V-MAIL TO THE FRONTLINE

PART 31

ABIDING IN HIS BLOOD IV

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him”. (Hebrews 10:38)

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called and professed a good profession before many witnesses”. (I Timothy 6:12)

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith”. (Romans 1:17)

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must BELIEVE that He is, and that He rewards them that DILIGENTLY seek Him”. (Hebrews 11:6)

Besides being one of the most popular Christian words of all time, FAITH is the spiritual fuel that makes the engine of an overcomer move! It is a huge pillar of our spiritual foundation because everything we are, say and do must have this ingredient or we are just working in the flesh. I am troubled when I see Christians experience crisis and do not even mention faith as a possibility for their deliverance. I listen to people (who profess Jesus as their Lord) talk about sickness and poverty like it is something that we cannot fight and Jesus cannot cure! I admit – I am guilty of fear and doubt when I have a problem as I run to make a doctor appointment instead of talking to Jesus about it. My impatience seems to overrule the thoughts of fasting and intercession because it is easier to take a pill or borrow money than to bring the sacrifice of – fervent prayer. I realize our brains are wired to react to the old carnal thinking but, when will we have a spiritually renewed mind? When will we turn to Jesus “first” and exercise what we say we know? When will strapping on our armor every morning become as normal as drinking our coffee? At church we shout the victory when others testify about miracles and we hear messages about how nothing is impossible with God, but is this just emotion? In God’s Word we see individuals who reached out by faith and found the super-natural connection that delivered them and through the covenant of total salvation we all agree that it is God’s will to heal us, so why do we set this view aside when things become “really” serious? It is like we live in a “dream state” with believing the supernatural then when we have a crisis we wake up and become humanly rational. Maybe this is true because walking in God’s covenant is just a “religious option” and not a personal lifestyle. Selah.

I have no intention of being critical or condemning anyone’s lack of faith – but rather I would hope that we might be motivated to examine our heart. In fact, these articles are a result of what I am finding (and not finding) within my own conscience. I am convicted and saddened by my lack of believing what I profess and realize that Father is demanding that I start “walking” my knowledge. My interpretation of spiritual obedience is ABIDING in the divine reality of God’s covenant (faith and works) including the full “active” operation of His fruits and gifts. This awareness of “living” by faith enables the overcomer to be victorious over the devil (and the flesh) while having the peace of being pleasing to the Lord. The joy of our intimate personal relationship with Father is the meaning of life and for all disciples should be the “normal” priority of living. The lack of seeking and knowing God is the difference between victory and defeat and the reason why the church suffers power outages. We must break out of the mentality that going to church and even serving in the church is our “complete” weekly requirement of service. It is easy to conduct a 30 minute program but our personal intimacy with God is what controls the way we live each moment. The church assembly was never intended to be a “show” of our spirituality but rather a supply house to equip Christian soldiers to fight on the frontline. In today’s concept of assembly, many members are too distracted to live for God throughout the week but labor to prepare programs and religious agendas for the church services. It seems we have it backwards! If the world cannot tell the difference between us and the non-Christian at work or home, then what is being accomplished? You see, we “live” by faith in what we know and love. If we know God and love His Word then we will practice His will. But knowledge must become activated into “revelation” or we will not be changed! If we live our life without progressing or developing then we have allowed deception to ruin the hope of our salvation. Selah.

The rituals of shedding blood have been passed down through time as making a bond between two parties to uphold a promised agreement. We have seen two people cut their palms with a knife and shake hands as the blood mixes together to make a bond unto death. This is a shadow of the seriousness of coming into agreement with God to LIVE and GIVE for Him as He lives and gives to us. This responsibility to walk holy has become too difficult and uncomfortable for many which has caused the gospel to be modified and watered down to please the masses. People are always looking for a free ride and privileges without accountability will draw them every time. It is time to observe some of the parallels of our blood with the blood covenant of Jesus and I pray these metaphors will stimulate your interest and motivate you to search deeper in your studies for the truth of God’s immeasurable inheritance.

1. BLOOD IS THE LIFESOURCE: As our blood is the life-source of our physical body (and ministers to our needs), Jesus blood is the life-source to our spiritual man. Jesus paid the price of our sin with His own blood and became the ultimate sacrifice to provide forgiveness and abundant life. We in turn (as part of the covenant vow) are to become living sacrifices for Him. Our faith in this atonement is the ONLY WAY to enter into covenant with God and our faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ONLY WAY to eternal life with Father in heaven. As our blood is alive – His blood is still alive today and just as powerful this minute as it was the day He was crucified. The government of heaven and earth abides and functions within the authority of His Name and the power in His blood. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the alter to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul”. (Leviticus 17:11)

2. THE HEART REGULATES THE BLOOD: The gift of the blood sacrifice from Christ came to us from the love of God’s heart. The Father’s compassion and desire to be eternally intimate with us reveals His true nature and character. His Word is His will and the desires of His heart to provide TOTAL salvation for us within His blood covenant. Our heart controls our blood and provides the timing and provision to supply every need of every part of our body (even the tiniest capillaries) so that we are satisfied completely! His heart controls the power of His testament and releases His miracles through our faith in His Word! Our veins are like tiny rivers that supply oxygen and nourishment so that we can live, move and have our being, living strong and filled with endurance to run the race so we can accomplish our destiny. Jesus blood is also like a flowing “river of life” that produces the manifestation of God’s anointing, vision and faith to our spirit man. In His blood we are equipped, restored, healed and strengthened with spiritual and physical blessings that identifies with His holy nature of being more than a conqueror. As our blood “carries” everything we need with balance and harmony, His blood supernaturally carries us through the dark, over invisible bridges, over the battlefields and every circumstance to victory! “But my God shall supply ALL your needs according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19) “They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the RIVER of thy pleasures”. (Psalm 36:8)

3. BLOOD SUSTAINS: Sustain means to; give support and cause to continue, to hold up, keeping ones mind or spirit from sinking or giving way – to “buoy up”. Our blood “keeps” us alive consistently with a built-in thermostat to MAINTAIN a perfect, constant temperature. He gave us the Holy Spirit to help “keep us” under His control – determined yet dependent. Without our blood there is no life –and without Jesus blood there is no divine reality. Scientist have discovered facts about blood but cannot explain what makes it alive. It is because blood is a supernatural miracle from God – not an accident from a big bang evolution. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7) If our blood is drained out, the body cannot sustain life and the same goes for faith in Jesus blood as the sustainer of our spiritual existence! Without the fountain of “Emanuel’s veins” flowing within our spirit man there is no divine spiritual LIFE! He is steady, fixed, stable, steadfast, reliable, faithful, loyal, unchanging, reliable and will never fail! “Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world”. (Mathew 28:20) We will never experience Him rejecting us or forgetting us as He is perfect and His promises are absolute truth. His covenant is based on His will and His vow to fulfill His Word is based on who He is. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28) His ability to accomplish His New Testament vow to us is guaranteed by His blood. If He could not sustain us there would be no eternal security. “For this cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day”. (II Timothy 1:12)