Romans 5:5 (Amplified) reads that "Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us for love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us."
This love is actually in a sense, the very presence of God Himself because God is love according to 1 John 4:8 (Amplified). If God is love (and we know that He is), then this love of God that lives in us should be something that we should know and strive to understand. Because of His great love for us, we were able to be born again and become new creatures in Him. This love is not just for the Church, but for the whole world according to John 3:16. Now that we have received this love, we are required by God to extend this invitation to the whole world by the preaching of the good news of His grace and His love. When we teach His love, we must teach it in truth so that those who receive it are not only free from sin, but free from the condemnation of this sin as well.
For the most part, we have taught about, "now that you're saved you can't drink, smoke, cuss or do any of the things that you used to do." All of this is true, but if we teach them that the Word, the Love, the Holy Spirit will clean them up (just like He did for us), then they'll be free from the sin conscience that continues to plague most of the Church today.
Hebrews 9:9 (Amplified) tells us "seeing that the first (outer portion of) tabernacle was a parable (a visible symbol or type, or picture of the present age). In it gifts and sacrifices are offered , and yet are incapable of perfecting the conscience or of cleansing and renewing the inner man of the worshiper." According to this scripture, the blood of Jesus was to cleanse the conscience of the believer to where he was no longer even conscious of ever being a sinner. His mind and conscience were to be directed to what the Word made him to be and not what he used to be. Romans 12:2 (Amplified) says "Do not be conformed (fashioned after and adapted to it's external superficial customs) to this world (this age) but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by it's new ideals and attitudes)."
Sometimes we (as we preach the Word) center more of who we were before than on who we are now. By doing this,we keep the people's mind more on their sin than their Deliverer. As long as they think that way, they'll never understand the power of the love that set them free. This love is so great that it didn't leave (not one trace) of who you used to be, but has already set you so free that it still makes people fearful to try and obtain it. We almost feel that we are being boastful if we dare to confess that "I'm not a sinner."
I was a sinner, but now I'm the righteousness of God because I am in Christ Jesus. My title is no longer sinner. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says "Therefore if any person is (in-grafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether), the old (previous, moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
This love is so powerful that not one stain of who you used to be doesn't even exist. If the conscience of the old man is still being fed, then it keeps the believer from operating in the boldness before God to expect results because of our previous failures. For this cause, a good share of the Body of Christ has never dared to step out into the call that we were sent to do.
We've been successful in getting people born again, but not so in raising these new babies into adulthood by the teaching of the Word. Most Christians never lay hands on the sick, cast out demons or take authority over principalities in their home or their town. They never experience the power of the Holy Spirit because they still don't understand their liberty.
I recall a true story about a new zoo being built in Germany. They sent a man to bring them a giant Kodiak bear from Alaska. They worked to build a place for the bear as the man went off to capture one. The bear's habitat was beautiful with a large park and a stream winding through it. There were trees and grass and everything to make living there wonderful. They trapper caught and brought back the bear before the park was finished so, the bear was kept in a 20'x16' cage temporarily. Every day the bear (who was of great size) would walk ten paces one way, turn and walk ten paces back. All day and all night, the bear would walk ten paces, turn, and walk ten paces back.
He walked until the pads of his feet were bloody and raw. Finally, though, the park was done and the bear was to be released from his small cage. When they opened the door to his cage, the bear looked around, shook his head and began walking ten paces one way, turn and walk ten paces back.
They finally had to take a cattle prod and drive him from his cage. He stood there in his beautiful park and looked around, then put his head down and began to walk ten paces, turn, and walk ten paces back. The end of this tragic tale was that they had to put the bear down (killed him with chemicals).
Even though the bear was now free, the cage was now in his mind. He couldn't forget his bondage to enjoy his new liberty. Many Christians are still in this cage and bondage of their past life because of a sin conscience instead of a righteousness conscience. Without a renewed mind about the truth of the love of God's total forgiveness, they're still in the prison of remembrance of their sin. Although they stand in the beauty of the new life, they still walk the same walk of bondage. They walk ten paces, turn, and walk ten paces back. Romans 12:2 (Amplified) says that "They are still conformed to this world (or age) (fashioned after and adapted to it's external, superficial customs)."
The prison of the unrenewed mind is an awful place to dwell especially when the liberty is already yours. We never grow beyond where the light of truth is shed abroad in your heart, through love and the Holy Spirit. That's why when I speak of understanding the power of this love, I always speak of power, authority and freedom from condemnation. Without this revelation, you'll always remain a baby unable to minister to others and always need someone to minister to you.
When my mind is always on me, I can't think of thee. When my mind is on thee, the devil can't keep my mind accusing me. Get you off of your mind.
You are free and your liberty is in Christ Jesus the Lord. Romans 8:34 (Amplified) asks us, "Who is there to condemn us? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah) Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead? Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us?"
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