We Created In God's Very Own Righteousness

As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations. [He was appointed our father] in the sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed. Romans 4:17

For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. 1 Corinthians 2:16

Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself. 1 John 2:6

You having any issues in your life? Most of us do and here is what our Mind has us do about it: believe that it is already fixed. When something is settled we tend not to focus and talk about it, this is the mindset that we now have. Our Mind knows the beginning and the end, Revelation 1:8. It knows that we are more than conquerors through Christ, Romans 8:37, and it knows that He is always greater in us then anything that is in this world, 1 John 4:4. Our Anointed Mind knows that it is settled and that allows us to take no thought for our own lives, Matthew 6:31. The Mind that our Father has placed in us does not take thought for what we are going to wear, what we are going to eat, and where our income is coming from. Our Mind knows that by Jesus’ stripes we are healed, 1 Peter 2:24. It knows that our ability to trust and believe is Jesus’ burden, not ours, Hebrews 12:2. The Mind of Christ that we now have, has peace that passes all human understanding, Philippians 4:7. It speaks as if things are already settled. It does this because it sees only by faith and not by sight, 2 Corinthians 5:7.

But here is the greatest thing that our new Mind does; it takes all kinds of thoughts for others. It intercedes for others to our Father to the point of being pesky, Luke 11. It will not take no for an answer when it comes to the needs of others. It is willing to die to help another person. The Mind of Christ that is now in us, ever lives to intercede for others so that they might be saved to the uttermost, Hebrews 7:25. If it is asked to walk a mile, it walks two, Matthew 5:41. If someone asks for its coat, it gives them its shirt as well. When it forgives, it never counts; it will just continually forgive, regardless of what is done to it, Matthew 18:22. This is not something that we have to work at; this Mind has just been freely placed within us.

The Mind that we now have causes us to sow to others constantly, so that we may reap the greatness of our Father, 2 Corinthians 9:6. It takes the foolish things of this world and uses them to confound the wise, 1 Corinthians 1:27. It is all so easy for The Mind of Christ, and we now have it. 

Jesus Raises Us Up On The Last Day

No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day. John 6:44

The Truth is that Jesus will raise the dead in Him on the last day. But what about those who are alive in Him when He returns?

Take notice! I tell you a mystery (a secret truth, an event decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of God). We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed (transformed) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed). 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

So we are shown that on the last day of this generation in earth’s history, the last day that man is allowed to appear to be in charge, Jesus will raise the dead in Him and He will also raise those who are alive in Him. Both of us will be raised on the last day and at that time we will all be transformed to be like Him, 1 John 3:2. Take very clear notice that we are repeatedly told through scriptures that the dead in Christ cannot be raised until the last day. The dead in Christ cannot be raised until the last trumpet sounds. The last trumpet is the Seventh Trumpet and immediately after it sounds, Jesus’ flesh returns to the earth, Revelation 11:15. Also the Bible clearly tells us that the dead in Christ will be raised first, before those who are alive in Him.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first. Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord! 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

The Truth is the dead in Christ are raised first and they are raised on the last day, after the last trumpet sounds, not seven years before it. We are also shown in the Word that those of us who are alive in Christ, shall in no way precede or have advantage over those who are dead in Christ.

For this we declare to you by the Lord's [own] word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede [into His presence] or have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep [in Him in death]. 1 Thessalonians 4:15

Do not despair because there is not a rapture, because the Truth also shows us just how greatly we will be used by our Father to win souls during the end times. There will be persecutions during the last 3 1/2 years and they will be fierce, but as a Church, we will be stronger and more empowered through Christ than any other generation has ever been before. 

The Love Of False Christians Will Grow Cold

And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity, Matthew 24:12

Let me ask you this: does our Father’s love ever grow cold because of sin?

But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded, Romans 5:20

And Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they divided His garments and distributed them by casting lots for them. Luke 23:34

When Jesus was lied about, tortured, and crucified He continued to love. The Truth is that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, Hebrews 13:8. Jesus is also One with our Father and He never changes, so our Father’s love will never grow cold, regardless of what is going on. We are also one with our Father through Jesus, John 17:20-23. We are Jesus’ body, Ephesians 5:30. We are new creatures in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17. Jesus ever lives so that His love will remain in us, John 17:26. So the Bride’s love will not grow cold either during the end times. But the fake Christians love will grow cold. 

