Praise be to Jesus now and forever.
This blog is almost 9 years old with around 49k hits! :)
The archive of posts is located just below the Song of the Fortnight gadget.
Subscribe to get the latest posts via email from the right pane.


Disclaimer:
This site uses cookies and you accept that by continuing to use the site that you agree to this.
You are currently hearing the audio from the Song of the Fortnight gadget in the right pane.
All the content belongs to their respective owners. I own nothing.
The posts you see on this blog are not entirely my work. Credit has been attributed wherever possible.
I have not used any ad service on this website.



Info2

Click here for a list of all posts related to Christmas.


Click here for Christmas messages

Search This Blog

Blog Archive

Friday, May 27, 2011

Jesus - Our Bridge to God

READ John 14:1-6
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014&version=NIV

In John 14:6, the Lord makes a powerful, unequivocal statement. Jesus clearly says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." People have fought that statement for 2,000 years. Some say the Lord didn't mean for it to be taken literally. Others categorically reject His authority to make the claim at all.

However, as believers in the lordship of Jesus Christ, we must take what He says as truth. So let's think for a moment about the word picture in that verse. When Jesus calls Himself "the way," many people imagine a one-way street. They take this to mean that there are lots of roads, but He is the only one that leads to the Father.That's a good image, but I think we can do even better.I like to think of Jesus not as a road, but as a bridge—our bridge to God. 

Consider the apostle Paul's warning in Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (emphasis added). The picture here is of a great chasm between us and God, and we cannot make it across. Unable to bridge the gap, we fall. So, what is the only way across a chasm? A bridge, of course. And that's what Jesus is for us. He stands in the gap, providing safe passage across the void and into the loving arms of the Father.

Meditate on this mental image. When we imagine ourselves helpless and lost—with heaven across a great divide, just out of reach—we can truly appreciate the power of the cross.


- Charles Stanley

Monday, May 23, 2011

The Power of Christ


READ Ephesians 3:13-19

Ephesians 3:13-19 (New International Version)

13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
A Prayer for the Ephesians
 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.


The Apostle Paul frequently wrote about the need to rely upon Jesus Christ's strength. He passed on to his readers a promise that the Lord had given him: "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9 nlt). Paul was a great Christian leader, but in God's eyes, he was no more deserving of grace than any other believer. You and I can have the same confidence in the Lord's power as this courageous first-century missionary.

When Paul received Jesus as his Savior, he was adopted as God' son. Therefore, he had all the privileges that go with being a reborn child: his sins were forgiven (Acts 2:38), he was set apart for the Lord's service (Galatians 1:15), and he received the Holy Spirit (John 4:17). Paul was an effective servant because the Spirit would release power into his life whenever God had a purpose for him to fulfill. Consider Paul's jail time. The Holy Spirit provided physical and mental stamina so he could withstand the rigors of imprisonment.

At the same time, He burdened the hearts of other believers to provide for Paul's material needs (Philippians 4:18). Most importantly, God's Spirit expanded the apostle's ministry by giving him the courage to speak of Jesus with his Roman guards (Philippians 1:13).

The apostle relied upon God for strength and consequently never gave up on his faith. We serve the same all-powerful Lord, which means we have no excuse for running away from His plan either. His Spirit dwells in us, ready to release power when we obey our Father's call.

- Charles Stanley

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Holy Mary


This picture of Holy Mary was painted by my extremely talented friend Anuwin Theresa


Friday, May 20, 2011

St Teresa of Jesus


Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing make you afraid.
All things are passing.
God alone never changes.
Patience gains all things.
If you have God you will want for nothing.
God alone suffices.

- Liturgy of the Hours, Teresa of Avila

Visit the following websites to know more about this saint.

