“Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.””

Hebrews 10:17 NLT

Our first family cat was named Purdy. When we got her as a kitten from the RSPCA they told us that she had fair skin and would need to be kept indoors to stop her getting skin cancer on her ears and nose. So we did exactly that.

One day, when she was at least 10 years old, I wanted to get her out of the house quickly. So I picked her up and carried her outside in my arms. As the door closed behind me she went into full panic mode, and scrabbled to get back inside so hard I had to put her back inside immediately. We had thoroughly convinced her the outside world was not a safe place for her!

Likewise I think the church has concentrated so much on sin that many people live in fear of their sins. I have even met people who seemed to be of the belief that one unconfessed sin would be enough to exclude them from God’s presence and protection forever. Constant concentration on sin only serves to convince us we are hopelessly sinful. Then fear of sin becomes a cage to our identity, stopping us from knowing we are the beloved children of God.

The Biblical teaching about salvation is clear: Jesus sacrifice was enough and STILL IS ENOUGH to cleans us from ALL sin. Because of Jesus sacrifice God declares we are clean from sin today, tomorrow and forever. When God says,“I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds” what He means is, “I will NEVER AGAIN remember their sins and lawless deeds. So no matter how often we bring our sins up, old or new, God has no idea what we are talking about. He has forgotten them completely. No we don’t deserve such grace but it is part of what Jesus paid for on the cross. Jesus deserves that and so much more for His sacrifice. Our judgement has fallen on Jesus shoulders and been paid for – end of story. God has no record of our sins and neither should we. And when we really start to live in this freedom we find it becomes easier and easier to live God’s way. Jesus sinlessness becomes ours too.

So how can we receive this revelation of our sinless state from God?

“Sin free, Sin free is God’s record of me! ”

Resting in God to make it real to you, use that statement

1. for a time of meditation

2. as the basis of a daily thanksgiving prayer.

3. As an affirmation as you look at yourself in a mirror.

4. As inspiration for an artwork, writing or movie

5. As inspiration for a song or chant

6. However else you can think of to remind you

“Sin free, Sin free is God’s record of me! ”

“Sin free, Sin free is God’s record of me! ”

“For by that one offering [Jesus] he [God] forever made perfect those who are being made holy.”” Hebrews 10:14 NLT

We know that if we go into a dark room and turn on a bright light, the room is no longer dark. The presence of the light transforms that room to a more welcoming and useful environment for as long as that light is on.

We know that if we want to live healthy lives we need to regularly eat healthy food and exercise.

We know that basic hygiene facilities such as toilets and easy access to fresh clean water can transform the health of a community in a very positive way from the day they are available.

Many resources have both immediate and on going benefit.

I can get in a car, but unless someone turns the engine on and drives it, I will not go anywhere. The car will not function as it is designed to unless a driver drives it.

I can go to the doctor when I am sick and get some medicine. But unless I take that medicine as directed by the doctor it is not going to make me well. Leaving it on the shelf will not help me.

I could go through a wedding ceremony and marry someone, but unless I chose to live with them as my partner I will never experience the joys that marriage can bring. A ceremony and a legal certificate by themselves are not a marriage.

Many situations in life require us daily to chose to act and be involved to get the full benefits.

The sacrifice of Jesus is the same. It has both immediate and ongoing impacts on our lives and we need to actively receive it and live in its benefits if we want to experience being children of God. Jesus sacrifice has made us perfect because our old imperfect life died with Him and now His perfect life lives in us. It is such a powerful thing that as we receive it and learn how to live in it, it makes us holy. It is a one off gift of perfection that transforms us to be holy. As we sit in this gift, receiving it, Jesus changes us so we belong in the culture of heaven.

So how can we receive perfection from God?

“Jesus perfection lives in me, making me holy daily”

Resting in God to make it real to you, use that statement

1. for a time of meditation

2. as the basis of a daily thanksgiving prayer.

3. As an affirmation as you look at yourself in a mirror.

4. As inspiration for an artwork or writing picturing you as perfect

5. As inspiration for a song or chant

6. However else you can think of to remind you

“Jesus perfection lives in me, making me holy daily”

“Jesus perfection lives in me, making me holy daily”

“For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” Hebrews 10:10 NLT

Choices are a powerful thing. The choices we make go a long way to determine who we are as a person.

I chose education and got a doctorate in medical biology, becoming a research scientist. Although I did not continue in that career once I had children, the training and experience I got doing that has impacted the rest of my life in a very positive way.

I knew a couple once who chose to adopt a child from an orphanage in a foreign country. Although they loved the child dearly, he turned out to have quite severe social problems that were a constant challenge for them to deal with. He changed the priorities in their lives quite significantly.

The choices other people make can also have a big impact on us.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic our government has put parts of our country into lock-down, restricting our movements and activities. It was necessary to stop too many people from dying but has been a real struggle for people to adjust to. We are not used to having our freedom of movement and socialisation so restricted.

