Power Through Love #3

The greatest release of power and faith possible
is to be totally convinced God loves you.

In all things we are more than conquerors 
through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor 
uncircumcision avails anything, but faith 
working through love.  Gal 5:6

In these two verses, Paul connects our victory
with God's love for us. Indeed, this whole
concept of sanctification is all about love.

Paul says the life of Christ was released in
him through a faith that worked by love:
I have been crucified with Christ; 
it is no longer I who live, 
but Christ lives in me; 
and the life which I now live by the faith 
of the Son of God, who loved me and gave 
Himself for me.  Galatians 2:20 (Darby)

Paul also says this:
God loved you even when you were 
dead in sins. 
And now that you trust his love, 
he gives you resurrection power. 
But God, 
who is rich in mercy, 
because of His great love with which He
loved us, 
even when we were dead in trespasses,
made us alive together with Christ. 
Eph 2:4,5
David Wilkerson
worldchallenge.org--get the whole paper!

Reader, if we could but grasp the unconditional
love of God, the word, "why" would disappear
from our vocabulary.

We see through a glass darkly, 
but then face to face. 1 Cor 13:12

My grace is sufficient for you,
for power is perfected in weakness.
2 Cor 12:9

He Lives Within #2

Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is
in you?  (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Jesus is the only victor over sin, flesh and the devil.
And God sends forth the Spirit of this mighty warrior
to be our sanctifier.  Do you think God would justify
us but then leave us totally powerless against the prin-
cipalities and the powers of darkness? Do you think 
he says to us, "I consider your righteous by your faith 
in the accomplished work of my Son, Now, go--resist 
sin and fight the devil as best you can. I'll give you cre-
dit for good effort?" No, never!

Christ did not do battle with the devil, defeat him, re-
turn to the Father and then quit on us. He did not 
merely say, "I did my part. Now, you do yours." No,
our blessed Savior ascended to heaven with a blood-
stained banner of total victory over all the power of
the enemy. His spirit empowers us in all battles with
the flesh and the devil. "Now to him who is able to
do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask 
or think, according to the power that works in us. 
(Ephesians 3:20.)

We reign in life only when we allow the Spirit of Christ
to live his life in and through us. "For if you live ac-
cording to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit 
you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
(Rom 8:13) All power over sin, flesh and the devil lies
in the indwelling Spirit of Christ: 
"That he would grant you, according to his riches 
in glory, to be strengthened with might through his 
Spirit in the inner man."  (Eph 3:16)
David Wilkerson
worldchallenge.org

Reader, ponder these scriptures--and then rest in the
finished work of the cross!

The Gift of Righteousness #1

For if by the one man's offense death reigned 
through one, much more those who receive 
abundance of grace and the of the gift of 
righteousness will reign through the One, 
Jesus Christ.  Romans 5:17

Sanctification is the Spirit of Christ in us...Plainly
stated: God has already made us 'just' (or right) in 
His eyes, and that is a wonderful holiness. But now 
He is bringing this holiness down to our practical 
lives. This is the work of the Spirit of Christ in us--
to conform us to what God already sees us to be.

In the verse above, the Greek word for 'reign' means
'to rule from a foundation of power.' When Paul talks
about 'reigning in life,' he's talking about having ru-
ling power over sin--not just in heaven but in this life.
We are to reign over every demonic power, every lust,
every principality that comes against us. That is true
sanctification.

Yet another powerful truth is contained in this verse:
'Those who receive abundance of grace and the 
gift of righteousness'. Here Paul called righteousness 
a gift. It is something given to you, put in your posses-
sion--something you can feel and touch. 
David Wilkerson
worldchallenge.org

Reader, we recently received a newsletter from the
Pulpit Series put out by Gary Wilkerson. It is so full
of truth that I want to share it with you bit by bit.
Through Jesus Christ we are given an ABUNDANCE
OF GRACE and the GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!
WOW!

