2Corinthians 5:17-18 (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. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
How many of us previously thought of ourselves as new creations? We've mostly thought of ourselves as being forgiven and saved, but we still believed we were unrighteous and outside the righteousness of God. We read in God's Word that we've been made, "the righteousness of God in Jesus," but we still fail to accept it as "real."
We've been trained by the world and it's way of thinking and this makes it difficult for us to think differently. We've had scriptures quoted to us for such a long time telling us, "None are righteous," and makes it's hard for us to think differently, as well. Just like those in the Wilderness, we have limited God, by not being obedient to "believe" what He says. God wasn't testing the Israelites in the Wilderness, but the people were testing God by their unbelief.
Our Heavenly Father only asks that we believe that what He says in His Word is Truth and that He Himself will bring what His Word says, come to pass. God's Word says that we are "new creations." Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) says that we have "Been raised together with Christ Jesus, and seated together with Him in Heavenly places." We find God's plan for our lives, after we are born-again into His Kingdom in Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified) which says, "For we are God's (Own) handiwork (His workmanship) recreated in Christ Jesus (born anew) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live)."
Ephesians 2:19 (Amplified) says, "Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens); but you now share citizenship with the saints (God's Own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself) and you belong to God's (Own) household."
For many, the above scriptures share only religious content and not revelation. We've read what God says, but then won't allow ourselves to believe it. We've somehow thought these scriptures (along with many others) pertain to when come (spirit, soul, and body) into God's Presence. Similarly, we've accepted Jesus as our Savior, but have struggled to allow Him to be Lord. We can believe that we'll go to the Father when we die, but don't believe He Himself already lives inside us. We direct most of our prayers, to a God Who is millions of light years away, instead of as close as our next breath.
We've been so conditioned throughout the years, that it seems sacrilegious to think of ourselves in any other way. We are afraid to believe we are what God's Word says we are. Just like those in the wilderness, we have limited God, by not believing He can ,and will do, the things He said He would do. In Hebrews 3:8-9 (Amplified) God says, "Do not harden your hearts as (happened) in the rebellion (of Israel) and their provocation and embitterment (of Me) in the day of testing; Where your fathers tried (My patience) and tested (My forbearance) and found I stood their test, and they saw My works for forty years."
Even after witnessing miracle after miracle that God had performed, whenever any new situation presented itself, the Israelites who were led out of Egypt by Moses, forgot those things and failed to believe God could (and would) care for them. They tested and doubted Him and His covenant and truth, on every count. They grumbled and asked, "Can God do this?" and "Can God take care of us now?"
Hebrews 3:15 (Amplified) says, "Then while it is (still) called Today, if you would hear His Voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion (in the desert, when the people provoked and irritated and embittered God against them)." The world's idea of Christianity has trained us to "harden our hearts" against the Truth. We believe God can no longer do, everything He wants to do in our lives, because of these teachings. It seems like everything in the Spirit realm, has either "passed away" or "reserved for when we get to Heaven."
According to God's Word, we are already spirit and citizens of Heaven and the sole purpose for our remaining here on earth (in our natural body), is to further God's Kingdom as ambassadors for Christ Jesus. 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) says, "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."
We are now to be part of a Royal family and act as personal representatives of God and His Kingdom. We've been endowed with all the things in His Kingdom, in order to reveal Him to the world. We're not supposed to be like those in the Wilderness, who wouldn't believe God would (and could) do what He said. The problem has never lied with Him, but always with us. Ever time we encounter another problem, we begin acting like those in the wilderness, and complain, murmur and doubt. We ask, "Can our God get water, food, or manna, here in the Wilderness?"
God can still heal, still speak, still perform miracles, still cast out demons, still speak in tongues, still overcome sickness, still send angels, still use His Blood to cause the destroyer to pass over us and still have "His Word performed on earth, as it is in Heaven" for us. God can still work in this 21st century. Have we become so intelligent, that we've made His Word "foolishness?" We have so limited the Super-natural ability of who we've been created to be, that the Church has become carnal in their thinking, like the world is.
Why would we allow the world to determined who we are, instead of the Word? We are what God has made us to be. You might never walk in it, you may never believe in it, and you may do like those in the Wilderness who tempted and tried God with their unbelief, but you are still what God made you to be.
Paul writes in 1Corinthians 13:12 (Amplified), "For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection (of reality as in a riddle or enigma), but then (when perfection comes) we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly) but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood (by God)."
The above scripture is a promise that we will know Him just like He knows us, in the fullness of this age. All of the doubt and unbelief that we've walked in here, will be revealed to us in that time. We don't need to wait until we get to Heaven, in order to know these things. We will all have many things to learn when we get there, but many of these things are meant for us to know and experience here, so we can represent Him and His Kingdom in the True Light of Who and What He is here.
2Corinthians 2:9-10 (Amplified) says, "But on the contrary, as the scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, (all that) God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him (who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed. Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the Holy Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God (the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny)."
There are things that will remain unlearned while we're here on earth, but the Holy Spirit will reveal and unveil things to us, that we seek out to know and walk in. Not knowing is no excuse for unbelief, because we are all called into fellowship and the full wisdom of His will and purpose. We might not know it all, but we should always be learning and receiving from the Holy Spirit. Some might say, "I tried, but that didn't work." My answer is, "I tried and it did work." The first time you tried to walk as a toddler, you probably didn't succeed, but you kept trying to walk and probably do walk now. Don't give up on God just because someone says something, trying to cause you to not believe. Remember, the Word says that "whosoever will" believe. If you will believe it will work, then it will work. If you don't believe it will work, then it won't work. Whether or not we believe it, IT IS TRUTH. We've been created new creations, in order to believe.
Monday, January 30, 2017
Friday, January 27, 2017
Lesson 161 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (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. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
We seem to disagree with one another or we simply don't understand that God needs a person with faith (to believe Him), in order to fulfill, complete, and have His will manifest on this earth. If God could do anything He wanted and anytime He wanted, then He would simply make every person get saved, then we could forgo the millennium and have this whole thing done with. We know what God's will is, from His Word. 2Peter 3:9 (Amplified) says, "The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance."
The above scripture tells us that, God's will is that "all should be saved," but there are many unsaved people existing on earth today and many, many more people who died while unsaved. Why didn't God simply make us get saved? Why would He even need anyone to preach the Gospel? Why is anyone bothering to pray, if God was going to do whatever He wanted anyway?
What we deem, "Thy will be done," has become nothing more than a religious denial of faith and responsibility, for Christians. We have decided what His will is, which has led to the true will of God, not being done. We continue to "send" the Holy Spirit, like He's our "Messenger boy," instead of going ourselves. Then, we've excused our failures, by saying, "It must be God's will."
This is the very thing that displeased and angered the Lord, when the Israelites came out of bondage from Egypt. They wouldn't believe God to do what He wanted and what He said. In order to relieve their consciences, the people placed all blame and responsibility on Moses and they blamed their lack of trust on him. If the Israelites had no water, then they blamed Moses for bringing them out of Egypt and leaving them without water. They grumbled and limited God, with their unbelief. It was only God's grace, that prevented their being destroyed.
Jesus never lacked results while performing miracles and healings, except when He was limited by the people's unbelief. Jesus was constantly reaching out and trying to get the people to believe Him and God. Since Jesus knew and yielded to God's will, there were no limits put on His faith. Jesus knew it was God's will to heal, God was never limited in expressing His will through Jesus. We make excuses about our unbelief and why their are no signs following us. We say, "Oh, it must not be God's will for so-and-so to get healed," when our will wasn't submitted to God's will of healing. We concoct religious alibis, in order to conceal our unbelief. We use these alibis in praying, healing, in performing miracles and even walking in love and unity with one another.
We have limited the promises of God by human reasoning and cause the Word of God to "be of no effect," just like the Iraelites in the Wilderness. We don't come right out and say, "God cannot do it," but we leave it for others to go forth in faith. Can God do what He says? Of course He can, but what gets done and who does it, depends more on us rather than it does on Him. With God "All things are possible." Right?
Mark 16:15-18 (Amplified) says, "And [Jesus] said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the Good News (the Gospel) to every creature (of the whole human race). He who believes (who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Who it sets forth) and is baptized will be saved (from the penalty of eternal death) but he who does not believe (who does not adhere to, and trust in, and rely on the Gospel and Him Who it sets forth) will be condemned. And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; They will pick up serpents, and (even) if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them, They will lay their hands on the sick and they will get well."
Notice, that only "those who believe, will do these things." What about those who do not believe? These things will not work or operate in their lives. Is it God's will for their not doing these things? NO!! It is their will or lack of belief in God's ability, that won't allow these things to function in their lives.
This is the exact scenario that played out in the Wilderness, when the people limited the Holy One of Israel. The people refused to believe God, and by so doing, God was limited in what He wanted to do. We're so self-conscious of what others might believe or think about us, we've become so very careful not to be seen as foolish. Our pride blinds our faith and makes God impotent in our lives. We've limited God from showing Himself in His True Person, to the world. We've only portrayed a religious idea of an Almighty and Living God, to the world.
Religion always confines God to our personal limits. We've never seem to understand that God lives in us and that it's not us, but "the Father in us, Who does the work." Jesus never gave Himself over to what others thought, but only what the Father thought. He never judged Himself on His Own merits, but only by the Greater One, Who lived in Him. We need to erase all the old teachings and the images others taught us that God is. We need to see Him today, in our lives. We must stop comparing God to past times and receive Him as He is now. We need to confess and believe that, "Greater is He Who is in me, than he who is in the word."
We seem to disagree with one another or we simply don't understand that God needs a person with faith (to believe Him), in order to fulfill, complete, and have His will manifest on this earth. If God could do anything He wanted and anytime He wanted, then He would simply make every person get saved, then we could forgo the millennium and have this whole thing done with. We know what God's will is, from His Word. 2Peter 3:9 (Amplified) says, "The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance."
The above scripture tells us that, God's will is that "all should be saved," but there are many unsaved people existing on earth today and many, many more people who died while unsaved. Why didn't God simply make us get saved? Why would He even need anyone to preach the Gospel? Why is anyone bothering to pray, if God was going to do whatever He wanted anyway?
What we deem, "Thy will be done," has become nothing more than a religious denial of faith and responsibility, for Christians. We have decided what His will is, which has led to the true will of God, not being done. We continue to "send" the Holy Spirit, like He's our "Messenger boy," instead of going ourselves. Then, we've excused our failures, by saying, "It must be God's will."
This is the very thing that displeased and angered the Lord, when the Israelites came out of bondage from Egypt. They wouldn't believe God to do what He wanted and what He said. In order to relieve their consciences, the people placed all blame and responsibility on Moses and they blamed their lack of trust on him. If the Israelites had no water, then they blamed Moses for bringing them out of Egypt and leaving them without water. They grumbled and limited God, with their unbelief. It was only God's grace, that prevented their being destroyed.
Jesus never lacked results while performing miracles and healings, except when He was limited by the people's unbelief. Jesus was constantly reaching out and trying to get the people to believe Him and God. Since Jesus knew and yielded to God's will, there were no limits put on His faith. Jesus knew it was God's will to heal, God was never limited in expressing His will through Jesus. We make excuses about our unbelief and why their are no signs following us. We say, "Oh, it must not be God's will for so-and-so to get healed," when our will wasn't submitted to God's will of healing. We concoct religious alibis, in order to conceal our unbelief. We use these alibis in praying, healing, in performing miracles and even walking in love and unity with one another.
We have limited the promises of God by human reasoning and cause the Word of God to "be of no effect," just like the Iraelites in the Wilderness. We don't come right out and say, "God cannot do it," but we leave it for others to go forth in faith. Can God do what He says? Of course He can, but what gets done and who does it, depends more on us rather than it does on Him. With God "All things are possible." Right?
Mark 16:15-18 (Amplified) says, "And [Jesus] said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the Good News (the Gospel) to every creature (of the whole human race). He who believes (who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Who it sets forth) and is baptized will be saved (from the penalty of eternal death) but he who does not believe (who does not adhere to, and trust in, and rely on the Gospel and Him Who it sets forth) will be condemned. And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; They will pick up serpents, and (even) if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them, They will lay their hands on the sick and they will get well."
Notice, that only "those who believe, will do these things." What about those who do not believe? These things will not work or operate in their lives. Is it God's will for their not doing these things? NO!! It is their will or lack of belief in God's ability, that won't allow these things to function in their lives.
This is the exact scenario that played out in the Wilderness, when the people limited the Holy One of Israel. The people refused to believe God, and by so doing, God was limited in what He wanted to do. We're so self-conscious of what others might believe or think about us, we've become so very careful not to be seen as foolish. Our pride blinds our faith and makes God impotent in our lives. We've limited God from showing Himself in His True Person, to the world. We've only portrayed a religious idea of an Almighty and Living God, to the world.
