Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) says,"And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Without Jesus, we cannot defeat the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness. We must understand who we are in Jesus and who we are wrestling against.
He gave us His authority, when we were born again and became made one with Him. We have the same name, the same power of attorney and the same authority, just like a husband and wife sharing the same covenant. In Ephesians 5:22 (Amplified) Paul said, "This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning (the relationship of) Christ and the Church." Paul gave instructions to the wife and husband in Ephesians 5:21-33 and comparing that covenant with our relationship with Jesus and His relationship with us. Paul compared Jesus with the husband and declared that Jesus will carry out His end of the covenant. The Church, however, hasn't fully understood our part as the Bride of Christ. We have failed to understand Him enough to know what God's will is for us and this makes us hesitant in doing what a wife would do in the absence of her husband.
My wife conducts herself the same in my absence, that she does in my presence. She uses my name to always bring honor to the name she has taken, my name. She's chosen to submit to my name and has never taken back her maiden name. There were many times early in our marriage, where we were unsure of what the others need or wants were, but we've grown in our relationship and know each others need fairly accurately.
Paul prays, by revelation of the Holy Spirit, for the Church (the Bride of Christ) in Ephesians 1:17 (Amplified), "(For I always pray to) the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation (of insight into mysteries and secrets) in the (deep and intimate) knowledge of Him." Only a wife can know the "deep and intimate knowledge) of her husband. As their relationship grows, they truly become one in spirit and love. We've neglected the intimacy of our relationship with God and we've been afraid to trust the Spirit to make us one,.
It's by our understanding this "great mystery" Paul speaks about, we can know the authority we've been given in His Name. We no longer have our maiden name of "sinner," but the Holy Name of Jesus! We've used Proverbs 31:10-12 (Amplified) as a text for mothers and wives on Mother's Day, but this scripture is really speaking about Christ and His Bride, the Church. Thus, it says, "A capable, and intelligent and virtuous woman-who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls." Verses 11-12 go on, "The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of (honest) gain or need of (dishonest) spoil. She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her."
Paul describes the perfect relationship between a husband and wife. This description can also be found in Proverbs 31:20 which says the wife "opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy (whether in body, mind, or spirit)." This scripture shows that the very texts given to a virtuous woman for her husband, are given as to the Church and Christ. We are the Church, the virtuous woman.
My wife and I shared my last name, immediately exchanging vows and pronounced "man and wife." We had a growing process and needed to learn more about one another. We have become one with Jesus, the very same moment we exchanged our vow to receive Him as our Lord. We will never be more "one" with Him, than we are now. We need to become much more aware of who we are, rather than who we were.
As new creations and members of God's family, we must take this joint-seating, along with His Name, in order to operate here on earth and establish His Kingdom over the "master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness." We do not have the authority over them, in our maiden name, but only in His Name. As mere men, we cannot exercise our own authority, but only His authority,. The establishment of men who are ruled by "this present darkness and rulers, is only subject to a Higher authority. Through our marriage to Jesus, we've been granted His authority to bring about His will into this present darkness.
The new creation that Paul speaks about in 2Corinthians 5:16-17 (Amplified), isn't something we will be someday, but is something that now is. Paul 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)."
Many of us still think of Jesus as the Man Who walked on water and not as the Christ Who created the water. We continue to identify more with the flesh and Blood Man, more than with the Risen Christ. We say that "someday, we'll have what Jesus made for us." His Name will never by anymore power in eternity, than it currently is. He is the Word of God, "yesterday, today and forever." He always was and will always be, the Word of God. He has made us, now, one with Him, in the Word. When we speak the Name of Jesus, we speak God's Word. When we speak His Name, it changes and creates on this earth. "His Name, and faith in His Name, has made this man whole," according to Acts 3:16.
When we understand our position in Him more clearly, we will have faith in His Name, and more. My wife never doubts whether my name will work on her behalf. My name is her badge of security, when she presents it in my name. She doesn't need to bring me into the bank, store, gas station, or anywhere else, because she can present her identity and our names are one. When they see her name, it's my name and she is recognized as Mrs. James L. Hayes. She isn't me, but she has my name, my authority, and my permission to do as she wills, because she represents my will in all she does.
If the Church would merely receive this simply truth and become as secure in Him as we are in our earthly relationships, then we would see a great change in how we live here and now on earth. Although Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, His authority is spread throughout the universe. I don't need to have Him appear on my behalf, when I come against the "rulers of darkness." All I need do it present the Name, that I have taken as my own when I was born again, just like a husband and wife. The Name is all I need to have on my behalf, because we have "become one."
As new creation people, we were restored everything God intended for His children, when He first created the earth for us. All of the "rulers of this present darkness" are subject to the Mighty Name of Jesus that we received at our new creation birth. We haven't dared place ourselves in such a "high" place by calling ourselves what God has made us to be. If my wife would be offended by someone calling her "Mrs. Hayes," then I would feel hurt and insecure about our relationship and love for her. Why would she be afraid to speak with boldness, the name she has taken as her own? Why would I be upset because she felt secure enough to walk in the name that I have given her?
Something is amiss in the way we see ourselves, in our relationship with Jesus. We have more faith in winning the lottery, than in having a prayer answered from the Father. Many have ceased praying, because we've lost faith in ever receiving an answer to our prayer. Religion teaches that we "will never know what God might do." My wife knows what I will do and isn't afraid to ask or move in faith because of it.
We struggle over elections and the things happening in our country right now, but don't seem to spend much time in prayer or faith in God changing things. Ephesians 6:12 (Amplified) tells us, "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood (contending only with physical opponents) but against the despotisms, again the powers, against (the master spirits who are) the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (super-natural) sphere."
Don't trust the flesh, trust the Name by which you are known and called, His Name.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Friday, March 25, 2016
Lesson 23 The New Creation
Colossians 1"13 (Amplified) says, "(The Father) has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love."
In order to receive the full comprehension of this Holy Spirit inspired prayer for the Church, we need to read Verses 9-14 of the above scripture. 2Timothy 3:16 (Amplified) tells us that, "Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, (and) for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action)."
The above prayer is still intended for God's new creation people and is available to all who will put their faith in this truth. God wants us to know what His will is and wants to instruct us in the laws and principles of His Kingdom. Since this prayer is scripture and is "God-breathed," it remains a living thing in our lives. God has given us His Own instructions by the Word and His Spirit, to know and walk in Kingdom authority here on earth.
It might be true (and no doubt is true) that we will never understand all that God has done in our lives through Jesus, from this side of heaven, although we are supposed to be in the process of learning how to function in these spiritual laws of the Kingdom, even from here. As new creation people, we are "transferred" already into the "Kingdom of the Son of His Love." We might not be there in this body, but because we were made new creations through Jesus, we are already transferred there in Kingdom authority.
This authority was given us by Jesus, when He was raised from the dead and received "all power, both in heaven and in earth." Matthew 28:18 (Amplified) says that, "Jesus approached and breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me." Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) says, "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
After Peter and John performed the miracle with the lame man outside of the Gate Beautiful of the temple, they told the people that it wasn't them who had done this great thing. in Acts 3:16 (Amplified) they said, "In His [Jesus'] Name, through and by faith in His Name, has this man whom you see and recognize well and strong. (Yes) the faith which is through and by Him (Jesus) has given the man this perfect soundness (of body) before all of you."
This "power and authority" isn't ours, but His and He has chosen to "give us joint seating with Him in the heavenly sphere." Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) tells us that the "power of attorney" in His Name, is the same as He is Himself. Paul wrote to the Church in Ephesians 5:29-32 (Amplified) concerning the relationship of a man and wife, saying, "For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the Church. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning (the relationship of) Christ and the Church)."
My wife and I have been married for 54 years, and although we are two separate people in the flesh, we are one in the spirit. Even this world recognizes us as one and because of our marriage covenant, she has forsaken her own, maiden name and has taken my name. Our relationship gives her the power of attorney to share equally in everything I have or am. It's quite obvious that she isn't me, but we are viewed as one by the laws of covenant. She has the authority to withdraw from my bank account, use my credit cards and use my name on legal documents. She knows my will regarding her actions and I trust her with all that I have, because we have become as one. She doesn't carry the authority to use my bank account in her own name, but in mine. This name gives her my own authority to do what she will, as long as I consented to her use of it. She must know me, in order to know my will in what she does.
Most Christians haven't taken the time to truly know God and His will, so we can do what He wants done. Any good marriage is based upon the degree that they know one another and their operating as one. Peter's telling the people that is was "Jesus' Name, through faith in His Name that has made this man whole," indicates that he knew what the will of Jesus and the Father was. Notice that Peter didn't pray to the Father, but gave the command of authority in the Name of Jesus and then, the will of Jesus was manifested (just like it was when Jesus was on earth)? It was like Jesus Himself had demanded that man's body to be made whole.
We've been so careful trying not to take away Jesus' identity, that we've almost forgotten that we've been made one with Him in our new creation identity. Ephesians 5:30 said that "we have been made (parts) of His body!" The authority that we have in joint-seating with Him in the heavenly sphere, is the authority of heaven over earthly things that are out of order because of the usurped authority satan took from mankind. God never intended His children to be under the dominion of satan and darkness. Paul continued his discourse in Ephesians 6:12 (Amplified) saying, "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood (contending only with physical opponents) but against the despotisms, against the powers, against (the mature spirits who are), the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere."
Let's read Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) again, "And He raised us up together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." Without Jesus, we cannot defeat the "mature spirits" who are the "world rulers of this present darkness." We must understand who we are in Jesus and who we are "wrestling against."
In order to receive the full comprehension of this Holy Spirit inspired prayer for the Church, we need to read Verses 9-14 of the above scripture. 2Timothy 3:16 (Amplified) tells us that, "Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, (and) for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action)."
The above prayer is still intended for God's new creation people and is available to all who will put their faith in this truth. God wants us to know what His will is and wants to instruct us in the laws and principles of His Kingdom. Since this prayer is scripture and is "God-breathed," it remains a living thing in our lives. God has given us His Own instructions by the Word and His Spirit, to know and walk in Kingdom authority here on earth.
It might be true (and no doubt is true) that we will never understand all that God has done in our lives through Jesus, from this side of heaven, although we are supposed to be in the process of learning how to function in these spiritual laws of the Kingdom, even from here. As new creation people, we are "transferred" already into the "Kingdom of the Son of His Love." We might not be there in this body, but because we were made new creations through Jesus, we are already transferred there in Kingdom authority.
This authority was given us by Jesus, when He was raised from the dead and received "all power, both in heaven and in earth." Matthew 28:18 (Amplified) says that, "Jesus approached and breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me." Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) says, "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
After Peter and John performed the miracle with the lame man outside of the Gate Beautiful of the temple, they told the people that it wasn't them who had done this great thing. in Acts 3:16 (Amplified) they said, "In His [Jesus'] Name, through and by faith in His Name, has this man whom you see and recognize well and strong. (Yes) the faith which is through and by Him (Jesus) has given the man this perfect soundness (of body) before all of you."
This "power and authority" isn't ours, but His and He has chosen to "give us joint seating with Him in the heavenly sphere." Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) tells us that the "power of attorney" in His Name, is the same as He is Himself. Paul wrote to the Church in Ephesians 5:29-32 (Amplified) concerning the relationship of a man and wife, saying, "For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the Church. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning (the relationship of) Christ and the Church)."
My wife and I have been married for 54 years, and although we are two separate people in the flesh, we are one in the spirit. Even this world recognizes us as one and because of our marriage covenant, she has forsaken her own, maiden name and has taken my name. Our relationship gives her the power of attorney to share equally in everything I have or am. It's quite obvious that she isn't me, but we are viewed as one by the laws of covenant. She has the authority to withdraw from my bank account, use my credit cards and use my name on legal documents. She knows my will regarding her actions and I trust her with all that I have, because we have become as one. She doesn't carry the authority to use my bank account in her own name, but in mine. This name gives her my own authority to do what she will, as long as I consented to her use of it. She must know me, in order to know my will in what she does.
Most Christians haven't taken the time to truly know God and His will, so we can do what He wants done. Any good marriage is based upon the degree that they know one another and their operating as one. Peter's telling the people that is was "Jesus' Name, through faith in His Name that has made this man whole," indicates that he knew what the will of Jesus and the Father was. Notice that Peter didn't pray to the Father, but gave the command of authority in the Name of Jesus and then, the will of Jesus was manifested (just like it was when Jesus was on earth)? It was like Jesus Himself had demanded that man's body to be made whole.
We've been so careful trying not to take away Jesus' identity, that we've almost forgotten that we've been made one with Him in our new creation identity. Ephesians 5:30 said that "we have been made (parts) of His body!" The authority that we have in joint-seating with Him in the heavenly sphere, is the authority of heaven over earthly things that are out of order because of the usurped authority satan took from mankind. God never intended His children to be under the dominion of satan and darkness. Paul continued his discourse in Ephesians 6:12 (Amplified) saying, "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood (contending only with physical opponents) but against the despotisms, against the powers, against (the mature spirits who are), the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere."
Let's read Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) again, "And He raised us up together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." Without Jesus, we cannot defeat the "mature spirits" who are the "world rulers of this present darkness." We must understand who we are in Jesus and who we are "wrestling against."
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Lesson 22 The New Creation
Through the new birth, you are now a new creation. Your spirit is again alive within you. The Word of God, in your new spirit, is again created to bring Life into your natural flesh and blood body. Your body was made to house your spirit and your spirit was created to be in charge of your flesh.
