Executing God’s Vision for your life! : By James Lantz
The very first thing that the Spirit of God led Paul to pray for the Ephesian believers was that they might know and understand the hope that God called them to. Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling . . . . The hope that God has called us to is, looking beyond what God has redeemed us from! We who have received the Lord Jesus Christ have been removed from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of light. God expects those of us who have come to Christ to fully embrace and joyfully do the good things He has prepared for us. Eph. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
God warns us not to forget the vision and purpose He has for all those He has redeemed through the blood of His Son. It is recorded how the majority of the children of Israel, who were delivered from Egyptian bondage, refused to enter into God’s wonderful plan for their life through unbelief. 1 Cor. 10:11 GNT All these things happened to them as examples for others, and they were written down as a warning for us. For we live at a time when the end is about to come. God’s plan for Abrahams descendants was to deliver them out of Egyptian bondage, take them into the wilderness to meet with Him, and then immediately take them into the promised land that flowed with milk and honey! God’s plan was to give all of them debt free fully furnished houses they didn’t have to build, wells they didn’t have to dig, and vineyards and olive groves they didn’t have to plant! Joshua and Caleb were the only ones that came out from Egyptian bondage that were twenty years old and above who would receive their inheritance in the promised land. Initially everyone ate the passover lamb and was healed. They all put the blood over their doorpost and were protected from the destroyer! They asked and received precious things of their masters spoiling the Egyptians. Ps. 105:37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. Everyone of them passed through the sea on dry land and they were all under the cloud by day and they all were warmed by fire at night. God’s vision was to take every one of them into the promised land and give each of them their promised inheritance but the huge majority of them refused to believe that God was that good.
Everyone Of Us Was Redeemed From Sin And Positioned To Rule!
Our good God has an inheritance for each of us today that began when we received eternal life. Israel’s supernatural deliverance out of Egyptian bondage is a type of how God delivered us out of the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His dear Son. We entered the kingdom of God the moment we died to self and made Jesus Lord of our life. Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. The kingdom of God is where God rules and reigns! Israel’s entering Canaan’s land is a type of us possessing the fullness of our inheritance in Christ! Continue on with God by being baptized in water and baptized in the Holy Spirit. Satan and his cohorts endeavor to stop us from believing and receiving what Christ purchased for us through lies and roadblocks but they can’t stop those of us who believe the truth. Healing, provision, deliverance, protection, and wholeness are also part of our inheritance that must be appropriated by faith as we work together to build God’s house. We are more than conquerors when we exercise our dominion over satan in our homes and communities, helping those who yield to the words of our Lord. This mystery of Christ in you has been revealed to us who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Col. 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: The world will know those who belong to Christ when they see us love one another like Christ loves us! Be of good cheer and realize that Christ return is near. Jesus will destroy all of God’s enemies and eradicate all that is evil but for now Jesus has access and authority in the earth through His body! This message is about how to obtain the first part of our inheritance purchased for us through Christ Jesus. Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Our words, motives, and actions are three ways that we communicate our love and faith to God. Our highest level of communication with God is with the heart! 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. When we came to God for salvation we had to have an honest heart that acknowledged our sinfulness and a genuine desire for eternal life. Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. There is a huge difference between those who gladly received the word of God on Pentecost and the rich young ruler who went away sad. There’s a reason that the Spirit of God had Dr. Luke record, the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. God saw the heart of blind Bartimaeus but others could only hear his cry that would not be denied and saw him cast away his identity as a blind beggar.
Our actions are the next highest level of communication! The saying, actions speak louder than words is true. Persecution begins when people of faith act on what God said. Many times persecution begins upon being baptized in water or when baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. 2 Tim. 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. God sent an angel to Cornelius after he fasted and prayed, and said, your prayer is heard and your alms are remembered by God. The angel said to send for Peter who would speak to him.
Our words are a lower form of communication and yet speaking words is the most basic and fundamental way to release our faith. We must confess with our mouth and believe in our heart to be saved!”
We Will Not Possess What We Refuse To Confess!
The worlds were framed by the word of God! Angels hearken to the word of God when spoken in faith through lips of clay! Jesus is going to hold us accountable for every non working word that we speak. Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. God will only reward us for our giving when our motive is love. 1 Cor. 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, . . . and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Words without corresponding actions are to no avail! Many are going to say to Jesus on judgement day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Mt. 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Jesus is not referring to those who sinned and genuinely repented and turned from their sin but rather those who continue in a lifestyle of unholy living. Pro. 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Our hearts desire to be right with God accompanied with words of repentance and a changed life reveal that we have been made righteous by faith!
