Surely, we ought to love each other (1 John 4:11 TLB). I can’t speak for anyone else, but myself, when I read this, I feel inadequate, unworthy. Thank God, for Holy Spirit helps us to remove what weighs us down beliefs, attitudes and feelings of being inadequate, undeserving, of guilt and shame, of regret, anxiety and worry by always pointing us to the One Who bravely and willingly took the source of our weaknesses, our flesh, and laid it down on that cross.
Holy Spirit breathed life into God’s Word so the world could see the Lord rise up and condemn the prince of this world (John 16:11). Yes, Jesus disarmed the powers and principalities and authorities of darkness, and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:15).
Holy Spirit continues to breath life into God’s Word so the marvelous loving-kindness of our heavenly Father would be revealed to those who trust and take refuge in the One He sent to save us (Psalm 17:7 AMP). So, we too could awake and rise up from the dead so the Lord could give us light (Ephesians 5:14 TLB). So, we could experience God’s Word helping us, delivering us for His mercy’s sake and because of His steadfast love (Psalm 44:26 AMP).
Yes, Holy Spirit breaths life into God’s Word so Christ Powered Resuscitation can be delivered, for we are dead in our sins and in the uncircumcision of our sinful nature. Praise God, for He makes us alive with Christ. He has forgiven all our sins. He has canceled the written code, with its regulations, that worked against us and stood opposed to us. Our heavenly Father took it away, nailing it to the cross.
By an oath of God, Jesus became a Priest forever in the royal order of Melchizedek, not by genealogical descent from the tribe of Levi; but, on the basis of an endless and indestructible Life. The former way of doing things, a system of commands and physical regulations, were set aside because of its weakness and ineffectiveness, things never worked out the way they were supposed to, for the Law never made anything perfect. So, God has provided another way, One that introduces us to a better Hope. For the Way, Christ Jesus, brings us right into the presence of God (Hebrews 7:16-19).
Jesus prayed, “Father, while I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name You gave Me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled (John 17:12). The Son of Man could only protect the ones who walked with Him; but, the Son of God will protect anyone and everyone through the Resurrection Power of His Spirit. The Judge of the earth rose up, and will render to the proud, of which we have all been numbered, a fit compensation (Psalm 94:2 AMP).
God has given us His Message: It is the Lord Who is worthy! It was Jesus Who was slain, and with His blood He purchases people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. He makes us kings and priests to serve our God (Revelation 5:9-10), for God’s Word reveals to us the most excellent way – Love! (1 Corinthians 12:31).
Unfortunately, because of ego and vanity our nature is a wretched one. How very grateful we should be for God’s amazing grace saves us from our wretchedness. God’s grace teaches our heart to fear the Lord, for it is the Word we need to fill us with awe and amazement, wonder and reverence for the splendor and majesty, the mercy and loving-kindness of our heavenly Father. Yes, amazing grace flows with Holy Spirit power to relieve us of our fears and doubts and disbelief, for God’s Word of Truth is personal and persuasive and pervasive.
God’s Word says, “I have called you all “gods” and “sons of the Most High.” But in death you are mere mortals. You will fall as any prince for all must die,” Psalm 82:6-7 TLB. Yes, God has given us the power of free-will to choose the paths we want to follow. However, there are ways that seem right to us, but in the end, they lead to death (Proverbs 14:12 Fire Bible), eternal separation from God.
But God, He has given us a very specific Way to choose. For in Jesus the whole fullness of Deity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – dwells in bodily form giving complete expression of the divine nature (Colossians 2:9 AMP). Through God’s Word a determined purpose to know the Lord, to become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and clearly will surely develop.
Yes, God has given us His Word and His Spirit so we can come to know more deeply and intimately through experience the power outflowing from Christ’s resurrection, which strengthens us to share in His sufferings understanding we are being continually transformed in spirit into His likeness, as we follow God’s Word to death (Philippians 3:10 AMP). For God’s Word bestows Truth and Wisdom and Understanding: When the world shows it hatred toward us, it revealed its hatred of Christ first (John 15:18).
Through Jesus, God blesses us with a new identity. However, our hurts, our habits can become our identity. This AI Overview explains: Negativity can contribute to unhealthy identity development by fostering a distorted self-perception, hindering the development of a strong sense of self, and leading to risky behaviors and mental health issues. Constant negativity, whether from oneself or external sources, can erode self-esteem, creating a cycle of self-doubt and anxiety.
Negative self-talk and external criticism can lead individuals to develop a skewed view of themselves, focusing on flaws and perceived shortcomings rather than strengths and accomplishments. This can result in a negative self-image, where individuals see themselves as unattractive, unintelligent, or undesirable.
A constant stream of negative experiences or self-criticism can make it difficult to develop a stable and secure sense of self. This can lead to feelings of confusion, anxiety and a lack of direction in life.
Through His Word and His Holy Spirit our heavenly Father helps us to discover and embrace our God-created identity (Matthew 5:4 Message), which is rooted in a relationship shared with Jesus, so we can learn to live as kingdom subjects and ministers of His Word. God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”, Exodus 3:14. How many times have we said or heard someone say “I am who I am.” We cannot not deny being made in the image of God for we introduce ourselves as I am so and so whether we are God-fearing or not.
