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Upward Calling in Christ Jesus

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the

Upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14, ESV)

What keeps us moving ahead? What keeps us looking forward instead of looking back all the time? For the believers in Christ, it is our upward calling in Christ Jesus. Unfortunately, many are stuck in the past, focused on their past failures, or reminiscing on what they perceive as good times in the past. For the Christian, it should be different. Yes, hopefully, we have learned from our previous mistakes by only glancing back, but our focus should always be on the future and our upward calling in Christ Jesus. This does not keep us from being thankful in all things, including what God has done for us in the past (II Thessalonians 5:18). This is one area that fallen humanity has not grasped. From the news services to psychological counseling, and those who are unwilling to forgive others, they are always stuck in the past. They are always rehashing the past over and over again never allowing humanity to forget their failures and move on to a new day. They have not really learned from their mistakes because every time they are rehashed somehow the facts keep changing. They have not learned how to forgive the past, holding much of humanity in bondage to their past errors. For the Christian, it should be different. We learn from the past. We forgive ourselves and those who have wronged us, which allows us to forget the past and move on. Every day should be a new day in the Lord (II Corinthians 4:16).

So, exactly how do we press on to our upward calling in Christ Jesus? This is an amazing topic that deserves our utmost attention. I have recently taken a stroll to the past with the thought of producing an autobiography. Although it was very painful at times remembering some of my past mistakes, it was also extremely rewarding to realize that God was with me every step of the way always pulling me back on course, never letting me forget my original calling. Yes, we can, although it can be difficult, to glance back to see how God has carried us forward, it is absolutely essential to refocus our attention on the path going forward. I know this will be difficult for some, but not impossible. It will be helpful to remember who we are in Christ Jesus. We are a brand-new creation. The Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17). We notice two things in this marvelous scripture. “Old things have passed away” You have been forgiven, God no longer remembers the trespasses, the failures, and the bad decisions. The slate has been wiped clean by a righteous and loving God. The second thing this marvelous scripture teaches is, “Behold, all things are become new.” That is, all things are becoming new! Every day is a new day with no mistakes.

We have been set on a new path, a path that leads to our upward calling in Christ Jesus. So, exactly what is God calling us to? The simple answer is perfection. This is our aim. There is no need to get into a debate, as churches have if we can obtain that goal. The more important thing is that we strive for that goal every day of our lives, constantly becoming all that Christ wants us to be in Him. There is no room for stagnation. As Christians, we cannot simply tread water. We cannot run in place. Yes, we will have failures and great heartaches, but we cannot stop. We cannot turn back. We cannot get on a different path. When we do, then we will become the lukewarm church. No matter what happens in our life we must not drift back into lukewarmness, simply running in place, and making no great no progress or sacrifices for the Lord. Let me be very clear, to just sit idly in your church absorbing the messages, singing a few songs, and making a few short prayers is little more than running in place. We have never been called to run in place. We have been called to make all things new and to strive for perfection daily. Are you growing up spiritually every day? Are you becoming more like Christ?

Once we get back on the path of making all things new, then we are ready for the next step. We are ready for our upward calling in Christ Jesus. Jesus, from the moment of your initial calling, wants to make you something special, to make you something unique. God does not want a bunch of cookie-cutter Christians. God has a specific role for you in His Church, not only in this dispensation but also in Heaven. He has recreated you to be special, to be a special fit in the church, and also as a voice piece to the fallen world. This is your upward calling in Christ Jesus that will never be determined if you are running in place. So, the first thing we need to do is to start the process by putting off the old life. If you are still knowingly holding onto that favorite sin, then you are still running in place. If you have not read all the beautiful commands written in the New Testament on what you should avoid and have not applied them to your life, then you are still running in place. If you are not asking God nearly every day for help and forgiveness of another discovered trespass, then you are still running in place. Let’s take the first step on the path of righteousness and our upward calling in Christ Jesus. Remembering, we are aiming for perfection (Matthew 5:48).

