Looking at Jesus Christ Alone

Galatians has been something I’ve been reading the past few days.  Today is no exception.  In looking at it more closely, I see more and more, the magnitude of what God is saying to us.  If we truly allow this book of Truth and Life concerning Christ to “soak in,” we will find that it’s not only the clear understanding of how we first enter into Christ Jesus to be saved, BUT also HOW and by WHOM, the Christian life is lived.

Beyond today’s devotions are some Scriptures from Galatians worthy to ponder.  None of our beliefs should be based on anything but God’s facts – His Truth.  And the Spirit of God will teach us.

There are two mountains in Galatians:

Mt. Sinai is the history of the Israelites having been given the Law and the commandments of God.  It was given to Israel.  Back then God circumcised them as a sign and seal that they were His people and in covenant with Him.  No Gentile was included unless they became a Jew and under the scrutiny of God’s true religion.

Yet we see in Galatians (in Romans too) how God gave the Law to do something in man – to bring him to faith in Christ.  It was demonstrated time and time again that no man could keep every jot and tittle of God’s commandments, not even the basic TEN, through the efforts of human ability.  Even Moses, Noah, Abraham, and men such as these had favor with God through the same way we do today:  Believing God.

Faith is such a merciful thing.  Faith is a wondrous thing – that God would bestow on us the riches of relationship, fellowship, and eternal life all through believing God.  But believing what?

Believing that through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, He fulfilled ALL righteousness in His Person – every jot and tittle of the Law.  That through His death, He fully paid the penalty for our unrighteousness – all of the world’s.

And now through Him, by receiving the Truth who is Christ, we have been made alive, made sons through faith and live on the other mountain:  Mt. Zion.

Galatians warns us not to go back to Mt. Sinai – we’re in for disappointment, gloom and despair.  We are walking in unbelief if we do.  Unbelief produces works of the flesh.  Unbelief produces clamor and division among people – produces hiarchy, comparison, confusion, every work of Satan’s plotting.

Faith of the Son of God produces what we’re all looking for:  the fruit of God’s Spirit.  But I am finding unless we all get into this same faith (Ephesians calls it the unity of the faith) and the true knowledge of God, we have lots of problems, even among Christians.

I see that Jesus Christ is Lord over each member – that it’s only His Spirit who has the right to lead each one, and lead He will.  God does really bring forth true righteous actions – He never leads us to sin.  Ever, never.  BUT it is only THROUGH CHRIST, REAL FRUIT IS MANIFESTED.

I do not know about you but I’ve lived under bondage in my life by the tyranny of man.  I’ve had Mt. Sinai smoking at me many, many times.  I like what a brother in Christ has said:  “I’ve relocated from Mt. Sinai to Mt. Zion.”  God has provided RELOCATION SERVICES through this book, Galatians.

It takes the Holy Spirit in us to give us true wisdom and insight about things.  To show us what we are really fighting.  Sometimes we do think we are fighting each other, when the real crux of the matter is our unrenewed minds, and the failure to understand Christ within our hearts.

Until we let Him lead us into all truth, we’ll see lots of confusion, lots of sects, lots of divisions, comparisons, wars among us – sad but true.  But if we personally let go and let God do this work – show us all things, we will end up like-minded and not religious minded.  Mt. Sinai will make you “religious” and kill yourself and others by the letter of the Law.

Spirit-minded (Mt. Zion) will fill us with life and peace and joy in believing our Lord.  We can only see TRUE FELLOWSHIP through God’s way, not our own.

Mt. Zion is Jesus Christ – our Savior.  At Mt. Zion is fellowship with the Father and His Son.  At Mt. Zion are the Table of Grace, Mercy, Peace, the Holy Spirit, Eternal Life, the true Power of God, WISDOM, understanding, and NO religion – only Christ, the Living One.

All of us have traveled back and forth from these mountains in our lives.  But the work of God is to permanently keep us at Mt. Zion - to understand the difference.  To live unto God wholly through and by the grace of Christ provided in our hearts.

Mt. Sinai is striving.  Mt. Zion is rest (but fruitful works).

“Lord, let us relocate permanently to the true Mt. Zion – thank you for keeping us there by your Spirit within our hearts.”