When a cancer patient finishes the rounds of their treatment they ring a bell. Well, as Christians come to know who they are in Christ, God’s Word rings loudly – the one who humbles themselves will be exalted (Luke 14:11). God’s Word rings boldly for those who lift up their heart and their hands to our heavenly Father (Lamentation 3:41).
God’s Word is every tolling as a bell for those who wait for the Lord, the sheep who listen to His voice. The Lord calls His own sheep by name and leads them out (John 10:3).
THE BELL OF GOD’S WORD RINGING
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God’s child ( John 1:12)
I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15)
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt. 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation (Rom.8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil.3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31-34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor.5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom.8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor. 1:21-22)
I am assured all things work together for good ( Rom. 8: 28)
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit ( John 15:16)
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God’s temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God’s co-worker(1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident the good work God has begun in me will be perfected (Phil.1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col. 1:14). I’ve been adopted as God’s child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
Who you are!
Revelation 12:11 tells us we overcome the accuser of the brethren, who disperses fear and deception, thievery and violence, by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony so we can reign on earth.
Think about it, to reign on the earth is to have dominion, power and authority which God bestows to us through Jesus. So why are we not ringing the bell of our God-created identity loudly, proudly. Why are we not placing evil under our feet, instead of partaking at the table of its wickedness. Isn’t it our very own heart that belittles, shames and condemns us? Praise God, for we don’t have to come into agreement with how our heart feels or what it says about us.
Genuine mistakes, not deliberate offenses, are going to occur, but our mistakes do not define us. Our mistaken judgments clearly reveal our need for a Savior, for God’s amazing grace.
God sent His Word to dwell upon the earth so we could know His heart’s desire is to develop a personal relationship with us. Through faith in Jesus, we receive what is essential – understanding – so we can personally experience our heavenly Father’s loving-kindness. We can learn to think and speak and behave differently. For whenever our very own heart condemns us, we can allow the Word to rebuke it: God is much greater than our heart. He knows everything (1 John 3:20).
He knows our struggles with Co-dependency. He knows the attitudes and mindsets, the harmful and self-defeating behaviors being co-dependent instead of God-dependent produces. Co-dependency has roots in people-pleasing; in all that fear generates: anxiety, worry, panic, cowardice, phobias, dread, doubt, disbelief… Co-dependency will be found embedded within issues that affect us emotionally and psychologically even physically.
God knows the pain, the needs and desires, the inner vows that emerge at the hands of violence and abuse, neglect and abandonment and willfulness. He knows how we seek acceptance and approval, reassurance and validation. He knows how disappointments, betrayals, dishonesty and unrealistic expectations harm us.
Yes, we were created to be social, to interact with one another and to cultivate relationships. But, when we seek control, we become engulfed in what evil generates: Anger, manipulation, stress, inflexibility, stubbornness, avoidance, isolation, depression, violence…When God and His Word are not given priority over our heart and its desires, we are simply existing unable to experience freedom from an over-indulgent and demanding heart.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 tells us: The heart is the most deceitful thing there is, it’s desperately wicked. No one can really know how bad it is! Only the Lord knows! He searches every heart and examines its deepest motives so He can give to each person their right reward, according to their deeds, according to how they choose to live (TLB).
When God, our kind and loving Savior, stepped in He saved us, not because of any righteous thing we had done. He saved us from doing things to appear good in our eyes and those of others. He washes us inside and out by Holy Spirit, so we come out new people doing what is good for His glory.
Through God’s Word we discover the miraculous power of God’s amazing grace. For as the song says: Twas grace that brought us safe thus far, and grace will lead us home.
Through faith and a contrite and willing spirit, God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – saves us, delivers us and brings healing to our soul! This is all Their miraculous doing! God continuously and generously pours out such an amazing GIFT. Here are a few synonyms for the word gift: Bless, endow, equip, provide, endue, empower, clothe, bestow, enrich, enable, cover.. We may lift our hands to invite Jesus into our life, but it is Holy Spirit elevating the Word in our heart as we come to realize this amazing gift of grace flows from the heart of God:
- To save us from death and COVER over a multitude of sins
- To EMPOWER us with inner strength through His Spirit
- To BLESS us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ
- To ENDOW those who love Him with an inheritance of substance as heirs and co-heirs with Christ
- To SUPPLY – fill to the full – our every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus
- To ENABLE us to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption
- To AWARD us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the deep and intimate knowledge of Himself
- To GRANT that His children, being delivered from the hands of our foes, might serve Him fearlessly
- To PROVIDE in abundance everything we need to please Him
- To BESTOW on us a crown of beauty instead of ashes
- To CONFER on us the Oil of gladness instead of mourning
- To CLOTHE us with a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair
- To EQUIP us through the Shepherd of the sheep with everything good for doing His will
God’s Word provides us with a multitude of reasons so we would always remember to celebrate our heavenly Father’s miraculous gift of grace, which births Christ within us, and causes our body to become a temple for the in-dwelling Holy Spirit. The question is: Are we honoring God with our body? 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
Are we professing God’s Word boldly, “Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in this world of darkness, the Lord is my light,” Micah 7:8 NLT,
Lord, stretch out Your hand to heal
And perform miraculous signs and wonders
Through the name of Your holy servant Jesus
Acts 4:29-30