DIG for Friday the 26th of September…..not only righteous but His righteousness…..2 Corinthians 5 v 21

It has been quite a while since I’ve use 2 Corinthians 5 v 21 in my DIG.

If you’ve been reading DIG for a while you’ll probably know it is my favourite verse in Scripture, the verse that literally changed me and changed my life.

This verse tells us that because of the finished work of Jesus we have the chance to be made righteous.

Righteous just means to be accepted by God, to be right with, Him, to have right standing in his sight.

But we not only have the chance of being made righteous; we can be made as righteous as HIM.

Yes, that is what the verse says, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Read it again in your Bible just in case you do not believe me.

That is an awesome piece of Scripture that has the most wonderful implication on our lives.

Every person has the opportunity to be made as righteous as God because of the finished work in Jesus.

All that is required is that you become a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5 v 17), in other words put your faith and trust in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.

It is that easy.

We are made righteous as a gift of grace through faith in Jesus and His finished work.

There are no other works to do, we are made righteous once and once only.

If you are born again tonight, in your born again spirit, you are as righteous as God.

If you are not born again tonight you can be made as righteous as God RIGHT NOW!

Simply believe in Jesus in your heart and speak it out of your mouth and you will be saved and be made righteous (Romans 10 v 9).

What a marvellous gift, all made possible through the finished work of Jesus.

All that we are required to do is believe.

Now that is the Good News!

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that as a born again believer I have been made righteous”.

2 Corinthians 5 v 21…..For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him

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DIG for Thursday the 25th of September…..we can be of good cheer, with no fear, in all situations…..Mark 6 v 50

We have to be honest and admit that life does not always go the way we would like or had planned.

Troubles do come our way; indeed the Word says that we will have trials and tribulations (called persecution) if we are living a Godly life (2 Timothy 3 v 12).

However even in times of trouble we can stay in a positive frame of mind, we can be of good cheer.

In Mark 6 we see the disciples in a boat during a storm, and they are at the point of sinking.

They are very troubled and concerned, and at this point Jesus walks on the water and speaks to them.

He tells them to cheer up (Mark 56 v 50).

He then tells them why they can cheer up; He says I am here so there is no need to fear.

Fear is a terribly negative emotion, but it is an emotion (or reaction) that as believers we do not need to have.

We can be assured that as born again believers Jesus is with us and will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13 v 5).

We can be assured that He has our best interests at heart (3 John 2).

We can be assured that He will speak to us and guide us through any storm that comes our way.

If we truly believe in Jesus and His finished work what do we have to fear?

Even if persecution kills us we know what awaits us in eternity!

Fear can be eliminated from our lives and replaced with good cheer when we meditate upon, believe and understand the truth about Jesus and what He has done for us through His finished work.

If we understand that we have been reconciled to God, forgiven of all our sin and made righteous in the eyes of God what can make us fear; knowing all this will result in us being of good cheer.

If you are in a storm or troubles or pain this morning, please focus on Jesus and what He has done for you.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for the finished work of Jesus and thank you that I have been reconciled, forgiven and made righteous”.

Mark 6 v 50…..For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I: be not afraid

DIG for Wednesday the 24th of September…..incorruptible and eternal……1 Peter 1 v 25

The Word of God is incredibly powerful.

We see God, through Jesus, speaking the Universe and everything in it into existence (Hebrews 1 v 2 and Genesis 1).

We see God, through Jesus, upholding all with His words of power (Hebrews 1 v 3).

We see God, through the Holy Spirit, continuing to speak to us on a daily basis.

We are also incredibly blessed by having access to His inspired Word whenever we want.

The Bible was literal God breathed (2 Timothy 3 v 16).

Many believers do not give the written Word the credit that it deserves; it is often not held in the esteem that it should be.

Indeed, it is actually a more sure word; it is the best way to know that we are hearing from God (2 Peter 1 v 19).

We can be assured that whenever we read the Bible we are hearing directly from God; I am sure that what some people say God has said is not from God!

But if you read it in the Word, it is His Word!

