I cannot tell you much about age 5, there are only a few memories; yet, one memory stands out clearly.  One Sunday morning Dr. M.R. Dehaan was preaching as I heard his voice over the radio.  I was in the kitchen entrance and facing the light switch.  Since mom never used time outs for punishment, I cannot tell you why I was there facing the light switch.  I cannot tell you how a 5 year old could be filled with shame and guilt, knowing that I was unworthy of Christ; yet,  I remember that overwhelming feeling of unworthiness and need to have God in my life. Dr. DeHaan as he was well known for was explaining that the blood of Christ was shed to cover our guilt and sin and when the invitation came to ask Christ to come into my heart, I accepted Christ as My Savior.   It has taken most of my Christian journey to begin to understand what it meant to be in Christ.  I desired with all my heart to please Him.  I wanted to gain His love and somehow felt that each time I had failed Him that perhaps He had saved me; but maybe I would never be good enough to earn His love.  It was all that I desired.  Still, each time I failed I feared His wrath would  be poured out on me.  I knew my salvation was by Grace, but believed that I still somehow needed to work diligently to gain His pleasure.  That lack of understanding as to what it means to be in Christ became my stumbling block over the years.  Still, it was His love and His Mercy which ever so gently began a work in me to transform me into the likeness of Christ–one glory at a time, tiny steps toward changing my heart, revealing to me the fullness of love that He had always had for me.  As Christians too often we go about our journey without fully realizing who we are in Christ.  Because we do not recognize the positions we hold as part of being the chosen bride of Christ, we go about our walk with the hesitancy, stumbling and falls that one sees in a small baby learning to walk.  In fact I watch little Haley as her legs wobble beneath her.   Her hands reach out to hold herself up to grasp hold of anything within her reach to steady that walk.  How much like many years of my Christian walk, reaching, grasping to hold on to anything that could steady my walk and never fully recognizing the depth, the breadth, the heighth of God’s love that was holding me firm or the magnitude of all that I truly possessed as a result of my being In Christ.  It is for that reason that I want to share with you from the Word of God, what positions are yours because you are in Christ.  Only then can you boldly walk forth and live out the life that you have in Christ with confidence and strength of spirit.  If you do not know Christ as your Savior, my prayer is that you will see His Glorious magnificence and will ask Him into your heart today.

As we looked at Paul’s final visit to the elders of the church of Ephesus, we saw many characteristic fruits that were displayed in Paul’s life as a result of Paul understanding and living forth his life in Christ.  That phrase "In Christ" is first used referring to the ministry of Paul in Acts 24: "4 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ."  Yet that same phrase occurs over and over within the letters of Paul.  This was the key pivotal truth of the gospel that there is no salvation through any other means but in Christ and Christ alone. Romans 3: "24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."  Yet, as Paul knew the positions we have as a result of our being in Christ were much more than just a key to get us into heaven–it was our very being, our joy, our hope and the only means that we have to live out this glorious gift that we have received.  That is why Paul always taught the young believers about what great and mighty positions they possessed through faith in Christ.  Were I to just list them, I fear you might as I did some time ago not grasp their significance; therefore we will go through them with a little more depth.  Let us go to the book of Ephesians and begin with Chapter one while exploring the first 4 positions we hold as a result of our being in Christ. 

Ephesians 1:

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Position #1:  Saints.  Because we are redeemed by the blood of Christ, we have been declared Saints.  Our sainthood was purchased by Christ.  Just as Paul wrote in Romans, Christ by paying our penalty for sin not only cleansed us of our unrighteousness but also clothed us in His Righteousness–declaring us to be saints (sanctified and filled with righteousness).  So you might say, then why do I fail so much?  Partly because you don’t believe it or grasp it.  We choose so often to believe the other truth of "I am but a sinner saved by grace".  We hold onto that concept of I am a sinner so we say  “what does it matter whatever I try I will fail, so might as well not try anyway.  It does not matter if I sin, because grace has saved me and it will not change my getting into heaven.” WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.  The truth is I am a saint named so by Christ and until I recognize that, hold firm to that truth, believe that truth I will never allow His power in me to live a life reflecting that truth. 

