Orange Moon Saturday, September 5, 2026 "A Wedding"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

    

“A Wedding”

    

      

       It is telling that the first miracle of the Lord Jesus Christ occurred at a wedding, where He changed water into wine (John 4).  This foreshadows the supernatural work of God that occurs in all who believe in the Savior:

    “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh” (Ephesians 5:31).

    “He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (I Corinthians 6:17).

    The new birth through faith in the Lord Jesus transforms a spirit alone into a spirit united with and indwelt by the Spirit of God.  He remains Himself, of course, and we remain ourselves.  However, a vital spiritual union occurs in the very depths of our being where we become the temple of the living God (I Corinthians 3:16).  Christ becomes our life, the very Life of our lives.  “He is thy life” (Colossians 3:4).  Never again will we be merely ourselves, but rather ourselves as inhabited, led, and enabled by the presence of the almighty God.  “I will dwell in them and walk in them” (II Corinthians 6:16).

    To the degree we know, believe, and submit to such wondrous truth will be the degree to which we walk in the sublime wonder of   “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).  This presents great challenge in our presently earthly lifetime.  Appearances, experiences, feelings, and sensations all conspire to tempt us to view ourselves as alone, rather than as united to the Holy Spirit.  We do not always "walk in the Spirit," despite the reality that we eternally “live in the Spirit” after the new birth (Galatians 5:25).  Consider the Corinthians, to whom Paul wrote, “Ye are the temple of God.”  Nothing appeared to be less true at the time the Apostle directed his indictment to a body of believers who were remained carnal in their walk despite being born again in spirit (I Corinthians 3:3).  Their actions did not change their being in Christ.  However, Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians serves as one of Scripture's great tragedies, namely, a people inhabited by the living God and filled with His life, but who lived as if alone and still dead in sin (thankfully, II Corinthians indicates a good response to Paul’s challenge, and much repentance - II Corinthians 7:9-11).

   In the depths of believers' spiritual being, a “wedding” occurred, as it were, at the moment of our new birth.  The Spirit of the Lord Jesus entered into our hearts, creating a “newness of life” based on spiritual union with Him.  “God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father” (Romans 6:4; Galatians 4:6).  We may or may not walk accordingly in this present lifetime.  However, nothing changes the fact and reality of this unimaginably glorious gift of grace.  Of this we can be sure: we must know and grow in the truth if we are to more effectually avail ourselves of the gift.  Moreover, when we consider the price that made such presence possible - “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” - few greater tragedies can occur than for the believer to live as if alone (Matthew 27:46).  We never are, nor will we ever be.  May our Father grant much grace of remembrance and growth in this “hope of glory," and may we heed Paul’s command to…

“Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

(Romans 6:11)

Weekly Memory Verse

        Oh the depths of the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge of God.  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!

(Romans 11:36)

    

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Orange Moon Friday, September 4, 2026 "More Than Conquerors"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

    

“More Than Conquerors”

    

      

       The tomb is empty.  The  throne above is occupied.  Jesus Christ is Lord.

     Thus, we ever fight from victory rather than for it.

    “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place” (II Corinthians 2:14).

   Somewhere just now, a brother in Christ seemingly languishes in a prison he does not deserve, for crimes he did not commit.  He dwells there because he refuses, by God’s grace, to deny the Lord Jesus, regardless of the cost or the loss.  He feels the pains of his trail, and all that goes with earthly persecution and its devilish cruelty.  He may never see family or friend again in this lifetime, and the people with whom he does have contact view him as a sad and doomed wretch worthy only of despite, and perhaps in some, even of pity.

   Is this man “more than a conqueror through Him that loved us?” (Romans 8:37).  Does he fight from victory?  We know the answer.  Look beyond soul and body, and see by faith into our brother’s spirit.  There, the risen Christ dwells in triumph, regardless of His hurting child’s earthly circumstance.  The Lord has allowed him to come to such a place, and doubtless takes no pleasure in seeing the suffering of one whom He loves.  Moreover, God surely rejoices in the deliverance that will one day take our brother away from such darkness, whether through the the valley of the shadow, or by some working of His delivering hand from the painful circumstance.  Most importantly, however, our Father knows Himself well enough to be sure He can reveal the triumph of Christ’s peace where it seems it could not be, and His joy where no joy appears possible.  Yes, God knows the tomb is empty.  He knows His Son’s throne is occupied.  He knows Jesus Christ is Lord. He knows the truth and power of from victory, rather than for it.  And He knows He can reveal such grace in His trusting sons and daughters, regardless of earthly circumstance, situation, or condition.  "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness” (Psalm 41:10).

    As we hurt and as we pray for our brother and for all brethren imprisoned by earthly circumstance, of whatever mode or measure, let remember that no earthly challenge changes the fact of believers’ spirits teeming with the risen life of the Lord Jesus.  He cannot be other than who He is.  He cannot be other than where He is as “a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).  The grave could not hold Him because a Heavenly seat of authority awaited after He conquered death.  Such is the One whose presence constitutes believers as “more than conquerors,” wherever we may find ourselves, and in whatever circumstance.

Sometimes it seems that the enemy of our soul wins

over and over and over and over again.

But if we could see the Truth much more clearly, my friend,

we'd see Christ triumph over death, hell, and sin,

over and over and over and over again…

over and over and over and over again.

The Tomb is empty, the Throne above occupied.

For Christ is risen again, from death glorified.

Oh remember when hot, stinging tears fill your eyes,

the triumph He's shone so many times in our lives,

over and over and over and over again…

over and over and over and over again.

Forever draws nigh, we will be with Him there soon, my friend.

The trials of this life will be gone when we're with Him in Heaven.

Glories we'll see, majesty without end, 

that sing the glad hymn, Christ is risen again,

over and over and over and over again…

over and over and over and over again.

Weekly Memory Verse

        Oh the depths of the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge of God.  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!

(Romans 11:36)

    

7889