Embracing Grace

As a Christian, what does your salvation mean? What are you forgiven for? What is a relationship with God? When God says He forgives you and then casts that sin as far away as the east is from the west… what does He mean? Does He really forget our sins? 

Farther than from a sunrise to a sunset—
that’s how far you’ve removed our guilt from us.
Psalm 103: 12

For I will demonstrate My mercy to them

and will forgive their evil deeds,

and never remember again their sins.

Hebrews 8: 12 

I’ve had some interesting conversations with people recently who sometimes question their relationship with God… maybe more precisely what they’ve been forgiven for. It centers on a struggle with their sin consciousness (as opposed to having a clean conscience). Sin consciousness is the idea of being so focused on avoiding sin, we end up making it the center of our attention. Another way to think about this would be when we allow ourselves to worry whether or not God really loves and cares about us because we do something we know we shouldn’t do in a moment of weakness. The enemy (I like to call him the forever loser) also takes great pleasure in reminding us of our past shortcomings and failures, even those we know we already confessed and asked God to forgive us for. God forgets them, but unfortunately we don’t always.

This is not surprising because there are churches today that teach because we all sinned and we all fall short of the glory of God, no matter what we do we will continue to sin because it is our fallen human nature. Some people go so far as to proclaim they are a sinner saved by grace. Why would you ever want to label yourself a sinner? Please don’t say that. 

I believe God is teaching me there is more to learn and understand. I said this before, but I love The Passion Translation of the Bible. When I read this translation, I feel God’s love for us and gain new understanding by hearing the message in a way my heart embraces it with excitement and energy. 

The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Romans. In chapter 7 he teaches about the law given to Moses, its purpose and living under the confinements it provides to help us live a life pleasing God. It goes on to express those very confinements become barriers between us and God because the law makes us aware of our human weakness. When we fail to uphold every law, our sin separates us from God. That’s why so many animal sacrifices had to be offered to atone for man’s sin and was never adequate to keep us free. God knew we couldn’t conquer sin in our own strength, will power, or efforts. That’s why Jesus came to be our once and for all, said and done sacrifice.

The old system of living under the law presented us with only a faint shadow, a crude outline of the reality of the wonderful blessings to come. Even with its steady stream of sacrifices offered year after year, there still was nothing that could make our hearts perfect before God. For if animal sacrifices could once and for all eliminate sin, they would have ceased to be offered and the worshipers would have clean consciences. Instead, once was not enough so by the repetitive sacrifices year after year, the worshipers were continually reminded of their sins, with their hearts still impure.

Hebrews 10: 1-3

When we look at this passage at the beginning of chapter 8, Paul gives us a great starting point to consider a different perspective.

So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One. For the “law” of the Spirit of life flowing through the anointing of Jesus liberated me from the “law” of sin and death. God achieved what the law was unable to accomplish, because the law was limited by the weakness of human nature.

Romans 8: 1-3

Isn’t it beautiful! We are liberated from the law of sin and death. Jesus’ sacrifice severed the power of sin over us so when we choose to give our lives over to Him and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, His very presence and the presence of the Holy Spirit living in us now enables us to live free from the curse and bondage of sin. It is why the Bible tells us we are new creatures, new creations in Christ Jesus. 

Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new. And God made all things new, and reconciled us to Himself, and has given us the ministry of reconciling others to God. 2 Corinthians 5: 17-18 

God makes us brand new! He receives us as His own, an heir right along with His son Jesus. Again, in Colossians God points out His love and tells us we are worthy of the same inheritance because Jesus redeemed us.

My heart soars with joyful gratitude when I think of how God made me worthy to receive the glorious inheritance freely given to me by living in the light. He rescued me completely from the tyrannical rule of darkness and translated me into the kingdom realm of His beloved Son. For in the Son all my sins are canceled and I have the release of redemption through His very blood. Colossians 1: 12-14 

I love how it says we are rescued out of darkness and into the light of salvation. In the Gospel of John, Jesus himself teaches us this. 

“I speak eternal truth,” Jesus said. “When you sin you are not free. You’ve become a slave in bondage to your sin. And slaves have no permanent standing in a family, like a son does, for a son is a part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free from sin, then become a true son and be unquestionably free!

John 8: 34-36 

In Romans 4 we have more proof we are made right with our Heavenly Father because of Jesus sacrifice. 

Jesus was handed over to be crucified for the forgiveness of my sins and raised back to life to prove He made me right with God!

Romans 4: 25

When we are born again and receive our salvation from sin because of Jesus, we still live in a world corrupted with sin. We are now set apart, so we need to learn to be in the world and not be part of the corruption. Jesus prayed for us in the book of John and asked Father God to guard our hearts from the evil here and make us holy by God’s truth, the Word of God.

