You Are Not Divine

Jesus is the only divine person (human being). We are not divine. We will not become divine. If we believe in Jesus we become a new creation but that newness and identity happens because we are hidden in Christ not because we are little Gods. Our new nature is linked to His nature and intertwined with the life of the Holy Spirit.

We are a creation. Jesus always was. We have a beginning but no end. Jesus has no beginning and no end. He always was.

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!" - Psalm 139:13-17 ESV

We were an idea in God's mind. When he made the Earth He made it in such a way that He saw our physical bodies in the Earth at creation. The moment a man's sperm fertilizes the egg of a woman a thought becomes reality. The 'idea' that God saw in his mind becomes a person who will mature and 'come into' their personhood.

He 'foresaw' and 'foreknew' you and i.

New age or new thought teachings use Bible words but they don't use them the way the Bible does. Most of them hinge on personal divinity apart from Jesus. To them Jesus was an example of what you or I can be. They teach the seeds of divinity are in everyone. They teach things like 'the law of attraction', 'spiritual awakenings' and 'sending light and good thoughts'. You can do these things or be involved in such things because of your realized or unrealized divinity.

It sounds so good because they use words like love, mercy, grace, light, rebirth and other words with Biblical roots but ultimately these teachings put you in a performance program.

Religion is a program to get to God or please God which is false and impossible because you can't do either of those things. Jesus did those things already for us.

New Age or New Thought tricks you into a process to become or awaken your divinity. They will even quote Jesus and 'name' him but it isn't the same Jesus. Their Jesus Is what we would be if we only adopt the right program. He is a teacher or an example not GOD HIMSELF becoming a man. To them He was a man who became God.

People were created in God's image. Jesus is the only man who came from Heaven but because of Him many will go to Heaven. He did what no other man could do and His name is exalted above every other name forever.

"Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His name alone is exalted; His glory [is] above the earth and heaven." - Psalm 148:13 NKJV

"He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all." - John 3:31 NKJV

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:5-11 NKJV

We have one life. It is often hard. Yes. There is greatness in each person. That greatness is NOT divine. It is human. You are not a god. You never will be. You don't need to be. You can just be you because that is who God wants. He wants to adopt you into His family because you are friend of His Son.

"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work." - 2 Timothy 2:20-21 NKJV

If you believe then you can be a vessel of honor that is fit to live in the house. A created thing treated like a son forever.

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Powerful Scriptural Triads - Part 1

"Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you." - Jude 1:1-2 ESV

Two triads. You are called, beloved and kept. Secondly, we are given mercy, peace and love as a multiplied provision.

The triads in scripture are very powerful. God Is triune. Time is also (past, present and future). Space on the surface appears that way (length, depth and height).

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." - Deuteronomy 6:4-5 ESV

God is united in oneness but we perceive three aspects or dimensions of who He Is and love Him out of our triune nature (heart, soul and mind).

Can you recall some scriptural triads?

How about this one?

"And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.' " - Revelation 12:10-11 ESV

We overcome in three dimensions.

"...and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:21-25 ESV

Draw near. Hold fast the confession. Consider how to stir one another to love and good works.

Very powerful.

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The Spirit Has Been Given

God gave Jesus first and then He gave the Spirit. All of who God Is has been given to us. The Spirit is the 'last' person of God to be given. Father, Son and Spirit are all accounted for.

"For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." - Colossians 2:9-10 ESV

The fullness Jesus had is the fullness we have. There is more to learn but we have everything. We have everyone. Some meetings can't begin until all the members are accounted for but this meeting can commence.

Oh Lord... What do you have planned for today. No one is missing. I stand ready not as a qualified person but just as a person present at a full gathering. There are a few issues on my agenda but I lay them at Your feet. What is Your vision? What is Your heart? Jesus came to reveal You and now the Spirit Is here to reveal all that Jesus has done.

Thank You God!

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The Third Cord

Thinking and praying... praying for marriages to make it... young couples and long standing marriages. Praying for mothers with young children. Praying for men who need to provide for families... that those men would have tender hearts and not be hardened by frustration or despair. I'm Lifting up small churches (small in size that is).

Isolation is not a good thing.

"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone" - Genesis 2:18a KJV

I look at these early verses written by Moses and it is easy to look at the content of what is being said but God is talking. Who is He talking to? In a way it is a picture of the Trinity. God is speaking in a committee meeting of sorts and saying, 'Man is triune like We are (body, soul and spirit) but he needs an expression of that in an external way also.'

Not only do we need to know we are not alone. We need reciprocating sounding boards that have God's mind. The trinity is one.

