WHO ARE YOU?

Who are you?

This is the time of the year of a babe born in a manger, Christ the Lord. (actually just when we celebrate, not the actual date)

Have you apprehended a knowing that you are also a babe?

You are a 3 dimensional being having been born into a body, into the manger of humanity.

You are wrapped, like a gift, in the swaddling clothing of flesh and blood. And oh what a gift you are!

You are an immortal being making himself subject to death, and picking up the cross dies daily. But you are so much more!!

It is time to awaken oh sleeper! Remember who you are!

You have no bounds and the grave clothes of mortality cannot keep you in restriction. Wake up and set them aside.

Who you are:

What Jesus of Nazareth was to the Father, you are to Him. He was the visible manifestation of the invisible God, the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9).

You are His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) and representatives on earth, and His Body (1 Corinthians 12:27), the fullness of Him that fills all in all (Ephesians 1:23).

He was the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).

You are the Lord's christ (little christ) (Revelation 11:15), and as overcomers you are His sons (Revelation 21:7).

He came to do the will of His Father, and to manifest the life of God.

You are come to do His will, and manifest the life of Christ (Galatians 2:20).

In His deity, He is equal with God. In His HUMANITY,

You are brought to equality with him, called "his brethren," (Romans 8:29, Hebrews 2:11), and made joint-heirs of all that he receives by inheritance (Romans 8:17).

As He is so are you: 1 John 4:17

So celebrate the newness of life this season.

We are like Mary who birthed Jesus, the Word of God. The Word becomes birthed IN US. We become one with Him. The Holy Ghost intercedes with sighs beyond words as He is delivered. We are brought through the veil and into the New Day.

This great MYSTERY of cosmic proportions continues to unveil before us at this moment. The bells toll, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" A child, a child, sleeping in the night - He will bring us goodness and light. The child is growing up!

We receive LIGHT that reveals the present manifest revealing of the Christ-like (huios, grown up) sons of God.

 The truth is, all of creation is still waiting (Rom. 8:19-22) for this BIRTHING of CHRIST within a people - it is the transfiguration of the Body of Christ.

"For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest IN HIS SAINTS." "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” Romans 8:19,Col. 1:26,1 Cor. 15:51

YOU ARE AN EPIPHANY

In view of His appearing (epiphany, SHINING FORTH) - (we) preach the gospel (2 Tim. 4:1 MSG). AN EPIPHANY is a sudden and striking awareness (en-LIGHT-ening) of the crucial significance of a truth.

2 Timothy 1:9b-10, "This grace WAS GIVEN US in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has NOW BEEN REVEALED through the APPEARING (the glorious OUTSHINING) of our Savior, who has destroyed death and has (already) brought LIFE and IMMORTALITY to LIGHT through the gospel." We don't have to wait. The light of God is REVEALED TO US, and IN US and THROUGH US - in this ever present NOW.

GIFTS of the MAGI

The Magi – meaning something like magician but often translated wise man – appear in Matthew 2, having traveled from “the east” in search of the Baby King. They were obviously astronomers of some sort, because it was the Star of Bethlehem that indicated the birth.

When they made it into Jerusalem, they went right to Herod to ask where the Baby might be. Interestingly, Herod seems to know right away that the prophesies about the Messiah were connected, because he asked his scholars where Messiah was to be born. We don’t know exactly when the visit occurred, but we do know that they had been tracking the star for some time – up to two years.

Manger scenes with them appearing are of course false, they probably didn’t reach the Messiah until he was 2 or 3 years of age. This is important to note when we look at the potential uses for the gifts in a moment.

Gifts from the East – Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh
Gold
Myrrh was also a product of Arabia, and was obtained from a tree in the same manner as frankincense. It was a spice and was used in embalming. It was also sometimes mingled with wine to form an article of drink. Such a drink was given to our Savior when He was about to be crucified, as a stupefying potion (Mark 15:23). Matthew 27:34 refers to it as “gall.” Myrrh symbolizes bitterness, suffering, and affliction. The baby Jesus would grow to suffer greatly as a man and would pay the ultimate price when He gave His life on the cross for all who would believe in Him.

Unlike the images we conjure of three men with a gift each, the Magi aren’t numbered. Church history and tradition have expanded on the story to name the men who actually gave the gifts – Melchior bringing gold, Caspar with frankincense, and Balthasar with myrrh. (2) Even so, depictions of the Magi vary from their earliest versions, with no one quite agreeing on the number of visitors in total.

