Read:
1 Corinthians 12:27
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Also Read:
Ephesians 4:11,12
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
We are living in a time where the church as a whole has forgotten what ministry is all about. We go to church and pay money to our home church so that the pastor's and minster's in the church can be there for a particular body , and this is needful and necessary, but not the end all. It's biblical to give unto the work of the Church, but the body of Christ as a whole is one body involved in the Great commission of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. The minister's in the church is to equip or prepare the body of Christ for the work of ministry. The bible says here in verse 28 of 1 Corinthians that there are minister gifts in the body of Christ and this is very important. The minister gifts in verse 28 is to prepare and equip the whole body of Christ to advance God's Kingdom. We advance God's Kingdom by ministry. We are all called as one in the body of Christ. Many in the protestant church doesn't really understand this concept, and the pastor is doing everything in the church. We have to get out of our little shell and be a light to those in our workplace, our neighbors, or wherever we are at. You may have an administrative gift. You may have a gift to fix things. Whatever gift you have you are very special to the body of Christ. We are all called to advance God's Kingdom. My wife and I own a cleaning business, and we have a friend that got diagnosed with cancer. My wife told her and her husband that we want to use our business and clean there house for free. I'm also going to make a bunch of sandwiches and cook a big pot of spaghetti for them. We are going to keep them lifted up in prayer and believe for a good report from the doctor. This is ministry, and you can reach out to people in a unique way by just doing things like this to reach out to them. My wife and I were helping with a church years ago with a pastor from our apartment complex. I was doing some teaching and worship, and the pastor would have all of us find ministry right there in our apartment complex. Somebody from our small group baked a cake for a police officer that just had surgery on his back, and you should have seen his face when we took that cake to him. He was ministered to. There are so many things we can do as the body of Christ. Its great to come to church and get lifted up, but that's not where it ends. We are to take the message of Christ to the hurting, lost, and those in need. I want to encourage us today to be the body of Christ, whether it is baking a cake, sending someone a card, or whatever your can do to be a part of the body. What do you have to give today that maybe you never gave? You might not of understood what ministry is all about and that we are "all" called in ministry as the body.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will shed light on what our place and position is in the body of Christ. Let us know Lord that there is something we can do to be a part of your Kingdom. Help us Lord to use the gifts that we have and not only use them inside the four walls of the church, but use them also out in the world that many would come to repentance and be touched by your Spirit, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Keith Edwards may 14th Devotional
Read:
Acts 16:31
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. St. John 14:6
This word Saved comes from the Greek word Sozo, and this word is mighty, Heavenly, and presented by the Holy Ghost. Sozo is a revelation of the Healing power of Christ, for God Himself is emanating from the name of Jesus for the believer. Life and Healing are found in this wonderful name. Jesus! How lovely is His Name! Sozo gives us a glimpse into the healing virtue of the Christ. He is the Great Physician. The Greek word sozo means Deliverance, Safety, soundness, Healing, Health, Preservation, and Life. The name of Jesus is filled with this Saving, Healing, and Delivering power of God. Deliverance is flowing from the name of Jesus and it is ours as we stand upon His Word. Safety is flowing from the name of Jesus.
It surrounds us as we walk with Him. Soundness is flowing from the name of Jesus, as it strengthens us as we reach out to God in faith. Healing is flowing from the name of Jesus, as it makes us whole as we touch His Hand. It refreshes us as we believe His promises. Preservation is flowing from the name of Jesus, as it upholds us as we trust in the name of the Lord. Eternal Life is flowing from the name of Jesus. It quickens us as we look unto Him. “In Him was Life; and the Life was the light of men.” St. John 1:4.
Comment by Keith Edwards:
Lets look to the name of Jesus like never before in our walk with Him. God's name is above every name, and we have inherited that precious name to walk in victory and power. That name died upon the cross, but was raised from the dead by the power of God.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that your name that we have within us will flow to others in these days we are living in. Help us to make your name attractive as we seek to walk in your holiness, Amen.
by Drew Kaylor and Keith Edwards
Acts 16:31
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. St. John 14:6
This word Saved comes from the Greek word Sozo, and this word is mighty, Heavenly, and presented by the Holy Ghost. Sozo is a revelation of the Healing power of Christ, for God Himself is emanating from the name of Jesus for the believer. Life and Healing are found in this wonderful name. Jesus! How lovely is His Name! Sozo gives us a glimpse into the healing virtue of the Christ. He is the Great Physician. The Greek word sozo means Deliverance, Safety, soundness, Healing, Health, Preservation, and Life. The name of Jesus is filled with this Saving, Healing, and Delivering power of God. Deliverance is flowing from the name of Jesus and it is ours as we stand upon His Word. Safety is flowing from the name of Jesus.
