Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) says, "For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father (of eternity), Prince of Peace"
The gift of Christmas through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, was peace with the Father. We read in Isaiah 54:10 & 13 (Amplified), "For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed, says the Lord, Who has compassion on you." Verse 13 says, "And all your (spiritual) children shall be disciples (taught by the Lord and obedient to His will) and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children."
As Christians, we are heirs of Christ and are the spiritual children spoken of in the last verse. We have been born again by the Spirit. The Father made a declaration concerning the cross is Isaiah 54:9 (Amplified) saying, "For this is like the days of Noah to Me; as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not e angry with you or rebuke."
I asked the Lord what this verse meant and He told me that the cross would be to you and me like the rainbow was to Noah. Every time it rained, Noah could look at the rainbow and know there would never be another flood. Every time we look at the cross, we should know that God will never be angry or rebuke us like He did in the old covenant. Only then would we be able to walk in and enter into this peace and rest.
As Christians, we have failed to understand all that the cross brought to pass in our new lives. We are to labor to enter into this peace according to Hebrews 4. Jesus said in John 14:27 (Amplified), "Peace I leave with you; My peace (My Own peace) I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)."
Read what Jesus said in John 14:27 in conjunction with what the Father said in Isaiah 54:14, "You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness, in conformity with God's will and order); You shall be far from even the thought oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you, Behold, they may gather together and stir up strife, but it is not from Me. Whoever stirs up strife against you shall fall and surrender to you."
The Hebrew word for "peace" as in Prince of Peace from Isaiah 9;6 and Isaiah 54:10-13 is listed in the Concordance as "shalom." The Hebrew word "shalom" means, "safe, happy, friendly, also welfare i.e. health, prosperity, peace, familiar, favor, friend, great, good health, perfect (such as to be at peace, all is well, be well, wholly, to be safe (in mind, body and estate), to be completed, (made) to be friendly, (to reciprocate) make amends, make and end to, finish, make good, beat peace, make restitution, restore, reward, surely."
When Jesus was born, the Lord sent angels to announce to the world that "God has made a peace covenant with men who would respond to His Prince of Peace." From the very moment you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Father declared that He was at perfect peace with you. All of the things we've blamed on God through the years, weren't from Him at all. Isaiah 54:9 (Amplified) says, "For this (the cross) is like the days of Noah to Me; As I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, So have I sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you."
I don't believe that Noah ever feared another flood. Every time it rained, he saw the rainbow and rested in God's promise. On the other hand, we Christians, should see Christ's cross and be able to "rest" in "Shalom," knowing that God's promise to us is that "I will not be angry with you or rebuke you." This is our Prince of Peace and is the fruit of our Savior. When Jesus paid our ransom, all debt was cancelled and "Shalom" was restored to God's people.
This "rest" was spoken about in Hebrews 4:3 (Amplified) which says, "For we who have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on God) do enter that rest, in accordance with His declaration that those (who did not believe) should not enter My rest; and this He said although (His) works had been completed and prepared (and waiting for all who would believe) from the foundation of the world."
We know that Jesus is the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." This peace (Shalom) was ours from the Father from the beginning and is now ours again through the cross. The next time you look upon the cross, let it be like the rainbow was to Noah and then rest in your faith of grace and Shalom.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Lesson 4 Unwrapping The Gift
As Christmas day approaches, we are faced with the truth of what Christmas is really about. The world views Christmas as a day-off from work with pay. The retail world sees their record books finally be in the black instead of red. Many people look at Christmas as an excuse to party and make merry. To the Church, those who know, Christmas is the time when the true life of God was once again imparted to mankind.
Romans 6:23 (Amplified) says, "For the wages which sin pays is death, but the (bountiful) free gift of God is eternal life (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord." John 1:4 (Amplified) says, "In Him was Life, and the Life was the light of men." The forgiveness of sin also paid the wages of sin, which is death. Only He could pay the price for sin and death to restore Life to those who will believe.
As we unwrap the Christ Child in the manger this season, let's look upon the free gift that He is to all who will believe in Him. The tiny baby in the manger is God's Christmas gift of Life to a world that was dead in trespass and sin. Many of us believe that we never really did anything bad and don't need a Savior. But, Romans 3:23-24 (Amplified) says, "Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives (All) are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy) through the redemption which is (provided) in Christ Jesus."
This is why the Holy Spirit had Isaiah write Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) exactly like this, saying, "For unto us a Child is born to us a Son is given." He had always been the Son of God, but now Jesus is born to us as a gift of the Life of God. God's child, His only begotten Son has become His gift of life to men all over the earth. Jesus is the free gift of Life and the payment for sin in the world.
All of the Christmas decorations like trees, lights and bells are meant for celebrating life once again to mankind. We can now understand what Jesus told the people in John 10:10 (Amplified) saying, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, til it overflows)."
All of the free gifts found in Christ Jesus won't do any good for someone who is dead. We must first understand and receive Life, before anything else will benefit us. And, because we never truly understand what "death" meant, we underestimated the full glory of the free gift of Life. Even though we had life in the natural body, we were shut off from the Life of God in our spirits. It didn't matter how many good deeds we performed or how we lived our lives free of sin, the death of sin (the spirit force that entered into man from Adam) was still at work in our spirit. We could never pay off the debt that the first Adam had incurred. As a matter of fact, the "late payment" penalty was building as the earth's population increased.
The Child who was born, was "born to us." God's Son was given to us. He was God's gift to us. Before there was a night of lights, gifts and merriment, there was a Silent Night. Only God could rejoice in the first Christmas. God announced His peace covenant with man to the world through angels. They announced "Peace on earth, God's will to man is GOOD." From the birth of Jesus to His resurrection to the present, God has declared a peace covenant with the world in Jesus Who is the Prince of Peace. Although the world might seem to still be at war with God, He is at peace with them, through Jesus.
A simple teenage girl and her husband shared the animal's manger in a stable with their newly welcome baby boy. There were no doctors or family members to share this miracle. There were only sheep, cows, and simply shepherds. But, the Father was full of joy about His Christmas gift and couldn't help announcing the birth of His Son Jesus to the world. Angels, surrounded by God's glory, announced that Life had come, peace was here and sin was about to come to an end. Where else would a Lamb be born, except for in a stable?
God's gift of a new birth from death to life was wrapped in swaddling clothes that first Christmas, along with freedom from the bondage of sin and the free gift of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ. Romans 8:2 (Amplified) says, "What good is all the gifts we could, to a dead man? Without receiving, first of all, the gift of Life by the payment for sin, what good are all the other things?"
Jesus came because John 3:16 (Amplified) says, "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He (even) gave up His Only Begotten (Unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him, shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life."
Romans 6:23 (Amplified) says, "For the wages which sin pays is death, but the (bountiful) free gift of God is eternal life (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord." John 1:4 (Amplified) says, "In Him was Life, and the Life was the light of men." The forgiveness of sin also paid the wages of sin, which is death. Only He could pay the price for sin and death to restore Life to those who will believe.
As we unwrap the Christ Child in the manger this season, let's look upon the free gift that He is to all who will believe in Him. The tiny baby in the manger is God's Christmas gift of Life to a world that was dead in trespass and sin. Many of us believe that we never really did anything bad and don't need a Savior. But, Romans 3:23-24 (Amplified) says, "Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives (All) are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy) through the redemption which is (provided) in Christ Jesus."
This is why the Holy Spirit had Isaiah write Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) exactly like this, saying, "For unto us a Child is born to us a Son is given." He had always been the Son of God, but now Jesus is born to us as a gift of the Life of God. God's child, His only begotten Son has become His gift of life to men all over the earth. Jesus is the free gift of Life and the payment for sin in the world.
All of the Christmas decorations like trees, lights and bells are meant for celebrating life once again to mankind. We can now understand what Jesus told the people in John 10:10 (Amplified) saying, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, til it overflows)."
All of the free gifts found in Christ Jesus won't do any good for someone who is dead. We must first understand and receive Life, before anything else will benefit us. And, because we never truly understand what "death" meant, we underestimated the full glory of the free gift of Life. Even though we had life in the natural body, we were shut off from the Life of God in our spirits. It didn't matter how many good deeds we performed or how we lived our lives free of sin, the death of sin (the spirit force that entered into man from Adam) was still at work in our spirit. We could never pay off the debt that the first Adam had incurred. As a matter of fact, the "late payment" penalty was building as the earth's population increased.
The Child who was born, was "born to us." God's Son was given to us. He was God's gift to us. Before there was a night of lights, gifts and merriment, there was a Silent Night. Only God could rejoice in the first Christmas. God announced His peace covenant with man to the world through angels. They announced "Peace on earth, God's will to man is GOOD." From the birth of Jesus to His resurrection to the present, God has declared a peace covenant with the world in Jesus Who is the Prince of Peace. Although the world might seem to still be at war with God, He is at peace with them, through Jesus.
A simple teenage girl and her husband shared the animal's manger in a stable with their newly welcome baby boy. There were no doctors or family members to share this miracle. There were only sheep, cows, and simply shepherds. But, the Father was full of joy about His Christmas gift and couldn't help announcing the birth of His Son Jesus to the world. Angels, surrounded by God's glory, announced that Life had come, peace was here and sin was about to come to an end. Where else would a Lamb be born, except for in a stable?
God's gift of a new birth from death to life was wrapped in swaddling clothes that first Christmas, along with freedom from the bondage of sin and the free gift of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ. Romans 8:2 (Amplified) says, "What good is all the gifts we could, to a dead man? Without receiving, first of all, the gift of Life by the payment for sin, what good are all the other things?"
Jesus came because John 3:16 (Amplified) says, "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He (even) gave up His Only Begotten (Unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him, shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life."
Monday, December 15, 2014
Lesson 3 Unwrapping The Gift
Many people argue about the actual day Jesus was born. Some believe He was born in the springtime, while some say He was born in the wintertime. Most, though, agree He wasn't born on December 25th. Personally, I don't think it matters when Jesus was born, but rather that He was born. Whatever day that was, it's the right day.
2Timothy 2:23 (Amplified) says, "But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with) trifling (ill informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels)."
Satan has devised many ways of dividing and destroying the Church using religious doctrines. We argue over which one is right and which is the best, when we should simply, "give no place to the devil" and "redeem the time wisely" and walk in the victory of Christ.
Whatever day or night Jesus was born, the important thing is that He was born. We, the Church, have allowed satan to obfuscate many of the most important days in Christianity and rule them. We gave over Christ's resurrection day (whatever day that was) to the devil and glorify rabbits, chicks, eggs and Easter bonnets. We gave Christmas over to a fat man and his flying reindeer, snowmen and elves. We've allowed All Saints Day to be ruled by witches, goblins, devils and darkness.
I don't care what any is because every day is the "day that the Lord has made" and we should "rejoice and be glad in it." Jesus said that we "Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." Why must we surrender any day to the enemy? We might not know the exact day Jesus was born, but His Father knows. He remembered and gave a birthday gift to His Son in Luke 3:21-23 (Amplified) which says, "Now when all the people were baptized, and praying, the heavens were opened and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art My Beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased." Verse 23 goes on, "And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age."
Wouldn't it be great if everyone simply believed God's Word instead of making our own doctrines about it? We don't unwrap the Christmas Gift and find a note saying, "Batteries not included." Everything ever needed was included in the God's gift.
Some in the Church believe that the gift of righteousness was not included, but it was. Some don't believe that the gift of grace was included, but it was. We don't need any batteries or extra parts for the Perfect Present of God's Son. It was made to meet every need from the foundation of the world.
Many of us stopped unwrapping before seeing the complete gift. I promised my son a pony for Christmas one year, but couldn't put one under the Christmas tree in our living room. So, I put the pony's halter, lead rope and saddle under the tree. The excitement was great when those gifts were unwrapped, but was not complete. As he unwrapped the last gift, he found a note explaining how he didn't open all the gifts and the rest of the gift (the pony) was outside in the barn.
Many of us have never taken time to unwrap the complete gift. We've put them off to some other time, person or place. We say that the gift of righteousness is for when we die and go to heaven with the Father. But, the Word says that we now, through Jesus, have this gift of righteousness in Romans 5:17 (Amplified) saying, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive (God's) overflowing (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness (putting themselves into right standing with Himself) reign as Kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
When God gives a gift, He makes sure it's complete. He gave us the gift of His Son in Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) which says, "For to us, a Child is born, to us a Son is given." Everything man could ever need was given in this first Christmas Gift. We need to unwrap Christmas completely and dig below the wrapper to find all the gifts that are hidden for us from our Father.
2Timothy 2:23 (Amplified) says, "But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with) trifling (ill informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels)."
Satan has devised many ways of dividing and destroying the Church using religious doctrines. We argue over which one is right and which is the best, when we should simply, "give no place to the devil" and "redeem the time wisely" and walk in the victory of Christ.
Whatever day or night Jesus was born, the important thing is that He was born. We, the Church, have allowed satan to obfuscate many of the most important days in Christianity and rule them. We gave over Christ's resurrection day (whatever day that was) to the devil and glorify rabbits, chicks, eggs and Easter bonnets. We gave Christmas over to a fat man and his flying reindeer, snowmen and elves. We've allowed All Saints Day to be ruled by witches, goblins, devils and darkness.
I don't care what any is because every day is the "day that the Lord has made" and we should "rejoice and be glad in it." Jesus said that we "Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." Why must we surrender any day to the enemy? We might not know the exact day Jesus was born, but His Father knows. He remembered and gave a birthday gift to His Son in Luke 3:21-23 (Amplified) which says, "Now when all the people were baptized, and praying, the heavens were opened and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art My Beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased." Verse 23 goes on, "And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age."
Wouldn't it be great if everyone simply believed God's Word instead of making our own doctrines about it? We don't unwrap the Christmas Gift and find a note saying, "Batteries not included." Everything ever needed was included in the God's gift.
Some in the Church believe that the gift of righteousness was not included, but it was. Some don't believe that the gift of grace was included, but it was. We don't need any batteries or extra parts for the Perfect Present of God's Son. It was made to meet every need from the foundation of the world.
Many of us stopped unwrapping before seeing the complete gift. I promised my son a pony for Christmas one year, but couldn't put one under the Christmas tree in our living room. So, I put the pony's halter, lead rope and saddle under the tree. The excitement was great when those gifts were unwrapped, but was not complete. As he unwrapped the last gift, he found a note explaining how he didn't open all the gifts and the rest of the gift (the pony) was outside in the barn.
Many of us have never taken time to unwrap the complete gift. We've put them off to some other time, person or place. We say that the gift of righteousness is for when we die and go to heaven with the Father. But, the Word says that we now, through Jesus, have this gift of righteousness in Romans 5:17 (Amplified) saying, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive (God's) overflowing (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness (putting themselves into right standing with Himself) reign as Kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
When God gives a gift, He makes sure it's complete. He gave us the gift of His Son in Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) which says, "For to us, a Child is born, to us a Son is given." Everything man could ever need was given in this first Christmas Gift. We need to unwrap Christmas completely and dig below the wrapper to find all the gifts that are hidden for us from our Father.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Lesson 2 Unwrapping The Gift
I often gave my growing children one large Christmas package that was stuffed with lots of little packages. Likewise, when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we need to begin unwrapping the package God sent us on that very first Christmas and discover all the gifts God placed in Him for us.