In Matthew’s account, they “opened their treasures” to give the young Jesus gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We aren’t talking about single birthday gifts here – no matter the exact names and numbers, these were clearly wealthy men in a caravan of sorts, with much reputation and much to offer.

It has also been suggested that, In addition to the honor and status implied by the value of the gifts of the magi, scholars think that these three were chosen for their special spiritual symbolism about Jesus himself—gold representing his kingship, frankincense a symbol of his priestly role, and myrrh a prefiguring of his death and embalming.” (1)

Because the Magi were coming to hail the new king, gold makes sense as an acknowledgement of royalty. Gold was valuable, beautiful, and long-lasting. Scholars generally agree that the gift of gold represented Jesus as a king with an everlasting throne. It was a treasure befitting royalty, albeit royalty in the home of a young, poor family.

As an interesting theory that is somewhat on the fringe, some believe the gold was entirely different. Instead of precious metals, the theory explains that frankincense and myrrh were both precious resins used for fragrance and were both derived from the same region – from the east. Gold seems out of place – one of these things is not like the other – unless it was gold-en spice like turmeric, as some like to claim that it was. This line of thought can even trace to balsam oil, derived from the resin of the balsam trees in the same climate and region as frankincense and myrrh’s origination.

Arabic balsam, or Commiphora gileadensis, is also considered the Balm of Gilead, used to anoint the kings of Israel and containing a compound “known for its anti-inflammatory, local anaesthetic, and antifungal properties.”

In either view, the kingly connotations remain, and the message of the Magi is clear: this little baby was to be honored as royalty, no matter what the circumstances suggested!

Gold is a precious metal and as such was a very valuable commodity. Its value could very well have financed Joseph and Mary’s trip to Egypt. The Bible does not tell us any other significance to these three gifts; however, tradition has it that there is a deeper meaning for each of the three. Gold is a symbol of divinity and is mentioned throughout the Bible. Pagan idols were often made from gold and the Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with gold (Exodus 25:10-17). The gift of gold to the Christ child was symbolic of His divinity—God in flesh.

Frankincense

There’s no major surprise here – no fringe theory that suggests something shocking. Only an ancient incense that is still beneficial today.

The gift of frankincense is said to have been an acknowledgement of Jesus’ priesthood, setting him apart from a typical king. Frankincense was used in the temple routines, burned ceremonially by the priests. It was not native to that region, however, so obtaining frankincense from the east was costly. This gift was precious in both meaning and value.

Because we now can analyze the properties and modes of action that substances like frankincense resin and its essential oil maintain, we can see further benefit beyond fragrance and ceremony.

Traditional healing suggests frankincense for anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic abilities. We now see that this could be connected to immune modulating effects that might explain uses for both inflammatory illness and antimicrobial purposes.

Frankincense is a white resin or gum. It is obtained from a tree by making incisions in the bark and allowing the gum to flow out. It is highly fragrant when burned and was therefore used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant offering to God (Exodus 30:34). Frankincense is a symbol of holiness and righteousness. The gift of frankincense to the Christ child was symbolic of His willingness to become a sacrifice, wholly giving Himself up, analogous to a burnt offering.

Myrrh

The most bittersweet of the gifts, myrrh had been imported to Egypt in droves for embalming rituals, and the practice filtered out through the surrounding areas. Even without the mummification process, myrrh was connected with death and burial. A disheartening gift for a new mother to hold, yet beautiful in light of her understanding of his purpose.

But was that all the myrrh was for?

While the Middle Eastern regions used myrrh ceremonially, the Far East was using it for healing purposes. Ayurvedic medicine, which dates back thousands of years, used myrrh for wound healing, digestive health, and to balance women’s issues. China used myrrh for similar purposes – wound healing and to slow bleeding.

With this in mind, one wonders whether the Magi were bringing healing substances for Jesus’ after birth – cord healing, etc. – as well as for Mary in her postpartum discomfort. Prophetic words often had both immediate and long term connotations, so these gifts could have followed a similar dual pattern.

Of course, if they arrived two years after he was born, as the text may suggest, this theory loses a bit of weight. In any case, it’s interesting to entertain – the intricacies of Scripture never cease to amaze!

It’s worth noting that frankincense and myrrh together – both used in temple rituals– comprise a synergistic antimicrobial combination. (6) While both the temple and Jesus’ makeshift cradle were filled with aromatic substances, they were also fighting disease and protecting the inhabitants. What joy there is in seeing the beauty of God’s design underscored with practical protective measures!