These wolves will be gathered with the anti-christ condemning the day lights out of all who don’t join with them. They will do it all in the Name of our Father too. They will kill and destroy as they glorify what they self proclaim that they are doing for God. They will brag about how they are cleaning up the world as they sow their hate. They will boast about how they have it right and the rest of us have it wrong. They will judge and condemn all who do not take their side, or their mark. They will say so eagerly that we are all going to Hell as they sing songs about God and what they are doing for Him. This is not all that far from what is happening today in many churches is it? I know many people who tell me that if I do not belong to their denomination then I am going to Hell. I have people tell me that if I don't read the King James Bible then I am going to Hell. These fake Christians love to tell people that they are going to Hell and our Father will allow their anger to be magnified a 1000 times during the last 3 1/2 years of this age in history. 

The love of the great body of false prophets will grow cold during the end times and once again we see this happening right now amongst these false Christians. I hear all of the time how these wolves so rapidly condemn people to Hell. How they talk about those who disagree with them and those who they believe are in sin. I hear so called preachers talk about how they won’t go around people who they call sinners. If I am not mistaken our Lord Jesus ate with notable sinners, Mark 2:16? False children of God condemned Him and those who He fellowshipped with too. 

End Time False Prophets

Then they will hand you over to suffer affliction and tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. Matthew 24:9-10

I want to share my personal experience here. The lost almost never pursue me with hatred, however the false prophets, the wolves in sheep’s clothing do, religious people do. They pursue me with such vigor because our Father will not allow me to go back into the bondage of trusting at all in human ability. Jesus has set me free from believing, even for a moment, that I first or ever do anything apart from Christ. Fake religious people hate this testimony of Truth. They want us to believe that we first choose on our own, or that we first believe on our own, or that we first act on our own, and they hold so tightly to the false teaching of free will, Jeremiah 10:23. They are by definition anti-christ’s, 1 John 4:3. Wolves will absolutely talk about Jesus, but they believe that we hold the power to bring our Father into our lives or deny Him access. They are the blind leading the blind, Luke 6:39. 

But the righteousness based on faith [imputed by God and bringing right relationship with Him] says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into Heaven? that is, to bring Christ down; Romans 10:6

These so called christians will absolutely flock to the anti-christ during the end times. Most of these false teachers believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. So they will not believe that the anti-christ will be revealed while they are still here on the earth, so they will rush to be part of his church. They will hear the message that they so love: what we do to allow God to act in our lives. They will see the miracles that he performs and they will absolutely flock to him, thus stumbling away from our Father's power, or in other words Christ. We will tell them that the anti-christ is wrong. Our Father will use us to show them the Truth in His Word that shows that what the anti-christ is teaching is wrong and they will hate us for it. These false prophets, who will seem very religious, will attack us and kill us, 2 Timothy 3:5. We will be hated by these religious people, but our Father will use us to feed the masses, when there is no food. Our Father will use us to give water to the thirsty when there is no water, Matthew 24:45-46. We will be used to do the works that Jesus was used for and even greater works by our Father during the end times, John 14:12. We will be used to lead an uncountable number of our brothers and sisters out of every tribe, tongue, and nation, Revelation 7:9, to the Truth that sets them free! 

And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error. Matthew 24:11

We can see here that people during the end times do not flee religion, but they do flee Christ, which is the power of our Father working through man. People fall away from confessing the Truth that it is our Father within us doing all of the works. They won't stop talking about Jesus, but they will deny that He alone is all of our power, John 15:5. This message is being preached right now in mass. It is far more common for a preacher to tell us what we have to do, then what Jesus has to do through us.

Nation Will Rise Against Nation

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place; Matthew 24:7

There has always been wars and until Jesus comes back, there always will be. There has always been famines, and once again until Jesus returns there always will be those as well. We all pray so hard that these things will end, but Jesus plainly tells us that they will not end until He returns. Look at how Jesus taught us to pray: He never said that we should pray that wars, famines, earthquakes, and false prophets should end, Matthew 6:10-13. You ever wonder why He didn’t? 