The second step to our upward calling is to actively put on the new life in Christ by following all the commands and mandates for believers in Christ. Go through the New Testament and write them on your heart by reading them prayerfully over and over again, then allow the Holy Spirit to bring them to your mind when you come into contact with others. Again, you are not cookie-cutter Christians but will display your own unique personalities, as God uniquely changes it in time, to adapt to every situation. The Apostle Paul said he had become all things to all people (I Corinthians 9:19-22). Yet, he, like us, walked continuously in the law of Christ. To put on the new life in Christ may appear a bit awkward in the beginning but if you are following God’s lead, then you will have peace that defies understanding. Let me caution you to not follow the so-called religious ways of the world, always yelling at the devil, boastfully binding, and losing things, and claiming things that you pridefully want. This sort of thing will close every door to a meaningful witness to the fallen world. To pursue our upward calling in Christ Jesus we must take our first steps by putting on our new life in Christ with abounding joy and a peace that defies understanding.

Finally, we must not only take our first steps into the light and onto the path of righteousness, but we must run the race set before us. This is accomplished when we allow God to make us into unique creatures in Christ. You will be different than the rest. This is defined by the people we minister to and the Spiritual gifts given to us for each encounter or ministry we are called to. Until this happens dear children, then we are still running in place, destined for the lukewarm church. My ministry has been totally different from the beginning, not stuck in the ivory towers of the church, but going out among the heathen to witness the absolute worst of humanity and also see the best of humanity from sea-to-sea preaching in many churches in multiple towns and cities. My Spiritual gifts have changed with nearly every encounter from the Spiritual gift of healing (both physical and mental) to the Spiritual gifts of preaching, teaching, writing, and prophecy. We must all find our own unique Spiritual gifts and use them for the building up the Church of God. It is only through spiritual growth the discovery and the use of our Spiritual gifts that we will find our unique place in the eternal Church of God. Furthermore, it is essential to listen every day to our new call being ready to minister to whoever and to wherever He sends. Don’t ever give up, dear children, being content to run in place, but draw close to God, open your ears, and hear your upward calling in Christ Jesus. Amen

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This website and its content is copyright of He Reigns Christian Ministries – © Rev. Daniel W. Blair 2023. All rights reserved.

Confront the Christian Divisions Now

If we don’t confront the Christian divisions now, then all will be lost. If we don’t confront the Christian divisions now, then hate and disagreements will lead to unbridled persecution. If we don’t confront the Christian divisions now, then death and destruction will be inevitable. If we don’t confront Christian divisions now, then we will witness the great falling away and the extinguishing of the Gospel light leading to a horrifying darkness that will sweep the planet. This is exactly what Satan and the powers of darkness want. They have sought to divide Christianity since the beginning by raising up false prophets to twist the simple message of the Cross. They have gone well beyond the Bible by adding new doctrines and a methodology foreign to the simple truths delineated in the New Testament. We must all take part in confronting the divisions that are ripping Christianity apart. Although the biblical solutions are simple, they will take a great deal of faith to follow, doing things that will be extremely uncomfortable, especially in the beginning. We will examine closely each of these biblical solutions that will heal the divisions in Christianity and reawaken the bright shining light in a very dark world. Although the solutions may appear to take longer, they will not but will have a profound lasting effect upon the fallen world.

To begin with, we must discover what makes Christianity a formidable force in the fallen world and what weakens Christianity in the eyes of fallen humanity. Let’s start with the negative influence that much of Christianity is having upon humanity in our day. This negative influence is not only dimming the saving light of the Gospel, but it is also hardening the hearts of humanity. When we confront the fallen world, we can confront their sins, but we must tie it to the great benefits available to them through repentance and forgiveness. On the other hand, we have a growing segment of Christianity, Christian Nationalism, that is becoming even more deeply embedded with the political system with the express purpose of not confronting fallen humanity with their sins but forcing them to obey their new laws of Christian morality. This forcing fallen humanity to obey will have the opposite effect for it will drive them further away from the Good news of our transformation in Christ. It will greatly dim the bright light of Christianity causing them to fall even deeper into darkness as they strike back with impunity. I have noticed the great hatred growing towards Christianity for some time now, which has greatly limited our ability to reach them for Christ. It has created a bitterness not seen in previous years.