Position #2:   Blessed.  I am blessed with all spiritual blessings–joy, hope, faith, laughter, love, and peace are mine.  Some might want to claim wealth, fame and the name it claim it game.  But what we have is much greater than any counterfeit possession or counterfeit joy.  Our spiritual blessings include all that which is in heaven and earth.  An overflowing fountain of praise and worship to God, our Father and to Christ our Redeemer which fills us and overflows.  Have you ever felt overwhelmingly moved at a worship service?  Well that is nothing, absolutely nothing to compare with what we actually possess within us and what we will know when we stand before Him with His Glory, His Love, and His Joy.

Position #3:   Chosen.  Look at this and I wish I could on paper reflect the rising inflection of my voice as I tell you with abounding hope and joy "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"  He chose me. In love, He chose me.  I will not tell you that I understand all there is to predestination; but I can say without a doubt and with utter amazement–He chose me.  This unworthy, sometimes foolish, sometimes self centered, wretch that I am–He chose me.  How did that little 5 year old understand her need of salvation, unless God revealed it to me.  So once more–He chose me and He has never let go of me.  That changes everything.  Every day I must fall down before Him who loved me so and sing as the words of the song sung by Phillips, Craig, and Dean in "Your Grace Still Amazes me".  Listen to these words,  "Your grace still amazes me, your love is still a mystery, each day I fall on my knees because your grace still amazes me."  When I realize that He chose me how could I not fall prostate before Him and offer Him all of my heart, my mind, my life so that He can use it as He wills. 

Position #4:   Child of God.  I was adopted into His family as His child and joint-heir with Jesus Christ.  That is no little deal.  I was picked up off the street, chosen and carried into the Royal Palace of the King of the Universe, the Creator of all and am called His Child.  Look at who my Daddy is?  Romans 8: "14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."  So why would I ever want to put back on my filthy robes and eat out of trash cans again when my Daddy has everything I could ever need.  Metaphorically that is exactly what we do when we fail to recognize our position as a child of God and dig around in lusts, greed, desires, and lasciviousness searching for joy when we already possess it in Christ.  All we really need to do is sit quietly at the feet of our Father, learning of Him, talking with Him to experience full joy and possess all that we need.  What do I really need besides Him? 

These 4 positions are only a few of those we will discover and claim through this series; but, let me ask you a question. 

Dear Child of God–Chosen, Blessed, Saint; why would you ever be downcast?  Why would you ever accept defeat?  Why would you ever chase after futile desires when you have everything you desire In Christ?  Do you know who you are in Christ?  Then, rest in these truths and let them fill you so that they will overflow like fountains of life spilling forth for a world who needs Him to see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXVUYC_ykwE (Preview)    "Your Grace Still Amazes Me"

What does it mean to be In Christ?  How would that change our actions, our choices?  We know that it is our only hope of glory is Christ abiding in us (Colossians 1:27), having taken the filthy rags of our sins, covering us with His righteousness so that we might be joint-heirs with Him.  Salvation is that, Christ in us; yet, then what does it mean for us to Abide In Christ and to live out that Christian life for all to see.  I wish that I could tell you that from the day Christ came to live in my heart 53 years ago I never failed in this Christian walk.  I wish I could tell you that my life has always exemplified Christ in all that I have done or said; but that would be a lie.  I can tell you that there has never been a time that God let go of my hand.  Ever so gently teaching, transforming, and changing this heart so that I could grasp the truth of His magnificent grace, mercy, and love.  Learning to Abide in Christ is pivotal to our Christian walk and to our living out our Christian walk. Acts 17: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being.  This the Apostle Paul knew so well and this he taught throughout his missionary journeys,this he emphasized throughout his letters, and this was the life he lived.  So, let me begin by introducing to you, Paul the missionary first and then begin to unravel this mystery of how to Abide in Christ, to live In Christ.  Lets look at 5 fruits of Abiding in Christ shown in Paul’s words to the elders of Ephesus before his departure.  Paul had come to Ephesus where he taught them of Christ.  He returned to the church there shortly before returning to Jerusalem where he knew that he would most likely be imprisoned or killed.  