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5

Our Father allows these hardships of the flesh to occur, so that He can cause us to place our faith and confidence in Him. Hardships allow our Father to become great within us and that brings us true peace, peace that passes all understanding, peace even during tribulation. Hardships bring us the understanding that this life in the flesh is only but a brief moment in all of ours eternity. The hardships of the flesh now are in no way to be compared with the glory that is going to be revealed in all of us, Romans 8:18. 

We like to judge things by the events of our flesh, but our Father deals with our spirits, John 4:24. Our spirits are eternal, they are the parts of us that bring true life and fruit, Luke 12:23. The flesh is temporal, our flesh only last but a brief time, 2 Corinthians 4:18. Too many believe that if things are good for our flesh, then we are living right, but if they are bad, then we must be living wrong. But that is not the case. Our flesh has to be buffeted so that our spirits can become glorious, 2 Corinthians 12:7. We see this Truth all throughout the Bible. Jesus was perfect, yet His life was filled with people trying to kill Him. Paul, Peter, John, David, Ezekiel, Elisha, Stephen, Daniel, and all the prophets had extreme hardships, yet they gloried in the power of our Father through them. These men were inspired by our Father and living powerfully faithful lives, yet hardships abounded for them. 

The Truth is that nation will always rise against nation until Jesus returns. Religion will rise against religion and families will be killing each other right up until the time that Jesus returns. But these things are not the signs of the end times, they are only a foreshadowing of them. Jesus is returning for a glorious church without spot, wrinkle, or blemish, Ephesians 5:27. The end time church will be one who is fully empowered to love their oppressors even during the worst of times. We will have no ability to trust in ourselves or the world and the Holy Spirit will cause us to be glorious during those times, Matthew 24:8

Rumors Of War

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. Matthew 24:6

We definitely hear about wars and rumors of war with today’s 24 hour media. But how does our Father keep us from being frightened?

There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection]. 1 John 4:18

He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. 1 John 4:8

The reason that we do not fear is because the perfect love of our Father drives all fear away from us. Our Father is love and we are now in His love and one with His love.

I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very Self, and I will continue to make [You] known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them [felt in their hearts] and that I [Myself] may be in them. John 17:26

Jesus lives so that our Father’s love may be in us. Jesus lives so that we may be saved to the uttermost, Hebrews 7:25. So it is Jesus’ responsibility to cause us to not fear. Faith comes from hearing the Truth and the Truth sets us free. We need to tell the world that Jesus is solely responsible for keeping us from being afraid. He will never leave us and He will never forsake us. The glorious Truth is that we have been sealed until the day that Jesus returns, we are sealed and kept with His Love, Ephesians 4:30, and Love will never fail us, 1 Corinthians 13:8.

Ego

These men [the Judaizing teachers] are zealously trying to dazzle you [paying court to you, making much of you], but their purpose is not honorable or worthy or for any good. What they want to do is to isolate you [from us who oppose them], so that they may win you over to their side and get you to court their favor. Galatians 4:17

Works sound right and it is easy for people to follow after them. Works seem to make more sense to us then Grace does. But works and laws actually take away from the glory of God. When people place their faith in trust in their works, what they did for God and not what our Father did through them, they are preaching anti-christ. It is a very humbling attitude that proclaims that we initiate nothing on our own. This attitude of humility has to be given to us from our Father, because it goes so contrary to man and ego. Wolves in sheep’s clothing will come into fellowships and they will sound so religious and they will sound so right. These wolves will say that our love for God makes us want to wear these clothes, not eat these types of food, make this graven image to show respect, and worship this certain way on this certain day. But the primary focus of their message will always be on human efforts and not on Christ, the power of our Father working through us. 

The glorious Truth is that the Holy Spirit will cause us to love as God loves, John 17:26. He will cause us to forgive and lay hands on the sick and they will recover. The Holy Spirit will cause us to believe as Jesus believes and serve as Jesus serves, 1 John 4:17. Our works will not limit or empower our Father for one second. As Paul wrote, our Father will actually work more powerfully through us when we are weak, Galatians 4:12-13. The only thing that empowers the Holy Spirit for us is Grace, and Grace is free and it is unmerited, Ephesians 1:6. When the Holy Spirit is given to a man, works will come, but the works are a byproduct of salvation. Our works do not bring salvation, keep salvation, or strengthen salvation. It is amazing how relevant the message that God gave to the Galatians is for us today as well. 