Dwelling at Mt. Zion,

Sue Gaither

 Scriptures to Ponder:

⁶I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;

 ⁷which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

 ⁸But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!

 ⁹As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

 ¹⁰For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

¹⁸"For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.

 ¹⁹"For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.

 ²⁰"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

 ²¹"I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

 ²This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

 ²This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

¹²However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM."

Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?

 ²²For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.

 ²³But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.

 ²⁴This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.

 ²⁵Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

 ²⁶But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.

 ²⁷For it is written,
         "REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR;
         BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR;
         FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE
         THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND."

 ²⁸And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.

 ²⁹But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.

 ³⁰But what does the Scripture say?
         "CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON,
         FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN."

 ³¹So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.

Two Sisters

Two Sisters

Once upon a time, there were two sisters and an older brother in a loving, Christian family in Oklahoma. They were reared in the Gospel, yet marred by the family dysfunction and dissipation related to their father’s weakness.  

The older sister was much smarter and prettier by the standards of the world.  The younger sister was distorted by a physical handicap which prevented her from adequately hearing and living as a completely normal child.  She learned to lean more heavily on what was within her.

As they progressed through adulthood, the older sister had great achievements academically, vocationally, economically, and was raising a family with success.  The younger sister, while pursuing an education to prepare her for ministry, was faltering and stumbling constantly.  Later she experienced an unhappy and failed marriage.  Never had children.  No worldly career.   Yet she pursued what God had placed in her heart –singing unto the Lord, pondering His Word, and pursuing the Savior.

Over the years, the older sister frequently wounded her sibling with well meaning attempts to direct her life.  She wanted her younger sister to find success like hers.  She gave her directives, standards to meet and comparisons to motivate her.  The result was quite the opposite.  The younger sister was frequently hurt and often confused.

The tensions increased as the older sister experienced success in her church and among like-minded friends.    “What could be wrong?    Everyone appreciates my hard work and my faithful exercise of my gift of hospitality.  We are known for being mission-minded and generous givers of our time and resources.  If only my sister could be more like me.”

The younger sister went through several phases of partial understanding and growing frustration, feeling rejected and dishonored by her well meaning sister.  It grew to the point where she attempted several approaches over time to bridge the gap.  Compliance was a shallow and temporary solution.  Arguments were focused on behaviors.  Sometimes even a hope for understanding appeared.  Each seemed unable to understand the heart and spirit of the other.  It was as if they were living in different worlds.

They were.

Younger sister spent a season of seeking counsel.  Attempts were made to break through using carefully and prayerfully written letters.  Yet the behaviors continued.  What could be wrong?

“I have prayed so earnestly, waited, usually patiently, and attempted so many times to achieve some understanding”.    Yet the problem grew.

Finally.    A revelation.    The behaviors were not primarily caused by childhood history, youthful failures, a dysfunctional family history or personality traits.  The real root of the problem was opposing spiritual Christian understandings, or theologies.

Progress could not be made by merely addressing behaviors, citing history, seeking traditional counseling and incomplete prayers.  Christian life lived by self-improvement, performance, appearance, acceptance and worldly ministry is an endless trap.

The revelation was “not I, but Christ” and “all our righteousness is filthy rags.”  The born-again experience is based entirely on repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.  New life is meant to be manifested by love, exercised in the power of the Holy Spirit expressing the life of Christ within.  The Savior wants to express His heart of love and redemption, mercy and truth through a completely yielded vessel.  This frequently looks like failure to the world and to many Christians.

Great human performance or achievement frequently leads to pride and comparison.  Poor performance usually leads to low self-esteem, guilt and shame.  The enemy wants us rocking back and forth between these performance-based extremes.  God is not looking for performance; He is seeking containers, vessels from which to express His life.

Does this remind you of the two prodigal sons?  One, a blatant sinner, found repentance and wanted to be in the Father’s presence. The other, a high achiever, desired recognition.   Both needed a touch from the Father.  A comparison may also be made between Mary and Martha in John’s gospel.

