MESSAGE FOR SUNDAY, July 26th, 1998.

The last time I stood before you with a message, I stated that in the past all ‘God’s dealings with me’ had been of a ‘personal nature’.

And, since each of us has become a part of each other, these dealings just naturally spill over into ‘corporate living’, in which our dealings involve one another in ‘the expression of Christ’ among us all.

We have come to see that ‘God’ brings ‘crisies’ into our lives in order to bring us into a ‘deeper relationship with Himself’ and make ‘the things of God’ more and more real to us.

Furthermore, these ‘crisies’ serve to show us to what extent we have become established in ‘His ways and purposes’.

During the past weeks I have come to see this even more clearly.

‘The Lord’ has been testing us, and I know in my heart, as well as from your many various responses that ‘the Lord’ has brought us into a ‘spiritual maturity’ which enabled us to stand in ‘His strength’.

I have said it before and I say it again: ‘I am so glad that  ‘the Lord’ has joined me to this fellowship’.

If ever I have loved and appreciated you before, I do so a great deal more today.

While waiting before ‘the Lord’, seeking to find out of how to go on, I felt it would be helpful to look at a ‘basic Truth of God’s Word’ as it relates to ‘the Church’, ‘the Body of Christ’.

It has to do with ‘the tremendous Power of the Blood of the Lamb’, and ‘the tremendous Value God has placed upon it’,
and the way ‘the Church’ is included in it.

‘The Apostle John’ writes in his 1. Letter, chapter 2, verse 14; “...I wrote to you young men, because you are strong and the word of God remains in you and you have overcome the evil one”. (Interlinear) 

You and I should know our true position ‘in Christ’.

All of us, who are ‘believers’ having accepted and received ‘the Lord Jesus Christ’ as ‘our Savior and Lord’, know that we have become involved in ‘the Eternal Purpose of God in Christ’.

Together with all, who are redeemed by ‘the Blood of the Lamb’, we have ‘the unspeakable privilege’ and are in fact ‘called of God’ to become overcomers - becoming ‘overcomers’ because of ‘the Blood of the Lamb’.

“And they overcame...because of the Blood of the Lamb...”
(Rev.12:11).

As such we want to fully understand that ‘the Atonement’, ‘the Redemptive Work of the Lamb’, is eternal’ and ‘the Power of the Blood of the Lamb’ to take away all ‘sin’ is from everlasting to everlasting!

Notice: with ‘God’ time does not exist, - all is ‘the Eternal Now’ and, this is the avenue that highlights ‘the Church’s place’ in ‘the Power of the Blood of the Lamb’.

‘The Work and Triumph of the Lamb of God’, that “takes away the sin of the world”, does not exhaust itself in ‘the individual appropriation’ but displays its ‘ultimate Triumph’ in ‘the Church’s appropriation’ of it.

We all know, that ‘the Lord Jesus’ has totally and completely defeated ‘the enemy of God’ on and through and in ‘His Cross’.

And, we all know, that ‘God’ has ordained for ‘Christ’s Victory’ to become a ‘reality’, to become a ‘living expression’, in the lives of ‘His people’, those who are redeemed by ‘the Blood of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior’. 

But just the same we are told in ‘the Word of God’ in several places, that there is an ‘ongoing warfare’, both in ‘the visible’ and ‘the invisible realm’.

This is the reason we see such Scriptures as in 1. Peter 5:8 which states: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.”

There is ‘warfare’, a ‘spiritual battle’ taking place that seeks to destroy ‘the Work of God in Christ Jesus’ that ‘He’ is working in ‘His people’. 

It will go on until it reaches its ‘final conclusion’. 

‘The enemy’, already a ‘defeated foe’ by ‘Christ, the Victor’ over him, is using every effort to re-assert himself, in order to re-establish his former position. 

But, ‘in Christ’, it will not and cannot be done, for ‘Christ’s blood’ - ‘His death’, ‘resurrection’ and ‘ascension’ - has already overcome him. 

This is why ‘Peter’ continues on in verse 9 to say, “whom (i.e., the devil) resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood (i.e., the Church) in the world”.