Some early church history writings claim that the three named Magi came together years later to celebrate Christmas together, shortly before they died. I imagine a delicious meal, the laughter of old friends, and a fragrant incense burning to remind them all of that one, incredible journey when they carried gold, frankincense, and myrrh to a newborn king.

Matthew 2 tells us that the magi, or wise men, travelled from the East in search of the Christ child. They inquired of King Herod where they might find Him, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him" (Matthew 2:2). Upon finding the baby Jesus, “they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh” (Matthew 2:11).

Christ - Mass - The Birthing Of Christ

Christ - Mass - The Birthing Of Christ

We all know that Dec. 25 is not the day Jesus was born. Although most Christians celebrate December 25 as the birthday of Jesus Christ, few in the first two Christian centuries claimed any knowledge of the exact day or year in which he was born.

In this article I will not focus on that but,

I would like to reflect on the wonderfully familiar story about how Mary received the Word and "brought forth the Son into the WORLD." Her supernatural encounter with the Heavenly brought the personal stigma of having what was then viewed as an illegitimate child. This Child inside of her was the Living WORD.

In much that same way, we must intimately bring forth the Word into this WORLD. The Holy Spirit hovers over us. Surely, you know that you conceive and incubate His Word so that you will bring forth His living plan into this world. And, once again, the world will view our actions as illegitimate and unacceptable according to their understandings.

This conception of the Word IN YOU won't be accomplished through some rote confession or formula. John 5:39-40 says, "You search the scriptures... but you are not willing to come to Me that you may have LIFE." Only the impregnation of the synchronized power of heavenly intention within our human spirit brings forth the evidence of God. Even the wise men from the Far East (magicians from afar), searched the heavens to find guidance toward the birthplace of the coming Christ. They rightly interpreted the directions to follow the glowing light of one particular star to find Jesus.

The Day Star can be seen arising once again -- this time it is in OUR HEART (2 Pet. 1:19). This star gives those who search a glimpse of how to get to the place where the heavens speak. It urges them to follow the star until we can unwrap the man-child from His swaddling clothes. 

Paul described how he labored by "suffering BIRTH pangs until CHRIST (the anointed chosenness of God) would be (or is) completely and permanently formed (molded) within you." (Gal. 4:19 AMP).
We are like Mary in this way. The Word becomes birthed IN US. We become one with Him. The Holy Ghost intercedes with sighs beyond words as He is delivered. We are brought through the veil and into the New Day.
This great MYSTERY of cosmic proportions continues to unveil before us at this moment. The bells toll, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" A child, a child, sleeping in the night - He will bring us goodness and light. The child is growing up!

We receive LIGHT that reveals the present manifest revealing of the Christ-like (huios, grown up) sons of God. 

This concept was so mis-understood in previous generations that most are very weary of considering it again. But, the truth is, all of creation is still waiting (Rom. 8:19-22) for this BIRTHING of CHRIST within a people - it is the transfiguration of the Body of Christ.

The restructuring and conversion of all creation continually waits for us to stop acting and looking like the world and start acting and looking LIKE CHRIST.
The formation of CHRIST (the nature of the One Who smears with anointing) IN US quickens our mortal body and raises us from the grave of death and into effectiveness. CHRIST-ians show forth the "GLORY" of God that becomes visibly expressed LIGHT. That means we replicate the inward Christ-like nature (LIKENESS, character, and intention) of Jesus on earth today - in an outward manner. Christ IN US the hope of GLORY (Col. 1:27).

THE SECOND and opposing mystery is the MYSTERY OF LAWLESSNESS or the Anti-Christ (2 Thess. 2:5-8). This principle is the ANTITHESIS (opposite) to Christ (the Anointed chosenness) IN US. 

It is the spirit of anti-Christ (that which is AGAINST THE ANOINTING of CHRIST being revealed). Anti (instead, against, not toward, opposing) Christ (the anointed choseness of God) IN US. 

Notice that this lawlessness is NOT called "Anti-Jesus," but "Anti-Christ." Anti-Christ (instead of anointing) consists of anything that opposes the anointing or resists those who walk in the LIKENESS of the Anointed One (Matt. 12:32).
Anti-Christ could be any intellectual theology without Divine igniting. It opposes the birthing of CHRIST within a people.

