I will give you the keys to God’s kingdom. When you speak judgment here on earth, that judgment will be God’s judgment. When you promise forgiveness here on earth, that forgiveness will be God’s forgiveness.”
Matthew 16:19 ERV
So Jesus is saying to us to regularly announce, tell, declare, to make a show of, to lift up the banner of victory He purchased with His blood, to raise it high, to wave it high, to not be silent about it…… Since partaking of the communion is obviously not a loud event (physically), this proclamation/declaration is something like a silent noise
What we do with the promises of God is to claim them. So the next time you sing this song, carefully make it into a confession, that Jehovah is the God who heals you, He sent His Word and healed all your diseases. That is the right Spirit with which to sing that song.
[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.
Psalm 91:4 AMPC
If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
The abbreviation, CEO (Chief ExecutiveOfficer), tells of someone at the top of an organization’s chart or an organogram. Someone responsible for making major decisions, managing operations and resources. Someone who is the key reference for dealings of the organisation.
Jesus is the Head of the Church. Can you see Him at the top of the Church chart?
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said I will build My Church….
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.“
Matthew 16:18 NKJV
“My Church” here refers to a company of the Redeemed in Christ, the body of Christians, Christ followers.
Ephesians 1: summarises how Jesus gained His headship…
“….and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
Ephesians 1:19-23 NKJV
Christ is the Head of the Church which is His Body.
Can you see Jesus at the head of the Church?
A Church marching towards unity of faith, a Church without walls or borders, a Church that is not confined to a place, space or location.
Can you see Jesus at the head of the Church?
There are no denominations, no Pentecostals, nor Presbyterians, nor Catholics and all such names (John 4:23). It’s one Body, headed by Christ (I Corinthians 12:20, John 17:22). The local assemblies are important to Jesus’s vision, but yet, your local Church is a small unit, a contributing cluster of the whole. The ministry gifts (Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Evangelists, Pastors) all work towards actualization of this unified Church (I Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:12, Acts 20:28).
Can you see Jesus at the head of the Church?
The Body of Christ is made up of members (individuals), you and I, with specific preordained roles and contributions to the whole (1 Corinthians chapter 12).
Have you found your place in this company? Where do you fit in? What are you doing about your part/role? We are ultimately answerable to Jesus. Do you have a report to share with Him?
Can you see Jesus at the Head?
He is building His Church, He is watching over His Church. He is the Vine, His Body constitutes the branches (John 15:5). He is High Priest (Hebrews 5: 1-1, Hebrews 4:14). He is Advocate for His Church (I John 2:1). He is busy building His Church and the gates of hell cannot stop it.
When you see Jesus at the Head of the Church, your perspective and attitude to Kingdom business will change. When you see Jesus at the Head, your ministry and service will have a new meaning, focus and drive.
“Jesus asked them, Have you never read in the Scriptures: The very Stone which the builders rejected and threw away has become the Cornerstone; this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? [Ps. 118:22, 23.] I tell you, for this reason the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this Stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom It falls will be crushed to powder [and It will winnow him, scattering him like dust]. [Isa. 8:14; Dan. 2:34, 35.] And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables (comparisons, stories used to illustrate and explain), they perceived that He was talking about them.“
Matthew 21:42-45 AMPC
Happy New Year Everyone!
To experience significant and lasting success this new season, walk in-step with the Holy Spirit.
Go only where the Spirit leads.
Speak only what the Spirit permits.
Respond to only what the Spirit allows.
Ignore what the Spirit ignores.
Love unconditionally. Easily forgive and embrace. Never lose hope. Hold tight to your shield of faith.
Step-up to where the Spirit rules.
Love Always,
Grace
Creating from the beginning means starting fresh, starting from the beginning. It means initiating something that never existed before. It implies the onset of an adventure, first steps towards actualization of a dream, a purpose or an ambition.
ONE is a number, the lowest cardinal number.
