A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (June 11, 2018)
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. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
We live in a world where we hear about suicides and drug overdoses every day and they appear to be increasing yearly. My heart goes out to all these people because there has obviously been some things in their life that have ruled and reigned over them that convinced them that life is not worth living. As a Christian, this should never be! There should not be any event such as offenses, grief, addictions, or anything else, that rules over our life. So, how do we overcome these hurts and addictions? How do we rule and reign in this life?
As a Christian, it is imperative that you understand the difference between sin consciousness and righteousness consciousness. Alongside of that, you must understand that the battleground is your mind and your enemy (Satan) comes to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). He is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). His job is to convince you that you are not worthy, you have no power or authority, there is no hope, you will never be free, and that you should just give up on life. Those are all lies from the Father of Lies. This is where reigning in life by one Jesus Christ comes in.
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:17-19)
As Christians, you and I are made to reign in life! The word reign in the Greek is “basileuo” which means to rule as a King from a foundation of power. That foundation of power is Jesus Christ. He has made us Kings and Priests (Revelation 5:10). The pertinent questions are, do you see yourself as a King and Priest or do you simply see yourself as a sinner saved by grace? Do you see your righteousness as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) or do you see yourself as the righteousnesss of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21)? Do you see yourself as a grasshopper or as well able to take the land (Numbers 13:33)?
Jesus has made us righteous but we have to receive that by faith or Satan will talk us out of it by a steady stream of “sin consciousness” teaching and preaching. I heard a preacher share recently how he had helped a multitude of people break the addiction of smoking. He told them that every time they took a drag on a cigarette they should confess out of their mouth that they are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Now, if you follow that suggestion, it may not work overnight. It will probably take some time to get that confession into your heart. It may even take weeks or months. But, if you will confess that truth consistently out of your mouth, you will eventually reign over that addiction.
That is just one very simple example of how powerful righteousness consciousness is. You do not have to let sin consciousness rule and reign in your life. Renew your mind to the truth that you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and you can rule and reign over your flesh and sin.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Romans 6:12-13)