It surrounds us as we walk with Him. Soundness is flowing from the name of Jesus, as it strengthens us as we reach out to God in faith. Healing is flowing from the name of Jesus, as it makes us whole as we touch His Hand. It refreshes us as we believe His promises. Preservation is flowing from the name of Jesus, as it upholds us as we trust in the name of the Lord. Eternal Life is flowing from the name of Jesus. It quickens us as we look unto Him. “In Him was Life; and the Life was the light of men.” St. John 1:4.
Comment by Keith Edwards:
Lets look to the name of Jesus like never before in our walk with Him. God's name is above every name, and we have inherited that precious name to walk in victory and power. That name died upon the cross, but was raised from the dead by the power of God.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that your name that we have within us will flow to others in these days we are living in. Help us to make your name attractive as we seek to walk in your holiness, Amen.
by Drew Kaylor and Keith Edwards
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Coming and Going May 13th Devotional by Joel Hawkins and Keith Edwards
I Corinthians 14:26 - How is it then, brethren? When you come together...
Philippians 2:24 - But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly...
Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace...
Whether it is saints with saints, saints with ministers or saints with their God, the word "coming" seems primarily to be associated in the New Testament with saints. We are (and should be) always coming together with one another!
Contrast now the word used between saints and sinners:
Matthew 28:19 - GO ye therefore and teach all nations...
Mark 16:15 - GO ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel...
Luke 14:23 - GO out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in...
There are many saints that are severely handicapped in their spiritual health, not because of poor preaching but because of no fellowship - they will not COME together with God or other saints.
There are even more whose handicap is even more severe...because they ONLY COME together with saints and they NEVER GO to sinners!
Our Christian DNA is divinely designed with both a "COME YE" and a "GO YE". These two concepts are innate in every born-again person - they come up naturally and spontaneously from the regenerated heart without outside suggestion or manipulation. It is totally inherent and instinctive for believers to seek out both saints and sinners, one for communion and the other for conversion.
How is your spiritual health today? Have you been avoiding, neglecting or just outright resisting your DNA as a child of God? You'll feel alot better if you will just come out of your cave of solitude, plead the Blood of Jesus Christ for victory over the fear of being hurt, and seek out fellowship with believers and friendship with sinners (for the opportunity to testify)!
When the Lord returns or calls us home, may He always find us COMING AND GOING!
Comment by Keith Edwards:
The greatest thing that we can do as a believer is getting connected in our home church and outward ministry outside of the church, to reach out to sinners, make disciples, and do the works of Christ. As we become more and more faithful with our coming and going, so shall our destiny here on earth as a Christian unfold before us. We will find our placement in the body of Christ, and we will feel fulfilled as a child of God.
Prayer:
Lord, help us to plug in to our home church like never before in this time we are living in. Help us to do what you called us to do as your children, Amen.
by Joel Hawkins and Keith Edwards
Philippians 2:24 - But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly...
Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace...
Whether it is saints with saints, saints with ministers or saints with their God, the word "coming" seems primarily to be associated in the New Testament with saints. We are (and should be) always coming together with one another!
Contrast now the word used between saints and sinners:
Matthew 28:19 - GO ye therefore and teach all nations...
Mark 16:15 - GO ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel...
Luke 14:23 - GO out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in...
There are many saints that are severely handicapped in their spiritual health, not because of poor preaching but because of no fellowship - they will not COME together with God or other saints.
There are even more whose handicap is even more severe...because they ONLY COME together with saints and they NEVER GO to sinners!
Our Christian DNA is divinely designed with both a "COME YE" and a "GO YE". These two concepts are innate in every born-again person - they come up naturally and spontaneously from the regenerated heart without outside suggestion or manipulation. It is totally inherent and instinctive for believers to seek out both saints and sinners, one for communion and the other for conversion.