ONE is also used to refer to or identify a person.
And ONE also describes something of same quality and make-up, something that is identical. This is the meaning of ONE this write-up is about.
The Bible tells us in Hebrews 2:11, that those that are sanctified (the Body of Christ) are ONE with Him who sanctifies (Jesus Christ)
“For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren”
Hebrews 2:11 NKJV
We are one with Him in quality and substance. As He is, so are we in this life (I John 4:17).
Imagine if I came to you saying and insisting that; ‘I want only your head to follow me’, you’ll probably look at me in confusion and probably quietly wondering if all is well with me… It is impossible for a head to be active, move on it’s own while seperate from the body.
Colossians 1:18 identifies Jesus Christ as the….head of the Church, the beginning and firstborn from the dead..
“And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”
Colossians 1:18 NKJV
“Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body and [individually] you are members of it, each part severally and distinct [each with his own place and function].”
1 Corinthians 12:27 AMPC
He is the Head of the Body (the Church; His Body, the Body of Christ). The Church constitutes other parts of the Body. But all are one and of the same make-up, the same person.
“so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
Romans 12:5 NKJV
The Body of Christ is Christ. You are Christ! Jesus relies on His body to continue to function on earth. He is dependent on the Church even as the Church is dependent on Him.
I hope you think on this for a bit…
He died, was buried and resurrected, and we were in Him.
He conquered principalities and powers, we were in Him. We conquered them as well.
He overcame sin, sickness and death, and so did we.
He is seated at the right of the Father in Heaven, a position of authority, and we are seated with Him.
You are Christ!
“But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him.“
1 Corinthians 6:17 AMPC
This is good knowledge, however it is not a knowledge to get us puffed up, rather it should enable us walk in victory..
Jesus remained humble despite His God status, and so should we..
“He was like God in every way, but he did not think that his being equal with God was something to use for his own benefit. Instead, he gave up everything, even his place with God. He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form. During his life as a man, he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:6-8 ERV
A thought came to my mind today; ‘God has no day offs’,. Wow!!!
2nd Chronicles 16:9 says God’s eyes move around the earth searching for those who are faithful and committed to Him, that He might strengthen and support them.
Did you get that Child of God? God is looking out to strengthen and support you. Halleluyah!
Now, if His eyes are constantly moving, seeking and searching to show Himself strong, then He is doing His work as God.
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”
II Chronicles 16:9 NKJV
In Psalm 121:4, we are told that God never sleeps nor slumbers, meaning He is always awake.
“Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.”
Psalms 121:4 NKJV
God neither sleeps nor slumbers, He is constantly looking out to show Himself strong on behalf of His own, He is fully and totally committed to His work as God, He has no day offs.
Is He anxious? No! Is He agitated? No! Is He worried? He rested after creation, Jesus took His rest position after conquering the devil, God is actively working on our behalf even at rest.
The Bible also tells us of someone else who doesn’t rest; our adversary, the enemy, the devil, Satan.
“And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
Job 1:7 NKJV
1 Peter 5:8, says he prowls around like a fierce, hungry, angry lion, …no he is not seeking to do you any good, he is not looking out to protect you, he is not looking out to just see if you’re doing fine, no, he is seeking for whom to attack, whom to steal, kill and destroy. He is also doing his work of an adversary; purposefully opposing the work of God..
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.“
I Peter 5:8 NKJV
So Peter says; ‘be sober, be vigilant, be careful, do not fall prey to his tricks, be cautious and exercise self-discipline; do not fall into his traps, be alert, always be on the watch.
Resist the devil, harbour no bitterness, do not cling to offense, forgive freely, be like God your Father, love unconditionally.
Does this mean we should be anxious, restless, agitated, or lose sleep? No! Jesus has won the victory for us. We are more than conquerors. And we are seated in that position of rest together with Christ (Ephesians 2:6).
We are to stand always and at all times in the victory Christ has won for us. We have no day offs being Christians