Romans 5:17 (Amplified) says, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive (God's) overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness (putting them into right standing with Himself) reign as Kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
The tiny gift of the Christ Child incorporated many varied gifts, one of which is the gift of righteousness. This gift is so very important for Christians to unwrap because without this gift, we find ourselves in a place outside where the Father intended us to be.
We seldom think about all the gifts God placed in this one small package of flesh in the manger. But, in Jesus we find all the gifts of God to mankind that are yet to be unwrapped or revealed to us and by us. Romans 6:23 (Amplified) says, "For the wages which sin pays is death, but the (bountiful) free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord."
Many of us unwrapped the gift and received our salvation, but then stopped there. The gift of eternal life is not for when we arrive in heaven, but is to be experienced here and now. When you received that gift, eternal life began living in you instantly. Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) tells us that, "For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through (your) faith. And this (salvation) is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came by (not from your own striving) but it is the gift of God."
I often thought that scripture was referring to my salvation as being "the free gift of God." The more I studied this scripture, the more I learned how the grace, the faith and the salvation were all the gifts of God. When unwrapping the present, I found many, many more gifts inside.
John 1:16 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received (all had a share and were all supplied with) one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift (heaped) upon gift."
Acts 2:38-39 (Amplified) says, "And Peter answered them, 'Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Verse 39 goes on, "For the promise (of the Holy Spirit) is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away (even) to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself."
The gift of grace is the helper to unwrapping all the other gifts in Christ. Until we unwrap grace, the other gifts seem to be too much to accept. The gift of righteousness cannot be believed and received without first accepting the gift of grace. We can only believe we are now in right standing with God only by faith in His grace.
The gift of the Holy Spirit found in Acts 2, is to reveal the gifts of God to His children, through our union with Jesus. Without receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, you will not understand how to operate in the other gifts. Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the gift of grace to us. 1Corinthians 2:12 (Amplified) says, "Now we have not received the spirit (that belongs to) the world, but the (Holy) Spirit Who is from God (given to us) that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts (of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly) bestowed on us by God."
When we don't receive the gift of the Holy Spirit as He is intended to be received, we still walk in the spirit of the world or the mere natural man. The Holy Spirit has come to reveal all these gifts to God's Church. All of these gifts are in Christ Jesus, but we must unwrap the present of God in order to receive them.
Jesus, still in the manger, is just the promise. When you receive Him, then you receive the gift of the promise. In Him are all things affiliated with life and Godliness both now in this life on earth and in the hereafter.
Romans 5:17 (Amplified) says, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive (God's) overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness (putting them into right standing with Himself) reign as Kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
The tiny gift of the Christ Child incorporated many varied gifts, one of which is the gift of righteousness. This gift is so very important for Christians to unwrap because without this gift, we find ourselves in a place outside where the Father intended us to be.
We seldom think about all the gifts God placed in this one small package of flesh in the manger. But, in Jesus we find all the gifts of God to mankind that are yet to be unwrapped or revealed to us and by us. Romans 6:23 (Amplified) says, "For the wages which sin pays is death, but the (bountiful) free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord."
Many of us unwrapped the gift and received our salvation, but then stopped there. The gift of eternal life is not for when we arrive in heaven, but is to be experienced here and now. When you received that gift, eternal life began living in you instantly. Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) tells us that, "For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through (your) faith. And this (salvation) is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came by (not from your own striving) but it is the gift of God."
I often thought that scripture was referring to my salvation as being "the free gift of God." The more I studied this scripture, the more I learned how the grace, the faith and the salvation were all the gifts of God. When unwrapping the present, I found many, many more gifts inside.
John 1:16 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received (all had a share and were all supplied with) one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift (heaped) upon gift."
Acts 2:38-39 (Amplified) says, "And Peter answered them, 'Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Verse 39 goes on, "For the promise (of the Holy Spirit) is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away (even) to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself."
The gift of grace is the helper to unwrapping all the other gifts in Christ. Until we unwrap grace, the other gifts seem to be too much to accept. The gift of righteousness cannot be believed and received without first accepting the gift of grace. We can only believe we are now in right standing with God only by faith in His grace.
The gift of the Holy Spirit found in Acts 2, is to reveal the gifts of God to His children, through our union with Jesus. Without receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, you will not understand how to operate in the other gifts. Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the gift of grace to us. 1Corinthians 2:12 (Amplified) says, "Now we have not received the spirit (that belongs to) the world, but the (Holy) Spirit Who is from God (given to us) that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts (of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly) bestowed on us by God."
When we don't receive the gift of the Holy Spirit as He is intended to be received, we still walk in the spirit of the world or the mere natural man. The Holy Spirit has come to reveal all these gifts to God's Church. All of these gifts are in Christ Jesus, but we must unwrap the present of God in order to receive them.
Jesus, still in the manger, is just the promise. When you receive Him, then you receive the gift of the promise. In Him are all things affiliated with life and Godliness both now in this life on earth and in the hereafter.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Lesson 1 Unwrapping The Gift
Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) says, "For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given."
The wonderful gift has been given to us on the very first Christmas. It wasn't wrapped in pretty paper and silk ribbons, but was wrapped in swaddling clothes. It's amazing how so much can be placed in such a tiny package.
In the tiny package of Love the Father gave to us on that first Christmas, there are so many gifts for all who will receive them. Some hate to spoil the beauty of the gift by removing the wrappings and trimmings. Many still think of this gift as a small newborn lying in a manger, like when God gave the gift. And many others still don't receive the gift in all that it is.
This Christmas gift was all inclusive in its purpose and the unwrapping is a continuous thing. I've been unwrapping all of the gifts and blessing that came in this small package for forty years. Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) was revealed to me during the unwrapping saying, "He shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father (of eternity), Prince of Peace." All these things were encapsulated in the tiny Baby in the manger.
As I continued unwrapping, I found in John 1:16-17 (Amplified) how from this tiny Baby, "Out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received (all had a share and were all supplied with) one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift (heaped) upon gift." Verse 17 goes on, "For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ."
The first Christmas gift to us is a gift that can never be exhausted in its giving. However long you have this gift, it's always new and is revealing new things in its giving. Many of us have simply removed the swaddling rags and haven't delved deeper into the package. We can't simply untie the ribbons and remove the wrappings, we must open the box to see all it contains.
Some wrap smaller gifts individually in tissue paper and then place them in the same package. My wife likes to do this in order to create many surprises for the person unwrapping that gift. She places tissue paper around several individual gifts so that they have to be unwrapped separately. It was fun watching my young children's surprised elation when opening the package that held many smaller gifts.
If they had just opened the package without searching through the tissue paper, then they would have only found the presents that were readily available. But, if they began seeking farther into the package, then they would find new and exciting things. The deeper they dug into the package, the more they found. Proverbs 2:3-5 (Amplified) tells us, "Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understand, If you seek (wisdom) as for silver and search for skillful and Godly wisdom as for hidden treasure, Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of (our Omniscient) God."
The deeper you dig into the package, the more gifts you find. They were always there, you just had to seek beyond the wrapping. The small Christmas package placed in a manger contains the good things of our loving Father to bring delight, blessings and joy to His children for eternity.
We've had mixed and sometimes heated discussions about this small package in the manger. Some have only admired the wrappings and trimmings without ever opening the package. Some unwrapped the package, but never looked inside to see what it contained. Others have unwrapped and looked inside the package, but never sought as far as the treasure told. No matter how long or how deep you dig into this package, you will always find new and untold riches.
Some people believe this package came to bring entry into God's house at the time of their leaving earth. Some of us have looked deeper inside the package and have found the gift of grace that brings forth salvation. Some place the package on display once a year and then put it into storage for the rest of the remainder of the year. Some are satisfied with letting others open the gift and relate what's inside instead of seeing for themselves.
The wonderful gift has been given to us on the very first Christmas. It wasn't wrapped in pretty paper and silk ribbons, but was wrapped in swaddling clothes. It's amazing how so much can be placed in such a tiny package.
In the tiny package of Love the Father gave to us on that first Christmas, there are so many gifts for all who will receive them. Some hate to spoil the beauty of the gift by removing the wrappings and trimmings. Many still think of this gift as a small newborn lying in a manger, like when God gave the gift. And many others still don't receive the gift in all that it is.
This Christmas gift was all inclusive in its purpose and the unwrapping is a continuous thing. I've been unwrapping all of the gifts and blessing that came in this small package for forty years. Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) was revealed to me during the unwrapping saying, "He shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father (of eternity), Prince of Peace." All these things were encapsulated in the tiny Baby in the manger.
As I continued unwrapping, I found in John 1:16-17 (Amplified) how from this tiny Baby, "Out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received (all had a share and were all supplied with) one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift (heaped) upon gift." Verse 17 goes on, "For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ."
The first Christmas gift to us is a gift that can never be exhausted in its giving. However long you have this gift, it's always new and is revealing new things in its giving. Many of us have simply removed the swaddling rags and haven't delved deeper into the package. We can't simply untie the ribbons and remove the wrappings, we must open the box to see all it contains.
Some wrap smaller gifts individually in tissue paper and then place them in the same package. My wife likes to do this in order to create many surprises for the person unwrapping that gift. She places tissue paper around several individual gifts so that they have to be unwrapped separately. It was fun watching my young children's surprised elation when opening the package that held many smaller gifts.
If they had just opened the package without searching through the tissue paper, then they would have only found the presents that were readily available. But, if they began seeking farther into the package, then they would find new and exciting things. The deeper they dug into the package, the more they found. Proverbs 2:3-5 (Amplified) tells us, "Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understand, If you seek (wisdom) as for silver and search for skillful and Godly wisdom as for hidden treasure, Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of (our Omniscient) God."
The deeper you dig into the package, the more gifts you find. They were always there, you just had to seek beyond the wrapping. The small Christmas package placed in a manger contains the good things of our loving Father to bring delight, blessings and joy to His children for eternity.
We've had mixed and sometimes heated discussions about this small package in the manger. Some have only admired the wrappings and trimmings without ever opening the package. Some unwrapped the package, but never looked inside to see what it contained. Others have unwrapped and looked inside the package, but never sought as far as the treasure told. No matter how long or how deep you dig into this package, you will always find new and untold riches.
Some people believe this package came to bring entry into God's house at the time of their leaving earth. Some of us have looked deeper inside the package and have found the gift of grace that brings forth salvation. Some place the package on display once a year and then put it into storage for the rest of the remainder of the year. Some are satisfied with letting others open the gift and relate what's inside instead of seeing for themselves.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Lesson 5 The Reason for Creation
We have determined from the Word that the reason for creation was the earth and the reason for the earth was man. We now come to the crutch of the matter; what was the reason for man?
The reason for man was the heart of the Father God. Genesis 1:1 tells us that, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The word "God" in Hebrew is "Elohim." This word is plural and reveals the Trinity at work in the creation. We find in John 1:1-3 that Jesus Christ played a major role in all creation. Both Psalm 104:30 and Genesis 1:2 tell us that the Holy Spirit was also at work in all that was created. The Trinity or the three persons of God or the totality of God is revealed throughout the Old and New Testament.
In Matthew 3:13-17 at Jesus' baptism and in Matthew 28:19, we see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father God created the heavens and the earth in the very beginning and had the Father nature in the very beginning.
It's easy to see the love of a father even in today's world. A father's heart is for his children. Ephesians 3:14-15 shows how a human father is an archetype of our Heavenly Father. Earthly fathers love because our Heavenly Father God is eternally and infinitely a Father and we're made in His Image. It simply stands to reason that as a Father, God would long for a family to share in His love.
Ephesians 1"4-5 (Amplified) says, "Even as (in His love) He chose us (actually picked us out for Himself as His Own) in Christ before the foundations of the world (that we should be holy consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach before Him in love." Verse 5 says, "For He ordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His Own children through Christ Jesus, in accordance with the purpose of His will (because it pleased Him and was His kind intent)."
Romans 16:25 (Amplified) reveals the same truth to us that had been hidden until now saying, "Now to Him Who is able to strengthen you in the faith which is in accordance with my gospel and the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ (the Messiah), according to the revelation (the unveiling) of the mystery of the plan of redemption which was kept in silence and secret for long ages." 1Corinthians 2:7 (Amplified) says, "But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden (from the human understanding) and now revealed to us by God (that wisdom) which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification (to lift us into the glory of His presence)."
Jesus came to do exactly that very thing in His ministry, He often said, "He came to reveal this God to men as the Father." Can you imagine the comments and the hassle that erupted when Jesus taught them to pray saying, "Our Father, Who is in heaven" in Matthew 6:9? These people held the Name God as being so holy that they wouldn't write or speak it. Even today, many Jews write God as G-d because of reverence. And Jesus said they should call God Father.
Jesus said in John 14:6 (Amplified), "I am the way, and the truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except (through) Me." He said in John 17:26 (Amplified), I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very self, and I will continue to make (you) known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them (felt in their hearts) and that I (Myself) may be in them."
Jesus repeated that very statement in John 10:9 (Amplified) saying, "I Am the door; Anyone who enter in through Me will be saved ( will live). He will come in and he will go out (freely) and find pasture." Jesus is the door we pass through to return to the presence of God as Father and not only God. Jesus became our door back to a place of sonship with the Father. Did you notice how Jesus said in John 14:6 that "No one comes to the Father except through Him?"
Many people have come to Jesus, but still haven't entered the other side of the door into the Father's presence. We stand at this side of the door and address God as "God," but won't pass through the door and address Him as "Father." We read the Lord's Prayer and pray, "Our Father,"but still act as though He is distant. Our fellowship and sonship connection has been made if we will accept it.
The entire reason for everything that exists, was the Father and His family. Enter through the door of Jesus, into the throne of Grace and to the presence of your Father. Make Him Father and not just God. This is His heart and His dream fulfilled.
The reason for man was the heart of the Father God. Genesis 1:1 tells us that, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The word "God" in Hebrew is "Elohim." This word is plural and reveals the Trinity at work in the creation. We find in John 1:1-3 that Jesus Christ played a major role in all creation. Both Psalm 104:30 and Genesis 1:2 tell us that the Holy Spirit was also at work in all that was created. The Trinity or the three persons of God or the totality of God is revealed throughout the Old and New Testament.
In Matthew 3:13-17 at Jesus' baptism and in Matthew 28:19, we see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father God created the heavens and the earth in the very beginning and had the Father nature in the very beginning.
It's easy to see the love of a father even in today's world. A father's heart is for his children. Ephesians 3:14-15 shows how a human father is an archetype of our Heavenly Father. Earthly fathers love because our Heavenly Father God is eternally and infinitely a Father and we're made in His Image. It simply stands to reason that as a Father, God would long for a family to share in His love.
