Appropriating what Christ has done for me!


What is the LORD saying today?

Your life is not about striving.. it is about appropriating.  You approach those two things differently.
  • Striving is what I do FOR myself.
  • Appropriating is what Christ does FOR me.
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3, NIV.

When you come to Christ you die. 
Dead to sin.
Dead to lust.
Dead to envy.
Dead to sickness.
Dead to coveting.
Dead to the applause of men
Dead to bullying.
Dead. Dead. Dead.
You did not kind of die—you DIED.  Enter into the death of Christ.
(Read: Romans 6-7-8)
“If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” Romans 6:5, NIV.

Union with Christ in HIS death
It is not about striving… it is about appropriating what HAS been accomplished through union with God.
Whenever you are out of sync with that union—you sin, you miss the mark, you sacrifice the intimacy of union for a temporary swell of feeling or temporary happiness…almost like playing in a puddle of water instead of swimming in the Indian Ocean.

The world system, your flesh, the devil wants you to walk OUTSIDE of your union with God—and sense temporary fleshly and passing thrills.  To that end the world system, your flesh, and the devil will drive you—bully you—push you—intimidate you—force you to cooperate.  They will use primarily your five senses of tasting, seeing, touching, smelling, and hearing.  But, they will drive you—push you—chase you down like a pack of hyenas. 

The Spirit wants you to live out of your union with God.  He desires intimacy and so goes deeper than your senses into your spirit-being.  He is the total opposite of the world system, your flesh, or the devil.  The Holy Spirit will woo you.  He spiritually seduces you.  He calls you.  He asks for you to submit.  He asks for you to follow His lead.  He does not drive you—He does not use, as His primary connection—your five senses—He communicates to your spirit.  He does not push you—rather he ‘allures’ you.  ““Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.” Hosea 2:14, NIV.  


The Spirit wants you to appropriate the work of Christ—and walk in that union that is YOURS now—through faith—not striving.  You don’t force love—you allow love to flow.  Father desires intimacy and union with you.  He has accomplished EVERYTHING that is needed for your union with Him.  NOTHING needs to be accomplished by you—just appropriate what Father has accomplished through His Son Jesus—orchestrated by the presence and power of His Spirit.

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