CROSSING THE BRIDGE TO YOUR FUTURE

Crossing the Bridge to Your Future

1. Let Criticism Develop You--Not Detour or Devour You.

Jesus’s Temptation was filled with criticism (Matthew 4)

You will be criticized so might as well be criticized for doing something worthwhile.

Matthew 5:44 Bless those who curse you....

2. Determine to See the Virtue in Patience.

James 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Patience Truths

A seed takes time to produce.

You reap if you faint not

Knowing what you are to do is only half the equation. The other is knowing who you are and who Christ is in you.

There are times and seasons for everything.

3.Never Stop Learning!

Rom 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

When you stop learning you stop living. You become a reservoir instead of a river.

Knowledge (mentally and spiritually, revelation knowledge in your heart)

Spiritual Understanding

Wisdom

REMEMBER THE POWER OF INVESTMENT IN ALL AREAS OF LIFE!

Eph 1:15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe,

4. Be a Servant

Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

5. Keep First Things First.

Mat 6:33  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

God's order

God

Spouse

Children

Vocation/Ministry

ALL THINGS BECOME NEW

This a New Year, a Reset.

New Things I declare unto you! New patterns, progressions, paths, pursuits, and pioneering dimensions I declare unto YOU! A new heart and a new spirit, according to Ezekiel 36:26. A new wine {Isaiah 65:5} and a new song {Psalms 96:1; 98:1}. A new man {Ephesians 2:15} and a new name {Revelation 3:12}. A new heaven and a new earth {Isaiah 65:17; 66:22}, a New Jerusalem out of you! {Revelation. 21-22} 

By a new and living way which he has consecrated for us...Hebrews 10:20 

All things ARE BECOME NEW 2 Corinthians 5:17

THE LORD EVEN SAYS: "Behold I am doing a brand new thing. It is all new this very day. Will you perceive it and know that it is true? Will you apprehend what I say? I'm making a NEW way to provide water in desert places and give drink (living water) to my people. 

We even have a new name.

In the Fall, the first couple lost many things - one of them was that they lost their ability to name and define creation.

In the Old Testament, God's NAME was so precious and holy that it was not ever spoken.

In the New Testament, we know that if we believe in His NAME, something wonderful happens. (John 1:12-13)! "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become CHILDREN OF GOD- ......BORN OF GOD." NIV

God calls us by NAME - it is the name of Christ that is called.

Our new God given name stands above all names. Incredibly, He gives to those who bear His name, the right to use it everyday. We can boldly approach the Father because we bear His Name. This is an EXCHANGE of identity. This miraculous interchange presupposes that we've given up our old autonomous life. In finality, we discover what our new name delivers every promise. Because of Jesus, we become heirs of all things along with Him. Our partner is the Person who opens the heavens and gives us everything that pertains to life and Godliness.

Even a Restoration

(Act 3:20-21)  And He shall send Jesus Christ, who before was proclaimed to you, whom Heaven truly needs to receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of His holy prophets since the world began.

So, in the New Year shall be a reset, a restoration.

The lost joy of salvation: Psalm 51:10–12—“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” (kjv)

The lost sense of justice: Isaiah 1:26—“And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.” (kjv)

The lost motivation for living: Isaiah 57:18—“I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.” (kjv)

Lost intimacy with God: Jeremiah 30:17—“For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.” (kjv)

Lost time(Joe 2:25)  And I will restore to you the years which the swarming locust has eaten, the locust larvae, and the stripping locust, and the cutting locust, My great army which I sent among you.

The lost power to live strongly: Isaiah 40:31—“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (kjv)

“When I am weak, then I am strong!” (2 Cor. 12:10). Also look up in your concordance how the word “renew” is translated. You will discover it has to do with change; renewing in the sense of something passing away, and the new taking its place.

The lost youthfulness in life: Psalm 103:5—“Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (kjv)

          

GRACE AND TRUTH CAME

GRACE AND TRUTH CAME

John 1:17 - For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Why did Jesus have to be born? God chose to make covenant with man.. Jesus came in the form of a man with a body of a man in order to have dominion and authority. Jesus Christ was a man anointed with Holy Ghost. This made it perfectly legal for Jesus to destroy the works of the devil.

 The seed Mary received was the Word, the incorruptible seed that took on flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus Christ is the living Word of God. His name is Emmanuel meaning, “God with us.”

God is not with us bu in us. (Col 1:27)  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Luke 2:11 “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Is. 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born,  ( Son of God) Unto us a Son is given; (Son of Man) And the government will be upon His shoulder.(Body of Christ) And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice.

Grace and Truth came.

Jesus Christ formed a perfect union of being a Spirit-Man manifested in a natural / physical body, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”(John 1:14). He was the LAST Adam so that WE may become the Second Man - Christ manifest in His many-membered Body; “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”(1 Corinthians 12:12). We are no longer IN Adam as Jesus Christ was the LAST Adam; our true identity is created IN Christ!

Grace and Truth came and was imparted to us.

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS

There are those that "reject" Christmas and Easter due to their association with pagan festivals. Over the years I have vacillated between a whole bunch of different points of view about these matters.