We Are Used To Forgive All People

Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also. Galatians 6:1

Look what the Holy Spirit tells us here in verse 1: any person. He doesn’t just say believers; He tells us that we will be used to forgive all people. If any person is overtaken in sin, we will be used by the Holy Spirit to intercede for them so that they are saved to the uttermost. Through Christ we have the power to bring people into right standing by forgiving them their trespasses.

[Now having received the Holy Spirit, and being led and directed by Him] if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained. John 20:23

Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times? Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven! Matthew 18:21-22

The adulterous woman that was dragged out for Jesus to judge did not sin against Him, yet Jesus forgave her. The lame man that Jesus told to pick up his mat and walk did not sin against Jesus, yet He forgave him, Mark 2:5. We have become one with our Father through Christ, so we will be used by our Father to forgive as He used Jesus to forgive and Jesus even forgave those who weren’t sinning directly against Him. 

When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you? She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more. John 8:10-11

Look how gentle Jesus was with this woman. He did not recount her adultery in front of everyone. He did not tell her how dangerous her sin was. He did not tell her that He was the Lord as He forgave her. He just ran off the arrogant religious bullies and made her feel safe. This is how the Holy Spirit handles us and this is how He causes us to handle others. 

Look at what we are also shown in verse 1, that we must act with all gentleness or we also will be tempted into the sin. I have seen it my whole life, religious people who are harsh judges always seem to be doing what it is that they are so harshly judging. You show me a preacher that is always preaching and judging others about sexual vices and he is doing them. Or a preacher who goes off harshly on people for drinking and in all likelihood he is drinking.  

How Will You Judge On Judgment Day

Then I saw thrones, and sitting on them were those to whom authority to act as judges and to pass sentence was entrusted. Also I saw the souls of those who had been slain with axes [beheaded] for their witnessing to Jesus and [for preaching and testifying] for the Word of God, and who had refused to pay homage to the beast or his statue and had not accepted his mark or permitted it to be stamped on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived again and ruled with Christ (the Messiah) a thousand years. Revelation 20:4

Even the Father judges no one, for He has given all judgment (the last judgment and the whole business of judging) entirely into the hands of the Son, John 5:22 (Remember that we are now one with Jesus. We are His Body)

Do you not know that the saints (the believers) will [one day] judge and govern the world? And if the world [itself] is to be judged and ruled by you, are you unworthy and incompetent to try [such petty matters] of the smallest courts of justice? 1 Corinthians 6:2

The Bible tells us that we are the judges of the world.

I just want you to think for a moment on how you will judge on the day that the dead are raised at the end of the Millennial Reign of Christ? When there are people standing before you and there is either eternal life as a guest in our Kingdom or there is destruction in the Lake of Fire? Do you really believe that you will condemn people to the Lake of Fire after they have just been raised up from being punished in Hades? Do you really believe that you will condemn a person to be destroyed in the Lake of Fire when you are sitting there solely based on Grace and not on any works that you did? Forgiveness will abound on that day and we will be empowered by our Father to be the ones who are giving it!

We Have Been Resurrected With Jesus

That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. Philippians 3:11

In Philippians 3:10 Paul wrote that he wanted to know the power of Jesus’ resurrection. Here we see that it is the power of Jesus’ Spiritual resurrection. Jesus’ Spirit was restored to what it was before He came in the flesh.

And now, Father, glorify Me along with Yourself and restore Me to such majesty and honor in Your presence as I had with You before the world existed. John 17:5

Here is the glorious Truth of our salvation: our spirits are just like Jesus’ Spirit. They are because we are now one with Him, spirit, soul, and body, 1 Thessalonians 5:23. We have been raised up and made to sit together with Jesus, Ephesians 2:6. Our flesh hasn’t been raised up to Heaven, but our spirits sure have been. Right now we are as He is, even while we are on this earth.

In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:17

Jesus prayed in John 17:1-5 that our Father restore His glory to what it was before the world ever was and our Father did. Then Jesus says that He gave us that glory.

I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: John 17:22

This glory of Jesus is a gift. We did not do anything on our own to receive it and we can do nothing on our own to keep it. Think of the freedom and power that this Truth brings to us. We did not have to be perfect to be given perfection. Our Father knew all of our shortcomings and He still gave us His glory. We have freely received perfection and now the Holy Spirit has us intercede for others so that they can receive the same thing. We are just like Jesus is in Heaven and this is what He is doing, Hebrews 7:25.  

