Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
For by Him (Christ) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him (Christ), and for Him (Christ):
And He (Christ) is before all things, and by Him (Christ) all things consist.
And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church:
who is the beginning, the first born from the dead; that in all things He (Christ) might have the preeminence.
For it pleased The Father that In Him (Christ Jesus) should all fullness dwell;
And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him (Christ Jesus) to reconcile all things to Himself ( God The Father); by Him ( Christ Jesus), I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Whether they be things in earth or things in heaven.
Whether they be things in earth.
That's right it ain't a democracy it's a theocracy!
Colossians 1:15-20
How many times did the writer refer to himself?
How many times did the writer refer to Christ Jesus?
The foundation, is what I'm building on and you can huff and you can puff but you can't blow this house down.
Amen
I'm not going to tell my story because it doesn't matter how many times I was hurt or abused in my life if you don't know how I overcame it.
Stick with this Word because the LORD is speaking.
What sets the captives free is knowing His story.
Amen.
What causes fights and quarrels among you?
Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?
You want something but don't get it.
You kill and covet, but you can't have what you want...
What you want.
You don't get what you want because you are asking with wrong motives.
It's all about you.
James 4:1-3
Yet it really isn't all about you or me for that matter.
It's all about Jesus.
So the Lord has been walking us the through the book of James not as an apologetic reply but so that His people would obtain more knowledge of Him and not be deceived.
So Be It.
We looked at how God is not partial in the book of James.
And we will look more at that in the week to come.
When we look into and meditate the Word of God we see the many examples and shadows that partiality created.
Partiality birthed envy, jealousy, pride, fear and deceit in men.
Especially between brothers.
Cain and Able, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers.
Somebody failed to teach Cain that it would be the blood of the lamb and not the works of His hands that The Father deemed acceptable.
The revelation that Joseph wouldn't have to do what his brothers had to do was first given by their father in that he gifted Joseph with a special cloak.
Jealousy ensued.
The tradition of the blessing being bestowed upon the eldest developed envy and then lies and deceit from a mother and a brother.
Partiality was not God's idea, look at what it produces.
That is the world system that encourages competition and calls it healthy.
Envy, Rivalry, Hatred
Sin
Sin didn't come from God.
The gift that delivers men from sin came from God.
Love did, that's how He knows who belongs to Him.
1John 3:9,10
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested (in the flesh), that He might destroy the works of the devil.
PRIDE
The word in Ephesians says that God gave gifts unto men, men are not the gifts.
He gave gifts to men.
Don't get the bighead because of the title.
The title has swollen the egos and heads of many.
But unto everyone of us is given Grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
WHEN HE ASCENDED UP ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND GAVE GIFTS UNTO MEN,
Now that HE ASCENDED, what is but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
(No man has descended into the place where Christ has.)
When Jesus went up then the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost.
Just like when Elijah went up the anointing came down on Elisha.
The mantle doesn't descend until the anointing ascends.
When One anointing goes away God sends another.
This ain't James Brown, we ain't talking about just throwing a cape on your shoulders.
The Word says that the devil sinneth from the beginning.
Where was the beginning of his sin?
It wasn't the garden, he was cast down into the earth before the garden was created.
Sin began as PRIDE in his heart while he was in heaven.
There was a time before that when Lucifer was called the son of the morning,
"the anointed cherub that covereth".
But Lucifer decided that he wanted to exalt himself above God.
Thinking he was "The Gift"
Like many who believe that they are the gift of God instead of believing that God has placed a gift in them.
Well, what happens when you believe that you are the gift instead of believing that God has placed the gift in you?
What happens to any who exalt them selves instead of humbling them selves?
Isaiah 14:12-14
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!
how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
For you have said in your heart, (What's in the heart proceeds at rapid speeds out of the mouth)
I will ascend into heaven!,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God!
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will be like the most High.
Really?
James 4:13 warns us of this type of attitude.
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go up to this or that city spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow...
But you have got it mapped out in that brain don't you?
You have counted up the cost.
There is going to be a falling away of those who came through guilt, shame and greed.
A falling away of those who cannot give an answer for the hope that is in them.
The world is going to give them what they believe is a solution.
And because some are looking at self preservation they will lose many to celebrity theology.
So because of his selfish ambition Lucifer was cast down.The Lord Jesus Him self said, " I beheld satan as lightning fall from heaven."
