Grace Reigns

Today’s Good News Sermon: “Grace Reigns”

If Christian speakers actually believe that those who have received Christ have been made new creations with new hearts and with Christ resident in them, they will not be inclined to teach Old Covenant-based methods of living by the attempt to avoid sin in order to please God and earn his blessing, but will instead speak about the wonder of New Covenant life in Christ and by the Spirit, where God is not counting men’s sins against them, where righteousness and grace reigns, and we have all things. (2 Corinthians 5:17-19; Romans 5:20-21; Titus 2:11-14)
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Look Up, Son

If God thinks you’re a true son of His, holy and righteous, clean and pure, just as He intended, but you think you’re something else, something less, might that cause stress in your relationship(s) and how you interact in your day to day? Imagine having an argument with God, and you’re trying to lower His estimate of yourself, while He’s trying to raise your estimate of yourself. Who wins that argument? How long before you relent and accept His view of you? You’ll be glad when you do, because living by faith is not only normal, it’s powerful. You’re going to feel it. It’s how that whole “Take-my-yoke-upon-you-and-learn-from-me, for-I-am-gentle-and-humble-in-heart, and-you-will-find-rest-for-your-souls” promise happens in us. That’s a good one. Remember?

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What If You're Good?

God has made you thoroughly good on purpose and with purpose, but Satan is skilled in suggesting an alternate reality—a false you to distract you and diminish who you really are. Here’s how to know and grow in who you truly are by seeing the lie of who you are not.

To watch the video, click http://ralphharris.org/what-if-youre-good/

I gave this message at Church Without Religion (http://churchwithoutreligion.com), pastored by my friend, Andrew Farley, on Sunday, December 2, 2018.

Gravity Lessons

“What is it that makes me fail and fall?” she asked.

In response, here is Today’s Mini Message: “Gravity Lessons” – The purposeful plummet everyone experiences when making the attempt to live by the Ten Commandments or by any laws or rules, rather than by faith in the Spirit of life. He alone gives and produces righteousness and right-doing as a gift from Jesus—from start to finish. He is the way, and there is no other. If you’re experiencing a lot of “falling” lately, quit the lesson and accept the gift . . . again.

Romans 7:8,13 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. 13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

Romans 8:2 …through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

2 Corinthians 3:6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

For much more about this, see these chapters in my book, God’s Astounding Opinion of You: Ch. 4, “Who Is I?” Are You a Modification or a New Creation? Ch. 6, “He Ain’t Heavy” Holy Spirit—Life of the Party; Ch. 8, “Doin’ the Monster Mash” Slaying the Sin-loving Beast in You.
Book link: https://tinyurl.com/y9k9y86c

Life Happens on the Playground

While telling each other that we must get along, we’re failing badly. Here’s what I think, and here’s what I’m doing. It’s easy, and it means a lot more fun—particularly during the holidays.

To watch the video, click here. http://ralphharris.org/life-happens-on-the-playground/

To read the post, click http://ralphharris.org/life-happens-on-the-playground-4/

I am very grateful for all of you, particularly for your friendship in Christ and in His gospel. Thank you to my friends in Canada, Australia, Sweden, Singapore, Switzerland, Ireland, England, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, and more. And to my American friends, have a great day celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday!

Ralph

No More Control Freaks

Do you know any control freaks? Are you one? Is it true that you must give up control so that God can be in control? I don’t think so. Here’s the good news that makes you free—and happy! (New!)

To watch the 6.5-minute video, click http://ralphharris.org/no-more-control-freaks/.



To read the post, click http://ralphharris.org/no-more-control-freaks-4/.



I hope this encourages you today!

You Look, He Works

If you're God's workmanship (and indeed, you are - Ephesians 2:10), then your primary part isn't to work but to relax and know Him and how He is with you. Jesus is your focus because you’re His focus. He'll take care of the building and the result, because He knows what He's doing. You don't have to. He’s the Expert. That’s why you feel better after looking at Him or talking with Him—or after reading this. You look, He works.

Life & The Struggle

Today I am identifying where the inside struggle comes from, just as the apostle Paul did. Without Paul’s perspective that commandments empower sin (Romans 7:7-13; 1 Corinthians 15:56 “. . . the power of sin is the law.”), and that it is no longer he, himself, that is the sinner (Romans 7:17-18) because he is a new creation (“the old HAS gone, the new HAS come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17), we will lead terribly confused and powerless lives and, thinking we are still evil and unchanged, attempt life by commandments—the very thing finished by Christ.

