“In”

“IN.” A tiny two-letter word that is loaded with meaning in the Greek. Especially when it comes to how Jesus used it.

It refers to a fixed position, a specific place, a designated time, or a state of being accompanied by rest.

John 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority, but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

This unity is not just between Jesus and the Father, but it extends to all who believe in Him.

Because Jesus was “IN” the Father and the Father was “IN” Him, Jesus effortlessly did the works He was doing.

Jesus was simply in a state of being as a result of “IN.”  Jesus was not anxiously starting His day, worried about whether he would get things right or do enough things to justify His claim of being the Son of God.  He simply communed with His Father and rested in knowing the Father was “IN” Him, and He was “IN” His Father.  In other words, He and His Father were one.  They were in unity together.  They shared the same desires. They shared the same dislikes. They shared the same dreams and goals, as they pertained to the reason Jesus was here on earth in the first place.  They were in tune with each other, not from a 'have-to-be' perspective, but from a 'privilege-to-be' perspective.  They genuinely loved and liked each other, and they respected each other.

Jesus modeled a healthy relationship with the Father, showing us the way to a fulfilling and enriching spiritual life.  Jesus understood the power and the beauty of “IN.”

This was why Jesus prayed the way He did in John 17.

John 17:20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

As believers in Christ, we get to enjoy the “IN” factor of our relationship with God.  This “IN” factor comes with the glory that is shared with us so that the world might see Jesus and know that the Father sent him with a purpose.

Everything is meant to flow out from the place of a loving relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ.  Nothing is meant to flow from a place of duty, payback, merit, or gamesmanship to get ahead.  The relationship is at the core of everything pertaining to His kingdom.  We are meant to flow from a place that has a fixed position of “IN” so solid and secure that we are able to just 'Be' from a place of rest in Him.  From this place of faith and belief “IN” Jesus, the works that He did, we do, and even greater works are promised, JN 14:12.

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Five Fold Prophet

Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

I aim to highlight that the five ministries' primary target is the church, and their purpose is to help the church see, understand, and conform to Christ by growing in spiritual maturity.  The church grows in spiritual maturity by being shown Jesus and being instructed in His ways.  The gifts are not called to moralize the church but rather to help the church come into conformity to Jesus through revelation understanding.

When the ministries function correctly, the fruit is a mature and edified body of Christ that is growing in its love for each other, possessing discernment that keeps it from falling prey to false doctrines aimed at marring the image of Christ and His completed work.

I believe it is time once again for an authentic prophetic ministry to rise and engage the church in the way it is called.  Able to speak to the times with a focus on Jesus that equips the church to be conformed to Him and not moralism.

Focusing on issues as though they are outside Christ and only important in their moral implications can attract specific groups of followers on social media and in other venues. Still, it is not in line with the New Covenant gifts outlined in the Scriptures, as found in Ephesians 4.

When Agabus prophesied the famine, it was to equip the church to act according to their new nature and a love for one another, and thus live out the gospel of Christ towards their brethren.  The local churches in other regions pooled their resources to help the church that would be affected by the famine.  They served the body of Christ in an emergency situation, guided by the love of Christ.  We do not know what the regional church, impacted by the famine, did with all that it received.  However, we do know that the equipping function of the prophet was effective in equipping the church with a demonstration of Jesus.

When Agabus prophesied to Paul personally in front of the others, it was to give Paul ample warning about what would happen if he went to Jerusalem.  It helped equip Paul to set his own heart on Jesus, and it prepared those listening who loved Paul to express their love, support, and pain.  It equipped them to love Paul and provided evidence of the call to obedience in faith.  Paul was able to demonstrate to the believers present at the time of the prophecy that it confirmed the word of the Lord he had received from Jesus Himself, and Paul was ready not only to be imprisoned for Christ and to suffer, but also to die if need be.  There was a mutual edification, although it was accompanied by sadness.

Believers were equipped in Christ and practiced loving one another in both of these accounts.  To me, that means the prophetic gift fulfilled its purpose.

What I believe we are witnessing in our time is many claiming to be prophets who are not, and some who are tainted by the desire for followers and thus speaking in areas they should leave alone but know that by speaking in those areas and putting the focus somewhere other than Jesus (but still perceived as being “radical”) will increase their base.  In my understanding, both of these examples lend themselves to exposing a false prophet.

I believe that New Covenant prophets are just as accountable to sound doctrine as any other gift.

Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

If a prophet fails this test of pointing to Jesus in all they prophesy about — times, events, ideologies, and directions — they do not pass the test of being a true New Covenant prophet.

I believe the true gift will unveil Jesus and lead the church to marvel and begin to thrive in the completed work of Christ Jesus.  I believe it calls the church to think according to the Spirit, as opposed to the flesh, thus directing her attention away from the natural life and toward her heavenly calling.  When I say thinking according to the Spirit, I am not speaking of strange mystical thinking so much as new creation identity and living.

I also believe the five-fold work in team, and thus prophets are not a ministry to themselves any more than the other ministries are.  All the ministries have their distinctive characteristics, but they all work towards the same end in relation to the bride of Christ, and as such, they are very willing to work together and be accountable to one another.

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Don’t Get Cheated

Have you ever been cheated using promises of something that could not be delivered?

Have you ever purchased a product that made claims only to find it did not do what was promised?

This can be true of things considered to be spiritual. It can be true when it comes to claims of how one obtains sanctification, holiness, a closer walk with God, and so on.

We are offered New Covenant instruction on how to avoid being bamboozled by empty claims.

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Philosophy - a theory or attitude held by a person or organization that acts as a guiding principle for behavior.

Empty Deceit - The promise of something that has no substance to it.

Tradition of men - principles and ordinances observed for generations.

Basic principles of the world - The natural order of things as they can be known and have been known. Practicality, as it can be understood according to how things work in the natural.

The essence of what is being spoken in these verses deals with the reality of how so often many wish to bring others under the supposed idea of how spirituality is obtained. Almost always, these ideas shift the focus away from what Christ did to secure the essential things for us and instead place our emphasis on what we must do to obtain them.

When we let this happen to us, we are allowing ourselves to be taken advantage of.

If I already have something that is working and someone comes along and says I need something more, and I buy into that claim, I am setting aside the thing that truly works for something that makes an empty claim. I am allowing myself to be cheated.

Christ has already done everything to make us complete. Our completion is only in Him. In Him is the fullness. The thing we need most to have revelation of is the beauty and power of what it means to be in Him. Anytime someone comes along and insists on the things you must do to advance in fullness, and it involves anything other than being grounded in what it means to be "In Him," then you should see it for what it is. It is a con job. It is advice rooted in things that have no substance and therefore cannot deliver. Don't get cheated!

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Entitlement Is Anti-Gratitude

Romans 4:4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

Entitlement:  the fact of having a right to something, the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.

Romans 4:4 confirms the dictionary's definition of entitlement.  God agrees that a person is entitled to any contractual reward they work for.

An employee does not think in terms of gratitude for a paycheck on Friday for the hours they gave to the company to secure its success. They consider themselves owed that paycheck based on an agreement that they would work for a set hourly wage. They are being compensated for their knowledge, skill, experience, and ability based on a mutual benefit contract. All one needs to do to test this idea is withhold from the employee the check to which they feel entitled and see what happens.

There is only one utility provider in my city where I live. They do not show me the kind of gratitude one might expect if the payment I sent in was for them having provided me with nothing. I owe them for kilowatts of electricity, for gallons of clean water, and the removal of sewer water, or for cubic feet of natural gas. They might out of politeness say thank you on my bill but if I neglect to pay it those services will be terminated. They are entitled to payment or they will no longer feel the need to supply me with these products. They are entitled to payment so if they fail to deliver electricity, water, and natural gas to my home I do not pay them. It is a you scratch my back and I will scratch yours type of relationship based on entitlement. I am politely thankful to a certain degree, as are they.  We are locked in a cycle of survival dependence that requires that we each bring something to the table.

There’s a fundamental difference between an authentic heartfelt gratitude and a socially polite thank you.

In matters of the Kingdom of Christ and His gospel, there are ways to present it that stir heartfelt gratitude, and there are ways to distort it that stir entitlement attitudes.

A work-based doctrine produces an entitlement attitude. It constructs the notion that one is owed something on the basis of their performance.  Alternatively, the counterpart of this would be that they deserve to be neglected because they have not performed up to standard.

The doctrine of grace through faith does not feed into any type of entitlement attitude in that it magnifies the mercy and generosity of God, independently working on our behalf without us having done anything to deserve it.

