Lesson 54 The New Creation

     Under this new creation, there are certain principles that our flesh has no knowledge of, where the only way to actually work in this new realm, is to completely put the carnal mind out of the way.  This is why it's so very important to have our minds renewed by the Word of God.
     2Corinthians 10:3-5 (Amplified) says we are to, "Refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
     The carnal mind (the flesh) is always in direct opposition to the true knowledge of God, according to Romans 3:26-27 (Amplified) which says, "It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has (true) faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of (our) boasting? It is excluded (banished, ruled out entirely) On what principle? (On the principle) of doing good deeds? No, on the principle of faith."
     The flesh would say that in order to be righteous, we must do good works.  This is the flesh being "puffed up" by its own natural man.  The faith in Jesus is the righteousness that God has ascribed and He accepts.  The flesh wishes to lift itself in false humility and declare its own truth of unworthiness and unrighteousness.  The true knowledge of God submits itself to God's righteousness, by declaring, "Let God be true, and every man a liar."
     Many believe that when a person declares himself righteous or in right standing with God, that person is boasting, even though this is truth in the true knowledge of God.  The carnal mind runs directly in opposition with God's truth.  Was Jesus being prideful and boastful, when He said that, "He and the Father are One?"  Or, was it pride lifting Him up when Pilate asked, "Are You the Son of God?" and then Jesus answered, "I am."
     The carnally minded scribes and Pharisees thought it was pride against God and crucified Jesus for blasphemy, even though Jesus was speaking the truth.  When a born-again believer says he is unworthy or not righteous, he is telling God that Jesus wasn't enough to redeem us and we are still not righteous before Him.  We are not righteous or worthy in ourselves, by we are no longer in ourselves...we are in Christ Jesus.  This isn't something that is to happen, but is something that has already been done in Jesus' Blood.
     In order for our new creation man to walk in the truth of God's Word, we must learn to think and act with the Mind of Christ.  Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Now we must learn to walk this new life, by its different way of doing things."  We've tried walking in the things of God, by our own carnal way of doing things and it's not working the true covenant of God.
     The Law of Faith is not some "pie-in-the-sky" teaching, but is the only way to obtain what grace has given us in Jesus.  It's not something we work for or that we deserve.  It's not something that just come upon when we are good, but it's the way of the Kingdom of God.  Romans 5:1-2 (Amplified) tells us, "Therefore, Since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us (grasp the fact that we) have (the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy) peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."  Verse 2 goes on, "Through Him also we have (our) access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we (firmly and safely) stand. And let us rejoice and exalt in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God."
     For the new creation man of God, this is the only way to "enjoy His Glory."  The old ways of the flesh will not allow us to dare believing such a thing could be true about us.  The flesh, the carnal mind will always hold back God's truth from entering into His full grace.
     The old man's carnal thinking will always keep you in a place of shame and condemnation by its "unGodly thought."  It will always show you what you were and not what you have become through faith in Christ Jesus.  2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "The old things have passed away and Behold, all things have become new."  This scripture means exactly what it says.  Even the born-again believer who hasn't had his mind renewed to the new creation, will say we're being boastful by saying we're righteous.  We're only saying what our Heavenly Father says about us in His new covenant.
     We must read God's Word, by the Spirit of Truth, in order to ever know who we truly are now by His grace.  Jesus would never have needed to come to earth as the Sinless Lamb of God, if it weren't for grace.  Man already had the Law, now we want to confuse grace and place ourselves back under the Law.  We have made faith ineffective in our lives.  Faith is simply believing God.  The flesh wants to hold you back from grace and truth, in order to keep you under its authority.  Grace and truth will lift you into God's Glory, if we will only believe God more than we do the flesh.
     We can clearly see the direct opposition between the flesh and the truth in Romans 9:2-3 (Amplified).  Thus, it says, "I bear them witness that they have a (certain) zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to (correct and vital) knowledge. For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes (which makes one acceptable to Him in word and thought and deed) and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness."
     This demonstrate the flesh being in direct opposition to faith in Christ Jesus.  We say we believe in Jesus' Sacrifice, but we fail to receive what His Sacrifice has done to restore "right standing with God."  We go about, by our own means, trying to be right before God, through religious laws and traditions.  These things, though, are not acceptable to God.

Lesson 53 The New Creation

     2Corinthians 5:16-17 (Amplified) says, "If any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation."
     The new creation we've become means that we're not only a "forgiven sinner," but we're a new creature altogether.  This is what God's Word has proclaimed and pronounced about His born-again family.  We've been taught more by sense knowledge, rather than by revelation knowledge.
     Romans 8:7 (Amplified) tells us that the carnal mind is at enmity with God, saying, "(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."  With our natural, carnal mind, we cannot and will not accept what God has done and spoken about us.  We acknowledge by our intellect that the Word is true, but we have no Spiritual revelation of this Truth, to accept or walk in it.  This way of carnal thinking allows us to appease the flesh with religious traditions, while not walking in the Light of the Truth.
     As new creatures in Christ Jesus, we have a completely new way of walking, talking and living, because of the new life we have in Him.  We must learn to submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit, as our new Teacher in righteousness.  The carnal minded Christian continues trying to become righteous, while the Spiritual minded, new creation Christian has now become righteous by faith.  Both have actually already "Been made to be the righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus," according to 2Corinthians 5:21.
     This isn't something to be done by our efforts, but something that has already been done by Jesus.  The new creation man has already been raised from death into life by Jesus' resurrection.  Most of the Church have been taught the Truth, but never really understood it.  We've been taught the Word from the Bible, but only in the carnal mind, which brought about using our efforts to become what the Word says we already are.
     The Truth of God's Word is so high above the carnal mind that it seems "too good to be true."  Therefore, we devise such ways as rituals, traditions, and works we perform to make our own righteousness.  We do righteous works because we are righteous and not to become righteous.  Some would ask, even now, whether these two things are the same.  No!  Not even close.  Romans 10:2-3 (Amplified) says, "I bear them witness that they have a (certain) zeal and enthusiasm for God; but it is not enlightened and according to (correct and vital) knowledge. For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes (which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed) and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness."
     In this new creation, we are created in right standing with our Father.  This isn't something that is to be done, but a thing that was already done when we were born of God.  We were born into righteousness by our union with Jesus and now we must learn by the Holy Spirit what this actually means to our relationship with the Father.
     Many of God's children seem to be like children looking into a candy store window.  We would like to have what we see, but believe it's still not available to us.  One might ask why I am so persistent on the subject of righteousness.  If we do not understand our right standing with God, then it undermines our entire walk with Him.  Right standing brings confidence in our prayer life, boldness in our spiritual walk, authority in our words, and ministry (Yes, you have a ministry) and assurance knowing God will fellowship with us in our daily lives.  This assurance allows us to hear the Voice of our Shepherd and not be led off by the voice of a stranger.
     God said in Isaiah 54:14 (Amplified), "You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness in conformity with God's will and order), You shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not and from terror, for it shall not come near you."
     When we know and understand (by His revelation and not the world's knowledge), we can become so established in His righteousness and have boldness, confidence, courage and the ability in His right standing that fear and oppression can't attach itself to us or hold us back.  God says in the very next Verse 15, "This fear and oppression, and terror may gather together to stir up strife, but it i not from Me. Whoever stirs up strife against you shall fall and surrender to you."
     The Father intended that once we became established in righteousness, nothing could ever make us be led astray by the words of others and we would become secure in Him.  Satan would like you to believe that this righteousness is dependent on our good works (which will fail us), instead of the work of Jesus which is now and forever secure.
     I'm not saying that we can live any way we life, but we're not to be constantly afraid of losing our righteousness, should we fail in our right doing.  Of course, we are to live right and do right, but until we renew our minds to God's will and Word, we will still make dumb decisions.  His righteousness is forever and you are born into it by Jesus.
     If we do dumb things (and we should strive not to), then we can come "Boldly to His throne of grace and receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need."  Thus, Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified) says, "Go to His throne of grace, and receive mercy and grace" to learn how to stay out of the carnal way of thinking.  We've tried many times to escape a bad situation by our own understanding.  This only makes things worse, because we are leaning on our own understanding and not His wisdom.  This is the carnal way of reasoning at its best.
     As new creatures, we must learn by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, to walk in our newness of life with Him.  We change our way of talking, walking, thinking and doing by the newness of our new birth.  We are in a new life, a new Kingdom and new Laws that govern our new life.  This requires time fellowship with our Father to only do what we hear the Father and see the Father do.
      