Religion always confines God to our personal limits. We've never seem to understand that God lives in us and that it's not us, but "the Father in us, Who does the work." Jesus never gave Himself over to what others thought, but only what the Father thought. He never judged Himself on His Own merits, but only by the Greater One, Who lived in Him. We need to erase all the old teachings and the images others taught us that God is. We need to see Him today, in our lives. We must stop comparing God to past times and receive Him as He is now. We need to confess and believe that, "Greater is He Who is in me, than he who is in the word."
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Lesson 160 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (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. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
As new creatures in Christ, we have a greater depth of understanding and knowledge about the ability of God, granted to us. We had previously discussed things that displease God and one of those things is our limiting God from doing the things He desires in our lives. God is only to bring those things we can and will believe for to pass in our lives. We've been taught to limit the things we ask God for.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (Amplified) says, "Now to Him Who by (in consequence of) the (action of His) power that is at work within us, is able to (carry out His purpose and) do super abundantly, far over and above all that we (dare) ask or think (infinitely) beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams To Him, be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen (so be it)."
We have so limited out God and Father, by not believing Him to show Himself as He really is. We've stifled His power and ability, by being carnal in our thinking and limiting Him to our own realm, instead of allowing Him to lift us into His realm of Super-natural might. The healings and miracles (both now and in the old covenant) were only done by men and women who believed God to do what only He could do. We read about Abraham and his wife, who were both beyond their child bearing age, in Romans 4:18-22 (Amplified) which says, "For Abraham, human reason for hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the Father of many nations as he had been promised, 'So (numberless) shall your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the (utter) impotence of his own body which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or (when he considered) the bareness of Sara's (deadened) womb. No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly, question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave glory and praise to God. Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He promised." Verse 22 says, "This is why is faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God)."
Abraham was not even a born-again man, but he removed any limits from God and believed God to do "abundantly more than he could ask or think." God pronounced that Abraham's "faith made him in right standing with God Himself." Because Abraham didn't limit God, the promise God made to Abraham, has now become ours through Jesus, according to Galatians 3:14 (Amplified) which says, "To the end that through (their receiving) Christ Jesus the (blessing promised) to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might (all) receive (the realization of) the promise of the Holy Spirit."
Abraham was a natural man, who had enough faith in God's ability, that he not only believed for a son, but for a multitude of children. This impressed God so much, that He declared Abraham to be "righteous" and in "right standing with Himself," by faith. Because Abraham believed God to do something that only God could do, his faith brought forth Jesus and through Jesus, has has brought forth a new creation.
Abraham removed the limits of his natural mind and put faith in the fact that God could (and would) make good on His promise. Now we enter the promise in our day and age. How much of God's promise do we limit in our lives, today? Do we believe God can prosper us, like He did Abraham? Do we believe God will grant us long life here on earth? Do we limit God's promise of the Holy Spirit, by denying the Gifts of the Spirit, the Super-natural works of the Spirit, the language of the Spirit (speaking in other tongues) and the very Super-natural ability of God in our lives? We can only get the job done, on and in this earth, through faith in God's ability.
Man's ability without God, has brought forth somethings, but not always "God things." Do we dare take the limits off from God and allow Him to BE GOD, today? When the people ran out of provisions in the wilderness, they believed God either didn't care or couldn't provide for them. This displease and grieved God, to the point where He finally left them to their own devises.
The spies in Numbers 13 couldn't trust in God, more than the giants they could see. They refused to enter the Land God had given them. And, God called their limiting Him and His ability, an "evil report." We read in Proverbs 29:18 (Amplified), "Where there is no vision (no redemptive revelation of God) the people perish, but he who keeps the Law (of God, which includes that of man) blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he."
Until we can see into what our redemption encompasses, we will only allow God to what we believe, instead of what He wants done. Somehow, we have arrived at a place where we think God will simply do whatever He wants to do and that He doesn't need our faith. Or we believe God doesn't want us to have unlimited knowledge about His will and intent in earth. Why would God have us preach the Gospel, if men and faith weren't required to get people born-again? Why would God ask Mary's permission to bring forth Jesus? Why would God need men and women to remove their limits and just let Him BE GOD?
As Christians, we believe in God and confess that we believe in Jesus and this is how faith brings about the new creations. Why then does our faith in an Almighty God, stop at simply just being born-again? Why do we believe God to get us in Heaven, but then limit Him and His ability to work here on earth" I truly believe that what pleases the Lord more than anything, is our removing any limits we put on Him and believing Him to move in His Own will as He chooses. Isn't this what Jesus did? God's response concerning Jesus was, "This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased."
As new creatures in Christ, we have a greater depth of understanding and knowledge about the ability of God, granted to us. We had previously discussed things that displease God and one of those things is our limiting God from doing the things He desires in our lives. God is only to bring those things we can and will believe for to pass in our lives. We've been taught to limit the things we ask God for.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (Amplified) says, "Now to Him Who by (in consequence of) the (action of His) power that is at work within us, is able to (carry out His purpose and) do super abundantly, far over and above all that we (dare) ask or think (infinitely) beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams To Him, be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen (so be it)."
We have so limited out God and Father, by not believing Him to show Himself as He really is. We've stifled His power and ability, by being carnal in our thinking and limiting Him to our own realm, instead of allowing Him to lift us into His realm of Super-natural might. The healings and miracles (both now and in the old covenant) were only done by men and women who believed God to do what only He could do. We read about Abraham and his wife, who were both beyond their child bearing age, in Romans 4:18-22 (Amplified) which says, "For Abraham, human reason for hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the Father of many nations as he had been promised, 'So (numberless) shall your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the (utter) impotence of his own body which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or (when he considered) the bareness of Sara's (deadened) womb. No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly, question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave glory and praise to God. Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He promised." Verse 22 says, "This is why is faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God)."
Abraham was not even a born-again man, but he removed any limits from God and believed God to do "abundantly more than he could ask or think." God pronounced that Abraham's "faith made him in right standing with God Himself." Because Abraham didn't limit God, the promise God made to Abraham, has now become ours through Jesus, according to Galatians 3:14 (Amplified) which says, "To the end that through (their receiving) Christ Jesus the (blessing promised) to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might (all) receive (the realization of) the promise of the Holy Spirit."
Abraham was a natural man, who had enough faith in God's ability, that he not only believed for a son, but for a multitude of children. This impressed God so much, that He declared Abraham to be "righteous" and in "right standing with Himself," by faith. Because Abraham believed God to do something that only God could do, his faith brought forth Jesus and through Jesus, has has brought forth a new creation.
Abraham removed the limits of his natural mind and put faith in the fact that God could (and would) make good on His promise. Now we enter the promise in our day and age. How much of God's promise do we limit in our lives, today? Do we believe God can prosper us, like He did Abraham? Do we believe God will grant us long life here on earth? Do we limit God's promise of the Holy Spirit, by denying the Gifts of the Spirit, the Super-natural works of the Spirit, the language of the Spirit (speaking in other tongues) and the very Super-natural ability of God in our lives? We can only get the job done, on and in this earth, through faith in God's ability.
Man's ability without God, has brought forth somethings, but not always "God things." Do we dare take the limits off from God and allow Him to BE GOD, today? When the people ran out of provisions in the wilderness, they believed God either didn't care or couldn't provide for them. This displease and grieved God, to the point where He finally left them to their own devises.
The spies in Numbers 13 couldn't trust in God, more than the giants they could see. They refused to enter the Land God had given them. And, God called their limiting Him and His ability, an "evil report." We read in Proverbs 29:18 (Amplified), "Where there is no vision (no redemptive revelation of God) the people perish, but he who keeps the Law (of God, which includes that of man) blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he."
Until we can see into what our redemption encompasses, we will only allow God to what we believe, instead of what He wants done. Somehow, we have arrived at a place where we think God will simply do whatever He wants to do and that He doesn't need our faith. Or we believe God doesn't want us to have unlimited knowledge about His will and intent in earth. Why would God have us preach the Gospel, if men and faith weren't required to get people born-again? Why would God ask Mary's permission to bring forth Jesus? Why would God need men and women to remove their limits and just let Him BE GOD?
As Christians, we believe in God and confess that we believe in Jesus and this is how faith brings about the new creations. Why then does our faith in an Almighty God, stop at simply just being born-again? Why do we believe God to get us in Heaven, but then limit Him and His ability to work here on earth" I truly believe that what pleases the Lord more than anything, is our removing any limits we put on Him and believing Him to move in His Own will as He chooses. Isn't this what Jesus did? God's response concerning Jesus was, "This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased."
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Lesson 159 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (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. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
In fellowshiping with my Father, I try finding His will and His pleasure, for my life andnfor his family as a whole. We've heard so many things and have been taught so many different ways of walking with Him, but although most of the people teaching these things were well-meaning, they have placed us back under Law and not grace. We've been taught that grace means we can live any way we wish and it doesn't matter. Some have even taught how the Father had planned that only a certain amount of people can be saved and that God has chosen only these people. They believe that if you were not chosen, then you cannot be saved.
It's little wonder that faith has nearly disappeared from God's people and that many believers simply decide to "Hold on until the end (when the rapture comes or we go to Heaven)." Those believers who are determined to break out of the bondage of religious and traditional teachings and walk naturally super-naturally, are ridiculed. They are considered "weird or flaky" and other Christians believe that walking in the super-natural is something "strange." I've never considered Jesus as being "weird, flaky or strange." Jesus must have been a Man Who laughed and enjoyed life, if the little children were drawn to Him.
Paul received a prayer for the Church, from the Holy Spirit in Colossians 1:10 (Amplified). If this prayer was given for the Church of that time, then it is still relavent for today's Church and we can expect it to be answered when we pray it. Thus, it says, "That we may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing and by the knowledge of God (with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance and recognition)." Verse 11 goes on, "(We pray) that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory (to exercise every kind of endurance and patience, perseverance, and forbearance) with joy."
In order to find what pleases God, I must also find out what doesn't please Him. We are instructed to do some things, while instructed not do other things. I must go to the Word, in order to know what pleases God, because if I go to the people, then I will get thousands of different answers and not all of these answers have any bearing on my walk with God. The Church has made grace, faith and fellowship, to be Law. Jesus said that we "Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." If you cannot pass a gnat, then you shouldn't eat a camel. There are things that no one should eat.
As I fellowship with God and read His Word with the Holy Spirit guiding me, I find that the thing that seems to displease God most, is our not letting Him be God in our lives. We confess that "He is Lord" and that "we believe God," but it's difficult to stand on these things when we're being taught that "God doesn't do these things today." I found a sample of what I think displeases God most, in Psalm 78:37-42 (Amplified) which says, "For their hearts were not right or sincere with Him, neither were they faithful and steadfast to His covenant, But He, full of (merciful) compassion, forgave their iniquities and destroyed them not; yes, many a time He turned His anger away and did not stir up His wrath and indignation. For He (earnestly) remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that goes and does not return. How often they defied and rebelled against Him in the wilderness and greived Him in the desert And time and again they turned back and tempted God provoking and incensing the Holy One of Israel. They remembered not (seriously the miracles of the working of) His hand, nor the day He delivered them from the enemy."
The King James Version says in Verse 41, "That they (limited) God," while The Amplified Bible translated if as "They (tempted) God." We've all read and heard about our "wilderness eperience" and how the Israelites were "tested in the wilderness." While studying this, I believe that God was the One Who was tested and limited in the wilderness. God could never complete His will for them, while leading them out of bondage, because they would not believe Him. They limited Him and He couldn't complete His plan for them, after delivering them from bondage.
They "grieved God in His heart," by their murmuering and being short-sighted. God has plans for us, both as individuals and corporately for today's Church. More than anything, God is searching out those who will remove any limitations, that we have placed on Him. We've somehow believed, that only the "special ones" can have certain things. We have walked in unbelief, by asking for only small things or things we think (with human thinking) are of God. I can do natural things by myself. When I do not limit God by my unbelief and believe Him for the Super-natural things, that gives Him joy and glory.
Is the God of our new covenant, less than the God of the old covenant? Is He not THE SAME GOD? Is He not OUR FATHER? The Father is pleased when we release His ability and allow Him to be our God and our Father. Those people we read about in the Word, were not so much "special people", but they were especially people who didn't limit God.
David was special, when he removed the limitations from God and defeated Goliath in "The Name of the Lord." David didn't approach the Giant in strength, but in God's strength. The King and his entire army (that included David's brothers) had limited God, by their fear and unbelief. King Saul or any other person present, could have destroyed Goliath, if they had done what David did and had not limited God.
Any of the spies in Numbers 13 could have done what Joshua and Caleb dd, if they had removed their limits off what God could and did do, in "the Land of the Giants." Joshua and Caleb never planned to defeat the giants on their own, but they planned to do it only through God. Every one of these spies witnessed God's parting the Red Sea and providing manna for them daily. They had seen God take out Pharoah's entire army, with His unlimited ability and power.