Because sin/ pride cannot stand in the presence of God, who is Holy, that's why we need Jesus.
Where was Lucifer cast down to?
The earth.
He had to get the flim flam out of heaven.
Lucifer became satan and was made the god of this world.
2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this world who blinds the minds of those who believe not, lest the gloroius gospel of Christ who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
The devil wanted credit (Glory) that was due God.
This is one reason through deception and misunderstanding of these things people believe that God is the cause of disaster when He is the deliverer.
He is the deliverer from your addiction.
The world would love to post your addiction on a big screen but Christ came to save you from it.
Glory to God!
So Lucifer was cast into an earth without form, and void (useless) and full of darkness.
Then The Father said, " Let there be light..." and light was.
The Father went on to create a beautiful place in the earth that was good.
Then He made man and woman to have dominion over it.
Oh my goodness, it's like you opening a business and then God opening up a business right across the street from yours.
What a slap in the face that must have been for the devil.
The Father is some kind of wonderful and awesome!
He promises to make our enemies our footstool.
He will do it.
I wonder if the kings of the earth could imagine someone coming into their domain and instead of honoring their ideas or the opinion of men, they honor an invisible God?
It's been done.
3 Hebrew boys.
Presidents, Princes, Priests, Queens, Sheiks and Governments.
You know like what Cain, Pharaoh, Herod, Saul, Nebuchadnezzar, Jezebel and Ahab had to deal with.
These men, kings and leaders represented the spirit of this world run by their father, satan, who had become lifted up with pride, envy and then crazy with anger and offense.
The devil was offended that after being known as the "son of the morning" God would make men and place us in a position higher than angels, giving us dominion over them.
The adversary must have thought, "I will be doggone if these creations will live in my house and not worship me!"
The adversary had to act fast in haste which is his way, he is never slow to anger or slow to wrath or quick to listen.
He is perdition "apoleia" the spirit of lawlessness. Strong's number 634, look it up.
The goal of the enemy is to make disciples unto himself not unto God.
How did the enemy get people to worship him?
Deception.
Omission.
Lies.
Introducing his attitude of pride, greed, envy, lust, rivalry.
He needed to get man to sin against God like he had so that we could fall from Grace.
Because the Bible teaches that pride proceeds a fall.
So in his anger the subtle one made his move in the garden.
Not a good enough move because God knows the end from the beginning and He put it in writing and He fulfilled In Christ.
Because where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound!
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless, before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.
Amen!
Jude 1:24; Psalm 56:13; Psalm 116:8
Side Note:
I saw on the news recently that the young man who created Facebook has decided to donate 100 million dollars to a charity.
This blessed young man sat on a talk show saying that he initially wanted to donate this money anonymously.
Until he was asked by the host if we was crazy because he didn't want it to be known that he was donating it.
LORD!
No he is not crazy he is blessed because he has a heart that doesn't focus on you getting the credit.
He lives so humble and he has the coolest, cutest home, yet if he wanted he could live in a castle.
This man is taking the gift that God gave him and making a way for other people to live in the comfort that he does without boasting.
I admire this young man and I pray that he not allow his humbleness to be taken advantage of or for granted.
You can be humble, maintain your sense of values and enjoy life all at the same time.
LESSON:
Matthew 6:1-4 Jesus says: (Paraphrased)
Be careful not to give to charity in front of men, to be seen and congratulated of them:
otherwise you won't have a reward from your Father in heaven.
So when you (In Christ ) give to the needy, don't announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men.
Jesus said, I'm telling you the truth because it is impossible for me to lie, they have received their reward in full in the applause that they so desire from men and they need not look to my Father for anything else.
(Any man can work hard and achieve, Babylon was built apart from God.)
But you who have trusted in The Lord (Christ Jesus) and His Word when you give to those who are in need, don't even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
So you who have given in secret: the Father who has seen those things given in secret, He will reward you openly.
You don't have to pat your self on the back, God will do it.
The Lord doesn't mean keep your giving so top secret that you are trying to build Wonder Woman's helicopter for people to live in. ( It was invisible/ hidden from the naked eye)
He doesn't mean don't invite others to give into the goodness of doing His work.
He means, cut that attitude that desires the chief tables at banquets.
PRIDE
James 4 says,
God opposes and resists the proud, but He gives more grace to the humble.
So by knowing our God we are able to cooperate with Him, stand against the devil and the devil runs from us.