To heal the divisions in Christianity, we must lead our brothers and sisters by helping them to return to the power of the Cross and the bright light of the Gospel through our good works. The Bible says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Only this power from God through the Gospel message can truly save those who believe. This has always been the key to changing the world and ushering in His Kingdom for which we pray continuously (Matthew 6:10). We were never meant to bring in the Kingdom through the political system and its powers. It’s antithetical to the Gospel. In the beginning, people did not come to Christ through a political force. They did not come to the kingdom because the walls separating the State and religion were torn down. Fallen humanity came to Christ because they saw a new hope. They saw love and peace not seen before. The early Christians looked beyond outward appearances, to those who were harshly judged and repudiated or scorned by the fallen world. They instilled in them a lively hope of acceptance by the risen Lord Jesus Christ to a life of eternal bliss through faith. They saw something completely and amazingly different.

Dear children, all the dancing and yelling will not bring in the Kingdom of God. All the political parties and all the voting will not bring in the Kingdom. Even our professional witnessing and lofty words of wisdom will not bring in the Kingdom (I Corinthians 2:1). Only the power of God working through His beloved children will bring in the Kingdom with all of its glory. Witnessing today has digressed to inviting people to church or to some political rally seeking to bring in the Kingdom through their vote, and their financial support. Dear children, the world needs to hear how God has changed us, growing us from one degree of glory to another, and filling us with an amazing joy and a peace that defies understanding. They need to hear that God is with us and He can make all things new. In a world with no hope, they need to hear about our hope realized through our faith believing that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins and was raised from the grave to give us a brand-new life in Him. They need to hear about the power of transformation (II Corinthians 5:17). When people are truly changed, then they will not need the political party passing some new law to force them to obey. They will obey the law of Christ because it is written on their hearts. Let us trust God to change the world through His eternal message of hope; this is the Christian Way.

To bring healing to the body of Christ, His beloved Church, they need to see with their own eyes the good works of God’s precious children. They don’t need to see yelling, dancing, and supporting your latest political candidate. What they need to see is Christ living in you demonstrating His loving concern for your wellbeing. They don’t need to see a referral agent sending people back to the world’s counselors, nor do they need to hear your empty and meaningless prayers filled with an abundance of words (Romans 15:14, Matthew 6:7). What they need to see is our abounding love, willing to truly forgive others from the heart, and to demonstrate the rules of non-retaliation to those who vehemently disagree or attack us. (Matthew 5:38-42). What they need to see is your own spiritual growth by actively putting off the old life and putting on the new life in Christ. We are called to be doers of the word by following all of the beautiful “one another” statements in the Bible in our relationship with both the body of Christ and the unbelieving world. It’s harmful to the body of Christ to use dehumanizing words and hateful language toward others just because you disagree with their actions. When the people of God do this, it greatly diminishes their bright shining lights making them enemies of the world. This is what is currently happening in the world today where a segment of the Christian community is trying to bring the Kingdom in through the political process.

Finally, the moment we decide to follow the Christian Way to bring in the Kingdom, then we will confront the divisions head-on, front and center. If we are successful in healing the divisions, then the Kingdom will spread far and wide, but if we are not successful, then we will only have one option left. Although I would love to see the healing take place, I know that we are running out of time. If things don’t quickly change the only option left is to come out from among them. The Bible says, “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4). To come out would mean taking your children and grandchildren out of public education. It would mean to no longer participate in their political process. It would mean to no longer follow the counsel of the world through their online searches, their artificial intelligence, and their psychological counsel. It would mean to no longer participate in their social media platforms and the targeted news stories that use godless algorithms. We are not quite there yet, but extremely close if things don’t change immediately by trusting in the power of the Gospel message to bring in the Kingdom of God with all of its glory. Dear children, let us follow the Christian Way and not the ways of the fallen world. If we don’t, then truly all will be lost.

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This website and its content is copyright of He Reigns Christian Ministries – © Rev. Daniel W. Blair 2023. All rights reserved.

