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January 2017 (printable .pdf file - 243 KB)

Righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit be to you from God our Father and His son the Lord Jesus Christ.

The December 2016 teaching discussed God's Word announcement and birth of Jesus. We will also learned about Jesus at twelve years old.

There are three types of teaching we can do in the Bible - 1. A Textual (Word-based) teaching, 2. A topical teaching (for example, a topic like Baptism or similar to what we did in the 2016 teachings), and 3. An Expository teaching looks at every verse line-by-line and provides clarification and discussion. This month we will do a Word-based teaching on the word "Now." We will look at some of the things we have in Christ Now per God's Word.

The word Now means immediately, instantly, right now! Some things in God's Word are in the future, like the return of Christ and the new body we are going to receive. Other things are written for our learning, like the Old Testament and its valuable lessons. I am so ecstatic to see all the things we Now have in Christ, and share this teaching with you. Our Father so loved us that He made us complete in Christ.

I encourage you to take your Bible and read the chapters from where these scriptures exhort us Now to take action. Let's read Luke 2:15-16:

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. [bold added for emphasis]

This verse tells us HOW the shepherds responded to the angels' heralds. They went immediately, instantly, right Now with haste to see what the Lord had made known to them. They acted with haste and found Mary, Joseph, and the babe Jesus lying in a manger just as the angels said. People, this passage from Luke teaches us that if we want to see the greatness of God, we must act Now on His Word.

Let's look at another example of Now in John 9:19, 21 and 25. In these verses, Jesus healed their (referring to the parents) son on the Sabbath day, which the religious leaders were not happy about. The key is looking at the immediacy of the healing. When did their son see? Now!

And they asked them [the parents], saying, is this your son, who you say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

He answered and said, whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. [bold added for emphasis]

It is written in John 16:31, "Jesus answered them, do you Now believe?" Jesus asked his disciples, "do you Now believe?" He wanted them to admit to the immediacy of their believing based on what he had just said to them (in verses 25-30). This is important because once God's Word is known and believed, the action can start Now.

Take a look at II Corinthians 6:2:

For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. [bold added for emphasis]

When was the accepted time? Now! When was the day of salvation? Now! Paul was exhorting the Corinthians to acknowledge instantly the day of salvation, so they could take action on it. Rather than wait for something in the future, Now is a sign-post that the action is to be taken immediately.

People, the action you can take Now is to confess Romans 10: 9:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you do not have the Spirit of Christ you are not born-again. According to the scripture, Romans 8:9:

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man (anyone) have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. [bold added for emphasis]

It is important to understand the day of salvation is Now! It is written in Ephesians 5:8:

For ye were sometimes darkness [blinded], but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. [bold added for emphasis]

God is light, people. It is written in 1 John 1:5:

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

We are children of the light, God, and we walk by His Word which is a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). Ephesians 5:8 tells us this is something that is available and ready for action Now. This is not something to wait for in the future or something that came to us in the past. It is prepared, available, and ready for us Now.

The constant reminder we have is that Now are we sons and daughters of Gods. It is written in I John 3:2:

Beloved, Now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. [bold added for emphasis]

According to the scriptures, we are sons and daughters of God Now, because we are born-again of God's Spirit and we are children of the light, God. This means Jesus Christ is our brother. It is written in Hebrews 2:11:

For both he that sanctified and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he [Jesus Christ] is not ashamed to call them brethren.

I will repeat it - Jesus Christ is our brother! We have the same God and Father! This is God's Word, people, and it brings me great comfort each and every day. Let's look at two more examples of Now. The first is in Romans 8:29:

For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Ephesians 2:13:

But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are [the text is were] made nigh [next of kin] by the blood of Christ. [bold added for emphasis]

Jesus Christ, as our brother, died for us! He gave his life for you and me. This is something we have Now and something we can take action on Now. The action we can take is tell people what God does for us every day in Christ Jesus. And why do we take this action? Turn to II Corinthians 5:20:

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. [bold added for emphasis]

When are we ambassadors for Christ? Now is the answer according to the Bible. The moment you were born-again, you became a son of God, Jesus Christ became your brother, and we all became ambassadors for Christ. We are to speak God's Word Now! And why do we do this? We are told in Romans 7:6, which is talking about the ten commandments of the Law given to Moses.

But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. [bold added for emphasis]

We were delivered from the law in the Old Testament Now. According to the scriptures Romans 8:2:

for the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Thank God, through Christ Jesus, we are delivered from the law. We are told in Romans 10:4:

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.

Christ is the end of the law, he fulfills it! Turn to Romans 3:21-22:

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. [bold added for emphasis]

According to Romans 6:22:

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. [bold added for emphasis]

So, I ask you. . .When are we delivered and made free from sin by Christ? Your answer should be an enthusiastic and resounding Now!

