His Cross... My Cross

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

The Lord Jesus’ highest glory is His cross.  It was in the cross that Christ glorified the Father and the father glorified the Son.  Read how John puts it:

And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped. Revelation 5:9-14

And it is the crucified Christ that followers of Jesus learn to say:

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…Galatians 6:14

This is what we must learn too, if we are to follow Him.

It is the crucified Christ who promises to Never leave us or forsake us, and that He would be with us forever.

It may be that we do not experience His sweet fellowship in an unbroken manner, because we do not glory in the cross.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- Romans 6:6

This means that we die to the world and to it’s opinions and values, so we can be free from it’s power.  We pick up our cross and deny ouraselves to form the mind of Christ, that has already been given to us. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Philippians 2:8

As we pray it is Jesus Himself, the risen, crucified Lord who walks with us, and presses through us to reveal Himself… so we can say that Christ lives through me.

You are New in Christ

In my devotions I recently read the following

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

People have been in meetings where the glory of God has fallen, where the fingerprints of God have touched everything, and where fortifications have been made in the body to strengthen it. The next morning the power of Satan has attacked them. Why does this happen? The spiritual life, the Son manifested, the glory of the new creation, is already in our mortal bodies, but the flesh, being a battle ground for the Enemy, is tested. But what God is forming is greater than the mortal body, for the spirit that is awakening to the glorious liberty of a child of God is greater. How can we compare this with what is to come?

" It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing" (John6:63). Though "my skin is destroyed" (Job 19:26), I have a life greater than this life that will look upon God, that will see Him in His perfection, that will behold Him in His glory, that will be changed to be like Him. By the presence of God, a new creation will so clothe us that we will be like Him. Knowing this, should I give place to the Devils Bulling?!!!! Should I let my feelings change the experience of the Word of God? Should I trust in my fears? NO!!!! A million times, NO!! There has never been any good thing in the flesh (Roman7:18), but God has given life to the spirit until we live a divine new life and are eternally shaped for God.

"What then shall we say?" (Rom 8:31). Are you going to let the past, in which God Himself has worked for you, bring you to a place of distress? Or are you going to stand during your testing, declaring God's Word- "Now we are children of God" (1John 3:2) and remembering how God has answered your prayers, brought light into your home, delivered you from carnality, and touched you when no power in the world could help? "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?" (Rom. 8:33) "I know whom I have believed" (2Tim1:2), and I am persuaded that He who chose us for God will surely bring us to the place where we will receive the crown of life (James1:12) through the faith that God has given us. God is in you and is mightily forming a new creation by the Spirit in order to make you ready for the glory that will be revealed in Him.

Someone said to me the other day, "I am in terrible trouble: a man is cursing me all the time." "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom8:31) God has given us Jesus, the heart of His love," the express image of His person" (Heb 1:3), perfect in brilliance, purity, righteousness, and glory. I have seen Him many times, and seeing Him always changes me. Victory over your struggle is one of the "all things" (Rom8:32) that God has promised to give to you. Many needs have broken my heart, but I could say to the troubled one, "God is greater than your heart, greater than your circumstances, greater than the thing that holds you. GOD WILL DELIVER YOU, IF YOU DARE TO BELIEVE HIM!" But I have to emphasize it again and again and again before I can get people to believe God!

A clergyman came to me. He said. " I have a terrible craving for tabacco." I said, "Is it the old man or the new?" He broke down. "I know its the old," he said. "Put off the old man with his deeds" (Col.3:9).

Someone told me, " I have an unlawful affection for another." I said "You need a revelation. Since God has given you Jesus, He will give you all things. He will give you power over the thing, and it will be broken." And God broke it!

Allow God to touch your flesh. He has given life to your spirit if you believe. Allow Him to reign, for He will reign untill all is subdued. He is King in your life and is preeminent over your affections, your will, your desires, your plans. He rules as Lord of Hosts over you, in you, and through you, to chasten you as sin brings consequences and bring you to perfection.

Learning to Wait and Waiting with Purpose

In my recent devotions, I thought Murray’s devotional was great, what was given to me I now pass on to you, enjoy and wait.  Waiting on God by Andrew Murray.

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him, Those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the land.” Psalms 37:7, 9

“In patience possess your souls.”
“Ye have need of patience.”
“Let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire.”