Several years  ago, my heart has been more centered in Himself, Jesus the Christ, and as a result things have changed. For the more I focus on Him, the more I see Him revealed in ALL THINGS. Christmas for some is seen as the time of the pagan festival of the sun god instituted to get the pagans involved with Christian issues. But another way to look at it........JESUS...is the Lord God of the Sun....and the Son of God. Jesus fulfills the pagan celebration in Himself. Likewise...when Easter is celebrate...the Rites of Spring...new birth from winters death...the goddess of ISIS...Jesus fulfilled all the pagan natural heart was looking to in ISIS. Jesus is the fulfillment of NEW BIRTH, NEW LIFE....He is the fulfillment of all things. So often we get looking at the "thing" through the filter of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and miss Himself....This day...this season, this year...NOW is the time of Himself, Jesus..Yeshua, my Saviour...the Lord of all creation to be worshipped and celebrated, his forgiveness received and freely given!

That is what Christmas, Easter, Passover, and every other holiday and celebration ultimately points to....The Lord God, He is One and there is NONE OTHER>>>>

LIFT UP OUR EYES-THANK THE LORD

"Therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is , the fruit of our lips GIVING THANKS to His name."      (Heb. 13:15) In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1Thess. 5:18). Giving thanks always for all things (Eph. 5:20). Thanksgiving (eucharisteo, from which we get the word Eucharist) means to be aware of our blessings and be filled with gratitude. Thanksgiving opens the vaults of the treasures of the Kingdom. Opposite of Thanksgiving:  Ungratefulness, Complaining and Murmuring Examples: 1.   Hebrew children, "Nor let us . . . grumble, as [Israel] did, and were destroyed by the destroyer" (1 Cor. 10:9-10). 2.   Some of his disciples "Do not grumble among yourselves" (John 6:43) 3.   Judas Paul warned that, "in the last days . . . men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips" (2 Timothy 3:1-9). "Lifting up our eyes." "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable . . . is right, whatever is pure . . . lovely . . . of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things" (Phil. 4:8). Remember, Paul was writing to people in the ancient Roman world. It was full of evil, full of injustice, full of reasons to grumble and be upset; but instead, God calls His people to a higher realm, where we dwell on the things that are above. (John 11:41-43) At the tomb of His dear friend Lazarus, Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD ME."  Imagine this kind of assurance! Jesus didn't need to beg or intercede. A command to the dead was all that was needed, "Lazarus, come forth." We SEE that the Father hears us BEFORE we pray (John 17:1-2). This is why we can be thankful. Thanksgiving is a holy declaration of what we SEE when we LIFT UP OUR EYES. Let's remember some of the incredible personal things that should stir a spirit of thanksgiving in our heart. Let the fruit of our lips give thanks as we confess our Thanksgiving blessings out loud together (using I, we, and/or you): The God of love has an unfolding plan of LOVE for me. I can live without fear  --being certain of this LOVE. I am a brand new creation in Christ. I am not who I used to be! Thank the Lord. I am destined to spend eternity with God. My eternity is NOW. I have already been delivered from all the powers of darkness. Christ died for a total forgiveness of my past and present sins.  I am pardoned from sins because of that inestimable gift of God. I am already a joint-heir with Christ. Jesus died to restore me to the dominion authority of the Garden. I am now seated in heavenly places with Christ. I am already co-crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6, 11, Col. 3:1-4). We have already died. We don't need to die to our old man any longer. Wrongly emphasizing our personal sacrifice to need to continually die, denies the power of the resurrection. When Jesus died, we died. I am already co-buried with Christ (Col. 2:12, Rom. 6:3-4). I am already re co-resurrected with Christ (Col. 3:1, Rom. 6:9). My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. The fullness of the Godhead bodily dwells with me. I am already co-seated in heavenly places with Christ (Eph. 2:5-6). I am already made alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:1-2, 1 Cor. 15:23). I am already partners with God for His plan concerning every living human being. I am already part of Christ's body today on earth. I am already a ROYAL PRIEST (1 Pet. 2:5).  I have the power to draw near God's presence and fellowship with Him there.  I have the ability to communicate to others the power of a life within the veil. I can access total salvation for my body, soul, and spirit.  I can become whole in this lifetime. Every day is holy, set apart, and designed for me. I can become God's honored representatives on earth. I am not of this world (James 4:4, 1 Jn. 2:15-18). I can overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21). I was created for His glory (Is. 43:7). I have been given the power to manifest His breathtaking glory on earth. I can ask the Lord of the harvest for laborers and for rain on behalf of all humankind, that they be brought to repentance by the goodness and love of God. I can lift up my eyes to see the provision of God. For the Lord will hasten to perform His Word and reveal to His people the abundance of peace, truth, health, prosperity, deliverance, safety, and abundant life. I can put on His love and walk in absolute trust and confidence of His power, wisdom, and goodness. The Spirit of Death has no power over me. I am thankful that we don't need man's approval, distorted ambition, self-exaltation, or popularity.  I do not have to flinch in sacrifice, hesitate in adversity, negotiate with the enemy, or wallow in the maze of mediocrity. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1Thes. 5:18). Giving thanks always for all things (Eph. 5:20).

