One great tragedy of our existence is that often, the Devil, the liar, the Satan, the divider believes more in our identity in Christ Jesus than we do.
~ Makala Barnabas Doulos
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 with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory… And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
~ paul, The Least of The Apostles, in Ephesians 1
Oh beloved, it is true.
We live our lives in such small ways. We become interested over the tiniest of things. Tiny little bits of tiny little nothings take our attention away from the eternity we already inhabit, and that yawns out ahead of us in epoch canyons that span beyond time, and beyond even our wildest imaginations to even begin to comprehend.
And, the weirdest part about all of this? The one who wants to make sure you don’t experience the truth, is one of those who is most aware of who. you. really. are.
So, here we are, arguing over politics, money, and fame – while missing the real game that is going on in heavenly places. Oh beloved, it is time that we understand something. It is vital that we do. We have fallen for the lie that to be too heavenly minded is to make us of no earthly good.
But, the truth is (and most of us know it, if we get even a tiny bit honest). It is only when our vision is expanded beyond our little screens and dramas, that life becomes really real for us. It is when we taste of the Ages to Come, that we begin to feel it….
Can we see it?
Read the passage again, beloved. It is drenched with truths that make the devil shake in his boots.
You are blessed with EVERY spiritual blessing that exists within The Beloved (Jesus). Don’t miss this. DO NOT MISS THIS. You, dear brother or sister in Christ, have EVERYTHING that Jesus has to get through life.
What?
Yeah.
And you (and this fool of a writer) get upset and worried about things?
Then it gets better!
He has made us holy and blameless before G_d. … Kinda makes the shame and doubt fall away, eh?
He has adopted us as sons and daughters into the very Royal Family of creation. … Feel the falseness of our feeling alone?
He has given all of this to us FREELY and LAVISHLY. … Suddenly our sensations of “religious duty” seem a bit silly, don’t they?
In all of this, we have not just been adopted – we have inherited all that is Christ Jesus’s. … And we still feel impoverished? Huh?
And NONE OF THIS CAN EVER BE TAKEN AWAY. You (and i) have been given the very seal of His Very Holy Spirit on the deal. … Kinda makes our fear of losing our relationship with G_d look silly, eh?
So, have you been feeling the doubts and fears? The dagger of The Spirit, the Word of G_d, is able to cut through that stuff and bring you to the truth that the devil is trying to hide from you. Because, he knows that if you actually begin to walk in the reality and identity of who you already really are – you become a definite problem for evil.
Tonight is your night, beloved. Time to realize exactly who you are. Take up your eternal mantel dear believer. Stand as an eternal warrior, friend, son, and co-regent of creation. Your LORD Jesus Christ has already made this so. Stand! Stand! Stand!
Wherever there is fear, you can always be assuredĀ the enemy is nearby, strategically seeking to stall you or paralyze you from what he knows is Godās best for you.
~ Priscilla Shirer
