2Corinthians 10:3-5 (Amplified) tells us, "For thought we walk (live) in the flesh, we do not carry on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons; the weapons of our warfare are not physical (weapons of flesh and blood) but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds." Verse 5 says, (In as much as we) refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God; and we lead away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
The Apostle Paul was speaking here about man's ideas and opinions about the true Gospel of Christ. As men reasoned and argued and held different theories about what the true Word really said, Paul declared that he refuted all those ideas for the truth. Today, we have much the same thing occurring in the body of Christ (the devil has never changed his tactics). We find in different circles, differing opinions about the Word.
Some have determined that, because we see people (even Christians) who are sick, healing has passed away and God no longer heals. I still see people who aren't saved, but would that mean that God no longer saves? Just because man doesn't understand and receive what God has done through Jesus, doesn't mean that God's Word and His intent has changed. When God, through Jesus, sent the Holy Spirit, "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" according to Acts 2:39 (Amplified).
This is God's reasoning concerning the gift of His Holy Spirit, but I hear too often today, reasonings that declare this gift isn't for everyone and that God's gifts have passed away with the early Church. Above all people of the earth, we have been blessed with everything heaven has to offer God's children. When the Church came into being, we were made to be God's family and friends by Jesus. Because we still see things in the carnal way instead of after the Spirit, we've allowed the devil to seduce us like he did in the Garden of Eden.
Somehow, we've become afraid to believe that we have been made like our Father and our Lord. By carnal reasonings, we still see ourselves as being inferior and unworthy. In our old selves and our old being, this was true, but we're no longer in our old selves. We're now in Christ Jesus. By being in Christ, we are no longer inferior or unworthy. That would mean His sacrifice was of no avail. He didn't leave us like He found us, but He changed us into His very Own Image and likeness. He declared us to be righteous and accepted in Jesus. 1Peter 2:9 (Amplified) says, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation. (God's) Own purchased people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
We are to show forth and display His virtues and perfection to the world. This doesn't mean that we're just to be nice, but powerful in His deeds as well. Jesus didn't limit His ministry simply to just being sweet, but by His being moved by His compassion to set those who were bound free. This Love of God that was poured into hearts by the Holy Spirit, was to be used as a power to liberate those who were held captive.
When we read about the gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1Corinthians 12, we find these gifts are from God to be used as weapons against the devil to free those who are under his power. This is what Jesus used them for and this is still their purpose. We've preached the new birth and the forgiveness of sin, but have left the people in their own bondage of sickness, condemnation, and oppression. The gifts of the Spirit are the very weapons of our warfare according to 2Corinthians 10:4.
These gifts weren't to glorify some man, but to glorify Jesus. They were intended for the warrior who would learn to use them to liberate the people and for the glory of the Lord. When we learn the true power of His love for the people, then we will learn the true meaning of His gifts of the Spirit.
Jesus couldn't go anywhere that His love for the people didn't pull His power out of Him and set them free. He loved so deeply that He couldn't stand to see the people under slavery of the enemy. We have determined that it doesn't make a difference if people are healed and made whole on earth because they'll be so in heaven. Thus, we've concluded that healing isn't really that important. Someone should have told Jesus that.
I once prayed for a woman whose hands were crippled from arthritis. She couldn't open her finger at all. As I prayed for her healing, nothing happened. I asked God why her healing hadn't come and His answer was His reasoning and not mine. God told me that she needed loosed and not healed. He took me into Luke 13:16 (Amplified) which says, "And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom satan has kept bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?" Jesus answered in Verse 12 saying, "She needed to be loosed, released from her infirmity."
I never thought about a there being a difference between healing and loosening before that. I went back to this same lady the next week and as I walked towards her, I could see the hope ion her eyes. I laid my hands on her and said, "In the Name of Jesus, I loose you from this infirmity." As I watched, her fingers began to straighten and flex into working hands again.
I could have reasoned away why healing hadn't worked and made excuses about how she didn't have enough faith. I could have reasoned that God was using this arthritis to teach her or that healing wasn't for today or for everyone. Instead, though, I decided to, "Come let us reason together says the Lord." His reasonings set the lady free when many reasonins had left her bound.
It's so easy to justify what happens to us and look for a reason why things happen or don't happen (even at the expense of the Word). We so want reasons for everything that happens in our lives. Some even reason that God puts these things on us to make us love Him. Man's reasonings and traditions have made God's Word of no effect. God is raising up a people in these last days before Jesus returns, who put away reasonings and just walk in His love and His power to set the captives free. It is time for us to let God be God once again and to see His great love loosed upon this planet in a great way today.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Lesson 7 A Reasonable Man
Being a reasonable man is a desirable quality in many areas of life. Being capable of coming to an understanding with others without being stubborn and bullheaded is good. Many wars and disagreements have been and could be avoided if man could learn to be reasonable. When it applies to the Word of God, reasoning is how we excuse our behavior instead of applying it correctly.
There are many things in the Word we don't understand, but reasoning them away is not the answer. Many don't understand the supernatural things available to man through the new birth. Over the years, reasoning has simply declared them as being "passed away" or that they are "arbitrary." Some have reasoned these gifts and powers as being only for the apostles and the early Church.
I can't recall a time where we've needed the supernatural more than we need it now. We were born again of the very supernatural Spirit of the Living God. We have His attributes and His very nature living inside us, according to God's Word. Even when it concerns the new birth, we try to reason things away. Some have even come to the point of not actually believing we are considered sinless and blameless in the eyes of our Father.
Religious minds have reasoned that because we still may sin, we aren't truly righteous with God. Reasoning has come to the place where we're more aware of what we do rather than we are of what Jesus has done. It seems reasonable that if we're still weak and make mistakes, then we cannot be considered sinless in our Lord.
Perhaps I'm not a reasonable man when it applies to the things of God, but I will not dishonor the Blood of Jesus by believing it wasn't enough to set me free from sin. Reasoning has decided that because we aren't perfect, we must still be sinners and nothing is further from the truth than this. I am as my Lamb was and still is and that's perfect, clean and pure in the eyes of God. He only sees me through the Blood and sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
Reasoning with carnal minded men only leads to carnal thinking. Only those who are spiritually minded can understand the power of the sacrifice of Jesus. We see the Man on the cross, we see Him die and be buried, and yet we can 't seem to understand the truth beyond just the death of the Man. It wasn't just the death of Jesus' body, but the death of sin and death itself that took place. Jesus' Blood and His death were something that carnal thinking and reasoning can't explain.
Trying to understand the Word of God by reasoning and without God, will only come back to religious thinking and put man back under the same condemnation he was in before. If I died of some disease, then I would continue believing and confessing that "Healing is for us today." What I think about it, doesn't change the truth of God's Word. His Word is true, even if I don't receive it for myself.
We've never really accepted the truth of what His Word has declared to be true concerning us today. Through our reasoning away the truth of God's Word, we continue making ourselves feel unworthy, unclean and unable to approach such a Holy God. Reasoning has prevented the cleansing power of Jesus' Blood to be effective in our lives. The Blood hasn't lost its power, but reasoning has stopped us from believing in it. Therefore, we continue to live and walk like those who have never received cleansing.
By reasoning, we have placed more faith in what we do to become right with God rather than in what Jesus did to make us right. Who are we to say that we're still unrighteous, when it's God Who says we are righteous through Jesus? Who are we to accuse ourselves of still being sinners, when it's God Who says that He doesn't remember our sins and iniquities any longer? How can reasoning declare we're still unclean when God Himself has declared us to be clean? Isaiah 1:18 (Amplified) says, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord: though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be like wool."
Do you know what crimson looks like when it's mixed with crimson blood? You can't see it. The crimson blood covers and mixes with the crimson sin and all you see is the blood. Isaiah 1:19 (Amplified) goes on to say, "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land."
Many aren't eating the good of the land because of their reasoning. Reason has stopped them from accepting the truth that God has decreed and they won't enter in because of unbelief. Hebrews 4:2 (Amplified) says, "For indeed we have had the glad tidings (Gospel of God) proclaimed to us just as truly as they (the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them) but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith (with the entire leaning of their personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) by those who heard it; neither were they united in faith with the ones (Joshua and Caleb) who heard (did believe)."
We have listened to the voice of reason and haven't allowed ourselves to believe what the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has promised. Every time the Lord opens a new door to His revelation, we close it by reasoning.
If we are to reason about the Word of God, then at least we should reason with Him. Jesus didn't die, descend into the abyss and become sin in our place just to give us another religion, but to give us relationship. Only by the truth of God's Word can you ever have a relationship with the Father. If you still consider yourself a sinner, then you will never enter into the Presence of a Holy and Righteous God. Undeserved guilt and shame will always leave you in the outer courts and not in the Holy of Holies.
Put your faith in what Jesus has done and not in what you have done, both good and bad. No matter how good the works are, they aren't what gives you right standing with God. No matter how bad the bad might be, Jesus' Blood has already removed it from you. You have been made righteous with His Own righteousness according to 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) which 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)."
You have been made righteous by His Own righteousness and that cannot be improved upon. All you can do (without reasoning it away), is accept it by faith and enjoy God as much as He wants to enjoy you.
