Reign In Life: 90 Powerful Inspirations For Extraordinary Breakthroughs (3 page)
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Authors: Joseph Prince
Tags: #Devotional, #Grace, #Joseph Prince
BOOK: Reign In Life: 90 Powerful Inspirations For Extraordinary Breakthroughs
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H
EBREWS
10:12, 14
EBREWS
10:12, 14
A
s a believer, have you ever been plagued by thoughts of how you haven’t been good enough or haven’t done enough to deserve God’s blessings? That your imperfection disqualifies you from receiving anything good from God?
s a believer, have you ever been plagued by thoughts of how you haven’t been good enough or haven’t done enough to deserve God’s blessings? That your imperfection disqualifies you from receiving anything good from God?
If you’ve been struggling with these thoughts, I want you to read and reread today’s Scripture, and let it saturate your heart, mind, and conscience. Let the knowledge of how you are completely forgiven and
forever perfected by
Jesus’ finished work at the cross sink in. You are not going to be forgiven and perfected one day through all your hard work. No, my friend, the good news is, you
already are
forgiven and perfected—once and for all time—through Jesus’ sacrifice.
forever perfected by
Jesus’ finished work at the cross sink in. You are not going to be forgiven and perfected one day through all your hard work. No, my friend, the good news is, you
already are
forgiven and perfected—once and for all time—through Jesus’ sacrifice.
And how long is forever? I checked the original Greek word for
forever
in the verse and guess what? “Forever” means
forever!
You have been totally forgiven and perfected
forever
by Jesus’ cleansing blood, not by the blood of animal sacrifices that can never take away sins.
forever
in the verse and guess what? “Forever” means
forever!
You have been totally forgiven and perfected
forever
by Jesus’ cleansing blood, not by the blood of animal sacrifices that can never take away sins.
Pastor Prince, how can I be fully assured that all my sins have already been forgiven?
Good question! Notice that after Jesus offered His life as a sacrifice and payment for all our sins, He “sat down” at the Father’s right hand. Jesus sat down to demonstrate to us that the work is indeed finished!
Under the old covenant, the priest who served in the tabernacle of Moses never sat down, but “stands ministering daily” because his work could never be finished. The blood of bulls and goats could “never take away sins” (Heb. 10:11). Interestingly, in the holy place of the tabernacle of Moses, there was not a single piece of furniture prepared for the priest to sit on. You would not find a single chair in the holy place. You would find the altar of incense, the menorah, and even a table of showbread, but not chairs. This was because the work of the priest was
never finished
. Only Jesus’ work is a finished work.
never finished
. Only Jesus’ work is a finished work.
My friend, you can rest easy in your heart and mind today. You can relax because Jesus has finished the work. In God’s eyes, you are forever perfect, spotless, and washed whiter than snow by the precious, eternal blood of His Son. And it’s permanent! Your part is simply to believe and receive all that Jesus has done for you. That’s how you reign in life over sin, addictions, and whatever the enemy throws at you. That’s how you come up tops in all of life’s challenges!
Today’s Thought
I have been totally forgiven and perfected forever by Jesus’ cleansing blood!
Today’s Prayer
Father, thank You that because of Jesus’ cleansing blood in my life, You see me as forever spotless, perfect, and righteous in Christ. Help me to always see myself the way You see me so that I can come to You boldly and rest easy in Your presence. As I receive Your Word and rest in Your Son’s finished work, I believe that I will walk worthy of my high calling and reign in life over every temptation and challenge. Amen
.
.
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins
.
.
E
PHESIANS
1:7
NLT
PHESIANS
1:7
NLT
By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all
.
.
H
EBREWS
10:10
EBREWS
10:10
Today’s Scripture
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous
.
.
R
OMANS
5:19
OMANS
5:19
D
o you often feel as though God is displeased with you because you can’t seem to break out of a bad habit? Are you facing a situation that just seems impossible to overcome? Let me share Colton’s testimony with you to show you how believing in Jesus’ finished work and receiving His grace are key to receiving your breakthrough.
o you often feel as though God is displeased with you because you can’t seem to break out of a bad habit? Are you facing a situation that just seems impossible to overcome? Let me share Colton’s testimony with you to show you how believing in Jesus’ finished work and receiving His grace are key to receiving your breakthrough.
Since Colton was a little boy, he tried to please God by his performance and obedience. Whenever he sinned by doing or not doing something, he would feel totally condemned and depressed. He found that the more he tried to get rid of certain bad habits by self-discipline, the more he continued in them.
