I am hidden with Christ in God!

Col 3:3     your life is now hidden with Christ in God

Col 3:1-4         Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on thingsabove, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

I am hidden with Christ in God!

The lie comes and says, “You live on the Earth. You have nothing to do with heavenly things. Your flesh is where you live. You live with hunger and that is all there is.”

I am hidden with Jesus Christ, was seated at the right hand of the Father. 

I am hidden therefore valuable

I am hidden and protected

I am hidden and set apart

I am hidden therefore separated

I am hidden because another seeks to take me captive with lies 

I am hidden with Christ

the one who encourages my heart

the one who made all things

the one who heals

the one who came to reveal the Father

I am hidden with Christ

the one who intercedes for me day and night

the one who unites me together with love

the one who restores my soul

the one who wants to be known

I am hidden with Christ

the one who wants to share His wisdom and understanding

the one in whom all the fullness of God is pleased to dwell

the one who is over everything

the one who said to me, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I am hidden with Christ

the one who forgave all my sins

the one who canceled the code that was against us

yes, in Jesus, who disarmed the powers and authorities on the cross

 I am hidden with Christ in God

            in a new life

            in a new family

            in a new place

            in his kingdom

            in a new culture 

Col 3:15a         Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…  

                        I have never seen such things before,

                                    considered such things before

                                                or heard such things.

I am hidden with Christ in God 

I am established, anointed and sealed by God.

2 Cor 1:21-22 “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

God sets me in a firm union with Jesus. I am established in Christ, anointed by God, sealed with signs of His ownership and injected with the Holy Spirit.

I have tried to work out the establishment of this relationship.  I have been trying to do it in my own strength. I have been trying to do what God has already done for me. I have been getting angry and bitter with God because I cannot do it.  I have been lead astray.

I was lead astray by lies.

 “It is God who makes both Paul and David (that’s me) stand firm in Christ.  He has anointed me, “officially, designated me as set apart”

Established:

“Could they but understand how just their own efforts are the cause of their failure, because it is God alone who can establish us in Christ Jesus. They would see that just as in justification they had to cease from their own working, and to accept in faith the promise that God would give them life in Christ, so now, in the matter of their sanctification, their first need is to cease from striving themselves to establish the connection with Christ more firmly, and to allow God to do it. "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ." What they need is the simple faith that the stablishing in Christ, day by day, is God's work--a work that He delights to do, in spite of all our weakness and unfaithfulness, if we will but trust Him for it.”  Andrew Murray, Abide in Christ Ch12 http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/5f00.0562/5f00.0562.c.htm

Anointed:

“The specific practice of anointing by pouring oil on the head was used as a symbolic act for officially, designating and setting apart a person for a certain, public, leadership function in the community. It was a one-time event much like an inauguration or ordination. Things could also be sanctified or dedicated to a special purpose for God by anointing (Exo. 29:36). The three kinds of leaders anointed for their ministries in the Old Testament were: priests, and prophets.

A major difference between Israel and the other nations was that when God had someone anointed or authorized for leadership He also provided the empowering of the Holy Spirit to do the job.” Roger Cotton  http://www.agts.edu/faculty/faculty_publications/articles/cotton_anointing.pdf     

I cannot be separated from the love of God.

Rm 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

   “For your sake we face death all day long;

   we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Eph 3:16-19 “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.”

I want to believe I know God’s love.  I think it is here in good times. I think it is gone when trials arrive.  I think God loves me when I am successful and when I see my failures I think He is far away.

A baby knows the love of its parents.  When held the baby may rest, laugh and sleep.  When upset by hunger, wet diapers and any distance from the parents the baby registers a complaint that love is not near.

As I grow up I begin to see that God’s love is bigger than holding me.  Yet I long to touch God and be touched.  God is strengthening me in my inner man, my spirit, so I can be rooted and grounded in His love.  This foundation reminds me, I cannot be separated from the love of God.  As I grasp the truth that His love does not depend on my behavior. I am a little more secure. As I grasp the truth that His love does not waver based on His pleasure with me. I am a little more secure. As I grasp the truth His love is His love and I don’t have to make Him happy. My security is strengthed.

Did you believe that too?  Did you believe God had to be pleased with you or He cut off His love?  LIES!!! 

Did you believe God had to like you to bring His love to your life?  LIES!!! 

Did you believe God had to appreciate you before His love would be active in you?  LIES!!!

I cannot be separated, you cannot be separated, from the love of God.

Father I want to know, that I know that I know, I cannot be separated from your love.  Strengthen me in my inner man so that I will be rooted and grounded in your love and begin to grasp the dimensions of your love.  I join with Jesus interceding for me, “Strengthen me in my inner man”.

I am free from any charge against me.

Rm 8:31-34 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

I have been told God is angry with me.

I have been accused of every sin. I have committed some and some I have only considered.  I thought that was God accusing ---- NOT!!!

I have been told I’m unrighteous, unacceptable only borderline and rejected by God.  These are lies propagated by the accuser.

He says, “You are scum, slim and more.”  LIES!  They are lies!

