For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. James 1:23-24.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God says:
As we continue our series on how to know My Will for your life we shall look at an often ignored but most important truth you must know to go forward and walk in the fruitful, triumphant, and blessed life I intended you to have from the beginning. You will never be comfortable, secure, and confident in My presence so that you can experience My joy and have yours overflow until you know what I am going to teach you today.
To know My Will you must first find yourself in Scripture—in the mirror of My Word. YOU MUST FIRST KNOW WHO YOU ARE TO GO ON TO WHAT YOU ARE TO DO. And you can only find out who you really are by knowing who you are in Christ. For in Him you are complete. Colossians 2:10. Nothing missing, nothing lacking, nothing out of place. Whole. On Him fell the chastisement that made you whole, that is, complete and lacking in nothing. Shalom.
So today is Life Lesson No. 4: Find Yourself in Scripture.
The vast majority of My people that I redeemed out of Egypt with great signs and wonders never saw themselves as I saw them. They saw themselves as weak as grasshoppers that could never conquer the land I gave them, the land flowing with milk and honey that I had promised the descendants of Abraham, so they refused to do My Will in that matter and would not go forward with their lives. Numbers 13:33 (“we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight”). They did not see themselves as conquerors. But I did. To Me they were a holy nation, a kingdom of priests, My special treasure, for whom I fought and defeated those who would harm and enslave them. And I told them that. Exodus 19:4-6. They were the people of My Word and My Covenant. But because they did not see themselves as anything but weak slaves who were unable to take the land, they never walked in a manner worthy of the calling they had received. They fell into sin, grumbling, complaining, fear, sarcasm, selfish ambition against their leader, and open rebellion. What you believe yourself to be is the way you will walk no matter how many times I tell you what My wonderful plan is for your life.
It is time to renew your mind by looking into the mirror of My Word to see yourself as I, the One who made you and knows everything about you before the foundation of the world, the One who calls you from your mother’s womb, see you. For My Word is truth and I know who you are better even than you do. So it is time you changed your self-image to match your true image. And if you do not, you are disobedient and will never walk in the truth of your assignment, just like the stiff-necked Israelites who wandered in the desert for forty years doing nothing much when I had such a great life planned for them.
Do not imitate them for apart from Me you can do nothing. Wicked men cut their lives short and disappear from the scene. Proverbs 12:7. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. Psalm 37:10. But the house of the righteous will stand. Proverbs 12:7. And in Christ, you are righteous. By My doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to you wisdom from Me, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30.
I foretold this to My prophet Jeremiah. I declared that days were coming when I would make a new covenant, not like the covenant which I made with the Israelites the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them. But a new covenant, which Jesus sealed in His blood and made with Me as your representative and great High Priest, whereby I put My law within you and on your heart I write it by My Spirit; and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And all will know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. Why? Because, in Jesus, I will forgive all your iniquities and your sins I will remember no more so that My Spirit can dwell in you. Jeremiah 31:31-34.
Let Me take you to My servant Paul’s letter to the Colossians so you too, as he did and they did, can find out who you are and begin to walk in a manner worthy of who I have made you in Christ, a royal priesthood, a people set apart, a holy nation, more than a conqueror, washed clean, sanctified, glorified and strong in Me and the power of My might.
You have been living under a delusion of inadequacy, self-abasement, and the traditions of men. Kind of like the story of the swan who thought he was an ugly duckling so he would never soar above until one day he saw himself as he truly was in the mirror of the water in the pond.
Many today have not heard the truth of the gospel of grace, they often think they have and even preach the “gospel,” but they have been taken captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. Colossians 2:8. These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. Colossians 2:23. And this is the reason for much of the immorality you see even among believers and ministers. If you see yourself and other believers as unforgiven sinners, though you preach forgiveness, and as unholy and less than adequate to live healed, holy, and fruitful lives you are still trapped in the shame of your sins and will behave as such. You do not know who you are in Christ, and will be ungrateful, and be begging Me to give you what I have already freely given you in Christ. It is time to grow up to who you really are in Christ and take hold of all My benefits instead of whining and begging for them and calling yourself unworthy. I made you worthy by the blood of My Son, was that not enough for you? It is true that some of you were behaving in the most immoral, perverted, and degrading ways but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. As Moses told the Israelites, it is time you stopped going around this same mountain and went forward to take possession of your possessions. You cannot go forward if you keep looking back. Lot’s wife found that out. And you see it in the life of Judas Iscariot as well. But My apostle Peter learned who he was in Christ and so did My apostle Paul, and forgetting what lay behind, they pursued their high calling in Christ and became who they really were and still are today in My Kingdom.
