Category Archives: Prayer

Jesus Our High Priest

15 Sunday Nov 2020

Posted by in Christianity, faith, God, Healing, How God Answers Prayer, Mercy, Prayer, Prayer University, Rejection, Tracy Gatewood Prayer

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Hebrews 2:17-18 “So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful High Priest in the things related to God, to make atonement and propitiation for the people’s sins.
For because He Himself (in his humanity) has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is bale to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried (and who therefore are being exposed to suffering.)”

When Jesus was resurrected from the dead and ascended into heaven, the Father bestowed on Him a number of offices. One of these is the designation of High Priest. It is to Him as High Priest that we direct our confession of faith. For it is this High Priest Who suffered through merciless torture, repeated rejection, scornful remarks, and a killing process to which no human should ever be subjected – but through His obedience, He is able to understand and sympathize with our all of our weaknesses, and infirmities. He was tempted in every way yet sinned not. He was appointed High Priest by God; “You are my Son, today I have begotten You. As He says, you are a Priest (appointed) forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 5:5-6 AMP

Because Jesus knows and understands our sufferings, He was no stranger in asking the Father for His needs. We, too, can confidently come to His throne of grace (of God’s unmerited favor) during our time of prayer to receive mercy and grace to assist in our own time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Christ Jesus fully understands the need for prayer. In fact, it is much more advantageous to us that the One to Whom we petition is the One through which we can also draw close. Hebrews 4:15 ” For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and with a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.“

God has sworn an oath that Jesus would be a Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek Hebrews 7:21. Jesus became the Surety and Guarantee of a stronger and more advanced covenant. Because of this He is able to completely and for all time, eternally save those who come to God through Him. This is another reason why it is very important to lift up our unsaved family and friends. Jesus always lives to intercede and make petition for those that come to Him and can save them eternally and if they do not come to Him, He is not bound to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25

As High Priest, His blood acts as a supernatural purifying agent that removes guilt and condemnation from remorseful acts that could lead to the death of your purpose in serving God. Hebrews 9:14 This is stated a second time in Hebrews for emphasis:

“ Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, since we have a great priest over the House of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:19-25

He offered Himself as sacrifice once and for all times and then seated at the right hand of the Father, through His one sacrifice He has perfected forever those who will be made holy. (Hebrews 10:14)

No Law has ever perfected anything – there is no grace mixed into Law, as laws are hard and unyielding. An indication that we are operating “under the law” is that we become self righteous and introspective, looking inward. Because Jesus tore the veil to God, we are now under grace. The Holy Spirit points us to Jesus – we are to look unto Jesus in times of difficulty, focusing on His radiance, goodness, beauty and merciful acts on your behalf. From death to life – from grace to grace.

“Now we have this (hope) as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul (it cannot slip and it cannot break under whoever steps out upon it – – a hope) that reaches farther and enters into (the very certainty of the Presence) within the veil. Where Jesus entered in for us (in advance) a Forerunner having become a High Priest forever after the order (the rank) of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:19-20

Jesus has gone on ahead of us into the Holy of Holies, as the Forerunner. We cannot see Him but He is there, and we are anchored in Him. Today we have a perfected conscience because our Sacrifice (Jesus) was Himself made perfect. What He is and What He has before God today – we have. We like Jesus are flawless diamonds before the throne of God, not because of anything that we do but purely because of His sacrifice.


Session#11
Prayer University

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
All Rights Reserved






Jesus, Prayer and the Law of First Mention

14 Saturday Nov 2020

Posted by in Christianity, Emotions, faith, God, Healing, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Keys to the Kingdom, Law of First Mention, Prayer, Prayer University, The Bible, Tracy Gatewood Prayer

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As we continue our study of Jesus, the Master Teacher of Prayer we will look at Jesus as our Healer (Jehovah Rapha) and how He was intentional with His earthly ministry to fulfill the Law of First Mention for the word Pray. In the 4 Gospels, 28 of 37 miracles that Jesus performed pertained to healing, deliverance, or raising from the dead. This affirms the emphasis and importance that Jesus placed on freeing people from the bondages of disease, infirmities and conditions impacting the body and the mind (mental illness and the story of the demoniac).

In the book of Genesis, immediately following the account of the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorroh, the scripture details the story of Abraham’s journey toward the South country, where he briefly settled in the land of Gerar. There he and Sarah met the King of Gerar; Abimelech. Abraham told Abimelech that Sarah his wife was in fact his sister so as not be killed by the king. Abimelech took Sarah to be his concubine but was awakened in a dream by God who revealed to him that Sarah was actually Abraham’s wife. (Genesis 20:6) The next morning, Abimelech called his servants together to tell them and they were immediately filled with fear. He then held a firm discussion with Abraham about putting his life at risk. And Abraham responded through prayer –


Genesis 20:17-18
“So Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his female slaves, and they bore children, For the Lord had closed fast the wombs of all in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife“

The account of Abraham praying for Abimelech is the first use or mention of the word ‘pray’ or ‘prayed’ in scripture. Abraham’s prayer resulted in a heal-a-thon within the King’s household and interestingly also a grace for conception for Sarah as she became pregnant with Isaac.

When the Law of First Mention (https://www.gotquestions.org/law-of-first-mention.html ) is utilized it points to prayer as a means of healing or deliverance. The Law of First Mention should probably be referred to as a principle rather than a law. This principle dictates that the first use of a word in scripture contains its purest meaning or form. The Hebrew word for healing is Sozo. This is a word rich with additional meanings: save, preserve, protect, deliver, be well, be made whole. Therefore the purest form of the act of prayer or to pray is to heal, save, protect, preserve, or restore. Clearly God was saving, healing, preserving, and protecting all of Abimelech’s household through Abraham’s prayer. To pray is to engage the Creator of the Universe into our circumstances through praise, worship and petitions. When we pray, we actively engage God, Jesus and Holy Spirit to execute their will on the earth. Here is an insightful article on the meaning of prayer: https://www.ministrysamples.org/excerpts/THE-MEANING-OF-PRAYER.HTML

As personal testimony to the healing powers and authority given to us, I have been healed by Jesus through prayer on 3 notable occasions; twice through my own prayer and once through the prayer of an astute intercessor. I have also experienced healing by Jesus through my own prayer in a number of lesser “heals” when illness tried to creep in but instead received a well-deserved rebuke. Sickness has no legal right to me. I am a Child of God and purchased by the blood of Jesus and hopefully so are you – (If in this current Covid climate, some well-meaning person gives you a hearty “Be safe!” respond with “Fear not – for God is with you / or ” I fear not, for God is with me.” This will get their attention. )

The kind Intercessor that received knowledge of a condition in my neck discs for which I had struggled for years, had no prior information of this condition. She simply yielded to God as He revealed to her the nature of my nagging structural issue. That evening, following the prayer, I felt no change in my discomfort level however I awoke the next day to a pain -free neck with a renewed range of motion. To this day, and 14 years later, I am pain free.

