You are fighting a memory...

WE ARE FIGHTING A MEMORY

Evangelicals and Pentecostals must understand that the WAR IS OVER. It was FINISHED through His death, His burial, and His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:3-4)!
The MOST HOLY PLACE of the Mosaic Tabernacle (Ex. 25:8,40), the THIRD DIMENSION of grace (the Feast of Tabernacles - Deut. 16:16; with Prov. 22:20-21), is the realm of Jesus' FINISHED WORK. He sits upon the MERCY-SEAT (the THRONE of grace) between the wings of the cherubim as the KING OF KINGS (Rev. 17:14; 19:16).
Jesus in His once-for-all triumph at the CROSS completely DEFEATED THE DEVIL (the subject of last week's Chronicle), and as the LAST ADAM (1 Cor. 15:45), brought a lasting end to the FIRST ADAM - there were THREE MEN CRUCIFIED:
1. The MAN on the MIDDLE CROSS was JESUS!
2. The THIEF on His RIGHT who REPENTED and who was RESTORED to PARADISE, to EDEN, to the KINGDOM was ADAM!
3. The ugly spirit that energized the THIEF on His LEFT who taunted, "IF you be the CHRIST." (Lk. 23:39; compare Lk. 4:3,9) was the DEVIL!
In the Greek language, verbs in the AORIST tense (the snapshot tense) speak of action completed at a given POINT IN TIME in the past, present, or future, but especially the PAST. The PERFECT tense speaks of those things that have been COMPLETED in the PAST with ONGOING results in the present.
Time and space will not permit to list all the Scriptures that speak of the DEATH of the OLD MAN (such as Romans 6:1-14), where all the verbs are aorist or perfect.
There are TWO MEN on the planet-CHRIST and ADAM, Beauty and the Beast! The nickname for CHRIST is "the TRUTH" (Eph. 4:15,21). The nickname for ADAM is "the LIE" (Eph. 4:22,25). Which life are you living? Are you a "saint" or an "ain't"?
There are not TWO natures in the believer, just ONE-CHRIST, the NEW MAN (Eph. 2:15; 4:13,24; Col. 3:10)!
2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV Therefore if any man be IN CHRIST, he is a NEW CEATURE: OLD things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW (kainos - fresh, unprecedented, unused, brand new; "the old has gone, the new has come!" - NIV).
As we pursue the heavenly calling (Phil. 3:12-14), we are fighting a MEMORY, the GHOST of Adam. His picture may be on the dresser and his socks in the drawer, but the old man is DEAD! Don't commit the abomination of spiritual NECROMANCY and try to call him up (Deut. 18:11). Even his MEMORY shall PERISH (Isa. 26:13-14)!

The Devil Made Me Do It

HOW MUCH AUTHORITY DOES THE DEVIL HAVE?

Last week we introduced TWO THINGS that will KEEP IT REAL. The first is to understand that the WAR IS OVER. It is FINISHED!
Hosea 4:6, KJV My people are DESTROYED (fail, are silent, cut off) for LACK of KNOWLEDGE (discernment, understanding; to ascertain by seeing)..
Matthew 28:18, NIV Then JESUS came to them and said, "ALL AUTHORITY in heaven AND on earth has been given to ME."
Colossians 2:15, NIV .having DISARMED ("spoiled" - KJV) the powers and authorities, HE (Jesus) made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the CROSS.
The DEVIL has NO real AUTHORITY-Jesus STRIPPED him bare! Our Savior vanquished him at the Cross! Satan is a defeated foe, a mouse with a microphone.
The word for "AUTHORITY" in Matthew 28:18 is exousia, and it means, "executive privilege, capacity, delegated influence; the liberty of doing as one pleases." Don't mistake me. If you do not know the Lord, the devil will chew you up and spit you out. But if you are a child of the living God, then "GREATER is He that is IN YOU, than he that is in the WORLD (1 Jn. 4:4 with Jn. 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4)!
Ephesians 4:27, KJV Neither give PLACE ("no opportunity" - RSV; "a foothold" - NIV; "a loophole" - NEB) to the devil ("You must not give a devil a chance" - Goodspeed).
I John 3:8, KJV .For this PURPOSE the Son of God was manifested, that He might DESTROY (luo - loosen, undo, dismantle; do away with) the WORKS of the devil.
As a Christian musician, I stand back and shake my head when I hear born-again, Spirit-filled believers singing songs about going over to the "enemy's camp." There is NO enemy's camp-Jesus "DESTROYED" and dismantled it! The devil has no "PLACE," so why do ignorant preachers and people continually try to give him one?
The word for "PLACE" in Ephesians 4:27 is topos (English, "topography"), and it means, "a spot, location; figuratively, condition, opportunity, power, occasion for acting." Let's heed the wise words of the seasoned apostle and just "STOP" that mess! Stop binding demons that He already bound. Stop praying the problem; prophesy the answer!
Stop worrying about the devil. He has to FIND you first! We are so high up in Christ that our adversary gets a nose-bleed trying to search out our "HIDING PLACE" (Psa. 32:7; 119:114). You have died, and your life is "HID with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3).
The strategy for this kind of living is simple. When you think that you hear the devil knocking, send Christ to the door! Let HIM fight your battles. He already has!

