Freedom Made SimpleSample

Knowing who Jesus is

When Jesus invited Peter, James and John to climb a high mountain, they got more than a great view. I am certain they cherished every moment with Jesus, but to meet with Moses and Elijah must have blown their minds. But if that wasn't enough, they all heard the voice of the Father. Matthew 17:5 (NLT) "But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”"

Can you imagine this moment? What would it feel like to have a voice from heaven confirm the identity of the One standing beside you? What would that do for your faith? What would it do for your friendship with Jesus? What does it do to your connection with God when you imagine this?

Let's go deeper with this. In 1 John 4:4 (NLT) it says, "...the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world." John stood on that mountain with Jesus and could testify to the Spirit who lives in Him. He knew Jesus' greatness by the friendship he shared with Him and the experiences he had with Him.

This verse is fundamental in understanding how great Jesus is. The One who is in you is Jesus. We all know and believe that. But do you know how far "greater" He is? Do you know how far greater than Satan He is?

There is none greater than Jesus. He is the giver and sustainer of life. He is the one who has broken death's grip on us, and He is the one whose love has reconciled the whole earth to the Father.

Have a look at the way Paul describes what Jesus has done,

"For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault." Colossians 1:19-22 (NLT).

These verses give us a powerful understanding of Jesus' love for us and what He has accomplished. His love conquered our hatred. His love overcame the distance between us and God. And His love brought us into His presence. Take note of the tense this is recorded in. He HAS done all of this. Not, He will do it. But, rather, He HAS done it. He HAS "reconciled you to himself," and made you "holy and blameless," so you can "stand before Him without a single fault." The power of His love has accomplished more than we can imagine.

In John 15:5 (NLT), Jesus shows us how close He draws us to himself. "Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." He is within us, and we are within Him. You can get no closer than what He is to you! He does not keep you at an arms distance. He is not a distant God. He is within you. But it's John 15:15 (NLT) that Jesus reminds us of how much this means to Him, "I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me." We have long called Jesus "Messiah" or "Saviour," but these verses show us how far greater He is than anyone else, and here He has redefined your connection with Him: you are His friend. Satan doesn't stand a chance when we know our Friend.

Activation:

Imagine yourself on that mountain with Jesus. You know how it happened for Peter, James and John, but who would God make appear on that mountain for you? Would it be Esther, Sarah, or Gideon? Whoever drops into your mind, take a moment to think on their character and story. What did God reveal to them? What did He speak to them? What would God declare over you all?

What are you experiencing when you imagine this? Do you feel freedom? Do you feel excitement? Do you feel rest? Take the time to journal what this activation has done for you. Take note of what you don't feel. Maybe you don't feel fear, shame or doubt. This is what deliverance feels like.

Read:

Read 1 John 4 and find one verse that stands out or speaks to you. Record it with the verses of the past two days.