I was reading one of my Daily Readings recently and it quoted Ephesians 2 verses 4 – 7, which I read and then felt I should read the whole chapter, which I did, and I sensed Father was sharing some things with me. And I want to share these with you this morning. I was reading it in The Passion Translation and the heading over the first ten verses of this chapter is – ‘God’s Power Raised Us from the Dead’! Let me say that again ‘God’s Power Raised Us from the Dead’! I don’t know about you, but I believe that deserves an ‘Amen’ and/or a huge Hallelujah!!! We are not waiting to be raised, when this body we live in dies! Although we shall be! We have already been raised and you will hear that when I read verse 6, in a few minutes. But just as I read the heading, I was seriously challenged! We often hear said or say it ourselves – “It’s a done deal”! Well, if ever there was a ‘DONE DEAL’, it’s that God has raised us up from the dead!!! Do we really believe and walk in that truth? God has, in Jesus, already raised us up.
My challenge, and I can only speak for myself, you have to see your own challenges! My challenge was – “Am I living as if I believe that? Am I living my life in the amazing goodness of that?” Like I said, I can only answer for myself. You have to do likewise! My answer honestly was, maybe sometimes, certainly not every moment of every day. Which then caused me to ask myself another question, “Why not?” Because as it says in Hebrews 13 v 8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!” And again, in James 1 v 17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change!” So, if anyone is changing, it’s not Father God, it’s me! Let’s read Ephesians 2 v 1 – 3 – “And His fullness fills you, even though you were once like corpses, dead in your sins and offences. It wasn’t that long ago that you lived in the religion, customs and values of this world, obeying the dark ruler of the earthly realm who fills the atmosphere with his authority and works diligently in the hearts of those who are disobedient to the truth of God. The corruption that was in us from birth was expressed through the deeds and desires of our self-life. We lived by whatever natural cravings and thoughts our minds dictated, living as rebellious children subject to God’s wrath like everyone else.” We know all this, but I would like us to think about it for a moment! Father God was not put off, shocked or disgusted by our sin. He didn’t banish us to hell, though He could have, because He hates sin, He can’t look on it. But He still had a plan for each one of us. Remember Jeremiah 1 v 5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I sanctified you, I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Father God had a plan for you and I, even before we were created, even though the time we lived in our own desires and deeds, doing our own thing! “BUT GOD! “ He still had a plan, His perfect plan for you and I. The first three verses paint quite a black picture of what life looked like for us before we met with our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. But like I said already, “BUT GOD!” Let’s read verses 4 – 6 – “BUT GOD still loves us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy. Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, He United us into the very life of Christ and saved us by His wonderful grace! He raised us up with Christ the exalted One, and we ascended with Him into the glorious perfection and authority of the heavenly realm, for we are now co-seated as one with Christ.” Could we all read these verses together – Ephesians 2 v 4 – 6! Don’t you just love those two words – “BUT GOD”!!!! I know I do! Can I suggest to you, when you have some time on your own, just think about the times in your life, where you’ve been so grateful to Father, that He turned up, spoke right into a situation in your life etc. The “BUT GOD” moments of your life. Even ask Father, if there are any that you have forgotten, to reveal them to you. Then take time to thank Him for His faithfulness. I’m sure, like me, there will be plenty, so take time to praise and thank Him for His goodness. Even when we walked in rebellion to Him, He still loved us. His love, compassion and mercy was drawing us to Him so that we could receive His great gift of salvation through His son Jesus and new life in Him! And according to verse 6, He raised us up into His glorious perfection and authority in the heavenly realm. Not because we were worthy or anything we had done, but all because of the Father’s love for us and what Jesus did for us on the Cross of Calvary. I love that last phrase in verse 6 – “for we are now co-seated as one with Christ!” Did you hear that NOW, like I said it’s NOW, we’re not waiting to die, we are seated with Christ NOW! Is it just me, or do you agree with me, we need to get this right into our innermost being? It should change the way we think of ourselves, others, in fact everything. Even the way we pray!!!