We are looking at sin from the beginning.
And the beef that the enemy has with men.
The problem that the devil has with us is that we won't serve him.
And on top of that we are showing the goodness of God through the gospel and Grace of Jesus Christ to other men in the world.
So now those who he has deceived in the past are leaving him too.
Right?
Jesus Christ who being forty days tempted of the devil...
And the devil taking Him up into a high mountain, shewed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Saying to the LORD, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for it's been delivered to me; and to whoever I want to give it, I will.
So if you would worship me, it will all be yours.
The world system really does belong to the devil and the kingdom is expanding in his neighborhood.
In the world but not of the world.
The Word teaches us to not be conformed by the practices and patterns of this world, but that we be transformed by the renewing of our mind by the Word of God.
Because the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God, that's why personality typing is not of God. It is the foolishness of the world system like horoscopes.
God says the born again man has been recreated In Christ and you can't put Him in a box.
Christ Jesus is The King of Kings and The Lord of lords.
Pilate tried to make light of the fact that The Lord was recognized as a mere King of the Jews.
Jesus said, I'm not of this world.
The Lord said, My kingdom is not of this world: If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight and stop the Jews from arresting me.
But now my Kingdom is not from here.
Christ is King of more than the Jewish nation, don't try and downsize His majesty and His truth is not bad karma or karma of any type.
It is the truth.
So I am not a type (A) personality, I'm seated in heavenly places In Christ.
You will know how to relate to me because you will know who dwells in me and I will know how to relate to you based on the same.
It's The Alpha and The Omega
I'm not of this world.
The Lord said that In Him, I am the light of this world.
Obedience = 2 Corinthians 10:5
Well the devil tried to provoke the Lord to do all sorts of things, saying,
Turn this rock into bread, throw your self down.
Show me a sign, prove your self.
If you are a Christian you should be perfect, no devil because Christ is perfect we are saved.
It's not our money, status or fame.
So satan asks that you kneel down and lick his boot and he will make sure that you are promoted, prosperous and you have a circuit to preach on.
Let the the system in the world sponsor you and mentor you and he will get the glory.
Really?
Jesus said,
"It is written: " Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
"It is written: " Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only."
Colossians 1:16; John 1:1-5
Jesus Christ The Anointed One,
The Son of God was sent down in the flesh to reconcile men out of the hands of the liar back to His Father.
Hell wasn't created for men.
And some men are claiming that they have been there.
Lord Jesus!
Trust this, that according to Johns description in Revelation he hasn't been there and he had better stop saying that he has, because he doesn't want to go.
Hell is not a hangover or a bad acid or meth trip.
It's not a nightmare after pizza and a late night sermon.
Sin that is unforgiven is what puts a man in hell.
Which means that people don't have to go unless they want to and that day has not come yet.
The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Can you see who The Gift is now?
God sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the sin wage for all men.
God will punish all sin, thieves.
Don't believe that I am saying that grace is so that He won't punish sin, Oh I know that sin will be punished.
His Grace is that He has provided a way to be redeemed from it.
1John 1:8-10
That is why I write what I do to those who believe in their works and to those who have no clue.
Jesus is the lamb that takes away the sin of the world.
When you believe this then you confess this and you are saved.
Christ then comes to live and dwell in you forever.
This is not the end it's the beginning of you now renewing your mind by The Word of God.
There is nothing wrong with you saying that you are sorry for your sins, it's just that sorry doesn't save.
You could be sorry from here to England... but if you don't believe that Christ took on the sin punishment in His body for all of your sins, and that He went to hell in your place so that you don't have to.
You are not saved.
You are saved who have believed in the heart and confessed with the mouth John 3:16,17; Romans 10:8,9,10
And confessed by saying: I believe it and I will say it, Christ died for my sins and Christ rose cleansing me of all my sins and Christ sits at the right hand of God for me.
I am forgiven.
That easy.
PRIDE wants you to look somewhere else, to shift your focus.
The devil and his limited power.
Persecution, affliction, the cares of this world and things that enter in to steal the word.
If you don't know how to give an answer for the hope that is in you, those opinions in the world will steal from you.
You don't have to fall from Grace.
Focus on the unlimited immeasurable favor and grace of God.
God is not mad at you, He loves you.
It's not too much Word.
Print the Word out and think about it and say it out loud, it will make you successful.
LOVE Y'ALL :)
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