16/02/2013 - MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO ARE NEAR AND FAR AWAY

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Hear, you who are afar off, what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge My might.”

Isaiah 33:13

Most people make two terrible mistakes: they stray away from the Lord or stay in the neighborhood. Those who are afar are actually resisting the Master’s delightful invitation: Come to Me (Matthew 11:28). Those who are near, despite being in church, do not want to get involved with God. Now, the invitation is for everyone to draw near to Christ and to know His power. While He was in our midst, Jesus showed what we can do with the authority He has given us.

Whoever does not follow God’s guidelines falls into error and as a consequence they suffer great losses. Being far away or in the neighborhood is not what God wants for you. He wants you to live in Him and enjoy His best (Isaiah 1:19). Make sure you’re not making one of these mistakes because he who transgresses the divine laws can be punished, for example, by being unable to participate in something that comes from God. If, however, you observe the warnings given in the verse quoted above, you will succeed.

Those who are far resist the Master’s voice, which calls them to come to Him; however, failure to obey such honorable calling is tantamount to opting to suffer the oppression of the enemy. On the other hand, the ones who draw near Jesus are endowed with the right to be part of His nature, enjoy the heavenly promises and experience the new birth. With that, Satan loses the power to act in those people’s life for there is no condemnation in them.

Those who are near are the ones who like to attend the church services, praise the Most High and, oftentimes, to help the Kingdom of the Lord as workers and indirectly as offering givers; however, they do not practice what they learn in the Word of God. Some continue to lead a life of sins and addictions and, almost always, the way they live isn’t different from the sinners’ life style. Such people cannot resist the slightest temptation.

All of us are invited to experience the divine power. In fact, none of the Lord’s invitees have ever been banned from participating in His miraculous doings. It is necessary for the members of the Body of Christ to grow in faith and in grace and take part in the divine nature. Unfortunately, however, there are many who live the same way as before when they still hadn’t put off the old man.

In the days of His earthly ministry, Jesus showed that those who believe in God can do the same works He did (John 14:12). Christ did not come as a superhero with special powers to perform wonders. He came as a man to show us that those who believe in His Word can do the same things He did.

You have been recreated in Christ, and with it, your new spirit is of the same essence as the Lord’s. The devil, knowing that he has lost you forever will resort to his evil plan B whose goal is to make you believe you are worthless, that you’re nothing but a miserable sinner and therefore you will get nothing from God. Wake up! You are a member of God’s family and as such you are entitled to exercise your authority over the hosts of hell, which operate in the heavenly realms. In Jesus’ Name, take your place in this battle!

In Christ with love,

R. R. Soares