Church; a glorious body. Each one of you has a place in this building of Mine in which My glory resides. You are My special temple. I reside in My temple. There is no one nor any thing that can destroy My temple. It is My holy dwelling place. It is built without hammer or chisel. It is a place where My glory resides. Do not think that I came to build a weak and unfruitful building. I came to build a glorious abode. All of you are needed to complete the work. Trust in Me that it will come to pass. Do not look at the way things appear now. I have plans for you … for good and not ill. You will be glorious as you allow Me to fulfill all that I have planned for you.”

 

            101. I am being fitted together with the other members of Christ into a holy temple in the Lord … a fit dwelling of God in the Spirit. He will dwell in us and walk among us. We shall commune with God like Adam and Eve in the Garden before the fall.

That He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

 The Church:

 

            No spot or wrinkle – holy and blameless:

 

Ephesians 5:27

27     that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

     

            Does the Church have glory? Does it look spotless without any wrinkle or any such thing? How about holy and blameless? That means that God is still working on her, and us. He’s not finished with the Church or us. He hasn’t given up on her or us either. Together we will be a glorious Church, holy and blameless before Christ returns. What will it take for the Church to become this? How about more time? She’s had almost 2,000 years to get it right. How will more time alone make any difference? Sometimes it takes great pressure for us as individuals to make changes in our lives. Maybe it will take some great pressure for the Church to make the necessary changes to become what this verse foresees.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I have chosen My Church to fulfill all that I have spoken about My people. I have chosen her to be great in the earth, and not to fail. I have chosen My people to fulfill all that is written for them. They are to take control of the things of the earth and to not be downtrodden. They are to walk in white with Me and not the sin-stained way of the world. They are more than conquerors over all the wiles of the devil. He will not tear down My Church for she is more powerful through Me than he could ever imagine. She will not fail, for I will not fail. She will prevail in the end. She must take her rightful place in the world. She is to command respect and to not be unfruitful. She is My glory, and I will not be undermined by anyone or anything. She is My glory and the glory of My Son. She will not walk in unrighteousness but in holiness … spotless and unblemished.”

 

            100. I am a member of the Church which Christ will present to Himself in all her glory. We will have no spot or wrinkle or any such thing. We will be holy and blameless.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?

                                                                          Chapter 9

 

All Together

 

             God did not predestine us to be Lone Rangers. He destined us to become a part of a much bigger whole … to work together for the good of all. We have to become others minded, not us minded. When we do, then we will all come to maturity and His body will be built up into the beautiful temple that He desires.

 

Body:

 

            Members of Christ’s body:

 

1 Corinthians 6:15

15     Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!

     

1 Corinthians 12:27

27     Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

 

            We are members of Christ’s body. We can’t go it alone … we need other Christians to take up our slack. They also need us. We can’t look down on someone who doesn’t seem to be contributing anything to the body. We don’t know how they are being used by God; only He does. They also can’t look down on us. “But I’m not doing anything”, you may say. Maybe you are, but to you it seems like nothing. Or perhaps God is still training you for something in the future. Be open to however God directs you to become what the rest of the body needs.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are part of My Son’s body. You are special to me. You are all needed to make His body complete. There is no one who is not needed. Everyone has his own special contribution to make. Everyone is important. My people need to take their rightful place in the world. I have a job for each one of you to do. You are to help make My body complete.”

 

            99. I am a member of Christ’s body. That means that I need the other members of His body and they need me to be complete. I am needed no matter what anyone else says or thinks.

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

 Way you judge, you’ll be judged:

 

Matthew 7:12

12     “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

 

Mark 4:24

24     And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.

     

 

 

Mark 4:25

25     “For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

 

            We’re supposed to care for others the way we want them to care for us. It doesn’t say that when they treat us the way we want, then we are to treat them right. We’re to do it first; even if they never do. Once we have done what we’ve been instructed, then it’s God’s responsibility to take care of the rest. We’re also supposed to be careful what we listen to. When we pay attention to the bad things someone says about another without hearing their side of the story, we are in danger of being judged the same way. Don’t you know that if they’re talking about someone else to you, that they will talk about you to someone else? Or if they don’t, some other person will. We will also be judged on what we do with what God gives to us (it’s not just talking about money). If you try to hoard what He’s given, even if it’s just a little bit, that little bit will eventually be taken away from us.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "Do not look down on your brothers and sisters. You have no right to judge their actions. Only I have that right, and I have given that right to My Son. You do not know all the circumstances in their lives, so you cannot judge properly. I have not given you the right to judge them, and you should avoid it at all costs. I will bring about judgment at the proper time and in the proper manner. It is not for you to choose the time nor the manner of My judgment. Trust in Me. I will do what is necessary at the proper time. It is not for you to decide what the proper judgment is. You do not want them to judge you, do you? So, let them alone. I will take care of them at the proper time.”

