One device Satan uses successfully to prevent the believers from entering this area of their land of promise is to promote neglect, disinterest, and a casual approach to their salvation. This is particularly true in America where there are so many interesting diversions—things and situations that occupy our attention and time.

Satan deceives us into leaving our first love of Christ. We grow cool, not having the intense relationship to Christ that insures our partaking of His body and blood. We treat our salvation casually, only addressing the things of God when it is convenient. Many other enterprises become more important to us than our walk with Christ.

Soon we are primarily occupied with eating, sleeping, playing, working, and reproducing—the life of the animal. Eternal resurrection life ebbs from our inward nature, although we still regard ourselves as a Christian. We have been burned badly and we do not realize it.

When the Lord returns we will not be gathered to Him, because it is His body and blood in us that will raise us in that day. In this case, Satan has been successful in preventing us from entering our land of promise.

Do not suppose for one moment that grace, mercy, correct doctrine, or anything else will raise you to Christ in that Day! Only His body and blood will do that. We are in a state of apostasy in America and we need to get back to an intimate relationship with Jesus. We are not nearly ready for the coming of the Lord! We are not living in perfect oneness with Him.

To Gain Authority and Power To Rule Our Circumstances in the Person and Presence of Christ

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10—NIV)

To be able to rule, in the Presence of Christ, over all our circumstances—that is an objective worth pursuing.

It is God's will that Christ be totally subject to Him. It is God's will further that every child of God be in total subjection to Christ just as Christ is in subjection to the Father.

When we begin our Christian walk we worship many things, circumstances, and relationships. We do not realize it, but we are in bondage to them.

A great part of our Christian life consists of the Lord removing the powers that stand between Christ and us and putting them under our feet.

Do you want to know what your idols are? Think of those things, circumstances, and relationships that would grieve you terribly if they were removed—grieve you to the point of questioning the goodness of God.

These are your idols. You are in bondage to them even though it seems to you that you are not.

You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve. You shall love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

To be continued.