Can you imagine how it must hurt the heart of God to know that even after all He has done gain us back, reasoning with His truth still separates us from Him? It doesn't seem reasonable to the carnal mind that all we're required to do to be righteous with Him, is to believe. We're to believe on and in Jesus, believe in and on the truth of His sacrifice and then we're made righteous, acceptable, approved and in right standing with Him.
Your mind would reason that there's got to be more to it than that. What must I do to be righteous and in right standing with God? Abraham believed God and it was accounted to unto him as righteousness. Romans 4:21-22 (Amplified) says, "Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He had promised, that is why [Abraham's] faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God)."
Don't be a reasonable man when it comes to God's Word. If you must reason, then "Come reason together with Me, says the Lord."
If you base your walk with God on reasonings and works, then you will always fall in your pursuit of Him. His Presence isn't determined by goosebumps or by denomination titles or on how much you read and pray. His Presence is determined by faith in His Word that, "I Am with you always." If the only way you determine His Presence is when you get goosebumps or are being really good, then most of your time is spent without His Presence.
God is there because He said He would be. Conduct your life on that basis and you will walk above the world. He isn't a "Man that He should lie." We know better than to say God would life to us about anything, so reasoning begins making excuses for Him because we don't see the supernatural. We must do the supernatural to see the supernatural. Mark 16:20 (Amplified) says, "And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied (it). Amen (so be it)."
What are we preaching that He can confirm today with signs and miracles? They didn't come to the people as reasonable men, but as men of faith in Christ Jesus. After all, it's not you, but "the Father in you" Who does the works.
There are many things in the Word we don't understand, but reasoning them away is not the answer. Many don't understand the supernatural things available to man through the new birth. Over the years, reasoning has simply declared them as being "passed away" or that they are "arbitrary." Some have reasoned these gifts and powers as being only for the apostles and the early Church.
I can't recall a time where we've needed the supernatural more than we need it now. We were born again of the very supernatural Spirit of the Living God. We have His attributes and His very nature living inside us, according to God's Word. Even when it concerns the new birth, we try to reason things away. Some have even come to the point of not actually believing we are considered sinless and blameless in the eyes of our Father.
Religious minds have reasoned that because we still may sin, we aren't truly righteous with God. Reasoning has come to the place where we're more aware of what we do rather than we are of what Jesus has done. It seems reasonable that if we're still weak and make mistakes, then we cannot be considered sinless in our Lord.
Perhaps I'm not a reasonable man when it applies to the things of God, but I will not dishonor the Blood of Jesus by believing it wasn't enough to set me free from sin. Reasoning has decided that because we aren't perfect, we must still be sinners and nothing is further from the truth than this. I am as my Lamb was and still is and that's perfect, clean and pure in the eyes of God. He only sees me through the Blood and sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
Reasoning with carnal minded men only leads to carnal thinking. Only those who are spiritually minded can understand the power of the sacrifice of Jesus. We see the Man on the cross, we see Him die and be buried, and yet we can 't seem to understand the truth beyond just the death of the Man. It wasn't just the death of Jesus' body, but the death of sin and death itself that took place. Jesus' Blood and His death were something that carnal thinking and reasoning can't explain.
Trying to understand the Word of God by reasoning and without God, will only come back to religious thinking and put man back under the same condemnation he was in before. If I died of some disease, then I would continue believing and confessing that "Healing is for us today." What I think about it, doesn't change the truth of God's Word. His Word is true, even if I don't receive it for myself.
We've never really accepted the truth of what His Word has declared to be true concerning us today. Through our reasoning away the truth of God's Word, we continue making ourselves feel unworthy, unclean and unable to approach such a Holy God. Reasoning has prevented the cleansing power of Jesus' Blood to be effective in our lives. The Blood hasn't lost its power, but reasoning has stopped us from believing in it. Therefore, we continue to live and walk like those who have never received cleansing.
By reasoning, we have placed more faith in what we do to become right with God rather than in what Jesus did to make us right. Who are we to say that we're still unrighteous, when it's God Who says we are righteous through Jesus? Who are we to accuse ourselves of still being sinners, when it's God Who says that He doesn't remember our sins and iniquities any longer? How can reasoning declare we're still unclean when God Himself has declared us to be clean? Isaiah 1:18 (Amplified) says, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord: though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be like wool."
Do you know what crimson looks like when it's mixed with crimson blood? You can't see it. The crimson blood covers and mixes with the crimson sin and all you see is the blood. Isaiah 1:19 (Amplified) goes on to say, "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land."
Many aren't eating the good of the land because of their reasoning. Reason has stopped them from accepting the truth that God has decreed and they won't enter in because of unbelief. Hebrews 4:2 (Amplified) says, "For indeed we have had the glad tidings (Gospel of God) proclaimed to us just as truly as they (the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them) but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith (with the entire leaning of their personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) by those who heard it; neither were they united in faith with the ones (Joshua and Caleb) who heard (did believe)."
We have listened to the voice of reason and haven't allowed ourselves to believe what the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has promised. Every time the Lord opens a new door to His revelation, we close it by reasoning.
If we are to reason about the Word of God, then at least we should reason with Him. Jesus didn't die, descend into the abyss and become sin in our place just to give us another religion, but to give us relationship. Only by the truth of God's Word can you ever have a relationship with the Father. If you still consider yourself a sinner, then you will never enter into the Presence of a Holy and Righteous God. Undeserved guilt and shame will always leave you in the outer courts and not in the Holy of Holies.
Put your faith in what Jesus has done and not in what you have done, both good and bad. No matter how good the works are, they aren't what gives you right standing with God. No matter how bad the bad might be, Jesus' Blood has already removed it from you. You have been made righteous with His Own righteousness according to 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) which 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)."
You have been made righteous by His Own righteousness and that cannot be improved upon. All you can do (without reasoning it away), is accept it by faith and enjoy God as much as He wants to enjoy you.
Can you imagine how it must hurt the heart of God to know that even after all He has done gain us back, reasoning with His truth still separates us from Him? It doesn't seem reasonable to the carnal mind that all we're required to do to be righteous with Him, is to believe. We're to believe on and in Jesus, believe in and on the truth of His sacrifice and then we're made righteous, acceptable, approved and in right standing with Him.
Your mind would reason that there's got to be more to it than that. What must I do to be righteous and in right standing with God? Abraham believed God and it was accounted to unto him as righteousness. Romans 4:21-22 (Amplified) says, "Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He had promised, that is why [Abraham's] faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God)."
Don't be a reasonable man when it comes to God's Word. If you must reason, then "Come reason together with Me, says the Lord."
If you base your walk with God on reasonings and works, then you will always fall in your pursuit of Him. His Presence isn't determined by goosebumps or by denomination titles or on how much you read and pray. His Presence is determined by faith in His Word that, "I Am with you always." If the only way you determine His Presence is when you get goosebumps or are being really good, then most of your time is spent without His Presence.
God is there because He said He would be. Conduct your life on that basis and you will walk above the world. He isn't a "Man that He should lie." We know better than to say God would life to us about anything, so reasoning begins making excuses for Him because we don't see the supernatural. We must do the supernatural to see the supernatural. Mark 16:20 (Amplified) says, "And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied (it). Amen (so be it)."
What are we preaching that He can confirm today with signs and miracles? They didn't come to the people as reasonable men, but as men of faith in Christ Jesus. After all, it's not you, but "the Father in you" Who does the works.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Lesson 6 A Reasonable Man
When we reason with someone or something, we're tying to understand or have something explained to us so that it meets our own way of thinking about it. We boil things down to a level that we can understand or compromise in agreement with ourselves or another. We hear the word "reason" constantly from politicians. They're always looking for someone to be "reasonable," when it comes to passing bills and legislation. If one side will agree to pass a bill, then they will allow the other side to put in other items (mostly pork spending) if they will be "reasonable" and allow their bill to pass.
Sometimes, it appears like compromising is the lesser of two evils. They may want to pass something that is good, but are forced "by being reasonable," to pass something that isn't good simply to get it through. Thus, we have reasonable legislators.
It seems like when it comes to the Word of God, we've almost "reasoned" ourselves out of most everything except going to heaven when we die. God said in Isaiah 1:18 (Amplified), "Come let us reason together." The word "reason" here has an entirely different meaning to it according to Strong's Concordance #3198 where in Hebrew text means, "to be right, (i.e.) correct, to argue, to decide, justify or convict, appoint, chasten, convince, correct, judge, maintain, reprove, daysman."
When I read the word or title of daysman, I thought about what Job had said in Job 9:32-33 (King James Version), "For He (God) is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay His hand upon us both."
In the Amplified Bible, Job 9:32-35 says, "For (God) is not a (mere) man as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in court. There is no umpire (daysman) between us, who might lay His hand upon us both (would that there was) that He might take His rod away from (threatening) me, and that the fear of Him might not terrify me, (Then) would I speak and not fear Him, but I am not so in myself (to make me afraid, were only a fair trial given me)."
The meaning of "reason, daysman" is none other than our Mediator, Jesus. Had He been the One Who Job could call upon (like He is today for us), then Job said that he "would not be afraid" and "he would get a fair trial." The concept of "reason" is a whole different thing than how we mostly think of it. When we "Come and reason together with Him," then it's through our "Daysman," Jesus. It's now through the power of our new covenant and it's through the wisdom granted to us by the Holy Spirit Who indwells in us. We have the Daysman that Job wished he had.
