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You are already full! You are already rich!
1 CORINTHIANS 4:8
God made us alive together with Christ,
and raised us up together, and
made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus,
that in the ages to come He might show
the exceeding riches of His grace
in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
EPHESIANS 2:5-7
The good news of the gospel is that, through the cross and resurrection, Jesus Christ took on the poverty of our sin so that God the Father could give us the richness of His Son!
The good news is more gooder than many realize because, as God' children, we have ALL of the riches of Christ because we have ALL of Christ in us NOW!
Those who believe these riches won't be realized until heaven are deceived into living as spiritual paupers not knowing through unbelief that a "gold mine" of God's full riches already undergirds them (see picture).
REVELATION OF TRUTH
I shared these truths with a man this week who has been striviing to receive the riches of Christ, including Christ's hope, joy, comfort, and wisdom. I shared the analogy of a man living in poverty while he unknowlingly had a gold mine under his property.
This man responded with widened eyes as he realized the truth that He already had ALL of the riches of Christ! He is realizing he no longer has to strive to receive these riches (trying), but that he can grow in resting (trusting) as God supplies all of his need according to God's riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)!
APPROPRIATION OF TRUTH
Therefore, instead of trying to achieve the riches of Christ, pray that this man will grow to appropriate the riches of Christ he already has! I, too, yearn to grow in this appropriation.
The word appropriate is an interesting word. I was sharing these same truths with another man this week, and I asked him what he thought this word meant. He said that he had never used this word before, but in the context of our discussions it appears to mean "to accept what is yours." What a wonderful revelation!
APPROPRIATION FURTHER EXPLAINED
There is a teacher of God's Word with the Haven of Rest mission who has mentored me and ministered to me deeply this past year. He is a country preacher who has had far greater training by the Spirit of Christ than most who receive formal theological training. He defines the word appropriate as "It's yours! Take it!" I love that!
CLOSING
What is a great need you have today? As previously seen in Philippians 4:19, God has promised to supply just what you need. However, He does not do this separately from revealing Christ in you.
For example, if you need comfort today, God doesn't just give you comfort, He has given you Christ to intimately relate to, and the presence of Christ is your comfort! Our comfort abounds through Christ (2 Corin 1:5).
I can't think of anything that honors and worships God more than humbly embracing His gift of Jesus Christ's life to us, and sharing this Gift with others each and every day!
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Already Rich!
