“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” Philippians 3:8
There are many Christians who have been in a kind of spiritual limbo for years! They are new creations in Christ! Children of the most-high God! They’ve been washed in the Blood and accepted by the Father! They also have the same Spirit in them that raised Christ from the dead! Yet, they’ve been stuck in (so-called) doctrines that have crippled their faith and robbed their joy! And have you ever noticed that they somehow relegate the power of God to sometime in the past or sometime in the future – never now?!? If we genuinely want to enjoy the benefits of the kingdom and walk in its power the way God intended us to, we need to make that all-important, internal transfer – and, like Paul, assess ourselves in the light of what the scriptures promise and count all that we once held dear as Loss and move forward in God!
Are we identifying with the new creation? If not, it might be because we’re stuck in old belief systems that are neutralizing our faith and rendering us ineffective… Paul called the knowledge of Christ EXCELLENT! But there are many Christians who are calling religion excellent! They have made doctrines that are not doctrines. Jesus called them the doctrines of men that make the Word of God of no affect! The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit! The Church is called to demonstrate the Spirit and power! When we apply the scripture in its simplicity, we’ll begin to walk in the power of the Spirit and in the authority of the Word of God! That’s when it’s easy to count all we once held dear as Loss – and good riddance to it!
Paul had a good look at his past and called it dead religion that he equivocated to garbage, refuse and dung in order to gain and maintain the anointing of God and walk in the life and power of Jesus Christ! How about you…? Have you looked at yourself in the light of scripture? And have you counted all you once held dear as Loss in order to win Christ? It’s a simple transfer, but the benefits are eternal!
With Love,
Pastor Tom