How is your spiritual health today? Have you been avoiding, neglecting or just outright resisting your DNA as a child of God? You'll feel alot better if you will just come out of your cave of solitude, plead the Blood of Jesus Christ for victory over the fear of being hurt, and seek out fellowship with believers and friendship with sinners (for the opportunity to testify)!
When the Lord returns or calls us home, may He always find us COMING AND GOING!
Comment by Keith Edwards:
The greatest thing that we can do as a believer is getting connected in our home church and outward ministry outside of the church, to reach out to sinners, make disciples, and do the works of Christ. As we become more and more faithful with our coming and going, so shall our destiny here on earth as a Christian unfold before us. We will find our placement in the body of Christ, and we will feel fulfilled as a child of God.
Prayer:
Lord, help us to plug in to our home church like never before in this time we are living in. Help us to do what you called us to do as your children, Amen.
by Joel Hawkins and Keith Edwards
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Keith Edwards May 12th Devotional
Read:
Matthew 14:14 - "Jesus...saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick"
Luke 7:13,14 - "And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her...and he said...'Arise'"
John 4:35 - "Look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."
If I have heard it once, I have heard it a thousand times - "Where's the power of God today". Believers all over the country are flocking to seminars and conferences on how to retrieve the old-time power back in our churches and ministries. Dozens of formulas have been presented that explain the loss of power as a lack of faith, a lack of prayer or maybe a lack of praise and worship. Then, upon getting these areas back on track, healing and delivering power are guaranteed to come back into your hands when you touch the sick.
However, according to the above Scriptures, the reason for the absence of power is not just a lack of faith or a lack of prayer but a LACK OF CARE! It was compassion that proceeded the above mentioned miracles - enough compassion, in fact, to MOVE the Lord! THE POWER IN HIS HANDS STARTED WITH THE BREAKING OF HIS HEART! I'm not so sure if many would come to a seminar for power today if they knew that they would have to "hurt" before they could "help"!
Sometimes, we have to use several extension cords to connect a power source to a power need. In these two accounts in Matthew and Luke, there were TWO cords from the One who had the power to the one who had the need...and this second cord of heart-moving compassion for many today in our fast-paced culture has come unplugged! We don't really mind praying for the sick - we just don't want to get so involved!
And the first cord before compassion is simply "LOOK"! I think that cord has not only been unplugged but wrapped up and hidden somewhere! Oh how quickly we change the TV channel when the hungry-children commercials come on! We dare not tarry and LOOK at someone troubled in a hospital waiting room, lest we become moved and get involved! But Jesus LOOKED! He opened His eyes and His heart to the full intensity of the need in front of Him.
In John's Gospel, Jesus tells us to look at something else...the harvest. He was actually talking about the Samaritan woman and her neighbors that were about to experience salvation (in an Old Covenant way), and He was calling them a "harvest". He looked beyond their ethnicity and viewed them spiritually, as God sees them - the harvest! We are to stop overlooking people (ignoring them as though we didn't know they were there) and we are certainly to stop "under looking" people or looking at them as something less than they are.
Exodus 2:11 - "And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and LOOKED on their burdens..."
Yes, Moses was willing to look and willing to get involved...but only with his own view and his own feelings. His well-intentioned efforts ended up in murder and him running for his life. God then had to hide him away for 40 years in order to show him the bigger picture - how GOD saw things, how GOD felt about them and what GOD intended to do. God saw more than just one Hebrew being abused. He saw a nation that needed to answer their calling, as well as other nations (Egypt and the nations of Canaan) that needed to answer for their idolatry. Moses' passion was not deep enough or wide enough to cover these other parts of the whole. With God, it is always bigger than just the immediate need in the particular individual in front of us! As Moses took on God's will in his fresh "look" at the situation (Exodus 3), then and only then was Moses ready to have divine power!
So where's the power? Its all in the look!
