As we learn to listen and be led by the Holy Spirit in this dispensation, we are finding that they mysteries of the Father are being revealed more and more. As the End of the Church Age approaches, there are things that have been appointed to be revealed for only this time. We now have access to some things the Father has held in reserve for only this time.
We, the Church, are faced with a ministry we've never been faced with before. We are to "go into the byways and see to if that the Father's house is full." We are now the "laborers of the harvest" and the harvest is more plentiful than ever before.
The persecution of the Church has intensified, but we also see the "grace that is sufficient for thee" being revealed. His grace is still sufficient for all of our needs. The Word says that, "Where iniquity abounds, the grace of God does much more abound." It's vital that in this day and age, for us to be open to the Voice and Leading of the Holy Spirit.
The present day ministry of the Holy Spirit is critical and we, the Church, must listen carefully to the "Still small voice" that is leading us more than ever before.
Throughout the years, we've had many men and women of God who heard what most seemed to miss. Those days are coming to a close. The time of the Church "Superstars" is about to end and each person is going to have to hear for themselves. We've become accustomed to the T.V. ministries or the pastors building the Church. Now, the Holy Spirit is going to build it like never before. The common folks in the Church will be like the seventy that Jesus sent out. He still has other sheep who aren't of the same fellowship or denomination who are anointed.
The Father is making the gifts and ministry of the Holy Spirit available to all who will receive Him. The power of intercession and the anointing for healings and miracles is being made available to the Church on a scale never seen before. We have the "catching up of the Church" and the completing of the Body of Christ like never before.
I had the privilege of meeting a young man the other morning and revealing and leading him to Jesus. I wasn't trying to push him into a certain denomination, but was making him a child of God. As I simply allowed the Holy Spirit to "Light" my words to him, I witnessed the transformation of his countenance and saw the change in his eyes.
We seem to want counseling and classes to lead someone to Christ, but Jesus just goes into the darkness and brings light into a new believer. We try making becoming born again so difficult and miss God's simple plan. We were never meant to be the Savior when leading someone to Jesus. We simply reveal Jesus the Savior to them and the Holy Spirit will complete the rest.
When I came to the Lord, He never told me how to walk with Him. He simply told me to follow Him. My walk was His walk. The Lord is my Shepherd and He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake. He never told me to stop smoking, drinking or cursing. He simply told me to "Follow Him." And, as I followed Him, the other things simply ceased to be part of my life.
I've found that listening to the world's advice on following Him made it harder to do so and that listening to the Holy Spirit makes it much easier. The more I tried to become righteous through my own works, the more difficult my walk with God became. I finally learned how to receive righteousness from Him and stop trying to make my own righteousness.
Today, many are still trying to do what God has already given us and made us to be. I heard a quote from Dr. Seuss at our recent preschool graduation that said, "Just be yourself, everyone else is already taken." We need to just be who the Father created us to be. We are all unique in our own right. You are in a place to reach other people that no one else is in. There are people you live with, are related to, work with and deal with who are only people only unique to your witness.
Trust the Holy Spirit to speak through you and move through you to bring those people into relationship with Jesus. Don't be concerned about who they are or what they do, just trust Him to change them,. Each person is different and require what only the Holy Spirit knows about them to change them.
We cannot organize sinners into Christians, only the Holy Spirit can fit the Body of Christ together properly. We have sometimes organized the Holy Spirit out of a job in our own churches. No one organized the Day of Pentecost, it just came. And, when it came, more people were saved in five minutes than the Scribes and Pharisees ever did. After that day, the disciples trusted in the Holy Spirit for all the work that was to be done.
Once, when Peter tried organizing things concerning the Gentiles, the Holy Spirit simply "fell" on Cornelius ad his entire household and did what Peter thought wasn't obtainable. The revelation of the grace and salvation of God reached much farther than man believed it reached. Acts 10:34 (Amplified) says, "And Peter opened his mouth and said; Most certainly and thoroughly I now perceive and understand that God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons."
God "Would that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of Him and that none should perish." Sometimes, we have unspoken things in our lives that are out of reach for people to change, but the Holy Spirit can and will change them. There are some who are always "at a loss for words" and no one would believe they could preach, but God says they're good candidates for becoming Apostles. We need to listen to the Holy Spirit and let Him "Guide us into all truth."
Do not be deceived into thinking we have it "all figured out." God has things we have never seen or heard yet and they will not only change others, but us too. The "Secret things belong to God," but everything the Father has is now made available to those who have "ears to hear."
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
Lesson 43 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Everyone falls down when first beginning to walk...that's how we learn. We will make mistakes and "fall down" when learning to walk in the Spirit, but that's how we learn. A baby who falls down while first learning to walk will eventually learn from his mistake and will walk. He will need to learn many things as he grows into a mature man, but he will arrive. Parents do not disown their child because he hasn't learned to walk or feed himself yet. They are patient and carry and feed him until then. Is our Heavenly Father any different?
Don't condemn yourself for making mistakes while you are growing in God's family. Like you were born of the flesh and needed to learn how to mature, so it is in the Spirit. We must not quit when we fall down, but we need to get back up and continue learning how to walk with God. The more we learn about what is expected of us and how our Father expects us to live, the easier it becomes to walk upright before Him.
The old saying that, "You never know what God will do," is not true. If we will listen to the Holy Spirit, then He will teach us what God will do. We find how God wants us to know and understand His will and His heart, by the Holy Spirit in 1Corinthians 2:9-10.
We constantly try to improve our righteousness by works. We should abstain from sin and live right before God, but we don't do this to become righteous. We do these things to honor the Gift of Righteousness that has been bestowed upon us by the sacrifice of Jesus. If we walk now in His righteousness, then how can we improve on that?
The religious, carnal mind tells us it's boastful to say we're righteous, but to the Spirit it rings of faith and of truth. We wouldn't dream of coming to God and telling Him that, "Jesus' sacrifice wasn't enough to cleanse us" and that, "We must work for our salvation." But, when we act like our salvation still depends on our own works, we are saying that very thing.
I'm not saying that now grace has come, we can live in any manner we wish and still be saved. But, in order to honor what Jesus has done on my behalf, I will live right before Him. If I make a mistake (and I probably will), then the Blood still covers me and I am still in right standing with God, because of Jesus. It's not my right standing that I have faith in, but His. I don't have to be born again every time I miss the mark. I only need to be born again one time and then I will grow up in truth. 1Corinthians 2:9-10 (Amplified) says, "But on the contrary, as the scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not hear and has not entered into the heart of man (all that) God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him (who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed" . Verse 10 says, "Yet to us, God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the Holy Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God (the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny)."
The Holy Spirit wants to show us all the things that were in the heart of the Father from the very beginning. This only comes by allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal them to us. Man couldn't see, hear or even get into his heart, the truth of the goodness of God's plan for His family. Only the Holy Spirit can show us these things.
This is not at all saying that those who don't know these things are not "the redeemed of the Lord." If we are still only seeking and understanding as mere men, we will never learn how to walk with God as our Father. We will continue in the age old traditions we walked in before. Paul writes in Hebrews 5:11-14 (Amplified), "Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your (spiritual) hearing and even (sluggish, slothful in achieving spiritual insight). For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you all over again the very first principles of God's Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food." Verses 13-14 go on, "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). 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."
We have many laws in America that are contrary to divine law and the men of God should be able to distinguish between these by the Holy Spirit. Just because a law is passed, doesn't mean it will coincide with divine law and God's principles.
Don't condemn yourself for making mistakes while you are growing in God's family. Like you were born of the flesh and needed to learn how to mature, so it is in the Spirit. We must not quit when we fall down, but we need to get back up and continue learning how to walk with God. The more we learn about what is expected of us and how our Father expects us to live, the easier it becomes to walk upright before Him.
The old saying that, "You never know what God will do," is not true. If we will listen to the Holy Spirit, then He will teach us what God will do. We find how God wants us to know and understand His will and His heart, by the Holy Spirit in 1Corinthians 2:9-10.
We constantly try to improve our righteousness by works. We should abstain from sin and live right before God, but we don't do this to become righteous. We do these things to honor the Gift of Righteousness that has been bestowed upon us by the sacrifice of Jesus. If we walk now in His righteousness, then how can we improve on that?
The religious, carnal mind tells us it's boastful to say we're righteous, but to the Spirit it rings of faith and of truth. We wouldn't dream of coming to God and telling Him that, "Jesus' sacrifice wasn't enough to cleanse us" and that, "We must work for our salvation." But, when we act like our salvation still depends on our own works, we are saying that very thing.
I'm not saying that now grace has come, we can live in any manner we wish and still be saved. But, in order to honor what Jesus has done on my behalf, I will live right before Him. If I make a mistake (and I probably will), then the Blood still covers me and I am still in right standing with God, because of Jesus. It's not my right standing that I have faith in, but His. I don't have to be born again every time I miss the mark. I only need to be born again one time and then I will grow up in truth. 1Corinthians 2:9-10 (Amplified) says, "But on the contrary, as the scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not hear and has not entered into the heart of man (all that) God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him (who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed" . Verse 10 says, "Yet to us, God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the Holy Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God (the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny)."
The Holy Spirit wants to show us all the things that were in the heart of the Father from the very beginning. This only comes by allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal them to us. Man couldn't see, hear or even get into his heart, the truth of the goodness of God's plan for His family. Only the Holy Spirit can show us these things.
This is not at all saying that those who don't know these things are not "the redeemed of the Lord." If we are still only seeking and understanding as mere men, we will never learn how to walk with God as our Father. We will continue in the age old traditions we walked in before. Paul writes in Hebrews 5:11-14 (Amplified), "Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your (spiritual) hearing and even (sluggish, slothful in achieving spiritual insight). For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you all over again the very first principles of God's Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food." Verses 13-14 go on, "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). 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."