Inspirations Quotes - People of God


"Character is what you are in the dark." 
- Dwight L. Moody 


"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help." 
Psalm 121:1 

"In moods of discouragement or despair, never forget that the sunshine will ultimately come back, that it's absence never is permanent.
Hang onto your faith, knowing that soon you will rise into the sunshine again."
- Norman Vincent Peale 

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God;
and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.
God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."
I John 4:6,16 

"If we only have the will to walk, then God is pleased with our stumbles."
C.S. Lewis 

"It is only the fear of God that can deliver us from the fear of man."
- John Witherspoon 

"A little faith will bring your soul to heaven , but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul."
- Dwight L. Moody

"Our suffering is not worthy the name of suffering. When I consider my crosses, tribulations, and temptations, I shame myself almost to death, thinking what are they in comparison of the sufferings of my blessed
Savior Christ Jesus."
- Martin Luther 

" I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.
My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day."
- Abraham Lincoln  

"Employ whatever God has entrusted you with, in doing good,  all possible good, in every possible kind and degree..."
- John Wesley  

"Help me, Lord, to remember that religion is not to be confined to the church... nor exercised only in prayer and meditation, but that every where I am in Thy Presence. "
- Susanna Wesley 

"We think we must climb to a certain height of goodness before we can reach God.  But... if we are in a hole the Way begins in the  hole. The moment we set our face in the same direction as His, we are walking with God." 
- Helen Wodehouse 

"The search for God is, indeed, an entirely personal undertaking... the most audacious adventure that one can dare."
- Alexis Carrel   

"O Lord, may I be directed what to do and what to leave undone. "
- Elizabeth Fry 

"Be brave and dare with a holy boldness." 
- Teresa of Avila

Monday, May 16, 2011

Protecting your Future

-By Charles Stanley

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2025&version=NIV

READ Genesis 25:27-34

Would you forfeit a double-share of your family's inheritance for a bowl of soup? Esau did. In one impulsive bargain,he gave up his right both to lead the family and to take a lion's share of his father's wealth. From where many believers sit in safe and well-stocked homes, Esau's actions seem ridiculous. But falling into this brand of temptation is not unique. Every person is enticed to sacrifice future blessing in favor of feeding current desires.

Esau had his priorities out of order. The Bible says he "despised" his birthright, but that does not mean he hated the benefits of being born first. More likely, Esau didn't give
much thought to his position—it was doing him little good in his current life. He lived dangerously as a hunter. So how could he inherit anything if a wild animal killed him?

Therefore, he placed a higher value on his immediate need for a full belly.Esau's shortsightedness isn't all that differentfrom some common modern scenarios.

1) When people trade family time for extra work hours, they lose the comfort of a loving household.

2) When men and women ignore God's marital standard of faithfulness, the result is a damaged or destroyed partnership.

3) When someone rejects a relationship with the Lord in order to maintain a sense of self-will, he forfeits eternity with God.


What is your "bowl of stew?" At some point, you will face a choice between future gain and present pleasure. Do not act on impulse like Esau. Consider your decisions carefully and seek God's will.

Do I Have Compassion for Others?


Luke 10:33-35 (New International Version)

33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’



The priest and the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan saw the plight of the injured man, but the Good Samaritan exercised compassion and did something about it.

 So, ask yourself, ‘Have I become too calloused to care or too busy to be bothered?’

There’s so much need around us, and—God knows—we can’t meet all of it.
 But what needs are you called to meet?

 Next time you see the Salvation Army asking for donations, remember how it all started. There was a couple who were living in London 155 years ago. For the first ten years of their time there, William Booth was in a quandary: what was God calling him to do?

One day his wife Catherine, a Bible teacher, was invited to speak at a local event. While they were there William took a late–night walk through the slums of the East End. Every fifth building was a pub. Most had steps at the counter so little children could climb up and order gin. That night he told Catherine, ‘I seem to hear a voice sounding in my ears, “Where can you go to find such heathen as these, and where is there so great a need for your labours?”
 Darling, I have found my destiny!’


Later that year, 1865, the couple opened the East London Christian Mission in London’s slums.

Their life’s vision: to reach the down–and–outers who other Christians ignored. That simple vision of two people grew into the Salvation Army, which ministers through over three million members in 113 nations.

 Now, stop and ask yourself, ‘Do I have compassion for others?’

God’s View of Mankind

-By Charles Stanley

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%202&version=NIV
Read | Hebrews 2:6-18

To understand the purposes and ways of the Lord, we need to comprehend His perspective of mankind. So often, we rely on our human viewpoint instead of trying to see ourselves through His eyes. All that He does on earth is guided by His care and love for the human race. Consider three elements of God’s perspective of humanity:

Created in God’s image. Of all the creatures that the Lord fashioned, only the man and woman were made in His image. They had a mind, will, and emotions as well as a spirit, which enabled them to worship and relate to God. Being sinless and perfect, they were destined to live forever in intimate relationship with their Creator.

