Acts -Romans

Rom 1:1 WEB Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,    5. through whom we received grace and apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake;

6. among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ;

    Paul was miraculously called. He wasn’t chosen by man but by God.  We also are miraculously called.  Yes some faithful servant of God told us the Good News but it was God working with His faithful servant.   A servant of Jesus Christ, the Anointed One.   We are in him, anointed servants.   We all are apostles, disciples, kings and priests; when we are in Him. There are special gifts of the Holy Spirit that the Holy Spirit gives to whoever He pleases. Still  “We received grace and apostleship”.  Apostle is one who is sent to declare the Good News, to declare the Kingdom of God.  Don’t see yourself as an ordinary Christian.   You are in Christ and Christ is in you.   Don’t forget that the Gospel is Good News.  It’s about Jesus saving us by His Grace that we receive by Faith in Him,  not ourselves. 

   Dear Jesus!  Thank you for coming and bringing us Good News of Your love, Grace and mercy.  Thank You for calling Paul and so many others.  Thank You for calling us.  Help us through the anointing that You have given us to share Your love and Grace to others, to declare the Kingdom of God.  Grace, Grace,  Amazing Grace.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U 

Rom 1:5-6 WEB5 through whom we received grace and apostleship for obedience of faith among all the nations for his name’s sake; 6 among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ;

Paul is saying here ” we ” receive grace and apostleship. This is hard for us to understand and believe. Apostleship is for everyone to spread the Good News. There are special Apostles with special gifts of the Holy Spirit. We also need to see ourselves as disciples ( a learner, pupil, disciple ), a follower of Jesus Christ. We are in Him and He is in us.

Dear Jesus! You continually do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can imagine. You prayed that we would be one, You in us and we in You.    John 17:22‭-‬23 WEB The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me.   As we meditate on Your words to us, we become empowered to follow You and declare that the Kingdom of God is here.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

Rom 1:16-17 WEB16 For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek. 17 For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”

” The Gospel of Christ “

GOSPEL: good news

Christ: all about what He has done for us. It’s not what we do except believe in Him, from faith to faith.

   The Gospel is also referred to as the Gospel of Grace.   You only get Grace by faith in what Jesus has done for you,  not by the Law or your will power.   You receive all the power that you need to live righteously when you receive His free gift of righteousness.    Romans 10:4 WEB For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

   Dear Jesus!   Your Word, the Good News says that you came to save us. Your name. Jesus means “Jehovah Saves”. You truly saved us by Your sacrifice.   We believe that there is nothing that we could do to make us righteous.   You do it all for us when we believe in You.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

       Rom 1:24-26 WEB 24 Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves; 25 who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature.

   God is God and there is no other.   The problem is that we don’t always believe and give Him the honor and glory that He deserves.  There are things in our lives that we exhort about God.  We praise God’s creation instead of God who created it all.   The more we ignore God, the more God ignores us.   This is a result of our free will.

     James 4:8 WEB Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.   We need more of God in our lives.  When we spend more fellowship with God, praising and worshiping Him; God draws near to us.   This is how we are blessed and protected from the devil.  We learn from God.  He teaches us His ways so that we can walk in the Spirit and the devil will have to flee.

   Dear Jesus!   Although You were like man and grew up in this world; You always drew close to our Father.   You believed all that He said about You.  You knew that You were in Him and that He was in You.  The devil never had the power to harm You.   You do the same for us.  In You we are more than conquerors and the devil can’t harm us.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2  U

     Rom 2:4 WEB Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Here the apostle Paul is stating about the goodness of God. He knew the old testament better than most but he didn’t know the goodness of God until God had mercy on him. It’s the same with all of us.   We need to tell the lost about the goodness of God.   Let the Holy Spirit convict them of their need to repent.   

Keep praying that God would reveal His goodness to us and the rest of the world. 

 Dear Jesus!   The more that we hear about all that You sacrificed for us,  the more we draw close to You.  The more we draw close to You, the more we receive Your love,  Your Grace, Your Shalom/ Peace.   It’s all You,  working inside us to live righteously.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2  U 

2Co 7:10 NHEB For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world works death.

Psa 63:3 WEB Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you.

    Rom 2:13 WEB For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified

    This verse and some others seem to indicate that we must obey the law. Most teaching that we hear is about keeping the Law.   To our logical minds, it sounds good.   The problem is that “GRACE ” is left out. Paul will talk about Grace as we go through Romans.  By ourselves, we cannot obey the Law.   This is why we need Jesus.  This is why we need GRACE.   Grace : Godś underserved blessings makes us righteous in the 

Spirit and as we know, believe, and declare our gift of righteousness we will keep the Law. 

  Dear Jesus!   You came to save us because You knew that we couldn’t keep the Law.   You call us to Yourself,  so that we could be “ONE ” with you.  Only as we abide in You can we bear the fruits of Righteousness.   You working in us and through us.  We will continually declare our righteousness in You.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom  2 U

Gal 5:4 KJV Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Rom 2:29 WEB but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

Col 2:11 WEB In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,

    God’s ways are higher than our ways.   We see here that a Jew is one who has been circumcised physically.   It was somewhat an outward sign that he belonged to God.   Now under the New Covenant,  one belongs to God when God circumcises their hearts.  This circumcision of the heart represents God taking the stones out of our hearts.  Our hearts are no longer hardened, to the things of God.   God also puts the Law in our hearts.     Jeremiah 31:33 web “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says Yahweh: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people:     It took me awhile to figure out this verse.  Why would God put the Law in my heart if I was no longer under the Law but Grace?  It eventually hit me.  When the Law is in our hearts; we love the Law.  It’s now a  lot easier to fulfill the Law but it’s all because of God’s Grace. 

