They still linger in the Word of Faith aspect of all things, convinced that if they say certain words enough times, or declare the blood over all things.
The truth is that while we can say all the right things that we want to, if our heart is not established in righteousness, then whatever we say or think will not last long.
What we say, what we think, all manifest what we believe.
If we think that we still owe God something for all that we have done in our lives, then we cannot receive. We cannot have our hands open to God to receive all things if we still believe that there is part which we must play, that we can achieve, or work with God to achieve something.
The Bible is very clear about the promises in the New Covenant:
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10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
Now, this New Covenant is based on the sure and unshakable truth that all my sins are forgiven, put away, paid for, and sent away.
There is another element which cannot be ignored:
"13In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8: 13)
We have to get rid of the Old, we have to not put ourselves under an old system which will leave nothing but a "fearful looking after of judgment" (Hebrews 10: 26)
As long as we think that we still owe God something, or that we can and must contribute something more to what Jesus has done and is doing for us, then we end up frustrating the grace of God in our lives (Galatians 5: 4)
We have to get rid of all pretentions of self-righteous, which will come out of us as long as we see the law, the Ten Commandments or any other rudiments, or weak and beggarly elements as necessary for us to live the life which only Christ Himself lives in us.
Consider the parables outlined in Mark 11:
"20And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away." (Mark 11: 20-21)
The fig tree is a picture of man's righteousness, of self-righteousness, of works-righteousness, since the first man and woman dressed themselves in fig leaves to cover up their shame and nakedness after eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
When the tree of self-righteousness is completely removed in our lives, then watch what happens:
"22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (Mark 11: 22-24)
While Kenneth Hagin and other preachers focus on what we say, the focus needs to be on Jesus and the new heart, the new spirit which we receive from Him, and with it the assurance of His faith, not ours, working in us:
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2; 20)
We live by His faith, not ours!
Then Paul writes:
"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 21)
Righteousness cannot come from the law, from the "thou shalt nots" which no one can keep. When we accept the truth that the law is not the grace/truth which sets us free, when we see ourselves dead and hopeless in our trespasses, and that we need the Savior to save and redeem us, that we receive His life, passing from death to life, and His new power carries us through every day.
Then, we can have what we say, because what we say is a reflection of what is in our hearts, and we have a new heart, one with desires which He has set within us by His Holy Spirit!
What hinders the New Covenant in our lives is not that we do not speak forth what we want, or that we are not repeating our needs enough at length. Oftentimes men and women still themselves having to achieve something for God rather than receive all things from God.
When we understand the fullness of the Old Covenant, then receive the fullness of the New, we can walk in His grace and reign in this life because of His eternal life within us.
Jesus would have supported ObamaCare.
ReplyDeleteJesus Christ is the single-payer -- not the government:
ReplyDelete"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
He paid for all our sins -- all of them --(single-payer, baby!)
"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" (Colossians 2: 13)
and
"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 JOhn 2)
Christ is the Single-Payer, the only payment for our sins, and all other losses. No need for the state when the King of Kings gives you His own standing:
"Here is our love perfected, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world!" (1 John 4: 17)
When He died and rose again, we receive all things freely through Him
You are one whacked out Jesus freak.
Delete