Through our own thinking and reasonings, we have invented some of the most outlandish rules and doctrines that have ever messed up a people. Some of the reasonings we have come up with are simply man's ignorant take of God's wisdom. By reason, we still try getting God to bless us through our works. In other words, we believe that if we're good, then God will bless us or if we're bad, then God will punish me. This sounds reasonable to most of us today, but it's wrong. It's true that there are consequences for wrong behavior, but it isn't God Who is bringing them, they're the result of wrong choices.
The punishment for sin and wrong behavior fell on our Daysman instead of on us. This doesn't sound reasonable to the carnal mind. If God was going to punish us for our wrong doing, then do you think any of us would have lived long enough to even get saved? The Gospel defies reason to any degree when God would actually give His Own Son to die on my behalf, cleanse me, call me righteous and accept and bless me even before I knew Him. Does that sound reasonable to you?
I suppose that's why the Word instructs us in 2Corinthians 10:5 (Amplified) to, "Refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God." In our own way of thinking and reasoning, we feel like there must be more for us to do in order to be blessed with all heaven has given us through Jesus. We say that He "did it all," and then by reasoning, we say we must do something to deserve it. As long as reason rules our spiritual life, faith cannot work. Faith is letting our Daysman stand in our place and trust Him for all of it. Where reason tries to earn it by our good works and deeds, it's no longer faith, but earned credit.
Have you ever really thought about how we have determined the Gospel over all these years? If we only received what we deserved from God, then we would burn. Nothing we got from Him was earned or deserved, but it was only by grace and love. It's not reasonable to expect God to bless people who are still messed up (even after being born again). I've never met a Christian who is perfect in all he does. The only perfect thing about us, is Jesus. When I reason together with Him, I see myself the way He sees me and not the way others see me. This concept alone, seems unreasonable to some Christians.
I've been reasoning together with Him and His reasoning says that, "through my Daysman and Mediator, I am righteous, perfect, sanctified, made one with Jesus, an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus. Now, you can see where some call me "unreasonable."
I refuse to let myself or others to try reasoning me out of what my Father has graced me with. I refuse to walk in guilt or condemnation and I refuse to walk in doubt as to my relationship with my Father. I refuse to walk in the fear that God would turn His back on me or refuse to hear me. I will not let reasonings prevent me from receiving what Jesus has done for me.
"Well, yes, Brother Jim," you say, "Don't you think?" No! When it comes to God's Word, I don't think outside of His Word. If God says that I have been made righteous in Christ Jesus, then I don't even want to reason myself out of that even if it means getting along with someone else. You might say that I'm not reasonable at all and that no one can talk to me or that I won't listen to reason at all. Now, you're getting the picture. I just won't listen to reason. I'm not a reasonable man.
Sometimes, it appears like compromising is the lesser of two evils. They may want to pass something that is good, but are forced "by being reasonable," to pass something that isn't good simply to get it through. Thus, we have reasonable legislators.
It seems like when it comes to the Word of God, we've almost "reasoned" ourselves out of most everything except going to heaven when we die. God said in Isaiah 1:18 (Amplified), "Come let us reason together." The word "reason" here has an entirely different meaning to it according to Strong's Concordance #3198 where in Hebrew text means, "to be right, (i.e.) correct, to argue, to decide, justify or convict, appoint, chasten, convince, correct, judge, maintain, reprove, daysman."
When I read the word or title of daysman, I thought about what Job had said in Job 9:32-33 (King James Version), "For He (God) is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay His hand upon us both."
In the Amplified Bible, Job 9:32-35 says, "For (God) is not a (mere) man as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in court. There is no umpire (daysman) between us, who might lay His hand upon us both (would that there was) that He might take His rod away from (threatening) me, and that the fear of Him might not terrify me, (Then) would I speak and not fear Him, but I am not so in myself (to make me afraid, were only a fair trial given me)."
The meaning of "reason, daysman" is none other than our Mediator, Jesus. Had He been the One Who Job could call upon (like He is today for us), then Job said that he "would not be afraid" and "he would get a fair trial." The concept of "reason" is a whole different thing than how we mostly think of it. When we "Come and reason together with Him," then it's through our "Daysman," Jesus. It's now through the power of our new covenant and it's through the wisdom granted to us by the Holy Spirit Who indwells in us. We have the Daysman that Job wished he had.
Through our own thinking and reasonings, we have invented some of the most outlandish rules and doctrines that have ever messed up a people. Some of the reasonings we have come up with are simply man's ignorant take of God's wisdom. By reason, we still try getting God to bless us through our works. In other words, we believe that if we're good, then God will bless us or if we're bad, then God will punish me. This sounds reasonable to most of us today, but it's wrong. It's true that there are consequences for wrong behavior, but it isn't God Who is bringing them, they're the result of wrong choices.
The punishment for sin and wrong behavior fell on our Daysman instead of on us. This doesn't sound reasonable to the carnal mind. If God was going to punish us for our wrong doing, then do you think any of us would have lived long enough to even get saved? The Gospel defies reason to any degree when God would actually give His Own Son to die on my behalf, cleanse me, call me righteous and accept and bless me even before I knew Him. Does that sound reasonable to you?
I suppose that's why the Word instructs us in 2Corinthians 10:5 (Amplified) to, "Refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God." In our own way of thinking and reasoning, we feel like there must be more for us to do in order to be blessed with all heaven has given us through Jesus. We say that He "did it all," and then by reasoning, we say we must do something to deserve it. As long as reason rules our spiritual life, faith cannot work. Faith is letting our Daysman stand in our place and trust Him for all of it. Where reason tries to earn it by our good works and deeds, it's no longer faith, but earned credit.
Have you ever really thought about how we have determined the Gospel over all these years? If we only received what we deserved from God, then we would burn. Nothing we got from Him was earned or deserved, but it was only by grace and love. It's not reasonable to expect God to bless people who are still messed up (even after being born again). I've never met a Christian who is perfect in all he does. The only perfect thing about us, is Jesus. When I reason together with Him, I see myself the way He sees me and not the way others see me. This concept alone, seems unreasonable to some Christians.
I've been reasoning together with Him and His reasoning says that, "through my Daysman and Mediator, I am righteous, perfect, sanctified, made one with Jesus, an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus. Now, you can see where some call me "unreasonable."
I refuse to let myself or others to try reasoning me out of what my Father has graced me with. I refuse to walk in guilt or condemnation and I refuse to walk in doubt as to my relationship with my Father. I refuse to walk in the fear that God would turn His back on me or refuse to hear me. I will not let reasonings prevent me from receiving what Jesus has done for me.
"Well, yes, Brother Jim," you say, "Don't you think?" No! When it comes to God's Word, I don't think outside of His Word. If God says that I have been made righteous in Christ Jesus, then I don't even want to reason myself out of that even if it means getting along with someone else. You might say that I'm not reasonable at all and that no one can talk to me or that I won't listen to reason at all. Now, you're getting the picture. I just won't listen to reason. I'm not a reasonable man.
Monday, August 18, 2014
Lesson 5 A Reasonable Man
Sometimes, while we reason things out, we deliberate on certain things in order to make the right decision. When it comes to reasoning on the Word of God, we're to reason together with Him according to Isaiah 1:18 (Amplified). When we begin to reason with ourselves or with one another, then we usually rationalize the truth out of God's Word.
James 1:5-8 (King James Version) says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given to him. But let him ask in faith, nothings wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the and tossed. Verses 7-8 say, "For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
We learned from the above scripture that if any man lacks wisdom, then he needs to ask God and He will give it liberally. If a man asks God for wisdom, God gives the wisdom and the man didn't receive what was given, then it was because the man lacked faith in what he heard. Wisdom came. God said He'd give wisdom to those who ask and God doesn't lie. The man didn't receive the wisdom because he didn't receive it in faith. When wisdom came, the man began reasoning with the wisdom and to debate it with himself as to whether what he heard was really from God.
Too often we reason away the wisdom of God when it comes to debating or reasoning about what God said. We wonder, "Was that really God?" Or, we say, "That can't be God because it doesn't make sense to me." Or, we say, "God if that's really You, then give me a sign." Our reasoning can't always sort out God's Word so we must simply obey it by faith.
Faith doesn't always need reasoning, it just needs faith. Jesus told Peter to, "Throw your net out on the right side of the boat and you'll have a great catch." Peter had been fishing all night and had caught nothing. Reason would have said, "What's the use," but faith threw out the net. Reasoning would have left Lazarus in the grave because, "By now, he stinketh." Reasoning said that because he stinks, he cannot be raised. Faith said, "Move the stone."
Reason would have taken God's instructions to Joshua at Jericho and would have probably lost the battle and probably destroyed half of Joshua's army. In Joshua 6:1-5 (Amplified), God tells Joshua to walk around the city seven times, have the Priests blow their trumpets, and tell all the people to shout. Does that make any sense at all to the natural man's reasoning? Of course not. This is why we "Come reason together with the Lord." In the kingdom of God, things work differently than in the reasonings of man.