   Dear Jesus!   Wow!  Your ways are truly higher than our ways.   Your love and Grace changes us into the kind of person that we’ve been struggling to become.   The magic of Your Love and Grace does it all.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

Rom 3:22-24 WEB22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; 24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;

These couple of verses are the Gospel in a nutshell. It talks about the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ. It doesn’t say keep all the commandments or keep the Law. We can never keep the Law: for all have sin. Once we repent: confess that we have sin and ask Jesus into our hearts to save us; that is what He does. It starts from the inside out. You become “Born Again “, a New Creation in the image and likeness of God. 1 John 4:17 WEB In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world. Now we have to believe by faith that we are righteous. We have to renew our souls ( minds, will, emotions) If the soul listens to the Spirit, then the soul can be renewed. Now the soul will control the flesh and act righteously. Most people are controlled by their flesh instead of the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 WEB But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Dear Jesus!  It’s all about abiding in You, receiving Your life given Words.  John 6:63 WEB   It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

Without out You there is no life; but in You is the fullness of life.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U  

Rom 3:24 KJV Being justified ( made righteous) freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS ABOUT FAITH IN CHRIST ! IT SEEMS SO SIMPLE BUT BECAUSE WE’RE NOT TAUGHT ABOUT REALLY BELIEVING IN WHAT JESUS ACCOMPLISHED ON THE CROSS AND THAT JESUS REALLY DID COME TO SAVE US. WE KEEP TRYING TO SAVE OURSELVES .   WE KEEP TRYING TO MAKE OURSELVES RIGHTEOUS. IT’S NO WONDER THAT MOST CHRISTIAN DON’T ACT LIKE CHRISTIAN.   A LOT THAT DO, ARE DOING IT ON THEIR OWN.   TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A GIFT.   IT’S FREELY GIVEN BY GRACE. GRACE IS RECEIVED BY FAITH. JESUS IS THE SOURCE OF ALL GRACE. SO WHEN WE BELIEVE IN JESUS FREELY GIVEN US RIGHTEOUSNESS; WE DECLARE THAT WE ARE RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH. THIS IS THE ” NEW MAN ” . SPEAKING IT BY FAITH, ENABLES THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CHANGE YOUR FLESH INTO ACTING LIKE THE ” NEW MAN ” : THE ” BORN AGAIN ” MAN. IT’S A PROCESS THAT BEGINS WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. DECLARING WHO WE ARE IN HIM ; BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS DONE. GOING FROM GLORY TO GLORY.

DEAR JESUS ! WE CONFESS THAT IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU.    WHAT YOUR SACRIFICE DID FOR US. YOU ARE THE ONE THAT SAVES; THAT’S WHY YOUR NAME IS jESUS – “JEHOVAHA IS SALVATION”. ALL HONOR AND GLORY BELONGS TO YOU.    WE THANK YOU FOR THE FREE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT COME FROM YOUR AMAZON GRACE.    YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF ALL OUR LOVE, JOY, AND PEACE – GLORY BE TO GOD. Shalom2u

      Rom 3:27-31 WEB 27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.

    “Law Of Faith “!  When we get into the Gospel,  the New Testament,  the New Covenant it’s all about Faith.   Faith, believing in what Jesus has done for us.   That’s why it says,  “where then is the boasting? “.   Jesus does it all.  He gives us the faith to believe.  Jesus sets us free.  Jesus gives us life and life more abundantly.  Jesus gives us His righteousness.  

   Dear Jesus!   We give You all the praise, honor, and glory.   It is You and Your sacrifice that has redeemed us, cleanses us, sanctified us.  It is You in us that enables us to fulfill the Law.  Thank you Jesus!   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U   

Rom 4:1-5 WEB1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed. 5 But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

The epistle of ROMANS is filled with scripture that declares its all about faith not works.   In Spite of what the epistle of James seems to imply; it was Faith not works that made Abraham righteous.   Abraham was declared righteous many years before Issac was even born,  never mind being offered as a sacrifice.   God even stopped Abraham from offering up Issac.   The church focuses too much on James’ statement instead of all the other Scriptures that declare it’s Faith that makes us righteous. 

   Dear Jesus!   There is no amount of work that will make us righteous.   It’s only our Faith in You and Your sacrifice that makes us righteous.   It’s only abiding in You;  You working in us that produce the fruits of Righteousness.   To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom 2 U

Rom 4:6-8 WEB 6 Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works, 7 “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.”

As we go through the epistle of ROMANS, we will continue to see that it’s Faith, not works.

Dear Jesus! You are the end of the Law: Romans 10:4 WEB For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.   We look to You, Lord Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. You alone fill us with Righteousness, life, peace, and love. To God be the glory Amen! Shalom 2U  

     Rom 4:13-15 WEB 13 For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. 15 For the law produces wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.

     God gave promises to Abraham and his offspring through the “righteousness of Faith “.  God gives us and our children promises based on Faith, not the Law.   Verse 15 says: “for where there is no Law, neither is there disobedience.   Romans 10:4 tells us:  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.   

   Dear Jesus!   You came to save us.  You came to give us Grace.   We believe in You.  Your sacrifice fulfilled the Law and made us righteous by faith in You.   Grace, Grace, Grace, Amazing Grace!  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2U 

      Rom 4:16-17 WEB 16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. 17 As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.

        Again we see that it’s Faith & Grace,  not the Law and works.   You have to have faith to receive the grace that is needed to fulfill the promises of God in our lives.   

   Dear Jesus !  You are the Author and finisher of our faith.   You are the source of all Grace.   As we come to You, You feed us with Your Word of Grace.  Faith comes by hearing, hearing Your Words.  We come to You daily so that we would be full of Your Grace and Faith.    To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2U

Acts 14:3 KJV Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 

Rom 4:17 NHEB As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER!   ALL PRAISE HONOR AND GLORY TO YOU!     WE KEEP THINKING ABOUT YOUR DIVINITY.      WHAT REALLY SEPARATES YOU FROM COMMON MAN.     YOU DECLARE THINGS THAT ARE NOT AS THOUGH THEY WERE AND THEN THEY BECOME.     IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS DARKNESS AND YOU DECLARED ” LIGHT BE ” , THEN LIGHT APPEARED.     LATER YOU PROPHESIED THAT JESUS WOULD BE BORN BY A VIRGIN, BORN IN BETHLEHEM, PERSECUTED AND REJECTED, DIE BUT RISE AGAIN.     ALL THESE THINGS CAME TO PASS.     YOUR PROPHETS WOULD DECLARE ALL THAT JESUS WOULD DO TO SAVE ( BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT ) US.      THESE ARE THE GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES THAT WE ARE TO BELIEVE AND DECLARE.      IN DOING SO, WE BECOME PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE THAT YOU HAVE ORDAINED US TO LIVE BY.        THROUGH THESE PROMISES, WE DECLARE THAT WE ARE RIGHTEOUS ( NOT BY OUR OWN SELF EFFORTS ) BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.        WE ALSO DECLARE ” BY HIS STRIPES WE WERE HEALED “.
         DEAR JESUS!    WE LOOK TO YOU AND ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO SAVE ( BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT ) US.      YOUR SACRIFICE WAS COMPLETE.      IT DID MORE THAN WE COULD EVER THINK OR IMAGINE.       AS WE ABIDE IN YOU, HELP US TO BELIEVE ALL THINGS THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US.       TO GOD BE THE GLORY AMEN!
SHALOM2U.ORG/devotionals
REF. 2 PETER 1:2-4 , 2 Corth. 1:20, Matthew 8:16-17, Roman 4:17, song: ” YOU SAY ” Lauren Daigle

Rom 4:17 WEB As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.

