Revelation Road

"You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him (not working to please him by self-effort). That's right--you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it.

Oh, that my steps may be steady, keeping to the course you set. Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life to your counsel. I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I'm going to do what you tell me to do, don't ever walk off and leave me.

How can a young person (I am in that group) live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word I get fresh revelation each day. I'm single-minded in pursuit of you; don't let me miss the road signs you've posted. I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt." Psalm 119:1-11, The Message (parentheses mine).

The entire revealed history of God's love affair with his people has carefully and patiently waited for this moment! You and I are being repaired and prepared to steward this grand outpouring and harvest. No pressure; just fire and shaking.

What will our response look like? We must come boldly to Father’s Throne of Grace; throwing our entire history, present reality/needs, and future hopes, humbly into the Mercy and Love of Father. He resists the proud while overwhelming the humble with a daily baptism of Holy Spirit and fire. Today is the day of Salvation! Today, if you hear his voice of fresh revelation, dive heart-first into the oceans of his power and provision. He is bound by love to speak revelation into our hearts continuously.

God’s word takes over the action; what God spoke to us in the incarnation,

His final Word, radiating His image and likeness (1:1-3) powerfully impacts

Our whole being, body, soul and spirit) what He spoke becomes a living and

Powerful influence in us, cutting like a doctor’s scalpel, sharper than a

Soldier’s sword, piercing to the deepest core of human conscience, to the

Division of soul and spirit, ending the dominance of the sense realm of the

Soul and its neutralizing effect upon the human spirit; thus freeing the spirit

To be the ruling influence again in the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

(Spirit and not soul is compatible to mingle with faith, 4:2)

No distortion due to disease of any kind can hide from the voice of His Word

In the grip of God’s grace! Hold on with all of His strength, Ron Ross

                 The Truth: What is Jesus Saying?

"They are no more defined by the world, than I am defined by the world. Make them Holy---consecrated---with the truth; Your Word is consecrating truth. In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. I am consecrating myself for their sakes-So they will be truth consecrated in their mission." John 17:17-19 The Message

Who will define your life experiences today? Jesus prayed to His Father that our lives would no longer be defined by the world. I remember my life before-it definitely was defined by the world. As such, my life just kind of blended in with whatever worldly crowd or expression I was into at the moment. The pop culture defined me. In the early 70's, right before I gave my life to Jesus-I was a street hippie. Not distinct, just one of that crowd-wandering around the country with no distinct definition or purpose.

Now, and for the last 42 years, whatever He (Jesus) has to say about me is what gives my life definition. Today, I will be defined by God's opinion about me. I will not be defined by the old, self-disgusting voices in my head. I will be Holy (set apart-distinct) by His truth about me. I will be consecrated in and with that truth.

I will have and share in an awesome mission in the world today with my special Jesus definition. Truth, real and pure truth, is whatever He has to say about any and everything! Well, what is He saying about you and me today? Here are just a few: beloved, child and son or daughter of God, forgiven, not ashamed, redeemed, gifted, empowered...you add some more!

You have a high and holy mission in the world today. You are not brought down to the level of being defined by the world-no more than Jesus is defined by the world. You are defined by the opinion of Almighty Heavenly Father! Think on His definition of you today and be nurtured with those truths.

Set Apart by Truth: Ron Ross

Embrace Your Humanity

The most fundamental of all fear is our human sense of inadequacy. It caused Adam and Eve to grasp at attaining the likeness of God by eating the forbidden fruit. It does the same in us. All of the grasping at religious flesh, self-righteousness and good intentions (we can garner) will not get us an inch closer to freedom-thus we are left with a profound sense of failure.
But herein is the good news; our sense of inadequacy is daily ambushed by Jesus. As Son of man, Jesus embraces our humanity and lives an exemplary life in and through us as his followers! Even more amazing, he also bequeathed his Holy Spirit as our constant comforter, guide and teacher!
“Who being in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 He fully invests himself into human form and is fully satisfied with being human. This state of being does not leave him with a sense of lack or emptiness, but he demonstrates that all the fullness of God is at home in the human body.” (Philippians 2)

It is this sense of completeness, this deep persuasion that God is satisfied with our humanity, that gives Jesus the strength not to bow to fear, not to accept the pressure of the crowd, but to have the courage to simply be human without shame… even in the face of the most humiliating death.

What Jesus Christ believes to be true about you and me is the final confirmation of man’s redeemed sonship. His faith is the only valid reference.