We've had the plan of salvation upside down, for many years. We've been waiting for God to do what He has already done. When we feed on His Word, it strengthens our spirit and when your spirit is strong, it subdues the flesh and brings it into subjection to the Spirit. Because of Adam's fall, the flesh will still die someday, but God promised that we'd have 120 years. Genesis 6:3 (Amplified) says, "Then the Lord said, My Spirit shall not forever dwell and strive with man, for he also is flesh, but his days shall yet be 120 years."
Even though we're in this flesh and blood body, we can extend and hold onto to finish our work, by feeding Life into our spirit by God's Word. Doctors can only bring healing from the outside-in, but God brings healing from the inside-out. We've failed to see what God said about our being a new creation and have failed to appropriate what He has for us here on earth, as well in heaven.
We are now super-natural beings on this earth. We've failed to accept the super-natural power of God's Word, that lets us function in His realm of Life. We've already received Life in our spirit, but we've failed to extend it to Life in our flesh. We're not supposed to merely read God's Word, as a religious obligation. We're instructed to "feed" on His Word, in order to sustain Life in the flesh and blood body we live in.
We've identified more with the suffering we go through, rather than the victories we achieve through it all. We all know people who suffer, and don't know Jesus. Satan hates all mankind and is only interested in "killing, stealing, and destroying" them all. Through Jesus, though, we now have the God given ability to walk above much of these things. We must learn to live in and by our spirit, instead of our flesh. We've nearly denied the super-natural things of God, even in the Church.
The only way to walk in victory, is by walking in the Spirit. Satan is a master at controlling the flesh. He has set up a kingdom here, that is being run by "spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (super-natural sphere." Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12 (Amplified), "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood (contending only with physical opponents), but against the depotisms, against the (master spirits who are) the world rulers of this present darkness, against the forces of wickedness in the heavenly (super-natural) sphere."
We have erroneously believed that evil spirits were only in demon possessed persons. Truthfully, this entire planet has been influenced by the same satanic powers that seduced Adam and Even in the Garden. I've heard people say that "demons can only work through the unsaved" and "demons can only oppress Christians, if God allows it." Both beliefs are extremely wrong. Let's read further in Ephesians 6:13-24 (Amplified), which tells us that the believer is under the same attack as the world, but we have a Way above satan's assault, which is God's Word. Thus, Verse 13 says, "Therefore, put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day (of danger) and, having done all (the crisis demands), to stand (firmly in your place)."
If we use what God has given us, as new creation people, we've been given all that is needful, according to Verse 16, "Lift up over all the (covering) shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked (one)." We've tried fighting a spiritual battle with natural weapons and it isn't working very well for most of us. I've heard Christians say that, "You cannot take the Word of God literally." We've lost faith in God's Word, where if comes to our deliverance. Some have gone overboard in what they deem as "faith." Some have lost faith in what God has promised in His Word, for the new creation people. We need not wait until we die, to become the new creation, because if you're born again, then you're already a new creation. We must learn how to live as new creation people.
To live a super-natural life, you must learn what that is. 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk (the Word of God) that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto (completed) salvation." We have a new baby in our congregation. He is already a citizen of the United States and he maintains all the rights and privileges of citizenship here. He is perfect in every way, but he is too young to even know what gender he is. Until he is nurtured and fed and raised into completed adulthood, he can only depend upon someone else to care for him. He will only know what he is taught.
If we are never taught how to live like new creations, then we will continue living by the flesh. Although there is nothing wrong with the young boy in our congregation, he will never know who he really is or what he is supposed to do, it he remains in the infant stage. He will remain a baby.
We've come to a place in the Body of Christ, where we've remained in the baby stage for too long. Paul speaks to the Church in Corinth in 1Corinthians 3:1-3 (Amplified) saying, "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 unspiritual and of the flesh? behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men."
The Galatian Church didn't do like Paul said, so he admonished them, in Galatians 3:1-3 (Amplified), "O you poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated and bewitched or cast a spell over you, unto whom-right before your eyes Jesus (the Messiah) was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified? Let me ask you this one question; Did you receive the Holy Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works; or was it by hearing (the Message of the Gospel and believing it)?"
We've had the plan of salvation upside down, for many years. We've been waiting for God to do what He has already done. When we feed on His Word, it strengthens our spirit and when your spirit is strong, it subdues the flesh and brings it into subjection to the Spirit. Because of Adam's fall, the flesh will still die someday, but God promised that we'd have 120 years. Genesis 6:3 (Amplified) says, "Then the Lord said, My Spirit shall not forever dwell and strive with man, for he also is flesh, but his days shall yet be 120 years."
Even though we're in this flesh and blood body, we can extend and hold onto to finish our work, by feeding Life into our spirit by God's Word. Doctors can only bring healing from the outside-in, but God brings healing from the inside-out. We've failed to see what God said about our being a new creation and have failed to appropriate what He has for us here on earth, as well in heaven.
We are now super-natural beings on this earth. We've failed to accept the super-natural power of God's Word, that lets us function in His realm of Life. We've already received Life in our spirit, but we've failed to extend it to Life in our flesh. We're not supposed to merely read God's Word, as a religious obligation. We're instructed to "feed" on His Word, in order to sustain Life in the flesh and blood body we live in.
We've identified more with the suffering we go through, rather than the victories we achieve through it all. We all know people who suffer, and don't know Jesus. Satan hates all mankind and is only interested in "killing, stealing, and destroying" them all. Through Jesus, though, we now have the God given ability to walk above much of these things. We must learn to live in and by our spirit, instead of our flesh. We've nearly denied the super-natural things of God, even in the Church.
The only way to walk in victory, is by walking in the Spirit. Satan is a master at controlling the flesh. He has set up a kingdom here, that is being run by "spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (super-natural sphere." Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12 (Amplified), "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood (contending only with physical opponents), but against the depotisms, against the (master spirits who are) the world rulers of this present darkness, against the forces of wickedness in the heavenly (super-natural) sphere."
We have erroneously believed that evil spirits were only in demon possessed persons. Truthfully, this entire planet has been influenced by the same satanic powers that seduced Adam and Even in the Garden. I've heard people say that "demons can only work through the unsaved" and "demons can only oppress Christians, if God allows it." Both beliefs are extremely wrong. Let's read further in Ephesians 6:13-24 (Amplified), which tells us that the believer is under the same attack as the world, but we have a Way above satan's assault, which is God's Word. Thus, Verse 13 says, "Therefore, put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day (of danger) and, having done all (the crisis demands), to stand (firmly in your place)."
If we use what God has given us, as new creation people, we've been given all that is needful, according to Verse 16, "Lift up over all the (covering) shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked (one)." We've tried fighting a spiritual battle with natural weapons and it isn't working very well for most of us. I've heard Christians say that, "You cannot take the Word of God literally." We've lost faith in God's Word, where if comes to our deliverance. Some have gone overboard in what they deem as "faith." Some have lost faith in what God has promised in His Word, for the new creation people. We need not wait until we die, to become the new creation, because if you're born again, then you're already a new creation. We must learn how to live as new creation people.
To live a super-natural life, you must learn what that is. 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk (the Word of God) that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto (completed) salvation." We have a new baby in our congregation. He is already a citizen of the United States and he maintains all the rights and privileges of citizenship here. He is perfect in every way, but he is too young to even know what gender he is. Until he is nurtured and fed and raised into completed adulthood, he can only depend upon someone else to care for him. He will only know what he is taught.
If we are never taught how to live like new creations, then we will continue living by the flesh. Although there is nothing wrong with the young boy in our congregation, he will never know who he really is or what he is supposed to do, it he remains in the infant stage. He will remain a baby.
We've come to a place in the Body of Christ, where we've remained in the baby stage for too long. Paul speaks to the Church in Corinth in 1Corinthians 3:1-3 (Amplified) saying, "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 unspiritual and of the flesh? behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men."
The Galatian Church didn't do like Paul said, so he admonished them, in Galatians 3:1-3 (Amplified), "O you poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated and bewitched or cast a spell over you, unto whom-right before your eyes Jesus (the Messiah) was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified? Let me ask you this one question; Did you receive the Holy Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works; or was it by hearing (the Message of the Gospel and believing it)?"
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Lesson 21 The New Creation
Our base scripture for the teaching on The New Creation has been 2Corinthians 5:16-17 (Amplified) which says, "Now we no longer see ourselves or others after the flesh (the outer man but after the spirit." Verse 17 says that, "Now we are a new creation altogether."
The reason I continue to emphasize this scripture, is because we've read these verses many times, but haven't fully understood them. Many Christians are still trying to work out their Christianity from the outside-in, but the outside has to be ruled by the inside (the spirit). We'll never be content or fulfilled by making our flesh comply. It's like attending AA meetings and cease drinking alcohol. Although I'm no longer drinking, I continue fighting the flesh at all times. Willpower can avail most of the time and can restrain me, if I fight hard. Truthfully, though, I'm still an alcoholic, but I'm not drinking any longer.
I've watched as Christians fought for many years, struggling to make the flesh comply with what God says we should do. I also see these people being very frustrated. We walk in condemnation and guilt for the mistakes we make over and over again. The peace Jesus promised in John 14:27 (Amplified) seems elusive and fleeting at best. We know that the Words Jesus spoke are truth, but we somehow cannot obtain His peace.
Genesis 1:27 (Amplified) says, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them." The phrase "God created both male and female" means that He created the species of man. They were both in His Likeness and Image. They were both Spirit beings, just like their Father. Genesis 2:7 (Amplified says, "Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the Breath or Spirit of Life, and man became a living being."
The natural man (made from the dust of the earth) was to dominate and have authority over all things on the earth. The spirit of man was made in God's Image and Likeness that was "breathed" into the natural man, was to rule the flesh and not the other way around. We all know (or we think we know) what happened at the fall of Adam. Adam became separated in his spirit, from God and needed to rely on his natural man to sustain himself.
The spirit that was breathed into him, was now severed from Life in God and was linked with death, through his new master, satan. Although Adam and Ever were still alive in their flesh, they had died or been separated from Life, in their spirit. The way of life through God, was now broken by transgression in the spirit.
Slowly, Adam's connection with the spirit began losing its place and both he and Eve needed to rely on their own wisdom and knowledge, through the flesh or worldly wisdom. As more time passed, the wisdom of God began losing its place and was replaced by their own, worldly wisdom. Things that were available to them before the fall, were no longer working and eventually, God's wisdom was replaced in their lives, leaving them to meet their own needs.
Life continued to be this way, until Jesus rose from the dead. Although God planned a way to restore man to Himself, it took many earth years to bring this plan into the Spirit of reconciliation. Jesus addressed the multitude in John 10:9-10 (Amplified) saying, "I Am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out (freely), and will find pasture. The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it (life) in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
Jesus was telling this group of people that, "They were not alive at this time," even though they were breathing, eating, talking, drinking and operating on this earth as men, they were not alive in their spirit. Most Christians have failed to realize that when we were born again, we were made alive and made new creations that were once again in the Image and Likeness of God. Life was renewed in our dead spirit and we became like Adam was, a living being. Through Jesus, we've become a new creation.
Like Adam was a new creation in the beginning, through Jesus, we have been born again into the very Image and Likeness of our Father. We are now a new creation. Most of us believed that we'd become a new creation once we went to heaven. We have mostly viewed ourselves from the outside, instead of the inside. We keep waiting to become what Jesus has already made us to be. We continue trying to correct the mistakes of the flesh with willpower, instead of Spirit Power. We've mostly used God's Word to point out the things that are wrong with us, instead of trying to fix them.
Jesus walked as a Man on this earth, but He walked as One Who was alive by the Spirit of God. He had Life withing Him that overflowed into the flesh of the people. There was no Life in them to bring healing to their bodies. God stresses over again that the healing and health of the body, had to come from His Word. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified) that, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
God says in Proverbs 4:20-23 (Amplified), "My son; attend to My Words; consent and submit to My sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart (spirit) For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. Keep and guard your heart (spirit) with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it (your spirit or heart) flow the springs of life."
Healing comes from the inside-out and not from the outside-in. Through the new birth, you are a new creation. Your spirit is now alive again, within you. The Word of God in your new spirit, is once again created to bring Life into your natural flesh and blood body. Your body was made to house your spirit and your spirit was created to be in charge of your flesh.
The reason I continue to emphasize this scripture, is because we've read these verses many times, but haven't fully understood them. Many Christians are still trying to work out their Christianity from the outside-in, but the outside has to be ruled by the inside (the spirit). We'll never be content or fulfilled by making our flesh comply. It's like attending AA meetings and cease drinking alcohol. Although I'm no longer drinking, I continue fighting the flesh at all times. Willpower can avail most of the time and can restrain me, if I fight hard. Truthfully, though, I'm still an alcoholic, but I'm not drinking any longer.
I've watched as Christians fought for many years, struggling to make the flesh comply with what God says we should do. I also see these people being very frustrated. We walk in condemnation and guilt for the mistakes we make over and over again. The peace Jesus promised in John 14:27 (Amplified) seems elusive and fleeting at best. We know that the Words Jesus spoke are truth, but we somehow cannot obtain His peace.
Genesis 1:27 (Amplified) says, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them." The phrase "God created both male and female" means that He created the species of man. They were both in His Likeness and Image. They were both Spirit beings, just like their Father. Genesis 2:7 (Amplified says, "Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the Breath or Spirit of Life, and man became a living being."
The natural man (made from the dust of the earth) was to dominate and have authority over all things on the earth. The spirit of man was made in God's Image and Likeness that was "breathed" into the natural man, was to rule the flesh and not the other way around. We all know (or we think we know) what happened at the fall of Adam. Adam became separated in his spirit, from God and needed to rely on his natural man to sustain himself.
The spirit that was breathed into him, was now severed from Life in God and was linked with death, through his new master, satan. Although Adam and Ever were still alive in their flesh, they had died or been separated from Life, in their spirit. The way of life through God, was now broken by transgression in the spirit.
