Do you know who you are in Christ Jesus?

In Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 to 10 inclusive Paul writes something very exciting. Listen to what he wrote and see if it is possible to realise the truth of what is written here and not get excited about it.

“Although you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience, among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you are saved! – and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. We are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.”

We cry out to God many times to send revival yet if we lived our lives as though we believed what is written in these verses then revival would break out wherever the people of God come into the revelation of this truth and act upon it. For centuries Christians have been living well below the dynamic style of life Christ went to the cross to make available to us all.

In Luke chapter 10 verses 17 to 20 Jesus told His disciples “Then the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!” He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Look, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and on the full force of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you.

Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names stand written in heaven.” Do you understand those words? Jesus said I have given you authority over all the powers of darkness. This is not something we should be praying for, it is something we should be thanking Him for having done it.

Back in the verses from Paul’s letter to the Christians at Ephesus chapter 2 quoted above, he writes that he has raised us up and seated us with Him in heavenly places. This is a statement of something that has taken place, it is not a hope that may be fulfilled in the days to come, it is something that is still true today.

When Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights fasting (and no doubt praying also) He faced the same enemy as Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden, and basically He faced the same temptations also. Although they appear to have been different we can see that they were actually in essence exactly the same as we face.

When we re-gain the vision of what Jesus has done and won for us and draw close to Him in fellowship, close enough to know and hear His voice, Just like Jesus did, then we will see the kind of church that Jesus is coming back for, victorious, dynamic and without spot or sin.

Jesus told His disciples in John chapter 14 verse 12 “He who believes in me will do what I have been doing, greater things shall he do because I go to the Father.” In Jesus we have the power and authority we must use it in His name, and at His command, otherwise we will be acting not in faith but in presumption.

Sin can diminish the power that we have in Christ Jesus that is why we need to live lives that reflect the glory of God. When Jesus came to earth and began His earthly ministry He limited Himself entirely and at all times to only doing what mankind should have been doing for centuries.

The reason that you and I remained on earth when we came to believe the truth about Jesus and commit our lives to Him was so that we could tell others how they can escape the greatest time of trouble that the earth has ever seen or ever will see, and join us when the time comes to partake of the marriage supper of the lamb.

In 2010 I urge you to pray harder and more often, evangelise after prayer and fasting for several days (at least one day per week) and reach more people than you have ever reached before so that the maximum number of people can be spared the awful horror that is so soon now to come upon this land.

Roger
Hand of God Ministries