We have many laws in America that are contrary to divine law and the men of God should be able to distinguish between these by the Holy Spirit. Just because a law is passed, doesn't mean it will coincide with divine law and God's principles.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Lesson 42 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Today, when reading the Word, we must determine if we're already saved and are reading God's Word as the redeemed of the Lord or are we reading it as still sinners? Even if you are saved, but continue reading the Word and see yourself as still a sinner, then you'll miss the grace and blessing of your inheritance.
1Corinthians 6:11 (Amplified) says, "And such some of your were (once), But you were washed clean (purified) (b a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified (pronounced righteous by trusting) in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit of our God."
The Body of Christ has read and continues reading the Word like we were still sinners and unrighteous before God. If you've received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you need to begin looking at God's Own Words concerning who you are now and not who you were before you were saved.
Only the Holy Spirit can reveal to you who you are in the light of your redemption. We have received total forgiveness and righteousness by the Blood and life of Jesus. If we read the Word in the carnal mind and with mere human understanding, then we will still see our own shortcomings. When you read the Word by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, you see yourself as the Father sees you because of Jesus.
This makes all the difference in how your faith will work on such things as laying hands on the sick and prayer. If you still see yourself as the dead unsaved man, then you won't have confidence in what you're doing or praying. Why would God even hear us if we were still dead sinners? If you see yourself as the new creation that Jesus' sacrifice has made you, then you'll see how "old things have passed away, and behold, all things have been made new. He that knew no sin was made to be sin for us, that we were made the righteousness of God, in Him," like 2Corinthians 5:17-21 (Amplified) tells us.
Without the Holy Spirit revealing the truth of this scripture to you, you will only read it "religiously" and not in truth. We always confess how we believe this scripture as truth and then we add a "but" to it after reading it. We say, "Well Brother, I know that's what the Word says, but you know that we still make mistakes and we're still not perfect." Or we say, "You know Brother, that we still sin and aren't righteous after all." The Holy Spirit is not the One telling you this, it's the spirit of the world. The Holy Spirit will always reveal you in the light of the cross and not the way you used to be.
The Holy Spirit speaks through Paul in 2Corinthians 5:14-16 (Amplified) and shows us how the Father sees us and the we are are to see ourselves and and one another and Jesus. Thus, Paul says, "(For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that 9if) One died for all, the all died. And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake." Verse 16 goes on, "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a (purely) human point of view ( in terms of natural standards of value). (No), even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now (we have such knowledge of Him that) we know Him no longer (in terms of the flesh)."
This scripture can only be revealed and received in it's truth, if we allow the Holy Spirit to do so. The old natural man will say "It's boastful and prideful to think of yourself as being righteous before God." It's not what we have done, but what Jesus has done on our behalf. It's prideful to refuse seeing yourself as what Jesus has made you to be. It's like telling God that what Jesus did wasn't enough to cleanse us from sin and make us righteous. If Jesus wasn't enough to cleanse us, then what do we have left that can do it?
We confess that we've been forgiven, made new and were born again, then we speak contrary to that in the next breath. By faith in the Blood and sacrifice of Jesus, were are made us righteous before God. We must believe this as true in order to ever come before a righteous God. We can never accomplish this on our own through rituals, works or religion. It's only by faith in Jesus.
Without the Holy Spirit to reveal the depth of what Jesus has done, we differ very little from the old covenant people and we try to become what the Blood has accomplished already for us. We can never gain by "works" what grace has provided by "faith."
We continually try improving on our righteousness by our own works. We should abstain from sinning and live right before God, but not to gain righteousness. We should do this to honor the Gift of Righteousness that has been bestowed upon us by Jesus' sacrifice. If it's His righteousness that we now have, then how can we improve upon that?
The religious, carnal mind says it's boasting to say we're righteous, but to the Spirit of God, it rings of faith and truth. We wouldn't dream of coming before God and say that Jesus' sacrifice wasn't enough to cleanse us and we must work for salvation. But, when we act like our salvation still depends on our own works, we are saying the same thing.
I'm not saying that now grace has come, we can live in any way we want to. I will live right before God in order to honor what Jesus has done for me. If I make a mistake (and I probably will), then the Blood of Jesus covers me and I am still in right standing with God, because of Jesus. It's not my right standing that I have faith in, but His. I don't have to be born again every time I miss the mark, I need only to be born again one time and then grow up in truth.
1Corinthians 6:11 (Amplified) says, "And such some of your were (once), But you were washed clean (purified) (b a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified (pronounced righteous by trusting) in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit of our God."
The Body of Christ has read and continues reading the Word like we were still sinners and unrighteous before God. If you've received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you need to begin looking at God's Own Words concerning who you are now and not who you were before you were saved.
Only the Holy Spirit can reveal to you who you are in the light of your redemption. We have received total forgiveness and righteousness by the Blood and life of Jesus. If we read the Word in the carnal mind and with mere human understanding, then we will still see our own shortcomings. When you read the Word by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, you see yourself as the Father sees you because of Jesus.
This makes all the difference in how your faith will work on such things as laying hands on the sick and prayer. If you still see yourself as the dead unsaved man, then you won't have confidence in what you're doing or praying. Why would God even hear us if we were still dead sinners? If you see yourself as the new creation that Jesus' sacrifice has made you, then you'll see how "old things have passed away, and behold, all things have been made new. He that knew no sin was made to be sin for us, that we were made the righteousness of God, in Him," like 2Corinthians 5:17-21 (Amplified) tells us.
Without the Holy Spirit revealing the truth of this scripture to you, you will only read it "religiously" and not in truth. We always confess how we believe this scripture as truth and then we add a "but" to it after reading it. We say, "Well Brother, I know that's what the Word says, but you know that we still make mistakes and we're still not perfect." Or we say, "You know Brother, that we still sin and aren't righteous after all." The Holy Spirit is not the One telling you this, it's the spirit of the world. The Holy Spirit will always reveal you in the light of the cross and not the way you used to be.
The Holy Spirit speaks through Paul in 2Corinthians 5:14-16 (Amplified) and shows us how the Father sees us and the we are are to see ourselves and and one another and Jesus. Thus, Paul says, "(For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that 9if) One died for all, the all died. And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake." Verse 16 goes on, "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a (purely) human point of view ( in terms of natural standards of value). (No), even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now (we have such knowledge of Him that) we know Him no longer (in terms of the flesh)."
This scripture can only be revealed and received in it's truth, if we allow the Holy Spirit to do so. The old natural man will say "It's boastful and prideful to think of yourself as being righteous before God." It's not what we have done, but what Jesus has done on our behalf. It's prideful to refuse seeing yourself as what Jesus has made you to be. It's like telling God that what Jesus did wasn't enough to cleanse us from sin and make us righteous. If Jesus wasn't enough to cleanse us, then what do we have left that can do it?
We confess that we've been forgiven, made new and were born again, then we speak contrary to that in the next breath. By faith in the Blood and sacrifice of Jesus, were are made us righteous before God. We must believe this as true in order to ever come before a righteous God. We can never accomplish this on our own through rituals, works or religion. It's only by faith in Jesus.
Without the Holy Spirit to reveal the depth of what Jesus has done, we differ very little from the old covenant people and we try to become what the Blood has accomplished already for us. We can never gain by "works" what grace has provided by "faith."
We continually try improving on our righteousness by our own works. We should abstain from sinning and live right before God, but not to gain righteousness. We should do this to honor the Gift of Righteousness that has been bestowed upon us by Jesus' sacrifice. If it's His righteousness that we now have, then how can we improve upon that?
The religious, carnal mind says it's boasting to say we're righteous, but to the Spirit of God, it rings of faith and truth. We wouldn't dream of coming before God and say that Jesus' sacrifice wasn't enough to cleanse us and we must work for salvation. But, when we act like our salvation still depends on our own works, we are saying the same thing.
I'm not saying that now grace has come, we can live in any way we want to. I will live right before God in order to honor what Jesus has done for me. If I make a mistake (and I probably will), then the Blood of Jesus covers me and I am still in right standing with God, because of Jesus. It's not my right standing that I have faith in, but His. I don't have to be born again every time I miss the mark, I need only to be born again one time and then grow up in truth.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Lesson 41 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Jesus said in John 16:13 (Amplified), "But when He, the Spirit of truth (the truth giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the truth (the whole full truth). For He will not speak His Own message (on His Own authority) but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father), (He will give the message that has been given to Him), and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future)."
Many Christians, and non-Christians alike, believe that the events in our lives are planned out like a script in a play for us to follow. The truth is that the Holy Spirit will move on us at various times and in different ways. That's why it's so very important for us to learn how to listen and yield to Him. He isn't preprogrammed to do only certain things at certain times, but "He will not speak His Own message (on His Own authority), but will tell whatever He hears from the Father."
We read about the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:25-34 (Amplified). One of the things that amazes me in this account, is that Jesus didn't know who had drawn the healing from Him. Thus, Verse 30 says, "Jesus, recognizing in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around immediately in the crowd and said, 'Who touched My clothes?'"
The Father had already made the healing available for this woman, without the foreknowledge of Jesus. Jesus had previously said that, "It's not Me Who does the work, but the Father in Me Who does the work." Jesus says the same thing about the Holy Spirit in John 16:13 (Amplified) which says that, "The Holy Spirit will not speak and do as He would of His Own free will, but only what the Father says."
We know that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all One and the same in the fullness of God, but each has a very different role from the Father. The Father will reveal through the Holy Spirit, different things in very different ways and at different times. We might not see the "faith" to be healed in a particular person, but the Father will know they have faith to be healed.
