Working with the Lord in Removing the Blockages in my Heart + Mindsets of Wrong Beliefs
The Garden Catalogue For Today
I AM STATEMENT FOR THE WEEK:
I AM The Resurrection and The Life,
[V. 25-26] Jesus said unto her, I am The Resurrection, and The Life: he that believe in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you Believe this? (John 11:21-44)
. . . . . . .
What was Christ’s Victory won at the cross?
Dying as our Substitute, in our place on the cross
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25Jesus spoke to Martha, “I AM The Resurrection and the Life.” The one who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
39 “Take away the stone,” Jesus said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice; “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Another of the 6 core things Christ accomplished by His death on the cross was: By Dying as our Substitute, in our place on the cross
Referring to: Matt Perman – the 6 things Christ Accomplished at His Death
And he Did All of This By Dying As Our Substitute
Jesus paid the price for all humanity to receive His gift of salvation life and to enter into His new covenant. Jesus’ obedience to His Father, in allowing His pure sinless blood to be shed in our place, made the way for us not only to be redeemed from the curse of the power of the Law of sin and death, but to be released into the power of the Spirit of Life.
When Jesus Christ was Raised from Death to Resurrection Life on the third Day, death, hell, the grave and all powers of darkness were completely defeated; He was the propitiation of the judgement we deserved, He took it in our place. Jesus made the way for all who believe in His Name to be resurrected into His new creation life. When we pass from this life, we will rise up in resurrected bodies, to be with Him, and to live in everlasting life with Him and God our Father 1 Cor 15:20-58. Jesus conquered the fear of death; Heb 2:10-18. And he did all of this for us out of His heart of Mercy and Love.
The reality of substitution is at the heart of the atonement. Christ accomplished all the benefits of redemption and reconciliation, of removing the alienation and wrath of God from us by paying the ransom price for our sin, sickness rebellion and unbelief for us, by dying in our place — that is, by dying instead of us. We deserved to die, and he took our sin upon him and paid the penalty himself.
This is what it means that Christ died for us (Romans 5:8) and gave himself for us (Galatians 2:20). As Isaiah says, “he was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities . . . the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him” (Isaiah 53:5-6).
You see the reality of substitution underlying all of the benefits discussed above, as the means by which Christ accomplished them. For example, substitution is the means by which we were ransomed: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Christ’s death was a ransom for us — that is, instead of us. Likewise, Paul writes that “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).
Substitution is the means by which we were reconciled: “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). It is the means of expiation: “He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21) and “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). And by dying in our place, taking the penalty for our sins upon himself, Christ’s death is also the means of propitiation.
To close: Two implications. First, this is very humbling.
Second, “Greater love has no one than this, than he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13)
Theme for the week:
To Discover Jesus IS our Healer and Deliverer and Supernatural, Miracle Working God – Who IS ALIVE.
After His Resurrection and Ascension, Jesus states to John in Rev 1:18, ‘Behold I am Alive, I hold the keys of hell and death.’ After Jesus’ sinless sacrifice on our behalf, the devil’s usurped authority due to Adam and Eve’s broken covenant and fall, was broken. Jesus’ Resurrection Life now flows into us – His followers and believers – by His Holy Spirit and anointing.
- As we are Born Again and are Baptised and walk in the Spirit of God, the same power that the Father exerted to raise His Son Jesus from death to Life lives in us. Eph 1:19-23, Rom 8:10-11.
- His abundant creative Life flows in and through us John 10:10.
- The Father is a Life-giving Spirit; Hebrews 12:9.
- He and the Son and Holy Spirit have created us in their image and likeness Gen 2:26-28.
- The Father speaks to us, as He did with Adam and Eve in the Garden of garden of Eden, desiring deep personal and living relationship with us.
- He is not a dead God!
JESUS Spoke at the Beginning of Creation – The Eternal Word of God – THE LIGHT – The LIFE – THE TRUTH John 1:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Without Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit, nothing was created from the beginning –Genesis 1:1-2
God intended from the beginning to establish His Kingdom will and dominion in the earth, through His sons and daughters who would procreate to Rule over the earth. Jesus is now seated as the Resurrected, Ascended, Exalted Son of God and Majestic King of kings on the throne at the right hand of the Father in heaven. He is preparing for His return with the preparation of us His Bride, filled with His Spirit, set apart to Him, willing to walk in purity as His Ekklesia seated with Him in the realm of the Spirit, at His right hand.