As it is written: this is the “Sword of the Spirit “. This is how we defeat the flesh, defeat the spirit of darkness. We can use God’s Word in a right way or a wrong way. If we go back to the Old Testament and the Law, we are using it wrongly. If we are using it in the New Testament of Grace, we are using it correctly. II Timothy 2:15 NKJV Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. There are plenty of Scriptures in the Old Testament that are not about the Law. They are Prophetic promises that Jesus has fulfilled by His sacrifice. These we need to know, believe, and declare. Psalms 103 is one that I declare everyday. Psalms 103:1‭-‬5 NKJV. Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Dear Jesus! Abraham believed the word of God. He believed what God had spoken to him. He believed what God had promised him. Like Abraham, we believe what You did for us. We believe what You say who we are in You. Not by our works but by Your Word. We declare our righteousness by Grace through Faith in You. To God be the glory Amen! Shalom 2 U

     Rom 4:18 WEB Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end, that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.”

There are  two kinds of Hope. The first kind of hope is natural hope.  When we are faced with challenging situations in life, we hope for the best. 

The second hope is supernatural hope. This results in faith ; when we consider what Jesus has done and His promises. 2corth. 1:20.  This hope is based on the Word of God.  It’s based on His promises.   This results in faith believing hope.  As God’s Word tells us:   Hebrews 11:1 WEB  Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.   This HOPE we see with our spiritual eyes which gives us Faith to believe. 

   Dear Jesus!   You  said blessed are those that have not seen, yet believe.   Yes we don’t see you with our natural eyes.   It’s when we meditate on Your Words that we are able to see in the supernatural.   Thank you for giving us Your Word which gives us hope to believe those things that we are believing for.   Our Hope is found in You alone.   To God be the glory Amen!    Shalom 2 U

     Rom 4:19-22 WEB 19 Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform. 22 Therefore it also was “credited to him for righteousness.”

   We need strong Faith.  We need to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.   Abraham wasn’t weak in Faith because he didn’t consider his body but only what God spoke and promised him.   He grew to know, believe, and declare the promises of God.  That’s walking in the Spirit.   

  Dear Jesus!   We know that in the flesh, we are unrighteous.   We believe in You and Your free gift of righteousness.  Our Spirit man, our New Creation Spirit is made in Your image and likeness.  We are a child of God.     2 Corinthians 5:17 WEB.  Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.     Our flesh died with You on the cross and we were raised with You.   Galatians 2:20 WEB    I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.   We declare our righteousness in You and therefore we live righteously by faith in You.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U  

Rom 4:23-25 WEB23 Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.

    We just got done reading about how Abraham was declared righteous.   It wasn’t by his works.  It wasn’t because he obeyed the Law.   It wasn’t because of anything in his flesh.  It was only because he believed in what God promised him, God’s Word.   He walked by the Spirit : God’s Word,  not by his flesh : looking at his natural abilities.  

   Dear Jesus!   Because we live in You and You live in us; we are righteous.  We can do all things with You living in us.  We are more than conquerors.  We are One in You.  May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U 

     Rom 5:1-3 WEB 1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 2 through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance;

    These three things have to be prominent in our hearts to be able to live the Christian life.  We hear about works, Law and obeying but we can not do these things without Jesus, grace and faith.   Believing in  what Jesus sacrifice has done for us takes faith.   When we know, believe, and declare these promises, we receive the grace to live like Jesus.   This is the Good News.  We suffer tribulations, when we declare that Good News. 

    Dear Jesus!   You came to declare the Good News of the Father’s great love and mercy.   You didn’t condemn but gave Grace to those that had faith in You.   As You suffered tribulations, help us to endure whatever comes against us as we declare the Good News.   To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom 2 U 

   Rom 5:8-11 WEB 8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. 11 Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

      We seem to live in the past.   We keep looking at our sins in the flesh but forget that Jesus saved us and Now we are a New Creation in Christ Jesus.   Before we can see it in our flesh, we have to declare our righteousness.  We WERE sinners but NOW we are righteous in Christ Jesus.  

   Dear Jesus!   You did so much for us by Your sacrifice. We are now justified by Your blood.  The more we believe,  the more we receive what you have done.  We  no longer look back on who we WERE.   We are NOW a New Creation made in Your image and likeness.  We are NOW righteous in You.  All praise, honor, and glory to You Lord Jesus Christ Amen!  Shalom 2 U   

    Rom 5:17-18 WEB 17 For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. 18 So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life.

When we receive JESUS ( ask Him to come into our heart and save us), we receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness. The more we receive JESUS ( believe in Him, who HE is, what HE has done and who we are in Christ Jesus) the more grace we receive. It’s a continual relationship with JESUS.   When we believe that Jesus made us righteous, we are called to reign in life.   This means that we defeat the enemy of our souls, the devil by declaring our righteousness in Christ. 

    Dear Jesus!   Thank you for making us righteous.   When the flesh or the accuser comes against us, we will declare our righteousness in You.   To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom 2 U

1Co 4:8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

Rev 1:6 and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

    Rom 5:19 WEB For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous.

    What are we going to say to God, when we die?  Are we going to declare our righteousness?  Are we going to tell God all the good things that we had done?  It’s not what God wants to hear.   He wants to hear how we are righteous because His Son, Jesus made us righteous by faith in Him. 

    Dear Jesus!   Your ways are above our ways.  There are many trying to be Holy and Righteous but are trying the wrong way.   II Timothy 3:5 NKJV   having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!   Only in You can we meet God’s standards for righteousness.   Thank You for Your obedience and giving us faith to believe.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

Phi 3:9 KJV* And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Rom 6:1-6 WEB1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection; 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.

These verses require a lot of meditation.