The Father’s great passion is to reveal Himself to His children.  He loved us so much, He sent His Son.  He died for us that we might live His life by yielded abiding in Christ.  This is the “Great Exchange” of II Cor 5:21 4:10-11.      Vital union with Him.

This is not merely teaching, but a revelation to be received. God rewards those who diligently seek …

                                               Gary Gaither                        6 February 2011 AD

Part III - God's Announcement - More on Revelations

What is the conclusion then to God’s announcement?

In yesterday's devotion, I shared a conversation I had among a sister and brother in Christ, concerning the awe and wonder of Christ, the Risen One seated at God’s Right Hand.

And today, I am rejoicing because of more clarity God is granting me, about those 7 churches in Revelations – His commendations and His reproof (except for one church).

In examining these churches more closely, I find that each one “shifted” from something that caused the Lord to speak to them in correction.  What was it?

A friend and brother in Christ once used a phrase that I like.  He said, “tracking right.”  I can see how we can either be “tracking on course” according to God’s way, or “getting off course.”  This is the only reason the Lord would need to speak to us with reproof.  Now here’s where I get thrilled – to understand what “staying on course” or “tracking right” really means.

First, what does it mean to “get off track?”  Today was a great exercise in thinking on this.   We tend to think it is when we do something outwardly in certain behaviors.  But this is only “outward evidence.”  Another way said:  This is simply “fruit” or outward manifestation.  Something had to get off course first, before outward manifestations ever came!

“Off God’s courses” means we’ve left the life of faith which I will call the “inner eye looking at Christ alone.”   We’ve switched lanes to the “outer eye” which I will call looking at ourselves, others, performance, and what we are doing in order to “add” something to the Son of God or “perform” my way to “better conduct.”    I’ll explain further.

And I will say it a different way.  Faith is about understanding this incredible Gospel of Christ coming to live in these vessels of clay.  Also it is about how our spirits, once dead in Adam – in sin and trespasses, made alive in Christ’s resurrection life.

Christ alone paid the price for ALL our sins – they’ve been washed away by His blood.  As Romans 4 states it:  we have been given an account with God which now have NO sins in it.  The only “thing” imputed to our account is the Son of God.  The record of my account is about the Son of God whose life, blood, works, and resurrection has made it full to overflowing in abundance provided by God’s grace.

So if I have an account on earth – what do I do?  I draw from it.  If I know it’s full and never is exhausted – will I go to that account or some other?  We’d all think someone is a “dummie” if they kept trying to draw from a “bankrupt” or “empty” account when they had another one that is full!  Duh!

We then, have two accounts to draw from:  Christ or some self-made religion and ideas (comprised of self).  This other account can look like so many different things but it is still drawing from self and not Christ.

We really do think we are not religious, but I think God can prove it to us in a second that we are, if we would let Him. He can show us if we are really living by faith of God’s miraculous and marvelous provision of Christ, or contrived things to “add” to the Gospel or improve ourselves!

Think about this:  Jesus Christ is pure, He is holy, righteous, glorious, and He is LIFE.  He’s my Account!  And now He lives in me!  WHO am I drawing from then? 

With this understanding, there is no room for creating some outward religion to perform to “get” right behaviors.  We all understand this about “getting right with God.”  But do we understand this is living the life? 

Another way said is find out which eye I am using:  outward or inner.  Find out WHO I am listening to – the Spirit of God who shows us Christ or spirits of men who have “mixed” beliefs.

What kind of effort could I put forth that could ever compare to HIMSELF dwelling in me to do and be through me?  I Thessalonians 5 declares:  “faithful is He who calls you, who will also do it!”

Tracking right is about faith from beginning to end.  Believing that God has given a GREAT SALVATION – that it has nothing to do with a weak vessel performing to make himself or herself a “better Christian” by flimsy efforts of their own.  Faith is the way of the believer:  our account is solid because Christ Himself is in it!

Can we grasp this?  Ephesians 3 says the Holy Spirit will strengthen us in our inner man so by His power we can GRASP this.  When we do so, we will see real love among the members of Christ – we’ll start to discern and understand what’s really going on – and we will realize whether or not we are “commanding” others to live by rules or encouraging them to live by Christ alone.