Lesson 52 The New Creation

     2Corinthians 5:16-17 (Amplified) tells us that through our being born-again, we have become new creations in Christ Jesus.  We've been raised from the dead (spiritual death), and are born new in the family of God.
     We've mostly only thought of ourselves as being changed when we go to heaven (either in death or in the rapture).  We have many different opinions about this new birth and new creation.  This has resulted in our spending more time "curtailing" the old man, instead of making the new man mature, in our walk with God.  We've placed many stipulations concerning what we eat, the things we wear and many such things concerning the dead man, while not doing much with the new creation man.
     Galatians 6:8 (Amplified) says, "For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality), will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
     Even after being born-again, we've acted like we've been saved mostly to out natural nature.  I'm not referring to the sin nature of the flesh, but rather we haven't allowed our new creation being to grow and become dominant over fleshly lives.  Jesus spoke of the new creation event saying in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I come that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."  It's in this "lower nature" (Paul spoke about in Galatians 6:8) is where the "thief" has access to our lives and our goods.  He operates in this world system and has control in this lower life.
     In this new creation life,through our union with Christ, we have the ability to walk in the laws governing this lower nature, by the spiritual laws of the Kingdom of God.  Satan has no deference for the Word of God or the new creation family of God.  We're now called to walk in a higher realm of life, through this new birth.  The lower nature can be "stolen, killed and destroyed" by the enemy and will always bring destruction, if we walk in this realm.  We've been granted protection from the thief, by the new birth and by Kingdom rule.
     In this new Kingdom of creation, we've already been raised with Christ into our seating with Him in heavenly places.  Our new creation being isn't to be ruled by natural things, but by the super-natural things of our Father God.  In order to function in this new life, we must learn how to walk in the Spirit and above the lower life.
     Paul addresses the Church in Ephesians 2:6-7 (Amplified) saying, "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)."  Paul explains why god did this on our behalf in Verse 7, saying, "He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in (His) kindness and goodness of heart towards us in Christ."
     Paul continues explaining to the Church, that God has done this thing and raised up a new creation, so that we (the Church) would be above the rule of satan in this earth, now and forever. Thus, he says in Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified), "(The purpose is) that through the Church the complicated, man-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly spheres."
     This means that we've been granted joint seating and the authority in Jesus Christ, while we are now still in these earthly bodies, because satan and these"principalities and powers" aren't going to be in heaven with us.
     Paul also instructs us on how we are to conduct ourselves (as new beings) against the enemy that is here now and is waging warfare with God's family.  Paul clearly states who our enemy is and how we are to overcome him in Ephesians 6:10-18.  The things Paul lists in these scriptures are spiritual abilities and not "sowing to the lower nature."  Things of the "lower nature" Paul wrote about in Galatians 6:8, would be to conduct our warfare in the natural way of religion and tradition, things the enemy would continue using to bring corruption and destruction upon the Church.
     Satan is a spirit being and he operates in the spirit realm to destroy and kill.  As new creation people, we must wage our warfare in the spirit to defeat him.  He is a spiritual outlaw who refuses to obey God's Laws, unless we enforce them upon him.  We have outlaws in our own nation, who manufacture drugs and other things that are against the Laws of our country.  They're aware they're breaking the law, but they don't care.  We cannot hold our President accountable for these lawbreakers, because he has already declared it unlawful and has issued laws against their actions.  Unless someone enforces these laws, they are useless to stop or prevent the lawbreakers from operating.
     God has already declared to the devil, that we are off-limits by the Blood of Jesus.  The claims of justice have been met and satan no longer has jurisdiction over our lives.  He knows this and he knows there are laws that forbid this, but he is a spiritual outlaw who refuses to operate within the laws that govern, unless we (as citizens of the Kingdom) enforce these laws.
     Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) 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."  Read this scripture again in tandem with Galatians 6:8 about "sowing to the lower nature."
     The Spirit Laws of the Kingdom say, "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," if you will walk in the spirit and not the flesh.  If we will believe what the Word says about our new creation, then satan has nothing to condemn us over.  but, if we "sow to our lower nature," and walk in the fleshly realm of religion and tradition, then satan will keep reminding you of your old lower self and hold you in captivity, even though your cell door is unlocked already.
     Paul explains why there should be no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, in Romans 8:2 (Amplified) saying, "The law of the Spirit of Life (which is in Christ Jesus), has freed me from the law of sin and of death."
     This is  Spiritual Law which is in Christ Jesus, that every born-again child of God has the God given right to in this Law.  Satan is a spiritual outlaw who refuses to operate by the laws of our new creation, unless we enforce that law upon him.  Has the devil ever tried bringing up your old lower nature of your past (before you were a new creation)?  Has he ever tried bringing you under condemnation and keep your from entering into your place of joint seating?
     Has the devil ever thrown your past and old life into your thoughts, in order to stop the peace and unity of God from abiding in your life?  Doesn't he know there is a Law of the Spirit and Life in Christ Jesus, that makes you free from the law of sin and death?  Doesn't he know that you have been made free from condemnation and guilt by this new law?  Of course he does, but until you enforce this law upon him, he will torment you with it all.
     We've often read these words in the natural mind (carnal ways) that are still governed by the god of this world (satan).  We are enforcing the Law of the Spirit and Life, but we allow satan to use the old law of sin and death to condemn us about who we once were and about what we once did.  Our new creation man has been made free from this guilt, according to Romans 8:6-7 (Amplified) which says, "Now the mind of the flesh (which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit) [this does not necessarily mean you are without the Holy Spirit, but you aren't listening to Him] 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)."
     Although your sin is done away with and you are a new creation, the same guilt and condemnation of your carnal mind (the mind of the flesh which is still subject to be ruled by the devil), will torment you with your "lower nature," if you fail to renew your mind by the Word of God.  Paul goes on in Romans 8:7 (Amplified) saying, "(That is) because the mind of the flesh (with its carnal thoughts and purposes) is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law; indeed it cannot."
     This is why, as new creation beings and new creatures in Christ, we must use the The Laws of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, and overrule the laws of sin and death (condemnation and guilt)."  Your lower life and your carnal mind are still subject to satan for use against you, until your mind is renewed and becomes the Mind of Christ.  Many of us do not know the laws of our new life and have been set upon by a relentless enemy who will not let us rise into our new position with our Heavenly Father.
     
