One of the seven wonders of the world is the Grand Canyon in Arizona. It is a masterpiece and one that science is always trying to give "mother nature" the glory.
But, the word tells us, For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. - Col 1:16 NKJV
God created this majestic place, He alone had His hand upon all of creation. Whether it was a result of a catastrophe by the wind and rains or hand-designed by God, it is His creation.
The Lord has created all things; this is a basic understanding of those who say they are believers of Jesus Christ. It all starts here; He is the creator of all things, and His word is the Holy Spirit inspired word of God. Next, Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, crucified, buried, raised from death, witnessed on earth for forty days, and then ascended to heaven where He is seated at the right hand of God. These are the basics of our faith in Christ.
Once we have these basic understandings as a foundation, we can then begin to identify with who we are created to be. 9 But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. - 1Pe 2:9,5
The Lord says, "I have not called you to blend into the societal norms of this world. I have called you out of the masses to be holy, to be pure, to be righteous, to walk uprightly with Me."
Because of the sin of idolatry, people are in bondage and are disconnected from God. Idolatry tends to be a generational sin, one that travels the bloodline from one family member to another.
Idolatry can happen whenever you align yourself with the ways of the world, putting the hunger of the flesh over the hunger of the Lord, you align yourself with the spirit of Belial. And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? – 2Cor 6:15
Belial represents wicked men. Wickedness is the opposite of righteousness, and wickedness promotes evil, and evil is the opposite of love. The world that does not know Jesus often produces wickedness because they have no restraint of the Holy Spirit. This is not true of those born again to Jesus Christ.
We can break the yoke of bondage by fasting and seeking the Lord. Fasting gives way to the Restrainer, allowing Him to produce righteousness in you by showing you the evil in your heart. Once you recognize your heart condition, you can repent. You may not think you have wickedness in your heart. According to Jesus, if you have pride, unforgiveness, bitterness, or hatred, then you have wickedness. The fast that God calls and responds to is not one of selfishness but one that will ultimately produce righteousness. God chooses the kind of fast that loosens the bonds of wickedness, undoes heavy burdens, and frees the oppressed. (Isa 58:6)
If we get to this place in our walk with Jesus, then signs and wonders shall follow us. "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; - Mar 16:17
Pick Up the Call
God desires that you should pick up the call of Jesus and do the things He has requested that you do. When Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples, He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after His resurrection. (Mar 16:14) After this, He sent them out. Jesus gave them a chance to see their heart condition and repent and still pick up the call of the great commission.
Jesus said, Go! All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Make disciples, baptize them, and teach them. Preach, baptize those who believe, and those who believe will speak with new tongues, take up serpents, lay hands on the sick and they will recover. (Mat 28, Mar 16)
Even though some doubted, Jesus still sent them out, but not before rebuking their unbelief. Both testimonies of Jesus sending the disciples out represent the will of Jesus Christ for all of those who believe. His will is first that we believe He is and was resurrected because without this faith, it is impossible to please God. After we believe, then we should act on our faith by doing what Jesus commanded.
Where do you lack in obedience? What can you do about it?
Self-denial is our first step. Not my will, but Yours be done should be our motto because Jesus said, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever loses his life for Me will find it.” – Mat 16:24-25
If we are ever going to find our purpose, the life Jesus died for us to have, then we have to deny our own. People can do good things, but in the end, if they are not a direct result of a kingdom mindset for kingdom purposes, then all those good deeds will be burned up. There will be no reward for the deeds of the flesh, even if they seem good. If they are not founded in Christ, they will be burned up, though “If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through the fire.” (1 Cor 3:11-15)
The rest of this blog is going to be just as the Holy Spirit released it to me while in prayer. I have added a couple of scriptures to support the word. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you receive it.
He said, "you will find your identity in Me. I am the I Am. In Me, all things are as I desire them to be. You are encompassed in the I Am – there is no greater worth than that which I have designed for you.
As the potter picks up the lump of clay and he begins to form it into a useful vessel for water, so am I forming you.
I am making you into everything I dreamed you would be. Yes, I dream through you! Doesn’t that make you feel loved and honored? Don’t you realize I have intricately designed you? I AM the Potter
As an engineer labors over his blueprints to draw out that perfect, most useful, and beautifully crafted building; so, I labor over the blueprints of your life. Every detail I have planned for your purpose on this earth is written in My book for your destiny. I, the Wise Master Builder, approved every word of your designing.
I AM the Engineer"
For I am right and true and faithful in all that I do. - Ps 33:4 "I do not loosely release a word of My thoughts without being intentional. I am purposeful with every word that I speak because I perform what I speak." Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word." - Jer 1:12
"As a baker would prepare a special cake, he would pick the best ingredients, not leaving one of them out or skimping on the cost. So, I have created you with all the best of Me to fulfill your destiny. I have invested much into you. I know what ingredients I have used to make you a sweet-smelling aroma to My nostrils.
I AM the Baker
As the farmer plows rows, plants seeds, and waters them, so have I planted My remnant. As the farmer pulls the weeds from his precious crop, so do I pull the tares from your heart. As the farmer waters and waits for his harvest, so have I watered with the rains of heaven My remnant to be filled and strengthened by My grace to go out to the field and harvest.
I AM the Creator
All things are for My glory. What I plant cannot be plucked without My word. What I close cannot be opened without My word. What I open cannot be shut without My word."
“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” – Rev 1:18
Lastly, the Lord showed me this;
"I have offered you the keys to My kingdom, so you shall open, and no one shall shut, and you shall shut, and no one shall open. (Is 22:22) With these keys, you shall bind on earth, and it shall be bound in heaven, and you shall loose on earth and, it shall be loosed in heaven. And the gates of hades shall not prevail against My chosen and royal priesthood (the Church)." (Mat 16:18-19)
It is my prayer for you today that you will soak yourself in the word of God. That you will find your identity in nothing else but the Father and who He created you to be. I pray that all the yokes to the lies in your identity will be broken, and you will be set free to soar as the Lord leads. If you are struggling with unbelief, doubt, or a hardened heart, then remember you are not alone in your struggles. Ask Jesus to help you with your unbelief. He is faithful.