In Christ We Are Righteous

The Beautiful Bride of Christ Series

Diana Medlin

Copyright 2013 Diana Medlin

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

In Christ We Are Righteous

Appendix A - Other Books in the Beautiful Bride of Christ Series

Appendix B - Precious Promises to Live By

IN CHRIST WE ARE RIGHTEOUS: OUR DEBTS HAVE BEEN PAID IN FULL ON THE CROSS

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:18-21 NIV)

My husband and I are evangelists. We love to talk to people about Jesus everywhere we go. We’ve shared the good news about Jesus, and what he has done for us through the cross, with thousands of people from all over the world.

The above scripture perfectly describes our ministry and our message. We are blessed and privileged to tell people the good news. The good news is, “Jesus is the Son of God. He came down from heaven to pay the penalty for all of your sins on the cross.” If you will believe that Jesus is your Lord and savior, God pronounces you righteous and holy in His sight. Your sins are forgiven, and you are going to heaven.” That is truly good news; in fact, it’s the best news that many of these people that we talk to have ever heard in their lives.

I met a family from Germany.

The story following is recounted from one of my encounter books; it is a sweet encounter with a Christian couple from Germany. They heard the simple gospel (good news) that God loves and accepts them just as they are just because they believe in Jesus.

I was walking by a couple sitting on a bench looking at the ocean. I noticed some writing on the back of the man’s jacket. I stopped and said, “That writing looks like German.” I only knew that by the Holy Spirit, for all I knew it could have been Russian. He said, “Yes it is.” I said, “That’s great! My family is German; where are you from?” He said, “Bavaria.” His wife asked me, “Have you ever been to Germany?” I said, “Yes, many years ago. It was beautiful! I went to Munich.” We talked about their trip in the US. They exclaimed how beautiful it is here, as most people who come on vacation to our area do.

Then I said, “Can I tell you about a miracle?” They said, “Oh yes, tell us!” I told them about a young man that was color blind, but when my husband prayed for him, instantly he could see colors that he could never see before.” I won’t tell the whole story here but I told them about it in detail. When I finished they expressed a lot of joy about the miracle.

I asked, “Are you Christians?” The man, Manfred said, “We are Catholics.” His wife, Elizabeth said, “People in Germany are either Catholics or Protestants.” I said, “Wonderful!” Then I said, “Because you believe in Jesus you are going to heaven. You don’t need to earn God’s approval or acceptance. None of us can be good enough to earn God’s approval.” I continued, “You both are so beautiful and so sweet. You look and seem so perfect, but I am sure that you would say that you are not perfect. They laughed and said, “We know we’re not!”

I said, “God must punish sin because God is just, so He sent His only Son to take the punishment for us. Jesus made us clean by His blood. Because we believe in Jesus all of our sins are forgiven. It is good to hear that we are acceptable all the time. The Bible says that God makes us radiant – beautiful – by His washing us with His words.”

Then I said to Manfred, “If you said to your wife, ‘You need to keep the house cleaner!’ would that make your wife happy, beautiful and radiant? God does not point out our faults, He tells us how beautiful, and blameless and perfect we are. When you tell your wife how beautiful and perfect and wonderful she is, then she becomes more beautiful.

“God accepts us just the way that we are, like you would your own children, unconditionally.” They looked just like they had a bath in the Lord’s love. They were radiant. They were smiling from ear to ear. They seemed overwhelmed and so happy, as they thanked me over and over.

I know it was a great blessing to them. Their responsive joy was such a blessing to me also. As we said goodbye, I said, “I will see you in heaven and you will meet my husband!” They agreeing were so sweet, joyful and tenderhearted. They were such beautiful, precious people. What a joy!!! Thank You Lord Jesus!!!

End of the account from my journal.

God wants you to know that He loves you. The more you are washed in His unconditional love, the more you become like Jesus – God’s Word made flesh. Jesus is in you the hope of glory. In this series of books and in this book, look through the eyes of Your Father God intently at His Word. And you will see yourself as He sees you in Christ Jesus: radiant, beautiful, without spot or wrinkle, holy and blameless, by His grace through your faith in Jesus. (Eph 5:26-27, Eph 2:8-9)

Satan has all kinds of strategies aimed at the church, designed to diminish believers’ faith in the simple gospel message: salvation by faith in the blood of Jesus for the remission of sins.

He wants to subvert (undermine, challenge, threaten, weaken and destabilize) the gospel message with all kinds of works. He uses subterfuge to lead the church and Christians down rabbit trails to take them away from the knowledge and confidence in the pure and simple message of the gospel. When focusing upon works and sin-consciousness, Christians loose sight of righteousness through faith in Jesus. They slip away from the security of righteousness and salvation, by the grace of the cross of Jesus. The devil knows that when Christians are sin-conscious, insecure and trying to work out their own salvation, their faith becomes weak; the joy of their own salvation and relationship with Jesus has been thwarted. And they are very unlikely to share their faith with others for they are not even sure what the gospel message is anymore.

Our enemy has many of these strategies against the church and Christians; but for the purpose of illustration, we will use one of them. This example will afford a good opportunity to show that these kinds of “good looking religious works” are a deception. They lure Christians back to Old Covenant works - trusting in their own performance instead of entering into the rest of faith. The rest of faith is putting our trust in what Jesus has already accomplished for us. The following is a misguided teachings that has infiltrated some churches for a long time:

Christian congregations are taught that they should come together at intercessory prayer and repentance meetings. They are taught that at these meetings they should themselves “Humbly Own” the sins of the forefathers, and or sins of their region, an area or nation, repenting for them as “Our” sins. The purpose of these repentance meetings is stated to be: To break “the curse off of the land” so that God will then be able to come and heal the land, and bring, revival and blessings.

This doctrine teaches this practice that is prevalent in some churches. Those well meaning pastors, leaders and Christians who direct their congregations to do this have fallen back into the Old Testament law as well as the law of sowing and reaping.

They have forgotten that we are no longer under the curse. Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law, which is the curse of sin!

They believe that the forefather’s sins and the sins of the people of a region, nation etc. has caused a curse on the land. They teach that this curse hinders God from bringing blessing and revival to the region, nation etc and must be broken off of the land. Then, God will be able to “break through” and “heal the land” and bring blessing and revival.

This teaching declares that God will not move and bring His revival unless intercessors (Christians) are willing to take ownership of these forefather’s and the region’s sins as their own and intercede and repent for these sins. They teach that unless intercessors (Christians) repent, claiming these sins as their own sins, God will not honor or accept their prayers. Christians are taught that they should gather in intercessory repentance meetings and travail in repentance for these sins. These meetings take place year after year repenting for the same sins of the forefathers, and for the sins of the people of the region, or wherever, trying to break the curse off of the land.

This practice of repentance meetings to atone for sins… is no different than the Old Testament (Old Covenant) sacrificial system of offering the sacrifice of lambs, bulls and goats year after year, to make atonement for the people’s sins. This atonement was made to avoid the wrath of God and to seek the favor of God. These repentance meetings are no different from Israel’s continually thinking that they could be righteous by their (good works) in obedience to the law.

This is just one strategy of many that the devil uses to take the focus of the church off of obtaining the promises and blessings of God by faith in the finished work that Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. If God’s children are in works of any kind, even good religious works, they cannot be in faith at the same time. If they think that God will not bring blessings, revival and save souls unless they continually go through some repentance ritual, then it will be unto them according to their faith. Their faith in their religious works is what limits God because they are not standing in faith upon a promised blessing. They may be standing in faith based upon the Old Testament scriptures of sowing and reaping, but that is not based upon the New Covenant salvation blessings by faith in the promises purchased for us on the cross by Jesus.

This practice of repentance meetings to atone for sins is no different than the Old Testament (Old Covenant) sacrificial system of offering the sacrifice of lambs, bulls and goats year after year, to make atonement for the people of God’s sins, in order to be cleansed and avoid the punishment for their sins. These repentance meetings are no different from Israel’s continually thinking that they could be righteous by their good works in obedience to the law.

In the Old Testament the priest’s main function was to minister atonement for the sins of the people of Israel, officiating over the sacrificial system of substituting animals on altars to cover the sins of the people. In the Old Covenant many times, we find the prophets fasting in sackcloth and ashes taking the sins of the people upon themselves as they cried out in repentance and remorse saying, “We have greatly sinned…”

One time for example, the people of Israel and even the priests and Levites had disobeyed God, and took wives from the ungodly of the lands. When Ezra the prophet heard about this, he tore his garment and his robe and he plucked out some of the hair of his head and his beard. He fasted and he cried out to God saying, “Oh my God, I am too ashamed to lift up my face to You, my God. OUR iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens.”

