The Kingdom of Self was created when Adam fell and mankind was left on his own or were we?
The light of God glory that once covered us in the presence of God was gone. Now we walked alone in darkness, separated from our God, dead in trespasses and sin. The Lord's presence was only a memory There was no return, no escape from the dreadful darkness. Self -life became our only interest. How we felt, what we thought, or decisions we made were all conspired within ourselves. Satan had trapped mankind into His Kingdom of darkness where the emphasis was on me, myself and I. Pride would now rule in man's heart. There would be no way out of this Kingdom accept through the death to self. How would this happen?
God didn't skip a beat. Jesus was born as the second Adam. He lived the perfect, holy and separated life unto His Father that Adam never did. His blood sacrifice for the sin of the world was accepted by the Father and mankind was now free to be restored and reconciled to the creator as he was in the beginning. Only on one condition, the sinner must die.
How could that happen? By identifying with Jesus's death, (Romans 6:3-14) as our very own. Jesus not only died, for us but as us. By faith in Christ Jesus we have been born again. God is not interested in our old life in Adam. That has been dealt with in His Son. But He is very much interested in who we are in Him. There is nothing more exciting to the Father than to see His Son reigning in our hearts growing in the glorious image of His Son. The cost is that we must die to 'self', that he might live in our new creation.
Luke 11:23 says it so well, "If anyone would comes after me let him deny himself, pick up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would loses his life for my sake will save it. " That is the good news of the Gospel. " I must deny my self-life. I no longer live, but Christ Jesus lives in me and the life I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loves me. (Gal:2:20)" By faith I have been reconciled to my Creator. I owe Him my life.. My cross is my death to self. and now I only live for His glory. My pride steals His glory. I am so grateful for God's great salvation. I have never been happier.
Showing posts with label Kingdom of self. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kingdom of self. Show all posts
Monday, September 7, 2015
Saturday, March 1, 2014
THE CLOSET
Right before I wake up in the morning, I often have the most incredible dreams. Some are life changing. Others are ridiculous and stupid. The ones I do remember are very clear and to the point. This one particular morning was memorable.
I found myself in this huge bedroom, standing in front of two closets. In my spirit, I heard a voice speak to me saying, "Open the door on your left". Slowly, I opened the door. It was dark and a horrendous smell like dead fish permeated the air. When I turned the closet light on, I recognized that it was full of my own clothes. Many were my favorite ones.
Again the voice spoke, "Open the door on your right?" Carefully, I opened the door. I was frightened as to what I might find. Instead of darkness, the closet was full of brilliant glorious light. It was filled with hundreds of pieces of new colorful garments. I didn't understand. Was the Lord going to give to me a whole new wardrobe? WOW! How great is that? Like most dreams, right at the best place, I woke up."
As I laid there thinking about it, I sensed that the Lord had something more for me. I fell back to sleep. It was then I started to see this vision.
"The Lord was standing between the two closet doors. Both of the doors were opened. Reaching inside my closet, He took handfulls of cloths off their hangers and threw them in a piggy pile on the floor.
"What are you doing, Lord, " I was getting upset. My closet was completely emptied and clothes piled in a heap. It was a mess. He shut the closet door, and printed across the door "Kingdom of Self".
As I started to pick up my clothes from the floor, every article of clothing had something written on it: selfishness, self-confidence, self righteousness, self pity, resentment, self justification, self protection, unforgiveness, fear, doubt, unbelief, anger, impatience, pride, lust, coveting, jealousy, religious, bitterness, independence, etc. I had no idea my closet was so full of dirty clothes. But what was I going to wear? I must have something good to wear?
The Lord discerned my thought, "My daughter, there was nothing in your closet acceptable for My Kingdom. Even all your 'good' clothes are filthy to Me."
"Lord, "I said, " I don't understand? I am naked!"
"You are right, my daughter. Your old clothes are dirty and ugly. They will be exchanged for Mine. Now, start picking up your old clothes one at a time and hand them to Me. I will dress you for My Kingdom in garments of righteousness, peace and joy, love forgiveness, kindness, mercy, gentleness, dependence, long-suffering, humility and much more."
