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Category Archives: Power of God

Jesus Christ is Our Peace

20 Mar
Jesus Christ is Our Peace

We’re continuing through the book of Ephesians. I’ve said that this letter starts the section of Scripture dealing with the church as the body of Christ. At this point Paul begins to dive into this subject.

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men) – remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:11-13 NIV

Here the apostle starts by pointing out the wall that existed between Jew and Gentile. He tells us that it wasn’t just a matter of semantics. There were physical differences.

It wasn’t just the labels of Jew and Gentile. You were either circumcised or you were not. That can translate into our world as well.

People have placed these invisible walls between blacks and whites, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, as well as a host of other “opposites”. This section of Scripture speaks to all of these issues.

Paul makes it clear that without Christ there was no hope of reconciliation. The gap between the two groups was too great for us to bridge in our humanity.

But now…everything changes in Christ. Because of the blood of the Lord, shed on the cross, we can come together. We have been brought closer to each other in Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.

Ephesians 2:14-15a NIV

This passage of Scripture is rich in meaning. It should be one that we memorize and apply daily. The truth is that Jesus Christ is our peace.

Now that’s a word we really need to understand. Too often when we read the word, peace in the Bible, we give it our modern definition. We think, peaceful, calm and quiet. That’s not what the Greek word means in this verse.

The main definition for this word, peace means that you’re not participating in a war. The secondary meaning is that there is harmony between individuals. It’s all about getting along with others.

This tells me that my ability to live harmoniously with others rests securely in my relationship with Christ. He is the peace between me and others. That’s especially true in regard to those who are very different than me.

That’s what being a part of Christ’s body means. I am in Christ. You are in Christ. Therefore, we are one. The color of our skin, our ethnicity, our experiences and our backgrounds don’t matter. God has made us one new person in Christ Jesus.

The fact is that in our humanity we were raised with many different biases. This verse calls them the dividing walls of hostility. Throughout my life, I’ve been taught to mistrust and look down on certain types of people. This is the baggage we all carry.

This needs to be laid aside at the cross. In Christ this “old man” needs to die. I now live as a new person. I am one with anybody who calls Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior.

Jesus took all the hatred and mistrust to the cross with Him. It was nailed there and now we can take on His peace. We can walk in unity with anyone who He brings across our path.

This is the true path to peace. It’s only found in Christ Jesus.

Question: How has your treatment of others changed since coming to Christ?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on March 20, 2023 in Fellowship, Power of God, Relationships, The Church

 

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Created in Christ

17 Mar
Created in Christ

As we continue through Ephesians, Paul reveals the progression of God’s work in us. He now shows us another important aspect of our walk with the Lord.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

The apostle makes it clear that we’re God’s workmanship. That word is important because it has two parts to its meaning. First of all, it tells us that we are fashioned by God. He’s the One doing the work in us.

But this word also speaks of ownership. Because God made us, He also owns us. We are His creation and, therefore, His property. But what’s the work that Paul’s talking about here?

This verse tells us that it’s a creative work of God. It’s something that only works in us as believers in Christ Jesus. As a matter of fact, the verse clearly says that this creative act takes place IN Christ Jesus.

When I received the salvation of Christ, The Holy Spirit came and took up residence inside of me. At that point God began His creative work to make me into what He originally planned me to be.

In eternity past, God already knew me and you. He knew our personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. At that point He had an assignment that only we could carry out.

But, all of my life, I was living for myself. I had no desire to carry out God’s will and was not preparing for it. Now I’ve come to Christ. Now God has to miraculously prepare me for my destiny.

This verse has an interesting picture in the way it words it in the Greek. The verse literally says that God created us in Christ Jesus over the good works He prepared for us to accomplish.

Talk about “plug and play!” He re-creates us to fit perfectly into His will. Then the Lord can just drop us where we belong in His plan.

It makes me think about what Christ said about the way His salvation works in us.

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

John 5:24 NIV

That’s a great truth. We were originally walking on a path that led directly to death. There were no exits, no crossroads, and there was no way off. The destination was set.

But there was another road. It led to life. The problem was that the two roads didn’t touch. I had no way to get from my path to the one that led to life.

Then I met Jesus Christ. I accepted His free gift of salvation. At that point, He picked me up off the death road and dropped me onto the path to life.