My other two conditions healed by Jesus through my prayer involved the straightening of an misaligned hip that was developing arthritis and the permanent expulsion of a virus causing tinnitus, vertigo and severe headaches, making me sick enough that I had difficulty working. The latter deliverance occurred in 2009 in dramatic fashion after I prayed a Derek Prince prayer for the release of a curse. Immediately I began to feel adjustments being made to my inner ear supernaturally – cracking and popping sounds all included in the healing show. The Divine Surgeon left as quickly as He came and from that day forward my head and ear have been healed. [ Derek Prince: Prayer for Release: https://youtu.be/Wdy2oAQ0aOI ]

The Gospels tell us about Jesus launching out day after day to heal, teach, deliver and save. All of the depicted miracle and deliverance methods illustrate healing through prayer or simply a firm directive to a spirit to come out. Healing also occurred when Jesus acknowledged an individuals display of extreme faith. There was rarely discussion – nothing about genetic dispositions, what parents died from, etc – it was always the same, a prayer, or a word and a healing result (and once alittle added mud with spit – ).

Our Jesus is a Healing Machine.

The practice of healing for those that pray and intercede for others must become more normalized throughout our culture. In many cases, we carry the solution to the physical and mental issues that plague millions of people. Christ Jesus our Commander and Chief Intercessor has paid the ultimate sacrifice to provide a pathway for our own healing and the healing of others. The lashes that He took on His body laid claim to His promise of divine health. By His stripes We ARE healed and we must pray like it –


Prayer University
Session #10

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
All Rights Reserved


I would like to add to this post my daily regime against Covid –

Pray aloud Psalm 91
https://sacredramblings.com/2017/05/29/psalm-91-amp/
Pray aloud the Armor of God
https://wordpress.com/posts/sacredramblings.com?s=The+Armor+of+God+
Receive the Holy Communion 3-4 times per week.

























Be Still and Know that I AM God

05 Thursday Nov 2020

Posted by in America, Christianity, Emotions, faith, Fear, God, Jesus Christ, Prayer, righteousness, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, United States of America, Unity, Wisdom

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As I write this, it is the day after the 2020 election. As I watch the results roll in for the United States, my synapses are active and firing at high speed. I am going to slide out on a limb – sideways and slowly – and let you know what I am thinking about this crazy season in time. These observations are my own, based on experience and watching what is happening on the earth.

What first happens in the natural then happens in the spiritual. I have personally observed this a number of times, particularly while in transition. Everything breaks loose and it was my job to remain focused on the main thing: getting to the other side then setting up camp. I strongly believe the chaos surrounding the election and its results are a precursor to a very powerful spiritual event. God is cooking up something big….. really big. Chaos and confusion is the enemy’s attempt at derailing and distracting from God’s intent – it is the job of the President to get to the other side and re-establish his camp.

The United States is headed for a re-set. The Holy Spirit confirmed this to me in August, even using the term “re-set”. I confess I do not know what this will look like or how this will happen but only that it will. He is re-setting this nation in some important way. We will see how this takes shape by Him in the coming months but it will happen. November 1st, I heard Dutch Sheets deliver a powerful special message on the election. He confirmed this re-set. (I confess, I felt more confident about my own re-set word after hearing his. )
Please see Dutch Sheet’s Re-Set Proclamations from Church of His Presence – https://storage.snappages.site/3P6XPW/assets/files/2020ResetProclamations.pdf

Sheets went on to say that God must have the United States to accomplish His plans in the earth and He is determined to have it. He went on to explain how this nation was founded, and how from its inception was a Christian nation. The Chaplain on the 1607 expedition to Jamestown, Virginia, the Rev Robert Hunt, planted a cross on the soil at Cape Henry, VA after disembarking from the vessel.

“Raising his hands to heaven, Rev. Robert Hunt claimed the land for country and king and consecrated the continent to the glory of God. In covenantal language he declared, “…from these very shores the Gospel shall go forth to not only this New World, but the entire world.”

(https://www1.cbn.com/churchandministry/faith-of-our-fathers%3A-spirituality-in-jamestown )

God has BIG plans – really big plans up ahead. Think harvest. One billion souls. Revival. Third Great Awakening. He wants us in place as His plan of action ushers in the end time harvest prior to the return of His Son. Can you see why we are experiencing such turmoil ? This nation is the lynchpin and the devil now has grasped the pin. Pulling it will result in one of his greatest achievements.

We are in for a fight. Although the fight appears to be over the office of the Presidency and control of the House and Senate (we focus on the person or the candidate) the fight is really for the control of the nation and the ability to have a free Church to move and be free to get this harvest in. The fight is over THE CHURCH. Satan does not want this harvest. He will pull out all the stops to derail this election. If the left wins, it will keep this Christian nation bound, its churches open to ridicule, dishonor, diminished credibility and limited power. The enemy would love nothing more than to see the Church in America dismantled and lose its authority.

Look what is happening to the Church in China. The CCP is blowing up churches, arresting parishioners who have now been forced underground, murdering pastors, burning bibles. Is this what the American church is in for in the coming years ? Although difficult to imagine, the answer is yes if we do not stand our ground.

Since last summer, I have been warning that we are in danger of Civil War or at least Civil Skirmishes that will systematically weaken our major cities. We have good reason to be concerned about rogue domestic terrorist groups enacting civil battles within our major cities. They have already been rioting with little to no pushback or restraint from city governments. There is also the subtle war that rages when democrats become mayors and governors, financially destroying these cities as they do not/ cannot create revenue – but only spend and raise taxes. Cities turn to decay and become rife with homelessness.