 

            98. I will treat people the way Jesus wants me to; I will not listen to those things that are not pleasing unto Him; I will not judge others; and I will use whatever I have been given to the glory of God.

 

            We are destined to be held accountable. How would you stack up if God held court today? Would He say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant”, or would He say, “Oops”?

By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the Day of Judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.

 Confidence in the Day of Judgment:

 

1 John 4:17

17     By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the Day of Judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.

     

            We will have confidence on that Day. We don’t have to fear. People may judge us harshly from wrong motives, but He judges in love. This verse says that just as He is, so also are we in this world … not just in Heaven.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "Those of the world have something to fear on the Day of Judgment, but My children do not. I have nothing but blessings for My children. They will receive showers of blessings on the Day of Judgment, not curses. There is nothing to fear when you walk in My Word. You can stand before Me on that Day without cause to fear. I will bless you and keep you from that judgment when you walk in My Word.”

 

            97. Love is perfected with me and I will have confidence in the day of judgment. As He is, so also shall I be in this world.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

 Judgment:

 

            Must all appear before the judgment seat:

 

2 Corinthians 5:10

10     For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

 

            This replicates the statement that we will all be judged for what we’ve done. We shall appear before His judgment seat. If we are to be judged, how much more will those that do not know Him merit being judged? When we set our hearts to follow Him, we have nothing to fear on that Day.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My children have nothing to fear from Me when they walk according to My Word. I will bring about their happiness in due season as they trust in Me to do what I say. I will not let anything fall to the ground without giving due justice to those seeking My face. You will have to answer for what you’ve said and done, but not out of vengeance on My part. It is My law. I will not change it for anyone. However, I will forgive and I will forget when you ask Me and trust Me to do it. There is no escaping the consequences of all you’ve said or done. However, when they are erased by the blood of My Son, then there is nothing to fear.”

 

            96. When I appear before the judgment seat of Christ, I will be recompensed for my deeds in the body all of which will be good in His sight.

“For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds."

 What You Say or Do:

 

            Recompenses everyone:

 

Matthew 16:27

27     “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.

     

Revelation 22:12

12     “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.

 

            Jesus is the one who will evaluate the deeds we’ve done. That means even though others may not know, He knows. He knows not only the wrong things we’ve said or done that others don’t know about, but also the good ones. We may feel like no one knows nor is grateful for all that we’ve done. He knows, and He will render to you according to what you’ve done when He returns.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My children, you are blessed because of My Son. He will redeem every situation in which you find yourselves. He will make it to come out gloriously, if you follow My commandments and seek My face. He will bring everything to pass in its proper time. Too many of My children are impatient. They do not wait on Me to complete what is lacking in their lives; but I will bring it about in time. Whatever you have done for me shall be made known and shall be recompensed. You can trust Me that I will bless you for all that you have done for Me. I will not let it fall to the ground unrewarded. But, you must be patient. I do not operate according to your schedule, but according to Mine. I also will not let the deeds done against My Word go unpunished. I will bring that about in its due season. I will let My Son do whatever is necessary to bring about your obedience to all My commands.”

 

            95. When the Lord comes, He will reward Me according to my deeds, all of which will be acceptable in His sight.

There is an accountability that is our destiny also

                                                                         Chapter 8

 

Accountability

 

             Freedom isn’t the only thing that is our destiny. There is an accountability that is our destiny also. God will call us to account for the way we’ve lived our lives … not just what bad things we’ve done, but also what good things we haven’t done. If you know you should do something and don’t, to you it is sin. This is not a fearful thing like it is for the unbelievers. They will be called to account for not accepting Jesus as Lord of their lives. What a terrible destiny they have!

 Can’t Hide Things:

 

            Bring to light the things hidden:

 

1 Corinthians 4:5

5     Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.