Comment by Keith Edwards
I want to encourage you today to "look" at what is around you. Ministry is all around us, but so many times we turn the other way. This devotion from Joel Hawkins really compels me to pay attention to ministry that is around me. It may be baking a cake for someone who is sick, reaching out to the downcast, whatever it may be, there are hurting people all around us that need that compassion of Jesus stretched there way.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will forgive us for not looking at ministry in our day to day routine. We want to be used by you Lord, but we don't want to get our hands dirty at times. We don't' want to reach out the that homeless man that needs a touch, that mother that is trying to support her child, or that orphan that needs a hug. Help us to see ministry around us, Amen.
by Joel Hawkins and Keith Edwards
Matthew 14:14 - "Jesus...saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick"
Luke 7:13,14 - "And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her...and he said...'Arise'"
John 4:35 - "Look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."
If I have heard it once, I have heard it a thousand times - "Where's the power of God today". Believers all over the country are flocking to seminars and conferences on how to retrieve the old-time power back in our churches and ministries. Dozens of formulas have been presented that explain the loss of power as a lack of faith, a lack of prayer or maybe a lack of praise and worship. Then, upon getting these areas back on track, healing and delivering power are guaranteed to come back into your hands when you touch the sick.
However, according to the above Scriptures, the reason for the absence of power is not just a lack of faith or a lack of prayer but a LACK OF CARE! It was compassion that proceeded the above mentioned miracles - enough compassion, in fact, to MOVE the Lord! THE POWER IN HIS HANDS STARTED WITH THE BREAKING OF HIS HEART! I'm not so sure if many would come to a seminar for power today if they knew that they would have to "hurt" before they could "help"!
Sometimes, we have to use several extension cords to connect a power source to a power need. In these two accounts in Matthew and Luke, there were TWO cords from the One who had the power to the one who had the need...and this second cord of heart-moving compassion for many today in our fast-paced culture has come unplugged! We don't really mind praying for the sick - we just don't want to get so involved!
And the first cord before compassion is simply "LOOK"! I think that cord has not only been unplugged but wrapped up and hidden somewhere! Oh how quickly we change the TV channel when the hungry-children commercials come on! We dare not tarry and LOOK at someone troubled in a hospital waiting room, lest we become moved and get involved! But Jesus LOOKED! He opened His eyes and His heart to the full intensity of the need in front of Him.
In John's Gospel, Jesus tells us to look at something else...the harvest. He was actually talking about the Samaritan woman and her neighbors that were about to experience salvation (in an Old Covenant way), and He was calling them a "harvest". He looked beyond their ethnicity and viewed them spiritually, as God sees them - the harvest! We are to stop overlooking people (ignoring them as though we didn't know they were there) and we are certainly to stop "under looking" people or looking at them as something less than they are.
Exodus 2:11 - "And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and LOOKED on their burdens..."
Yes, Moses was willing to look and willing to get involved...but only with his own view and his own feelings. His well-intentioned efforts ended up in murder and him running for his life. God then had to hide him away for 40 years in order to show him the bigger picture - how GOD saw things, how GOD felt about them and what GOD intended to do. God saw more than just one Hebrew being abused. He saw a nation that needed to answer their calling, as well as other nations (Egypt and the nations of Canaan) that needed to answer for their idolatry. Moses' passion was not deep enough or wide enough to cover these other parts of the whole. With God, it is always bigger than just the immediate need in the particular individual in front of us! As Moses took on God's will in his fresh "look" at the situation (Exodus 3), then and only then was Moses ready to have divine power!
So where's the power? Its all in the look!
Comment by Keith Edwards
I want to encourage you today to "look" at what is around you. Ministry is all around us, but so many times we turn the other way. This devotion from Joel Hawkins really compels me to pay attention to ministry that is around me. It may be baking a cake for someone who is sick, reaching out to the downcast, whatever it may be, there are hurting people all around us that need that compassion of Jesus stretched there way.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will forgive us for not looking at ministry in our day to day routine. We want to be used by you Lord, but we don't want to get our hands dirty at times. We don't' want to reach out the that homeless man that needs a touch, that mother that is trying to support her child, or that orphan that needs a hug. Help us to see ministry around us, Amen.