Life for new creation sons and daughters, who still know the struggle of the flesh, is by grace and the Spirit because we are now in the Spirit—in union with God—and not in the flesh (Romans 8:9). The good news is that good, and it’s vital we have it.

YOU

Why is thinking about and accepting the “new creation you” that God made so vital? Because only the real you is not subject to judgement (John 3:18). You’ve already gone through it in Christ at the cross and resurrection (see Romans 6:1-7). If you accept any kind of false YOU—you’re stupid, you’re fat, you’re bad, etc.—you will fall under judgement that requires penalty and penance. If you believe in any YOU other than the one made through Christ, you’ll have to navigate your days with lots of signposts of failure and condemnation. That’s Satan’s work. You won’t be happy. You won’t be satisfied. You’ll be differing shades of miserable, because you weren’t made for judgment (John 3:17). (See http://ralphharris.org/how-you-is-taken-captive/.)

This is why I work so consistently to remind you about YOU. The YOU that you are brings glory to God, and when you’re convinced (maybe again and again) about that YOU, brings revival to you. Getting acquainted with the real you is a joy! Everybody likes a good revival, right?

To get more doses of revival for yourself or for a friend, 1) subscribe to my new web site—ralphharris.org. It’s easy, free, regularly updated, and there are already more than 160 categorized videos and posts; 2) get or give either or both of my books—God’s Astounding Opinion of You, or my new one, Life According to Perfect (http://ralphharris.org/books/); 3) share the simple truth of the gospel you know with someone else—you’ll feel much better as you do. After writing a brief summary of the gospel he knew and believed, John wrote that, “We write this to make our joy complete” (1 John 1:4). How cool is that?

So hang in there, YOU. Remember and remind others about the success of Christ’s cross and resurrection. You’re a whole new YOU.

If Jesus Loves Me,...?

Here’s a brand new, terrific book! Have you ever read any of David Gregory’s best-selling books? The Rest of the Gospel. The Last Christian. Dinner with a Perfect Stranger. And more. He’s a tremendous writer! He was a huge help in the writing of my new book, as well. Here’s what I wrote after reading the manuscript:

"I have never read anything like “If Jesus Loves Me Why Isn't This Working?” and I was fascinated by it. David Gregory has written an incredibly powerful yet easy way to know God's voice and His Word. This is a terrific and encouraging read for individuals and groups alike."

It has just become available, so here’s the link on Amazon to go get it: https://tinyurl.com/y7b7s94p.

Your Life As A Light

(To watch the 3.5-minute video, click: http://ralphharris.org/your-life-as-a-light/)

If, as Jesus said in Matthew 5:14, “you are the light of the world”, then it seems obvious that Satan’s work is to craft a sort of covering for you, an acceptable covering, and then to induce you to pull it over yourself. To hide. It’s terribly devious.

Jesus has made you salt and light, and that will never be altered. You don’t have to become salty, you don’t have to become “lighty”—He did that to you already. Satan’s game is to point out your failures and weaknesses, as though they could ever change the change Jesus made for you, and then, if you’ll accept them as identifying who you are, to induce you to hide yourself.

But still. You are a light.

The good news is that Jesus didn’t make you the light of the world “IF”. There is no “if”. The light that you have emanates from you but does not originate with you. You’re a lamp—a very nice lamp, the lamp He intended—but a lamp! And you will always be plugged in. You will always be on. Anything and everything that might imply you’re not a very good lamp does not change your lampness. It’s who you are.

So throw off the devil’s offered covering. It doesn’t fit you. It doesn’t belong. It doesn’t help. Weaknesses and failures simply make it evident that the light you have is the Son of God, who lives in you and provides the light. You are the vessel, He is the content. Sometimes that’s going to be obvious. “I might have a sloppy lamp structure, but I’m a lamp! A lamp is what I am.” And then I am revived because I am believing that Jesus’ work through the cross and resurrection worked.

So shine on, my lamp friends. It’s who you are, so it’s what you do.

Matthew 5:14-15 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

Grace & Peace

The lie of religion suggests that while God has already happily given us everything in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14), we might have lost a little of the all we never earned—here’s how to get it back. Slaves are made in the "here’s how." So evil and destructive is this suggestion that the apostle Paul made a wish for those who spread the lie.

"As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!" Galatians 5:12

Most of the New Covenant letters begin with the phrase, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” for a very important reason: it is easy for us to forget how well-off we are with God, so we need to be reminded about it—first thing. If we miss the reminder or don’t know the truth, it is also easy for us to be abused by anti-Christ lies because we’re ignorant of what He accomplished for us.

