He Went In Your Place

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (Colossians 1:18).

    The phrase in the theme verse, “the firstborn from the dead,” doesn’t mean the first to be raised from the dead. Prior to Jesus’ vicarious death, there were those who had been raised from the dead; so what the Apostle Paul communicates by the Spirit here, is different. When our sins were laid on Jesus on the cross, He died spiritually. Spiritual death is separation from God. Only through a spiritual rebirth does one awake from this death. Jesus Christ was the first born from spiritual death.

    As Jesus hung on the cross, He suffered the agony of being separated from the Father: “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?
which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). This was a result of His being made the sin sacrifice, which automatically identified with sin: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

    It should have been illegal for Jesus to be crucified and sent to hell, because He was innocent and without sin, but He went in our place. Recall the graphic details in Colossians
2:15 when He engaged Satan in that awful combat in hell, and defeated him and all the cohorts of darkness: “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” No one ever came out of spiritual death or out of Satan’s bondage, but Jesus did. He paid the full penalty for every man.

    Thus, because a righteous man was given for sinners, it became legal, and possible, for sinners to be given His righteousness. He took our place of sin, that we might obtain His righteousness. Now, you’re as righteous as Jesus is! He’s made you the very expression of His righteousness. The righteousness that He was clothed with was made available to you, because He died for you, and when He came out of death, you came out in and with Him. Hallelujah!

PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus, who became the very representation of sin on my behalf, and died in my place, so that I might be made righteous, and also be the
expression of your righteousness. I walk in, and manifest, your righteousness today and always,
in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Believe In Your Prayers

Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name (Psalm 86:11).

Do you believe in the efficacy of your prayers? Or do you always look for someone to help you pray? The Bible says, “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). He’s telling you that the prayer of a righteous man works! It produces results. When you pray, never think it’s not working. As long as you’re born again, it’s wrong to think you’re not qualified to receive answers to your prayers! Your prayer works. God wants you to know this.

One of the challenges that many have with prayer is the lack of focus. When you pray, you must have focus. We read in our opening verse, “…unite my heart to fear thy name.” The New International Version puts it this way: “…give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” It’s talking about an undivided heart. So, in prayer, focus your attention on the Lord, and be conscious of what you’re praying about.

There’re lots of Christians who pray about so many things, and a moment later, don’t remember what they prayed about. They say so many things to God, and even when God answers, they don’t know, because they never take record of what they say to God; they don’t pray with focus or a clear direction.

Maintain a diary of prayer! The things you’re concerned about that you’d like to pray about, write them down in a diary, and have scheduled times when you pray about those things. Then as you pray, receive. Believe in your prayer; believe that you’re making an impact; for God is always willing to grant you your heart’s desire: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24).

Thursday Rhapsody of Realities

#Thursday #Rhapsody of #Realities

Value Spiritual Things

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? (Genesis 25:32).
Obadiah 1:21 tells us something striking; it says,
“And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau….” Esau represents the godless, the profane or body-ruled; those who don’t have value for spiritual things. Such people, the Bible says, are in the flesh and therefore can’t please God (Romans 8:8).

Esau was the older brother of Jacob, and because of his profanity, he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of food. The spiritual implication of his action didn’t quite dawn on him at the time. It wasn’t about the food he ate; it was about his disdain for spiritual things. The birthright was spiritual. It had a special blessing, yet Esau forfeited it to his younger brother, because of food. What he wanted was for physical gratification: what he could touch, taste, or feel at that moment. And he got it. He made a carnal choice over that which was spiritual.

Jacob, on the other hand, was smart. He wanted the blessing, and he got it. The blessing is an unseen elixir. The senses can’t perceive the blessing. What you can see about the blessing are the results of the blessing. It’s like the anointing of God’s Spirit; you can’t see or touch the anointing, but it’s real, and it’s supernatural.

There’re some today who have no value for spiritual things; they’re like Esau. They’ll rather sit at home to watch a sports event at the time they ought to be in church. They’d rather accommodate social engagements when they ought to be praying. These are carnal Christians. What life are you living? What are the things that are important to you? What do you set your affections on? Does the blood of Jesus that was shed for you on the cross mean something to you? Do you meditate often on His vicarious sacrifice on your behalf? Have you sat down to contemplate and comprehend the love of God demonstrated towards you? Does He have the rulership in your life every day?
Let Christ, and the reign of His glorious Kingdom be all that truly matters to you. Let your passion for spiritual things, and love for the Master, be evident in all you do.

PRAYER
Gracious and loving Father, thank you for your love for me, and your glory that’s evident in my life. Thank you for your Lordship and leadership over my life, and for your wisdom that guides me always in your perfect will.My life is for your glory, now and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

1 YEAR BIBLE
READING PLAN:
John 12:20-50
2 Kings 18-19

2 YEAR BIBLE
READING PLAN:
1 Corinthians
12:22-31
Proverbs 22

FURTHER STUDY:
Hebrews 12:15-17
Matthew 6:33
Colossians 3:2
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