I told my husband that I had read in Ezra 9 that “Ezra pulled out some of the hair on his head and on his beard.” Robert said, “Well, what is he going to be able to do about it?” The way that Robert said that was so cute. It reminded me, that when I read the story myself; I had sympathy for Ezra’s remorse and frustration that the people had ignored God’s command. I am sure that he felt remorse like any father or mother might, when their child has done something wrong that they know will hurt them. But hopefully we wouldn’t pull out our hair but trust in the lord instead.(Is 54:13) Robert also said, “Jesus was the only one that could do something about it. When He was on the cross, He said, ‘Father forgive them they know not what they do.’ All that Ezra could do was pull his hair out. There was no answer until Jesus came.” I love my husbands’ cute ways that he puts all the focus upon Jesus!!!

In Ezra 9, Ezra goes on in travail to God recounting how justified God had been that Israel had been debased and humiliated before their enemies. And how they had suffered God’s judgment because of their continual rebellion and disobedience to God’s commands. Ezra recounts God’s faithfulness and Israel’s unfaithfulness. This is a good picture of the curse of the law. Israel tried to obey God’s laws and commands but they failed miserably over and over and suffered the punishment for their transgressions. God did relent and hold back his righteous wrath many times showing His children mercy when they cried out in their trouble.

Ezra did not commit the sins that he was repenting for but he was taking them as his own, as he repented for the people. This was well and good under the Old Testament of salvation by obedience to the law. If one person transgressed one, even the smallest of sins, he was guilty of breaking all of the law. If one person in the camp of Israel, transgressed the commandment of God, all the people were subject to the judgment for that sin unless that person was found and punished for his own sin and God’s justice was satisfied.

This was the case in the story of Achan, in Joshua Chapter 7. Achan took accursed things (forbidden by God, probably idols of the ungodly) and he hid them. Because of this, God’s wrath was unleashed against the whole camp of the children of Israel and they were defeated before their enemies. I won’t tell the whole story here but when the children of Israel found out that Achan’s sin caused the wrath of God to come upon the whole camp, they took him out and stoned him and thus the judgment of God was satisfied. The law of sowing and reaping prevailed in the Old Testament.

As I said above in the Old Testament the priests, the prophets and the leaders of Israel ministered atonement for the sins of the people. They had to continually offer sacrifices, burnt offerings, repent and cry out in sackcloth and ashes, fast, travail and hope for a glimmer of mercy. Over and over they were either crying out to be saved from the suffering they were currently experiencing or they were trying to avoid the punishment they knew that they deserved.

In the New Testament (New Covenant) everything changed!!! The priests (Apostles, prophet’s evangelists, preachers, pastor’s, teachers and leaders of the people and all Christians) are mediating with Jesus, a better covenant based upon better promises. We are mediating by the atonement for sins any longer through animal sacrifices or human punishment. Jesus paid for the sins of the world!!! We are mediating reconciliation of all men to favor by faith in Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins. (2 Cor 5:19-21)

The repentance that we are now ministering in the New Testament is repentance from dead works (faith in man) to faith in the salvation of the cross and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. Right after the resurrection of Jesus, in the scripture below, the apostle Peter is mediating the New Covenant:

Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

Peter is not telling them to repent of all their sins here. He is telling them to repent from unbelief to faith in Jesus. For right after he tells them to repent he tells them to be baptized. Baptism is a picture of turning from unbelief to faith in Jesus. The act of baptism describes death to life.

Going down into the water signifies, “I” died with Christ - the believer’s death to trusting in man (self-rule). It also signifies our death to sin. We go into the water dirty and come up clean by faith in the blood of Jesus. Our old man died with Christ.

Coming up out of the water signifies that we are risen with Christ. We are a now a new creation. Our life is now hidden in Christ. We have become a new creation; the old “I” man is gone. Jesus now lives in and through us. We are now the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. All our sins are washed away.

I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me. (Gal 2:20)

But it is not the act of baptism that cleanses our sins; baptism is just a picture of what happened in our heart when we believed in Jesus. It is good to be baptized as an act of our faith. But some people for one reason or another cannot be physically baptized. That does not mean that they are not saved. Salvation happens when one believes in Jesus.

Again, Baptism is a picture of our transformation (metamorphosis) when we believe in Jesus - from death to life. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. (Rom 6:23) By our faith in Jesus we have become so holy that God even calls us: “The righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.” (2 Cor 5:21) God’s Word below says that we are already seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. That’s how God sees us.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Eph 2:4-6)

God delights in our faith that we no longer live but Jesus lives in and through us. That is who we are in Christ Jesus! We become more like Jesus by our faith that He lives in us. When we make a mistake and do not represent Jesus’ nature, our error is glaring to us, as we see ourselves in Christ. We are therefore quick to get back to reflecting what we see – Jesus living in us.

Our celebration of our position in Christ Jesus by God’s magnificently brilliant plan of salvation gives God glory for His great love, wisdom and grace!!!

Now we are in the NEW COVENANT, righteousness by faith in the blood of Jesus. We are so righteous before God that we are seated in heavenly realms with our Lord Jesus. Do you think that we will give glory to God for His great plan of salvation, if we now go back under the Old Testament, and mediate under the Old Covenant law of sowing and reaping?

In the Old Testament law as we saw in the examples above, if someone in our camp or our region or the forefathers committed sins then our land or our camp (church) is under a curse. And these sins cause God to be angry at the whole camp. So then we must atone, travail, and repent for those sins and seek God’s mercy to break this curse so that God’s righteous justice will be satisfied. Only then will the curse be broken, and then revival and blessing can come. This is Old Covenant and before the cross of Jesus!

Was not the blood of Jesus enough? Didn’t Jesus satisfy God’s righteous justice on the cross?

... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, (Rom 3:23-25)

The word “Propitiation” means: “A sacrifice that satisfies God.”

Does God receive glory, and delight in our going back under the law of sowing and reaping? Does the suffering Jesus endured receive honor by our so called “Humility” by our works of fasting and tearing our clothes in repentance. Does God receive honor by our taking the sins back upon us (that Jesus set us free from) of our region or forefathers to break a curse (that Jesus paid for) off our land? Is God calling us back under the Old Covenant to step back down from our position in Christ - holy, blameless seated in heavenly realms - and position ourselves back under sin?

Does God want us to own this sin as our own, in order to gain His approval, when His Son, Jesus already paid to reconcile man to God, Himself? Does it please God when we repent for these sins in order to gain God’s favor, when Jesus obtained favor for us individually and for us corporately, as the body of Christ Jesus? Is God mad at the church so that “He will not bless and bring revival because of the sins of the region or the forefathers, when Jesus already paid for the sins of the world? Does God call those acts humble? Do those acts of man, trying to atone for man, really honor the suffering that Jesus suffered to pay for the sins of the world?

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)

I think not!!!

In our view what God calls humble is when His children let go of every human effort to gain any favor or blessing from God by religious or any other works of the flesh.

And instead, they honor the cross of Jesus and boast about what Jesus has already accomplished for us, His children, because He loves us so much.

When we declare who we are in Christ Jesus, then others will see the liberty, freedom, love and joy that we have and want it too. Do you think that unbelievers would want to be like Christian’s, when they see their guilty religious repentance. Would they find Christianity attractive, when they see Christians owning sin and guilt, and talking about the region being cursed and the church being restricted from blessings because of the sins of the region? Those superstitious acts will never draw any unbeliever to Jesus. They are counter to the gospel – the good news, that God is not counting men’s sins against them. (2 Cor 5:19 NIV) These superstitious works will not encourage any Christian’s faith in Jesus either. It is a trick of the devil to diminish the power of the blood of Jesus, and the declaration of righteousness by faith in the blood of Jesus for the remission of sins.

It does sound good and humble to the flesh when Christians hear teaching that they should take ownership for the sins of a region, country etc. It sounds humble to cry out in repentance for forgiveness for the region and forefathers sins. It sounds like a virtuous motive to do that, so that God would then be able to come, forgive sins and cleanse the land from the curse (of sin). It sounds good to the flesh, that man should do the work of repenting to cleanse the region of the curse, so that God can then bring healing, restoration and revival. All of this sounds good and right to the flesh of man.

The devil appeals to the flesh of man that wants to control his own destiny through his own human capabilities, virtues and religious works.

In other words the flesh of man always wants to do something (work) putting his trust in his own abilities, human effort, in order to receive a reward for his effort. The human tendency of the natural man is to feel safe and in control when he puts his trust in what he can do to attain his needs and desires. This is man trusting man, instead of putting his faith in God’s Word – Jesus - and the redemption has already been accomplished and paid for in full by His suffering on the cross and the shedding of His blood for our sins.

