FAITH is the CONVICTION of the THINGS of GOD concerning CHRIST!

We are in Cuenca, Ecuador.  Each day we are learning a little more of Spanish.  Immersion is a good teacher - like throwing a baby in a pool and causing them to swim (well at least we've heard of people doing that!)

In the midst of living in this world, don't you think it is rather amazing that the Spirit of God can get through to our "spirit ears" and teach us the remarkable things concerning Christ? 

Every day God's Spirit either reviews, clarifies, deepens, enriches, reveals, declares - you name it.  He has come to teach us all things, take the things of Christ and show them to us, and work the work of faith.

Yesterday I was reading Hebrews 11 (Galatians and some other Scriptures). 

Verse 1:  "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not (yet) seen." 

We have used the word conviction in the negative sense for so long that the dictionary meaning probably pops to our mind when we hear it.  Webster's definition is:  to prove or declare guilty of an offense, to impress with a sense of guilt.

Can you imagine a prisoner coming out of prison, who has paid the sentence for their crime still having a conviction of guilt within them for the rest of their lives?  And those on the outside will remind them of their crime too.  So while they may be outwardly free, they walk around with the inward guilt and never live free.

Isn't that what we do as "believers?"  I put the word in quotes because to believe is to REALLY BELIEVE!  Believe what?

The Holy Spirit is bringing about a true heart conviction not for a sense of guilt - Jesus' blood removed it! - but a heart filled with awe over the magnitude of what Christ has done in the cross and resurrection.

WE ARE NOT GUILTY before GOD!  (Romans 4)

This is inconceivable to the human mind but available to the spiritual mind!  Romans 4 ,5, 6, 7 & 8 points us in the right direction.  To POSSESS in faith this powerful, marvelous work of God is to produce a deep, heart CONVICTION OF TRUTH THAT SETS US FREE!

Remember what Jesus said before the cross?  "When He comes (the Holy Spirit) He will convict the world of sin, because they BELIEVE NOT ON ME!"

The whole point of salvation is to NOT BE GUILTY (we'd spend eternity trying to figure all our sins out if it were about this!)  The cross is about something than just sins.  It is about the WHOLE PERSON being WRONG, GUILTY, DEAD in our sins!

Jesus Christ was crucified so that what we WERE in Adam is now considered dead, buried and put away in the sight of God.   The consummation of it will come when we received our resurrected bodies for this mortal flesh!  Yet in the meantime, we are still new creatures of God in spirit. 

For those who have trusted in Christ we are EXACTLY what God says we are:  NEW CREATURES in Christ - the NEW MAN in Him.  II Corinthians 5:17

Our conviction then is a work of God, a work of faith to BELIEVE the very works of God as accomplished through His Son.  This is what brings TRUE transformation.  Brings TRUE joy.  Brings the REAL FRUIT!

Through God's work of faith in us (in His Son and what He did), we do not have to walk around ANYMORE with an inner conscience of guilt but as the FREE.

"For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the FLESH (outward deeds!), HOW MUCH more will the blood of CHRIST, who through the ETERNAL SPIRIT offered HIMSELF without blemish, CLEANSE YOUR CONSCIENCE...(the innerward parts!) from DEAD WORKS (doing it another way other than God's provision) to SERVE the LIVING GOD?"  Hebrews 9:13, 14

Let us stir one another yes to love and good deeds as Hebrews states, but let us also stir one another to believe God's Word with its purity - so that we might all explode with joy of the Christ who dwells within and His GREAT SALVATION!

"Thank you, Father YOU have removed our guilt through the blood of Christ - we are now in the Spirit of Him who dwells inside - we are in Christ, the HEAD of the body - the church - the New Man - taken from death into LIFE - we are not part of a religion, Father but members of Your SON, Jesus Christ - You are the LIVING God and we are living children.  Thank you that Christ is the author and finisher of our FAITH - you are working in us to "see" Him and Him alone!  Change our thinking, Lord - let us know in full reality - the mind of Christ!  AMEN!"

Yippee,
Sue Gaither

Devotional Thought: December 27, 2010

One Faith

Often I have heard others, even believers, use the phrase “other faiths.”  I would like to add a “disclaimer” here:  what I write in the following words, is not written bitterly or in bigotry whatsoever.  A true believer is concerned (because we are born of God through Christ) with TRUTH.  And the Lord Himself said, “The TRUTH shall set you free.”

Part of our growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ is to put away “our ways, our thoughts, our thinking, our beliefs, and humbly, continually receive the “things” of God as taught by Him.  It’s my job to lean forward and understand Him in all His ways and His Words of Life.

The Scriptures as declared by God Himself say this:

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

Ephesians 4:5,6

God made ONE provision for eternal life: Jesus Christ, His blood, His cross, the sacrifice of Himself. 

But He has also made ONE provision for daily life, for walking in the Spirit too:  FAITH in JESUS CHRIST.  (Galatians 2:20).

So our ONE faith has to do with Christ always. 

Later on, Paul says for all of us to be of the same mind, of one mind – to say the same thing.  If we compare Scripture with Scripture it all has to do with the mind of Christ living and dwelling in us through the Holy Spirit.  This denotes dependence upon Him all the time now and forevermore.

The ONE faith is what separates believers in God and in His Son from every religion which is not faith.  Faith is alive.  Religion is dead.  Religion is about “appeasing God;” doing things to “get to God,” “to bridge the gap.” 

Religion therefore is unbelief.  Why?  Because religion is NOT accepting and receiving God’s provision:  His Son in us.