Slowly, Adam's connection with the spirit began losing its place and both he and Eve needed to rely on their own wisdom and knowledge, through the flesh or worldly wisdom. As more time passed, the wisdom of God began losing its place and was replaced by their own, worldly wisdom. Things that were available to them before the fall, were no longer working and eventually, God's wisdom was replaced in their lives, leaving them to meet their own needs.
Life continued to be this way, until Jesus rose from the dead. Although God planned a way to restore man to Himself, it took many earth years to bring this plan into the Spirit of reconciliation. Jesus addressed the multitude in John 10:9-10 (Amplified) saying, "I Am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out (freely), and will find pasture. The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it (life) in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
Jesus was telling this group of people that, "They were not alive at this time," even though they were breathing, eating, talking, drinking and operating on this earth as men, they were not alive in their spirit. Most Christians have failed to realize that when we were born again, we were made alive and made new creations that were once again in the Image and Likeness of God. Life was renewed in our dead spirit and we became like Adam was, a living being. Through Jesus, we've become a new creation.
Like Adam was a new creation in the beginning, through Jesus, we have been born again into the very Image and Likeness of our Father. We are now a new creation. Most of us believed that we'd become a new creation once we went to heaven. We have mostly viewed ourselves from the outside, instead of the inside. We keep waiting to become what Jesus has already made us to be. We continue trying to correct the mistakes of the flesh with willpower, instead of Spirit Power. We've mostly used God's Word to point out the things that are wrong with us, instead of trying to fix them.
Jesus walked as a Man on this earth, but He walked as One Who was alive by the Spirit of God. He had Life withing Him that overflowed into the flesh of the people. There was no Life in them to bring healing to their bodies. God stresses over again that the healing and health of the body, had to come from His Word. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified) that, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
God says in Proverbs 4:20-23 (Amplified), "My son; attend to My Words; consent and submit to My sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart (spirit) For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. Keep and guard your heart (spirit) with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it (your spirit or heart) flow the springs of life."
Healing comes from the inside-out and not from the outside-in. Through the new birth, you are a new creation. Your spirit is now alive again, within you. The Word of God in your new spirit, is once again created to bring Life into your natural flesh and blood body. Your body was made to house your spirit and your spirit was created to be in charge of your flesh.
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Lesson 20 The New Creation
The power of prayer has been nearly lost to the Church, in these last days. We've never really sought out God's will for this planet and what He really wants to do through us. For some, it has all become about God's wrath on the sinner, while others are just waiting until they get to heaven. As far as God is concerned, neither of these are true. God doesn't want to send anyone to hell and He would rather we represent Him in such a way that they turn from their wicked ways and receive Him. It's not about our simply going to heaven someday. God doesn't need anyone to be healed, delivered, saved, blessed, fed or clothed in heaven. He intended for us to take His authority (through Him) and bring what He has laid up in heaven for mankind and bring His kingdom to pass here on earth.
We've either misunderstood or have remained ignorantly blissful and not done what an Ambassador is supposed to do. As God's representative, we haven't represented Him in the Light of Who He really is. We've allowed the darkness to overpower the Light and have become a "Lamp under a basket" that isn't illuminating any longer. We've placed a basket over the Light by keeping ourselves and others from seeing the Father as He really is. We've built the church buildings as "baskets over the Light of the world" and the only way most of the world can see the Light is by crawling under the basket or coming into the church building.
We were commanded to "Go into the world," with the Light and not commanded to have the world come into our churches. We've built bigger baskets, but continue containing the Light within them. We've somehow, nearly done away with God's super-natural ability and become so carnal in our conforming to this age that the world cannot see a difference between the world and the Church.
God is still a super-natural Being, a Spirit Who operates through His new creation people to bring His power and Presence to bear in this natural world. Prayer is a super-natural act of faith that elevates us into the Spirit Laws of heaven's kingdom. It is designed to bring into being, here on earth, what God has already prepared in heaven.
We've allowed this nation to become like nations that do not know God. We've become so politically minded that we forget to be Spiritually minded. We allowed laws to be made, amendments to be passed and things to happen here, that were never intended to be. Many us have sat back and declared, "It's all part of God's plan" or "He will elect whomever He wants as President," as though it make no difference to Him. That is what happened when God wanted David to be King of Israel, but the people screamed for Saul. We've come to the place where we vote (and Christians do not have a great record for voting) for either the Democrat or Republican party, rather than for someone who is moral (if we even looked into it). We've voted for the Party and now the Party's over.
America faces the greatest challenge, than it's faced in recent times. The very survival of our Republic is at stake and I hear angry people say, "I'm not going to vote for any of them!" Satan has lied to the Church, telling them to "Vote for the lesser of two evils." I don't believe God has placed us in this position, but that we've placed ourselves here. We've had many opportunities to have Godly people run for office and have rejected the Davids for King and have elected the good looking Sauls.
The words of 2Chronicles 7:14 (Amplified) remain just as true now, as they did then, "If My people, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." I cannot find a Christian anywhere, who doesn't believe our land needs to be healed.
This isn't a matter of denomination or simply pastors, this is a time of crisis for our Nation. We've allowed several million babies to be sacrificed by abortion (and the new healthcare system says we must pay for them) and have allowed the sanctity of marriage between a man and woman, to be undone. We've closed our eyes or have looked the other way. This is an all-out assault on our God and His way of doing and being right!
We've allowed God and prayer to be removed from our schools and public places. The result is that we've become one of the most immoral places on the planet. Our children are being taught by the State, instead of the Lord, and we have an epidemic of drugs, murders, unwed mothers, gangs and disrespect for moral things this nation has ever produced. We have children with no father to guide them and mothers who have no priest in the home for guidance. All these things fall upon the shoulders of the Church, because we haven't done what 2Chronicles 7:14 instructs us to do.
We have been born for this time, it's no mistake that we're living in this time. We are a people of destiny, who were born for these last days, to bring God back into our country and the world at large. The time for prayer (and I'm talking about Super-natural prayer) is paramount for this time. They very life of our Nation and our children's future are at stake. I don't believe we need to arm ourselves and try overthrowing the government. I do believe, though, that we must do some seeking and praying, to accomplish what Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) says, "For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulders!"
Prayer is the most powerful weapon, and the greatest privilege every granted to mankind. It's the very entry into the Throne Room of His Grace, by the Name of Jesus, to obtain grace and mercy when we need it. Through the new creation in Christ Jesus, we have the opportunity to come into the very Presence of Almighty God and lay out our petition and prayer. We are no longer in the "outer court," but made one with Christ Jesus. We not only have the privilege of coming before Him, but the obligation to come and seek Him, on behalf of the nation and the world.
Psalm 2:8 (Amplified) says, "Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as your possession." You might respond to this scripture by saying, "Yes, but this is for Jesus!" You are right, but we read in Romans 8:17 (Amplified) that, "If we are (His) children then we are (His) heirs also; heirs of God and fellow heirs wit Christ (sharing His inheritance with Him)." We, too, can ask for our nation's healing (along with the world), because of our inheritance through Jesus.
When was the last time you fell down on your face before the Father and ask for His guidance for our Nation? When was the last time you asked for guidance about what's happening here in America. This isn't what God intended for America, but is what we have allowed to happen, because we didn't humble ourselves and pray, like He said to do. You could raise up George Washington from the grave and put him back in the Presidency, but it wouldn't do any good until the hearts of the people are awakened unto righteousness.
As the Presidential election approaches, I'm amazed at the selection of persons we have to choose from to govern the land. If this is all that is left of the roots of America, then we need God to expediently intervene. We must call our families and congregation to prayer. We must ask God to intervene and heal our land. We must begin standing up for what our faith in God once stood for and speak out the Truth. We must not allow the devil to negotiate the terms of the agreement or covenant, because the covenant of this Nation wasn't made with him, but with God. We must go to God to get the terms of our agreement and stand on His Truth.
Jesus is the "Lord of Hosts", which means the "God of Armies." The Church is the invading Army of God and He will go before us to bring victory again.
We've either misunderstood or have remained ignorantly blissful and not done what an Ambassador is supposed to do. As God's representative, we haven't represented Him in the Light of Who He really is. We've allowed the darkness to overpower the Light and have become a "Lamp under a basket" that isn't illuminating any longer. We've placed a basket over the Light by keeping ourselves and others from seeing the Father as He really is. We've built the church buildings as "baskets over the Light of the world" and the only way most of the world can see the Light is by crawling under the basket or coming into the church building.
We were commanded to "Go into the world," with the Light and not commanded to have the world come into our churches. We've built bigger baskets, but continue containing the Light within them. We've somehow, nearly done away with God's super-natural ability and become so carnal in our conforming to this age that the world cannot see a difference between the world and the Church.
God is still a super-natural Being, a Spirit Who operates through His new creation people to bring His power and Presence to bear in this natural world. Prayer is a super-natural act of faith that elevates us into the Spirit Laws of heaven's kingdom. It is designed to bring into being, here on earth, what God has already prepared in heaven.
We've allowed this nation to become like nations that do not know God. We've become so politically minded that we forget to be Spiritually minded. We allowed laws to be made, amendments to be passed and things to happen here, that were never intended to be. Many us have sat back and declared, "It's all part of God's plan" or "He will elect whomever He wants as President," as though it make no difference to Him. That is what happened when God wanted David to be King of Israel, but the people screamed for Saul. We've come to the place where we vote (and Christians do not have a great record for voting) for either the Democrat or Republican party, rather than for someone who is moral (if we even looked into it). We've voted for the Party and now the Party's over.
America faces the greatest challenge, than it's faced in recent times. The very survival of our Republic is at stake and I hear angry people say, "I'm not going to vote for any of them!" Satan has lied to the Church, telling them to "Vote for the lesser of two evils." I don't believe God has placed us in this position, but that we've placed ourselves here. We've had many opportunities to have Godly people run for office and have rejected the Davids for King and have elected the good looking Sauls.
The words of 2Chronicles 7:14 (Amplified) remain just as true now, as they did then, "If My people, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." I cannot find a Christian anywhere, who doesn't believe our land needs to be healed.
This isn't a matter of denomination or simply pastors, this is a time of crisis for our Nation. We've allowed several million babies to be sacrificed by abortion (and the new healthcare system says we must pay for them) and have allowed the sanctity of marriage between a man and woman, to be undone. We've closed our eyes or have looked the other way. This is an all-out assault on our God and His way of doing and being right!
We've allowed God and prayer to be removed from our schools and public places. The result is that we've become one of the most immoral places on the planet. Our children are being taught by the State, instead of the Lord, and we have an epidemic of drugs, murders, unwed mothers, gangs and disrespect for moral things this nation has ever produced. We have children with no father to guide them and mothers who have no priest in the home for guidance. All these things fall upon the shoulders of the Church, because we haven't done what 2Chronicles 7:14 instructs us to do.
We have been born for this time, it's no mistake that we're living in this time. We are a people of destiny, who were born for these last days, to bring God back into our country and the world at large. The time for prayer (and I'm talking about Super-natural prayer) is paramount for this time. They very life of our Nation and our children's future are at stake. I don't believe we need to arm ourselves and try overthrowing the government. I do believe, though, that we must do some seeking and praying, to accomplish what Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) says, "For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulders!"
Prayer is the most powerful weapon, and the greatest privilege every granted to mankind. It's the very entry into the Throne Room of His Grace, by the Name of Jesus, to obtain grace and mercy when we need it. Through the new creation in Christ Jesus, we have the opportunity to come into the very Presence of Almighty God and lay out our petition and prayer. We are no longer in the "outer court," but made one with Christ Jesus. We not only have the privilege of coming before Him, but the obligation to come and seek Him, on behalf of the nation and the world.
Psalm 2:8 (Amplified) says, "Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as your possession." You might respond to this scripture by saying, "Yes, but this is for Jesus!" You are right, but we read in Romans 8:17 (Amplified) that, "If we are (His) children then we are (His) heirs also; heirs of God and fellow heirs wit Christ (sharing His inheritance with Him)." We, too, can ask for our nation's healing (along with the world), because of our inheritance through Jesus.
When was the last time you fell down on your face before the Father and ask for His guidance for our Nation? When was the last time you asked for guidance about what's happening here in America. This isn't what God intended for America, but is what we have allowed to happen, because we didn't humble ourselves and pray, like He said to do. You could raise up George Washington from the grave and put him back in the Presidency, but it wouldn't do any good until the hearts of the people are awakened unto righteousness.
As the Presidential election approaches, I'm amazed at the selection of persons we have to choose from to govern the land. If this is all that is left of the roots of America, then we need God to expediently intervene. We must call our families and congregation to prayer. We must ask God to intervene and heal our land. We must begin standing up for what our faith in God once stood for and speak out the Truth. We must not allow the devil to negotiate the terms of the agreement or covenant, because the covenant of this Nation wasn't made with him, but with God. We must go to God to get the terms of our agreement and stand on His Truth.
Jesus is the "Lord of Hosts", which means the "God of Armies." The Church is the invading Army of God and He will go before us to bring victory again.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Lesson 19 The New Creation
We've been basing these teachings about the new creation on 2Corinthians 5:16-17. Many of the previous teachings were about who we are now in Christ Jesus, helping us grow from the infant stage of Christianity we've been in for many years. Times have changed. The world has gotten darker and as the coming of the Lord approaches, the Church must grow up.
We can see clearly from 1John 3:2 (Amplified) that we are now a new creation. Thus, it says, "We are (even here and) now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be (hereafter), but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall (as God's children) resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He (really) is."