by Joel Hawkins and Keith Edwards
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
May 11th Devotional
Read:
Philippians 2:5
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Also Read:
1 Corinthians 11:1
1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ
We are living in a generation that has lost the importance and revelation of how God builds and the model of the cross that we should follow. The church has taken in paradigms that are not godly but rather humanistic and gnostic. We have lost the paradigm of the cross of Jesus Christ, and how we should follow Christ as He laid down His life. Like the Gnostic's, we have a revelation of Christ living within us, but it is more of a concept and teaching rather than knowing Him and the power of His resurrection. Within us is often a collection of teachings and our dedication to them, rather than to our risen Lord Who lives in us. The New Testament paradigm of the Cross and the risen Lord should be the focus of our devotion everyday. I find myself loving the idea of God at times, rather than keeping that pure devotion with Him, and then I have to repent and return to that first love with Him. The teachings that many minister's hold to and "defend" can be totally orthodox, but they lose the paradigm of love that Jesus portrayed, the sacrifice that He gave, and the ministry that He poured out to many. It seems to me that many minister's try and add to the gospel, and the paradigm for us to follow is so clear, yet we make it difficult. We can't build a paradigm upon a paradigm, and we can't change the gospel to make it fit our own agenda and what we think is right. Many churches have lowered the standard of what there church is to follow, and they make it an easy gospel. A paradigm is an example and model to follow, and the very foundation that was laid for us by the apostles, prophets, and Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone is the very foundation that we need to follow today. I have minister friends over seas that are powerful minister's of God, and I see a vast difference between some minister's here in the United States and those from overseas. I think that the biggest reason for this is that they haven't been tainted by other paradigms, but understood right off the bat that ministry is just following what Christ Jesus did. I think that one of the major errors we have gotten into, including me, is defending the gospel with the wrong approach. Sometimes we get so caught up with what we think is right, and we lose sight to what needs to be done to transform our nation, change our community, and make disciples. It is very important to defend the gospel and to flow in our gifts and callings. I'm just saying that we need to get our priorities in order as the church and understand that the new testament model for the church is to minister to our community and have outward ministry. It is extending our hands outside the four walls of the building and winning souls, feeding the poor, and making disciples, but yet done with love. It is following the paradigm of the cross. We've done all but make disciples. We have our programs, agenda's, and other things, but our focus needs to be on the Kingdom of God. I want us today to have a fresh insight as to what God has for us, and to ask God today to place us where we need to be as we play our part in following the cross.
Prayer:
Lord, we repent for any other paradigms that we have allowed in our lives, if any. Show us Lord if there is any way in us besides your way, and give us a fresh revelation of the only paradigm and foundation that we need to follow today, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Philippians 2:5
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Also Read:
1 Corinthians 11:1
1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ
We are living in a generation that has lost the importance and revelation of how God builds and the model of the cross that we should follow. The church has taken in paradigms that are not godly but rather humanistic and gnostic. We have lost the paradigm of the cross of Jesus Christ, and how we should follow Christ as He laid down His life. Like the Gnostic's, we have a revelation of Christ living within us, but it is more of a concept and teaching rather than knowing Him and the power of His resurrection. Within us is often a collection of teachings and our dedication to them, rather than to our risen Lord Who lives in us. The New Testament paradigm of the Cross and the risen Lord should be the focus of our devotion everyday. I find myself loving the idea of God at times, rather than keeping that pure devotion with Him, and then I have to repent and return to that first love with Him. The teachings that many minister's hold to and "defend" can be totally orthodox, but they lose the paradigm of love that Jesus portrayed, the sacrifice that He gave, and the ministry that He poured out to many. It seems to me that many minister's try and add to the gospel, and the paradigm for us to follow is so clear, yet we make it difficult. We can't build a paradigm upon a paradigm, and we can't change the gospel to make it fit our own agenda and what we think is right. Many churches have lowered the standard of what there church is to follow, and they make it an easy gospel. A paradigm is an example and model to follow, and the very foundation that was laid for us by the apostles, prophets, and Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone is the very foundation that we need to follow today. I have minister friends over seas that are powerful minister's of God, and I see a vast difference between some minister's here in the United States and those from overseas. I think that the biggest reason for this is that they haven't been tainted by other paradigms, but understood right off the bat that ministry is just following what Christ Jesus did. I think that one of the major errors we have gotten into, including me, is defending the gospel with the wrong approach. Sometimes we get so caught up with what we think is right, and we lose sight to what needs to be done to transform our nation, change our community, and make disciples. It is very important to defend the gospel and to flow in our gifts and callings. I'm just saying that we need to get our priorities in order as the church and understand that the new testament model for the church is to minister to our community and have outward ministry. It is extending our hands outside the four walls of the building and winning souls, feeding the poor, and making disciples, but yet done with love. It is following the paradigm of the cross. We've done all but make disciples. We have our programs, agenda's, and other things, but our focus needs to be on the Kingdom of God. I want us today to have a fresh insight as to what God has for us, and to ask God today to place us where we need to be as we play our part in following the cross.