2 Thessalonians 2:7 tells us that Jesus will overthrow and uncover this mystery of lawlessness with the breath of His mouth and He will destroy lawlessness by the SPLENDOR OF HIS APPEARING. This word "splendor" is epithania, from which we derive our word "epiphany." This splendor is "a shining forth of the coming of Lord, and the Glory of Jesus as lightning seen from east to the west."
In view of His appearing (epiphany, SHINING FORTH) - (we) preach the gospel (2 Tim. 4:1 MSG). AN EPIPHANY is a sudden and striking awareness (en-LIGHT-ening) of the crucial significance of a truth. 

The epiphany (or radiating grandeur of His glowing appearance) is further explained in 2 Timothy 1:9b-10, "This grace WAS GIVEN US in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has NOW BEEN REVEALED through the APPEARING (the glorious OUTSHINING) of our Savior, who has destroyed death and has (already) brought LIFE and IMMORTALITY to LIGHT through the gospel." We don't have to wait. The light of God is REVEALED TO US, and IN US, THROUGH US and AS Us.- in this ever present NOW.

We hear the angels singing, "What child is this?" It is the Christ birthed IN US -- what a wonder! For the whole world longs with eager and longing anticipation (Rom. 8:19) to look into the eyes of the corporate son and see the radiating Divine LIKENESS in that reflection.

 "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest IN HIS SAINTS." "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” Romans 8:19,Col. 1:26,1 Cor. 15:51

HEART OF THANKSGIVING

A Heart of Thanksgiving

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

A person with a thankful heart is a person of great power. A thankful heart is a victorious heart, which sees victory in the face of defeat.

In the course of battle, we can often get frustrated and find ourselves wrestling with God instead of contending the mountains in our lives. Through our frustration we end up rebuking God, instead of rebuking principalities and powers. We can get caught in the cycle of complaint with God concerning how long it is taking Him to meet our need, instead of thanking Him for all that He has already done for us. Our unhappiness can keep us continually seeking explanations from God, instead of thanking Him for the mountains He has already moved and the seas that He has parted to get us this far.

How soon we lose sight of all the miracles He has performed to bring us the victories we have already been given. While waiting for God to do the "big" thing for us, we forget to be thankful for the little victories along the way. I believe the small blessings we receive from God are a special test of our heart; He wants to know if we will be thankful even for the smallest gift.

On the other hand,  the enemy wants us to become dissatisfied with the victories God has given us, for a dissatisfied heart is easy for him to manipulate. When we are frustrated, he can get us to do and say things we would not otherwise, and attitudes can develop that hurt our faith. Jealousy and selfish ambition are both rooted in an ungrateful, dissatisfied heart. For a dissatisfied heart is like a hunger that is never filled, or a fire that never dies out. If we allow it, it will eat away at the enjoyment we find in this life.

The Safe Zone

Having a thankful heart keeps us in a "safe zone" – a place where THE ENEMY cannot gain access to our minds. That place is where we give thanksgiving and praise to God for ALL He has done for us. "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

I have a friend who is a pastor, and he recently went through a situation in his church where many people in his congregation left. Instead of becoming embittered about what he had lost, he made a conscious effort to thank God for the people who stayed with him. In a time of loss, it is easy to lose sight of all we still have! In all circumstances and at all times, we must find something to be grateful for, and remain thankful in the place God has put us.

When God shows us something He wants to give us and it does not happen right away, it is easy to become frustrated. If God has promised it, He will complete it. But we have our part to do, and that is thanking Him in spite of how things look in the natural. Our frustration and anxiety will only hinder God. Praise and thanksgiving prove we are trusting in God to do the impossible for us in His timing and in His way.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 4:6-7, emphasis mine

The presence, peace and power of God are gifts given freely to those who trust Him and do not allow fear and anxiety to remain in their heart. The peace of God will be a guard to our heart, fighting against anxiety and dissatisfaction. Anxiety will erode our faith and trust in God, but the peace of God that passes all understanding will produce a thankful heart. I truly believe that a thankful heart will touch God and enable us to experience His presence anywhere at any time.

Two Power-Filled Words

There are two simple words that release heavenly power to those who will use them. They are foundational words that most of us learn as small children – small, but mighty words that will unlock the windows of Heaven. God's heart is captured by the heartfelt words, "Thank you." I have personally seen these two simple words unleash the blessings of Heaven!

Years ago my husband and I needed a great deal of money and we had just a short time to come up with the amount we needed. I wanted to panic when faced with what seemed like an impossible situation, but instead, I went to my heavenly Father who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. As I poured out my heart (and my fears) to Him, He filled me with His peace. I asked Him how we should deal with our need. He replied, "Just thank Me and the money will come in!"