The world runs on production (works) equals reward. But we are children of the light. We are not of the world as He is not of the world. (John 15:19, 17:16)

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. (1 John 5:4)

Falling back into the ways of the world in the flesh, man strives to gain righteousness and favor from God or men by his good works. He strives to stay safe and secure by his own human effort. He works to gain righteousness, prosperity and health or any other desire or need through his own wisdom, strength, goodness or human effort. Jesus has defeated (past tense) sin and the devil.

Jesus was obedient for us in our place. (Rom 5:19) Jesus has done all the work for us. The only fight (warfare) that we Christians must fight now in this world is the fight of faith.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12)

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Rev 12:11)

The word “testimony’ is described in the Strong’s Concordance as “testifying as in a court of law”.

As Christians, our fight of faith is to live our lives (in the presence of many witnesses on earth and in heaven) as a living testimony, of the good confession that salvation is by the grace of the blood of the Lamb - Jesus - through our faith in Him alone.

I believe that each time our lives proclaim this testimony we receive a reward in heaven. Our greatest reward is that our lives bring glory and honor to God through Jesus Christ, His Son and our Lord!!!

True humility in the sight of God is exalting what Jesus has already accomplished for us!!!

Our faithful testimony of the power of the blood of Jesus for salvation gives us overcoming power for every victory that we need in life. This same testimony brings God’s favor, revival, and blessings to us individually, and to the church as a body of believers as well.

The devil’s continual purpose is to diminish faith in the blood of Jesus that defeated him. He will tempt Christians to put their focus upon anything that will dilute, diminish or discredit the power of the blood of Jesus. Our fight is to resist his temptations of works, self-preservation, self-reliance and self-righteousness which diminishes salvation (righteousness) by faith.

It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. When men are in the flesh (works) they are diminishing the power of the blood of Jesus, and representing the bondage of the beggarly elements of the world. (Gal 4:9, and all of Chapter 4)

No man can perform to perfection, which is the requirement for salvation under the law of works. Life, goodness and every blessing all come from God by faith in His Word. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. The whole of the Word of God points to the Word of God made flesh - Jesus. All of creation was created by Jesus and for Jesus. The entirety of the Word of God is culminated in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Word of God must be interpreted through the grace and finished work of the cross of Jesus. From Genesis to Revelation scripture can only be accurately interpreted and understood with a believer’s eyeglasses of redemption on. What that means is this:

Before you interpret any scripture, get your eyes on Jesus and his finished work of redemption on the cross.

God created all that we see in the world by His Word. God continues by His grace, to give life and every good gift to his children by their faith in His Word - Jesus.

Righteousness by faith in the power of the blood of Jesus for the remission of sins, is the foundation upon which the Word of God and the Christian faith stands secure. This is the purpose that Jesus came: “To destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8) Jesus did it, by the power of His blood, through our faith in the efficacy of it, for the forgiveness of all of our sins. (1 John 3:8 KJV)

We cannot do anything to earn righteousness, God’s favor or blessings. They are gifts received by faith in the redemption that Jesus purchased for us on the cross. Jesus shed His blood for the remission of our sins! Jesus was obedient for us! We can not attain any reward by our obedience or good works (by our performance).

A few years ago I had a dream about a person influenced by a religious spirit recounted from one of my dream journals as follows:

I was walking with some women. One woman was talking to me about a bad thing that happened. I said to her, “That was inspired by a religious spirit.” I did not think that this woman knew what I meant by a, “Religious Spirit.” I thought that she might think that I was off the wall, so I said, “That is not something that I think about normally, but…. I started to tell her what I meant by a religious spirit pertaining to what we were talking about. I was then writing on the back of someone’s jacket.

I wrote, “A person is influenced by a religious spirit when he takes authority that had not been given to him. A person who has been given authority has proper authority.”

End of Dream:

I told my husband, Robert about the dream. And then I said, “I don’t know what that description of a religious spirit meant, do you know?” Robert said, “It’s true. I will think of examples.” Then he said, “Preachers who come against the president of the United States and other authorities are influenced by a religious spirit.” (Rom 13:1-5) Satan was the first to rebel against the authority of God and think that he could take authority that was not given to him. He wanted self- rule. Self-rule is taking authority that God has not given. Satan tempts people to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If they do, they have been influenced by a religious spirit. When Jesus told His disciples that he would suffer, be killed and rise again the third day (Matt 16:21-23) Peter rebuked Jesus and said to Him, “… That will never happen to you,” He was influenced by a religious spirit. Jesus answered Peter:

But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." (Matt 16:23)

The Pharisees and religious leaders thought that they were acting in the authority given to them by God, but instead, religious spirits deceived them. They wanted to kill Jesus (God in human form) because Jesus preached a message of salvation through love, grace and faith. They saw Jesus and his message as a threat to their positions of authority to lay down the law. In their religiously perverse view, they were defending their authority to teach obedience to the law. People who are influenced by a religious spirit become hard of heart and far from grace, mercy and the knowledge of the love of God. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were, “Religious” taking authority that God did not give them. They represented themselves as God’s law-giving authorities. But Jesus reproached them saying:

Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. (Luke 11:46)

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. (Matthew 23:15 NIV)

The word “Religious” can relate to a person in a godly sense referring to a person who is devout – of deep commitment to their faith in Jesus.

The word “Religious” can also relate to a person in an ungodly sense referring to a person who is devout or zealous for the law, thinking that he is righteous before God, not by his faith, but by his good works. Therefore he is really self-righteous and judgmental of others. He is taking authority that exalts man; and he is not submitted to God or authorized by God.

The Pharisees and teachers of the law were incensed at Jesus and wanted to kill him for “Working - healing on the Sabbath”, for example. In their human judgment eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they judged that Jesus was a law-breaker. Jesus was the only one who ever lived who was the exact representation of God (Heb 1:3) and was God - perfect in every way. They in their religious human reasoning accused God of failing to perform their perception of the “Good” works of the law. Religious spirits influence people to man centered works. The following list are some of them for us to be aware of so that we can recognize the traps of the enemy when we are tempted by them and resist them:

1. Human works of self-preservation (Matt 16:24-25)

2. Self-righteousness (Eph 2:8-9, Rom 3:10-20)

3. Pride (Is 14:11-14, 1 John 2:16)

4. Rebellion (Heb 3:12)

5. Judgment against authorities that God has instituted (Rom 13:1-9)

6. Judging others: deciding if others are acceptable by God based upon their performance (Gal 2:16, Matt 7:1, Luke 6:37, James 4:11)

7. Judging one’s self based upon performance (Rom 9:30-33, Rom 10:3)

8. Working or performing religious duties or service to the Lord, or operating in spiritual gifts, for the purpose of gaining the approval of religious leaders (Matt 6:2)

9. Religious works and duties to gain acceptance from God and others (Matt 6:16, Matt 23:14)

There are many others, but these are some that came to mind.

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:10-20 describes the human condition: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” The conclusion at the end of Romans Chapter 3 is that no one is acceptable by God through their own good works (merit or good behavior) for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The answer to man’s human condition is as follows:

Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation (a sacrifice that satisfies God) by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

Here is a gift for you that will bless your life. And if you are married, it will really bless your marriage:

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. (Proverbs 16:33 NIV)

Casting lots to make decisions is a promise and a gift that requires great faith in the power of God.

Making decisions by casting lots causes us to entrust our wills and our lives to Jesus.

Making decisions by casting lots requires us to trust that Jesus really does hold all things together by the power of His word.

If you can accept it, casting lots to make certain decisions will bring more joy and peace into your life.

If you can accept it, casting lots to make certain decisions will be a great blessing to your marriage.

All of us ministers, who love Jesus, pray and seek truth and trust that the Holy Spirit leads us and guides us into truth. But we also know that we know in part. (1 Cor 13:9) In the multitude of words sin is not lacking. (Pr 20:19) No preacher has all of the truth. But Jesus loves us and works with us right where we are.

Jesus said, “I am the truth.” So, over the course of our lives, we will all be growing in our knowledge of Jesus and how much he loves us.

All of us are growing in our walk with the Lord. Just so that we can remember that wherever we are in our walk with the Lord, we are like little children in our knowledge of His infinite love. Let us look at how high His love is above our finite understanding as we ponder the following scripture.

... that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph 3:17-20)

We all want Jesus to guide us and help us make the daily decisions about our lives. For example, I ask the Lord when he wants me to go for a walk. And I ask him where he wants me to go. I know that I have the freedom to go for a walk whenever I want to, and to go wherever I want to. But I also know that I will be the most blessed if I let him make the decision for me. So I will ask the Lord a question and cast the lot by flipping a coin. I have absolute confidence that the above scripture is true “when I flip the coin, every decision is from the Lord”.

