We read what the Word of God says and we mentally ascent to what it says. We wouldn't dare say we don't believe it as Christian people. But, to actually believe what it says is almost sacrilegious in some circles.
In II Corinthians 3:18 (Amplified) there's a scripture that tests whether we really believe or not. verse 18 (Amplified) says "And all of us, as with unveiled face. (Because we) continued to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in an ever increasing splendor and from one degree of Glory to another (for this comes) from the Lord (who is) the Spirit."
This doesn't mean that you are or ever will be the Lord. It simply means that you are like Him. You are a spirit and were born again into His likeness. We have been given His Spirit and His name.
Hebrews 2:11 (Amplified) says "For both He who sanctifies (making men holy) and those who are sanctified all have one (Father). For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren." If Jesus is our brother and God is our Father, then how can we not be like Him? If we are in His image and likeness then we have His attributes just as Jesus does. Why we find this so hard to believe is something I don't understand. Jesus is called the last Adam. Luke 3:38 (Amplified) reads "the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God."
Adam (according to the scriptures) is called the son of God. When he transgressed in the Garden of Eden, Adam lost his identity, but he was still God's likeness. That is why satan wanted so badly to be able to control him. Once he could get control of those who had the attributes of God, satan could control the earth. In Genesis 2:26 (Amplified) God said, "Let us (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our image, and after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the (tame) beasts, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. Once he had the usurped authority, he could control (and did control) everything except God. When Jesus was raised from the dead, He made a statement in Matthew 28:18 (Amplified) "Jesus approached and breaking the silence, said to them, 'All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'"
Once Jesus had all the authority back that had been given to God's family, He delegated that authority back to His brethren. Luke 10:19 (Amplified) says "Behold! I haven given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and (physical and mental strength and ability) over all the power that the enemy (possesses) and nothing shall in any way harm you."
As we read through the Word, we find so many scriptures about being restored back to the rightful place that God intended His family to be. Jesus went to the cross to bring us back to the Father in righteousness and holiness and perfect fellowship. We've been afraid of looking like we were prideful to say such a thing. So, by being what we believed to be humble, we actually refused to accept what was paid for on the cross. It was actually an act of our pride that's still keeping us out of His presence. By acting in this humility, we really (by false pride) were telling the Father that what Jesus had done wasn't enough to do the job. And. we still weren't what He called us to be.
By being in His likeness and His image through the sacrifice of Jesus, we have been reinstated to where we were always supposed to be.
If we are like Him (and He said we are), then some of the things we do or don't do have to change. Do we dare to take the land like Joshua and Caleb, or do we keep looking at the Giants that are still in the land? Do we want to stay in the wilderness as those with Moses did? Or will we take what Jesus died to give us and enter in? If we stay in the wilderness, then God will still take care of us as He did with them.
Hebrews 4:1-2 (Amplified) talks about those who have heard and still won't enter in. It says in Hebrews 4:2 (Amplified) "for indeed we have had the glad tiding (Gospel of God) proclaimed to us just as truly as they (the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them), but the message they heard did not benefit them them because it was not mixed with faith (with the leaning of the entire personality of God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness) by those who heard it. Neither were they united in faith with the ones (Joshua and Caleb) who heard (and did believe)."
Romans 8:19 (Amplified) tells us "for (even the whole) creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known (waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship)." Jesus did this when He stopped the storm, defied gravity by walking on water,caused the fish to come to Peter's net and many things that are waiting to be put back in order.
If we are like Him,. then some of the things we do are in direct opposition to Him. Do the words that we speak bring light or prolong darkness? Do they bring healing or excuses why God would want His children sick? Do we wait in the wilderness and ask like they did years ago,"Why did God bring us here to die?" Or. do we boldly enter in to take what Jesus died to give us?
No comments:
Post a Comment