For believers, our lives are about walking in God’s provision:  walking by faith of the Son of God now dwelling in us.  Or we walk in unbelief.  (Hebrews 4)  If I remember that faith is living and directed to the Son of God, then I realize I am not independent “trying to live the Christian life!”

The reality of Christ is so simple.  I won’t ever forget what He said to me years ago:  “You all make this too hard!”

We Christians can fall into that trap too by living in “separation” from God instead of believing the Son of God (through faith in Him) put us right into the MOST HOLY PLACE through the blood of Christ.  This is the most astounding reality!  Hebrews 9, 10

We are seated with Christ in the heavenly places – we are put in His holiness and righteousness through faith – not of ourselves but through His work. 

One faith is perfect faith and perfect love, casting out fear (and separation from Him.)

He has called us unto Himself in vital union, communion and fellowship.

Through Him alone we bear fruit.

Selah.

In His love,

Sue Gaither

The Wonder of Christ's Coming

A friend shared yesterday from Luke 1 & 2 of the wonders of Christ's coming for the first time.  One of the wonders we all share as believers is how the Lord Jesus was conceived in the womb of a virgin named Mary.  This account is definitely marvelous.  And we all can just imagine what it was like for her to be visited by the angel declaring the message from God to her that she was chosen to bear the Christ child.

I love the part too where she visits Elizabeth whose conception of John, was also a divine intervention.  The baby John leaped in her womb when he heard Mary's voice.  Mary declared with her spirit a rejoicing and with her soul a magnifying of God!

We all know the rest of the story how Jesus Christ was born in a manger in a stable - no room for Him in the Inn.  And we all know what a stable would have been like!  But it was God's choice!

I've reflected many, many times on this account and how it relates to us today with you and me.  The wonders of Christ now!  How?

Our hearts were just like stables because of being born as part of Adam's race - the sin and death that reigned in us and reigns today over unregenerate men.  Yes, "stinky, smelly- not much at all to behold" - that's what we were!

We witnessed a miracle, when God chose for Christ to be born in our hearts (stables).  Why? Because we believed the message of the Gospel preached to us concerning His Son.  No, an angel did not deliver the message - just another vessel carrying the glorious message of the Lord, with all His authority!

Then this unregenerate heart was blessed with conception of Christ being born in our hearts - the incorruptible Seed of God.   And just like Mary with Christ growing in her womb to fullness, we are called to "grow in the grace and knowledge of the Son of God."  Later on the Scriptures declare "till we are filled with all the fullness of God!"

I'm so amazed at the similitude of this - but you can find in the Scriptures. Paul wrote of it:  "Christ in you, the hope of glory!"  God chose us - for His Son to come live inside our hearts – just like stables!  We were sinners and now that He's there - we're His Beloved Children!

His dwelling in our hearts does not make us God – only members of Him.  He alone is Life and Glory.  He pours out of us in the measure of all that He is:  fruitful and real as vessels of Him. 

Mary was not in control of the Son in her – the Son was growing in her, by God’s will and measure.  Yet Mary had to receive God’s Word with faith as spoken by Him.   Therefore we are not in control of the Lord growing within us, but we do receive God’s Word in faith and grow thereby!

When we magnify the Savior and rejoice in Him, knowing that it is not of ourselves this wonder took place, we cause a "leaping" of joy to take place in each other too, because we share in the same wonder!

"Heavenly Father, may we all look at the wonder of Your Son dwelling in us - that He alone is our hope of glory - nothing else.  Our soul does magnify the Lord - and our spirits do rejoice in You, God - our Savior!"

Merry Christmas,
Sue Gaither

Personal Testimony of Romans 7 & 8

I am dead.  What does dead mean?  Here is a thought/understanding to consider what it means.

Dead in MY ability to “deal” with anything.  Can you deal with sin?  If so, why did Christ die?  Jesus BORE and DEALT with our sin because of our complete impotency!

He did and He does.  Did what?!?  Does what?!?

He dealt with our sin and He deals with our sin.

So…when something is hounding me in thought, emotions; whether I “feel” like it’s within or without please don’t ask me to “deal” with it.  Romans 7.

REMIND me to look to Jesus who DEALS with it all!  Romans 8

The best words we could ever say are:  “I can’t, He can!”

I have a friend/brother in Christ who says, “If I am not dependent on Christ, I’ll sin all the time!”

I am not afraid to tell the Lord what I feel. 

But His response is to remind me that unless I look to Him for the provision (whatever it is), I’ll find myself wallowing in thoughts that are NOT from Him and I’ll be dominated by sin’s power.  Then watch those behaviors follow according to sin’s power or Christ’s life.  Yet I’ve found that sometimes there’s a time lapse between my trusting Christ to work through me versus the patterns I’ve held for a long time.

If we would feed one another Christ through reminders of the Truth, perhaps we’d witness more of His love and fruit. 

There is only ONE provision for not being dominated by sin’s power as a Christian.  JESUS CHRIST moment by moment through faith.  Sometimes the feelings and the picture we see with our human eyes contradicts the absolute TRUTH of what He is in us.

This is when we hold to our faith in Him and quit looking at the things that are seen.  More importantly, ask Him to take us out of Romans 7 (humans “trying” real hard to love, to do this, to do that) and get us into the reality of Romans 8 of Christ’s Spirit of life within and are dependence on HIM for ALL of life and godliness.

He reminded me today – so I thought I’d remind you.

In Christ,

Sue Gaither