When we read the bible, we see so many negatives to avoid and positives to enjoy. With so many do’s and don’ts, blessings and curses, it would appear that it’s a simple—Either Or. Either choose blessing, Or choose cursing. Either choose life, Or choose death. We are indeed told to choose life, but in Jesus, and His resurrection, we also have to die before we can be resurrected.
In the kingdom of God, we are not trying to avoid certain things and live life from Either Or, but embrace life and live life from Both And. Just as Jesus told us to pick up our cross to follow Him, we are called to
die in order to live, suffer with Him to be glorified with Him. We are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29) so that Jesus might be the first born among many brethren. But, we are also called to be conformed to His death (Philippians 3:10) in order that we may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Here we are back again – conformed to the image of His Son – that He might be the firstborn of many brethren, the first born from the dead. We are conformed to both His resurrection and His death.
Now, it’s hard to embrace a negative to receive a positive, although we do it all the time. We embrace work to receive money. We embrace exercise to receive a fit body. But when it comes to the spiritual, we lose this common sense. Partly because we view our relationship from the law—If we do we live, if we don’t we die. But just as the world was born out of chaos, as God commanded light to shine out of darkness, so we are born out of chaos too. And He shines in our hearts the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).
So what are we to do? See Christ in everything! Not as the blessing or curse, life or death. But SEE JESUS – SEE THE GLORY OF GOD – IN THE FACE OF JESUS! See Him in the midst of the fiery furnace! When we see Jesus we are on our way to transformation, no matter our situation. If we are in sorrow, we behold Jesus in joy. If we are in suffering, we behold Jesus in glory. If we are in poverty, we behold Jesus in prosperity. If we are sick, we behold Jesus’ healing. Instead of avoiding death, we welcome it as a door into resurrection. Instead of avoiding reproach or shame, for his name, we embrace it as glory to
God.
This was a secret (well known in the bible) of the early church. Overcoming evil with good. Giving blessing instead of cursing in order to inherit blessing. Loving our enemies, doing good to those who hate us. The kingdom truth that brought, and still brings, Christ is that it is not Either Or, it’s Both And. There is nothing that we are walking through, stuck in, or suffering with, that Jesus is not available to behold and receive the outcome of resurrection life.
Take a moment to make an inventory of all the negative things that you are walking through. Attach the positive outcome in Christ to each one. Then worship God for the outcome in Christ, asking for a new vision of Jesus (scripture is full of Jesus) in His resurrection victory. Now, behold all things working together for good.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday February 24, 7 pm: Paul Cain will be ministering. Paul Cain was a part of the Healing Revival in the 50’s ministered alongside of William Branham. He was instrumental in the re-ushering of the
prophetic movement in the 80’s, and is a dear friend of Jubilee. Now in his mid-eighties, Paul carries the prophetic father’s mantle with grace and dignity, helping the next generation fully enter into the promises of God.
Sunday February 28, 9 am: Peter Skidanov will be ministering “Prophetic Insights for 2016 – Our Shemitah and Jubilee”. We are in the year of Jubilee according to the biblical calendar. And with this year, many exciting things are coming. Peter carries prophetic insight into the movement of the Spirit that will encourage us in our journey.
Sunday, 10:20 am: Nations Prayer – Join us for 30 minutes of powerful prayer for the nations of our inheritance. We start and finish our prayer time with the prayer of humility to receive grace by faith
for rain in California. Please help us pray.
Sunday, 11 am: I will be sharing “Beholding the Glory of God – in the Face of Jesus”. Jesus came to reveal the Father, and become our substitute as our sin offering. He came to die, be buried, raised on the third day, ascend up to heaven, and stand in the presence of God for us. We now are called to know Jesus in His glory. Learning how to see Jesus, turns darkness into light, death into life, despair into hope. In our beholding, we become all that He has done and given.