We are used to freely forgive other’s their sins. They do not have to ask for it, want it, or even believe that they have received forgiveness. None of that matters. If we forgive them they are forgiven. This is what we received and this is what we freely give. This is the glory that our Father uses us to sow. 

Mercy For All

For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion (pity) on whom I will have compassion. So then [God’s gift] is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God’s mercy. [It depends not on one’s own willingness nor on his strenuous exertion as in running a race, but on God’s having mercy on him.] Romans 9:15-16

The Truth is that our Father has a free will. He can do whatever He wants. He alone is Sovereign. So He can have mercy on whoever He wants.

Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same mass (lump) one vessel for beauty and distinction and honorable use, and another for menial or ignoble and dishonorable use? Romans 9:21

So our Father can have mercy on one if He wants and not have the same mercy over the other, this is what a lot of people believe.

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated (held in relative disregard in comparison with My feeling for Jacob). Romans 9:13

But is this true, does of Father just pick some and not pick others to have mercy on? Does He choose some to spend eternity with Him and some not to?

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

The Truth that sets us all free is that our Father has mercy on us all. He has the right, He Alone is the Potter. He has the only free will, because He is God, and His free will is to have mercy on us all. Too many look at the flesh for evidence of His mercy, but our Father is a Spirit and we too have a spirit, John 4:24. The place to see our Father’s mercy is first and foremost with our spirits. 

But if any person’s work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15

Some of us have been chosen to understand the Truth now. We are called to be the Bride. Which means that we have been chosen to serve with Jesus. Some of us have not been chosen to know the Truth now, these people are called the guests, Matthew 22:10. Some of the guests are good people, some are bad, but that doesn’t matter because our Father has mercy on us all. Even Esau, he was not chosen to be used to create Israel, but our Father still has mercy on him, because our Father has mercy on all. So even if a person does not believe and does bad things, like Esau, our Father has mercy on them. They will suffer loss, but they will be saved from the Lake of Fire. Our Father wants that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth, 1 Timothy 2:4. Our Father is God, He will get His way.

Our Prayers Are Fragrant To Our Father

And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each was holding a harp (lute or guitar), and they had golden bowls full of incense (fragrant spices and gums for burning), which are the prayers of God's people (the saints). And [now] they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are on it, for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation. Revelation 5:8-9

The leadership of Heaven acknowledges and agrees that Jesus and God are One. They not only acknowledge it, they sing about it. This Truth brings great joy and is celebrated in Heaven, as it should be celebrated on the earth, because we are now one with Jesus. We see that our Father’s will is fulfilled and there is victory and glory in it! And all of Heaven acknowledges and knows it.

Notice that right along with glorifying Jesus, we see our prayers. Our Father has provided the answer for us through His power in Christ. Through Christ, we ask and receive, and our Father’s answers are yes and a-men, 2 Corinthians 1:20! Our prayers are fragrant to our Father. He is not burdened by them. Our prayers bring our Father glory as He produces much fruit through us, John 15:8. I just think that it is really cool that we see the power in Heaven glorifying Jesus, and as they are, they are carrying our prayers. Jesus receives His glory by serving us, John 17:10. It is such a great Truth that Jesus ever lives to intercede for us, Hebrews 7:25, and there is such peace in knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us, Hebrews 13:5, even during the Great Tribulation!

They elders in heaven testify as to why Jesus is worthy. This shows us that there is order and accountability with all that our Father does. The elders acknowledge the Truth that Jesus is the Savior of the whole earth. Notice that the elders proclaim that Jesus purchased men from every nation, every tongue, and every tribe. Our Father has chosen ones to lead from everywhere, each nation, tongue, and tribe, the whole earth. Also notice the term that the elders sing, “Jesus purchased us.” We are God’s possession and that makes Him responsible for us. He created us. God is our Father, He is the Gardener, Jesus is our Shepherd, Jesus is our Head, and we are His body. Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches that have been grafted into Him. Everywhere we look in the Bible, we see that we are the possessions of God. We see that He is in total control and that His will is always accomplished. 

Why Are There Tragedies?

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Ephesians 6:12

As we are used by our Lord to wrestle with darkness, our Father becomes stronger within us, so through the power of Christ we can actually welcome the battles of this life. As our Father causes us to triumph in them, it proves to us that we do have an eternity to be spent with our Him. 