    
    

Lesson 51 The New Creation

     When we were born-again in Christ Jesus, we were created and made new creations.  Like God created man in the beginning, we are a new creation.  We were created to inhabit a new realm of living and authority.  We, though, mostly see ourselves as "sinners, who were cleansed from our past," instead of seeing ourselves like God sees us, as new creations without a past.  God doesn't look upon our past any longer, He made us brand new in His family.
     We were born of God, placed in right standing with Him, accepted and rejoiced in by God, and given dominion once again, by Him.  When God spoke in the beginning, everything was "dark," but once creation came, it was a new creation.  It was something that had never been until God spoke, Light be," and then there was light.  The Church, the new creation, never existed before God said it should be.  This is the continuing of His new creation miracle, just like the universe and light are a continuing part of His initial creation.  We were created new by the very power of His Word that is "Forever settles in heaven."  Whether or not we actually walk in it here on earth, it remains "Forever settled in heaven."  We will not become anymore of His children now, then when we arrive in heaven.  1John 3:2 (Amplified) says, "Beloved, we are now (even here and now) God's children."
    We might appear different and take on different ways of looking at things, when we leave these earthly bodies, but we won't become more of His children, than we already are.  We are already God's children (a new creation), who have already entered into a new Kingdom and a new way of living (here, as well as there).  Our Kingdom way of life, doesn't depend on the earthly way of providing, but on the Kingdom principle.
     The world says, "The poor get poorer and the rich get richer," but the Kingdom says, "Let the weak say I am strong and the poor say I am rich."  As new creation children of God, we have a new life, a new Kingdom, a new way of speaking and a new ability in Jesus to call "Things that be not, as though they are."  We can witness our words coming to pass before the eyes of the world, like Jesus' Words did.  Through Jesus, we've been given back the new creation realm of dominion and power, in order to speak God's Word into the earth the the lives of people, so that His will is "Done here on earth, as it is in Heaven."  We are from His Kingdom and are to take this new creation (this new Garden of Eden) and establish its riches of glory throughout the planet.  This is what God intended from the beginning.
     Through the Word and the Holy Spirit, we must begin walking in the Light of the new creation Kingdom.  We must learn to walk, talk, and above all hear, only "What we hear from our Father."  Just like Jesus did, we are to do what we see Him do.  This is the Kingdom principle, to enthrone the King once again, in the eyes of the world, according to Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified) which says, "(The purpose is) that through the Church, the complicated, many sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere."
     God is going to show Himself to all other power as Supreme, through His children in this new creation.  We are the Church, the Body of Christ.  We are His Body here on the earth, a new creation people, for God to show Himself to the lost world.

Lesson 50 The New Creation

     2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away, Behold, the fresh and new has come."
     Many have believed the above scripture means that when we get to heaven, then we'll have a fresh and new beginning.  We've tried understanding (and I do mean tried) that we've "Been washed in the Blood" and have "Been born-again," by the Holy Spirit.  When I say "tried to understand," I mean that we continue to identify more with our flesh rather than our spirit, even after being born-again.
     Our flesh wasn't born again, but our new creation spirit man.  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."
     When Jesus comes and we are in our heavenly bodies, we will appear different from how we are in our natural body, but even now, our spirit body is a new creation.  Inside this house of flesh, the same as it was in Jesus, is our Father and His glory and Life, living in and through us.  Our entire life is now His Life, living in our new creation.  Satan has worked hard to stop the Church from seeing who we are now, in this world.  Jesus said in John 17:16 (Amplified), "They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), (just) as I am not of the world."
     Many read this verse and believe it says our sin is covered and removed from us, that's what makes us different.  Being born-again or becoming a new creation in Christ, doesn't just mean that we are forgiven, but we never existed before (as far as our Heavenly Father is concerned).  We've already become a new creature in the family of God.
     Through the new creation or new birth, we've been raised with Jesus and we now live by a different standard of life.  Colossians 3:1-2 (Amplified) says, "If then you have been raised with Christ (to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead), aim at and seek the (rich, external treasures) that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things) not on the things that are on the earth."
     Some believe that this means we're only to think on how it will forever be after we leave this earthly body, but this isn't what Jesus taught.  It's true that when we leave this house (flesh and blood body) we live in here, we will enter into God's presence and all these things will be behind us.  But, our Father intended that we bring His presence down to earth.  Once we realize that the power, glory and very ability of God is already abiding in this new creation, we will no longer be limited to merely natural things in this earth, but will be unlimited by this new place of Life in Christ Jesus.
     Colossians 3:2 (Amplified) again says, "Set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things) not on the things that are on the earth."  Isaiah 55:8-11 (Amplified) says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord, For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My Word be that goes out of My mouth; it will not return to Me void (without producing any effect, useless), but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
     God didn't change our old nature in our spirit, when we were born-again, but He also changed our location and place of living.  We not only became a new creation, but this new creation being was already placed into a new place of living with Him.  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)."
     When God raise Jesus from the dead (spiritually, as well as in His Body), He brought forth the way of the new creation in Jesus.  We are part of His resurrection now and are already citizens of heaven, by being in Christ.  We hold citizenship now, by virtue of being in Christ Jesus.  This means we already have access to the things governing heaven and we have the unlimited presence of the Creator God, in our lives now.
     The Last Adam, Jesus, came as a Man Who was "without sin," just like the first Adam was.  He was a Man Who was filled with God's Spirit and needed only to walk in God's ability, to accomplish what God wanted and needed done on this earth.  When the first Adam came into being, he had access to creative ability, because he was like His Creator Father.  When Jesus came to earth as a Man, like the first Adam, He came with sin in the same creative ability as the first Adam.  He was a direct Son of God and had the same attributes as His Father.  Unlike the first Adam thought, Jesus never yielded Himself over to temptation, but walked in the very dominance of the Spirit.  He brought the very heart and purpose of the Father, back into the natural state of the earth.
     God never intended for His Family to go into the bondage of sin and death.  His intent was that He'd walk with His family (just like any father would).  God and Adam had a Father-son relationship.  Adam had a natural body, but his spirit dominated his senses.  When Adam transgressed and allowed the enemy to take over the dominion that the Father gave him, Adam lost his authority in the spirit realm of the Kingdom and became a servant to his senses.
     As new creation children of God, we have been ruled by our sense and haven't had spiritual rule until we were born-again.  Now that we've been created in righteousness and dominion again, we must learn to walk in the Kingdom authority of the new creation spirit, and not be dominated by our senses.  Everything has been redeemed and restored, but we don't know how to appropriate our inheritance in the spirit and the Kingdom.
     Because our senses have ruled us for so long, we've accepted that this is how it's supposed to be.  We've allowed certain things to continue in our lives, after being born-again, because that's how it's "supposed" to be.  When we read about healing in the Word, we also know how it is in the natural.  As far as most of can remember, there have always been sick people.  This has been our natural sense, coming against the super-natural new creation knowledge.
     We've mostly allowed the senses to dominate our new creation person.  We've made changes in our natural lives, but only to a small degree.  When we think about "heavenly places in Christ Jesus," these things rarely take dominion in our sense ruled life.  Paul instructed in Colossians 2:2 (Amplified), "Set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things) not on things that are on the earth."  He didn't mean we should ignore our families, take no joy in life on earth, or be miserable the whole time we've here, but he meant we should now allow earthly things to overshadow the higher things of our new creation sonship.
     Jesus walked as a Man in His flesh and blood Body and He had love for His earthly family and friends.  Undoubtedly, He enjoyed the other children, while He was growing up and He enjoyed life as a Man.  However, Jesus never lost sight of God's ability in Him, to change the natural things, by His place of authority in the Spirit.
     When Jesus saw a need in the natural realm, He kept His eyes on the things above, the super-natural ability of His Heavenly place with the Father, and changed the natural with His Higher Life in God.  We've already shared Jesus' resurrection and were raised together with Him, and seated together with Him, in heavenly places.  Our new creation sonship has been placed back into he realm of the Kingdom of God.
     We are in this world, but we are not of this world.  We are not limited to only what mere men can accomplish, but we're unlimited to what our Father can do through us.  When we see a need, we are faced with only two choices.  We either deal with it by the Word or we deal with it by the world.  If we keep our minds on the Higher things of God, then we move from that perspective.  If we don't renew our minds by the Higher things of God, then we deal with things from the perspective of the sense ( the old man of the flesh).
      There is more to our walk with God and more to our new creation lives, than we are walking in.  Satan has been holding the Church back, by his sense realm knowledge.  Even after we're born-again, we move almost entirely, in the sense realm with our God walk.
     We became a new creation, when we were created.  Just as God created man in the beginning, we are a new creation.  We were created to inhabit a new realm of living and authority.  We, though, still see ourselves as "old sinner who were cleansed from our past," when God sees us as a new creation without a past.  He no longer even looks upon our past, but we are brand new in His family.