But back to the original Civil War – The American Civil War was fought from 1861 – 1865, its primary cause being that a confederation of states wanted to allow for African Americans to be bought and sold and used for labor in America. We know this as slavery. Slavery is and was very wrong. Highly destructive battles between the Confederacy and the Union armies were fought over strategic cities to destabilize and render them unproductive. Railroads were destroyed, bridges blown up, buildings and entire cities were burned to the ground – all towards the effort of crippling a city, rendering it helpless to protect its citizens or forward insurgency against the other side. We all have seen Gone with the Wind and the scenes of the burning of Atlanta, this heinous act compliments of General Sherman. The Civil War split the country in every way and is not something that we ever can experience again.

The end result of a win by the left will be the silencing of the Church. Their agenda will also include the destruction of currency and borders, the traumatizing of citizens, the dismantling of the economy through the destruction of small businesses which comprise 75% of the U.S. economy and much more. There is a systematic plan and the United States is the only nation standing in the way of releasing a New World Order. We can all see the beginnings of this process start to roll out. Shortage of coins. Flooding of borders from illegal immigrants. Shutting down of economy’s. Impending forced vaccinations. Closure of church’s. Its happening. We have a moral imperative to protect our democracy and allow God to leverage our nation for His purposes and for His glory all the way to the end.

We must pray and where possible, take peaceable, non-violent action. We are in a crucible. Yes, Jesus is on the throne and the righteous will not be forsaken but many men and women have fought and died for the rights that we enjoy today. It’s Ok to fight but do it right.

The Body must emerge from the shadows of the marketplace to preach and teach the true word of God to a dark and misled world. This will take courageous acts as many believers have never “come out of the closet” but it is time to let other people hear the testimony of God’s power in your life. This nation needs to witness evidence of what it looks like to have heard and been transformed by the Good News. We must show up stabilized in the knowledge of what Christ Jesus has provided through His finished work, carrying oneself in peaceful strength, armed with the blood of Jesus and our testimony, and clothed in His robe of righteousness.


Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
All Rights Reserved 2020

Facebook: Tracy Gatewood Sacred Ramblings

Please visit http://www.churchofhispresence.org to watch the entirety of Dutch Sheets message delivered on November 1, 2020.




Jesus the Unlikely King

19 Monday Oct 2020

Posted by in Christianity, faith, God the Father, Gospel of Grace, How to find Peace ?, Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, Jew, Jewish, Leadership, Mercy, Nation, Prayer, Prayer University, Prophets, redemption, righteousness, Salvation, The Bible, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, Transformational Leadership, Wisdom

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As we continue our study of Jesus in Prayer University it is important to understand this time of history, and factors that were influencing the culture and decisions of the day.

During the time of Jesus’ life, the Jewish people were looking for their Messiah, the saviour of their people, that would liberate from the grip of the cruel Roman empire and its Kings. This Messiah was frequently referenced in the Torah and spoken of by the Prophet Moses and the Prophet Isaiah. The Jewish Messiah was to be the One to save the nation of Israel and establish it in its rightful position in the world – restoring Israel to its former glory and prominence as in the days of King David and King Solomon. The Messiah would come from the line of King David.

Then there was the issue of the Jewish Law. Chief Priests and temple priests were experts and masters of the Rabbinical Law and were held in high esteem. The attributes of this law abiding Messiah for which the Jews were seeking was reinforced by the temple priests and their teachings. There were 613 laws required for adherence to proper Judaism – laws that pertained to most every aspect of life. We are all familiar with the “Big 10” but there were 603 lesser known laws of the day. These laws were burdensome and oppressive, making Jewish life unnecessarily challenging. Jesus came to fulfill the Law.

Jesus had grown up in Nazareth in a quiet, unassuming family, the son of a carpenter. At the age of 30 when Jesus was actively inviting men to become His disciples, He met and encouraged Phillip to “Come and see”. Philip then asked Nathanael to meet his friend Jesus who was from Nazareth. Nathanael stated, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth ?” (John 1:46) Jesus was seemingly a Man of no name from no where – certainly not a mighty political or military force or even perceived religious leader possessing qualities required to lead the nation of Israel out of bondage. Yet Jesus was the most powerful Man on the earth and no leader knew Him.

Jesus migrated quietly from city to city, “conquering” these cities through healing, delivering, prayer and teaching. He primarily taught through parables or stories illustrating truthful and righteous principles that He desired people to understand. As the Son of God, Jesus was a King and represented a powerful Kingdom. On earth, He had no authority to legislate or impose rules or laws. If people were instructed by law that they could not heal on a Sabbath day, the only way He could communicate that it was the Lord’s will was through demonstration, thereby raising the ire of the Rabbinic priests.

For 3 years, The Teacher taught openly in the temples, to large masses of people in the countryside, one on one to those in need and to the 12 disciples so they could spread His Good News. The only aggression was what emanated from city leaders that resisted His teachings. His disciples were flogged, beaten and imprisoned. Following Jesus’s crucifixion, they were all individually put to death, except John the Revelator, who was exiled to the Island of Patmos. There was no violence recorded for which they were involved with the exception of Peter slicing off the High Priest servant’s ear but Jesus’ immediately restored Malchus and rebuked Peter.

Jesus’ esteem and influence grew and grew as He taught the principles that God the Father instructed Him that would reveal His true heart. Without one military strategy or tactic or any political maneuvers – Jesus and the 12 humbly and without fanfare, walked, taught and saved thousands in their surrounding region, sparking a spiritual revolution that began a new way to consider God – a way that showed Him as a loving, caring Father, merciful and full of grace for His people.

Jesus’ lowly entrance on a donkey into Jerusalem must have confounded and enraged the priests even more as they heard the citizens yelling, “Hosanna ! Hosanna!” Hosanna means “Save us, Rescue Us, Deliver Us! “. Surely this could not be the Messiah that they have been waiting for, for centuries – coming in on a donkey ? What kind of liberator of a nation arrives to save on a donkey? And He is calling Himself the Son of God – how does He know to respond I AM ? This is heresy. We MUST get rid of Him – this is what the priests had to have been thinking.

