Hear the Voice of God

Did you know that you truly can communicate with God? Would you like to know more about how to hear from God? Would you like to see Him in action in your everyday world? If you would like to deepen your walk with Jesus by learning to hear His voice in your life, then please make sure to check out our next blog series on Hearing the Voice of God. We look forward to sharing this wonderful truth with you and expect you will be blessed. 

It is Finished.... He is RISEN Pt.2

What did Jesus mean when He said, “It is finished”? Why is it important for us to know what He accomplished in His death and resurrection?  

John 19:30 (AMP)
When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and [voluntarily] [a]gave up His spirit.

Note* John 19:30 this wording implies that Jesus voluntarily and sovereignly released His spirit from His body in submission to God’s plan.

The word, “finished” in the original Greek means: to finish, complete, fulfill; to be perfected, accomplished; performed.  Jesus Christ came to redeem mankind, to pay for all their sins, transgressions and iniquities, and to fulfill the law and prophets. Jesus “was betrayed and crucified because of our sins, and was raised [from the dead] because of our justification [our acquittal—absolving us of all sin before God].”  (Romans 4:25 AMP)

To be acquitted means: to free (someone) from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty. Who was guilty? All of mankind including the people who do “good” works. Who charged us with crime? Satan did: through treachery he brought corruption and death into this world and brought down all of humanity. Stay with us here, because we know that this can all seem difficult and many choose to shy away from this truth, but the next part is fantastic.

We have been acquitted in the high court of heaven by Jesus Christ, the Messiah (the ‘anointed one’)!  He is our heavenly Father’s Son, who was crowned as King, even at the crucifixion.  Pilate had the words, “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS” hang above Jesus’ head on the cross as an announcement for all to see. It was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. (John 19:19-20)  However, the Pharisees did not agree with this “accusation written against Him” that Pilate had the soldiers post above Jesus on the cross.

Luke 23:1-2 (NIV)
Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.

Jesus Christ will be crowned as King of all kings, as stated in Revelation 19:16 “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:  KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (NIV) At the cross, a crown of thorns was put on Jesus’ head, which was symbolic of the crown He will wear for all eternity.   Even the day and hour of Jesus’ crucifixion is significant.  As the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, Jesus Christ was being crucified on the cross on Calvary’s hill.  The time of Passover is the Hebrew month of Nisan, which is the ‘beginning of months’ (Exodus 12:2) and was considered the New Year for the Kings, when in the Old Testament the Kings were anointed.  (See the article, “Secrets of the Crown of Thorns” by Dr. Danny Ben-Gigi, Prophecy Watcher 03.2016 magazine, www.prophecywatchers.com)

Three days after a heavy stone closed His tomb, when some women came bringing spices, they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.  Two men stood by in shining garments and said, “He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’
Luke 24:6-7 (NIV)

This is the story of the Resurrection, familiar to many people.  What may not be taught so clearly, is the truth about what Jesus really accomplished in His death and resurrection.
 
1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV)
Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Isaiah 53:5 (AMP)
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing];
The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him,
And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed.

Matthew 8:17 (AMP)
So that He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES [upon Himself] AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.”

Isaiah 53:5 says “we are healed” and 1 Peter 2:24 says “we were healed”.  The truth is that Jesus Christ’s body was broken so ours could be whole.  His blood was shed so that our sins would be forgiven.  This is now a finished work and we are to remember this whenever we take communion.

Luke 22:19-20 (NKJV)
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”

We receive healing by the broken body of Jesus Christ and we receive forgiveness of sins by His shed blood.  All this happened at the cross and more…

Colossians 2:14-15 (NIV)
Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

This “handwriting of requirements that was against us” is the law in the OT that God gave to His people.  If even one commandment was not kept perfectly, a charge of all were made against them.  These commandments were given to show the people that they needed a savior, and He came in the person of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:13-14 (AMP)
Christ purchased our freedom and redeemed us from the curse of the Law and its condemnation by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS [crucified] ON A TREE (cross)”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might also come to the Gentiles, so that we would all receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit through faith.