When we are called to lay hands on the sick, it defies reasonings. When Jesus and Peter walked on water, reasoning would say, "I've seen too many people drown to believe you can walk on water." The Word is Spirit and must be received in your spirit because your carnal mind (unrenewed thinking) will reason away the truth of the Word.
I don't know whether or not I've found much of anything in God's Word that make sense to my carnal mind. The death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus makes no sense through the eyes of reason. We arrive at many different opinions about God's Word based on the degree of spiritual growth in God's people. Even God Himself makes no sense to the natural man's way of thinking.
1Corinthians 14 (King James Version) says, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Natural man will always "reason" with God's Word because without hearing from the Holy Spirit, you will not understand. The more we reason with God's Word, the more we misunderstand it and neuter it with reasoning. We leave it with no power to produce in our lives, with our reasoning.
Your head (the natural man) cannot understand the speaking of unknown tongues. Reason will tell you, that if it's unknown, then you can't speak it. That sounds reasonable, doesn't it? How can I speak in a language that I don't even know?
Compromise of God's Word always comes by "reasonable men," who try understanding the things of God, without God. He will speak this Spirit Word into our spirit man and faith will override the natural man and bring about the miracle of truth. Our reasoning and our unrenewed minds keep us from receiving our healing, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, miracles and everything that grace has provided, because it makes no sense to the reasonable man.
As we move through this day of grace and the time of His coming, we find more and more that some have reasoned the power of the Spirit out of our congregations all over this nation. Anything that is supernatural is beyond the reasonable man and is dismissed. We have replaced the supernatural power of God with creeds and doctrines that make the reasonable man can understand and make sense of. We are striving to put ourselves under the Law, because natural man can understand this kind of thinking.
This makes sense to the reasonable man. He thinks that, "If I do this, then God will do this and if I do something else, then God will do something else." God's Word is a spiritual Word given to natural people who aren't born again. It made sense to the natural man to walk this way.
James 1:5-8 (King James Version) says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given to him. But let him ask in faith, nothings wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the and tossed. Verses 7-8 say, "For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
We learned from the above scripture that if any man lacks wisdom, then he needs to ask God and He will give it liberally. If a man asks God for wisdom, God gives the wisdom and the man didn't receive what was given, then it was because the man lacked faith in what he heard. Wisdom came. God said He'd give wisdom to those who ask and God doesn't lie. The man didn't receive the wisdom because he didn't receive it in faith. When wisdom came, the man began reasoning with the wisdom and to debate it with himself as to whether what he heard was really from God.
Too often we reason away the wisdom of God when it comes to debating or reasoning about what God said. We wonder, "Was that really God?" Or, we say, "That can't be God because it doesn't make sense to me." Or, we say, "God if that's really You, then give me a sign." Our reasoning can't always sort out God's Word so we must simply obey it by faith.
Faith doesn't always need reasoning, it just needs faith. Jesus told Peter to, "Throw your net out on the right side of the boat and you'll have a great catch." Peter had been fishing all night and had caught nothing. Reason would have said, "What's the use," but faith threw out the net. Reasoning would have left Lazarus in the grave because, "By now, he stinketh." Reasoning said that because he stinks, he cannot be raised. Faith said, "Move the stone."
Reason would have taken God's instructions to Joshua at Jericho and would have probably lost the battle and probably destroyed half of Joshua's army. In Joshua 6:1-5 (Amplified), God tells Joshua to walk around the city seven times, have the Priests blow their trumpets, and tell all the people to shout. Does that make any sense at all to the natural man's reasoning? Of course not. This is why we "Come reason together with the Lord." In the kingdom of God, things work differently than in the reasonings of man.
When we are called to lay hands on the sick, it defies reasonings. When Jesus and Peter walked on water, reasoning would say, "I've seen too many people drown to believe you can walk on water." The Word is Spirit and must be received in your spirit because your carnal mind (unrenewed thinking) will reason away the truth of the Word.
I don't know whether or not I've found much of anything in God's Word that make sense to my carnal mind. The death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus makes no sense through the eyes of reason. We arrive at many different opinions about God's Word based on the degree of spiritual growth in God's people. Even God Himself makes no sense to the natural man's way of thinking.
1Corinthians 14 (King James Version) says, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Natural man will always "reason" with God's Word because without hearing from the Holy Spirit, you will not understand. The more we reason with God's Word, the more we misunderstand it and neuter it with reasoning. We leave it with no power to produce in our lives, with our reasoning.
Your head (the natural man) cannot understand the speaking of unknown tongues. Reason will tell you, that if it's unknown, then you can't speak it. That sounds reasonable, doesn't it? How can I speak in a language that I don't even know?
Compromise of God's Word always comes by "reasonable men," who try understanding the things of God, without God. He will speak this Spirit Word into our spirit man and faith will override the natural man and bring about the miracle of truth. Our reasoning and our unrenewed minds keep us from receiving our healing, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, miracles and everything that grace has provided, because it makes no sense to the reasonable man.
As we move through this day of grace and the time of His coming, we find more and more that some have reasoned the power of the Spirit out of our congregations all over this nation. Anything that is supernatural is beyond the reasonable man and is dismissed. We have replaced the supernatural power of God with creeds and doctrines that make the reasonable man can understand and make sense of. We are striving to put ourselves under the Law, because natural man can understand this kind of thinking.
This makes sense to the reasonable man. He thinks that, "If I do this, then God will do this and if I do something else, then God will do something else." God's Word is a spiritual Word given to natural people who aren't born again. It made sense to the natural man to walk this way.
Friday, August 15, 2014
Lesson 4 A Reasonable Man
Many times in my walk with God, I've been accused of not being reasonable. I've taken some stands that I know are the Word and I will not compromise those things. I am willing to listen to what others think and I try to get along with other Christians (as long as I don't have to compromise what I know the Lord has shown me). I will try explaining what I know to others and will go through the scriptures with them. If I am wrong, then I'm perfectly willing to change, but only if I'm wrong.
Many doctrines or teachings we have in today's Church, are based on reasonings of men and not necessarily the revelation of the Word. Just like they did in Jesus' days, we've hung onto our own truth (or what we believe to be truth) and haven't allowed the Holy Spirit to show us the true meaning of the Word. Jesus could only show them a limited portion of the new covenant for many various reasons. He taught about putting new wine into old wine skins because the people couldn't or wouldn't accept His new teachings.
The people's ideas of "reasonable," was debating the Word and coming up with something to appease everyone (something we can all agree on or that will please the majority). God's Word is not debatable and isn't always something that will please all people. Those who aren't saved today, aren't pleased with the things the Word says to do. Before I became a Christian, I didn't want to live the way God's Word laid out. I wanted to live the way I wanted to live. I "reasoned" with the Bible and used others to justify my position about certain things in the Bible. If I wanted to drink, then I could find Christians who drank and could justify my own "reasonings" by watching them. This didn't make what I was doing right, but by reasoning it out, I considered myself okay.
In today's Church, we're so willing to get along with everyone, that we will allow reasoning to justify almost anything. It still isn't right according to the Word, but we try to reason with it to the point of acceptance. We are in this world, but not supposed to be of this world. We're not called to "go along just to get along," but we're called to be different. I don't mean to be obnoxious, but to stand firm in our belief.
We're not to be Bible thumping people and hit them in the head with scripture, but to stand firm in what the Word says. The Church isn't a democracy, but a body. We don't vote or ask for the majority rule, because even if it's not popular, God's Word is still true. Jesus said that, "When we see Him, we have seen the Father." It's safe to say, then, that God's Word is true.
We should be able just to watch Him and know what the will of God is. If Jesus was healing people, then it must be God's will today. If Jesus was casting out devils, then it must be the will of God. If He was showing mercy to the unsaved, then it must be God's will. The persons Jesus had a problem with, were the ones who tried to "reason" out what He was doing (even to the point of condemning Him for proclaiming Himself to be God's Own Son). Even in today's Church, we still have those who by reasoning, will tell us we're not yet God's sons and that will only happen once we get to heaven.
They will reason that because we still sin and make mistakes and aren't perfect, we can't be His sons and daughters. Even when we read in the Word how "Jesus was made sin for me so I could be made righteous and in right standing with God, reasoning will hold back this truth. This leaves us in the condemnation of the old man we were instead of the new man we are. This type of reasoning will leave you in bondage of sin, even though you are free in Christ.
We are not going to be God's sons and daughters. If we are saved, then we already are God's sons and daughters. When we make up creeds an doctrines in today's Church, we "reason" with one another as to what we believe. Then we proceed with rules against what we won't believe and this leaves very little room for God to show us the true Word.
If we've already decided that tongues have ceased by reasoning, then how can we accept what we've already decided is gone? We went through the Word accepting and discounting what we can and cannot do, then we reasoned If we're only going to accept what God is doing in my life, then I have limited the power of God in everyone's life. If I reason that because I don't speak in tongues, then no one does. That's setting myself up as the great example of God's covenant instead of Jesus.
Since I didn't get healed, does that mean healing is not for today? I know many people who fail to see others and themselves not healed, then reason that healing isn't for today. I happen to know many people who aren't saved, but that doesn't mean that salvation isn't for today. God is still God and "Jesus is still the same yesterday, today and forever." If Jesus did it, then He still does it today.