I don't know what we will look like when we are "caught up together with Him, but I do know that the only difference in us now as a new creation, is the way we look. We have His Name, we have His delegated authority, we have His promise, and we have His Spirit. We have His Word and we have the revelation of who we are now, in Him. We're not supposed to waiting to go to heaven and become daughters and sons of God. We're supposed to be Ambassadors for Him on this earth and to being His will to bear "on earth, as it is in heaven.
We have a job to do on this earth, that only by our understanding who we are in Christ, can we even accomplish. We've remained in the infant stage in our walk with God, for as long as we can. Although we're still "babies" in our walk, we are new creations and don't even realize it. We have a small, four month old baby boy, in our congregation. He is, even in the natural realm, a new creation. He didn't exist here until a short time ago. He is a citizen of America and a recipient of all the benefits our Constitution holds.
This perfectly healthy, strong and intelligent baby has all the benefits of an American citizen. Presently, he doesn't know whether he's a girl or boy, he has not concept of anything other than his own needs. He isn't concerned about the upcoming election, the warfare in the Middle East or even where his next meal is coming from. He is perfectly healthy and very intelligent, but he has much to learn in order to partake of what men and women have died for to make us free.
As new creation people, we are now citizens of heaven. We, though, have never crown up to either enjoy being or useful to the fact of who we really are. We've sat back and allowed someone else to do everything for us. We Americans have allowed someone else to make all the decisions for us in these last days. We've never really accepted the responsibility of our new creation identity. Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) says, "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
God didn't lead us to salvation only for us to wait until the day we go to heaven, but to bring His Kingdom (heavens) to bear on the earth. We were given "joint seating" with Jesus. This means that we share, "even here and now," His authority, His Name. His will for this planet is to bring heaven's will to pass here like it is in heaven. We were made to be Ambassadors for Christ, according to 2Corinthians 5:20 (Amplified), which says, "So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We (as Christ's ambassadors or personal representatives) beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor (now offered you) and be reconciled to God."
An Ambassador is set to represent one nation or kingdom to another nation or kingdom. They do not change who they are, but represent who they are by bringing the representation to that country. An Ambassador lives in an Embassy that still holds the laws of the nation of kingdom they represent. Romans 12:2 (Amplified) says, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age) (fashioned after and adapted to) its external, superficial customs, but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude), so that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)."
God's goodness has already come upon you, through Christ Jesus. His acceptance of you came when you made Jesus the Lord of your life and became a new creation. God's perfect will for you, is something that you learn and grow up into, by renewing your mind by the laws governing heaven and are expressed through your Spirit (through the Holy Spirit), by your representation of God's kingdom here on earth.
We can see clearly from 1John 3:2 (Amplified) that we are now a new creation. Thus, it says, "We are (even here and) now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be (hereafter), but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall (as God's children) resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He (really) is."
I don't know what we will look like when we are "caught up together with Him, but I do know that the only difference in us now as a new creation, is the way we look. We have His Name, we have His delegated authority, we have His promise, and we have His Spirit. We have His Word and we have the revelation of who we are now, in Him. We're not supposed to waiting to go to heaven and become daughters and sons of God. We're supposed to be Ambassadors for Him on this earth and to being His will to bear "on earth, as it is in heaven.
We have a job to do on this earth, that only by our understanding who we are in Christ, can we even accomplish. We've remained in the infant stage in our walk with God, for as long as we can. Although we're still "babies" in our walk, we are new creations and don't even realize it. We have a small, four month old baby boy, in our congregation. He is, even in the natural realm, a new creation. He didn't exist here until a short time ago. He is a citizen of America and a recipient of all the benefits our Constitution holds.
This perfectly healthy, strong and intelligent baby has all the benefits of an American citizen. Presently, he doesn't know whether he's a girl or boy, he has not concept of anything other than his own needs. He isn't concerned about the upcoming election, the warfare in the Middle East or even where his next meal is coming from. He is perfectly healthy and very intelligent, but he has much to learn in order to partake of what men and women have died for to make us free.
As new creation people, we are now citizens of heaven. We, though, have never crown up to either enjoy being or useful to the fact of who we really are. We've sat back and allowed someone else to do everything for us. We Americans have allowed someone else to make all the decisions for us in these last days. We've never really accepted the responsibility of our new creation identity. Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) says, "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
God didn't lead us to salvation only for us to wait until the day we go to heaven, but to bring His Kingdom (heavens) to bear on the earth. We were given "joint seating" with Jesus. This means that we share, "even here and now," His authority, His Name. His will for this planet is to bring heaven's will to pass here like it is in heaven. We were made to be Ambassadors for Christ, according to 2Corinthians 5:20 (Amplified), which says, "So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We (as Christ's ambassadors or personal representatives) beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor (now offered you) and be reconciled to God."
An Ambassador is set to represent one nation or kingdom to another nation or kingdom. They do not change who they are, but represent who they are by bringing the representation to that country. An Ambassador lives in an Embassy that still holds the laws of the nation of kingdom they represent. Romans 12:2 (Amplified) says, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age) (fashioned after and adapted to) its external, superficial customs, but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude), so that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)."
God's goodness has already come upon you, through Christ Jesus. His acceptance of you came when you made Jesus the Lord of your life and became a new creation. God's perfect will for you, is something that you learn and grow up into, by renewing your mind by the laws governing heaven and are expressed through your Spirit (through the Holy Spirit), by your representation of God's kingdom here on earth.
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Lesson 18 The New Creation
If we get saved and continue to read a Spiritual Word by the carnal mind, then we will still (even though it's no longer true for you) walk as "mere men," carnal and fleshly people who are unable to discern the truth of the Spiritual revelation of the Word. It is true, though, for those who are carnal minded. They are new creations too, but they never really walk in this Truth and therefore still "feel" like they must find another way to "please" God.
Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified) says, "But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him (God). For whoever would come near to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (out)."
Romans 8:8 (Amplified) says, "So then those who are living in the life of the flesh (catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature) cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him." This doesn't mean that they are necessarily living in sin, but they are living in the carnal mind, which is in opposition to God's truth. You must, by faith, believe that you are righteous before God, to ever enjoy being "acceptable and pleasing to Him." You cannot please God by all the works of the flesh or through all the religious sacrifices we're taught are necessary to please Him.
The natural man, with a carnal mind, will have a problem with what they read even in this teaching. We continue seeing ourselves the way the world and religion sees us. This will keep us trying to do only the things of the flesh, instead of the things of the Spirit. You're living in a body that was literally crucified with Jesus Himself, according to Galatians 2:20 (Amplified), which says, "I have been crucified with Christ (in Him I have shared His crucifixion) it is no longer I who live; but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
We still see ourselves as though we've never died and live like we did before being saved, just because we can still walk, talk, sleep, eat, and do those same things. And, because of this, we continue allowing our carnal, unrenewed mind to control us, instead of the Spirit of God. We read the words, but miss the Truth of the Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit's giving Life to the words, they become just carnal literature to the natural mind.
The Word is Spirit and Life and the Christian is a new creation, but we still react like it's something that is for the future or that someday these things will be true. This is what makes a new creation, these things are already true. This isn't something that happens later, but is something that happened as soon as you received Jesus as your Lord. You became a new creation at that very moment. We've continued reading the Word by our own understanding, instead of His understanding and this had been a stumbling block for us. We read the Bible like we read any other book. We could read the words by our intellect, but can only understand the Truth, with our spirit.
John 8:36 (Amplified) tells us, "So if the Son liberates you (makes you free men), then you are really and unquestionably free." We all know that this scripture is true, but we sometimes walk in certain bondage for a lack of revelation of this truth. Rather than allow the Spirit to reveal the Truth that makes us free, we sometimes settle for carnal reasoning to satisfy our walk. Until we realize that the only way to be righteous in God's eyes, is by faith, receiving what He has declared to be righteous, then we will spend our entire life in this earthly body full of guilt and frustration, trying to become what only He can make us to be. We will never walk in the "unquestionable freedom" without it.
We continue frustrating righteousness by judging our own conduct in this body. It's true that we must bring the fleshly, carnal mind into subjection to the Spirit. But, don't frustrate grace and righteousness and then keep ourselves in bondage to the flesh. 2Corinthians 5:21 says, "Therefore if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether)." God has made us to be the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. It is His Own righteousness that He gave to us. He gave us His very Own righteousness. No matter how hard you try, how much you do, how much you give, you can never improve upon His Own righteousness. We can, and should, do that which is right and walk upright before the world and the Lord. not in self-righteous pride in ourselves, but by humility and in the truth that it is God Who makes us righteous. We honor His truth by submitting to this truth.
Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified) says, "But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him (God). For whoever would come near to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (out)."
Romans 8:8 (Amplified) says, "So then those who are living in the life of the flesh (catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature) cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him." This doesn't mean that they are necessarily living in sin, but they are living in the carnal mind, which is in opposition to God's truth. You must, by faith, believe that you are righteous before God, to ever enjoy being "acceptable and pleasing to Him." You cannot please God by all the works of the flesh or through all the religious sacrifices we're taught are necessary to please Him.
The natural man, with a carnal mind, will have a problem with what they read even in this teaching. We continue seeing ourselves the way the world and religion sees us. This will keep us trying to do only the things of the flesh, instead of the things of the Spirit. You're living in a body that was literally crucified with Jesus Himself, according to Galatians 2:20 (Amplified), which says, "I have been crucified with Christ (in Him I have shared His crucifixion) it is no longer I who live; but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
We still see ourselves as though we've never died and live like we did before being saved, just because we can still walk, talk, sleep, eat, and do those same things. And, because of this, we continue allowing our carnal, unrenewed mind to control us, instead of the Spirit of God. We read the words, but miss the Truth of the Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit's giving Life to the words, they become just carnal literature to the natural mind.
The Word is Spirit and Life and the Christian is a new creation, but we still react like it's something that is for the future or that someday these things will be true. This is what makes a new creation, these things are already true. This isn't something that happens later, but is something that happened as soon as you received Jesus as your Lord. You became a new creation at that very moment. We've continued reading the Word by our own understanding, instead of His understanding and this had been a stumbling block for us. We read the Bible like we read any other book. We could read the words by our intellect, but can only understand the Truth, with our spirit.
John 8:36 (Amplified) tells us, "So if the Son liberates you (makes you free men), then you are really and unquestionably free." We all know that this scripture is true, but we sometimes walk in certain bondage for a lack of revelation of this truth. Rather than allow the Spirit to reveal the Truth that makes us free, we sometimes settle for carnal reasoning to satisfy our walk. Until we realize that the only way to be righteous in God's eyes, is by faith, receiving what He has declared to be righteous, then we will spend our entire life in this earthly body full of guilt and frustration, trying to become what only He can make us to be. We will never walk in the "unquestionable freedom" without it.
We continue frustrating righteousness by judging our own conduct in this body. It's true that we must bring the fleshly, carnal mind into subjection to the Spirit. But, don't frustrate grace and righteousness and then keep ourselves in bondage to the flesh. 2Corinthians 5:21 says, "Therefore if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether)." God has made us to be the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. It is His Own righteousness that He gave to us. He gave us His very Own righteousness. No matter how hard you try, how much you do, how much you give, you can never improve upon His Own righteousness. We can, and should, do that which is right and walk upright before the world and the Lord. not in self-righteous pride in ourselves, but by humility and in the truth that it is God Who makes us righteous. We honor His truth by submitting to this truth.
Monday, March 14, 2016
Lesson 17 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) tells us, "Therefore if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether)." We, as Christians, have rarely seen ourselves the way God sees us. We've walked under the same things as before we knew Jesus. For many, it was simply because we followed tradition that was passed down from other generations, more than believing what the Word says for us.
Mankind, since Adam's fall in the Garden, has had a problem with those who are not like themselves. We've fought over traditions, cultures, races, social status and nearly everything else, because we believed our way was best. When it came to the Word of God, we didn't vary from that same thing. Each denomination though their way was the only "true" way. We mostly settled for what they told us as truth.
God intended for all of us to be Family, through the new birth, and that His family would be one the world knew nothing about. We were to be a new creation son or daughter, who never existed before on this planet. We've allowed the world to conform us into the same religious people, through religion and tradition, we were before being born again. We came into the Family of God as sons and daughters, but continued walking like we didn't belong in His family. We considered ourselves as almost "orphan" children in this world, but we would finally become God's children "someday when we get to heaven." We put off all of the spiritual inheritance and communion until another time.
We've therefore, never walked in the true fellowship with our Heavenly Father, because we always felt like He was unattainable here in this life. We sadly didn't realize how our Father had chosen to leave His place of habitation and live with and in us. We didn't realize that He had brought forth, by His Word, a new creation (a people the world had no hold on any longer). God had made us a new creation people, not like the old covenant people, but a brand new creation.
The old covenant people of God sacrificed bulls and goats for their sins and trespasses. They weren't even considered as righteous before God, because they were still only flesh and blood people. We, though, if we believe the Word of God as truth, have died with Jesus, been justified by Jesus, raised up with Him and made righteous by Jesus. His Blood and Sacrifice wasn't one that needed to be made again and again, but once and for all time, it would be enough. As new creation people, we didn't have to prove by Law and sacrifice continually, to prove our righteousness.
It didn't matter whether or not they were under the blood sacrifice of bulls and goats, that blood could only "cover" the sins for a finite about of time and not remove it forever. 2Corinthians 5:19,21 (Amplified) says, "It was God (personally present) in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against (men) their trespasses (but canceling them) and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor)." Verse 21 says, "For our sake He made Christ (virtually) to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become (endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of) the righteousness of God (what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness)."
If we read the above verse in the natural, then we struggle and debate about what it really is saying. But, if we read it through the Holy Spirit, then we read life and peace. This scripture tells us that, "We are the righteousness of God." He made us righteous with His righteousness and we became a new creation in His sight and became His family.