Forgetting What is Behind

...One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and 
straining toward what is ahead, I press toward 
the goal to win the prize for which God has called 
me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:13-14

It is never wise to live in the past. There are, indeed,
some uses of our past which are helpful, which bring
blessing. We should remember past mercies, that we
may have confidence in new needs or trials in the
future. We should remember past comforts, that there
may be stars in our sky when night comes again. 

But while there are these true uses of memory, we 
should guard against living in the past. We should 
draw out our life's inspirations not from memory, but 
from hope; not from what is gone, but from what is yet 
to come. Forgetting the things which are behind, we 
should reach forward to those things which are before.

Reader, to live in the past is to, perhaps, lose hope for
the future. Jesus said He could "do nothing because of
their unbelief. " It is especially difficult when one faces
loss. We become grounded, turkeys instead of eagles.
Our eyes should be on the goal...to win the prize for
which God has called me heavenward. Paul wrote
these words from prison while facing death. 

Wonder

For God so loved the world, that he gave His only 
begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him 
should not perish, but have everlasting life.  
John 3:16

Tell me what it means to perish, and enable me to
grasp the thought of a life that is eternal. Measure
for me the abyss of man's wickedness and guilt dur-
ing all the ages of his black and hateful history, that 
I may realize in some degree what that world is 
which God loved. Then, pausing for a moment in 
wonder at the thought that such a world could be 
loved at all, hasten on to speak of love that gave the 
Son. And when you have enabled me to know this 
love which cannot be known, for it passes knowledge, 
press on still and tell me of the sacrifice by which it 
has measured and proved itself--His Son, His Only-
begotten Son. 

And when you have achieved this, I turn again to the 
words of Christ, and I read that it was GOD who so 
loved the world, and I crave to know Who and What 
God is. When I come to know that it was GOD who 
loved, that GOD was the giver, and GOD's Son the 
gift, I stand as a wondering worshipper in the pre-
sence of the Infinite, and confess that such knowledge 
is too high for me.     Sir Robert Anderson

Reader, John 3:16 is one of the first verses learned in
childhood. But it is not a verse for children, but for the
one who desires to press into the God who loved the
Cosmos, Satan's world, so much that He gave His all.
One thing is missing in the Christian world today:
WONDER. We can be so glib, thoughtless even, when
it comes to the Holy things of the Spirit.

He Sees; He Knows; He Cares

Your heavenly Father knows.
Matthew 6:32

A visitor at a school for the deaf was writing ques-
tions on the board for the children. Soon he wrote:
"Why has God made me able to hear and speak,
and made you deaf?"

The shocking sentence hit the children like a cruel
slap on the face. They sat paralyzed, pondering the
dreadful word, "why?" And then a little girl arose.

With her lip trembling and her eyes swimming with
tears, she walked straight to the board. Picking up 
the chalk, she wrote with a steady hand these pre-
cious words."Yes, Father, for this was your good 
pleasure." (Matt 11:26) What a reply! It reaches up 
and claims an eternal truth upon which the most ma-
ture believer, and even the youngest child of God, 
may securely rest--the truth that God is your Father.

I still believe that a day of understanding will come 
for each of us, however far away it may be. We will 
understand as we see the tragedies that today darken 
and dampen the presence of heaven for us take their 
proper place in God's great plan--a plan so overwhel-
ming, magnificent and joyful, we will laugh with 
wonder and delight. Arthur Christopher Bacon

Reader, we prayed for the persecuted church today.
Every Believer must look at life from the perspective
of eternity--which is forever...

Whoever Serves Me

Whoever serves me must follow; and where I am,
my servant also will be. My Father will honor the
one who serves Me. John 12:26

Precious words! May they be engraved on our hearts,
forever. Then shall we be steady in our course, and
effective in our service. We shall not be distracted or
unhinged by the thoughts and opinions of men.

It may happen that we shall get very few to understand 
us or sympathize with us--few to approve or appreciate 
our work. It matters not. The Master knows all about it. 
C H Mackintosh

Reader, I get into trouble when I look for approval from
others! He will honor us, but it may not be until heaven.
I can wait...