THE GREAT EXCHANGE
"For He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Cor 5:21)
Gladys Palmer
11-23-08
Since June, I have been serving in a fairly new church and for the first time in several months, I did not make a hasty exit after Sunday's service. I'm glad you asked "why" ? The congregation allowed the presence of God to have free reign. It was the freedom in the house that made me linger, until almost 3pm. Some stuff needed to be uprooted and we finally broke spiritual grounds this afternoon! Now, we can build. PTL!!! The Evangelist brought a revelatory word on living as overcomers, rather than "spiritual punks". This revelation clothed us with a new identity and baby? We were armed and dangerous as we sang:"No weapon formed against me shall prosper; it won't work!" After we re-organized our leased facility, I went home singing the above song repeatedly. For several minutes, I stood infront of my bathroom mirror singing. With the resounding bass chords in my ears, I sat at my keyboard and played & sang 'til my larynges alerted me: "E do so!" (i.e. the Krio transliteration for: "that's enough!") In reviewing my journal, I found a notation of some thoughts the Holy Spirit shared with me on 12-3-07. I thought they were consistent with the aforementioned message preached at my church. Allow me to share them with you.
Aaron was required to wear one, on behalf of the children of Israel (Ex 28:30) but Praise God, I now have a breastplate of righteousness! It is smeared with the blood of Jesus and I can stick my chest out and declare: MY RIGHTEOUSNESS IS OF GOD! THAT'S MY HERITAGE! (Isa 54:17) You can make that declaration too! The Scripture says, "This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord."
Early this morning, before I got out of bed, I made the following announcement:
"I renounce every covenant made with the spirits attached to my given names!" I was named after my maternal grandmother and paternal great grandmother. I never had the opportunity to test out their spirits. Any information I have is what was told to me by my parents and relatives. I thought of all the crippling diseases suffered by the former, who died when I was a year old, as well as the baggage that the latter bore (though she was a faithful church leader)! I have enough of my stuff to work through. I certainly don't need grandma's! After renouncing all ties to ancestral bondage and iniquity, I swung the port of entry shut in the enemy's face! I then smeared it with the blood of Jesus, forbidding any re-entrance or
ensnarement!!!
The curse of generational infirmity or any manner of affliction will not return, for I am the REDEEMED of the Lord and I am free indeed! The Lord set me free in my bedroom this morning, and I watched him do it collectively in the service.
Rather, I have been given a helmet of Salvation to protect my mind (Eph 6:17). "Holiness to the Lord" is engraved on it (Ex 28:36-37). Christ was bruised for my iniquities. No more condemnation! I can approach the throne of God BLAMELESS, for a re-fill of direction, favor, mercy, strength and all that pertains unto life and Godliness.
I gird my loins with TRUTH (Eph 6:14), that I may be able to stand. I don't know about you, but I would take TRUTH over linen breeches any day! There is an element of shame that is attached to the latter. The winds of life will blow and expose our frailties causing us to put on a facade! How long will we keep covering up? What a toilsome task!!! Can you tell I've been there? Also, linen will eventually wear out. Not so with truth! It will stand the test of time and set us free! Contrary to what the enemy would have us believe, we can share our past or shortcomings and walk in total freedom thereafter. Self-disclosure done in season will strengthen others. "When thou art converted . . . " You got it! (Luke 22:32).
Paul had a revelation of our priestly garments - how we ought to dress for war (Eph 6), so that we may quench every fiery dart of satan and make full proof of our ministries (2 Tim 4:5). What is keeping you from operating in your divine purpose? The calling of the Lord is without repentance, so you need to get on with it!
The next time you sing: " I'm trading my sorrows. . .", I pray you do so with a RENEWED MIND; an enhanced understanding of the GREAT EXCHANGE, made on our behalf. Shake off those heavy bands of condemnation, defeat, guilt & shame and walk on! Go share this truth and liberate someone else. Do it this week! FOR FREEDOM,THE LORD HAS SET US FREE! IT''S TIME TO WALK IN IT!!! "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,
and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." (Gal 5:1)
HE MADE THE GREAT EXCHANGE FOR US TO LIVE VICTORIOUSLY, NOT AS "SPIRITUAL PUNKS"!