The Truth Shall Make You Free

Lies are tearing this world apart. The more the same lies are repeated, the deeper they are entrenched into our minds with decreased cognitive ability to separate the truth from a lie. The father of lies, Satan, knows this so he continues repeating the same lies again and again even repackaging the lies to make them even more appealing. When this happens even the lies will seem like the truth driving the world further and further into bondage. The deeper the bondage, the greater the fear, which will drive unbridled emotions of passion to strike back at the other side with impunity. The whole world is being divided pitting one side against another driving a deeper wedge between nations, political parties, family members, and even Christians. Satan has been doing this since the beginning by turning humanity against their Creator with a well-placed lie. Satan has done it throughout history by dividing the Church and raising up lawless men to lead entire countries into bondage by believing their lies. We saw it in Napoleon, we saw it in Hitler, and we will see it again in the coming Antichrist.

Only the truth will set us free. Coming closer to home we have a division that is growing deeper by the day. On one side, we have the established order trying to convict a past president, Donald J. Trump, of a multitude of charges, (93 in number), making him the most lawless political leader in history, and on the other side, we may have the establishment extending the greatest abuse of power in modern history. This is either the greatest lying deception on the precipice of leading the entire world astray or it is the darkest corruption to have ever existed in an established order, which goes well beyond some deep state. If it is a matter of corruption in the established order, then I call upon every believer in Christ to pray that it is exposed. And if it’s lying deception from Donald J. Trump, then I pray that all the captives, who have believed the lie will return to hearing only the truth to escape their bondage. The more you listen to the lies the greater your bondage will become. Only the truth will set you free from this lying deception.

So, let’s look at the truth that Donald J. Trump and his followers should look at. The truth says that using the weapons of this world will drive you further into bondage and away from doing God’s will. The truth says, that if you viciously and maliciously attack your accusers, then you will reap what you have sown. The truth says, if you use degrading and hateful words towards your accusers, then you will be driven further away from the light causing you to slip deeper into darkness. The truth says, that if you threaten revenge or reprisals towards your accusers, then you will be attempting to usurp God’s power to take revenge on evil. To falsely accuse your accusers of a greater sin by creating some kind of conspiracy to tarnish the good name of Trump, will deliver you deeper into bondage. Finally, to keep repeating the same false accusations with a diatribe of hateful rhetoric, will harden your heart against the truth causing you to believe the lie with its inevitable consequences. Furthermore, this will eventually lead you into even greater bondage to the powers of darkness bringing all of your followers with you.

So, what is the correct course of action for the Christian? The truth is, instead of using the weapons of this world, we trust God, by walking in non-retaliation. (Matthew 5:38-42). We learn how to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile. Although this may appear difficult, it is not impossible for the Christian who puts his faith in God. The Bible says, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19). We can take a lesson from the early Christians in the arena when they were being persecuted to death. They spoke kindly to their tormentors with great respect only giving them the Gospel of grace and love. When we walk in only the truth, we will be set free from our bondage to lying deception. The truth will avail itself letting us see things we never saw before. We will see all the pride and manipulation.

Those in bondage to this lying deception and the powers of darkness will pridefully use even their accuser’s accusations as a badge of honor. This person will pridefully proclaim themselves as the savior of the world. He will pridefully proclaim that he can stop all wars and bring forth a global unity. He will pridefully proclaim that nothing is impossible for him. Furthermore, he will pridefully proclaim that he has a right to fight back using the weapons of this world by destroying anyone and everyone who does not stand with him. Finally, he will pridefully stand before the people accepting their worship and praise. This kind of pride does not come from the righteous actions of God’s elect children, but they come from the pits of hell that are orchestrated by the powers of darkness. This pride will lead the entire world into bondage that’s blinding and deceptive.

Finally, as God’s faithful remnant, we will not choose sides but only shine the bright light of God’s truth on what has taken the world by storm. Yes, a storm is coming that will drive the entire world into chaos and darkness. Dear children, it is time to come out from among those who follow the lying deception. It’s time to stand only on the truth, which will truly set us free from all that is coming quickly upon the world. As a preacher of the Gospel, I am praying for both sides, for all the people. Let us show our Christian love to everyone. Let us be an example of turning the other cheek and not using the weapons of this world (Matthew 5:38-42). Let us be an example of humility by proclaiming that we can do nothing apart from our all-powerful God (John 15:5). I trust God to work all things together for good to those who are called to his purpose (Romans 8:28). God bless every reader and doer of this little blog article, let us come out from among them before it’s too late.