God owes us nothing. However, although He owes us nothing, He has freely given us all things through His Son Jesus Christ.  His kingdom operates on His generosity, as He is the source of all that is good. We should never think of Him as owing us the kindness and love that He so graciously gives to us.

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Use It

I've been working with a friend who is a master electrician on some of his jobs part-time. It's been an education for sure.

It can be amazing how much simpler a task can be when done with the proper tool that was specifically designed for it.

The same principle applies to spiritual matters. God has equipped His children with what they need to walk with Him in a healthy relationship. He has equipped us with everything we need in Christ Jesus.

2Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The right gospel, according to the new covenant Jesus established with His blood, equips us to know Him correctly. In it is revealed the love of God for us, the righteousness of God we have become in Him, the sanctification we have received in Christ Jesus, the wisdom from God that is now available to us as a result, and the promised Holy Spirit who teaches us all things concerning Him and leads us in the right way.

Whenever the gospel is treated as merely an introductory message designed to get someone initially saved and then left alone, little to no real fruit is the result. The supernatural fruit the gospel produces is rooted and grounded in a relationship with God forged by the obedience of Christ Jesus and applied to our own lives by grace through faith.

The gospel is the primary tool of the New Covenant that Jesus established. When we remember to ask, how does the gospel apply in this situation? What can the gospel reveal to me about how Jesus feels and thinks about me in this matter? What can the gospel show me about the decision I need to make in this circumstance?

In every one of these examples, the gospel will point us to interact with the One who loves us so deeply and faithfully.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

The enemy wants us to believe that everything we face is too complicated for something as simple as the gospel to be our tool, bringing us to the right place for proper wisdom and solutions.

Colossians 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

The gospel is your tool. May I encourage you to use it?

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You Were Not Willing

That title is a very sober and haunting statement made by Jesus regarding Jerusalem.

Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

There are so many things Jesus desires to do, but He so often encounters an unwillingness in those He wishes to do something good in their lives.

Jesus was sent to the Jews for their redemption and blessing. However, many did not wish to receive Him.

John 1:11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

Even today, many professing believers will reject the simplicity of the gospel and exchange it for a list of what to do, because they trust more in their capabilities than in His.

There's not a broken marriage, broken home, or bad situation or circumstance that the good news of Jesus cannot provide wisdom in navigating and experiencing peace, freedom, and wisdom that flows from Him.

Many prefer to find a counselor or minister who will provide them with a formula that involves their effort. They do this thinking that if they know what they need to do, they will do it, and the matter will be fixed. They are ignorant of how devoid of engaging the Father in relationship such an attitude is.

The extent of their prayers about it is usually, "Jesus, I ask You to fix this." It is not engaging in an interaction with the Lord for His heart in the matter, nor is it an effort to ask the Holy Spirit for revelation from the gospel to enhance wisdom to act in concert with the heart of Jesus about it.

Jesus wanted Jerusalem to welcome Hima nd engage in a relationship with the Father through Him. They enjoyed His miracles, signs, and wonders, as well as all the miraculous healings and people raised from the dead. But how many sought to have a relationship with and through Him with the Father? They were not willing to take a step in that direction. In their hearts, they rejected Him.

The religious leaders did not constitute the entire population of Jerusalem. There were people there who were not religious leaders, but they were just as unwilling as any religious leader. How many times has a parent yearned to help a child engage in a relationship with them, only to find their counsel and direction are ignored and they are pushed away? That is a case of that chilling phrase, "You were not willing."

It is the gospel that makes us aware of the things God did to enable us to engage in a relationship with Him at all levels. The gospel is not an introductory message; it is a life message. When it is taken lightly and largely ignored, it is a demonstration of someone's unwillingness to find the real solution to the challenges they will face in life.

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Safely Covered And Hidden

When I was a small boy, like most boys, I had a vivid imagination. I would watch monster movies with my older brothers and then go to bed, afraid in the dark. I imagined things under my bed or in my closet.

I convinced myself that if I covered up with my blanket pulled over my head, whatever was in my room couldn’t see me. Being hidden beneath my trusty blanket gave me the peace I needed to fall asleep.

I would almost bet you’d be able to relate to that experience in your own childhood story.

Believe it or not, in the Bible, there is a call for us as God’s children to use our faith and imagination to realize we have been safely covered and hidden. If we grasp this revelation, it can truly help us in our times of anxiety and fear. It can also help us in our times of temptation.

Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

The reality of being hidden with Christ in God is everything! What can see us in that place, and what could possibly get past God to get to us?