How do you know if the true gospel is being preached? It is constantly bearing fruit and increasing those who hear it, as it will do in you when you hear it and understand My grace in truth; and it is then you will have knowledge of My will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of who you are in Me, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of Me and My plans for your life; strengthened with all power, according to My glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to Me because I have qualified you in Christ to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. Colossians 1:6-12.
Stop here a moment and look in the mirror of My Word. You must see yourself not as incapable of your assignment but as qualified for greatness. Colossians 1:12. In Jesus, by His life, death, and resurrection, I have qualified you to be more than a conqueror. I called you, justified you, and glorified you in Him, when He died to sin, you died to sin, and when I raised Him justified with all sin gone, I raised you with Him and seated you with Me in the heavenlies in the grace in which you now stand by faith, not by your works, but on His works on your behalf, so that now you can step out in righteousness far from oppression and the accusations of guilt and shame of the devil, and live your life through, with, and in Him before Me. What then shall you say to these things? If I am for you, which I AM, who can be against you? Stop begging Me to qualify you and thank Me for doing so and walk accordingly with Me in the Light.
For I have rescued you from the domain of darkness and transferred you to the kingdom of My beloved Son. Colossians 1:13.
Stop here a moment and look in the mirror of My Word. See yourself as in the Light, not in the darkness of sin, addictions, immorality, impurity, lust, fear, depression, lack. See yourself as in the Kingdom of My Son, who is the Light of the World and the Prince of Peace. No follower of His will ever walk in darkness but will have the Light of Life. Fill your heart with the light of My Word of who you are in Christ: cherished, beloved, forgiven, blessed, overflowing with My goodness. Trust in My Word of healing, and healing will come. Trust in My Word of each day being filled with good things, and good things will come. Christ is in you, your hope of glory, and He has overcome the world. So I will complete the good work I have begun in you to My glory. I have made you an overcomer. Walk in it, speak it, and the devil, with all his darkness, will flee. Darkness has never overcome Light, and that since the beginning. John 1:5.
And in Jesus, you have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13.
Stop here a moment and look in the mirror of My Word. See yourself as forgiven. I made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin on your behalf so that you would be the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21. And know this of first importance, Christ died for your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:3. Jesus redeemed you from the curse of the law and gave you the Blessing of Abraham (which is righteousness by faith) so you could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith. Galatians 3:13-14. There is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:1, and your sins and offenses I remember NO MORE. Hebrews 10:17. You are redeemed by His blood and all your sins are forgiven and gone, borne by Him who knew no sin but became sin for you all. Ephesians 1:7; 1 Timothy 2:6. I have witnessed to your forgiveness in so many Scriptures, Old and New Testament, that you have to have your mind blinded by Satan not to see this and rejoice.
And through Jesus, I reconciled all to Myself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven. Colossians 1:20.
Stop here a moment and look in the mirror of My Word. You are at peace with Me. You are reconciled to Me. There is no longer any dividing wall of sin between us. Jesus spoke peace (shalom) to those who are far and those who are near, making peace through the blood of His Cross. You can come with confidence to My throne of grace and receive mercy and find grace just when needed. Hebrews 4:16. I was in Christ reconciling the world to Myself, not counting your trespasses against you, like if they had never been for they all went on Him. 2 Corinthians 5:19. It is not your fault anymore, it was, but once He took them all your faults and failings they became His and not yours and I took care of them, took them out of the way by nailing them to the Cross. So do not live in fear, little flock, it has pleased Me to give you the Kingdom and your great good Shepherd to lead you there. I now call you to fellowship and partnership with Me in Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:9. You and I are ONE in purpose, love, plan, and eternal life.
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet I have now reconciled you in the body of Jesus according to the flesh through death, in order to present you before Me holy and blameless and beyond reproach. Colossians 1:21-22.