Corrupted by Sin. But an act of disobedience broke their relationship with the Lord. The divine image was marred by sin, which infiltrated human nature and corrupted every person born thereafter. Mankind stood spiritually dead, without hope, and condemned before a holy God.

Worthy of Redemption. Yet the Lord considered them worthy of restoration. Through the redemptive work of His Son, all who believe in Jesus are made spiritually alive again, and the broken relationship between God and man is reconciled. One day—in heaven—sin will be no more, and a perfect environment will be reinstated.

Amidst life’s pace and trials, we easily lose sight of divine viewpoint. When we’re overwhelmed by criticism, trouble, or suffering, it’s vital to recognize our worth in the Lord’s eyes. That realization can energize our service and renew our love for the One who gave Himself to bring us back to God. 

Staying Close to the Almighty

Read | Isaiah 41:10-14
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2041&version=NKJV

As children of the Most High, we are called to walk with Him whether circumstances are delightful or difficult. Both can be challenging.

In times of relative ease, we may lose sight of how dependent we are on God. Of course, we still desperately need His direction and care, but pleasant “seasons” can cloud that reality and lull us into a self-sufficient mindset. To prevent this, we should discipline ourselves to fill our minds with God’s Word, pray for direction, and listen for His answer.

Strenuous times, on the other hand, can draw us to our Creator for sustenance and help. With Christ by our side, we can walk fearlessly through any situation. As Jesus warned, hardship is inevitable (John 16:33). Yet we have a choice about how to respond. We can either let painful situations trigger increased dependence upon the Lord, or we can allow doubt, depression, and anger to fill us.

The Lord promises to give all that we need to endure difficulty well. Our responsibility is to stay by His side, follow where He leads, and obey even when we don’t like or understand what is happening. Our goal should align with the apostle Paul’s: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7).

Where are you today—in the midst of a trial or pleasant circumstances? Be aware of temptations like discouragement or apathy that could pull you away from a close walk with your heavenly Father. When you emerge from this period, will you be able to say with Paul that you finished well.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Our Supernatural Identity in Christ


Meaning. Purpose. Success. Significance. Love.



Each day, millions of people around the world hope, covet, and labour to obtain these profound yet elusive ideals.Those who pursue these desires by grasping for riches, fame, or power, seldom, if ever, obtain true contentment and happiness.

In 1923, an important meeting was held at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago.In attendance were nine of the world’s most successful financiers—men who had found the secret of making money.

What became of these powerful men?

The President of the largest independent steel company, Charles Schwab,  went bankrupt and lived on borrowed money for five years before his death.The President of the largest utility company, Samuel Insull,  was a fugitive from justice and died penniless in a foreign land. The President of the largest gas company, Howard Hopson, became mentally ill. The greatest wheat speculator, Arthur Cotton, died abroad, insolvent. The President of the New York Stock Exchange, Richard Whitney, served time in Sing Sing Penitentiary. A member of the President’s Cabinet, Albert Fall, was pardoned from prison so he could die at home. Three of the men committed suicide: Jesse Livermore, the greatest “bear” on Wall Street; Ivan Krueger, the head of the greatest monopoly; and Leon Fraser, the president of the Bank of International Settlements.

All these men lived in luxury, had access to the most powerful and intellectual people of their day, and enjoyed the finest the world could offer—yet they lived unhappy, empty lives.
They died disillusioned, despondent, defeated men.

Can we as Followers of the Lord experience what these multi-millionaires sought but never attained?

 Is it possible for us to have a consistent sense of purpose? To feel special in this world of more than six billion people? To bask in unconditional love? To experience what is truly meaningful? To live a supernatural life that is beyond our imagination?

The awesome Creator of the universe answers with a resounding yes! a life of immeasurable riches

The apostle Paul proclaims in Romans that we have been chosen to share God’s glory:

 “Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory” (Romans 5:1,2).

The Bible promises that we are in a place of highest privilege

When you consider your routine of work, bills, and day-to-day struggles, do you have difficulty feeling privileged? Perhaps you see celebrities smiling from the television screen and magazine covers and think how fortunate they are.Yet, as Christians we have value and significance beyond anything this world can offer. And if we fully understand the riches of God’s glory in this life and the next, we will never be the same.