The heroes of the Bible and through the ages, are people who did not limit the Holy One. In Isaiah 51:7-8 (Amplified) God says, "Listen to Me, you who know rightness and justice and right standing with God, the people in whose heart is My law and My instruction; fear not the reproach of men, neither be afraid nor dismayed at their revilings. For (in comparison with the Lord they are so weak that things as insignificant as) the moth shall eat them up as a garment and the worm shall eat them like wool. But My rightness and justice (and faithfull fulfilled promise) shall be forever, and My salvation to all generations."
In our walk with God, it's not so much who you are, as it is who you limit Him to be. We've become of one family and One Father, in our new creation walk. There is nothing in this covenatn of Promise, that is limited to any one person and not another. The difference is what you limit Him to do for you, in this new covenant. God is always searching for someone who will believe Him to do great and mighty things, here and now. You don't need to do the greats works, but only unlimit God to do them.
Moses didn't need to part the Red Sea, he was only required to "hold up the staff." It wasn't the staff that did the miracle, it was the unlimited faith of the man holding the staff. Moses removed all limits and allowed God to be God. By murmuring and complaining, the Israelites limited God every time something new came up. They continually ask, "Can God do this" or "Can God do that?" They asked, "Did God bring us here to die?" This was the "testing" that the wilderness was. God wasn't testing man, but man was testing God.
Hebrews 3:7-9 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, Today if you hear His Voice, Do not harden your hearts, as (happened) in the rebellion (of Isreael) and their provocation and embitterment (of Me) in the day of testing in the wilderness Where your forefathers tried (My patience and tested My forebearance) and found I stood their test. And they saw My works for forty years."
In fellowshiping with my Father, I try finding His will and His pleasure, for my life andnfor his family as a whole. We've heard so many things and have been taught so many different ways of walking with Him, but although most of the people teaching these things were well-meaning, they have placed us back under Law and not grace. We've been taught that grace means we can live any way we wish and it doesn't matter. Some have even taught how the Father had planned that only a certain amount of people can be saved and that God has chosen only these people. They believe that if you were not chosen, then you cannot be saved.
It's little wonder that faith has nearly disappeared from God's people and that many believers simply decide to "Hold on until the end (when the rapture comes or we go to Heaven)." Those believers who are determined to break out of the bondage of religious and traditional teachings and walk naturally super-naturally, are ridiculed. They are considered "weird or flaky" and other Christians believe that walking in the super-natural is something "strange." I've never considered Jesus as being "weird, flaky or strange." Jesus must have been a Man Who laughed and enjoyed life, if the little children were drawn to Him.
Paul received a prayer for the Church, from the Holy Spirit in Colossians 1:10 (Amplified). If this prayer was given for the Church of that time, then it is still relavent for today's Church and we can expect it to be answered when we pray it. Thus, it says, "That we may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing and by the knowledge of God (with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance and recognition)." Verse 11 goes on, "(We pray) that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory (to exercise every kind of endurance and patience, perseverance, and forbearance) with joy."
In order to find what pleases God, I must also find out what doesn't please Him. We are instructed to do some things, while instructed not do other things. I must go to the Word, in order to know what pleases God, because if I go to the people, then I will get thousands of different answers and not all of these answers have any bearing on my walk with God. The Church has made grace, faith and fellowship, to be Law. Jesus said that we "Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." If you cannot pass a gnat, then you shouldn't eat a camel. There are things that no one should eat.
As I fellowship with God and read His Word with the Holy Spirit guiding me, I find that the thing that seems to displease God most, is our not letting Him be God in our lives. We confess that "He is Lord" and that "we believe God," but it's difficult to stand on these things when we're being taught that "God doesn't do these things today." I found a sample of what I think displeases God most, in Psalm 78:37-42 (Amplified) which says, "For their hearts were not right or sincere with Him, neither were they faithful and steadfast to His covenant, But He, full of (merciful) compassion, forgave their iniquities and destroyed them not; yes, many a time He turned His anger away and did not stir up His wrath and indignation. For He (earnestly) remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that goes and does not return. How often they defied and rebelled against Him in the wilderness and greived Him in the desert And time and again they turned back and tempted God provoking and incensing the Holy One of Israel. They remembered not (seriously the miracles of the working of) His hand, nor the day He delivered them from the enemy."
The King James Version says in Verse 41, "That they (limited) God," while The Amplified Bible translated if as "They (tempted) God." We've all read and heard about our "wilderness eperience" and how the Israelites were "tested in the wilderness." While studying this, I believe that God was the One Who was tested and limited in the wilderness. God could never complete His will for them, while leading them out of bondage, because they would not believe Him. They limited Him and He couldn't complete His plan for them, after delivering them from bondage.
They "grieved God in His heart," by their murmuering and being short-sighted. God has plans for us, both as individuals and corporately for today's Church. More than anything, God is searching out those who will remove any limitations, that we have placed on Him. We've somehow believed, that only the "special ones" can have certain things. We have walked in unbelief, by asking for only small things or things we think (with human thinking) are of God. I can do natural things by myself. When I do not limit God by my unbelief and believe Him for the Super-natural things, that gives Him joy and glory.
Is the God of our new covenant, less than the God of the old covenant? Is He not THE SAME GOD? Is He not OUR FATHER? The Father is pleased when we release His ability and allow Him to be our God and our Father. Those people we read about in the Word, were not so much "special people", but they were especially people who didn't limit God.
David was special, when he removed the limitations from God and defeated Goliath in "The Name of the Lord." David didn't approach the Giant in strength, but in God's strength. The King and his entire army (that included David's brothers) had limited God, by their fear and unbelief. King Saul or any other person present, could have destroyed Goliath, if they had done what David did and had not limited God.
Any of the spies in Numbers 13 could have done what Joshua and Caleb dd, if they had removed their limits off what God could and did do, in "the Land of the Giants." Joshua and Caleb never planned to defeat the giants on their own, but they planned to do it only through God. Every one of these spies witnessed God's parting the Red Sea and providing manna for them daily. They had seen God take out Pharoah's entire army, with His unlimited ability and power.
The heroes of the Bible and through the ages, are people who did not limit the Holy One. In Isaiah 51:7-8 (Amplified) God says, "Listen to Me, you who know rightness and justice and right standing with God, the people in whose heart is My law and My instruction; fear not the reproach of men, neither be afraid nor dismayed at their revilings. For (in comparison with the Lord they are so weak that things as insignificant as) the moth shall eat them up as a garment and the worm shall eat them like wool. But My rightness and justice (and faithfull fulfilled promise) shall be forever, and My salvation to all generations."
In our walk with God, it's not so much who you are, as it is who you limit Him to be. We've become of one family and One Father, in our new creation walk. There is nothing in this covenatn of Promise, that is limited to any one person and not another. The difference is what you limit Him to do for you, in this new covenant. God is always searching for someone who will believe Him to do great and mighty things, here and now. You don't need to do the greats works, but only unlimit God to do them.
Moses didn't need to part the Red Sea, he was only required to "hold up the staff." It wasn't the staff that did the miracle, it was the unlimited faith of the man holding the staff. Moses removed all limits and allowed God to be God. By murmuring and complaining, the Israelites limited God every time something new came up. They continually ask, "Can God do this" or "Can God do that?" They asked, "Did God bring us here to die?" This was the "testing" that the wilderness was. God wasn't testing man, but man was testing God.
Hebrews 3:7-9 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, Today if you hear His Voice, Do not harden your hearts, as (happened) in the rebellion (of Isreael) and their provocation and embitterment (of Me) in the day of testing in the wilderness Where your forefathers tried (My patience and tested My forebearance) and found I stood their test. And they saw My works for forty years."
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Lesson 158 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (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. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
The new creation reality is that, we are no only called to believe, but we are equipped to believe as well. Faith isn't an option, but a necessity for the new creation people that Jesus brought forth. Faith was also a requirement of God, in the old covenant. God was able to do awesome things, for those who would simply trust Him and He was likewise limited in the lives of those who wouldn't trust Him.
God not only requires faith in the new covenant, but it is an absolute necessity in the new birth. Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified) says, "But without faith it is impossible t please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (out)."
Many in today's society look upon the belief of God's being able to do the super-natural as foolishness. Many have been mocked and ridiculed for believing God for the "impossible." Faith is required to become a new creation. We've been equipped with God's Word and His Spirit, We've been given all of His grace, in order to keep and guide us, but we've also been given His faith. Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "For it is by grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through (your) faith. And this (salvation) is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came not through your own striving) but it is a Gift of God."
The salvation that we enjoy today, came not by any other way, but by believing and trusting in the impossible works of God. God performed even a greater miracle than the Red Sea for this new creation son-ship relation. Our Father has less patience with (more than anything else), is limiting Him from performing His Own Word in our lives. The same pattern of grieving the Holy Spirit and our Father, is our limiting Him by our unbelief.
Everything we need to know about how our Father feels when we remove limits from Him to do what He says, is by studying Abraham. We read about Abraham's having faith and trusting God in Romans 4:3 (Amplified) which says, "For what does the scriptures say? Abraham believed in (trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living and right standing with God)." Trusting God for Super-natural right standing came as a credit and reward to Abraham and for us too, because of the Promise that came through Abraham's Seed (Jesus). We have this same blessing bestowed on us, by faith.
There have been times when we grieved God, by not believing Him to do the same things He did in Abraham's life, He will do in our lives. Both Abraham and his wife Sarah were past child bearing age and were in no position to have a son. It was no simple thing for Abraham to believe he would have a son. But, the impossible things are what our Heavenly Father does best. We can accomplish the possible things on our own and think we don;t need the impossible any longer. Romans 4:18-20 (Amplified) says, "(For Abraham, human reasoning for) hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So (numberless) shall your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the (utter) impotence of his own body, which was as good as deed because he was about a hundred years old, or (when he considered) the bareness of Sarah's (deadened) womb. No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God."
Abraham's "faith and trust" gave "glory to God." Our Heavenly Father doesn't only desire that we become born-again, but He wants us to believe Him to do the Super-natural (both through and for us) and He wants us to give Him glory in it. We seemingly believe (at least to some extent), that we are saved by faith, but when we begin speaking about the blessing of Abraham coming upon us, we fall back from our faith. Hebrews 3:7-10 (Amplified) tells us, "Therefore, as the (Holy Spirit says) Today, if you will hear His Voice Do not harden your hearts as (happened) in the rebellion (of Israel) and their provocation and embitterment (of Me) in the day of testing in the wilderness. Where your fathers tried (My patience) and tested (My forbearance) and found I stood their test, and they saw My works for forty years. And so I was (provoked and surely grieved, displeased) with that generation, and said, They always err and are led astray in their hearts."
We've always been taught that the wilderness is our "time of testing." When we reread the above scriptures, we discover that it was the people who were testing God, and not God Who was testing the people. In this present age, do we test God's willingness and ability to perform His desired will in our lives? God's will was to bless them in the wilderness, but they doubted Him. It wasn't that God failed to do as He said He would for them.
In this new creation, it's only man's idea of God that can stop His plan of blessing in our lives. It was never God's plan to leave us, like a deadbeat dad does. It was that we didn't believe God had the ability to work in our lives, that prevented the blessing. We have faith to receive salvation by believing in Jesus Christ, like the Israelites believed God to deliver them out of bondage, but then we stop trusting Him for our everyday needs, like they did. This is what "grieved the heart of God."
Those in today's Church, who believe for Manna from Heaven, or for writing on a rock, or for the parting of the Red Sea, or any other Super-natural thing that God did when He brought them out of Egypt, will run into the same unbelief that the Israelites had.
When we limit God in our lives, this displeases Him more than any other thing on the planet. God still wants to show Himself strong and glorified in (and through) His family. Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified) says, "(The purpose is) that through the Church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all it's infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the Heavenly sphere."
God wants to perform miracles and signs and wonders in our lives and the lives of others. This is His natural character and Life. He is Supernatural and works in the realm of His Spirit, in order to bring about the super-natural here. Perhaps, the greatest reason we do not see or experience the super-natural here, is that we "test and try" the patience of the Holy One. This is just like those in the wilderness asking, "Can the Lord supply meat and water here in the wilderness?" after God just parted the Red Sea for them to walk through on dry land.
Our cries have been, "Can the Lord supply healing, miracles and meet our needs here?" When did the God Who created the universe become so small in His ability, in the eyes of His children? When did we decide that all the things God did for those Moses led out of Egypt, have either passed away or were for another time? When did we learn to distrust God for His Promise and His blessing? We are a new creation, who were created to believe and walk in the Super-natural things of God on this earth!