 

            Here we are cautioned not to go on passing judgment before the time. Too many Christians pass judgment on other Christians without even knowing the entire facts. They look down on others whom they think have fallen. It has been said that Christians are the only soldiers who shoot their wounded. If someone has slipped and fallen, we should pray for them and be accessible to help in any way we can. Also, we rarely know all the facts in a circumstance. Only God, who knows not only what was done or said, but also the motives behind those things, is able to judge righteously. How would you like for other believers who think they know everything about you but don’t really know all the facts to judge you? You wouldn’t, would you? So don’t you judge others. Perhaps you have been criticized unsympathetically by others. God wants to minister to you beginning right now to bring about healing. He wants you to know that circumstance was not His will for your life. He would say to you, “My little one. You are more precious to Me than you can ever conceive. I would never harm you in any way. My only desire for you is to feel My love, even when you slip and fall.”

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "Do not think that the things that you have done in secret have not been seen by Me. I have seen them … both the good and the bad. I will shine My light on those things at the proper time, but not to hurt you … to bring you into the joy of My obedience. Your new man has no desire to disobey Me. He desires only to do My will. I will never do anything to harm you. Trust in Me to take care of you. I know what is best for you. You are My special one, and I have no desire to hurt you. If I choose to reveal the things of the past, it is for your benefit … not to drag you down. As long as you desire to do My will, I will protect you from all harm. However, sometimes it is necessary to reveal the things you wish to hide so that you can make amends and confront your past failures. I will never do it to hurt you in any way.”

 

 

            94. When the Lord comes, He will bring to light those things for which I have been falsely accused by those around me and will disclose the motives of my heart. Then I will receive praise from God for I will only do those things that are pleasing unto Him.

No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

 Does not practice sin:

 

1 John 3:9

9    

     

 

 

1 John 5:18

18     We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.

     

            Does this mean we will never sin? No. It does say the one born of God does not practice sin; i.e. does not persistently sin. It should not be part of our way of life to sin over and over with no improvement. We should be getting nearer to the image of the One who bought us. Notice that it says that Jesus, the One born of God, keeps us (continually) and the evil one does not touch us. We are protected by the power of God for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (I Peter 1:5).

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are My chosen one. You are My precious one. You are My special one. Do not let the things that you used to do dominate your thinking. You are no longer under their control, so don’t act and think as if they are. You are washed clean and do not have to bow to their power. Your inner man is made pure and has no desire to walk in the ways of the world. You have to choose to whom you will listen. You do not have to obey the lusts of the flesh. It is no longer in control, but your spirit is, and it has no desire to disobey My Word. You do not have to give in to the evil desires that once controlled you. You are My chosen one, and My chosen one does not have to disobey My Word.”

 

            93. Since I am born of God, I no longer practice sin. His divine seed is in me, and that part of me can no longer sin. God keeps me from all harm and protects me from the evil one.

 

 

            Thus we see that sanctification is our destiny. The legality of it is instantaneous, but the outworking of it takes a lifetime. We have to put forth effort to see sanctification as a reality in our every day lives. It is your destiny. Don’t let this one slip away.

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.

 Right to the tree of life:

 

Revelation 22:14

14     Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.

     

            We have washed our robes when we asked Jesus to come into our lives and take control. The robes we wore before that were as filthy rags. We have the right to the tree of life. Adam had that right, but he relinquished it when he ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. What he could have had, we can have. This says that we may also enter by the gates into that City. The Bible talks about certain types who do not have that right. We blood bought believers have the right to enter.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are no longer filthy because of the things of the world that had contaminated you. You are clean and pure in My sight. You have cleansed yourself from the stains of the world and have been set free to follow Me. You are precious in My sight, and I have chosen you to walk in My perfection in pure white garments. Do not allow the things of the world to control you and to blemish your garments. Walk with Me in your white garments and feel My power flowing through you. You will rejoice with Me in My righteousness when I return to take you home.”

 

            92. I have washed my robes, and so I have the right to the tree of life in the City of God. I can enter the gates of the city with my head held high because of what He has accomplished in me.

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

 Crucified the flesh:

 

Galatians 5:24

24     Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

     

            We belong to Jesus, so this says that we have (past tense) crucified the flesh. When Jesus was crucified, lawfully in Him we were being crucified also. Our flesh with all its wants and desires, some good and some not so good, was crucified. Of course, it certainly doesn’t seem like it at times. We have to start believing that it is so, in order for it to begin happening. Our minds are programmed to do whatever it takes to satisfy any desire. It takes time to retrain it to think the way God thinks. We need to supply it God’s thoughts through His Word.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "Why do you act as though the things of the past still control you? Why do you think as one of the people who are still in the world? You are in the world, but the world is not in you. So act like it! My children are free from the things that control the world. They are free from its influences and its passions. The things that your flesh used to desire are no more as far as your spirit is concerned. So don’t let those influences control you. You are no longer subject to them. You are the one that is in control now … not your flesh. So don’t act and think like your flesh is the one who is the boss. Your spirit is if you let it. Allow My Spirit to control your life, and you will have an abundance of joy.”

