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As shared before, here are a few more of my Pointillisms -- these ones could be a mighty declaration over the week you're living (maybe even read them, over your week, aloud!)...
45.49 In Jesus, I shall never be condemned. 45.50 In Jesus, the Holy Spirit looses my life from death and the Fall. 45.51 In Jesus, the divide is bridged. 45.52 In Jesus, the former Law is already fulfilled within me. 45.53 In Jesus,—by His Spirit—I have His outlook ever available. 45.54 In Jesus, I presently have peace. 45.55 In Jesus,—by His righteousness—I am utterly, ultimately, alive. 45.56 In Jesus, my current life is contemporaneous with eternity. 45.57 In Jesus, I too am a son of God. 45.58 In Jesus, I too am an inheritor of the wealths of the Kingdom. 45.59 In Jesus, I am on display as one of His glories. 45.60 In Jesus, I am gloriously free—in order to free. 45.61 In Jesus, I know where this is headed. 45.62 In Jesus, the Holy Spirit is replacing my age-old spirit. 45.63 In Jesus, that Spirit translates my life, my thoughts, my prayers. 45.64 In Jesus, I have nothing at all to fear. 45.65 In Jesus, I have everything to hope for. 45.66 In Jesus, I am being made like Jesus. 45.67 In Jesus, I shall be sustained just as certainly as I was known; created; saved; called unto. 45.68 In Jesus, nothing separates this life from His life.
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I want you to imagine Jesus – just the way you imagine Him – see Him in your mind’s eye with all the details that come along with that: the look of His clothing, the set of His shoulders, the look in His eyes, and on His face, as He leans closer to you. He is sitting in a room where, just a few minutes ago, He’d stooped at your feet and washed and dried them; now He’s been speaking to you, very directly. Something in His eyes says that all these words are a valediction – a sort of farewell – like a father preparing to make his final earthly departure. You find your heart confused; sad. Why is He suddenly taking on a tone like this?
Then His features soften; His eyes gloss over with tears. “Peace I leave with you,” He says, “my peace I give to you.” In the last three years of following after Him, you have seen the nature of that peace: scenes begin to occur to your memory. Of the crush of the crowds pressing against Him from all sides. Of the approach of Legion, the man possessed by a thousand spirits. Of the night before that: His waking, in the storm, and standing up against the gunwale and pronouncing “Hush” into the night. Of the constant attacks of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Of the rumors of the fury of Herod. Of the whispering of the authorities unto the Romans. Of the day, even, when He’d cleared the Temple. The peace He is leaving you, His peace that He says He gives, is the most remarkable power you have ever seen. Jesus’ peace is not the absence of action – a vacuum where no problems may enter – it is a conquering force that dominates every situation. You have seen the way His peace can be as quiet as the light mellowing at dusk; you have seen it rise to confront all evil in its darkness. The peace that Jesus gives you, on this night, and forever, is the ability to abide in Him, no matter what. It’s the ability to conquer fear with love; hate with goodness; lack with abundance; death with life. Nothing can stand against the peace of Jesus. This week, at Anchor, we meandered our way through John 10's “Good Shepherd” message, while looking back at some of David's most famous words, from Psalm 23. I think you'll enjoy the juxtapositions, section by section:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd will give his life for the sake of his sheep… I am the good shepherd, and I know those that are mine and my sheep know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I am giving my life for the sake of the sheep.” “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” “I am the door. If a man goes in through me, he will be safe and sound; he can come in and out and find his food.” “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” “[The shepherd of the flock] calls his own sheep by name and leads them out of the fold, and when he has driven all his own flock outside, he goes in front of them himself, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.” “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” “Believe me when I tell you that anyone who does not enter the sheepfold though the door, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a rogue. It is the shepherd of the flock who goes in by the door. It is to him the door-keeper opens the door and it is his voice that the sheep recognise.” “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” “I do assure you that I myself am the door for the sheep. All who have gone before me are like thieves and rogues, but the sheep did not listen to them… The thief comes with the sole intention of stealing and killing and destroying, but I came to bring them life, and far more life than before.” “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me ALL the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” “So there will be one flock and one shepherd. This is the reason why the Father loves me—that I lay down my life… and I lay it down to take it up again! No one is taking it from me, but I lay it down of my own free will.” My friends, let's go listen for, and follow after, our Good Shepherd all week long! Jesus came: to reveal the heart of God; to establish the Kingdom of Heaven; to show us the Way; to give us His Word; to die to set us free from sin; to conquer death; to ascend to intercede on our behalf; to send His Holy Spirit; to allow us untrammeled access to the Throne; to send us out to make all this known to everyone; to be with us in perfect power; to be with us in His own brand of fearlessness; to ask for more of everything He offers; to receive everything He offers; to be with Him—as He is with us—every minute of our lives.
How are we doing, in daily pragmatic experience, with receiving all of the above? |
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