Orders from Above

1 John 3:21-24(Amplified)

And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us [if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us], we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God, 22And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we [watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and [habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him. 23And this is His order (His command, His injunction): that we should believe in (put our faith and trust in and adhere to and rely on) the name of His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and that we should love one another, just as He has commanded us. 24All who keep His commandments [who obey His orders and follow His plan, live and continue to live, to stay and] abide in Him, and He in them. [They let Christ be a home to them and they are the home of Christ.] And by this we know and understand and have the proof that He [really] lives and makes His home in us: by the [Holy] Spirit Whom He has given us.

Orders from Above

               Fear, doubt, unbelief, sin, condemnation, hatred, un-forgiveness and self -love are all attributes that work counter-productive to all that our lives should be in Christ.  Do we all have a clear conscience, full assurance and peace in Christ?  We should have that.  That is what God’s will and plan for us is in Christ.  We as Christians should have no fear of the judgement of God, because we are in a place of love, obedience and relationship with Him.  Sure we all miss it, we fail and we sin, but where is our heart?  Where our heart is, is the key to our peace and assurance in Christ.  If we say that we believe one thing but then live another, then we are a liar, to ourselves and to God.  We know in our hearts that things aren’t right, because we don’t have the peace of God.  Our hearts and conscience will accuse us.  We may make all kinds of justifications, but that is all smoke and mirrors.  The only one we may fool is ourselves. 

               If we live and abide in our orders from above then we will have peace and assurance toward God.  We will have the joy because we are living out of the love of Christ in us.  Christ is our home.  He is where we abide and live.  He fills our thoughts and is the motivation that should drive all that we do and all that we are.  We are not separate from Him.  Many have a perception that because we think of Christ and God as in heaven that they’re up there and we are down here.  That thinking is anti-Christ in its nature.  Yes, while in this body we are separated from physical presence with the Lord, but in our spirit He abides with us and we with Him.  It is there, in our spirit, that we have union and communion with Him.  As we abide with Him, we abide in obedience to Him, because we operate out of His love and His nature. 

               It is when we allow sin, selfishness and the mind of the flesh to have place that we break that fellowship with the Spirit.  Disruptive thoughts, attitudes, temptations and conflicts are thrown at us continually to disrupt our peace and fellowship in the Spirit.  Instead of allowing these things to push our buttons, we must continually filter our world through God’s Spirit within us responding out of Christ –like love and action, not reaction.  When we learn to abide in this secret place of the Most High, we have a peace, because we are finding that reality that’ it is no longer I that live, but Christ in me’.  We are all maturing and growing in this place, but seek to continually abide in your orders from above.  Abide in a continual fellowship and obedience to Christ and operate out of His love in your response to Him and to the world around you.  When we find this place, the world will make sense and we will experience that place of peace and well-being that all  the world is searching for.  It is as close to you as your heart.  Allow your faith and trust to take you there.  Allow your fellowship and communion in Christ to transform you into the expression of His love.  These are His orders from above, Love Him with everything that you are and love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Blessings,

#kent

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