Some take it from one extreme to the other.  Some think that since we are no longer under the Law, we don’t have to obey the Law.  Some believe that we have to obey the Law and thereby we are under the Law.   Again,  God’s ways are higher than our ways.   We are under Grace.   God’s Grace empowers us to obey the Law and yet not be under the Law.   It’s all about faith in Jesus.   It’s said that they were baptized with Christ and died with Christ on the cross.  This is our old sinful nature, the Old Man that died with Christ.  Then it goes on to say that we were raised with Christ in the newness of life.  This is our “Born Again, New Creation ” in Christ Jesus.   The more that we acknowledge our New Creation Spirit in Christ Jesus; the more we put to death the Old Man.   This requires a lot of Faith.  The old nature will fight you but if you continue to declare who you are ” in Christ Jesus “; the Old Nature ” will become weak and die. 

  Dear Jesus!   It’s all about You, Jesus.  Believing that You are living in us and we living in You.   Truly amazing!  Awesome!  Hard to believe and yet when we fight the good fight of faith; we see it more and more come to pass.  Hallelujah!  To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom 2 U

Rom 6:11 WEB Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

RECKON : CONSIDER

by reckoning up all the reasons, to gather or infer, to consider, take into account, weigh, meditate on, to suppose, deem, judge, to determine, purpose, decide

THE MORE WE ABIDE IN CHRIST, THE MORE WE ARE ALIVE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS

IF WE ARE NOT ABIDING IN CHRIST, WE ARE GOING THE OTHER WAY.

WE CAN ONLY DO THIS “RECKON YOURSELVES DEAD TO SIN” BY FAITH. BELIEVING THAT WE’RE IN CHRIST AND THAT HE IS IN US. The more we look at our flesh, the more we live in the flesh. The more we believe and declare, who we are in Christ Jesus; the more the Holy Spirit quickens our body to live in the Spirit.

2Co 10:5 KJV Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

    Dear Jesus!  We will continually look to You and what You have done for us.  We are only alive in You.  In You we move and breathe.  Because of what you have done, we are a child of God.  Our old man has died and we are a New Creation in You.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 u.

    Rom 6:17-18 WEB 17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were delivered. 18 Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness. 

     It’s hard to believe things unless we can see it and understand it with our natural senses.  God declares things before they come to pass in the natural.  This is what faith is all about.  It states that we were bondservants of sin.  After being “Born Again ” this becomes true in our New Creation Spirit but not in the flesh.   It’s by faith that we become free from sin and bondservants of righteousness.   Know, believe, and declare your free gift of righteousness and the flesh will become alive in Christ Jesus. 

    Dear Jesus!   Your Word tells us that who the Son sets free is free indeed.  This is why You came. We believe what You have done by Your sacrifice.  We were slaves to sin,but by Your sacrifice we are now set free.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

   Rom 7:4-6 WEB 4 Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might produce fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law worked in our members to bring out fruit to death. 6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held; so that we serve in the newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

    In Christ, we are no longer under the Law.  We are no longer in the flesh.  In the flesh, we can only produce the fruit of self righteousness.  In Jesus, we produce the fruit of righteousness.  We can only do this by waking in the Spirit; knowing, believing, and declaring the free gift of righteousness in Christ Jesus. 

   Dear Jesus!   We look to You.  We can’t see You with our natural eyes, but we can see you with our spiritual eyes.  We can’t abide in You, in the flesh; but we can abide in You in our “Born Again ” spirit.   We praise You for all that You have done for us.   Now Lord Jesus, we pray for the lost.  We command that the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame walk and the unclean be made clean.  The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.  In Jesus name Amen!   To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom 2 U     

Rom 7:18-25 WEB18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good. 19 For the good which I desire, I don’t do; but the evil which I don’t desire, that I practice. 20 But if what I don’t desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. 21 I find then the law that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present. 22 For I delight in God’s law after the inward person, 23 but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God’s law, but with the flesh, sin’s law.

There are a lot of people out there that think that they have it all together. They at least think that they are better than most. It might be true but it doesn’t meet God’s standards of righteousness. We try and want to obey the Law but on our own, we can’t. This frustrates our souls. The Law is supposed to frustrate us to the point that we need Jesus to save us. Now “in Christ Jesus ” ,we can live righteously because of His saving Grace and His free gift of righteousness.

Dear Jesus! You are the giver of all good things.  You made us a New Creation and now we are not alone: You living in us and we living You.  No longer living by the flesh but by the Spirit.   To God be the glory Amen!    Shalom 2 U

Rom 8:1 WEB There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Walking after the flesh is having our minds focus on carnal things ; things that we see, hear, understand in the natural-” the flesh “. Walking after the spirit is having our minds focus on spiritual things- things that are not understandable to our flesh. the word of God. for example God’s promises. most of chapter roman’s 8, deals with walking in the spirit not in the flesh.

Rom 4:17 WEB As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. That’s walking after the Spirit. It takes Faith to walk after the Spirit. It takes Faith to declare that one is righteous apart from the Law. It doesn’t take Faith to say you are a sinner after Jesus saved you.

Dear Jesus! You did the unthinkable. It’s hard for us to comprehend. Surely Your ways are far above our ways. Thanks for the faith to believe. Thank You for Your righteousness. Thank you for Your Sacrifice. To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom 2 U

1Co 1:30 KJV But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

     2Co 1:21 KJV Now he which established us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

     Eph 2:10 KJV For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

    1Co 2:14 KJV But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

     2Co 4:13 KJV We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

    2Co 4:18 KJV While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

    2Co 10:3-4 KJV 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

2Co 5:7 WEB for we walk by faith, not by sight.

    2Co 5:17 KJV Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.

    2Co 5:19 NHEB namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.

    Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

   Gal 5:19-25 WEB 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.

     Rom 6:11 WEB Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    Rom 8:14 NHEB For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.

     Phi 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

    Pro 3:5-6 KJV 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

    Gal 3:10 NHEB For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.” ( FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST – WALKING IN THE SPIRIT- NO CONDEMNATION. TRYING TO KEEP THE LAW- WORKS OF THE FLESH- CONDEMNATION).

Col 3:10 NHEB and have put on the new self, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,

1Jn 4:9 KJV In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

    Rom 8:2-4 WEB 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; 4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

There are 2 laws. the 10 commandments which once we receive Jesus as our Savior, we are no longer under. Then there is the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. This law says who we are in Christ Jesus. This law gives us life. It has to be activated by faith.