Let's continue reading in Romans 8:1:

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [bold added for emphasis]

The Word tells us there is Now no condemnation. No doubt on this one, people. . . there is Now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Remember, Christ in you is son ship, you in Christ is fellowship.

Turn to I Corinthians 7:14 for a comforting example of Now:

For the unbelieving husband [who does not believe in God] is sanctified [set apart] by the [believing] wife, and the unbelieving wife [who does not believe in God] is sanctified [set apart] by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. [bold added for emphasis]

Children are made holy Now by the believing of the husband or wife. If you are parents, doesn't that bless your heart and comfort you? People, God's Word guarantees us Now our children are made holy if one parent believes.

This comfort also extends to us. Turn to the scriptures in Romans 5:11:

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement [reconciliation]. [bold added for emphasis]

The Word of God says we Now received the atonement or reconciliation back to God through Jesus Christ. By taking action on Romans 10:9, we are sons and daughters of God, our Father. This is important because in Colossians 1:21 we see:

and you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet Now hath he reconciled.

In the same manner, II Corinthians 5:18 tells us:

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ.

The word "reconcile" means to bring back together that which was separated. Man was separated from God when Eve and Adam sinned (Genesis 3). If this is not clear to you, please go back and read the teachings from January 2016 and February 2016. It is important to understand why Romans 5:9 is so powerful:

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. [bold added for emphasis]

It is through our taking action via Romans 10:9, we are saved through Jesus Christ. It by what our brother Jesus Christ accomplished that we are "saved from wrath now." Turn to Galatians 2:20:

I am [was] crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [bold added for emphasis]

Because we are Now justified by the blood of Jesus Christ, we shall be saved from wrath through him. This is not wishy-washy - it is not "maybe we will be saved" or "we could be saved." People, we are not absolutely, positively going through the wrath because Now we are justified.

More than being justified, as if that was not enough, we are also in the body of Christ. I Corinthians 12:20 and 27 tells us:

But now are they many members, yet but one body.

Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular. [bold added for emphasis]

We have a place Now in the body of Christ. Let's look at another example of the power of Now in God's Word. Turn to Colossians 1:26-27:

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Take a look at the time constraints in these verses. The scripture tells us something that was in the past hidden is Now made manifest or known to his saints. This is a great example of the past and present. And, more importantly, the Now action is Christ is in us if we have taken action via Romans 10:9. According to the scriptures in Colossians 3:8:

Now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. [bold added for emphasis]

We are given clear instructions to immediately stop actions which are not in line with God's Will. What other instructions or actions can we Now take?

I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me! -- Philippians 4:13.

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness -- Romans 6: 19. [bold added for emphasis]

It is important to look for those examples of Now throughout the scriptures. When we see it, we look for the subsequent ACTION that is to take instantly and immediately. Turn to these verses and look for the ACTION of Now:

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death -- Philippians 1:20 [bold added for emphasis]

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness [is your real, true, vital and spiritual relationship with God] is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come -- I Timothy 4:8 [bold added for emphasis]

These examples of Now give us clear instructions of the ACTION to take immediately, just as the angels appearing to the shepherds told them what to instantly do. Many people turn the Word of God into something complicated and difficult. But by looking at the sign-post of Now, we can clearly see the instant behaviors we absolutely must take as ambassadors of Christ.

Let's look at some final knowledge and immediate actions.

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming -- I John 2:28 [bold added for emphasis]

For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord -- I Thessalonians 3:8 [bold added for emphasis]

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both Now and forever. Amen. -- II Peter 3:18

If there is one main activator in the word Now, it is the love of God that comes from continually and immediately renewing our mind with God's Word. Look at 1 Corinthians 13:13:

And now abideth faith, hope, charity [love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation], these three; but the greatest of these is charity [love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation]. [bold added for emphasis]

For God, love is the greatest action we can take Now because love triggers and energizes believing and hope while we wait for the return of Christ.

In summary, we did a Word-based study of the word Now as it appears in the Bible. We learned the word Now is a sign-post of an immediate action that needs to be taken immediately, instantly, or Now!

I invite you to explore the Bible for more examples and knowledge about the actions you can take Now. The Bible is not a dusty old text to be picked up when convenient. It is the word of life Now.

I thank God, our Father for what He has given us Now through His only begotten son the Lord Jesus Christ. Now for this cause, I also thank God without ceasing, because, when you receive the Word of God, you receive it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe. (see I Thessalonians 2:13)

Next month's teaching will continue to explore Now from the perspective of HOW or in what ways can we take the actions of Now.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

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