And we surely know the rest of the story. Pontius Pilate gave the people a choice between Jesus and Barabbas and the priests were wildly yelling for Jesus to die. Pilate had Jesus severely flogged first, thinking that this would assuage the thirst for His death but it did not. What they could not know was that this was the plan from the beginning of time, and part of the final assignment. After Jesus was hung on the cross, He dismissed His own Spirit and announced to the world; “Tetelestai!” All is accomplished! The temple curtain tore from top to bottom signifying no more separation between God and man. And then they knew.

Christ Jesus, the true Messiah, as prophesied, came from the line of David. His father Joseph, was a descendant of King David however Jesus’ true bloodline, was the blood of deity; the blood of God. Jesus came to earth to fulfill God’s plan to redeem His people back to Himself. He is still today seen through the eyes of those that want Him, those eyes and hearts that are opened by His Spirit – the Spirit of Truth. If you have not prayed to receive Jesus as your Messiah, and personal Lord and Saviour – You can do so today.

Lord Jesus, please forgive me for my sins. I repent and turn from my sins and with your help, I will overcome them. You exchanged my sins for Your righteousness, and paid a debt on my behalf to God that I could never pay. I acknowledge that You are the Son of God and I receive You now as my Lord and Saviour. Amen

Prayer University
Session #9
Sharing link: https://wp.me/p1zoxs-2ND

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
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Author: Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus









The Weapon of Praise

21 Monday Sep 2020

Posted by in America, Armor of God, Christianity, faith, Fear, God, Holy Spirit, Keys to the Kingdom, Leadership, Nation, peace, Prayer, righteousness, The Bible, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, Unity, Worship

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Driving home after a long day, my radio tuned to a worship music station, praise music saturated every inch of my vehicle’s interior. Despite the frustrations and strife of the day – the negative emotions clinging to my soul fell away, as a welcoming spirit of peace wafted through my mind, lifting up and away all the tensions of the day.  This effortless transference of peace was sent special delivery from the courts of heaven. Peace is a gift bequeathed to us from Jesus, by Jesus Himself, as reward when we focus on Him.

II Chronicles 20:21-25 AMP “When he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise Him in their holy (priestly) garments as they went out before the army, saying’Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever’!

And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushments against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against  Judah, and they were (self) slaughtered; For (suspecting betrayal) the men of Ammon and Moab rose against those of Mount Seir utterly destroying them. And when they had made an end of the men of Seir,  they all helped to destroy one another. And when Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked at the multitude, and behold they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none had escaped!

When Jehosophat and his people came to take the spoil, they found among them much cattle, goods, garments, and precious things which they look for themselves, much more than they could carry away, so much they were three days in gathering the spoil.

On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah. There they blessed the Lord. So the name of the place is still called the Valley of Beracah (blessing).

Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, Jehosophat leading them, to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.

They came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres, and trumpets to the house of the Lord.

And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.”

I believe the Lord has provided a spiritual tactic designed to strategically dismantle dangerous mayhem.  This is an interior piece of the puzzle given just to believers who are forced to confront a unified tsunami of opposing forces that incite strife, division and evil across the globe.  The piece? The Weapon of Praise. A powerful tool that can be enacted outside of the four walls of the church, strategically positioned in external outposts at the forefront of the lines of battle.

In today’s society, the media is weaponized, some departments of our national intelligence community appear to be weaponized, and even certain members of the conservative movement are weaponized – but these are not spiritual weapons of warfare from heavenly places.

In II Chronicles, The Lord provides for us an example of ‘battle’ in spiritual places, instructing us to ‘battle’ with praise to Him then promising to deliver us from our enemies. Seems simple. So why aren’t we using it?

With the clashing of swords in this Hebrew year of 5777 (Authors Note: we are now in 5781, this post was written in 2017) , we are witnessing unprecedented levels of lawlessness and civil unrest, and not witnessed since the 1960’s. During the latter part of the Obama administration, the cities of Ferguson, Baltimore and Miami – were hosts to incendiary levels of rage and violence incapacitating city governments, in some instances, destroying the livelihoods of people that they purported to defend. Now the American people are clashing over its very history and heritage.

But what about praise? Jehosphat sent his worshippers praising God while walking ahead of these armies, each wearing priestly garments saying ‘Give thanks to the Lord for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!’  I have a theory – and as yet untested on a modern day battlefield;  to release praise music in advance of or during demonstrations to disengage these spirits of violence. Like opening a fireman’s hose on a raging fire, the aggressive flames of emotional spirits of anger, hatred, aggression, murder and rage, could go silent.
I ponder why the impact of praise music would be any different within the atmosphere of my own vehicle than on any modern day battlefield. Imagine the impact of Hillsong, Chris Tomlin, Kari Jobe, Christy Nockels songs released prior to a demonstration or during the fray in the heat of the battle – singing the name of Jesus over and over and over again –  above these protests. It is Jesus Christ Himself that has bequeathed us Peace.  Would He not send us His Peace if we proactively sought it? Peace is a spirit.  [ July 2017  The Spirit of Peace:  http://wp.me/p1zoxs-24p ]

ll Timothy 1:7 AMP
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

To effectively confront the societal enemies of our time we must come from a secret place of  ‘power, and of love, and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control’. The songs of praise set us into another dimension  – apart from fear, self righteousness, and our human tendency to dissect the what’s and how’s of every situation. Praising God is a declaration that He is trusted as our defender (Jehovah Nissi). Praise positions our minds for right instruction and divine strategy from Him in how to move ahead in these troubling and even dangerous environments.

Could Jehosophat have understood that the instruction from God to send the  ‘Praise Team’ ahead of the armies would result in a strong confusion and in-fighting among the enemy camp? Could Jehosophat foresee that a win of his armies positioned his people for a significant wealth transfer? I doubt it. He simply followed God’s orders and won….. BIG.

We must engage in praise to God while listening for the the Holy Spirit’s direction for ourselves and our nation amidst the clamor and chaos of today.  He is surely speaking.


