Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Jesus Saves!

"Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them." (Hebrews 7:25 – AMP)


Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because I know that I am absolutely and ultimately saved, since Jesus, the Captain of my salvation, has completed His assignment through His death, burial, resurrection, and intercession for me! He sees the travail of His soul on my behalf, and is satisfied!

Today I will celebrate the capability that I possess through the cross of Christ, the Conqueror. As an heir of salvation, I am invincible and indestructible!

Today I will not take my salvation for granted, but will walk in the revelation that He Who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, shall also freely give us all things. (Romans 8:32). If I have received the gift of salvation, I believe that I am able to receive any other gift from God.

Today I will remember that my life is a river that is fed by two streams: the will of God, which is the part that only He can do; and my response to His will, which is the part that only I can do. My salvation is synergistic in that Jesus and I are cooperating in its execution. He paid the price for me (the blood of the Lamb) because I couldn't, and I live my own life for Him (the word of my testimony), because He can't live it for me. By the agreement of these two things, I am able to overcome the accuser of the brethren, once and for all.

Today I will remember that, even though my salvation is secure, my life is still a work in progress. Jesus is able to save me "to the uttermost" through a process that takes time – He is the Author and the Finisher of my faith, and He who began a good work in me will continue to perform it! Therefore, I will be content with my current walk with Him, confident that the seed of Christ in me must eventually produce after its own kind! Through faith and patience I will inherit this promise.

Today I will live in a state of perfect peace, because my salvation frees me from any fear of death, hell, or the grave. I will, therefore, face this day fearlessly!





















Today I will speak the word of reconciliation to others, letting them know that their own salvation has been paid for, and today I will live in the now!





Father, help me to remember that I am saved to the uttermost today. In Jesus’ name, amen.


JESUS SAVED!

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen!

Kettly said...

Amen! Amen! Amen!and Amen!

Ebony said...

"IT IS FINISHED!"

Anonymous said...

The River Flows

The river flows
Come from the east
Come from the west
Step into the river it is the best
Refreshed in the water that flows within
Come to the river once again
Rough times come
Rough times go
Step into the river and let it go
Peace is in you
Peace is in Him
Step into the river and call Him your friend
Flow with Him and you will see
All the things He’s called you to be
Fly out of the river like a dove
Flying to the vision up above
A light will shine from the Holy One
Showing that you have overcome
So step into the river it is the best
Refresh your soul and be blessed
The river continues to flow
Come to the One in which the river flows

Laura Benson
7-6-20007

Anonymous said...

SELAH!

Anonymous said...

This devotional is among my top favorites. I am often drawn to it for different reasons.

The addition of pictures is another plus. Thank you for sharing these Bish. I really enjoyed the salvation diagram. Where did you see that?

I see life very much like the river analogy. It fits in with the "who do you say that I am" question posed to believers.

Ultimately it does not matter who I say that God is, God just is. Jesus for me though is a different matter. I have always reaped reward for the exhaltation of that name. Just as the diagram indicates, our salvation alone was eternally secured when God as man accomplished the work that only could be accomplished by God. Man had failed at becoming God to this point and we still fall short of that but we are getting better.

My particular theology would probably confuse and anger many because it doesn't quite fit into a well defined area such as mysticism or metaphysics but seems to have elements of all views including secular humanism. I actually believe that all these thoughts including no thought at all toward God are born of God. Actually it is impossible for anyone to say they have no thought of God because by stating so, the thought has just been expressed.

I don't mean to babble but there is a strong excitement in my spirit. Something good is going to happen to you today and there is going to be another great impartation of Holy Ghost communication to the body of believers at CITN in the Wednesday service.

See ya ITB

Unknown said...

Prophesy, pictures, PROPHESY!

Anonymous said...

Lord, help me today to plant a seed, be a waterer or be used as a harvester to your so great salvation to someone today.

G8TRGRL said...

Hi blog family...YES and Amen!!

Please keep my parents in your prayers... they live in the area between Cocoa and Palm Bay, FL where all the fires are happening...

WOW! A pregnant woman saved in China after being buried for 50 hours... how many more will be "saved"... physically and spiritually? How many more cries from the rubble are there? How many people in Myanmar/Burma, China, cry out for their salvation from the devastation?... and they say that a 2nd cyclone is brewing off the coast... and I'm worried about my "junk"?!

Thank goodness He is SOOO BIG to handle it ALL, for ALL!

TTFN

Anonymous said...

Good morning all,
“able to save to the uttermost”…..You mean, no matter how far out there away from God I get or how long it takes God is able and willing to save me?

“He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them."…….You mean no matter how bad or often I screw up Jesus is always interceding for me in all my weaknesses?

You mean Jesus “completed His assignment through His death, burial, resurrection, and intercession for me! He sees the travail of His soul on my behalf, and is satisfied!” that would mean that He is content, happy, fulfilled, and pleased with the outcome. So that would mean He was successful!

That would mean that Jesus was successful at securing my salvation for me no matter what I have done or seem to be unable to quit doing or how bad my sin appears to be or how long I am/ have been in it. And you are saying then that I can actually enjoy this saving relationship with God right now just by believing that it is a present reality……..Hmmmmm

That sounds like something only God or something could do…..oh that’s Who we were talking about wasn’t it. As an atheist friend of mine once said “now that sounds like a God I could believe in”.

Yep, I would say that is GOOD NEWS.