I have given them Your message and that is why the unbelieving world hates them. For their allegiance is no longer to this world because I am not of this world. I am not asking You remove them from the world, but I ask You guard their hearts from evil, for they no longer belong to this world any more than I do.

“Your Word is truth! So make them holy by the truth.

John 17: 14-17 

Did you know Jesus is continually praying for your triumph over the power of sin? Further down in the beautiful chapter of Romans 8, Paul gives us even more truth about God’s infinite love for us and what Jesus’ sacrifice accomplished.

So, what does all this mean? If God determined to stand with me, tell me, who then could ever stand against me? For God proved His love by giving me His greatest treasure, the gift of His Son. And since God freely offered Him up as the sacrifice for us all, He certainly won’t withhold from us anything else He has to give.

Who then would dare to accuse those whom God chose in love to be His? God Himself is the judge who issued His final verdict over them—“Not guilty!” Who then is left to condemn them? Certainly not Jesus, the Anointed One! For He gave His life for me, and even more than that, He conquered death and is now risen, exalted, and enthroned by God at His right hand. So how could He possibly condemn me since He is continually praying for my triumph? Who could ever divorce me from the endless love of God’s Anointed One? Absolutely no one! For nothing in the universe has the power to diminish His love toward me. Troubles, pressures, and problems are unable to come between me and heaven’s love. What about persecutions, deprivations, dangers, and death threats? No, for they are all impotent to hinder omnipotent love, even though it is written: All day long we face death threats for Your sake, God. We are considered to be nothing more than sheep to be slaughtered! Yet even in the midst of all these things, I triumph over them all, for God made me to be more than a conqueror, and His demonstrated love is my glorious victory over everything! So now I live with the confidence there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate me from God’s love. I’m convinced His love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in my present or future circumstances that can weaken His love. There is no power above me or beneath me—no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance me from God’s passionate love, which is lavished upon me through my Lord Jesus, the Anointed One!

Romans 8: 31-39 

Boy, I got so excited as God brought all this together. It went longer than I expected. There is one more thing on my heart. While every Word of this is true, the forever loser does prowl around like a roaring lion seeking who he can devour. Our salvation and all the promises we get to enjoy as a result of it is ours to keep. That’s not going to stop the enemy from trying to steal it from us. His only purpose is to steal, kill and destroy God’s children and their destiny of living in freedom because of what Jesus did for us. We can still make bad choices because God gives a free will. We can still make mistakes. Temptations will still be set before us to entice us.

The good news is, even when we stumble… all we have to do is tell God we are sorry and ask His forgiveness again. He wants nothing more and He will wrap us in His loving arms and receive us right back. The best way to avoid stumbling is to stay in God’s presence, read and study His Word every day, and ask Him to help you avoid the pitfalls of the enemy and He will. That’s why when Jesus taught us the Lord’s prayer it includes the part of, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. It’s a good prayer to pray every day. Another good one is this passage out of 1 Thessalonians.

Now, may the God of peace and harmony set me apart, making me completely holy. May my entire being—spirit, soul, and body—be kept completely flawless in the appearing of my Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. The one who calls me by name is trustworthy and will thoroughly complete His work in me.

1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24

If you are struggling with embracing God’s gift of grace and living a life of freedom because of our faithful God, I encourage you to seek God and study these scriptures until God helps you feel His incredible love for you. Choose to believe what His Word says. God does not lie. He created you to be part of His family. He loves you as His child. This is not something any of us can do in our own strength, will, or intellect. Building a relationship with God by investing time and love in His word and in prayer is what you need. Relationships are built when both parties contribute to the process.

Stunned and bewildered, His disciples asked, “Then who in the world can possibly be saved?” Looking into their eyes, Jesus replied, “Humanly speaking, no one, because no one can save himself. But what seems impossible to you is never impossible to God!” Matthew 19: 25-26

All things are possible with God. Embrace His loving grace today. Our life-union with Jesus opens the blessings of a freedom only God can give to live a full and rewarding life serving Him.

May the peace and shalom of God be with you.

Purim

May the blessings of divine grace and supernatural peace that flow from God our wonderful Father, and our Messiah, the Lord Jesus, be upon your lives. 

Philippians 1: 2

I continue to pray for your love to grow and increase beyond measure, bringing you into the rich revelation of spiritual insight in all things. This will enable you to choose the most excellent way of all —becoming pure and without offense until the unveiling of Christ. And you will be filled completely with the fruits of righteousness found in Jesus, the Anointed One—bringing great praise and glory to God!
Philippians 1: 9-11

Today is the first day of Purim. This is a joyous celebration by the children of God and Israelites recorded in the Book of Esther. God used a beautiful young Jewish orphan living in Persia, Esther, to stop a madman’s plot to destroy the lives of every Jew in the kingdom. The heroes of the story are Esther and her cousin Mordecai, who raised Esther as if she were his own daughter. 

