Jesus Pusher 80

I am a Jesus pusher!!! There are many who are fascinated with angels. Angels definitely play a significant role in the Scriptures. However, in the four Gospel accounts they are only used by God during two periods of Jesus’ life for revelation and instruction. They are strongly seen during His birth and resurrection. There are two other occasions in which they appear. Jesus includes them in the Parables of Judgment and Kingdom as aiding Him in the final hours. They also make an appearance at the close of the temptations of Jesus (Matthew 4:11). It appears a major shift has taken place. The role of revelation is not fulfilled by angels but by Jesus. Jesus has become the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). Jesus is the preeminent disclosure of God.

It is through Jesus I have a complete revelation of God. I now know how God feels about children (Matthew 19:13-15). God has revealed His true feeling about His enemies (Luke 23:34). There is no question as to whether God will forgive me or not. Jesus has settled that issue! God has walked into every area of life through Jesus. I see the holy nature of God living before me in Jesus. The revelation is complete. In addition to seeing the life of Jesus, I experience the person of Jesus. He comes to be within me (Colossians 1:27). His mind becomes mine; He gives me His heart. He is now living His life through me (Galatians 2:20). My world is seeing Jesus again through me. As Jesus was filled with the Father and was the visible image of the invisible God, so I have been filled with the Spirit of Jesus and have become the visible image of Jesus. My whole existence has become a Jesus pusher!!!

Jesus Pusher 79

I am a Jesus pusher!!! Jesus is the answer in every area of my life. He is not strong in some situations and weak in others. He is not a pill that arrests some diseases but is inadequate in others. He absolutely conquers all. Whatever the need in my life, Jesus Himself is the solution. There is no need to look in any other direction. My eyes are upon Him. I am amazed at the Greek word “aphiemi.” The prefix is “apo” (from) and the root word is “hiemi’ (to send forth; repel). This Greek word is used sixteen times in Matthew’s Gospel account for the act of forgiveness. Forgiveness is much more than simply forgetting the wrong deed. It is to actually remit, remove, or release someone from the actual sin. It is not to disregard the sins or do nothing about them; it is to liberate a person from their sins, from the guilt of sin, and the power of sin. Jesus has forgiven (aphiemi) our sins. He has removed the sin from us; we are no longer guilty of or under its power.

In a personal encounter with Jesus I received His forgiveness. But it was not an event; it was a relationship. Forgiveness is experienced within the warmth of this relationship. It is His personal presence which continually releases me from guilt. The moment He is not present, guilt overtakes me again. Jesus has pushed back the guilt and power of sin; He repels it. It has no hold on me because of His inward presence. I am living moment by moment in the releasing, removing, and repelling life of the Spirit of Jesus. He is holding at bay the forces of guilt and the entrapment of all my sin. In Him I am experiencing “aphiemi.” How can I ever take that for granted or treat it lightly? I must shout His praises. I am a Jesus pusher!!!

Jesus Pusher 78

I am a Jesus pusher!!! I have discovered a very significant verb in the New Testament Greek language. It is “aphiemi.” It begins with the prefix “apo” which is “from.” This has to do with motion from one location to another. The root word is “hiemi” which means “to send forth or away, or to let go from oneself.” I found this word in the closing verse of the temptations of Jesus. Matthew concludes the entire event with Then the devil left Him (Matthew 4:11). In this case “aphiemi” is translated left. However, the flavor of the Greek word is not captured in the word left. It is absolutely true that the devil changed locations. But “aphiemi” tells you that he was repelled, forced, or sent away. The power of God operating in Jesus was so strong Satan was repelled from Him.

The Spirit of Christ repels all of Satan’s attacks on my life. Victory is not found in resistance or self-control, but in intimacy with Jesus. Do not be misled! Satan is not equal with Jesus. Satan is not God; he is a fallen angel who was created. He is not all knowing or all powerful. He is no match for the indwelt Spirit of Jesus. There is no need to tremble in his presence unless you are alone. You and I are no match for him but with Jesus there is no contest. Jesus does not need weapons to defeat Satan; His very presence (nature) repels Satan. The safest place in the world is in Christ. No wonder the Apostle Paul speaks of us as being “in Christ” and also of “Christ in us.” Jesus is so intimate in our lives; He is both outside and inside. We are covered with the wonder of His presence. It is in His embrace I see things as they are. In His presence the darkness of destruction is pushed back. Nothing can defeat me “in Christ.” I am a Jesus pusher!!!

Jesus Pusher 77

I am a Jesus pusher!!! I love to speak of Him. The songs I sing are about Him. The answer to every question comes back to Jesus. My recreation is tied to Him. Even my hobbies are somehow connected to Jesus. I know there is a devil. In the great temptation, the Bible identifies him as a real being. Jesus was actually tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1). At the close of this great spiritual battle, Matthew writes, Then the devil left Him (Matthew 4:11). We all understand the two fold nature of temptation. It is normally tied into the physical. However, this is only a beginning view of temptation. The spiritual battle rages in the heavenly unseen world. The mystical heavenly realm dips into the realistic physical world of our lives to bring about temptation. Paul reminds us, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). This does not mean we are not tempted in the physical; it only means much more is taking place than appears in the physical.

We do not have a lot of information given to us in the Scriptures about the devil. But then why would we want to know details about him? We do not want to under estimate his ability and power; but he does not compare to Jesus. Instead of speaking about the devil, I want to highlight and focus on Jesus. I do not want to focus on the devil, when I can focus on the greatness of Jesus. Victory is found in Jesus. The answer to every trick of the devil is found in intimacy with Jesus. There is no darkness in Jesus. Nothing can hinder me when I am found in Jesus. Jesus is my total answer! No wonder I am a Jesus pusher!!!