There have been many occasions where I've come to the pulpit ready to preach a certain message when the Holy Spirit will take the meeting in a completely different direction. It wasn't something He revealed to me the day or even the hour before, but only moments before. It wasn't my place to question the change in the service, but to obey His leading. I could have simply ignored His prompting and continued with my planned message, but I would have missed what the Father wanted done. It's almost without exception that every healing, miracle, deliverance and great message came from someone being led by the Holy Spirit.
His voice isn't always what we recognize as a voice, but rather is a "knowing" in your spirit. The Word shows us the difference between our own carnal mind and the mind of the Holy Spirit in Romans 8:5-14 (Amplified). Paul says in Verse 7, "(That is) because the mind of the flesh (with its carnal thoughts and purposes) is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's law, indeed it cannot."
This doesn't mean that the mind is always thinking on sinful things, but only on carnal things. I could have gone right on with my planned sermon when I got to the pulpit, but I would have missed what God had wanted me to do. The carnal mind will not submit to the Spirit. Paul goes on in Verse 14 saying, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." Paul is speaking about mature sons and not simply "Children of God." Many born again Christians are more carnal in their thinking than they are spiritual. We've somehow believed that to "think as the Spirit thinks" is weird or strange, but nothing is further from the truth.
It's true that some in the Church are "spooked" when hearing "Thus saith the Lord," but don't allow those few discourage you from flowing in the Spirit. There have been many times where the Holy Spirit moved me to pray for people in a public venue. Your carnal mind would dismiss this as being foolish and tell you you're making a spectacle of yourself, but I know it was God.
I once prayed over a little girl in a supermarket checkout line. She was deaf in both ears and her mother asked if I would pray for her. I could have easily been carnally minded and said, "Yes, I'll pray for her when I get home." But, the Holy Spirit directed me to lay hands on her right where she was. I have know idea what the other shoppers thought about this or how her mother thought about this, I only know what God thought. Today, that little girl hears perfectly from both ears. I didn't know I would be praying for her when I went shopping. I didn't know who she was, but the Father already knew and gave the message to and through the Holy Spirit.
Did I have to pray for her? No, I could have done something totally different in that instance. Would I still be saved and be a Christian if I hadn't prayed for her? Of course, but that little girl would still be deaf if I hadn't listened to the Holy Spirit. God might have sent someone else to pray for her if I refused to do so. That might or might not be true. I thank God, though, that I had the honor and privilege of being the instrument He used to perform the miracle.
So many times, we allow our own carnal thinking to interfere with the flow of the Spirit of God. Our pride gets in the way because we might appear foolish in the eyes of others. Or, there are times when we're too busy and don't take the time to obey the prompting of the Spirit. We forget that it's no longer our lives, but His life we now live. In His life, there is nothing more important than that little girl.
Many Christians, and non-Christians alike, believe that the events in our lives are planned out like a script in a play for us to follow. The truth is that the Holy Spirit will move on us at various times and in different ways. That's why it's so very important for us to learn how to listen and yield to Him. He isn't preprogrammed to do only certain things at certain times, but "He will not speak His Own message (on His Own authority), but will tell whatever He hears from the Father."
We read about the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:25-34 (Amplified). One of the things that amazes me in this account, is that Jesus didn't know who had drawn the healing from Him. Thus, Verse 30 says, "Jesus, recognizing in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around immediately in the crowd and said, 'Who touched My clothes?'"
The Father had already made the healing available for this woman, without the foreknowledge of Jesus. Jesus had previously said that, "It's not Me Who does the work, but the Father in Me Who does the work." Jesus says the same thing about the Holy Spirit in John 16:13 (Amplified) which says that, "The Holy Spirit will not speak and do as He would of His Own free will, but only what the Father says."
We know that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all One and the same in the fullness of God, but each has a very different role from the Father. The Father will reveal through the Holy Spirit, different things in very different ways and at different times. We might not see the "faith" to be healed in a particular person, but the Father will know they have faith to be healed.
There have been many occasions where I've come to the pulpit ready to preach a certain message when the Holy Spirit will take the meeting in a completely different direction. It wasn't something He revealed to me the day or even the hour before, but only moments before. It wasn't my place to question the change in the service, but to obey His leading. I could have simply ignored His prompting and continued with my planned message, but I would have missed what the Father wanted done. It's almost without exception that every healing, miracle, deliverance and great message came from someone being led by the Holy Spirit.
His voice isn't always what we recognize as a voice, but rather is a "knowing" in your spirit. The Word shows us the difference between our own carnal mind and the mind of the Holy Spirit in Romans 8:5-14 (Amplified). Paul says in Verse 7, "(That is) because the mind of the flesh (with its carnal thoughts and purposes) is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's law, indeed it cannot."
This doesn't mean that the mind is always thinking on sinful things, but only on carnal things. I could have gone right on with my planned sermon when I got to the pulpit, but I would have missed what God had wanted me to do. The carnal mind will not submit to the Spirit. Paul goes on in Verse 14 saying, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." Paul is speaking about mature sons and not simply "Children of God." Many born again Christians are more carnal in their thinking than they are spiritual. We've somehow believed that to "think as the Spirit thinks" is weird or strange, but nothing is further from the truth.
It's true that some in the Church are "spooked" when hearing "Thus saith the Lord," but don't allow those few discourage you from flowing in the Spirit. There have been many times where the Holy Spirit moved me to pray for people in a public venue. Your carnal mind would dismiss this as being foolish and tell you you're making a spectacle of yourself, but I know it was God.
I once prayed over a little girl in a supermarket checkout line. She was deaf in both ears and her mother asked if I would pray for her. I could have easily been carnally minded and said, "Yes, I'll pray for her when I get home." But, the Holy Spirit directed me to lay hands on her right where she was. I have know idea what the other shoppers thought about this or how her mother thought about this, I only know what God thought. Today, that little girl hears perfectly from both ears. I didn't know I would be praying for her when I went shopping. I didn't know who she was, but the Father already knew and gave the message to and through the Holy Spirit.
Did I have to pray for her? No, I could have done something totally different in that instance. Would I still be saved and be a Christian if I hadn't prayed for her? Of course, but that little girl would still be deaf if I hadn't listened to the Holy Spirit. God might have sent someone else to pray for her if I refused to do so. That might or might not be true. I thank God, though, that I had the honor and privilege of being the instrument He used to perform the miracle.
So many times, we allow our own carnal thinking to interfere with the flow of the Spirit of God. Our pride gets in the way because we might appear foolish in the eyes of others. Or, there are times when we're too busy and don't take the time to obey the prompting of the Spirit. We forget that it's no longer our lives, but His life we now live. In His life, there is nothing more important than that little girl.
Monday, June 22, 2015
Lesson 40 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Being led of the Spirit is much more than just being in the ministry. For many years we have looked to the pastor for our guidance and instruction, while mostly ignoring the Holy Spirit for these things. The pastor cannot always be with you, but the Holy Spirit is always present with you. It's not some weird, goose bumps kind of presence in our lives, but a gentle prompting or nudge from within that lets us know He's there.
In Galatians 6:1-10 (Amplified) the Word instructs us to always be willing to help others who have needs. This doesn't mean we're to be foolish, but always open to this. There are many times that the Holy Spirit can move on us in seemingly little things that mean so much to others. A waitress in a restaurant might need a kind word or a simple smile to help on a bad day. Sometimes, the Lord will present an opportunity for just a gentle touch or kind word. It may not seem "spiritual" to us, but to the Lord it's an opportunity to touch someone.
Galatians 6:7-8 (Amplified) say, "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside) (He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God) For whatever a man sows, that and only that is what he will reap. For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
Many read these scriptures and think they're about being in sin or away from God. These aren't only about walking in sin, but our not taking the opportunity to "sow to the Spirit." We can sow to our flesh by simply missing the appointed thing that the Spirit would use to simultaneously bless others and ourselves. The flesh is always in a hurry to do something for self rather than do for others. We see so many opportunities to help others, but then dismiss them because "Someone else will or should do it."
The Holy Spirit is the Only Person Who can be in more than one place and in all places at the same time. You might be the only person who can see a need someone has and you might be the only person who can meet that need. Galatians 6:9 (Amplified) says, "And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint."
There have been many times throughout the years, where I feel like I've let others down because I wasn't there for them when they needed me. I may have even been ministering to someone else and couldn't get to them. There are too many needs for any one person to meet at any one time in this world. Even Jesus needed to appoint other men to meet the needs around Him.
Sowing to the flesh doesn't always mean doing sinful things, but being caught up in the humanity of our every day lives. We can easily become so involved in just living our lives (work, children, home, being a parent, work, bills, etc.) that we don't seize the opportunities of the Spirit. It's not that we don't care, but we simply become "weary and faint." If everyone isn't doing what the Spirit would have them do, then there are so many needs you could easily become worn out.
Paul wrote about Epaphroditus, a disciples and friend in the ministry, in Philippians 2:26-30 (Amplified) saying, "For he has been (homesick) longing for you all and has been distressed because you had heard that he was ill. He certainly was ill (too), near to death, But God had compassion on him and not only on him but also on me, lest I should have sorrow (over him) coming upon sorrow. So I have sent him the more willingly and eagerly, that you may be gladdened at seeing him again, and that I may be the less disquieted. Welcome him (home) then in the Lord with all joy, and honor and highly appreciate men like him." Verse 30 says, For it was through working for Christ that he came so near death, risking his (very) life to complete the deficiencies in your service to me (which distance prevented you yourselves from rendering)."
This young man tried filling in for others, but "because of distance," could not. One would think that someone surely could have aided him, but there was no one. Like him, we are sometime too far away to help others. We might live in another state, city or country, but the Holy Spirit can reach the need if we will make ourselves available to Him.