We need to stop "reasoning" about the Word and accept it. When it comes to the Word of God, I am not a reasonable man. If He said it is true, then it is true (even if I'm not walking in it for myself). We need to let "God be God and every man a liar."
Many doctrines or teachings we have in today's Church, are based on reasonings of men and not necessarily the revelation of the Word. Just like they did in Jesus' days, we've hung onto our own truth (or what we believe to be truth) and haven't allowed the Holy Spirit to show us the true meaning of the Word. Jesus could only show them a limited portion of the new covenant for many various reasons. He taught about putting new wine into old wine skins because the people couldn't or wouldn't accept His new teachings.
The people's ideas of "reasonable," was debating the Word and coming up with something to appease everyone (something we can all agree on or that will please the majority). God's Word is not debatable and isn't always something that will please all people. Those who aren't saved today, aren't pleased with the things the Word says to do. Before I became a Christian, I didn't want to live the way God's Word laid out. I wanted to live the way I wanted to live. I "reasoned" with the Bible and used others to justify my position about certain things in the Bible. If I wanted to drink, then I could find Christians who drank and could justify my own "reasonings" by watching them. This didn't make what I was doing right, but by reasoning it out, I considered myself okay.
In today's Church, we're so willing to get along with everyone, that we will allow reasoning to justify almost anything. It still isn't right according to the Word, but we try to reason with it to the point of acceptance. We are in this world, but not supposed to be of this world. We're not called to "go along just to get along," but we're called to be different. I don't mean to be obnoxious, but to stand firm in our belief.
We're not to be Bible thumping people and hit them in the head with scripture, but to stand firm in what the Word says. The Church isn't a democracy, but a body. We don't vote or ask for the majority rule, because even if it's not popular, God's Word is still true. Jesus said that, "When we see Him, we have seen the Father." It's safe to say, then, that God's Word is true.
We should be able just to watch Him and know what the will of God is. If Jesus was healing people, then it must be God's will today. If Jesus was casting out devils, then it must be the will of God. If He was showing mercy to the unsaved, then it must be God's will. The persons Jesus had a problem with, were the ones who tried to "reason" out what He was doing (even to the point of condemning Him for proclaiming Himself to be God's Own Son). Even in today's Church, we still have those who by reasoning, will tell us we're not yet God's sons and that will only happen once we get to heaven.
They will reason that because we still sin and make mistakes and aren't perfect, we can't be His sons and daughters. Even when we read in the Word how "Jesus was made sin for me so I could be made righteous and in right standing with God, reasoning will hold back this truth. This leaves us in the condemnation of the old man we were instead of the new man we are. This type of reasoning will leave you in bondage of sin, even though you are free in Christ.
We are not going to be God's sons and daughters. If we are saved, then we already are God's sons and daughters. When we make up creeds an doctrines in today's Church, we "reason" with one another as to what we believe. Then we proceed with rules against what we won't believe and this leaves very little room for God to show us the true Word.
If we've already decided that tongues have ceased by reasoning, then how can we accept what we've already decided is gone? We went through the Word accepting and discounting what we can and cannot do, then we reasoned If we're only going to accept what God is doing in my life, then I have limited the power of God in everyone's life. If I reason that because I don't speak in tongues, then no one does. That's setting myself up as the great example of God's covenant instead of Jesus.
Since I didn't get healed, does that mean healing is not for today? I know many people who fail to see others and themselves not healed, then reason that healing isn't for today. I happen to know many people who aren't saved, but that doesn't mean that salvation isn't for today. God is still God and "Jesus is still the same yesterday, today and forever." If Jesus did it, then He still does it today.
We need to stop "reasoning" about the Word and accept it. When it comes to the Word of God, I am not a reasonable man. If He said it is true, then it is true (even if I'm not walking in it for myself). We need to let "God be God and every man a liar."
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Lesson 3 A Reasonable Man
When we think about being reasonable, we think of the word "compromise." We constantly see it in our politics and in our government. One party has some thing they want to pass into law, while the other side is opposed to it. Then they arrive to the point of being reasonable. However, they believe that being reasonable is when one side wants the other to change their position on this bill. If they stand their ground, then they appear "unreasonable" in the eyes of the other party. So then, there is gridlock and nothing gets done.
All this means is that one party or the other has very strong convictions on a particular law or amendment. Sometimes they do "reason" together and compromise on a matter. They declare that makes them reasonable men and women. It seems as though man, without God, can never stand strong in what they believe or stand for. They achieve a compromise that still isn't the right one, but they say it's better than doing nothing at all.
This might be how the world and governments work to get things done, but it's not God's way. If we are to "reason" about God's Word, then Isaiah 1:18 (Amplified) says, "Come now and let us reason together, says the Lord!" When we reason with God about what His Word tells us, there is no compromise to be had. God will reveal His Word to us so we can understand it, but He will not compromise one word of it. Psalm 119:89 (Amplified) says, "Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven (stands firm as the heavens)."
Being "reasonable" men, we have made the decision to compromise when it comes to God's Word, for the "betterment" of the people. We sound like politicians, don't we? We have "reasoned" with the people and with one another, and have decided to do what the people say rather than what God says. King Saul did this in 1Samuel 13:8-14 (Amplified) which says, "So Saul waited seven days, according to the set time Samuel had appointed. But Samuel had not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from Saul." Verses 9-11say, "So Saul said, bring me the burnt offering and the peace offering (which he was forbidden to do). And just as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came! Saul went out to meet and greet him. Samuel said, What have you done? Saul said, because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, And that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash." Verses 12-14 go on, "I thought, the Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord, So I forced myself to offer a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly! You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God which He commanded you; for the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue; the Lord has sought out (David) a man after His Own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince and ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you."
Saul's reasoning may have seemed logical to him, but God's Word is not to be compromised. We've done almost the same today, in the Body of Christ. In order to keep the people from "scattering from us" (like Saul did), we've reasoned together with ourselves and have made some very costly mistakes. When the people have made up their minds concerning certain things in the Word, we have made allowances for them by "reasoning" instead of teaching the truth of the Word.
When we "reason together with the Lord" like Isaiah 1:18 says, then we will always come to the right decision in our thinking. Isaiah 55:8-11 (Amplified) says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, My ways, says the Lord, For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater." Verse 11 says, "So shall My Word be that which goes forth out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void (without producing and effect, useless) but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent!"
When God said that His thoughts and His ways are higher than ours, He wasn't being boastful, but letting us know that if we're to understand (without compromise) and if we will reason together with Him, then He will instruct us in His Word. James 1:5 (Amplified) says, "If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God (Who gives) to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given."
We have "reasoned together" to the point where anything supernatural in the Word has been "reasoned" out. After all, how can simply laying hands on someone who is sick, heal them? It doesn't seem reasonable, does it? So, if more people are disbelieving this, then we (like Saul) will reason and dismiss this (or compromise) in order to kep the people from scattering.
When it comes to God's Word, there can be no compromise. The Word of God doesn't work the way we want it to, but the way God sent it to. Reasoning with the Word is the world's way (politics) in disguise.
All this means is that one party or the other has very strong convictions on a particular law or amendment. Sometimes they do "reason" together and compromise on a matter. They declare that makes them reasonable men and women. It seems as though man, without God, can never stand strong in what they believe or stand for. They achieve a compromise that still isn't the right one, but they say it's better than doing nothing at all.
This might be how the world and governments work to get things done, but it's not God's way. If we are to "reason" about God's Word, then Isaiah 1:18 (Amplified) says, "Come now and let us reason together, says the Lord!" When we reason with God about what His Word tells us, there is no compromise to be had. God will reveal His Word to us so we can understand it, but He will not compromise one word of it. Psalm 119:89 (Amplified) says, "Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven (stands firm as the heavens)."
Being "reasonable" men, we have made the decision to compromise when it comes to God's Word, for the "betterment" of the people. We sound like politicians, don't we? We have "reasoned" with the people and with one another, and have decided to do what the people say rather than what God says. King Saul did this in 1Samuel 13:8-14 (Amplified) which says, "So Saul waited seven days, according to the set time Samuel had appointed. But Samuel had not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from Saul." Verses 9-11say, "So Saul said, bring me the burnt offering and the peace offering (which he was forbidden to do). And just as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came! Saul went out to meet and greet him. Samuel said, What have you done? Saul said, because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, And that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash." Verses 12-14 go on, "I thought, the Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord, So I forced myself to offer a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly! You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God which He commanded you; for the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue; the Lord has sought out (David) a man after His Own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince and ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you."
Saul's reasoning may have seemed logical to him, but God's Word is not to be compromised. We've done almost the same today, in the Body of Christ. In order to keep the people from "scattering from us" (like Saul did), we've reasoned together with ourselves and have made some very costly mistakes. When the people have made up their minds concerning certain things in the Word, we have made allowances for them by "reasoning" instead of teaching the truth of the Word.
When we "reason together with the Lord" like Isaiah 1:18 says, then we will always come to the right decision in our thinking. Isaiah 55:8-11 (Amplified) says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, My ways, says the Lord, For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater." Verse 11 says, "So shall My Word be that which goes forth out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void (without producing and effect, useless) but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent!"