Ephesians 1"4-5 (Amplified) says, "Even as (in His love) He chose us (actually picked us out for Himself as His Own) in Christ before the foundations of the world (that we should be holy consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach before Him in love." Verse 5 says, "For He ordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His Own children through Christ Jesus, in accordance with the purpose of His will (because it pleased Him and was His kind intent)."
Romans 16:25 (Amplified) reveals the same truth to us that had been hidden until now saying, "Now to Him Who is able to strengthen you in the faith which is in accordance with my gospel and the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ (the Messiah), according to the revelation (the unveiling) of the mystery of the plan of redemption which was kept in silence and secret for long ages." 1Corinthians 2:7 (Amplified) says, "But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden (from the human understanding) and now revealed to us by God (that wisdom) which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification (to lift us into the glory of His presence)."
Jesus came to do exactly that very thing in His ministry, He often said, "He came to reveal this God to men as the Father." Can you imagine the comments and the hassle that erupted when Jesus taught them to pray saying, "Our Father, Who is in heaven" in Matthew 6:9? These people held the Name God as being so holy that they wouldn't write or speak it. Even today, many Jews write God as G-d because of reverence. And Jesus said they should call God Father.
Jesus said in John 14:6 (Amplified), "I am the way, and the truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except (through) Me." He said in John 17:26 (Amplified), I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very self, and I will continue to make (you) known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them (felt in their hearts) and that I (Myself) may be in them."
Jesus repeated that very statement in John 10:9 (Amplified) saying, "I Am the door; Anyone who enter in through Me will be saved ( will live). He will come in and he will go out (freely) and find pasture." Jesus is the door we pass through to return to the presence of God as Father and not only God. Jesus became our door back to a place of sonship with the Father. Did you notice how Jesus said in John 14:6 that "No one comes to the Father except through Him?"
Many people have come to Jesus, but still haven't entered the other side of the door into the Father's presence. We stand at this side of the door and address God as "God," but won't pass through the door and address Him as "Father." We read the Lord's Prayer and pray, "Our Father,"but still act as though He is distant. Our fellowship and sonship connection has been made if we will accept it.
The entire reason for everything that exists, was the Father and His family. Enter through the door of Jesus, into the throne of Grace and to the presence of your Father. Make Him Father and not just God. This is His heart and His dream fulfilled.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Lesson 4 The Reason for Creation
We concluded in the previous lessons that the earth was the reason for the creation of the universe. And, the reason for the earth and everything in it, was man. Why, then was man created? Some have stated that man was created to worship God. Others have said that God just needed servants, so He created man. It is true that we worship God, but that's not why man was created.
The angels worship God on a full-time basis and are servants of God, so why make man to do what's already being done and what's always been done? To understand the reason for man, we must understand the heart of God. If all of creation was made for man's benefit, then what is man to God? Why create all of the universe, the earth and everything God placed on the earth, if not for man? Without man being on the earth, everything here would have been created simply for the beasts and animals. Man was the inspiration for all of creation.
We now come to the part of God's creation that has been overlooked for a long time, which is the Father's heart. Ephesians 1:4-5 (Amplified) says, "Even as (in His love), He chose us (actually picked us out for Himself as His Own) in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated, and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love." Verse 5 goes on, "For He fore ordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His Own children through Christ Jesus, in accordance with the purpose of His will (because it pleased Him and was His kind intent)."
Before creating the entire universe with its heavens and earth, mankind was marked out for sonship in God's heart and dreams. Man was to hold the place as family in the Father God's love. Man was to be the answer to the Father's desire for family and children according to Romans 8:15-17 (Amplified) which says, "For (the Spirit) which you have received (is) not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption (the Spirit producing sonship) in (the bliss of) which we cry Abba (Father) Father!" Verses 16-17 says, "The Spirit Himself (thus) testifies together with out own spirit, (assuring us) that we are children of God. And if we are (His) children, then we are (His) heirs also; heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (sharing His inheritance with Him); only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory."
Many use Ephesians 1:4-5 as a doctrine for predestination for you future. Some have used this to say that your whole life was laid out in the very beginning. They believe that some persons were destined to be saved while others were predestined to be lost and that God planned it that way. This is a false teaching that relives man of ever having to believe in Christ at all. These false teachings would have you believe that if you are lost, then it was God's plan for you and if you are saved, then that's God's plan for you.
Why bother preaching the Word to anyone if God has predestined everyone's future? What happens if I don't want to be lost and called on the Name of the Lord to save me? If my number didn't come up, then would God deny me salvation? What this scripture is saying is that God had desired for man to be His children and family before He created the heavens and earth. When Adam fell into transgression, God lost His family. Satan became the spiritual father of man because of this transgression. The Father would never leave His children in bondage and would pay the highest cost (ransom) to bring them home.
Because we never saw the true reason for creation, we actually viewed man as a minor part of what God created. Our spirits were separated and alienated from God by Adam's sin. Because of this separation, we failed to see through our sense realm, that the Father longed for His children along with the joy having man in His Own Image created. God gave man the authority and dominion over creation, but we saw Him as a harsh, controlling and almost impossible to please God.
We invented sayings like, "You never know what God will do" because of a complete lack of understanding of our Father. We got stuck in the rut of unbelief and formulated prayers like, "Lord, if it be Thy will" because we didn't see His heart. Because we didn't see God's heart and understand His great love, we were quick to believe the worst about Him. He was blamed for everything from the death of innocent children to the hell and heartache of the world. We became so separated in our spiritual being that we only understood by religious acts and rituals.
The angels worship God on a full-time basis and are servants of God, so why make man to do what's already being done and what's always been done? To understand the reason for man, we must understand the heart of God. If all of creation was made for man's benefit, then what is man to God? Why create all of the universe, the earth and everything God placed on the earth, if not for man? Without man being on the earth, everything here would have been created simply for the beasts and animals. Man was the inspiration for all of creation.
We now come to the part of God's creation that has been overlooked for a long time, which is the Father's heart. Ephesians 1:4-5 (Amplified) says, "Even as (in His love), He chose us (actually picked us out for Himself as His Own) in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated, and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love." Verse 5 goes on, "For He fore ordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His Own children through Christ Jesus, in accordance with the purpose of His will (because it pleased Him and was His kind intent)."
Before creating the entire universe with its heavens and earth, mankind was marked out for sonship in God's heart and dreams. Man was to hold the place as family in the Father God's love. Man was to be the answer to the Father's desire for family and children according to Romans 8:15-17 (Amplified) which says, "For (the Spirit) which you have received (is) not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption (the Spirit producing sonship) in (the bliss of) which we cry Abba (Father) Father!" Verses 16-17 says, "The Spirit Himself (thus) testifies together with out own spirit, (assuring us) that we are children of God. And if we are (His) children, then we are (His) heirs also; heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (sharing His inheritance with Him); only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory."
Many use Ephesians 1:4-5 as a doctrine for predestination for you future. Some have used this to say that your whole life was laid out in the very beginning. They believe that some persons were destined to be saved while others were predestined to be lost and that God planned it that way. This is a false teaching that relives man of ever having to believe in Christ at all. These false teachings would have you believe that if you are lost, then it was God's plan for you and if you are saved, then that's God's plan for you.
Why bother preaching the Word to anyone if God has predestined everyone's future? What happens if I don't want to be lost and called on the Name of the Lord to save me? If my number didn't come up, then would God deny me salvation? What this scripture is saying is that God had desired for man to be His children and family before He created the heavens and earth. When Adam fell into transgression, God lost His family. Satan became the spiritual father of man because of this transgression. The Father would never leave His children in bondage and would pay the highest cost (ransom) to bring them home.
Because we never saw the true reason for creation, we actually viewed man as a minor part of what God created. Our spirits were separated and alienated from God by Adam's sin. Because of this separation, we failed to see through our sense realm, that the Father longed for His children along with the joy having man in His Own Image created. God gave man the authority and dominion over creation, but we saw Him as a harsh, controlling and almost impossible to please God.
We invented sayings like, "You never know what God will do" because of a complete lack of understanding of our Father. We got stuck in the rut of unbelief and formulated prayers like, "Lord, if it be Thy will" because we didn't see His heart. Because we didn't see God's heart and understand His great love, we were quick to believe the worst about Him. He was blamed for everything from the death of innocent children to the hell and heartache of the world. We became so separated in our spiritual being that we only understood by religious acts and rituals.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Lesson 3 The Reason for Creation
People all over the world search for the reason and purpose for creation and life when God's Word opens the first chapter of Genesis with that reason and purpose. God has always revealed creation and the reason for creation. There are very few things left to know for those who believe the Word of God.
The reason for creation, is this earth that we live on. Everything in the universe was created to minister to and provide for this planet. When I look at pictures of earth that were taken from space, I am always awed by the power of God's Word. Hebrews 11:3 (Amplified) says, "By faith we understand that the worlds (during the successive ages) were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the Word of God, So that what we see was not made out of things which are visible."
It's one thing to stand in my backyard at night and look up at the moon, but it's something else altogether, to look from space where my backyard is. When I look at the sky, I don't see any cables, pillars or foundations holding it in place. The Word of God alone keeps it in orbit like it should be.
For those who struggle with the truth of God's Word, there can be no understanding, according to Romans 1:19-20 (Amplified) which says, "For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God (Himself) has shown it to them for ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiwork). So (men) are without excuse (altogether without any defense or justification)."
As you struggle with the existence of God, you are confronted with the question of why and what you are and where you came from. In his dismissal of God, man has invented evolution, alien beings made us and the Big Bang theory as substitutes. Personally, all of these things require more faith to believe than God's Word does.
The reason for creation is this planet we live and the reason for this planet is man. All the things God put on this planet are to please and take care of man. When God had made and seen that "All things were pleasing to Him," then God said in Genesis 1:26 (Amplified), "Let Us (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our Image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the (tame) beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth." Genesis 1:27 (Amplified) says, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them."
Thus, we see that the reason for creation was the earth and the reason for the was was man. Man was the heart of the Father Who longed for and desired to have a family of children made in His likeness and Image. The Father walked in the Garden where He had placed His son Adam and fellowshipped with His new family. Genesis 3:8 (Amplified) says, "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife his themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the Garden."
When Adam transgressed against the command of God in the Garden, he was instantly separated from God in his spirit and was at that time forced to live only by his five physical senses. God could no longer walk with His children in the Spirit like He had intended from the beginning. From that very day, God set in motion the plan of redemption to restore His family back to Him like He had always intended. Genesis 3:14-15 (Amplified) tells us, "And the Lord God said to the serpent, Because you have done this; you are cursed above all (domestic) animals and above every (wild) living things of the field; upon your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust (and what it contains) all the days of your life." Verse 15 goes on, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He will bruise and tread your head under foot, and you will life in wait and bruise His heel."
After losing His family, God never ceased in His purpose of restoring His children to Him. Day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year, He began speaking His plan of redemption into the world. He would have lost His man and his wife in the Garden, if God had only done it there. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, He could legally restore all that was lost in the Garden.
The reason for creation, is this earth that we live on. Everything in the universe was created to minister to and provide for this planet. When I look at pictures of earth that were taken from space, I am always awed by the power of God's Word. Hebrews 11:3 (Amplified) says, "By faith we understand that the worlds (during the successive ages) were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the Word of God, So that what we see was not made out of things which are visible."
It's one thing to stand in my backyard at night and look up at the moon, but it's something else altogether, to look from space where my backyard is. When I look at the sky, I don't see any cables, pillars or foundations holding it in place. The Word of God alone keeps it in orbit like it should be.
For those who struggle with the truth of God's Word, there can be no understanding, according to Romans 1:19-20 (Amplified) which says, "For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God (Himself) has shown it to them for ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiwork). So (men) are without excuse (altogether without any defense or justification)."
As you struggle with the existence of God, you are confronted with the question of why and what you are and where you came from. In his dismissal of God, man has invented evolution, alien beings made us and the Big Bang theory as substitutes. Personally, all of these things require more faith to believe than God's Word does.
The reason for creation is this planet we live and the reason for this planet is man. All the things God put on this planet are to please and take care of man. When God had made and seen that "All things were pleasing to Him," then God said in Genesis 1:26 (Amplified), "Let Us (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our Image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the (tame) beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth." Genesis 1:27 (Amplified) says, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them."
Thus, we see that the reason for creation was the earth and the reason for the was was man. Man was the heart of the Father Who longed for and desired to have a family of children made in His likeness and Image. The Father walked in the Garden where He had placed His son Adam and fellowshipped with His new family. Genesis 3:8 (Amplified) says, "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife his themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the Garden."
When Adam transgressed against the command of God in the Garden, he was instantly separated from God in his spirit and was at that time forced to live only by his five physical senses. God could no longer walk with His children in the Spirit like He had intended from the beginning. From that very day, God set in motion the plan of redemption to restore His family back to Him like He had always intended. Genesis 3:14-15 (Amplified) tells us, "And the Lord God said to the serpent, Because you have done this; you are cursed above all (domestic) animals and above every (wild) living things of the field; upon your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust (and what it contains) all the days of your life." Verse 15 goes on, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He will bruise and tread your head under foot, and you will life in wait and bruise His heel."
After losing His family, God never ceased in His purpose of restoring His children to Him. Day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year, He began speaking His plan of redemption into the world. He would have lost His man and his wife in the Garden, if God had only done it there. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, He could legally restore all that was lost in the Garden.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Lesson 2 The Reason for Creation
When we understand how man is the sole reason for creation, then it all seems to come together. Science and the study of the heavens, has revealed how everything in our universe is there to minister to the earth. Even science doesn't deny the fact that every planet, sun, moon or star in our universe has its influence upon on earth.
Our sun is approximately ninety-three million miles away, but it causes climatic conditions of light, heat, rain and winds that make this planet capable of sustaining life for humans, animals and plants. We even have our own protection by the transparent atmosphere around earth.
The ocean's tides are influenced by the heavenly bodies. We can predict the seasons of spring, summer, winter and fall by the signs of the planets. We can predict storm and frost and even heat waves months in advance by the position of the heavenly bodies. All of the planets and heavenly bodies were created to minister to the earth. In Genesis 1:14-19 (Amplified), we see the plan of creation which says, "And God said, let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night; and let them be signs and tokens (of God's provident care) and (to mark) seasons, days, and years. And let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light upon the earth. And it was so. And God made the two great lights-the greater light (the sun) to rule the day and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night. He also made the stars." Verses 17-19 go on, "And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth. To rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good (fitting, pleasant) and He approved it. And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day."
For all of its searching, science hasn't found another planet in our known universe that does, or can, support life. Our planet is so small compared to all of the creation in our universe, which makes no sense if it weren't made so in order to provide for God's family. Our planets are a perfect timepiece. We use them to know exactly when each will pass another or to precisely predict when a comet will pass through the skies.
If it wasn't for man being on this earth, then all these things would be useless. Even the vegetation and waters which act as thermostats to control the earth's temperatures, would be meaningless if not for the sustaining of human life.