** The Weapon of Praise is a repost and was originally written in 2017.


Tracy L. Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
All Rights Reserved 2020

The Weapon of Praise Sharing Link: http://wp.me/p1zoxs-2iC

Twitter @TracyLGatewood
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Author: Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus

Christ, Healing, and the Power of Words

20 Monday Jul 2020

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Armor of God, Christianity, God the Father, Healing, Healing and the Armor of God, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, Law of First Mention, Leadership, Prayer, Prayer University, redemption, Sword of the Spirit, The Bible, the Spirit, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, Unity, Wisdom

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“In the beginning was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.”   John 1:1-3 AMP 

Words have Power. With no access to devices, medications, or advanced technology equipment, while moving from city to city, Jesus as The Word used His words to communicate a release of healing into the infirmed, the possessed and the diseased. The Greek word “Logos’ (lo-gaas) is translated ‘word, speech, principle or thought’. In Greek philosophy it is also translated into ‘the mind of God’ or ‘divine reason’.

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News (the Gospel) of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and every weakness and infirmity.”  Matthew 9:35 AMP

Christ came to earth to reveal the will of the Father. It is interesting to note that two thirds of Jesus’ ministry involved healing. It was the perfect will of God for His Son to heal. When praying for healing, that oft used qualifying prayer phrase, “If it be thy will” can only be met with an emphatic “Yes!”

When learning to pray like Jesus – it is imperative to know the Word of God. Aside from the blood of Jesus and the Name of Jesus – the Word of God is power packed and the required dunamis or dynamite needed to move out negative circumstances and redeem, deliver, and heal. To pray effectively for oneself or for other’s in healing – there must be agreement with the Word of God.

The first mention of the word “prayer” was in relationship to healing when Abraham prayed to God on behalf of Abimelech, King of the Philistines so that God would forgive Abimelech for taking Sarah. His words, spoken in faith to God, produced a powerful result.

Canva - Abraham praying

“So Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his female slaves, and they bore children, For the Lord had closed fast the wombs of all in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.”  Genesis 20: 17-18 AMP

We have no record of the actual words in Abraham’s prayer for Abimelech but Abraham operating as Priest released Abimelech of sin thereby restoring his entire household.

It is widely accepted by Christians that nothing occurs on the earth unless it is prayed into action by a Believer. God as Jehovah Rapha, is the God Who heals. It is in this knowledge of His desire and willingness to heal by covenant that we can pray boldly, and speak aloud with confident expectation. It is because of the eternal sacrifice of Jesus Christ Who defeated, death, hell and the grave – the One whom took lashes on His Body for our healing, and thereby allowing access to His Name. He has enabled us to take authority and dominion over every sickness, disease, infirmity, even accidents: “and with the stripes that wounded Him we are healed and made whole”.  Isaiah 54:5 AMP

There is power in every word of God.

“He sent forth His Word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction. ” Psalm 107:20 AMP

It is important to note that there is a difference between power and authority. Power is the ability to exercise one’s will in the way needed to impact a situation and authority is exercised by someone holding a position or title. There is a legitimacy or at least perceived influence by a person that holds authority.  Because of the sacrifice of Christ Jesus, we have both power (dunamis) and authority to influence and alter negative behaviors, patterns and circumstances in order to bring heaven to earth. We use prayer and the Word of God to accomplish His will upon the earth.

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Lucas Pols, a contributor to Forbes, describes secular servant-led authority this way – “Authority is about who you are as a person, your character how you interact with others and the influence and empathy you build with people.”  While this is accurate, one has a God-given authority that comes with power; ratified by the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus who was raised from the dead by the very Spirit that now lives in you.

“Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon snakes and scorpions, and (physical and mental strength and ability) over all the power that the enemy (possesses); and nothing shall in any way harm you.”  Luke 10:19 AMP

It is important to highlight that all confidence and power must be placed in the authority of God, Jesus and God’s Word and not in the actual pray-er. The Word of God is oiled with the Spirit of God and referred to as “the Sword of the Spirit” in Ephesians 6:17 AMP “And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.”

Luke 10 continues – “Nevertheless do not rejoice at this that the spirits are subject to you but rejoice that your names are enrolled in heaven.”  This confirms that we do have power over the spirits of the earth including virus’.  To be specific, the Covid-19 virus is a spirit of infirmity. Virus’ have an intelligence. Covid seeks to aggressively insert itself into cells in order to explode in growth and then mutate, thereby causing “infirmity”. In scripture “weakness and infirmity” are almost always used together. When praying for someone with Covid 19, pray in the authority that Christ has given you to dismantle and decree that this spirit of infirmity and all associated weakness must leave in Jesus’ Name.

Session 7
#PrayerUniversity

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
All Rights Reserved 2020

Related Article:  https://sacredramblings.com/2015/06/07/healing-and-the-armor-of-god-prayer

Jesus as Savior

05 Sunday Jul 2020

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Christianity, God, God the Father, Jesus, Jesus Christ, peace, Prayer, Prayer University, righteousness, Salvation, The Bible, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, Unity, Wisdom

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“But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Saviour appeared to man (as Man), He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by the (cleansing) [bath] of the new birth and renewing of the Holy Spirit, Which poured out so richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. [ And He did it in order ] that we might be justified by His grace (by His favor, wholly undeserved ). and that we might become heirs of eternal life according to our hope.”  Titus 3:4 -7 AMP

Jesus, Who was with the Father from the beginning, (John 1: 1-3) was sent to earth to save all mankind through the bringing forth of the knowledge of the immutable love of God, the importance of the turning away from sin and the understanding that His own sacrifice would pay a sin debt for which no person could ever personally pay.

Most hearing the Gospel message are aware that Jesus made a way for their salvation, allowing them to spend life eternally with God the Father.  Most are unaware that the word ‘salvation’ has more benefit than re-birth and a punched ticket through the Pearly Gates. (Revelation 22:21)  To refer to someone that has accepted Jesus as Saviour as being “saved” is in fact accurate. A “saved person” receives the added special bonuses of deliverance from danger, access to the pathway of restoration, deliverance from shame for wrong decisions, divine healing and wholeness, and the right to possess a strong, stable (sound) mind. Canva - Drowning

A good working definition of Salvation: material and temporal deliverance from danger and apprehension; pardon, preservation, restoration, healing, wholeness and soundness.

