The Word of God tells us in II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old life is gone, the new has come!” Simply put…Jesus died on the cross for us to give His life to us to live His life through us (God’s plan).

Oswald Chambers wrote “If the Son of God has been born into our human flesh, then are we allowing His holy innocence, simplicity, and oneness with the Father the opportunity to exhibit itself in us? What was true of the Virgin Mary in the history of the Son of God’s birth on earth is true of every saint…God’s Son is born into you through the direct act of God.”

In other words, all born again believers like Mary have been impregnated by the Holy Spirit. May we respond to this good news as did a startled Mary; “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.” Luke 1:38

People ask the question all the time “What is God’s plan for my life?” The answer is God’s plan for your life is a person and his name is Jesus Christ…to live in and through you as you abide in Him, wherever He places you and remember God doesn’t make mistakes.

If you’re an electrician, you handle the power of God.

If you’re a baker, you handle the bread of life.

If you’re a farmer, you handle the seeds of God’s Word.

If you’re an accountant, you handle the ledgers of truth.

If you’re a truck driver, you handle the deliveries of God.

If you’re a pastor, you handle the shepherding of the sheep.

If you’re a realtor, you handle the properties of God.

If you’re an attorney, you handle the truth to set the prisoners free.

Colossians 3:23 says “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

When Mary questioned the angel Gabriel by asking “how will this be since I am a virgin?”, he replied, “Nothing is impossible with God.” How many times have we all said that trying to live the Christian life is impossible? Then one day by God’s grace we realized “the things that are impossible with man are possible with God”.

Just as Christ grew in Mary the Mother of God until He had to come out on Christmas day, Christ will grow in you and I until the same thing occurs, until He comes out. He will come out in our words, in our deeds, and in our actions. Every day we live can be a Christmas. You and I, ordinary people, just like Mary can deliver Christ into the world.

LIFE LESSON: God was with Abraham, God was with David and God was with the Apostles while He was here on earth. However, God is not just with us today, He is in us to live His life through us bringing the message of salvation and love to a lost world. That is God’s Plan For Us.

God implemented this plan over 2000 years ago and we celebrate His plan again on Easter (resurrection Sunday). Happy Easter!

Some people believe we become more and more righteous as we walk with the Lord, but it is not by what we do that we become righteous. The Scripture says in First Corinthians 1:30 that Jesus is our righteousness.

Here’s an illustration…imagine that you found a ring on the sidewalk. One friend says he thinks it is worth six or seven thousand dollars. Another friend says it’s not a real diamond; it’s a cubic zirconium (fake). He thinks it is worth maybe $200.00. Then I take it to another friend who looks at it, and says that it came out of a toy dispensing machine, maybe worth $3.00.

At this point you have opinions ranging from $3.00 to $7,000.00. How do you find out the real value of the ring? You take it to an expert (appraiser), and he sets a value on it based on the price someone would be willing to pay for it. So if someone would be willing to pay $5,000 for the ring, then the value of the ring would be $5,000. You could look at the ring and say this ring equals $5,000. The ring and the $5,000 have the same value.

Now when you and I came into the world, we were born with a big question mark over our heads. The question was “What is my value or what is my worth?” Unless you know your identity in Christ, you are always asking this question in one way or another…what is my value, what is my worth?

We try to establish in our own minds what our value is based on what other people tell us. And we will probably get varying appraisals depending on whether we ask our mother or our employer. But there is a way we can know our true value…bring yourself before the expert. Come to God and say, “Can you tell my value?” God will answer, “Yes, I can.” God will determine your value in the same way an appraiser determines the value of a ring. It all hinges on the price someone is willing to pay.

God could say, “You have been bought with a price, and I am the one who bought you. The price I paid for you is Jesus.”

Now isn’t that response biblical? Then would it be accurate to say that to God you are of equal value to Jesus? It almost sounds blasphemous, doesn’t it? Yes, it does…but I want to assure you that our heavenly Father treasures you just as He treasures His own Son because Christ is your life. Colossians 3:3,4 says “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you will appear with Him in glory.”

You are now one with Him. You are 100 per cent righteous because He is 100 per cent righteous. In fact, you will be no more righteous in heaven than you are right now.

LIFE LESSON: RIGHTEOUSNESS BY PROGRESSION is not the truth. Righteousness has nothing to do with our righteousness by progression (behavior); it has everything to do with our new nature, who we are in Christ. II Corinthians 5:17 reads “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.”

Do you believe what the Bible says? Then believe that you are righteous by your new identity. It’s a gift from God. Romans 5:17 says “For if by the trespass of one man, (Adam) death reigned through the one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”

There are no words more appropriate to share with you in this month’s letter than the following: 

More than nineteen hundred years ago there was a man born contrary to the Laws of Life.  This man lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity.  He did not travel extensively.  Only once did he cross the boundary of the country in which he lived; that was during his exile in childhood. 