Stop here a moment and look in the mirror of My Word. See yourself as holy and blameless and beyond reproach. Stop reproaching yourself about past sins and mistakes. Do not make such a big deal, such a fuss, each day over things you have done out of weakness. I don’t. Jesus took care of that. Do what I tell in My Word, that is, confess your sins to Me immediately, don’t hide them or make excuses or try to explain them away, just be truthful that you did wrong, and I am faithful and righteous to forgive you your sins, Christ already took the punishment due them, and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9. And once you have done that, thank Me with all your heart and GO FORWARD. Good things are coming. They are already on the horizon. Trust for good things, and good things will come. Take your robes and wash them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14. Though your sins were red as crimson, I make them white as snow, if you are willing and obey you shall eat the good of the land. My Son told the woman caught in adultery that He did not condemn her but that in the future she was to avoid that sin. When you know who you are in Christ you will walk in keeping with who you are, dead to sin and alive to Me. You are under grace and sin no longer has any power over you. Never think it does. Take it down with My Word of righteousness.
I have willed in this age of grace to make known to you the riches of the glory of the mystery of Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27.
Stop here a moment and look in the mirror of My Word. Jesus has overcome the world and now He dwells in every believer by the Holy Spirit within your spirit. Know that you have greatness within you beyond all you can ask or imagine, for all fullness dwells in Him. Do you not know that you are My temple and that My Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys My temple, he will be destroyed, for My temple is holy, and that is what you are. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. You can be filled with all My fullness, the power of the resurrection giving life to your mortal bodies and raising you to glory on the last day. See yourself as housing a treasure deep within. And know you have access by the Spirit to Me day and night always. You can ask Me questions and get answers every moment of the day. See yourself as well able for you have the mind of Christ. The anointing. All within you. Good counsel is as close as your heart and the Wonderful Counselor resides.
For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete. Colossians 2:9-10.
Stop here a moment and look in the mirror of My Word. You who believe are filled with My divine nature and are joined as one Spirit with Me in Christ. You can say with My apostle Paul, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21. Never allow yourself to feel alone, forsaken, or without hope again. You are never alone; I am with you always in spirit and truth. When you call to Me, I answer you and tell you great and mighty things you could not know. Jeremiah 33:3. I am always right there with you, and in you by My Spirit. See yourself that way. A house of God and a gate of Heaven releasing My Kingdom into the earth.
I have given you everything in Christ and in Him you lack nothing. I have blessed you with every spiritual blessing in Heaven and great is the goodness I have stored up for those who love Me! And you can access it now with confidence right at My very throne where, in spirit, you are already seated. See yourself above and not below and the perspective there is much better.
Stop here a moment and look in the mirror of My Word: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; and you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you. Isaiah 43:1-4.
Let My Word dwell in you richly. Colossians 3:16. I have made you a new creation in Christ, no longer see yourself the old way but put on the new man, clothed in Christ, and walk in love and light with Me. Old things have passed away, I make all things new. And each step of creation gets better, nothing ever goes backwards in what I am doing in you. So do not keep looking back to where you were, look forward to where you are going, your high calling in Christ. I have equipped you in Christ for all good things. I, the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus your Lord, have equipped you in every good thing to do My will, working in you that which is pleasing in My sight, through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 13:20-21. But before you will go forward, even though I have equipped you to do so, you will not have the confidence to take up your equipment and move on until you know who you are in Christ.
And how do you know all these things so you can know and do My Will? By looking in the mirror of My Word. All Scripture is Spirit-breathed (inspired) and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that you may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16. Let My Word show you who you are, what you have, and how to use it.
You each have received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of My manifold grace. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking My utterances; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which I supply; so that in all things glory is given through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:10-11.
And there is another layer to finding yourself in Scripture. There is a passage that refers in a particular way to your life in My Word. John the Baptist found the passage of Scripture that he felt referred to his life and he quoted it as who he was to the delegation from the Pharisees and priests. Mary and Joseph found the scriptures that referred to the birth of Jesus and Mary’s role. Jesus opened the Scroll of the Prophet Isaiah and read the passage about Himself and declared it fulfilled that day in that synagogue in Nazareth. And there is a passage that you will find that will reveal your life’s purpose to you, and usually more than one as they correspond to the different seasons in your life. Ask Me and I will help you find it.
I love you. Find who you are in the mirror of My Word. And in that mirror you will see yourself in Christ filled with the glow of glory.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18.