Once we have access into the sanctuary, (please see previous post), we have to learn how to receive the victory over sin.
First, let us ground ourselves in some basic understanding of the flesh and the leading of the Spirit.
These are two magnets that are trying to draw us.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
The battle we have is against the flesh.
But we know that we cannot have the victory of ourselves, it is impossible:
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
So we have to wrestle with Sin, right?
Wrong.
Consider Jacob, he wrestled with Jesus until He was assured of the victory.
Consider the Caananite woman, she wrestled (verbally) with Jesus, until He gave her the victory.
There are many examples of this in scripture.
We call this "Spiritual" violence. It is taking the throne room of God by force, a Holy force, that God wants you to adopt.
By pleading the merits of Christs shed blood, we gain access to the Holy Place.
Then by laying hold of the promises of God, we gain victory over sin.
But we have to wrestle with God, until we have full assurance of that victory over sin through the Holy Spirit.
-------------------------------------------------------
Then we come to the second part of victory over sin.
Sin is overcome one temptation at a time.
It is wrestled out with God, one temptation at a time.
As each time a temptation comes, we wrestle with God, the victory is given through the Power of the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.
As each victory is received, we are sanctified.
This is how we are sanctified by obedience.
It is in the sanctuary, moment by moment, we need to spiritually be.
Please make careful note:
Every act of obedience God empowers you with, becames a stone on the beach of your sanctification.
Each stone added increases the size of your beach.
Until you become so habitual about wrestling with God, that your thoughts turn to Him immediately for victory over sin...
Please pray about this and study it out for yourselves.
Mark
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Sunday, 24 May 2009
Thy Way is in the Sanctuary...
Gods end time people were given the Sanctuary message, it is the key to many of our beliefs.
But let us look at how the Sanctuary and how the understanding of it aids our opens up the way for us to be sanctified (we will talk more on the how in another post).
If we want to know the ways of God:
Psa 77:13 Thy way, O God, [is] in the sanctuary: who [is so] great a God as [our] God?
We are taken here to the idea that we are "hid" in the pavillion/tabernacle or as we see later the "sanctuary".
Psa 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
Here is the language that links the tabernacle and sanctuary, showing us they refer to the same thing:
Hbr 9:2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein [was] the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
Hbr 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
Now Jesus said He was the way:
Jhn 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
That He was the gate:
Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
That He was the door:
Jhn 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Jhn 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
So we see that Jesus is the way, the gate and the door.
But to what?
Why, He is the living way into the Sanctuary...
Let us explore this.
He became all of these things beginning at this point in the history of the universe:
Mar 15:25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
Luk 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Now we have to take careful note of what it was about Him that was so important, that gave Him the right to be the "way":
His Blood (the merits of the shed blood), did many things in our behalf, please note them:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Hbr 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
These all talk of the gifts of the merits of Christs blood, and what they have merited, but please note what else the blood also did:
He entered into the Holiest, by His blood:
Hbr 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].
But not only that, He opened up the way for us to enter into the Holiest place, by faith, read these next verses carefully:
Hbr 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
He was the veil, the divider between us and God, by the shedding of His blood and the tearing of His flesh, we are invited into the Holy Place:
Hbr 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
So that we can come into the Holy Place and present our needs directly to the Father:
Hbr 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
This entrance is continually available (for a short time as we are in the day of atonement) and is the basis for our sanctification:
Hbr 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Now notice the secret of Christian Joy, which is in Gods presence:
Psa 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.
Now notice that being hid in Gods presence and the temple of God are the same thing:
Psa 31:20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
So once we have by faith entered into the Holy Place, we need to understand how sanctification is given to us (more on this later), but whilst there, let us praise Him as our sole gift offering:
Psa 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
God bless,
Mark
But let us look at how the Sanctuary and how the understanding of it aids our opens up the way for us to be sanctified (we will talk more on the how in another post).
If we want to know the ways of God:
Psa 77:13 Thy way, O God, [is] in the sanctuary: who [is so] great a God as [our] God?