Even better is the idea of what we can discover about our God as our Father from being hidden with Christ in Him. There’s much love to discover in that place.

It is from our position of being hidden with Christ in God that we discover who He is, what He has done, and how it applies to us. That, in turn, tells us who we truly are and are meant to be.

You know, without the security of my trusty blanket as a kid, I would have had many a restless night, and it would have taken an even greater toll on me physically and mentally.

When it comes to spirit and soul, proper rest belongs to those who have the revelation of what it means to be in Christ. Our heavenly identity is inalterably tied to our position in Christ. I would encourage you to look at all the "In Christ" statements of Scripture and ask for real revelation on it from the Holy Spirit.

Today we are victorious not because circumstances will end the way we want, but because despite circumstances and fearful challenges, our life is hid with God in Christ!

Our security is in Jesus, and we are citizens of His kingdom, which is righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit. Having a tough time? Try to remember that you are under a powerful covering today. Remember who you are in, and that you are safely covered and hidden.

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Special Announcement

No Devotionals for at least two days this week.

I have a hectic schedule ahead of me this week, so I will not be able to take the time to send out my devotionals to the lists I have. I am sorry to skip like this. I will have my meditations as always, but unfortunately, I will not have the time to write them out and share them. I appreciate your patience and understanding.

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Hindering Attachments

Have you ever seen those video reels of trucks with high loads trying to go under bridges lacking the height to accommodate?

I worked for U-Haul for a time as a lot foreman when I was around 18 years of age. I was asked to go to Burger King to get everyone's lunch, but all I had to get there was a motorcycle. So, they let me take a U-Haul truck. I ordered from the drive-through, and when I drove around for pickup, I noticed a canopy. However, I didn't realize the truck wouldn't fit under it until I got it stuck underneath it while trying to pull through. The Burger King manager was not very pleased with me, nor was my boss when he got the news.

I would need a smaller vehicle to get through that drive-through freely.

Mark 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

It is said that there was a gate in Jerusalem called the eye of the needle. A camel could only get through it if they unloaded first. It would not make it through with all its packs onboard. In this metaphor, Jesus was speaking of the difficulty someone has in letting go of something they hold dear, and have put their trust in; in this case, it is money.

Have you ever noticed how hard it can be to say goodbye to something that holds real sentimental value or a profound nostalgic sense of worth? Especially if it was something you trusted and thought to be dependable.

When my girls and firstborn son were little, we had an old Oldsmobile Delta 88 that was yellow. I had to take my wife to the hospital to have our fourth child, our youngest son, and while there, a record-breaking blizzard in March hit our area. I had just reworked the heads on that car and had only filled it with water to test it before heading out to the hospital. I had no idea we would get a blizzard. Well, the engine block froze and cracked horizontally. The car engine was useless. As the car hauler drove away with that car to scrap it, my kids were in the doorway of our home, with tears in their eyes. They didn't want to let it go. To them, that was a reliable and safe car, and they wanted to keep it.

People can be this way with old religious systems. It's like having a comfortable old pair of jeans full of holes. They just want to hang on to them. This has been the case when it comes to the need for all to shed the Old Covenant and its laws and systems. Some people are so comfortable with it and nostalgic about it that they just do not want to let it go.

It is a fact that you cannot put on a new pair of jeans over an old pair and be comfortable.

Hebrews 8:13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

To enjoy the full benefits of the New Covenant, where all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ, one must let go of the ministry of death, which is the law. The two will not go together. There must be a willingness to let go of the hindering attachment one has to the law if they wish to prosper in the New Covenant life. We are called to put all our trust in the finished work of Christ at the cross.

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Good Things

Who doesn't like the promise of good things to come?

This is especially true when a person has been in a difficult situation or faced challenging times.

There's a promise of good things to come through a better High Priest.

Hebrews 9:11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

I love how the letter to the Hebrews uses words like 'greater,' 'better,' 'more perfect,' and 'more excellent.'

Here, we find that Good Things to Come is the ministry of the Priesthood of Jesus. After all, He is ministering in a greater tabernacle not made with hands. Think on that for just a moment. Not made with hands. Not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves.

What did He obtain with His own blood? Eternal redemption!

If the blood of animals sacrificed worked to purge the consciences of those they were offered on behalf of, and purified the flesh, how much more will the blood of Jesus.....?