Such words of the Holy Spirit show us what an important element in the Christian life and character patience is. And nowhere is there a better place for cultivating or displaying it than in waiting on God. There we discover how impatient we are, and what our impatience means. We confess at times that we are impatient with men, and circumstances that hinder us, or with ourselves and our slow progress in the Christian life.

If we truly set ourselves to wait upon God, we shall find that it is with Him we are impatient, because He does not at once, or as soon as we could wish, do our bidding. It is in waiting upon God that our eyes are opened to believe in His wise and sovereign will, and to see that the sooner and the more completely we yield absolutely to it, the more surely His blessing can come to us.

“It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” Rom 9:16.

We have as little power to increase or strengthen our spiritual life, as we had to originate it. We “were born not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of the will of God.”

Even so, our willing and running, our desire and effort, avail nought; all is “of God that sheweth mercy”. All the exercises of the spiritual life, our reading and praying, our willing and doing, have their very great value. But they can go no farther than this, that they point the way and prepare us in humility to look to and to depend alone upon God Himself, and in patience to wait His good time and mercy.

The waiting is to teach us our absolute dependence upon God’s mighty working, and to make us in perfect patience place ourselves at His disposal. They that wait on the Lord shall inherit the land; the promised land and its blessing. The heirs must wait; they can afford to wait.

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” The margin gives for “Rest in the Lord”, “Be silent to the Lord”, or R. V., “Be still before the Lord”. It is resting in the Lord, in His will, His promise, His faithfulness, and His love, that makes patience easy. And the resting in Him is nothing but being silent unto Him, still before Him. Having our thoughts and wishes, our fears and hopes, hushed into calm and quiet in that great peace of God which passeth all understanding.

That peace keeps the heart and mind when we are anxious for anything, because we have made our request known to Him. The rest, the silence, the stillness, and the patient waiting, all find their strength and joy in God Himself.

The needs be, and the reasonableness, and the blessedness of patience will be opened up to the waiting soul. Our patience will be seen to be the counterpart of God’s patience. He longs far more to bless us fully than we can desire it. But, as the husbandman has long patience till the fruit be ripe, so God bows Himself to our slowness and bears long with us.

Let us remember this, and wait patiently: of each promise and every answer to prayer the word is true:

“I the Lord will hasten it in its time.” Isa 60:22.

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.”

Yes, for HIM. Seek not only the help, the gift, thou needest seek: HIMSELF; wait for HIM. Give God His glory by resting in Him, by trusting him fully, by waiting patiently for Him. This patience honours Him greatly; it leaves Him, as God on the throne, to do His work; it yields self wholly into His hands. It lets God be God.

If thy waiting be for some special request, wait patiently. If thy waiting be more the exercise of the spiritual life seeking to know and have more of God, wait patiently.

Whether it be in the shorter specific periods of waiting, or as the continuous habit of the souls. Rest in the Lord, be still before the Lord, and wait patiently. “They that wait on the Lord shall inherit the land.”

“My soul, wait thou only upon God!”

What were you Expecting?

Waiting on God in Holy Expectancy: By Andrew Murray

Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Micah 7:7

Have you ever heard of a little book, Expectation Corners? It tells of a king who prepared a city for some of his poor subjects. Not far from them were large storehouses, where everything they could need was supplied if they sent in their requests. But, on one condition – that they should be on the lookout for the answer, so that when the king’s messengers came with the answer to their petitions, they should always be found waiting and ready to receive them.

The sad story is told of one desponding person who never expected to get what he asked, because he was too unworthy. One day, he was taken to the king’s storehouses, and there, to his amazement, he saw, with his address on them, all the packages that had been made up for him and sent. There was the garment of praise and the oil of joy and the eye salve and so much more. They had been to his door but found it closed; he was not on the lookout. From that time on, he learned the lesson Micah would teach us today. ”I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.”

We have said more than once: waiting for the answer to prayer is not the whole of waiting, but only a part. Today, I want to take in the blessed truth that it is a part, and a very important one. When we have special petitions, in connection with which we are waiting on God, our waiting must be very definitely in the confident assurance, ”My God will hear me.”

A holy, joyful expectancy is of the very essence of true waiting. And, this is not only true in reference to the many varied requests every believer has to make, but most especially to the one great petition which ought to be the chief thing every heart seeks for itself – that the life of God in the soul may have full sway, that Christ may be fully formed within, and that we may be filled to all the fullness of God. This is what God has promised. This is what God’s people too little seek, very often because they do not believe it possible. This is what we ought to seek and dare to expect, because God is able and waiting to work it in us.