Please join me in Prayer

Good morning Heavenly Father. Thank you, Lord, for your grace, for without it we would not have the capacity to believe, and without belief, we could not be saved. Yes, it all comes from you. Therefore, we perceive that any boasting on our part concerning our gifts, abilities, or accomplishments puts us in league with the enemy. We are not unfamiliar with his attempt to overthrow your authority and take his seat in the temple of your children’s hearts, to demand their worship. So, when pride comes forth from any of your creatures you will resist it. The prideful will be brought low and ultimately destroyed by your mighty hand. On the other hand, we rejoice when you give additional grace to the humble to throw off the old sin nature and shine brilliantly as transformed children of God. Let us always give you all the glory for our every accomplishment knowing without you we are nothing. We praise you for all your wonderful and powerful gifts given to us through the Spirit to accomplish your will on earth as it is in heaven. We pray this in the most holy Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Reading from the King James Version, the Bible says, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6).

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This website and its content is copyright of He Reigns Christian Ministries – © Rev. Daniel W. Blair 2023. All rights reserved.

Seven Lies of the Devil – Part II

To miss what is going on in the world, we would need to be living in a bubble. Of course, as believers, we knew that this day would come when the whole world seems to be falling apart from horrific firestorms to unbelievably extreme temperatures and from unchecked lawlessness to the grossest of sexual perversions. Perhaps the worst for the true believer is to see so many fall away and embrace all the lies of the devil as if they were the gospel truth. It is enough to make you weep in great agony.

We Can Make Things Better

Perhaps the most dangerous lie is that we can make the world better through the political process. This has been a lie used many times throughout history raising up the Caesars, Napoleons, and Hitler’s promising to make things better, but in the end creating a cult-like mentality, which brought death and destruction to the world. This thinking of making things better through the political process is antithetical to the Way presented by Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus Christ came to earth to show us a better way of truly making things better. The Christian way is through transformational change one person at a time. The heart and mind must be changed by putting off the old life and putting on the new life in Christ. The devil cares only about manipulating your heart and mind to believe his lies thus creating a cult-like mentality. He wants you to believe that forcing everyone through his new laws will cause them to align with his way, or your way of thinking, which will overcome the divisions, and establish a brave new world. This is a very dangerous and deceptive lie of the devil that will ingeniously target religious people who will be willing to follow him to hell and back. They will even proclaim him as some kind of saint or savior that will deliver the world from very evil and corrupt people. They may even proclaim that God has raised him to fix the world through the political process. Stop listening to the devil who can even disguise himself as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14). This will be the path that the dreaded Antichrist will take causing you to believe that he has your best interest at heart. This deception will be so strong that people will freely worship him as the savior of humanity believing that he alone will stop the wars, the outrageous lawlessness, and even the wrath of God as we had discussed earlier. Let’s stop listening to the devil’s lies and return to God’s way of real lasting change. Continue reading Seven Lies of the Devil – Part II

Are You Being Transformed In Christ?

Many people in the world claim to know Christ, yet they speak very little about Him. Although they may claim to have fellowship with a local body of believers, they tend to know more about what’s going on in the world rather than what their church believes. They are experts in every topic from politics to the latest news stories, but they are at a loss about what Christ is doing in their lives. Unfortunately, most are not being transformed in Christ but are being transformed by the world through a great flood of information. This information coming at the speed of light promises to address your every problem from mental health to physical health. It promises to answer every question about the proper foods we should eat, the medications we should take, and the exercise programs we should do. It promises to answer every question concerning the ecosystem and our place in the cosmos. Today, I would like to look beyond just following the Christian crowd and the influx of information coming from the world to understanding the miracle of our transformation in Christ. We will explore what we should expect from being transformed in Christ. Transformation is a lifelong journey. There are clear signs that we are truly on the path to transformation that will excite you beyond belief. We will learn how important it is to allow the Holy Spirit to do His job of making us into a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17). Continue reading Are You Being Transformed In Christ?