What can the blood of Jesus do for our consciences? Cleanse them from dead works!

Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant, by His death, which was necessary to pay for the transgressions under the first covenant. Now we who are called receive the promise of the eternal inheritance! The new covenant is a covenant of good things!

Have you tapped into the good things of the new covenant? I trust you have and will continue to do so. There truly is nothing and no one better than Jesus and what He offers to those who are His.

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An Eternal Priesthood

Every High Priest under the Old Covenant eventually died. Therefore, a new one had to be appointed whenever death visited.

All of the Old Covenant High priests were of the tribe of Levi. It began with Aaron. Jesus, however, was of the tribe of Judah. He is the only High Priest from that tribe, and unlike all the other High Priests, Jesus is a High Priest forever, since He lives forever.

Moreover, Jesus ministers at the altar in heaven itself, where the real mercy seat resides, and Jesus did not offer the blood of an earthly lamb; He offered His own blood to atone for our sins past, present, and future. There will never be a need for another sacrifice, nor will there ever be a need for another earthly High Priest.

That is why it says in the letter to the Hebrews,

Hebrews 7:23 Also, there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

You and I, who believe now, have a High Priest who lives to intercede on our behalf. Jesus is our forever mediator and High Priest. That word, intercession, is very important.

Intercession means Jesus is always taking a position with the Father that is in favor of us. He is continually looking out for our good and seeking our advancement. He can do this because His blood is a better blood, and His sacrifice of Himself is a better sacrifice that is forever. His sacrifice and blood were a once-and-for-all reality. He need not offer Himself over and over again. One time was enough for all time.

Hebrews 9:11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Only an eternal sacrifice and eternal Priesthood can provide an eternal redemption. Jesus did it all! More than that, His offering of Himself settles the matter of our sanctification.

Hebrews 10:10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

I praise Jesus for His eternal Priesthood and perfect sacrifice of Himself. I thank Him for a better blood that He offered and sprinkled on the real mercy seat in heaven. I thank Him for the eternal hope He has given to all who come to God through Him.

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A Sympathizing High Priest

Sympathize means to commiserate, have compassion, or be touched with a feeling of sympathy.

In essence, it is feeling the effects of something along with another, even though you were not actually involved, and it did not happen to you personally.

As humans, we often express this when we say to someone we're sorry as they tell us of how they might be suffering or going through a trial or difficulty, and then are moved to try to help them in some way, especially when a person is in a relationship with us.

In the letter to the Hebrews, the Holy Spirit prompted the writer to discuss entering a rest in chapter four, and then begins to cover the priestly ministry of Christ, from the end of chapter four through to chapter eight. With so much attention being dedicated to the priestly ministry of Jesus, I tend to think it must be of some importance. My focus today is on what is spoken concerning him at the end of Chapter Four.

Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 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.

In these passages, we find a description of the sort of High Priest our Jesus is. We see He has passed through the heavens, meaning He is ministering in a more effective place than any holy sight here on this earth. For this reason, we should always maintain a good confession of knowing Him.

We also discover that Jesus is not distant from what we are going through. He feels what we feel, and He is very familiar with the challenges and temptations we deal with in this life. He understands the weakness of our flesh, and He has compassion on us. He, too, was tempted in His flesh, but He never sinned. He understands the battles we face. It moves Him in His feelings towards us. It doesn't alienate us from Him. He doesn't get angry and insists we get it together. He desires that we come to Him and ask Him for His help. His compassion motivates him to aid us actively.

When we understand this by the revelation of who He is and what He is truly like, we are not hesitant to come boldly to His throne of grace. We approach knowing that we will meet with His mercy (Compassion and willingness to help, although in our flesh we would not deserve such). We expect to receive mercy from Him and be gifted with His favor in our situation, which will empower us to move forward in His wisdom. It can also cause others to be activated to favor us and assist us according to His leading in them regarding us. Until we are convinced that in Jesus we have a sympathizing High Priest who intends to do us good, will we truly approach His throne of grace with boldness? I encourage you today to see Jesus as He really is, according to the Scriptures, and change your mind concerning Him so you can take full advantage of everything He offers you as a result of coming to Him.

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Something Better

I don't know many people who wouldn't like something better.

What person, if they are driving an old car that is constantly breaking down, would refuse a new one?

If your clothes were tattered and worn out, would you refuse new ones?

People make choices regarding something better almost every day of their lives. The idea of improving is quite popular.

