IDENTITY of the CHRISTIAN - part 1

Aliens on Earth

John 17:16
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

As Christians we are grafted in with Jesus and sit where he sits. We must renew our mind and accept where we truly belong: in Heaven.

Hebrews 11:13-16
[13] These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them , and embraced them , and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. [14] For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. [15] And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. [16] But now they desire a better country , that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

The more we accept this “location”, the more we make ourselves at home in Heaven, then the greater peace and joy we will receive on earth, regardless of circumstances.

Heirs with Christ

Ephesians 1:17-19

[17] I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. [18] I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, [19] and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.

a) Who He called me to be.

b) What I have in Christ: His nature, provision, protection.

c) What I am called to do according to the full power of God.

The impossibility of non-decision: there is no standing on a fence. Not choosing God means one is actively choosing someone else.  

“We are not a sub-heir with Jesus. We are a joint heir.”

Michael Jacobs

Romans 8:17

Now if we are children, then we are heirs---heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

1 Corinthians 15:27

For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.

If we re seated with Christ (Ephesians 1:17) and everything is under His feet then everything is under our feet!

True humility

Exodus 3:11

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

Moses was focused on who he was rather than on who God was - limitations instead of solutions. Moses was being humble in the worldly sense but not in the spiritual sense. For humility is knowing who you are in God. If Moses grasped this concept fully he would go forth in confidence.

Leading by example

1 John 2:29

If you know (perceive and are sure) that He Christ is absolutely righteous conforming to the Father's will in purpose, thought, and action, you may also know (be sure) that everyone who does righteously and is therefore in like manner conformed to the divine will is born (begotten) of Him God.

We are called to be ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). Ambassadors do not go to another country to learn how they live but to tell them about their own country. So we do not deal with sinners to tell them how bad they have it and how wrong they are but to tell them how good we have it in our kingdom.

Andy De Campos

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GOD LIKES CHANGE He DOESN'T LIKE man made REBELLION

What the Marxists have said for over 100 years about the exploitation of mankind by mankind is all true.

As a student of history I do not recall any period of even 10 years in any given country where any government promoted prosperity or solved a major problem. Certainly, we see many governments as being wasteful, corrupt and downright evil.

On the other hand I fail to have seen any revolution make things better. As a matter of fact, they make things worse.

Yet Jesus, through the Apostle Paul, tells us to submit to authority of ALL kinds.

Romans 13:1-6
13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.

But justice and the drive to see things change is so integral in our identification as humans made in God’s. Why? Because we are meant to have justice and to change things. That is done through prayer. One hour of praying in the spirit is worth more than 100 hours of  any other well meaning actions. God wants us to be involved in social programs but that is, I think, mostly for us to stay grounded in the lessons of service and in the gift of giving. Even intellectual discussion is sometimes healthy but those who want to actually change things, their main job is to pray.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (AMP)

Rejoice always and delight in your faith; be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

There is no problem with being under authority. The problem is when that authority does not work. God’s authority does work and in His authority, He tells us to be under the other worldly authorities. If we don’t accept them we cannot accept God’s. God wants us to have a right heart. God will fight for us in justice and all things.