Christ is all the fruit of righteousness, goodness, light and fruit!  I personally can see “how” a person through not having a knowledge of HIM can struggle with sin all his life because he doesn’t know and understand the Truth.  And I can see how others could still be condemning them for not looking and being like another vessel when that other vessel is not tracking according to the Word of God.

True tracking is the same for everyone:  When Christ was crucified, we were crucified at the cross – the old man (Adam) was done away with!  We were buried, our sins were buried because Christ bore them all.  And we were raised with Him by His resurrection.  Romans 6 has said:  reckon yourself dead (in this way – God’s way) and ALIVE to God now through Christ Jesus.  And now live and walk in Him.  This is the newness of life!

Christ is our First Love (Rev. 2) – our Only Love.  I couldn’t possibly begin to know what it means to have love for others without knowing Him as First Love.

Praising Him for a Full Account,

Sue Gaither

Worthy is the Lamb

Yesterday, I visited with a couple of dear friends (brother and sister in Christ) by the way of a chat room.  We were sharing back and forth over some things written in Revelations.  Is it not amazing that we are in Ecuador and they were in different states in the US?

The sister said she had been thinking on what John saw concerning the Son of God.  He has brass feet and His hair as wool.  And this began a marvelous discussion.  We also came to a conclusion that had a marvelous impact on my heart.

Revelations is a book that has had different interpretations attached to it by so many.  I personally think there are many things hard to be understood.  Yet there is one thing that cannot be missed or interpreted wrongly and that is the awe, reverence and glory of Jesus Christ, now seated by the Right Hand of the Majesty on High. 

The Lord Jesus Christ says Himself: “I am the First and the Last, risen from the dead…”  He is the One Authority over all men.  He made statements of facts to 7 churches, then made an astounding, “sit up and listen” kind of statement:

 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Here’s what came out of this beautiful, fruitful time we had together:  We need to “see” Christ in ALL of WHO He is.  By this we mean that Jesus Christ, if we could see him physically now, we’d ALL bow our knee in holy reverence to His magnificent Person and Presence.  Now, we do this “in Spirit and in Truth.” Jesus Christ has been given the name above all names – He is holy and worthy of all worship and praise.

John, the Beloved Apostle, as we know, penned the Gospel of John and his letters (I, II, III John) years after the other Apostles were martyred and left this present world.  His writings, as our brother pointed out, were poured through him as John, the Apostle, a vessel of the Lord’s.  He wrote by revelation and inspiration of God’s Spirit.

But Revelations took on another “style” so to speak of John, in that he was placed in an incredible position of “seeing” and writing as the Lord commanded him to write.  It was a different scenario.  As our brother put it, it’s like the Lord “picked up the phone and called directly,” speaking these things by His own voice to the churches.  It is also written of Him “His voice like the sound of many waters.”

Proverbs was mentioned:  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Paul wrote of Christ Himself as being Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification for the believer.

So my conclusion was that in our hearts, we hold Christ in awe, wonder, reverence, godly fear – listening to Him and revering every word that comes from Him to us by His Spirit and Word.  But the other side, which comforts our hearts too, is this:  remembering how John, the Beloved Apostle, laid his head on the Lord’s bosom while Christ was here on earth. 

There still remains this incredible invitation of God to have such intimacy with Him.

In my lifetime, I’ve seen “one side of the coin or the other” concerning the Lord where we bow our knee and listen, knowing He is holy and then where we walk intimately and are free to lay our head on the Lord’s bosom.  Yet what an incredible reality to have both.  It truly is something the Lord Himself teaches and works in our lives.  And I believe God desires both.

The conclusion we arrived at is that we are in a true, LIVING relationship and fellowship with Him; we are to be without deceit of any kind, on our part.  Our posture therefore, is to be one of listening at all times.  And this was pointed out yesterday as well – that we are “listening” for God speaking to us (He is ALWAYS TRUTH) whether by the Spirit’s teaching to us, or through another person preaching, teaching, and speaking.

Lastly, we spoke of the reality of the Lord’s reproof to us.  Are we willing to allow Him to correct us or do we drown out His voice?  The Scriptures say so clearly, “I rebuke, chasten those whom I love.”  Rebukes from the Lord prove we are sons and daughters of God.   Again, we can “drown” out His voice whereby He has to speak louder to get our attention and remove our deceit.