Lesson 49 The New Creation

     Paul speaks about our being a new creation in 2Corinthians 5:16-17.  This new creation is not simply the fact we've become a new creation, but by becoming new creations, we've entered into a new realm of life.  This realm is one we can't understand, outside of the Word of God.  Everything works differently from what we've previously known, in this new creation Kingdom we're now part of.
     We've been trying to understand this new creation kingdom, with our old, worldly way of thinking.  Paul gives us insight into how we must adjust even our way of thinking, in this new creation realm we reside in.  Thus, he says in 2Corinthians 10:3-5 (Amplified), "For the weapons of our warfare are not physical (weapons of flesh and blood), but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. (In as much) as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God' and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
     In the new life we're now living, our old manner of thinking doesn't line up with what we once thought.  We must learn to think by Kingdom thinking and in this new creation (Kingdom), we must even learn to speak differently, according to 1Corinthians 3:1-3 (Amplified) which says, "However, Brethren, I could not talk to you as 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)."
     In the new creation Kingdom we now live in, everything is different and is ruled by the Spirit realm that governs even the natural realm.  We've been well trained in this natural realm and it's not easy to cross over into the spirit realm.  We continue returning to the old wine, again and again.  Religion and tradition have set up strongholds in our minds, directing our walk with God.  We've made laws to govern our flesh, in order to satisfy our carnal nature.  When we became a new creation, we entered into the Spirit realm of God Himself.   Everything in God's Kingdom operates by Words.  Satan understands that words dominate the entire universe and world system, but the Church continues struggling with this new creation way of operating.
     The entire new creation system, operates by words and faith in those words, but we still struggle to "renew out minds" to thinking this way.  We've never learned or been taught to think in terms of "what we think or say," and have been unsuccessful in operating in God's Kingdom.  Most of what we do, is still in the natural realm of the world stystem.
     It requires the Word of God, read and delivered through the Holy Spirit, to renew our carnal minds.  If we read the Spirit Word with a natural mind, then we come away with the old wine way of thinking.  We devise rules mandating how we should dress, days we must worship, what we should eat and how we must pray.  We use our old way of thinking to devise fleshly ideas about the way God teaches and directs His new creation.
     Paul said in 1Corinthians 4:4 (Amplified), "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 me and judges me."  Before his encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus, Paul persecuted, jailed, and even sentenced Christians to death.  He persecuted those who chose to receive Jesus and he even held Stephen's coats, while they stoned Stephen in Acts 7:58.  With such a history, Paul was so renewed by his revelation of the new creation he became through Jesus, that he didn't allow his conscience to hold him back.  He allowed his renewed mind to think in terms of the Spirit and the Word.
     Paul, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, writes these words to the new creation people, in Romans 6:11 (Amplified) saying, "Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relationship with it broken, but alive to God (living in unbroken fellowship with Him) in Christ Jesus."  The very thought of this in the carnal mind is unthinkable, but it was the Holy Spirit Who spoke these Words to us, through Paul.  In Romans 6:10-11 (Amplified) Paul said, "For by the death He dies (Jesus) He died to sin (ending His relation to it) once fore all; and the life that He lives, He is living to God (in unbroken fellowship with Him) Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relationship ti it broken, but alive to God (living in unbroken fellowship with Him) in Christ Jesus."
     If we are a new creation (and the Word says that we are in Christ Jesus), then why do we have such a difficult time with the above scripture?  We still think more on our houses (the natural bodies we live in) as being the "real us," instead of seeing the new creation (spirit being) we have become.  If we continue to shut our eyes to this Truth, then we will never walk here, in the Kingdom priciples.
     Romans 12:1-2 (Amplified) says, "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies (presenting all your members and faculties) as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service, and spiritual worship. 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 that is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)."
     Notice how, when we renew our minds by the new creation way of thinking, we can prove for ourselves, "What the will of God is for our lives."  Why?  Because His will is the new creation way of life for us and not the old wine, but the new wine.  If we were still like the world, then Paul wouldn't have said "Do not conform to it."  We cannot conform to something, if we are already that way.  Remember that 2Corinthians 5:17 told us, "Behold! the fresh and new has come."  Verse 18 goes on to says that, "All things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself)."
     We are a spirit, we have a soul, and we live in a body.  My body is not "Me" any longer, but is the house I live in.  My house doesn't tell me when to paint it, I decide on my own, because my house is not in charge anymore. 