Jesus’ accomplished work on the cross enables us to walk in strength and health all the days of our lives.  He has set us free from the curse of the law and from the hand of the enemy of darkness.  He has forgiven us of all our sins. He has qualified us and given us an inheritance. This is the good news of the gospel!

Colossians 1:12-14(NKJV)
12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
We can be encouraged in our lives and finish the work that is before us each day.    Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord and Savior, is seated now beside the Father in heaven. He is our hope, our encourager, our supplier, our healer, our friend in time of need.  All we need is to keep our eyes on Him!

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
“… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

We have been acquitted! We have been redeemed! …. And we can be joyful today!
~ Joanne and Sarah

It Is Finished….. He is Risen Pt 1

We have arrived at the most pivotal week for Christians around the world. This is a week to truly reflect upon what Jesus Christ of Nazareth did to change the very fabric of the world. There are different names with slightly different types of tradition surrounding the remembrance of this week that occurred a little over 2000 years ago. Many call this week Holy Week and within this week there are different observances of the Passion of Christ. For example, in Oberammergau Germany, the “Passion Play” has been performed since 1634. Roman Catholics participate in “Stations of the Cross” while many Protestants hold “Cross Walks.” What is it about Holy Week that sparks the flames of love and worship in so many Christians? Are these remembrances for Christians only? Jewish people continue to observe the Passover while Christians remember the Last Supper. What about people who have no religious affiliation or those who claim another faith? The truth is Jesus came to us to save (to love on and to make whole) the entire world.

Our good friend and president of Liberating Ministries for Christ International, Dale M. Sides (www.lmci.org) wrote a book called Perfect Redemption. In that book he highlighted how the crucifixion of Jesus was so much more than what we often see today. Most of Christianity observes this on Good Friday. First of all, we want to point out that Jesus was not murdered in the sense that He was ambushed without warning. No, He gave His life willingly because of His incredible love for us. Imagine that your child is the target of a terrorist attack. You see it coming and you have a choice to make. Do you rush in and take your child’s place and receive the full force of the attack thereby saving your child’s life or do you stand by and let your child be killed instead? Jesus chose to go in there and receive the fatal assault Himself to spare us from eternal death. He did so knowing that because He was (and is) in the Father and the Father (God) was in Him, He would ultimately survive the attack by being raised from the dead. However, through that brutal death there was a great deal of shedding of blood. As Dr. Dale pointed out in his Perfect Redemption book, even the shedding of Jesus blood took on great significance and meaning for us.

In this incredible revelation you will see how Jesus bled 7 ways and what it means:

1)    Out of His forehead in the garden (Luke 22:43)

2)    Internally bruised (Is.53:5; Matt.26:67; Luke 22:64)

3)    Out of His head – crown of thorns (Matt.27:29)

4)    Out of His back (Is.53:5; Matt.8:17; 1 Peter 2:24)

5)    Out of His hands (Psalm 22:16; Luke 24:39-40)

6)    Out of His feet (Psalm 22:16; Luke 24:39)

7)    Out of His side – water and blood (Isaiah 53:5; John 19:34)

The 7 ways Jesus bled was for our healing and forgiveness of:

1)    Forehead = mental sins: doubt, worry, fear, anxiety, unforgiveness (fear)

2)    Internally = generational curses: cleansing of iniquity (fear, lust, anger, pride)

3)    Head = not making Him King; putting anything else first (idolatry)

4)    Back = to remove the sins done against our bodies: food, drugs, alcohol (lust)

5)    Hands = evil works done (anger)

6)    Feet = walking in self-willed disobedience (pride)

7)    His side = sins of the heart; transgressions (omission/commission)

Wow! This is the perfect redemption at its very core! This Perfect Redemption was accomplished in order for us to: 

1) Quicken our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit (forehead)

2) Cut off any inward agony (internally)