After only six months God supplied all that we needed and more! It was six wonder-filled months! Six months of praise, thanksgiving and rejoicing in God. We saw Him display His power in a great way and felt His awesome love for us!

God loves it when we trust in Him. One way we can show Him our trust is to thank Him for meeting our needs, even before we see it made evident in the natural. As we begin to thank Him, our appreciation keeps our eyes on God's faithfulness. It shows us how big and awesome He is; it reminds us of how He has helped us in the past and assures us He will help us in the present and future.

God's Power in Us

Complaining keeps our vision small and us focused on our problem. Praising raises our eyes to our great big Daddy God who is constantly looking after us. We need to focus not just on rebuking the devil – but on magnifying God! With our praise and adoration of Him, we will begin to see that there is no problem too big for our God.

Our thankful heart will produce an honest and accurate view of God. We will see that He alone holds the world in the palm of His hand, and that He alone is the Creator of all things. As this awesome God blesses us every day, we simply need to take the time to renew our minds by thinking of the blessings and victories He has given us. When we do this, we enlarge our capacity to believe in Him to do even greater things, and then we will trust Him more and lean more on the power and authority He has given us.

What is Dying to Self and Crucifying the Flesh?

What is Dying to Self and Crucifying the Flesh

We hear the terms often.

How do we crucify ourselves?  How do we die to self? You can nail your feet to the cross, metaphorically speaking, and then one hand, and then what? You will need help with that third nail.

In other words you can’t do this yourself. This help only comes through the Holy Spirit. He is working every circumstance to bring you to an end of yourself. Every tough experience you go through is Him, helping you with your problem of needing to die to self. Your dying to self is Holy Spirit’s work.

This makes sense of Jesus’ words: “Pick up your cross”. March to your execution. “Deny yourself” ( Luke 9:23 and Luke 14:27 ). How? Yield to Holy Spirit. How do you do that?  Hear, listen, respond, obey His voice.

The Bible presents all this as a warning and as an encouragement. If you are suffering trials of many kinds, sometimes it is not because you lack faith (James 1:2-4 ). It is because God means it for good — the strengthening of your faith, the slow destruction of your self-life, the salvation of your soul ( 1 Peter 1:6-9 ).

Dying to self; crucifying yourself; mortification of self.

         1. Which "self" do they seek to die to? 

         2. Usually renouncing the "straw-man" of humanistic self-potential

 There is much misuse of the following scriptures:

             a. Matt. 16:24; Mk. 8:34; Lk. 9:23 - "take up cross daily"

             b. Rom. 8:36 - "put to death all day long"

             c. I Cor. 15:31 - "I die daily"

             d. II Cor. 4:11 - "constantly delivered over to death"

             e. Phil. 3:10 - "conformed to His death"

Understanding what it means to "deny ourselves"

(Gal 2:20)  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

This does not refer to a subjective (emotional) or  psychological (mind) denial,  not even a volitional denial (by one’s own will).

Denying ourselves is part of the process of sanctification by Holy Spirit.

Paul tells is in Romans 6:6, “Knowing this, that our “old man” is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” And verse 11, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be DEAD indeed unto sin, but ALIVE unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 

Mirror Translation

Romans 6:6 We perceive that our old identity was co-crucified together with Him, this concludes that the vehicle that accommodated sin in us, was scrapped and rendered entirely useless. Our slavery to sin has come to an end.

6:7 If nothing else stops you from doing something wrong, death certainly does.

6:8 Faith sees us joined in His death and alive with Him in His resurrection.

6:9 It is plain for all to see that death lost its dominion over Christ in His resurrection, he need not ever die again to prove a further point.

6:10 His appointment with death was a once-off. As far as sin is concerned, He is dead.  This is the final testimony of the fact that sin’s power over man is destroyed. Now it is all life as far as God is concerned. His life reveals an uninterrupted union with the life of God.

6:11 This reasoning is equally relevant to you. Make the calculation, you died and are now alive unto God. You are absent to sin and present with God in Christ Jesus who is our Master.

6:12 You are under no obligation to sin, it has no further rights to dominate your dead body. Therefore let it not entice you to obey its lusts.

Giving Up Selfish Life:

(Rev 12:11)  And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony. And they did not love their soul until death.