There is a story about a wealthy Englishman, Baron Fitzgerald, who had an only child, a son whom he dearly loved. From the moment the boy was born, he was the centre of his father’s affection. Often, the baron would sneak off to the nursery to play with his son. After being away on a trip, the baron would hurry home to find his son waiting at the door, ready to jump into his arms. The family enjoyed many years of happiness. Then one day tragedy struck. The baron’s wife passed away leaving the boy, now in his early teens, motherless.

Grief-stricken, the baron devoted himself even more to the care of his only child. A few years later, the son became very ill. After many sleepless nights, the baron buried his beloved son. Through the years, Baron Fitzgerald had acquired a masterful art collection from around the world. Since he had no heir, the baron left instructions in his will that an auction should be held at the time of his death to sell his entire collection of art.

Shortly after the baron passed away, his exquisite art collection — appraised in the millions of English pounds—was displayed in preparation for the auction. As private collectors and museum curators studied the artwork, one piece received little attention.

 It was a painting of low quality by an unknown, local artist.

 No one stopped to admire the humble painting, a portrait of the baron’s son.



As the auctioneer pounded his gavel to call the large, expectant crowd to attention, the attorney read from the baron’s will. The first painting to be auctioned was the portrait of “my beloved son.” The auctioneer asked for a bid and the room fell silent. After many uncomfortable moments, a thin voice broke the stillness.

 An old servant who had known the son and loved him offered the sole bid—less than one English pound.


 The portrait of the baron’s only son was his. The audience applauded politely, eager to proceed with the bidding on the real works of art. At that point, the auctioneer rapped his gavel and, turning to the attorney, asked him to read again from the will. The crowd hushed. This was quite unusual. To the astonishment of everyone, the attorney read these words:

“‘Whoever buys the painting of my son receives my entire art collection.’
 The auction is over!”

This remarkable story demonstrates a father’s deep love for his son, and how, even from beyond the grave, the father wished to reward someone who shared in his love.Because that old servant simply loved his master’s son, he received an inheritance worth millions.

God assures us in His Word that we also have received a bountiful inheritance through a beloved Son—Jesus. Many years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah described Him in words similar to that humble portrait:

“There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, nothing to attract us to Him” (Isaiah 53:2).




 Yet if we love Jesus Christ and give our lives to Him, we, too, obtain the immeasurable riches of an inheritance in heaven and a supernatural life on earth.In 1 John 5:12, we are promised, 
“Whoever has God’s Son has life; whoever does not have His Son does not have life.”

As Followers of Christ, we can have an intimate relationship with our heavenly Father and we can experience meaning, purpose, and a life of supernatural victory— all because of Jesus Christ.



But who is this Jesus in whom we have so much? the source for extraordinary living

The Bible describes Jesus this way:

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation. Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth.He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through Him and for Him. He existed before everything else began, and He holds all creation together”
 (Colossians 1:15–17).

In Jesus, God became flesh so we could see, hear, and touch the invisible God. Through Christ, God intricately created every living thing, and Jesus continues to hold our complex
universe together even now.

This is our marvellous Savior.



Jesus is the subject of more than three hundred Old Testament prophecies. He fulfilled specific predictions concerning His birth, His betrayal, His crucifixion, and His resurrection, confirming that He is the promised Messiah. Jesus performed countless miracles, including feeding thousands of people with a few loaves of bread, healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead. He walked on water and calmed a storm, proving that even the forces of nature obey Him. During His extraordinary life on earth, Jesus demonstrated unfailing grace, astounding wisdom, amazing understanding, and sacrificial love unequalled throughout human history.His character was pure, selfless, and completely without sin. Only God in the flesh could have embodied all these characteristics.

An author made this striking comparison between the supernatural life of Jesus and the lives of famous people:

Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3.Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all time.

Jesus painted no pictures; yet some of the finest paintings of Raphael ,Michelangelo , and Leonardo da Vinci  received their inspiration from Him. Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante , Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by Him. Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven , Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratorios they composed in His praise.

Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth.