It takes more faith to believe in the Big Bang theory than it does creation. It's difficult to believe that an explosion in outer space by a great stroke of luck, happened to place our planet in such a perfect position. That theory still doesn't explain how all those things occurred without the orchestration from a creator.
Our little planet is so small that a thousand of them could fit and become lost in the sun, but is the epicenter and purpose of all creation. The Great Master Who designed all of the heavens, made all things to minister to the earth. Then He Himself set about ministering to His man that He placed in the midst of His masterpiece.
So, now we know that earth is the reason for creation and that man was the reason for earth. Genesis 1:1 shows us how God created everything and when He had perfected the heavens and the earth, He placed the greatest and highest of all His creations in the earth. God only rested from His work after He created man and set him in the center of all His creation. After God placed man in the midst of His creations, everything worked to provide for him.
Isaiah 45:18 (Amplified) says, "For thus says the Lord-Who created the heavens, God, Himself, Who formed the earth and made it, Who established it and did not create it to be a worthless waste; He formed it to be inhabited-I am the Lord and there is none like Me."
This scripture sums up the reason for the universe is for the earth and the reason for the earth is for man. Man has been scratching his head for thousands of years asking, "Why am I here?" "Where did I come from and what am I?" Even David pondered these questions in Psalm 8:4-6 (Amplified) saying, "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of (earth born) man that You care for him? Yet You have made him but a little lower than God (or heavenly beings) and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; and have put all things under his feet."
Our sun is approximately ninety-three million miles away, but it causes climatic conditions of light, heat, rain and winds that make this planet capable of sustaining life for humans, animals and plants. We even have our own protection by the transparent atmosphere around earth.
The ocean's tides are influenced by the heavenly bodies. We can predict the seasons of spring, summer, winter and fall by the signs of the planets. We can predict storm and frost and even heat waves months in advance by the position of the heavenly bodies. All of the planets and heavenly bodies were created to minister to the earth. In Genesis 1:14-19 (Amplified), we see the plan of creation which says, "And God said, let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night; and let them be signs and tokens (of God's provident care) and (to mark) seasons, days, and years. And let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light upon the earth. And it was so. And God made the two great lights-the greater light (the sun) to rule the day and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night. He also made the stars." Verses 17-19 go on, "And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth. To rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good (fitting, pleasant) and He approved it. And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day."
For all of its searching, science hasn't found another planet in our known universe that does, or can, support life. Our planet is so small compared to all of the creation in our universe, which makes no sense if it weren't made so in order to provide for God's family. Our planets are a perfect timepiece. We use them to know exactly when each will pass another or to precisely predict when a comet will pass through the skies.
If it wasn't for man being on this earth, then all these things would be useless. Even the vegetation and waters which act as thermostats to control the earth's temperatures, would be meaningless if not for the sustaining of human life.
It takes more faith to believe in the Big Bang theory than it does creation. It's difficult to believe that an explosion in outer space by a great stroke of luck, happened to place our planet in such a perfect position. That theory still doesn't explain how all those things occurred without the orchestration from a creator.
Our little planet is so small that a thousand of them could fit and become lost in the sun, but is the epicenter and purpose of all creation. The Great Master Who designed all of the heavens, made all things to minister to the earth. Then He Himself set about ministering to His man that He placed in the midst of His masterpiece.
So, now we know that earth is the reason for creation and that man was the reason for earth. Genesis 1:1 shows us how God created everything and when He had perfected the heavens and the earth, He placed the greatest and highest of all His creations in the earth. God only rested from His work after He created man and set him in the center of all His creation. After God placed man in the midst of His creations, everything worked to provide for him.
Isaiah 45:18 (Amplified) says, "For thus says the Lord-Who created the heavens, God, Himself, Who formed the earth and made it, Who established it and did not create it to be a worthless waste; He formed it to be inhabited-I am the Lord and there is none like Me."
This scripture sums up the reason for the universe is for the earth and the reason for the earth is for man. Man has been scratching his head for thousands of years asking, "Why am I here?" "Where did I come from and what am I?" Even David pondered these questions in Psalm 8:4-6 (Amplified) saying, "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of (earth born) man that You care for him? Yet You have made him but a little lower than God (or heavenly beings) and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; and have put all things under his feet."
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Lesson 1 The Reason for Creation
For as long as man has been here, he has questioned about where creation came from and why was everything created. The world's greatest minds have struggled with this question for millions of years. Scientist and professors have sought answers to this question and have tried explaining it with evolution and the Big Bang theory.
This question should never arise with the child of God. Men questioning the spirit realm because they cannot see it, would be like a fish believing the entire world is underwater because they've never lived on land. We are made in the Image and likeness of our Heavenly Father, God, Who is a Spirit. The spirit realm should be as familiar to us as it was to Jesus.
The reason the earth and the vast universe was created was for man. If you omitted man from the equation, then there would be no need for the vast provisions earth provides. All of it's beauty and resources would be wasted on the animals of earth. Our Father created and prepared a place that would please His children, just like a couple expecting a baby would prepare a nursery with pleasing and necessary provisions for that child.
Man was never supposed to be separated from his Heavenly Father. Man's body was to be immortal and his spirit eternal. Sickness, disease and death were never part pf God's plan for His children. The disobedience and high treason that occurred in the Garden of Eden caused man to die in his spirit and be separated from the life coming from his connection to God, Who is our life. Jesus came to do away with that spiritual death and bring restoration to God's family.
If man hadn't died spiritually, then he would never died physically. Spiritual death came first and then the life of God was gone from man and his body began dying. It took satan 930 years to teach Adam to die. Adam had only known life until that time in the Garden. We're taught to die after only 85-90 years, today and simply accept that. All of the misery and heartbreak that death has wrought to humanity was never in the Father's plan Whose heart longed for a family.
Even today, as we pray, "Our Father," we still hold back from a Father and son/daughter relationship with God. It must greatly hurt the heart of God when He sees His children being afraid and distant from Him. We still stand afar off in the outer courts instead of in the throne room of His grace. Even after God gave His Own Son as a sacrifice for us, we feel unworthy and unclean in His presence. All that God did through Jesus still seems not to have been enough to cleanse our conscience from our guilt and shame. This keeps us away from the great heart of Love Who gave it all to gain us back.
The whole of creation was to be a blessing of love and a nursery for God's family. He left nothing undone in His quest for the things that would please us. If we dive to the deepest parts of the ocean, there are a wealth of unknown fish and creatures of great beauty to amaze us. God didn't simply crate one bird, but He make thousands of different birds to please every one of us. God didn't just make one type of dog, but He made hundreds of different breeds to please different persons. He made thousands of varieties of flowers for the pleasure of various persons.
All of creation was just to be a pleasant place for His family to live. God declared that "everything was very good" before He created man to live among it. Everything was to be subjected to God's man, including animals and birds and the fish of the sea. Jesus proved all of this to be true during His earthly walk. As the "Last Adam," Jesus was like the first Adam except Jesus didn't succumb to the tests and trials of the enemy. Jesus did all of what God's children were born to do in the beginning. He had dominion over the elements, the laws of physics, demon spirits, the laws of gravity and even then fish of the sea. Jesus made the fish fill Peter's nets until the boat nearly sank under the load.
This is how all of God's children were to walk and live in the abundance of His creation. This is the place that Jesus came to deliver back into our hands for the Father. Through Him we were to be reconciled back to son ship rights with our Father. We were made to be in right standing and righteous by our faith in His completed work,. All the authority given to Adam was restored back to us in Jesus. His Name is our power of authority to all His inheritance.
We keep waiting to go to heaven for these things to be regained again. In His death and resurrection, Jesus has already done everything needed to deliver us from the bondage of the first Adam and bring us back to be one as He and the Father are One. When Jesus said that, "It is finished" on the cross, He meant it. There is no more debt to be paid under the Law of sin and death.
.
This question should never arise with the child of God. Men questioning the spirit realm because they cannot see it, would be like a fish believing the entire world is underwater because they've never lived on land. We are made in the Image and likeness of our Heavenly Father, God, Who is a Spirit. The spirit realm should be as familiar to us as it was to Jesus.
The reason the earth and the vast universe was created was for man. If you omitted man from the equation, then there would be no need for the vast provisions earth provides. All of it's beauty and resources would be wasted on the animals of earth. Our Father created and prepared a place that would please His children, just like a couple expecting a baby would prepare a nursery with pleasing and necessary provisions for that child.
Man was never supposed to be separated from his Heavenly Father. Man's body was to be immortal and his spirit eternal. Sickness, disease and death were never part pf God's plan for His children. The disobedience and high treason that occurred in the Garden of Eden caused man to die in his spirit and be separated from the life coming from his connection to God, Who is our life. Jesus came to do away with that spiritual death and bring restoration to God's family.
If man hadn't died spiritually, then he would never died physically. Spiritual death came first and then the life of God was gone from man and his body began dying. It took satan 930 years to teach Adam to die. Adam had only known life until that time in the Garden. We're taught to die after only 85-90 years, today and simply accept that. All of the misery and heartbreak that death has wrought to humanity was never in the Father's plan Whose heart longed for a family.
Even today, as we pray, "Our Father," we still hold back from a Father and son/daughter relationship with God. It must greatly hurt the heart of God when He sees His children being afraid and distant from Him. We still stand afar off in the outer courts instead of in the throne room of His grace. Even after God gave His Own Son as a sacrifice for us, we feel unworthy and unclean in His presence. All that God did through Jesus still seems not to have been enough to cleanse our conscience from our guilt and shame. This keeps us away from the great heart of Love Who gave it all to gain us back.
The whole of creation was to be a blessing of love and a nursery for God's family. He left nothing undone in His quest for the things that would please us. If we dive to the deepest parts of the ocean, there are a wealth of unknown fish and creatures of great beauty to amaze us. God didn't simply crate one bird, but He make thousands of different birds to please every one of us. God didn't just make one type of dog, but He made hundreds of different breeds to please different persons. He made thousands of varieties of flowers for the pleasure of various persons.
All of creation was just to be a pleasant place for His family to live. God declared that "everything was very good" before He created man to live among it. Everything was to be subjected to God's man, including animals and birds and the fish of the sea. Jesus proved all of this to be true during His earthly walk. As the "Last Adam," Jesus was like the first Adam except Jesus didn't succumb to the tests and trials of the enemy. Jesus did all of what God's children were born to do in the beginning. He had dominion over the elements, the laws of physics, demon spirits, the laws of gravity and even then fish of the sea. Jesus made the fish fill Peter's nets until the boat nearly sank under the load.
This is how all of God's children were to walk and live in the abundance of His creation. This is the place that Jesus came to deliver back into our hands for the Father. Through Him we were to be reconciled back to son ship rights with our Father. We were made to be in right standing and righteous by our faith in His completed work,. All the authority given to Adam was restored back to us in Jesus. His Name is our power of authority to all His inheritance.
We keep waiting to go to heaven for these things to be regained again. In His death and resurrection, Jesus has already done everything needed to deliver us from the bondage of the first Adam and bring us back to be one as He and the Father are One. When Jesus said that, "It is finished" on the cross, He meant it. There is no more debt to be paid under the Law of sin and death.
.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Lesson 17 The Character of Christ
The character of Christ is the very personality of the Father and is spoken about in many scriptures like John 10:30 (Amplified) which says, "I and the Father are One." Hebrews 1:3 (Amplified) says, "He is the Sole expression of the glory of God (the Light Being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine) and He is the perfect imprint and very Image of (God's) nature,upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty Word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the Divine Majesty on High."
The Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 is the very nature of Jesus Who is the very Image of God's nature. When we make the same decision that Jesus made to listen to the Holy Spirit within us, we also will be able to reveal this nature of the Father. This doesn't mean that we can act any way we choose until God makes us act correctly because He will not. Only by yielding to His Spirit within us can we do what Jesus did and act like Jesus acted.
We can only produce the real character of Christ by yielding to and listening to the Holy Spirit. We've made some progress in not acting like we did before being saved through our own efforts. We inherently knew we should stop cussing and brawling and drinking. All these things should rightly be shut down in our lives, but did we stop them in order to become righteous before God or did we stop them because we have become righteous before God?
The first reason to stop these things is of the flesh and the other is of the Spirit. One is by Law and the other is by grace. One is to gain a place in Christ and the other is to receive your place in Christ. According to 2Corinthians 5:17-21 (Amplified), we have already been "declared righteous in Christ Jesus." And, now that we've been made righteous in Him, we simply allow His Holy Spirit to bring forth fruit of His righteousness.
Our old nature, the training and educating of our flesh and mind, must be renewed and brought into subjection by the Word and His Spirit. 2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified) says, "Every scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin; for correction of error and discipline in obedience (and) for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action) So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Most of us have never looked at the Word as a power to change, but a rule to live by. Without the Holy Spirit to bring about the power of change through the Word, it once again becomes Law to the hearer and a source of condemnation and shortcomings. Somehow, we fail to see what we are in Christ and struggle to become what He has already made us to be. As a result, we failed to produce the character of Christ in our lives.
Once we receive by faith what grace has already made us to be in Him, it becomes so much easier to walk in the Fruit of the Spirit. So long as we continue seeing ourselves as we were instead of who He made us to be, we cannot portray the character of Jesus. One of satan's most powerful tools against the child of God, is convincing us that we are still unworthy and unrighteous.
The character of Christ must come from within us and not from rules. As long as satan can convince you that you're unworthy and a sinner, how can you ever hope to conduct yourself in the joy and peace of Christ?
John 14:27 (Amplified) says, "Peace I leave with you; My (Own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)."
Jesus reveals to us in this scripture how we can walk in the Fruit (or character) of the Spirit. His peace is "the peace that passes all understanding" and is available to us by faith in Jesus' sacrifice. The only way of receiving this peace is by faith in His grace. It has nothing to do with who you were, but only who you are now. Only those who have been made righteous can walk in His character.
The Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 is the very nature of Jesus Who is the very Image of God's nature. When we make the same decision that Jesus made to listen to the Holy Spirit within us, we also will be able to reveal this nature of the Father. This doesn't mean that we can act any way we choose until God makes us act correctly because He will not. Only by yielding to His Spirit within us can we do what Jesus did and act like Jesus acted.
We can only produce the real character of Christ by yielding to and listening to the Holy Spirit. We've made some progress in not acting like we did before being saved through our own efforts. We inherently knew we should stop cussing and brawling and drinking. All these things should rightly be shut down in our lives, but did we stop them in order to become righteous before God or did we stop them because we have become righteous before God?
The first reason to stop these things is of the flesh and the other is of the Spirit. One is by Law and the other is by grace. One is to gain a place in Christ and the other is to receive your place in Christ. According to 2Corinthians 5:17-21 (Amplified), we have already been "declared righteous in Christ Jesus." And, now that we've been made righteous in Him, we simply allow His Holy Spirit to bring forth fruit of His righteousness.
Our old nature, the training and educating of our flesh and mind, must be renewed and brought into subjection by the Word and His Spirit. 2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified) says, "Every scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin; for correction of error and discipline in obedience (and) for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action) So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Most of us have never looked at the Word as a power to change, but a rule to live by. Without the Holy Spirit to bring about the power of change through the Word, it once again becomes Law to the hearer and a source of condemnation and shortcomings. Somehow, we fail to see what we are in Christ and struggle to become what He has already made us to be. As a result, we failed to produce the character of Christ in our lives.