Keeping It Real: Varner

TWO THINGS THAT WILL KEEP IT REAL

NOTE: Last month's chronicles emphasized Christ in you, the hope of glory. This month I want to develop the above theme.
TRUTH is REALITY. The Hebrew word for "TRUTH" means, "stability, certainty, trustworthiness; firmness, faithfulness, sureness, and reliability" (Psa. 25:5; 43:3; 86:11). The Greek word for "TRUTH" is aletheia and it means, "what is true in REALITY; in fact, certainly." It is derived from a (as a negative particle) and lanthano (concealed, hidden, or secret). Vine's Dictionary adds that aletheia means, "the REALITY lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter" (see Jn. 8:32; 17:17; Eph. 6:14; 2 Pet. 1:12; and 3 Jn. 1:4). All of God's people need to KEEP IT REAL!
What will KEEP IT REAL for all the Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Charismatics and the Faith Movement? They must clearly understand the essential TRUTH that THE WAR IS OVER! It is FINISHED!
Isaiah 40:1-2, KJV COMFORT ye, COMFORT ye (console) My people, saith your God.
2 Speak ye COMFORTABLY (to the heart of) to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her WARFARE IS ACCOMPLISHED (filled, satisfied, completed), that her INIQUITY (perversity, depravity) is PARDONED (to satisfy a debt): for she hath RECEIVED of the LORD's hand DOUBLE for all her sins ("I have punished her in full for all her sins" - TLB; this was done IN CHRIST that we might receive the DOUBLE PORTION of blessings).
John 19:30, KJV When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, IT IS FINISHED (teleo - to end, complete, execute, conclude, discharge a debt; to fulfill) and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost (compare John 4:34; 5:36; 17:4).
What will KEEP IT REAL for all the Kingdom, Sonship, and Third Day people? They must clearly understand the TRUTH that the WORD that has been forever SETTLED in the HEAVENS (Psa. 119:89) must be ESTABLISHED in the EARTH (made FLESH in TIME, incarnate); and that the KEY to that ESTABLISHMENT is ORDER!
2 Corinthians 13:1, KJV This is the THIRD TIME I am coming to you. IN THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES shall every word be ESTABLISHED (both MOSES in Deut. 17:6; 19:5 and JESUS Matt. 18:16 set forth the SAME principle).
Isaiah 9:6-7, KJV For unto us a CHILD IS BORN (at Bethlehem), unto us a SON IS GIVEN (30 years later at the Jordan): and the GOVERNMENT shall be upon His shoulder (of the SON): and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His GOVERNMENT (Kingdom) and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to ORDER IT, and to ESTABLISH IT with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever..
FURTHER RESOURCE: My books, Whose Right It Is, and Freedom From Twelve Deadly Sins, available at http://www.kelleyvarner.org/newsletters/clicks.asp?queueid=27428&relationid=315332&url=http://www.kvmonlinestore.org/.