Hebrews 10:10 tells us that it was God’s decision, God’s choice to make us holy, for all time, by the one time sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. It was a momentous decision for God because it meant sacrificing His one and only Beloved Son, in a horrific way. It was a momentous decision for Jesus because it meant He had to suffer that death. But God chose to do it because that one action would have such a big and positive impact on all of humanity, enabling them to be what they were born to be, God’s children, just like Jesus. God and Jesus chose to do it for the joy of having us as part of their family. God, the most powerful being in our universe chose to make us holy, like Him and knowing that is real, now, is to experience the awesome transforming power of Jesus in us.

So how can we receive this revelation from God?

“Holy, Holy, Holy, God You’ve made me Holy”

Resting in God to make it real to you, use that statement

1. for a time of meditation

2. as the basis of a daily thanksgiving prayer.

3. As an affirmation as you look at yourself in a mirror.

4. As inspiration for an artwork or writing picturing you as holy

5. As inspiration for a song or chant

6. However else you can think of to remind you

“Holy, Holy, Holy, God You’ve made me Holy”

“Holy, Holy, Holy, God You’ve made me Holy”

“Because of his great love, he ordained us, so that we would be seen as holy in his eyes with an unstained innocence.” Ephesians 1:4b TPT

I was once preaching in a church whose denomination did not ordain women as ministers or have women preachers. But this particular church had accepted me (a woman) as one of their ministers. I found out just before the service that a minister from one of the other churches was coming to talk about missions at the end of the service. My heart sank as I knew there was a strong chance he was against women in ministry.
I was preaching about how God shares all that He has and is with us. As I preached I saw this visiting minister go from sitting and looking up, to having his head hanging down in his hands like he was really upset. My heart sank, anticipating a real protest was coming.
At the end of the service the visitor got up to speak as arranged. I held my breath, anticipating the worst as he was clearly struggling to find words. When he finally did speak it was with considerable emotion and he thanked me profoundly for what I had said. He said my sermon had moved him so greatly that he was struggling to speak! I was humbled, dumbfounded and very relieved. I had completely misread what was going on. Clearly God had been speaking to him at a deep level through my sermon.

When it comes to dealing with sin, our expectations of God’s reactions are often similarly skewed. The problem of sin has been so overemphasised that many cannot imagine that God could see them as holy and pure (unstained innocence). Their sins seem such big an obstacle that they cannot see the truth of salvation – God has made them pure and holy by putting them into Jesus. Jesus holiness and purity overcomes everything to make us holy and pure! God has ordained us as pure and holy and what God orders happens! The more we can grasp God’s viewpoint the more it becomes our reality. Knowing we are holy and pure in Jesus alters the way we think and behave so we become holy and pure like Jesus. It is a great salvation gift and miracle!

So how can we receive this revelation from God?

“God You’ve declared me pure and holy so pure and holy I am”

Resting in God to make it real to you, use that statement

1. for a time of meditation

2. as the basis of a daily thanksgiving prayer.

3. As an affirmation as you look at yourself in a mirror.

4. As inspiration for an artwork or writing picturing you as pure and holy

5. As inspiration for a song or chant

6. However else you can think of to remind you

“God You’ve declared me pure and holy so pure and holy I am”

“God You’ve declared me pure and holy so pure and holy I am”

Getting ‘plugged into’ and receiving from God is not a one off event but a lifestyle we need receive daily.

So use one of these plug-ins for a year or a new one every day, it does not matter. It is your relationship with God which will flourish as you give it attention.

Being ‘plugged into’ and receiving from God is not always simple, not always easy, and not without challenges and difficulties, but is is by far the best life you can have.

Looking back on my nearly 50 year journey with Jesus, I am eternally and profoundly grateful that Jesus enabled me to do life ‘plugged into’ God.

The Plug-in Prayer:

Lord Jesus I am finished living without You and God. Please fill my life with Your Presence, Your Holy Spirit and Your Resurrection power. Enable me to know my true home as a child of God in You. As all my wrong deeds, habits, thoughts and beliefs have died with You on the cross, fill me with Your life-giving righteous ones. Fill me to overflowing with Your love, joy and peace so that I glorify You. Keep me daily aware of Your Presence in me making me whole and holy.

“And in love he chose us before he laid the foundation of the universe!” Ephesians 1:4a TPT

Somehow, as a child, I gained the belief that my parents had not chosen to have me and I had been an accidental pregnancy. And I knew that my mother had nearly died having me. So I felt unwanted. As an adult I mentioned this idea to my mother and she told me it was rubbish. They had definitely planned to have a third child (me). Despite her assurances I could not shake this wrong belief. So I asked God to fix it.

One evening sometime later I was reading Psalm 139 and as I read:

“For it was you [God] who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalms 139:13 NRSV

I had a vision of God’s hands intentionally and lovingly forming me in my mother’s womb. It simply blew away any thought that I was an accident or unwanted. The God of the Universe had decided I, Amanda, would be born. I was awestruck and sobbed in relief and joy as my heart was healed. It no longer mattered what my human parents had or had not done because I now I knew I was personally chosen by God.

Then God poured His love out on me in a supernatural way. It was like a tunnel of light was coming direct from God on His throne into and around me and I was completely saturated in His love. It was so powerful and wonderful that I had trouble breathing or moving. There was more love for me in Him than I could ever imagine and I just bathed in it.