 

            91. My flesh has been crucified with Christ along with its passions and desires. With His help I can resist the urges of the past and stand blameless in His sight.

But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

 Results:

 

            Freed from sin:

 

Romans 6:22

22     But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

     

            Before we came to Jesus, we were enslaved to sin. It was our master, and we obeyed it … many times willingly. Now that we have been set free from its enslavement, we have willingly enslaved ourselves to God. In the Old Testament, if a Hebrew slave was about to be set free by his master, and he so loved his master and was so well treated by him that he didn’t want to leave, his master took him to the door post of his house and pierced his ear with an awl. He willingly surrendered himself to his master for life, even though he was free to go. That is what God wants … that we willingly submit ourselves to His Lordship. This enslavement results in sanctification. We are set apart as holy unto Him. This eternal life that the Scripture talks about is not in the sweet bye and bye. It is here in the nasty now and now.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are free, My children. You are no longer slaves to those things to which you were once enslaved. You have been set free … now act like it! Do not go on acting like you once did … as a slave to those things of the world. Trust in Me to provide the way and the desire to obey My Word. Then you will know My cleansing in your life. I washed you and made you whole. Now I want to complete the work in your life by showing you how to walk in My righteousness and true holiness all the rest of the days of your life.”

 

            90. I have been set free from sin and it no longer has dominion over me. This will bring about my sanctification with its result … eternal life!

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Spirit, soul, and body complete without blame:

 

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

23     Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

     24     Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

     

            God is not just paying attention to our spirits. He is concerned about all three facets of our lives … spirit, soul, and body. He wants us to be sanctified lock, stock, and barrel. Sanctified means set apart as holy unto Him. He wants our spirit, soul, and body to be preserved completely and without any guilt when Jesus returns. Our sprits were sanctified when we asked Jesus to come into our lives. Our souls are in the process of being sanctified. There should be a point in time when we dedicated our lives to God. In other words, we made Jesus not just our Savior, but also our Lord. Some people believe that this sanctification is a separate work of grace, like salvation. Let’s not argue about whether it is or not. We will agree that there should be a moment in time when we turn our lives over completely to Him. That is when the sanctification of our souls can truly begin. These verses also mention that He is faithful to bring it about. If He says He will do it, you can be sure He will.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My desire in not just that you be perfect in your spirit, but in all aspects of your life. I desire that you be blameless within and without. I desire that your desires blend in with Mine … that you walk fully in My Word. Only then will you truly know happiness. Joy is neither in things nor in people. Joy is obeying My Word and doing My will. Then you will know true happiness. It is not based on circumstances, but on knowing Me fully, which you cannot do as long as you obey your former desires and ambitions. Walk fully in Me; then you will know My joy.”

 

            89. He is sanctifying me totally inside and out. I will be completely without blame when Jesus returns. I can depend on Him to do it. It will happen!

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,

 Keeps us from stumbling:

 

Jude 24

24     Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,

     

            Isn’t this magnificent? He is able to keep us from stumbling. Well, if He can, why doesn’t He? He could force us to not stumble, but then we would be robots. We should have the yearning to not stumble. We also have to work together with Him in the effort. He does the work, but we have to be agreeable and put forth the effort too. We have to avoid certain conditions that would put the temptation to sin in front of us. We sometimes have to call upon His name in desperation when these situations confront us. It says that He can bring us to the point where we can stand in the presence of His glory. In the Old Testament, whenever the glory of the Lord was present, no one could stand. We will be able to stand because He will make us blameless. No wonder we will do it with great joy. How spectacular to be blameless in His holy sight!

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My desire for My children is not that they barely make it in this world. It is not that they continually fail to keep My Word. My desire is that you walk completely in My Word and to not ever disobey My commandments. You have that ability residing in you through My Spirit who indwells you. You can do this. You can succeed in keeping My Word in your every day life. It is My will that you do so. If you ask anything according to My will, it shall be done for you as you have believed. You have nothing to fear. You will not fail. You will succeed; for this is My desire … that you walk in My holiness, blameless with great joy!”