We might believe that only those who are in full-time ministry are responsible for certain things. We have overlooked the fact that we are all in the full-time ministry. We might not be on the worship team or the prison ministry or an appointed task, but we should be available to do what the Holy Spirit asks of us. Ephesians 4:11-12 (Amplified) says, "His gifts were (varied He Himself appointed and gave men to us) Some to be apostles (special messengers) some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the gospel, traveling missionaries) some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers." Verse 12 goes on, "His intention was the perfecting and full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people); (that they should do) the work of ministering toward building up Christ's Body (the Church)."
Most of the ministry is not on the pulpit, but the "people" ministry. The pastor cannot go to work with you or to school with you and doesn't know the people you know and meet. Therefore, only you can be the Father's arms or comfort to certain people. This, my friend, is "Sowing to the Spirit."
In Galatians 6:1-10 (Amplified) the Word instructs us to always be willing to help others who have needs. This doesn't mean we're to be foolish, but always open to this. There are many times that the Holy Spirit can move on us in seemingly little things that mean so much to others. A waitress in a restaurant might need a kind word or a simple smile to help on a bad day. Sometimes, the Lord will present an opportunity for just a gentle touch or kind word. It may not seem "spiritual" to us, but to the Lord it's an opportunity to touch someone.
Galatians 6:7-8 (Amplified) say, "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside) (He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God) For whatever a man sows, that and only that is what he will reap. For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
Many read these scriptures and think they're about being in sin or away from God. These aren't only about walking in sin, but our not taking the opportunity to "sow to the Spirit." We can sow to our flesh by simply missing the appointed thing that the Spirit would use to simultaneously bless others and ourselves. The flesh is always in a hurry to do something for self rather than do for others. We see so many opportunities to help others, but then dismiss them because "Someone else will or should do it."
The Holy Spirit is the Only Person Who can be in more than one place and in all places at the same time. You might be the only person who can see a need someone has and you might be the only person who can meet that need. Galatians 6:9 (Amplified) says, "And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint."
There have been many times throughout the years, where I feel like I've let others down because I wasn't there for them when they needed me. I may have even been ministering to someone else and couldn't get to them. There are too many needs for any one person to meet at any one time in this world. Even Jesus needed to appoint other men to meet the needs around Him.
Sowing to the flesh doesn't always mean doing sinful things, but being caught up in the humanity of our every day lives. We can easily become so involved in just living our lives (work, children, home, being a parent, work, bills, etc.) that we don't seize the opportunities of the Spirit. It's not that we don't care, but we simply become "weary and faint." If everyone isn't doing what the Spirit would have them do, then there are so many needs you could easily become worn out.
Paul wrote about Epaphroditus, a disciples and friend in the ministry, in Philippians 2:26-30 (Amplified) saying, "For he has been (homesick) longing for you all and has been distressed because you had heard that he was ill. He certainly was ill (too), near to death, But God had compassion on him and not only on him but also on me, lest I should have sorrow (over him) coming upon sorrow. So I have sent him the more willingly and eagerly, that you may be gladdened at seeing him again, and that I may be the less disquieted. Welcome him (home) then in the Lord with all joy, and honor and highly appreciate men like him." Verse 30 says, For it was through working for Christ that he came so near death, risking his (very) life to complete the deficiencies in your service to me (which distance prevented you yourselves from rendering)."
This young man tried filling in for others, but "because of distance," could not. One would think that someone surely could have aided him, but there was no one. Like him, we are sometime too far away to help others. We might live in another state, city or country, but the Holy Spirit can reach the need if we will make ourselves available to Him.
We might believe that only those who are in full-time ministry are responsible for certain things. We have overlooked the fact that we are all in the full-time ministry. We might not be on the worship team or the prison ministry or an appointed task, but we should be available to do what the Holy Spirit asks of us. Ephesians 4:11-12 (Amplified) says, "His gifts were (varied He Himself appointed and gave men to us) Some to be apostles (special messengers) some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the gospel, traveling missionaries) some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers." Verse 12 goes on, "His intention was the perfecting and full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people); (that they should do) the work of ministering toward building up Christ's Body (the Church)."
Most of the ministry is not on the pulpit, but the "people" ministry. The pastor cannot go to work with you or to school with you and doesn't know the people you know and meet. Therefore, only you can be the Father's arms or comfort to certain people. This, my friend, is "Sowing to the Spirit."
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Lesson 39 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
James 1:8 (Amplified) says, "For being as he is a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute). (He is) unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything (he thinks, feels, decides)."
When we become double-minded about the Word of God, it effects everything in our lives. We don't know if God wants us sick or well, which is it? We don't know if God wants you blessed or poor, which is it? You don't know if we're truly righteous or not, which is it? Being double-minded keeps us from deliverance. There is no faith in a very definite "maybe." The word itself denotes doubt.
You don't need to be "puffed up in pride" to believe God's Word, even though you might be called that. Someone might not believe like you do, but that doesn't mean that you should go their way in order to be right. There are many people in the world today who do not even believe in Jesus. Are we supposed to go along with the majority or are we supposed to walk by faith in the Holy Spirit?
I know that not everyone gets healed, but my question is, "Do I have to go into the camp of those who don't get healed or do I choose to trust God for my own healing?" Romans 14:22-23 (Amplified) tells us that we don't have to stop growing in our faith and understanding simply because others might not know the same things or don't walk in what we are walking in. These things don't cause you to be any more or any less of a Christian, we are all Christians, according to Romans 14:22-23 (Amplified) which says, "Your personal convictions (on such matters) exercise (them) as in God's presence, keeping them to yourself (striving only to know the truth and obey His will). Blessed (happy, to be envied) is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves (who does not convict himself by what he chooses to do). But the man who has doubts (misgivings and uneasy conscience) about eating and then eats (perhaps because of you) stands condemned (before God) because he is not true to his convictions and he does not act from faith. For whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin (whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful)."
The above scriptures are speaking about ritual and clean or unclean things in diet, but they are also an overall portrayal of the double-minded man pertaining to his faith. If you really believe God has placed a sickness or hardship upon you, then it's difficult to trust or believe Him to deliver you from them. We get double-minded about what "wisdom" comes down from above. James 3:14-15 (Amplified) says, "But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the truth this (superficial) wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal) and even devilish (demonical)."
I believe that the Church is in one accord in our faith unto salvation in Christ Jesus. I also believe we are divided in our faith in many things about our salvation in Christ Jesus. This doesn't imply that anyone who doesn't believe like I do is not real in his/her faith. I know many Christians who speak in tongues and I know many who do not. Are they not all Christians who are saved by the Blood of Jesus? Of course, they are. I've never found anywhere in the Word that says "Only those who speak in tongues are saved." I have found, however, where "All who call upon the Name of the Lord are saved."
These teachings aren't saying that one person in the Body of Christ is more important than another, but they say that each of us as sons and daughters of God can learn and know things apart from someone else. And, we can still be humble and truthful in our faith. The work of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Jesus and the Father in all their glory to all the world. We still have many things to learn that will open numerous doors in our own fellowship with the Lord.
We must dare to allow the Holy Spirit to be our Guide and Teacher, not to set us apart, but to draws us closer in Love.
When we become double-minded about the Word of God, it effects everything in our lives. We don't know if God wants us sick or well, which is it? We don't know if God wants you blessed or poor, which is it? You don't know if we're truly righteous or not, which is it? Being double-minded keeps us from deliverance. There is no faith in a very definite "maybe." The word itself denotes doubt.
You don't need to be "puffed up in pride" to believe God's Word, even though you might be called that. Someone might not believe like you do, but that doesn't mean that you should go their way in order to be right. There are many people in the world today who do not even believe in Jesus. Are we supposed to go along with the majority or are we supposed to walk by faith in the Holy Spirit?
I know that not everyone gets healed, but my question is, "Do I have to go into the camp of those who don't get healed or do I choose to trust God for my own healing?" Romans 14:22-23 (Amplified) tells us that we don't have to stop growing in our faith and understanding simply because others might not know the same things or don't walk in what we are walking in. These things don't cause you to be any more or any less of a Christian, we are all Christians, according to Romans 14:22-23 (Amplified) which says, "Your personal convictions (on such matters) exercise (them) as in God's presence, keeping them to yourself (striving only to know the truth and obey His will). Blessed (happy, to be envied) is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves (who does not convict himself by what he chooses to do). But the man who has doubts (misgivings and uneasy conscience) about eating and then eats (perhaps because of you) stands condemned (before God) because he is not true to his convictions and he does not act from faith. For whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin (whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful)."
The above scriptures are speaking about ritual and clean or unclean things in diet, but they are also an overall portrayal of the double-minded man pertaining to his faith. If you really believe God has placed a sickness or hardship upon you, then it's difficult to trust or believe Him to deliver you from them. We get double-minded about what "wisdom" comes down from above. James 3:14-15 (Amplified) says, "But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the truth this (superficial) wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal) and even devilish (demonical)."
I believe that the Church is in one accord in our faith unto salvation in Christ Jesus. I also believe we are divided in our faith in many things about our salvation in Christ Jesus. This doesn't imply that anyone who doesn't believe like I do is not real in his/her faith. I know many Christians who speak in tongues and I know many who do not. Are they not all Christians who are saved by the Blood of Jesus? Of course, they are. I've never found anywhere in the Word that says "Only those who speak in tongues are saved." I have found, however, where "All who call upon the Name of the Lord are saved."
These teachings aren't saying that one person in the Body of Christ is more important than another, but they say that each of us as sons and daughters of God can learn and know things apart from someone else. And, we can still be humble and truthful in our faith. The work of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Jesus and the Father in all their glory to all the world. We still have many things to learn that will open numerous doors in our own fellowship with the Lord.
