“That the communication of your faith may become effective by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” (Philemon 1:6)
Dear People Who Keep Company with God,
When Jesus died on the cross, He said, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) And He is now “seated at the Father’s right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesian 1:20). He is not working anymore. He has already finished His work. The prophet Bob Jones said it so well, “If the work of the cross is not finished, there is no work on earth finished.” Our faith rests upon this truth. If you need salvation, it has already been done. 1 John 2:2 says, “He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Jesus didn’t die just for those He knew would accept Him; He died for every sinner who has ever lived on this earth. And He died before you or I ever committed a single sin. It’s not a matter of if God will forgive you; He’s already forgiven sins. If you need healing, it has already been done. 1 Peter 2:24 says, “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.” Jesus healed all of us already. Some people think Jesus stripes were only for our spiritual healing. He did suffer for our spiritual health, but over and over the Scriptures reveal Jesus healing all who were physical, mentally and emotionally sick. In Matthew 15:26, Jesus called healing, “the children’s bread.” It’s your portion. If you desire financial freedom, God has already made provision for you. 2 Corinthians 9:8 says, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” God doesn’t give us wealth, rather He gives us the power to create wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). Christ became destitute so we may have His grace and power to create wealth and bless others. Do you hunger to be close to God? It has already been taken care of. Ephesians 2:13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” You don’t have to achieve intimacy. He’s already placed you next to His side.
We need to learn to live from the perspective that Jesus has already accomplished everything we will every need. That is the Gospel. That is the good news. This is the starting point when needs or desires arise in your life. We fight the good fight of faith from that point. It’s not a matter of trying to get God to move in your life or do something for you. That is religion and will always make you feel like you don’t measure up or there’s something wrong with you. It will make you feel condemned and in the end, will drive you away from God. You are to move into agreement with Him and receive what He has already provided. One way to come into agreement with God is by acknowledging every good thing that God has already given you in Christ. That means recognizing and accepting what Jesus has already accomplished for you. When you do this your faith will be activated and effective. You’ll start seeing the things Jesus has accomplished manifest in your life. Your faith is never an attempt to make something real which isn’t real, but it is simply making what is spiritually true a physical truth.
Many Blessings, BW