I diligently seek Jesus and ask the Lord after I write each section of the books that I write, if He approves what I have written. I first check my heart knowing that the Holy Spirit is in me and leads me and then I confirm what I hear in my heart by flipping a coin. What, “You flip a coin to see if what you have written is confirmed to be right?”

No, let me be absolutely clear. I am not flipping a coin to determine the absolute truth of doctrinal matters. But, I understand that Jesus will work with me in my limited understanding of his glory and truth. I am like a child, growing in the knowledge of how much Jesus loves me every day. And I want to share my present limited understanding of how much Jesus loves us with anyone who will listen. And I want to do it in the most effective way possible.

I am flipping a coin to determine if I should keep working on that section of the book. When the Lord gives me the decision that he approves the section that I have written, I have great confidence to go on to the next section. I know that I have done the best I could with that section, based on my abilities and understanding.

So, yes, I cast lots – flip a coin! I believe the following scripture with all my heart.

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. (Proverbs 16:33 NIV)

The disciples cast lots to determine who would replace Judas as the twelfth apostle.

Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:26 NIV)

I do understand if you do not have faith to entrust your decisions to the cast of a lot. Be it unto you according to your faith, and be it unto me according to my faith. If you have more perfect faith than I, knowing that you don’t need this gift, because you are confident that the Holy Spirit leads you as you pray and seek the Lord, Amen! I agree with and honor your faith!!! If you feel you do not want or need any further conformation of your decisions by casting a lot, more power to you, praise the Lord! We bless you and agree with you that you will hear the Word of the Lord!

But my husband and I are securely led by the Holy Spirit to cast lots. The Holy Spirit also leads us by His impressing our intuition also. My faith is firmly rooted and established that this is a gift to my husband and I. It has been such a blessing to us. And this gift has taken away doubts and many concerns that I use to have.

Casting a lot has also taught me to lean on the Lord and not my own will about most every, even the smallest of decisions. I flip a coin and ask, “What do you want me to do now, Lord Jesus? Shall I take a walk now?” Do you want me to work on my books now? I ask the Holy Spirit when I am cooking for example, “Should I add cheese to the soup?” The Holy Spirit has given me some wonderful recipes as I have had an impression and confirmed ingredients and amounts by flipping a coin! I think of the Holy Spirit as my Mother and friend so I ask the Holy Spirit about things sometimes. I ask my Lord Jesus at other times. This practice has given me such joy and intimate closeness with the Lord all throughout the day. My husband does the same thing. He asks Jesus many questions flipping a coin as he is writing his books; for example, should I include this particular story or use this particular scripture? He asks during the course of the day when he should go out to exercise and if he should go to the track or on the path, and he asks, for example, “Should I play a golf game (on the computer that he enjoys) now?” Lately Robert gained a few pounds that he wanted to loose, so he started asking the Lord by tossing a coin, “Lord should I have a coke today? Jesus should I have candy today? Should I have a cupcake cake now, Lord?” I am especially very proud of His yielding his will to the Lord about that, because He loves his treats!

Casting lots has taught us to keep our focus upon the Lord’s will, all the day long.Both Robert and I ask the Lord about most decisions. If we have a witness in our hearts we don’t flip a coin, but if we are not sure, we do. I like routines; so I still take my shower in the morning and brush my teeth etc. at regular times without asking.But if I had any question even about simple daily things, I would ask and flip a coin. I have asked the Holy Spirit, my Mother, “Should I put my hair up in braids or just in a loop today?” I love asking and talking to the Holy Spirit. I love asking and being dependent upon Jesus!!! It is a joy!!!

I had a dream some time ago that was affirming about this subject although it did not directly relate to flipping a coin.

In the dream, it was like I was watching a movie. I was watching two men inside of a cabin, I think it was a log cabin. One younger man was visiting the older man for the day. He was respectfully serving this older man.

Then the younger man was talking to someone about his experience with this old respected man of God. The younger man said, “The thing that impressed me most about him, was that he asked the Lord every little thing all during the day!”

End of the dream.

We felt like the Lord gave us that sweet dream to affirm our asking Him, even the smallest of things. Some people we meet on the street have said to us, “I would not ask the Lord for my needs. There are people who have greater needs than I do.” These people are sweet and mean well, but they are minimizing the great power, and love of our Lord Jesus. They have put a limit upon God’s power in their finite minds. We cannot comprehend God in our minds. His power, wisdom and might is far beyond our human comprehension. We comprehend God, Jesus with our heart. In Psalms 78 the children of Israel “Limited God”. They questioned God’s ability to provide for their needs and their desires. They wanted to go back to Egypt (the land of bondage) to provide for themselves. God’s response to their grumbling and lack of faith in His love and care for them was:

Therefore the Lord heard this and was furious; So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also came up against Israel, (Ps 78:21)

This shows that questioning God’s power or willingness to care for us, His children is “Limiting God”. Limiting God, is a lack of faith in His power and His love. But thanks be to our Lord Jesus, that when we fail to trust in God’s love and mercy, at times, as we all have, God is not furious or even mad at us anymore! When we fall into some kind of fear, lack of faith or works of self-preservation when facing a difficult circumstance, we can be confident that we are still righteous in God’s sight. Jesus bore the wrath of sin for us. (Rom 5:9) God sees us in Christ Jesus by His blood. We are blameless! (Col 1:22) Our faith in the blood of Jesus keeps us in the favor of God. (2 Cor 5:19 Amp) And in God’s great love for us because we love His Son, He is compelled to help us to be set free from the torment of fear, insecurity and unbelief. God brings us back into the quiet waters of faith in His love.

He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. (Ps 107:30)

Jesus loves us. He wants to have a close intimate personal free unrestricted relationship with us. Except you become as little children, you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 18:3) Little children, knowing that they are loved, have no restrictions with their father or mother. They ask for the simplest or biggest of things with total faith, liberty joy and freedom. That is the way our heavenly Father wants us to relate to Him, in full assurance of His love for us!!! Our faith in His goodness and love for us is joyful to Him. Jesus wants that kind of intimate communion – sharing His love with us, His children. We love Him because He first loved us. Our receiving His love makes our relationship with Him reciprocal and complete.

Jesus is delighted with our dependence upon Him. He wants to have an intimate continuous relationship with us. He is not too busy! He loves us!!! He is more powerful than our finite minds can conceive of. Jesus is with us and in us. I know that it delights Him when we talk to Him and ask for His help all day long. It honors our Lord when we put all of our trust in His love and desire to help us, lead us and tell us the best path for us to take.

I know without a doubt that Jesus answers with His perfect will each time I, or we, flip a coin (cast a lot). I know in my spirit when I have a desire to go out to walk early, but I am not sure that is what the Lord wants me to do at that time; I know that it pleases the Lord, when I yield my will to Him, and flip a coin and ask Him, “Do you want me to go out now or later?” So often Robert and I say to one another. The Lord brought us to that very spot and time to meet those precious people to share the good news with them. Praise the Lord!!! As I am writing in one of my books when I cast a lot (flip a coin) and ask for the Lord’s approval about a section that I have written; whenever I get a “no” answer, I ask the Lord by the Holy Spirit to help me and show me how to change what I have written. The Holy Spirit guides me; and He always shows me where to make the change. Every time I have been so impressed by how much better it was after the change was made. I am working with Jesus and the Holy Spirit is working with me.

I know that some teachers or preachers have said that the cast of the lots is no longer needed because we now have the Holy Spirit to guide and help us.The cast of the lots does not at all replace the Holy Spirit’s guidance and help. In our experience the opposite is true. The use of this gift has increased our communication with the Holy Spirit and our awareness of His presence with us! Casting of lots is just an added gift that has helped my husband and I to further yield our life to Jesus. I said, “life” because my husband and I are so much in unity and so close

The Old Testament (Old Covenant) system of salvation by obedience to the law did not carry over into the New Testament (New Covenant). The Old Covenant of righteousness by obedience to the law was replaced by the New Covenant of righteousness by grace through faith in the blood of Jesus. But the promised blessings in the Old Testament as well as those in the New Testament are all a part of our inheritance, by our agreement (Amen) with them, by faith in Jesus Christ, to the glory of God.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Cor 1:10)

The New Covenant is a better covenant based upon better promises. The New Covenant in the blood of Jesus that paid for our redemption (inheritance) replaced the Old Covenant. But the promises of the old are included the new or it would not be better. All of the promises of God in the New Covenant include the new plus the old. And all of the promises of God to us in Christ Jesus are all “Yes” to us in Christ Jesus. (2 Cor 1:20)

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. Hebrews 8:6

Most of the time when my husband and I are discussing what we think we should or should not do about a matter we leave the decision to the Lord by flipping a coin.We are both full of faith that Jesus will give us the perfect answer, He always does, He can’t do otherwise; it is His word. He is so good!!! We have found great peace in our communication doing that. It has taught us, me especially, so that I no longer feel like I have to give all the reasons for my opinion. I learned long ago that it is always been best, and it is in God’s Word, to trust the Lord and yield to my husband; and then the Lord would move on him to do the right thing; and He always has! But I also had the misconception that Robert needed all of my idea’s, suggestions and opinions about a matter first, to help him make a good decision.Too much discussion gave an occasion to turn contrary because when I did that, my husband felt like I was pressing my point. Being gentle natured, when I did that, he felt like he did not have the leeway to make the decision but was pressed just yield to me. That made him feel like I was taking leadership authority (that I was not given) away from him. I just thought that I was sharing my ideas so he could make a good decision by looking at all the options.