We must dare to allow the Holy Spirit to be our Guide and Teacher, not to set us apart, but to draws us closer in Love.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Lesson 38 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
There are so many things that the Holy Spirit has come to do in our lives, but they haven't come to completion because we either do not listen to Him or we don't know how to listen to Him. There were many who witnessed Jesus' ministry, but whose minds were set on "traditional" things and refused to hear His message. We, sometimes, have become "hard of hearing" because of what we've set our hearts and minds on.
We have put ourselves into two different camps as Christians. One camp believes that God will do it for us, while the other camp believes that God doesn't do that for everyone. We all believe that God can heal, but we also declare that "God doesn't heal everyone."
It's obvious that not everyone gets healed. We need to set our hearts and minds and choose which camp we put our faith and hearts into. Do I see myself in the "not everyone" camp or do I see myself in the "Jesus healed all who were sick" camp? It's not a matter of God can heal, because anyone who believes He is God should know there's nothing He cannot do. It's comes down to the matter of believing "Will God heal?"
James 1:1-17 (Amplified) addresses the "double-minded Christian" or a man of two minds. James speaks about various trials and tests that come into the Christian's life. The first sign of a double-minded man is his questioning, "Where do these tests come from?" Some believe that God tests them, while others do not. If it is God testing you, what do you do with the test? If it is not God Who is testing you, then what do you do with the test?
James instructs us to remain "joyful" when these trials or tests come. Paul tells the Church in Corinth the same thing. Thus, he says in 2Corinthians 12:9-10 (Amplified), "My grace (My favor and loving kindness and mercy) is enough for you (sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully); for my strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in (your) weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me." Verse 10 goes on, "So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak (in human strength) then am I (truly) strong (able, powerful in divine strength)."
Because of our being double-minded, we read this scripture and wonder whether the revelation was God or the trials and persecution was from God. Paul said in 2Corinthians 12:7 that the "Revelation of this new birth" came from Jesus and the "persecution" came from a "messenger of satan" who came to "trouble and distress" him and prevent his preaching the revelation.
Being double-minded on this subject places you in a position of "limbo." Peter brings light on the subject of trials in our lives in 1Peter 5:6-9 (Amplified) saying, "Therefore humble yourselves (demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation) under the Mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. Costing the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." Verses 8-9 go on, "Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring (in fierce hunger), seeking someone to seize upon and devour, Withstand him, be firm in faith (against his onset,-rooted, established, strong, immovable and determined) knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world."
Determining whether or not you're the double-minded man James speaks about, you need ask "Do I humble myself in my own idea of religion or do I humble myself in the Truth of God's Word?" "Who is exalting me?" Isn't it God Who exalts you" When the trials and sufferings (that affect every believer) come, isn't it "your enemy the devil?" If God is trying you, then you must submit, but if it's satan who is trying you, then you must resist him and withstand him. Being double-minded will leave you messes up in your faith.
The Holy Spirit shows us what pride is and why we're not to be prideful, in 1Peter 5:5 (Amplified)
saying, "Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the Church-giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel) clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you with humility (as a garb of a servant, so that it's covering cannot possibly stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance) toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)-and He opposes, frustrates and defeats them) but gives grace (favor and blessing) to the humble."
God doesn't hate pride because we're not believing in His goodness, but because we're trying to exalt ourselves over the brethren. God doesn't consider it pride when we believe what Jesus has done for us by faith. But, your pride can negate your faith to the point where it won't work for you in certain areas of your life.
Faith believes that God in the One Who blesses and exalts you. Wisdom (the Holy Spirit) is the One Who will reveal to you that your enemy (the devil) is to be withstood by faith. Now, let's reread James 1. If you will read this scripture with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, then you will learn how God is not the One Who is testing you, but He is the One Who delivers you from the trials and tests. Thus, Verse 5 says, "If any of you is deficient in wisdom concerning these trials, let him ask of the giving God (Who gives) to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly without reproaching or fault finding and it will be given him."
James goes on in Verses 6&7 say, "Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitation, no doubting) for the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything (he asks for) from the Lord."
James 1:5 tells us that "If we ask, then God will give liberally, without reproaching or faultfinding." In Verse 7 though, he says that "The one who wavers and is double-minded, don't let him think he will receive anything he asks for from the Lord." Which scripture is correct? Will God give wisdom liberally or not?
The question and answer isn't, "Will God give wisdom in the case of trail," but will you receive the wisdom? If you lack wisdom, then God will give it. If you wonder whether was that God and become double-minded about it, then you will not receive wisdom. God gave the wisdom, the double-minded man wouldn't believe and receive it as wisdom and wouldn't humble himself, so that God could exalt him in truth.
We have put ourselves into two different camps as Christians. One camp believes that God will do it for us, while the other camp believes that God doesn't do that for everyone. We all believe that God can heal, but we also declare that "God doesn't heal everyone."
It's obvious that not everyone gets healed. We need to set our hearts and minds and choose which camp we put our faith and hearts into. Do I see myself in the "not everyone" camp or do I see myself in the "Jesus healed all who were sick" camp? It's not a matter of God can heal, because anyone who believes He is God should know there's nothing He cannot do. It's comes down to the matter of believing "Will God heal?"
James 1:1-17 (Amplified) addresses the "double-minded Christian" or a man of two minds. James speaks about various trials and tests that come into the Christian's life. The first sign of a double-minded man is his questioning, "Where do these tests come from?" Some believe that God tests them, while others do not. If it is God testing you, what do you do with the test? If it is not God Who is testing you, then what do you do with the test?
James instructs us to remain "joyful" when these trials or tests come. Paul tells the Church in Corinth the same thing. Thus, he says in 2Corinthians 12:9-10 (Amplified), "My grace (My favor and loving kindness and mercy) is enough for you (sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully); for my strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in (your) weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me." Verse 10 goes on, "So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak (in human strength) then am I (truly) strong (able, powerful in divine strength)."
Because of our being double-minded, we read this scripture and wonder whether the revelation was God or the trials and persecution was from God. Paul said in 2Corinthians 12:7 that the "Revelation of this new birth" came from Jesus and the "persecution" came from a "messenger of satan" who came to "trouble and distress" him and prevent his preaching the revelation.
Being double-minded on this subject places you in a position of "limbo." Peter brings light on the subject of trials in our lives in 1Peter 5:6-9 (Amplified) saying, "Therefore humble yourselves (demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation) under the Mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. Costing the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." Verses 8-9 go on, "Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring (in fierce hunger), seeking someone to seize upon and devour, Withstand him, be firm in faith (against his onset,-rooted, established, strong, immovable and determined) knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world."
Determining whether or not you're the double-minded man James speaks about, you need ask "Do I humble myself in my own idea of religion or do I humble myself in the Truth of God's Word?" "Who is exalting me?" Isn't it God Who exalts you" When the trials and sufferings (that affect every believer) come, isn't it "your enemy the devil?" If God is trying you, then you must submit, but if it's satan who is trying you, then you must resist him and withstand him. Being double-minded will leave you messes up in your faith.
The Holy Spirit shows us what pride is and why we're not to be prideful, in 1Peter 5:5 (Amplified)
saying, "Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the Church-giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel) clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you with humility (as a garb of a servant, so that it's covering cannot possibly stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance) toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)-and He opposes, frustrates and defeats them) but gives grace (favor and blessing) to the humble."
God doesn't hate pride because we're not believing in His goodness, but because we're trying to exalt ourselves over the brethren. God doesn't consider it pride when we believe what Jesus has done for us by faith. But, your pride can negate your faith to the point where it won't work for you in certain areas of your life.
Faith believes that God in the One Who blesses and exalts you. Wisdom (the Holy Spirit) is the One Who will reveal to you that your enemy (the devil) is to be withstood by faith. Now, let's reread James 1. If you will read this scripture with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, then you will learn how God is not the One Who is testing you, but He is the One Who delivers you from the trials and tests. Thus, Verse 5 says, "If any of you is deficient in wisdom concerning these trials, let him ask of the giving God (Who gives) to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly without reproaching or fault finding and it will be given him."
James goes on in Verses 6&7 say, "Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitation, no doubting) for the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything (he asks for) from the Lord."
James 1:5 tells us that "If we ask, then God will give liberally, without reproaching or faultfinding." In Verse 7 though, he says that "The one who wavers and is double-minded, don't let him think he will receive anything he asks for from the Lord." Which scripture is correct? Will God give wisdom liberally or not?
The question and answer isn't, "Will God give wisdom in the case of trail," but will you receive the wisdom? If you lack wisdom, then God will give it. If you wonder whether was that God and become double-minded about it, then you will not receive wisdom. God gave the wisdom, the double-minded man wouldn't believe and receive it as wisdom and wouldn't humble himself, so that God could exalt him in truth.
Friday, June 12, 2015
Lesson 37 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
John 15:26 (Amplified) says, "But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Stand-by) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, The Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He (Himself) will testify of Me."
The Holy Spirit will Ally Himself with those who will allow Him into their lives. He is the One Who is continuing the work of Jesus and the Father here on earth. We often think that Jesus completed His work on earth and is exclusively working in His heavenly ministry now. Nothing can be further from the truth, though. Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit are all One in One, so the work Jesus was doing on earth has never diminished.
While Jesus was on earth, He could only be in one place at a time, but now He is Omnipresent through the Holy Spirit. We are a new creations, born of God and are His children, through the Holy Spirit. Now, through the Name of Jesus, Who is our Mediator between God and man, we have unlimited, infinite access to the Throne of Grace at any and all times.