Isn’t it comforting to know that God wants to direct us in ALL of our lives – to grow up in Him in ALL things?  That He loves us so much, He is truly “Father” to us as His children?  Hebrews calls God “Father of spirits.”

Oh may we continue to allow God to have His way with our spirits, our minds so we may truly know Him who is true in every way!   His ways are grace, love, peace, mercy, kindness.  Why would I not want to listen?

“He who has an ear to hear, let us hear what the lovely, Holy Spirit says to the churches and our hearts individually.”

Listening,

Sue  Gaither

A Valentine's Message

All my life, I've sung the song "Jesus loves me, this I know..."  Wow, did it and does it take a long time (still doing so) to begin to even know such love.

This morning a person came to my mind, who died last year, after a long, long struggle with cancer.  I was thinking about her surviving brother, how he was the only child remaining now.  Also, what it was like for her to have suffered so.  I was surprised too, at the thoughts God gave me later on concerning this sister in Christ.

One thought was...we tend to think in terms of quantity of years concerning our lives instead of quality.  She lived to the age of 56 - to us so young.  Yet she certainly had quality - for she was able to see her children grown.  AND for years, she worked every day in a well known ministry where her "job" (really her joy!) was to read letters from saints writing in and respond with words of encouragement.  Powerful, huh?  She did this every single day for years!

Now she is in heaven with other saints who have gone on before her.  She is also there with all the apostles, Paul, Samuel, Moses, David, and so many more.  Most of all she is in the presence of our Lord.  This is quality.

But here is what "did me in" so to speak about this.  I would consider this the greatest Valentine's we could possibly have.

I did not humanly "conjur" her up in my mind or bring her to remembrance this morning.  Someone else brought her to mind:  the Holy Spirit.  He was saying to my heart how He remembers everyone - no one is forgotten by God - no one.  And while men on earth get busy, busy, busy (ofttimes with our own plans, agendas), the Holy Spirit of God is breathing His own life, love, grace and mercies on hearts, about hearts.

It's the remembrance part that gets me.  How many out there "feel" forgotten, not loved, not remembered.  Probably more than we could count.

Yet God reminded me today He forgets no one - even if they've left the earth.  He has forgotten NONE of His promises, His purpose, His plans, His redemption for us and to us.  He has not forgotten us - for we are planted in Him so deeply, that as Twila Paris' song has described it: 

"We cannot be torn apart, without it tearing out a heart!"

Happy Valentine's from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, and from the Holy Spirit - Lover of our very beings. 

All that remains then is that we are in His heart forever.

Sue Gaither

Part II (God Has Made an Announcement/Discernment)

True Discernment

Paul, using his pen but writing by the Holy Spirit, makes two astounding statements in Romans 8.  He says, “who walk not after the flesh…” and “you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit.”

I learned a long time ago to ask the Holy Spirit (our Lord) “what does this mean?”  And then allow Him to FULLY teach me what it means.  I also learned to never assume I know what it means, because when He teaches us, He says we will “ know!”

So, I am simply going to pen what He taught me about this (and continues to deepen and enrich).  “We are not in the flesh” is about WHO I am, not my behaviors and my walk.  In another letter, Paul wrote that all who are in Adam die, but we who are in Christ Jesus, are alive and shall be alive forevermore.

Once we have received Christ, God did a work in us.  He made our spirits alive in Christ.  We are forever changed.  We may not look changed, feel changed, but according to God, we are!  Our spirits have been made alive in Christ, we’ve been put into Christ, joined with His Spirit, and made sons and daughters of the living God.  And we were given the Gift of His Spirit.

“Who walk not after the flesh…” is another story altogether.  All my life, I’ve been asking this question of “how this Christian life” is really lived and by God’s grace, I’ve received my answer.  Frustrations and failures are really God’s gift to us – He uses them to propel us to Truth.

Flesh and spirit are two diabolically opposed realities.  When the two words are in one sentence together, it is talking about Adam and Christ, human effort and striving, versus the Spirit’s life and fruit.