That was the start of a brand-new thing. I was now a new person, on a new path, with a new destination, and in a new kingdom. The old way of life was gone.

That’s what the verse in Ephesians is talking about. In this new life, God has re-created me for the work He’s called me to. I don’t have to worry about who I was or what I’ve done in the past. It’s all about where I’m headed now.

Don’t let your past hinder you from accomplishing God’s will in your life. Allow the Lord to do the work of preparing you for your calling in Him.

Question: How have you seen your life change since coming to Christ?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on March 17, 2023 in Ministry, Power of God, Spiritual Walk, The Gospel

 

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Seated in Heaven

13 Mar
Seated in Heaven

In my last post, I started talking about a verse in Ephesians that often gets taken out of context. I want to continue with that verse today.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus…

Ephesians 2:6 NIV

In my last post I emphasized the need to remain in Christ and be in fellowship with other believers that God has joined us to. This allows us to see the manifestation of our heavenly calling in Christ.

But there’s more to it than that. The above sentence continues into the next verse. That fact is a very import one in understanding what’s being said.

…in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:7 NIV

God has a purpose for seating me in heaven in Christ. It’s not just so I can get a better view of everything around me.

The Lord wants to do a work through us. There’s something that He wants to make clear to all of heaven and earth, and both the natural and the supernatural realms.

God’s desire is that through us, all of creation will see the excellent riches of His grace. The word, incomparable, in the above verse literally means to throw beyond. It’s an athletic term from the Olympic games.

There might be some competitors who throw the shot put, and they all end up around the same area. Then, someone steps up who throws it far beyond all the rest. That’s what this word means.

God’s grace is far beyond anything we could ask, imagine, or hope for. It’s well beyond anything anyone else has ever done for us. It was a grace that’s totally unexpected.

How does anyone see that grace? According to this verse, it’s found in the kindness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus. Kindness – now that’s an important word in Scripture – but do we fully understand it?

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us…

Titus 3:3-5a NIV

Usually when we’re kind to someone, it’s because we feel they deserve it. We might feel sorry for someone and do a “random act of kindness.”

But that’s not the case with the Lord. His act of kindness was totally undeserved. After a lifetime of disregard for His ways, God saved us by the grace poured out through Christ.

The Lord didn’t ask us to change our ways before He would save us. He took us right where we were at and gave us a new life. That’s beyond anything we could have ever hoped for. His desire is to seat us in Christ to show the universe this great grace that was given to us.

This word, kindness, shows us something of God’s character. It implies that He’s a God who’s very easy to serve. It’s a joy being one of his subjects.

So often we pray The Lord’s Prayer from Scripture. We ask for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. How can God’s will be done on earth? It’s only as believers show forth the grace and kindness of God, and carry out His will, that we’ll see it take place in our generation.

Question: How has the grace and kindness of God manifested itself in your life?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on March 13, 2023 in Power of God, Revival, Spiritual Walk, The Gospel

 

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In Heavenly Realms

10 Mar
In Heavenly Realms

Ephesians is one of those books that regularly gets misapplied. There are Scripture passages that get taken out of their context and bring frustration when they don’t work “as advertised”. I’m going to look at one of these in today’s post.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus…

Ephesians 2:6 NIV

This is an incredible truth. Christ did the work, and now we have complete access to the presence of God. Here, the apostle Paul is continuing to show us the incredible work Christ accomplished for us on the cross.

I keep repeating the fact that this letter emphasizes how we’re to serve God corporately. My calling is not as an individual, but as a part of the body of Christ on earth. This is important to understand.

Unfortunately, this translation misses the point of what Paul’s saying here. Reading this in the Greek, it actually says that God raised us up TOGETHER, and made us sit TOGETHER, in Heaven, in Christ Jesus.

That’s a mouthful. I think it’s important that I’m not seated in Heaven with Christ, but I’m seated in Christ. That makes all the difference. Why is that? I’ll let Jesus Christ, Himself answer this.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

John 15:7-8 NIV

There are many believers who simply think they can “claim” the manifestation of this position, without remaining in Christ. If you read all of John 15:1-11, it should be clear to you that remaining in Christ is not something that happens by default.

This level of walk requires a lifestyle of intimacy with Christ through the Holy Spirit. The more time we spend in the spirit, the more of His Word we retain inside of us. This is what elevates our walk into the heavenly realms.