Here’s a New Covenant reminder of God’s gift after the cross and resurrection of Christ: Grace is God giving you everything without obligating you to handle everything well, and peace is God assuring you that you are well, secure, loved and safe with Him at all times.

Now you’re not ignorant. Knowing the truth makes and keeps you free.

Hooked On Treasure

When we have treasure no higher than the stuff of this world, we can become nothing better than what has our value. But when we discover that our greatest treasure—God Himself—actually treasures us, our otherwise crazy search for fulfillment comes to a satisfying end.

To watch the 5 minute video, click http://ralphharris.org/hooked-on-treasure/

To read the post, click http://ralphharris.org/hooked-on-treasure-4/

Is Intercession Difficult?

(There’s a video link at the end if you’d rather watch.)

Is intercession difficult? Do you have to study it, do you have a lot of knowledge about it in order to do it right?
 
A supporter-friend of mine recently asked for my thoughts about the New Testament word “intercession.”

The word “intercede” has unfortunately come to mean something that we’re supposed to do by ourselves—“Ralph, go intercede for so and so”—rather than something that happens to us and for us.

On a small scale, perhaps you know what it’s like to be praying along in a sort of “minding-your-own-business” kind of way, when suddenly a care, a concern or a godly desire rises up in you—it happens to you—and “leads you” in feelings and words that you had no prior intention of praying. This is intercession granted or caused by God, who intercedes with you.

He shares his cares, concerns and desires with you because, 1) you’re a son, and you’re like Him; 2) He wants you to know Him; 3) He wants to get something done through you. Paul wrote about this happening to him in Colossians 1:29 – 2:3. (Please read that.) In that passage, Paul was literally “being labored,” and “being struggled” in those verses by God for a result. In other words, the Holy Spirit was doing something with Paul in order to prove the perfect ability of God for someone else.

That’s exciting.

Paul wrote that the same thing happened to his friend, Epaphras, in Colossians 4:12-13, where he was literally “being wrestled” and “being worked hard” by the Spirit in order that the Colossian believers would stand firm in all the will of God. How important is that? This was an amazing evidence of Christ in Epaphras and, as it happens to us, an amazing evidence of Christ in us. Christ in you!

On a grand scale, Jesus is interceding for us. We are in Him, so everything that “comes at us” or is “done to us” or “by us” affects Him. In that way, He intercedes for us by being our innocence, our righteousness, holiness and redemption, our strength, courage, comfort, love, patience, peace, kindness, self-control, and more. Nothing can separate us from Him because He lives perfectly for us in a way we cannot. As we grow in believing and trusting Him “in whom we live and move and have our being”, so His security, His defense, His ability and grace become more and more evident to us—and to everyone else because of it.

That’s freedom because He is doing it with us! And that’s powerful.

This intercession, this miraculous evidence of Christ in us, for us and through us is described in my new book, “Life According to Perfect.” Maybe you’ve been listening to me in this video or reading the text and thinking, “Hey! That sounds like what happens in your new book!” Well, you’re right. It is. This is one of the thrill rides of Christianity that too many of us are missing—we don’t understand it, we don’t recognize what’s happening in us. So because we don’t trust that God is doing it, we take another avenue, another way of praying that all too often is boring and uneventful. We forsake the adventure and mystery of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27), and choose template prayers. “Just get it done” prayers. For that reason, many of us give up on prayer altogether. But I don’t want anyone to miss “Christ in you, the hope of glory”.

FEAR is the biggest “ripper-offer” that keeps us from looking to Christ in us because we’re afraid that something out of control, something dangerous might happen. And, actually, that’s the truth! It might. This is when the grace of God in you and the grace of God for you and through you is beautifully evident, most powerful and most beneficial—and you’ll know it! You must know that your enemy, the devil, fights aggressively against this happening in us and through us, because it is dangerous to him.

This is one of the most fun, most incredible aspects of Christianity. You have it by new birth—He is in you and you are in Him. And He loves for you to know the fullness you have been given. (See Colossians 1:9-10.)

That is the Plan. It’s not something you have to do, it’s what He is already doing with you and for others. He is busy, so simply pay attention. That brings about Christ’s intercession for you and through you . . . and I hope this helps.

(To watch the video, click: http://ralphharris.org/is-intercession-difficult/.)

Today's Fake News Sermon

Today’s fake news sermon: “Getting Rid of Your Bad Self” — The crazy-good fun of trying to crucify what Jesus already did.
(I say it a lot, but I’ll say it again: our problem is not doing, our problem is believing. “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin” Romans 6:6-7. Jesus crucified your bad self and gave you a new you; do you believe? Life works by believing.)