The new creation reality is that, we are no only called to believe, but we are equipped to believe as well. Faith isn't an option, but a necessity for the new creation people that Jesus brought forth. Faith was also a requirement of God, in the old covenant. God was able to do awesome things, for those who would simply trust Him and He was likewise limited in the lives of those who wouldn't trust Him.
God not only requires faith in the new covenant, but it is an absolute necessity in the new birth. Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified) says, "But without faith it is impossible t please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (out)."
Many in today's society look upon the belief of God's being able to do the super-natural as foolishness. Many have been mocked and ridiculed for believing God for the "impossible." Faith is required to become a new creation. We've been equipped with God's Word and His Spirit, We've been given all of His grace, in order to keep and guide us, but we've also been given His faith. Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "For it is by grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through (your) faith. And this (salvation) is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came not through your own striving) but it is a Gift of God."
The salvation that we enjoy today, came not by any other way, but by believing and trusting in the impossible works of God. God performed even a greater miracle than the Red Sea for this new creation son-ship relation. Our Father has less patience with (more than anything else), is limiting Him from performing His Own Word in our lives. The same pattern of grieving the Holy Spirit and our Father, is our limiting Him by our unbelief.
Everything we need to know about how our Father feels when we remove limits from Him to do what He says, is by studying Abraham. We read about Abraham's having faith and trusting God in Romans 4:3 (Amplified) which says, "For what does the scriptures say? Abraham believed in (trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living and right standing with God)." Trusting God for Super-natural right standing came as a credit and reward to Abraham and for us too, because of the Promise that came through Abraham's Seed (Jesus). We have this same blessing bestowed on us, by faith.
There have been times when we grieved God, by not believing Him to do the same things He did in Abraham's life, He will do in our lives. Both Abraham and his wife Sarah were past child bearing age and were in no position to have a son. It was no simple thing for Abraham to believe he would have a son. But, the impossible things are what our Heavenly Father does best. We can accomplish the possible things on our own and think we don;t need the impossible any longer. Romans 4:18-20 (Amplified) says, "(For Abraham, human reasoning for) hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So (numberless) shall your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the (utter) impotence of his own body, which was as good as deed because he was about a hundred years old, or (when he considered) the bareness of Sarah's (deadened) womb. No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God."
Abraham's "faith and trust" gave "glory to God." Our Heavenly Father doesn't only desire that we become born-again, but He wants us to believe Him to do the Super-natural (both through and for us) and He wants us to give Him glory in it. We seemingly believe (at least to some extent), that we are saved by faith, but when we begin speaking about the blessing of Abraham coming upon us, we fall back from our faith. Hebrews 3:7-10 (Amplified) tells us, "Therefore, as the (Holy Spirit says) Today, if you will hear His Voice Do not harden your hearts as (happened) in the rebellion (of Israel) and their provocation and embitterment (of Me) in the day of testing in the wilderness. Where your fathers tried (My patience) and tested (My forbearance) and found I stood their test, and they saw My works for forty years. And so I was (provoked and surely grieved, displeased) with that generation, and said, They always err and are led astray in their hearts."
We've always been taught that the wilderness is our "time of testing." When we reread the above scriptures, we discover that it was the people who were testing God, and not God Who was testing the people. In this present age, do we test God's willingness and ability to perform His desired will in our lives? God's will was to bless them in the wilderness, but they doubted Him. It wasn't that God failed to do as He said He would for them.
In this new creation, it's only man's idea of God that can stop His plan of blessing in our lives. It was never God's plan to leave us, like a deadbeat dad does. It was that we didn't believe God had the ability to work in our lives, that prevented the blessing. We have faith to receive salvation by believing in Jesus Christ, like the Israelites believed God to deliver them out of bondage, but then we stop trusting Him for our everyday needs, like they did. This is what "grieved the heart of God."
Those in today's Church, who believe for Manna from Heaven, or for writing on a rock, or for the parting of the Red Sea, or any other Super-natural thing that God did when He brought them out of Egypt, will run into the same unbelief that the Israelites had.
When we limit God in our lives, this displeases Him more than any other thing on the planet. God still wants to show Himself strong and glorified in (and through) His family. Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified) says, "(The purpose is) that through the Church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all it's infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the Heavenly sphere."
God wants to perform miracles and signs and wonders in our lives and the lives of others. This is His natural character and Life. He is Supernatural and works in the realm of His Spirit, in order to bring about the super-natural here. Perhaps, the greatest reason we do not see or experience the super-natural here, is that we "test and try" the patience of the Holy One. This is just like those in the wilderness asking, "Can the Lord supply meat and water here in the wilderness?" after God just parted the Red Sea for them to walk through on dry land.
Our cries have been, "Can the Lord supply healing, miracles and meet our needs here?" When did the God Who created the universe become so small in His ability, in the eyes of His children? When did we decide that all the things God did for those Moses led out of Egypt, have either passed away or were for another time? When did we learn to distrust God for His Promise and His blessing? We are a new creation, who were created to believe and walk in the Super-natural things of God on this earth!
Monday, January 23, 2017
Lesson 157 The New Creation Don't forget my typist has broken glasses, so please forgive the goofs.
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. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
As the Holy Spirit guides and teaches us about our new identity, we discover that how the world describes our new identity, is not who we truly are. One can educate the mind by the teachings of the world, but it is not Spiritual Truth. We learn to read and write, to work at our jobs and to function in this world, but Jesus said that, "We are not of this world," in John 17:18 (Amplified) saying, "They are not of this world (worldly, belonging to the world), (Just) as I am not of this world."
We are truly in this world and we must know how to operate while we are here, but we are not limited to the way the world operates. Our Father intended that we enjoy this earth and the things He created, but His creation and the system of the world are two different things. The earth was to be a home for God's children and everything He made was for our enjoyment. The system that operates on the earth, is not the system that was to govern our lives or this planet.
The world and the earth are two separate realms, according to God's will. Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven" and this should be enough to say that the system in place now, isn't what the Father intended. When Jesus came to bring about the new creation, He intended that we (the Church) would bring about God's will on earth , by the Holy Spirit's being "blended" with our new living spirit.
We were no longer only guided by our carnal mind, but through the Holy Spirit and our new living spirit from within us. Man was still governed by a carnal mind, because his spirit was no longer able to become one with God, until the new creation. All the information we used originated from the world, which was under the control of an outlaw spirit (satan). We were only taught rituals, traditions and regulations that the fallen man (with his carnal nature) could understand. We had a desire to know God, but could only know about Him in the carnal mind and thinking.
The only way we had of truly "knowing" God, was by seeing Jesus as a Man (which was still a carnal thing) or by allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal Him to us by His Word. Even after being born-again, a man was still governed by a carnal mind that hadn't been renewed from within yet. Proverbs 20:27 (Amplified) tells us, "The spirit of man (that factor in human personality which proceeds immediately from God) is the Lamp of the Lord; searching all his inward parts." The man's spirit is where true understanding from God, enters man.
Even after being born-again, if that man doesn't receive the revelation of God's Word into his spirit, then that is still simply educating the carnal mind. We can read the Word and quote the Word and memorize scriptures, but without revelation from withing our spirit, it remains carnally minded. Without the revelation of the Holy Spirit being given in our spirit, we can still do all these things, but get no results, because it has only become carnal knowledge. Even man's carnal mind can be educated and say that "God's Word is true," but still not have revelation and faith that is alive and acting in the NOW realm. Recently, a preacher told a room full of politicians in the White House, that "They should pray for rain." Even though this group was meeting in a room inscribed with "In God We Trust," they laughed at the preacher and called him "foolish for praying."
The carnal mind has been deceived into believing what the world says, instead of believing what God says. Both might say the same thing, but they don't believe the same thing. I was watching the History Channel's "Secrets of the Bible," about the secrets of the Exodus. Many well-meaning,carnally thinking people tried showing how the miraculous journey could have happened. They believed that instead of the Red Sea, the Israelites crossed the Reed Sea, which had only ankle-deep waters for them to cross.
Without revelation from God, the carnal mind can only explain the scriptures, by man's reasonings. Although it might acknowledge God in speech, that carnal mind will never factor God into the Super-natural realm. The carnal mind might consent to supernatural things, but not believe them in reality. Man might talk about God, but usually do so in past or future tense and not in the present tense. The carnal mind cannot "explain" God and therefore, it cannot accept God.
We can read and learn about God, even after being born-again. We might have a head full of scripture and still have an empty life, because we lack the Truth of God's Word. We won't come right out and say, "We don't believe," but we convince ourselves (by carnal thinking) that "It's all for someday." This provides a way for us to believe, without having to believe at all. We reason out, with our carnal reasoning, that "someday it will be true."
Renewing the mind, doesn't just mean we must memorize scriptures. We must trust in what God has said, will work in our lives now, as well as someday. We've debated why the Word works for some, but not for all. It's not that God favors one person more than He favors another, but that one believed with his spirit and the other by his head or carnal mind. One man has his mind is renewed to understand the NOW things of God by faith and the other hasn't renewed his by by the Spirit. Even though he says he believes, his reasoning puts off the actions of the Word by the "Someday Syndrome."
This is something that is done on an individual basis and although it is available to all who will do it, some don't believe it's something important enough to spend much time developing in their lives. I've had many Christians approach me, saying that, "I don't think we need to know all that to get to Heaven." This is true, but we have been commissioned by our Heavenly Father, to not only "get to Heaven," but to present Heaven to the world. Our walk with God will mostly be for personal gain and not so much for aiding others, until we renew our minds to "think like God thinks."
When our head and hearts come together, in agreement to the Truth and Life of God's Word, it becomes reality and not just religion. Many will say, "I've heard all this before," but Jesus said that "hearing we don't hear and seeing we don't see." There is hearing filtered through a mind that still reasons and one that reveals. This is a personal boundary every person sets on his own. The Holy Spirit continually encourages us to be diligent in seeking the Lord with our whole heart, soul and spirit.
As the Holy Spirit guides and teaches us about our new identity, we discover that how the world describes our new identity, is not who we truly are. One can educate the mind by the teachings of the world, but it is not Spiritual Truth. We learn to read and write, to work at our jobs and to function in this world, but Jesus said that, "We are not of this world," in John 17:18 (Amplified) saying, "They are not of this world (worldly, belonging to the world), (Just) as I am not of this world."
We are truly in this world and we must know how to operate while we are here, but we are not limited to the way the world operates. Our Father intended that we enjoy this earth and the things He created, but His creation and the system of the world are two different things. The earth was to be a home for God's children and everything He made was for our enjoyment. The system that operates on the earth, is not the system that was to govern our lives or this planet.
The world and the earth are two separate realms, according to God's will. Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven" and this should be enough to say that the system in place now, isn't what the Father intended. When Jesus came to bring about the new creation, He intended that we (the Church) would bring about God's will on earth , by the Holy Spirit's being "blended" with our new living spirit.
We were no longer only guided by our carnal mind, but through the Holy Spirit and our new living spirit from within us. Man was still governed by a carnal mind, because his spirit was no longer able to become one with God, until the new creation. All the information we used originated from the world, which was under the control of an outlaw spirit (satan). We were only taught rituals, traditions and regulations that the fallen man (with his carnal nature) could understand. We had a desire to know God, but could only know about Him in the carnal mind and thinking.
The only way we had of truly "knowing" God, was by seeing Jesus as a Man (which was still a carnal thing) or by allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal Him to us by His Word. Even after being born-again, a man was still governed by a carnal mind that hadn't been renewed from within yet. Proverbs 20:27 (Amplified) tells us, "The spirit of man (that factor in human personality which proceeds immediately from God) is the Lamp of the Lord; searching all his inward parts." The man's spirit is where true understanding from God, enters man.
Even after being born-again, if that man doesn't receive the revelation of God's Word into his spirit, then that is still simply educating the carnal mind. We can read the Word and quote the Word and memorize scriptures, but without revelation from withing our spirit, it remains carnally minded. Without the revelation of the Holy Spirit being given in our spirit, we can still do all these things, but get no results, because it has only become carnal knowledge. Even man's carnal mind can be educated and say that "God's Word is true," but still not have revelation and faith that is alive and acting in the NOW realm. Recently, a preacher told a room full of politicians in the White House, that "They should pray for rain." Even though this group was meeting in a room inscribed with "In God We Trust," they laughed at the preacher and called him "foolish for praying."
The carnal mind has been deceived into believing what the world says, instead of believing what God says. Both might say the same thing, but they don't believe the same thing. I was watching the History Channel's "Secrets of the Bible," about the secrets of the Exodus. Many well-meaning,carnally thinking people tried showing how the miraculous journey could have happened. They believed that instead of the Red Sea, the Israelites crossed the Reed Sea, which had only ankle-deep waters for them to cross.