3) Redeem us from the curse of poverty; break the curse off the ground (crown of thorns)

4) Give us divine health (back)

5) Do the Father’s will with our hands; lay hands on the sick (hands)

6) Die to self and not walk in our own ways; wisdom for decision making (feet)

7) Reconcile us to God; reconcile men and women (side)

Ok, some of you may be saying this is all fine and good but I still haven’t made up my mind about Jesus…. Or, maybe you have made up your mind and decided He’s not for you. This is where we say don’t worry about focusing on that for right now. We believe that Jesus’ Perfect Redemption is bigger than your doubt. The only thing you need to do is to ask Him into your heart. If you want any of the promises of wholeness, He is faithful to offer them to you. You don’t need to go anyplace special, you don’t need to send out announcements; just ask Him into your life. (Romans 10:9-10, 13) The rest of your perfect redemption will be a journey in which His Holy Spirit will guide you. So, remember, as we go through Holy Week, what Jesus did to accomplish your salvation. Remember His last words which sum up that incredible accomplishment:

John 19:28-30 (NKJV)

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

It IS finished. Jesus paid the price.

~Sarah and Joanne

While We Are Waiting…

For a pregnant woman who is anticipating the birth of her baby, the waiting period just before her child is born can be filled with excitement, anxiety, intensity, pressure, pain, and just plain exhaustion.  Her baby’s nursery has been made ready. The crib is waiting along with the cute little rompers, diapers and baby animal decorated layette complete the picture of a room ready for its new tiny occupant. The smells of baby shampoo, moisturizers and powder permeate the fresh and orderly space. The woman’s bags are packed for the hospital trip, and all she can do is WAIT!
In life, there are many ‘waiting periods’ such as when you are waiting to see the first flowers or fruit open up in the garden you planted, or when you are waiting to hear the results of an academic test, or an interview for a job that you just know you ‘nailed’ (did well, but don’t know what will happen)…
As you are aware, this is March 2016 and many Christians have been ready and are waiting, eagerly expecting, “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”. (Titus 2:13)

On March 6, 2016, a word of the Lord was heard and recorded by Joanne. (By the way, we are all capable of hearing the Lord but many do not recognize His voice. We will discuss this topic in more depth at a later date.)

“This is the waiting period before I burst in the clouds to come for you…like when a woman is waiting for the baby to burst forth into life… all is set, the day and hour you do not know, but you know that the baby is coming. I AM coming sooner than you expect…”

Yes!  There is an expectation that things are going to drastically change soon!  So what should we do while we are waiting? Is there anything in particular we should be doing? Will God tell us? How will we know when He does?
Should we waiver in our hope?  Or should we remain confident as Paul said in Philippians 1:6 “ … I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” (AMPC)

We can be confident and ‘hold fast’ until His return.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (AMP)
14 Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior]. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].

There is a set purpose for us to fulfill in these last days and we can accomplish what the Lord has given us.  We can receive and begin to understand that purpose through approaching Him through prayer and praise. We have to let go of any baggage the devil may be trying to weigh us down with especially the lie that you aren’t “good enough” to approach God. Jesus is our mediator, our high priest and it is because of Him that we can know that God will use us for His glory to make this waiting period meaningful. He’ll give us the tools and wisdom we need right now…. All we have to do is believe and ask. Our hope is in Jesus. He is our example.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (AMP)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, 2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].

So, just as an expectant mother knows her long wait will result in a beautiful baby; we can know that our time here in these last days on earth (however long that may be) can be filled with an exciting expectation of Jesus coming on the scene!  We can receive new strength each day from the Lord so that we can do the things that are set before us.  As we expect, look for, and hope in Him, the Holy Spirit will establish us in Christ’s righteousness, and in His completed work on the cross until the day of His return.

Isaiah 40:31 (AMP)
But those who wait for the LORD [who expect, look for, and hope in Him]
Will gain new strength and renew their power;
They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun];
They will run and not become weary,
They will walk and not grow tired.

~ Joanne and Sarah