Prayer:
Lord, we repent for any other paradigms that we have allowed in our lives, if any. Show us Lord if there is any way in us besides your way, and give us a fresh revelation of the only paradigm and foundation that we need to follow today, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Mercy Seat May 10th Devotional
Read:
Romans 3:25
25 Whom God put forward before the eyes of all as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.
The greatest thing that a Christian can learn in his or her walk with the Lord is having a deeper revelation everyday of Christ, and His death, burial, and resurrection. What we focus on through prayer and worship is very important how deep will can enter into the holy of holies. The bible says that because of Jesus shedding His blood upon the mercy seat of God, it appeased the wrath of God upon man. God now sees us as righteous by the blood of His son Jesus Christ. The Greek word for propitiation is hilastarion, and it means mercy seat for our sins. The secret for walking in the spirit is by first submitting to what God has already done for us. We need to walk in that which we have recieved. In the old testament the priest would take the blood of animals and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat upon the ark of the covenant. This would not take away the sins completely, but it would cover their sins temporarily. The priests would have to do this periodically for the sins of Israel. Christ was the ultimate sacrifice, and through our faith in this revelation will come a deeper revelation of how God really sees us through our worship and prayer. Christ' death and resurrection caused us to be a child of God now. I want us to focus on how much God really loves us today. He loved us so much that he allowed His very Son to die upon a cross for us. Christ' blood satisfied God, and now we are righteous by that ultimate sacrifice. Another thing that the propitiation of the blood upon the mercy seat did is cause the Holy spirit to come and indwell within us as believers, which Jesus told His disciples would come after He was crucified. When Jesus blood satisfied God it brought forth the anointing.
prayer:
Lord, we enter in your holy of holies by that precious blood. It's only by that blood Lord that we can enter, and your blood heals us, delivers us, and saves us. Thank you for that blood you shed Jesus, and as we offer up incense of worship to you today let your glory so fall upon us as your children and priests of your holy throne, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Romans 3:25
25 Whom God put forward before the eyes of all as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.
The greatest thing that a Christian can learn in his or her walk with the Lord is having a deeper revelation everyday of Christ, and His death, burial, and resurrection. What we focus on through prayer and worship is very important how deep will can enter into the holy of holies. The bible says that because of Jesus shedding His blood upon the mercy seat of God, it appeased the wrath of God upon man. God now sees us as righteous by the blood of His son Jesus Christ. The Greek word for propitiation is hilastarion, and it means mercy seat for our sins. The secret for walking in the spirit is by first submitting to what God has already done for us. We need to walk in that which we have recieved. In the old testament the priest would take the blood of animals and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat upon the ark of the covenant. This would not take away the sins completely, but it would cover their sins temporarily. The priests would have to do this periodically for the sins of Israel. Christ was the ultimate sacrifice, and through our faith in this revelation will come a deeper revelation of how God really sees us through our worship and prayer. Christ' death and resurrection caused us to be a child of God now. I want us to focus on how much God really loves us today. He loved us so much that he allowed His very Son to die upon a cross for us. Christ' blood satisfied God, and now we are righteous by that ultimate sacrifice. Another thing that the propitiation of the blood upon the mercy seat did is cause the Holy spirit to come and indwell within us as believers, which Jesus told His disciples would come after He was crucified. When Jesus blood satisfied God it brought forth the anointing.
prayer:
Lord, we enter in your holy of holies by that precious blood. It's only by that blood Lord that we can enter, and your blood heals us, delivers us, and saves us. Thank you for that blood you shed Jesus, and as we offer up incense of worship to you today let your glory so fall upon us as your children and priests of your holy throne, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)