But, God Himself must work it. And for this end our working must cease. We must see how entirely it is to be the faith of the operation of God, who raised Jesus from the dead. Just as much as the resurrection, the perfecting of God’s life in our souls is to be directly His work. And, waiting has to become, more than ever, a tarrying before God in stillness of soul, counting upon Him who raises the dead and calls the things that are not as though they were (Rom. 4:17).

Just notice how the threefold use of the name of God in our text points us to Himself as the one from whom alone is our expectation. ”I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.” Everything that is salvation, everything that is good and holy, must be the direct, mighty work of God Himself within us. In every moment of a life in the will of God, there must be the immediate operation of God. And, the one thing I have to do is this: to look to the Lord, to wait for the God of my salvation, to hold fast the confident assurance, ”my God will hear me.”

God says, ”Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10).

There is no stillness like that of the grave. In the grave of Jesus, in the fellowship of His death, in death to self with its own will and wisdom, its own strength and energy, there is rest. As we cease from self and our soul becomes still to God, God will arise and show Himself. ”Be still, and know”; then you will know ”that I am God.” There is no stillness like the stillness Jesus gives when He speaks. ”Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39). In Christ, in His death, in His life, in His perfected redemption, the soul may be still, and God will come in, take possession, and do His perfect work.

My soul, be thou still only unto God!

Thank God for Saint Patrick

I am part Irish, and have a personal interest in Patricus (Saint Patrick).  You will once again find it Amazing that our father wastes nothing and uses everything for His purposes in our lives.  Here's part of Patrick's story as written by my friend Marc Fluet... enjoy.

“The Story and Message of the Beloved St. Patrick”

Of all the Catholic Saints known by Americans, St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is probably the most famous. Indeed, one day a year is set aside to celebrate his life. For Irish-Americans it’s an opportunity to celebrate their heritage and to share it with the rest of the country.  But as famous as St. Patrick is, many of us have never heard his remarkable story and how he truly changed Ireland forever.
This little pamphlet was prepared to help you celebrate this day and share with you the story and message of St. Patrick.

“Captured Into Slavery”

In 430 A.D. a sixteen year old Roman Brit, the son of a civil magistrate and tax collector, named Patricius walked along the beach with his family. In the distance a fleet of 50 long boats could be seen headed toward shore. Patricius had heard stories of barbarian invasions, how Irish warriors ransacked Roman villages and carried away the able bodied survivors as slaves. Fear filled his heart as he ran towards town and the helmeted Irish warriors landed on the shore.
At days end his village lay demolished and young Patrick found himself bound and carried aboard a boat headed for Northern Ireland. There he was sold as a slave to a warrior chief.  Patrick would spend six years as a pig herder in the Northern Irish hills. During this time Patrick suffered from the cold, hunger, thirst, and incredible loneliness.  All alone in the mountains he turned to the God of his fathers for comfort and strength. He began to pray and his faith grew.

“The Great Escape”

In his autobiography Patrick wrote of a mysterious voice that spoke to him, “You do well to fast, soon you will return to your homeland.”  He continued in the hills until the voice came to him again and told him, “Come and see your ship is waiting for you.”  Patrick obeyed and fled two hundred miles on foot to a southeastern harbor. There he boarded a ship bound for Europe. Upon arriving he was reunited with some surviving family members. After formal study he entered the ministry and again God spoke to him in a clear way. This time, during a dream, he saw a vision of a man from Ireland…

“A Call To Return To The Land He Fled?”

Patrick records in his “Confessions” of a dream he had that would change Ireland forever. He writes, “I had a vision in my dreams of a man who seemed to come from Ireland… His name was Victoricius, and he carried countless letters, one of which he handed over to me. I read aloud where it began: “The Voice of the Irish”.  And as I began to read these words I seemed to hear the voice of the same men who lived besides the Forest of Focult… and they cried out with one voice, “We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.”
Patrick obeyed the vision and returned to Ireland in 461 A.D. This time not as a slave boy but as a missionary of God sent to bring the message of God’s love to a people who once enslaved him.

“Patrick’s Preaching Brings an End To Slavery And Human Sacrifices”

Major changes began to take place in Ireland after Patrick began to travel and preach. Patrick, as a former slave, spoke out boldly against slavery. Through his influence, the slave trade was completely abolished during his lifetime.
 
