Leadership & Staff Blogs
Welcome to our leadership blog page. Our leaders and Staff use this page to write to you about important events happening in their lives and the spiritual insights God is showing them. We encourage you to check back often!
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by
Mary Benton on Monday, Mar 16th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
For us to become all that God intended, we must remember that Jesus’ life was a model of what mankind could become if we were in right relationship with the Father. Through the shedding of His blood, it would be possible for everyone who believed on His name to do as He did and become as He was. This meant then that every true believer would have access to the realm of life that Jesus lived in.
Jesus came as the light of the world. He then passed the baton to us announcing that we are the light of the world. Jesus came as the miracle worker. He said that we would do “greater works” than He did (Jn. 14:12). He then pulled the greatest surprise of all, saying, “right now the Holy Spirit is with you, but he is going to be in you”(see Jn.14:17). Jesus, who illustrates to us what is possible for those who are right with God, now says that His people are to be the tabernacle of God on planet earth. Paul affirms this revelation with statements such as, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God? (1Cor.3:16” …and you are a dwelling place of God” (Eph.2:22)
(Quote From When Heaven Invades Earth, Page 138)
1. Pastor Larry has been teaching that as children of God we all have the ability to hear His voice and he has been teaching us how to listen. As you look at the life of Jesus, what are the striking aspects of His relationship with His Father that inspire you? List the results of the relationship between Jesus and His Father that speak most to you. Based on your answers, what would be the next steps toward a more intimate relationship with the Father?
2. Jesus is our model for Kingdom expansion. How does belief in His name bear weight on how much we become like Him? Describe the realm of life that is then open to us as believers.
3. Just as Jesus was the light of the world, what would be your mission statement? What is your strategy to be the light wherever you go?
4. Just as Jesus was a miracle worker, we are to do greater miracles than He did. How is this possible?
5. After Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit changed positions. Instead of being “with” us, He is now “in” us. Explain the difference between “with” and “in” in terms of the process, the results, and the relationship.
(Questions from A 40 Day Personal Journey Daily Devotional & Journal from When Heaven Invades the Earth)
Let’s pray in the spirit as our hearts unite with His heart asking the Holy Spirit to help us be bold and courageous to step out in faith.
My Brothers and Sisters,
This weeks small group guide has personally impacted me. When I was working on my bachelors degree in Business Administration, one of my classes (my favorite) was on organizational structure. One of the principles taught was the importance of a mission statement for the business and succinct strategy (about 5 ) for working the mission statement out. It is like a rudder on a ship. It determines the course. Decisions are made by determining if that decision will help the mission as stated. Living from heaven to earth, from God's favor, is so foreign to me, I am finding I need constant vigilance to walk in my renewed thinking. I also know I need help to fully immerse myself in the culture of the His kingdom and to live as a citizen from there. It is always best if you are running with others who are also focusing on the same goals. So, I would you run with me in this. Just as Jesus was the light of the world, would you all consider coming up with your personal mission statement and strategy to be light wherever you go? Would you be willing to share it with me and others?
Using Act 10:38 I have come up with a personal mission statement I hope will help me stay on course. Feel free to adopt it as yours.
Acts 10:38
You know of Jesus of Nazareth,how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
My personal mission statement for His Kingdom advancement;
As a Christian walking in purity and devotion to Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit and with power, I am to go around doing good, sharing the good news, healing all who are being beat down by the devil, for God is with me.
My strategy;
* I am to love God with all my heart, my soul, and body. I am to love myself and others.
* I am to cherish His presence with me. I am to be careful not to grieve or quench Him.
* I am to be joyful, peaceful, and walking in righteousness, for His Kingdom (the Holy Spirit) is within me.
* When I am around my family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, enemies, and strangers, I am to let my peace (His presence in me) come on them. I am to be bold and courageous giving place (having faith) to what the Lord might want me to say to them and what healing He might want to bring.
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Mary Benton on Monday, Feb 2nd, 2009 at 05:17 pm
WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU HERE FOR
You are no accident. God did not have to create any of us. The fact is God chose to
create each one of us individually. He deliberately chose every detail and custom made
each one just the way He wanted us.
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
God created us to be involved in what He is doing and what He is going to do.
Luke 2:25-32 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation (comfort-to give strength and hope to) of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 “ Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
God even wanted people involved with bringing His Son into this world. So He revealed it to individuals that would receive it as a revelation from Him, people that would anticipate the Messiah’s birth and people that would partner with Him by praying for Jesus’ birth.