However, there’s more to it than just that. There needs to be a corporate intimacy with the Lord. I showed that by highlighting the words, together.

As a matter of fact, when I read the words, made us sit together, I get flashbacks to my childhood. When my younger brother and I would get into a squabble, my parents would step in and discipline us. Then, they would make us sit or play together – whether we wanted to or not!

In the above verse from Ephesians, I see the Lord doing pretty much the same thing. He makes us sit together in Him. It’s not up to me who I fellowship with in the body of Christ. If it were, I might have chosen a whole different group to surround myself with.

That being said, now that I’ve come to know those who the Lord has called me to associate with, I’m very grateful for these relationships. I would have never experienced the growth and encouragement of being with people very different from my limited world view.

Now, as a part of the church of Jesus Christ (not a denomination), I can progress together with others of like precious faith. That’s an important part of our spiritual growth. It’s the goal of our daily walk with the Holy Spirit.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14 NIV

Being seated in Christ is a calling – “Come up here.” It doesn’t just happen by accident. It’s the result of a life dedicated to seeking and obeying God’s voice.

Question: How intimate are your prayer times with the Lord?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on March 10, 2023 in Power of God, Prayer, Prayer in the Spirit, Relationships, Revival, Spiritual Walk, The Church, Word of God

 

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Cells in the Body

06 Mar
Cells in the Body

We’re continuing to go through the letter to the Ephesians. My last post talked about opening the eyes of our mind to see what God was doing in us. We need the understanding that only comes from the Holy Spirit.

Now Paul continues with the blessings of a mature walk with the Lord.

…and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 1:19-21 NIV

This is what happens when we’re seeking and walking in God’s plan for our lives. We begin to see His power at work in us.

I’m not talking about a little glimpse of something now and then. This passage talks about the all-surpassing power of God. It’s the same power that was manifest in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

He was dead and buried for three days. And, yet, by the power of God, Christ was raised back up to life again. That’s the power available to each one of us.

Not only did it bring the Lord up from the dead, but it seated Him in His original place on the throne of Heaven. Christ has the highest authority over the entire universe.

Paul makes that abundantly clear. He mentions pretty much every office of authority you can think of. He includes any name you can come up with. There’s no authority above that of Christ Jesus. That’s true not only right now, but forever into the eternal future.

The important thing is to understand what the Lord uses this great power and authority for.

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Ephesians 1:22-23 NIV

Here we see the reason for this victory. We have to realize that it wasn’t for Himself. He didn’t need it.

Before all things, Christ was the Creator and Owner of Heaven and earth. Everything was under His rulership. He didn’t have to do anything to be made the highest authority – He was all in all.

The reason Christ had to go to the cross was for us. Humanity was given authority when Adam was created. Then, in a grand act of foolishness, Adam surrendered that authority to Satan. Jesus Christ, in His love and mercy, went to the cross to buy it back for us.

Now, the Lord is not just Lord of all. He is Head over everything FOR THE CHURCH. That’s the important point which we cannot lose sight of. His whole purpose in redemption was to restore us to our rightful place in Him.

That’s why Christ calls the church His body on earth. This is what Paul is emphasizing in this letter. It’s about what God wants to do on this planet through the church. It’s not about what I am personally.

I am one cell in the body. It’s not all about me. It’s about us. It’s who we are supposed to be in the world. We are the body of Christ.

More than that, He has made the church full and complete in Him. I have to realize that truth. I can’t be complete in and of myself. I need to be connected to the body. Any cell that cuts itself off from the body will eventually dry up and die.

I want to be complete in Christ. That means there are two things I need to look at. First and foremost, how is my relationship with Christ? That’s what saves me and places me in His kingdom.

Then, almost as important, I need to check on my relationship to the church – the body of Christ on earth. That’s where I receive the power, authority, and life I need to be victorious.

Don’t ever lose sight of those two basic truths.

Question: What’s the strength of these two relationships in your life right now?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on March 6, 2023 in Ministry, Power of God, Relationships, Revival, Spiritual Walk, The Church

 

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Wisdom and Revelation

01 Mar
Wisdom and Revelation

We’re continuing our walk through Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church. He’s writing to a church that exemplifies the mature walk of faith and love. Now the apostle wants them to progress further in their experience with the Lord.