Once we receive by faith what grace has already made us to be in Him, it becomes so much easier to walk in the Fruit of the Spirit. So long as we continue seeing ourselves as we were instead of who He made us to be, we cannot portray the character of Jesus. One of satan's most powerful tools against the child of God, is convincing us that we are still unworthy and unrighteous.
The character of Christ must come from within us and not from rules. As long as satan can convince you that you're unworthy and a sinner, how can you ever hope to conduct yourself in the joy and peace of Christ?
John 14:27 (Amplified) says, "Peace I leave with you; My (Own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)."
Jesus reveals to us in this scripture how we can walk in the Fruit (or character) of the Spirit. His peace is "the peace that passes all understanding" and is available to us by faith in Jesus' sacrifice. The only way of receiving this peace is by faith in His grace. It has nothing to do with who you were, but only who you are now. Only those who have been made righteous can walk in His character.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Lesson 16 The Character of Christ
Galatians 5:22-23 (Amplified) tells us, "But the Fruit of the (Holy) Spirit (the work which His presence within accomplishes) is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self control (self restraint, continence) against such things there is no law (that can bring a change)."
The Fruit of the Spirit, "the work which His presence within accomplishes," is producing the very character of Jesus the Christ within us. Apart from the Holy Spirit, we can never produce this character. We've tried to produce His character throughout the years through the actions of the flesh and the old, carnal man. Mostly, we've been only able to produce the same self-righteous spirit that was present in the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day and became critical, judgmental and condemning.
This isn't what we wished to produce, but it was all the flesh could do. The character of Christ can only be revealed to the world through us by our yielding to the Holy Spirit. This very thing keeps today's Church divided even now.
Paul spoke about this in 1Corinthians 1:11-13 (Amplified) saying, "For it has been made clear to me, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions and wranglings and factions among you." Verses 12-13 go on, "What I mean is this, that each one of you (either) says, I belong to Paul, or I belong to Apollos, or I belong to Cephas (Peter), or I belong to Christ. Is Christ (the Messiah) divided into parts? Was Paul crucified on behalf of you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?"
We have local churches we attend and each has a pastor in them. We should have a local body in which to worship and learn, but not to party factions like Galatians 5:20 (Amplified) says, "Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies)."
The Body of Christ will only unify if she yields to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to live through us. Many of us differ in some of the things we believe from the Word, but different isn't always wrong...it's just different. If I believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in other tongues, then does that mean I'm not of the faith?
Or, if I don't believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the speaking of other tongues, then does that mean I'm not of the faith? When we believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and that He and He alone has cleansed us of our sin and iniquities, then doesn't this make us one body?
1Corinthians 3:10-15 (Amplified) says that, "According to the grace (the special endowment for my tasks) of God bestowed upon me, like a skillful architect and master builder I laid (the) foundation, and now another (man) is building upon it. But let each (man) be careful how he builds upon it." Verses 12-13 go on, "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is (already) laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). But if anyone builds upon the foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw. The work of each (one) will become (plainly, openly) known (shown for what it is) For the day (of Christ) will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done." Verses 14-15 say, "If the work that any person has built on this foundation (any product of his efforts whatever) survives (this test) he will get his reward. But if any person's work is burned up (under the test) he will suffer the loss (of it all, losing his reward) though he himself will be saved, but only as (one who has passed) through fire."
We argue in the Church over such things as healing, tongues, prosperity, the gifts of the Spirit, the rapture of the Church and other items. Whatever we have built on the foundation (Jesus and Him Crucified) will be tested for truth. Even though some of our doctrines might be burned by trials, the foundation of Jesus Christ will stand firm.
In these last days, we will discover that some of what we teach and believe was wrong according to the real truth of God. The One thing that all Christians have in common is that we all believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. Much of what we argue over will be dissolved as we yield to the Fruit and character of Christ, by the Holy Spirit. As the Spirit leads us, many of the things that have divided and separated us, don't matter anymore. We can all still rejoice in forgiveness and thanksgiving to Him Who died and rose again for us.
The Fruit of the Spirit, "the work which His presence within accomplishes," is producing the very character of Jesus the Christ within us. Apart from the Holy Spirit, we can never produce this character. We've tried to produce His character throughout the years through the actions of the flesh and the old, carnal man. Mostly, we've been only able to produce the same self-righteous spirit that was present in the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day and became critical, judgmental and condemning.
This isn't what we wished to produce, but it was all the flesh could do. The character of Christ can only be revealed to the world through us by our yielding to the Holy Spirit. This very thing keeps today's Church divided even now.
Paul spoke about this in 1Corinthians 1:11-13 (Amplified) saying, "For it has been made clear to me, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions and wranglings and factions among you." Verses 12-13 go on, "What I mean is this, that each one of you (either) says, I belong to Paul, or I belong to Apollos, or I belong to Cephas (Peter), or I belong to Christ. Is Christ (the Messiah) divided into parts? Was Paul crucified on behalf of you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?"
We have local churches we attend and each has a pastor in them. We should have a local body in which to worship and learn, but not to party factions like Galatians 5:20 (Amplified) says, "Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies)."
The Body of Christ will only unify if she yields to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to live through us. Many of us differ in some of the things we believe from the Word, but different isn't always wrong...it's just different. If I believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in other tongues, then does that mean I'm not of the faith?
Or, if I don't believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the speaking of other tongues, then does that mean I'm not of the faith? When we believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and that He and He alone has cleansed us of our sin and iniquities, then doesn't this make us one body?
1Corinthians 3:10-15 (Amplified) says that, "According to the grace (the special endowment for my tasks) of God bestowed upon me, like a skillful architect and master builder I laid (the) foundation, and now another (man) is building upon it. But let each (man) be careful how he builds upon it." Verses 12-13 go on, "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is (already) laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). But if anyone builds upon the foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw. The work of each (one) will become (plainly, openly) known (shown for what it is) For the day (of Christ) will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done." Verses 14-15 say, "If the work that any person has built on this foundation (any product of his efforts whatever) survives (this test) he will get his reward. But if any person's work is burned up (under the test) he will suffer the loss (of it all, losing his reward) though he himself will be saved, but only as (one who has passed) through fire."
We argue in the Church over such things as healing, tongues, prosperity, the gifts of the Spirit, the rapture of the Church and other items. Whatever we have built on the foundation (Jesus and Him Crucified) will be tested for truth. Even though some of our doctrines might be burned by trials, the foundation of Jesus Christ will stand firm.
In these last days, we will discover that some of what we teach and believe was wrong according to the real truth of God. The One thing that all Christians have in common is that we all believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. Much of what we argue over will be dissolved as we yield to the Fruit and character of Christ, by the Holy Spirit. As the Spirit leads us, many of the things that have divided and separated us, don't matter anymore. We can all still rejoice in forgiveness and thanksgiving to Him Who died and rose again for us.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Lesson 15 The Character of Christ
Hebrews 4:9 (Amplified) tells us, "So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath rest reserved for the (true) people of God."
Previously, we learned how resting in the finished work of Jesus is what will bring forth the character of Christ in the Church. We won't succeed as long as we continue trying to make the Fruit of the Spirit or the character of Christ produce by the works of the flesh. They are called the "Fruit of the Spirit" and not "the fruit of the flesh," for a reason.
Romans 8:14 (Amplified) says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."
There are only two ways of dealing with things here on earth. Either you go by the way of the world or the way of the Word. These are the only options. If we go by the world's way, then we're still in the flesh or carnal thinking and if you go the Word's way, then we put away carnal thinking and are truly led by the Spirit.
Here's an example: we're called to "Love our enemies," but there's no way the carnal man can do this. This leads to our choosing to be led by the Spirit or led by the world or the carnal way of thinking. The carnal mind says that someone is your enemy and this proves you do not like that person and it's very easy to treat him like an enemy. The way of the Spirit is to react by the Word. You might ask, "If I treat him in love and I feel angry towards him, then doesn't that make me a hypocrite? The answer is, "No!" When you know how the Word says to treat your enemies and then still treat him poorly, then you are a hypocrite.
We are not called to be led or ruled by our emotions, but by the Holy Spirit. Carnal men are ruled by their emotions and sons of God are led by the Word. Many in today's Church are still ruled more by the carnal (soulish)man and mind than by the Spirit. This doesn't mean they aren't saved or they don't belong to God, but means they're not led by the Spirit.
We learn from Galatians 5:22-23 that we can only produce the Fruit of the Spirit or the character of Christ by yielding to the Spirit. The character of Christ must come through the Holy Spirit working in your own spirit.
Man was obligated to walk this way under the Law, but because they didn't have the new birth and the Holy Spirit in their spirit (which was alive unto God), they couldn't produce the character of Christ in their lives.
When we're faced with a decision to act or react, we must make a choice whether to act according to the emotions of the soulish man or act according to the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus was faced with the very same decision, every day of His life. There were many times when Jesus could simply have reacted by His flesh and rained fire down on the people around Him. He said in John 5:30 (Amplified), "I am able to do nothing from Myself (independently, of My Own accord-but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders) even as I, I judge (decide as I am bidden to decide, As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision) And My judgment is right (just, righteous) because I do not seek or consult My Own will. (I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My Own aim, My Own purpose) but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me."
The Fruit of the Spirit is exactly that; it's the fruit that the Spirit bears in the life of the believer. We can only ever hope to walk in His character by completely surrendering to the Holy Spirit (God) and having Him dwell in us. Sometimes, we forget that Jesus was a Man. We've erroneously placed Him in a position where He had nothing to say about what He could do and not do. This is not true!
Just before going to the cross, Jesus prayed in Gethsemane saying, "If there is any other way." Then, Jesus made the decision to do His Father's will and not His Own. We're faced with the decision of doing our will and doing His will continuously. We might not wish to react to someone in love, then we decide to do His will and not our own. This is the character of Christ and the only way of producing this in our lives is by resting in His Spirit within us and allowing His character (not our own) to come forth by the Spirit.
Jesus is our example and we should walk in the meekness and humility of the Spirit flowing through Him during His trial and sentencing. Jesus is God and could easily have called down legions of angels to deliver him, but He didn't.
Previously, we learned how resting in the finished work of Jesus is what will bring forth the character of Christ in the Church. We won't succeed as long as we continue trying to make the Fruit of the Spirit or the character of Christ produce by the works of the flesh. They are called the "Fruit of the Spirit" and not "the fruit of the flesh," for a reason.
Romans 8:14 (Amplified) says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."
There are only two ways of dealing with things here on earth. Either you go by the way of the world or the way of the Word. These are the only options. If we go by the world's way, then we're still in the flesh or carnal thinking and if you go the Word's way, then we put away carnal thinking and are truly led by the Spirit.
Here's an example: we're called to "Love our enemies," but there's no way the carnal man can do this. This leads to our choosing to be led by the Spirit or led by the world or the carnal way of thinking. The carnal mind says that someone is your enemy and this proves you do not like that person and it's very easy to treat him like an enemy. The way of the Spirit is to react by the Word. You might ask, "If I treat him in love and I feel angry towards him, then doesn't that make me a hypocrite? The answer is, "No!" When you know how the Word says to treat your enemies and then still treat him poorly, then you are a hypocrite.
We are not called to be led or ruled by our emotions, but by the Holy Spirit. Carnal men are ruled by their emotions and sons of God are led by the Word. Many in today's Church are still ruled more by the carnal (soulish)man and mind than by the Spirit. This doesn't mean they aren't saved or they don't belong to God, but means they're not led by the Spirit.
We learn from Galatians 5:22-23 that we can only produce the Fruit of the Spirit or the character of Christ by yielding to the Spirit. The character of Christ must come through the Holy Spirit working in your own spirit.
Man was obligated to walk this way under the Law, but because they didn't have the new birth and the Holy Spirit in their spirit (which was alive unto God), they couldn't produce the character of Christ in their lives.
When we're faced with a decision to act or react, we must make a choice whether to act according to the emotions of the soulish man or act according to the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus was faced with the very same decision, every day of His life. There were many times when Jesus could simply have reacted by His flesh and rained fire down on the people around Him. He said in John 5:30 (Amplified), "I am able to do nothing from Myself (independently, of My Own accord-but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders) even as I, I judge (decide as I am bidden to decide, As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision) And My judgment is right (just, righteous) because I do not seek or consult My Own will. (I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My Own aim, My Own purpose) but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me."
The Fruit of the Spirit is exactly that; it's the fruit that the Spirit bears in the life of the believer. We can only ever hope to walk in His character by completely surrendering to the Holy Spirit (God) and having Him dwell in us. Sometimes, we forget that Jesus was a Man. We've erroneously placed Him in a position where He had nothing to say about what He could do and not do. This is not true!
Just before going to the cross, Jesus prayed in Gethsemane saying, "If there is any other way." Then, Jesus made the decision to do His Father's will and not His Own. We're faced with the decision of doing our will and doing His will continuously. We might not wish to react to someone in love, then we decide to do His will and not our own. This is the character of Christ and the only way of producing this in our lives is by resting in His Spirit within us and allowing His character (not our own) to come forth by the Spirit.
Jesus is our example and we should walk in the meekness and humility of the Spirit flowing through Him during His trial and sentencing. Jesus is God and could easily have called down legions of angels to deliver him, but He didn't.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Lesson 14 The Character of Christ
Hebrews 4:9-11 (Amplified) says, "So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete sabbath-rest reserved for the (true) people of God; For he who has once entered (God's) rest also has ceased from (the weariness and pain) of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His Own. Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest (of God, to know and experience it for ourselves) that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience (into which those in the wilderness fell)."
This might seem like a strange scripture to use concerning the character of Christ. Truthfully, it's difficult to walk in the Fruit of the Spirit (the character of Christ) by your own works. The Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 is actually the very character of Christ and is impossible to produce by the works of the flesh. We continue trying to produce this fruit of character by our own efforts. It's true that we must exert discipline over our flesh by the Word, but we must learn to rest in God's rest for it to be manifest.
This "rest" that God speaks about is the grace we now have instead of the Law of the old covenant. Under the Law, the people had to try and manifest all the character traits by their own efforts and they failed. However, we now have the Holy Spirit living in us to produce from within and not from without.
As we learn to rest in the new covenant of grace, we find that the less we try manifesting it by works, the more is manifest by grace. God never intended for us to do things on our own. He, indeed, knew we could not do them on our own. The same qualities were demanded of the old covenant people, but without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the grace, they couldn't produce the character of Christ. We, however, are of a new covenant and a new Spirit.
Under Law, the people had the old sin nature and character of the dead flesh. Under the new covenant, we're to live our lives through Him and allow that character to produce from His very Own Spirit Who lives through us. We can never produce the love that the Word speaks of through the works of the flesh.