His unique contribution to the human race is the salvation of the soul! Philosophy could not accomplish that. Nor art. Nor literature. Nor music. Only Jesus Christ can break the enslaving chains of sin and Satan. He alone can speak peace to the human heart,strengthen the weak, and give life to those who are spiritually dead.

Jesus Christ is the true Messiah, the Son of God, and Savior of the world!



Embracing Christ’s supernatural life

Imagine a condemned prisoner sitting on death row waiting to be taken to the electric chair. He has said goodbye to his family and has tried to prepare himself for the inevitable. He hears footsteps, then keys rattling in the lock. Finally, the door to his cell swings open. But instead of taking the prisoner to his death, the guard tells him that someone has offered to die in his place. He has been pardoned. He can walk out of that prison cell that very moment as a free man. Imagine the relief and joy that prisoner would feel.

But now imagine the guard’s reaction if the prisoner stubbornly refused to leave the cell. What if the prisoner told the guard that he was relieved he was not going to die, but that he wanted to stay in prison? The guard would think the prisoner was ungrateful and even crazy.

Sadly, this is the experience of many Christians. Because of Christ’s perfect sacrifice on the cross, our sins have been forgiven. And because He rose from the dead and conquered death, we can live at peace with God both now and for eternity. Every knowledgeable Christian is aware of these important truths, and each of us has accepted God’s pardon. However, many of us never fully embrace the supernatural freedom and abundant life God has in store for us.

Why is that?

One of the reasons many Christians miss out on the abundant life Christ offers is that they do not really see the prison as a prison. They do not quite believe God has something better for them beyond what they have experienced. They do not want to let go of the beliefs and values of this world.

These Christians would rather continue living the life that is familiar to them. They have trusted Jesus as their Savior, but are unwilling to change many aspects of their lifestyle. They cling to habits and priorities that do not please our holy God. Little do they know that the values and pleasures of this world are the bars and chains which keep them from experiencing true freedom
.
When Paul first preached the gospel to the Ephesians, many of them eagerly responded. But Ephesus was an extremely pagan city centered around the worship of Diana, a goddess of fertility. Many Ephesians attempted to combine their pagan practices of sorcery with their new life in Christ. It was only after a man with an evil spirit attacked several men who were misusing Jesus’ name that the believers in Ephesus turned from their pagan past.Acts 19:17 states,

“A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honoured.”

As a result, the new believers brought their incantation books and publicly burned them. To us, it may seem obvious that worship of a goddess of fertility and Christianity do not mix.

 But what are we clinging to from our past?

Often, we do not want to discard the old, comfortable way of living, so we try to blend the old and new together. But this produces heresy and stunts our spiritual growth.Each time we base our self-worth on accomplishments and appearance rather than on who we are in Christ, we are choosing to follow the value system of this world. Every time we choose our actions and priorities based on what is popular or currently accepted rather than on what matters to God, we are short-circuiting God’s power in our
lives and sabotaging the amazing plan He has for us.

The supernatural life Christ offers requires that we turn our backs on the old and wholeheartedly embrace the new. God wants to introduce us to a whole new way of thinking, seeing, and living, if we will only surrender completely to Him.

second reason believers stay in prison is that they are trying to live the Christian life through self-effortThey seriously desire to live a productive life for Christ, but they try to do it in their own ability. For a time, they may appear to make progress, but then they encounter an obstacle they cannot overcome.Sometimes others lead them astray. As a result, they become mired in discouragement and defeat.  These Christians mean well, but they have not yet realized that they cannot live a supernatural Christian life through self-effort any more than a caterpillar can fly or a lamp can light up by itself.

Consider the following analogy.

Scientists have learned that each of us has a genetic code, or DNA, within us. This blueprint helps determine our size, appearance, natural talents, and even some of the ailments that may plague us in life. This code contains so much information that if it were put into a book, it would fill 600,000 pages. Yet every single cell in our body carries this code. No two people have the same code. If a person’s code is even slightly defective, physical abnormalities or mental retardation may result.

God had a spiritual genetic code for humanity. Adam was made in God’s image and perfectly reflected God’s character. But when Adam sinned, that spiritual image became distorted. Since then, the image of God has been distorted in all people. Because of this, following our Lord in our own strength is futile. It is like trying to change our hair colour from gray to blond. It might look good for a while, but sooner or later the roots will show.