A husband needs respect and needs to be the leader; that is just God’s order and brings harmony and unity into a marriage. A wife needs to be constantly reassured of her husbands love, devotion and care for her all the time. (Eph 5:21-33) This is another subject but it is a good glimpse into God’s order for a marriage. It has served my husband and I very well this past thirty years!!! Yet still I continue to work on my part, yielding and showing him by my words and actions, how much I truly do so greatly respect him and trust in His Godly wisdom, goodness, his trust in the Lord and his love for me. He washes me all the time in His love for me, for which I am so very thankful. He has his part down pat – he is the best!!!

I did finally realize many years ago, way before we made most of our decisions by casting the lot, that I had made Robert feel like I was usurping his leadership authority, when I gave him too many opinions or suggestions. But still, I had to resist feeling like I needed to share all of my thoughts and ideas about a decision we were discussing. And sometimes I still gave too many suggestions.I knew in my heart that Jesus was well able to lead and guide him without all my helpIn my heart I ALWAYS was confident that Robert would make good decisions. He always has been tender hearted and yielding to the Lord. It was just my flesh pressing me to think that I had to give all my two cents worth, to feel secure. Jesus is my security. Jesus turns the hearts of the rulers and leaders, including our husbands, like a watercourse. (Pr 21:1) Faith in Jesus and His word is always the safe course

But since Robert and I have left most decisions to the Lord by casting the lot, I no longer have the temptation to feel like my husband needs all of my “great opinions” anymore! We both just yield our opinions and human reasonings to Jesus.

After we briefly discuss a matter, of course we pray about our decisions too, if we still do not have a clear leading from the Lord, in unity, one of us will say, “Let’s just leave the decision to Jesus.” To me, and to both of us, that settles it!!! Then there is no need for further discussion! We are both happy not to discuss it any further. We no longer hash over matters. Hallelujah! We are then in total agreement to leave the answer to the Lord and flip a coin. We are fully confident that our Lord Jesus will have His way and that is what we both want!!! After we do that, whatever the outcome, we are always happy about it and relieved that we are in perfect agreement and in perfect peace about it. We often then say, “Thank You Lord Jesus for this wonderful gift!!!”

Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart. Proverbs 18:18 NIV

This gift has been a great blessing to my husband and I in so many ways that I cannot go into further here. It is a choice for you to decide if it is a gift that you desire. If so you would have to have faith to yield your “I will” to Jesus who is the Word of God. And you would have to have faith and confidence that God will do what He says. He will answer your casting the lot with His perfect will. But you have to yield your will and believe that this scripture is true to reap the benefits of it.

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. (Proverbs 16:33 NIV)

The cast of the lot is a gift, a promise and a blessing. The Old Testament is full of promised blessings that we obtain by finding them and standing in faith agreement with them. Many of them are found in the book of Psalms and Proverbs.

My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. (Proverbs 4:20)

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Ps 103:1-5)

Again the cast of the lot is a gift just like the promises in these scriptures above. If you can receive it, you will be blessed. If you don’t have faith for it and you feel that your faith is at a higher level so that you want to trust in your hearing the Holy Spirit, without using this gift, then we bless your faith for that!!! We should not expect or press anyone to receive any gift; that would be influencing by a “Religious spirit.” The Bible teaches us to encourage one another’s faith. It is our heart to give you some faith food, trusting that the Lord will give some of you faith to receive this gift, so that you may be blessed by it as we have been. A gift should not be pressed on anyone!!! Of course we believe that the Holy Spirit will guide you and help you without using the gift of casting lots. We bless your faith where the Lord guides you!!!

But don’t let your lack of faith, for any promise that others have faith for, cause you to come against their faith in a promise that they are standing upon. I love my faith for this gift and I would not want to hear all the religious reasons why someone thinks that I should not have my gift or why they do not want to receive it. I do not look down on someone who does not want to receive a certain gift! They may have faith for some things I don’t have faith for! We all have different gifts of faith. So I bless your gifts and you can bless mine. If you think that my and my husband’s lifestyle is peculiar, you are right! We are not of this world. Jesus said, “You are not of this world, I chose you out of the world.” (John 15:19)

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)

Sometimes people can get irritated when they are confronted with a truth that challenges their faith. Therefore they want to justify their position by being critical of a brother or sister’s faith stand. Please don’t do that! If you don’t have faith to receive a certain gift, you should just say, “I am glad that blesses you, but it is just not for me!” Don’t ever judge or argue with a brother or sister in Christ that is trying to stand on a promised blessing that you do not have faith for. And also avoid pressing someone about a faith promise that they do not have faith for. Let us respect everyone’s personal faith walk. None of us are at a higher spiritual level than another brother or sister in Christ. Even a baby Christian can have greater faith in a certain area than an old time believer. We have seen that. Gifts are just that, gifts from the Lord. We should never have pride that we have one or another gift. We should not make a religious judgment looking down on another because we think that they “Don’t have enough faith” to receive a gift that we have or are excited about. Don’t think that others are deficient or less spiritual than you are because they do not accept the gift that to you is easy or such a blessing. That is just pride. The Holy Spirit gives gifts or callings and empowers the children of the Lord to receive them as He wills.

For example evangelists find witnessing on the street easy. They will encourage people to share their faith explaining how easy it is to share the gospel. But they should do so with an attitude that their encouragement may be used by the Lord to inspire and birth those that the Lord has called and gifted to be evangelists. Evangelism is easy for my husband and I. It is our gift, our main calling and our lifestyle for us to share all the time. But we do not expect others to have our same gift just because it is easy for us. Some of our brothers and sisters in Christ would feel tremendous stress to think that they were expected to share their faith with a stranger. They should not be made to feel like they are spiritually deficient because that is not their particular gift. Everyone can grow in their confidence of the knowledge of the basic gospel and share with a loved one or someone they are close to at some time in their life because of their love and compassion for those they love.

We all can share the enthusiasm of our gifts to inspire others in the body of Christ. That is well and good. But in our passion about our own gift, when we share with individuals, we should share with sensitivity. We should be careful not to leave people feeling like we have put religious expectations or judgments upon those who are not eager to add our gift to their own treasure box. We do not all have the same gifts at the same time; it is as the Holy Spirit wills. Let us all esteem others and affirm and value all the gifts in our brothers and sisters in Christ. We give Jesus honor as we honor His beauty in His children. If we focus only on our own gifts, we can be prey to a spirit of pride. My husband has taught me over the years to see Jesus expressing Himself in and through people. As we celebrate God’s children and their beauty, we are celebrating Jesus and building up the beautiful body of Christ. We value Motherhood and Fatherhood. To us parenting is just as great a gift to bring up your children as to preach before thousands. When you are operating in the authority God gives you, your reward is great in heaven, no matter how small or great your gifts and calling may seem to be to you or someone else on earth.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable Romans 11:29 (without repentance KJV)

To my husband and I, “The Lot is cast in the lap but its every decision is from the Lord.”(Proverbs 33:16) is a tremendous gift to us from the Old Testament. It is like all the other promised blessings in the Old and New Testaments which are all gifts to us, based upon the redemption that Jesus purchased for us to possess by faith. All the blessing promises in the Bible are a part of our inheritance in Christ Jesus. (2 Cor 1:20) Just like the blessing promises and covenants that were given to our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David and many others are also all a part of our inheritance. God gives all these gifts to us without repentance; they are irrevocable gifts! We receive them by the grace of the cross through our faith.

I made the point using the example of the dream that I recounted earlier in this book that described a “Religious spirit” as a person who has been influenced to take authority he has not been given. Teachers, preachers and or prophets minister by the authority given by God. If one operates in a ministry in which he has not been given authority, that person has been influenced by a religious spirit, just as the Pharisees did as they were zealous for protecting their authority as the lawgivers by killing Jesus.

Especially as teachers or preachers, it is important for us to always teach the foundations of faith and grace with every subject; otherwise it is easy to lead children of God back under bondage to the works of the law. That is why my husband and I use a lot of scriptures that are foundation stones of the Christian faith: “Salvation by grace through faith in the cross and blood of Jesus for the remission of sins.” We endeavor to keep the words that we write, teach or preach, based upon the basics. As long as we ministers are constantly conscious of giving Jesus all the glory for everything that He has already accomplished for us by His blood, we can be confident that we stand on solid ground.