Embracing the Son of Man! Ron Ross

Rabe, Andre (2015-01-24). Desire Found Me (Kindle Locations 3437-3444). Kindle Edition.

Explosive Hope in the Midst of Hopelessness

"I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. And once that person is with me, I hold on to and don't let go. I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me. “This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by my Father be completed--not a single detail missed--and at the wrap up time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. This is what my Father wants: that anyone who sees the Son and trusts who He is and what He does and then aligns with Him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time." John 6:35-41 Msg. Earlier this morning I was seeking Papa about the explosive power of Hope in the midst of hopeless circumstances. I was especially hoping for a word that would bring comfort to so many of my friends (and me) who are suffering trying, testing times and circumstances. This Word couldn't be more on target. Do you see anything in this scripture that remotely suggests that you or I are beyond His grace or that we are washed up spiritually? Is there anything in this very specific summary of Papa's plan through Jesus that leaves a shadow of a doubt--that He will complete what Papa handed over to Him to finish? Is there even the slightest suggestion in this passage that our failures or ongoing struggles have a chance to disqualify us from Papa's plan? 'Oops; sorry Papa, I tried to help put them on their feet, but their problems, history and sins were far more than You realized-I just couldn't get the job done.' Your part here is very simple and clear; trust that Jesus is who He says He is and that He does the saving, restoration, healing, sanctifying and completing-not you! And at the wrap up of time; He will have us put together, upright and whole. Feed and drink the glory of the true Gospel in today. Believe this wonderful Gospel for yourself today. He and Papa really do have everything handled. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33, LB Ron Ross

The Divine Exchange Rate

Can you indulge me a moment of what may seem to be a hyperbolas overstatement? Okay, here goes. You cannot exaggerate how critical your value is to Jesus. His Message hinges on you and me believing the Gospel for ourselves in every moment of every day! Apart from faithing, believing and trusting His Message we have no hope of truly knowing or sustaining our accurate value and worth.

Our value is not measured by our performance, intellect, position, titles or pedigree. Thank God it isn’t! Instead, our value is revealed in the exchange rate of our purchase! In Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father exchanged equivalent value to redeem us to himself.

Their act of redemption and reconciliation is the mandate of our worth and ministry. (The word, ‘katalasso’ translates as reconciliation; a mutual exchange of equal value.) That makes our value the same as Jesus’! Hold on, before you declare that statement of fact as blasphemous-remember that is God’s opinion and declaration.

“This is radical! No label that could possibly previously define someone carries any further significance! Even our pet doctrines of Christ are redefined. Whatever we knew about him historically or sentimentally is challenged by this conclusion. (By discovering Christ from God’s point of view we discover ourselves and every other human life from God’s point of view!)

In the light of your co-inclusion in his death and resurrection, whoever you thought you were before; in Christ you are a brand new person! The old ways of seeing yourself and everyone else are over. Acquaint yourself with the new!

(Jesus did not reveal a “potential” you, he revealed the truth about you so that you may know and believe the truth about yourself and be free indeed!)

Too now see everything as new is to simply see what God has always known in Christ; we are not debating man’s experience, opinion, or his contribution; this is 100% God’s belief and his doing. In Jesus Christ, God exchanged equivalent value to redeem us to himself.” (Again, the word ‘katalasso’ translates as reconciliation; a mutual exchange of equal value.)  2 Cor. 5:16-18, “The Mirror”

This is the divine exchange: he who knew no sin embraced our distortion. Even though He appeared to be without form; this was the mystery of God’s prophetic poetry. He was disguised in our distorted image, marred with our iniquities; he took our sorrows, our pain, and our shame to his grave and birthed his righteousness in us. He took our sins and we became his innocence.” 2 Cor. 5:21, “The Mirror” Just what is the exchange rate of our value to God? Isaiah hit the nail on the head of our genuine value.

Isaiah 52:10 The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. :14-15  Just as many were astonished at you—so was he marred in his appearance, more than any human, and his form beyond that of human semblance—so will he startle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of him; for what had not been told them they will see, and what they had not heard they will understand. 53:4-5 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But surely he was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we ourselves are healed.

 He was not bruised by God but by the very humanity he was about to redeem! Romans 8:30 Jesus reveals that man pre-existed in God; he defines us. He justified us and also glorified us. He redeemed our innocence and restored the glory we lost in Adam. The fundamental question is can you and I walk by faith in our redeemed innocence while we are feeling the sting, failure, shame and stain of our vain attempts at self-improvement?

Faith the Divine Exchange, Ron Ross