God is a “whosoever” God and as followers of Christ we should be a “whosoever” people when it comes to loving, giving, sharing, and being a witness of His love. One of my favorite scriptures is John 3:16: “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… I am a whosever! And you can be a whosever too.
Messages
Agreement is a Powerful Thing
Agreement is a powerful thing. What you hear, you will have the opportunity to think about. What you think about, you will have the opportunity to believe. What you believe in your heart you will communicate with your mouth and what you communicate with your mouth will set the direction of your life. Nothing has entered your heart in belief that hasn’t first crossed your mind in thought.
Thermostat or Thermometer
You have a choice. You can read the temperature of the room or you can set the temperature of the room according to the power that works in you.
Thy Kingdom Come
Jesus taught us how to pray. He said to pray like this: “Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be your name… your kingdom come your will be done in part as it is in heaven.” There is no suffering, separation, or sickness in heaven. There is also no envy, strife, or gossip… Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done in Earth as it is in Heaven!
Let There Be Light
The power of life and death are in the tongue. You have the power to frame your world through your words!
Agreement
What you agree with you allow. The power of agreement is the most powerful spiritual attribute we have. What you agree with you will experience!
i am persuaded…
In Romans 8 Paul ends this powerful chapter by saying he is persuaded that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Here is how the word persuaded is defined in the greek: Persuade– g3982. πείθω peithō; a primary verb; to convince (by argument); by analogy, to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); to assent (to evidence or approve), to rely (by inward certainty): — agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax), trust, yield.
Paul is persuaded that nothing can separate us! Romans 8 is convincing enough in and of its self. Here are some highlights: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do God did by sending His own Son. The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. For we were saved in this hope. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all. It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither 1. death nor life, 2. nor angels nor principalities nor powers, 3. nor things present nor things to come, 4. nor height nor depth, 5. nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
After condensing thirty nine verses into the words above I want to look at v. 39. Paul says, “For I am persuaded that nether.” Neither means: that not one or not the other of two particular things. Paul is contrasting two extremes and he is persuaded because his comparison reveals the absolute. In other words: life and death and angels and demons and things that are happening, and things that are going to happen, and height and depth are all the absolute opposites and are extreme contrasts to one another in comparison. Paul is saying that life and death are extreme opposites and likewise with angels and demons, and today and tomorrow, and height and depth. He is saying that not one or not the other can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nor anything in between! He is doing this through analogy and argument of contrast and is persuaded that neither can separate us.
Let’s look at the five comparisons in this *analogy– (*a comparison of two things): 1. Life can be frustrating and disappointing. Death can be somewhat dreadful because of the separation from loved ones and the unknown of eternity; but neither can separate you from the love of God. 2. Angels are powerful and do the work of God. Demons are evil and use fear and intimidation; but neither can separate you from the love of God. 3. Today (the things present) can offer its own challenges, and tomorrow (the things to come) can cause uncertainty; but neither can separate you from the love of God. 4. The highest height and the lowest depth are infinite and unknown; but neither can separate you from the love of God. Now Paul adds one more thing without comparison: 5. Any created thing. We humans are created in God’s image. Nothing that God has created, especially A PERSON can separate you from the love of God. People sometimes create are greatest problems. But nevertheless, NO ONE or NO THING can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus your Lord! Which brings me to my last point: Paul says, “In Christ Jesus our Lord.” If Jesus Christ is your Lord, He should be Lord of all, and if He is Lord of all, He is Lord over all! Therefore, He is Lord over anything that will try to come against you. Paul was persuaded by the personal evidence of his own experience. How about you?
