Greetings,
We are on a journey to destiny. Destiny is not just a place we are going, it is the result of our going. Destiny is a journey that includes increasing realities along the way. That journey includes our identity, our testimony, and our purpose in life. These things can only be found in Christ and by Christ in us. We are the people of God and we were born to be loved by God to become His likeness and His image in our world. As leaders, we must set an example of these things and inspire others to find them too.
Ephesians 1:18-22 …the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Our identity is a testimony to our righteousness that is found in Christ. That righteousness comes by a personal relationship with God in our hearts. We know His love because His presence abides in our hearts. He is all that is right and being loved by Him makes everything right in our lives. What we are not without Him we become when He abides within us. This is the righteousness of a right relationship with God made solely possible by our heavenly Father who loves us through Jesus Christ His son. In Christ we are translated from the power of darkness into the kingdom of the son of God’s love. We are in the body of Christ and the headship of Jesus in our lives makes us one with our Father in heaven by His Holy Spirit within our hearts. We are part of His calling. He made a way for us to be His sons and His daughters. We were not just created by Him, in Christ we are born by His Spirit. Just as we were born naturally in this world, we must be supernaturally born into God’s world. That new birth is as supernatural as the virgin birth of Jesus in the life of Mary. Just as Jesus was Spirit born to be natural in our world, we were natural born to be joined with God in the Spirit in all things. God has set a table for us to be who we are meant to be in life and He is calling us to that table. At that table we will eat the food of life that comes from heaven so that all that we are, all that we do, and all that we become will be for the glory of His name. In Him we live! God gives us life and we become alive in Him and alive because of Him. We are loved by Him and His love gives life to our true identity in life.
Our testimony is the evidence of our peace with God in Christ. There is no separation between us and God and we can grow in strength and in the testimony of God’s Word and God’s Spirit in our lives. All that is in God’s house is given to us in our lives and we become a testimony of heavenly realities in Christ. In Him we move. Our testimony in life is the evidence of His expressions in our lives. We are growing strong in His Word and in His Spirit to overcome every wicked thing and become a testimony of His grace in our journey of life. This is in both our character and in our gifting. We are part of the inheritance of God as sons and daughters of God in all things. God gives us breath and we become an expression of Him in all things in increasing measure.
Our purpose in life is connected to our partnership with God in all things. This is the source of joy in all things. Joy is not mere happiness. Joy is fulfilling our God-given purpose in life. God gives us all things. He partners with us in all things to demonstrate the power of His love in all things. His character, nature, way, power, and authority in our lives proves to triumph over every form or name of death in our world. We are above principalities, powers, thrones, dominions, and names. This is not the testimony of our lives apart from Christ, but the testimony of our partnership with Him and His partnership with us in all things. In Him we have our full being and in Him we fulfill the purpose of our being.
Ephesians 1:19-22 …and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
As leaders, we are challenged to help people make a connection to God whereby they can find their true identity, testimony, and path of destiny in life. These things are only found when we see Christ as the reason for our being. The question in life is not whether He is for us or not. The true question is whether we see Him for who He is or not. He gives us life, breath, and all things. It is only in Him that we can find true life, become an expression of true life, and bring true life into every aspect of our lives.
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
Please consider helping us finish 2018. We are expecting another great year of reaching the nations and generations in 2019 and your financial support can help us accomplish the task.
We need your continued prayer support and any financial contribution you are able to give. We are reaching the nations with New Covenant life and Grace for the generations of tomorrow.
Donations can be made at the above right link or mail your donation to House of Bread Ministry, 3210 Meridian St., Bellingham, Wa. 98225