Guess what? God is into improving things with something better.

Hebrews 7:11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning the priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” 18 For on the one hand, there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Hebrews 7:23 Also, there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

God wanted to improve on the priestly ministry by establishing a High Priest in the heavenlies where the real tabernacle with the real mercy seat exists. A High Priest who is flawless and forever, and could secure our position of relationship with God forever. To do this, a Better Covenant had to come that would replace the law and its priesthood once and for all.

Hebrews 8:6 But now He (Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

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Time

Time is something we are familiar with, but in many cases, we struggle to use it wisely consistently.

Time once spent cannot be recovered. When it comes to time, you have the present moment and what is coming up next; you cannot go backwards.

Your bank account of time only contains what has not yet been drawn out. I am drawing out of mine right now, just as you are.

Did you know that time is said to be the only currency of heaven?

God is not subject to time as He lives outside the bounds of it. Only we who live here on earth are bound to time. Time is precious and should be valued. It may seem like it will never run out, but that is not the case. This is why the Scriptures speak of it in the way that they do.

Ephesians 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

You can invest your time and get a return on it. When we invest our time in knowing and doing the will of the Lord, we are storing up treasure in heaven. It is akin to putting aside money for retirement when our working days end and we take a break from our labors to rest.

I find it interesting how, when talking of time in the Scriptures, wisdom is always a part of the consideration.

Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

I love how an awareness of the importance of time is meant to encourage us to walk in wisdom towards those who have yet to come to know Jesus, and affect how we speak to them.

We do not want to waste our time being frivolous and living without purpose, nor should we wish to waste it on treating others poorly. Our use of time is always an investment opportunity.

Have you ever asked yourself how you are using your time? How will you spend your time today?

Time is like a seed you can sow. The law of sowing and reaping applies. If you sow a seed of corn, it grows into a corn stalk with ears of corn. You started with one seed, but you ended with exponentially more seeds because each ear of corn is loaded with corn kernels, which can become seeds. I encourage you to invest your time wisely today and always. Invest it in loving others whenever you get the chance to do so. Invest in sharing the gospel with others whenever you get the chance. Invest it in spending some time with Jesus undistracted.

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Christ Reigns

To reign means to be the King, the highest in authority, the uncontested leader of a kingdom. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus has established His kingdom on earth, which is called the church.

Two things to note here. A King has a throne, and He will also have a scepter.

A throne is a symbol of power, serving as the seat of a ruler.

A scepter is a staff or rod carried by a ruler as a symbol of sovereignty.

Hebrews 1:8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

This quote was taken from the Psalmist, who prophesied many generations earlier regarding the Messiah.

Psalm 45:6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

Jesus came as a man and kept the law perfectly. Being born of a virgin, He was without sin, just as Adam was without sin before the fall. However, unlike the first Adam, who disobeyed, Jesus obeyed His Father perfectly; thus, He is also referred to as the last Adam.

Hebrews 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore, God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

Jesus loved His relationship with the Father more than He loved having His own way according to the flesh. Thus, even though He was tempted in all the ways we are tempted, He never sinned.

Hebrews 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

In other words, Jesus understands us better than we understand ourselves, and He has compassion for us. The way that Jesus rules His kingdom is by righteousness. In other words, Jesus rules His kingdom through relationship.

Jesus remained faithful to the Father and was obedient, even to the point of death on a cross, where He paid in full for our sins, past, present, and future. As one who would become King, He placed a high value on us and the idea of having a relationship with us. He desired to go through what we go through to identify with us and then make a way for us.

There is a warmth to His rule and reign, not a coldness of separation and abuse. It would be beneficial for us all to recall what the Psalmist wrote.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Jesus rules and reigns not as an abusive King, but rather as a gracious and loving King who enjoys knowing and being in relationship with those who are in His kingdom. More than that, He also desires that we be in relationship with His Father with the same warmth of affection, compassion, and grace. Let's give Him the praise He is due because Christ reigns!

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Minister Of What?

2Corinthians 3:4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. 12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— 13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For, until this day, the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.

The goal of New Covenant preaching is to bring those listening out from under the veil that exists until one is brought by grace through faith to their position in Christ.

Everything the New Covenant has to offer is received by faith and acted in faith. The beauty of that reality is that all the promises of God are now yes and amen, in Christ.

