Something Better Than "God Is With You"

"God is with you" is a fairly common statement I've been hearing nowadays. In fact, I've heard it for years. Psalm 91:15 says that God will be with those in trouble, who have set their love on Him. Isn't it good to know that God is with us? Yes, He's right here, with me. All this is comforting, yet hardly enough to bring me victory in the midst of trials, test, and other storms which Christians face in this life. No, what I need to know is this: how can God put me over in every circumstance of life?  Just the fact that God is with me is no guarantee of victory over the forces of evil,  in this world we are living in for now. I need God to be closer than (just) with me.

Having my stomach with me provides no guarantee of food providing strength and nourishment to my physical body. No, what my body needs is for my stomach-and every other digestive organ-to be inside me, processing food on my behalf. The same is true with God, our Heavenly Father. He is in each and every believer, working on our behalf.

Always prove what someone tells you about God by the Word of God. The Bible, God's written Word, tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:16 that God would dwell in the hearts (spirits) of believers. He goes on to tell us in verse 18 that He will be a Father to us (believers). Then, in Colossians 1:27, God says that Christ-God's Son-is in us. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit is living in our spirits (hearts), according to Romans 8:11, I Corinthians 3:16, and I Corinthians 6:19 (note: there's only one Church; what's written to one part of the Church is written to all the Church). This means that all three Persons of the Godhead-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-are living in you. And if they can't put you over in life, then no one can (but They can-let them). Now, isn't that a whole lot better than (just) having God with you?

Yes, if you're a believer, God is certainly with you (as well as for you-Romans 8:31). Rejoice in these truths. Rejoice also that God is in you, willing and able to put you over in life-no matter what storms may come your way.

How has seeing that God is in you made a difference in your life?

Soldiers of The Throne

The term "Soldiers of the Cross" references those defenders of the Christian faith, stalwart members of God's eternal army going off to war. "Soldiers of the Cross" is found in the opening verse of the old hymn "Stand Up Stand Up for Jesus", written over 150 years ago by George Duffield. I've sung it many times. Thank God for the Cross where the sins of mankind were laid upon Jesus, Who became sin, according to 2 Corinthians 5:17, for you. For me. For all mankind. At the same time we must remember that the Cross is actually a place of defeat. 
Why? Because the story of redemption doesn't end there. Had that actually been the case you and I would still be lost in our sins. Beyond the Cross, it was Jesus's death, burial, and resurrection that secured our eternal redemption, once and for all (Hebrews 9:12; I Corinthians 15:14,17).

According to the Scriptures above-and many others as well-Jesus defeated the devil; therefore our "soldiering" responsibilities have changed. Same army, however we're now an occupying one, enforcing Satan's defeat. Rather than 
soldiers of the Cross, we're actually soldiers of the Throne. God's Throne. According to Ephesians 2:4-6, we are seated together with Christ, Who sits at the right hand of God (Hebrews 12:2). "With Christ" is a place of victory, of having overcome spiritual death, hell, and the grave. His victory is now mine. *

As an overcomer, seated with Christ in heavenly places, I'm part of God's army occupying the earth, enforcing Satan's defeat. I'm not trying to get victory; I already have the victory, in Christ. I'm not Cross-minded, I'm Throne-minded.

How about you? Do you have the victory? You do if you're a Christian because the Bible says so, whether you feel or it looks like it or not. Remember, it's a different view from the Throne, than the Cross.

Yes I'm standing up for Jesus, a soldier of, not the Cross, but of the Throne.

*For more on this see my book, Born To Win: A Study Guide For New Believers, available in hardback through this ministry or on Kindle.

Rights and responsibilities: Jesus the head

Colossians 1:18 “And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Jesus is the Head of the Church, the Body of Christ. He-not a man, denomination, or organization-has preeminence (is first and foremost) over all things including His Body, the Church, us believers.

As Head, all plans for the Body come through Jesus Christ by the Spirit of God, from God the Father. Just as your natural head controls the functions of and gives commands to your body, so Jesus, our Head, gives commands to the Church, His Body. As Lord, Jesus has been qualified in commanding the Church to accomplish the Great Commission, as found in both Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-18.