When God said that His thoughts and His ways are higher than ours, He wasn't being boastful, but letting us know that if we're to understand (without compromise) and if we will reason together with Him, then He will instruct us in His Word. James 1:5 (Amplified) says, "If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God (Who gives) to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given."
We have "reasoned together" to the point where anything supernatural in the Word has been "reasoned" out. After all, how can simply laying hands on someone who is sick, heal them? It doesn't seem reasonable, does it? So, if more people are disbelieving this, then we (like Saul) will reason and dismiss this (or compromise) in order to kep the people from scattering.
When it comes to God's Word, there can be no compromise. The Word of God doesn't work the way we want it to, but the way God sent it to. Reasoning with the Word is the world's way (politics) in disguise.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Lesson 2 A Reasonable Man
There are many meanings of the word "reason" or "reasonable" in the Bible. Many are good and many are not when it comes to the truth of God's Word. In Luke 20:1-8 (Amplified), Jesus was teaching in the temple and the chief Priests and scribes asked Him a question. They had the complete revelation of Who Jesus was and why He came within their grasp. They missed out on everything Jesus would have told them, by reasoning among themselves.
Thus, it says in Luke 20:1-9 (Amplified), "One day as Jesus was instructing the people in the temple (porches) and preaching the good news (the gospel) the Chief Priests and the scribes came up with the elders (members of the Sanhedrin) And said to Him, tell us by what (sort of) authority you are doing these things? Or who it is who gave you this authority? Verses 3-5 say, "He replied to them, I will also ask you a question, Now answer Me. Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? And they argued and discussed (it) and they reasoned together with themselves, saying, If we reply, from heaven, He will say, why then did you not believe Him?" Verses 6-8go on, "But if we answer, from men, all the people will stone us to death, for they are long since firmly convinced that John was a prophet. So they replied that they did not know from where it came. Then Jesus said to them, Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
By reasoning over the truth of God's Word, man talked himself out of the great truth of the Person and purpose of the Son of God. Debate is not a good thing when it comes to the Word. God says in Isaiah 1:18 (Amplified), "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord!"
When we reason together with Him and His reasoning, we will always come into the truth of His Word. He will not and cannot deny Himself. He and His Word are One. The word "reasoning" found in Isaiah 1:18 means "to be right (i.e. correct), to argue, to decide, justify or convict, appoint, chasten, convince, correct, correction, daysman dispute, Judge, maintain, plead, reason (together), rebuke, reprove, surely, (in any wise), " according to The Strong's Concordance #3198.
So what God is saying, is that when we reason with Him in His reasoning, it will correct us (from wrong thinking), it will rebuke us (when we are in error), it will justify us when we are in a dilemma and it will convict us (when we go against it).
Reasoning with God will always put us on the right path of His truth. Always! Too many times, we reason like the scribes did and miss the great truth of God's Word for our lives. Today, we have many different views of God's truth. Most of them came from man's reasoning and without "Come let us reason together, says the Lord."
We've had multiple and various views about the Gospel in these last days because we reasoned among ourselves. We've had disputes about the prosperity message, the healing Word , the Word concerning God's grace, the believer's authority, the speaking of other tongues and the gifts of the Spirit and so many other things that God promised.
All of these things are the reasonings of men and dispute the scriptures and covenant. Many people try to God's people back under the Law (which the Gentile was never under to begin with because it was for the Jews). We continue to stumble over what God's will is for His family in these last days. Most of the problems stem from the fact that we reason with ourselves instead of reasoning together with Him.
We've known that God's Word is true for many years, but we can never seem to have much success with it working in our lives. Jesus said that, "Whatever you ask the Father in My Name, I will do it." We've all struggled with receiving the answer to our prayers. We know that God's Word is true, but we don't see results that the Word has promised. Instead of going to God and reasoning with Him, we reason among ourselves and decide that "We can't say," like the scribes did.
We've put God's forgiven and redeemed family under bondage and condemnation with statements like, "You must have sin in your life and that's why your prayers aren't answered," or "God is using these things to teach you something," and even worse, "You never know what God is going to do."
In these last days before Jesus returns for His bride, there will be a people who will stop reasoning with men in their reasoning and begin to reason with God in His reasoning. Because we have prided ourselves in our own knowledge and reasonings, we've become like the scribes and Pharisees who change His Word to meet our own doctrines when our own reasonings don't line up with the Word.
We argue about the rapture of the Church and the last days. We fight and quarrel trying to make what we believe mean more than the truth. We have even broken fellowship with people from our own company because they disagreed with out little doctrines.
I have set my course to study God's Word for myself, with the Holy Spirit and reasonings with my Father, to prove for myself what is "the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" for my life. Romans 12:2 (Amplified) says, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age) (fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs), but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its attitude) So that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)."
2Corinthians 10:5 (Amplified) says, "(In as much as we) refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
The child of God is required to seek God on his own. Too many times, the only Word we hear is the Sunday morning sermon from the pastor. For those wanting to know and receive from the Father, we are to seek "As for silver and gold." This doesn't mean you should dismiss your pastor's teachings, but you must add it to God's truth (that you've studied from His Word for yourself).
Don't allow reasonings to do away with truth. Many people have said that "tongues have ceased," but I know thousands of Christians who speak in tongues today. It's obvious, then, that tongues haven't ceased, but mans reasonings have kept them from the Church. I'm confident that man's reasonings saying that tongues have ceased, didn't come from evil intent, but from a carnal mind. We're to cast down these thoughts that are contrary to God's Word and allow the Word to rule without compromise in our lives.
Thus, it says in Luke 20:1-9 (Amplified), "One day as Jesus was instructing the people in the temple (porches) and preaching the good news (the gospel) the Chief Priests and the scribes came up with the elders (members of the Sanhedrin) And said to Him, tell us by what (sort of) authority you are doing these things? Or who it is who gave you this authority? Verses 3-5 say, "He replied to them, I will also ask you a question, Now answer Me. Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? And they argued and discussed (it) and they reasoned together with themselves, saying, If we reply, from heaven, He will say, why then did you not believe Him?" Verses 6-8go on, "But if we answer, from men, all the people will stone us to death, for they are long since firmly convinced that John was a prophet. So they replied that they did not know from where it came. Then Jesus said to them, Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
By reasoning over the truth of God's Word, man talked himself out of the great truth of the Person and purpose of the Son of God. Debate is not a good thing when it comes to the Word. God says in Isaiah 1:18 (Amplified), "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord!"
When we reason together with Him and His reasoning, we will always come into the truth of His Word. He will not and cannot deny Himself. He and His Word are One. The word "reasoning" found in Isaiah 1:18 means "to be right (i.e. correct), to argue, to decide, justify or convict, appoint, chasten, convince, correct, correction, daysman dispute, Judge, maintain, plead, reason (together), rebuke, reprove, surely, (in any wise), " according to The Strong's Concordance #3198.
So what God is saying, is that when we reason with Him in His reasoning, it will correct us (from wrong thinking), it will rebuke us (when we are in error), it will justify us when we are in a dilemma and it will convict us (when we go against it).
Reasoning with God will always put us on the right path of His truth. Always! Too many times, we reason like the scribes did and miss the great truth of God's Word for our lives. Today, we have many different views of God's truth. Most of them came from man's reasoning and without "Come let us reason together, says the Lord."
We've had multiple and various views about the Gospel in these last days because we reasoned among ourselves. We've had disputes about the prosperity message, the healing Word , the Word concerning God's grace, the believer's authority, the speaking of other tongues and the gifts of the Spirit and so many other things that God promised.
All of these things are the reasonings of men and dispute the scriptures and covenant. Many people try to God's people back under the Law (which the Gentile was never under to begin with because it was for the Jews). We continue to stumble over what God's will is for His family in these last days. Most of the problems stem from the fact that we reason with ourselves instead of reasoning together with Him.
We've known that God's Word is true for many years, but we can never seem to have much success with it working in our lives. Jesus said that, "Whatever you ask the Father in My Name, I will do it." We've all struggled with receiving the answer to our prayers. We know that God's Word is true, but we don't see results that the Word has promised. Instead of going to God and reasoning with Him, we reason among ourselves and decide that "We can't say," like the scribes did.
We've put God's forgiven and redeemed family under bondage and condemnation with statements like, "You must have sin in your life and that's why your prayers aren't answered," or "God is using these things to teach you something," and even worse, "You never know what God is going to do."
In these last days before Jesus returns for His bride, there will be a people who will stop reasoning with men in their reasoning and begin to reason with God in His reasoning. Because we have prided ourselves in our own knowledge and reasonings, we've become like the scribes and Pharisees who change His Word to meet our own doctrines when our own reasonings don't line up with the Word.
We argue about the rapture of the Church and the last days. We fight and quarrel trying to make what we believe mean more than the truth. We have even broken fellowship with people from our own company because they disagreed with out little doctrines.
I have set my course to study God's Word for myself, with the Holy Spirit and reasonings with my Father, to prove for myself what is "the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" for my life. Romans 12:2 (Amplified) says, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age) (fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs), but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its attitude) So that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)."
2Corinthians 10:5 (Amplified) says, "(In as much as we) refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
The child of God is required to seek God on his own. Too many times, the only Word we hear is the Sunday morning sermon from the pastor. For those wanting to know and receive from the Father, we are to seek "As for silver and gold." This doesn't mean you should dismiss your pastor's teachings, but you must add it to God's truth (that you've studied from His Word for yourself).
