Authentic Living

I like how Chip Ingram refers to Christ's ascension and reign over sin and death once and for all. Chip was referring to a scripture in Eph 4 about Christ ascending into Heaven after putting powers to shame, taking the keys to death and putting an end to eternal damnation through His death and resurection. In understanding what we really recieved from this victory, Chip goes into great detail in his series on "The Miracle Of Life Change." a 10 part series in finding authetic relationships with other believers, restoration with God and being spirtually transformed.

Many of us read a bit of gospel prior to our rush into morning traffic, and perhaps if we're lucky we'll read a five minute devotional before bedtime. And yet what we lack on a grand scale as believers collectively is a true "relational relationship". And if we did have this relational authenticate relationship with God and even other believers, we would as christians act and live much differntly than we currently do.
For relationships provide wisdom, growth, accountability and even edificaion.

While studying Eph 4 I especially was struck by the passage of what Christ did after leaving and ascendig into heaven. Even before Chip commented on it. It was like, "WOW!" I had never read it in that manner before. Chip really clarified in great detail facts that I couldn't possibly be privy to lest I attended seminary. Chip was referring to the scripture in Ephesians 4:8 "when Christ returned triumphantly to heaven His resurrection and victory over Satan, He gave generous gifts to men." To get the full impact of this passage one would be aquainted with how battles went in the Old Testament. For in Psalm 67:18 we have a glimpse into an ancient battle that took place between men and kindgoms on earth. And in those battles prisoners of war were paraded through the streets of the conquering city so that the people could see their captives shamed and disgraced. Behind the prisoners would be the loot (gold, cattle, oxen, jewlery, spices, anything of value) and these were the gifts that the King presented to the people in the city.

As Christ conquered darkness,principalites, powers in high places He conquered their powers forever and took the keys of death back, He ascended into the Heavens. And as a result He gave men gifts. He overcame evil with good,and then gave those of us who love Him gifts that would edifty one another, the body of believers and also reach out to those in the world that needed to see the hand of Christ who would no longer be present with us and therefore would see Christ through each believer.

Imagine christians without these gifts He speaks of. Gifts that are clearly of heaven origin. The ability to love others without hypocrisy or want of anything. The ability to have a renewed mind or a heart of peace that you could minister to another who was hopeless. The gift of healing, prophecy, teaching, and many other gifts, such as music ministry, writing. There are so many gifts that were given to us if only we would operate in them. We don't need Him physically present to operate in those gifts for He freely gave them to us after ascension. And I think that this is what Chip was talking about in his series, "The Miracle Of Life Change." I really have enjoyed the beginning of the series. There are 8 series left and I am looking forward to watching each one.


****If you or someone you know would like to lead a bible study group and know "The Miracle of Life Change" Chip Ingram is providing his series free of charge because his goal is to touch the lives of believers who really want to have an authentic relationship with Christ. If you are interested you can go to www.lote.org and then click on the Living On The Edge DVD series "The Miracle Of Life Change." The DVD series takes about two weeks to arrive. The series is beautifully bound, and very doctrinally sound as Chip Ingram pulls from the Word Of God and a style of simplicity. The Leader's guide and study guides you can order after you recieve the series. If you are truly serious about sharing a new way of living and renewing, please order the DVDs and hold a bible study with your friends. You won't regret it.