The Word of God, in all formats, is perfect and pure, and abides forever (1 Peter 1 v 23).

His Word will never pass away and never be wrong.

That includes His written Word in the Scriptures.

And it is this is the Word that needs to be preached as the gospel (1 Peter 1 v 25).

Speak this out today….”Thank you lord for your written Word, your truth that is pure and perfect and endureth for ever”.

1 Peter 1 v 25…..But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you

DIG for Tuesday the 23rd of September…..we all make mistakes, yet we can all be used…..Mark 14 v 72

Peter was one of the original disciples and went on to become a wonderful Apostle.

He did an amazing work for the Lord, leading the early church and writing two epistles for the New Testament.

Yet he made a number of horrendous mistakes and errors in his life and walk with the Lord.

He denied Jesus three times prior to His crucifixion (Mark 14 v 66 to 72).

He scattered, along with the rest of the disciples, as Jesus was being arrested, not able or willing to offer Him help or support.

This was after he struck off the ear of one of the people who came to arrest Jesus, an act that Jesus clearly did not approve of (John 18 v 10 and 11).

At one point Jesus even rebuked Peter for being under the influence of satan (Mark 8 v 32 and 33).

Peter did not love Jesus as much as Jesus loved him (note the different Greek meanings for love in John 21 v 15 to 17).

So, Peter was not the perfect disciple.

Yet, the Lord used him in a mighty way.

Peter is an example for us that we do not need to be perfect in actions before we can be used by the Lord.

The Lord has a plan and purpose for each one of us and we do not need to be perfect to put that into place.

We need to be willing and have the right attitude.

Like Peter we all make mistakes, yet like Peter we can all be used by the Lord in the work of His Kingdom.

We are all of worth and value no matter what mistakes we have made.

“Repent” of these mistakes i.e. change your mind and direction and move forwards in whatever the Lord has planned for you.

Speak this out today…..Thank you Lord that you have a plan and purpose for my life”.

Mark 14 v 72…..And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crew twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept

DIG for Monday the 22nd of September…..the enemy is the agent of condemnation…..Revelation 12 v 10

I have had a rather challenging time this evening.

While preparing for the message for Sunday I have been reading some passages of Scripture that has led me to understand that I have held back the spiritual growth of the people in my fellowship.

Now let me tell you, that is a not a good place to be for a pastor!

I felt condemnation coming in saying, ‘what kind of pastor are you?’ and ‘how could you do that?’

Very quickly however I took control of my thinking (as I teach others) and told myself that I should not accept condemnation.

Condemnation comes from the enemy; he is the one who is called the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12 v 10).

Condemnation leads to guilt and shame and it is not from God.

I praise God that through His Word and the Holy Spirit He has increased my revelation in this area and now I can do something about it.

You see, instead of letting condemnation come in and make you look back at your errors and mistakes, you must let the Holy Spirit guide you into truth so that you can look forward and see the wonderful things you will do with this new understanding.

The Holy Spirit is encouraging and comforting not condemning.

Accept a challenge but do not accept condemnation.

We all make mistakes through lack of understanding and ignorance, but once we gain wisdom and truth in that area we can go on and make positive changes.

Isn’t it good that we can all learn and progress through the guidance of the Holy Spirit using the Word of God?

I thank Him and I praise Him for helping me through this challenge this evening.

He is such a good God!

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for your guidance and instruction from the Holy Spirit bringing revelation through the Word of God”.

Revelation 12 v 10…..And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of God, and the power of Christ: for the accuser of the brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night

DIG for Sunday the 21st of September…..so what is the Biblical definition of revival…..Acts 2 v 1 and 2

We hear a lot about revival in the church today; it is something that is hoped for, that is prayed for and always seems to be something coming in the future.

I’ve heard so much from men about revival I thought I would check in the Bible and see what it said about this much anticipated phenomenon.

Funnily enough there is not a single mention of revival or revive under the new covenant.

We see people being saved, being healed and being delivered but we see no mention or example of revival as it is spoken of now.