Not only did the Father have those anticipating and praying for the Messiah to come, He also sent a set-up man, a fore-runner to prepare the way. As far as we know John the Baptist never performed any miracles yet Jesus said:
Luke 7:28 "For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
Jesus wasn’t saying that the people in heaven were greater than John. He was talking about a realm of living that was soon to become available to every believer. John prophesied of Christ’s coming and went so far as to confess his personal need for it.
Matthew 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Matthew 3:14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
Not one of the Old Testament prophets not even John had what was about to be offered to the least of all saints. The baptism in the Holy Spirit makes a lifestyle available to us that not even John had access to. Jesus showed us this lifestyle through His example, and then He gave us the promise of its availability.
Mt 13:17 “for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit here.
Luke 17:20 (New living translation) One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.”
What and who is among us? The Holy Spirit. The Kingdom of God is in the Holy Spirit.
1. Romans 14:17
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
2. Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We have got to know that we were sinners, but now we are Saints of God save by Grace.
Ephesians 2:19-22 (New International Version) 19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
1Pe 1:23 Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.
2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2Co 6:18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.”
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
So we know from these scriptures that we can live confident in our Father’s love and in the dream He has in His heart for us.
What is that dream?
God’s dream is that His reign His dominion would extend across the earth Just as He originally intended with Adam and Eve.
Genesis 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Deuteronomy 6:11-12; 7:2-3, 22
Joshua 13:2, 13; 16:10; 23:4-5, 12-13
Judges 1:21,24,27,29,30,31,33; 2:7,10-11,21; 3:5-7; 21:25
God’s dream is that we would believe the experience of the early church was meant to be our experience.
Acts 3:6-9 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness
Acts 5:15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.
Acts 8:20-23 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
Acts 14:1-3 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. 3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Acts 16:6-10 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.
Acts 19:11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
Acts 28:23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.
God’s dream is that each one of us would personally tend the fire of the Holy Spirit within. Out of the warmth of that fellowship (the kingdom of God within) with Him we extend that love to others.
God’s dream is that we in purity and devotion to Jesus, being anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power, we go about doing good, healing all who are oppressed by the devil just like Jesus.(Acts10:28)
John 20:21 As the Father has sent me I also send you!
God’s dream is that where ever we are, we look at each morning as a new adventure with Him. What do I get to participate in with Him today? Will I get to lay hands on someone hurting in their body and see them made well? Will I get to share counsel from the Great Counselor that will bring healing to someone’s heart? Will God use me today to do something that will make someone feel His love?
As the Father has sent me I also send you!
God’s dream is that each one of His children all over the world will go about confronting the kingdoms of darkness and bring the goodness of God’s rule in heaven into their lives and to the part of the earth they dwell in. We can be the person who changes the odds for those in need.
Isa. 59:16 And He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor [no one to intervene on behalf of truth and right]; therefore His own arm brought Him victory, and His own righteousness.
Jesus told us in: John 14:12-14 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14. If you ask anything in My name I will do it.
As the Father has sent me so I send you!
God’s dream is that we no longer hide what He has done for us but through faith we see not only what God has given us but that we see what He has given us multiplied to others. God’s dream is that we share our testimonies of what He has done and is doing through us and in doing so encouraging others to step out of their comfort zone and risk an invasion of the Holy Spirit into lives of others.
As the Father has sent me so I send you!
Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys (authority) of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Matthew 28:18 All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Luke 9:1-2 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Luke 10:9 Heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. (The Kingdom of God is near you now)
Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
As the Father has sent me so I send you!
First recorded words that Jesus spoke: Luke 2:49 Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business.
What was the Father’s business?
Luke 4:18 “ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
Each one of us was put on earth to make a contribution. We weren’t created just to consume resources to eat, breath, and take up space until He comes to us or for us. We were created to become like Christ. God designed each one of us to make a difference with our lives. God has a purpose for each one of our lives. God created us so that in the power of the Holy Spirit we would be in a personal relationship with Him doing “the stuff” He loves to do bringing his reign to the planet.
1 Corinthians 6:9 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
John 4:35-38 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
We must be a vision oriented people.
Let us live for a generation to see God. What we do here in our lifetime will make it easier for a generation we may never see to enter into an intimacy with the Father that we only dreamed about. What we do here in our lifetime will set the stage for a generation we may never see to rise to a faith level that we never reached. One generation’s ceiling should be the next generation’s floor. Far too long each generation has had to start over.