Part of this Fruit character is peace. How can we live in this peace that "passes all understanding" by the works of the flesh? The only possible way of producing this part of the Fruit or character of Christ, is to live in Him. John 14:27 (Amplified) says, "Peace I leave with you; My (Own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you."
The only means of producing this peace or Fruit or character, is to receive it by faith in His covenant of grace and then rest in it. The harder we try to live in peace in this world, the more it evades us. The only way to have His peace is to live in Him and in His peace. This is a part of the character or Fruit of the Spirit that now lives in and through us.
If we don't enter into His rest or His grace, then we cannot bring forth this peace. Everything in this world is now screaming out fear, anger, resentment and trial. Only grace and entering into this grace or rest can produce this character in our lives. Without the Holy Spirit living in him, humanity can never produce this Fruit or character anymore than an apple tree can bring forth peaches. The root of the tree determines the fruit of the tree.
This isn't something we can simply manufacture in our lives. We must yield to His life within us. We've wanted to produce this fruit in our lives and to reveal Jesus to the world, but it hasn't been working very well for us. We've tried modifying our behavior by willpower and restraint, but mostly that's resulted in failure.
The rest of grace God speaks about in Hebrews 4 is nothing more than the realization that God has already completed everything needed to be completed. We are simply to rest in Him in order for the Fruit or character to begin producing. We are "still in the world, but we are not of the world." We can never expect the world to produce that which only the Holy Spirit can produce.
We learn to rest in His grace and love and then we see the old fruit, the anger of the old man, has been pruned away already. We don't need anger management classes when we rest in Him. The anger dies out because it's no longer being nourished. His goodness now overshadows the nature of the old flesh and our whole character becomes His character.
Just like we no longer yield to sin in our bodies, we no longer yield to any of the other habits of the flesh. We combat them the same way; by the Word and the teachings of grace. John 15:3 (Amplified) says, "You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the Word which I have given you (the teachings I have discussed with you)."
When we learn to read the Word by the Holy Spirit instead of religious doctrines, we will produce what grace has sown in our spirit. It's simply living through Him and allowing Him to live through us. Many Christians are still have clouded thinking about this subject due to religious teaching instead of Holy Spirit teaching. The Root that produces Christ in us is the Holy Spirit Himself. He alone has been given the task or ministry of producing the character of Christ in the Body of Christ. Only by listening and yielding to Him can we truly produce the Fruit of the very character of Christ and let the world see Him through us.
This might seem like a strange scripture to use concerning the character of Christ. Truthfully, it's difficult to walk in the Fruit of the Spirit (the character of Christ) by your own works. The Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 is actually the very character of Christ and is impossible to produce by the works of the flesh. We continue trying to produce this fruit of character by our own efforts. It's true that we must exert discipline over our flesh by the Word, but we must learn to rest in God's rest for it to be manifest.
This "rest" that God speaks about is the grace we now have instead of the Law of the old covenant. Under the Law, the people had to try and manifest all the character traits by their own efforts and they failed. However, we now have the Holy Spirit living in us to produce from within and not from without.
As we learn to rest in the new covenant of grace, we find that the less we try manifesting it by works, the more is manifest by grace. God never intended for us to do things on our own. He, indeed, knew we could not do them on our own. The same qualities were demanded of the old covenant people, but without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the grace, they couldn't produce the character of Christ. We, however, are of a new covenant and a new Spirit.
Under Law, the people had the old sin nature and character of the dead flesh. Under the new covenant, we're to live our lives through Him and allow that character to produce from His very Own Spirit Who lives through us. We can never produce the love that the Word speaks of through the works of the flesh.
Part of this Fruit character is peace. How can we live in this peace that "passes all understanding" by the works of the flesh? The only possible way of producing this part of the Fruit or character of Christ, is to live in Him. John 14:27 (Amplified) says, "Peace I leave with you; My (Own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you."
The only means of producing this peace or Fruit or character, is to receive it by faith in His covenant of grace and then rest in it. The harder we try to live in peace in this world, the more it evades us. The only way to have His peace is to live in Him and in His peace. This is a part of the character or Fruit of the Spirit that now lives in and through us.
If we don't enter into His rest or His grace, then we cannot bring forth this peace. Everything in this world is now screaming out fear, anger, resentment and trial. Only grace and entering into this grace or rest can produce this character in our lives. Without the Holy Spirit living in him, humanity can never produce this Fruit or character anymore than an apple tree can bring forth peaches. The root of the tree determines the fruit of the tree.
This isn't something we can simply manufacture in our lives. We must yield to His life within us. We've wanted to produce this fruit in our lives and to reveal Jesus to the world, but it hasn't been working very well for us. We've tried modifying our behavior by willpower and restraint, but mostly that's resulted in failure.
The rest of grace God speaks about in Hebrews 4 is nothing more than the realization that God has already completed everything needed to be completed. We are simply to rest in Him in order for the Fruit or character to begin producing. We are "still in the world, but we are not of the world." We can never expect the world to produce that which only the Holy Spirit can produce.
We learn to rest in His grace and love and then we see the old fruit, the anger of the old man, has been pruned away already. We don't need anger management classes when we rest in Him. The anger dies out because it's no longer being nourished. His goodness now overshadows the nature of the old flesh and our whole character becomes His character.
Just like we no longer yield to sin in our bodies, we no longer yield to any of the other habits of the flesh. We combat them the same way; by the Word and the teachings of grace. John 15:3 (Amplified) says, "You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the Word which I have given you (the teachings I have discussed with you)."
When we learn to read the Word by the Holy Spirit instead of religious doctrines, we will produce what grace has sown in our spirit. It's simply living through Him and allowing Him to live through us. Many Christians are still have clouded thinking about this subject due to religious teaching instead of Holy Spirit teaching. The Root that produces Christ in us is the Holy Spirit Himself. He alone has been given the task or ministry of producing the character of Christ in the Body of Christ. Only by listening and yielding to Him can we truly produce the Fruit of the very character of Christ and let the world see Him through us.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Lesson `13 The Character of Christ
John 18:7-8 (Amplified) says, "Then again He asked them, Whom are you seeking? And they said, Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus answered, I told you that I am He, so if you want Me (if it is only I for Whom you are looking), let these men go their way."
Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus' character was still under the character of the Holy Spirit Who guided Him throughout His entire ministry. The Fruit of the Spirit, the very character of Jesus, was still more concerned for His disciples rather than Himself.
As Jesus spent more time in prayer before His betrayal, His entire character was for others and not Himself. Jesus could have been bitter about His betrayal or been concerned about Himself, but He wasn't. Jesus' joy was for the thing that was to come upon those of us who would follow Him. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit wasn't for Himself even in His hour of trial.
Nobody had any idea of what it was Jesus had to face; only He knew. The fruit (or character) of faithfulness that held Him to His course was strong even in the face of the cross. Self control kept Him in the full course of His task at hand. They all watched Jesus being beaten, spit upon and mocked. They all watched Jesus carry the cross that would make Him a cursed for us. No one understood the fullness of what was to happen, but His character held true until the very end.
As He hung on the cross and felt the pain and agony of His torture, Jesus' self control was towards those who place Him there and He said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." As He gave up the Spirit, they could only know what they could see with their natural eyes. No one in the crowd knew or could know at the time, that all the sin, sickness, disease, curse and spiritual death was consuming Him. Yet, His Own character held fast and never faltered.
We've never endured or encountered anything like He was going through. Many in today's Church still have no idea what happened that day. They don't know that all the judgment of a righteous God came down on Him, for us. Jesus was separated from the Father, into the place of the lost, so we could become reunited to the Father again.
The entire curse of the Law from Deuteronomy 28:15-16 was coursing through His body and spirit until He Himself became a curse for us. Galatians 3:13 says that, "He became a curse for us so that we might be blessed." 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) says, "For our sake He made Christ (virtually) to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become (endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of) the righteousness of God (what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness)."
No one could know that Jesus was to descend into the lower parts of the earth for us so we could ascend into the throne room with Him. Ephesians 4:9 (Amplified) says, "(But He ascended?) Now what can this, He ascended mean but that He had previously descended from (the heights of) heaven into (the depths), the lower parts of the earth." They couldn't possibly know that what He said concerning Jonah was being fulfilled before their very eyes at the cross. Matthew 12:41 (Amplified) says, "For even as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
If you read the 2nd chapter of Jonah, then you'll find a man who was not in paradise, but in serious trouble. Thus, Jonah 2:1-10 (Amplified) reads, "Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish's belly and said, I cried out of my distress to the Lord, And He heard me; out of the belly of sheol cried I, and You heard my voice." Verses 3-10 go on, "For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me, all Your waves and billows passed over me, Then I said, I have been cast out of Your presence and Your holy temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the (extinction of) life; The abyss surrounded me, the seaweed was wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms and the very roots of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever. Yet You have brought up my life from the pit and corruption, Oh Lord My God. When my soul fainted upon me (crushing me), I earnestly and seriously remembered the Lord, And my prayer came to You, into Your holy temple. Those who pay regard to false, useless, and worthless idols forsake their own (source of) mercy and loving kindness, But as for me, I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that which I have vowed, Salvation and deliverance belong to the Lord, And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land."
Those people surrounding the cross, only saw the Man Jesus as He died. None knew what was transpiring in the spirit realm. None could see Him become sin with our sin. None could see Him become a curse for our blessing. None could see Him be separated from the Father so we could be reunited with Him. None could witness the great exchange that took place at Jesus' death. All they could see was what happened in this natural realm.
Throughout Jesus' entire ordeal, the Fruit of the Spirit or the character of Christ, never once became tainted or twisted from the love that consumed Him. All the sin, sickness, disease and punishment that came upon Him for our sake, but Jesus' only concern was for us and not Himself. This is the fruit, the character of our Lord the Holy Spirit is working to produce in our lives.
Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus' character was still under the character of the Holy Spirit Who guided Him throughout His entire ministry. The Fruit of the Spirit, the very character of Jesus, was still more concerned for His disciples rather than Himself.
As Jesus spent more time in prayer before His betrayal, His entire character was for others and not Himself. Jesus could have been bitter about His betrayal or been concerned about Himself, but He wasn't. Jesus' joy was for the thing that was to come upon those of us who would follow Him. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit wasn't for Himself even in His hour of trial.
Nobody had any idea of what it was Jesus had to face; only He knew. The fruit (or character) of faithfulness that held Him to His course was strong even in the face of the cross. Self control kept Him in the full course of His task at hand. They all watched Jesus being beaten, spit upon and mocked. They all watched Jesus carry the cross that would make Him a cursed for us. No one understood the fullness of what was to happen, but His character held true until the very end.
As He hung on the cross and felt the pain and agony of His torture, Jesus' self control was towards those who place Him there and He said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." As He gave up the Spirit, they could only know what they could see with their natural eyes. No one in the crowd knew or could know at the time, that all the sin, sickness, disease, curse and spiritual death was consuming Him. Yet, His Own character held fast and never faltered.
We've never endured or encountered anything like He was going through. Many in today's Church still have no idea what happened that day. They don't know that all the judgment of a righteous God came down on Him, for us. Jesus was separated from the Father, into the place of the lost, so we could become reunited to the Father again.
The entire curse of the Law from Deuteronomy 28:15-16 was coursing through His body and spirit until He Himself became a curse for us. Galatians 3:13 says that, "He became a curse for us so that we might be blessed." 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) says, "For our sake He made Christ (virtually) to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become (endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of) the righteousness of God (what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness)."
No one could know that Jesus was to descend into the lower parts of the earth for us so we could ascend into the throne room with Him. Ephesians 4:9 (Amplified) says, "(But He ascended?) Now what can this, He ascended mean but that He had previously descended from (the heights of) heaven into (the depths), the lower parts of the earth." They couldn't possibly know that what He said concerning Jonah was being fulfilled before their very eyes at the cross. Matthew 12:41 (Amplified) says, "For even as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
If you read the 2nd chapter of Jonah, then you'll find a man who was not in paradise, but in serious trouble. Thus, Jonah 2:1-10 (Amplified) reads, "Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish's belly and said, I cried out of my distress to the Lord, And He heard me; out of the belly of sheol cried I, and You heard my voice." Verses 3-10 go on, "For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me, all Your waves and billows passed over me, Then I said, I have been cast out of Your presence and Your holy temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the (extinction of) life; The abyss surrounded me, the seaweed was wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms and the very roots of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever. Yet You have brought up my life from the pit and corruption, Oh Lord My God. When my soul fainted upon me (crushing me), I earnestly and seriously remembered the Lord, And my prayer came to You, into Your holy temple. Those who pay regard to false, useless, and worthless idols forsake their own (source of) mercy and loving kindness, But as for me, I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that which I have vowed, Salvation and deliverance belong to the Lord, And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land."
Those people surrounding the cross, only saw the Man Jesus as He died. None knew what was transpiring in the spirit realm. None could see Him become sin with our sin. None could see Him become a curse for our blessing. None could see Him be separated from the Father so we could be reunited with Him. None could witness the great exchange that took place at Jesus' death. All they could see was what happened in this natural realm.
Throughout Jesus' entire ordeal, the Fruit of the Spirit or the character of Christ, never once became tainted or twisted from the love that consumed Him. All the sin, sickness, disease and punishment that came upon Him for our sake, but Jesus' only concern was for us and not Himself. This is the fruit, the character of our Lord the Holy Spirit is working to produce in our lives.
Lesson 12 The Character of Christ
We come to the scripture that speaks about God disciplining His children as son in Hebrews 12. We've mostly heard that God disciplines with sickness, hard times and trials. We aren't children of the Law or the flesh, but are the children of the Spirit. God is Spirit and disciplines His children (who are of the Spirit), by the Spirit. His Word is Spirit and it is life.
We are instructed and disciplined in and by His Spirit when dealing with the fruit or character of Christ. We must yield to the Holy Spirit when facing the various trials, oppositions and hostilities of the world. Hebrews 12:9 tells of the difference between "the fathers of the flesh" and our heavenly Father. Our earthly father disciplines the flesh (mostly the part that you sit on) and God disciplines the Spirit by His Spirit and His Word.
When we react to the trials of the world by the same discipline of the world, then the Spirit will correct us and bring us into subjection of the Spirit if we listen and allow His correction. Christians need to really pay attention to 1Corinthians 14:32-33. This scripture is speaking about prophesying and speaking in tongues, but there's a very bold statement we should understand and see in Verse 32 which says, "For the Spirit of the prophets (the speaker in tongues) are under the speaker's control (and subject to being silenced as may be necessary)." The King James version says it like this, "The Spirit of the prophet, is subject to the prophet."
In other words, God is not going to make you speak in tongues, your spirit is still under your control. This principle is still true when applied to producing the fruit or character of Christ in your life. Your spirit is under your control. You can either react in the meekness of the Spirit by surrendering your spirit to the Holy Spirit or in the harshness of the flesh. It's not something to be forced out of you, but it's something that flows out of you.
The character of Christ is in you by the very same Spirit that was in Christ Jesus. Jesus only said what the Father told Him to say and only went where the Father told Him to go. This is yielding your spirit to the will of God's Spirit within you. If the "Spirit of the person is still subject to the person," then don't we have a choice in how we react?