But still, I know that I have misunderstood and fallen into works myself in the past, just the same as those well meaning teachers that are instructing people to own and repent for the sins of others. I was in a cycle of repentance, trying to stay blameless and safe from attacks upon my health by works of self-preservation. I began looking to see if I had done something wrong that “opened the door” so that I could repent and stay safe. Thank God, through our Lord Jesus Christ’s grace that He led me in a study of His liberating Word of grace. He instructed me about my righteousness by His grace through my faith. And Jesus also graciously has taught me through signs, experience and encouraging Words of the Lord through the years. And my husband, Robert, who has been my pastor, has wisely and patiently instructed me also in the Word of grace and faith. Thankfully, I finally saw the light and let go of self-preservation. Thank the Lord, I was set free from that deception! I will share more of that story in another book.

I was doing just the same thing that they are doing. We all have made mistakes and fallen into works of some kind or another at times. Where sin abounds grace much more abounds. (Rom 5:20) Thank You Lord Jesus!!!

Thank You Lord Jesus that we have been redeemed from the curse of the law. All of our sins (our works of the flesh) are forgiven. Everything that is not of faith is sin. (Rom 14:23) Works of the flesh are man putting his faith or trust in himself, men or anything instead of faith in Jesus. Thank the Lord for His saving grace. All of our sins are forgiven!!! Help us Lord Jesus to stay in faith and not to be tricked into works that take our focus off of You. We never want to be deceived into diminishing the finished work of the cross!

No one can perform to God’s righteous standard - the law. No one except Jesus, God in human form, has ever been righteous by their own goodness, no not one! (Rom 3:10)

The Israelites tried and tried as they wandered in the desert to stay safe and obtain God’s blessings by obedience to the law. They said, “Just give us the law and we will obey it.” But continually failing, they were under the curse of the law. They were under the works of sowing and reaping. They reaped the suffering of the punishment for their sins over and over.

And He said: 'I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will be, For they are a perverse generation, Children in whom is no faith. (Deuteronomy 32:20)

This word perverse in the Strong’s Concordance means: Definition: twisted, distorted, crooked, perverse, perverted.

In God’s mind when His children are not acting and speaking in faith upon God’s Word, they are perverse, perverted, and distorted.

To take a short positive diversion, I met a young man the other day as I walked to town.

He was going into the side of a business van to get something out. He was a handsome clean cut young man of about thirty years old, I would say. He looked to me like a “home town football star”, in a home spun sort of way. He was a big tall man, maybe six feet six or more.

He greeted me as I walked by, “Nice day isn’t it!” It was like a summer day, in the middle of winter. It was sparklingly beautiful! I exclaimed, “We are thankful to live in such a beautiful place, rain or shine, cloudy or sunny.” But then I agreed with him saying, “But yes, this is a spectacular day!” We visited a bit more about our area then I asked him, “Can I tell you about a miracle?” He said, “Sure!” happily. He was a very warm and friendly young man.

So I told him about a woman who had her fingers clamped shut for fifty years and Jesus opened her fingers, three days after my husband and I prayed for her. He was joyful about the miracle, exclaiming, “That certainly was a miracle! I have never seen a miracle.” I said, “Jesus will do miracles for you too.” And then I said, “Do you believe in Jesus?” He said, “Yes I do!” very positively. I said, “You know then that we are going to heaven because Jesus paid the price for our sins. We can’t be good enough to be accepted by God but because we believe in Jesus, He has forgiven our sins.

“Because you believe in Him all your sins are forgiven and you are going to heaven.” He said, “I know I am going! I am going to be with my mother up there.” I said, “That is wonderful, that you have that joy, of knowing that you will be with her in heaven one day!” I then said, “I am sure that your Mother is looking down on your confident, bold faith in Jesus and is very proud of you! I believe that the Lord allows her to see you at moments like, this so she can rejoice in your faith!” He said, “That’s right, she is saying, “THAT’S MY BOY!!!”

Here this big masculine thirty or so year old man was saying, “That’s My Boy!” It was so sweet and lovingly transparent. He really loves his Mom! And I could feel the love of Jesus for him in a special way. I also felt a motherly love for him too at that precious moment. As we said “Goodbye” I could tell that he knew that I was warmly touched by his tender heart. He was very sweet as he thanked me for stopping to talk with him. I told him that I was the one that was blessed!!!

In the scripture above (Deut 32:20) the Lord said that His children of that generation were perverse, which means twisted in their thinking, because they had no faith.

But this young man, was not like that, He had great faith that he was saved and going to heaven to be with his Mom one day. I am sure that it gives the Lord, great delight and joy, when His children are full of faith in His love. It honors Jesus and gives glory to God’s holy plan of salvation when we, His children, are confidently thankful that Jesus has given us eternal life.

Those meetings, “to repent for the forefathers and the region’s sins, to cleanse the land from a curse” are perverted (twisted). They think that their work of repenting will enable God to break through and act to bless. But, they are not pleasing to the Lord. And they are not authorized by God. They subvert and diminish faith in the finished power of the cross and the blood of Jesus. Jesus has (past tense) redeemed us from the curse. (Gal 3:13) We believers are blessed and a blessing just like our father of faith Abraham was. (Rom 4:16)

We are blessed. Our region is blessed. The people in our region are blessed. And the land of our region is blessed for our sake!

I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Gen 12:2-3)

... just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." (Gen 12:6-8)

Abraham is called our “Father of faith”. Abraham is an example to us in the Old Testament of the foretaste of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Abraham believed in God who gives life to the dead (looking to Jesus - risen from the dead) and calls those things that be not as though they were. Abram understood the God kind of faith. His name was Abram, which means, “father.) But God changed his name to, “Abraham” “father of many nations.” (Gen 17:5) Abram believed God’s Word to him that he would bear a child when his body was as good as dead being ninety-nine years old. And by faith Abram then called himself, “Abraham” which means, “The father of many nations.” For God told Abraham, “I will make you a father of many nations.” Abraham did not give up believing God and so his promised son Isaac was born to him by His wife Sarah, when He was one hundred years old and Sarah was ninety years old.

Abraham is called the father of our faith (Rom 4:16) because Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness.

… just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. (Gal 3:6-9)

We are righteous by faith in the Word of God as Abraham was. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. Therefore, we are righteous by our faith in Jesus. Therefore, we are a blessing as our father Abraham was. As Children of our father Abraham, our region is blessed because we are children of the faith of our father Abraham.

God said to Abraham in the scriptures above, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.”(Gal 3:6-9, Gen 12:6-8)

Following our father Abraham’s example of, “calling those things that be not as though they were” which is the God kind of faith:

We call our region blessed!!!

We call our region redeemed from the curse and blessed for our sake!

We call our state, our country and anywhere else we pray for redeemed covered by the blood of Jesus. We call the land of our region safe and blessed!!! by the blood of Jesus and our authority to call forth blessings in the name of Jesus. We cut off disaster’s poverty or sicknesses and diseases from our region. And we call forth the kingdom rule of Jesus to our region, by the authority given to us to bring the kingdom rule of heaven to earth, in Jesus name. We can pray this way and many other prayers, and prayers like these for our region, our state, country and the nations. In Jesus name!!!

“Your kingdom come - Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!” (Matt 6:10)

The Lord would not tell us to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” if it were not possible!

These well meaning misguided Christians are working to break curses that Jesus has already broken by nailing the law to the cross and bearing the sin of the world. Our land is not cursed! The people of our region are not cursed! God is not hindered to bless the church or us Christians because there is sin in our region or because of the forefather’s sins! That is ridiculous, because Jesus has already paid for the sins of the world. We are not under a curse because there is sin in our region or on the earth. Jesus paid for the sins of the whole world, even though Satan is the god of this world because Adam relinquished his authority over to Satan.

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:13-14)

Jesus defeated him!!! We are not under the dominion of darkness, curses, sin or hindrances to our churches or our region’s fruitfulness and blessings. We have redemption; which includes every blessing Adam and Eve had before the fall in the Garden of Eden plus more. The kingdom of heaven is even better. God always restores more than the devil has stolen.

Jesus in us is more powerful to bless and protect us His children than the devil is to bring curses, harm and evil.

Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

In the power and the authority of our faith in the name of Jesus, we have more power to bring blessing and goodness to our region than the devil has to bring evil. We who are righteous by faith in Jesus are children of Abraham. We, as our father Abraham, are blessed and we are a blessing! The families of the earth - wherever we are -shall be blessed by our faith, by our prayers of faith, by our faith filled confessions of blessings and by the word of our testimony. The message of our testimony that Jesus has committed to us is the message of reconciliation, of the restoration to favor. With the message of restoration to favor with God, we call out to the world, “Be reconciled to God by faith in the blood of Jesus, shed for the forgiveness of your sins, and for the forgiveness of the sins of the whole world.”