He possessed neither wealth nor influence.  His relatives were inconspicuous, and had neither training nor formal education.

In infancy he startled a King; in childhood he puzzled doctors; in manhood he ruled the course of nature, walked upon the billows as if pavement, and hushed the sea to sleep.

He healed the multitudes without medicine and made no charge for his service.

He never wrote a book, and yet all the libraries of the country could not hold the books that have been written about him.

He never wrote a song, and yet he has furnished the theme for more songs than all the songwriters combined.

He never founded a college, but all the schools put together cannot boast of having as many students.

He never marshaled an army, nor drafted a soldier, nor fired a gun; and yet no leader ever had more volunteers who have, under his order, made more rebels stack arms and surrender without a shot fired.

He never practiced psychiatry, and yet he has healed more broken hearts than all the doctors far and near.

Once each week the wheels of commerce cease their turning and multitudes wind their way to worshipping assemblies to pay homage and respect to him.

The names of the past proud statesmen of Greece and Rome have come and gone.  The names of the past scientists, philosophers and theologians have come and gone; but the name of this Man abounds more and more.  Though time has spread nineteen hundred years between the people of this generation and the scene of his crucifixion, yet He still lives.  Herod could not destroy him, and the grave could not hold him.

He stands forth upon the highest pinnacle of heavenly glory, proclaimed of God, acknowledged by angels, adored by saints, and feared by devils, as the living, personal Christ, our Lord and Savior.

We are either going to be forever with Him, or forever without Him.  It was the incomparable Christ who said:

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:  if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”  (Revelation 3:20)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man comes to the Father, but by me.”   (John 14:6)

FOR

“There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”  (I Timothy 2:5)

THEREFORE

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.”  (Acts 16:31)

 And all God’s people said Amen!!  Taken from the Incomparable Christ by S.M. Lockridge

LIFE LESSON:  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Thank you for your continued prayer, partnership, and financial support throughout the year.  For year end gifts to be tax deductible this year, your gift needs to be postmarked no later than December 31, 2012. 

Merry Christmas

The Apostle Paul said “…I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”  Philippians 4:12

The Bible tells us to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  A wise philosopher once wrote, “If the only prayer you said in your whole life is ‘Thank you’,  that would suffice.  Well, Amen!

Giving thanks covers a whole lot of things.  The following is a list of some things to be thankful for:

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the many who will not survive this day.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than three billion people in the world.

And let us never forget John 3:16:  “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  Thank you Jesus!

At the heart of Thanksgiving is the spirit of gratitude, which makes this a perfect opportunity to let you know how grateful we are for your partnering with us to proclaim the truth about the grace of God and your continued prayers and financial support.  Thank you.

LIFE LESSON:  Give thanks to God in all things.  As you gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving, remember to give thanks with a grateful heart for the many blessings we have.  Thank you Jesus!

Happy Thanksgiving.  

We just finished studying I Peter last month. In the closing chapter 5 verse 8, Peter writes: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Barna Research, the polling organization for the Christian community says that 70 per cent of Christians polled do not believe the devil is real. A force, yes, but not real. However, Peter’s epistle makes it perfectly clear that the devil, our adversary, is alive and real. Here’s some food for thought from a previous lesson for you to ponder.

Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his evil angels, he said, “We can’t keep the Christians from going to church…we can’t keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can’t even keep them from conservative values. But we can do something else. We can keep them from forming an intimate, abiding life experience in Christ.”

“If they gain that connection with Jesus, living His life in and through them, our power over them is broken. So let them go to church, let them have their conservative lifestyles. But steal their time, so they can’t gain that experience of abiding in Christ.”

“This is what I want you to do angels. Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!”

“How shall we do this?” shouted his angels.

“Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent unnumbered schemes to occupy their minds,” he answered.

“Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, then borrow, borrow, borrow. Convince the wives to go to work and the husbands to work 6 or 7 days a week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments, soon their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work.”

“Overstimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still small voice. Keep them constantly on their cell phones, entice them to play the radio, or their CD’s whenever they drive, to keep the TV, the DVD’s, and their CD’s going constantly in their homes. And see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.”

“Fill their coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, sweepstakes, mail order catalogues, and every kind of newsletter and promotion offering free products, services and false hopes.”

Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted, disquieted and unprepared for the coming week. Don’t let them go out in nature. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts, and movies instead. And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip, complaints, and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotion.”

“Let them be involved in soul-winning. But crowd their lives with so many good causes, they have no time to seek power from Christ within them. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family unity for the good of the cause.”

Well, it was quite a convention. And the evil angels went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busy, busy, busy, and rush here and there—living their Christian lives in the flesh.

Tell me, has the devil been successful at his scheme? You be the judge.