In fact, until one requires, yes really needs a Saviour to pull their personal wagon from out of a ditch, then and only then can the fullness of the word SALVATION by a loving Saviour be fully appreciated by a “Save-ee”. The word salvation in the Greek is ‘Sozo’ which also means to heal, to rescue or save, to deliver.  Jesus has become our Savior by paying our debt of sin to God, by becoming our righteousness so that a perfect God could look upon us, hear our prayers and be gracious to us, thereby Jesus removed all separation between mankind and God. No study on prayer and how to pray would be complete without the full embrace of Jesus in His role as Savior.

“And [besides] we ourselves have seen (have deliberately and steadfastly contemplated) and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son (as the) Saviour of the world. Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he (abides, lives makes his home) in God.”  1 John 4:14 AMP

Just as Jesus exhorted His followers to “eat His flesh and drink His blood” to be saved (John 6:56), a person that is His follower must be willing to confess that Jesus is the only Son of God and that it was only His broken body and spilt blood that paid for their debt of sin and nothing they accomplished in their own strength.

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“So when the Samaritans arrived, they asked Him to remain with them, and He did stay there two days. Then many more believed in and adhered to and relied on Him because of His personal message. And they told the woman, Now we no longer believe (trust, have faith) just because of what you said; for we have heard Him ourselves (personally) and we know that He truly is the Savior of the world, the Christ.”  John 4:40-42  AMP 

Although we are not told what Jesus said in those two days while with the Samaritans, we know that His words were compelling enough to persuade them that He was truly the Son of God. The word ‘Christ’ means Anointed One. Jesus used His anointing to heal, and to teach, and deliver. Two-thirds of Jesus recorded actions while on earth were of healing. He traveled from town to town, breaking off yokes of physical and mental illness and even raising the dead. (See Lazarus: John 11: 38-44) Jesus was a Healing Machine. 

It was through these healing miracles that were witnessed and testified that spread the Good News that the true Son of God was “in the house”. But it was His own personal  raised from the dead story that solidified His place as the Son of God in the minds of the Apostles and His inner circle. These first hand witnesses became messengers that took Jesus’s actions far and wide, even at the expense of their own personal safety and eventual horrific deaths. The only Apostle not murdered, the Apostle John, was exiled to the island of Patmos where he was left alone to die.  It was on Patmos that he wrote    1 John as well as the Book of the Revelation. Canva - Angel

” I, Jesus, have sent my messenger angel to you to witness and to give you assurance of these things for the churches (assemblies). I am the Root (the Source) and the Offspring of David, the radiant and brilliant Morning Star  (Isa.  11:1,10 AMP) 
The Holy Spirit and the bride (the true Christians) say Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty and whoever earnestly desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate and drink from the water of Life without cost.”   (Revelation 22: 16 AMP)

Oh what a Savior!

Lesson #6
#Prayer University

Jesus as Savior
Sacred Ramblings
All Rights Reserved 2020

Tracy Gatewood
Facebook:  Tracy Gatewood Sacred Ramblings
Author: Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus

 

In Christ Our Peace

25 Monday May 2020

Posted by in Christianity, Emotions, faith, God, How to find Peace ?, Mercy, peace, Prayer, Prayer University

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In Christ

Everywhere I turn I see people visibly afraid and anxious. For those already experiencing any degree of mental illness, high levels of fear due to this virus will only throw fuel on the fire. Visualize a blow torch.  Although peace is a diametrically opposed emotion to fear and anxiety, these emotions; peace, fear and anxiety, each release from the inside out, “manufactured” from within the mind.

The ancient Greek word for mind is ‘psyche’. Scientific articles state that the mind is where reasoning, conscience, character, feeling, the emotions, memory, perception, and thinking occurs. No one seems to know where “the mind” (which is a third part of the soul) is located within the body but believe it could be within the brain, and some believe within the heart. The human mind is as powerful if not more so than any vital organ; heart, kidney, brain – but unlike an organ, there is no surgical procedure that can bring peace or repair the mind. Peace must be acquired through more un-natural, even supernatural means. There is a recipe to sustained peace – this recipe has three ingredients: Christ Jesus (the resurrected Jesus), the Holy Spirit and prayer.

John 16:33 AMP  I have told you these things so that in Me (boldface mine) you may have (perfect) peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress (frustration); but be of good cheer [ take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted] ! For I have overcome the world. [ I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you].

 When you accept Christ, you are surrounded by Jesus and therefore protected “In Him”. He has paid for your peace –

Isaiah 53:5AMP “He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our guilt and iniquities, the chastisement (needful to obtain) our peace and well-being was upon Him and with the stripes that wounded Him we are healed and made whole.”

What if I told you that PEACE is accessible despite your circumstances by drawing it out from your position “In Christ”?  That every negative emotion of fear, worry, sustained anxiety, deep depression, hopelessness, despair, ETC actually exists outside of Him (and you). Access to you is only allowed by you as you come into agreement with these outliers that are technically separate from you because you are “In Him“. These emotions are not you but are bad actors that will take over the stage of your mind and your identity if you allow. You have the ability to leverage your gift of peace and to possess a stabilized mind through authority  held “In Christ”.  – I realize this is deep but bear with me –

Negative emotions, tormenting thoughts must be given legal access to occupy anyone redeemed by the blood of Jesus. This access is catalyzed through 1) Agreement and 2) allowed sustained fear, and / or unforgiveness 3) a lack of understanding of the love of God. The Holy Spirit – our Comforter, Counselor, Teacher, Guide, Helper, Advocate – who lives internally in all that accept Christ, is The One that clears and stabilizes the mind. It is He Who administers the delivery system for our gift of Peace.

Philippians 4:6-7 AMP  “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything by prayer and petition (definite requests) with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace (shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace ] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  (boldface mine)

The word “garrison” used here is a military term and implies that soldiers have been stationed in a location for the purposes of protection. [ It is interesting to see that hearts and minds are both used. I believe that the mind and heart are more connected than the brain and the heart. ]  Your mind and heart are in fact being “garrisoned” and guarded by Sar Shalom, the Prince of Peace, by His Spirit through your prayers and petitions to Him.

Having an intense focus on God and looking vertically while not focusing on negative circumstances, the horizontal, is a necessary step towards taking back your peace. To have the mind garrisoned in peace feels as if a safety helmet has been placed on your head, clearing a troubled mind as easily as erasing a child’s Etch A Sketch pad. I know from experience that this occurs supernaturally. The circumstances do not change but your mind undergoes a peace medicator administered by the Holy Spirit. Everything I am teaching I have personally walked out so in fact, these writings on prayer are as much testimony as they are researched topical teaching.