King Xerxes of Persia banished his first wife, Queen Vashti, for not obeying his order to come to his lavish banquet so all the men could gaze on her beauty. His advisors later recommended the king gather all the beautiful young maidens to the royal harem to be considered as the new queen. Esther was one of the young women. She was immediately set apart for special treatment because God gave her favor in the eyes of the eunuch in charge of the haram.

Mordecai was a Jew who was divinely chosen to be one of the king’s advisors, giving him access to the palace. He instructed Esther and advised  her to keep her true identity as a Jew hidden. When it was time for Esther to be brought to King Xerxes, the king loved her and made her his queen. 

Haman, another of the king’s top advisors, was an evil man. He was promoted over all the other nobles and demanded everyone bow before him whenever he passed by. While the king’s other officials bowed to Haman in respect, Mordecai refused to do so because he bowed only before God. 

This infuriated Haman, so he plotted to destroy all the Jewish people in revenge. He went to the king and accused the Jews of not obeying the king’s laws and advised it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. King Xerxes handed over the fate of the Jewish people to Haman, who planned to kill them all.

Purim means “lots” in Hebrew. The holiday gets its name from the lots cast by Haman to determine the month the Jews were to be annihilated. Haman had letters sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the Jewish month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions. Purim is celebrated on the fourteenth and fifteenth day. It is always about a month before Passover.

When Mordecai learned of Haman’s intentions, he persuaded Esther to speak to the king on behalf of the Jewish people. Esther had not been called in by the king in thirty days. This was a dangerous thing for her to do, because anyone who came into the king’s presence without being summoned could be put to death. 

Mordecai urged Esther, “Do not think in your heart you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4: 13-14 

Esther told Mordecai to tell all the Jews to fast for her for three days as she prepared herself to meet the king. She and her maids did the same. She promised to then go to the king, even if it meant she would perish. 

God went before Esther and King Xerxes welcomed her. She invited the king and Haman to a banquet. The king promised to give Esther anything she desired up to half the kingdom. She invited the king and Haman to a second banquet the next day. After they dined, the king again asked Esther what she wanted. She told him about the evil plot against her people and begged for their salvation. Her faith in God and because of her bravery, saved the Jewish people. 

Haman was hanged on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai. His hatred of God’s people led to his own death and destruction. Mordecai was promoted to Haman’s vacated position. The king could not rescind his edict, but he gave his signet ring to Mordecai to issue another edict allowing all the Jews in Persia to defend themselves from their enemies. The Jewish community was not only saved from destruction, Jews were now respected and honored in Persia as everyone feared and respected Mordecai.

Esther and Mordecai inaugurated the festival of Purim as a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor to commemorate this miraculous turn of events. Mordecai decreed Jews were to always observe Purim as days of feasting and joy, giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor. 

God goes before us today even as He went before Mordecai and Esther. We may not call ourselves Jews, but as members of God’s family we too can celebrate this beautiful holiday. Take time today to thank God for all His blessings and for saving our very lives from destruction from the enemy. If you can, share food or a gift with someone in need in honor of Purim. God bless you.

Good Friday

Today is Good Friday on the Christian Calendar. It is the day we remember the passion, or suffering, and death on the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus was taken before the Sanhedrin, the highest council of the ancient Jews, and condemned. They did not have the authority to pronounce a death sentence, so they had Jesus brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor in Judea. After Pilate questioned Jesus, he determined Jesus was innocent. Then he learned Jesus was a Galilean, under Herod’s jurisdiction. Herod was in Jerusalem, so Pilate had him taken to Herod. Jesus refused to answer Herod's questions, so Herod sent him back to Pilate. Although Pilate found him innocent, he feared the crowds who wanted Jesus crucified, so he sentenced Jesus to death.

Jesus suffered a brutal beating. The soldiers mocked Him and made a crown of thorns and beat it on His head with a staff. They spit on Him, cursed Him and stripped Him naked. When they were finished, they made Him carry His cross up the hill to Calvary. Giant stakes were driven into His wrists and feet to attach Him on the cross. The cross was lifted up so the crowd could see, and onlookers shouted and jeered. Jesus hung in agony for probably about six hours before He cried, “It is finished.”

Good Friday was a sacred day for my late husband. Every year he would take the day off work, if possible, and I knew he would either stay in bed to pray or he would retreat to a quiet place to be alone and pray. I knew he would fast until God gave him a release, and it wouldn’t be before 3pm. Nearly every year, it seems like it turns dark and rains between noon and 3pm. That was about the hour Jesus declared, “It is finished.” The sky turned black. The curtain in the Jewish Temple ripped in two from top to bottom. An earthquake shook the ground and thunder crashed and lightening streaked across the sky.

This is a solemn day to reflect on the enormous price Jesus paid for each and every one of us. He was innocent. He NEVER sinned. He chose to give up His life our sakes. We are born cursed with sin.

