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Jesus was nailed, that I not be!
Colossians 2:14-15 (GW) - He did this by erasing the charges that were brought against us by the written laws God had established. He took the charges away by nailing them to the cross. He stripped the rulers and authorities of their power and made a public spectacle of them as he celebrated his victory in Christ.
Jesus was drilled, that I not be!
Jesus became my sin. He became that ugly serpent (yet golden serpent) that Moses raised atop a staff to stop the plague!
2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV) - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Jesus absorbed all my sin - past, present and future - into his very being, forever and finally attaching it to the cross and leaving it there for all eternity! He nailed both the law and laws I broke and my broken relationship with Him to that tree! My sin is on that bloody tree and no longer haunts me! O Hallelujah! What a miracle! 'Tis the most brilliant and intelligent masterstroke of eternity!
The Lamb hanging is now the Lamb seated, and soon shall be the Lamb riding and coming!
From seated on the throne, to cradled by his mother, to crawling as an infant, to stumbling as a toddler, to walking dusty roads as an adult, to seated before a carpenter's workbench, to laying prostrate before His Father in the garden, to kneeling before a whipping post, to hanging on a cross, to laying dead in a tomb in total darkness, to descending into Sheol, to standing back up engulfed in resurrection life, to translating himself to Heaven to present Himself and His blood to the Father, to translating himself back to earth outside the tomb and behind closed doors and on beaches, to ascending in a cloud and seating Himself on His throne at the Father's right hand... JESUS HAS ASSUMED EVERY POSTURE AND POSITION POSSIBLE TO MANKIND... and to God!
I cannot be praying at all times but I can maintain a POSTURE OF PRAYER at all times, fellowshipping my Father on and off all through the day.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) - Pray without ceasing.
I cannot think the thoughts of God every second of every day. (I do have to attend to work and errands of this life.). But I can combine things together and maintain a POSTURE.
I can mediate the Word of God off and on throughout my day as a POSTURE. I can POSTURE myself on the latest promises or truths He has been showing me from His Word.
Joshua 1:8 (GW) - Never stop reciting these teachings. You must think about them night and day so that you will faithfully do everything written in them. Only then will you prosper and succeed.
I cannot win the entire world to Christ, but I can maintain a POSTURE OF EVANGELISM, staying ready to share Jesus and what He's done for me. I can ask God for opportunities to share Him. I can start conversations with others that may lead to more. I can tell my story to whomever will listen. I can distribute the Gospel in print and online. I can schedule and participate in outreach activities like jail ministry, nursing home ministry, housing project ministry, or other events. I can give money towards worthy endeavors that reach people for Jesus! I can either live in a state of condemnation and inferiority with a sense of inadequacy about what I CANNOT OR AM NOT DOING... or I CAN LIVE IN PEACE AND VICTORY BY SIMPLY DOING AS MUCH AS I CAN TO REACH OTHERS FOR JESUS as the Spirit presents opportunities to me and opens hearts.
Stop beating yourself up over what you CANNOT DO and focus on the few things YOU CAN DO!
God wants to give us GOOD POSTURE! He wants us POISED and READY to pray, to share Jesus, to testify, to worship!
Watch and pray! Jesus said.
WHERE and TO WHOM we are connected is of UTMOST IMPORTANCE!
We cannot become all we are to become without being in the RIGHT ENVIRONMENT... being connected to the RIGHT SPIRITUAL LEADERS, and being connected to the RIGHT FRIENDS!
Geography matters!
Associations matter!
Friendships matter!
Atmosphere is EVERYTHING!
WHO you surround yourself with determines where you go and what you experience in this life.
WHERE you live, WHERE you work,
WHERE you worship, all determine WHO YOU BECOME and WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISH WITH GOD while on earth!
Associate with the wrong people, and down you go... automatically! Without even trying!
Try to do it all INDEPENDENTLY, and down you go, automatically!
Be connected to the wrong church family, and be stunted in growth at best, automatically!
Be connected to the right church family where God places you, and up you grow, automatically!
Let your Father POSITION you and POSTURE you!
POSTURE and POSITION are of utmost importance!
Be in the RIGHT PLACE at the RIGHT TIME with the RIGHT PEOPLE!
POSTURE and POSITION in God!
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