But one more step may be needed to wrestle down these dangerous emotional flame throwers of fear, anxiety, worry, hopelessness. You must specifically address these negative emotions by name and command them to go in the name of Jesus. Because they are outliers and you are “in Christ” – they are not from you or of you even though your circumstances may warrant feeling them. Fear can be paralyzing and is never from God. Remaining in sustained fear will open a door and allow a menagerie of other negative emotions to access the mind. You must close the door to fear and seal it closed.

John 14:27 AMP “Peace I leave with you, My (own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled).

Jesus left us His peace, bequeathed, yes gifted it, with no strings attached and requiring no effort on our part. Jesus did not leave us faith or joy as a gift. I must believe that He felt that peace was so crucial that He needed to ensure we each had an “all access pass” to peace in the theatre of our minds.

Lastly, if you have a prayer language, the gift of peace can be accessed successfully by praying to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit speaks directly with God about your circumstances and needs, resulting in a swift and thorough response regarding your peace.

In this disorienting season of  abounding “new normals” and foggy future, there is no time like the present to learn to become skilled at accessing and maintaining peace. If Jesus gave us His peace we own its title deed. It is my hope that via your partnership with the Holy Spirit, Christ Jesus and your time of prayer, that you will gain mastery of the gift bequeathed to you by the Prince of Peace Himself.

Session #5
Prayer University

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
In Christ Our Peace
All Rights Reserved 2020

Related Articles 
The Spirit of Peace     https://sacredramblings.com/2017/07/23/the-spirit-of-peace/

Author: Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and
Meeting Jesus
Facebook:  Tracy Gatewood  Sacred Ramblings
Website:  http://www.sacredramblings.com

 

 

 

Prayer and the Blood of Jesus

17 Sunday May 2020

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Christianity, faith, God, How God Answers Prayer, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, New Covenant, Prayer, Prayer University, righteousness, The Bible, Tracy Gatewood Prayer

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2017-08-09 10.40.34

Each week I am providing a teaching on prayer and for the next few weeks will single out a quality pertaining to the life of Jesus. Last week was His Righteousness and today is the Blood of Jesus. For many years, into decades in fact, I attended churches and engaged with ministries that taught very little about Jesus although some have now gained the understanding. Knowing Jesus and to understand His qualities, His nature, and what we have been given through Him is foundational to a powerful prayer life.

Hundreds of times, I have heard the term ‘Prayer Warrior‘  A ‘warrior’ is defined as a person skilled in combat or warfare especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class. (reference: Freebase)  So for our purposes a warrior is a division, if you will, of people highly skilled in prayer and intercession. Using the Church as the tribe or clan, a Prayer Warrior would be skilled in principles of spiritual war, including strategy and tactics but most importantly a knowledge and applied understanding of the authority that they possess by being in Christ. These principles can impact the outcome of circumstances for an individual, a city, nation or really anything, through petitions to God and through the realm of the spirit. There can be no one truly worthy of being called a ‘prayer warrior’ that does not understand Christ’s sacrifice and the meaning of His blood.

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The Blood of Jesus is a subject so vast that we can spend days studying it but for our purposes, I will provide highlights rather than a deep dive on the fullness of the magnificent power still held in the Blood of Christ Jesus. To begin, His blood and the resurrection served as the ratification for a New Covenant between God and Jesus and the Agreement that is a guarantee of a new and better way on behalf of all mankind.

Hebrews 7:22 AMP In keeping with (the oath’s greater strength and force) Jesus has become the Guarantee of a better (stronger) Agreement ( a more excellent and advantageous covenant). 

Hebrews 9:14-15 AMP  “How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own pre-existent divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God? 15 Christ the Messiah is therefore the Negotiator and Mediator of an [entirely] new agreement (testament, covenant) so that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfillment of the promised everlasting inheritance – since a death has taken place which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions committed under the (old) first agreement.”

I remember when I first began to study and learn about Jesus’ blood. I confess I had this thought, “Ugh blood ……. why blood”? Why cant it be anything else other than blood? The reason is that life –  life of all living creatures – is carried and held in the blood. But Jesus’ blood was different, it was very different because it carried within it NO SIN. So how did this happen? It is because the Holy Spirit “fathered” Jesus, forming Him in the womb of His mother, Mary,  thereby bypassing the Adamic line of sin. (Matthew 1:18) The final sacrifice for our freedom had to come from a sinless blood line because of God’s holiness.

Not only is Life in the Blood, the Spirit and the Blood are one and inseparable. That the outpouring of the blood of Christ was to make way for the outpouring of the Spirit – our internal teacher, comforter, healer, wisdom guide, and giver of spiritual gifts. Holy Spirit is the One that administrates and coordinates all of the gifts of the New Covenant on behalf of the Son and the Father.

The Blood of Jesus serves as the only true means of release from sin and guilt and the remission of the due and merited punishment for sin. That Christ’s Blood’s unending flow perpetually covers the sins of the Righteous and is the eternal substitute and propitiation to God. The Blood extends its grace over and above every personal sacrifice, performance based act, striving, or adherence to Law. There is no action or personal sacrifice that exalts itself above the blood of Jesus or can redeem any sin.

The Blood of Christ continually cleanses even from the beginning of our lives until the end of life. The word for this is “efficacious”. This once and for all sacrifice and the grace that has been shown to us should be respected and must be an intentional spoken action. Jesus’ blood has completely erased our sin. The devil’s biggest threat is the blood of Christ – whose continuous flow constantly reminds him that he has been defeated. When he walks about seeking whom he can destroy, he must pass you by when covered with the blood of Jesus. The Blood coupled with the unwavering knowledge that you are God’s Beloved is the greatest place of safety available to humanity. This once and for all sacrifice and the grace that has been shown to us should be respected and acknowledged by the turning away from sin. Blood is the eternal currency of Heaven.

Jesus said that “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you …. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in Me and I abide in Him”. (John 6:53-56) He spoke this in reference to the Holy Communion which is also known as the Lord’s Supper. There is no deeper or more powerful inward action that permeates the body like the taking of the Lord’s Supper which carries the very DNA of Christ. Christ stated that you have to take it.