Did not love their lives to death: Dying of Self Process in the soulish realm)

DYING TO SELF/CRUCIFYING THE FLESH (Getting rid of selfishness)

Gal. 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their lower  corrupt nature with its passions and appetites. (Rom 8:13)  For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify( put to death) the deeds of the body, you shall live.

We that are of Christ Jesus; we that belong to Christ Jesus;  are being "led by (His) Spirit" (Gal. 5:18) have crucified the flesh. (past tense) (Rom 6:11)  Likewise count/reckon yourselves also to be truly dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We nailed the flesh to the cross once for all when we became Christ's, on believing (Ro 6:3, 4), trusting, knowing who we are:  keep this now in a state of crucifixion (Ro 6:6)(Gal. 2:20) so that the Spirit can produce in us comparatively uninterrupted "the fruit of the Spirit" (Gal. 5:22). 

Man, by faith, is dead to the former standing point of a sinful life, and rises to a new life (Gal. 5:25) of communion with Christ (Col 3:3). The act by which we have crucified the flesh with its lust, is already accomplished  legally in principle. 

DEAD, BURIED, RAISED, SEATED WITH CHRIST

(Col 3:1-4)  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Be mindful of things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ our Life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.(everything He is)

Legally As Colossians 3:3 says, “  For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (which is to be TOGETHER AS ONE and hidden renders one as UNSEEN!) Therefore the enemy is rendered powerless for he cannot see INTO God!

Legally WITH CHRIST :

1.   We Were CRUCIFIED, (Gal. 2:20, Romans 6:6, Gal. 5:24)

2.   We DIED,  (Romans 6:8, Col. 2:20,Col. 3:3, Romans 6:10-11)

3.   We were BURIED, (Romans 6:4-5, Col. 2:12)

4.   We were QUICKENED/MADE ALIVE (Col. 2:13, Eph. 2:5)

5.   We were RAISED, (Col. 3:1, Eph. 1:19-21, Eph. 2:6, Col. 2:12)

6.   We ASCENDED, (Eph. 2:6,Eph. 4:8)

7.   and We are SEATED in HEAVENLY places IN Christ Jesus! ( Eph. 2:6) FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS AND EVERYTHING IS UNDER OUR FEET (Eph. 1:20-23)

But the practice vital aspect, or outward conformation of this life, must harmonize with the tendency given to the inward life" (Gal. 5:25) We are to be executioners, dealing cruelly with the body of sin, which has caused the acting of all cruelties on Christ's body with the affections-"with its passions." Thus we are dead to the law's condemning power, which is only for the fleshly, and their lusts (Gal. 5:23).

How to enforce that state of crucifixion and ascension: IT IS A FINISHED WORK

In the past I have always thought of sanctification as a process, however the Word clearly states that I am sanctified by one offering of the blood of Christ. So the process involved is not a process of being sanctified, but rather a process of renewing my mind to the fact that I am already sanctified!

* The work was finished before it even started (in a sense)! (Hebrews 4:3) "...although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8) "..the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

* We must appropriate the finished work by faith! (Hebrews 4:1-3) "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest..."

• Reckon (makeup your minds)yourselves dead to sin and alive to Christ. Rom. 6:11
• Stop responding to what you see: lust of the eye, lust of the flesh, pride of life.
• Make no provision to gratify lust: Romans 13:14 says, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." If we make just a small provision for the lust, it will rule over our body (Romans 6:12). If we don't make the provision, sin is less likely to occur.
• Acknowledge God's ownership of your body: God paid a high price for you. He sent His own Son to die in your place. We are obligated to live according to God's desires and not sin's desires. Let Christ live and reign in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:13 
• It takes time.(1 Peter 4:1-2 ). Crucifixion is a slow, painful  process  in the soulish realm. When we crucify our sinful desires;  Again IT IS A PROCESS,yet it is finished, see that!
• Get your mind off yourself. Use your freedom to serve others in love. Serving others in love  IS (becoming a living sacrifice)The solution to the flesh problem, is not trying not to sin. But rather living in service. Christianity is not about trying not to commit sin, but rather about becoming a living sacrifice. Paul talks about this in Romans 7. Whenever he tried not to covet, that activated the law of his members (the flesh) and caused him to do exactly what he intended not to. 
• Trying not to sin activates the flesh, perhaps because it puts the focus on ourselves. Trying to serve others deactivates the flesh, perhaps because it takes the emphasis away from ourselves.
• Quit seeing yourself as a sinner, but the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; become more righteousness conscious instead of sin conscious.

Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.  Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  Galatians 6:14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 

Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me".