Don't allow reasonings to do away with truth. Many people have said that "tongues have ceased," but I know thousands of Christians who speak in tongues today. It's obvious, then, that tongues haven't ceased, but mans reasonings have kept them from the Church. I'm confident that man's reasonings saying that tongues have ceased, didn't come from evil intent, but from a carnal mind. We're to cast down these thoughts that are contrary to God's Word and allow the Word to rule without compromise in our lives.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
A Reasonable Man
When I was in the world and without Christ, I had always heard about and even admired a reasonable man. These were men who seemed to have it altogether and weren't contrary to different things and ways. You could come to an agreement and make a deal with a reasonable man. They were men who would look at both sides of any argument and make a way to compromise an agreement that would satisfy both parties.
I still admired and looked at these men admiringly (even Christian men). One day the Lord spoke to me from Isaiah 1:18-19 (Amplified) saying, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool." Verse 19 says, "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the Lord."
I never gave much attention to reasoning with the Lord, but only with other believers. How can I reason with the Lord? Many view God as an unreasonable Being. Others believe that God is unpredictable. Many believe that you don't dare question God. Still other Christians don't see any rhyme or reason to God. They think He did whatever He pleased and that "You can never know what God will do."
I found that the invitation God offered me from Isaiah 1:18-19 (Amplified) was something that most of us had almost ignored. God's inviting us to look into His heart and His mind and His will for us. It was God Himself offering insight into His thoughts and actions for me.
God said something to me from Isaiah 1:19 (Amplified) that I'd never thought about until He said, "If you are willing and obedient, then you shall eat the good of the land." Until that time, I had been obedient, but not always willing. I had left my home, job and all of my kin behind when I came to New York. I packed up my wife and family and left Illinois like God wanted. When I arrived in New York, I naively believed that people would want to hear what God had sent me here to say. Wrong again!
All the while, I was in New York, but things didn't seem to work out the way I'd "reasoned." Then the Lord spoke to me saying, "You have been obedient, but your will has been against Me from the time you left your home." He said that I had been like the Israelites in the wilderness whose heart and soul was still living in Egypt. They were willfully set against God's deliverance. They murmured and complained the whole time in the wilderness.
When I was a boy, most kids played a game whereby they could beat on you until you cried, "Uncle." They could make you say, "Uncle," but they couldn't make you mean it. I was being obedient by my works of the flesh and left home, but my spirit (my heart) was still "down home in Illinois. I complained about the weather being 35 degrees below zero. I complained about the people being cold too. I complained about the wages I was being paid. I was obedient, but I wasn't willing.
I'd never thought of them as separate acts because I always just read them together in the scriptures. I began seeing that reasoning with God was very different than reasoning with men. God didn't compromise on what He said and He never made excuses for what He said.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (Amplified) says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord, For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."
God wasn't saying this in boasting and arrogance, but in fact. What He intended us to do was "reason with Him in His reasoning, to think with Him in His thoughts and to know His ways, which are higher than our ways." In other words, I was to reason with Him in His reasonings, thoughts and ways, not with man's reasonings, thoughts and ways.
Man's way of reasoning is to look at both sides of a situation and create a way of making it work. God's way of reasoning is to look at one side (God's side) and then to judge and decide according to His Word. His ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts, so we need to elevate our way of thinking and not bring down His way of thinking to our level.
We can clearly see mans way of reasoning in all spiritual things in Mark 8:15-16 (Amplified) which says, "Jesus (repeatedly and expressly) charged and admonished them (the disciples), saying, Look out, keep on your guard and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod and the Herodians." Verse 16 says, "And they discussed and reasoned with one another; it is because we have no bread."
Finally, Jesus explained how it was the doctrine of the Pharisees that He was speaking about and then He reminded them about the loaves and the fishes. Jesus asked the disciples how they could think He was worried about not having enough bread after He fed 5,000 men along with women and children with 5 loaves of bread? It was the religious doctrine of the Pharisees that was the leaven Jesus spoke of. Can you see how sometimes reasonable people can come up with unreasonable answers to spiritual things?
When we "reason" with our own understanding, we always miss the mark of the truth of God's Word. It seems reasonable to men that healing, tongues, casting out demons and anything that is spiritual, really isn't reasonable without, "Come reason with the Lord."
I still admired and looked at these men admiringly (even Christian men). One day the Lord spoke to me from Isaiah 1:18-19 (Amplified) saying, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool." Verse 19 says, "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the Lord."
I never gave much attention to reasoning with the Lord, but only with other believers. How can I reason with the Lord? Many view God as an unreasonable Being. Others believe that God is unpredictable. Many believe that you don't dare question God. Still other Christians don't see any rhyme or reason to God. They think He did whatever He pleased and that "You can never know what God will do."
I found that the invitation God offered me from Isaiah 1:18-19 (Amplified) was something that most of us had almost ignored. God's inviting us to look into His heart and His mind and His will for us. It was God Himself offering insight into His thoughts and actions for me.
God said something to me from Isaiah 1:19 (Amplified) that I'd never thought about until He said, "If you are willing and obedient, then you shall eat the good of the land." Until that time, I had been obedient, but not always willing. I had left my home, job and all of my kin behind when I came to New York. I packed up my wife and family and left Illinois like God wanted. When I arrived in New York, I naively believed that people would want to hear what God had sent me here to say. Wrong again!
All the while, I was in New York, but things didn't seem to work out the way I'd "reasoned." Then the Lord spoke to me saying, "You have been obedient, but your will has been against Me from the time you left your home." He said that I had been like the Israelites in the wilderness whose heart and soul was still living in Egypt. They were willfully set against God's deliverance. They murmured and complained the whole time in the wilderness.
When I was a boy, most kids played a game whereby they could beat on you until you cried, "Uncle." They could make you say, "Uncle," but they couldn't make you mean it. I was being obedient by my works of the flesh and left home, but my spirit (my heart) was still "down home in Illinois. I complained about the weather being 35 degrees below zero. I complained about the people being cold too. I complained about the wages I was being paid. I was obedient, but I wasn't willing.
I'd never thought of them as separate acts because I always just read them together in the scriptures. I began seeing that reasoning with God was very different than reasoning with men. God didn't compromise on what He said and He never made excuses for what He said.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (Amplified) says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord, For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."
God wasn't saying this in boasting and arrogance, but in fact. What He intended us to do was "reason with Him in His reasoning, to think with Him in His thoughts and to know His ways, which are higher than our ways." In other words, I was to reason with Him in His reasonings, thoughts and ways, not with man's reasonings, thoughts and ways.
Man's way of reasoning is to look at both sides of a situation and create a way of making it work. God's way of reasoning is to look at one side (God's side) and then to judge and decide according to His Word. His ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts, so we need to elevate our way of thinking and not bring down His way of thinking to our level.
We can clearly see mans way of reasoning in all spiritual things in Mark 8:15-16 (Amplified) which says, "Jesus (repeatedly and expressly) charged and admonished them (the disciples), saying, Look out, keep on your guard and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod and the Herodians." Verse 16 says, "And they discussed and reasoned with one another; it is because we have no bread."
Finally, Jesus explained how it was the doctrine of the Pharisees that He was speaking about and then He reminded them about the loaves and the fishes. Jesus asked the disciples how they could think He was worried about not having enough bread after He fed 5,000 men along with women and children with 5 loaves of bread? It was the religious doctrine of the Pharisees that was the leaven Jesus spoke of. Can you see how sometimes reasonable people can come up with unreasonable answers to spiritual things?
When we "reason" with our own understanding, we always miss the mark of the truth of God's Word. It seems reasonable to men that healing, tongues, casting out demons and anything that is spiritual, really isn't reasonable without, "Come reason with the Lord."
Friday, August 1, 2014
Lesson 10 The Holy Spirit and the Church
We've concluded in these studies that the Holy Spirit is to be the Teacher of the Church. Even born again men who are not led by the Holy Spirit will bring God's people back to bondage with man made doctrines. When we're not led by the Holy Spirit, we remain babies in Christ instead of growing to be mature men. Hebrews 5:12-14 (Amplified) says that, "For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God's Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food." Verse 13 continues, "For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought and action) for he is a mere infant (not able to talk yet)." Verse 14 says, "But solid food is for full grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law."
Paul is speaking here to Christians who haven't listened to the Holy Spirit, but are still led by the carnal, unrenewed mind of the natural man. He continued in Hebrews 6:1-3 (Amplified) saying, "Therefore let us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrines of Christ (the Messiah) advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again by laying the foundation of repentance and of dead works (dead formalism) and the faith (by which you turned to God)." Verses 2-3 say, "With teachings about purifying, the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment and punishment (these are all matters of which you should have been fully aware, long long ago). If indeed God permits, we will (now) proceed (to advanced teaching)."
These weren't just the congregations, but the minister Paul was addressing. When we attend church, we should be in a place of peace and surety. We seem to remove the armor of God, kick off the shoes of the Gospel of peace and lay down our shields when we're at church. We open our spirit to what's being said to us and everything preached goes in unfiltered. Few will discern whether what's being said is from the carnal man or from the Holy Spirit. We should be in a safety zone at church, but we need to be aware of what's being said.