On another occasion, in preparation for a public prayer ministry, God opened His heart to me in a vision and poured out His love for all people onto me. Again it was a powerful and overwhelming experience and I fell to the ground, unable to speak and sobbing deeply because of the astounding beauty of it.

Experiencing the truth that before we could do anything to earn His love or approval, God fully loved and chose us personally to live, is a truly liberating and life changing thing.

So how can we receive this revelation from God?

“God You lovingly chose me to be, before human history”

Resting in God to make it real to you, use that statement

1. for a time of meditation

2. as the basis of a daily thanksgiving prayer.

3. As an affirmation as you look at yourself in a mirror.

4. As inspiration for an artwork, writing or movie

5. As inspiration for a song or chant

6. However else you can think of to remind you

“God You lovingly chose me to be, before human history”

“God You lovingly chose me to be, before human history”

“Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus—all because he sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts!” Ephesians 1:3 TPT

Once when I was spending time in prayer, I heard God ask me to forgive someone who had hurt me badly as a child. And my immediate response was, “No! She should’ve known better! She did know better!” God’s response was not what I expected. He said, “I am not asking you to forgive her, I am asking you to let Me forgive her through you.” My rather ungracious response was, “O.K. As long as it involves no effort on my part because I cannot do it!” I gave it no more thought.

About 3 months later I happened to be sitting next to that person in a small church service. The preacher was talking about how God mends relationships, and knowing us both she made the comment that if, for example, the two of us had a problem, God could fix it. It was just a passing comment, not at all designed to embarrass us or suggest we had a problem. Yet at precisely that moment I felt like a sword had been run through the me and I knew that the work of forgiveness had been done. It was a very real sense of release and healing. From that point on our relationship improved noticeably which I really appreciated.

This was a dramatic introduction to the understanding that God wants to bless us by giving us all the heavenly spiritual blessings.

What are these heavenly blessings? Forgiveness, cleansing from sin, holiness, purity, wholeness, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control, wisdom, righteousness, glory, eternal life, rest, healing, provision, resurrection power, intimacy with God and maybe you can think of more. God has lavished all that upon us in and through Jesus. Just as the father says to His older son in the parable of the prodigal son, “all I have is yours”, and this is the true heart of God towards us. Jesus life was the revelation of that desire to bless us.

How can we receive these gifts? Do just that, pick one and receive it. Let God lavish it on you and see what happens. Say for example you chose joy…

“God lovingly lavishes the joys of heaven on me”

Resting in God to make it real to you, use that statement

1. for a time of meditation.

2. as the basis of a daily thanksgiving prayer.

3. As inspiration for an artwork or writing.

4. As inspiration for a song or chant.

5. And write a blessing diary of what you experience

6. However else you can think of to remind you to just receive it.

“God lovingly lavishes the joys of heaven on me”

“God lovingly lavishes the joys of heaven on me”

“Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus—all because he sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts!” Ephesians 1:3 TPT

I have always been unconfident in my ability to balance and scared of heights. Not terrified, but scared enough that when I went downhill skiing, I was always too tense to ski properly and enjoy it. But once I went on a ski trip with a true encourager, Maree. I was about to head to the very beginners slope when Maree grabbed me to go on a harder slope. I was nervous but she was very confident, even in me! So confident that her confidence rubbed off on me. Her constant encouragement enabled me to relax and enjoy skiing. I could do much better than I thought I could. Her positive point of view overcame my fears and enabled me to ski and enjoy it. Over 30 years later I still remember that day as one of joy and fun. It was a real revelation on how my thinking and beliefs can affect me.

So much in this world dwells on our failures and shortcomings but God has a totally different perspective. God’s perspective on us is that we are wrapped into Christ. Wrapped into God’s perfect, glorious and beloved Son.

There is no higher place He could put us. No greater honour that He could give us. No greater glory He could give us.

In the Gospel accounts of Jesus life we can see how simply Jesus’ Presence overcomes sin, shame, sickness, demonic oppression, a lack of provisions and even death.

Jesus is the light who overcomes all darkness, the love who overcomes all fear, and the eternal life that overcomes death.

We may look at ourselves and see all our faults and sins, but God looks at us and all He can see is His perfect, holy and beloved Son Jesus, because Jesus powerful Presence overcomes all else.

Placed into Jesus we cannot fail to be whole and holy because that is what Jesus makes us!

Placed into Jesus we cannot fail to be loved by God because we are part of His Beloved!

Placed into Jesus we cannot fail to be empowered by Jesus eternal life because it lives in us!

So how can we allow God to change our perspective to His?

“Wrapped into Jesus, cocooned in His Presence”

Resting in God to make it real to you, use that statement

1. for a time of meditation

2. as the basis of a daily thanksgiving prayer.

3. As an affirmation as you wrap yourself in clothes or bedding.

4. As inspiration for an artwork or writing.

5. As inspiration for a song or chant

6. However else you can think of to remind you

“Wrapped into Jesus, cocooned in His Presence”

“Wrapped into Jesus, cocooned in His Presence”