Religion seeks to reform a man; the cross has crucified him. But there are no wounds, no scars, no evidence of having ever died and what cannot be accomplished in a lifetime of self-effort was accomplished in Christ through the Cross. Only in Christ for Moses and Israel weren't able, in the flesh, to accomplish it.

The best self can do is religion.

We have died to the self-life of Adam, and are risen to oneness in the Christ-Life. Reckon/calculate yourself dead.

You have been crucified with Christ.( Romans 6:6 and Galatians 2:20 ).

However, we are called on to make this legal right-standing an increasing reality in our experience. To do this we need to yield to the dealings of the Holy Spirit and to co-operate in His work of changing us into the image of Christ (Galatians 5:25 and 2 Corinthians 3:18 ). 

This is what the Third Day is all about, shifting from a DOING (law-based) mentality, to a BEING (relationship-based) mentality.

IT IS A FINISHED WORK

The Holy Spirit’s desire is to bring each one of us to complete personhood, wholeness in spirit, soul, and body. What the Holy Spirit is up to is to bring the whole life of Jesus Christ in to the whole of our personalities so the whole love of God can be relayed to the whole world. 

We shall be perfected just like our Father in heaven who is perfect. His holy nature is going to fill my broken, weak, damaged parts IN OUR SOULSIH REALM. The character and constancy of my Father God will grow in me- His child to become a mature son. Whatever it  takes, He is committed to our completion.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Heb 13:20-21)  Now may the God of peace (who brought again our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant) make you perfect (mature) in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Conclusion

Every negative, every embarrassment, every movement of self effort, knowledge based spirituality, any leaning on anything except Christ as my life must be exposed for what it is- The Illusion of independence and the ability to BECOME more spiritual. There is only ONE holy Life. Because of my union with Jesus, I am a partaker of that Life.

Christianity is Christ. Christianity is His character being expressed through my behavior, and that is what makes me the light of the world. What He is essentially, I am because of my union with Him.(I Cor.6:17)

You cannot earn a holy life, you cannot reproduce it, copy it, or anything else. You can’t memorize yourself into it, seminary your way into it. You want to know why? Because it is already yours, IF Christ is in you.

Holy living is NOT an achievement. There is nothing you can do by self effort to become more holy. Holiness is not a commodity that you need to get more of, neither is love or patience! You can’t get any of these “assets” by doing more.

Everything which God IS for us intrinsically, I am because of my inner union with Him for the world. I am an expression of His life, similar to when Jesus was asked to show the disciples the Father, He exclaimed, He who has seen me has seen the Father. (John 14:9) Everything that happens to me in this life (good, bad, ugly- GOD DIDN'T SEND IT BUT WE COME THROUGH IT) is purposed by God to reveal to me that I live by the Life of Another- His Life.

Jn.5:19, 30, Jn.6:57, Jn.7:38, Jn.12:49-50, and II Cor.6:16. Amplified Bible

Love is not a commodity, it is a Person. Patience is not a commodity; it is the fruit of a Person- The Holy Spirit.

Dying daily means facing disappointments and disgrace with the same feeling that we face honor and fame, with UTTER INDIFFERENCE. Because both disgrace and honor involve a false sense of self, NOT OUR TRUE SELF. The True 'I' of you is ONE with God, NO SEPERATION. The task before us is to 'make the transition' from the false sense of self to the True Self who has it's BEING IN CHRIST ~

ELECTION 2016

FOR WHOM SHOULD I VOTE FOR AS A CHRISTIAN?

I’m not going to tell you one way or the other, but do hear god and vote!

In this articles i will give you Biblical principles from which to adhere.

Notable Quotes:

Mark Twain: It will be conceded that a Christian’s first duty is to God. It then follows, as a matter of course, that it is his duty to carry his Christian code of morals to the polls and vote them … If Christians would vote their duty to God at the polls, they would carry every election, and do it with ease … If the Christians of America could be persuaded to vote God and a clean ticket, it would bring about a moral revolution that would be incalculably beneficent. It would save the country.

Thomas Jefferson: The time has come that Christians must vote for honest men, and take consistent ground in politics, ….… Christians have been exceedingly guilty in this matter … God cannot sustain this free and blessed country, which we love and pray for, unless the church will take right ground. 

Samuel Adams: When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, “just men who will rule in the fear of God.” The preservation of government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty.

William Paterson, (Signer of the Constitution and Supreme Court Justice: Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves—and the only way they could do this is by not voting.

