2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (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 speaks to the Church about something that we still have occurring today in 1Corinthians 3:1-3,10,12-15 (Amplified) saying, "However brethren, I could not talk to you as to spiritual (men) but as to no 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) For you as still (unspiritual, having the nature) of the flesh (under the control of ordinary impulses); For as long as (there are) envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men?"
As new creation people, we have a new life and nature in which to operate in for, in the Kingdom. In the above scripture, Paul spoke about what in today's lingo, we would call the different denominations and in the different teachings in them. In Verse 10, Paul makes a statement we should pay special attention to. Thus, he says, "According to the grace (the special endowment for my task) of God bestowed on me, like a skillful and master builder I laid (the) foundation, and now another (man) is building upon it. But, let each (man) be careful how he builds upon it."
Paul goes on to say that "Jesus is the Foundation" we should build upon and "there can be no other foundation." In Verses 12-15 Paul says, "But if anyone builds upon the Foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, The work of each (one) will become (plainly, openly) known (shown for what it is); for the day (of Christ) will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done. But if any person's work is burned up (under the test) he will suffer the loss (of it all, losing his reward) though he himself will be saved, but only as (one who has passed) through fire."
Many of the things being taught in today's Church, are coming under scrutiny. The trial by fire has now begun and some of the structures built on the "foundations" of men are falling. God has declared that the Church is now His sanctuary, the Temple He has chosen to dwell in. We have learned or known how, "Christ in us, is our hope of Glory" and we are the Temple of God. And, even though we read and say we believe this, we continue living like He isn't there at all.
One of the greatest revelations coming to the Church in these last days, is found in Jesus' prayer just before His going to the cross. Jesus spoke to the Father about the events that would happen, after His resurrection and the birth of the Church. Jesus speaks to the Father about how God would actually live in each person who will accept this truth and they would become the Church or Temple of God on earth. Thus, Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying in John 17:22-23 (Amplified), "I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One." The "glory and honor" He speaks about, is the Holy Spirit, God Himself, Who was living in Jesus' flesh and blood body. Now, through His death and resurrection, all who will believe, can become God's Temple on earth.
Jesus went on to pray in Verse 23 saying, "I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and (definitely) recognize that You have loved them (even) as You have loved Me." This prayer was (and still us) being answered in the Upper Room and is still "filling the believer (the Temple of God)" today. Much of the building we have built on the Foundation of Jesus Christ, has denied the Presence and power of the indwelling Person of the Holy Spirit, God in us. We have tried to build a man-made structure on a God-made Foundation, so the structure is always in need of repairs.
God is in the process of building a house of prayer and a house of praise, so He can dwell in His fullness like He was able to do through Jesus. Jesus spoke to the Father about the new creation, that would arise out of His death and Sacrifice in the Garden. The new creation was a being (individually and collectively) who would be like He was, both a natural man of flesh and bone and filled with the Super-natural Spirit of God Himself. The new creation was to be a permanent House of the Glory and Life of Almighty God, according to John 14:12 (Amplified), where Jesus said, "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these because I go to the Father."
Only a mind that is renewed by the Word and the Holy Spirit, can grasp what Jesus was saying in the above scripture. A carnal mind simply cannot reach into this realm of Truth. Jesus was speaking about not being just "one Man or Body," but about many men becoming one Body, His Body on this earth. Now, there isn't only One Man filled with the Father, but millions of men who are filled with the Father and that it's not us, "but the Father in us, Who does the work." The world marveled at the things the Father did through Jesus and they would marvel again at the things God will do through the Church, the Body of Christ here on earth. The very same Father Who worked through Jesus,would now be able to work through His Body, the Body of Christ living in the midst of mankind. The greater works (bringing the new birth) and the same miracles the Father performed through Jesus as a Man, could and would be done through His Body which is made up of many "living stones," born-again men and women who are the new creation people of God's Temple and His dwelling place on earth.
This message isn't for building up men's ego, but it is a message of Truth from the lips of Jesus. Our ego has nothing to do with it, because ego cannot enter in where we will receive the Mind of Christ. We must always remember that, "It's not us, but the Father in us, Who does the work." This will keep you from both ego and fear. You won't fear that "I can't heal them," but will do like Jesus did and allow the Father in you to do the work. The new creation people started out alright, when the House that was being built on the Firm Foundation was truth. For many years after Jesus' resurrection, men did great and mighty things in His Name. Eventually though, we stopped building on the Foundation and began putting up prefab houses on it. Prefab houses aren't built over time, but are made to move into instantly. They will keep us dry, but are not as strong as stone structures, made with living stones.
God is building His Temple out for stones that are not cut by man, but from living stones on the Foundation of Truth, who will fill the earth. Religions and philosophies cannot remain strong enough to remain intact, when storms arise. Only those who are anchored securely with the revelation of the Father in us, Who does the work will remain. As the Body of Christ, we are now God's hands to lay on the sick, the Voice of God to go into the world and proclaim Jesus, the feet of God to carry Him into the homes and towns of men and we are His vehicle of Truth, bringing Him into contact with the world.
It is not you, but the Father in you, Who does the work. God came to the sick in the person of Jesus, Paul, Stephen, Phillip, Peter, John, Smith Wigglesworth AND YOU.
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