Many people speak at length about Job's sufferings and use that as an excuse for tribulating and blaming God for all their hard times. Job said something in Job 9:32-35 (Amplified) that applies to us in these last days. Thus, he said, "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 (Mediator) between us and God who might lay his hand upon us both, (would that we were) That He might take His rod away from (threatening) me. (Then) would I speak and not fear Him, but I am not so in myself (to take me afraid, were only a fair trial given me)."
As New Testament children, we have an Umpire and Mediator in the Man Jesus Christ. 1Timothy 2:5 (Amplified) tells us, "For there (is only) One God and (Only) One Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus." We have the Umpire Job was lacking and we have no need to fear our Heavenly Father or hold back from speaking to Him on our behalf.
Jesus said in John 16:26-27 (Amplified), "At that time you will ask (pray) in My Name; and I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf (for it will be unnecessary) For the Father Himself (tenderly) loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from the Father."
Too many times, we view ourselves as being no different than the Old Testament people. We struggle trying to find ways to get God's attention and hear us, then we feel like Job and repeat his words that, "The Umpire is not a mere man as I man, that I should petition Him." Job never had an umpire or mediator on his side, but we do in Jesus. Job was just a "mere man," like he said, but we are no longer "mere men," but new creatures in Christ because of Jesus.
We need not rely on the sacrifices of bulls and goats like Job offered to appease God. We have a sacrifice Who is already acceptable and pleasing to God...Jesus. We don't need someone or something to forge a path into God's presence for us, because the Father Himself provided everything that would ever be needed to come before Him.
The Holy Spirit will reveal all of these truths to us if we will only let Him. We continue trying to become what Jesus has already made us. We keep trying to become righteous when the Lord says we've "been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus," in 2Corinthians 5:17-21 (Amplified). We continue trying to "make our case" and "state our case" before God. We need to understand that Jesus has already made our case for us. He has received and paid our penalty. God has already found us "not guilty" because of our Umpire, Jesus.
We read God's Word as those who are trying to be redeemed instead of those who are already redeemed when Psalm 107:2 (Amplified) says, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary." We are the "Redeemed" already. We're not waiting to be redeemed. The only part of our redemption that is yet to be fulfilled is receiving our "new body."
Job was afraid to speak to God on his own behalf. We, on the other hand, have no need to be afraid of God at all. 1John 4:18 (Amplified) says, "There is no fear in love (dread does not exist), but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors, and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and (so) he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love (is not yet grown into love's complete perfection)."
This tells us that we have been like Job who was afraid to face God, because we have failed to understand and allow God's love to be fully implemented in our lives. We previously read John 16:26-27 (Amplified) that, "At that time (the time that Jesus was to be received in the heavens for us) you will ask (pray) in My Name, and I Am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf (because it will be unnecessary), For the Father Himself (tenderly) loves you because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from the Father."
The love John spoke about here is a love that "expels fear" and is the full understanding of God Himself Who tenderly loves you. We needn't fear rejection or punishment and we don't need an umpire because it's all been done for us in Jesus, through the Holy Spirit of the Father Himself.
The Holy Spirit will Ally Himself with those who will allow Him into their lives. He is the One Who is continuing the work of Jesus and the Father here on earth. We often think that Jesus completed His work on earth and is exclusively working in His heavenly ministry now. Nothing can be further from the truth, though. Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit are all One in One, so the work Jesus was doing on earth has never diminished.
While Jesus was on earth, He could only be in one place at a time, but now He is Omnipresent through the Holy Spirit. We are a new creations, born of God and are His children, through the Holy Spirit. Now, through the Name of Jesus, Who is our Mediator between God and man, we have unlimited, infinite access to the Throne of Grace at any and all times.
Many people speak at length about Job's sufferings and use that as an excuse for tribulating and blaming God for all their hard times. Job said something in Job 9:32-35 (Amplified) that applies to us in these last days. Thus, he said, "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 (Mediator) between us and God who might lay his hand upon us both, (would that we were) That He might take His rod away from (threatening) me. (Then) would I speak and not fear Him, but I am not so in myself (to take me afraid, were only a fair trial given me)."
As New Testament children, we have an Umpire and Mediator in the Man Jesus Christ. 1Timothy 2:5 (Amplified) tells us, "For there (is only) One God and (Only) One Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus." We have the Umpire Job was lacking and we have no need to fear our Heavenly Father or hold back from speaking to Him on our behalf.
Jesus said in John 16:26-27 (Amplified), "At that time you will ask (pray) in My Name; and I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf (for it will be unnecessary) For the Father Himself (tenderly) loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from the Father."
Too many times, we view ourselves as being no different than the Old Testament people. We struggle trying to find ways to get God's attention and hear us, then we feel like Job and repeat his words that, "The Umpire is not a mere man as I man, that I should petition Him." Job never had an umpire or mediator on his side, but we do in Jesus. Job was just a "mere man," like he said, but we are no longer "mere men," but new creatures in Christ because of Jesus.
We need not rely on the sacrifices of bulls and goats like Job offered to appease God. We have a sacrifice Who is already acceptable and pleasing to God...Jesus. We don't need someone or something to forge a path into God's presence for us, because the Father Himself provided everything that would ever be needed to come before Him.
The Holy Spirit will reveal all of these truths to us if we will only let Him. We continue trying to become what Jesus has already made us. We keep trying to become righteous when the Lord says we've "been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus," in 2Corinthians 5:17-21 (Amplified). We continue trying to "make our case" and "state our case" before God. We need to understand that Jesus has already made our case for us. He has received and paid our penalty. God has already found us "not guilty" because of our Umpire, Jesus.
We read God's Word as those who are trying to be redeemed instead of those who are already redeemed when Psalm 107:2 (Amplified) says, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary." We are the "Redeemed" already. We're not waiting to be redeemed. The only part of our redemption that is yet to be fulfilled is receiving our "new body."
Job was afraid to speak to God on his own behalf. We, on the other hand, have no need to be afraid of God at all. 1John 4:18 (Amplified) says, "There is no fear in love (dread does not exist), but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors, and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and (so) he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love (is not yet grown into love's complete perfection)."
This tells us that we have been like Job who was afraid to face God, because we have failed to understand and allow God's love to be fully implemented in our lives. We previously read John 16:26-27 (Amplified) that, "At that time (the time that Jesus was to be received in the heavens for us) you will ask (pray) in My Name, and I Am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf (because it will be unnecessary), For the Father Himself (tenderly) loves you because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from the Father."
The love John spoke about here is a love that "expels fear" and is the full understanding of God Himself Who tenderly loves you. We needn't fear rejection or punishment and we don't need an umpire because it's all been done for us in Jesus, through the Holy Spirit of the Father Himself.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Thank you all for your prayers and help.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 (Amplified) says, "Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, (though) the product of the olive fails and yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the (victorious) God of my salvation! The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hind's feet and will make me walk (not to stand still in terror, but to walk) and make (spiritual) progress upon my high places (of trouble, suffering, or responsibility)!"
Satan burned down my horse barn with my daughter's cat and the chickens, but we are all safe and sound. And, we know that what satan meant for bad, God will make good!
Thank you Danny and Roy and Robert for putting up a temporary paddock for the horses. Thank you for the hay too. We'll rebuild.
There will a new blog tonight. My daughter's puppy went to heaven Saturday and with the barn burning along with it, she hasn't finished typing it. Thanks for your patience and understanding and for sticking with us.
Satan burned down my horse barn with my daughter's cat and the chickens, but we are all safe and sound. And, we know that what satan meant for bad, God will make good!
Thank you Danny and Roy and Robert for putting up a temporary paddock for the horses. Thank you for the hay too. We'll rebuild.
There will a new blog tonight. My daughter's puppy went to heaven Saturday and with the barn burning along with it, she hasn't finished typing it. Thanks for your patience and understanding and for sticking with us.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Lesson 36 The Work and Minstry of the Holy Spirit
2Corinthians 5:16 (Amplified) says, "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from (purely) a human point of view (in terms of natural standards of value) (No) even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now (we have such knowledge of him that) we know Him no longer (in terms of the flesh)."
This bold and strong statement causes many, even today, to stagger at it's implication for us. Many would deem this statement as being blasphemous or sacrilegious to make, but Paul knew it was the Holy Spirit's revelation goes way beyond what our human eyes can see.
Jesus' disciples and those He interacted with, while He was on earth, only knew Him "in the flesh." They could see the miracles and hear His Words, but could not comprehend what He was saying when He said He was the Son of God. They were spiritually dead men without the Holy Spirit in their lives. They could eat with Him, touch Him and hear His Words in the natural, but they had no revelation of Who He really was.
Even many in today's Church still identify more with Jesus as the Man rather than with the Spirit. Many of our hymns and sermons are more about the Man than the Christ. And, because we've had such a very limited viewpoint of Him, our faith level hasn't been about what He's doing now, but in what He did in His earthly walk.
Only the Holy Spirit can reveal Who and What Jesus is in the Father's presence, on our behalf. We don't see "through the veil," because we still see the veil. When Jesus was raised from the dead and crowned Lord of All, everything changed forever. For most of us though, some things changed, but not everything has changed because we still see ourselves and others after the flesh. We also still see Jesus after the flesh.
Hebrews 10:18-22 (Amplified) says, "Now where there is absolute remission (forgiveness and cancellation of the penalty) of these (sins and lawbreaking), there is no longer any offering made to atone for sin. Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the (Holy) of Holies (by the power and virtue) in the Blood of Jesus." Verse 20-22 go on, "By this fresh (new) and living way which He initiated and dedicated and opened for us through the separating curtain (veil of the Holy of Holies) that is through His flesh, And since we have (such) a great and wonderful and noble Priest (Who rules) over the House of God, Let us all come forward and draw near with true (honest and sincere) hearts in unqualified assurance and absolute conviction engendered by faith (by that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness) having our hearts sprinkles and purified from a quality (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water."