ALL AUTHORITY

All authority is God's and has been delegated to us.

(Mat 28:18-20)  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth. Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen.

All the areas of life now under the authority of other gods shall be returned to the authority of Christ when, as mature sons of Father, we really believe the words of God. All religious and secular gods – every idol that man has set up will be destroyed. Even now things which have been set up by false gods and secular godless systems are beginning to crumble before our eyes.

All evil authority that the enemy has over life in this world was given over to him by mankind. Jesus has defeated the enemy destroying the enemy’s authority over this world. The ONLY authority that the enemy now has is the power relegated to him by man. The entire world waits for mankind to believe the provision of Spirit God in us to destroy the works of the enemy and release the kingdom works of God to rule and reign on earth.

False powerless religion has been used as a tool to deceive mankind into believing that the enemy is still so powerful that there is nothing we can do to stop his reign on earth. The enemy working through false doctrines and religious spirits has convinced many Christians that they do not have power and authority to stop the rule of the enemy. Our warfare now is a battle for faith – faith to believe what Christ Jesus has already done and faith to bring it to pass in the world.

Spiritually blinded Christians look longingly up into the sky waiting for that which is already available. Through Christ by the Holy Spirit, Father God is now available to abide within us.

Literally, Father God in Christ by the Holy Spirit abides in believers to destroy the kingdom of darkness and release the light of the kingdom from heaven on earth.

It is past time for God’s people to awaken to the authority of God that is in us to destroy the works of the enemy and to release the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

From Genesis to Revelation the Bible speaks of the authority of God in Christ in His people – you and me.

Can we believe?  Here is who we are and what we will doing in and through Christ.

Romans 5:17b: those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:37: Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loves us.

Genesis 1:28: Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion”

Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.

Colossians 1:9b-10a: being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might according to His glorious power...

Ephesians 1:22-23: And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body (that is us), the fullness of Him Who fills all in all.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

1John 3:8b: For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Colossians 2:15: Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them in it.

Ephesians 1:19, 3:20b, 6:10: and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, according to the power that works in us, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Philippians 2:10: ... that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...

Colossians 2:9-10: For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, Who is the head of all principality and power.”

Hebrews 4:12a: For the word of God is living and powerful...

Luke 10:19a: Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy...

2 Corinthians 2:14a: Now thanks be to God Who always leads us in triumph in Christ...

Isaiah 55:11: So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Hebrews 4:16: Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Mark 16:17a: And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons...

TRUTH

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye CONTINUE IN MY WORD, then are ye MY DISCIPLES indeed; and ye shall know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH shall make you FREE. Here is a very well-known example of verses with the end result quoted without giving the CONDITION. In this case we all want to be free--end result, without consideration of the CONDITION of true freedom, which is being DISCIPLED BY JESUS AS WE CONTINUE IN HIS WORD! The word DISCIPLE in the setting is a learner of the ways of Jesus or becoming a pupil. It's not just the ability to quote the Words that He spoke; but rather HE, the LIVING WORD made flesh (JOHN 1:14), becomes us, the Word made flesh, disciplined to become a living representative of Him in our mode of life as examples to our community. CONTINUING IN HIS WORD. CONTINUE: MENO--to stay in a given place or state, to abide, dwell, endure, be present, remain. The relative noun of this verb MENO is MONE--an abiding place, a staying place, residence. When Jesus said in JOHN 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions, wonderful though it seems, He wasn't talking about stone and lime buildings over the hilltop. He was talking about you and me becoming Temples of the Living God, Temples of His Father, down here, right now! (1 CORINTHIANS 3:16) I would suggest this was the desire of God in the Garden of Eden. He wanted Adam to invite Him in because Adam was lonely. Because of failure on Adam's part to ask God to mansion in him, God in his great Love and Mercy gave him Woman, which only exacerbated the problem as they were still lonely. Otherwise they wouldn't have decided to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and by doing so give their allegiance to the serpent.------Wo/man will always be lonely until we ACKNOWLEDGE God, in Jesus, into our lives. KNOWING THE TRUTH. TRUTH: ALETHES--not concealed, revealed. This is the opposite of the verb LANTHANO, which means to lie hid, hidden, be ignorant, unawares. Paul said to the Corinthian Church that he would not have them to be ignorant. Many of us have not the TRUTH because we are not willing to be discipled of Jesus and are in bondage to men who do not desire us to be Free. They make disciples by insinuating that their ministry has the greatest or only revelation and that they are the interpreters of the Word for us. You can be assured that if the word brings you into religious bondage and fear, it is not of Jesus! SET FREE. FREE: ELEUTHEROO--not a slave, liberated to go at pleasure as a citizen (taking responsibility), exempt from (religious) obligation or liability. Hirelings place bondages of religious liability on their disciples, holding over them all manner of fearful consequences if they fail to continue in their word. Continuing in the Words of Jesus gives us the true glorious freedom of the Sons and Daughters of our Heavenly Father.