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which says, "When God speaks of a new (covenant, or agreement) He makes the first one obsolete (out of use) and what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether)."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.
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