Lesson 48 The New Creation

     We've based these teachings on 2Corinthians 5:16-17 (Amplified) which says, "If any man is ingrafted in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, and all things (his old, previous moral and spiritual) condition have become new and fresh."
     The truth of this passage is more than we have really determined from much of what we've heard and been taught, throughout the years.  Your old sin has been done away with and not simply covered.  It is gone.  Our relationship with God has taken on a new meaning in our lives, because He is no longer only "God," but is now our "Father," too.  We learned in the above scripture, that the things of the Holy Spirit have become available to us by inheritance and are obtainable through our new relationship with our Heavenly Father.
     The Holy Spirit spoke through Paul, stating not about our going to heaven, but having heaven open to us now.  Thus, in Verse 17 Paul said that "The old previous moral and spiritual condition has passed away" and Behold, the fresh and new has come."  If the fresh and new have come, then this means we have new ways and new access to things previously unavailable  or ours to walk in.
     2Corinthians 5:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Laboring together (as God's fellow workers) with Him then, we beg of you not to receive the grace of God in vain (that merciful kindness by which God exerts His holy influence on souls and turns them to Christ, keeping and strengthening them-do not receive it to no purpose). For He says, In the time of favor (of an assured welcome) I have listened to and heeded your call, and I have helped you on (the day of salvation) Behold, now is truly the time for a gracious welcome and acceptance (of you from God) behold, now is the day of salvation."
     The above Words from Paul are Words and Revelation he received in his time in the Presence of Jesus Himself, according to 2Corinthians 12:3-4 (Amplified) where Paul says, "And I know that this man-whether in the body or away from the body I do not know, God knows-was caught up into paradise, and he heard utterances beyond the power of man to put into words, which man is not permitted to utter."
     Man's attempts at trying and speaking these things of the new covenant on his own, would have been simply empty words and prideful.  But, Jesus revealed these things to Paul and they are Spirit and Truth to us (as well as for Paul).  No man could ever speak these things from their own ability and have them be true, it was true because God spoke it.  There was no way "this man (Paul) could put into words or utter these truths."  Without having the knowledge and grace of the cross, man couldn't know or say that, "Old things have passed away, and now the fresh and new have come."  No man would dare quote from his own intellect, the things Paul spoke about Jesus in 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) saying, "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 accepted and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness)."
     Jesus saying that "God was His Father," was more than man's ears could bear hearing, but we see in the above scripture, that through Jesus we've been changed from our sold sin nature, into the righteousness (right standing) with God, when we believe in His Word.  We now are "Laboring together as God's fellow workers."  Only a fool would proclaim such a thing, unless it was directly given him by revelation and grace.  Because the "fresh and new" has come, we must allow this revelation to become reality to us, like it did with Paul.  He said in 2Corinthians 6:1 (Amplified), "Not to receive this revelation of this grace to no purpose."
     We must now learn to walk in this newness of Spirit, because "all things have become new" and "the fresh and new have come."  Through Jesus (the Last Adam), heaven has come to be opened to us again, like it was to the First Adam.  Things that our Father made available and intended for us, have once again become ours, as God's "fellow workers."
     We've mostly avoided walking in the "fresh and new," because we preferred the old way.  Jesus said in Luke 5:36-39 (Amplified), "He told them a proverb also, No one puts a patch from a new garment on an old garment; if he does, he will both tear the new one, and the patch from the new (one) will not match the old (garment). And no one pours new wine into old skins; if he does, the fresh win will burst the skins and it will be spilled and the skins will be ruined (destroyed), But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine immediately desires new wine, for he says, the old is good or better."
     We are content with the old, religious way of doing things, where our walk with God is concerned.  After all, they've been good enough to keep us, until now.  Paul says, "Behold, the fresh and new has come."  We remain reluctant to try the new and fresh, because they are different from what we've formally known.  We've been taught that, "Whatever happens in our lives after being born-again, must be God's will for us."  We haven't tried the fresh and new that would bring us from the flesh, into the Spirit.
     Ephesians 6:10 is a scripture familiar to most of us, however, it it "new wine" for many who still walk in the "old wineskin" ways.  If we would walk in the fresh and new creation, then we could contend and defeat satan's works in our lives, but the "old wine" remains more palatable for many of us.  It's easier to allow the old things to remain in our lives, instead of using the new and fresh way to stand.
     Many do not wish to understand how we can walk in a place of authority over the works of satan, because it's easier to use the "old wine" of religious traditions, rather than using the new wine of the new creation.  Paul said in Ephesians 6:13-14 (Amplified), "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)."
     Many Christians don't believe these scriptures are included in their grace walk.  Paul said in Verse 14, "To stand therefore (hold your ground) having tightened the belt of Truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God."  The breastplate of righteousness or right standing with God, is a very real part of the new wine and fresh and new that has come.  Without partaking of the new wine, we have (in our old wineskin thinking) no breastplate for our defense.  We keep our old wine, which reminds us that "None are righteous, no not one," from Romans 3:10.  Even though this scripture doesn't state this, we have become a new creation and have been made before God, by Jesus.  We read the above scripture in the "old wine of religion."  Romans 3:23 (Amplified) says, "Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives."  The new wineskin can also read the next Verse24, which says, "(All) are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy) through the redemption which is (provided) in Christ Jesus."
     We just read 2Corinthians 6:1, where Paul instructs us, "Not to receive this grace in vain, but use it to exert God's holy influence on souls and turn them to Christ, keeping and strengthening them in it."  It's only when we know and accept the truth of the new wine of righteousness, we can walk in the fresh and new of this new creation wine.  Without knowing that we've been "created in righteousness in this new creation," we are (by the old wine of tradition), without the faith to approach our Heavenly Father with assurance.
     Many in the Church feel like this doesn't matter, while others believe it's prideful and arrogant to say that we've been made righteous in the new creation, through Jesus.  Some wear this as a Badge of Honor, that God has bestowed the fresh and new on His new creation beings (us).  We've been taught from the old wine of religion, that's it's prideful to proclaim we're in right standing with God.  In contrast, it would be prideful to say that "Even though God proclaims us righteous, we (as new creations) really aren't in right standing with Him.  This is true pride standing against the Truth of God.  If God has declared it so, then it is so.
     2Corinthians 5:20 (Amplified) tells us, "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."  God has "offered this divine favor, grace, righteousness and His goodness" to us, and Paul says we must "lay hold of it."  Can it really be that the old wineskin of religious, prevents us from accepting this "offer" and continue drinking the old wine instead?
     This doesn't mean that we "don't drink " of the wine at all, but that we prefer the old wine of religion, instead of the new wine of the Spirit.  Many don't want the responsibility of walking in the new creation Truth.  To them, sharing some responsibility for accepting the new wine, is unacceptable.
     The old wine tells us that, "If God wants it done, then it will happen."  Or, they say, "If God wishes me to stop certain things, then He will remove them from me."  The new creation Word of God says in 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified), "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."
     God has separated us from the old and now we must, by His Word, become "reconciled" to Him, according to 2Corinthians 5:20.  This is a great part of the new creation life.  We need to accept the truth of the new covenant ( the new wine) and allow the new creation to live in His presence, like God intended from the beginning.  God has removed the limitations of religion from us and has opened the unlimited resources of the Spirit and Kingdom into our realm, by His grace.  Religion has limited us by the flesh and blocked the place of our being with our Father, but grace has put "All things are possible, to him who believes" into our believing and walking.
     

Lesson 47 The New Creation

     2Corinthians 5:16-17 (Amplified) says, "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a (purely) human point of view (in terms of natural standards of value). (No) even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now (we have such knowledge of Him that) we know Him no longer (in terms of the flesh). Therefore if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation ( new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
     At the very moment we were born-again, we became a new creation.  With this new creation, we came into a new covenant with God, according to Hebrews 8:13 (Amplified) which says, "When God speaks of a new (covenant, or agreement) He makes the first one obsolete (out of use) and what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether)."
     Under the old covenant, God dealt with man from a purely natural point of view (as we read in 2Corinthians 5:16).  God dealt with man from terms of the flesh and not with man's spirit.  Because man wasn't yet made alive in his spirit by Jesus' resurrection, man was dead (separated from Life in God) by his spirit.  Jesus said in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I come that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." 
     Because we are new creatures in Christ Jesus, we are now Spirit beings again in God's Own Image and Likeness and we are once again alive to Him.  In the new covenant, God doesn't have to disciple man by his flesh any longer, but by his spirit.  Through Jesus, we've been made alive in our new created spirit.  We can hear from our Father, be led by our Father and communicate with Him, in our new created spirit.
     In Hebrews 12 we read about being disciplined by our Heaven Father, contrasted with being disciplined with our earthly fathers.  Our earthly father disciplined our flesh and natural body, while our Heavenly Father disciplines His children, by and through our new creation spirit that is made alive to Him again through Jesus.  2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "Every scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and is 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)."  Verse 17 goes on, "So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."  Ephesians 4:11-14 (Amplified) says that God gave the five-fold ministry to the Body in order to bring the Church (His Body) into mature manhood.  Verses 13-14 say, "So that we may longer be children, tossed (like ships) to and fro between chance gusts of teachings and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine (the prey of) the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men (gamblers engaged) in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead."
     Jesus also made reference to the new creation being and how we were to walk and learn in this new covenant and new creation, in John 15:13 (Amplified) saying, "But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-Giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth) For He will not speak His Own message (on His Own authority) but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him) and He will announce and declare to you, the things that are to come (that will happen in the future)."  Jesus also said in John 4:24 (Amplified), "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality)."  In John 6:63 (Amplified) He 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've somehow allowed the world's idea and our own unrenewed carnal minds, to believe that God is dealing with the new creation, like He did in the old covenant.  We have been born-again of His Spirit and are to be led by His Spirit, to be discipline and guided by His Spirit and to be fed by His Word (which is also Spirit).
     We've been fed by traditions and man's teachings that led to our being double-minded, in nearly everything we do.  We've almost arrived at the place where we cannot tell the difference between our Heavenly Father and the enemy.  Instead of the Holy Spirit being the Teacher, we've allowed the spirit of infirmity to teach us.  When some disease or calamity befalls us, we declare that "It must be God trying to teach us something."
     Jesus didn't come to leave us in the old covenant of the flesh, but He came to bring us into the family of the new creation.  You are now a living spirit and have already been made in right standing with our Father.  He doesn't deal with your flesh, but with your spirit being.
     It's beyond comprehension that we could ever be "talked into" believing God is responsible for all the suffering, sickness and hell that is currently plaguing the earth.  There are Christians who say that it's all God's will.  Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  Do they honestly believe that everything we're witnessing on earth, is how heaven is?
     There are no prisons, homeless, starving children, death, tears or none of the things we hold God responsibility for here, in heaven.  If someones spoke about my earthly father in the manner God's children speak about Him, then I would become extremely angry with them.  But, we act like the mess we see (even in the Church) are His doing.  If God wanted to punish us for our wrong doings, then we would never have lived long enough to be saved.  Why now then, after we have received Jesus and salvation, would God wish to punish us (or teach us) through sickness and hardship?
     We are spirit and God is Spirit, the Word is Spirit and Truth.  Why don't we simply allow the Spirit to teach us and then grow into mature manhood by God's means of teaching?  Can we actually learn better by hardships, rather than by His Spirit?  Are we truly that dull of hearing?  Jesus pointed out the difference between His Own ministry of God's will, by healing, setting free and even His caring for those who were under the old covenant.
     I discovered that the devil was tormenting and making people sick, and that it was the Father, through Jesus, Who was making those people whole and well.  Healing, miracles, the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and His Word are from God.  Sickness, hate, disease and despair are from the devil.  Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) sets the two ministries functioning on this earth, apart.  One is the ministry of our Father and the other is the work of satan.  Thus, it 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) has freed me from the Law of sin and death."
     This scripture clearly defines the differences between our fleshly mind and our spiritual mind of Christ.  Returning to the bondage of believing God deals with the outer man (or house we live in), instead of our new being, wipes away the entire reason for becoming a new creation altogether.
     In Romans 8:7-8 (Amplified), we find the Holy Spirit saying this to us, "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 or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him."
     The "sinful things" aren't always "appetites and impulses," but include man's own ideas of God's dealing in our new being.  We've somehow remained in the old covenant, instead of the new covenant in our minds.  We read about how God dealt with old covenant people and expect that He will continue dealing with us in the same manner.  We've failed to renew our carnal way of thinking and haven't come to the place of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.  The old covenant way of dealing from the outside in, while the new covenant deals from the inside out.
     We can't distinguish between God and the devil.  We even have insurance to cover such terrible things titled, "Acts of God."  God didn't sent the storm on the Sea of Galilee.  If He had, then Jesus was working against God, when He calmed that storm.  The Word says that, "A house divided can not stand," remember?  If God was making them sick in order to teach them and Jesus was in turn healing them, then they were not "One," like Jesus said they were.
     I'm not questioning our salvation or our being born-again, but I am however, questioning our fellowship and understanding of Who our Father is.  Throughout the years, many have stated, "They would never question God."  I'm talking about God as Father and not about Jesus as Truth.  James 1:5 (Amplified) says, "If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God (Who gives) to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or fault finding, and it will be given him."
     If you don't understand something, then ask God for understanding.  He will speak to you in Spirit and Truth.  He will tell what His will and intentions are for your life in Him.  Our relationship with God now, with with our Father.  The old covenant people couldn't claim that very privilege with Him.  He is not only God, but Father and that makes the difference in how He deals with this new creation people.  God will deal with us in the very same manner He dealt with Jesus, if we would allow Him to be Father to us (like He was with Jesus).  When you watch Jesus, you will see the Father.  He hasn't change His way of doing things.   
    