Without revelation from God, the carnal mind can only explain the scriptures, by man's reasonings. Although it might acknowledge God in speech, that carnal mind will never factor God into the Super-natural realm. The carnal mind might consent to supernatural things, but not believe them in reality. Man might talk about God, but usually do so in past or future tense and not in the present tense. The carnal mind cannot "explain" God and therefore, it cannot accept God.
We can read and learn about God, even after being born-again. We might have a head full of scripture and still have an empty life, because we lack the Truth of God's Word. We won't come right out and say, "We don't believe," but we convince ourselves (by carnal thinking) that "It's all for someday." This provides a way for us to believe, without having to believe at all. We reason out, with our carnal reasoning, that "someday it will be true."
Renewing the mind, doesn't just mean we must memorize scriptures. We must trust in what God has said, will work in our lives now, as well as someday. We've debated why the Word works for some, but not for all. It's not that God favors one person more than He favors another, but that one believed with his spirit and the other by his head or carnal mind. One man has his mind is renewed to understand the NOW things of God by faith and the other hasn't renewed his by by the Spirit. Even though he says he believes, his reasoning puts off the actions of the Word by the "Someday Syndrome."
This is something that is done on an individual basis and although it is available to all who will do it, some don't believe it's something important enough to spend much time developing in their lives. I've had many Christians approach me, saying that, "I don't think we need to know all that to get to Heaven." This is true, but we have been commissioned by our Heavenly Father, to not only "get to Heaven," but to present Heaven to the world. Our walk with God will mostly be for personal gain and not so much for aiding others, until we renew our minds to "think like God thinks."
When our head and hearts come together, in agreement to the Truth and Life of God's Word, it becomes reality and not just religion. Many will say, "I've heard all this before," but Jesus said that "hearing we don't hear and seeing we don't see." There is hearing filtered through a mind that still reasons and one that reveals. This is a personal boundary every person sets on his own. The Holy Spirit continually encourages us to be diligent in seeking the Lord with our whole heart, soul and spirit.
Friday, January 20, 2017
Lesson 155 The New Creation
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 spiritual and moral condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
The most difficult barrier in the Christian walk, is with the unrenewed mind. The mind is part of a man's soul, that as the flesh is, not subject to God's will, nor can it be. Romans 8:7 (Amplified) says, "(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." In the early part of his ministry, the Apostle Paul is found dealing with this very issue. In Romans 7:15-25 (Amplified), we see how man's education, goes against the revelation of God. The mind (soul) has been educated by the carnal traditions of his religious background. The mind (soul) has been training the body by carnal things, while the new creation spirit works by the Spirit and the revelations from Jesus.
In Galatians 1:11-12 (Amplified) Paul says, "For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man's gospel (a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard) For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it (but it came to me) through a (direct) revelation (given) by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."
Even though the Law could keep man in covenant with God, it didn't and couldn't renew the mind (soul), which was still dead because of sin. After Paul's encounter with Jesus, his spirit was now a new creation and he was made alive in Christ. His soul was now alive again, but it was still operating in the carnal things of the flesh. Because Paul's carnal mind (the unrenewed soul) still directed him in the new covenant, his soulish part of his spirit was still fighting his new creation man.
When Paul wanted to walk in the new covenant and revelation, his educated mind (or soul) continued to bring him back under the Law. The things we learned from the world, before being saved and born-again, were against the Truth of God's Word. The new creation man lives by revelation in his spirit, but the new creation man without a renewed mind (or carnal mind and soul), continues to struggle against Revelation and walks by education. One could attend a Bible school and be educated by the scriptures according to a certain denomination. Once he is educated by religion, his mind (soul) will fight against the revelation, even though you might not wish it to.
When revelation knowledge enters your new creation, his soul (mind) stands still in the past of condemnation or religious teaching and opposes the maturing in the new relationship with the Father. Even though Paul was taken directly into the Lord's Presence and shown this revelation, he still struggled with the rituals of the Law.
He says in 2Corinthians 12:1-5 (Amplified), "True, there is nothing to be gained by it, but (as I am obliged) to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-was caught up to the Third Heaven. 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 Of this same (man's experiences) I will boast, but of myself (personally) I will not boast, except as regards my infirmities (my weaknesses)."
The above scriptures demonstrate the direct contrast between a man who was educated and a man with revelation. Paul was educated under the Law and the traditions of the religious leaders. He loved God and the Law, by his education and upbringing. His zeal for God, even brought him to persecute the Church. He fought against the teachings of Jesus and the Revelation Jesus gave him, because of his love of the Law. When Jesus gave Paul the Revelation of the above scripture, it fought against the education he received under the Law. Paul's walk with Jesus was difficult to maintain at times, until Paul finally renewed his mind by the Mind of Christ, the Messiah.
After becoming born-again, the greatest Keys to the Kingdom, are a new mind and restored soul. You become a new creation when becoming born-again, but you're still an infant new creation. The telltale sign of an adult new creation, is that he or she will meditate on the Word, until the Holy Spirit reveals the Revelation Truth, instead of relying on the educated acceptance of the Word.
Anyone who is truly born-again, knows that God is a Super-natural God. And, every born-again believer knows that Jesus rose from the dead (if nothing else, this is known to us even by education). Like Paul, we do believe, but we don't always believe unto revelation by fellowship with the Father. Through education, we know that God can perform miracles, but we still might expect miracles to happen, because we lack revelation. We still have the historical church, but don't have a living Church. We believe by education (reading the Word) that miracles and healings occurred in the early Church. Without a renewed mind (restored soul) though, we fail to have the revelation for these things being "for the Church now."
This doesn't mean that we aren't truly born-again and are new creations, but it does indicate how we sometimes avoid revelation by not renewing our minds to have a spirit minded relationship with our Father.
The most difficult barrier in the Christian walk, is with the unrenewed mind. The mind is part of a man's soul, that as the flesh is, not subject to God's will, nor can it be. Romans 8:7 (Amplified) says, "(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." In the early part of his ministry, the Apostle Paul is found dealing with this very issue. In Romans 7:15-25 (Amplified), we see how man's education, goes against the revelation of God. The mind (soul) has been educated by the carnal traditions of his religious background. The mind (soul) has been training the body by carnal things, while the new creation spirit works by the Spirit and the revelations from Jesus.
In Galatians 1:11-12 (Amplified) Paul says, "For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man's gospel (a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard) For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it (but it came to me) through a (direct) revelation (given) by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."
Even though the Law could keep man in covenant with God, it didn't and couldn't renew the mind (soul), which was still dead because of sin. After Paul's encounter with Jesus, his spirit was now a new creation and he was made alive in Christ. His soul was now alive again, but it was still operating in the carnal things of the flesh. Because Paul's carnal mind (the unrenewed soul) still directed him in the new covenant, his soulish part of his spirit was still fighting his new creation man.
When Paul wanted to walk in the new covenant and revelation, his educated mind (or soul) continued to bring him back under the Law. The things we learned from the world, before being saved and born-again, were against the Truth of God's Word. The new creation man lives by revelation in his spirit, but the new creation man without a renewed mind (or carnal mind and soul), continues to struggle against Revelation and walks by education. One could attend a Bible school and be educated by the scriptures according to a certain denomination. Once he is educated by religion, his mind (soul) will fight against the revelation, even though you might not wish it to.
When revelation knowledge enters your new creation, his soul (mind) stands still in the past of condemnation or religious teaching and opposes the maturing in the new relationship with the Father. Even though Paul was taken directly into the Lord's Presence and shown this revelation, he still struggled with the rituals of the Law.
He says in 2Corinthians 12:1-5 (Amplified), "True, there is nothing to be gained by it, but (as I am obliged) to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-was caught up to the Third Heaven. 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 Of this same (man's experiences) I will boast, but of myself (personally) I will not boast, except as regards my infirmities (my weaknesses)."
The above scriptures demonstrate the direct contrast between a man who was educated and a man with revelation. Paul was educated under the Law and the traditions of the religious leaders. He loved God and the Law, by his education and upbringing. His zeal for God, even brought him to persecute the Church. He fought against the teachings of Jesus and the Revelation Jesus gave him, because of his love of the Law. When Jesus gave Paul the Revelation of the above scripture, it fought against the education he received under the Law. Paul's walk with Jesus was difficult to maintain at times, until Paul finally renewed his mind by the Mind of Christ, the Messiah.
After becoming born-again, the greatest Keys to the Kingdom, are a new mind and restored soul. You become a new creation when becoming born-again, but you're still an infant new creation. The telltale sign of an adult new creation, is that he or she will meditate on the Word, until the Holy Spirit reveals the Revelation Truth, instead of relying on the educated acceptance of the Word.
Anyone who is truly born-again, knows that God is a Super-natural God. And, every born-again believer knows that Jesus rose from the dead (if nothing else, this is known to us even by education). Like Paul, we do believe, but we don't always believe unto revelation by fellowship with the Father. Through education, we know that God can perform miracles, but we still might expect miracles to happen, because we lack revelation. We still have the historical church, but don't have a living Church. We believe by education (reading the Word) that miracles and healings occurred in the early Church. Without a renewed mind (restored soul) though, we fail to have the revelation for these things being "for the Church now."
This doesn't mean that we aren't truly born-again and are new creations, but it does indicate how we sometimes avoid revelation by not renewing our minds to have a spirit minded relationship with our Father.
Lesson 156 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (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. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
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, eternal 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 the things that are on the earth."
We have missed out on so many things about our new life in Jesus, because we have understood little about spiritual death. Man is a spirit (whether saved or unsaved) and is an eternal being. A spirit being will never die, in the sense that they no longer exist. Spiritual death entered in, when Adam transgressed and was separated from God-Who is Life. Adam's spirit didn't cease to be, but could no longer be in communication with his Father. The Word calls this, "spiritual death."
We were once dead in trespass and sin and didn't have fellowship with God in our spirit man. Our spirit man was active, but not to God or Life. The soul is part of our spirit man, but it can only communicate the world's wisdom to our carnal man. Therefore, our mind was at enmity against God, because it had no other source in which to gain wisdom or knowledge. Satan is the god of this world, so the only things our spirit and soul could feed the brain and body, was only unbelief and death.
Colossians 3:1-2 (Amplified) tells us that, "We have been raised with Christ to a new life" and this new life is the new creation being, we've become. Notice how it states that "We have been raised" with Christ. Most of Christianity still looks for the resurrection from the dead. The natural body is still awaiting this resurrection, but our spirit man has already received the new creation experience.
The renewing of our minds (our soulish tie to our spirit) means that we can now receive the true wisdom of God, from the Holy Spirit into our new creation spirit. Until now, the only thing our flesh understood about living, came through the knowledge our mind fed into it. It was trained to believe the lies that the world fed into it from a dead spirit.
The training of our flesh and soul, came through the teaching of a dead spirit and from an outlaw spirit (satan), who is in direct opposition to God. Paul says in Romans 6:19 (Amplified), I am speaking to you in familiar human terms because of your natural limitations. For as you yielded your bodily members (and faculties) as servants to impurities and ever increasing lawlessness, so now yield your bodily members (and faculties) once for all as servants to righteousness (right believing and doing) (Which leads) to sanctification."
Through our resurrection and new creation with Jesus, our soul has once again become in contact and entwined in the Living Spirit of God Himself. We can now receive and feed into our fleshly body, the correct way to function and operate. That body won't even get out of body, unless we tell it too. It will only do, what it hears. And, it only heard from our dead spirit, into a separated soul to communicate to the body, the servitude of sin. We try blaming our body for our shortcomings, but it is only a servant. We have to teach it how to function in the righteousness, in which we have become in the new creation.
For centuries, our natural brain has been programmed by the world and our own dead spirit. Our body only does the things we've been teaching it to do. We've been feeding our spirit, soul and body from the knowledge derived from a fallen spirit and a fallen world. This is why the mind must now be renewed. Now that our spirit is alive again through the new creation, we can once again feed the true date (that comes from the Living Word and the Holy Spirit) into our soul (mind, will and emotions).
Jesus told His followers in John 6:63 (Amplified) that, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver) the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
He said that "the flesh conveys no benefit whatever." Your body has nothing to do with furthering your walk with God, unless you train it to do so. It will automatically repeat the things it learned and did before, if we don't renew our mind and instruct our brain to do differently. I used to smoke years ago and spent many hours and days teaching my body how to receive smoke into my lungs. Initially, it coughed, choked, and rejected the smoke, but after awhile, I successfully trained my lungs to accept and look forward to the smoke. My body wanted to continue smoking cigarettes and cigars, even after I was born-again and didn't want to smoke anymore. I needed to use God's Word and renew my mind (and train my body) to reject this habit and serve righteousness instead.
Even when we read and heard God's Word, we heard through a baby spirit and an unrenewed soul or mind. Before knowing Jesus, our mind led our lives from what it had been previously taught from the world. Our carnal mind (with all its training from the world) automatically rejects teachings about Super-natural things in the Word, because it only understands the worldly wisdom it had learned until now.