Listen carefully to what the Spirit is saying about and through Romans 8:6-8 (Amplified), "Now the mind of the flesh (which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit) is death (death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter). But the mind of the Holy Spirit is Life and (soul) peace (both now and forever)."
Paul was telling those who read the above scripture in their natural or carnal sense, they will remain walking under the same guilt, condemnation and misery they walked in before being made a new creation. Even though God removed all of this guilt and sin (by crucifying the flesh with Jesus), our carnal mind will not let or dare believe what the Word says. Consequently, they continue walking under the same weakness of the dead man, instead of the strength of the new creation in Christ.
Paul didn't say they weren't saved or they were something less than a new creation, but he simply said that if one doesn't allow the Spirit of God reveal Who He has made you to be, then you will continues allowing the devil to torment you as a natural man. In Romans 8:7-8 (Amplified), Paul, through the Holy Spirit, reveals revelation, in greater depth, about the new creation. Commenting on the previous verse and expounding on Truth, Paul said, "(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. So then those who are living the life of the flesh (catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature) cannot please of satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him."
We've always believed the above verse was speaking about living in sin. This isn't what the scripture said! It simply said that even after being born again, if we won't allow the Holy Spirit to bring life to the Word, then we will live in the flesh. In John 6:63 (Amplified) Jesus said, "It is the Spirit Who gives life (He is the Life-Giver) the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is NO PROFIT in it the words (truths) I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
The carnal mind would again tell you, "Yes Brother Jim, but you know we're still in this flesh, don't you?" Read the next verse in Romans 8:9 (Amplified) which says, "But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the Holy Spirit of God (really) dwells within you (directs and controls you) But if anyone does not possess the Holy Spirit of Christ, he is none of His (he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God)."
Reading these scriptures with the natural, carnal mind, does major injustice to the Truth of the Spirit of God. Verse 9 said, "But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the Life of the Spirit." We've never truly allowed this truth to be made true revelation to us yet. Paul said that We are dead. Now, it's only the Spirit Who is living through you. The "wages of sin is death" and the only way to be free from sin is to die. When Jesus died, those of us who believe His Word and received Jesus as our Savior, died. Because you are dead, you are now free from sin. Now, we are living as a new creation that was created from the Spirit in God's Own Likeness and Image. We're not just "forgiven sinners," but are brand new creatures.
Mankind, since Adam's fall in the Garden, has had a problem with those who are not like themselves. We've fought over traditions, cultures, races, social status and nearly everything else, because we believed our way was best. When it came to the Word of God, we didn't vary from that same thing. Each denomination though their way was the only "true" way. We mostly settled for what they told us as truth.
God intended for all of us to be Family, through the new birth, and that His family would be one the world knew nothing about. We were to be a new creation son or daughter, who never existed before on this planet. We've allowed the world to conform us into the same religious people, through religion and tradition, we were before being born again. We came into the Family of God as sons and daughters, but continued walking like we didn't belong in His family. We considered ourselves as almost "orphan" children in this world, but we would finally become God's children "someday when we get to heaven." We put off all of the spiritual inheritance and communion until another time.
We've therefore, never walked in the true fellowship with our Heavenly Father, because we always felt like He was unattainable here in this life. We sadly didn't realize how our Father had chosen to leave His place of habitation and live with and in us. We didn't realize that He had brought forth, by His Word, a new creation (a people the world had no hold on any longer). God had made us a new creation people, not like the old covenant people, but a brand new creation.
The old covenant people of God sacrificed bulls and goats for their sins and trespasses. They weren't even considered as righteous before God, because they were still only flesh and blood people. We, though, if we believe the Word of God as truth, have died with Jesus, been justified by Jesus, raised up with Him and made righteous by Jesus. His Blood and Sacrifice wasn't one that needed to be made again and again, but once and for all time, it would be enough. As new creation people, we didn't have to prove by Law and sacrifice continually, to prove our righteousness.
It didn't matter whether or not they were under the blood sacrifice of bulls and goats, that blood could only "cover" the sins for a finite about of time and not remove it forever. 2Corinthians 5:19,21 (Amplified) says, "It was God (personally present) in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against (men) their trespasses (but canceling them) and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor)." Verse 21 says, "For our sake He made Christ (virtually) to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become (endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of) the righteousness of God (what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness)."
If we read the above verse in the natural, then we struggle and debate about what it really is saying. But, if we read it through the Holy Spirit, then we read life and peace. This scripture tells us that, "We are the righteousness of God." He made us righteous with His righteousness and we became a new creation in His sight and became His family.
Listen carefully to what the Spirit is saying about and through Romans 8:6-8 (Amplified), "Now the mind of the flesh (which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit) is death (death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter). But the mind of the Holy Spirit is Life and (soul) peace (both now and forever)."
Paul was telling those who read the above scripture in their natural or carnal sense, they will remain walking under the same guilt, condemnation and misery they walked in before being made a new creation. Even though God removed all of this guilt and sin (by crucifying the flesh with Jesus), our carnal mind will not let or dare believe what the Word says. Consequently, they continue walking under the same weakness of the dead man, instead of the strength of the new creation in Christ.
Paul didn't say they weren't saved or they were something less than a new creation, but he simply said that if one doesn't allow the Spirit of God reveal Who He has made you to be, then you will continues allowing the devil to torment you as a natural man. In Romans 8:7-8 (Amplified), Paul, through the Holy Spirit, reveals revelation, in greater depth, about the new creation. Commenting on the previous verse and expounding on Truth, Paul said, "(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. So then those who are living the life of the flesh (catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature) cannot please of satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him."
We've always believed the above verse was speaking about living in sin. This isn't what the scripture said! It simply said that even after being born again, if we won't allow the Holy Spirit to bring life to the Word, then we will live in the flesh. In John 6:63 (Amplified) Jesus said, "It is the Spirit Who gives life (He is the Life-Giver) the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is NO PROFIT in it the words (truths) I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
The carnal mind would again tell you, "Yes Brother Jim, but you know we're still in this flesh, don't you?" Read the next verse in Romans 8:9 (Amplified) which says, "But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the Holy Spirit of God (really) dwells within you (directs and controls you) But if anyone does not possess the Holy Spirit of Christ, he is none of His (he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God)."
Reading these scriptures with the natural, carnal mind, does major injustice to the Truth of the Spirit of God. Verse 9 said, "But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the Life of the Spirit." We've never truly allowed this truth to be made true revelation to us yet. Paul said that We are dead. Now, it's only the Spirit Who is living through you. The "wages of sin is death" and the only way to be free from sin is to die. When Jesus died, those of us who believe His Word and received Jesus as our Savior, died. Because you are dead, you are now free from sin. Now, we are living as a new creation that was created from the Spirit in God's Own Likeness and Image. We're not just "forgiven sinners," but are brand new creatures.
Friday, March 11, 2016
Lesson 16 The New Creation
Jesus, the Word, brought about the Creation of everything, along with the new creation (us) and the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus. God's Own Word will uphold all that He has said for it to do, but we must appropriate what has been forever settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89 tells us that "God's Word is forever settled and stands by its Own authority in heaven and cannot be altered." When we choose to speak and act on God's Word, it cannot fail.
Romans 8:2 tells us that the Law of the Spirit of Life, which is in Christ Jesus, is God's Word. When we speak it, it is Life. When we walk it, it is Life. When we preach it, it brings Life. God "watches over His Word to confirm it by attesting signs and miracles," according to Mark 16:20. God isn't obligated to fulfill our words, unless they are His Words. We've constricted God's willingness to move on our behalf,by contrary or willful speech that opposes His Word.
When we pray or speak in the Name of Jesus, we must understand that Jesus and the Word are One and the Same. You cannot separate the two, so when we pray in the Name of Jesus, we are praying the Word and will of God. God's Word and His will are the same thing. When we know what God's Word says about something, we can know what God's will is about that thing. When we know it's His will and His Word, then we can have the confidence found in 1John 5:14-15 (Amplified), "And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him' (we are sure) that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His Own place) He listens to and hears us. And if (since) we (positively) know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know (with settled and absolute knowledge) that we have (granted us as our present possessions) the requests made of Him."
We new creation people, we are called to walk as Ambassadors from our Kingdom of God, into this kingdom of darkness. We don't conduct ourselves only by the laws of the land, but supersede them by a higher law. When we pray in the Name of Jesus or walk in the Name of Jesus, we must understand that Jesus and the Word are One and the Same. Using His Name, without knowing His Word, can and will negate our prayers and short circuit our usefulness for Him.
When we use the Name of Jesus, without knowing His Word, then He has nothing to bring about as far as confirmation. When we think and believe that He is unable to heal, bless, work or bring about the things His Word said, we have negated His ability to move on our behalf. That is because He and the Word are still One. 1John 5:7 (Amplified) says, "So there are three witnesses in heaven; the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these Three Are One."
We can't pray in the Name of Jesus, in contradiction to the Word (which is the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus) and expect what we pray to be confirmed and to fruition. As new creation citizens, we haven't learned the Laws that govern our new citizenship, but continue trying to find success by the old standards of life. These laws do not work in our new life and citizenship of the heavenlies. It's possible to be living in America, without knowing the laws that govern our nation. You can still be a citizen and not have things work for you, as they were intended. You can also be a citizen of America and try imposing your own set of rules or laws , resulting in trouble and difficulty.
We find that many have come here to America, who fail to assimilate to our laws and customs, resulting in trouble. We cannot impose what we want the laws to be, onto what God has declared it shall be. His Word, or His laws that govern, are established in heaven for all eternity. It doesn't matter how hard we cry or try begging God to do something, if we're not asking according to the laws that govern, then He will not change it. Isaiah 59:21 (Amplified) says, "As for Me, this is My covenant or league with them, says the Lord; My Spirit, Who is upon you (and Who writes the Law of God inwardly on the heart) And My Words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your (true spiritual) children, or out of the mouths of your children's children, says the Lord, from henceforth and forever."
If God altered one part of His Word, even for us, then we would never be sure that He wouldn't altar another part for some other reason. This would bring about the uncertainty of His Word and our not trusting it from henceforth. The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, is the Law of God's Word to the new creation man. We are to know Him by His Spirit, to where we only "speak what we hear the Father tells us and what the Father says," just like Jesus did. This is the law of the new creation.
Romans 8:2 tells us that the Law of the Spirit of Life, which is in Christ Jesus, is God's Word. When we speak it, it is Life. When we walk it, it is Life. When we preach it, it brings Life. God "watches over His Word to confirm it by attesting signs and miracles," according to Mark 16:20. God isn't obligated to fulfill our words, unless they are His Words. We've constricted God's willingness to move on our behalf,by contrary or willful speech that opposes His Word.
When we pray or speak in the Name of Jesus, we must understand that Jesus and the Word are One and the Same. You cannot separate the two, so when we pray in the Name of Jesus, we are praying the Word and will of God. God's Word and His will are the same thing. When we know what God's Word says about something, we can know what God's will is about that thing. When we know it's His will and His Word, then we can have the confidence found in 1John 5:14-15 (Amplified), "And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him' (we are sure) that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His Own place) He listens to and hears us. And if (since) we (positively) know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know (with settled and absolute knowledge) that we have (granted us as our present possessions) the requests made of Him."
We new creation people, we are called to walk as Ambassadors from our Kingdom of God, into this kingdom of darkness. We don't conduct ourselves only by the laws of the land, but supersede them by a higher law. When we pray in the Name of Jesus or walk in the Name of Jesus, we must understand that Jesus and the Word are One and the Same. Using His Name, without knowing His Word, can and will negate our prayers and short circuit our usefulness for Him.
When we use the Name of Jesus, without knowing His Word, then He has nothing to bring about as far as confirmation. When we think and believe that He is unable to heal, bless, work or bring about the things His Word said, we have negated His ability to move on our behalf. That is because He and the Word are still One. 1John 5:7 (Amplified) says, "So there are three witnesses in heaven; the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these Three Are One."
We can't pray in the Name of Jesus, in contradiction to the Word (which is the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus) and expect what we pray to be confirmed and to fruition. As new creation citizens, we haven't learned the Laws that govern our new citizenship, but continue trying to find success by the old standards of life. These laws do not work in our new life and citizenship of the heavenlies. It's possible to be living in America, without knowing the laws that govern our nation. You can still be a citizen and not have things work for you, as they were intended. You can also be a citizen of America and try imposing your own set of rules or laws , resulting in trouble and difficulty.
We find that many have come here to America, who fail to assimilate to our laws and customs, resulting in trouble. We cannot impose what we want the laws to be, onto what God has declared it shall be. His Word, or His laws that govern, are established in heaven for all eternity. It doesn't matter how hard we cry or try begging God to do something, if we're not asking according to the laws that govern, then He will not change it. Isaiah 59:21 (Amplified) says, "As for Me, this is My covenant or league with them, says the Lord; My Spirit, Who is upon you (and Who writes the Law of God inwardly on the heart) And My Words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your (true spiritual) children, or out of the mouths of your children's children, says the Lord, from henceforth and forever."
If God altered one part of His Word, even for us, then we would never be sure that He wouldn't altar another part for some other reason. This would bring about the uncertainty of His Word and our not trusting it from henceforth. The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, is the Law of God's Word to the new creation man. We are to know Him by His Spirit, to where we only "speak what we hear the Father tells us and what the Father says," just like Jesus did. This is the law of the new creation.
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Lesson 15 The New Creation
Many Christians have never heard the message that their words do matter, while some have simply chosen to ignore the message after they heard it. Some have repeated the words of the people in Psalm 12:3-4 (Amplified), "May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and the tongues that speak proud boasting. Those who say, with our tongues we prevail; our lips are our own (to command at our will)-who is Lord and Master over us?"
