1Jan2014- A great day to receive

How you doin? I've never understood the excitement of New Years. I don't mean to be a stick in the mud, but I just don't get it. Never the less, I do wish you a Happy New Year. I pray that it's full of revelation and power. We had fun at our church last night. Audie and Paulie stayed up for the count down. They are something. Though I don't get New Years, I do get receiving God's grace, love, and power. Ephesians 2 today.

This is just amazing Scripture. The posture of the follower of Jesus in this chapter is still sitting and receiving. AWESOME!!!!!!! Lord rend our hearts as we read your word and receive deposits of heaven's resources. Verses 4-7, "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." So let me get this straight, I was raised up with Christ and seated with Him on the right hand God to Father. WHAT!!!!!!! HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!! Jesus received the fullness of His inheritance when He ascended into heaven and sat with the Father. So I'm guessing that's why Jesus safely says that He gives us the same authority and power that he has (Matthew 28:18-19). WOW!!!!!!! Hard to believe that a "sinner" like me can receive this. I'm guessing that either God or I am wrong. Which one of us do you think is wrong? 

There is so much in this chapter. Paul reassures the Gentiles that we are invited into a relationship with Him (v. 13). Verses, 15-18, "by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." Jesus in the flesh fulfilled the "law" with once and for all atoning the broken covenant of the "law". THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!!!

Here's the best part. The best promise to receive. Verses 19-22, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." COME ON!!!!!!! Now this I can get excited about. I'll just reach out and take that. The word "consequently" takes me out of the equation completely. The "law" is based on what I do/did, "grace" is based on what Jesus did. That's why the word "consequently" works perfectly here. "Members of His household", implies family. Family generally overs inheritance. Jesus forfeited His inheritance in order to redeem mine. COME ON!!!!!!! When Jesus received His back in full, He gave it to me. WOW!!!!!!! If it weren't for this foot I'd be jumping up and down. If your not jumping up and down right now, check your pulse or your blood alcohol level. Just kidding about the blood alcohol... I hope. I can't read this enough. Even when I read it and receive it, I tend to lose sight of it. The lies of the world creep in and cloud the truth of Jesus. For me I need to renew my mind everyday and perhaps even a few times a day. I need to re-receive this promise of inheritance. PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!! What a "Way" to start 2014. POWER-FULL!!!!!!! Reach your hands out and take this promise today.

PS   God moved in my life in power yesterday and today, literally. I think that's why it doesn't matter if it's the last day of 2013 or the first day 2014. I now for sure that God is increasing in my life with power. He is upgrading the areas of me that lack. Praise Jesus. The fullness of "Christ in me, the hope for glory" is indeed being revealed.