When Adam sinned, the entire world was affected. Sin entered human experience, and death was the result. And so death followed this sin, casting its shadow over all humanity, because all have sinned.

Romans 5: 12

And His fullness fills you, even though you were once like corpses, dead in your sins and offenses. It wasn’t that long ago you lived in the religion, customs, and values of this world, obeying the dark ruler of the earthly realm who fills the atmosphere with his authority, and works diligently in the hearts of those who are disobedient to the truth of God. The corruption that was in us from birth was expressed through the deeds and desires of our self-life. We lived by whatever natural cravings and thoughts our minds dictated, living as rebellious children subject to God’s wrath like everyone else. Ephesians 2: 1-3

God made a way out of sin for us before He ever created the world. We can’t even fathom the deep abiding love God has for each and every one of us. He sacrificed His own Son to be the offering to pay the price for our sin. He offers us forgiveness and redemption of our sin as a free gift.

But God still loved us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy. Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, He united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by His wonderful grace! Ephesians 2: 4-5

God’s marvelous grace manifested in person, bringing salvation for everyone. This same grace teaches me how to live each day as I turn my back on ungodliness and indulgent lifestyles, and it equips me to live a self-controlled, upright, godly life in this present age. I continue to wait for the fulfillment of my hope in the dawning splendor of the glory of my great God and Savior, Jesus, the Anointed One. He sacrificed Himself for me that He might purchase my freedom from every lawless deed and to purify for Himself a people who are His very own, passionate to do what is beautiful in His eyes. Titus 2: 11-14

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of deep sorrows who was no stranger to suffering and grief. We hid our faces from Him in disgust and considered Him a nobody, not worthy of respect. Yet He was the one who carried our sicknesses and endured the torment of our sufferings. We viewed Him as one who was being punished for something He Himself had done, as one who was struck down by God and brought low. But it was because of our rebellious deeds He was pierced and because of our sins He was crushed. He endured the punishment that made us completely whole, and in His wounding we found our healing.

Like wayward sheep, we all wandered astray. Each of us turned from God’s paths and chose our own way; even so, Yahweh laid the guilt of our every sin upon Him. Isaiah 53: 3-6

I am blood bought and this blood of Jesus is my enforcer of my covenant relationship with Almighty God.

Father, thank You for Your love that reaches depths we cannot even fathom. Your beloved Son was the sacrifice You offered to forever free us from sin and its consequences. Love hung on the cross and gave up everything to rescue us.

All You ask of us in return is to acknowledge and confess our sin and ask You to forgive us. Then we simply receive Your gift of life made possible through Jesus who conquered death, overcoming sin and its evil hold on us. You are amazing, Lord. Thank You for all You did, all You are, and all You do for us. As we reflect on Your love and compassion, we praise You and submit ourselves to You to Your glory and honor. Amen.

If you haven’t already given your heart and life to Christ, I invite you to choose today to be washed by the blood, covered by the blood, saved by the blood, and healed by the blood. Make the most important decision of your life by praying this prayer right now.

The Armor of God

Everyday life is full of activities, work, and family, mixed with the constant bombardment of influence, pressure and ideas from the people we encounter and the people we want relationship with. It’s a constantly changing bustle of routine blending with the unpredictable. We learn to expect the unexpected… but we don’t always like or welcome the disruptions that bring fear, trouble, pain, worry, or the unknown.

Life is too hard to handle on our own. An important promise we have from God as part of our covenant relationship with Him is protection in the spiritual realm when we put on the armor of God Paul teaches about in the sixth book of Ephesians. The Bible often warns against underestimating our enemy, the demonic forces determined to accuse and persecute God’s children. I will explain this in more detail in a later post.

The Bible teaches us to put on the armor of God every day to fight against the evil strategies of the accuser, the devil. This is the prayer I say each day. It is a combination of scripture passages adapted in first person and other prayers. I invite you to join me and armor up each day before you move on with your other activities. It will not only help protect you from some unwanted unknowns, but it will help you grow in your relationship with your Heavenly Father. You will be obedient to His instructions He provides in His Word and gain a deeper understanding of His love for you. He doesn’t want us to live in fear. He wants us to know He is walking right beside us and taking on the enemies that are too big for us to handle.

Lord, as I prepare to engage the enemy, Your Word gives me instruction on the rules of spiritual warfare. Please help me heed Your instructions and not become an unnecessary casualty of war. In preparation, I declare my spirit man is clad with the armor of the Lord and the armor of Light.

To live like this is all the more urgent, for time is running out and you know it is a strategic hour in human history. It is time for us to wake up! For our full salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Night’s darkness is dissolving away as a new day of destiny dawns. So we must once and for all strip away what is done in the shadows of darkness, removing it like filthy clothes. And once and for all we clothe ourselves with the radiance of light as our weapon. We must live honorably, surrounded by the light of this new day, not in the darkness of drunkenness and debauchery, not in promiscuity and sensuality, not being argumentative or jealous of others.

