Spiritual Nuggets Faith Food

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. — 1 PETER 2:2

When the sinner comes to Jesus, his sins are remitted — blotted out. But not only are his sins blotted out — all that he was, spiritually speaking, in the sight of God — is blotted out. His sins cease to exist. He becomes a new man in Christ Jesus. God does not see anything in that person’s life before the moment he was born again! In today’s text, Peter is writing to born-again Christians who have become new men in Christ. The Bible, you see, teaches a similarity between physical growth and spiritual growth. No one is born as a full grown human being; we are born as babies in the natural, and then we grow up.

Likewise, no one is born as a full-grown Christian. Christians are born as spiritual babies, and they grow up. Look at a newborn babe in the natural ” “lying in its mother’s arms. Its outstanding characteristic is innocence. People say to the baby, “You sweet little innocent thing.” No one thinks of that baby as having a past! So do you see what God is saying here through Peter? God is saying to people who have been born again and are now babes in Christ, “As newborn babes . . . .” In other words, God is saying, “You have become a new creature — a newborn babe! Your past is gone! I’m not remembering anything against you!”

Confession: I am a brand-new creature. I’m a brand-new man [or woman]. All that I was before I was born into the family of God is blotted out. I’m God’s child — His babe — His very own child.”

Excerpt From: Kenneth E. Hagin. “Faith Food Devotions”.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. — EPHESIANS 1:3
 
From the day you were born again until the day you step off into eternity, God has already made provision for you in Christ Jesus. Everything you need, “He hath blessed” you with. In the mind of God, it is yours! People often ask me how to study the Bible. Although I have many suggestions, here is the one I “present everywhere I go. As a believer, a Christian, follow this method as you go through the New Testament; read or study primarily the Epistles. (I encourage you to spend most of your time in the Epistles, because they are the letters written to you, the believer. Study the Old Testament, too, but don’t spend most of your time there. Spend most of your time in the New Testament. Why? Because we’re not living under the Old Covenant; we’re living under the New Covenant.)

In these Epistles, which are written to the Church, find and underline all expressions such as “in Christ,” “by Christ,” “in whom,” “in Him,” and so forth. Write them down. Meditate on them. Begin to confess them with your mouth. As far as God is concerned, everything you have, or are, in Christ, is already so. God has already done it all in Christ. However, it is your believing and your confessing that will make it real to you.
 
Confession: “I am a new creature IN CHRIST. God the Father HAS blessed me with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places IN CHRIST.”

Excerpt From: Kenneth E. Hagin. “Faith Food Devotions”.

Behold, I give unto you power [authority] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. — LUKE 10:19 The Greek word “exousia” means authority. However, it is often translated as “power” in the King James Version of the New Testament. In our text, for example, two different Greek words are translated as “power,” yet the correct translation of the first word is “authority.” Our verse should read, “I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy . . . .”
 
What is the difference between power and authority?

Well, what can one uniformed police officer do to direct the flow of rush hour traffic? He can do a great deal. Is it because the policeman has the power to hold back these mighty machines? No! His most strenuous efforts couldn’t stop the swiftly passing cars. He doesn’t have the power to do it, but he has something far better. He is invested with the authority of the government he serves. Even a stranger in the city recognizes this authority and obeys it.

Authority is delegated power.

Confession:I have been given authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing shall by any means hurt me.

Excerpt From: Kenneth E. Hagin. “Faith Food Devotions”.

“. . . For the battle is the Lord’s . . . . — 1 SAMUEL 17:47
 
“Don’t get into any trouble,” my mother called after me as I went to face a family crisis. “So-and-so almost whipped Dub.” “I’m not going to have any trouble,” I answered. “I’ll never have any trouble. I’m going to put the Lord to work.”

As I approached the driveway, the wife of the man who had caused so much trouble met me. She began to rant and rave, and just plain old Texas, “cuss.” I thought, Dear Lord, here is this poor old soul, full of hate and selfishness, and she can’t help being that way. She can’t help having the nature of the devil in her, because she’s a child of the devil. I didn’t say a word to her, but I said to the Lord in my heart, “Thank God, the Greater One is in me” (1 John 4:4). And I acted like the Greater One was in me. And He is greater. She must have sensed the compassion rising up in me, because she suddenly looked up at me and sputtered to a stop. “Then she took hold of my hand and fell on her knees, crying, “My God, put your hands on my head and pray for me. A poor old soul like me needs something. Oh, my God, pray for me!” I hadn’t said a word to make her say that. All I had done was acted like the Bible was true.

Confession:"The Greater One is in me. And I’m going to act like it!”

Excerpt From: Kenneth E. Hagin. “Faith Food Devotions”.