 

            88. Even though at times it may look like I won’t make it, He is able to keep me from stumbling and make me stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy. Hallelujah!

But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

 How:

 

            Washed; sanctified; justified:

 

1 Corinthians 6:11

11     Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

 

Romans 5:18

18     So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

     

Romans 8:29-30

29     For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

     30     and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

     

 

            We were all a sorry lot before we came to Jesus. It doesn’t matter how “little” or how “much” we sinned; we were all unrighteous in His eyes. But at Calvary, we were washed clean of our sins, set apart to God, and declared righteous in His eyes. Of course we didn’t experience that till we entered the Kingdom of God. Remember we just talked about His choosing us before the world was in existence. Romans 8:29-30 tells us that He didn’t just choose us. Once He chose us, He set into motion our coming unto Him. He made us like His Son. Notice that He also glorified us through Jesus. We won’t experience the fullness of that glorification until Jesus returns, and we get our glorified bodies!

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My children, I have done all for you. I have not left anything out. Everything that you would ever need I have provided for you. You came to Me unclean and uncaring, and I have supplied all that is needed for you to walk in My holiness. I cleansed you at new birth and set you on your way to walk with Me in true holiness … not the holiness of man, depending on your abilities and efforts, but a holiness based on Me and My Word. I have set you apart forever unto Me. Walk in My holiness as My Spirit leads you.”

 

            87. Though my righteousness was as filthy rags, He has washed me whiter than snow; set me apart unto Him as holy; just as if I had never sinned!

When we came to Christ, we then became destined for holiness

 Chapter 7

 

Sanctification

 

 

 

 

            When we were in the world, we were destined for corruption. This was true, even if we were “good” people. When we came to Christ, we then became destined for holiness. We were set apart by God (sanctified). We were not supposed to engage in the things of the world. Most new Christians do good things for a while, but then eventually the things of the world cloud our vision. They tug on our hearts. When we listen to them rather than God, we start slipping away from what He destined for us to live in. Following are some of the verses that show what we were meant to be in His Kingdom.

 

 

Calling/Chosen:

 

            Chosen before the foundation of the world:

 

Ephesians 1:4

4     just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.

     

            How special we must be to Him … that He would select us from eternity past. He didn’t wait for us to do something to deserve His kindness. He didn’t even wait for us to ask Him to save us. He chose us long before there was an earth for us to live on, and He loved us into His Kingdom.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My children, you are so in My mind and in My heart continually. I wanted you to be a part of My family from long ages ago. I wanted you to be like Me in every way. That is why I sent My Son to die for you … that you might put on My righteousness and holiness forever. I have long awaited this hour; for you to come completely to Me and to take My holiness upon you. Then we can fellowship with each other from day to day. I did not save you just to turn My back on you. I saved you that you might have fellowship with Me day to day.”

 

            86. God chose me before the world was created. When He chose me, it was so that I might be holy and blameless. He wanted me to be like Him in all my thoughts and actions.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth

 You Shall:

 

            We shall be witnesses:

 

Acts 1:8

8     but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

 

            This is not a suggestion; it is a declaration of truth. We unquestionably will be His witnesses once His Holy Spirit has come upon us. It does not say that we will go door to door witnessing (though that is a viable possibility), but that we will be His witnesses. We won’t be able to help ourselves. His power will shine through us and be a witness to others of what God has done for us and can do for them. We need to overcome any fear of what others will say or do. We also need training in how to share with others about Jesus.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I have chosen for you to be the ones that spread My Word to the world. I could have chosen angels, but instead chose My people. People would have been afraid of angels and come unto Me out of fear. But when you spread My Word, they come to Me out of love and desire for Me. When you go forth in My Spirit, I shall empower you with the very power of Heaven. This is the same power that raised My Son from the grave and seated Him beside Me. This power is not for you to think that you are something great but to bring others to Me. When you go in My Spirit, I go with you and empower you to do My will and to bring others into My Kingdom. You will lay hands on the sick, and they shall be made whole so that they will want to enter into My Kingdom. Trust in Me to provide whatever you need when you go forth in My name and in My Spirit.”

 

            85. Because I have received the power of the Holy Spirit, I shall be His witness wherever I go throughout the world.

 

 

            These are a only some of the results in our lives that are our destiny. They are there to make our lives what they should be and to cause others to long to come into His Kingdom. We need to put them into practice and not smother the workings of the Holy Spirit as He shapes us into the image of Jesus.