Acts 20: 17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

Fruit #1: Serving the Lord.  Being God’s servant, always ready to bow down before Him and to go where ever God would bid Him go.  Listening for His voice.  Responding with, "Yes, Lord and Master of My Heart and Soul.  Here am I send me." 

Fruit #2:  Humility.  Paul knew that it was by grace and grace alone that he was saved.  He counted not himself worthy; rather, he knew of his utter unworthiness and for that reason desired, loved, sought and served Christ with everything within him.  Paul knew that only when abiding in Christ, he would be able to bring forth fruit.

Fruit #3:  Boldness.  He knew that his life was in peril where ever he went; yet, he taught the truth of Christ and Salvation, holding back nothing of the truth, teaching loudly, publicly as well as individually from house to house.  He was preparing to return to Jerusalem where God was sending him though he had already been advised by the spirit that he would be imprisoned or killed.  Boldly, he followed after Christ.  Think about it.  Had Paul not been willing to go and be imprisoned, we would have never had the incredible letters written to the churches by Paul, from prison.  One servant, willing to go boldly where God lead him wrote 13 (and possibly 14-if you consider Hebrews as Pauline) books of the New Testament as he allowed the Holy Spirit to write through him. 

Fruit #4:  Faithfulness which he counted more precious than his own life.  He would rather die than to disobey or sin against Christ.  He carried forth the mission God gave him to teach, to preach, and to testify of the gospel of Grace of God and salvation in Christ.  He would rather die than to defame the name of Christ.  His testimony was too important, the kingdom of God was too important for him to defame the name of Christ in any way by following after any lust or the desires of a covetous self-exalting heart.  He died each day to those desires, those sorrows, those temptations that were ever present.  He died daily to self so that Christ might live through him and be displayed to the world.  Oh, that everyone of us see the effects that our sin and self centered hearts has on our testimony for Christ and take up battle against it everyday.

Fruit #5   Joy Yes, Paul had learned that the only true Joy is that which is found in an intimate relationship with God.  All other joys are mere counterfeit joys which at the end of the day lay in a heap of rubbish, burning. 

Learning to live "In Christ, Abiding in Christ" is of utmost importance to each and everyone of our journeys.  Please join along with me as we explore the magnificence of this way of living as we learn what it means to be In Christ. 

I pray with all my heart that you listen to the following song and words of John Piper.  I encourage you to follow John Piper on youtube, twitter and at desiringgod.org.  The following link, I know will bless you as it did me.

 

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyUPz6_TciY

GOD’S PLAN OF LOVE

Oh, Love Divine, what greater thought

That you should suffer, bleed and die

To pay my sin, my freedom bought

Though I screamed Crucify

With every action of my life

I cast aside your pleading cries

I caused you pain, I gave you strife

And chose to follow after lies

I could not see your beauty then

As now I see your face

Your light shone forth, e’er so dim

That I might see Your Grace

You drew me out, you pulled me in

That I might then seek you

You covered then my ugly sin

Your righteousness to view

Such love Divine, pursuing me

Your Joy and Hope to share

How could I run, How could I flee

Naught else could e’er compare

Unto the hope I find in You

As now I turn to seek your Face

Your Glory shines and lights my view

You guide me on at gentle pace

Transforming thus my wretched heart

Unto the one You knew I’d be

Your joyous love ne’er to depart

For all eternity.

-Effie

The last two weeks when I have gone to take care of the grandchildren I have noticed that Aiden awakens with an obsessive desire to see his daddy.  He appears frightened, a little panicked.  Ron works a 3 pm to 3 am so is in the middle of his sleep as this occurs.  Aiden stands outside Ron’s bedroom door pleading, "Daddy, come back.  Daddy, where are you?"  Ron finally emerges, tired and sits with him a little while after which Aiden is calm, peaceful and ready for his day.  Then, Ron can go back to sleep and Aiden’s fears are transformed to peace and joy.  He needs to know Daddy is there.   Have you ever just needed to know that your heavenly Father is there?  You awaken in a panic and "Daddy, where are you?"  Then you pray.  Prayer–talking to God is key to our walking throughout the day.  We must remember who our Father is and en-wrap ourselves in His Abiding Love and Joy.  Paul the apostle frequently prayed for the churches that he wrote to and included those prayers in his letters.  As all scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.)  God is ever present and I find it amazing that He even provided us with prayer examples throughout the inspired scriptures.  Prayers that have such deep impact so filled with depth of meaning so that we may cling to each word as a shield and sword for our lives.  A reminder that our Daddy is right there with us in the midst of any trial or circumstances, we have nothing to fear. So it is that when we pray God’s own prayers back to Him, there is a might and power that supersedes all other.  I want to examine this prayer in Ephesians 3 and I desire to pray this prayer for each and everyone of my readers and friends here.  I also ask that you take a moment to pray this prayer for me and for someone else that you know.  We can start revival within our own hearts and within the world around us, one person at a time, one prayer at a time.  Let’s look at the power of this prayer and what it is asking verse by verse.