When we read or hear God's Word without the Spirit to reveal it to us, we are like those Jesus speaks about in the "Parable of the Sower." In Mark 4:14-25 (Amplified), Jesus says that the "Seed" is the Word of God," and we know that Seed is an "incorruptible seed." 1Peter 1:25 (Amplified) says, "But the Word of the Lord (Divine instruction, the Gospel) endues forever, and this Word is the Good News which was preached to you." This Parable describes four different types of soil, but only one kind of seed. The fowl ate the same seed that brought forth the "hundred fold return." The difference is found in the "hearer." Jesus said in Verses 23-25 that, "If any man has ears to hear let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend And He said to them, 'Be careful what you are hearing The measure (of thought and study) you give (to the Truth you hear) will be the measure (of virtue and knowledge) that comes back to you-and more (besides) will be given to you who hear. For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has nothing; Even what he has will be taken away (by force)."
So, the one who has his mind renewed by the Word and the Holy Spirit, will increase in revelation and wisdom. To the one who hasn't renewed his mind, the things he learned from the world, will override that revelation and he won't just reject the Word, but will fight against the Truth. His doctrine won't even hold him any longer.
We've seen those who refuse to move away from something they learned when they first got saved. It's wonderful they believed unto salvation, but we are supposed to grow from glory to glory, in our walk with the Father. I'm not saying we should "give up" what we first learned after being saved, but we must continue in revelation knowledge. In Mark 4:15 (Amplified) Jesus said, "The sower sows the Word. The ones along the path are those who have the Word sown (in their hearts) but when they hear, satan comes at once and (by force) takes away the Message which is sown in them."
The "force" satan uses is getting the Word out of you. When you receive and begin operating in who and what we've become in Christ, then satan has no more hold on you. He must get the Word out of you, before you renew the old way of thinking and begin believing once again, in the Super-natural things of God. Once you begin walking in the super-natural realm, even the unsaved can see God in this natural realm. That's when you become dangerous to the kingdom of darkness.
We must now learn to renew our minds from our new creation spirit and not from the outside world. Satan rules the natural world from a dead spirit, through deceit and lies. He has no defense again the Word and the Living Spirit realm, so he tries keeping us in the natural realm. When a child of God begins operating in the Spirit, he is truly free from sin and death.
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, eternal 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 the things that are on the earth."
We have missed out on so many things about our new life in Jesus, because we have understood little about spiritual death. Man is a spirit (whether saved or unsaved) and is an eternal being. A spirit being will never die, in the sense that they no longer exist. Spiritual death entered in, when Adam transgressed and was separated from God-Who is Life. Adam's spirit didn't cease to be, but could no longer be in communication with his Father. The Word calls this, "spiritual death."
We were once dead in trespass and sin and didn't have fellowship with God in our spirit man. Our spirit man was active, but not to God or Life. The soul is part of our spirit man, but it can only communicate the world's wisdom to our carnal man. Therefore, our mind was at enmity against God, because it had no other source in which to gain wisdom or knowledge. Satan is the god of this world, so the only things our spirit and soul could feed the brain and body, was only unbelief and death.
Colossians 3:1-2 (Amplified) tells us that, "We have been raised with Christ to a new life" and this new life is the new creation being, we've become. Notice how it states that "We have been raised" with Christ. Most of Christianity still looks for the resurrection from the dead. The natural body is still awaiting this resurrection, but our spirit man has already received the new creation experience.
The renewing of our minds (our soulish tie to our spirit) means that we can now receive the true wisdom of God, from the Holy Spirit into our new creation spirit. Until now, the only thing our flesh understood about living, came through the knowledge our mind fed into it. It was trained to believe the lies that the world fed into it from a dead spirit.
The training of our flesh and soul, came through the teaching of a dead spirit and from an outlaw spirit (satan), who is in direct opposition to God. Paul says in Romans 6:19 (Amplified), I am speaking to you in familiar human terms because of your natural limitations. For as you yielded your bodily members (and faculties) as servants to impurities and ever increasing lawlessness, so now yield your bodily members (and faculties) once for all as servants to righteousness (right believing and doing) (Which leads) to sanctification."
Through our resurrection and new creation with Jesus, our soul has once again become in contact and entwined in the Living Spirit of God Himself. We can now receive and feed into our fleshly body, the correct way to function and operate. That body won't even get out of body, unless we tell it too. It will only do, what it hears. And, it only heard from our dead spirit, into a separated soul to communicate to the body, the servitude of sin. We try blaming our body for our shortcomings, but it is only a servant. We have to teach it how to function in the righteousness, in which we have become in the new creation.
For centuries, our natural brain has been programmed by the world and our own dead spirit. Our body only does the things we've been teaching it to do. We've been feeding our spirit, soul and body from the knowledge derived from a fallen spirit and a fallen world. This is why the mind must now be renewed. Now that our spirit is alive again through the new creation, we can once again feed the true date (that comes from the Living Word and the Holy Spirit) into our soul (mind, will and emotions).
Jesus told His followers in John 6:63 (Amplified) that, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver) the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
He said that "the flesh conveys no benefit whatever." Your body has nothing to do with furthering your walk with God, unless you train it to do so. It will automatically repeat the things it learned and did before, if we don't renew our mind and instruct our brain to do differently. I used to smoke years ago and spent many hours and days teaching my body how to receive smoke into my lungs. Initially, it coughed, choked, and rejected the smoke, but after awhile, I successfully trained my lungs to accept and look forward to the smoke. My body wanted to continue smoking cigarettes and cigars, even after I was born-again and didn't want to smoke anymore. I needed to use God's Word and renew my mind (and train my body) to reject this habit and serve righteousness instead.
Even when we read and heard God's Word, we heard through a baby spirit and an unrenewed soul or mind. Before knowing Jesus, our mind led our lives from what it had been previously taught from the world. Our carnal mind (with all its training from the world) automatically rejects teachings about Super-natural things in the Word, because it only understands the worldly wisdom it had learned until now.
When we read or hear God's Word without the Spirit to reveal it to us, we are like those Jesus speaks about in the "Parable of the Sower." In Mark 4:14-25 (Amplified), Jesus says that the "Seed" is the Word of God," and we know that Seed is an "incorruptible seed." 1Peter 1:25 (Amplified) says, "But the Word of the Lord (Divine instruction, the Gospel) endues forever, and this Word is the Good News which was preached to you." This Parable describes four different types of soil, but only one kind of seed. The fowl ate the same seed that brought forth the "hundred fold return." The difference is found in the "hearer." Jesus said in Verses 23-25 that, "If any man has ears to hear let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend And He said to them, 'Be careful what you are hearing The measure (of thought and study) you give (to the Truth you hear) will be the measure (of virtue and knowledge) that comes back to you-and more (besides) will be given to you who hear. For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has nothing; Even what he has will be taken away (by force)."
So, the one who has his mind renewed by the Word and the Holy Spirit, will increase in revelation and wisdom. To the one who hasn't renewed his mind, the things he learned from the world, will override that revelation and he won't just reject the Word, but will fight against the Truth. His doctrine won't even hold him any longer.
We've seen those who refuse to move away from something they learned when they first got saved. It's wonderful they believed unto salvation, but we are supposed to grow from glory to glory, in our walk with the Father. I'm not saying we should "give up" what we first learned after being saved, but we must continue in revelation knowledge. In Mark 4:15 (Amplified) Jesus said, "The sower sows the Word. The ones along the path are those who have the Word sown (in their hearts) but when they hear, satan comes at once and (by force) takes away the Message which is sown in them."
The "force" satan uses is getting the Word out of you. When you receive and begin operating in who and what we've become in Christ, then satan has no more hold on you. He must get the Word out of you, before you renew the old way of thinking and begin believing once again, in the Super-natural things of God. Once you begin walking in the super-natural realm, even the unsaved can see God in this natural realm. That's when you become dangerous to the kingdom of darkness.
We must now learn to renew our minds from our new creation spirit and not from the outside world. Satan rules the natural world from a dead spirit, through deceit and lies. He has no defense again the Word and the Living Spirit realm, so he tries keeping us in the natural realm. When a child of God begins operating in the Spirit, he is truly free from sin and death.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Lesson 154 The New Creation My typist broke her glasses, so please excuse any goofs. Thanks.
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. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
Genesis 5:1-2 (Amplified) says, "This is the book (the written record of the history) of the offspring of Adam. When God created man, He made him in the Likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them and name them (both) Adam (man) at the timethey were created."
John 4:24 (Amplified) says, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spiritual and in truth (reality)."
When Adam was created, he was created first of all a spirit, in the Likeness of God Himself. And the part of this new creation that is like the Father, is our spirit. Our body is nothing more than a house for our spirit to live in this earth. In order to have contact with natural things, we needed a natural body. This house was only to be a covering and the way of operating in natural things. Our soul, which is a part of the spirit, is much like the natural organs that make up the natural body. Our mind (not our brain) was to be the control center that would regulate and direct the natural brain of our flesh. Our mind, will and emotions are part of our soul, that operates the body.
It's imperative that we understand these principals and that's why I regularly repeat them. When we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we were born-again and became a new creation. The first Adam was made a spirit like God and wasn't one with God, but a spirit like God. He was an individual spirit, separate from God, but fully in contact with God. He could see and hear in the spirit, even before he had a natural body. Adam wasn't dependent upon his body for anything, at his creation. Adam only received his five physical senses, after he had a body or house for his spirit to live in, in the natural realm. These five senses were developed by his soulish parts.
As God directed him in wisdom and taught him how to live, Adam developed his body in order to operate and function in the natural realm. God taught Adam, just like we would teach our own children. Adam learned and trained his physical body, by touching, smelling, tasting, seeing and hearing. In order to do this, Adam needed to transmit spiritual information from his spirit and soul, to the physical components of his natural body. He was feeding the very wisdom of God (Spiritual Truth) into a natural brain and storing up data, in order to function in the natural realm.
Adam brought the wisdom of the Spirit, into the mind of the soul and developed the motor functions of the body, from his brain. That sounds wild, doesn't it? The body could walk, talk, feel, smell, hear and function in the natural, from the super-natural. As the mind of the spirit taught the brain of the body, all three realms of natural, super-natural man, operated fully from his spirit and his spirit operated from the Spirit of God. This is what it meant to be "spiritually minded and not carnally minded" at the time. Some make it sound as though, God created man that morning and by noon, Adam had fallen. We have no record of how long Adam and Even lived on earth, before transgressing and falling.
Science tells us that the earth is millions of years old. It might be that it's only been six thousand years since the fall of Adam, but the earth is much older than that. I believe that God worked together with Adam and Eve as a family, for millions of earthly years, before the separation in the spirit. I believe that God taught him how to live in both of the realms he was to occupy by his spirit. Adam was supposed to do like Jesus did in His earthly ministry. He was to walk naturally supernatural. Adam's soul and body were to be led by his spirit and his spirit was to "Only do what he saw his Father do," just like Jesus said.
Adam lived (in his natural state) for 930 years, according to Genesis 5:5, after his transgression and separation from the Spirit realm of Life in God.He didn't know how to "die," because all he had ever known was life and spirit. After losing contact from his Father and yielded himself over to another god (satan), Adam had to learn how to live by only his senses. He couldn't depend on his spirit to direct him any longer, because he only had the lies of the enemy and his carnal mind was dead to Spiritual Truth in God. Adam's soul was now leading his body and could only relay the things it knew of the natural realm to his body. Adam eventually walked more and more, in the carnal (fleshly) realm. There was no longer revelation knowledge flowing through and from his spirit into his mind, but only what he could accomplish by his own efforts.
After the fall, things didn't grow and replenish like they did before and Adam needed to till the land, to make it produce. God's blessing no longer worked through and for him, only the curse or rule of Adam's new god worked . Eventually, the blessing God pronounced on Adam, began to grow more and more distant. Adam was left to depend only upon his own devises, in order to live and eat and provide for Even and their family.
The reality of this curse or lack of blessing, began unfolding before Adam's eyes and his once strong, sound and well body, began growing weary and became sickly. Things Adam once took for granted, now became out of his reach. We grew up in the realm that Adam was just now beginning to witness. It was natural for us to have to work and labor for provisions and shelter and life, but it hadn't been this way before, for Adam. The fullness of his sin, began to set in for Adam, almost immediately. The longer he lived on earth, the more Adam witnessed the results of his foolish, costly mistake. The Word tells us that, "The woman was deceived." 1Timothy 2:14 (Amplified) though, says, "And it was not Adam who was deceived, but (the) woman who was deceived and deluded and fell into transgression."
Although he wasn't deceived by the same temptation that moved Eve, Adam tried redeeming his wife by his own efforts and he traded everything over for her. The very truth of what he did, wasn't apparent to Adam when he did it, but became more and more apparent to him daily. Even though Adam wasn't deceived like Eve was, his spiritual eyes were blinded to the depths of his transgression and its fullness.