I am working out my salvation and the price of Jesus blood was sufficient to set me free.

Dragged back into sin, the accuser rejoices in bringing a mirror to me and demanding I look at myself.  I am accused at the same time Jesus is interceding for me.

Jesus is asking God, ”Give David a bigger understanding of grace. Expand his understanding of my blood.  Give him wisdom, insight, decrement, revelation, conviction, power and understanding of your love.  Let your love be released in him.”

No one has a charge against me.  Yet like the Galatians:

Gal 3:1-2 “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?”

I have listened to the law and those teaching the law.  I have heard the word of grace twisting between my ears so it sounds like the unattainable law.

Rm 8:31-32  “If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger?” (The Message)

I am free from any charge against me. I am justified, forgiven, redeemed and covered in Jesus blood.

I am assured that all things work together for good.

Rm 8:28 "We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called in accordance with his purpose."

You have restored relationships with my children and extended family

You have provided a new home

You have restored a love for and activity in photography

You are causing me to growing in ways I did not know needed growth

You have put me back to work

Impatience tells me you do not work together for my good

Hope holds on and fights with impatience.

My unresolved grief lashes out at you

My broken heart is always avoiding you.

It arrives with its specific demands and keeps distance, untrusting and suspicious.

I need these days to work together for good.  One side of me counts up the good things while another side of me cries out in grief and pain.

Help me, heal me, hold me. 

Do you need power? I do.

I live in a world that is constantly calling for our attention. It cries out, “Look at this.  You need this.”

Jesus is saying the same thing.  “David, look at me.  You need me.  David, you really need me.”

When I look at Jesus I am encountering light. When I listen, read and think about Jesus I am being charged with light.  Power is being planted in us. When I listen to the word of God and obey... I am being transformed by light.

My garden is transformed from dirt and composed manure to a tapestry of greens by the seed I plant, the water and the sun.

The water constantly washes over the dirt making all its nutrients available to the plants. It washes over the decaying compost and picks up minerals and parts of the manure. It may carry it deep into the dirt or simply moisten the soil, so that the next watering will move it again.

The Bible says I am watered by hearing the word. Others are influenced by me as I speak the word and obey it. You know someone who waters by their action. They gently cover the plant and the soil with water.  Someone with a hose on full power, who wants to move dirt off of the sidewalk or driveway is not watering.  He might water a nearby area. But the area to which the hose is directed is intended to be cleaned, not watered.

Water may come harsh or gentle. It blesses when it come regularly.  It blesses by its gentleness. It has ability to wash every leaf of a plant and not damage or frighten.  It washes over leaves and compost leaving the plant hungry at its roots. There the plant will embrace, absorb and transform the water and everything the plant lives in, into its life.

Light must come to my garden or nothing and no one grows to its potential.  Light embraces the plant with warmth, it energizes the process of photosynthesis and growth. Light causes the plant to reach for the source of the light.
 
The light of God’s mission and character has one purpose: to transform.  The warmth of the son transforms a seed into a seedling. The light which energizes photosynthesis powers transformation. As the plant reaches higher it is changed from a weak seeding, which looks like so many other seedlings, into the fruitful life God designed.

I am free forever from condemnation!

Rm 8:1-2  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,  because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Rm 8:5b but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Rm 8:10 But if Christ lives in you, … , the spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes to you]. (Amp)

I do not remember being told how to set my mind on the things of the spirit or hearing anyone talk about the basics in milk.

The focus has been on the imperative changes I must make rather than what God has already done. Therefore I always felt under judgment.

Fathers and mothers can be especially good at condemnation, guilt and shame.

Paul says, “therefore there is NOW no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”.

I need the milk of the Word of God to acquire these words, this perspective and this renewing of the mind.

Fear of abandonment and rejection have driven my life. They are driving force behind my desire to please people, gain their trust and respect. They are the reason my anger is triggered when I am dis-respected.

I must grasp in my inner most being that God’s words are true.  That He is not fickle and waiting to see if I have been naughty or nice.  There simply is “NOW no condemnation.”

I must grasp that friendship with God is more valuable than friendship with friends.  My fear of their words, abandonment and rejection must stop pulling my life from one side of the road to the other.

I must grasp that knowing the King is the basis of confidence when any accuser is speaking. The King will say, “this one is my child.  He has fumbled his assignment and learned from it.  There is NOW no condemnation”.

I must grasp again on what the King has said. “I am the sheep of His pasture.”  I am under His care. He is my protector. He is my provider.  And I am part of His wealth. He will not part with me ever. I am part of His inheritance. The Father is also guarding me.

Still Revelation tells us we will be accused.  Yet, “there is NOW no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Did I hear that?  Did I hear it?  I am “in Christ Jesus”.  I am in the one and only son of God who the Father loves.  I am in Him.

The Father has finished pouring out condemnation and judgment on Jesus.  He finished that at the cross.  It was finished completely.

Therefore there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus.

I must still get it.

Maybe that is why Paul prayed, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Eph 3:16-17