It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but canceling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor). (2 Corinthians 5:19 AMP)

The message of reconciliation of the restoration to favor brings blessings to our region

As believers we should stand with our father Abraham confessing and praying in faith the good confession.

Instead of submitting to sin-consciousness, continuing year after year in repentance meetings - confessing that the land is cursed because of sin, and therefore repentance must be made in ownership of sins over and over.

The confession of our faith is that we are blessed because Jesus is not counting our sins against us anymore. We should confess that the message of reconciliation of the restoration to favor brings blessing to our region. When we know that we are blessed and we are a blessing because it is not we who live but Christ Jesus lives in us. (Gal 2:20) We are carriers of good news and we are a blessing to the families of our region just like our father Abraham by faith.

A person can repent and be sorry for his sins all of his life, and not be saved. A person can repent of wrongdoing, reform and do right and not be saved. Repentance does not save anyone unless one is repenting of unbelief. Repentance means to turn in a different direction. If one repents (turns) from trusting in himself and puts his faith in Jesus for the remission of his sins, he is saved and going to heaven.

The following as I wrote it down in one of my encounter books is an encounter with a young man that repented. He turned from unbelief to faith in Jesus.

A young couple that encounters the love of Jesus

Robert and I went to the mall. They have a food court and so I had Chinese food and Robert had a Subway sandwich. I saw a young man sitting with a girl friend; he had a cast on his arm. I went over to their table and asked them if I could tell them about a miracle. The young man said, “I don’t believe in miracles.” I said, “I will tell you about it anyway.” He said, “You can tell me but I won’t believe it!”

So I told them the one when we were in our RV at the Wall Mart parking lot and I saw the man on crutches and Jesus said, “Go take care of My little lamb.” I never had heard that before in my life, and so I went and talked to the man. He had been on crutches for 35 years in pain. I told him that Jesus wanted to heal him. To make the story short, Paul came into our RV and Robert and I laid our hands on him and Robert prayed for him and all the pain left and he took off running with my husband. This man’s doctor had just that week ordered him an electric wheel chair because he said that Paul would not be able to walk on crutches much longer. When Robert prayed, Jesus instantly healed him.

When I told this young couple the story, the young girl said, “Did that really happen?” I said, “It certainly did, Jesus is wonderful!” The young man who had said that he would not believe, now said, “I believe!!! Would you pray for my arm?” I did not think that this young man had accepted Jesus as His Lord so I said, “Jesus is the Son of God. He came from God to earth and lived a perfect life. He was the only one who could be perfect because He was God. Because he was perfect He was the only one that could pay for our sins. Jesus took the punishment for our sins on the cross. Then because He was God, He rose from the dead. The Bible says that if you will believe that, you can be a child of God and go to heaven. I asked this young man, “Do you believe what I said?” He said, “I believe!” I said, “Say I believe in Jesus!” He said, “I believe in Jesus!” So then I prayed for the young man’s arm and asked him, “What do you feel?” He said, “My thumb is still sore.” I said, “You will feel a change.” Then I said, “Do you feel anything different?” He said, “I just feel WONDERFUL!” I said, “Jesus is touching you right now.” He answered me, “I AM being touched, I feel WONDERFUL!” He then said to his girl friend, “Do you feel different?” She said, “No I feel the same.” This young man was full of joy and they both thanked me. I believe that he believed in Jesus for the first time and the joy of the power of Jesus touched him.

End of encounter

That young man’s heart was changed in a moment, when he heard the gospel, he believed and was saved.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (Rom 1:16)

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. (1 Cor 1:21)

Many people even pastors and leaders in churches think that for a person to be saved they must come to the altar and be sorry and repent of their sins. That is not true. A person cannot even remember all of his sins. A person is not capable of even knowing how much they fall short of the glory of God, even daily. Being sorry for one’s sins and repenting (turning) away from them is important, good, right. Repenting will cleanse one’s conscience so that their faith is not hindered or weakened. And repenting (turning away from sin) is important, so that one does not continue under the influence of the devil’s deceptions. Sin is deceitful and can harden a believer’s heart. Knowingly submitting to sin is submitting to deceit. Deceit can lead a person, in guilt, dangerously toward a hard heart, which can lead them away from faith in Jesus.

but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13)

God makes provision in His word to lead Children of God to repent (turn away from submission to the wiles of the devil.) Repentance cleanses the conscience from sins that Jesus has already paid for, so that their faith is not hindered.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

But the fact remains that Jesus has already paid for all of our past, present and future sins from the moment we became believers. Because our sins are forgiven by our faith in the blood of Jesus, we have (present tense) redemption. Redemption means that we were purchased away from all of the penalty of sin, sickness, disease, poverty, lack, attacks, oppressions, unrest, fear, any hindrances to the blessings of God - all the harm and evil that is in the world which entered as a result of sin.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. (Eph 1:7)

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 2:13)

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, (Colossians 2:13)

I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. (1 John 2:12)

But we still must stand in faith upon the promises in the Bible that Jesus paid for us to possess by faith. And we must resist anything that comes against the blessings of the inheritance that Jesus paid for us to possess, standing upon our rightful inheritance by the Word of God and in the power of the name of Jesus. (James 4:7, Mark 16:17-18, John 10:10, Gal 3:13, Deut 28)

You cannot accept Jesus for someone else. You can pray for others that the darkness of unbelief and self-reliance would be broken off of them so that their hearts will be softened to believe. You can go and preach the gospel to them. You can pray for signs to follow the Word of God. But you cannot believe for them. You can be sorry for the forefather’s sins or the region’s sins all your life but no one will be saved by your sorrow. No one will be saved by your travail or taking those sins as your own and repenting for them. People are saved by hearing the gospel of the grace of the cross and resurrection of Jesus for the remission of their sins and believing what they heard.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast . (Eph 2:8-9 KJV)

Righteousness, talents, skills, knowledge, wisdom, strength, unmerited favor or any other blessing are all gifts of grace. One cannot boast of a gift that is not earned. (Eph 2:8-9)

We cannot take credit or boast of anything, for without Jesus, we can do nothing. Whether writing a book or playing the piano, playing a sport or painting a picture or planting a garden, we can only see good come out of anything that we do that is worthwhile, by the Grace of God. We should boast of nothing! Likewise, we should not take the blame or become discouraged for what seems like a failure. For by faith, we can trust that all things will turn out for our good in the end; if we don’t give up trusting in the good word of God.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV)

I had a dream quite some time ago:

I was walking down a street and coming toward me was a group of people that I suddenly recognized were friends from high school. As they came up to me, I prophesied to them saying, “You think that your difficult circumstance will stay the same. It feels to you like it will never change. I say to you, “It will not stay the same!” Several of the women began to cry tears of joy. I said with great assurance and comfort, “It will pass! It will not stay the same!!!”

End of dream

That dream was a special encouragement to me at that time and it still is. For we are moving from glory to glory in Christ Jesus. We have the victory, every time.

I had another dream:

In the dream I heard, “I know I’ll never be the same Oh Lord, I KNOW, I’LL NEVER BE THE SAME.”

End of dream

It is not over until it is over. God receives the glory when circumstances are difficult but still we continue to stand in faith upon the faithfulness and goodness and love of our Father. And we know that all things will work out for our good, as we continue to trust in His love and care for us.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV)

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Rom 8:32)

The following is a story of a man who trusted the Lord when times were hard.

I was at a dollar store and I overheard a man talking to a woman. He said, “I was working on wiring at a store, I could not turn off the electricity because it would have shut down the store. So I had to work on the wires hot. The owner or manager came by, looked and put his hands over his face and walked off.

I walked up and said, “We just have to trust in Jesus to take care of us every day!” He said, “That’s right!” Every morning, I pray for His help and protection. I pray for my customers, to do a good job for them. I said, “That honors the Lord!” Many people speak the opposite. They say, “I have had such a hard time, things just keep getting worse, one bad thing happens to me after another.” I continued, “But the Bible says that we can have what we say and believe.”

He said, “When this economy has been in hard times. It has hurt my business. I am a repairman. My wife became concerned. I understood why she felt that way, so I said to her, “The Lord has always taken care of us, do you think that He is going to leave us now?” And then he said, “And now we are doing well!”

I said, “You are speaking faith in the Lord’s goodness, that honors Him! And you will be blessed! But Jesus is merciful even when we don’t give Him the praise that He deserves for His goodness.” He said, “Yes, but He likes the perks I laughed and agreed. As he and I and the woman were walking out of the store, Robert was outside coming toward me having been in the store next door. I said to Robert, “This is a man who gives Jesus praise!” He made a sweet comment, and we said a very joyful and friendly, “Goodbye.”