The Irish people were also held in bondage to fear. The Druids were the spiritual leaders in Ireland before Patrick came. They practiced witchcraft, black magic, and controlled the common people through the fear of their curses, incantations, and magic spells. The Druids taught that the “gods” were hateful and angry with the people and needed to be appeased. To find favor with these “gods” the people would take part in human sacrifices. Very often newborn babies were slaughtered and offered upon altars.
As Patrick preached about the one true God, the power and influence the Druids had over the people declined. The Druids were furious and Patrick’s life was constantly in danger, yet he placed himself in God’s hand and trusted Him for protection. As the people accepted the message Patrick preached the bloody human sacrifices came to an end.

“The Message Patrick Preached”

Patrick taught the Irish people about the Creator of the Universe, The Triune God, who existed from all eternity as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Patrick taught the one true God loved them and was infinitely merciful and good. He also taught them that his God was holy, pure, and free from sin, and the people’s sin kept them from a relationship with this Holy God. He shared with them how God was Just and Righteous and as such must judge their sins and punish them. He warned that they were in danger of being sentenced to an eternity in Hell by this Judge, as the penalty for the sins they had committed. This God, out of love and mercy had provided a way of escape, the One Perfect Sacrifice.

“The One Perfect Sacrifice”

Patrick explained that God the Father sent God the son, Jesus, to be born a human baby and grow to be the perfect man, who would willingly die on the cross.  In our place, Jesus suffered and died as the perfect sacrifice for us. On the cross Christ paid the penalty for our sins, He received the punishment due us for breaking God’s laws. There was nothing the Irish people (or we) could do to take away those sins. No amount of tribal rituals or traditions could save them. No amount of prayers or good works would do. God had to provide the perfect sacrifice. No only did Christ die but he also rose victoriously from the grave to prove to us who he was and that his sacrifice was accepted.

“Because Of Jesus”

·        Because of what Jesus had done the Irish people need not fear death or judgment.
·        Because of Jesus the Irish could have a Relationship with their Creator.
·        Because of Jesus the Irish people could receive the gift of eternal life.

Form the Mind of Christ

As followers of Jesus, the Father is looking to move us into aggreement with Himself.  This is how the mind of Christ is formed.  Our world, which is run on Fears & Lies, seeks to conform our minds and thinks it strange when as believers we think differently.  Let God transform your mind with His Word.  Below is a written affirmation of what our Father has given us in His Word.  Say it outloud, meditate on and make it your very own.

Doctrinal Affirmation

Today I deliberately choose to submit myself fully to God as He has made Himself known to me through the Holy Scripture, which I honestly accept as the only inspired, infallible, authoritative standard for all life and practice. In this day I will not judge God, His work, myself, or others on the basis of feelings or circumstances.

I recognize by faith that the triune God is worthy of all honor, praise, and worship as the Creator, Sustainer, and the end of all things. I confess that God, as my Creator, made me for Himself. In this day I therefore choose to live for Him. (Revelation 5:9,10; Isaiah 43:1,7,21; Revelation 4:11)

I recognize by faith that God loved me and chose me in Jesus Christ before time began. (Ephesians 1:1-7)

I recognize by faith that God has proven His love to me in sending His Son to die in my place, in whom every provision has already been made for my past, present, and future needs through His representative work, and that I have been quickened [given life], raised, seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenlies, and anointed with the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:6-11; 8:28-39; Philippians 1:6; 4:6,7,13,19; Ephesians 1:3; 2:5,6; Acts 2:1-4,33)

I recognize by faith that God has accepted me since I had received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:6); that He has forgiven me (Ephesians 1:7); adopted me into his family, assuming every responsibility for me (John 17:11,17; Ephesians 1:5; Philippians 1:6); given me eternal life (John 3:16; 1.John 5:9-13); applied the perfect righteousness of Christ to me so that I am now justified (Romans 5:1; 8:3,4; 10:4); made me complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10); and offers Himself to me as my daily sufficiency through prayer and the decisions of faith (1.Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 1:27; Galatians 2:20; John 14:13,14; Matthew 21:22; Romans 6:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-3,11).

I recognize by faith that the Holy Spirit has baptized me into the body of Christ (1.Corinthians 12:13); sealed me (Ephesians 1:13,14; 4:30); anointed me for life and service (Acts 1:8; John 7:37-39); seeks to lead me into a deeper walk with Jesus Christ (John 14:16-18; 15:26,27;16:13-15; Romans 8:11-16); and to fill my life with Himself (Ephesians 5:18).