Right after graduation from high school, this young man from Texas received one of my books. Through reading the book, he understood that God is fully pleased with him—not based on his works, but on the
perfect, finished work
of Jesus at the cross.
perfect, finished work
of Jesus at the cross.
Colton began confessing that he was still righteous in Christ through His perfect sacrifice whenever he missed the mark. The result? Listen to what he says: “I was finally able to overcome many wrong habits and attitudes. I also went from a 1.76 grade point average (GPA) in high school to a 4.00 GPA in my first semester in college. As I began to be more conscious of Jesus and not my performance, faith was just there and things that held me back fell away.”
When Colton decided to pursue further education in the field of medicine, it appeared to be an impossible situation as the tuition fee was simply unaffordable for his family. But as this brother continued to believe God and
receive His grace
through Christ Jesus, he began to see “obstacle after obstacle removed.” He shared happily with me, “Today, half of my tuition fee has been paid off, and Jesus is already working on clearing the rest for me!”
receive His grace
through Christ Jesus, he began to see “obstacle after obstacle removed.” He shared happily with me, “Today, half of my tuition fee has been paid off, and Jesus is already working on clearing the rest for me!”
Beloved, God still sees you righteous
even when you fail
, because you are forever perfect and accepted in Christ. God judges you not based on your imperfect performance, but on the perfect performance and sacrifice of Christ. The more you believe and receive this truth, the more you will, like Colton, overcome every bad habit and receive your breakthroughs.
even when you fail
, because you are forever perfect and accepted in Christ. God judges you not based on your imperfect performance, but on the perfect performance and sacrifice of Christ. The more you believe and receive this truth, the more you will, like Colton, overcome every bad habit and receive your breakthroughs.
Today’s Thought
The more I am conscious of Jesus’ performance and not my own performance, the more I will reign in life
.
.
Today’s Prayer
Father, thank You that even when I miss the mark, You still see me righteous in Christ. I am still loved and accepted by You, because all my sins have already been punished in the body of my substitute, Jesus, two thousand years ago. Because I stand totally forgiven and forever righteous in Christ, I can receive from You all I need to overcome every bad habit and temptation and reign in life for Your glory! Amen
.
.
Blessed is the man to whom the L
ORD
does not impute iniquity…
ORD
does not impute iniquity…
P
SALM
32:2
SALM
32:2
The name of the L
ORD
is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe
.
ORD
is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe
.
P
ROVERBS
18:10
ROVERBS
18:10
…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much
.
.
J
AMES
5:16
AMES
5:16
Today’s Scripture
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus
.
.
E
PHESIANS
2:4–6
PHESIANS
2:4–6
T
here are many believers, like Colton whom we read about yesterday, who are defeated because they are struggling to qualify for God’s blessings through their own works. What you need to understand is that self-effort will rob you of reigning in life by God’s grace. You cannot earn your salvation, healing, or financial breakthrough by your own efforts. If the greatest miracle—being saved and made alive with Jesus—comes by grace through faith, and not by your works, how much more the lesser miracles, such as healing, provision, and restored marriages?
here are many believers, like Colton whom we read about yesterday, who are defeated because they are struggling to qualify for God’s blessings through their own works. What you need to understand is that self-effort will rob you of reigning in life by God’s grace. You cannot earn your salvation, healing, or financial breakthrough by your own efforts. If the greatest miracle—being saved and made alive with Jesus—comes by grace through faith, and not by your works, how much more the lesser miracles, such as healing, provision, and restored marriages?
It is not about your work or performance, but
Jesus’
work and performance. Only His work is a finished work. And not only did He sit down at the Father’s right hand, but today’s Scripture states that He also
made us sit with Jesus!
What does this mean? Well, my friend, “sitting down” in the Bible is a picture of the believer resting in the perfect and finished work of Jesus. Christ has finished all the work on the cross on your behalf and is now seated at the right hand of God. As it has all been accomplished on your behalf, this means that you can stop depending on your self-efforts to earn and qualify for God’s blessings in your life. You can sit down with Jesus at the Father’s right hand!
Jesus’
work and performance. Only His work is a finished work. And not only did He sit down at the Father’s right hand, but today’s Scripture states that He also
made us sit with Jesus!
What does this mean? Well, my friend, “sitting down” in the Bible is a picture of the believer resting in the perfect and finished work of Jesus. Christ has finished all the work on the cross on your behalf and is now seated at the right hand of God. As it has all been accomplished on your behalf, this means that you can stop depending on your self-efforts to earn and qualify for God’s blessings in your life. You can sit down with Jesus at the Father’s right hand!