Christ In You - Treasure (Varner)

CHRIST IN YOU IS THE TREASURE OF GREAT WORTH

Our theme all this month has been "Christ in you, the hope of glory." The Spirit within is John's ever-flowing River, the Psalmist's solid Rock, and Isaiah's great shining Light. Finally, we understand that the indwelling Christ is the Treasure of great worth!
2 Corinthians 4:7, KJV But we have this TREASURE in earthen vessels that the excellency (preeminence) of the power (dunamis - ability) may be of God, and not of us.
The Greek word for "TREASURE" is thesauros, and it means, "a deposit, wealth; the place of safe-keeping in which good and precious things are collected and laid up; a casket, a coffer, or other receptacle, in which valuables are kept; a treasury, storehouse, repository, or magazine; collected treasures." It is also used to speak of the Magi who opened their "TREASURES" for King Jesus; may we, too, wisely present Him with:
1. Gold - the PRICE of the lifestyle of worship.
2. Frankincense - the PURITY of the lifestyle of worship.
3. Myrrh - the PAIN of the lifestyle of worship.
The Bible explains that this treasure house beats in our chest-your TREASURE is your HEART (Matt. 6:19-21; 12:35)! An open treasure, an open gift, is an open heart! What measure of TREASURE, what kind of heart are you laying open before the King? The Ark of the Covenant in Moses' Tabernacle is another incredible picture of "Christ in you" (Col. 1:27). It was filled with TREASURES of great worth (Heb. 9:4):
1. The golden pot of manna - an unlimited provision.
2. Aaron's rod that budded - the kingly and priestly power of resurrection life.
3. The (unbroken) tables of the covenant - complete obedience.
We belong to Christ and are Abraham's seed (Gal. 3:29). We are His "peculiar (valued) TREASURE (possession)" (Psa. 135:4 and Ex. 19:5 with 1 Pet. 2:9). "Christ in you" is a Prophet, a Priest, and a King. He is a great Rock and a great Light. Indeed, He is the very "image of God" (2 Cor. 4:4)! In Him are hidden "all the TREASURES of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3).
Do you know who you ARE "in Christ"? Do you know what you HAVE "In Christ"? You have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). You and every believer-the "treasure" He bought with the great price of His own blood (Matt. 13:44-46 with Matt. 27:6-9; 1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23)-are of inestimable value and worth!
See yourself first of all, then your family, your neighbors, your friends, and your brothers and sisters in Christ, through HIS eyes! You are, and they are of great worth!
FURTHER RESOURCE: My notes on the Ark of the Covenant in my original book on The Tabernacle of Moses; AND my booklet, A Vision of Your Worth, available at http://www.kvmonlinestore.org/.

Christ In You - Light of Influence (More Varner)

CHRIST IN YOU THE LIGHT OF INFLUENCE
This month we are learning more about "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27). Now we want to release the One who is the Light of influence!
Matthew 5:14-16, KJV Ye are the LIGHT of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth LIGHT unto all that are in the house. Let your LIGHT so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The Christ within is a River and a Rock. He is also the Light that shines forth, influencing every one and every thing in our lives. Synonyms for "INFLUENCE" are: authority, pressure, sway, weight, effect, inspiration, impact, and encouragement.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4, NIV And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the LIGHT of the gospel of the glory of CHRIST, who is the image of God.
Jesus Himself is the Light of the world (Jn. 8:12). Jesus is God (Jn. 1:1), and God is light; in Him is no darkness at all (1 Jn. 1:5).
We are His followers and disciples. We, too, are light in the Lord, and are to walk or live as sons of light, sons of the day (Eph. 5:8; 1 Thess. 5:5)). So James calls our heavenly Father "the Father of lights" (Jas. 1:17).
The Apostle Paul sat in a darkened Roman prison, but his natural bonds were no limitation to his worldwide spiritual influence. He boldly admonished us all to be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom (we) SHINE AS LIGHTS in the world. The dark cave of Adullam did not hinder the power of the Song of the Lord within David. Running for his life from angry King Saul, his influence never waned as he continued to sing:
Psalms 27:1, KJV The LORD is my LIGHT and my salvation; whom shall I fear?....
The City that John saw in Revelation 21 was the Lamb's wife. The end-time Church has global influence, for the nations shall walk in the "light" of it (Rev. 21:24)!
Isaiah 9:2, KJV The people that walked in darkness have seen a great LIGHT: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the LIGHT shined.
Do you know God? Has He lit your candle (Prov. 20:27; Jn. 1:9)? Has He brought you out of darkness and death into His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9)? Whose lives-in your family, your neighborhood, or your church-have you impacted for Christ? What dark corner have you enlightened? What is the measure of your influence?