I recognize by faith that only God can deal with sin and only God can produce holiness of life. I confess that in my salvation my part is only to receive Him and that He dealt with my sin and saved me. Now I confess that in order to live a holy life, I can only surrender to His will and receive Him as my sanctification; trusting Him to do whatever may be necessary in my life, within and without, so I may be enabled to live today in purity, freedom, rest, and power for His glory (John 1:12; 1.Corinthians 1:30; 2.Corinthians 9:8; Gal 2:20; Hebrews 4:9; 1.John 5:4; Jude 24).

Having confessed that God is worthy of all praise, that the scriptures are the only authoritative standard, that only God can deal with sin and produce holiness of life, I again recognize my total dependence upon Him and submission to Him. I accept the truth that praying in faith is absolutely necessary for the realization of the will and grace of God in my daily life (1.John 5:14,15; James 2:6; 4:2,3; 5:16-18; Philippians 4:6,7; Hebrews 4:1-13; 11:6,24-28).

Recognizing that faith is a total response to God by which the daily provisions the Lord has furnished in Himself are appropriated, I therefore make the following decisions of faith:

For this day (Hebrews 3:6,13,15; 4:7) I make the decision of faith to surrender wholly to the authority of God as He has revealed Himself in the scriptures - to obey Him. I confess my sin, face the sinful reality of my old nature, and deliberately choose to walk in the light, in step with Christ, throughout the hours of this day (Romans 6:16-20; Philippians 2:12-13; 1.John 1:7,9).

For this day I make the decision of faith to surrender wholly to the authority of God as revealed in the scripture - to believe Him. I accept only His word as final authority. I now believe that since I confessed my sin He has forgiven and cleansed me (1.John 1:9). I accept at full value His word of promise to be my sufficiency and rest, and will conduct myself accordingly (Exodus 33:1; 1.Corinthians 1:30; 2.Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:19).

For this day I make the decision of faith to recognize that God has made every provision so that I may fulfill His will and calling. Therefore, I will not make any excuse for my sin and failure. (1.Thessalonians 5:24)

For this day I make the decision of faith deliberately to receive from God that provision which He has made for me. I renounce all self-effort to live the Christian life and to perform God's service; renounce all sinful praying which asks God to change circumstances and people so that I may be more spiritual; renounce all drawing back from the work of the Holy Spirit within and the call of God without; and renounce all non-biblical motives, goals, and activities which serve my sinful pride.

I now sincerely receive Jesus Christ as my sanctification, particularly as my cleansing from the old nature, and ask the Holy Spirit to apply to me the work of Christ, accomplished for me in the crucifixion. In cooperation with and dependence upon Him, I obey the command to "put off the old man" (Romans 6:1-14; 1.Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 6:14; Ephesians 4:22).

I now sincerely receive Jesus Christ as my sanctification, particularly as my enablement, moment by moment, to live above sin, and ask the Holy Spirit to apply to me the work of the resurrection so that I may walk in newness of life. I confess that only God can deal with my sin and only God can produce holiness and the fruit of the Spirit in my life. In cooperation and dependence with Him, I obey the command to "put on the new man" (Romans 6:1-14; Ephesians 4:24).

I now sincerely receive Jesus Christ as my deliverance from Satan and take my position with Him in the heavenlies, asking the Holy Spirit to apply to me the work of the ascension. In His name I submit myself to God and stand against all of Satan's influence and subtlety. In cooperation with and dependence upon God, I obey the command to "resist the devil" (Ephesians 1:2-23; 2:5; 5:27; 6:10-18; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 2:14,15; James 4:7; 1.Peter 3:22; 5:8,9).

I now sincerely receive the Holy Spirit as my anointing for every aspect of life and service for today. I fully open my life to Him to fill me afresh in obedience to the command to "be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18; John 7:27-39; 14:16,17; 15:26,27; 16:7-15; Acts 1:8).

Having made this confession and these decisions of faith, I now receive God's promised rest for this day (Hebrews 4:1-13). Therefore, I relax in the trust of faith, knowing that in the moment of temptation, trial, or need, the Lord himself will be there as my strength and sufficiency (1.Corinthians 10:13). 