We are taken here to the idea that we are "hid" in the pavillion/tabernacle or as we see later the "sanctuary".
Psa 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
Here is the language that links the tabernacle and sanctuary, showing us they refer to the same thing:
Hbr 9:2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein [was] the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
Hbr 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
Now Jesus said He was the way:
Jhn 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
That He was the gate:
Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
That He was the door:
Jhn 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Jhn 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
So we see that Jesus is the way, the gate and the door.
But to what?
Why, He is the living way into the Sanctuary...
Let us explore this.
He became all of these things beginning at this point in the history of the universe:
Mar 15:25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
Luk 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Now we have to take careful note of what it was about Him that was so important, that gave Him the right to be the "way":
His Blood (the merits of the shed blood), did many things in our behalf, please note them:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Hbr 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
These all talk of the gifts of the merits of Christs blood, and what they have merited, but please note what else the blood also did:
He entered into the Holiest, by His blood:
Hbr 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].
But not only that, He opened up the way for us to enter into the Holiest place, by faith, read these next verses carefully:
Hbr 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
He was the veil, the divider between us and God, by the shedding of His blood and the tearing of His flesh, we are invited into the Holy Place:
Hbr 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
So that we can come into the Holy Place and present our needs directly to the Father:
Hbr 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
This entrance is continually available (for a short time as we are in the day of atonement) and is the basis for our sanctification:
Hbr 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Now notice the secret of Christian Joy, which is in Gods presence:
Psa 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.
Now notice that being hid in Gods presence and the temple of God are the same thing:
Psa 31:20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
So once we have by faith entered into the Holy Place, we need to understand how sanctification is given to us (more on this later), but whilst there, let us praise Him as our sole gift offering:
Psa 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
God bless,
Mark
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Picture this...
Who do you see when you picture yourself?
Is it as a failing Christian kneeling before The Father, covered in rags?
Well picture this:
You take your filthy rags and acknowledging them, you hand them over to Our Father.
Then Jesus hands you His "merits", in effect, He clothes you with them, in the same way that He clothes you with His "righteous robe".
You are now clothed with the robes of Christ.
He bids you stand and receive the love and acceptance that He deserves.
Now you can stand before the Father clothed in Christs merits and His righteousness.
Fully accepted and approved of.
So next time the enemy comes to you, suggesting your worth, trying to take your self respect.
Acknowledge that he is right to a point, admit you are worthless of yourself, but then point out that you have Christs merits and righteousness and He has taken your filthy rags away...
Let the Father restore your self respect...
Let Him give you the respect that Jesus deserves, as the gift to you it truly is.
Because when He looks at you, He sees Jesus worth.
God bless,
Mark
Is it as a failing Christian kneeling before The Father, covered in rags?
Well picture this:
You take your filthy rags and acknowledging them, you hand them over to Our Father.
Then Jesus hands you His "merits", in effect, He clothes you with them, in the same way that He clothes you with His "righteous robe".
You are now clothed with the robes of Christ.
He bids you stand and receive the love and acceptance that He deserves.
Now you can stand before the Father clothed in Christs merits and His righteousness.
Fully accepted and approved of.
So next time the enemy comes to you, suggesting your worth, trying to take your self respect.
Acknowledge that he is right to a point, admit you are worthless of yourself, but then point out that you have Christs merits and righteousness and He has taken your filthy rags away...
Let the Father restore your self respect...
Let Him give you the respect that Jesus deserves, as the gift to you it truly is.
Because when He looks at you, He sees Jesus worth.
God bless,
Mark
Two Conversions...
Isreal left Egypt...
This can be considered the same as "coming out" of the world.
But then they had to by faith enter into the promised land of Canaan.
This can be considered the same as entering by faith in Christ's merits into the abiding experience with Jesus Christ.
So we have two things to consider.
One is the coming out of Egypt.
The other is entering into the promised land.
So in a way, there are two conversions, two calls to respond to.