That man honored the Lord’s goodness in spite of his circumstances. He spoke about the Lord’s faithfulness. He had faith that Jesus would take care of he and his wife and he said so. And He got what he said. He spoke in agreement with the God kind of faith, calling things that do not exist as though they did. (Rom 4:17, Mark 11:22-24)

He who brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving honors and glorifies Me; and he who orders his way aright [who prepares the way that I may show him], to him I will demonstrate the salvation of God. (Psalm 50:23 AMP)

Even in the Old Covenant under the law, God’s ultimate plan of salvation by grace through faith in His Son, Jesus, is revealed in types and shadows.

Abraham is called, “The father of faith” because Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Abraham’s righteousness by faith was pointing to salvation by faith in Jesus. Jesus came ushering in a new and better covenant based upon better promises. The Old Covenant was based upon salvation (righteousness) by obedience to the law. The New Covenant is based upon salvation (righteousness) by faith in Jesus.

Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness; and Abraham was called, “A friend of God. ” Abraham was blessed and he was a blessing. (James 2:23, Gen 12:2)

... just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. "Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

Feeding upon scriptures that strengthen your solid foundation of faith in the blood of Jesus for the remission of all of your sins will protect your faith from false teaching and from questions that the devil brings when the waves of adversity arise.

My husband use to often say, “I don’t understand that, but I am sure of one thing, I know that my sins are forgiven and I’m going to heaven!!!

It is important that you keep your shield of faith in place so that you easily recognize the darts of the enemy that purpose to diminish your position in Christ. When you know who you are in Christ Jesus you are not vulnerable or deceived by false teaching.

I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me. (Gal 2:20)

The enemy wants to shoot darts (thoughts, teaching, reasonings or questions) that steal the faith and security of believers in the finished work of the cross of salvation. He wants to shoot arrows, questions or false teaching that tempt Christians to consider reasons that lure them away from the foundation of their faith in Jesus. Your enemy knows the Bible and will use scriptures to make a false religious sounding case.

If teaching, thoughts or reasons for circumstances cause you to become doubtful, guilty, fearful, insecure, reject them and do not think about them! Reject any thoughts or temptations that lead you away from who you are in Christ Jesus. Pray for a heart of discernment. Do not accept every word or thought that comes along. If a teaching or reasoning comes that diminishes the joy of your salvation, or diminishes your faith for the blessings that Jesus paid for resist them. Remember that Jesus redeemed you from the curse of the law (from the penalty of sin.) Recognize darts of the enemy that come against your faith quickly. Don’t fall into his trap of reasoning about them and don’t think about them! A great man of God, Kenneth E. Hagin, often said, “If the devil can keep you in the realm of reasoning, he will defeat you every time. But, if you keep him in the realm of faith (in God’s Word) you will defeat him every time.” The scripture that relates to that principal is, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

Don’t be afraid of negative thoughts; they are not yours. Don’t take ownership of them and don’t be guilty of them. If you have any thoughts that do not represent who Jesus is in you, just resist them. Thoughts from the enemy die unborn when they are not spoken or acted upon. Sometimes at first you may feel like negative thoughts come one after the other; just keep resisting them and they will go. You will find that as you resist, those thoughts from the enemy will diminish and flee away. But if negative thoughts do come, don’t be concerned, just brush them away like a gnat. As you do that, I believe by the help of the Holy Spirit, that you will find that you will begin to feel a negative thought forming. And before you even know what the thought is, you can resist it in the name of Jesus. And that thought will not even form in your mind.

In righteousness consciousness, you know that your sins are all forgiven and washed away. You know that you are blameless and free from accusation, sin and punishment because you believe that Jesus bore your sins and the punishment for them on the cross. You know that you cannot save yourself. You know that the power of the blood of Jesus has given you redemption. You know that you are free from the curse of the law (sin and the penalty of sin). You know that Jesus nailed the requirements of the law to the cross and disarmed the devil and all his workers. You know that your enemies cannot legally use the law to accuse and afflict you with punishment for wrong doing anymore. You know that you are saved by the grace of the cross through your faith in Jesus. You know that you are saved and going to heaven. (Gal 3:13, Col 2:14-15, Eph 2:8-9, John 3:16, Rom 10:9-10)

May your right standing before God by your faith in Jesus Christ give you the joy of your salvation all of the days of your life. Amen!

APPENDIX A - OTHER BOOKS IN THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDE OF CHRIST SERIES

Coming

There will be approximately twenty books in the Beautiful Bride of Christ Series.  Please check my amazon.com author page for availability. Just google “amazon diana medlin”.

These books can be used as a discipleship program for Christians at every level. So whether you have just become a Christian, or if you are already in full time ministry, I believe these books will be a great blessing to you:

If you have uncertainty or fear about whether you are saved and going to heaven, please check out Robert Medlin’s book, How to be Sure that you are Saved and going to Heaven.  My husband Robert Medlin currently has 27 wonderful books published on Amazon.

You will find a section following, listing promises for virtually every area of need that you can claim for yourself and your loved ones by faith through prayer. Included are promises related to salvation and eternal life, eternal security, forgiveness of sins, righteousness and a clear conscience, health and healing, financial blessings, your children, to have children, salvation of family members, wisdom, mental health, peace, favor, guidance, success, the will of God, deliverance, protection and long life.

APPENDIX B - PRECIOUS PROMISES TO LIVE BY

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV)

God promises to say ‘yes’ to our prayers. Meditate on these promises and claim them for yourself and your loved ones through prayer in the name of Jesus. These promises are part your inheritance in this life.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:2-5 NIV)

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24 NIV)

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11 NIV)

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:13-14 NIV)

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32 NIV)

Promises for salvation and eternal life.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  (John 3:16-18)

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10 NIV)

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  (Mark 16:15-16)

As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord (Jesus) will be saved.” (Romans 10:11-13 NIV)

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:11-13)

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24 NIV)

And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:40)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9)

And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”  (Acts 16:30-31)

Then he (the thief on the cross) said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43 paraphrased)

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. (1 John 4:15 NIV)

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God… (1 John 5:1)

Promises for eternal security.

… For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:33-39)

He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9 NIV)

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV)

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7 NIV)

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)

Promises for forgiveness of sins.

For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:28)

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 2:38)

He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:42-43 NIV)

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases… (Ps 103:1-3)

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins… (Ephesians 1:7)

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14)

Promises for righteousness and a clear conscience.

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. (Romans 3:21-25 NIV)

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— (Colossians 1:21-22 NIV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned (judged) sin in sinful man… (Romans 8:1-3 paraphrased)

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1: 9)

Promises for health and healing.

… for I am the LORD, who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26)

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases. (Psalm 103:1-3)

... who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.  (1 Peter 2:24)

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering (Hebrew: infirmities, diseases and  sicknesses), yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds (stripes) we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5 paraphrased)

And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons... they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18)

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven (James 5:14-15)

My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-22)

Promises for financial blessing

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” (Acts 14:17 NIV)

“The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 28:8)

Promises for your children.

Can plunder be taken from warriors, or captives rescued from the fierce? But this is what the LORD says: “Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save. (Isaiah 49:24-25 NIV)

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. (Isaiah 54:13)

… I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring. (Isaiah 44:3)

Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.” (Isaiah 61:9 NIV)

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

Promises to have children.

He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD. (Psalm 113:9 NIV)

Promise for the salvation of family members.

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”  (Acts 16:31)

Promises for wisdom.

… But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (James 1:5-8 NIV)

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV)

Promises for mental health.

… But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Promises for peace.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

Promises for favor.

For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:12 NIV)

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17 NIV)

For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV)

Promises for guidance, success and the will of God.

… for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13 NIV)

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. (Psalm 20:4 NIV)

The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. (Proverbs 16:1)

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3 NIV)

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21 NIV)

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me… (Psalm 138:8 NIV)

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:1-3)

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. (Proverbs 21:1)

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. (Proverbs 16:33)

Promises for deliverance and protection.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling—even the LORD, who is my refuge—then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91 NIV)

I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. (Psalm 34:4-7)

I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me… (John 17:11-12 NIV)

... for “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)

Promises for long life.

... Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits... who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:2,5 NIV)

... With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:16)

Table of Contents

Copyright

In Christ we are Righteous

Appendix A - Other Books in the Beautiful Bride of Christ Series

Appendix B - Precious Promises to Live By

Table of Contents

Copyright

In Christ we are Righteous

Appendix A - Other Books in the Beautiful Bride of Christ Series

Appendix B - Precious Promises to Live By