"But Lord, my closet smells so bad! I can't put these new clothes in that closet." I explained.
"It has been completely cleansed, trust Me."
As I sat on the floor amid my old clothes, I contemplated, "Do I have to hand over all of them at once? It wasn't going to be that easy. Maybe He thought I should wash them more often."
My thoughts were quickly interrupted, "Enough, My daughter." He lovingly spoke, yet with a firm voice, "I have been patient. You must repent. You can not wear your 'old' clothes in My Kingdom."
Then my eyes were opened. I saw Calvary's cross. Jesus was wearing all my 'old' clothes.
Now, I could understood why Jesus said in Mathew 9:17. "You can't put new wine into an old wine skin." "You must be born again." John 3:3
Other scripture verses that came to mind were Colossians 3:9,10,"'Put off the OLD self with its practices and put on the NEW self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator'. Romans 8:9-10, Romans 12:2., I Cor. 5:16-18.
I found myself in this huge bedroom, standing in front of two closets. In my spirit, I heard a voice speak to me saying, "Open the door on your left". Slowly, I opened the door. It was dark and a horrendous smell like dead fish permeated the air. When I turned the closet light on, I recognized that it was full of my own clothes. Many were my favorite ones.
Again the voice spoke, "Open the door on your right?" Carefully, I opened the door. I was frightened as to what I might find. Instead of darkness, the closet was full of brilliant glorious light. It was filled with hundreds of pieces of new colorful garments. I didn't understand. Was the Lord going to give to me a whole new wardrobe? WOW! How great is that? Like most dreams, right at the best place, I woke up."
As I laid there thinking about it, I sensed that the Lord had something more for me. I fell back to sleep. It was then I started to see this vision.
"The Lord was standing between the two closet doors. Both of the doors were opened. Reaching inside my closet, He took handfulls of cloths off their hangers and threw them in a piggy pile on the floor.
"What are you doing, Lord, " I was getting upset. My closet was completely emptied and clothes piled in a heap. It was a mess. He shut the closet door, and printed across the door "Kingdom of Self".
As I started to pick up my clothes from the floor, every article of clothing had something written on it: selfishness, self-confidence, self righteousness, self pity, resentment, self justification, self protection, unforgiveness, fear, doubt, unbelief, anger, impatience, pride, lust, coveting, jealousy, religious, bitterness, independence, etc. I had no idea my closet was so full of dirty clothes. But what was I going to wear? I must have something good to wear?
The Lord discerned my thought, "My daughter, there was nothing in your closet acceptable for My Kingdom. Even all your 'good' clothes are filthy to Me."
"Lord, "I said, " I don't understand? I am naked!"
"You are right, my daughter. Your old clothes are dirty and ugly. They will be exchanged for Mine. Now, start picking up your old clothes one at a time and hand them to Me. I will dress you for My Kingdom in garments of righteousness, peace and joy, love forgiveness, kindness, mercy, gentleness, dependence, long-suffering, humility and much more."
"But Lord, my closet smells so bad! I can't put these new clothes in that closet." I explained.
"It has been completely cleansed, trust Me."
As I sat on the floor amid my old clothes, I contemplated, "Do I have to hand over all of them at once? It wasn't going to be that easy. Maybe He thought I should wash them more often."
My thoughts were quickly interrupted, "Enough, My daughter." He lovingly spoke, yet with a firm voice, "I have been patient. You must repent. You can not wear your 'old' clothes in My Kingdom."
Then my eyes were opened. I saw Calvary's cross. Jesus was wearing all my 'old' clothes.
Now, I could understood why Jesus said in Mathew 9:17. "You can't put new wine into an old wine skin." "You must be born again." John 3:3
Other scripture verses that came to mind were Colossians 3:9,10,"'Put off the OLD self with its practices and put on the NEW self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator'. Romans 8:9-10, Romans 12:2., I Cor. 5:16-18.
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