Ronald Reagan: America’s future depends upon her accepting and demonstrating God’s government.

Choose ‘wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes (groups) and I will make them heads over you.” Deuteronomy 1:13

As Christians we are to pray for governing authorities and select, vote for, choose ‘wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes (groups). Notice the next part of this verse and I will make them heads over you.” Deuteronomy 1:13

So listen to the voice of the Lord and act accordingly with your choice.

A godly president is wise and understanding; not with the wisdom of this world but rather with true wisdom which is from above (James 3:17) and which comes only through the fear of the Lord. (Psalm 111:10) 

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice! Prov. 29:2a

Choosing a president who is righteous before God will bring glory to our nation and make us better.

Meanwhile, continue to pray and vote for candidates who support life, marriage and family and biblical principles.

An ungodly president will increase the amount of evil in our nation, for we know that "when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." (Proverbs 29:2) 

John 12:43 For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Ephesians 5:6 ESV Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

We are not of this world but are subject to this world. We are in the world but we are not of it. We belong to the Kingdom and the Kingdom is a higher way of seeing, thinking, speaking and acting.

Scriptures:

Philippians 3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Titus 3:1-11 ESV Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ...

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man/woman rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29:2

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 1 Timothy 2:1-2

“He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear (awe)of God.”2 Samuel 23:3

“Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.” Deuteronomy 1:13

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God Romans 13:1

Seven Theses on God and Government

(1) Human government is not inherently evil. The structures of authority in any particular political system are not per se wicked. All human governmental authority comes ultimately from the hand of God. Government is used for evil because people are sinful, not because the authority of the ruling party is wicked or should be abolished.

(2) God is absolutely sovereign (within His Word) and authoritative over who rules, where they exercise their power (its boundaries and extent), over whom they have authority, and for how long.

 (3) God is not only sovereign in that He decides who shall rule and for how long, but he also can exert omnipotent and irresistible influence over the hearts and minds of kings and rulers and presidents to do what He wants done.

 (4) Although we are ultimately citizens of a heavenly kingdom and only secondarily citizens of an earthly state, we are not for that reason exempt from submitting to the laws of the land where we live (1 Peter 2:13-17).Exercise your right to vote!

(1Pe 2:13-14)  Then be in obedience to every ordinance of men, because of the Lord, whether to a king as supreme, or to governors as sent by Him for vengeance on evildoers, but for praise on well-doers.

(5) Although we are submissive to the authority of government, Christians have a responsibility as citizens of both heaven and earth to influence for good the government under which they live. We as the church are the ecclesia. The meaning of the word “ecclesia” is best defined as “the called-out (ones)”, coming from the word “ecc” (= out) and “kaleo” (= call). Putting all of this in context, it leads to the meaning of a group of people who are called out of another group of people, as a governing body, with the obvious aim to reign.

 (6) No government or earthly authority or political party platform has ultimate authority and power. Politics has no such power. On the other hand, unrepentant pride and immorality and rebellion and unbelief can change a nation or state. They have precisely that power. Similarly, no government or earthly authority or political platform can save a single human soul. On the other hand, Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone can. Ultimately the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ. And He will reign forever and ever. Rev. 11:5

(7) The confession that “Jesus is Lord” is not simply a declaration of faith and an acknowledgement that He is the Master of our lives individually and as a church. It is also a political statement.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18), declares Jesus. And he means it! That includes every government in the world. It includes every president, premier, prime minister, and peasant.

It means that how we live every day in relation to the government and our neighbors and our friends and our enemies is to be shaped and energized by the inescapable reality that Jesus has authority over them and over us.

About Voting...don't make the mistake of not voting because you don't like the candidates. Your vote matters.

I would suggest that you vote for the candidate closest to Core Universal Principles...1) Valuing Life 2) Valuing Individual Freedom

So, with this I close.

Neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump is the Savior of the world. Neither is the Savior of America! Whoever is elected President in November, he/she is among those small ‘k’ “kings” over whom Jesus rules as capital ‘K’ “King”! Regardless of who wins, Jesus is still “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16; 17:14).

Ps. 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

No matter how things turn out thereafter, Jesus is still seated at the right hand of the majesty on high. Regardless of the outcome, Jesus will not have failed. Political events are always and ever in his hands, no matter the results. And regardless of who wins, be certain that your faith and confidence and hope are in Jesus Christ, Lord over all of life in heaven and upon the earth! But by all means hear from God and vote your choice.