The only way to right this situation would be if someone could change our genetic makeup. That is exactly what happened, spiritually speaking, when we received Christ. God removed the distorted “gene,” and replaced it with Christ.

After Paul relates his spiritual conflict, he declares, “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24,25).

It is impossible to live the Christian life through self-effort. God wants us to live supernatural lives by faith as we invite Christ to live His life in and through us.


third reason many Christians never fully embrace the supernatural freedom and abundant life God has in store for them is because of the schemes of Satan. We live on a spiritual battlefield with an enemy dedicated to our destruction.

Satan, the great deceiver, hates the things of God and wishes to destroy those who are loyal to Christ. He is committed to preventing us from experiencing the supernatural life God offers. He is bitterly opposed to fulfilling the divine purpose for which God created us. He attacks us through our flesh, the world system, and evil spirits who seek to deceive, afflict, and enslave us.

Satan’s schemes include the following:

Ignorance—Satan realizes that if he can prevent us from knowing about our new identity in Christ, we will not live supernaturally.

Doubt—  Satan persuaded Eve to doubt God’s goodness so she would disobey God in the Garden of Eden. He knows that if our understanding of God is twisted, we will not trust God’s character and Word. As a result, we will not live supernaturally.

Distractions—Satan entices us with worldly pleasures, so we miss out on God’s infinite blessings. He knows that if we are unwilling to let go of sinful habits, we will not live supernaturally.

Guilt  —Satan is the great accuser. He condemns us when we fail, in our self-effort, to live holy lives.Because we feel unworthy to accept what God offers through grace, we will not live supernaturally.

Discouragement—Satan blinds us so we will not see our loving Father at work in our lives. Then, when we become frustrated with our lack of spiritual growth and lose hope, we will not live supernaturally.

Satan will do everything possible to prevent you from inviting Christ to live His life in and through you. In fact, Satan does not want you to read this book (Bible). And once you do, he certainly does not want you to apply the biblical truths you learn. Coz if you do, you will be fulfilling the purpose for which God created you.

But take heart. God is infinitely more powerful than Satan. Scripture asserts this wonderful truth,

 “The Lord is faithful; He will make you strong and guard you from the evil one” 
(2 Thessalonians 3:3).

We are promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13, 
“He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. 
When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.”

With God’s help, we can resist every ploy of Satan.


Step Out Of Your Prison

Do you want to live a supernatural life in Christ?

Then step out of that prison. Do not let the entanglements of the world, self-effort, or the schemes of Satan keep you from experiencing the wonderful freedom God has in store for those who love, trust, and obey Him. If you have placed your trust in Jesus, the risen Son of God, turned from your sins, and accepted by faith the reality of His death and resurrection, you have an amazing new identity. You are God’s dearly loved child in whom He delights, an heir of His incredible blessings, a saint with a new nature, a member of the Body of Christ, and a citizen of Christ’s kingdom.

As Paul explains, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJ).

 You have been given a whole new nature. A sinless nature. Christ’s nature. Instead of your old life, you have an abundant and eternal life. His life. What a privilege and what a gift! Through faith and the power of the Holy Spirit, you can experience an extraordinary life that reflects your new identity in Christ. It is a life beyond your circumstances and limitations. It is a life of love, meaning, and purpose.

It is Christ living in and through you. It is life supernatural!



Life Application
  
Thank Your Heavenly Father—Paul exclaims, “Thank God for His Son—a gift too wonderful for words!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). Express your gratitude to God for saving you and for making you a new creation in Christ.

Renew Your Mind—Memorize and meditate upon this wonderful promise in God’s Word:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”  (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJ).

Act by Faith—As you read this book, ask the Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes so you can see and understand the new identity, resources, and blessings you now have in Christ.

Each day, invite Christ to live His life in and through you. Begin your day with a prayer, surrendering and dedicating your life to the lordship of Christ. Ask Jesus to think with your mind, speak with your lips, and love others through you.

 Determine to believe what God says about your supernatural new identity in Christ, so you will gain a correct self-perception. As you are bombarded with insecurities and attacks on your self-worth, remember who you are in Christ. Live according to God’s truth and your new biblical self-image. Rely upon the timeless truth of God’s Word, not your feelings or the viewpoint of others to determine your decisions and actions.

As a result, you will experience the supernatural adventure of Christ living in and through you.