August 22, 2002
ALIVE UNTO GOD. The church and every individual in it is a living organism, dead to self and sin but alive unto Christ with His life being made known through the church. Rom. 6:11 The church must come to an understanding that she has been purchased. Something that has been acquired in this fashion is of great value to the purchaser. There has never been a price paid for any item that is greater than what Christ paid for the church. What a tremendous value He has placed on her. Purchased with His own blood. The very blood of God Himself. Dying as a man would be a great price, but dying as the Son of God who left heaven for this very purpose was the highest and maximum price. Every member of the body of Christ has been purchased with the same amazing cost. Acts 20:28 An item that has been bought by an individual becomes the property of that person. Every person who would be a member of the body of Christ must recognize That they are no longer their own, to act upon their own desires and to do their own will. The price has been paid in full. The transaction is completed. The contract, the covenant has been sealed. The Lord has accomplished His portion of the deal. The church must now acknowledge that she is no longer her own, to do as she pleases but must now please Him. This is not a sacrifice nor a loss of freedom. The rewards are tremendous and are of great value. 1 Cor. 6:19-20
LOVE IS MEASURED BY COMMITMENT. The greatest love of time and eternity, is the love of God. For God so loved. John 3:16 Christ so loved the church, His bride to be, that He gave Himself for it. Eph. 5:25 There is no possibility of a greater love nor of a greater covenant of love. From eternity past, whenever the plan of salvation was contrived, the Son was committed to do what was necessary to accomplish His work in obtaining a bride. He gave Himself for us, that we might be redeemed and set free from all iniquity and sin. That He might purify for Himself those who are His, exclusively. A very special and unique gathering of saints. Jesus is not willing to share those who are His, with another. They are a people of great zeal in their association with Christ. Their attraction, love and desire is all for Him. Titus 2:14 There is a godly jealousy that even Paul experienced in relationship to the bride. 2 Cor. 11:2
SET YOUR AFFECTIONS. Let the love, devotion and passion of your heart be established on Christ and those things that are eternal and not on the things of this earth. Earthly treasures are all temporary and transitory, they will all pass away. We may use them, but when they use us, we are in great trouble. That which occupies our time, our efforts and our devotion is evidence of where our affections are focused. Only that which is Spiritual and above is lasting. When we have touched, for ourselves, the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, we become centered on those things which are Spiritual and for eternity. Col. 3:1-3