Our past in God should not be our future but it should shape our future.
Esther 4:13-16 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
We are all birthed with a divine purpose and destiny for our lives. Let us believe in God in each other so we are not limited like Jesus was, due to the Nazarenes knowing Him after the flesh, knowing Him before He was baptized in the Holy Spirit.(Mk.6:1-7) Let us know each other after the spirit, not our flesh(2cor.5:16). Let’s go after that place where we are surprised if someone is not healed when any of us practice healing in the name of Jesus.
Once again He will have those anticipating and praying for the Messiah to come. Once again He will have fore-runners to prepare the way. Only this time it will be His Bride filled with His power.
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Mary Benton on Friday, Jan 2nd, 2009 at 09:38 am
Fasting and Prayer, Day Two
Blessings in Jesus' name! I pray for the blessing and favor of God on every area of your life as you seek Him with all your heart during this time of fasting and prayer.
Our theme for this fast is
“Seeking the face of God for intimacy,
Hearing the voice of God for revelation and
Experiencing the hand of God for transformation.”
The specific focus for today is from Ephesians 1:18, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened." We are praying for our spiritual eyes to be open to see things and to have understanding of things that we would not know or understand without revelation from God. Yesterday we prayed for the "Spirit of wisdom and revelation." Today we are praying for the "eyes of our hearts" to be open and receptive to what the Spirit of wisdom and revelation will show us.
It's a rough comparison, but think of your heart in comparison to a television, Although the messages are filling the air around the TV, it will not receive it unless it is turned on. That is what we are asking for today, for the screen of our hearts to be turned on and for our receiver to be tuned to the right channel to receive the revelations of wisdom and understanding that God wants to give us today. How exciting to think of your heart as a receptor for signals from heaven! Turn it on and tune in to heaven. Revelations are coming your way today.
Our theme scripture is Ephesians 1:17-23 and Ephesians 4:12-13. I want you to know the schedule and themes of the daily prayer times. Even if you are not able to come to the meetings, you can join in unity with the rest of the church. Our daily emphasis is:
1. Thursday, January 1 Wisdom and Revelation
Eph 1:17 "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him”
2. Friday, January 2 Spiritual Enlightenment
Eph 1:18 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened”
3. Saturday, January 3 The hope of His calling
Eph 1:18 “That ye may know what is the hope of his calling”
4. Sunday, January 4 The riches of His glorious inheritance
Eph 1:18 “the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints”
5. Monday, January 5 The greatness of His power in you as a believer
Eph 1:19 “The exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe”
6. Tuesday, January 6 The working of His mighty strength
Eph 1:19 “According to the working of his mighty [sustained] power (strength).
7. Wednesday, January 7 Maturity
Eph 1:23 “Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.”
Eph 4:12 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”
Eph 4:13 “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”
May God give you great grace during this special time of fasting and prayer. In Jesus' name, Amen!
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Mary Benton on Thursday, Nov 6th, 2008 at 08:17 am
I am so glad to know God is still on the throne. I believe He is giving His church new confidence, courage, and clarity in the light of the news, this post election morning.
My heart is to encouraging His body (you) as He has encouraged me. I also want to thank everyone for their prayers and blessings concerning the Nepal trip. I experienced preaching the Kingdom to those who only knew Hindu gods and bringing healing to those who were sick. I got to "do the stuff" as John Wimber used to say. You did too through your prayers and you will receive His reward for your faith.
Just some thoughts and affirmations of our life in Christ:
Let us come from our fast time choosing to stop allowing the evil one to jerk us around with thoughts doubting God's good will toward us. Let's also stop doubting our assignment to walk in the authority our Lord has given us. Let us affirm each other as we walk in humility, purity, and power. We are carrying His Holy presence. Let us focus on confidently entering the Father's supernatural business bringing his peace and healing to all who are oppressed by the god of this world just as Jesus called us to do. "As the Father sent me I send you"
Jesus, when the Holy Spirit came upon him, He was led by the Holy Spirit to fasting and prayer. Though the devil tried to do to Him what he did to Adam and Eve, He however, stayed connected to the Holy Spirit and stood on the word. The Holy Spirit then began empowering Him to do things that were signs that the Kingdom of God was at hand (bringing God's reign) and things that made people wonder about him. (Isn't he the carpenters son? they said)
- Any nagging questions we have, let us remember Jesus is Perfect Theology, He perfectly re-presented the Father and we don't need lawyers to explain the bible, we just need to believe the works and the words of the only begotten son of God, Jesus the Christ, our brother and friend.