2 corth. 1:20 We have to believe what God says who we are in Christ Jesus. We have to declare them like Abraham,  who said that he was a father of many nations; because God said that’s who he was. We say we are righteous, redeemed, born again, a new creation , sanctified, anointed etc, because that’s who we are in Christ Jesus.

     Dear Jesus!  You are the source of life.  The Law only condemns but You give life.  You work in us so that we can overcome the flesh.  Only You working inside us can make us righteous and live righteously.   You truly are our Savior.   To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom 2 U

   Rom 5:21 KJV That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

     Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

     2Co 3:17 KJV Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

     1Co 15:56 WEB The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

    Jas 2:12 KJV So speak ye, and so do, as they shall be judged by the law of liberty.

   Gen 2:9 NHEB Out of the ground the LORD God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the middle of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

   Rom 3:27 KJV Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

   Rom 6:14 KJV For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Rom 7:6 KJV But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in the newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter

        Rom 8:5-11 WEB 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; 7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God; for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. 10 If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

     There is a lot to take in here.  That’s why meditation on the Word is so important.   Without meditating, we will only take it in with our flesh: our natural eyes, ears, and mind.  With meditation, we receive Revelation.   Now we have more understanding of what God is saying.   Verse 11 is an example.   It says that the Spirit will give life to our mortal bodies.   It’s no longer us trying to live righteously but the Spirit in us doing it.   Everytime that we declare who we are in Christ Jesus,  we are speaking God’s Word – eed”.  The Holy Spirit gives life to that seed and your mortal body acts according to the seed.  You declare that You are righteous in Christ Jesus by faith, you will start living that way by the power of the Holy Spirit.

   Dear Jesus!   You said before You left that You would send us a helper, the Holy Spirit.  As we praise You for Your free gift of righteousness, the Holy Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies to live like You.   To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom 2 U

We are to keep our mind on Who we are in CHRIST JESUS CHRIST not who we are in the flesh.

John 6:63 KJV It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Rom 8:13-14 WEB 13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.

DON’T LIVE BY WHAT YOU CAN SEE, FEEL, HEAR,TOUCH, & UNDERSTAND IN THE FLESH. WE TRY TO SUBDUE THE FLESH BY USING THE FLESH INSTEAD OF USING THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD. WHEN WE FEED ON THE WORD OF GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US, EMPOWER US TO RESIST THE FLESH. SEE V11

Dear Jesus! Your Words are Spirit and they are life.  John 6:63 KJV It is the spirit that quickeneth ( gives life ); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Keeping our spirit on Your Spirit filled Words gives us life. Believing that we are now children of God gives us abundant life. To God be the glory Amen!    Shalom 2 U

The Holy Spirit acts on the Word of GOD, when spoken in faith.

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. v10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Gal 5:16 KJV This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

      Rom 8:13-16 WEB 13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. 15 For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;

There are children of GOD & sons of GOD. sons of God are led by the Spirit.

NOTE: SOME VERSION SAY “CHILDREN ” WHILE SOME SAY “SONS”. SONS ARE MATURE CHRISTIAN THAT ARE ABLE TO BE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

SONS USED HERE IS G5207 BUT IN OTHER VERSES IT’S G5204.

   Anyway we don’t want to remain a child.  We want to grow up and mature.  Being a child of God can be minimized.  We can take it for granted or worse ignore it all together.  Most of my life, I saw it as something that will happen, when I go to heaven.  I really had to meditate about it.   The Word indicates that when we are born again, we are now children of God.   There are many things that we would like to be, but nothing can compare to being a child of God.  God does exceedingly, abundantly above what we can think or imagine.  Live by the Spirit believing that you are a child of God. Really believing that God is our Father will give us Shalom/Peace instead of fear.

   Dear Jesus!  Our Father’s love is so great that He wanted more like You.   Your love is so great that You offered Yourself up, so that we could become a child of God.   Thank you Jesus!   Thank you Jesus!   To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom 2 U

    Rom 8:16-17 WEB 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; 17 and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

    First, the suffering is for the Gospel sake.   When the Gospel is preached, many people will persecute You for it.  They did to Jesus and many other saints of God.   Joint heirs with Christ or co-heirs with Christ is hard to believe and understand.   This is because we look according to the flesh: what we see with our natural eyes, ears, and mind.   We have to see and believe in the Spirit.   Even then, it’s a struggle.  The flesh will not give up telling your spirit that you are wrong.  It takes a lot of patience and a lot of abiding in Christ. 

   Dear Jesus!   Because of Your sacrifice, we are one with You in our spirit.   That is awesome in itself.  In the beginning, You wanted to share all that You created with Adam.  The devil talked him out of believing.   Focusing on You and Your sacrifice helps us to believe that you will not withhold any good things from us.   Romans 8:32 NKJV He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?    There is none like You!   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

Rom 8:24-27 WEB24 For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? 25 But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience. 26 In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered. 27 He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.

             “SAVED ” – ZOZO: HEALTH, BODY, SOUL, SPIRIT.

      The Word tells us that Faith is the substance of things Hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  It takes Faith to bring it to pass.  Believing in God’s promises is the substance that we hope for and have Faith in to receive.  The Holy Spirit will also help us pray as we should. 

    Dear Jesus!  When we look to You and see what you have done for us, it gives us Hope and Faith.   We will continually declare Your great and precious promises until they come to pass.  It is no longer we live but Christ is living in us.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

    Rom 8:28 WEB We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.

  It doesn’t say here that all things that happen to us are good.  It implies that God will work it out for our good, if we love Him.  The worst thing that ever happened to the Father, was to see His only beloved Son die on the cross.  Jesus was treated so badly that we can barely look when it is portrayed in the movies.   Now we can see how our Father made this tragedy for His good and for our good too.  Now the Father has many sons and daughters. 

   Dear Jesus!   We love you!  We love you!  We love you!  You did all for our Father and for us.  Your praises will be continually on our lips forever and ever. You did exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask or imagine.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

Rom 8:29-31 WEB29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified. 31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

     God foreknew those that would receive His gift of righteousness, His gift of salvation.  For most of us,  I believe it took a long time to realize that we are saved by Grace.  That Jesus really saves us completely by Grace.   I  kept trying for many, many years to do the right thing.  Only until I heard about Grace was I able to believe that Jesus does it all.  I just have to know, believe, and declare what He did for me.   So now I am one of many children of God.   