The rest of chapter one is a view of the good things that come with maturity in the spirit. It should spur us on to seek the Lord with all of our heart.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Ephesians 1:17 NIV

The first thing that Paul wants for this church is a spirit of wisdom and revelation that comes as they seek to know God more intimately. Wisdom is the ability to take the knowledge you have and apply it to your situation.

Revelation is even deeper. That word literally means to take the cover off. There are things in society or in people’s lives that are covered up. The Holy Spirit wants to reveal them to us. But we must be mature enough to handle this knowledge.

This also includes the plans that God has for you. God wants to show us what we need to prepare for in our ministries. He always wants to reveal what’s ahead for His people.

We need to realize that in order to see this requires intimacy with the Father.

However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NIV

The revelation talked about here is not for those who simply live for themselves with no thought to the spirit walk. God reveals His plan to those who, through their daily walk with Christ, are seeking the mind of the Holy Spirit. They’re the ones who see God’s plan for their lives.

Prayer in the spirit is the gateway to this revelation knowledge. The power of the Holy Spirit takes us beyond our own human understanding.

“No eye has seen” – You can read the Bible from cover to cover and not see everything God has prepared for your life. “No ear has heard” – You can listen to every sermon, prophet, and apostle yet still not hear all God has for you. “No mind has conceived” – You cannot brainstorm, imagine, or even dream up everything that’s your portion in the will of God. BUT…God has revealed it by His SPIRIT.

He then goes on to explain that the spirit can investigate everything, even the deep things of God. I believe that Paul is talking about your own human spirit. Your spirit can search out all things.

You may think Google is good. The Bible tells you that your spirit is the greatest search engine ever created. I know that Paul was given an enormous amount of revelation. He wrote most of the New Testament under the direction of the Holy Spirit. How did he receive all of that? By spending time in the spirit.

Here Paul tells us the secret of this supernatural revelation. It can only be received in the spirit. He makes it clear that your flesh (eyes and ears) cannot grasp it. Neither can your soul (mind) come up with it. It has to be a work of your spirit.

If this is true, then you must know how to use your spirit in order to access this information. It only comes in a life that knows how to interact on the spiritual level. This means that you must know how to pray in the spirit in order receive the revelation that’s referenced by this verse.

Your body and soul can never search out the deeper things of God, it will only be accomplished by your spirit working in conjunction with the Holy Spirit. We need to strive for this level of intimacy in our generation.

Question: How deep is your prayer life in the spirit?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on March 1, 2023 in Ministry, Power of God, Prayer, Prayer in the Spirit, Revival, Spiritual Walk

 

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The Time Economy

20 Feb
The Time Economy

I’ve been posting through the book of Ephesians. Paul is talking about who we are in Christ and what we’re called to. He continues on, speaking about us in relation to God’s will.

And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

Ephesians 1:9-10 NIV

This verse talks about the mystery of His will. It’s unfortunate that the working of God’s will is a mystery to most Christians.

“We may never understand the way God moves.”

Whatever you call it – God’s will, His good pleasure, or His purpose; He made this mystery known to us. We, of all people should understand the working of the Lord’s will.

According to this verse, God’s will is put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment. The literal Greek of this verse says that God’s will is brought about in the economy of filling the time.

Economy – here’s an important financial term the Bible associates with time.

Did you know that filling time is a part of God’s economy? I’ve talked about this in the past. I said that we spend time, run out of time, save time, and lose time – just like money. We have to understand that there’s an economy of time in the Kingdom of God.

Time is something tangible. It can be traded and exchanged for stuff. That’s basically what you’re doing on your job. In effect, you’re trading your time for your employer’s money. It’s a commodity exchange.

In God’s Kingdom, time purchases the fulfillment of vision and prophecy. Further on in this letter, Paul talks about the times we’re living in.

Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV

The Apostle tells us that because the enemy is in charge, the times we live in are evil days. So right now, we have evil days coming at us one after another. What do we do to bring about God’s will for revival?

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

1 Timothy 4:4-5 NIV

Did God create time? Yes! But I believe we’ll understand this concept better if we talk about money first. I don’t care where the money’s been before I got it. It’s mine now, and a part of God’s kingdom.

It all starts with how I receive it. I must receive it with thanksgiving. God is the One who ultimately supplies my need. But it doesn’t stop there. There must be a consecration. It must turn from evil money to good.