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-4

Our Father causing us to continually triumph in trials, even unthinkable trials, gives us a character that produces confident hope in our eternal salvation through Christ. So when someone asks you why are there trials and tragedies in this world, Romans 5:3-4 are the verses that answer that very real question! 

For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Our Father will never allow us to get in a wrestling match with evil that He will not cause us to be victorious over. This is our confidence and this is our peace. As our Father leads us, and causes us to be victorious, through more and more persecutions and trials, our confidence in Him grows. Not only do we grow in confidence as He uses us, others see our Father working through us and this causes their confidence to grow in Him as well. Amen! We are one with the victory of Jesus, and as He is, so are we in this world.

Father cause all of us to have peace that You will never leave us or forsake us even when unimaginable things happen around us and to us. And empower us with Your knowledge of the Truth that all things work out for good. Allow us to live in this Truth always, in sickness and in health, in life and in death, and in prosperity and poverty. Father give us joy in all things through the knowledge of what eternity really is and empower us to know that we are part of it. 

Thinking Of Others In Every Prayer

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. In every prayer of mine I always make my entreaty and petition for you all with joy (delight). Philippians 1:3-4

Look at how the Holy Spirit had Paul pray: always for others. The Truth is that we are now one with Jesus, Who ever lives to intercede for us. We are now members of His body and flesh of His flesh. So we too are used by Jesus to ever live to intercede for others. 

Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them. Hebrews 7:25

Because we are members (parts) of His body. Ephesians 5:30

When our Father needs or wants for us to have something, He has us sow seed to others, so that we can reap along with them. This is why in virtually every prayer example in the New Testament, we are shown to pray for others and what they need. Even the Lord’s prayer teaches us to say give us, not give me. In Christ we are empowered to take no thought for our own lives. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to only take thought for others and this mentality shows up in our prayers.

Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear? For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. Matthew 6:31-33

So if we need health, our Father uses us to lay hands on the sick. If we need faith, we are used to share the Truth that sets us free with others. If we need peace, we are glorified to help and aid others. So when our Father has us pray, He has us pray for others.  

Praying For Others

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (the people of God), I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], Ephesians 1:15-20

The Holy Spirit causes us to desire to see all that our Father is. We are empowered to fully expect to see things that pass all human understanding. We are flooded with Divine Hope to see the dead raised, the lame walk, the blind see, and the most despicable person to be set free. Because of Christ we can’t help but to eagerly desire to see Spiritual gifts for all mankind. 

Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them. Hebrews 7:25

We are now one with Jesus and Jesus ever lives to intercede for us so that we might be saved to the uttermost. So we too live to intercede for people, we do this because we are part of Jesus’ body and the body has the same purpose as its Head. This is why we never cease to pray for others, it is what we have been grafted into Jesus to do. It is one of the greatest reasons that we are alive, it is why Jesus is alive, to serve those who need served. We forgive sins and they are forgiven. We lay hands on the sick and they recover. We ask and receive. We do all of this because we are one with Jesus and this is what He does.

This is a great example in Ephesians 1 of how we should pray for others. We should pray for people to have wisdom and revelation. Jesus causes us to desire and pray for the gift of prophesy for others. He uses us to pray that we have a deep and complete understanding of all things. The Holy Spirit empowers us to go for the gusto in our prayers for others. Our Father causes us to desire that the body has it all, nothing lacking, full and complete glory and perfection in Christ on this earth and on this day. Pray that people see that they are called and that they are called to greatness and pray that they receive the revelation of the peace that goes with it.

Abundance In Everything

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

The first key to an abundant life is to know that it is the will of our Father that we have one! God is so concerned with us living abundantly that He sent Jesus so that we could. Just take a minute and consider all of the scriptures that talk about our Father's desires for us to have life abundantly. Virtually ever Book in the New Testament proclaims that through Christ we will be victorious as God works through us! 

