What is the first thing you do after taking a bath? Get dressed! I am so glad provision has been made for our nakedness! God commands us to “Put on”, as elect of God. We are commanded to “put on the Lord Jesus,” “Put on the new man,” and to “Put on the whole armor of God.” So put it on! That means dress in it. Reckon it to be so before the throne. Stand in Him complete.
Abraham believed God and it was “imputed” to him as righteousness. That word imputed means it was credited to his account. Though he was bankrupt himself, God applied it to his account because of his faith. Believe God and apply His provision for your nakedness.
The Old Testament book of Zechariah, chapter three contains a wonderful example of the need to put on, or to reckon ourselves clothed in the righteousness of God, and in the armor of the Lord. Joshua, the high priest, was standing before the Lord and Satan was at his right hand accusing him before the throne of God. Everything Satan brought against him was true except for one thing - God said, “I forgave him. I clothed him. Leave him alone!” Therefore God commanded the angel of the Lord to take off Joshua’s dirty tattered garments and give him a robe of pure white, a turban on his head, and a scepter in his hand. Then God looks at him and says, “Is not this the brand plucked out of the fire?”
There Are Two Parts to Reckoning:
1. Principle of Position - seeing yourself in heavenly places as God sees you.
2. Principle of Practice - exercising authority in Christ in heavenly places
Principle of Position
There is a “Principle of Position” that we all need to learn. It is the principle that though we all fall far short of the glory of God, God himself has made provision for us. His provision is that we can put on Christ. We wear his righteousness, his white robe, his crown, his authority. As God sees us in heaven he sees us through his perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ his Son. We are brands plucked out of the fire. Reckon it to be so! See yourself as God sees you… “and you are complete in him.”(Colossians 2:10)
“To Reckon” is to appropriate God’s invisible truth as our visible reality.
“To Believe” is to see the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith applies to our hearts the heavenly realities that God already sees.
- Put on the Lord Jesus Christ
- Put on His Righteousness
- Put on the Whole Armor of God
Principle of Practice – Using Your Authority
How do we exercise our God-given authority in Christ? How do we address the devil in our prayers? (We certainly don’t pray to him.)
Weapons
God has clearly given us “Weapons of our Warfare” for the pulling down of strongholds. Our weapons (the word literally is “strategies”) are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself above the knowledge of God, and brings every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-6)
Words
The sword of the Spirit, is the Word of God. God’s word is that which we use as our offense. It cuts, penetrates, convicts, declares, exposes, and casts out the enemies of God. Jesus said, “All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” That is why whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven. (Matt. 16:19, 18:18) That authority is in his word, his ultimate authoritative command. We simply wield the sword. Just point it in the right direction.
Prayers
“Be strong” or be bold, boldfaced, courageous, aggressive, un-intimidated - Eph 6:10
“A hand upon the throne” - Exodus 17:16
“A hedge of protection” - Ezekiel 22:30
“Boldly to the throne of grace” - Hebrews 4:16
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
1. PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD Ephesians 6:11-18
2. BE STRONG IN THE LORD! Ephesians 6:10
3. BIND THE ENEMY Matthew 18:18-20
4. RESIST THE DEVIL James 4:7
5. CLAIM THE BLOOD Revelation 12:11
6. LOOSE THE CAPTIVES Luke 4:18
7. PULL DOWN STRONGHOLDS II Corinthians. 10:3-5
8. PUT A HEDGE OF PROTECTION Ezekiel 22:30
9. COMMAND HIM TO LEAVE Matthew 10:1
10. REBUKE HIM IN JESUS Matthew 17:18
It is only when we stand in our own righteousness that we should be afraid to stand before the enemy, for our righteousnesses are as "filthy rags" but the righteousness of Christ is called the armor of God.
Who I am in Christ
Biblical Truths to “Practice Believing”
I AM GOD’S…
• possession
• child
• workmanship
• friend
• temple
• vessel
• co-laborer
• witness
• soldier
• ambassador
• building
• instrument
• chosen
• beloved
• precious jewel
I HAVE BEEN…
• redeemed by the blood
• set free from sin and condemnation
• set free from Satan’s control
• set free from Satan’s kingdom
• chosen before the foundation of the world
• predestined to be like Jesus
• forgiven of all my trespasses
• cleansed by the blood of the Lamb
• given a sound mind
• given the Holy Spirit
• adopted into God’s family
• justified freely by his grace
• given all things pertaining to life and godliness
• given great and precious promises
• authority over all the power of the enemy
• access to God
• been given wisdom
I AM…
• complete in him
• free forever from sin’s power
• sanctified and meet for the Master’s use
• loved eternally
• eternally kept in the palm of his hand
• kept by the power of God
• not condemned
• one with the Lord
• on my way to heaven
• alive, quickened by his mighty power
• seated with Christ in heavenly places
• the head and not the tail
• light in the darkness
• candle in a dark place
• city set on a hill
• salt of the earth
• his sheep
• a citizen of heaven
• hidden with Christ in God
• protected from the evil one
• kept by the power of God
• secure in Christ
• set on a Rock
• more-than-a-conqueror
• born again
• a victor
• healed by his strips
• covered by the blood of Jesus
• sheltered under his wing
• hidden in the secret place of the Almighty
I HAVE…
• access to the Father
• a home in heaven waiting for me
• all things in Christ
• a living hope
• an anchor to my soul
• a hope that is steadfast and unmoveable
• authority to tread on serpents
• power to witness
• the tongue of the learned
• the mind of Christ
• boldness and access
• peace with God
• faith as a grain of mustardseed
I CAN…
• do all things through Christ who strengthens me
• find mercy and grace to help in needs
• come boldly to the throne of grace
• quench all the firey darts of the wicked one
• tread on the serpent
• defeat the enemy
• declare God’s truth
• pray always and everywhere
• chase a thousand
I CANNOT…
• be separated from God’s love
• be lost
• be removed from His grasp
• taken out of the Father’s hand
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