When one changes their position by coming to Christ and begins to realize their position in Christ, identifying with being His in the way the Scriptures truly teach it, they walk in a glory unparalleled by any other glory. Not even the glory that filled the temple in Solomon's time can compare with the ever-increasing glory of the New Covenant.

This incredible New Covenant glory is not received and activated by our many prayers and sacrificial works. It is ours for the experiencing, the more we understand and believe the truth about being in Christ.

Being a minister of the letter brings death to others. It places the focus on us and what we do to gain, thereby distracting our attention from Christ and what He has done to change our position and grant us new life. Life flows only in Christ. The law will never be able to offer life.

The New Covenant is a Spirit covenant in that it alone offers us the promise of the Holy Spirit to come and dwell in us as well as overflow us with power, comfort, joy, and peace. He is the fulfillment of Jesus' promise never to leave us nor forsake us. The law is the ministry of condemnation, exposing the many reasons we deserve judgment and punishment according to a fallen nature. The New Covenant truth reveals how we have been brought near and even hidden with Christ in God. Beloved as precious and dear children, and now able to refer to God as Abba Father.

Once again, here we find Paul as an apostle of Jesus, making it clear that he is not ministering a mixture and calling it the gospel. A clear distinction is made, defining the difference between New Covenant ministry and mixture-based ministry. When it comes to the New Covenant, it is not a both/and approach regarding the covenants; it is an either/or. Being a sufficient minister of the New Covenant is what is most needed in these last days, and it is the kind of ministry God calls forth.

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Dwell

There are various applications for the word 'dwell'. I plan to apply it to our thought life.

What we allow our souls to dwell on matters. One of Jesus' apostles, named John the Beloved, understood this. He wrote the following,

3John 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

The word prosper as it is used here means to succeed. It can mean success in business, travel, or achieving a goal. The word prospers shares the same meaning. The word "health" refers to physical and emotional well-being, as well as a state of security.

So what is it that we should allow our souls to dwell on in order to experience this of which John spoke?

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

I love meditating on this passage because it reveals a hidden gem of truth regarding the effect of right dwelling.

First, we should consider the word "Let." This encourages us to allow and give permission. Have you ever considered the idea that any and every thought you have ever dwelled on in your soul had to receive permission from you to do so?

Have you also noticed that your soul has become conditioned over time to welcome some thoughts more readily than others?

This reveals to me that when it comes to what we dwell on in our soul, we can choose to be more intentional if we desire a better condition of our soul. In the case of the passage from Colossians, we can dwell on the word of Christ. Notice it is the word of Christ, not the words of Christ.

The way I understand this is that I am to allow the word concerning Christ to dwell in me richly in all wisdom. I am to allow it to dwell in me to the degree that it begins to produce an outcome. It overflows to the degree that I begin to speak of it to teach and admonish others in the form of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs that are an outflow of the grace that has made it's home in my heart and now desires to sing to the Lord in gratitude for all that He has done.

Let me explain it this way: if I am trying to fill a pitcher with water but the pitcher keeps moving around, rather than dwelling in one place, it will be difficult to fill it to the point of overflow. Therefore, the idea of dwelling means staying in one place to get the most out of being there. In this case, it is the word of Christ!

Could we ever exhaust the beauty of the truth concerning Christ and how His obedience has so richly impacted our lives and continues to do so?

Might I encourage you today to take some time to dwell?

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Now

This little three-letter word is very powerful if you think about it.

Ever heard the old saying, "There's no time like the present?"

Now refers to the present moment in time. This moment in time, which we all have at present, is a "Now" moment. What we do with all of our "Now" moments is a big deal.

God is not bound by the boundaries of time, but here on this earth we are, and it is the currency of heaven, so to speak. While God need not worry about time, we must consider it. If we waste the time we possess in the "Now" on trying to do something about the past or thinking only about the future, we lose an opportunity to sow well in our "Now' moments.

We cannot go back and redo something from our past. Nor can we skip ahead to the future. We have no choice but to learn how to live in the "Now" moments of life well.

Where can we start to ensure we're capitalizing on our "Now" opportunity?

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

This verse reveals that Jesus did something meant to invade our "Now" moments continually. He changed our position, our reference point, our starting and staying point for life. We are "Now" in a person, a very real person with very great power, and Who has accomplished something through His obedience to the Father. When we understand our position in Him, it changes our perspective on our "Now" moments.

However, this will not be our experience if we choose to walk according to the flesh rather than according to the Spirit.