  Dear Jesus!   Thank you for making us a child of God.   The more we abide in You,  the more we become like you.  I think that’s what it means when it says that we go from glory to glory.   The more our light shines,  the more You are glorified.   We give You all the glory, for it is You living inside us.   To God be the glory Amen and Amen!   Shalom 2U

Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world

   Rom 8:32 WEB He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?

   God is good all the time.  He wants to see us blessed; that why Jesus came and gave His life for us.  Many believe in Jesus but He isn’t first place in their lives.   Until we praise and worship God above all other things; we are not fully believing in God.  The reason we are seeing so much darkness in the world is because God is mostly ignored.   Most people are putting their own agenda above God’s.  

  Dear Jesus!  You came that we would have life, and life more abundantly.  You gave Your all. You put our needs above Your own.  You sacrificed so much.   We can never praise and worship You enough for all that You have done for us.  Thank you Jesus!  Thank you Jesus!   All honor, praise, and thanksgiving belong to You.  All to Jesus, we surrender all.  Shalom 2 U

  Rom 8:37-39 WEB 37 No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

     Life will throw many obstacles at us.  The Kingdom of darkness is behind it all.  Some can be good and some can be bad.  There are many things that can distract us from the love of God.  We have to get looking unto Jesus.

  Dear Jesus!  We are like sheep that can go astray, get lost, get into trouble.  We thank You Jesus for not giving up on us.  You keep calling us back to Your love, protection and care.  In You, we are more than conquerors for You never leave us or forsake us.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

   Rom 9:8-9 WEB 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as heirs. 9 For this is a word of promise, “At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.”

    ROMANS chapter 8 deals with walking in the Spirit.   Children born of the flesh, rely on what they see, hear,and understand with their natural being.   Children of the Promise are born by faith in the promise of God.    John 1:12 NKJV But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:    Believing in His name means that you believe all that His name represents.   Jesus: Jehovah Saves.  Jesus saves us from eternal damnation.   We must be ” BORN AGAIN  “.   Born Again Christian are now a child of God:walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh. They are now co-heirs with Christ. 

  Dear Jesus!   You not only save us but You do exceedingly and abundantly more.  You make us a child of God and we shall reign with you forever.  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

    Rom 9:30-33 WEB 30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn’t follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith; 31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn’t arrive at the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they didn’t seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone; 33 even as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense; and no one who believes in him will be disappointed.”

   We need to establish once and for all, that we are a part of the “CHRISTIAN FAITH “.  It seems so simple but when we are taught more about the Law and more about how we should behave.  It’s not so simple.  The Christian Faith is all about believing in Jesus.   The Jews were relying on their own works to fulfill the Law.  Our works can never fulfill the Law.  

   Dear Jesus!   You came and by Your works, Your sacrifice, You fulfilled the Law for us.    We are declared righteous by Faith in You.   We pray for all that are still trying to fulfill the Law by their own efforts.   II Corinthians 13:14 NKJV The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U 

Rom 10:4 KJV For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

YOU REALLY HAVE TO MEDITATE ON IT TO GET DOWN INTO YOUR SOUL.   WE BEEN TAUGHT THAT YOU HAVE TO OBEY THE LAW ETC., TO BE A REAL CHRISTIAN.       ACTUALLY A REAL CHRISTIAN IS ONE WHO HAS COMPLETE FAITH IN JESUS.        JESUS SAID BEFORE HE DIED ON THE CROSS: ” IT IS FINISHED ”   . THIS IS WHY JESUS IS THE END OF THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.      HE FULFILLED THE LAW FOR US. 2Co 5:21 KJV 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.      JESUS WAS RIGHTEOUS.      HE FULFILLED THE LAW BUT TOOK OUR SINS SO THAT WE COULD RECEIVE ( BY FAITH IN JESUS ) HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.     IT’S 100% HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT WE RECEIVE BY FAITH.      WHEN WE KNOW THAT,   BELIEVE THAT,   AND DECLARE THAT WE ARE RIGHTEOUS IN HIM;      THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL GIVE LIFE TO WHAT WE CONFESS.     OUR NATURAL MAN WILL BE TRANSFORMED BY GLORY TO GLORY INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST. ” TO ALL THAT BELIEVE “.

DEAR JESUS ! YOU DO EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE CAN IMAGINE OR THINK. WE BOW DOWN TO YOU, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. AMEN!
SHALOM2U

    Rom 10:2-4 WEB 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

     When we are told the Law and not Grace; we become ignorant of God’s Righteousness.   

   Dear Jesus!   You did it all for us!   Your sacrifice allows us to declare that we are righteous in You.   You are the Savior of the world to all that believe in You.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

   Rom 10:8-11 WEB 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;” that is, the word of faith which we preach: 9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”

    Time and time again, I say : know, believe, and declare the Gospel, the Good News, the promises of God.   This is what these verses are saying.  First one needs to know (hear) the Gospel.  Meditate, until it gets down into your soul and into your heart.  What You believe in your heart will come out of your mouth. When the Gospel comes out of your mouth,  the Holy Spirit (our helper) will give life to that Word (God’s seed )in our flesh.  Romans 8:11 NKJV   But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

   Dear Jesus!   You give us life given words.  John 6:63 NKJV It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.  Your Words are our daily bread that enables us to live righteously and victoriously.  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

2 Corinthian. 4:13. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

Eph 6:17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the spoken word of God;

Mar 11:23 Truly I say to you, Whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and be put into the sea; and has no doubt in his heart, but has faith that what he says will come about, he will have his desire.

   Rom 10:13 WEB For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

   We think that the word “save” refers to God will save our souls so that when we die, we will go to heaven. It means so much more: save body, soul, and spirit.  Look at all the things that the word save means. 

SAVE : SOZO

to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction

one (from injury or peril)

to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health

to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue

to save in the technical biblical sense

negatively

to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment

to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance

Heb 7:25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

   Dear Jesus!  You do things exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can think or imagine.   There is no one like You; full of Grace, love, mercy and power.   Knowing who You are, enables us to keep calling out to You.  You are JESUS: JEHOVAH SAVES!  To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom 2 U

Rom 11:6 WEB And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

   How many times does it take to hear, it’s Faith, not works.   It seems that most of my life, I heard about the works and the Law.   In the natural, it sounds right but God’s ways are higher than our ways.   When we work to become Righteous, we are denying the Lord’s sacrifice.   We are saying that it wasn’t enough.  It is like saying that Jesus saved us 50% and now we have to do our part, the other 50%.  Faith in Jesus is believing that He did it all.   Actually, He did more than 100%.    Ephesians 1:3 NKJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,   The Following verses tell us what those blessings are: holy, children of God, favor, redemption through His blood, wisdom and prudence to know His will, “in Christ “ all things in heaven and earth, Inheritance in Him, saved and sealed with the Holy Spirit.  Glory be to God!