We sort of choose what part of the fruit we wish to produce in our lives. I hear people say that, "I have the fruit of long suffering" or "I have the fruit of joy." If this is true, then you've only yielded to a small portion of the Holy Spirit. Remember when Jesus said, "Not My will, but Your will be done?" This is what produces the fruit or character of Christ in our daily walk with Him.
The only way of successfully dealing with the world and the trials that it will bring against you, is to yield to His Spirit. It's not because God withheld part of His nature and character from us when we were born again. It's because we haven't imitated God in His character. Religion gives us many ways of justifying the flesh when we don't walk in His character. We've mostly heard them all, but have taken the fruits that best suit us best. We've been told that, "Not all of us have these fruits," "Yes, but that was Jesus" and "God will work it out of me in His Own time." These might sound good to the hearer, but truthfully, this character will never be seen in our lives until we yield to the discipline and direction of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit knows how we're to react to the world and as His children, we know how we are to react too. It's not a matter of knowing, but of yielding. We know for instance, how to react in what and how we say things, but we're selective in how and to whom we say them. We don't mind raising our voice and being angry at home or with certain persons, but when stopped by a policeman, we react in a very different manner.
Are we living for Christ or living through Christ? If we're living for Him, then it is always a struggle. If we are living through Christ, then it's simply His character coming out.
We are instructed and disciplined in and by His Spirit when dealing with the fruit or character of Christ. We must yield to the Holy Spirit when facing the various trials, oppositions and hostilities of the world. Hebrews 12:9 tells of the difference between "the fathers of the flesh" and our heavenly Father. Our earthly father disciplines the flesh (mostly the part that you sit on) and God disciplines the Spirit by His Spirit and His Word.
When we react to the trials of the world by the same discipline of the world, then the Spirit will correct us and bring us into subjection of the Spirit if we listen and allow His correction. Christians need to really pay attention to 1Corinthians 14:32-33. This scripture is speaking about prophesying and speaking in tongues, but there's a very bold statement we should understand and see in Verse 32 which says, "For the Spirit of the prophets (the speaker in tongues) are under the speaker's control (and subject to being silenced as may be necessary)." The King James version says it like this, "The Spirit of the prophet, is subject to the prophet."
In other words, God is not going to make you speak in tongues, your spirit is still under your control. This principle is still true when applied to producing the fruit or character of Christ in your life. Your spirit is under your control. You can either react in the meekness of the Spirit by surrendering your spirit to the Holy Spirit or in the harshness of the flesh. It's not something to be forced out of you, but it's something that flows out of you.
The character of Christ is in you by the very same Spirit that was in Christ Jesus. Jesus only said what the Father told Him to say and only went where the Father told Him to go. This is yielding your spirit to the will of God's Spirit within you. If the "Spirit of the person is still subject to the person," then don't we have a choice in how we react?
We sort of choose what part of the fruit we wish to produce in our lives. I hear people say that, "I have the fruit of long suffering" or "I have the fruit of joy." If this is true, then you've only yielded to a small portion of the Holy Spirit. Remember when Jesus said, "Not My will, but Your will be done?" This is what produces the fruit or character of Christ in our daily walk with Him.
The only way of successfully dealing with the world and the trials that it will bring against you, is to yield to His Spirit. It's not because God withheld part of His nature and character from us when we were born again. It's because we haven't imitated God in His character. Religion gives us many ways of justifying the flesh when we don't walk in His character. We've mostly heard them all, but have taken the fruits that best suit us best. We've been told that, "Not all of us have these fruits," "Yes, but that was Jesus" and "God will work it out of me in His Own time." These might sound good to the hearer, but truthfully, this character will never be seen in our lives until we yield to the discipline and direction of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit knows how we're to react to the world and as His children, we know how we are to react too. It's not a matter of knowing, but of yielding. We know for instance, how to react in what and how we say things, but we're selective in how and to whom we say them. We don't mind raising our voice and being angry at home or with certain persons, but when stopped by a policeman, we react in a very different manner.
Are we living for Christ or living through Christ? If we're living for Him, then it is always a struggle. If we are living through Christ, then it's simply His character coming out.
Lesson 11 The Character of Christ
The Character of Christ is the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23. This is what we, as Christians, are to be developing in our lives by the influence of the indwelling Holy Spirit. This comes by yielding to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It's much simpler to walk in the Fruit (character) of the Spirit than you might think.
We mostly walk in the character of the flesh that we walked in for so long. In order to walk differently, we must learn to think before reacting to the various trials and temptations that life brings our way. There are only two ways of dealing with these things in our lives. We will either react
by the Word or by the world. These are our only options.
It's always easier to do like we did before being saved because we were trained by the world. Before I was born again, I was moody and distant in many ways. I stayed away from people as much as possible. Even when people came to my house, I wondered what they wanted. It never occurred to me that someone would come simply to visit me and that they had no ulterior motive behind their visit. I chose to have only a few friends and I was quite content to leave it that way.
My wife and close family were really all I cared much about. I always lived way out in the country with my family, my horses and my collie dog. The people I worked with were just that; people I worked with. I never went to their house to hang out and they didn't come to my house. I worked hard and provided for my own and took care of things like I should. If anyone asked me, I would have told them, "I loved my family," but it was only after being saved that I realized I really didn't love them.
We can only really learn to love after we're born again. God is Love. Without Him in my life, I did what was expected out of obligation and affection more than anything else. The true meaning of Love was something only the Spirit of God can put in our hearts.
The Fruit of the Spirit is simply the Spirit of God living through us. We can stand in opposition to it and stubbornly walk in the things of the flesh like before being saved or we can yield to Him and live in His character. The character of Christ is a life lived through Christ instead of a life that's lived for Christ. Some might believe that these are one and the same.
When we allow Jesus to live through us, there is no phony or make believe nature anymore. We become transparent to the point of being "real." You're not one thing in church and something different at home. You are as He is, "The same yesterday, today and tomorrow and forever." You don't respond in anger or frustration at things that used to make you lose it anymore.
There are many things in Jesus' life that we take for granted and believe happened only because, "He was Jesus." Jesus said though, that, "It's the Father that does the works." Jesus wasn't only speaking about the miracles, but why and how He did them. He was moved by compassion and healed the multitude.
This compassion is and was the very character of the Father Who lived through Him and not He Himself. Jesus had the opportunity to become frustrated, angry and fed up with the people because it was in His flesh part of His make up. The difference between Him and us is the He never yielded to it.
Hebrews 12:23 (Amplified) says, "Looking away (from all that will distract) to Jesus, Who is the leader and the source of our faith (giving the first incentive for our belief), And is also its finisher (bringing it to maturity and perfection) He, for the joy (of obtaining the prize) that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Verse 3 goes on, "Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself (reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials), so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your hearts."
As we allow the Holy Spirit to live through us and not just in us, we can obtain this same "fruit" or character that was in Jesus.
We mostly walk in the character of the flesh that we walked in for so long. In order to walk differently, we must learn to think before reacting to the various trials and temptations that life brings our way. There are only two ways of dealing with these things in our lives. We will either react
by the Word or by the world. These are our only options.
It's always easier to do like we did before being saved because we were trained by the world. Before I was born again, I was moody and distant in many ways. I stayed away from people as much as possible. Even when people came to my house, I wondered what they wanted. It never occurred to me that someone would come simply to visit me and that they had no ulterior motive behind their visit. I chose to have only a few friends and I was quite content to leave it that way.
My wife and close family were really all I cared much about. I always lived way out in the country with my family, my horses and my collie dog. The people I worked with were just that; people I worked with. I never went to their house to hang out and they didn't come to my house. I worked hard and provided for my own and took care of things like I should. If anyone asked me, I would have told them, "I loved my family," but it was only after being saved that I realized I really didn't love them.
We can only really learn to love after we're born again. God is Love. Without Him in my life, I did what was expected out of obligation and affection more than anything else. The true meaning of Love was something only the Spirit of God can put in our hearts.
The Fruit of the Spirit is simply the Spirit of God living through us. We can stand in opposition to it and stubbornly walk in the things of the flesh like before being saved or we can yield to Him and live in His character. The character of Christ is a life lived through Christ instead of a life that's lived for Christ. Some might believe that these are one and the same.
When we allow Jesus to live through us, there is no phony or make believe nature anymore. We become transparent to the point of being "real." You're not one thing in church and something different at home. You are as He is, "The same yesterday, today and tomorrow and forever." You don't respond in anger or frustration at things that used to make you lose it anymore.
There are many things in Jesus' life that we take for granted and believe happened only because, "He was Jesus." Jesus said though, that, "It's the Father that does the works." Jesus wasn't only speaking about the miracles, but why and how He did them. He was moved by compassion and healed the multitude.
This compassion is and was the very character of the Father Who lived through Him and not He Himself. Jesus had the opportunity to become frustrated, angry and fed up with the people because it was in His flesh part of His make up. The difference between Him and us is the He never yielded to it.
Hebrews 12:23 (Amplified) says, "Looking away (from all that will distract) to Jesus, Who is the leader and the source of our faith (giving the first incentive for our belief), And is also its finisher (bringing it to maturity and perfection) He, for the joy (of obtaining the prize) that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Verse 3 goes on, "Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself (reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials), so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your hearts."
As we allow the Holy Spirit to live through us and not just in us, we can obtain this same "fruit" or character that was in Jesus.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Lesson 10 The Character of Christ
John 15:1-8 (Amplified) says, "I Am the true Vine, and My Father is the Vine dresser. Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit (that stops bearing) He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses any repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit." Verse 3 goes on, "You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the Word which I have given you (the teachings I have discussed with you." Verses 4-8 go on,
"Dwell in Me, and I will dwell with you (live in Me, and I will live in you) just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me (cut off from vital union with Me) you can do nothing. If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a (broken-off) branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned. If you live in Me (abide vitally united to Me) and My Words remain in you, and continue to live in your hearts; ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. When you bear much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine."
There is so much to share in these few scriptures and so much to be learned from them. We have misinterpreted much of what Jesus had to say in these verses. He said that, "He is the Vine" and the life of the branches is fed through the vine. God is the Vine dresser and owner of the vineyard. He is the One Who takes care of the vineyard and is in charge of the vine. 1Timothy 2:6 (Amplified) says that, "(It is) the hard working farmer (who labors to produce) who must be the first partaker of the fruits. It is the Father (the Farmer, or the Vine dresser) that is reaping the harvest of sons into glory."
Jesus said in Verse 2 that "every branch that stops bearings, He prunes and cleanses so it will bear fruit again; and every branch that is bearing fruit (leading the people to salvation) He prunes and cleanses it to bear better fruit."
If you will read to Verse 3, you'll find how He is pruning and cleansing the branches. Thus, it says, "You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the Word and teachings that He had given them." Our pruning and cleansing doesn't mean trials and tribulation or sickness and hardship. It is the Word that will prune away things that hinder our witness.
Ephesians 5:26-27 (Amplified) says, "So that He might sanctify her (the Church, the believer) having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, that He might present the Church to himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things (that she might be holy and faultless)."
The vine can only produce sons and daughters in the same image as the seed. This fruit isn't the "Fruit of the Spirit" found in Galatians 5, but it's the fruit of the new birth. God said in Genesis 1:11-12 (Amplified) that "Not only will each thing produce after kind, but will carry its seed within itself."
We learned in 1Peter 1:23 (Amplified) that after we're born again, "You have been regenerated (born again) not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from One that is immortal by the everliving and lasting Word of God. Jesus is the Word according to John 1:14 (Amplified) which says, "And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate)."
Jesus was sown as a seed in the earth. John 12:24 (Amplified) says, "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains (just one grain, it never becomes more but lives) by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest."
These scriptures make it plain that the fruit we are to produce from John 15:1-8 is the same fruit (the born again sons of God) that the seed produces. And, because the seed is the Word of God (Jesus), as we go into all the world preaching the Word, we are sowing seed to bring the new birth or children to God.
Jesus continued His discourse in John 15:4-8 (Amplified) saying, "Without abiding in Him, we cannot reproduce the fruit." He didn't say that we're not the fruit, but that the seed (Word) that reproduces isn't dwelling in us. In Verse 5 Jesus says that whoever believes in Him and He (the Word) lives in them, they will bear more fruit. These are seed bearers and those who witness and plant the Word in others. Jesus says something that is often misunderstood in Verse 6 saying, "If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a (broken off) branch, and withers, such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and are burned."
Those who don't dwell in Him (Who is the Vine), are those who are not born again. Only those who are saved are the branches of the vine. These "branches" aren't Christian people, but the unsaved persons. Only the branches of a watermelon vine can produce the fruit of the watermelon. So, those who are not "dwelling or joined to the vine" aren't born again yet. If we preach the Word and sow the seed in their hearts, then they can still become fruit of the Vine.
Verse 7 is one that we need to pay close attention to, saying, "If you live in Me (abide, vitally united to Me) and My Words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you."
There are many times when we fail to study and search the Word. We're not backslidden or back in the world, but we're not "vitally united to Him" like we should be or once were. We begin living more by what we know than by "Who we know." We start living by sermons and religion instead of by united fellowship of revelation. We become "Churchy."
Did you ever buy a package of seed in the spring that produced a very low level of fruit? I've planted seed in the spring that was leftover from prior years, but because it was too long removed from the vine, it lost some of its vitality to reproduce.
The discourse Jesus gave on the vine and the fruit is about the new birth and the fruit of the seed (Jesus). When we become born again, we are in His Image and in His likeness. The Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 comes into play in our lives as seed bears. Ephesians 5:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, Be imitators of God (copy Him and follow His example) as well-beloved children (imitate their Father) and walk in love (esteeming and delighting in one another) as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God (for you, so that it became a sweet fragrance)."
We see that as imitators of God, we walk in the Fruit of the Spirit and have the character of Christ living through us on an individual basis. In order to produce the character in our lives, we must find the instructions on how to perfect it. Thus, John 15:2-3 (Amplified) says, "And He cleanses us and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit." Verse 3 says, "You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the Word which I have given you (the teachings I have discussed with you)."
The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) will be honed to sharpness and effectiveness by the Word and the Vine dresser and their teachings. The more time you spend in God's Word by the Spirit, the more His character will abide in you and you will become "imitators of God" through the revelation of His character.
"Dwell in Me, and I will dwell with you (live in Me, and I will live in you) just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me (cut off from vital union with Me) you can do nothing. If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a (broken-off) branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned. If you live in Me (abide vitally united to Me) and My Words remain in you, and continue to live in your hearts; ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. When you bear much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine."
There is so much to share in these few scriptures and so much to be learned from them. We have misinterpreted much of what Jesus had to say in these verses. He said that, "He is the Vine" and the life of the branches is fed through the vine. God is the Vine dresser and owner of the vineyard. He is the One Who takes care of the vineyard and is in charge of the vine. 1Timothy 2:6 (Amplified) says that, "(It is) the hard working farmer (who labors to produce) who must be the first partaker of the fruits. It is the Father (the Farmer, or the Vine dresser) that is reaping the harvest of sons into glory."