I remember a preacher called Jack Frost say that when we pray for people, Father God uses our hands etc but it’s all about Him, and I know we all know that, but Jack Frost gave a little demonstration which I think is excellent – someone comes forward to be prayed for and you are asked to pray for them – When we remember this, it takes all pressure off us, it’s not about us, it’s ALL about Him! You know that feeling when you see someone or something happens right in front of you and feel or you sense Father say, “Go pray for that person!” Or you wake up in the night and sense to pray for someone. You don’t know what’s going on, and maybe even consider ignoring the prompting. Thinking, Oh, that must be me! If we are going to live SEATED IN HEAVENLY PLACES WITH CHRIST JESUS, we should just do what Father says, just be obedient to your Heavenly Father. Oh you might feel awkward, you may even look a bit awkward but just take the risk!! You’re never awkward with Father God, you delight Him. Let’s read the next four verses – verses 7 – 10 – “Throughout the coming ages we will be the visible display of the infinite riches of His grace and kindness, which was showered upon us in Jesus Christ. For by grace, you have been saved by faith. Nothing you did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the love gift from God that brought us to Christ! So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving. We have become His poetry, a re-created people that will fulfil the destiny He has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfil it!” Just want to read verses 8 and 9 again – “For by grace you have been saved by faith. Nothing you did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the love gift from God that brought us to Christ! So, no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving.” Wow!!! We cannot earn this salvation; it is His love gift to us. Let that sink in ladies. He wasn’t forced, He chose to give us the gift of His Son in salvation for each of us, and He is making us a visible display of the infinite riches of His grace and kindness, which was showered upon us in Jesus Christ! We have a God given identity. Can you see yourself as that? You are a display of His grace and kindness to the world we live in! There’s a verse that I have loved for a long time, it’s in II Corinthians 2 v 15 – In the NKJV it says – “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” In TPT it says – “We have become the unmistakable aroma of the victory of the Anointed One (Jesus) to God – a perfume of life to those being saved and the odour of death to those who are perishing.” Are you getting the picture of who you are to Father God! Let me just remind you. You are His precious child, therefore heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. You are a new creation (II Cor. 5 v 17). You are His friend (no longer servants John 15 v 15). You are seated with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2 v 6). Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6 v 19). You can do ALL things through Him who strengthens you (Phil. 4 v 13). These are just a few of the ways Father sees you, there’s so much more. And let me finish by quoting who we are collectively – I Peter 2 v 9 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.” HALLELUJAH!!! From Book – ‘My Dear Child’. By – Colin Urquhart “Created in Love” My dear child, I am your Almighty God, and I am your Father. I love you. I know your understanding of words such as ‘father’ and ‘love’ are coloured by your experience. But my heart is not like that of any human father, My love transcends any other. You can’t judge my love by human standards, no matter how good your experience of love. You see, my child, before the world was created, I knew you. I appreciate this is impossible for you to understand fully. But I don’t dwell within the limitations of time; I am eternal. I am able to see the beginning and the ending of all things at any given moment. So, even before you were born, I knew you. From the moment of your conception, I have watched over you. I have seen your conflicts, turmoil, trauma even. I know your fears, your sins, inadequacy, and insecurity. You have often wondered why I made you in such a way if I truly loved you. But I didn’t make you like that. I made you to be like Me! I knew I would draw you to this moment when I could speak to you heart to heart. I want to explain my love to you in such a way that you can experience that love and be set free from all the things that have made it difficult, impossible even, to reflect my love in your life. When you lose sight of my love for you, real problems arise. Sadly, some of my children do lose sight of the centrality of my love and become hard hearted. I want you to enjoy your relationship with me, child. Then you will always respect Me as your Creator, The Holy One, who is Almighty. Because I created you in love, I had to give you freewill. This means you are able to hate as well as love, to be selfish and proud if you wish. Everybody has been created with the ability to choose what to do and how to behave. You are no exception. Because you have freewill, you have the ability to respond to My love. Many choose not to do so, but that doesn’t stop Me loving them and longing for them to be set free from the things that deny my love. I would like everyone to know and enjoy My love and express this in their relationships. My child this is what I want for you. 21.5.22 – Malachi Zoom