Lesson 46 The New Creation

     In these last days, God is going to reveal, by His Spirit to His Church (family), who and what He has created us to be.  God fully intends to unveil His children to the world and to the devil and his world ruler spirits, in such a way that demons will tremble at God's glory, just like they did when Jesus spoke and prayed.  Jesus said, "It's not Me, but the Father in Me, that does the works."
     This is precisely what God has in mind for these last days ahead.  He wants to reveal Who He really is, through the Church and then the whole world will know His Name.  Until now, only a minority of new creation believers have grasped hold of this truth.  Satan has tried arduously to discredit them and to keep the truth "hidden" from the world and the Church.  We've mostly believed that we were just special people to God.  God, though, has said, "No, all my children are special, but some haven't discovered just how special they are to Me."  God declares that we were, "Made in His Image and Likeness" and will be "revealed to the world and it's god in that form of power."
     When God called me to His family, I asked what He wanted me to do.  His Words to me were, , "Do what My other Son has done."  The only difference between and the rest of God's children, but they weren't doing what we were created to do.  I was working miracles, healings and casting out devils in the early part of my new birth.  The Father said the only that made me "look different," was that the rest of His children weren't yet doing these things."  This is the Super-natural life of the Seed of His Word that produced those just like Him.
     The very first chapter of Genesis explains the laws that govern all things.  The law of Genesis is, "Everything produces after kind."  This is why the Theory of Evolution is so far from the truth.  It matters not how much you try to evolve a kernel of corn, it will still be corn.  If you plant an acorn, then it will always (and only) produce an Oak tree.  A horse will never produce a puppy and a human will only produce a human (not a monkey).  A Spirit will produce a Spirit and the Spirit of God will only produce those after His Own kind.
     John 1:1-5 (Amplified) says, "In the beginning (before all time) was the Word (Christ) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He 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."  Verses 4-5 go on, "In Him was Life and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it (put it out, or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it)."
     The very same Word that produced all things (and all things produce after kind, Genesis 1:11).  This is the same Seed, the Word of God, that Peter spoke about in 1Peter 1:23 (Amplified) saying, "You have been regenerated (born again) not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal, by the ever living and lasting Word of God."
     The same supernatural ability that was in the first Adam, and even more so in the Last Adam (Jesus), is the same nature of this seed "that will produce after kind."  That is what the new creation is all about.  Everything we will ever need, comes from this Spirit Kingdom and produces here on earth.  This is what God intended for His family from the beginning.  The loaves and fishes came into being in this realm, from the super-natural ability of our Father.  Everything God's family would ever need, both here and hereafter, are all still available to us now, by this new creation Seed (His Word) in which we are currently living.
     We haven't truly understood what and who we've become by this new creation.  Some are afraid to believe this, "Lest we anger God by our boasting and pride."  This isn't a boast of the "self-made man," but the liberty of a God-made new creation son.  Jesus wasn't boasting or being puffed up with pride, when He stated that, "He and the Father are One and when we have seen Jesus, we have seen the Father."  Jesus also said in John 17:21 (Amplified), "That they all (those who will believe) may be one, (just) as You, Father, are One is Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me."
     We should feel honored to proclaim that we are "Just like our Heavenly Father."  This is how Jesus said the world would know and would recognize that the Father had sent Him.  Jesus said in John 17:22 (Amplified), "I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given to Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One."
     Some have taught that this was "Just for Jesus' disciples," but they must simply understand what Jesus said in John 17:20 (Amplified), "Neither for these alone do I pray (it is not for their sake only that I make this request), but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching."
     Above, we see Jesus, Himself, requesting the Father that "We become one with Himself, just as He and the Father are One."  This is the Genesis law of Creation, "Everything produces after kind."  A seed always produces the same thing that bore it.  And, since we are the Seed of God, it's not unreasonable to think that we are like Him.
     Don't be alarmed!  You are not God, but you have His very DNA.  What God is, He has passed on through His Seed.  This includes His very character and ability.  Jesus said, "It is not Me, but the Father in Me, that does the work."
  It's not us, but the Seed (the Husbandman in us).  He still does what we can believe Him to do, through us.  The same Father now has reproduced Himself through His children.  We haven't been taught to believe that we can dare believe that the works Jesus, Paul, Peter and many others, will work for us today.  The Father has chosen to reveal Himself to the world and the spirits of darkness, through His family, the Church, you and me.
     We've entered the time of the end and it's going to require the super-natural for the world to realize we came not in the eloquence of speech, but with the demonstration of the Power of the Spirit of God.  We can back-up the things we say, by the things we do.  Jesus said, "If you can't believe what I say, at least believe the things that I do."  The Father is waiting for His children to allow Him to Live through us and let the world see His glory, and see Him as He is.     