Instead fully immerse yourselves into the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, and don’t waste even a moment’s thought on your former identity to awaken its selfish desires. 

Romans 13: 11-14

Now my beloved ones, I saved these most important truths for last: I am supernaturally infused with strength through my life-union with the Lord Jesus. I stand victorious with the force of His explosive power flowing in and through me.

I put on God’s complete set of armor provided for me, so I am protected as I fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! My hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. They are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage.

Because of this, I must wear all the armor God provides so I’m protected as I confront the slanderer, for I’m destined for all things and will rise victorious.

I put on truth as a belt to strengthen me to stand in triumph. I put on holiness as the protective armor that covers my heart. I stand on my feet alert, always ready to share the blessings of peace.

In every battle, I take faith as my wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at me from the evil one! I embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect my thoughts from lies. I take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God.

I pray passionately in the Spirit, as I constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. I pray the blessings of God on all His believers.

I take power given to me by Jesus Christ over all the power of the enemy. Christ commanded the host even as a righteous man when He was being judged by the Sanhedrin. He said, if I wanted to, I could call the army of heaven to fight on My behalf. As an heir with Christ, I have the right to do the same. 

Ephesians 6: 10-19 

Luke 10: 18-19 says, Jesus replied, “While you were ministering, I watched satan topple until he fell suddenly from heaven like lightning to the ground. Jesus imparted to me all His authority to trample over satans kingdom. I trample on every demon before me and overcome every power satan possesses. Absolutely nothing can harm me as I walk in this authority.

I put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect my heart, chest cavity and vital organs. I function and conduct my life affairs according to Your original plan and purpose for me. I surrender myself to God to be His sacred, living sacrifice, and live in holiness, experiencing all that delights His heart, making this my genuine expression of worship. It protects my reputation and my heart. I gird my loins with truth, it protects my integrity. I put on my feet the sandals of the Gospel of Peace to guide my every step. I put on the helmet of salvation to renew my mind daily. It protects me from negative thoughts that would derail Your purpose and plans for me. I raise the shield of faith before every fiery dart of the enemy. It secures my future and destiny. With the Word I take up the sword of the Lord to speak God’s Word out loud to grant me dominion and authority against the powers of hell. In the precious name of Jesus, I withstand in the evil day, triumphant because of my Lord and King, Jesus Christ! I walk in the authority of my risen and reigning savior, Jesus Christ. I am supernaturally infused with strength through my life-union with the Lord Jesus. I stand victorious with the force of His explosive power flowing in and through me. I am destined for all things and rise victorious. I pray passionately in the Spirit, constantly interceding with every form of prayer at all times. I pray the blessings of God on all His believers. I trample on every demon before me and overcome every power satan possesses.

I live with the confidence there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate me from God’s love. I’m convinced His love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in my present or future circumstances that can weaken His love. There is no power above me or beneath me—no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance me from God’s passionate love, lavished on me through my Lord Jesus, the Anointed One!

Romans 8: 38-39.

Celebrating Communion

This is the prayer I pray when I take communion in my home. I take this very seriously as I view myself participating in the new covenant Jesus came to die for. I offer explanation and Biblical context for this in a separate blog post titled Do this in Remembrance of Me. I urge you to please read it first. Feel free to use the following prayer as a starting point for your own communion celebration.

Precious Father, King Jesus, Holy Spirit, You are welcome here. I make my requests to the Father, in the name of Jesus, and by the power of Holy Spirit. Father, if there is anything in me keeping me separate from You, please show me. Holy Spirit of God, I ask You to pray through me, anoint me with Holy Oil and the purity of Your Spirit. Let the words of my mouth be pleasing to You Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Prepare me to receive Your body and blood as I remember You. Heavenly Father, I approach the throne of grace in the name and through the blood of Jesus Christ Your only begotten Son. Beloved Father, Your Word says if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1: 9.

Lord please forgive me. Heavenly Father, I repent before You. I repent for every sin, known or unknown, for every hateful, mean word I ever spoke. I choose with my will to forgive any offenses. Please take them Lord, and cleanse me. May the blood of Jesus wash over me so the accuser can’t speak against me. Forgive me Lord. Release me from everything holding me away from You. I present anything keeping me in bondage or separate from You and place it before You Lord. (Tell the Lord anything on your heart that needs to be confessed.) I ask the case the enemy is presenting saying he has a legal right to hinder my destiny, devour my life, or try to resist my spiritual breakthrough be rescinded in Jesus name. I repent before You and ask You Lord to forgive me and cause satans case against me to be silenced. 