Composed by Dr. Victor Matthews, Grand Rapids Baptist Bible College and Seminary

Bringing an Old Prayer into your New Life

Saint Patrick’s Breastplate

I bind unto myself this day the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same the Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever, by pow'r of faith, Christ's Incarnation;
his baptism in the Jordan river; his death on the cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spic-ed tomb; his riding up the heav'nly way;
his coming at the day of doom: I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power of the great love of cherubim;
the sweet "Well done" in judgment hour; the service of the seraphim;
confessors' faith, apostles' word, the patriarchs' prayers, the prophet's scrolls;
all good deeds done unto the Lord, and purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today the virtues of the starlit heav'n,
the glorious sun's lifegiving ray, the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free, the whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea, around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to hearken to my need;
the wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
the word of God to give me speech, his heav'nly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name, the strong name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One and One in Three;
of whom all nature has creation, eternal Maker, Spirit, Word;
praise to the God of our salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord.

St. Patrick's Breastplate, 5^th Century

Pray the Warfare Prayer

Warfare Prayer

Heavenly Father, I bow in worship and praise before You. I cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ as my protection during this time of prayer. I surrender myself completely and unreservedly in every area of my life to Yourself. I do take a stand against all the workings of Satan that would hinder me in this time of prayer, and I address myself only to the true and living God and refuse any involvement of Satan in my prayer.

Satan, I command you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to leave my presence with all your demons, and I bring the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ between us.

Heavenly Father, I worship You, and I give You praise. I recognize that You are worthy to receive all glory and honor and praise. I renew my allegiance to You and pray that the blessed Holy Spirit would enable me in this time of prayer. I am thankful, heavenly Father, that You have loved me from past eternity, that You sent the Lord Jesus Christ into the world to die as my substitute that I would be redeemed. I am thankful that the Lord Jesus Christ came as my representative, and that through Him You have completely forgiven me; You have given me eternal life; You have given me the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ so I am now justified. I am thankful that in Him You have made me complete, and that You have offered Yourself to me to be my daily help and strength.

Heavenly Father, come and open my eyes that I might see how great You are and how complete Your provision is for this new day. I do, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, take my place with Christ in the heavenlies with all principalities and powers (powers of darkness and wicked spirits) under my feet. I am thankful that the victory the Lord Jesus Christ won for me on the cross and in His resurrection has been given to me and that I am seated with the Lord Jesus Christ in the heavenlies; therefore, I declare that all principalities and powers and all wicked spirits are subject to me in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am thankful for the armor You have provided, and I put on the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the sandals of peace, the helmet of salvation. I lift up the shield of faith against all the fiery darts of the enemy, and take in my hand the sword of the spirit, the Word of God, and use Your Word against all the forces of evil in my life; and I put on this armor and live and pray in complete dependence upon You, blessed Holy Spirit.

I am grateful, heavenly Father, that the Lord Jesus Christ spoiled all principalities and powers and made a show of them openly and triumphed over them in Himself. I claim all that victory for my life today. I reject out of my life all the insinuations, the accusations, and the temptations of Satan. I affirm that the Word of God is true, and I choose to live today in the light of God’s Word. I choose, heavenly Father, to live in obedience to You and in fellowship with Yourself. Open my eyes and show me the areas of my life that would not please You. Work in my life that there be no ground to give Satan a foothold against me. Show me any area of weakness. Show me any area of my life that I must deal with so that I would please You. I do in every way today stand for You and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in my life.

By faith and in dependence upon You, I put off the old man and stand into all the victory of the crucifixion where the Lord Jesus Christ provided cleansing from the old nature. I put on the new man and stand into all the victory of the resurrection and the provision He has made for me there to live above sin. Therefore, in this day, I put off the old nature with its selfishness, and I put on the new nature with its love. I put off the old nature with its fear and I put on the new nature with its courage. I put off the old nature with its weakness and I put on the new nature with its strength. I put off today the old nature with all its deceitful lusts and I put on the new nature with all its righteousness and purity.

I do in every way stand into the victory of the ascension and the glorification of the Son of God where all principalities and powers were made subject to Him, and I claim my place in Christ victorious with Him over all the enemies of my soul. Blessed Holy Spirit, I pray that You would fill me. Come into my life, break down every idol and cast out every foe.

I am thankful, heavenly Father, for the expression of Your will for my daily life as You have shown me in Your Word. I therefore claim all the will of God for today. I am thankful that You have blessed me with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. I am thankful that You have begotten me unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. I am thankful that You have made a provision so that today I can live filled with the Spirit of God with love and joy and self-control in my life. And I recognize that this is Your will for me, and I therefore reject and resist all the endeavors of Satan and of his demons to rob me of the will of God.

