You've Already Got It!

The book of Ephesians is one of my favorite books of the Bible. In its short but rich pages, the believer is informed of all the blessings that are available in Christ. Some say the book of Ephesians is the Apostle Paul's most positive, encouraging book of all his epistles. For three chapters Paul identifies all that God has done for us through Christ. In the last three chapters Paul instructs us how we are to live in response to God's love and blessings toward us.

One thing really strikes me about the book of Ephesians and it is this: all the blessings described are stated as an accomplished fact and not as something that is still to come. For instance, we are told the following:

"God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings" (v3)

"He has chosen us" (v4)

"We were predestinated as His children" (v5)

"We are accepted in the beloved" (v6)

"We have redemption and our sins have been forgive" (v7)

"He has given us an abundance of wisdom" (v8)

"We have obtained an inheritance" (v11)

"We are sealed with the Holy Spirit" (v13)

These are all past tense statements! And we only have covered one half of chapter one! Bible teacher Andrew Wommack recognizes this when he writes, "Most Christians spend their entire lives chasing something they already have. They are always asking the Lord to do something---to bless, to heal, deliver, or prosper them----when in truth, they are seeking what they have already been given. They believe God can do anything, but that He has not (past tense) done very much."

Think of it! God has already done everything needed to secure our success and victory! It is a past tense work! We merely need to begin to change our mindset and perspective. I am not trying to be blessed; I am blessed! I am not trying to be accepted by God; I am accepted by God! I am not trying to be successful; I am successful! With this mindset, I am obtaining by faith what is already mine in Christ. Notice----I am not trying to attain, I am obtaining by faith. There is a difference. To attain is to "gain with effort, to achieve, or to accomplish." To obtain is to "come into possession of, to receive, or to prevail." See the difference?! Attaining is dependent upon my own accomplishment and strength. The problem is that it is impossible for you or me to obtain the blessings of God outside of Christ. Faith is necessary. And faith obtains. We obtain by coming into possession, receiving, and prevailing in the promises of God.

The work has already been done! Now receive what you need from God!

The Biblical Case for Supporting Israel

Today we join with thousands of churches world-wide and recognize Christians United for Israel Sunday. There are various opinions on Israel, with many of those opinions determined by one's political allegence or religious upbringing. But, as believers, our opinions should be shaped by the inerrant statements of the Word of God. Now, more than ever, we must consult the Scriptures concerning Israel and use this foundation as the basis for our prayers, our decisions, and our actions. What does the Scripture say about Israel and how we should relate to this nation and people? Indeed, this would take many books to answer. But let's start with a quick summary.

1. Israel belongs to God's chosen people, the Jews, and Jerusalem is God's chosen city.

Psalms 132:13-14
¹³ For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
¹⁴ This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

2. Israel and the Jewish state is a prophetic fulfillment (Amos 9:11, Duet 28:36-38, Genesis 15:18, Isaiah 43:5-6, Jer 6:15, Ezekiel 36:9, 35:6-7, Ezekiel 37:21-22, 36:11)

Jeremiah 31:5-8
⁵ Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.
⁶ For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.
⁷ For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.
⁸ Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.

3. Christ is destined to rule Israel, freeing a world in distress

Psalms 24:7-10
⁷ Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
⁸ Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
⁹ Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
¹⁰ Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

4. God Himself will protect Israel and the Holy City, Jerusalem (Ps 87:3, 48:1, 76:1-2, 48:2, 40:9, Zechariah 1:14, 16-21, 2:12)

Zechariah 3:2
² And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

5. Mankind, and all nations, are commanded to encourage and support Israel (Is 52:7)

Isaiah 62:11-12
¹¹ Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
¹² And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

6. Those who hate Israel and Jerusalem expose themselves to a curse and strict judgment (Zechariah 14:12-13, 16-17).

Psalms 129:5
⁵ Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

7. Those who bless Israel and support the Jews qualify themselves for God's blessing and favor.

Genesis 12:2-3
² And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
³ And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Crisis is An Opportunity to Change

No one likes to go through a crisis----small or big. Comfort, consistency, and security is much more desirable. Nevertheless, we all confront crisis in our life at one time or another. Financial crisis, relational crisis, and even spiritual crisis. Right now, it seems our world is confronted with one crisis after another.