We still try doing God's will through deeds of the flesh instead of accepting what our Sacrifice accomplished for us in the Spirit. Hebrews 10:9-10 (Amplified) goes on to say, "Behold, (here) I Am, coming to do Your will, thus He does away with and annuls the first (former) order (as a means of expiating sin) so that He might inaugurate and establish the second (latter) order. And in accordance with this will (of God), We have been made holy (consecrated and sanctified) through the offering made once for all the Body of Jesus Christ (the Anointed One)."
The difference between simply "reading" these things and "knowing" these things, is the revelation that only the Holy Spirit can reveal to our spirits. We still operate in the flesh and see ourselves only after the flesh when we don't allow the Holy Spirit to perform His work and ministry in our lives. Most of our walk in the new birth has been after the flesh because we still see ourselves and Jesus after the flesh and as "mere men."
Hebrews 9:15-17 (Amplified) says, "(Christ, the Messiah) is therefore the Negotiator and Mediator of an (entirely) new agreement (testament, covenant) So that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfilling of the promised everlasting inheritance-since a death has taken place which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions under the (old) first agreement." Verses 16-17 go on, "For where there is a (last) will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be establish, For a will and testament is valid and takes effect only at death, since it has no force or legal power as long as the one who made it is alive."
We've been reading the will as though the "Testator" is still alive and after the flesh. Until we finally begin seeing Him after the Spirit, we will never fully be able to put faith in the "Will" He left on our behalf.
We seem to forget that this Man Jesus actually died. The One Who was raised from the dead is a "First Fruits" of the new creation. We still fail to see ourselves as having died as yet, but only in a religious way. This is why Paul said in 2Corinthians 5:16 (Amplified) that, "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a (purely) human point of view (in terms of natural standards of value). (No) even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now, (we have such knowledge of Him that) we know Him no longer (in terms of the flesh)."
This bold and strong statement causes many, even today, to stagger at it's implication for us. Many would deem this statement as being blasphemous or sacrilegious to make, but Paul knew it was the Holy Spirit's revelation goes way beyond what our human eyes can see.
Jesus' disciples and those He interacted with, while He was on earth, only knew Him "in the flesh." They could see the miracles and hear His Words, but could not comprehend what He was saying when He said He was the Son of God. They were spiritually dead men without the Holy Spirit in their lives. They could eat with Him, touch Him and hear His Words in the natural, but they had no revelation of Who He really was.
Even many in today's Church still identify more with Jesus as the Man rather than with the Spirit. Many of our hymns and sermons are more about the Man than the Christ. And, because we've had such a very limited viewpoint of Him, our faith level hasn't been about what He's doing now, but in what He did in His earthly walk.
Only the Holy Spirit can reveal Who and What Jesus is in the Father's presence, on our behalf. We don't see "through the veil," because we still see the veil. When Jesus was raised from the dead and crowned Lord of All, everything changed forever. For most of us though, some things changed, but not everything has changed because we still see ourselves and others after the flesh. We also still see Jesus after the flesh.
Hebrews 10:18-22 (Amplified) says, "Now where there is absolute remission (forgiveness and cancellation of the penalty) of these (sins and lawbreaking), there is no longer any offering made to atone for sin. Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the (Holy) of Holies (by the power and virtue) in the Blood of Jesus." Verse 20-22 go on, "By this fresh (new) and living way which He initiated and dedicated and opened for us through the separating curtain (veil of the Holy of Holies) that is through His flesh, And since we have (such) a great and wonderful and noble Priest (Who rules) over the House of God, Let us all come forward and draw near with true (honest and sincere) hearts in unqualified assurance and absolute conviction engendered by faith (by that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness) having our hearts sprinkles and purified from a quality (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water."
We still try doing God's will through deeds of the flesh instead of accepting what our Sacrifice accomplished for us in the Spirit. Hebrews 10:9-10 (Amplified) goes on to say, "Behold, (here) I Am, coming to do Your will, thus He does away with and annuls the first (former) order (as a means of expiating sin) so that He might inaugurate and establish the second (latter) order. And in accordance with this will (of God), We have been made holy (consecrated and sanctified) through the offering made once for all the Body of Jesus Christ (the Anointed One)."
The difference between simply "reading" these things and "knowing" these things, is the revelation that only the Holy Spirit can reveal to our spirits. We still operate in the flesh and see ourselves only after the flesh when we don't allow the Holy Spirit to perform His work and ministry in our lives. Most of our walk in the new birth has been after the flesh because we still see ourselves and Jesus after the flesh and as "mere men."
Hebrews 9:15-17 (Amplified) says, "(Christ, the Messiah) is therefore the Negotiator and Mediator of an (entirely) new agreement (testament, covenant) So that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfilling of the promised everlasting inheritance-since a death has taken place which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions under the (old) first agreement." Verses 16-17 go on, "For where there is a (last) will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be establish, For a will and testament is valid and takes effect only at death, since it has no force or legal power as long as the one who made it is alive."
We've been reading the will as though the "Testator" is still alive and after the flesh. Until we finally begin seeing Him after the Spirit, we will never fully be able to put faith in the "Will" He left on our behalf.
We seem to forget that this Man Jesus actually died. The One Who was raised from the dead is a "First Fruits" of the new creation. We still fail to see ourselves as having died as yet, but only in a religious way. This is why Paul said in 2Corinthians 5:16 (Amplified) that, "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a (purely) human point of view (in terms of natural standards of value). (No) even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now, (we have such knowledge of Him that) we know Him no longer (in terms of the flesh)."
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Lesson 35 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
In John 14:25-26 (Amplified) Jesus said, "I have told you these things while I am still with you. But the Comforter (Counselor, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-by), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (In My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf) He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."
At the time Jesus was speaking to His disciples, the Holy Spirit had not yet come. The men He spoke to weren't born again yet, nor did they have any idea about what Jesus was speaking. The new birth wouldn't come until Jesus' death and resurrection and then the Day of Pentecost arrived.
Without the Holy Spirit, the disciples and those who came after them, couldn't understand the truth in Jesus' Words. We sometimes forget that the Words of the New Testament weren't yet available. And, until Paul was taken into heaven and given the revelation of the new birth, no one knew these things.
2Corinthians 12:1-4 (Amplified) says, "True, there is nothing to be gained by it, but (as I am obliged) to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord." Verses 2-4 go on, "I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago-whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know; God knows-was caught up to the third heave. And I know that this man-whether in the body or away from the body I do not know, God knows Was caught up into paradise and he heard utterances beyond the power of man to put into words, which man is not permitted to utter."
Paul was speaking about himself (or Saul of Tarsus after his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road). Paul said he didn't know if he was actually present in the flesh or in the spirit and that only God knows. He was given the revelation that would have been blasphemy to the Jews. Without this revelation given by the Holy Spirit, we wouldn't know anything beyond the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.
Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the truth of the Words written for our reading today. If we still read these Words with our own intellect, then we miss the revelation that is given because what he wrote is "Spirit and Truth."
We miss much of the Truth of the Word because we don't allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the "Spirit" of these Words. Everything written in the Book of Hebrews concerning the High Priest and Melchizedek are lost to the Church, because only the Holy Spirit can reveal this truth to our spirit. We can absorb all these things in our own intellect and by our own understanding, but not the revelation in our spirit.
The main reason for the varying beliefs held in the Church today, is because part of them are revelation and part stem from man's understanding of the Word. It seems strange how anything supernatural to the Church is deemed as having "passed away" and "not for today." This is because only our spirit (not our intellect) can understand the supernatural. When the Holy Spirit reveals things to you, they become so real in your spirit that you think everyone who reads the same scripture has the same understanding, but they don't.
The Holy Spirit is the only part of the God Head Who is present to teach the Church today. The Father is still on His Throne, Jesus has ascended into His presence and the Holy Spirit has been dispatched to reveal all of these things to our spirits.
Jesus said that, "When the Holy Spirit comes, He will reveal all these things to us." Many of us have no idea what happened from the time of Jesus' death on the cross to the "now" time at the Right Hand of the Father. We have no idea about the "authority" that was given to us in His Name.
We still live as "mere men and not spiritual men" like Paul said in 1Corinthians 3:1-3 (Amplified) which says, "However, Brethren, I could not talk to you as to spiritual (men), but as to non-spiritual (men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates) as to mere infants (in the new life) in Christ (unable to talk yet) I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough (to be ready for it) but even yet you are not strong enough (to be ready for it) For you are still (unspiritual, having the nature) of the flesh (under the control of ordinary impulses). For as long as (there are envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you), are you not yet unspiritual and of the flesh? behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men."
We can see similarities between today's Church and the Church of Paul's day. We have different denominations and customs and Laws to govern the people throughout the Church. This is because the Holy Spirit isn't being allowed to teach and govern the WHOLE CHURCH. He will not teach one part of the Church one thing and then teach another part of the Church something different. The Holy Spirit is the Teacher of the Church and He is here to teach us the "full truth" about Jesus as He is now on our behalf. Even when someone has a true revelation from the Holy Spirit, it's not always possible to convey that truth to another person, unless that person will "open" their spirit to the truth of the Holy Spirit. We see how Paul, who was given the revelation in 1Corinthians 3:1-3 couldn't make the Church see beyond what they wished to see.
At the time Jesus was speaking to His disciples, the Holy Spirit had not yet come. The men He spoke to weren't born again yet, nor did they have any idea about what Jesus was speaking. The new birth wouldn't come until Jesus' death and resurrection and then the Day of Pentecost arrived.
Without the Holy Spirit, the disciples and those who came after them, couldn't understand the truth in Jesus' Words. We sometimes forget that the Words of the New Testament weren't yet available. And, until Paul was taken into heaven and given the revelation of the new birth, no one knew these things.
