The awesome power of the Gift of Righteousness
"They that have received the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, shall reign (as kings) in life by one Jesus Christ"
The Gift of Righteousness that comes to us as result of repenting of our sin and accepting Jesus as Lord and saviour, is truly awesome. It not only saves us from the power of sin and grants us eternal life but also places us as sons and daughters of the Most High God. It also gives us access into our Father and God and enables us to freely receive from His grace.
I had gone for a walk with the Lord and was spending some time in prayer in the Spirit.. (in other tongues.. "I will pray with the Spirit, I will pray with the understanding also")
I'll just digress a little here. There are times when 'we' decide to pray about something.. Note what Paul wrote "I will pray with the Spirit.." The emphasis is upon 'I' I am the initiator of the prayer.. and there are times when 'He' The Holy Spirit initiates the prayer.. "The Spirit himself makes intercession for us.." He sees something happening in the world and looks around for someone to stand in the gap.
"I looked for a man to stand in the gap, to make up the hedge but there was none!" God was looking around to find someone who would stand in the gap for the sins of the people, someone who knew Him and would pray and stay his anger and turn it away.) Isn't it awesome that Almighty God would even consider us like this? As Moses said to God. "God forgive the people, they are a stiff necked people!" and God said.. "I have forgiven them according to your word" WOW! Moses 'knew' God.. God even called him His friend and forgave people their sins because a man asked him to do so!
This 'gift of righteousness places us in a position where we can "come boldly before the throne of grace that we might receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need"
God is constantly on the lookout for those He can trust and use. "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro over the whole earth, that He might show Himself strong on their behalf" So the Almighty God, Creator, Lord of Heaven and Earth, is actively 'looking for someone!' (This would be a good time to put your hand up and say "over here Lord! Use me" ~ but you had better mean it, because He WILL take you at your word!)
Back to the story.. I was praying the Spirit.. I had felt and 'urge' to pray but had no idea what about.. So I started in faith, knowing that The Holy Spirit was praying the perfect will of God for a situation or circumstance in someone's life. I continued for around an hour or so. (I often go for a walk when this happens) Towards the end of the prayer (most times, you can sense when the victory' is close) I had an open vision. This is where you still see the world as it is still but it's like a 'movie' starts to play in front of you at the same time. It's a real as the world you in.
I suddenly 'saw' a man lying on the ground. He was middle aged, about 40 actually and had a small dark beard. (You often 'know' things as well as 'see' things) I also knew he had been in an industrial accident and was dying. He was still breathing and lying on his back with his eyes closed. I then saw 'me' come into the picture! I walked a couple of steps towards him and knelt down on one knee. I placed my hand upon his shoulder and lifted my other (right) hand towards Heaven. I looked up and called out "God! Don't let this man die with out the knowledge of Jesus Christ in his life!" That's all I said.. I looked down at the man. Suddenly his eyes popped open and a look of utter amazement came over his face and he said "My God, He's real!" (I knew as he said it, he was talking about Jesus) His eyes closed again.. I watched him as a great peace and calm came over his face and he smiled... and passed into eternal life with Christ..
The vision finished and I found myself in tears and awe as to what had just happened.
In the last moments of life, Jesus got to him. This man didn't know Jesus but the eyes of the Lord had found someone He could use.. nobody special, just someone willing.. "Here am I, send me" said Jeremiah.. and God did!
I have found many times that you can put yourself in a place where God can use you. I obeyed the prompting, yielded to His language and gave of my faith and love to see the will of God done! As God sees that He can trust you, He will use you more and more in greater and greater things, to the praise of the glory of his grace..
"If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat of the good of the land" I encourage you to be 'willing' (here am I Lord!) and then obey Him when He wants to do something and you will see "great and mighty things that thou knowest not"
Jesus said, "Lo, I come quickly and My reward is with me, to give to everyman according to his works.."
God Bless
John
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