Jesus indicated that this world would face crisis on a corporate and personal level:



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Matt 5:45

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

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No matter what the crisis is in your life, it doesn't have to be the end for you or push you into a place of discouragement and depression. Here are some thoughts to help you through the crisis:

1. Identify the decisions you made that led to this crisis.

Proverbs 26:2 says, "As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come." Nothing happens by chance. There is always a root to the fruit that is in our lives. If we do not like the fruit, we have the opportunity to plant new seed. What would you like to change in your life? What new decisions do you need to make? Start today.

2. Seek council from a trusted mentor or leader in your life.

Proverbs 15:22 says, "Without council, purposes are disappointed, but in the multitude of counselors, they are established." A wise man will seek council before he is in the midst of a crisis. But don't let this discourage you. It is never too late to seek godly, righteous council. The words of a seasoned mentor or leader can help escort you out of the crisis. On the other hand, failure to seek council can result in further discouragement and despondency.

3. Decide what needs to be done to end the crisis swiftly and completely.

What positive actions can you take right now? Who do you need to call for help? What do you need to do? Identify the actions that will lead to change and don't delay! Delay in the midst of a crisis will only lead to despondency and eventually destruction.

4. Think of the possible consequences and further damage that will take place if you do not confront and settle your crisis.

Pain can be a great catalyst for change. Anger can be used to incite positive adjustments. Frustration can lead to decisions that result in peace. Imagine what will happen if you don't confront your crisis. Remember that you can't conquer something you don't confront. Avoid further problems and become the agent of change in your own life. Esther 4:14: "For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

5. Search for and discover the opportunities and possibilities that can come out of this crisis.

You can either be positive or negative. You can either dwell on the crisis or you can look for solutions. Though they are initially hidden, every crisis presents an opportunity for something good to happen out of the situation.

Joseph said in Genesis 50:20, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." Is there a man that went through more horrific crisis than Joseph? He was separated from his family, sold as a slave, falsely accused, thrown in jail, forgotten about, and separated from a father who favored and loved him. But Joseph took advantage of each opportunity that was presented him----even when those opportunities were hidden in garbage and refuse. As a slave, he became a diligent servant to Potipher. As a prisoner, he used his talents to help fellow inmates. And as prime minister of Egypt, he helped a nation survive starvation. Joseph learned how to identify opportunities in the worst of situations.

Decide to be the optimist in your situation that sees the glass half full. Look for the good that can come out of your crisis. Then forge ahead and expect your situation to change for the better!

What is Your Greatest Strength?

Your greatest strength can also leave you vulnerable to your greatest weakness.

Abraham's great strength was faith. God told him to leave everything he had ever known, and he went without hesitation. But that aggressive faith (when used in reverse) often led him to impatience and even deception.

Moses' great strength was his love of people. He loved, cared for, and pastored three million Israelites during some very challenging and difficult times. And yet, Moses got so close to the people that he allowed whatever they said to affect him. This cost him entrance into the Promised Land.

Joseph's great strength was his savvy leadership, multiple talents, and engaging charisma. But these strengths made vulnerable to the enticement of Potipher's lustful wife.

David's great strength was his passion, creativity, and strong emotion. But this also led him to the most well-known act of passion, adultery, and attempted cover-ups in history.

We must be careful not to become boastful of our strengths while still remaining confident and aware of the talents God has given. Even where we are strong, we are still human. Let's submit our strengths to the grace of God.

Who Do You Trust?

In Genesis 24, Abraham tells his servant to go find a wife for his son, Isaac. This was no small task! In Jewish tradition, the father normally chooses a wife for his son. But because of Abraham's old age, he delegates this important task to his "eldest servant." Can such a life altering decision be made by a servant? It can be when we recognize that Abraham had mentored this servant for many years. This is why he is called his "eldest servant." The truth is this:

We can only fully trust those we fully teach.

Abraham felt comfortable sending his servant to find a wife for his son because he knew that his servant had spent many years serving him and catching his spirit. The many years of teaching and establishing a relationship created trust between Abraham and his servant.

Who are you teaching? Who are you developing so that one day you can give them a task that is normally only yours to do?

This is the power of mentoring.