I refuse in this day to believe my feelings, and I hold up the shield of faith against all the accusations and against all the insinuations that Satan would put in my mind. I claim the fullness of the will of God for today.

I do, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, completely surrender myself to You, heavenly Father, as a living sacrifice. I choose not to be conformed to this world. I choose to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, and I pray that You would show me Your will and enable me to walk in all the fullness of the will of God today.

I am thankful, heavenly Father, that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, to the casting down of imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and to bring every thought into obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore in my own life today I tear down the strongholds of Satan, and I smash the plans of Satan that have been formed against me. I tear down the strongholds of Satan against my mind, and I surrender my mind to You, blessed Holy Spirit. I affirm, heavenly Father, that You have not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. I break and smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my emotions today, and I give my emotions to You. I smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my will today, and I give my will to You, and choose to make the right decisions of faith. I smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my body today, and I give my body to You, recognizing that I am Your temple; and I rejoice in Your mercy and Your goodness.

Heavenly Father, I pray that now through this day You would quicken me; show me the way that Satan is hindering and tempting and lying and counterfeiting and distorting the truth in my life. Enable me to be the kind of person that would please You. Enable me to be aggressive in prayer. Enable me to be aggressive mentally and to think Your thoughts after You, and to give You Your rightful place in my life.

Again, I now cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and pray that You, blessed Holy Spirit, would bring all the work of the crucifixion, all the work of the resurrection, all the work of the glorification, and all the work of Pentecost into my life today. I surrender myself to You. I refuse to be discouraged. You are the God of all hope. You have proven Your power by resurrecting Jesus Christ from the dead, and I claim in every way Your victory over all satanic forces active in my life, and I reject these forces; and I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ with thanksgiving. Amen.

The Adversary, Mark I. Bubeck.

Moody Press.

JESUS is the Center

Jesus is the Center

Colossians 1:15-17
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

When asked which person left the most permanent impression on history, he replied that judging a person’s greatness by historical standards:

“By this test, Jesus stands first.” “I am a historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.” H. G. Wells, British writer, 1866-1946

We ought to read the Scriptures with the express design of finding Christ in them. Whoever shall turn aside from this object, though he may weary himself throughout his whole life in learning, will never attain the knowledge of the truth; for what wisdom can we have without wisdom of God? - John Calvin Commentary on John 5:39

There are two ways to read the Bible. The one way to read the Bible is that it’s basically about you: what you have to do in order to be right with God, in which case you’ll never have a sure and certain hope, because you’ll always know you’re not quite living up. You’ll never be sure about that future. Or you can read it as all about Jesus. Every single thing is not about what you must do in order to make yourself right with God, but what he has done to make you absolutely right with God. And Jesus Christ is saying, “Unless you can read the Bible right, unless you can understand salvation by grace, you’ll never have a sure and certain hope. But once you understand it’s all about me, Jesus Christ, then you can know that you have peace. You can know that you have this future guaranteed, and you can face anything.” - Tim Keller

 “For every text in Scripture, there is a road to the metropolis of the Scriptures, that is Christ. And my dear brother, your business is, when you get to a text, to say ‘Now what is the road to Christ?…I have never yet found a text that had not a road to Christ in it.” -C. H. Spurgeon

It is clear that, even in New Testament times, not all believers were ready to go right on with the Lord, and more than ninety percent of the New Testament was written to urge Christians to do so. The uprise of the Convention movement amongst Christians in many lands is itself a strong evidence that this urge is greatly needed. But Divine fullness is only going to be reached by a progressive and ever increasing revelation of Christ and His significance. Such a revelation - unless we misunderstand the record of God's ways from of old - comes firstly to an apprehended instrument which is taken into the deeps with God; then it is given forth as His truth for His people; and then it becomes the inwrought experience and knowledge of such as really mean business with God - not as to their blessing, but as to His purpose and inheritance in them. In relation to this end each one must know for himself or herself what God requires in any given matter, and it would be unsafe for us to say what they should do. We can never do more than enunciate the principles of Life and growth. To "present every man perfect (full-grown, complete) in Christ" is, then, the burden of our hearts. "Let us, as many as be perfect (undivided in heart or mind) be thus minded." -TA Sparks