1 Tim 6:14-16
14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honour and everlasting power. Amen.
Isa 29:22-24
22 Therefore this is what the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, says to the descendants of Jacob:
“No longer will Jacob be ashamed; no longer will their faces grow pale.
23 When they see among them their children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy;
they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding; those who complain will accept instruction.”
Isa 30:15
15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says; “In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.
Isa 30: 18, 20-21
18 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you, therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Ps 32 Of David.
1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.[b]
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Isa 40:28-31
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
After we’ve waited, Jesus brings us into the Light of His Truth in His Word, by His Spirit. This is just as Solomon expressed in Proverbs 4, and just as is revealed in the beautiful imagery of this worship song.
. . . . . . .
As we walk with Jesus our Resurrected Redeemer, Lord and Shepherd, (Psalm 23) He leads us in His paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. It is Jesus Resurrection power living in and through us that causes us to desire ever more deeply, to be walking with Him, as His Holy Spirit abides in us. Then when we are still and at peace and rest, we can hear and chose to obey His voice and remain in His word and on His narrow path.
Proverbs 4:18-22 (ESV)But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.
This verse tells us that the lives of those who follow Jesus become brighter and brighter. This means that we should be growing in our faith and becoming more like Jesus every day, receiving His love and truth. There are a few things that we can discover to do that make sure that our lives are shining brighter and brighter.
Solomon who wrote Proverbs, urges his son to choose the positive path of wisdom and avoid the negative ways of wickedness. Those caught in evil are portrayed as overcome, addicted, and desperate. Solomon concludes this section by comparing the path of the righteous to bright light and the way of the wicked to deep darkness.
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
The path of righteousness is an intentional series of actions. It is not something we think or pray about but an actual path we must walk. It is the path of seeking justice for all people. It is the path of living and reflecting the actions of Jesus.
How do you stay on the path of righteousness?
We will only be on the path of righteousness if we have accepted Christ as Savior. He is the only One who can lead us down the path of righteousness. In our humanity, in our flesh, even in our earthly wisdom and understanding of what is best for us, we are limited and unable to clearly see the path of righteousness.
How does God light our path?
When we trust the Lord and allow the lamp of His Word to guide our feet, He is faithful to provide light for our future path. Ps 119:105
What does Proverbs 4:19 suggest?
Just as light characterizes the righteous and their walk, so darkness characterizes the wicked and their walk. This imagery emphasizes the way sin and spiritual ignorance cause men to become lost, to fall, and to be afraid.
What is the path in the Bible?
The course of a man’s conduct and general behaviour is called the path in which he walks, by a very easy metaphor; and as when a man walks from place to place in the dark, he may be glad of a light to assist in directing his steps, so the Word of God is a light to guide those in their course of purity and duty who …
Why did Jesus speak in Proverbs?
Jesus GIVES the wisdom described in Proverbs.
This gift is promised to the entire church throughout the ages (Ephesians 1:17). It’s a gift given and available for the asking (James 1:5). Jesus is the giver of wisdom…and he gives us the Book of Proverbs so we can gain wisdom.
Proverbs 27 v19 ‘As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.’
It is all about allowing the Resurrection life of Jesus Heal and Transform our hearts and desires to become His, lead by His Holy Spirit in Truth and in humility.
The path of righteousness is to walk by God’s side, to be committed to Him, to be loyal and faithful to Him. Covenantal loyalty to God is expressed by the covenant path which is the path of righteousness. We need to guard our hearts and our mouths in accordance with His word.
How does God lead us in the path of righteousness?
Sometimes by guiding us according to His word for us to read and obey. “The word and the Spirit team up to transform the mind, and in that way God leads us in paths of righteousness.
Other times, God delights for us to be curious, to desire to seek after and find the truth, and to ask some questions as we will explore below…..how to shift from our human thinking about spiritual miraculous realities, trying to find factual evidence, only to discover the real truth of the person of Jesus on the way!