So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One. For the “law” of the Spirit of life flowing through the anointing of Jesus liberated me from the “law” of sin and death. God achieved what the law was unable to accomplish, because the law was limited by the weakness of human nature. Romans 8: 1-3

May the blood of Jesus wash over me so the accuser of the brethren would not be able to speak against me. Heavenly Father, help me walk in the fear of the Lord, treat Your Holy Word with reverence, and tremble at Your Word. Lord, I decree I am forgiven in the name of Jesus. Thank You Lord for cleansing me from all unrighteousness. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Help me constantly echo God’s intense love for others. I receive His love as a canopy over my multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4: 8

Now, may the God of peace and harmony set me apart, making me completely holy. May my entire being—spirit, soul, and body—be kept completely flawless in the appearing of my Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. The one who calls me by name is trustworthy and will thoroughly complete His work in me. 1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24

Prepare me to receive Your body and blood as I remember You.

So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment on yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. 1 Corinthians 11: 27-30

For if we were judging ourselves thoroughly, we wouldn’t be coming under judgment. 1 Corinthians 11: 31

Jesus taught me to pray, Beloved Father, who is in Heaven, Holy is Your Name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give me this day my daily bread, and forgive me my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me. I choose with my will to forgive every offense, whether I am aware of it or not. Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen!

I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then He broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, He took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and His people—an agreement confirmed with My blood. Do this in remembrance of Me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until He comes again.

1 Corinthians 11: 23-26

Hold the bread, a symbol of Jesus’ body. Jesus asked me to eat this to remember He gave His body for me. I am doing this to remind myself and declare the truth I am in covenant with Jesus and as He lives in me in perfect unity no sickness can dwell in me, and I am the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5: 21

Christ celebrated His victory in advance when He gave the disciples the bread and wine at the Last Supper. The elements represent His body and blood. I remember the horrible price Jesus paid to redeem me. It represents the greatest victory in the history of creation. Satan was defeated, the curse was broken. I was restored into blessing. Jesus redeemed me back into the family of God. The peace and presence of God is in communion. Fill my body and my home as I take part of this bread and drink and praise You for Your love. Melt me, mold me, fill me and use me Lord to do Your work as You call me.

Thank You, Jesus, for becoming one of us, the Son of Man, to bring me back into Your family. You are the Bread of Life and as I take this bread it reminds me, I am to partake continually of Your life. Father, thank You for sending Jesus to live and die for me. The Son of God gave Himself up so I could live! Thank You His body was raised back to life. Thank You because of the grace of Jesus I have real life, and I can live forever with You. Thank You for giving me complete healing and life because Jesus suffered in my place. Amen. (Go ahead and eat the bread.)

Hold the cup, a symbol of Jesus’ blood. Jesus asked me to drink to remember my sins are washed away by the powerful new covenant Jesus made possible between God and me. Christ’s blood on the mercy seat of heaven guarantees this new covenant. Please show me mercy because of His blood. I drink to honor and place my faith fully in the shed blood of Jesus for the remission of my sins. I remember His blood does more than cleanse me of sin. It makes me a new creation in Christ Jesus. I am born again. I celebrate this great victory over sin and the curse. I receive health, wholeness, and salvation today. I decree through the blood of Christ, satan is forever defeated. Father, thank You for Your love for me. You allowed Your only Son to literally be poured out so I could live in a fully restored relationship with You with the promise of eternal life in heaven. Jesus’ shed blood was poured out in sacrifice for my sins to restore life and make it possible to redeem my life.

My heart soars with joyful gratitude when I think of how God made me worthy to receive the glorious inheritance freely given to me by living in the light. He rescued me completely from the tyrannical rule of darkness and translated me into the kingdom realm of His beloved Son. For in the Son all my sins are canceled and I have the release of redemption through His very blood.

Colossians 1: 12-14

Thank You, Jesus, for giving your blood. I proclaim You are my Lord and Savior as I eat and drink in Your name.

Jesus was handed over to be crucified for the forgiveness of my sins and was raised back to life to prove He made me right with God!

Romans 4: 25

The blood of the cross is the means of my justification and the resurrection is the proof God now sees me as righteous in His eyes. The strength I receive from feeding on You spiritually empowers me to go forth and proclaim You to the world. The power of Christ’s redemption is greater than the power of sin and death. Amen. I bring my life and my family’s life under the covenant promise of communion. We are covered and hidden under the shadow of God’s wings. (Go ahead and drink the cup.)

Jesus Prophesies about Holy Spirit -

John 14: 15-21

“Loving Me empowers you to obey My commands. I will ask the Father and He will give you another Savior, the Holy Spirit of Truth, who will be to you a friend just like Me—and He will never leave you. The world won’t receive Him because they can’t see Him or know Him. But you know Him intimately because He remains with you and will live inside you.