The word walk is an interesting one, as it is used here. It means to be occupied with, to live. In other words, if we live from a place of trusting in our own ability rather than trusting in what Christ has done and leaning on His strength, we will not live aware of our "Now" promise and will likely suffer from the maladies of uncertainty, confusion, shame, and, yes, condemnation.

The enemy will be able to have a field day with us in our souls because we are not occupied with the Spirit thinking on things above and not having any confidence in our flesh. This is what happens to us when we allow a mixture of law and grace to visit our souls and occupy our thoughts. We often find ourselves agreeing with a verdict of guilty and then being sentenced to a period of time we think is necessary to pay the penalty for whatever we believe ourselves guilty of.

I call it the anti-freedom. Jesus came to set us free, and He who the Son sets free is free indeed. To get off the roller coaster ride that mixture produces, one needs to acknowledge their weakness in the flesh and revel in the finished work of Christ on their behalf and take charge of the "Now" of their life by getting the gospel right, getting the gospel in, and then getting the gospel out. There is "Now" no condemnation to those who are in Christ! What's in your "Now?"

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Whose Gift Are You Seeking?

When it comes to the New Covenant, there is a significant shift in who we are to receive from.

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

You see, it is very clear here that the law was given through Moses. However, through Jesus, something different was given.

It was not that there was no truth from Moses because we know he introduced the Israelites to the truth of the law.

However, intentionally, the Holy Spirit prompts John to write this passage as he did. He wants us to be very aware of what came to us through Jesus: grace and truth.

It would appear that many still prefer to receive rules, guidelines, and principles from Moses in churches today, thinking that if they just know what they are expected to do, they can deliver. They seem to be ignorant of what it says in,

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.

The Holy Spirit never teaches us to take confidence in our flesh, in other words, to be self-confident with regard to what measuring up is required to look like.

We are not called to live a sin-conscious life; we are meant to live a Christ-conscious life. We are now created as new creations to live according to the Spirit, and this is made our reality by the grace and truth Jesus gave to us.

The blood of Jesus ratified the New Covenant, and it is a relationship and Spirit covenant made between God the Father and God the Son that we are born into when, by grace through faith in Jesus, we are born again and then receive the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, according to faith. If, after receiving such a lavish and gracious gift in Christ, it is an insult to then seek after what Moses gave.

Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

I ask again, whose gift are you seeking? I encourage you to seek after that which comes through Jesus Christ.

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The Right Lenses

It was once believed that eyewitness testimony in a court of law was the most powerful form of testimony. But things have since been learned about the reliability of such testimony.

"When a person witnesses an alleged crime, ambient conditions may prevent them from accurately perceiving and remembering what occurred. For instance, if an eyewitness witnesses an incident in poor lighting or from a distance, their recollections are less likely to be reliable. A person’s biases can affect the accuracy of his or her memories, and so can stress factors, such as the presence of a gun during an assault or violent crime."

Just as poor conditions and bias can affect the accuracy of eyewitness testimony, so too can a wrong context lead to an assumed approach, affecting a believer's understanding of Scripture. For instance, Scripture speaks of a veil that interferes with one's ability to perceive clearly what God has done and is now doing.

2Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded. For, until this day, the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.

This refers to those who are still under the Old Covenant Law. They are still sentimental and nostalgic about what Moses gave.

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

It is true that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and is profitable. However, if it is being viewed through a veil of Old Covenant thinking, its profitability is diminished because the takeaway on what it desires to teach us is skewed.

I recommend reading the Old Testament through the lens of the New Covenant, so that one might extract from it the prophetic revelation the Holy Spirit originally placed within it concerning Christ Jesus.

Wearing sunglasses in a poorly lit room at night and claiming it helps one to see more clearly is a delusional perspective. That is why reading the Old Testament and claiming that placing it in its original context to understand it better makes one an expert at interpreting it is akin to wearing sunglasses in a dark room at night. Examining the truth of Scripture through a veil obscures clarity and, consequently, hinders one's understanding. This is why the glasses of the New Covenant are so important; having the veil removed matters. The veil is only removed in Christ!

I seek to read all Scripture through the lens of Christ and His New Covenant. Those are the right lenses. Everything in Scripture points to Jesus once the veil is removed. The law and the prophets fade into the background of history, and we begin to see and hear only Jesus as the Father has desired. Read all of Scripture, but make sure you have the right lenses on when you do.

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