Verse 10: “But may the God of all grace, Who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Verse 11: To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen”.

This is ‘the warfare’ that will continue until it reaches its ‘final end’. 

But, ‘the established believer’, who is secure in ‘the established Body of Christ’ has no fear nor undue concern over this since he knows what ‘the truth’ is and is standing firm in ‘Christ’s Body’ Who is already ‘the Victor’ over him and his roaring, intimidating, bellowing advances.  

I believe, that ‘the Church as a whole’ has yet to learn, to stand in ‘this Victory of our Lord Jesus Christ’, ‘the Lamb of God in all His Glory and Power’.

‘The Apostle Paul’ tells us in Eph.6:11-14, ‘four times’ that we are ‘to stand’, ‘to withstand, ‘to stand’, ‘stand therefore’.

This is ‘the pathway to overcoming’, not only for ‘the individual believer’, but ‘Christ’s Body as a whole’.
 
Revelation 12:11: “And they (the aggregate of the believers, the Church) overcame him (the evil one and all his wiles to undo the work of Christ) by ‘the Blood of the Lamb’ and by ‘the word of their testimony’, and they did not love their lives to the death”.

Question: And why could they be considered to be in such a ‘victorious position’?

Revelation 7:13-14: “Then one of the elders... (said) to me, 
Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”

Verse 14: And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Question: And to whom does the ‘these’ refer? 

It is none other than ‘Christ’s Church’, who on an ‘individual basis’, were continually kept cleansed by ‘the Blood of the Lamb’.

And, who, on a ‘corporate basis’, kept that vigilant, sober attitude that refused to allow the ‘lion’ to devour ‘the Work of Christ’ in them and among them! 

They, each one, have come to the startling and overwhelming realization that anything and everything hurled at ‘the redeemed Church of Christ’, that unrivaled ‘Work of His Art’, already has ‘the mark of His Victory’ upon it because of that ‘effectual Power of His cleansing Blood’.

Question: So, how was this made possible?

‘Christ’ gave us ‘the secret’ in John 14:30 in which ‘He’ declared that there was “nothing in Him” that the evil one could find or claim for his own.

In all others he could find that place that he could claim as his own, and thereby, enforce ‘the power of death’ upon them. 

But, in ‘Christ’, there was absolutely nothing he could claim, no way to place his death-knell upon ‘Christ’. 

And, so he was powerless to destoy ‘Christ’s mission’ Who had come specifically for eradicating, uprooting and unrooting ‘the source of sin’.

‘John the Baptist’ declared it from the first moment of ‘Christ’s ministry’ in John 1:29: “Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!” 

‘He’, ‘God’s own Lamb’, had offered ‘Himself’ voluntarily for this tremendous crushing of ‘the enemy’s stronghold’ in man.  

To do this, ‘He’ willingly said, “Father, into Your Hands I commit My Spirit” - ‘He Himself’, gave up ‘His Spirit’ and died.

And, even then, death could not hold ‘Him’, simply because Satan could gain no hold whatsoever upon ‘Christ’.

There had been nothing in ‘Jesus’ character’, ‘action’ or ‘Person’ that Satan could use to gain even an inch of footing.

Satan had no ‘valid accusation’ that could be used as leverage to divert ‘Jesus’ from doing ‘the Will of His Father’ and fulfilling ‘His Purpose’ to uproot and destroy ‘the destroyer’, Satan.

Satan had come to do the work of a thief, to steal, to destroy, to kill ‘Christ’, and ‘His work in Christ’s sheep’, as ‘Jesus’ pointed out in John 10:10.

There we read: “...the thief comes to steal, to kill, to destroy...”

This was his motive, his aim, but, ‘Jesus’ went on to say in contradiction to the evil one’s work of the destruction and annihilation of ‘Christ’, “...I have come, that they (Christ’s sheep) might have life and that they might have it more abundantly’, - life abounding, plenteous, fruitful life. 

So, first then, there was nothing ‘in Christ’ that could be found which would give ‘His enemy’ any ground to work his evil work. 

