Mentally, many people would agree that of course it is Jesus Christ and the fact that he was crucified, what's the big deal? What I am talking about is not simply accepting the fact that Jesus lived, died and rose from the dead on the third day. What I am talking about is not just receiving God's plan of salvation by asking Jesus into your heart and receiving eternal life.
That's just where it all begins. Yes, we all need to receive God's plan of salvation through Jesus which is the only way I might add, for our eternal salvation. But, it doesn't end there. I am convinced that Christians all over the world and for centuries have not truly understood that the power of God in our lives is Jesus Christ and him crucified. Do you know that we do not have to be poor, sick, sad, or defeated in our day-to-day life?
I do not see many Christians living the life that the Bible describes. I followed what I saw and was taught. I saw respectable Christians sick, so I thought that is just the way it is. I saw Christians who had been saved for years financially devastated; so I joined the ranks, but all the while trying to get out of debt. Did you ever think about the old testament people of God and how they didn't dodge creditors phone call, sickness, depression, oppression? Not if they were walking with God! If they disobeyed, and went off on their own, then yes, these conditions existed in their lives. But once they repented and turned back to God, the blessings continued to flow.
One day, I sat back and I asked, "If I have a much better covenant with Jesus (Hebrews 8:6), than the old testament saints, then how come I am broke, sick, worried, and depressed?"
Since we have the Holy Spirit of promise in us (those who have received Jesus as Lord and Saviour), and only certain people in the old testament just had visitations of God's Spirit from time to time, why don't I see the miracles in my life and in the body of Christ on a grander scale?
Did the Power Leave once Jesus Left?
Jesus said if he goes unto the Father, he would send the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that greater works than he did, will we do in his name. Now let's look at these verses in Ephesians 1:2-6 :(KJV)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
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:
Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
Can you read these verses and truly say that you cannot see what God's will is for us as his children, and see that on the most part the Body of Christ is not close to experiencing any of this in life?
What do I mean? Let's look closely at verse 2. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. What if instead of mimicking what we have been taught or even what we assume that this means (going to heaven when we die and being blessed then); let's look at this verse as saying God blessed us here on earth with all spiritual rights as Jesus experiences in heaven. The scriptures declares in 1 John 4:17 "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world."
If we are reading this correctly (and I submit that we are), in the day of judgement, we can experience boldness because we live our lives here in this world as he is. How is Jesus? Well, I am willing to believe that "as he is", Jesus is not experiencing sickness and disease, lack and poverty or depression and anxiousness.
When Jesus was here on earth in his traveling ministry, he financed a team of 12 men, (his disciples), so he was financially sound to house, feed and provide for them. Jesus, nor his team were sick and suffering. If so, wouldn't Jesus have healed them like he healed others he came in contact with? I have not read any account of Jesus being afraid or depressed. Oh, are you thinking of Gethsemane?
You Decide What Happened Here
Matthew 26: 36-46 (NIV)
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Well, let's look at that scene. Jesus was about to go through much pain and suffering at the hand of the people who he came to die for, so at that crossroad of his purpose, he had to surrender his will to God's will. He prayed and sought God to see if possible this could be changed, but he wanted God's will. Jesus experienced anguish with what was about to occur, but soon he had peace about it and was ready to do what he came to do. This is not a case of depression or oppression or worry. I am sure Jesus witnessed crucifixtions at some point in his lifetime and he saw the pain that those who died this way experienced.
We have to remember that God decided to send Jesus as a man to experience what we experience in life so that he could identify with us. Let's look at Hebrews 4: 14-16:
14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
I am glad that this account of Jesus praying so intently is in the scriptures. In this, God allowed us to see that he knew that there would be times that we would need to be sure that what he is directing us to do would at times cause a moment of pondering in us. But, in the end just like Jesus, we should surrender our will to his will and move forward knowing that God willnever leave us of forsake us!
This is why we need to understand the power of God that we have access to in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. Did Jesus die for you in vain? Jesus not only provided for our eternity, but also for our right now! God, through Jesus gave us a head start in life and gives us the best. God is the Creator of the universe. Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Holy Spirit is our Comforter, Helper and Guide. There are angels on assignment to help us, just like they came and helped Jesus after he was tempted of the devil in the wilderness.
WOW! How can we be defeated? How can we accept the lie of the enemy that we have no power? Why would anyone choose to sell their birthright of being a joint-heir with Christ by settling for what this world says we can and cannot have in life? (I have many more questions!)
CONCLUSION
So now what are your plans? Will you really do your homework and ask God for help with understanding your inheritance in the Kingdom of God to experience here and now? Ask, and it shall be given, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. Matthew 7: 7-11
For we are Ambassadors for Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:20
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