My understanding from man about revival is that it is a time when God pours out His Spirit on a town or nation or group of people, with as a result men being saved, healed, delivered and set free.

That is not what we see in the Word.

On the day of Pentecost the Spirit was poured out in the upper room (Acts 2 v 1 to 4).

I don’t know about your Bible but I cannot see where He went back and therefore necessitated Him to be poured out again.

I see people being baptised in the Holy Spirit after Pentecost but I do not see another outpouring or revival.

I see people being set free, saved, healed and delivered (all things we hope to see in a revival) as men, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, recognise who they are in Christ and then move in power and authority.

I see what we now consider as results of a revival as the result of a normal Christian life.

Through the finished work of Jesus Christ we have been given all the authority we need to live a supernatural Christian life.

Through His Word we have been given the wisdom and truth about who we are in Christ.

Through the Holy Spirit we have the power and inspiration to express that supernatural life.

We have already been given all we need for “revival”, what we need to do is wake up to the realisation of that truth.

Friends we need to stop praying and asking God for revival, and start using what He has already provided us with.

Speak this out…..”Thank you Lord for the finished work of Jesus Christ, for your Word and for the Holy Spirit”.

Acts 2 v 1 and 2…..And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting

DIG for Saturday the 20th of September…..the advantage of wisdom and knowledge of Him…..Proverbs 9 v 11

Proverbs tells us that wisdom and knowledge of God will make us live a longer life!

Our days will multiply and our years will increase; that is what the Word of God says (Proverbs 9 v 11).

That is really quite incredible, that simply by increasing our wisdom and knowledge about the Lord will make us live longer.

How on earth can that be?

Well, we all know that stress for example is not good for us and is known to cause illness and even death.

Knowing that God loves us, has a plan and purpose for us, has an eternal destination for us will result in less stress.

Knowing that we have complete and absolute forgiveness from God and as a gift of grace through faith we have been made righteous will result in more peace in our lives.

Having wisdom in these areas for example will result in more peace and less stress and as a result lengthen our days.

A reverential awe (or fear) of God is a great place to start in this process of gaining wisdom and knowledge about the Lord.

The Word says that this will bring health to thy navel and strength to thy bones (Proverbs 3 v 8).

This will result in an increase your days on this earth.

Stress and peace, health and a long life is what the Lord wants for you.

Above all else He wants you to live in health and prosperity (3 John 2).

You can play your part in this process by increasing your wisdom and knowledge about Him and what He has done for you.

The Word is full of truths about the Lord that will leave you in awe and wonder at His goodness, mercy, love and compassion and will increase peace and reduce stress.

Speak this…..”Thank you Lord that you want me to live in health and abundance and that you want my days on this earth to be many”.

Proverbs 9 v 11…..For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased

DIG for Friday the 19th of September……are you astonished or offended by the doctrine of Jesus…..Mark 11 v 18

Doctrine is simply what a person teaches, the ideas that they express and try to get across to others.

Jesus taught often and He taught many people.

Jesus seemed to get two reactions when He spoke; people were astonished and then marvelled or they were offended.

Jesus never met with indifference!

And it is very telling that those who normally got offended were the religious people of the day.

Take for example in Mark 11, where the religious establishment were offended and wanted to kill Him, yet the “ordinary” people were astonished (Mark 11 v 18).

The Greek for astonished means to amaze and comes from the root word to strike.

The words of Jesus seemed to hit people or strike them, which then brought out love and adoration or hate and fear.

The true teachings of Jesus seem to be having the same effect today.

The message of grace (his unconditional love, mercy and forgiveness) is a message that astonishes people or offends them.

The message of grace divides people in their thoughts, opinions and actions.

The message of grace is hated by religious people, who look to their own performance as a means to relationship with and blessings from God.

The message of grace is loved by others who see that they cannot do anything in their own strength and need the grace, love, mercy and compassion of a Saviour.

The message of unconditional forgiveness from God for every one because of the finished work of Jesus Christ is a truth for example that either astonishes or offends.

