Deaf (Gal 2:20)

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Gal 2:20, NASB)

As I was driving to G8 this morning knowing I was going to share the gist of yesterday’s post, I was really contemplating the effects of being crucified… being dead to myself.

Dead men…

• … don’t have any rights to get stepped on
• … don’t have any expectations to go unmet
• … don’t have any fears to bind them
• … can’t worry about yesterday, today or tomorrow
• … can’t compare their lives to those around them
• … can’t carry the weight of the world
• … can’t believe the lies of the enemy

… and as I was enumerating this list, God said something kinda funny but poignant.  He said that dead men can’t believe the lies of the enemy because “dead men can’t hear” and I kinda laughed, but realized that is HUGE!  This is a big deal because not only is my enemy a LIAR, when I am dead – I CANNOT HEAR HIS LIES.

This is a good test.  The devil and his minions are always lying about me, who I am, how I will be, what I will or will never be, etc.  When I can hear the lies – then SOME PART OF MY FLESH HAS CRAWLED OFF THE CROSS.

Daddy, may I always be deaf to the lies of my enemy and my spirit be in tune with yours.

Free Indeed (John 8:36)

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36, NIV)

How does this happen? How am I free “indeed”?

Our enemy is relentless (1 Peter 5:8). He is continually at us. He is the master deceiver. John 8:44 tells us his native tongue is falsehood. That is who he is. So every morning when we wake up, our enemy is looking for some deception for us to grab hold of; some falsehood of who we are; some fallacy saying that who we WERE is who we ARE; some cock-and-bull story about some bondage we’ll never shake, some addiction we’ll never kick, some fear we’ll never be rid of. ALL OF IT LIES.

Jesus said “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus said it. So I ask again… “How?” Enter Galatians 2:20:

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Gal 2:20, NASB)

Check this out. If I am dead. What power does anyone hold over me? What power does any thing hold over me? What power does any addiction, any fear, any bondage hold over me? None. If I am no longer alive, then I have no more worries to haunt me, no more fears to paralyze me, no more rights to be stepped on, no more expectations to be let down, no more LIES to BELIEVE.

That, my friend, is good news.

Today I Choose

Galatians 2:20- “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

As I went through my day today, I was just going along working, not spending time with Papa. Before I started this blog I asked Papa to reveal my sin to me so that He and I could remain in the fellowship I so desperately need. He showed me some of my “classics,” the lust and pride, things I constantly battle. But then He showed me something new, a spirit of death. I wasn’t sure what He meant, so I asked Him, “What do you mean death? Have I not been crucified with Christ?” His response was, “Today you haven’t been baptized. Last night, sure, but today…you must kill your self to be with me.” What I realized was that it’s okay for me to do my quiet time at night, but I still need to take that ever so important step each new day of killing my flesh, and dying to his will for my life. Yesterday’s wisdom, knowledge, death whatever, is not for today nor is it for tomorrow. It was for yesterday, today I must choose who to serve. You would think I would have this down but I obviously needed the reminder. Each day is a battle, to serve Him. To bring Him glory and renown. To praise Him with my all. Today, I choose You Papa.

Father I confess thinking yesterday was good enough for today.  I confess trying to do it in my own strength. Papa, please guide me every day of my life. I love You and need You.