It is vitally important that we know that we know...we ARE a SON of God, and with that comes extraordinary relationship and communion with Him.
Yes, YOU can walk and live as Christ lived on the earth...and greatly influence the world around you! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
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Gal. 3:13, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree')..."
Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law having become a curse for us. What is the curse of the law? The curse is upon those who "live by the law" or even "live by the list" of legalisms and extensive rules. God does not want us living by a list but by relationship with Him. The law came because of the transgressions of the children of Israel (Gal. 3:19). Because of this idolatry and transgression God issued the law.
The key of faith is to know God as a covenant-keeping God of relationship, rather than a lawgiver. Abraham, the father of faith, Isaac and Jacob (Israel) offered sacrifices to God for memorials on the altar as a natural response in thanksgiving to Him for revealing Himself in powerful and very personal conventional ways (Gen. 12:7-8, Gen. 13:18, Gen. 26:25, Gen. 33:20, Gen. 35:7).
Choosing the Spirit
God gives people a choice. This happens when the people choose a king rather than choosing God to rule over them. God gave the Israelites Saul. Yet God was wanting direct relationship with the people. The curse of the law affects people when they live by the law rather than allowing God's law to lead them to the person of who He is. The law simply revealed what God would demand with the revelation that it would be impossible for any man to fulfill it—outside of Christ, God Himself. Therefore Christ became a curse on the tree, setting us free from the curse of the law that we might be partakers of the Spirit who enables us to fulfill God's desires as He writes His commands upon our hearts.
Gal. 3:13-14, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
How we partake of His Spirit:
1. Appropriate the work of Christ (His sacrifice).
2. Go through the Door of Faith, living by faith.
3. Receive the Spirit to live inside out.
Communion with the Spirit is essential for us to live in freedom apart from the curse because we cannot please God in our own self-effort or works. Rather, the work of Christ is sufficient, removing the curse from our lives and ushering in the blessing of Abraham into our lives. That is the blessing of one who lives by faith through dependency upon the Holy Spirit instead of works by following a list.
The sacrifice of Christ also ushered the blessing of Abraham into our lives. What are some of the benefits of the blessing of Abraham?
1. Blessing. I will bless you.
2. Multiplying. I will multiply you.
3. Supernatural favor (Psalm 5).
4. Life of faith and encounters.
5. Victory over enemies/the blessing of Melchizedek (bread and wine).
Where Will You Run?
The law was just a tutor to lead us to the person of Christ. Everything God does is to get us to come to Him. If you run the other direction things will only get harder. He will put things in your path that are not so pleasant. As always, when unpleasantries come we get the choice of where we will run. It reveals what is in the heart. Will you run to God or to something else? Living by the law is a horrible way to live because it was never meant to be the case. As it reveals the shortcomings of our lives it is meant to drive us toward God—our relationship with Him.
The Faith Connection
In the beginning of Gal. 3:1, Paul asks the question, "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?" Then he goes on to talk about how they started in a life of faith then fell into a lifestyle of works apart from the Holy Spirit. Without faith it is impossible to please God. About Abraham Scripture says, "He believed the Lord, and it was credited to him as righteousness" (Gen. 15:6).
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen." (Heb. 11:1)
What does that mean? When someone gives you an agreement for ownership of anything, you sign the dotted line to take ownership of whatever that may be. In the same way God gives us promises. He says, "Sign the dotted line to make it yours—to make it your own personal possession." The substance and the evidence is the signed contract between you and God on His promises.
God gives us His promises in black and white in the Scriptures. He also gives us personal promises that are only between you and Him through your relationship. These personal words from God into your life are to be claimed as well, even as they are confirmed with 2 or 3 witnesses. This means that your personal promises are not contradictory to the heart and truth of Scripture. All the promises of God are "yes" in Christ.
In your heart and with your mouth you signed on that dotted line, coming into agreement with God that Jesus was raised from the dead through both belief and confession. As we walk by faith we continue to do this with both His written and personal promises by signing on the dotted line as His promises are revealed to us.
As sons of God we are given His promises that we may experience His divine nature in our lives. We begin to live as Christ lived and walk as Christ walked. Through this, we begin to see the blessing of Abraham come upon our lives because we are then living by faith through intimate relationship with God.
God wants to bring us to a place where we can believe Him to do above and beyond what we can ask or think. This is beyond laws and the list of things to do. It requires a living, faith-filled relationship with God that believes He will do what He says. Appropriate the work of Christ in your life today, exiting the curse of the law and through faith, embrace the blessing of sonship in Him as a heir of God. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
John and Brandi Belt
Overflow Global Ministries
Email: office@overflowglobal.com
Website: www.overflowglobal.com
John and Brandi Belt are the leaders of Overflow Global Ministries. The heart of their message is that God's greatest desire is to indwell His people with His presence. They believe that man was created to be inhabited by God through His Spirit. With a sincere devotion to God through the Holy Spirit, people can live in a place of overflow in His presence. This overflow translates into touching the lives of others through living encounters with God. When John and Brandi minister, the intimate presence of God is manifest – being accompanied with demonstrations of God's power to heal, revive, and restore.
John Belt's Itinerary:
February 8-9, 2018
Intimacy & Glory
with Mahesh Chavda
(for more information click here)
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From the desk of Steve Shultz:
This is a well-timed word written by our friend, John Belt. I have ministered with John before and he is one who understands intimacy with God...especially through his worship!