   Dear Jesus!  The more that we know who you are, the more we know about you and what You did for us; the more abundant Grace we receive from You.  You did the work of the Father for us.You are infinite!  When we believe in You, we receive Your love, Grace and mercy but You always have plenty more to give us.   Thank You Jesus for loving and caring for us so much.   We love You Jesus.  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

Rom 11:16 WEB If the first fruit is holy, so is the lump. If the root is holy, so are the branches.

JESUS is the vine, we are the branches, so we are holy. This happens when we receive Jesus into our hearts to save us. When we feed on Jesus “life given Words “, we grow in Him. It’s not our works.  The above verse says that, if the root is holy, so are the branches.   We are the branches, we are holy.   The problem is that we look at our flesh and don’t see it.  We must see it in our spirit and declare it with our mouth.   This enables the Holy Spirit (our helper) to give life to our mortal bodies and start living righteously.   Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Sonship Through the Spirit

    Dear Jesus!   When you were here on earth, You spoke live given words and the Holy Spirit made those Words come to life.  Thank you for giving us Your great and precious promises that give life to us.   In You we are more than conquerors and we are holy. To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

   Rom 12:1-2 WEB 1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

    The first verse to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice.  Verse 2 tells us how to do it.  When we focus on Jesus: who HE is, What HE has done for us, Who we are in Him; we are renewing our minds.  Our minds are not our brains.  It’s part of our souls: mind,will,and emotions.   It’s what makes us unique from everyone else.   Now when we renew our minds on Jesus, we become transformed into His image.  Glory be to God. 

     Dear Jesus!   Beholding Your glory and all that You have done for us allows the Holy Spirit to transform us into Your image, from glory to glory.   II Corinthians 3:18 NKJV But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

    Rom 12:5-6 WEB 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another, 6 having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us: if prophecy, let’s prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;

    There is only one BODY of Christ but many different parts, functions, assignments.   Together we are supposed to function to fulfill the will of God.   Unfortunately the flesh gets in the way.  It’s not easy to see in the Spirit.  That’s why we need to meditate on the Word of God.   This helps us understand God’s will more vividly.   In the natural, we are against anything that we can’t understand.   Prophesy is one of those functions of the BODY of Christ that we seem to ignore or push off as no longer in the BODY of Christ.   All throughout the Old Testament, Prophets were an important part of how God would express His thoughts to the people; sometimes good and sometimes bad.  Today it used to exhort us; to encourage us of His love and faithfulness.   It is also used to foretell what He is about to do in the future.  I personally follow some Prophets.  I take what they say and compare it to God’s Word and His Plan.   I have been hearing for over a year now how God is going to let His light shine and rebuke the darkness.   I feel that it’s at our doorsteps now. 

  Dear Jesus!   You said: Matthew 16:18 NKJV And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

     The devil has been trying to overcome Your Kingdom but Your Kingdom will prevail.   Let Your light shine,  Lord Jesus.   Light Be in the name of Jesus!   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

Rom 12:18-21 WEB 18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. 19 Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Our faith is really tested when someone wrongs us. The flesh wants to get back at that someone. It’s easy to remember the Old Testament saying: an eye for an eye….. it’s only by focusing on Jesus’s love can we forgive.

Dear Jesus! You taught us how to love and how to forgive. On the cross, you said Father forgive them for they know not what they do. It’s really the Kingdom of darkness that has control of them. We declare ” light be” to all that are in control of the Spirit of darkness in Jesus name Amen! Shalom 2 U

    Rom 13:12-14 WEB 12 The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light. 13 Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.

    A mature believer will not walk in darkness.  An immature Christian will walk in darkness because he doesn’t understand that he is now ” in Christ Jesus ” and Jesus is in him.  

  Dear Jesus!   You came to save us by giving Yourself to us.   We give You honor and glory by declaring who we are in You.   Your light then shine through us.   Your light allows us to walk not in the darkness but in the Light.  As in the beginning,  Your light overcomes the darkness.   ” LIGHT BE ”  in Jesus name!  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

   Rom 14:1-3 WEB 1 Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions. 2 One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Don’t let him who eats despise him who doesn’t eat. Don’t let him who doesn’t eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.

    We all start as babies in the Faith.   We are fed milk and condemnation too often, that we fail to grow in the Faith.   The more we hear about Jesus, Grace, and Faith; the more we are being fed meat that will help us grow in the Lord. 

      Dear Jesus !  Your Words gives us life and life more abundantly.   It produces all the fruits of the Holy Spirit.  It gives light to our path,so that we don’t walk in darkness.   In You,  there is no condemnation.   As we look upon this dark world, we proclaim Your Grace. II Corinthians 13:14 NKJV  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.  Light Be in Jesus name.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

 Rom 14:9 WEB For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

    Jesus had to come here on earth as man to redeem mankind.   In the Beginning,  God gave all authority to mankind.  He gave it to Adam and Eve.  They and their offspring were supposed to be lord over all the earth.   When they failed to believe God and believe the devil’s lie; they gave their Lordship to the devil.   Before Jesus’ sacrifice, the devil was lord of the earth.  Jesus came as man and redeemed the Lordship back to mankind.   Those that receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior are now under the Lordship of Jesus.   Those that haven’t are still under the lordship of satan.   It’s all about free will that God gives to mankind.   Our job is to share the Good News to others so that Jesus can become their Lord and Savior also.   To the ones that come to Him, He uses His Lordship in a good way.   Look at Psalms 23 and 103 for example.  To those that don’t receive Jesus are still under satan’s control.  He only leads us into bondage. 

   Dear Jesus!   We claim You as our Lord and Savior.   It’s Your Lordship that saves, protects, leads, feeds, guides, redeems, restores, and gives us life.   We pray for all:    Numbers 6:24 NKJV “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;  The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’   To God be the glory Amen!   www.Shalom2u.org

   Rom 14:17 WEB for God’s Kingdom is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

   The Law was concerned about what one can and cannot eat or drink.  God’s Kingdom is about the Good News of what faith in Christ gives us.   

