The Declaration of Dependence – Part 2 - Christ-centered, Faith-based, and Grace-driven

Psalm 46:7-11 “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;  He burns the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. 

The tares have been sowed among the wheat.  Though we may think that we are the wheat and not the tares, Christians may have a hard time praising God because of the nagging voice that reminds us that in our flesh dwelleth no good thing.  To be in the presence of the Holy Spirit is to rest in his righteousness alone...  not within our own righteousness, but within the righteousness of God in Christ in us.  For Jesus Christ who knew no sin was made the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.  For it is he that hath made us and not we ourselves.  We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. 

Joshua's farewell address was, "choose ye this day whom ye shall serve...as for me and my house we shall serve the Lord."  As Paul said, “That we may know Him and the power of His resurrection being conformed to His death. We preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” God will take what we offer Him and turn it around so that we ourselves will be blessed. The greatest blessing is to seek the Blessor and not the blessing. Our reward is not in what we receive, but rather in what we give. 

Our confidence is not in ourselves; our confidence is only in Him. For when we confess our sin, our broken fellowship, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The adversary and His minions will "tolerate" anything except the righteous standard of the Word of God. The freedoms that we have enjoyed as a godly nation are conditional upon obedience to the righteous standard of the Word of God. Freedom isn't free. Our freedom was bought with the priceless innocent blood of the righteous Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Our liberty is only in the liberation from the bondage of sin according to God's righteous standard. Stand fast therefore in the Liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage of sin and iniquity.  

Remember, as men and women of God, we are Christ-centered, faith-based, and grace-driven. Our Declaration of Independence from the powers of darkness is our Declaration of Dependence upon Almighty God. Our declaration of dependence says that even while we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly. Not because we are worthy, but because Christ is worthy. Not because we are good, but because God is good.

Lord, thank you for keeping us mindful of who you are and whose we are. As the Psalmist said, "Be thankful unto him and bless his name.  For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations."

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,Michael