As the new creation, our minds must be renewed once again by God's Word. Even though our spirit is created new and even though the Holy Spirit is made one with our new spirit, if we don't renew the mind (the soul) with the Word of God, then our soul (which is the rudder that guides our walk) will still lead us in the only thing it knows, which is a life without God. Everything about this new creation man, is now designed to operate from the inside out. Our salvation, our healing, our strength, our joy, our wisdom, our faith and everything, has now bee turned back to the new creation by the Spirit.
Because of an unrenewed mind (soul), our natural man (flesh body) can only operate by the carnality, that our lost soul had taught it. Because what our brain had been taught to accept from our canal mind it receives this information as truth and refuses to operate in the spirit and real truth. When your carnal being begins to hear (by natural ears) the Super-natural things of God, it simply rejects these things as foolishness. Renewing the mind of the new creation being, is the most important task the new creation man must accept.
When we are born-again and become new creations, our spirit becomes a new creature, our body is declared "dead with Christ on the cross," only the soul is left to deal with. Even when a new creation man hears the Word, that Word is still filtered through a carnal mind and unrenewed soul. The natural man, our body or house of flesh can only do whatever the soul (the mind) directs it to do. When the mind (soul) is left in it s fallen or deadened state, it cannot stop the body of flesh from walking in the things it knows. Our body must be taught or trained by the Word, which comes into our spirit, directed to our soul, and placed in dominion over the flesh.
Everything the Father has for His new creation family, comes once again, from the inside-out. It must come into our spirit, become the the Shepherd of our soul and keep our body as a living sacrifice, by Truth in the Spirit of God.
Genesis 5:1-2 (Amplified) says, "This is the book (the written record of the history) of the offspring of Adam. When God created man, He made him in the Likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them and name them (both) Adam (man) at the timethey were created."
John 4:24 (Amplified) says, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spiritual and in truth (reality)."
When Adam was created, he was created first of all a spirit, in the Likeness of God Himself. And the part of this new creation that is like the Father, is our spirit. Our body is nothing more than a house for our spirit to live in this earth. In order to have contact with natural things, we needed a natural body. This house was only to be a covering and the way of operating in natural things. Our soul, which is a part of the spirit, is much like the natural organs that make up the natural body. Our mind (not our brain) was to be the control center that would regulate and direct the natural brain of our flesh. Our mind, will and emotions are part of our soul, that operates the body.
It's imperative that we understand these principals and that's why I regularly repeat them. When we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we were born-again and became a new creation. The first Adam was made a spirit like God and wasn't one with God, but a spirit like God. He was an individual spirit, separate from God, but fully in contact with God. He could see and hear in the spirit, even before he had a natural body. Adam wasn't dependent upon his body for anything, at his creation. Adam only received his five physical senses, after he had a body or house for his spirit to live in, in the natural realm. These five senses were developed by his soulish parts.
As God directed him in wisdom and taught him how to live, Adam developed his body in order to operate and function in the natural realm. God taught Adam, just like we would teach our own children. Adam learned and trained his physical body, by touching, smelling, tasting, seeing and hearing. In order to do this, Adam needed to transmit spiritual information from his spirit and soul, to the physical components of his natural body. He was feeding the very wisdom of God (Spiritual Truth) into a natural brain and storing up data, in order to function in the natural realm.
Adam brought the wisdom of the Spirit, into the mind of the soul and developed the motor functions of the body, from his brain. That sounds wild, doesn't it? The body could walk, talk, feel, smell, hear and function in the natural, from the super-natural. As the mind of the spirit taught the brain of the body, all three realms of natural, super-natural man, operated fully from his spirit and his spirit operated from the Spirit of God. This is what it meant to be "spiritually minded and not carnally minded" at the time. Some make it sound as though, God created man that morning and by noon, Adam had fallen. We have no record of how long Adam and Even lived on earth, before transgressing and falling.
Science tells us that the earth is millions of years old. It might be that it's only been six thousand years since the fall of Adam, but the earth is much older than that. I believe that God worked together with Adam and Eve as a family, for millions of earthly years, before the separation in the spirit. I believe that God taught him how to live in both of the realms he was to occupy by his spirit. Adam was supposed to do like Jesus did in His earthly ministry. He was to walk naturally supernatural. Adam's soul and body were to be led by his spirit and his spirit was to "Only do what he saw his Father do," just like Jesus said.
Adam lived (in his natural state) for 930 years, according to Genesis 5:5, after his transgression and separation from the Spirit realm of Life in God.He didn't know how to "die," because all he had ever known was life and spirit. After losing contact from his Father and yielded himself over to another god (satan), Adam had to learn how to live by only his senses. He couldn't depend on his spirit to direct him any longer, because he only had the lies of the enemy and his carnal mind was dead to Spiritual Truth in God. Adam's soul was now leading his body and could only relay the things it knew of the natural realm to his body. Adam eventually walked more and more, in the carnal (fleshly) realm. There was no longer revelation knowledge flowing through and from his spirit into his mind, but only what he could accomplish by his own efforts.
After the fall, things didn't grow and replenish like they did before and Adam needed to till the land, to make it produce. God's blessing no longer worked through and for him, only the curse or rule of Adam's new god worked . Eventually, the blessing God pronounced on Adam, began to grow more and more distant. Adam was left to depend only upon his own devises, in order to live and eat and provide for Even and their family.
The reality of this curse or lack of blessing, began unfolding before Adam's eyes and his once strong, sound and well body, began growing weary and became sickly. Things Adam once took for granted, now became out of his reach. We grew up in the realm that Adam was just now beginning to witness. It was natural for us to have to work and labor for provisions and shelter and life, but it hadn't been this way before, for Adam. The fullness of his sin, began to set in for Adam, almost immediately. The longer he lived on earth, the more Adam witnessed the results of his foolish, costly mistake. The Word tells us that, "The woman was deceived." 1Timothy 2:14 (Amplified) though, says, "And it was not Adam who was deceived, but (the) woman who was deceived and deluded and fell into transgression."
Although he wasn't deceived by the same temptation that moved Eve, Adam tried redeeming his wife by his own efforts and he traded everything over for her. The very truth of what he did, wasn't apparent to Adam when he did it, but became more and more apparent to him daily. Even though Adam wasn't deceived like Eve was, his spiritual eyes were blinded to the depths of his transgression and its fullness.
As the new creation, our minds must be renewed once again by God's Word. Even though our spirit is created new and even though the Holy Spirit is made one with our new spirit, if we don't renew the mind (the soul) with the Word of God, then our soul (which is the rudder that guides our walk) will still lead us in the only thing it knows, which is a life without God. Everything about this new creation man, is now designed to operate from the inside out. Our salvation, our healing, our strength, our joy, our wisdom, our faith and everything, has now bee turned back to the new creation by the Spirit.
Because of an unrenewed mind (soul), our natural man (flesh body) can only operate by the carnality, that our lost soul had taught it. Because what our brain had been taught to accept from our canal mind it receives this information as truth and refuses to operate in the spirit and real truth. When your carnal being begins to hear (by natural ears) the Super-natural things of God, it simply rejects these things as foolishness. Renewing the mind of the new creation being, is the most important task the new creation man must accept.
When we are born-again and become new creations, our spirit becomes a new creature, our body is declared "dead with Christ on the cross," only the soul is left to deal with. Even when a new creation man hears the Word, that Word is still filtered through a carnal mind and unrenewed soul. The natural man, our body or house of flesh can only do whatever the soul (the mind) directs it to do. When the mind (soul) is left in it s fallen or deadened state, it cannot stop the body of flesh from walking in the things it knows. Our body must be taught or trained by the Word, which comes into our spirit, directed to our soul, and placed in dominion over the flesh.
Everything the Father has for His new creation family, comes once again, from the inside-out. It must come into our spirit, become the the Shepherd of our soul and keep our body as a living sacrifice, by Truth in the Spirit of God.
Friday, January 13, 2017
Lesson 153 The New Creation
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. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
While delving into who the new creation is, we've learned that the new creation is not for "When we get to Heaven," but for the here and now. The new creation man is already, one who is "born from on High," according to Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) which says, "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)."
Living in the Kingdom and the Kingdom authority, are virtues granted to the new creation people. This grace came upon us, when we were born-again. A baby has no idea of who they are or what they are, until they grow up or mature in their identity. As new creation people, we have very little insight and understanding about who we truly are. Many people remain under the bondage of the old covenant, because they don't understand the new covenant.
The new covenant is more than just a working relationship with God, but is a family relationship with our Heavenly Father. The difference between these two relationship, is what has held down God's new creation family. We get a much better look and understanding of who we are in Christ, in Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified) which says, "For we are God's (Own) handiwork (His workmanship) recreated in Christ Jesus, (born anew) that we may do those good works which God predestinated (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time), that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live)."
The Father declared He would make man "in His Image," making us His family. God gave Life to His children and made preparation for them in His Own will and His Love. The Words from the above scripture, "living the good Life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live" are exactly what the Father planned in the very beginning, when He said that, "Everything was good and it was very good."
God made a paradise for His family to abide forever, in the Garden of Eden. His family was to live on earth with Him as our Father and have our every need met, by His Love for us. We were meant to walk with Him, talk with Him, learn from Him and have all our needs met by Him. God would teach us, by His Holy Spirit, to "Do the good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live)," like the above scripture says.
This was and is still today, His will for His children. A "will" is something that is even today, hard to break. God's will is unbreakable, because "He changes not." Jesus said that, "He came to do His Father's will" and we should know what that will is. Galatians 3:14-15 (Amplified) says, "To the end that through (their receiving) Christ Jesus, the blessing (promised) to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles so that we through faith might (all) receive (the realization of) the promise of the Holy Spirit To speak in terms of human relations, brethren, (If) even a man makes a last will and testament (a merely human covenant) no one sets it aside or makes it void or adds to it when once it has been drawn up and signed (ratified, confirmed)."
We need to read God's Last Will and Testament and find out what it states, so that we can perform His will. He has arranged and ratified His will, by the Blood of Jesus. Hebrews 9:16-18 (Amplified) says, "For where there is a (last) will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a will and testament is valid and takes effect only at death, since it has no force or legal power as long as the one who made it is alive. So even the (old) first covenant (God's will) was not inaugurated and ratified and put in force without the shedding of Blood."
Why would it be the New Testament or the new and last will, if it wasn't His Last Will and Testament? In order to know what God's will is, we must read the will and know "to whom that will" is written. If you don't know "who you are," then how would you ever know if this Last Will includes you? Romans 8:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "The Spirit Himself (thus) testifies together with our own spirit, (assuring us) that we are (His) children, then we are (His) heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, (sharing His inheritance with Him)."
The above Verse ends by saying, "Only we must share His suffering if we are to share His Glory." In order to know what kind of "suffering" Christ endured, we must also learn to read His will, without coming to some "theological idea' about what His will is. God's will is what He said. We've invented all sorts of weird things about the will of God, most of them are simple foolishness and man's way of determining spiritual things. Even in this realm of human reasoning, a man can write a will, sign it in the presence of a witness and that will is legal and binding. No one decides "Billy can have this" and "Suzie can have that," this is left to the will of the Testator.
When God's will was drawn up, He decided who would get what. If we are "joint heirs with Christ," then you received what Jesus received, because this is the way the will was written. Even when the virgin Mary received the Word or "will of God," it was already a written will and was the Last Will and Testament of God. In Genesis 3:15 (Amplified) God says, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring. He will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and you will lie in wait and bruis His heel."
God began laying out the terns of His Last Will and Testament, at this moment. His will isn't hard to know or determine, if we would only read this will with as much integrity we would give our earthly father's will. How can we believe the will of a mere earthly father and disregard our Heavenly Father's will for His children?
I hear how some heirs of God, "Got things that others didn't" and are jealous over "Who got what?" I've even heard some heirs say, "That should have been mine, instead of so-and-so" or "I deserved that more than they did." I've even seen others who believe that the "Testator is unfair." Truthfully, no one "deserves" it and it's not our place to decide who should or shouldn't be an heir. The things left to us in the will, weren't ours to leave. They belonged to the One Who made out the will. It was His and it was up to Him, to give it as He wills.
If I left my earthly belongings to someone in a will, then I left them to those I wished to receive them, because that is my will. God did the very same things. He gave to "the Jew and Gentile alike." That was His will and He decided to whom He would leave His inheritance to. God made us "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ," and said that "His will is to be "Done on earth as it is in Heaven." This will is iron-clad, Blood bought, ratified by the resurrection and is recorded in the book we call "The Last Will and Testament of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." This is the New Testament for the new creation.
While delving into who the new creation is, we've learned that the new creation is not for "When we get to Heaven," but for the here and now. The new creation man is already, one who is "born from on High," according to Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) which says, "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)."