LIFE LESSON: Be on guard and alert, your enemy the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour.

To assist you in becoming more alert to the subtle strategies of our adversary the devil, get yourself a copy of the Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis.

We appreciate your continued prayer and financial support. We need both to meet the ministry obligations. Thank you for your faithfulness.

What does the Bible say about the law?  You may be surprised.  It is generally believed that knowing and following the do’s and don’ts makes you a better Christian.  However, the Bible says the Law empowers and increases sin.  Do you believe the Bible?

The Bible says: “…the law gives sin its power.” (I Cor 15:56)

The Bible says: “The law came in so that the transgression (sin) would increase;…” (Rom 5:20, NASB)

The Bible says: “And the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as the person who has broken all of God’s laws.” (James 2:10)

The Bible says: “For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.”  (Gal 2:21)

The Bible says: “But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under His curse…” (Gal 3:10)

The Ten Commandments, which are part of the law, were not given to stop sin.  They have no power to stop sin.  God gave the commandments to expose sin.  Paul tells us in Romans 3:20, “For no one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what His law commands.  For the more we know God’s law, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying it.” 

By grasping this truth, you will understand one of the greatest misunderstandings in the church today.  Jesus was letting us know that no man could keep the law, and that everyone needs a savior.  The law is used to lead everyone to the only Savior, Jesus Christ.  Jesus alone satisfied every aspect of the law, and if we are in Him and He is in us, nothing more has to be done but to abide in His completed work.  His life in us frees us from the power of sin.

LIFE LESSON:  Jesus died for us to give His life to us to live His life through us.  It doesn’t get any better than that.

We appreciate your continued prayer and financial support.  We need both to meet the ministry obligations.  Thank you for your faithfulness.

The Bible says, “…godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”  I Tim 6:6-10

Here is a wonderful perspective about the difference between rich and poor people.  One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.  They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.  On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?” 

The son replied, “It was great, Dad.”  Then the father asked, “Did you see how poor people live?”  “Oh, yes,” said the son.  “So tell me, what did you learn from the trip? asked the father.  The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four.  We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.  We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.  Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have fields that go beyond our sight.  We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.  We buy our food, but they grow theirs.  We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them.”

The boy’s father was speechless!  Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad for showing me how poor we are.”

Isn’t perspective a wonderful thing?  Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don’t have.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, “If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.” 

LIFE LESSON:  “…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Phil 4:11) and our God will provide all of our needs.  How can our perspective be any more wonderful than understanding Christ living in and through us?  Praise be to God in all things. 

Our new MiniBuk, The Galatian Road, A Road Less Traveled is now being distributed throughout the land.  This is truly an exciting time for us.  Over one thousand five hundred (1,500) copies have been given out as of this past Sunday, and the comments have been very positive.  If you need additional copies for spreading the truth of God’s amazing grace, just let us know.  Please keep praying for a mighty working, a revival of this truth that sets the captives free.  “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Thank you for all your prayers and support of this ministry.  You are truly God’s blessing to us all. 

FYI:  While the MiniBuk project was funded by designated donations, our regular donations are significantly less than a year ago.    

First God gave the Ten Commandments followed by the Law.  Some people, at least in their own estimation, kept them.  They didn’t understand that we need a life, not a list.  Jesus intentionally set a standard that we could never achieve.  Jesus said, “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”  (Matt 5:20)

It was not a challenge to try harder, but a challenge to give up.  Jesus wanted us to see that a righteousness that would please God is unattainable by man.  Jesus came along and raised the bar so high that all would give up trying to jump over it and turn to Him! 

However, many Christians missed this truth and think that it is their job to keep raising the bar for all of us.  If that were true, I’d quit!  I know myself, and in my flesh dwells no good thing.  The standard that Jesus kept is higher because He was the one keeping it, and the only hope I have is that He keeps it through me.  Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man abides in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  (John 15:5)

Well, there it is!  Abide in Him, and all that He is and has is yours, just as the branch receives the full life of the vine.  Don’t abide, and you will immediately be in the flesh.  It doesn’t matter if your flesh is educated, rich, respected, admired, or refined.  It is still flesh.  The world has so many classes by which it appraises man.  But among Christians we have only one class struggle…to abide or not (to be spiritual or carnal).  That is our struggle.  To make sub-classes out of the carnal or the spiritual is ignorance rooted in ego, pride, and glory.  Remember EGO is Edging God Out.

When we are abiding, there is no one better than us.  At that moment we are an earthly vessel with a perfect life, His life, flowing in and through us.  It doesn’t get any better than that.  “God made Him who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”  (II Cor 5:21)

LIFE LESSON:  STAY CONNECTED TO THE VINE.  What is impossible with man is possible with God.

We appreciate your continued prayer and financial support.  We need  both to meet the ministry obligations.  Thank you for your faithfulness.