Ephesians 3:

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Verse 14:  I fall down on my knees to God the Father, the Creator of this Universe who is so worthy of my praise, so Glorious that I must bow my knee before Him, who has placed Jesus Christ as the Lord of my Life. He who so desired to pour out His love and Joy upon us that He sent His Son to earth to sacrificially pay our debt of sin on the cross, to suffer the agony of separation from His beloved Son, and then to raise Him from the grave victorious over sin’s power.  I must bow my knees in utter surrender to the Father.

Verse 15:  He, God is Father over all of heaven and all we who are adopted into His Kingdom. Do you know the significance of that?  He is my Father.  I can run to Him with any problem, any fear, any doubt and He will sit with me for a while.  Romans 8: "14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."   Do you see the significance of that?  He chose to adopt me.  I am chosen.  Do you know Him as Father?  If so shout it out loud, "I AM Chosen to be His child."

Verse 16: My inner man, that part of me that trembles with fear, doubt and sorrow.  That part of me that I would hide from the world will be strengthened by the might of His Spirit.  Think about this.  The strength of His Spirit entering, filling and driving out all fear; dispelling all worry, removing all doubt.  This is done out of the abundance of the riches of His Glory.  That Glory which is so great in magnitude that our earthly bodies cannot look fully upon it.  The riches of the Creator and owner of all the Universe–the power of the one who by His Voice can command let there be light and all the stars and suns be created in one breath.  That is what can strengthen your inner man.

Verse 17:  Faith, that which is the substance of everything hoped for.  Faith which believes that Christ is and that He paid my price that I might have His Indwelling presence.  That Christ in me and I in Christ have everything, joint heir with Him–that I might be a recipient of His Joy, His love.  Rooted and grounded in that love with such depth that no storm can shake me free or cause me to doubt His love for me.

Verse 18: Because of His love and His Salvation, He has taken my sin and clothed me in His righteousness, thereby proclaiming me a saint. His love has cast my sins away as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12) That is not as far as these mere humans eyes can see; but rather as far as God can see as He looks down upon all the galaxies that would be east from west beyond infinity.  Can you begin to comprehend the breadth, the height, the length and the depth of His love for you?

Verse 19:  Do you know the love of Christ?  Do you feel the power of that love rising up and overflowing in your heart?  That love fills you and you are filled with the power and the might of God to go out and battle against every attack of Satan whispering, "Really, did God say that? Surely He didn’t mean it.  He couldn’t possibly really love you?"  By the power and might of God’s Spirit filling you shown by Christ’s love for you, tell Satan where he should go with all His lies and stand firm in your faith, victorious over sin’s power, grounded and rooted in God’s love.

Verse 20: God will perform a mighty work in you, through you and for you?  What, dear child, can you possibly have to worry about?  He who rests in His own love for you, singing a song of joy over you while cradling you in His arms (Zephaniah 3:17); why would you ever doubt His love for you and His desire to do marvelous and wondrous things for you?

Verse 21:  "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen" Let the praise song begin and continue on forever and ever and ever.  Amen

Can you pray this prayer for me today?  I have for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYV7hpD9JTI

 

I wanted to share with you the video of a program I presented at a Nursing Home.  I was told that the churches had not been coming and so many residents could not go out to church.  There are some unique difficulties in teaching in a NH; but there is great reward.  I hope you enjoy this video. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppsXaGoyaok (Preview)