“I promise I will never leave you helpless or abandon you as orphans—I will come back to you! Soon I will leave this world and they will see Me no longer, but you will see Me, because I will live again, and you will come alive too. So when that day comes, you will know I am living in the Father and you are one with Me, for I will be living in you. Those who truly love Me are those who obey My commands. Whoever passionately loves Me will be passionately loved by My Father. I will passionately love him in return and reveal myself to him.”

Praise You Father, for not only sending Your Son to die in my place for my sins, but choosing to go even further and sending Your Holy Spirit to live in me and lead me to all truth and to a deeper relationship with You. Please continue to reveal Yourself to me. Help me grow in my understanding of Your truth. Please fill me with Your love. Help me love You back with the same measure. Thank You for all Your abundant blessings.

This is why I continually thank God for my life, because I received God’s message wholeheartedly. I embrace it not as the fabrication of men but as the Word of God. The Word continues to be an energizing force in me who believes. 1 Thessalonians 2: 13

Do this in Remembrance of Me

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

After supper He took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and His people—an agreement confirmed with My blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.” Luke 22: 19-20

We celebrate communion to remember the sacrifice Jesus made when He died on the cross for the redemption of our sins so we can live in relationship with God and have eternal life. Jesus broke the bread and served the wine at the last supper before His death and told His disciples to do this in remembrance of Him.

While many churches teach the importance of communion, they tend to disagree on policies and procedures about how to celebrate and even argue on finer points. I choose to keep it simple and just believe what the Bible says. The Bible does not limit who can serve communion, what the elements should be, or how often to celebrate. I suggest you use a bite of bread or a cracker. The drink can be wine, juice, water, or whatever you have on hand.

The sharing of the bread and wine at the last supper was the beginning of the new covenant between God and us. It’s significant they were celebrating the Passover. At Passover the High Priest would slaughter a spotless lamb so the people’s sins would be forgiven for another year. Jesus is the spotless lamb of God who was slain to redeem us of all our sins forever. This new covenant between God and His people gives us redemption from sin and the opportunity to live forever in Heaven when we pass from this life to eternity. Jesus taught us to remember His love and the forgiveness of our sins every time we share communion.

I take communion every day. I just use a cracker and some juice. I make it part of my daily prayer time. I acknowledge Jesus’ sacrifice and thank Him. The more I do this, the more God shows me how important it is to take part of this. He teaches me the significance of this new covenant. It helps me recognize the Lord as my Savior for dying to give me freedom from my sins so I can fellowship with God. Taking the body and blood of Jesus means I can be healed because Jesus took His beating for my healing.

He himself carried our sins in His body on the cross so we would be dead to sin and live for righteousness. Our instant healing flowed from His wounding. 1 Peter 2: 24

The Bible admonishes us to approach this covenant meal with holiness and humility.

So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment on yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. 1 Corinthians 11: 27-30

This simply means to pray before you begin and confess any sin and anything that may be separating you from God. Don’t let anger with someone, unforgiveness, offense, or anything else come between you and the Lord, or you and someone else. Acknowledge and admit it to the Lord and ask for forgiveness.

“And when you pray, make sure you forgive the faults of others so your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you withhold forgiveness from others, your Father withholds forgiveness from you.” Matthew 6: 14-15

If possible, if it’s something between you and another person, go and ask forgiveness from them and make it right. Unforgiveness is a big hinderance to answered prayer and will separate you from God.

For if we were judging ourselves thoroughly, we wouldn’t be coming under judgment. 1 Corinthians 11: 31

As Paul explains, when we judge ourselves, we examine our hearts and tell the Lord and receive forgiveness. I like to recite the Lord’s Prayer before I take communion. When I pray, forgive me my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me… I follow it with, I choose with my will to forgive every offense, whether I am aware of it or not. This way, if there is something I’m not currently aware of in my heart I still present it and purposefully choose to forgive. I don’t want anything separating me from Jesus.

After I’ve taken the body and blood, I add a prayer to thank Jesus for sending Holy Spirit to live in me and help me get to know Him better. Holy Spirit lives in us and teaches us and reveals mysteries from the Word when we read it. Being saved means we become new. Our sin-stained nature is renewed.

Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new. 2 Corinthians 5: 17

Now Christ lives His life in you! And even though your body may be dead because of the effects of sin, His life-giving Spirit imparts life to you because you are fully accepted by God. Yes, God raised Jesus to life! And since God’s Spirit of Resurrection lives in you, He will also raise your dying body to life by the same Spirit that breathes life into you! Romans 8: 10-11

Guard well this incomparable treasure by the Spirit of Holiness living within you.

2 Timothy 1: 14

In a separate post titled Celebrating Communion I share the prayers I say when I take communion. Feel free to use it as a starting point for your devotion time to share communion. 

 

Freedom Focused Faith

What is freedom focused faith about? It emphasizes the only real freedom we can enjoy. When we choose to put our faith in Jesus and trust the one and only God of the universe we are freed from the bondage of sin. Sin separates us from God. God invites us to be a part of His family by simply choosing to no longer sin and to accept Jesus sacrifice for us that cleanses us of all our sin and makes us whole and acceptable to stand before our Father as His child.

