A few years ago, I wrote a short devotional titled “We Will Meet Again.” A brother in Christ, John Baker, turned this into a really nice video. John recently remade this video in HD. He made a nice video into an even nicer video. I hope it brings comfort to you. – gc
Posts Tagged ‘resurrection’
Living In The Ascension
02
Jul
(Ephesians 2:6Ephesians 2:6
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
WP-Bible plugin) “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
We are ascended. Everything about us in Christ is designed and intended to function in the heavenly realm. When we walk by faith, when we seek those things which are above, when our thinking is the mind of Christ, we are living the ascended life. To live this kind of life, we need the resurrection life of Christ. Our flesh is cut off and we are raised to walk in the newness of life in Christ.
It’s tough to live in the ascension because we surrounded by the earthly realm. When we submit in the earthly realm, we are living a descended life. When we subject our finances, our jobs, our homes, our families, our marriages to the earthly, we are living less than who we are. When we throw ourselves to the mercies of the elements of this life, we are living less than who we are. When we think our self-efforts are the key to success in this life, we are living less than who we are. But when everything in our lives is submitted to the Lord, self is moved out of the way and we take our rightful position in the ascended life. The question I need to answer daily is: Do I accept the reality of the ascended life or do I believe and live in a reality descended from the true life I possess in Christ?
Renewed Thought – There can be no resurrection life without a life that has been crucified.
Resurrection! He’s Alive!
04
Apr
I posted this song last year too. You probably heard it at some time or another. Maybe you heard Dolly Parton or Ray Boltz sing it. But Don Francisco wrote it and in my opinion has the greatest version. Here he is with Wendy with a full orchestra and choir back up. I only recently saw this version and it is awesome. You can get more of Don’s music at Rocky Mountain Ministries.
How I Think Is How I Act – Romans 8:5
08
Feb
(Rom 8:5Rom 8:5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
WP-Bible plugin) “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”
There is a verse in the book of Proverbs that starts out, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:…” (Pro 23:7Pro 23:7
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
WP-Bible plugin). This takes away any excuse of randomness in my actions. In other words, the things that I do are the direct result of a process that begins in my mind. The word “are” in Romans 8:5Romans 8:5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
WP-Bible plugin refers to my walk, my lifestyle, my ways. It is in the Present tense so it points to the life I am living right now. I am living the way I am living as a result of the way I am thinking. If I pursue the “things of the flesh” (Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: – Gal 5:20-21Gal 5:20-21
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
WP-Bible plugin) it is because my mind is absorbed with thoughts that are centered in the flesh. If I pursue the “things of the Spirit” (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: – Gal 5:22-23Gal 5:22-23
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
WP-Bible plugin) it is because my mind is centered on Christ and He is my source.
I have to constantly re-evaluate what I value. I have to continually check my priorities. I have to live in the awareness of what I am pursuing. The world tries to lull us to sleep so that we live a life in a semi-conscious state only to wake up one day in realization that we wasted time and disregarded the opportunities of the Spirit. This spiritual battle of a conscious pursuit of God is the struggle between flesh and spirit. The stakes are life and death: will my Christian life resemble spiritual life or death?
I have to constantly be aware of the environment and those who I pursue in fellowship. If my environment is characterized by the works of the flesh or those surrounding me are living according to the flesh, I have to re-prioritize and evaluate whether I need to change my environment. Many churches believe they are only centered in Christ and only preach the Word of God, but when you get inside the door, there is only strife, wrath and division. This is not healthy. This is not the mind of the Spirit. Where there is no peace, longsuffering, gentleness, or meekness, there is not a true work of the Spirit. Again, the stakes are life and death: will I live a resurrection-powered life or will I live a life that mirrors who I was before I came to Christ?
Renewed Thought – Lord, give me the strength and focus to re-evaluate my values and priorities today. Root out those things that are not centered on You. Root out those relationships that draw my mind away from You. Be the Source of my strength and every thought.
Weekend Update – “Rise Again”
02
May
This song by Dallas Holm goes back to the 1970′s but it is still a powerful testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. If this is your first time hearing this song, let me know what you think. Hope you have a blessed weekend!
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