- Jesus stated that He had been given ALL authority on earth. He then gave that authority to us; His body. ( isn't it amazing to be called the body of Christ, co-heirs,)
- Jesus sent out the twelve telling them to heal the sick, cast out devils, and preach the good news in His name. (Luke 9)
- Jesus then sent out the seventy with the same instructions (Luke 10). What if we actually believed He has given us the same instruction and empowerment? What then would our every day walk with Him look like?
- What if, like Israel, we were all meant to bring the presence of God with us, wherever we go.
- Gates that surround people in despair are what the god of this world puts up trying to resist the reign of our God. What if we are called to knock them down.What if we are meant to take the land that has been given to us. What if it was our destiny to take dominion over spiritual rulers and principalities and bring heaven's reign to earth.
- Let's start today stepping out of our comfort zone, with our eyes on Jesus, and begin walking on the water of doubt with our hearts united with His heart.
- Let no Goliath, (cancer, sickness, anti-Christ mentality), wag it's head at the army of the Living God, the body of Christ . Let us be like David KNOWING God's heart for us and by faith in Jesus , we say, " NO MORE!"
- Healing is the children's bread and we declare we are going to eat of it today. Every day filling our hearts with "if God be for us who can be against us." No more like a reed in the wind, will we give place to any thought that exults itself against the goodness of God ..
- Let us worship our God and praise Him according to His excellent greatness. (Ps 150).
- God inhabits the praise of His people, He is drawn to those who exalt Him above their understanding and believe with all their heart.
- Let us boldly come before the throne of grace
- God says the Holy Spirit lives in us as rivers, rivers of life, rivers that are meant to flow from us to others. The very power that raised Jesus from the dead is in us and he wants out!
- Remember He said "as the Father sent me, I send you." Let us come into agreement with Him saying"Here I am send me"
- Our pay is fantastic;The Lamb will received what He paid for, we will burn passion for His presence,our rewards will be piled up, and people will know His kingdom has come to them as they are touched by God through us.
If I can encourage you in any way please let me know,
Mary Benton
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Comment by Larry Cockerham on Friday November 7th, 2008 a 3:44 am:
Great blog! Thanks Mary. I appreciate you. Let's go for all God has promised us.
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Mary Benton on Friday, Jul 11th, 2008 at 08:33 am
Like a small child who believes anything their parent tells them I am choosing to believe what my Father God is thinking about me. I am called and chosen by God. He has placed me into the kingdom of his Dear Son. Jesus’ joy was revealing Father God’s heart for us and as Boas redeem Ruth, Jesus covered us with His blood. The Father rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (according to Col. 1:13). I am now in that Kingdom. Unlike Queen Ester who under law could have been killed for coming to the King, my
Father wants me to boldly come before His throne of grace. Jesus said we could ask the Father anything. Jesus says the Father loves me and I am to request of the Father. We have been placed into the family. Family, as in God’s heart.
Loving caring relationships. Us in God and He in us. Reaching out to others inviting them into the family. Jesus was about the Father’s business and now we are to be about that same business – sharing the good news, that they can be adopted too! The Father is longing for them to come home to Him. It is our inheritance as family members to give ourselves to this cause. Ours and their adoption papers as stated in the bible are signed in his precious blood.
We are also called the Bride of Christ. Jesus referred to himself as the bridegroom. He tells Paul that marriage between a husband and wife is a pattern of how Christ loves us and how we should honor him, believing what he tells us, abiding in him, following him wherever he leads. We are betroth to the richest, most noble Person in the entire universe.
It is not a fairy tale, our Prince has come and He has brought His kingdom with Him. We must learn to walk by faith following the Spirit. Faith that is our evidence of things not seen. Faith that is substance *( **sub·stance **the actual matter of a thing, as opposed to the appearance or shadow; **reality) of our identity in Christ. I was dead in my trespasses and sin, I was in darkness concerning knowledge of God, but now I am alive! I am in the brilliant light of Christ and I am no longer hiding my light in Him, under a veil of false humility. I am thrilled about who I am in Him and I want the world to know they can be thrilled at who they are in Him. I will be thrilled next year, and the year after that, and for all eternity as He continues to take me into the heights, widths, lengths, and depths of His love for me. I have tapped in to the river of life, and I am a well-watered garden; His garden.*
You are too!
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Comment by Lewis McNeely on Friday July 11th, 2008 a 11:35 pm:
Very good and astute!