Christ In You - The Rock (Varner)

CHRIST IN YOU IS THE ROCK OF STABILITY
All this month we are exploring the depths of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27). This week we rejoice that the Spirit within is the Rock of stability!
Psalms 105:41, KJV HE (the Lord) opened the ROCK, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river (compare Deut. 8:15).
1 Corinthians 10:4, KJV And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual ROCK that followed them: and that Rock was CHRIST.
Last week we talked about the River from the Rock. This week we want to look closer at the One known as the "Rock of Israel" (2 Sam. 23:3). The Psalmist said much about Christ, the Rock of our stability; his personal testimony was that the Lord is:
1. "The Rock of my STRENGTH" (Psa. 62:7).
2. "The Rock of my SALVATION" (Psa. 89:26; 95:1).
3. "The Rock of my REFUGE" (Psa. 94:22).
The hymn-writer knew this well: "On CHRIST the solid ROCK I stand; all other ground is sinking sand (Matt. 7:24-27)."
Our STABILITY is in and by the Spirit. "Christ in you" is the Source of our being "ESTABLISHED" in the Lord. The primary Hebrew word for this means, "to be erect (to stand perpendicular); to be firm, to be stable; to be fixed, to be securely determined; or to be settled." Those who know the secret of Christ within are firmly anchored like a pillar, established in His grace and love (2 Sam. 7:16; Psa. 40:2; 89:2,4,21,37; 93:1-2).
The Greek word for "ESTABLISHED" is sterizo, and it means, "to set fast, to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm; to make stable, to place firmly, to fix, to strengthen, or to make firm (Rom. 1:11; 16:25; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 Pet. 5:10)." It is derived from the word sterix (a prop)-the Lord is our Support and Stay.
David ran to Rock that is "higher" (Psa. 61:2)-in the time of trouble, who do you run to? What is the source of your strength? What props you up? The Christ within is also your Teacher and Guide (Jn. 14:26; 16:13; 1 Jn. 2:27). Do you understand His Word? Has He "established" you in the "present truth" (2 Pet. 1:12)?
Deuteronomy 32:4, KJV He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.
The Rock that followed God's people throughout their wilderness pilgrimage sprang up every morning with refreshing strength for the journey.. Is He your Rock?

Christ In You - Varner continues

CHRIST IN YOU IS THE RIVER OF LIFE
Last week's chronicle introduced "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27). This week we learn that the indwelling Christ is the River of life!
Psalms 46:4, KJV There is a RIVER, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
The CITY of the living God is the Church, the Lamb's Wife (Matt. 5:14; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 21:1-10). The prophet Isaiah added that Zion would also be a "place of broad RIVERS" (Isa. 33:21).
Moreover, the River from the Rock is a major Old Testament theme-that "Rock that followed them was Christ" (1 Cor. 10:4 with Ex. 17:1-6; Deut. 8:15; Psa. 78:15-20; 105:41; 114:8; and Isa. 48:21).
John 7:37, KJV In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall FLOW RIVERS of living water.
39 (But this spake He of the SPIRIT, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the HOLY GHOST was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Jesus makes it abundantly clear in this awesome passage that one of the major symbols for the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT in the life of the believer is a RIVER!
I shared with you in last week's Chronicle that "Christ in you" bears the marks of a prophet, a priest, and a king. Likewise, out of your innermost being flows:
First, a PROPHETIC RIVER, the river out of the "belly," for the word "flow" in John 7:38 is rheo (compare rhema), from which we get our English word, "rhetoric."
Second, a PRIESTLY RIVER that flows out of the Sanctuary, the House of the Lord, His Temple (Ezek. 47:1-12).
Third, a KINGLY RIVER, pure and living, that flows out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb Rev. 22:1-2).
Are you thirsty? Are you searching for strength from an external source, or are you drinking deeply from the Christ within? Have you, like David in his exile, found the refreshing waters of Engedi, the oasis of the leaping fountain (1 Sam. 23:29; 24:1)?
Is your life, your family, your business, or your ministry a "broken" (wrecked or ruptured) cistern, or is your Source "the Fountain of living waters" (Jer. 2:13)?