Flesh (also as seen in the world) is about pride, appearance, man’s ability, human comparison and striving, having a relationship (or so-called relationship) with God his way and not God’s way.

Spirit is about one reality:  Christ as Life.  Period – no human is in the equation as having added something to it or been a part of God’s provision.  No, we have simply RECEIVED God’s way and provision.

Paul said in Romans these words:  “how to perform, I know not…”  Then later on he declares “Who shall deliver me from this body of death – I thank my God! Through Jesus Christ!”

What did he mean?  Paul received revelation and understanding from the Lord Jesus Christ of HOW this whole walk was going to be pulled off AND that He Himself (Jesus Christ) is the WHO of the HOW!

It is not and never will be human beings who are now in Christ, living by human effort to carry out commandments of the Law written in tablets of stone.  Romans 7 is proof of this.  Paul carries us into Romans 8 saying that the life we have been given (as the gift of God) is the Life of  His Son.  We are called to TRUST in Him for this whole walk.  His life is the Producer and He reproduces Himself in you, in me, in His body.

Stay tuned for the conclusion, Part III

In Him,

Sue Gaither

The Garments of Salvation

A few years ago, I was asked to share at a women's retreat.  The Lord put something in my heart to share, in order to give a visual picture of the transformation that took place inwardly, in each one of us, when we were born again of God's Spirit.  It was also a visual of the first few Scriptures of Romans 7.

When Gary and I were married, I wanted to have a "vintage" looking wedding dress - sort of princess style - with a high neck, lace, etc.  And this is what I was able to find, with the Lord's direction.  Later on, I had the dress cut off to tea length and this is when the Lord gave me the picture to use it for this retreat.

I love pictures - give me one and things may sink in a little quicker!  So what was it?

At the end of my sharing time, I went and changed into my wedding dress, with lace arranged in my hair - then marched to the wedding song down the aisle.  It was quite a surprise because no one was expecting this.  The funny part of my apparel was that I...what?...had combat boots for my shoes.

Now at a wedding, that would be funny - most of the time, brides wear lovely shoes to match their dress!  Yet I had a point!

The first smashing point though, was to drive home the reality of WHO we are now in Christ Jesus - not later, but now! And what He has done for us and to us through HIM, by the regenerated work of God's Spirit, in our spirits.

Romans 7:4  says this:

"Therefore, my brethern, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another - to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God."

Also in Ephesians 5, it says this:

"For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church, and He is the Savior of the body.  Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for her - that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water of the Word - that He might present her to Himself a glorious church...For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the LORD DOES THE CHURCH!  For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones!" And this last part..."This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

Other Scriptures point to the fact we have been joined to the Lord in One Spirit, made new creatures in Him - glorified in Him, but only through and because of His work of salvation.  The gift of salvation has been brought to us because of God's grace.

Actually, this is a "mushy" story with God.  Don't we all love those "chic flicks," like "Ever After" where the wicked step mother and her oppressive ways are ended, when the beaten down step daughter marries the prince (soon to be king) of the kingdom?

It has also been written in the Scriptures that the world may not recognize believers as having been born of God - some of this is due to blindness on their part - and some of it has to do with the walk of a believer.   And part of the problem for the walk of the believer can be because of lack of understanding of what God has done for us and to us in His Son.

God is the one who beautified us with the garments of salvation when we believed in the Gospel.  God did this.  And whether we realize it or not, inwardly we are beautiful members of His body, His church - His bride.

So when I go to the grocery store, the reflection of my inner man is as a member of the bride of Christ - dressed and lavished in royal apparel - an ambassador of Christ.  And I walk with honor of the King, our Beloved, who has also lavished us with His life, wisdom, forgiveness, Holy Spirit, acceptance, love, completeness, and future glory in His kingdom.  WOW!

But what about those combat boots?  Well, it makes sense I need them for walking on this earth - in the trenches of trials, in Satan's territory of fiery darts and interference to the knowledge of Christ.  While a bride, still a soldier - for Paul wrote these words:  "endure hardships, as a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ."