Proverbs 22:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to My knowledge; For it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind (believing them) your lips will be accustomed to (confessing) them." You and I might never create a new universe like our Heavenly Father did and we cannot speak a world into subjection to God, but by our using the Laws of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, His Words (from the mouth of His new creation) will change things in our lives and the place that He has instructed us to go as Ambassadors of Christ.
When we preach carnal messages, we raise carnal Christians. The only way for a new creation believer to grow, is by the Words of Life and Truth-the Spirit. The spirit man must be fed spiritual food, which is the Word of God. God isn't moved by the laws governing the carnal realm, only by the laws that governing heaven (the Spirit realm). When we speak God's Word, He will move on it. We cannot change the Laws of the Spirit or use it for our own purposes, but we can learn to govern ourselves by His laws and therefore, have "His will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."
This message will seem to complicate and make salvation difficult, for some. I'm not speaking about our not being saved if we fail to guard our tongues, but I'm speaking about being obedient to the Law of the Spirit. Jesus demonstrated the power of His Words, in many of His teachings. Jesus spoke to the fig tree in Mark 11:21-24 (Amplified) then, "Peter remembered and said to Him, Master, look! the fig tree which YOU doomed has withered away. And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God (constantly) Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him."
Jesus not only demonstrated the power of Words that He spoke, but also taught on the power of words for His listeners to speak, as an example of what words can do. Jesus didn't say that words only work for Him, but that God's Word works for all who will believe it and speak it forth.
Genesis 1:1-5 (Amplified) says, "In the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned and created) the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light; and there was light."
God has no less power before He spoke, than after He spoke. He was still Almighty God, but nothing happened until He spoke. His power was displayed when it came out of His Spirit by His Words coming out of His mouth. The power was always in Him, but didn't manifest until He spoke. This same account was given in John 1:1-3 (Amplified), "In the beginning (before all time) was the Word (Christ) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He (the Word) was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; And without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being."
Think about what we just read! "Jesus was present originally with God" and the "Holy Spirit was hovering, brooding over the face of the deep." In the first three verses of the Book of Genesis, we find God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, all Three. Although we seem to have all the necessary ingredients to bring about the Creation, nothing happened until "God said." Now, His Word (Jesus) brought what God said into being.
Hebrews 11:3 (Amplified) says, "By faith we understand that the worlds (during the successive ages) were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the Word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible." We didn't see anything that was and is now visible, until God spoke it out of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. It was "hidden in Him" until it was "spoken" and then it became "visible to all."
You cannot see the mountains move, until the power of the Spirit in His Word moves it. Remember what we've been studying and read John 15:7 (Amplified) where Jesus said, "If you live in Me (abide vitally united to Me) and My Words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you."
What will do the work of what you want to be done? Jesus (the Word) that brought about creation, the new creation (us) and the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus, God's Own Word. His Word will uphold all that He has said for it to do, only we must appropriate what has been "forever settled in heaven," according to Psalm 119:89 (Amplified). God's Word stand by its Own authority in heaven, and is not, nor can be altered. When we make the decision to speak and act on His Word, it cannot fail.
Proverbs 22:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to My knowledge; For it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind (believing them) your lips will be accustomed to (confessing) them." You and I might never create a new universe like our Heavenly Father did and we cannot speak a world into subjection to God, but by our using the Laws of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, His Words (from the mouth of His new creation) will change things in our lives and the place that He has instructed us to go as Ambassadors of Christ.
When we preach carnal messages, we raise carnal Christians. The only way for a new creation believer to grow, is by the Words of Life and Truth-the Spirit. The spirit man must be fed spiritual food, which is the Word of God. God isn't moved by the laws governing the carnal realm, only by the laws that governing heaven (the Spirit realm). When we speak God's Word, He will move on it. We cannot change the Laws of the Spirit or use it for our own purposes, but we can learn to govern ourselves by His laws and therefore, have "His will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."
This message will seem to complicate and make salvation difficult, for some. I'm not speaking about our not being saved if we fail to guard our tongues, but I'm speaking about being obedient to the Law of the Spirit. Jesus demonstrated the power of His Words, in many of His teachings. Jesus spoke to the fig tree in Mark 11:21-24 (Amplified) then, "Peter remembered and said to Him, Master, look! the fig tree which YOU doomed has withered away. And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God (constantly) Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him."
Jesus not only demonstrated the power of Words that He spoke, but also taught on the power of words for His listeners to speak, as an example of what words can do. Jesus didn't say that words only work for Him, but that God's Word works for all who will believe it and speak it forth.
Genesis 1:1-5 (Amplified) says, "In the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned and created) the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light; and there was light."
God has no less power before He spoke, than after He spoke. He was still Almighty God, but nothing happened until He spoke. His power was displayed when it came out of His Spirit by His Words coming out of His mouth. The power was always in Him, but didn't manifest until He spoke. This same account was given in John 1:1-3 (Amplified), "In the beginning (before all time) was the Word (Christ) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He (the Word) was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; And without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being."
Think about what we just read! "Jesus was present originally with God" and the "Holy Spirit was hovering, brooding over the face of the deep." In the first three verses of the Book of Genesis, we find God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, all Three. Although we seem to have all the necessary ingredients to bring about the Creation, nothing happened until "God said." Now, His Word (Jesus) brought what God said into being.
Hebrews 11:3 (Amplified) says, "By faith we understand that the worlds (during the successive ages) were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the Word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible." We didn't see anything that was and is now visible, until God spoke it out of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. It was "hidden in Him" until it was "spoken" and then it became "visible to all."
You cannot see the mountains move, until the power of the Spirit in His Word moves it. Remember what we've been studying and read John 15:7 (Amplified) where Jesus said, "If you live in Me (abide vitally united to Me) and My Words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you."
What will do the work of what you want to be done? Jesus (the Word) that brought about creation, the new creation (us) and the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus, God's Own Word. His Word will uphold all that He has said for it to do, only we must appropriate what has been "forever settled in heaven," according to Psalm 119:89 (Amplified). God's Word stand by its Own authority in heaven, and is not, nor can be altered. When we make the decision to speak and act on His Word, it cannot fail.
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Lesson 14 The New Creation
Paul said that anyone who is "grafted into Jesus Christ" is now a "new creation," in 2Corinthians 3:16-17 (Amplified). Verse 16 tells us that, "We now know no man any longer after the flesh, but after the Spirit." In Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) Paul says, "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
We've failed to realize that we already have a "heavenly" position in the Lord, in order to operate on earth by heaven's power. We've been waiting to get to heaven in order to operate by the Spirit, when all along, the Spirit of heaven has become our Spirit to work with here. Just like someone from Ireland relocates to America and finds there are different laws here than they are in Ireland. People drive on the other side of the road in Ireland. If you do that in the U.S., then you'll either be pulled over by the police or someone will run into you. That could have deadly consequences.
The laws governing heaven are different from the laws governing earth. They are Higher laws and hold greater authority than the laws of earth. Jesus walked in the laws that govern heaven and was thus allowed freedom from the limits of the lower, earth laws. Jesus defied the law of gravity and walked on water. He defied the laws of time and the ship was "immediately on the other side." He even defied the laws of commerce, when He took money from the mouth of a fish. Jesus defied the laws of lack and want, when He fed a multitude with five loaves and two fishes. These are the laws of the Spirit realm of heaven, where the laws of the Creator are Higher than the laws of Creation.
Paul wrote to the Church in 2Corinthians 5:20 (Amplified) saying, "So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We (as Christ's personal representatives) beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor (now offered you) and be reconciled to God." As far as God is concerned, we've already been "translated" into the heavenly sphere, by Jesus, and are now required to operate and function by those laws that govern there. These laws, is operated in, will bring the "super-natural" things of the heavenlies into the realm of the natural and supersede them. For many years, we have wondered why things don't seem to work like we "thought" the Bible says. This is because we've been trying to get heaven to operate by our laws, instead of His laws.
One of the main laws of heaven is the Spoken Word. We've fought among ourselves over the teaching of words, like words do not matter. The law of Genesis still works like it did when God first spoke it. God spoke everything into existence at the Genesis. Jesus spoke to disease and bread loaves and fish. Nearly everything Jesus did, He did by words. John 3:34 (Amplified) says, "For since He Whom God sent speaks the Words of God (proclaims God's Own message) God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit."
Jesus said multiple times that, "I only say what I hear My Father say." In Mark 16:20 (Amplified) we read, "And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied (it) Amen (so be it)."
This has always been the way the kingdom of God has worked. From the time it has been recorded, until now, God has always operated by the Law of the Spirit. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
If we would only put aside our differences and allow the Holy Spirit to speak and teach us, then we could plainly see the truth. We find that the very way of our salvation is based on the very same Law of the Spirit, in Romans 10:9-10 (Amplified) which says, "Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart of a person believes (adheres to, trust in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms (his) salvation."
The Laws governing heaven are either enforced or left dormant on this earth, by the words we speak. We can enforce the things of God in our lives or leave them without power if we choose. Let's go to Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) and listen to the Holy Spirit, as He conveys this truth to you.
Thus, Verse 2 says, "Therefore, (there is) now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live (and) walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of Life (which is) in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being (new creation) has freed me from the law of sin and of death." Now let's return to John 6:63 (Amplified) which says, "It is the Spirit Who gives life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever, (there is no profit in it) the Words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
We have believed this truth, as far as "speaking/confessing" Jesus as our Savior, but then stopped believing as far as making Him Lord over everything else we say. If one part of what we say is truth, then why wouldn't the rest of what we say matter? Jesus taught about this in Matthew 12:35-37 (Amplified) saying, "The good man from his inner good treasure, brings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner ever storehouse, brings forth evil things. But I tell you, on the day of judgement men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, not working) word they speak." Verse 37 continues, "For by your words you will be justified and acquitted and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced."
We read above that words of faith in Jesus as Lord, will "justify or condemn" every person. On the judgment day where we are "judged by our words," who will stand? Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified) that, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver) the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
If this "Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus" is Truth and Life (salvation), then why wouldn't this same Law of the Spirit of Life be true in everything else of the Father's Spirit realm? If our words of faith in what He said can bring about a new creation, then why wouldn't these same words of faith in what He said, maintain our entire walk with God?
I'm not implying here that we must run around like parrots, quoting scripture all day, but we need to keep our words in line with God's Words, because they are Spirit and Life.
We've failed to realize that we already have a "heavenly" position in the Lord, in order to operate on earth by heaven's power. We've been waiting to get to heaven in order to operate by the Spirit, when all along, the Spirit of heaven has become our Spirit to work with here. Just like someone from Ireland relocates to America and finds there are different laws here than they are in Ireland. People drive on the other side of the road in Ireland. If you do that in the U.S., then you'll either be pulled over by the police or someone will run into you. That could have deadly consequences.
The laws governing heaven are different from the laws governing earth. They are Higher laws and hold greater authority than the laws of earth. Jesus walked in the laws that govern heaven and was thus allowed freedom from the limits of the lower, earth laws. Jesus defied the law of gravity and walked on water. He defied the laws of time and the ship was "immediately on the other side." He even defied the laws of commerce, when He took money from the mouth of a fish. Jesus defied the laws of lack and want, when He fed a multitude with five loaves and two fishes. These are the laws of the Spirit realm of heaven, where the laws of the Creator are Higher than the laws of Creation.
Paul wrote to the Church in 2Corinthians 5:20 (Amplified) saying, "So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We (as Christ's personal representatives) beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor (now offered you) and be reconciled to God." As far as God is concerned, we've already been "translated" into the heavenly sphere, by Jesus, and are now required to operate and function by those laws that govern there. These laws, is operated in, will bring the "super-natural" things of the heavenlies into the realm of the natural and supersede them. For many years, we have wondered why things don't seem to work like we "thought" the Bible says. This is because we've been trying to get heaven to operate by our laws, instead of His laws.
One of the main laws of heaven is the Spoken Word. We've fought among ourselves over the teaching of words, like words do not matter. The law of Genesis still works like it did when God first spoke it. God spoke everything into existence at the Genesis. Jesus spoke to disease and bread loaves and fish. Nearly everything Jesus did, He did by words. John 3:34 (Amplified) says, "For since He Whom God sent speaks the Words of God (proclaims God's Own message) God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit."
Jesus said multiple times that, "I only say what I hear My Father say." In Mark 16:20 (Amplified) we read, "And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied (it) Amen (so be it)."
This has always been the way the kingdom of God has worked. From the time it has been recorded, until now, God has always operated by the Law of the Spirit. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
If we would only put aside our differences and allow the Holy Spirit to speak and teach us, then we could plainly see the truth. We find that the very way of our salvation is based on the very same Law of the Spirit, in Romans 10:9-10 (Amplified) which says, "Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart of a person believes (adheres to, trust in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms (his) salvation."
The Laws governing heaven are either enforced or left dormant on this earth, by the words we speak. We can enforce the things of God in our lives or leave them without power if we choose. Let's go to Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) and listen to the Holy Spirit, as He conveys this truth to you.
Thus, Verse 2 says, "Therefore, (there is) now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live (and) walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of Life (which is) in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being (new creation) has freed me from the law of sin and of death." Now let's return to John 6:63 (Amplified) which says, "It is the Spirit Who gives life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever, (there is no profit in it) the Words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
We have believed this truth, as far as "speaking/confessing" Jesus as our Savior, but then stopped believing as far as making Him Lord over everything else we say. If one part of what we say is truth, then why wouldn't the rest of what we say matter? Jesus taught about this in Matthew 12:35-37 (Amplified) saying, "The good man from his inner good treasure, brings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner ever storehouse, brings forth evil things. But I tell you, on the day of judgement men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, not working) word they speak." Verse 37 continues, "For by your words you will be justified and acquitted and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced."