“I speak eternal truth,” Jesus said. “When you sin you are not free. You’ve become a slave in bondage to your sin. And slaves have no permanent standing in a family, like a son does, for a son is a part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free from sin, then become a true son and be unquestionably free! John 10: 34-36

I know the truth, and the truth sets me free. John 8: 32

What do I believe? We all sin and live in a fallen world corrupted and contaminated with sin and the consequences of sin. The consequence of sin is death. Paul teaches us this in Romans 6:

What are we to do, then? Should we sin to our hearts’ content since there’s no law to condemn us anymore? What a terrible thought! Don’t you realize grace frees you to choose your own master? But choose carefully, for you surrender yourself to become a servant—bound to the one you choose to obey. If you choose to love sin, it will become your master, and it will own you and reward you with death. But if you choose to love and obey God, He will lead you into perfect righteousness.

And thanks be to God, for in the past you were servants of sin, but now your obedience is heart deep, and your life is being molded by truth through the teaching you are devoted to. And now you celebrate your freedom from your former master—sin. You’ve left its bondage, and now God’s perfect righteousness holds power over you as His loving servants.

I’ve used the familiar terms of a “servant” and a “master” to compensate for your weakness to understand. For just as you surrendered your bodies and souls to impurity and lawlessness, which only brought more lawlessness into your lives, so now surrender yourselves as servants of righteousness, which brings you deeper into true holiness. For when you were bound as servants to sin, you lived your lives free from any obligation to righteousness.

So tell me, what benefit ensued from doing those things you’re now ashamed of? It left you with nothing but a legacy of shame and death. But now, as God’s loving servants, you live in joyous freedom from the power of sin. So consider the benefits you now enjoy—you are brought deeper into the experience of true holiness that ends with eternal life! For sin’s meager wages is death, but God’s lavish gift is life eternal, found in your union with our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. Romans 6: 15-23

What glorious news! Not only are we free from the curse of sin but we can live in joyous freedom! Our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord places a supernatural peace inside us and we can experience joy no matter what is happening around us. On top of that, we are given the gift of eternal life. Death may take our physical body at some point, but we are confident our soul will live forever in Heaven.

Now we take the next step and choose to live a life dedicated to God and doing what He created us to do. We turn our back on sin. We choose to no longer sin. Yes, it is possible to not sin anymore.

God’s marvelous grace manifested in person, bringing salvation for everyone. This same grace teaches me how to live each day as I turn my back on ungodliness and indulgent lifestyles, and it equips me to live a self-controlled, upright, godly life in this present age. I continue to wait for the fulfillment of my hope in the dawning splendor of the glory of my great God and Savior, Jesus, the Anointed One. He sacrificed Himself for me that He might purchase my freedom from every lawless deed and to purify for Himself a people who are His very own, passionate to do what is beautiful in His eyes. Titus 2: 11-14

He saved me, resurrecting me through the washing of rebirth. I am made completely new by the Holy Spirit, whom He splashed over me richly by Jesus, the Messiah, my Life Giver. Titus 3: 6

Did you catch that? We are equipped with the ability to live a self-controlled, upright, godly life here and now. When we accept Jesus into our hearts as our Lord and Savior and make Him ruler over our life, we are made brand new by Holy Spirit who now lives in us. Holy Spirit is our secret superpower living in us to help us make the right choices to live a life pleasing and acceptable to God our Almighty Father. If we mess up and do something wrong, Holy Spirit will convict us and show us. All we need to do is say we are sorry and ask for forgiveness and God will forgive us. Then we move forward and don’t do it again.

Please pray with me today.

Lord Jesus, thank You I am washed by the blood, covered by the blood, saved by the blood, healed by the blood, and you devil can’t defeat the blood! I am blood bought and this blood of Jesus is my enforcer of my covenant. What I declare in faith God will do. I am above and not beneath. God fills me with His fire, authority, and divine intel to raise me up in and with an unshakable fortified faith that can’t be taken away from me. I feel His fire and it can’t be stolen. I walk in ferocious faith. I’m ready for new assignments. I walk in His grace, His anointing and His power.

This is why I continually thank God for my life, because I received God’s message wholeheartedly. I embrace it not as the fabrication of men but as the Word of God. The Word continues to be an energizing force in me who believes. 1 Thessalonians 2: 13

I fill my thoughts with God’s words

until they penetrate deep into my spirit.

Then, as I unwrap His words,

they will impart true life and radiant health

into the very core of my being.

So above all, I guard the affections of my heart,

for they affect all I am.

I pay attention to the welfare of my innermost being,

for from there flows the wellspring of life.

Proverbs 4: 21-23