Jesus spoke the parable of the sower in Mark 4:24 (Amplified) saying, "And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure (of thought and study) you give (of virtue and knowledge) that comes back to you-and more (besides) will be given to you who hear."
Jesus said to, "Be careful what you hear!" Romans 10:17 (Amplified) says, "So faith comes by hearing (what is told)." This scripture is talking about our faith in God and how faith comes by hearing God's Word. The principal also works in anything else. Faith in communism comes by hearing communism preached. Faith in Hitler came by hearing what he preached. Faith in anything else come by hearing whatever is preached, told, or spoken enough times. And, if we listen to it, then it will be what we now believe (even if it isn't true).
In Mark 4:14 (Amplified), Jesus said that, "The sower sows the Word!" So, words are seeds and the heart (or spirit) of man is the soil. In this case, the seed (Word) that was being sown is the Word of God. What if the seeds (words) being sown are not the Word of God? If your heart (spirit) is the good soil, then it will grow whatever you sow into it. The earth has no way to discriminate what seed goes into it. The earth will grow weeds just as quickly (or more quickly) than it will grow corn.
If our hearts (spirits) are born again, then it is good soil. It will now grow whatever is sown into it. It will grow fear, doubt, unbelief, dead formalisms and whatever else you allowed be sown in it. That is why Jesus admonished, "Be careful what you are hearing." An unrenewed minds will read the spiritual Word of God and remove the revelation from it, leaving only the carnal thoughts to guide them. This always leads to condemnation, feelings of unworthiness, fear of God and doubt when we pray because we still see ourselves through man's eyes and not God's eyes.
Romans 12:2 (Amplified) says, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age) (fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs) but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude) so that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God; even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)."
If we do not allow the Holy Spirit to renew our mind (our old carnal way of thinking), then even though we're born again, we will continue thinking on and in the same manner we did before being saved. When reading the Word, the carnally minded man will still identify with the old, sinful man and not with the new being he's become.
Do you remember when Peter was up on the roof of his home and received a vision from God? God lowered a sheet down to Peter by the four corners of the sheet. Acts 10:11-16 (Amplified) says, "And he (Peter) saw the sky opened and something like a great sheet lowered by the four corners, descended to the earth. Verses 13-14 say, "It contained all kinds of quadrupeds and wild beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him, saying, Rise up, Peter, kill and eat. But Peter said, No, by no means, Lord; For I have never eaten anything that is common and unhallowed or (ceremonially) unclean." Verse 15 says, "And the voice came to him again a second time, What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, do not you defile and profane by regarding and calling common and unhallowed or unclean."
Listen carefully to what I wish to say to you in this next sentence. If God has cleansed you by His Blood, has pronounced you clean and pure, has declared you to be the "Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and has declared you clean from all unrighteousness, then He would say unto you what He said unto Peter. God would say, "Do not defile and profane by regarding and calling common and unhallowed or unclean, what God has cleansed."
We refer to ourselves (by the carnal mind), as "old sinners"," unworthy", "just pilgrims" and say how "non are righteous, no not one." God said, "Don't call unclean, what I have made clean." God says, "Don't call yourself a sinner if I have declared you righteous." And, He says, "Do not defile and profane what I have pronounced clean and good."
The carnal (unrenewed) mind of man will still run by feelings and by guilt. The renewed mind (the mind of the Holy Spirit) will rise above the old man and receive himself as "that which God has made clean and cleansed by His Own sacrifice." We fail to realize that when referring to ourselves as unclean and unrighteous and sinners saved by grace, we're actually defiling and profaning what God declares clean and righteous.
This sounds slightly different when viewed from God's point of view, doesn't it? It sounded good and right to Peter when he said to God, "Not so Lord, I won't partake of anything unclean." As a man who was raised under the Law, Peter's response sounded correct. What Peter failed to see, was what the Holy Spirit had to say about it. To those of us who raised under denominations and churches that were taught by carnally minded men, it sounds right to us to say, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" and "None are righteous, no not one."
We forgot that the Holy Spirit is telling us that we've been made righteous by Jesus' righteousness and we have been cleansed from all unrighteousness through Jesus. You are not unclean and profane, because God has cleansed us.
Paul is speaking here to Christians who haven't listened to the Holy Spirit, but are still led by the carnal, unrenewed mind of the natural man. He continued in Hebrews 6:1-3 (Amplified) saying, "Therefore let us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrines of Christ (the Messiah) advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again by laying the foundation of repentance and of dead works (dead formalism) and the faith (by which you turned to God)." Verses 2-3 say, "With teachings about purifying, the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment and punishment (these are all matters of which you should have been fully aware, long long ago). If indeed God permits, we will (now) proceed (to advanced teaching)."
These weren't just the congregations, but the minister Paul was addressing. When we attend church, we should be in a place of peace and surety. We seem to remove the armor of God, kick off the shoes of the Gospel of peace and lay down our shields when we're at church. We open our spirit to what's being said to us and everything preached goes in unfiltered. Few will discern whether what's being said is from the carnal man or from the Holy Spirit. We should be in a safety zone at church, but we need to be aware of what's being said.
Jesus spoke the parable of the sower in Mark 4:24 (Amplified) saying, "And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure (of thought and study) you give (of virtue and knowledge) that comes back to you-and more (besides) will be given to you who hear."
Jesus said to, "Be careful what you hear!" Romans 10:17 (Amplified) says, "So faith comes by hearing (what is told)." This scripture is talking about our faith in God and how faith comes by hearing God's Word. The principal also works in anything else. Faith in communism comes by hearing communism preached. Faith in Hitler came by hearing what he preached. Faith in anything else come by hearing whatever is preached, told, or spoken enough times. And, if we listen to it, then it will be what we now believe (even if it isn't true).
In Mark 4:14 (Amplified), Jesus said that, "The sower sows the Word!" So, words are seeds and the heart (or spirit) of man is the soil. In this case, the seed (Word) that was being sown is the Word of God. What if the seeds (words) being sown are not the Word of God? If your heart (spirit) is the good soil, then it will grow whatever you sow into it. The earth has no way to discriminate what seed goes into it. The earth will grow weeds just as quickly (or more quickly) than it will grow corn.
If our hearts (spirits) are born again, then it is good soil. It will now grow whatever is sown into it. It will grow fear, doubt, unbelief, dead formalisms and whatever else you allowed be sown in it. That is why Jesus admonished, "Be careful what you are hearing." An unrenewed minds will read the spiritual Word of God and remove the revelation from it, leaving only the carnal thoughts to guide them. This always leads to condemnation, feelings of unworthiness, fear of God and doubt when we pray because we still see ourselves through man's eyes and not God's eyes.
Romans 12:2 (Amplified) says, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age) (fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs) but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude) so that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God; even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)."
If we do not allow the Holy Spirit to renew our mind (our old carnal way of thinking), then even though we're born again, we will continue thinking on and in the same manner we did before being saved. When reading the Word, the carnally minded man will still identify with the old, sinful man and not with the new being he's become.
Do you remember when Peter was up on the roof of his home and received a vision from God? God lowered a sheet down to Peter by the four corners of the sheet. Acts 10:11-16 (Amplified) says, "And he (Peter) saw the sky opened and something like a great sheet lowered by the four corners, descended to the earth. Verses 13-14 say, "It contained all kinds of quadrupeds and wild beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him, saying, Rise up, Peter, kill and eat. But Peter said, No, by no means, Lord; For I have never eaten anything that is common and unhallowed or (ceremonially) unclean." Verse 15 says, "And the voice came to him again a second time, What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, do not you defile and profane by regarding and calling common and unhallowed or unclean."
Listen carefully to what I wish to say to you in this next sentence. If God has cleansed you by His Blood, has pronounced you clean and pure, has declared you to be the "Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and has declared you clean from all unrighteousness, then He would say unto you what He said unto Peter. God would say, "Do not defile and profane by regarding and calling common and unhallowed or unclean, what God has cleansed."
We refer to ourselves (by the carnal mind), as "old sinners"," unworthy", "just pilgrims" and say how "non are righteous, no not one." God said, "Don't call unclean, what I have made clean." God says, "Don't call yourself a sinner if I have declared you righteous." And, He says, "Do not defile and profane what I have pronounced clean and good."
The carnal (unrenewed) mind of man will still run by feelings and by guilt. The renewed mind (the mind of the Holy Spirit) will rise above the old man and receive himself as "that which God has made clean and cleansed by His Own sacrifice." We fail to realize that when referring to ourselves as unclean and unrighteous and sinners saved by grace, we're actually defiling and profaning what God declares clean and righteous.
This sounds slightly different when viewed from God's point of view, doesn't it? It sounded good and right to Peter when he said to God, "Not so Lord, I won't partake of anything unclean." As a man who was raised under the Law, Peter's response sounded correct. What Peter failed to see, was what the Holy Spirit had to say about it. To those of us who raised under denominations and churches that were taught by carnally minded men, it sounds right to us to say, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" and "None are righteous, no not one."
We forgot that the Holy Spirit is telling us that we've been made righteous by Jesus' righteousness and we have been cleansed from all unrighteousness through Jesus. You are not unclean and profane, because God has cleansed us.
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