We read above that words of faith in Jesus as Lord, will "justify or condemn" every person. On the judgment day where we are "judged by our words," who will stand? Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified) that, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver) the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
If this "Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus" is Truth and Life (salvation), then why wouldn't this same Law of the Spirit of Life be true in everything else of the Father's Spirit realm? If our words of faith in what He said can bring about a new creation, then why wouldn't these same words of faith in what He said, maintain our entire walk with God?
I'm not implying here that we must run around like parrots, quoting scripture all day, but we need to keep our words in line with God's Words, because they are Spirit and Life.
Monday, March 7, 2016
Lesson 13 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "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). 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."
We, the Church, are the first and the only "God men" who have ever walked this earth, with the exception of Adam and Jesus. These were the only flesh and blood men to even have the life of God actually living in them. The Holy Spirit "came upon" such men as the prophets, but never actually lived in them. We, the Church, are now Christ's Own flesh and blood Body on this planet. God gave authority to man in order to govern the earth, from the very beginning. Genesis 1:27-28,31 (Amplified) says, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God, He created him; male and female He created them and God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it (using all its vast resources in the service of God and men) and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth." Verse 31 goes on, "And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely. And there was evening, and there was morning, a sixth day."
Adam was the only man who ever held the position of a "God man," in His Likeness and Image before. And no one except Jesus had ever held it since, until His resurrection. Jesus held the dominion that was given to man by God Himself. He had dominion over satan, the weather, the fish of the sea, over death, sickness, disease and the entire curse that came on the earth because of Adam's transgression. Because of Jesus, we now are just forgiven sinners under the blood of bulls and goats, but now we were created brand new by His sacrifice. The God men are a new creation, just like the first man was, only we were raised by Jesus Christ into a higher creation than the first Adam was.
The truth of this awesome creation is being revealed to God's children in these last days. As God's family begins moving into the Father's plan for His children, we (the Church) are beginning to move into the very "super-natural" flow of the Holy Spirit Who is alive in us. For many years, we heard and were taught that this happens after we die and go heaven. What God intended was that we live and bring His Kingdom here to operate again in the earth.
This is why Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." We were to know through Jesus,Who is our example of this new creation on how to walk in this new birth and bring heaven to earth. We are still left in this natural body, because the dominion was given to man in the beginning. Jesus called Himself the "Son of Man" and declared He held the dominion that God gave man in the beginning. As flesh and blood men, now through Jesus, the restoration of dominion was returned to its rightful place.
We've believed that all the things Jesus did, were done simply because He was Jesus, but this isn't true. Jesus did these things as a man, because by being sinless, He was in the position to walk in the authority given man at the beginning. According to 2Corinthians 5:16 (Amplified), "We now no longer see anyone from just the natural viewpoint as purely natural men, but after the Spirit." We keep seeing ourselves from the "outside in," but God sees us from the "Inside out." We think of ourselves as "body, soul and spirit," while God sees us as "Spirit, soul, and body." When I say "God men" (and please don't get offended by this term), I'm speaking of men, new creation men who were once again in "God's Image and Likeness" as Jesus was, now by Jesus.
In His natural body (born without sin), Jesus had total dominion over all things. Through Jesus, we are also "sinless" and have become new creations, in order to walk in the same realm. This sounds so foreign to the Church and we have difficulty in believing it without thinking we are exalting ourselves. It is God Who exalts us, when we will only believe Him. Being humble doesn't mean to debase yourself, but to yield and submit to God. If God says you are righteous and you say you are not, then this is exalting yourself against the knowledge of God. It sounds good to the natural man, but it's actually proclaiming that what God says about you, isn't true. This is pride.
We have a habit of proclaiming "God's Word is true," and then when it comes to believing what His Word says about us, we stumble and have a very difficult time believing His Word is true for us NOW. How can we possibly think that God's Sacrifice of His Son wasn't enough to do what He sent Him to do? We've heard and learned so many teachings that were wrong, that we can no longer determine what is right.
The same man who was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write 1Corinthians 4:1-4, also wrote 2Corinthians 5:1-4 (Amplified) which says, "So then, let us (apostles) be looked upon as ministering servants of Christ and stewards (trustees) of the mysteries (the secret purposes) of God. Moreover, (it is essentially) required of stewards that a man should be found faithful (proving himself worthy of trust)." Verse 3-4 go on, "But (as for me personally), it matters very little to me that I should be put on trial by you (on this point) and that you or any other human tribunal should investigate and question and cross-question me. I do not even put myself on trial and judge myself. I am not conscious of anything against myself, and I feel blameless; but I am not vindicated and acquitted before God on that account; It is the Lord (Himself) Who examines and judges me."
Paul was a man who sought out Christian to put them in prison, where many of them died. He persecuted the Church with everything he had available and personally instigated the riot, leading to Stephen's stoning death, according to Acts 8:1 (Amplified), which says, "And Saul (Paul) was (not only) consenting to (Stephen's) death (he was pleased and entirely approving). On that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the Church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostle (special messengers)."
How could Paul, then make such a statement that he was "blameless and without being conscious of anything wrong?" Because Paul said, "It is not me, but God Who judges and vindicates me." Now, we can understand Paul's revelation of being a new creation and "having old things passed away and all things have become new." He had to see himself after the Spirit and no longer purely after the natural man. Paul truly believe that he was, and is, a new creation in Christ.
We, the Church, are the first and the only "God men" who have ever walked this earth, with the exception of Adam and Jesus. These were the only flesh and blood men to even have the life of God actually living in them. The Holy Spirit "came upon" such men as the prophets, but never actually lived in them. We, the Church, are now Christ's Own flesh and blood Body on this planet. God gave authority to man in order to govern the earth, from the very beginning. Genesis 1:27-28,31 (Amplified) says, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God, He created him; male and female He created them and God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it (using all its vast resources in the service of God and men) and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth." Verse 31 goes on, "And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely. And there was evening, and there was morning, a sixth day."
Adam was the only man who ever held the position of a "God man," in His Likeness and Image before. And no one except Jesus had ever held it since, until His resurrection. Jesus held the dominion that was given to man by God Himself. He had dominion over satan, the weather, the fish of the sea, over death, sickness, disease and the entire curse that came on the earth because of Adam's transgression. Because of Jesus, we now are just forgiven sinners under the blood of bulls and goats, but now we were created brand new by His sacrifice. The God men are a new creation, just like the first man was, only we were raised by Jesus Christ into a higher creation than the first Adam was.
The truth of this awesome creation is being revealed to God's children in these last days. As God's family begins moving into the Father's plan for His children, we (the Church) are beginning to move into the very "super-natural" flow of the Holy Spirit Who is alive in us. For many years, we heard and were taught that this happens after we die and go heaven. What God intended was that we live and bring His Kingdom here to operate again in the earth.
This is why Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." We were to know through Jesus,Who is our example of this new creation on how to walk in this new birth and bring heaven to earth. We are still left in this natural body, because the dominion was given to man in the beginning. Jesus called Himself the "Son of Man" and declared He held the dominion that God gave man in the beginning. As flesh and blood men, now through Jesus, the restoration of dominion was returned to its rightful place.
We've believed that all the things Jesus did, were done simply because He was Jesus, but this isn't true. Jesus did these things as a man, because by being sinless, He was in the position to walk in the authority given man at the beginning. According to 2Corinthians 5:16 (Amplified), "We now no longer see anyone from just the natural viewpoint as purely natural men, but after the Spirit." We keep seeing ourselves from the "outside in," but God sees us from the "Inside out." We think of ourselves as "body, soul and spirit," while God sees us as "Spirit, soul, and body." When I say "God men" (and please don't get offended by this term), I'm speaking of men, new creation men who were once again in "God's Image and Likeness" as Jesus was, now by Jesus.
In His natural body (born without sin), Jesus had total dominion over all things. Through Jesus, we are also "sinless" and have become new creations, in order to walk in the same realm. This sounds so foreign to the Church and we have difficulty in believing it without thinking we are exalting ourselves. It is God Who exalts us, when we will only believe Him. Being humble doesn't mean to debase yourself, but to yield and submit to God. If God says you are righteous and you say you are not, then this is exalting yourself against the knowledge of God. It sounds good to the natural man, but it's actually proclaiming that what God says about you, isn't true. This is pride.
We have a habit of proclaiming "God's Word is true," and then when it comes to believing what His Word says about us, we stumble and have a very difficult time believing His Word is true for us NOW. How can we possibly think that God's Sacrifice of His Son wasn't enough to do what He sent Him to do? We've heard and learned so many teachings that were wrong, that we can no longer determine what is right.
The same man who was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write 1Corinthians 4:1-4, also wrote 2Corinthians 5:1-4 (Amplified) which says, "So then, let us (apostles) be looked upon as ministering servants of Christ and stewards (trustees) of the mysteries (the secret purposes) of God. Moreover, (it is essentially) required of stewards that a man should be found faithful (proving himself worthy of trust)." Verse 3-4 go on, "But (as for me personally), it matters very little to me that I should be put on trial by you (on this point) and that you or any other human tribunal should investigate and question and cross-question me. I do not even put myself on trial and judge myself. I am not conscious of anything against myself, and I feel blameless; but I am not vindicated and acquitted before God on that account; It is the Lord (Himself) Who examines and judges me."
Paul was a man who sought out Christian to put them in prison, where many of them died. He persecuted the Church with everything he had available and personally instigated the riot, leading to Stephen's stoning death, according to Acts 8:1 (Amplified), which says, "And Saul (Paul) was (not only) consenting to (Stephen's) death (he was pleased and entirely approving). On that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the Church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostle (special messengers)."
How could Paul, then make such a statement that he was "blameless and without being conscious of anything wrong?" Because Paul said, "It is not me, but God Who judges and vindicates me." Now, we can understand Paul's revelation of being a new creation and "having old things passed away and all things have become new." He had to see himself after the Spirit and no longer purely after the natural man. Paul truly believe that he was, and is, a new creation in Christ.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Lesson 11 The New Creation
We've somehow come to believe that everything God has promised for us, will only happen when we're in heaven. Nothing, though, can be further from the truth and we have delayed the things of God in our lives because of this "someday syndrome." We say, "Someday, God will answer my prayer" or "Someday, Jesus will hear, come and restore" and "Someday, the devil will be defeated in my life."
We've failed to realize and put faith into the fact that JESUS IS LORD NOW. He will not be Lord only after we die, but Lord while we are yet alive in this mortal body. Jesus came to restore what satan stole, through deception, what God had given Adam from the beginning. Jesus set a person free from a "deaf and dumb" spirit and was accosted by the people around Him, in Luke 11:19-22 (Amplified), "Now if I expel demons with the help of and by Beelzebub, with who's help and by whom do your sons drive them out? Therefore they shall be your judges."
We've somehow skipped over or ignored Jesus' further discourse in Verses 20-21, where He says, "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has (already) come upon you. When the strong man, fully armed (from his courtyard) guards his own dwelling, his belongings are undisturbed (his property is at peace and is secure) But when one stronger than he attacks him and conquers him, he robs him of his whole armor on which he had relied and divides up and distributes all his goods as plunder (spoil)."
Thus, it must be that the Kingdom of God has already come upon us and is not reserved until we get to heaven, but it has (while we are still here), defeated satan on behalf of God's Kingdom and given us the authority to retake that which is made "plunder or spoil" unto God's people. As Jesus was readying to leave earth and return to the Father, He didn't release the "strong man's armor back to him," but continued to retain power over it. Then, Jesus gave this authority to the new creation people who would take this authority into all the earth, on His behalf.
In John 14:25-26 (Amplified) Jesus said, "I have told you these things while I am still with you. But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, 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." He also said in John 14:17 (Amplified), "The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart) because it does not see Him or know Him and recognize Him, for He lives with you (constantly) and will be in you."
We've failed to grasp the Truth from God's Word that the same authority God brought through the Holy Spirit in Jesus, is the same authority of the Kingdom of God, by the finger of God or the Holy Spirit Himself. The Holy Spirit is no longer able to operate solely through One Man, Jesus, but can not operate through the Body of Christ as One Man. This is not authority for when we get to heaven, but is heaven's authority now upon the earth. Somehow, satan has deceived us once again, into believing we cannot do anything until after we go to heaven.
Some would have us believe that God's Kingdom is somehow only in heaven and doesn't function here. Some would have us believe that satan is nearly as powerful as God is. Neither of these statements have any truth in them at all.
Psalm 103:19 (Amplified) says, "The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His Kingdom rules over all." Psalm 24:1 (Amplified) says, "The earth is the Lords, and the fullness of it, the world and they who dwell in it."
God has called out a people in these last days, who will dare believe that our Father and God is still able to do everything He has declared He will do. A generation of people who will "face the giants" in the Promised Land, in His Name and authority. God has raised up a generation who still believe like David, Joshua and Caleb did. We are to be those who believe our God is able and He is willing to display His power and His glory on this earth, even greater than in the days of old.
We must see Him not only at work and great in the heavens, but see His work and show His greatness upon this earth. We must loose the glory of His greatness, by faith in our Ever Present Lord.
We've failed to realize and put faith into the fact that JESUS IS LORD NOW. He will not be Lord only after we die, but Lord while we are yet alive in this mortal body. Jesus came to restore what satan stole, through deception, what God had given Adam from the beginning. Jesus set a person free from a "deaf and dumb" spirit and was accosted by the people around Him, in Luke 11:19-22 (Amplified), "Now if I expel demons with the help of and by Beelzebub, with who's help and by whom do your sons drive them out? Therefore they shall be your judges."