The message that we are made as righteous as God the second we are born again is a truth that either astonishes or offends.

The message that God wants us to live in healing and prosperity is a truth that either astonishes or offends.

Where do you sit today?

Are you astonished or are you offended?

The sad truth is that the doctrine of Jesus Christ offends many, and not just unbelievers, but many inside the church.

This tells us that unfortunately the religious spirit alive in the day of Jesus is alive and well in our time as well.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for the finished work of Jesus, for the amazing things that He purchased for us on the cross”.

Mark 11 v 18…..And the scribes and the chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine

DIG for Thursday the 18th of September…..forgiveness comes before salvation…..Matthew 9 v 2

Healing is a part of our salvation; it is part of the “sozo” package that Jesus purchased for us at the cross.

In order to be saved we have to trust and believe in Jesus as our Saviour, trusting and believing in His finished work.

Forgiveness was also purchased for us at the cross in His finished work (Ephesians 1 v 7 and Colossians 1 v 14).

The difference however is that we do not have to choose to be forgiven; we have no say or part in this.

We, and every other person on the earth, have been forgiven due to the sovereign will of God because of the shed blood of Jesus (1 John 2 v 2).

This account of the man sick of the palsy is a wonderful picture of the relationship between forgiveness and salvation.

Many people believe that we are forgiven when we are saved; this is not correct.

Jesus said the man was forgiven before he healed him.

We have been forgiven first in order that our salvation can be made possible!

We were forgiven absolutely and unconditionally when Jesus died on the cross, meaning that we had been reconciled to God after the “sin issue” had been dealt with.

Once sin was dealt with man could then come into relationship with God if they chose to.

When we chose to trust in Jesus and came to God (John 14 v 6) we were saved, receiving the benefits that forgiveness gives.

Forgiveness has to come before salvation.

As Zacharias said to his son, John the Baptist, his role was tell people that Jesus was coming so that they could be saved (from the root word sozo) because of the remission (or forgiveness) of sin (Luke 1 v 77).

Forgiveness had to come before salvation.

Forgiveness is unconditional and absolute, and has nothing to do with what you say or how you perform.

Forgiveness came through the finished work of Jesus Christ, and because of that men could be saved by choosing to believe on Him.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for my forgiveness and thank you for my salvation”.

Matthew 9 v 2…..And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee

DIG for Wednesday the 17th of September…..we have been showered in blessings…..Ezekiel 34 v 26

This passage rings true for myself and my wife Elly.

Four years ago Elly and I became born again Christians, and since doing so we have been absolutely drenched in blessing after blessing.

Not long after giving our lives to Jesus, I found out that I needed a heart valve replacement and Elly was being made redundant from her job of 33 years.

You might well think, “what has this got to do with God’s blessings”.

The fact was that because His love and faithfulness were so strong that He put on his ‘Grohn’ shower and has never turned it off.

I came through my heart surgery very quickly and returned to full health in a short time. I am now three and a half stone lighter and 100% healthier.

God told me to leave my full time employment with a decent salary to take up a failing cafe business that had never seen a profit in 4 years. Since taking over the cafe it has broken even in its first year,  and this year it is in profit for the first 6 months.

Elly found a part time job that she really enjoys, and she also started doing voluntary work.

We are now mortgage free which has enabled us to give more to others and to the Kingdom.

This year we where blessed with a new grandson Noah, who brings us great joy each time we see him.

I could testify further and go on and on and on about how many blessings we’ve had from God.

The strange thing is that we have never asked for them. Because His love for us is so awesome all He asks us is to love Him and believe in and upon His Son Jesus.

We don’t need to know the complexities of God or His powers.

All he wants from us is to trust in him, love one another, abide by his word and to “work” from an understanding of His love and His righteousness.

You will be showered in His blessings!

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that you have already given me all spiritual blessing through Christ Jesus”.

Ezekiel 34 v 26…..And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing

Adapted from notes from Stuart Wright, Moray Grace Fellowship