Lesson 45 The New Creation

     The idea of being a new creation isn't something new, as far as the Bible is concerned, but it's how the Holy Spirit is now revealing it to today's Church.  For centuries, we have believed that we will become new creations when we get to heaven, instead of seeing ourselves as being new creations here and now.  Our Heavenly Father sees us as being new creations, the moment we become born-again in Christ Jesus.  We are a people who never existed on this planet and there will never be another people like us.
     In order to walk in what we are and what our Father intended us to be, we must first know what that is.  We've somehow overlooked the super-natural being we were intended and created to be.  We've conformed to the way we were before being born-again and have become just "mere men."  When the angel came to Mary in Luke 1:37 (Amplified), he told her she would have a child.  Mary, being a natural woman, asked the angel Gabriel, "How can this things be, since I know not a man?"  In the natural realm this would be a valid question, but in God, it is not.  The angel responded saying, "For with God nothing is ever impossible and no Word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment."
     When the Spirit of God revealed the truth of the new birth to us, our response was nearly identical to Mary's.  We ask, "How can this be, after what I have done and who I am?"  The Words the angel said to Mary, are true for us today and that is, "Nothing and no Word from God is without power or impossible of fulfillment."  The same Word spoken to Mary is the same Word by which we (the new creations) were formed.  1Peter 1:23-25 (Amplified) says, "You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God. For all flesh (mankind) is like grass, and all its glory (honor) like (the) flower of grass, The grass withers and the flower drops off. But the Word of the Lord (Divine instruction, the Gospel) endues forever. And this Word is the Good News which was preached to you."
     The same Word that brought forth Jesus, is the same Word that brought us forth.  Our flesh will not endue (as we know it), but the new creation born of the Word is eternal even now.  god isn't dealing with our flesh, but with our new being that was born of the Word.  Peter writes in 1Peter 1:2 (Amplified), "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto (complete) salvation."
     We've mostly used the Word to tame our flesh, instead of using the Word to grow the spirit.  We've all tried having more willpower to stop old habits in our lives, instead of applying the Word.  We've been more aware of our flesh, which will "wither and die," rather than the new creation that will continue for eternity.
     Peter instructed us in 1Peter 2:2 (KJV) to, "Desire the sincere milk of the Word that we should grow thereby."  He didn't say anything about our using it for the flesh.  When you fee the new creation man on the Word of God, he will become stronger than the flesh and will, by the super-natural strength of the Word, bring the flesh under submission to it.  We've been trying to deal in spiritual things from the outside in, instead of the inside out.  God's Word is made for the spirit and not the flesh.  When we use the Word as a means of the flesh, it becomes as it was before Jesus came, just a Law of the flesh.
     We seem to resort to traditions and religious activities that "profit nothing."  We're leading a moral victory, but continue not to lead a spiritual one.  We try preventing the flesh from having dominion over us, by flesh discipline.  I'm not advocating that we allow the flesh to go undisciplined, but I am saying we should bring the flesh into the authority of our spirit, instead of our own willpower.
     The new creation being isn't a fleshly being, but a spiritual being.  He must learn who he is by seeking out his nature through spiritual means.  We were created super-natural children and made in the Image and Likeness of our Heavenly Father, Who is Spirit.
     The fleshly, carnal mind cannot accept the super-natural things we were born of and the super-natural things we are now capable of doing.  We remain more controlled by the flesh and the world, instead of by the super-natural spirit we were born to be.  In Ephesians 6:10-12 (Amplified) Paul says, "In conclusion, be strong in the Lord (be empowered through your union with Him); draw your strength from Him (that strength which His boundless might provides). Put on God's whole armor (the armor which God supplies) that you may be able successfully to stand up against (all) the strategies and deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood 9contending only with physical opponents), but against the despotisms, against the powers, against the (master spirits who are) the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere."
     We cannot defeat a spiritual enemy by means of the flesh.  The very works of your flesh that you may be battling with, are brought on by "master spirits" who are the "world rulers of this present darkness," and the "spirit forces of wickedness in the (heavenly, supernatural) sphere."
     These supernatural forces are not match for the new creation family of God, if we understand who we are now in Christ Jesus.  We cannot simply overcome the supernatural forces of the enemy, by natural means.  The strategies and deceits of the devil have been working advantageously for him, until now.  Satan has convinced God's Church that supernatural things (at least for us) have "passed away" and we have fallen back into the natural warfare of the flesh.
     Satan can't prevent us from being born-again, but he's successfully kept us from seeing who we really are in Jesus.  At our new birth, we were given all the power and authority in Jesus to overcome the devil and see through all of his strategies and deceits.  His entire warfare is based on keeping the Church from knowing who we truly are.  He's been in control of the things of this present darkness and world rulers, since the fall of Adam.  Satan might be insane, but he isn't stupid.  He knows that he is finished, when he comes up against those who know what their new creation status brings.
     In 2Corinthians 4:3-4 (Amplified) demonstrates the "deceits and strategies" of satan working in the world and even (to a degree) in the Church.  Thus, it says, "But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden (only) to those who are perishing and obscured (only) to those who are spiritually dying and veiled (only) to those who are lost."  Verse 4 goes on, "For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds (that they should not discern the truth) preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ (the Messiah) Who is the Image and Likeness of God."
     We often correlate the above verses with the unsaved, but this also applies to those who have been "blinded by the deceit and lies" taught to the Church.  If satan can keep the Church blind, by preventing the truth of the "Illuminating light" of the new creation from reaching our born-again spirit, then he thinks he is safe.  We are Spirit beings born of a Spiritual Father, to do warfare with a spiritual enemy.  If satan can keep the Church in the flesh, then he doesn't need to worry about their battling him.  We aren't much of a danger or a challenge to his place of authority in the flesh, because he is the "master of the spirits who are the world rulers of this present age."
     We've been warring for two millenia with a demon spirit, who hates God and everything God stands for.  Satan can't get God to hurt Him, so his warfare is meant to hurt God's children, by deceptions and strategies.  Satan has been the entire source of hurt and misery on mankind, ever since the Garden of Eden.
     The greatest fear satan has is that God's sons discover who they really are and bring that authority down on his head.  When the Holy Spirit brings this Truth into the lives of the Spiritual family of God, things will dramatically change, according to Ephesians 3:9-10 (Amplified) which says, "Also to enlighten all men and make plain to them what is the plan (regarding the Gentiles and providing for the salvation of all men) of the mystery kept hidden through the ages and concealed until now in (the mind of) God Who created all things by Christ Jesus."  Verse 10 goes on, "(The purpose is) that through the Church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere."