Literally, the word consecrate means to be purified, made holy. This is done by two things – the Word of God and prayer. The Word of God talked about here is more than the Bible. It means that I pray, hear His word to me concerning my money, and I obey Him.

We need to apply this process to our time. We thank God for every day that He gives to us. Then we consecrate those days by turning them over to the Lord for His use. I seek His will for my daily schedule.

This is how God’s will is brought about on the earth. It’s as God’s people invest their time in Kingdom work. Time is the commodity that will purchase revival in our generation. Don’t withhold yours from the Lord. Let Christ be Lord over your schedule.

Question: How can I turn my time over to Christ?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on February 20, 2023 in Faith, Power of God, Revival, Word of God

 

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In Christ Realities

15 Feb
In Christ Realities

We’re continuing our walk through Ephesians. Paul is introducing us to the theme of his letter. He wants us to see the calling and mission of the corporate body of Christ.

In my last post we looked at the fact that the Lord has already stored up all spiritual blessings for us in heavenly realms. Now he moves on with that thought.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

Ephesians 1:4a NIV

This one verse contains so much truth. We see God, choosing us before we were even thought of. When He laid down the foundations of the earth, God looked ahead in His foreknowledge. In eternity past, He saw my choice to serve Him and He made a place for me in Christ.

He also looks for me to be holy in His sight. That means to be set apart for God’s personal use. That amazes me.

After all I’ve done to further my own wants and desires. In spite of all my sin. Yet God in His love and mercy, places me in Christ. Now, when He looks at me, He sees the holiness of Christ Jesus Himself.

The word used for in His sight, literally means directly in front of Him. He doesn’t just see me as a part of the crowd. In Christ I’m in His direct line of sight.

But the holiness of Christ is not the only thing He sees. The Lord also sees me as blameless. That means to be without fault, blemish, or flaw. This is me we’re talking about! I don’t know about you, but that description is not even close to how I would describe myself.

But that’s the glory of our “in Christ” reality. Who we are in Christ is not based upon our performance or good works. It’s based upon the work of Christ on the cross.

As good as this is, it doesn’t even end there.

In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Ephesians 1:4b-6 NIV

Again, in God’s love and God’s foreknowledge, He predestined us to be adopted into His family. One note here – you women shouldn’t get upset about the masculine terms used. It’s actually for your benefit.

In that culture, women were excluded from the family inheritance. The word, adopted, literally means to be placed as a son. So, as a woman, you have been placed as a son in that culture. In other words, Paul is saying that you have the same full inheritance rights as a male in God’s kingdom.

As believers, we’ve all been given the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of sons in the family of God. That’s a lot to live up to. We definitely need the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill this calling.

Why did God choose to do this? It’s important to understand this because it’s a recurring theme throughout the book of Ephesians.

It all comes down to His good pleasure and His will. They are both an important part of what God accomplishes in us.

Most of the time we talk about God’s will. That speaks of what He has determined to do. It’s the Lord’s plan that He’s carrying out in the world, with or without our involvement. I found that it’s always better to be a participant in what He’s doing.

But there’s another side to this. He also adopted us according to His good pleasure. We don’t talk about that as much. It speaks of what satisfies and delights Him.

Whether you realize it or not, it brought joy to the Lord’s heart to adopt you and me. We sometimes get the idea that God carries out his plan with no emotion. That’s simply not the case. We’re created in His image. That means we serve an emotional God.

He takes pleasure in us as His children. My highest goal should be to bring God the most joy that I can. That’s one of the keys of a fulfilled Christian life.

Question: How does your life add to God’s pleasure?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on February 15, 2023 in Encouragement, Power of God, Sonship, Spiritual Walk, The Gospel

 

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Pass It On

13 Feb
Pass It On

In my last post, we started going through Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church. Now the Holy Spirit will emphasize us, corporately, as a body of believers.

This next verse is one that I’ve heard many people quote and talk about.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 NIV

What does it mean to be blessed? We use the word a lot, but do we really understand it? More than that, do we understand why God wants to bless us?

We use the word bless very loosely in the body of Christ.

“God blessed me with a parking space close to the store.”

We seem to think that anything good that happens is a blessing. That’s the modern church definition. But when you read the Bible, that thought will hide the truth about what a blessing truly is.