1. When you are persuaded no one has to convince you.
2. When you are persuaded you will desire to persuade others.
3. When you are persuaded it will bring peace.
Your’e Approved
Over the past several months I have had confirmation time and time again that I am approved. I have God’s approval and so do you! You are His creation created to walk in the reality of who you are in Him. Confirmation number one comes from Chris Tomlin in his popular song, “Good good Father.” Tomlin expresses this well in the lyrical line, “It’s who you are and I’m loved by you, that’s who I am.” In other words God is love and I am loved by Him and this makes me who I am. Through this revelation I should respond out of love and security in my relationship with God, and with others. The first time fear appears in the Bible was when Adam and Eve sinned. It states in Genesis that they were naked and afraid so they hid themselves. When you feel afraid and vulnerable you will hide behind things. However, there is no reason to hide if you are in Christ. Back to the garden. God sought Adam and Eve and clothed them with the blood and skin of an animal God had created and Adam had named. He also by His grace and mercy put an angel to guard the tree of life and set them out of the garden. If they would have eaten of the tree of life they would have been in the realm of disobedience eternally. But that’s another blog. I John 4 tells us that perfect love cast out fear. God sent His son. Joseph named Him Jesus. He shed His blood and gave His life so that you and I might have life. God turned His back on Jesus so He would never turn His back on us. If you’ve believed this for yourself you are clothed in His righteousness. You are loved by a God who knows you and He created you for His pleasure, there is is no reason to fear… You are approved!
Confirmation number two came when I was reading the passage in Matthew about Jesus baptism. It says when He came out of the water a voice from heaven was heard saying, ” this is my Son in whom I am well pleased.” This was interesting to me because Jesus had not done anything other than be obedient to baptism, yet God was pleased and approved of Him through the affirmation of words. Jesus hadn’t opened a blind eye. Nor had He turned the water into wine, caused the lame to walk, or the deaf to hear. He hadn’t walked on water or made a storm to cease. Jesus had not healed a leper or sit down by a well with a woman who needed a savior. The Son of man and the Son of God had not blessed the loaves and fish, washed the feet of His disciples, or prayed, “not my will but thine be done.” You get the point. In the sense of doing right, achieving good, and helping the cause, Jesus had not yet done any of these things, yet God gave His approval of His Son.Therefore I am approved not because of who I am or what I have done but because of who is and what He has done… and you are too!
Confirmation number three happened while attending a pastor’s gathering. The leader of the group made a statement about “sonship.” He went on to say how the enemy in Matthew 4 was attacking Jesus’ sonship. When Jesus was drawn away by the Spirit to be tested in the wilderness Satan said to Him, “If you are the Son of God then do this or do that.” I have always preached this from the standpoint of Jesus answering Satan with the word of God but now I see this transaction in an entirely different light. The previous chapter God had already said, “this is my Son in whom I am well pleased.” The very next passage Satan attacks Jesus sonship by saying, “If you are the Son of God?” The question of doubt. Remember in the garden what the serpent said? He said, “Did God really say that?” He was saying the same thing to Jesus in the dessert and he says the same thing to us today. If you really were a _____________ then you wouldn’t feel, act, or think like that. Our identity is in Christ alone! Jesus didn’t have to prove anything to anyone, because He knew He was approved by God… and so are you!
Confirmation number four was a couple of weeks ago when I was teaching on prayer. I was reading passages about Jesus being obedient to prayer when I noticed Jesus never sought man’s approval or was He bothered by their disapproval. He just continued in His relationship with His Father. Check out these passages in Luke’s gospel. Luke 6: 10 Then looking around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. 11 But they were filled with madness and discussed with each other what they might do to Jesus. 12 In these days He went out to the mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God. Notice this is when they were trying to “decide” that Jesus prayed all night. They were discussing among themselves. Have you ever felt like people were discussing among themselves to either approve or disapprove of who you are or what you have done? Jesus didn’t seek their decision He sought His father’s direction. Then in Luke 5: 14 Then He commanded him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 15 Yet even more so His fame went everywhere. And great crowds came together to hear and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. 16 But He withdrew to the wilderness and prayed. In this passage Jesus was growing in popularity yet He didn’t seek their applause or His own fame, He sought His Father’s face. Here’s what I noticed: Jesus didn’t seek man’s approval because He knew He already had God’s approval… and so do you… You’re Approved!