Tuesday Morning Scripture  – Colossians 2

You Are Built Up in Christ

1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those [believers] at [a]Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen me face to face. 

2 [For my hope is] that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in [unselfish] [b]love, so that they may have all the riches that come from the full assurance of understanding [the joy of salvation], resulting in a true [and more intimate] knowledge of the [c]mystery of God, that is, Christ, 

3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [regarding the word and purposes of God]. 

4 I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive [but thoroughly deceptive] arguments. 

5 For even though I am absent [from you] in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, [d]delighted to see your good discipline [as you stand shoulder to shoulder and form a solid front] and to see the stability of your faith in Christ [your steadfast reliance on Him and your unwavering confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].

6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin], 

7 having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established [e]in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the [f]elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ. 

9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God]. 

10 And in Him you have been made complete [achieving spiritual stature through Christ], and He is the head over all rule and authority [of every angelic and earthly power]. 

11 In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but by the [spiritual] circumcision of Christ in the stripping off of the body of the flesh [the sinful carnal nature], 

12 having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God, [as displayed] when He raised Christ from the dead. 

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (worldliness, manner of life), God made you alive together with Christ, having [freely] forgiven us all our sins, 

14 having canceled out the [g]certificate of debt consisting of [h]legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross. 

15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through [i]the cross.

16 Therefore let no one judge you in regard to food and drink or in regard to [the observance of] a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.

17 Such things are only a shadow of what is to come and they have only symbolic value; but the substance [the reality of what is foreshadowed] belongs to Christ.

18 Let no one defraud you of your prize [your freedom in Christ and your salvation] by insisting on mock humility and the worship of angels, going into detail about visions [he claims] he has seen [to justify his authority], puffed up [in conceit] by his unspiritual mind,

19 and not holding fast to the head [of the body, Jesus Christ], from whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows with the growth [that can come only] from God.

20 If you have died with Christ to the [j]elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were still living in the world, do you submit to rules and regulations, such as,

21 “Do not handle [this], do not taste [that], do not [even] touch!”?

22 (these things all perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men.

23 These practices indeed have the appearance [that popularly passes as that] of wisdom in self-made religion and mock humility and severe treatment of the body (asceticism), but are of no value against sinful indulgence [because they do not honor God].

Colossians 2:1-23 (AMP)

Footnotes

[a] Colossians 2:1 Along with Colossae, Laodicea was located in the valley of the Lycus River and is one of the seven churches mentioned in Rev 1-3.
[b] Colossians 2:2 See note 1:4.
[c] Colossians 2:2 See note 1:26.
[d] Colossians 2:5 Lit rejoicing and seeing.
[e] Colossians 2:7 Or by.
[f] Colossians 2:8 Perhaps a reference to ancient philosophies based on the belief that only the material world is real.
[g] Colossians 2:14 This term refers to a debtor’s handwritten note acknowledging the debt.
[h] Colossians 2:14 i.e. the requirements found in the Mosaic Law which were violated. The debt is the punishment due for the violator’s sins. Gentiles were never directly liable to the Law, but as Paul explains in Rom 2:12-16, God holds them responsible for violating the principles of the Law that they acknowledge of their own volition.
[i] Colossians 2:15 Lit it or Him.
[j] Colossians 2:20 See note v 8.

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Sidestep the Chaos and Listen to Him

Have you been hearing those raucous noises, reverberating in the spiritual realm? Those are the sounds of the enemy, trying to disturb the people of God, attempting to distract and deceive you. But in this midst of this chaos and unholy din the Holy Spirit says, “I am speaking a different word.”

So be intentional: take time in the Lord’s presence. Blot out all that is not of Him. Refine your discernment and detect the sound of His divine voice. Attune your ears to catch the sound waves that emanate from His heavenly throne room. Rejoice that the Maker of heaven and earth loves you so much, and He always wants to speak to you.

The enemy thrives in the chaos of the world. And in the middle of clouds of noise and turmoil he lays snares to entangle your feet and trick you out of your identity in Christ. See the traps, sidestep them, and do not fall into them!

Hear the words of love and sonship that God the Father speaks over you every single day. Come higher and listen to the sound of His shalom. Take hold of His peace and live your life from the place that is rooted firmly in His unyielding love.

Once you learn to attune your ears only to the sound of Godly truth found only in Him, no deception or tempting allure will make you falter or fall into chaos yourself. Remain teachable in this time and hour, children of God. Listen for His voice amidst the noise and the chaos, and disciple others to do so as well.

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the [a]elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.

Colossians 2:8 (AMP)

Footnotes

[a] Colossians 2:8 Perhaps a reference to ancient philosophies based on the belief that only the material world is real.

#lionbites

Monday Morning Scripture – Isaiah 54

The Fertility of Zion

1 “Shout for joy, O barren one, she who has not given birth;
Break forth into joyful shouting and rejoice, she who has not gone into labor [with child]!
For the [spiritual] sons of the desolate one will be more numerous
Than the sons of the married woman,” says the LORD.