Lesson 44 The New Creation

     2Corinthians 5:16-17 (Amplified) has been the base scripture used in this teaching and indicates that we aren't "just forgiven sinners," but actually are new creations in Christ Jesus.  Some might say, "I don't think I need to know all this stuff, in order to get to heaven."  They are right about that fact, because the only requirement for going to heaven is receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  Whether or not anyone has noticed, we're not in heaven yet.  These teachings aren't as much about getting to heaven, but about bringing heaven into our lives and the lives of others here on earth.
     These are things we need to know here on earth, that allow heaven to work for us here.  We must first realize what Jesus' Sacrifice has really done for us, so we can believe and receive from our Heavenly Father now.  2Corinthians 5:16 (Amplified) says, "Consequently from now on we estimate and regard no one from a (purely) human point of view (in terms of natural standards of value). (No) even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now we have such knowledge of Him that we know Him no longer (in terms of the flesh)."
     This scripture alone, tells us just how much wisdom and knowledge the Holy Spirit has to reveal to the Church.  There are so many things God wishes us to know now that Christ has risen to His rightful place in the Throne Room of God.
     Paul writes to us about this "place" we share with Jesus, in our new creation position.  Paul says, "Therefore if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."  Paul says that "we no longer know any man just in terms of a merely human viewpoint, this includes how we now see ourselves.
     We continue to mostly be more conscious or our old selves, rather than of the new creation we've become.  A new creation means that we have no past, as far as our Heavenly Father is concerned.  If God is still aware of our past, then we're not new creatures at all.  When we understand this one great truth, it releases faith in what we pray and how we come before the Father.  1John 20-22 (Amplified) says, "Whenever our hearts (tormenting, self-accusation make us feel guilt and condemn us) (For we are still in God's hands) For He is above and greater than our (consciences, our hearts) and He knows (perceives and understands) everything (nothing is hidden from Him)."  Verses 21-22 go on, "And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not condemn us (if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us) we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God. And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we (watchfully) obey His orders (observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us) and (habitually) practice what is pleasing to Him."
     If we do not understand 2Corinthians 5:16-17, then our hearts will keep us under condemnation and will hold back the plan of God for our lives.  This is why it's so important to know His heart, as well as our hearts.  You cannot come to the Father in faith, if you still see yourself from a purely point of view.  You must see yourself like God sees you, in Christ.
     In order to be righteous, you must see yourself totally after the Spirit and not after the flesh.  The only way to see yourself as being righteous, is by faith in Jesus.  We can never do enough good things or live a good enough life, to become righteous, it's only by faith in what God has declared you to be in Christ Jesus.  Trying to become righteous by your own works, illustrates that your heart is still condemning you.  Otherwise, we wouldn't have to work so hard at it.  Should we avoid sin and walk in our new creation?  Of course we should.  But, we should put our faith in those works in order to gain or lose by them.  We must not allow our own judgment to determine our righteousness, but must allow our faith in Jesus to do so.
     Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified) says, "But without faith it is impossible to please or be satisfactory to Him. 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)."  The only way to come to God or be pleasing to Him, is by faith.
     Paul spoke to those who were under the Law (as well as those who were under religious dictates) in Romans 10:2-3 (Amplified) saying, "I bear them witness that they have a (certain) zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to (correct and vital) knowledge. For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes (which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed) and seeking to establish a righteousness ( a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness."
     We can only be righteous by faith in Jesus and not of ourselves.  If we base our right standing with God on our own performance, then we would (and do) continually fail.  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 the 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)."
     Read the above scripture in the light of Hebrews 11:6, understanding that the only way to "prove and understand" the "perfect and acceptable will of God," is by accepting, by faith, what His righteousness is for your life.  Stop worrying about your performance to gain your right standing with God, and accept by faith, His ascribed means of right standing for you.  We don't base our walk with God on our performance, but on Jesus.  I'm not sanctioning your going out and doing whatever you want, whenever you want, to whoever you want to do it to.  But, we shouldn't allow our hearts to condemn us when we miss it (and we will).  We must stay in faith as to how we become righteous and must allow that same faith to maintain your righteousness.
     We are new creations.  We were never before and have now been "cleaned up," but we our new.  We must stay within the boundaries of this new creation and not allow satan to bring us back to having a "purely" human viewpoint of ourselves.  If we only see ourselves from our own viewpoints and not the new creation viewpoint, then your very heart will condemn you to the point feeling like "God will never answer your prayer, because you don't deserve it."  Thank God that we do not get what we deserve from Him, because if God gave us what we deserved, then we'd all burn in hell.  We get from Him, the things His great Love has paid for by His Blood.  We must receive what He has granted to us by His grace and Love.  And, we must walk in what God's Word has declared for our righteousness and get out from under the burden of guilt our own weaknesses bring.
     When we deny that we are righteous, through Christ Jesus, we deny that Jesus' Sacrifice and His Blood failed to do what He came to do.  If you don't believe that Jesus' Blood and Sacrifice have done the job of making you righteous, then how do you think you can accomplish this through your own efforts?  It sounds foolish when you look at it that way, doesn't it?  That's because it is foolish!  If Jesus didn't make you righteous, then you have no hope of ever being in right standing with a Holy God.  Believe that you are now a new creation, created in His Image, His Likeness, His Child and in right standing with Him, in Jesus.   

Lesson 43 The New Creation

     In 2Corinthians 5:16-17 (Amplified), and in other scriptures , Paul speaks about being a new creation in Christ Jesus.  For centuries, we've not understood the revelation about the new creation we've become.  Good men of God have taught the Word from a purely carnal point of view.  Because the Word and the whole concept of the Word is Spirit, the carnal mind cannot do more than simply read the words, without discerning the Spirit and Truth of those Words.
     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."  Paul writes in 1Corinthians 2:14 (Amplified), "But the natural, non-spiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them (of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them) because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated."
     We've learned and been taught by carnally minded believers, for many years now.  These teachers weren't unsaved, but hadn't renewed their minds by the Word of God.  They were born-again, but hadn't allowed the Word to become alive and Spirit like Jesus taught, the Word was just words.  They read the words and comprehended what they meant by their intellect, but couldn't receive the Truth and Spirit of what was being said.
     This has returned us to the carnal realm of bondage, through religious things dictating our dress, our food, the fellowship we should belong to and has made us constantly aware of who we used to be instead of the new creation we've become.  We've allowed the carnal mind to raise a spiritual family, that has become dysfunctional in God's Kingdom.
     We've spent centuries trying to become righteous or in right standing with God, in the carnal realm with miserable results.  We haven't become (or at least understood) the righteousness we've sought after, because we didn't allow the Word to become Spirit in our hearts, but have followed the dead letter of the Law instead.  When we allow the Word to become Spirit and Truth like Jesus said, we discover that we were granted the gift of righteousness when we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  Our righteousness is not by works or religion, but by faith in His Word and His Sacrifice on the cross.
     Romans 1:17 (Amplified) tells us, "For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith (disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith). As it is written, the man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith."  This righteousness or right standing with God, is a gift that was given by God to His new creation family.
     The above scripture must be spiritually discerned, because the natural man or the carnally minded believer cannot accept their being "righteous," after everything they were and had done.  Only the Truth and Life Jesus spoke about in John 6:63, can ever set a man free from the condemnation of the Law of sin and death.  One can't do enough good things or live right enough, to become righteous without the Gift of righteousness.  This is a Spiritual Truth and must be Spiritually discerned.
     2Corinthians 5:21 is likely a scripture that many Christians have read many times, but if it's read only with the natural mind of man, then it still beings no revelation of it's Truth.  2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) says, "For our sake He made Christ (virtually) to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him, we might become (endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of) the righteousness of God (what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness)."
     This is what God intended for man in the beginning, when He made him in His Own Image and Likeness.  After the fall of Adam, man lost his right standing and was always trying to find a way to restore it.  Since man can't make himself in right standing with God, he must by faith, accept his righteousness as a gift of God.  You must understand this by the Spirit of God, because your natural mind cannot understand it.
    Men might tell you that this is "imputed righteousness" and he is correct.  This righteousness was imputed unto us, by faith.  If your faith is still contaminated by your carnal mind, then you will continue striving on your own to be in right standing with God by your own efforts and you will fail.  We didn't become righteous through our works and we cannot retain our right standing by our works.  It is a gift and must be received as such, by faith.
     We must do what Paul instructed the Church in Rome.  Thus, he says in Romans 12:2 (Amplified), "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 things which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)."
     When your mind is renewed by the Truth of the Spirit (and not the world), you will able to see that righteousness by faith, is what isn't only good, but acceptable to God.  This new righteousness is the only righteousness that is now acceptable to Him and this is His will.  Prove this now in your own life, by proving by faith and receiving your right standing with our Heavenly Father.  It ends the struggling of man's religion and delivers us into God's Throne Room of Grace.
     We've mostly viewed ourselves as flesh and blood people, who have a spirit.  But, according to the Word, we are a spirit that has a flesh and blood house it resides in.  When our body (house) dies, then our real self leaves earth and returns to the Father, Who is also a Spirit.  Jesus said in John 4:24 (Amplified) that, "God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (reality)."  You are a new creation who is perfect, flawless, clean and sinless.  You are a new creation who is born again of God's Own Spirit.  You are no longer a forgiven sinner, but are a new creation.  You are a spirit, made in the Very Likeness and Image of our Father.  There is no past to overcome, in our Father's eyes, you are a new creation.
     We have majored on our past life in the flesh, instead of pursuing our new life in the Spirit.  We've wasted so many years trying to rise above (mostly by our own efforts) who we once were.  By faith in the reality of God's Word, we can walk into our new creation, without guilt, shame or condemnation.  We can come boldly, by faith in the Truth of what God did for us through Jesus.
     A new creation is exactly that, a new creation.  We've not revamped, made over, cleaned up or even forgiven, but we're new creations.  When something is new, it doesn't need to be made over again.  2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous, moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."