Referring back to DAY 1 of this week re the Video clip & Transcript:- Some Questions about Skeptic’s Denial of the supernatural power of Jesus’ Resurrection from death to Life
Why Is the Resurrection Important?
The apostle Paul, who was originally a skeptic of Jesus’ resurrection, explains its impact on our lives. “For Christ has completely abolished death, and has now, through the Gospel, opened to us men the shining possibilities of the life that is eternal.” (2 Timothy 1:9, J. B. Phillips). In other words, Jesus’ death and resurrection opened the door for us to have eternal life with Christ.
But, there is an obstacle preventing us from going to heaven. The apostle Paul explains. “You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions…” (Colossians 1:21b, NLT). The obstacle to us having eternal life with Christ is that we have sinned and rebelled against a holy God. Although God loves us beyond our understanding, his perfect justice requires payment for our sins. The penalty is death. Many wonder why an all-powerful, loving God can’t just forgive us without judging our sins. Why does he demand justice?
Imagine entering a courtroom and you are guilty of murder. As you approach the bench, you realize that the judge is your father. Knowing that he loves you, you immediately begin to plead, “Dad, just let me go!” With tears in his eyes he responds, “I love you, son, but I’m a judge. I can’t simply let you go.” Presenting the evidence against you, he bangs the gavel down and declares you guilty. Justice cannot be compromised, at least not by a judge. But because he loves you, he steps down from the bench, takes off the robe, and offers to pay the penalty for you. And in fact, he takes your place in the electric chair.
This is the picture painted by the New Testament. God stepped down into human history, in the person of Jesus Christ, and was crucified on the cross for us. Jesus is not a third-party whipping boy being punished for our sins, but rather he is God himself. Stated more bluntly, God had two choices: to punish us for our sin, us or to receive the punishment himself. In Christ, he chose the latter. In other words, God’s perfect justice is completely satisfied by the death of his Son, Jesus Christ.
All of our sins—no matter how bad they are or have been—are completely paid for by the blood of Christ. Paul writes, “…yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.” (Colossians 1:22a NLT). But wait a minute, you say, “Don’t I have to do good deeds to go to heaven?”
In 1536, William Tyndale, who’s been called the “Father of the English Bible,” was burned at the stake for translating the Bible into English. His passion to make the Bible available to everyone cost him his life. But why would Tyndale give his life for a mere book? Tyndale, and other martyrs who have suffered similar fates, were motivated by the belief that the Bible isn’t merely a book written by men, but rather it is God’s one true message to humankind written through men who were specially chosen and inspired by God.
Tyndale believed that each person should be given the opportunity to read the Bible for himself, and be able to evaluate it on a personal basis. Skeptics believe Tyndale died in vain, arguing that the Bible is a fictional book written thousands of years ago by men who copied down ancient stories, passed on from previous generations.
Leading the skeptics’ charge today is atheist Richard Dawkins, who warns his daughter, Juliet: Belief that there is a god…belief in Heaven,…belief that Jesus never had a human father, belief that prayers are answered…not one of these beliefs is backed up by any good evidence. And, next time somebody tells you that something is true, why not say to them: “What kind of evidence is there for that?” Your loving Daddy
- Dawkins argues that the Bible is scientifically and historically inaccurate. He recommends it be taught because of its cultural value, but “emphatically not as reality.” He says, “It is fiction, myth, poetry, anything but reality.”
- Another skeptic who doubted the inspiration of the Bible, Bertrand Russell, was once asked what kind of evidence it would take for him to believe in God. Pondering the question, Russell responded; ‘Well, if I heard a voice from heaven and it predicted a series of things and they came to pass, then I guess I’d have to believe there’s some kind of supernatural being.’
- For skeptics like Dawkins and Russell, the question of the Bible’s validity comes down to the evidence. Oxford scholar C. S. Lewis also considered the Bible to be untrue. But after hearing an atheist friend exclaim that the evidence for its truth was “surprisingly good,” Lewis decided to evaluate it for himself.
- As an atheist, Lewis didn’t want to obey the good moral laws and teaching in the Bible. On the contrary, Lewis decided he would only accept the Bible’s teaching about God and Jesus Christ if it were true. He explains, Christianity…if false, is of no importance, and, if true, is of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.
- Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?
The greatest question of our time is “Who is the real Jesus Christ?”
Was he just an exceptional man, or was he God in the flesh, as Paul, John, and his other disciples believed?
The eyewitnesses to Jesus Christ actually spoke and acted like they believed he physically rose from the dead
after his crucifixion. If they were wrong, then Christianity has been founded upon a lie. But if they were right, such a miracle would substantiate all Jesus said about God, himself, and us.
But must we take the resurrection of Jesus Christ by faith alone, or is there solid historical evidence? Several skeptics began investigations into the historical record to prove the resurrection account false.
What did they discover? See Y-Jesus.com
Click here for some more answers – See the video “Proof of Biblical Accuracy” on Facebook
See Below for another video:
Mentions about the Resurrection at the 9 Min mark
Eph 1:3-14 – our Redemption in Christ
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Let us Discover Who the Father says He is, and how we can relate to Him.
God’s Orchard – Fruitfulness & the Flourishing Vege patch
By Hilary and C-HOP Team
Welcome to your Discipleship Journey. You are about to embark on an intentional season of healing the wounds of your heart. As you heal, obstacles to intimacy with God will be removed. You will find that not only will you receive healing, but you will also experience a real deepening of your relationship with the Lord. Each week we will look specifically at God’s Word in the light of different issues.
Week 7: The Truth about REJECTION – “‘I am Accepted by my Father” (Ephesians 1)
We will be drawing from Thom Gardner’s Book ‘Healing Journey’ p 52-72
Check out the Truth of God’s Word below.
We suggest you repeat these Truths aloud, close your eyes & rest a moment in each truth, then speak out loud these scriptures below and rest a moment in each of these truths – repeat them through the week.
In this season, God is the Gardner of our hearts to set us free from the many lies we believed due to our past experiences. In the previous 42-Day Banqueting journey, each week, we explored a particular area of mindsets of Hopelessness that have blocked our capacity to believe in the Goodness and the Truth of who God is.
This week, let us refresh our understanding about the lies of the issue of REJECTION, such as where we have believed “I don’t belong, I’m not wanted, who am I anyway?“.
Please Click Here to refresh your mind from Part 1 of the 42 Days Banqueting Journey – Week 6 – Day 5
Now, in this 50 days Journey we will invite you to intentionally declare God’s Word into your spirit with His Truths, to replace the lies we’ve believed. In John 8:31-32 “[31] …Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. [32] And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Let us focus on abiding in God’s Word and opening our hearts to receive our Father’s Love towards us as His sons and daughters, to discover how He sees us, and to believe His promises in His Word.
Truth: I am Chosen, Treasured and Loved…
Deut 26:18 The Lord has today declared that you are His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you are to keep all His commands.
Truth: My Father holds me tenderly close to Him.
Isa 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Truth: I’m tucked away and safe with My Father
Ps 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Truth:My Father can repair the damage that has been done.
Jer 30:17 ‘But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’
Truth: I AM hidden in My Father
Ps 27:5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
Truth: My Father is with me regardless of what is going on around me
Isa 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Truth: My Father is continually available to me.
Heb 13:6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Truth: My Father is in control of my life
Ps 31:14-15 But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.
Our Worship Song for the Week:
Ps Jeff’s Special Today: “Staying double-minded instead of having the mind of Christ”
Today’s issue is staying double-minded instead of having the mind of Christ.
Psalm 119: 112,113 says: ” I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end. I hate the double-minded, But I love Your law.” This key status is brought forward in the Book of James: “ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.“ (James 1:5-8). And this is then repeated in James 4:8:” Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
As we purify, humbling ourselves, serving others, we are able to reach for the mind of Christ: ” Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”….(Philippians 2:5).
Being candid with yourself and the Holy Spirit, is there any remnant of your old pattern, being double-minded instead of having the mind of Christ? Is there any old vow you made in this area that now needs to be removed? Do you think this is only applicable to the first disciples years ago? Do you have any residue of a residue of this issue for such a time as this? Was it connected to your upbringing as a child? Was it a family pattern in any way?
God bless you as you seek His Holy Spirit Wisdom on that issue. May you go forward on His path, “perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