Where are we today, we need to ask ourselves this question.
Mark
This can be considered the same as "coming out" of the world.
But then they had to by faith enter into the promised land of Canaan.
This can be considered the same as entering by faith in Christ's merits into the abiding experience with Jesus Christ.
So we have two things to consider.
One is the coming out of Egypt.
The other is entering into the promised land.
So in a way, there are two conversions, two calls to respond to.
Where are we today, we need to ask ourselves this question.
Mark
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Behold the Lamb of God...
Sometimes we can suffer under insult, sometimes we can suffer under bad treatment.
But often we suffer under what I would call "scenarios" or as the bible calls them "vain imaginations".
What are these vain imaginations?
These are those trains of thought that run through our minds, the ones where we picture the future and plan our responses to those people around us that we perceive as a threat.
It can be an enemy, a friend, a family member, a wife or husband, even our own children.
But we run these "scenarios" against them.
What is this that is happening?
This is the "self protection mechanism" that our flesh or carnal nature uses, it diagnoses a threat and then proceeds to imagine ways to deal with that, so that the "carnal nature" can be protected in future.
But what is underneath this process?
The need to protect the "flesh", but what exactly being protected?
The exaltation of self.
In the garden of Eden, Satan told us a lie, it went like this:
"You shall be as gods"
Our carnal nature strives to be like "gods", it strives to be number one, it brooks no enemies and accepts no challenges.
Do you need some proof?
Consider the last time you have a bad thought about someone, look deeply and you will see your own need to be superior looking back at you.
Now John the Baptist had learned this one thing:
"Behold the Lamb of God...."
He did not point to himself, he did not say:
"Behold me as I point to the Lamb of God..."
He pointed away from himself and his life was a reflection of that principle.
As Christians, we should also be pointing away from ourselves like this.
So next time a "scenario" runs through your mind, try this (this prayer can be said out loud or can be spoken in your mind dependant on situation):
1. Go to the Father in prayer.
2. Plead the merits of Christs blood as the basis for you coming to Him.
3. Plead for forgiveness for any known sin and ask Him to show you those you are not aware of.
4. Then claim the command to behold the Lamb of God as a promise that God will perform in you. Claim it boldly, because of the blood of Christ.
If you are connected to the Father and have followed this simple prayer, believing by faith in the blood of Christ, then you will receive victory.
Let us consider Paul on this point:
2Cr 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Let us cast down our imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.
God bless,
Mark
But often we suffer under what I would call "scenarios" or as the bible calls them "vain imaginations".
What are these vain imaginations?
These are those trains of thought that run through our minds, the ones where we picture the future and plan our responses to those people around us that we perceive as a threat.
It can be an enemy, a friend, a family member, a wife or husband, even our own children.
But we run these "scenarios" against them.
What is this that is happening?
This is the "self protection mechanism" that our flesh or carnal nature uses, it diagnoses a threat and then proceeds to imagine ways to deal with that, so that the "carnal nature" can be protected in future.
But what is underneath this process?
The need to protect the "flesh", but what exactly being protected?
The exaltation of self.
In the garden of Eden, Satan told us a lie, it went like this:
"You shall be as gods"
Our carnal nature strives to be like "gods", it strives to be number one, it brooks no enemies and accepts no challenges.
Do you need some proof?
Consider the last time you have a bad thought about someone, look deeply and you will see your own need to be superior looking back at you.
Now John the Baptist had learned this one thing:
"Behold the Lamb of God...."
He did not point to himself, he did not say:
"Behold me as I point to the Lamb of God..."
He pointed away from himself and his life was a reflection of that principle.
As Christians, we should also be pointing away from ourselves like this.
So next time a "scenario" runs through your mind, try this (this prayer can be said out loud or can be spoken in your mind dependant on situation):
1. Go to the Father in prayer.
2. Plead the merits of Christs blood as the basis for you coming to Him.
3. Plead for forgiveness for any known sin and ask Him to show you those you are not aware of.
4. Then claim the command to behold the Lamb of God as a promise that God will perform in you. Claim it boldly, because of the blood of Christ.