One of the first Truths that God ever shared with me is that He wants us to have abundance in our salvation. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25

Our Father also wants us to be abundantly healthy, as a loving Father should. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 1:2

Our Father wants our prayer lives to be abundant. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: Matthew 7:7

Our Father wants us to have the gifts of His Spirit abundantly as we wait for Jesus’ return. So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:7-8

Our Father wants us to be abundantly prosperous in our worldly needs so that we may be charitable and so that we may be self-sufficient. And God is able to make all Grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. 2 Corinthians 9:8 Amplified Bible

Our Father wants us to have abundant knowledge and wisdom and He wants us to know all things. But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him. 1 John 2:27

And finally our Father wants us to have abundant love. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

The Holy Spirit Controls Us To Be Used

For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit. Romans 8:5

Amen, notice how our Father so clearly and plainly tells us the Truth that we are now controlled by His Holy Spirit. I cannot say this enough, because I honestly believe that people really don’t know this glorious Truth, the Holy Spirit controls us. Far too many believe that we control ourselves. They believe that we, on our own, must decide to choose or not to choose to follow our Father’s will. This couldn’t be farther from the Truth because through Christ we are free from anything that would ever separate us from our Father. His will is what controls and leads us into righteousness.

For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. Colossians 1:16

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]-- Ephesians 1:4-5

O Lord [pleads Jeremiah in the name of the people], I know that [the determination of] the way of a man is not in himself; it is not in man [even in a strong man or in a man at his best] to direct his [own] steps. Jeremiah 10:23

Our old condition has passed away, we have been re-created in Christ to exist, and it is not in us to direct our own steps. We are now one with God just as Jesus is one with Him. This is what allows us to go and honestly be used to tell the world the Truth that sets them free, John 17:18-23. We are controlled by the Holy Spirt and therefore there is now no condemnation for us, Romans 8:1. We are always fully pleasing to our Father because our Father is always greater in us, then we are in this world. Our Father always causes us to triumph, because He doesn’t know failure. For us to fail would mean that God had failed. We are all, 100% of the time, victorious through Christ. 

We Are Prisoners Of Christ

FOR THIS reason [because I preached that you are thus built up together], I, Paul, [am] the prisoner of Jesus the Christ for the sake and on behalf of you Gentiles-- Ephesians 3:1

    

Paul writes to us that he was the prisoner of Jesus Christ. Jesus arrested Paul on the road to Damascus and forced him to serve the Kingdom of Heaven. Don’t think so, go and read Acts 9 and see what actually happened to Paul. 

But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel; For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My name's sake. So Ananias left and went into the house. And he laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you along the way by which you came here, has sent me that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And instantly something like scales fell from [Saul's] eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized, Acts 9:15-18

Jesus told Ananias that Paul was a chosen vessel of God and Paul wrote to the Ephesians that He was a prisoner of God. Paul also wrote to the Galatians that he was chosen by God to serve before he was ever born and he told the Corinthians that he was Jesus’ slave.

But when He, Who had chosen and set me apart [even] before I was born and had called me by His grace (His undeserved favor and blessing), saw fit and was pleased To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) as the glad tidings (Gospel), immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood [did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone]. Galatians 1:15-16

These sayings of Paul do not sound like a man who believed in free will. They do sound like a man who had known the Truth and was set free by it. They sound like a man who knew that our Father was in control and the driving force in our lives. They sound like a man that was convinced that because our Father was in control that all things now worked out for his good, Romans 8:28. They sound like a man who knew the love of our Father and freely accepted the Truth that God is in complete control. The love of our Father and the love that He gives to His children allows us to accept and actually rejoice in the Truth that He is in complete control of our lives. We cherish the Truth that we are the prisoners of Jesus. It means that the battle is His and the victory is ours. 

We Never Have To Worry About Being Disgraced

This is in keeping with my own eager desire and persistent expectation and hope, that I shall not disgrace myself nor be put to shame in anything; but that with the utmost freedom of speech and unfailing courage, now as always heretofore, Christ (the Messiah) will be magnified and get glory and praise in this body of mine and be boldly exalted in my person, whether through (by) life or through (by) death. Philippians 1:20

We do not have to worry one little bit about ever being disgraced.

But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you are to speak; for what you are to say will be given you in that very hour and moment, For it is not you who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:19-20

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Romans 8:28

Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. Romans 8:37

But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere, 2 Corinthians 2:14

Our Father will cause Jesus to be magnified through us in everything. It is always our Father’s power that is at work within us. He will always carry out His purpose through us of showing forth His victory for all through Christ. We are never left alone or forsaken by our Father to fail, Hebrews 13:5. And we are always more than conquerors through Christ Who loves us.