Now, listen carefully to what I am saying. I am not advocating a life of passiveness and laziness regarding the study of God’s Word, prayer, or worship. When it comes to success in your job, I’m also certainly not saying that you shouldn’t be diligent or seeking to develop your abilities. God’s grace does not make you lazy and unproductive. On the contrary, it makes you labor more abundantly for His glory. The apostle Paul, a preacher of God’s grace and the finished work of Jesus, said that he “labored more abundantly than they all” (1 Cor. 15:10). What you need to realize is, in the new covenant, God’s way is to bless you first, and the knowledge of His blessing then empowers you to labor more abundantly. In other words, we do not labor to be blessed, but rather
we have the power to labor because we are already blessed
. Can you see the different premise for laboring in the new covenant?
we have the power to labor because we are already blessed
. Can you see the different premise for laboring in the new covenant?
My friend, Jesus has accomplished everything for us on the cross. Our part is to trust in His perfect work. Receive with open arms His abundance of grace and His gift of righteousness, and sit down and begin to reign in life through Him. Today, let it be your prayer that you will stop trying to earn God’s grace and righteousness. Let the Holy Spirit teach you to start depending on Jesus’ finished work and to start receiving by His grace. This is God’s way to success, wholeness, and victorious living!
Today’s Thought
I can rest today, fully trusting in Jesus’ finished and complete work on the cross, and reign in life through Him
.
.
Today’s Prayer
Father, thank You for the great love with which You have loved me and made me alive together with Jesus, and even to sit with Him at Your right hand. I choose to cease from trying to earn Your grace and righteousness, and to enter into the rest found only in the finished work of Your Son. I gladly receive the abundance of Your grace and Your gift of righteousness to reign in life through Jesus. I believe that Your way to success, wholeness, and victory in life is not by my self-efforts, but by Christ’s finished work! Amen
.
.
…To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen
.
.
R
EVELATION
1:5–6
EVELATION
1:5–6
“He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; but they are on the throne with kings, for He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.”
J
OB
36:7
OB
36:7
Today’s Scripture
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ
.
.
J
OHN
1:17
OHN
1:17
D
o you know what makes Christianity unique and gives it the power to free people from all fears, condemning thoughts, and addictions? Many of the world’s belief systems are governed by moral codes, rules, and laws. But Christianity is unique in that it is not about an impersonal list of dos and don’ts. It is about having a relationship with Almighty God. And it is God working in us and for us
through this relationship
that brings transformation in our lives.
o you know what makes Christianity unique and gives it the power to free people from all fears, condemning thoughts, and addictions? Many of the world’s belief systems are governed by moral codes, rules, and laws. But Christianity is unique in that it is not about an impersonal list of dos and don’ts. It is about having a relationship with Almighty God. And it is God working in us and for us
through this relationship
that brings transformation in our lives.
Beloved, God is all about having a relationship with you today. The apostle John tells us that “the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Notice also that the law was
given
. This implies a sense of distance. In contrast, grace
came!
Grace is personal and came as a person—the person of Jesus Christ. The law is hard, cold, and impersonal. You cannot have a relationship with two tablets of stone. But grace is gentle and warm. Grace is not a teaching or doctrine. Grace is a person, and you can have a relationship with a person. God is not interested in mere obedience and submission. He is a God of love and He longs to have an intimate relationship with you.
given
. This implies a sense of distance. In contrast, grace
came!
Grace is personal and came as a person—the person of Jesus Christ. The law is hard, cold, and impersonal. You cannot have a relationship with two tablets of stone. But grace is gentle and warm. Grace is not a teaching or doctrine. Grace is a person, and you can have a relationship with a person. God is not interested in mere obedience and submission. He is a God of love and He longs to have an intimate relationship with you.
Jesus came and died a cruel death on the cross, paying the full debt of sin with His own life so that you and I can reign in life today. His sacrifice fulfilled every requirement of the law perfectly on our behalf (Matt. 5:17
NIV
). All that we were unable to do, He did on our behalf. When you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are made holy and righteous by His blood
once and for all
. You can enter into a relationship with Almighty God and come boldly into His presence without any guilt, condemnation, or expectation of punishment.
NIV
). All that we were unable to do, He did on our behalf. When you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are made holy and righteous by His blood
once and for all
. You can enter into a relationship with Almighty God and come boldly into His presence without any guilt, condemnation, or expectation of punishment.
You see, when you have fulfilled your debt to the lender for the mortgage on your house, you stop sending in your monthly payments because the debt has already been fulfilled. If the lender sends you a letter demanding additional payment, all you have to do is produce the title deed to your home. In the same sense, the debt that you and I owed to the law has already been fulfilled by our Savior, Jesus Christ! Hallelujah!
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