Seeking Jesus First - Nov. 29, 2022

30 Million people attempted to learn a new language in 2020. There are many apps and classes available to help people with this. But, the best way to learn a new language is to be fully immersed in a family that speaks the language and lives the culture. This is how heaven does it with its new citizens.

When a person floods their natural senses with the new language, they learn faster and more accurately. They start picking up the nuances of accent and inflections. They begin to re-learn what everything is called, and as they get better they even start thinking in the new language. The kingdom of heaven is a new language and culture. We learn it by immersing ourselves in grace, faith, love and truth. We receive the words of Christ, the mind of Christ and even the Spirit of Christ. So, we have access to everything that makes a son and citizen of the kingdom of God.

Many people move to a new country and bring their own culture with them. They surround themselves with people with their own language and culture and, even though they become citizens, they never actually change languages and cultures.

Believers do this as well. They put their faith in Christ Jesus but think they have to wait until heaven to change language and culture. Thank God we don’t have to physically die in order to receive heaven’s language and culture. We just have to immerse ourselves in Christ. Correction: We GET TO immerse ourselves in Christ right now.

Gal. 3:26-27 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Rom. 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

Col. 3:8-10 “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, ¹⁰ and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him”

Eph. 4:20-24 ^“But you have not so learned Christ, ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

The words “put on” is the Greek word “enduo” from which we derive the English word “endue”. “Enduo” or “Put on” means to wear as clothing in the sense of sinking into. It means to be immersed in Christ. Be wrapped up in Christ. There is an old saying, “The clothes make the man.” In this case, the clothes do make the man. Putting on Christ makes us look and act and talk like sons of God and citizens of heaven.

We all no people who do not act their identity. This can stem from trying to be something that they are not. This can be a good thing as far as the world goes. But as citizens of heaven and sons of God, we have received a new identity. The only way to walk in it effectively is to be immersed in Christ - to put off the old and put on Christ.

This is only possible through knowing Him and through abiding in Him and having His words abide in us. We have been given every advantage from God to be able to do this:

• Adoption - complete with a new name, a new birth certificate and heavenly citizenship.
• Inheritance - we have been given full access to the kingdom of God.
• DNA - Because we have received God’s Holy Spirit, we have the very nature of God in us.
• The mind of Christ - we even have intimate knowledge of how God thinks and are granted permission with an invitation to think like He does.
• Language - A spiritual language (yes, tongues) but this spiritual language is also a language of truth, faith, love, authority, power, victory and hope.
• Every Spiritual Blessing - In giving us His Son, God has not withheld anything from us.
• Immortality - Protection, Peace, and Eternal Life. If someone kills our physical body, we actually experience more life.
• Freedom from bondage and fear - God’s love has made it impossible for the enemy to control us when we immerse ourselves in Christ Jesus and His love - BELIEVE IT!
• Authority and Power - we are the body of Christ in the earth - the body of The One who has been given all authority in heaven and in earth.

Immerse myself in Christ? Yes, Please.

I get to learn a language that heals the sick and raises the dead? Yes, Please.

I get to learn a culture of love that sets captives free? Yes, Please.

I get to call things that be not as though they were? Yes, Please.

I get to be surrounded by a loving heavenly family? Woohoo! Yes, Please.

I get to be the prophet of my own life? I get to have a successful marriage? I get to be a good parent? I get to forgive everyone who hurt me in the past and be completely free from the poison of bitterness? I get to walk in as much blessing as I want? I get to have the freedom of the sons of God? I get to be at peace with God and know Him personally? I get to call God, “Abba”? Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Please! and Thank You!

This is a better covenant with better promises. And every one of those better promises are ours in Christ.