 Dear Jesus!   It’s all about You and what You have done for us.  You are the source of all Life.  When we come to You, You fill us with all good things: righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.   To God be the glory Amen!   www.Shalom2U

Rom 15:1-7 WEB1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up. 3 For even Christ didn’t please himself. But, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now the God of perseverance and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God.

Jesus went about not condemning sinners but encouraged them of the Father’s love for them. There are some in the church that only talk about God’s love.  This is good but we also need to talk about God’s saving Grace.   We need to tell them that we were sinners but called on Jesus to save us and that is what He did. 

     Dear Jesus!   By the power of the Holy Spirit, we were able to see that we were deaf and blinded to our sins.   Our eyes and ears were open to see Your Amazing Grace.  You are our High Priest that ever lived to make intercession for us.    We pray that Your Grace will fall on all those that are lost and receive You as their Savior.   II Corinthians 13:14 NKJV  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.  To God be the glory Amen!    Shalom 2 U

Pray for one another, especially the weak.

    Rom 15:8 EasyEnglish I say to you that Christ became a servant of Israel’s people. He came to show that God promises true things. God promised certain things to the grandfathers of Israel’s people. And Christ caused those things to happen.

Rom 15:8 WEB Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers,

Confirm : to make firm, establish, confirm, make sure

 I like the EasyEnglish translation because it says that ” Christ caused those things to happen “.  This is why Jesus came: to fulfill all the promises of God.   Now here it implies to the children of Abraham.  Now in the New Testament, it tells us that those who believe, have faith are the children of Abraham.   That’s why the promises in the Old & New Testament are for us who believe. 

      Dear Jesus!   Again we see how You fulfilled all that had to be done, so that we now can receive all the exceedingly, great and precious promises of God.  We especially thank you for the gift of righteousness.   Now we can come boldly into the presence of God.   To God be the glory Amen!   www.Shalom2u.org

    Rom 15:12-13 KJV 12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

    It tells us here that Jesus will reign.  That Jesus will be our King.   It also tells us elsewhere in the Bible that He is our Lord.   It’s important to note that there are good and bad Kings and Lords.   To us who believe in Him, He is a good King and Lord ( PSALM 103, PSALM 23 ).  He is merciful, loving, caring, protecting.   To those that come against His Kingdom, He uses His power to fight against the spirits of darkness.   Actually,  He has given us the authority and power in His name to overcome the power of darkness.   The church is falling to use this power and so the power of darkness continues. 

  Dear Jesus!   We do declare You as King of kings and Lord of lords.   Help us to believe in the power of Your name.   Help us to use the Armor of God, especially the Sword of the Spirit to fight against the kingdom of darkness.   All power and authority belongs to You.   ” LIGHT BE ” in Jesus name!   To God be the glory Amen!   www.Shalom2u.org

        Rom 15:18-19 WEB 18 For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ;

We need to proclaim what God has done , not ourselves. It’s all because of Jesus working in us.  Jesus came and preached GOOD NEWS.   To sinners it was GOOD NEWS.   To those trying to be self righteous, it was the Law.   The Good News seems to be too good to be true, especially when we have been taught the Law most of our lives.   That is why Jesus and all that are preaching the Good News, need signs and wonders.   When they saw Jesus heal the lame, open the eyes of the blind,  cleansed the leper; most that saw had to believe.  

   Dear Jesus!   You gave us the Holy Spirit, to declare the Good News.   There are some out there using the gifts of the Holy Spirit and proclaiming the Good News.   Send more Lord we pray.   Send us so that You would be glorified and many saved and brought into Your Kingdom.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

Rom 15:22 WEB Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you.

   It’s not always easy trying to tell the Gospel.   There has been lately something that I thought that the Lord wanted me to do.   Everytime I  do, I come up with obstacles.  It makes me wonder if it is God or just me.   Other times something comes up out of nowhere and I just go with the flow of the Holy Spirit.   As long as we are trying,  the Lord is pleased. 

     Dear Jesus!   You told us to proclaim the Gospel.   Some gave up their lives for doing so.   You sacrificed Your life to make it Good News.   May we always support those that are spreading the Gospel and may we also do through the power of the Holy Spirit.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

   Rom 15:30-33 WEB 30 Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

    Paul is asking for prayer for protection from those that would hinder the Gospel.   We can ask God to protect our leaders but we can also act as spiritual kings and priests and declare God’s blessings on them. For example:   II Corinthians 13:14 NKJV   The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.   We see here in verse 33, that Paul is declaring a blessing of peace to them. 

   Dear Jesus!   You are the King of kings and our great High Priest.   In You, we can also declare the darkness to go and Your Light and Shalom/ Peace to come.  We pray for all leaders that are doing Your will for their protection.  That they may grow in wisdom and knowledge to preach the Good News of Your Grace.   We pray for those that are fighting against Your Kingdom, that they will repent.  That they would have eyes to see,  ears to hear, and a heart to believe in Your Amazing Grace.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom 2 U

Rom 16:17-18 WEB17 Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For those who are such don’t serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent.

Them that causes offense against sound doctrine. There have been many that have been offensive in the church. some good, others not. Martin Luther caused offense but it wasn’t against sound doctrine. He was proclaiming the doctrine of the just shall live by faith. That was only a little over 500 years ago. It should have been one of the main doctrines of the Church from the beginning. It actually was but got water down by false doctrines. Today there is a Grace Revolution. It’s always been about Faith and Grace in and from Jesus Christ.

“Look out for those”, in other words judge what they are saying. There are a lot of teachings that sound good but it’s only man’s way of becoming righteous. God’s way is by Faith and Grace; receiving what Jesus’ sacrifice has provided for us.

Dear Jesus!  We thank You for what You have done for us. In the beginning, You tried to tell Adam & Eve that in You are the source of all good things.   The devil  deceived them.   We pray that You would continue to raise up those that will bring unity to Your church by the doctrines of Faith and Grace.   We are saved by Grace and You are the source of all Grace.   What You have done and what You give to us by Faith is truly Amazing.  That’s why we sing Amazing Grace.   It reminds us of How gracious you are.   At funerals, it gives us peace when we know that they were saved by Your Amazing Grace.   The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. II Corinthians 13:14 NKJV

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