2 “Enlarge the site of your tent [to make room for more children];
Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not spare them;
Lengthen your tent ropes
And make your pegs (stakes) firm [in the ground].

3 “For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
And your descendants will take possession of nations
And will inhabit deserted cities.

4 “Do not fear, for you will not be put to shame,
And do not feel humiliated or ashamed, for you will not be disgraced.
For you will forget the shame of your youth,
And you will no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood.

5 “For your husband is your Maker,
The LORD of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
Who is called the God of the whole earth.

6 “For the LORD has called you,
Like a wife who has been abandoned, grieved in spirit,
And like a wife [married] in her youth when she is [later] rejected and scorned,”
Says your God.

7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you,
But with great compassion and mercy I will gather you [to Myself again].

8 “In an outburst of wrath
I hid My face from you for a moment,
But with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,”
Says the LORD your Redeemer.

9 “For this is like the waters of Noah to Me,
As I swore [an oath] that the waters of Noah
Would not flood the earth again;
In the same way I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
Nor will I rebuke you.

10 “For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,
But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,
Nor will My covenant of peace be shaken,”
Says the LORD who has compassion on you.

11 “O you afflicted [city], storm-tossed, and not comforted,
Listen carefully, I will set your [precious] stones in mortar,
And lay your foundations with sapphires.

12 “And I will make your battlements of rubies,
And your gates of [shining] beryl stones,
And all your [barrier] [a]walls of precious stones.

13 “And all your [spiritual] sons will be disciples [of the LORD],
And great will be the [b]well-being of your sons.

14 “You will be firmly established in righteousness:
You will be far from [even the thought of] oppression, for you will not fear,
And from terror, for it will not come near you.

15 “If anyone fiercely attacks you it will not be from Me.
Whoever attacks you will fall because of you.

16 “Listen carefully, I have created the smith who blows on the fire of coals
And who produces a weapon for its purpose;
And I have created the destroyer to inflict ruin.

17 “No weapon that is formed against you will succeed;
And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn.
This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And this is their vindication from Me,” says the LORD.

Isaiah 54:1-17 (AMP)

Footnotes

[a] Isaiah 54:12 Lit boundary.
[b] Isaiah 54:13 Or success.

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Smash Through Your Ceilings!

Stop mistaking the ceiling above you for the sky. Old rooms can no longer contain what God has poured into you for your life. Beloved, the roof that once limited you is now there to be broken through!

What looked to you like the highest point that you could reach was never God’s limit for your life. Some of these ceilings above you have been constructed by fear, rejection, delay, tradition, and the opinions of others. Some capping was even self-imposed, by self-doubt and entering a low-vision “survival” mode.

But you have lived under these constraints long enough. Ceilings in your perceived calling, creativity, relationships, mind and even your spiritual authority can be torn down through partnership with the power of the Holy Spirit. Rise beyond what has been familiar – Jesus is looking for your, “yes”. New vision (His vision) is available to you, so move with Him in this moment.

You should no longer measure your expectations in the way you did in past seasons. Come out from under these restrictions and fly into greater freedom, clarity, and boldness. Think bigger. Pray bigger. Expect bigger – not for pride and self-aggrandisment but because your Creator’s purpose for you is greater than you knew. What once intimidated you will soon become the ground beneath your feet!

“Enlarge the site of your tent [to make room for more children];
Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not spare them;
Lengthen your tent ropes
And make your pegs (stakes) firm [in the ground].

Isaiah 54:2 (AMP)

Activation:

Declare over yourself (perhaps whilst looking in the mirror): “Every ungodly ceiling that has limited my growth, vision, and purpose breaks now in the mighty name of Jesus! I will not live beneath fear or doubt. God is expanding my capacity and enlarging my territory.” Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what your expansion looks like and write it down. Keep coming back to your notes and adding as He adds to them.

#lionbites

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – From Unforgiveness to Heart

Some of us have allowed bitterness, rejection, or offence to take root in our heart – weeds that are watered by our unforgiveness. But remember that with Jesus Christ there is good news: He hears our every thought, sees the hurts we hold, and feels the pain that we carry. Today the Lord invites us to uproot – with His help – those things that we were never supposed to carry with us.

We are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Unforgiveness should not go with us on this journey. We cannot move freely forwards if there are any bitter roots in our heart.

And He says to His children, “Know it is kindness and mercy that I have for you. Do I not have so many thoughts about you that you cannot number them? Did I not say that I have plans for you, plans to prosper you and not bring you harm? Partner with Me so that together we can uproot unforgiveness and I will mend your heart into wholeness.”

Forgiveness

21 Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how many times will my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered him, “I say to you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:21-22 (AMP)

Activation: Ask Holy Spirit to show you any hurts you are carrying in your heart, and how they came to be there. Move into repentance, break agreement with any chains of unforgiveness and allow God to take them away.

#lionbites