Are you in desperate need of a program? Are you just not complete without some steps? Do you need some guidelines to feel safe? Do you need counseling to keep you on track? It isn’t found in a religious club. All those answers you are looking for are found in Jesus.
We don’t need crutches. We need Jesus. We don’t need facts we need function. We don’t need intellectual arguments we need intimate moments. We need Jesus. He is the answer and has always been the answer. Religion wants you to be dependent on programs and processes. Religion denies the power of God and instead substitutes the wisdom of man. God has a better plan. Actually He has the only plan. It began way before any of us or this world were created. It was His plan from before the foundations of the Earth. Before you even had a chance to make a mistake or hide in the bushes or become independent apart from God, He says this:
Eph 1:4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. (AMP)
In Jesus we are all those things; holy, blameless, set apart, above reproach, before Him in love. The cross proves it.
Still not buying it? Still insist on a program? Paul actually lays out what God’s “process” or “program” looks like. Want to see?
Eph 1:16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, (ESV)
Wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. The depth of that statement…deeper than any ocean; limitless, consuming, loving, gracious, eternal. This word for knowledge is epignōsei. This is an intense word. It means to have “knowledge gained through first-hand relationship.” This is our intimate knowledge of Jesus. This is knowledge that is gained through supernatural encounters and contact. It is knowledge that comes from Him and transcends our human wisdom. It can only come through an intimate relationship. It begins with a courtship and is continues as a marriage. We are forever learning about our groom.
Eph 1:18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Can you see God’s one-step program? It is all Him and from Him and in Him. He illuminates our hearts with His truth so we can know this hope we have in Him. It comes in the fullness of Him and the certainty that He is ours as an inheritance. On top of all that it is made manifest in His power towards us and in us and through us. The creator of the universe is working this out in us. He has come upon us and intensely desires for us to be completed in Him. This same power and might demonstrate His plan as Jesus. Like us He was raised and seated in the Heavenly places where He rules and reigns over the enemy. We have become one flesh with Him as His body. Check this out:
Eph 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (ESV)
God isn’t kidding. He is the one-step program. He has planned this out from the beginning. It is the opposite of a human-wisdom-inspired-program of management and fact insertion. It is an intimate, mysterious, powerful, amazing, series of encounters with our groom. He is all we need. Our body connected to other bodies as a “church” is the expression of His one-step program. It isn’t a club. It is Jesus. Check out this passage in the Passion Translation:
Eph 1:17that the Father of Glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would unveil in you the riches of the spirit of wisdom and the spirit of revelation through the fullness of being one with Christ. 18 I pray that the light of God will brighten the eyes of your innermost being, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of our great hope of glory. We know that is the reason He called you to Himself. And I pray that you will truly experience all the riches of this wealth that has been freely given to all His holy ones, for you are His true inheritance! 19 Yes, my prayer for you is that every moment you will experience the measureless power of God made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you! 20This is the resurrection power that was released through Christ when God raised Him from the dead. This resurrection power raised us up and seated us with Him at His place of supreme authority in the heavenly realm! (The Passion Translation)
Isn’t that awesome?! You should feel inspired. You should feel empowered. You should feel healed, delivered, saved, provided for, cared for, loved, empowered…you should feel like Jesus. You are joined to Him and He has accomplished all the steps you ever needed. He is our one-step program.
Yay Jesus!
Lance
alancetotheheart 