"Father, we pray you will open our eyes to the depths of what You have accomplished in Christ Jesus and who we are in Him - of how, fruit is born in our lives for your glory.  Teach us the depths, Lord of being one with Christ and intimately acquainted with Him, our Head.  In Jesus precious name, Amen."

Dressed in Him, 

Sue Gaither

God Has Made An Announcement

This is going to be a three-part devotional.  Today, Part I.  Below (past today’s devotional), are a list of Scriptures I am and will be using to share.

God made an announcement many times throughout history.  He announced through Noah a flood was coming.  He announced through the Prophets, a Savior was coming “in the flesh!”  And when Christ came, He Himself announced and proclaimed the Father’s plan of suffering on the cross for humanity, so that we might be saved from eternal death due to the fall.

He also announced the Father would send the Holy Spirit to dwell in man…astounding!

What else has God announced?

God began to teach the Apostles, especially through Paul, His chosen instrument, that man would now live a new way.  Thus, God’s announcement:     A New Way of Living.

Note in Isaiah 11 regarding HOW Christ lived and walked on planet earth:  He did not judge by the sight of the eyes, or hear by physical ears.  It says of Him:  He saw and listened with other eyes and ears to hear the Father.  He also said: “I do those things I see the Father doing, I speak those things I hear Him speaking…”

The Epistles of this New and Living Way, lay out for us the incredible work of Christ accomplished through His cross and resurrection.  Then the granting of the Holy Spirit to us, who believe in Him.  Awesome:  that God’s Holy Spirit lives in me and in you.

So part of the announcement is:  We do not live by the letter of the law through human striving, but by God’s Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.   The life and walk of a believer is more than just mentally receiving God’s Son and His righteousness, in order to be acceptable to God for all eternity.  

This great salvation is an incredible union of our spirit to God’s Spirit through Christ Jesus.

Jesus said:  “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”  The Holy of Holies is open to common man – and Paul even declared:  “not many who are noble in flesh are called…”

It’s the poor in spirit who “hear” and believe this new and living way.  The ones who have become bankrupt in self-effort to achieve righteousness and holiness by the letter written in tablets of stone.

Instead, they have come to Christ, trusting in Him to lift them by the power of His Spirit into this life of His which is mysterious, miraculous, and wondrous AND bears fruit unto God.

The Scriptures prove this.  But God says His Words of Life take discernment, a cry for understanding spiritually.  He not only gives it, but gives freely to all who look to Him to understand Christ, His Cross, and this new and living way.

God has called us to live and walk in this new and living way.  And it goes much deeper.  As His body, we can all rely on God’s Spirit to hear Him in ministering to one another or to understand what REALLY “ails” a person.  We can all easily look at the outward appearance of people and dictate what the Law requires, which is “stop doing that – that is sin.”

But I say God is interested in touching our hearts, not our heads!

This is what the Pharisees were doing to the woman caught in adultery.  She was certainly deserving of death according to the Law.  No one knows what happened between her and Jesus Christ in that moment.  All we know is, He said to her “Go…and sin no more.” 

I believe she was deeply touched by the Lord Himself and was freed to live differently.  His “Go” was not about her effort to start living differently – no, He gave her Himself in that moment – just like He gives us Himself each and every moment of our lives here on earth, and for all eternity.  We just have no idea the interaction that takes place between God and man, when their hearts fully look to Him alone.

And sometimes while we are still judging according to human eyesight, transformation is taking place.  For if a soul continues to look at Jesus Christ alone, according to God’s Word, we shall be transformed!

II Corinthians 3:18

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Part II will come later, but here’s a question for pondering:

On a scale of 0-10, how deeply do we desire to be TRANSFORMED by the Life of the Son of God dwelling in us?  And how deeply do we desire for Him to teach us fully, this NEW WAY OF LIVING He Himself consecrated for us?

In Him,

Sue Gaither

For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding.  Proverbs 2:3

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment.     Phil 1:9

For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.   But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.  I Corinthians 2:10-16

Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.   Romans 6; 4

Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;   Isaiah 11:1-3

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil,  Hebrews 10: 19, 20

Discernment:

Acuteness of judgment and insight.  The act of an instance of discerning.

Penetration, insight.  KEENESS of understanding