2Corinthians 12:1-4 (Amplified) says, "True, there is nothing to be gained by it, but (as I am obliged) to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord." Verses 2-4 go on, "I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago-whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know; God knows-was caught up to the third heave. And I know that this man-whether in the body or away from the body I do not know, God knows Was caught up into paradise and he heard utterances beyond the power of man to put into words, which man is not permitted to utter."
Paul was speaking about himself (or Saul of Tarsus after his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road). Paul said he didn't know if he was actually present in the flesh or in the spirit and that only God knows. He was given the revelation that would have been blasphemy to the Jews. Without this revelation given by the Holy Spirit, we wouldn't know anything beyond the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.
Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the truth of the Words written for our reading today. If we still read these Words with our own intellect, then we miss the revelation that is given because what he wrote is "Spirit and Truth."
We miss much of the Truth of the Word because we don't allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the "Spirit" of these Words. Everything written in the Book of Hebrews concerning the High Priest and Melchizedek are lost to the Church, because only the Holy Spirit can reveal this truth to our spirit. We can absorb all these things in our own intellect and by our own understanding, but not the revelation in our spirit.
The main reason for the varying beliefs held in the Church today, is because part of them are revelation and part stem from man's understanding of the Word. It seems strange how anything supernatural to the Church is deemed as having "passed away" and "not for today." This is because only our spirit (not our intellect) can understand the supernatural. When the Holy Spirit reveals things to you, they become so real in your spirit that you think everyone who reads the same scripture has the same understanding, but they don't.
The Holy Spirit is the only part of the God Head Who is present to teach the Church today. The Father is still on His Throne, Jesus has ascended into His presence and the Holy Spirit has been dispatched to reveal all of these things to our spirits.
Jesus said that, "When the Holy Spirit comes, He will reveal all these things to us." Many of us have no idea what happened from the time of Jesus' death on the cross to the "now" time at the Right Hand of the Father. We have no idea about the "authority" that was given to us in His Name.
We still live as "mere men and not spiritual men" like Paul said in 1Corinthians 3:1-3 (Amplified) which says, "However, Brethren, I could not talk to you as to spiritual (men), but as to non-spiritual (men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates) as to mere infants (in the new life) in Christ (unable to talk yet) I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough (to be ready for it) but even yet you are not strong enough (to be ready for it) For you are still (unspiritual, having the nature) of the flesh (under the control of ordinary impulses). For as long as (there are envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you), are you not yet unspiritual and of the flesh? behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men."
We can see similarities between today's Church and the Church of Paul's day. We have different denominations and customs and Laws to govern the people throughout the Church. This is because the Holy Spirit isn't being allowed to teach and govern the WHOLE CHURCH. He will not teach one part of the Church one thing and then teach another part of the Church something different. The Holy Spirit is the Teacher of the Church and He is here to teach us the "full truth" about Jesus as He is now on our behalf. Even when someone has a true revelation from the Holy Spirit, it's not always possible to convey that truth to another person, unless that person will "open" their spirit to the truth of the Holy Spirit. We see how Paul, who was given the revelation in 1Corinthians 3:1-3 couldn't make the Church see beyond what they wished to see.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Lesson 34 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
2Corinthians 5:16-17 (Amplified) says, "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a (purely) human point of view (in terms of natural standards of value). (No) even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now (we have such knowledge of Him that) we know Him no longer (in terms of the flesh)." Verse 17 says, "Therefore if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation ( a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away, Behold, the fresh and new has come."
Most of us in the family of God (the Church), still mostly see Jesus as a Man. It's only the Holy Spirit Who can reveal Jesus to us as what He really is now on our behalf. Paul said that, "He no longer sees himself, or anyone else in the Church, only after the flesh. We've been trained by years of teachings to look at ourselves more than we do Jesus. We've much more conscience of our own shortcomings rather than Jesus' success. We still view ourselves after the flesh instead of the Spirit.
Paul also said in Verse 17 that, "Anyone who is born again or ingrafted in Christ, is a new creation altogether and our old, previous moral and spiritual condition has passed away because the new has come." If this is true (and it is), then why do we spend so much time meditating on the person we used to be rather than on who we are now?
We learned in a previous lesson that the "Word" is a mirror according to James 1"23-24 (Amplified) which says, "For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his (own) natural face in a mirror. For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like."
James stated that when we look into the Word, we read what it says about being a new creature, we read what it says about being sons of God and then we go off and forget what we look like. The reflection of the new man is quickly lost as we begin to see ourselves after the old man again. A mirror only shows who you are and not who you used to be. It will never show you the old man you used to be. I would like to have my reflection be what Christ has made me into and not what sin had made me into.
Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the whole truth of Who Jesus is and who you are because of Him, to your spirit. Paul told us in 2Corinthians 5:16 (Amplified), "That we now (by the Holy Spirit) no longer just see Jesus as a Man and that we now have a deeper knowledge of Him by the Holy Spirit." We can now see Him as Lord of All, as our Great High Priest, as our Advocate and as our Intercessor before the Father. We now see Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, as more than the Man Who walked in Jerusalem. We see Him as the Risen Christ Who walks the Heavenly Kingdom on our behalf as as the Head of the Body (the Church).
It is only through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, that we can see Jesus as all those things. When the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to you as He is now, He will also reveal who you are because of Jesus. None of these things can ever become truth to you without the Holy Spirit. You can read the words of the scriptures without seeing the truth. Without the Holy Spirit and His ministry, they are just words. We read them, they show us who we are and we walk away, forgetting what we look like (James 1:23-24).
We have reduced the ministry of the Holy Spirit to where He has very little space to work. We limit Him in the revelation of the full ministry of Jesus in our lives. We can only see the Father by the revelation of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit. We somehow see Jesus and the Father as being different. If you wish to know God's will, then you must first allow the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to you in all His glory.
If you want to know if healing is God's will, then you need to follow Jesus among the sick and lame. Jesus and the Father are One. When we see Jesus, we see the Father. Even those who weren't covenant people, were healed when Jesus was among them. The only difference was that the Holy Spirit (God) was only presence in Jesus at the time of His earthly ministry and now God (the Holy Spirit) is present in all of God's family. Jesus said, "It's the Father in Me, that does the work." The same Father Who was in Jesus is now in you.
What have you got to lose by laying your hands on the sick in the Name of Jesus? You might say, "What if they don't get healed?" I would answer, "What if they do!" After all, it's not you, but the Father in you, Who does the work. It's His job to do the healing and it's your job to lay your hands on them. Let the Holy Spirit reveal Jesus to you as the "Father in you."
Most of us in the family of God (the Church), still mostly see Jesus as a Man. It's only the Holy Spirit Who can reveal Jesus to us as what He really is now on our behalf. Paul said that, "He no longer sees himself, or anyone else in the Church, only after the flesh. We've been trained by years of teachings to look at ourselves more than we do Jesus. We've much more conscience of our own shortcomings rather than Jesus' success. We still view ourselves after the flesh instead of the Spirit.
Paul also said in Verse 17 that, "Anyone who is born again or ingrafted in Christ, is a new creation altogether and our old, previous moral and spiritual condition has passed away because the new has come." If this is true (and it is), then why do we spend so much time meditating on the person we used to be rather than on who we are now?
We learned in a previous lesson that the "Word" is a mirror according to James 1"23-24 (Amplified) which says, "For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his (own) natural face in a mirror. For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like."
James stated that when we look into the Word, we read what it says about being a new creature, we read what it says about being sons of God and then we go off and forget what we look like. The reflection of the new man is quickly lost as we begin to see ourselves after the old man again. A mirror only shows who you are and not who you used to be. It will never show you the old man you used to be. I would like to have my reflection be what Christ has made me into and not what sin had made me into.
Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the whole truth of Who Jesus is and who you are because of Him, to your spirit. Paul told us in 2Corinthians 5:16 (Amplified), "That we now (by the Holy Spirit) no longer just see Jesus as a Man and that we now have a deeper knowledge of Him by the Holy Spirit." We can now see Him as Lord of All, as our Great High Priest, as our Advocate and as our Intercessor before the Father. We now see Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, as more than the Man Who walked in Jerusalem. We see Him as the Risen Christ Who walks the Heavenly Kingdom on our behalf as as the Head of the Body (the Church).
It is only through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, that we can see Jesus as all those things. When the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to you as He is now, He will also reveal who you are because of Jesus. None of these things can ever become truth to you without the Holy Spirit. You can read the words of the scriptures without seeing the truth. Without the Holy Spirit and His ministry, they are just words. We read them, they show us who we are and we walk away, forgetting what we look like (James 1:23-24).
We have reduced the ministry of the Holy Spirit to where He has very little space to work. We limit Him in the revelation of the full ministry of Jesus in our lives. We can only see the Father by the revelation of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit. We somehow see Jesus and the Father as being different. If you wish to know God's will, then you must first allow the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to you in all His glory.
If you want to know if healing is God's will, then you need to follow Jesus among the sick and lame. Jesus and the Father are One. When we see Jesus, we see the Father. Even those who weren't covenant people, were healed when Jesus was among them. The only difference was that the Holy Spirit (God) was only presence in Jesus at the time of His earthly ministry and now God (the Holy Spirit) is present in all of God's family. Jesus said, "It's the Father in Me, that does the work." The same Father Who was in Jesus is now in you.
What have you got to lose by laying your hands on the sick in the Name of Jesus? You might say, "What if they don't get healed?" I would answer, "What if they do!" After all, it's not you, but the Father in you, Who does the work. It's His job to do the healing and it's your job to lay your hands on them. Let the Holy Spirit reveal Jesus to you as the "Father in you."
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