Let’s start by defining it. What exactly does the word bless mean? In the Old Testament it’s the Hebrew word Barak. It means to kneel, which emphasizes the receiving aspect. In the New Testament, the Greek word Eulogeo is used. It means a well-spoken word; and relates to the giving of a blessing.

One thing that we have to realize is that the blessing is always spoken. The actual word, bless, means to endue with power for success.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.

Psalm 118:26 NIV

If you have the name of the Lord, then you’re already blessed. It’s an event that has taken place when you made Christ the Lord of your life.

The verse from Ephesians tells us we have every spiritual blessing IN CHRIST. We have been given access to His name. We are blessed because we come in the name of the Lord.

However, the verse in Psalms takes it to another level. Mature believers don’t just seek to be blessed, but to be a blessing. It’s a choice that has to be made. It’s by faith that we choose to be a blessing to others.

That’s a tall order – to be a blessing to someone. How can I do that? In Scripture we’re told to do everything in the Name of Jesus. It’s in His powerful name that we have what we need to bless others.

The good news is that I don’t have to seek out God’s blessing. According to these verses, He has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heaven in Christ.

We know Scripture tells us that we can do all things through Christ. We have to remember this. We’ll never get that done on our own. We are blessed in order that we might be a blessing to others.

I want to get back to a point I made earlier. Now that we know what a blessing is, we can understand it better. A good parking space is not a blessing – it’s actually the result of the blessing that’s upon our lives.

The important thing to ask is; what am I doing with this blessing. It’s not all about me. I truly believe that God always blesses us with someone else in mind.

We must be sensitive enough to see the needs around us. That means we should be spending time in the Lord’s presence so we can follow His lead. God wants to bless those around us. And He wants to use us to do it.

To walk in this kind of blessed lifestyle, I need to know who I am in Christ. I must understand who I am and what I’ve been given access to in Christ Jesus. Only then can I pass on those gifts to others.

This is the basis for blessing those around me. I can only bless others if I know that I am truly blessed. It takes blessed people to bless people.

Question: How has the blessing of God been evident in your life lately?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on February 13, 2023 in Faith, God's Provision, Ministry, Power of God, Spiritual Walk

 

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Power to Witness

08 Feb
Power to Witness

This will be my last post from the Gospel of Luke. He ends his view of the life of Christ with some important words. It’s the great “take away” from his Gospel.

“You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

Luke 24:48-53 NIV

Here we see the final interaction between the Lord and His disciples. The torch was being passed. It was now up to the apostles to bring the message of repentance and forgiveness to the world.

They were to go out and tell of everything the saw and heard under the Lord’s ministry. That’s a big assignment. They probably felt unprepared for such a task. Just like we do sometimes.

I like the fact that at His departure, Jesus blessed them. But it’s more than that. As He ascended into heaven, Christ continued to bless them. That tells me that the blessing is continual – even to us – as we proclaim the Good News.

However, there’s more that we need to see in this event. Luke gives us more details about it in his second volume – the book of Acts.

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 1:4-5 NIV

The Lord makes it clear that something had to be done in their lives BEFORE they could go out and evangelize the world. They needed the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. That is the baptism, or immersion, in the Holy Spirit.

We sometimes get confused by this. The truth is that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is different from the infilling of the Holy Spirit. This is evident in the fact that the disciples were already filled with the Spirit before they were baptized (John 20:22). This took place after the resurrection and before the ascension.

Just before He left this earth, Jesus once again made this clear to the disciples.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8

This is a part of receiving God’s power into your life. It’s the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit takes up residence within you when you’re saved. But the baptism is the immersion in the Holy Spirit.

I believe that this is one of the most important steps in the Christian walk. It opens us up to the power of God working in us. If we want all that God has for us, then we need to actively seek this baptism.

I know there are some who teach that this is no longer necessary for us as believers. But that doesn’t seem right to me.

The apostles walked with Jesus Christ for over three years. They heard His intimate teachings. They watched His life in public and in private. Yet, even they needed something more than just the teachings of Scripture.

How much more do I need the manifestation of the power of God in my life. Here I am, 2000 years after these things took place. I need the power of God activated in me. That’s what will get the attention of the world. It will draw them to the life changing power of Christ.

Question: How much of God’s power does it take to be a true witness of who Christ is?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on February 8, 2023 in Ministry, Power of God, Prayer in the Spirit, Revival, Spiritual Walk, The Gospel

 

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