Canva - Holy Communion

My final point is that His sacrifice, through the shedding of His blood, covers the scope of every human need:

Healing (Rapha, Exodus 15:26)
Provision (Jireh,Genesis 22:14)
God’s presence, Victory over darkness (Nissi, Exodus 17:15)
Peace (Shalom, Judges 6:24)
Pastor/Shepherd (Ra-ah, Psalm 23:1)
Redeemer of righteousness (Tsidkenu,
Jeremiah 23:6)
Sanctifier (M’ Kaddesh, Leviticus 20:8).

Your prayers must be spoken from victory and not from a defeated stance – the battle has already been won. Honor Him by embracing and walking out your benefits. What we have been given is a miracle. Decree, make declarations and approach the throne of grace with confidence and in ever present hope. Hope means a confident expectation of good in every situation. Remain hopeful in all times.

Session #4
#PrayerUniversity

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
Prayer and The Blood of Jesus
All Rights Reserved  2020

Facebook: Tracy Gatewood Sacred Ramblings
Author:  Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus
Wordpress:  http://www.sacredramblings.com

 

 

 

Jesus Our Righteousness

12 Tuesday May 2020

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Christianity, faith, God the Father, Prayer, Prayer University, righteousness, The Bible, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, Uncategorized

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Jesus on the Cross
To study the practice of New Covenant prayer, one must understand basic biblical principles which primarily surround Jesus Himself. One of these foundational principles is to understand what it means to be righteous and how righteousness is obtained.

The word “righteous” simply stated is ‘to be in right standing with God’.

To begin, we must first understand that God Himself imputes righteousness, not because we adhere to a Law or a way of living, but because we believe that God’s Son paid a sin debt that could never be paid by anyone else. Jesus is the only One that could have made this sacrifice. As a person born into the Adamic line of sin, which we all have been, an unbelieving person, without Christ’s sacrifice, would otherwise hold a punched one-way ticket to Hell. Christ Jesus has taken our sin debt and imputed His own perfected righteousness into all that believe. Imputing means a transference – Jesus imputed or transferred His righteousness while simultaneously extracting OUR sin.

Can righteousness be attained through behavior, no – righteousness is a gift imputed to us by God for believing in His Son. When one accepts Jesus and understands that His righteousness required an obedient sacrifice that we could never pay, the result should impact a person’s behavior. Good behavior does not create righteousness however the knowledge that we cannot obtain righteousness through any other way should convince us to modify our behavior. It is impossible to work or perform one’s way into right-standing with God. There are teachings that by watching words, purifying our vessels (our bodies) or being set apart can make one righteous or in right standing. This is inaccurate.

True righteousness, accepted by God, comes through the understanding that His Son’s sacrifice fully achieved everything necessary to remove the dividing wall between God and You. This places all responsibility totally on Jesus for this achievement. To assume that one can be made righteous through his own behaviors or merits, illustrates a lack of understanding of the magnitude of the Cross. This position creates ‘self-righteousness’ which is dangerous and noxious to God.

To be clear, is there anything wrong with watching what we say, staying away from unclean food and actions, and practicing a more holy (set apart) lifestyle? No – of course not, however modifying one’s behavior does not make any person more righteous in the sight of God. These behaviors should be response – response being a heart level understanding that results in transformation. Christ Himself is Our Righteousness and the only pathway.

The Book of Romans could be considered the Epistle of Righteousness –

“ But now the righteousness of God has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the Law, although actually it is attested by the Law and the Prophets, Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing and personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ. And it is meant for all who believe for there is no distinction.
Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. (ALL) are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy) through the redemption , which is provided in Jesus Christ, Whom God put forward as a mercy seat and propitiation by His Blood (the cleansing and life giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received) through faith.
This was to show God’s righteousness, because in divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment. It was to demonstrate and prove at present time that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has true faith in Jesus.”      Romans 3:21-26

But this requires faith. Faith that you are righteous in Christ and that your sins have been atoned for – you must pray in faith.

The Amplified defines Faith as the practice of leaning your entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, Wisdom and goodness.

How is your faith holding up during this pandemic?

Has God told you something that still requires faith on your part because that promise has not come to pass?

Remain in faith that you will have what He said that you will have.

When one remains in faith, that faith is being accounted to them as Righteousness by God and places that person in His right standing. Remember, righteousness is a grace gift and cannot be earned. Faith in His promises does not require one to watch words, or eat clean, refrain from alcohol, or any number of actions that are associated with being a righteous person. As people of God we should engage in these practices as they make us healthier, keep us out of trouble, and most importantly, keep doors closed to the demonic, but God does not recognize anything else as righteousness other than the acknowledgement and resulting actions based on the knowledge of 1) His Son’s righteous standing, 2) maintaining faith in His Son and 3) faith in the promises based in His Word.

In the Old Testament (testament means covenant), Abraham was considered righteous by God because of His faith. Abraham of course lived many hundreds of years before Jesus. Here is what the Apostle Paul writes about the Prophet Abraham in the New Testament book of Romans –

“No unbelief or distrust made him waver concerning the promises of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God. Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised. That is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness. (boldface mine) But the words, It was credited to him, were written not for his sake alone, But (they were written) for our sakes too. [Righteousness, standing acceptable to God ] will be granted and credited to us also who believe in God, Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, Who was betrayed and put to death because of our misdeeds and was raised to secure our justification, making our account balance and absolving us from all guilt before God.” Romans 4:20–24 AMP

Last week we looked at the word ‘Tetelestai’ which means All is Accomplished. This is what Jesus said at the end of His life and on the Cross – it is typically interpreted as ‘It is Finished’.  ‘Tetelestai’  is an accounting term that denotes account reconciliation, that the debt has been paid. A person must acknowledge that Christ, through His sacrifice, has reconciled them back to God the Father, and that they, as a sinner, have no personal ability through their own works or acts to do the same. Once saved, you are in Christ, and clothed in His Righteousness.  When you pray, do so knowing that you are already in right standing with the Father, and there is nothing to earn.

Session #3
#PrayerUniversity

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
Jesus Our Righteousness
All Rights Reserved  2020

Author: Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus
Facebook:  Tracy Gatewood  Sacred Ramblings