We've somehow skipped over or ignored Jesus' further discourse in Verses 20-21, where He says, "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has (already) come upon you. When the strong man, fully armed (from his courtyard) guards his own dwelling, his belongings are undisturbed (his property is at peace and is secure) But when one stronger than he attacks him and conquers him, he robs him of his whole armor on which he had relied and divides up and distributes all his goods as plunder (spoil)."
Thus, it must be that the Kingdom of God has already come upon us and is not reserved until we get to heaven, but it has (while we are still here), defeated satan on behalf of God's Kingdom and given us the authority to retake that which is made "plunder or spoil" unto God's people. As Jesus was readying to leave earth and return to the Father, He didn't release the "strong man's armor back to him," but continued to retain power over it. Then, Jesus gave this authority to the new creation people who would take this authority into all the earth, on His behalf.
In John 14:25-26 (Amplified) Jesus said, "I have told you these things while I am still with you. But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, 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." He also said in John 14:17 (Amplified), "The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart) because it does not see Him or know Him and recognize Him, for He lives with you (constantly) and will be in you."
We've failed to grasp the Truth from God's Word that the same authority God brought through the Holy Spirit in Jesus, is the same authority of the Kingdom of God, by the finger of God or the Holy Spirit Himself. The Holy Spirit is no longer able to operate solely through One Man, Jesus, but can not operate through the Body of Christ as One Man. This is not authority for when we get to heaven, but is heaven's authority now upon the earth. Somehow, satan has deceived us once again, into believing we cannot do anything until after we go to heaven.
Some would have us believe that God's Kingdom is somehow only in heaven and doesn't function here. Some would have us believe that satan is nearly as powerful as God is. Neither of these statements have any truth in them at all.
Psalm 103:19 (Amplified) says, "The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His Kingdom rules over all." Psalm 24:1 (Amplified) says, "The earth is the Lords, and the fullness of it, the world and they who dwell in it."
God has called out a people in these last days, who will dare believe that our Father and God is still able to do everything He has declared He will do. A generation of people who will "face the giants" in the Promised Land, in His Name and authority. God has raised up a generation who still believe like David, Joshua and Caleb did. We are to be those who believe our God is able and He is willing to display His power and His glory on this earth, even greater than in the days of old.
We must see Him not only at work and great in the heavens, but see His work and show His greatness upon this earth. We must loose the glory of His greatness, by faith in our Ever Present Lord.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Lesson 10 The New Creation
Paul wrote 2Corinthians 5:17 by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, saying that we are a "new creation." We, the Church, are a species of beings that never existed before. For centuries, we have believed that we "were just forgiven sinners." It's true that our sins are no longer counted against us by the Father, but there is so much more.
Our Heavenly Father's heart and justice proclaim that man was a sinner who actually died on the cross and those of us who are now alive in Christ Jesus, aren't even the same who existed before being born again. Romans 8:9-10 (Amplified) says, "But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the Holy Spirit of God (really) dwells within you (directs and controls you). But if anyone does not possess the Holy Spirit of Christ, he is none of His (he does not being to Christ, is not truly a child of God). But if Christ lives in you (then although) your (natural) body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of (the) righteousness (He imputes you)."
We have had a difficult time understanding that our natural man is really dead. We still breathe, walk and sleep, so we can't see the natural man is dead. John 10:10 (Amplified) says, "I have come that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." This is the very life of God Himself that flows from His Own Spirit or life itself, into us from Him. This life is so great that death cannot stop it and death has been "swallowed up by life," according to 2Corinthians 5:5.
This life overflows into the natural body and brings life unto it. Because of sin in the Garden of Eden, our natural body will eventually cease to function and life will continue into the new body that we will have with Him. This new body (for the new creation) will be glorified as His Body is. 1John 3:2 (Amplified) says, "Beloved, we are (even here and) now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be (hereafter), but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall (as God's children) resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He (really) is."
The only difference between who we already are and who we will be, is the body that we now live in. Everything that God promised in His Word, for His family, has already been bought and paid for by the Sacrifice of Jesus. We've been given His Name, His righteousness, His authority, His inheritance, His identity and His place with the Father. Jesus spoke to His Father about what was to come after His resurrection in John 17:16 (Amplified) saying, "They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world) (just) as I am not of the world."
Although Jesus was in the world, He ate, drank, slept, walked and functioned like anyone else could, He was not of the world system, which is controlled by satan. Jesus walked in the heavenly laws that govern God's kingdom and was not subject to satan's laws that governed the world. We're not speaking about the earth, but about the world, here. Too many believe them to be the same thing, but this isn't true.
The earth is still the Lord's, while the system that governs the earth was the demonic system after the fall of Adam. Jesus came to bring all that belonged to God, back under the rule of God's kingdom. Through Jesus, we have once again been given authority, like Adam was to have dominion over "everything that creeps upon the earth." Jesus said in John 17:18 (Amplified), "Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world." We've been sent, as new creation people, to bring God's kingdom and His will be "done on earth, as it is in heaven." This was Jesus' mission. The inhabitants of earth were to be brought into relationship with the Heavenly Father and to walk in what He had planned for us "before the foundations of the earth."
The authority of the new creation is now the authority of Jesus Himself. He has delegated His Authority unto us, to do "as He was sent to do" and bring God's will and rule back into the earth. In Matthew 18:18 (Amplified) Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven." "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," is the work of the new creation. We are to bring God's will to pass by the Name of Jesus.
Our Heavenly Father's heart and justice proclaim that man was a sinner who actually died on the cross and those of us who are now alive in Christ Jesus, aren't even the same who existed before being born again. Romans 8:9-10 (Amplified) says, "But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the Holy Spirit of God (really) dwells within you (directs and controls you). But if anyone does not possess the Holy Spirit of Christ, he is none of His (he does not being to Christ, is not truly a child of God). But if Christ lives in you (then although) your (natural) body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of (the) righteousness (He imputes you)."
We have had a difficult time understanding that our natural man is really dead. We still breathe, walk and sleep, so we can't see the natural man is dead. John 10:10 (Amplified) says, "I have come that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." This is the very life of God Himself that flows from His Own Spirit or life itself, into us from Him. This life is so great that death cannot stop it and death has been "swallowed up by life," according to 2Corinthians 5:5.
This life overflows into the natural body and brings life unto it. Because of sin in the Garden of Eden, our natural body will eventually cease to function and life will continue into the new body that we will have with Him. This new body (for the new creation) will be glorified as His Body is. 1John 3:2 (Amplified) says, "Beloved, we are (even here and) now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be (hereafter), but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall (as God's children) resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He (really) is."
The only difference between who we already are and who we will be, is the body that we now live in. Everything that God promised in His Word, for His family, has already been bought and paid for by the Sacrifice of Jesus. We've been given His Name, His righteousness, His authority, His inheritance, His identity and His place with the Father. Jesus spoke to His Father about what was to come after His resurrection in John 17:16 (Amplified) saying, "They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world) (just) as I am not of the world."
Although Jesus was in the world, He ate, drank, slept, walked and functioned like anyone else could, He was not of the world system, which is controlled by satan. Jesus walked in the heavenly laws that govern God's kingdom and was not subject to satan's laws that governed the world. We're not speaking about the earth, but about the world, here. Too many believe them to be the same thing, but this isn't true.
The earth is still the Lord's, while the system that governs the earth was the demonic system after the fall of Adam. Jesus came to bring all that belonged to God, back under the rule of God's kingdom. Through Jesus, we have once again been given authority, like Adam was to have dominion over "everything that creeps upon the earth." Jesus said in John 17:18 (Amplified), "Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world." We've been sent, as new creation people, to bring God's kingdom and His will be "done on earth, as it is in heaven." This was Jesus' mission. The inhabitants of earth were to be brought into relationship with the Heavenly Father and to walk in what He had planned for us "before the foundations of the earth."
The authority of the new creation is now the authority of Jesus Himself. He has delegated His Authority unto us, to do "as He was sent to do" and bring God's will and rule back into the earth. In Matthew 18:18 (Amplified) Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven." "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," is the work of the new creation. We are to bring God's will to pass by the Name of Jesus.
Lesson 9 The New Creation
We've mostly been taught that we will become a new creation, only after arriving in heaven. Or, we're awaiting to become a new creation when the rapture occurs and we are "changed in the twinkling of an eye." We've failed to realize that the moment we were born again, we became (or were made to be) a new creation.
1John 3:1-2 (Amplified) says, "See what (an incredible) quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should (be permitted to) be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him." Verse 2 goes on, "Beloved, we are (even here and now God's children. It is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be (here after), but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall (as God's children), resemble and be like Him, for we shall Him just as He (really) is."
We don't really know what our Father looks like. Jesus said, "No man has ever seen the Father, but the Son." We really have no idea what we'll look like in glory, but we shall look like and resemble Him. My children look like and resemble me. Even though they are individual beings, they still have a resemblance to their father. The Word says that, "Now we are God's children." It doesn't say that we will be God's children when we get to have, but we are now His children. We are already a new creation.
After His resurrection, Jesus was no longer referred to as "The Only begotten Son," but as the "Firstborn of many brethren." Romans 8:29 (Amplified) says, "For those whom He fore-knew (of whom He was aware and loved beforehand) He also destined from the beginning (fore ordained them) to be molded into the Image of His Son (and share inwardly His likeness), that He might become the firstborn among many brethren."
Inwardly, we are like Him. His appearance might now look different on the outside, but inwardly, we are like Him. When Jesus was on earth as a Man, He took upon Himself, flesh and blood in order to die as a Man on our behalf. After He rose from the dead, Jesus took upon Himself the glorified appearance of His Father. We are now, already, a new creation. Inwardly, we are just as He is. At His return, we will be even outwardly as He is.
We are given God's ability to walk as Jesus did, by this new creation birth that came from God's Spirit now living in this tabernacle of flesh and blood. Satan has been very cautious about how much of this new creation he would allow us to see. He has tried keeping it under religion and his control, for a long time. In these last days, though, the Holy Spirit is revealing the knowledge of this truth to God's people.
Some will see this as some sort of self-exaltation or as foolishness, but to those who are led by the Spirit of God, they will become the sons of God. Romans 8:14 (Amplified) tells us, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."
There is a work to be done in the earth, in these last days, that will require God's being manifest to the world like never before. Through His children (or sons), God will reveal Himself to the whole world. The Joshua and Caleb generation or the new Jesus generation, the Church, will be the vehicle God reveals Himself through. 2Corinthians 3:18 (Amplified) says, "And all of us, as with unveiled face, (because we) continued to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very Own Image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; (for this comes) from the Lord (Who is) the Spirit."
We read in 2Corinthians 4:6-7 (Amplified), "For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as (to beam forth) the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the Majesty and Glory or God (as it is manifest in the person and is revealed) in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). However, we possess this precious treasure (the divine Light of the Gospel) in (frail, human) vessels of the earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves." Everyone knows that these miracles had to be from God, and not from man, because man can't do these things on his own. "Christ in us, our hope of glory."
1John 3:1-2 (Amplified) says, "See what (an incredible) quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should (be permitted to) be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him." Verse 2 goes on, "Beloved, we are (even here and now God's children. It is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be (here after), but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall (as God's children), resemble and be like Him, for we shall Him just as He (really) is."
We don't really know what our Father looks like. Jesus said, "No man has ever seen the Father, but the Son." We really have no idea what we'll look like in glory, but we shall look like and resemble Him. My children look like and resemble me. Even though they are individual beings, they still have a resemblance to their father. The Word says that, "Now we are God's children." It doesn't say that we will be God's children when we get to have, but we are now His children. We are already a new creation.
After His resurrection, Jesus was no longer referred to as "The Only begotten Son," but as the "Firstborn of many brethren." Romans 8:29 (Amplified) says, "For those whom He fore-knew (of whom He was aware and loved beforehand) He also destined from the beginning (fore ordained them) to be molded into the Image of His Son (and share inwardly His likeness), that He might become the firstborn among many brethren."
Inwardly, we are like Him. His appearance might now look different on the outside, but inwardly, we are like Him. When Jesus was on earth as a Man, He took upon Himself, flesh and blood in order to die as a Man on our behalf. After He rose from the dead, Jesus took upon Himself the glorified appearance of His Father. We are now, already, a new creation. Inwardly, we are just as He is. At His return, we will be even outwardly as He is.
We are given God's ability to walk as Jesus did, by this new creation birth that came from God's Spirit now living in this tabernacle of flesh and blood. Satan has been very cautious about how much of this new creation he would allow us to see. He has tried keeping it under religion and his control, for a long time. In these last days, though, the Holy Spirit is revealing the knowledge of this truth to God's people.
Some will see this as some sort of self-exaltation or as foolishness, but to those who are led by the Spirit of God, they will become the sons of God. Romans 8:14 (Amplified) tells us, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."
There is a work to be done in the earth, in these last days, that will require God's being manifest to the world like never before. Through His children (or sons), God will reveal Himself to the whole world. The Joshua and Caleb generation or the new Jesus generation, the Church, will be the vehicle God reveals Himself through. 2Corinthians 3:18 (Amplified) says, "And all of us, as with unveiled face, (because we) continued to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very Own Image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; (for this comes) from the Lord (Who is) the Spirit."
We read in 2Corinthians 4:6-7 (Amplified), "For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as (to beam forth) the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the Majesty and Glory or God (as it is manifest in the person and is revealed) in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). However, we possess this precious treasure (the divine Light of the Gospel) in (frail, human) vessels of the earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves." Everyone knows that these miracles had to be from God, and not from man, because man can't do these things on his own. "Christ in us, our hope of glory."
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