Jesus said in Verse 2 that "every branch that stops bearings, He prunes and cleanses so it will bear fruit again; and every branch that is bearing fruit (leading the people to salvation) He prunes and cleanses it to bear better fruit."
If you will read to Verse 3, you'll find how He is pruning and cleansing the branches. Thus, it says, "You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the Word and teachings that He had given them." Our pruning and cleansing doesn't mean trials and tribulation or sickness and hardship. It is the Word that will prune away things that hinder our witness.
Ephesians 5:26-27 (Amplified) says, "So that He might sanctify her (the Church, the believer) having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, that He might present the Church to himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things (that she might be holy and faultless)."
The vine can only produce sons and daughters in the same image as the seed. This fruit isn't the "Fruit of the Spirit" found in Galatians 5, but it's the fruit of the new birth. God said in Genesis 1:11-12 (Amplified) that "Not only will each thing produce after kind, but will carry its seed within itself."
We learned in 1Peter 1:23 (Amplified) that after we're born again, "You have been regenerated (born again) not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from One that is immortal by the everliving and lasting Word of God. Jesus is the Word according to John 1:14 (Amplified) which says, "And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate)."
Jesus was sown as a seed in the earth. John 12:24 (Amplified) says, "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains (just one grain, it never becomes more but lives) by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest."
These scriptures make it plain that the fruit we are to produce from John 15:1-8 is the same fruit (the born again sons of God) that the seed produces. And, because the seed is the Word of God (Jesus), as we go into all the world preaching the Word, we are sowing seed to bring the new birth or children to God.
Jesus continued His discourse in John 15:4-8 (Amplified) saying, "Without abiding in Him, we cannot reproduce the fruit." He didn't say that we're not the fruit, but that the seed (Word) that reproduces isn't dwelling in us. In Verse 5 Jesus says that whoever believes in Him and He (the Word) lives in them, they will bear more fruit. These are seed bearers and those who witness and plant the Word in others. Jesus says something that is often misunderstood in Verse 6 saying, "If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a (broken off) branch, and withers, such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and are burned."
Those who don't dwell in Him (Who is the Vine), are those who are not born again. Only those who are saved are the branches of the vine. These "branches" aren't Christian people, but the unsaved persons. Only the branches of a watermelon vine can produce the fruit of the watermelon. So, those who are not "dwelling or joined to the vine" aren't born again yet. If we preach the Word and sow the seed in their hearts, then they can still become fruit of the Vine.
Verse 7 is one that we need to pay close attention to, saying, "If you live in Me (abide, vitally united to Me) and My Words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you."
There are many times when we fail to study and search the Word. We're not backslidden or back in the world, but we're not "vitally united to Him" like we should be or once were. We begin living more by what we know than by "Who we know." We start living by sermons and religion instead of by united fellowship of revelation. We become "Churchy."
Did you ever buy a package of seed in the spring that produced a very low level of fruit? I've planted seed in the spring that was leftover from prior years, but because it was too long removed from the vine, it lost some of its vitality to reproduce.
The discourse Jesus gave on the vine and the fruit is about the new birth and the fruit of the seed (Jesus). When we become born again, we are in His Image and in His likeness. The Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 comes into play in our lives as seed bears. Ephesians 5:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, Be imitators of God (copy Him and follow His example) as well-beloved children (imitate their Father) and walk in love (esteeming and delighting in one another) as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God (for you, so that it became a sweet fragrance)."
We see that as imitators of God, we walk in the Fruit of the Spirit and have the character of Christ living through us on an individual basis. In order to produce the character in our lives, we must find the instructions on how to perfect it. Thus, John 15:2-3 (Amplified) says, "And He cleanses us and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit." Verse 3 says, "You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the Word which I have given you (the teachings I have discussed with you)."
The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) will be honed to sharpness and effectiveness by the Word and the Vine dresser and their teachings. The more time you spend in God's Word by the Spirit, the more His character will abide in you and you will become "imitators of God" through the revelation of His character.
Lesson 9 The Character of Christ
As Christians, we've never allowed the Holy Spirit to develop the character of Christ in us. This is the work of the Holy Spirit that comes by our yielding ourselves over to Him. This is the most difficult part of "working out our own salvation" that we encounter.
The receiving of Jesus as our Lord and Savior has insured our eternal salvation. This isn't about whether we are saved or not, but how we yield and allow Jesus to actually live through us. The manner we lived in the flesh and the walk we took in our unsaved condition are difficult to rise above. It's not that we don't wish to walk in the Spirit, it's more that we don't know how to.
We've depended on ourselves and the world for everything for most of our lives. And, now we're learning to surrender ourselves over to something completely foreign to us. We deal with the more obvious things in our lives fairly quickly, but are slower to deal with the hidden nature. We change our drinking, drugging, cussing or whatever we were involved in quickly after being saved.
It's the personality or the habits of our old self that we have trouble dealing with. We mostly find ways to cover up these things in church or public and don't change them.
This is the fruit of the Spirit Paul talks about in Galatians 5:22-23. You have already become the fruit bearing branch from John 15. The law of Genesis 1:11-12 says that everything produces after its kind. As the first fruits, Jesus reproduced exactly what He is, a new creature, in us. We were born again into the same creation that Jesus was as Spirit filled, God life and sons of God. The very life of God was reproduced in us by His Word and His Spirit.
In one sense, it's no different from children born in the natural sense. The moment they're born, they are humans. They don't need to be taught how to be human because they are humans. We begin teaching and training them the very character of humanity. They must be taught how to walk, talk, eat, read, count and get along with other humans. None of these things are natural to them and must be taught to them. Children learn from their parents to become what they see and hear. Everything they are subject to makes a difference in their development. The very same principle is true in the Body of Christ. Most of us have learned more from religion and the world than from the Word and the Holy Spirit.
We were born with all the attributes of humanity and we were also born with all the attributes of our Heavenly Father. Somehow, we've reached the conclusion that "If God wants it done, then He will do it." Nothing can be further from the truth though. We know God wants it done, so why are we still walking as mere men and not getting it done? The fruit of the Spirit comes by yielding all the things the world has trained us to do, over to Him. This includes not only sinful things, but natural things.
We have a natural personality that includes our disposition and temperament. Each of us has a different attitude towards others depending on how we were trained and raised in our fellowship with others. For instance, those raised in the deep South and those raised in New England both speak English, but the way we speak sounds very different. This has to do with our culture and environment.
I had an explosive temper before being saved and found that I still had it after being saved. As I began yielding to the Holy Spirit, I learned how to yield to gentleness and meekness of the Spirit. This is part of the old nature and training of the natural man that abides in the carnal man. I was trained and brought up that way.
I yielded my smoking habit over to the Lord shortly after being saved. The Spirit didn't deliver me from breathing, only from breathing cigarette smoke. As I yielded that part of myself to Him, the Holy Spirit manifested His "fruit" in place of what Galatians called the "works of the flesh." I still live in this flesh and blood body, but the life of the Spirit is presently in more control than the old habits of the world's training.
I am bearing more and more of the character of Christ in my body by yielding my old nature over to the Holy Spirit. We've all known Christians who still speak and act unbecomingly who we've decided must not "be really saved." We've concluded that they're not really Christians because of the way they behave and talk.
This isn't necessarily true, but results from their not yielding the nature of their personality over to receive not only the Life of the Spirit, but the very nature and character of the Spirit. They aren't bearing fruit to make the seed (the Word they preach) attractive to the hearer. Therefore, "The seed (Word) falls on hard, stoney soil and bears no fruit," according to Mark 4.
Sometimes we wonder why our witness has no effect on others. It's mostly because we don't make our "Fruit of the Spirit" attractive to the hearer. When we appear stiff, stern, without joy, bound by religious traditions and without having attractive fruit, then who would want to be reproduced in that image? The meat or fruit of the apple is attractive. The bright red skin and sweet, enticing white crisp of the apple entices people to partake of the "fruit." The entire purpose of the meat of the apple if to nourish and protect the seed. Once the fruit or meat of the apple is eaten, the seed is revealed to renew and replenish the same kind of apple and complete the cycle.
You are the reproduction of what Jesus (the original seed) has brought to life. Jesus, the Word Himself, has reproduced Himself in us. Now, we must go into all the world, like He did, and preach the Gospel according to Mark 16:15. Why? Because the Word of God is the seed that brings forth the new creation! Listen carefully to what 1Peter 1:23-25 (Amplified) says, "You have been regenerated (born again) not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm) but from One that is immortal by the everliving and lasting Word of God." This is the seed that produces the new creation or the new creature and is the fruit of the Vine found in John 15. 1Peter 1:24-25 go on, "For all flesh (mankind) is like grass, the grass withers and the flower drops off. But the Word of the Lord (divine instruction, the Gospel) endures forever, And this Word is the Good News which is preached to you."
The Word and Gospel that was preached to you has produced the same Spirit and life in you like it did in Jesus. You're not Jesus, but you came from the same seed. When you pick and apple and remove the seed from it and plant it, it will produce another apple tree. The same kind of apple seed will reproduce the same apple tree every time. It will never produce anything but another apple tree. That apple tree will bear the same kind of apple. It's not the same apple, but another that is just like it.
Most orchard owners take care of their fruit trees because if they're not cared for properly, then they will not bear "good fruit." The same seed is inside the apple, but the "fruit" of the apple is undesirable to eaters. This is exactly what happens in our Christian lives when the same seed (the Word) has born the exact same thing, but the fruit (the life of the believer) is unattractive and not desirable to be partaken of by those hearing. The seed within them doesn't reproduce and these people seldomnly lead others to the new birth.
The receiving of Jesus as our Lord and Savior has insured our eternal salvation. This isn't about whether we are saved or not, but how we yield and allow Jesus to actually live through us. The manner we lived in the flesh and the walk we took in our unsaved condition are difficult to rise above. It's not that we don't wish to walk in the Spirit, it's more that we don't know how to.
We've depended on ourselves and the world for everything for most of our lives. And, now we're learning to surrender ourselves over to something completely foreign to us. We deal with the more obvious things in our lives fairly quickly, but are slower to deal with the hidden nature. We change our drinking, drugging, cussing or whatever we were involved in quickly after being saved.
It's the personality or the habits of our old self that we have trouble dealing with. We mostly find ways to cover up these things in church or public and don't change them.
This is the fruit of the Spirit Paul talks about in Galatians 5:22-23. You have already become the fruit bearing branch from John 15. The law of Genesis 1:11-12 says that everything produces after its kind. As the first fruits, Jesus reproduced exactly what He is, a new creature, in us. We were born again into the same creation that Jesus was as Spirit filled, God life and sons of God. The very life of God was reproduced in us by His Word and His Spirit.
In one sense, it's no different from children born in the natural sense. The moment they're born, they are humans. They don't need to be taught how to be human because they are humans. We begin teaching and training them the very character of humanity. They must be taught how to walk, talk, eat, read, count and get along with other humans. None of these things are natural to them and must be taught to them. Children learn from their parents to become what they see and hear. Everything they are subject to makes a difference in their development. The very same principle is true in the Body of Christ. Most of us have learned more from religion and the world than from the Word and the Holy Spirit.
We were born with all the attributes of humanity and we were also born with all the attributes of our Heavenly Father. Somehow, we've reached the conclusion that "If God wants it done, then He will do it." Nothing can be further from the truth though. We know God wants it done, so why are we still walking as mere men and not getting it done? The fruit of the Spirit comes by yielding all the things the world has trained us to do, over to Him. This includes not only sinful things, but natural things.
We have a natural personality that includes our disposition and temperament. Each of us has a different attitude towards others depending on how we were trained and raised in our fellowship with others. For instance, those raised in the deep South and those raised in New England both speak English, but the way we speak sounds very different. This has to do with our culture and environment.
I had an explosive temper before being saved and found that I still had it after being saved. As I began yielding to the Holy Spirit, I learned how to yield to gentleness and meekness of the Spirit. This is part of the old nature and training of the natural man that abides in the carnal man. I was trained and brought up that way.
I yielded my smoking habit over to the Lord shortly after being saved. The Spirit didn't deliver me from breathing, only from breathing cigarette smoke. As I yielded that part of myself to Him, the Holy Spirit manifested His "fruit" in place of what Galatians called the "works of the flesh." I still live in this flesh and blood body, but the life of the Spirit is presently in more control than the old habits of the world's training.
I am bearing more and more of the character of Christ in my body by yielding my old nature over to the Holy Spirit. We've all known Christians who still speak and act unbecomingly who we've decided must not "be really saved." We've concluded that they're not really Christians because of the way they behave and talk.
This isn't necessarily true, but results from their not yielding the nature of their personality over to receive not only the Life of the Spirit, but the very nature and character of the Spirit. They aren't bearing fruit to make the seed (the Word they preach) attractive to the hearer. Therefore, "The seed (Word) falls on hard, stoney soil and bears no fruit," according to Mark 4.
Sometimes we wonder why our witness has no effect on others. It's mostly because we don't make our "Fruit of the Spirit" attractive to the hearer. When we appear stiff, stern, without joy, bound by religious traditions and without having attractive fruit, then who would want to be reproduced in that image? The meat or fruit of the apple is attractive. The bright red skin and sweet, enticing white crisp of the apple entices people to partake of the "fruit." The entire purpose of the meat of the apple if to nourish and protect the seed. Once the fruit or meat of the apple is eaten, the seed is revealed to renew and replenish the same kind of apple and complete the cycle.
You are the reproduction of what Jesus (the original seed) has brought to life. Jesus, the Word Himself, has reproduced Himself in us. Now, we must go into all the world, like He did, and preach the Gospel according to Mark 16:15. Why? Because the Word of God is the seed that brings forth the new creation! Listen carefully to what 1Peter 1:23-25 (Amplified) says, "You have been regenerated (born again) not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm) but from One that is immortal by the everliving and lasting Word of God." This is the seed that produces the new creation or the new creature and is the fruit of the Vine found in John 15. 1Peter 1:24-25 go on, "For all flesh (mankind) is like grass, the grass withers and the flower drops off. But the Word of the Lord (divine instruction, the Gospel) endures forever, And this Word is the Good News which is preached to you."
The Word and Gospel that was preached to you has produced the same Spirit and life in you like it did in Jesus. You're not Jesus, but you came from the same seed. When you pick and apple and remove the seed from it and plant it, it will produce another apple tree. The same kind of apple seed will reproduce the same apple tree every time. It will never produce anything but another apple tree. That apple tree will bear the same kind of apple. It's not the same apple, but another that is just like it.
Most orchard owners take care of their fruit trees because if they're not cared for properly, then they will not bear "good fruit." The same seed is inside the apple, but the "fruit" of the apple is undesirable to eaters. This is exactly what happens in our Christian lives when the same seed (the Word) has born the exact same thing, but the fruit (the life of the believer) is unattractive and not desirable to be partaken of by those hearing. The seed within them doesn't reproduce and these people seldomnly lead others to the new birth.
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