If you are connected to the Father and have followed this simple prayer, believing by faith in the blood of Christ, then you will receive victory.
Let us consider Paul on this point:
2Cr 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Let us cast down our imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.
God bless,
Mark
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
The Science of Sanctification...
I have been studying and talking to the Lord about the science of Salvation.
Here is the light I currently have (I expect it to grow as the Lord feeds it...).
God's Grace is a spiritual state, which we have been placed under.
Because of that state, which is established through the righteousness of Christ, we become partakers of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Which includes:
Faith, hope, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self control and in fact, the fullness of God Himself in us.
We enter into this Grace by receiving the Righteousness of Christ, which we claim by pleading the Merits of Christ to our loving Father.
This pleading of the merits is a constant communion which has to be presented continually, a state of mind and thought.
So we boldly approach the throne of God and plead the "merits" of Jesus' blood.
We then receive by faith the rightesness of Christ and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
So what is our part?
You shall seek Him and find Him, when you search for Him with all your heart.
We are to seek, to question to strive to enter in to the throne room of God.
Then we we are to abide there by Faith, presenting the merits of Christ continually, particularly when under temptation. And also receiving the righteousness of Christ, which will reveal itself in obedience to Gods Law.
Our sanctification is found in the Throne Room of God.
God bless,
Mark
Here is the light I currently have (I expect it to grow as the Lord feeds it...).
God's Grace is a spiritual state, which we have been placed under.
Because of that state, which is established through the righteousness of Christ, we become partakers of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Which includes:
Faith, hope, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self control and in fact, the fullness of God Himself in us.
We enter into this Grace by receiving the Righteousness of Christ, which we claim by pleading the Merits of Christ to our loving Father.
This pleading of the merits is a constant communion which has to be presented continually, a state of mind and thought.
So we boldly approach the throne of God and plead the "merits" of Jesus' blood.
We then receive by faith the rightesness of Christ and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
So what is our part?
You shall seek Him and find Him, when you search for Him with all your heart.
We are to seek, to question to strive to enter in to the throne room of God.
Then we we are to abide there by Faith, presenting the merits of Christ continually, particularly when under temptation. And also receiving the righteousness of Christ, which will reveal itself in obedience to Gods Law.
Our sanctification is found in the Throne Room of God.
God bless,
Mark
Monday, 13 April 2009
What is so important about the Merits of Christ?
For me?
When I know that Jesus is interceding on my behalf, when I know His blood is presented continually for me.
When I lay hold of that fact by faith.
It does something very simple.
It means I have stepped out of the way.
Jesus presents His blood, the Father accepts me.
I then claim all the gifts in Gods train and they are given to me.
Jesus keeps me.
So as long as I keep stepped out of the way and allow Jesus, my Father and the Holy Spirit to do their work, I will be saved.
As I follow their leading, as I recieve their gifts, victory is received, love washes my heart and my peaceful quiet joy is written in my eyes and sings in my heart.
That is why the merits of the Blood of Christ are so important to me...
God has placed me to the side as He deals with my Salvation, this is His work...
I just follow Him.
God bless,
Mark
When I know that Jesus is interceding on my behalf, when I know His blood is presented continually for me.
When I lay hold of that fact by faith.
It does something very simple.
It means I have stepped out of the way.
Jesus presents His blood, the Father accepts me.
I then claim all the gifts in Gods train and they are given to me.
Jesus keeps me.
So as long as I keep stepped out of the way and allow Jesus, my Father and the Holy Spirit to do their work, I will be saved.
As I follow their leading, as I recieve their gifts, victory is received, love washes my heart and my peaceful quiet joy is written in my eyes and sings in my heart.
That is why the merits of the Blood of Christ are so important to me...
God has placed me to the side as He deals with my Salvation, this is His work...
I just follow Him.
God bless,
Mark
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