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." - Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV

Ideas can isolate us. Right and wrong can. Distance can. Trouble can. We can be in a room full of people and still be alone. It is not good.

We are all individual triune beings on the inside and that is right. Our identity is not lost in the group if it is strong and healthy. We can go it alone if we must but that is not the ideal. That is not our final design.

"And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him - a threefold cord is not quickly broken." - Ecclesiastes 4 ESV

Our friendships need a third cord. Our marriages need one. God is that third cord. Fellowship is when God is in the midst.

So, I'm praying for people this morning. Some are people I haven't thought of in a long time. I'm not even sure if some of them are alive but still... I'm praying that there would be love that flows between people in potentially isolating situations. That love is so needed.

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Well Known In Heaven

We have grace and peace on Earth because we are blessed in Heaven.

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places," - Ephesians 1:1-3 ESV

We are known there. We are blessed there.

God the Father asks about us. Jesus talks about us to His Father. The Spirit of God guides us and keys tabs on us. We are blessed in Heaven. We are known in Heaven.

This morning I imagine this conversation like it might happen with an Earthly parent...

"Good to see you Son of my right hand."
"Always good to see you Father."
"Say, How is that friend of yours. The one with the blond hair. I've been thinking about Him. You know the one. He asked to receive you in 1982 in the back of that little church in Alabama. You know who I mean..."
"Yes, I spoke to Him this morning. He has asked us for a few things."
"Oh, I like that boy. Let's make sure he gets what He needs."
"Sure thing Father. The Spirit is right on that and we will send angels to make that happen right now."
"Good. Good. What a great guy. Did he ever marry that nice brown haired girl..."
"No, They broke up in May of 1992"
"Oh, I like that girl... She received you in 1986 after the missionary came to her Church. Great girl."
"Yes, I haven't spoken to her lately."
"Please tell her I love her when you do speak to her. What a great young lady. Her parents are such a blessing to me."

We can imagine long conversations like that but between a Father and Son with infinite love and infinite knowledge of details. People here on Earth but being discussed in Heaven right now.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESV

"Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God." - Luke 12:7-9 ESV

"My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you." - Psalms 139:15-18 ESV

If we know the Son then the Father knows us and when the Father knows our name we have hope because who can resist the goodwill of the Father?

"For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, 'Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.' " - Hebrews 6:13-14 NKJV

No one could prevent that blessing.

We imagine a present tense conversation but in truth it happens in eternity so it echos from the past and into the future all at once.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved." - Ephesians 1:3-6 ESV

God spoke a blessing within the Trinitarian counsel of Father, Son and Spirit in Heaven before the world was made and though we are here on the Earth that blessing is made to reach us now.

Not everyone is known.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'" - Matthew 7:21-23 ESV

We are blessed to know God by His grace and not our works. We are known and spoken about. We will be known and spoken about.

Isolation is a terrible thing... We are known! The moment we received Christ by faith we can have great assurance that we are known and will be known forever.

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The Spirit who Is Lord and the Lord who Is Spirit

Reading 2 Corinthians chapter three this morning and I have been digging into this group of verses.

"But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:15-18 NASB

There is an amazing dynamic that happens when Christ is revealed. I'm talking about the unveiled display of His grace, mercy and all of His divine attributes as only God can do and does by His Spirit. Christ's seamless oneness with the Spirit is amazing and when a person sees that sight in his or her inner man the result is tremendous freedom (verse 16).

A person suddenly faces God by faith. Grace has allowed it to happen and supplied a capacity to look in this particular spiritual direction and when that happens it is revealed that the Kyrios (G2962) Pneuma (G4151) eimi (G1510) or "The Lord Spirit Is" in a straight literal translation. In that same moment the Pneuma (G4151) Kyrios (G2962) or "Spirit that is Lord" is revealed. In freedom and unconditional acceptance we see God's true nature reflected (verse 17). Our inner man sees a glimpse of the whole picture at once. It is a sight no natural man can see because there is no faculty or sense in the nature man to behold it with. We see that duality is really unity and we are transformed by the sight. Our inner man stands at the mount of transfiguration just like Peter and John did but the landscape is the mystical boundary where soul meets Spirit and has interaction.

We grow further into a resemblance of the One we have already been made to resemble... the Lord who Is Spirit (verse 18).

Christ is one person and the Spirit is another but at the same time they are One. The Father is also in and apart of that unity. As God's spiritual children we are in an unbreakable chain not just by decree but by nature and divine substance.

The revealing of that allows there to be a flow and in that flow we know we are free.