Hey we forgot hell, what happened to hell, nothing was said about hell, we have to have hell don’t we? Surely Jesus didn’t overcome that too?

If He did now that would REALLY BE GOOD NEWS wouldn’t it. what? defeated…..Hell, death, the grave……..got the keys….opened the gates…….lead captivity captive……no more death……no more tears……..no more pain…. OH MY GOD, I HAVE TO GO AND TELL EVERYONE I KNOW ABOUT THIS. THIS IS REALLY GOOD NEWS!!!!!

Peace,
The way I see it,
Dennis

Anonymous said...

"Jesus Saves!" Yes, HE does!
...Having had a healthy serving of daily bread, now, my day is complete. The gifts of the remaining hours are the double portion.

Kettly said...

But zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four the amount. (9) Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to his house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son o Man came to seek and to SAVE what was lost.”

By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the WORLD to condemn the WORLD, but that the WORLD through Him might be SAVED. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believes is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this the condemnation, that the has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

There is none like You Jesus!
None like You.
You have always been there, when I needed You the most……
For there’s no one, no one like You!
Today I will not take my salvation for granted, but will gladly walk in the revelation, that He who spared not His own Son, but deliver Him up for me, for you, for the WORLD. This personal assurance of SALVATION is in Christ alone.

“Jehovah Tsikenu!” “The Lord Our Righteousness” is our battle cry. He is our strength. Our SALVATION is based on what He did on the Cross, to Him be all glory. Amen!

LOVE, PEACE, JOY, and FORGIVENESS TO YOU ALL,
KETTLY

Kettly said...

I meant to say "To US ALL".
Forgiving me did not meant to sound so arrogant at all.
Kettly

Unknown said...

More on the pictures:

Before reading the blog this morning, I woke with "Faith, Hope and Love remain" and "seek to prophesy".

I knew these all related to answering the question, what will it look like when the sons of God are revealed and I was re-enjoying that lhollow's post yesterday seemed to be an immediate answer, too.

So when I saw the pictures today they seemed to scream--
1. This is how Jesus did it
2. Invincible and indestructible, you ARE! you will conquer greater heights!
3. Receive any other gift you need!
4. The river [formed by the two streams] is RUNNING!
5. Out of the cocoon, NOW...a butterfly...
6. ...that is really a ROARING lion! taking dominion,
7. SPEAKING the word of reconciliation to the next one that comes into your path...HEALING the world!

What a way to start the day!

These words don't speak the depth, but seen along with the pictures--I hope I've conveyed the awesomeness!

I say again, Prophesy, pictures, prophesy!

linda said...

Hello Bishop and family,
"my life is a river that is fed by two streams: the will of God, which is the part that only He can do; and my response to His will, which is the part that only I can do... Pastor Debye always says that God will add His super to our natural.
Even when things maybe don't go the way you want.. know that He is in control and that He has got this... If something didn't work out like you wanted expect something better. for example, my job downsized about a month ago. Well, I wasnt' happy there anyway but I probably would have never left because it was comfortable. I filled out applications and nothing, I have never been without a job, since I was 12! I decided to check out some of the area colleges and now I am enrolled in college, fulltime.. I have had a month off to rest(never had that before) and I walked into this place today and they asked me if I wanted a position with them. the term suddenly always amuses me in the Bible because the ones that say suddenly have always been waiting awhile. this morning, I had no prospects this afternoon SUDDENLY I have a new job and I am now a fulltime college student
God is good,

Love ya
Linda :0)

Anonymous said...

Bishop,
Tonight was one of those sermons when you know God is speaking to you through the pastor. So I am going to tell sell all I have and buy a dune buggy and drive to Siberia preaching the gospel – NOT! No really it was a powerful sermon “to me” I knew the Spirit was speaking directly to my heart. Although I have heard most of these things before it seemed new and freshly anointed. Then God would throw in some small confirmations like when you mentioned doing something you said “you just make a decision to do it and then do it; the money will follow the decision” I immediately remembered when we first talked about my coming out there and I said I was coming and then I began to worry about the money for the trip; but then here came an accident insurance check in the mail for more than enough money to cover the cost. God is so good to me I am amazed at my own doubts. The same week you preached a sermon about building bridges between peoples, nations, and religions through the Spirit of God and I knew God was saying remember what I told you about “bridging the Gap”. You talked about people coming up to you and asking questions or telling their life story; this happens to me all the time; I can’t remember when it started I think I was very young. It is sort of freaky though, they will almost always say “I don’t know why I am telling you this” Hmmmm I don’t either. I also have had the very same problem that you talked about with my weight; I am presently very overweight partly because I have not been able to be very active since the accident but I shouldn’t really use that as an excuse; but it is partly true. Anyway in my life I have lost over a hundred pounds twice and over fifty pounds several times, but it is really strange when I look in the mirror I still see the same person no matter what size I am. I remember one of the times I lost over one hundred pounds and was lifting weights and working out. I have some pictures of myself then and I can’t believe that it is me, I mean I don’t know that guy. I truly did not see myself like that when I looked it the mirror back then. Our minds are very powerfully programmed to see, hear, and feel what it wants to or thinks that it should. Just what I needed to hear tonight. I am looking forward to being ITB this Sunday!

(Rom 12:2 TNIV)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Peace,
As I see it,
Dennis

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Thanks, Dennis, for your candor...looking forward to seeing you and your wife Sunday...it's going to be a great day...

and thanks everyone for your comments, especially "Anonymous"...

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

And congratulations, Linda...