Secondly, although, in John 14:30, ‘Jesus’ said, “...the ruler (some translations have prince) of the world is coming, but he has nothing in Me”, - we go on to ‘His next words’ in John 15, where ‘the Lord’ speaks of the Vine (Himself) and the branches (the redeemed) and ‘He’ says: “Abide in Me, and I in you...for apart from Me you can do nothing”.

‘Our Lord’ is saying: “Satan has nothing in Me”, therefore “Abide in Me”, - ‘maintain a living connection or consolidation with Me’.

That is, if ‘you abide in Me’, Satan, who seeks even yet to destroy ‘My work in you’, cannot touch you when ‘you abide in Me’, for there is nothing ‘in Me’ that can give him any ground to steal, to destroy or to kill ‘Me’ and ‘My already-completed work’.

So, to ‘individual believers’ and to ‘His corporate Body’, ‘He’ says: ‘To be fully victorious in overcoming the enemy, you must, by faith, stand and live and walk in the good of what ‘I’ am, not in what ‘you’ are; - for ‘My shed Blood’ eternally satisfied ‘God’s own Righteousness’; and ‘My shed Blood’ is made unto you ‘Righteousness’ - that is, it gives you ‘eternal Righteousness’ before ‘your God’.

This is the Church’s true, eternal ‘position in Christ’, and it cannot be otherwise. (Eph.1:3-14)

Oh, thank God for the unlimited, effectual ‘Power of the Blood’ of the slain and now living ‘Lamb of God’.

Let us take our stand by faith ‘in Christ’, for Satan has no ground of accusation ‘in Him’, and ‘in Christ’ he has no ground of accusation in ‘us’.

‘In Christ’ we are made ‘the Righteousness of God’. (2.Cor.5:21)

It is true, that as Christians, we do sin because no one is perfect but ‘Christ’, but ‘the Word of God’ provides for this in 1.John 1:9, where we are told: “If we confess our sins (before God’), He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

We must acknowledge our sin before ‘God’ and ask ‘His forgiveness’.

This is why, we, as ‘Christ’s Body’, must never take lightly any sin we commit, for sin can and does interrupt our fellowship and our walk with ‘God’. 

It is the only way to ‘walk in His light’ and enjoy ‘the strength of His Life’ as it permeates ‘His Body, the Church’, and keeps it anchored, secured and fixed as ‘one in Him’, despite ‘the onslaughts of the roaring lion’ who continues to seek to destroy ‘Christ’s work of Light and Life’.   
 
‘The Apostle John’ tells us, that “if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin”. (1.John 1:7)

‘The Blood of Jesus Christ’ has guaranteed ‘full forgiveness’, ‘full acceptance’, ‘full and complete fellowship’ with no ‘severance of relationship’.

This is ‘His love’ demonstrated to ‘the world’ and to ‘the principalities and powers on high’.

In Rev 5, we find that ‘the Lamb that was slain has redeemed us to God out of every kindred, and tongue, and people; and ‘the Lamb’ is standing in the midst of ‘the Throne of God’ where all things are working after ‘the counsel of God’s own will.’

“And they (the overcomers) overcame him (the serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan), because of the Blood of the Lamb”.

‘The Power of the Blood’ is continuing its work among ‘His Church’, even to ‘the Church universal’.  

And this is because ‘God’ has placed such immeasurable, infinite ‘Value upon the Blood of His Son’.

And it must, by faith, be ours, as ‘individuals’ and as ‘His Church’, and it must continue to grow even deeper and stronger.

This is God’s faithful means of provision for the security, continuance and stability in the union of ‘the Lamb’ and   ‘His Bride’.

‘The Lamb’ stands in ‘the midst of the Throne of God’, in ‘His power’ that still demonstrates its ‘effectiveness’ in destroying and anihilating that which seeks even yet to destroy and anihilate ‘His Work’ here on earth.

But oh, what ‘tremendous Power’ there is in ‘the Blood of the Lamb’! 

In closing, let me point once again to Rom.8, which opens with “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”, and it closes with “No separation from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. 

Let me encourage you to read ‘the entire Chapter’ and let ‘the Holy Spirit’ minister to you. 

Lord willing, we are leaving this week for our annual vacation, and we would ask for your continual prayers, as we shall keep all of you in our hearts and prayers.