Living in the Kingdom and the Kingdom authority, are virtues granted to the new creation people. This grace came upon us, when we were born-again. A baby has no idea of who they are or what they are, until they grow up or mature in their identity. As new creation people, we have very little insight and understanding about who we truly are. Many people remain under the bondage of the old covenant, because they don't understand the new covenant.
The new covenant is more than just a working relationship with God, but is a family relationship with our Heavenly Father. The difference between these two relationship, is what has held down God's new creation family. We get a much better look and understanding of who we are in Christ, in Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified) which says, "For we are God's (Own) handiwork (His workmanship) recreated in Christ Jesus, (born anew) that we may do those good works which God predestinated (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time), that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live)."
The Father declared He would make man "in His Image," making us His family. God gave Life to His children and made preparation for them in His Own will and His Love. The Words from the above scripture, "living the good Life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live" are exactly what the Father planned in the very beginning, when He said that, "Everything was good and it was very good."
God made a paradise for His family to abide forever, in the Garden of Eden. His family was to live on earth with Him as our Father and have our every need met, by His Love for us. We were meant to walk with Him, talk with Him, learn from Him and have all our needs met by Him. God would teach us, by His Holy Spirit, to "Do the good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live)," like the above scripture says.
This was and is still today, His will for His children. A "will" is something that is even today, hard to break. God's will is unbreakable, because "He changes not." Jesus said that, "He came to do His Father's will" and we should know what that will is. Galatians 3:14-15 (Amplified) says, "To the end that through (their receiving) Christ Jesus, the blessing (promised) to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles so that we through faith might (all) receive (the realization of) the promise of the Holy Spirit To speak in terms of human relations, brethren, (If) even a man makes a last will and testament (a merely human covenant) no one sets it aside or makes it void or adds to it when once it has been drawn up and signed (ratified, confirmed)."
We need to read God's Last Will and Testament and find out what it states, so that we can perform His will. He has arranged and ratified His will, by the Blood of Jesus. Hebrews 9:16-18 (Amplified) says, "For where there is a (last) will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a will and testament is valid and takes effect only at death, since it has no force or legal power as long as the one who made it is alive. So even the (old) first covenant (God's will) was not inaugurated and ratified and put in force without the shedding of Blood."
Why would it be the New Testament or the new and last will, if it wasn't His Last Will and Testament? In order to know what God's will is, we must read the will and know "to whom that will" is written. If you don't know "who you are," then how would you ever know if this Last Will includes you? Romans 8:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "The Spirit Himself (thus) testifies together with our own spirit, (assuring us) that we are (His) children, then we are (His) heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, (sharing His inheritance with Him)."
The above Verse ends by saying, "Only we must share His suffering if we are to share His Glory." In order to know what kind of "suffering" Christ endured, we must also learn to read His will, without coming to some "theological idea' about what His will is. God's will is what He said. We've invented all sorts of weird things about the will of God, most of them are simple foolishness and man's way of determining spiritual things. Even in this realm of human reasoning, a man can write a will, sign it in the presence of a witness and that will is legal and binding. No one decides "Billy can have this" and "Suzie can have that," this is left to the will of the Testator.
When God's will was drawn up, He decided who would get what. If we are "joint heirs with Christ," then you received what Jesus received, because this is the way the will was written. Even when the virgin Mary received the Word or "will of God," it was already a written will and was the Last Will and Testament of God. In Genesis 3:15 (Amplified) God says, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring. He will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and you will lie in wait and bruis His heel."
God began laying out the terns of His Last Will and Testament, at this moment. His will isn't hard to know or determine, if we would only read this will with as much integrity we would give our earthly father's will. How can we believe the will of a mere earthly father and disregard our Heavenly Father's will for His children?
I hear how some heirs of God, "Got things that others didn't" and are jealous over "Who got what?" I've even heard some heirs say, "That should have been mine, instead of so-and-so" or "I deserved that more than they did." I've even seen others who believe that the "Testator is unfair." Truthfully, no one "deserves" it and it's not our place to decide who should or shouldn't be an heir. The things left to us in the will, weren't ours to leave. They belonged to the One Who made out the will. It was His and it was up to Him, to give it as He wills.
If I left my earthly belongings to someone in a will, then I left them to those I wished to receive them, because that is my will. God did the very same things. He gave to "the Jew and Gentile alike." That was His will and He decided to whom He would leave His inheritance to. God made us "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ," and said that "His will is to be "Done on earth as it is in Heaven." This will is iron-clad, Blood bought, ratified by the resurrection and is recorded in the book we call "The Last Will and Testament of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." This is the New Testament for the new creation.
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Lesson 152 The New Creation
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. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
While tracing my Family Tree, through my Father's lineage, I came across many family members that I didn't know, weren't even aware, or aren't here any longer. I found that many were sent forth as ambassadors for our Father, to different locations. I grew up in southern Illinois and God sent me to Upstate New York (the place where I met my wife and served at Camp Drum). We moved here with eight kids, my brother-in-law and our friends (who were expecting their first child in a month's time).
I've met so many of my family members in this location and am still in contact with them as they've moved forth to other locations to preach the Word. As I was in fellowship with my Father about these things, He informed me that He was readying for a family reunion in the very near future, where all His family would come to His House for a great, reunion supper. He said that He had already marked the date on His calendar and was sending forth angels the announcement. These special messengers would summon His family home for the celebration.
Paul writes in 2Corinthians 5:8-9 (Amplified), "(Yes) we have confidence and hopeful courage and are pleased rather to be away from home out of our body and be at home with the Lord. Therefore, whether we are at home (on earth away from Him) or away from home (and with Him); we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him."
Those in the new creation family have a job to complete, while we are "away from Him" and in this body. We are to act as His personal representatives, while we are here and bring forth children to His family. Some are working to teach and train up those children, after they have been brought into the fold. Each of us has a part to play, because we all are mirrors that reflect Him to the world's eyes. We have been given the privilege of nurturing and training the Father's children, through the Holy Spirit and His Word. The babes in Christ, must be fed the milk of God's Word and demonstrated the Father's Love, through us. Many in the family, still don't understand the Father and His place and desire for them. I find more and more in His letters to us, what the Father's will and heart towards His children are.
We don't always hear the Father like we should, because we are still present in this body and are not fully present with Him at Home. Like any loving father, He Love His children and has a desired plan for their futures and safekeeping (while we are away from Him, in this body). It's needful for Him to have us on assignments in this world, because this is where He's needed most. There are no more needs in His Kingdom (Heaven).
The Father misses His children, while they are on assignment here on earth, and longs to have them Home with Him. It's necessary, though, for us to be away working for the Kingdom. God looks forward with great anticipation, for the family reunion He has planned for us. He will announce this reunion with a soon-coming trumpet blast and those who have already left this earthly body, are coming with Him to receive their mortal bodies again. Those of us who are in our earthly bodies, will be changed into His Image and will enter into His House with great fanfare.
We can read about His plans for this reunion in 1Thessalonians 4:14-18 (Amplified) which says, "For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him through Jesus those who have fallen asleep (in death) For this we declare to you by the Lord's (Own) Word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede (into His Presence) or have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep (in Him in death). For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God; And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first." Verses 17-18 go on, "Then we, the living ones who remain (on the earth) shall simultaneously be caught up along with (the resurrected dead) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of eternities) we shall be with the Lord. Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these Words."
This is the great family reunion, our Father has been in constant joyous planning. His children will be gathered safely in His House and He Himself will dwell with us, like His heart has longed for from before the foundations of the world. This was God's heart from the beginning and is now, to be made full. I can see and understand the great Love the Father has for me and you, through the letters He dictated to the brothers who proceeded us. I know now, how His desire is to bless me and , therefore, make me a blessing to others. As I carry out His instructions, along with the co-laborers He has sent to bring in the harvest, I know that this great Homecoming is what His heart holds for all of mankind. We have not only become those who "sow the Seed" of the new creation, but we are those who will reap the harvest. While we are here, each of us has a portion, that is different from each other. Every one of us, have been called to sow more Seeds of Life, by preaching and nourishing the new creation babies with the milk and meat of His Word.
You will be amazed to find at this family reunion, how you have added to the Father's House. We will each find a place set just for us, at the table. The Father will greet each of us with, "Welcome" and "Well done." What a day that will be, for both us and the Father! 1Thessalonians 5:6 (Amplified) says, "Accordingly then, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us keep wide awake (alert, watchful, cautious, and on our guard) and let us be sober (calm, collected, and circumspect)."
While tracing my Family Tree, through my Father's lineage, I came across many family members that I didn't know, weren't even aware, or aren't here any longer. I found that many were sent forth as ambassadors for our Father, to different locations. I grew up in southern Illinois and God sent me to Upstate New York (the place where I met my wife and served at Camp Drum). We moved here with eight kids, my brother-in-law and our friends (who were expecting their first child in a month's time).
I've met so many of my family members in this location and am still in contact with them as they've moved forth to other locations to preach the Word. As I was in fellowship with my Father about these things, He informed me that He was readying for a family reunion in the very near future, where all His family would come to His House for a great, reunion supper. He said that He had already marked the date on His calendar and was sending forth angels the announcement. These special messengers would summon His family home for the celebration.
Paul writes in 2Corinthians 5:8-9 (Amplified), "(Yes) we have confidence and hopeful courage and are pleased rather to be away from home out of our body and be at home with the Lord. Therefore, whether we are at home (on earth away from Him) or away from home (and with Him); we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him."
Those in the new creation family have a job to complete, while we are "away from Him" and in this body. We are to act as His personal representatives, while we are here and bring forth children to His family. Some are working to teach and train up those children, after they have been brought into the fold. Each of us has a part to play, because we all are mirrors that reflect Him to the world's eyes. We have been given the privilege of nurturing and training the Father's children, through the Holy Spirit and His Word. The babes in Christ, must be fed the milk of God's Word and demonstrated the Father's Love, through us. Many in the family, still don't understand the Father and His place and desire for them. I find more and more in His letters to us, what the Father's will and heart towards His children are.
We don't always hear the Father like we should, because we are still present in this body and are not fully present with Him at Home. Like any loving father, He Love His children and has a desired plan for their futures and safekeeping (while we are away from Him, in this body). It's needful for Him to have us on assignments in this world, because this is where He's needed most. There are no more needs in His Kingdom (Heaven).
The Father misses His children, while they are on assignment here on earth, and longs to have them Home with Him. It's necessary, though, for us to be away working for the Kingdom. God looks forward with great anticipation, for the family reunion He has planned for us. He will announce this reunion with a soon-coming trumpet blast and those who have already left this earthly body, are coming with Him to receive their mortal bodies again. Those of us who are in our earthly bodies, will be changed into His Image and will enter into His House with great fanfare.
We can read about His plans for this reunion in 1Thessalonians 4:14-18 (Amplified) which says, "For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him through Jesus those who have fallen asleep (in death) For this we declare to you by the Lord's (Own) Word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede (into His Presence) or have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep (in Him in death). For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God; And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first." Verses 17-18 go on, "Then we, the living ones who remain (on the earth) shall simultaneously be caught up along with (the resurrected dead) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of eternities) we shall be with the Lord. Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these Words."
This is the great family reunion, our Father has been in constant joyous planning. His children will be gathered safely in His House and He Himself will dwell with us, like His heart has longed for from before the foundations of the world. This was God's heart from the beginning and is now, to be made full. I can see and understand the great Love the Father has for me and you, through the letters He dictated to the brothers who proceeded us. I know now, how His desire is to bless me and , therefore, make me a blessing to others. As I carry out His instructions, along with the co-laborers He has sent to bring in the harvest, I know that this great Homecoming is what His heart holds for all of mankind. We have not only become those who "sow the Seed" of the new creation, but we are those who will reap the harvest. While we are here, each of us has a portion, that is different from each other. Every one of us, have been called to sow more Seeds of Life, by preaching and nourishing the new creation babies with the milk and meat of His Word.
You will be amazed to find at this family reunion, how you have added to the Father's House. We will each find a place set just for us, at the table. The Father will greet each of us with, "Welcome" and "Well done." What a day that will be, for both us and the Father! 1Thessalonians 5:6 (Amplified) says, "Accordingly then, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us keep wide awake (alert, watchful, cautious, and on our guard) and let us be sober (calm, collected, and circumspect)."
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Lesson 151 The New Creation
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. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
I've been looking into my family tree, to see where I came from and who I am. My lineage has everything to do with who I really am. Some people wish to discover relatives they never met and that's what I wanted too. To do this, I began my search with my older Brother Jesus, because from Him, I could found out about my Father and what He's all about. Imagine my astonishment, when I found out that He is a King and has a vast Kingdom. I also found out about my Royal Bloodline and that I am a "King and priest" in this new family. My brother Peter writes about this in 1Peter 2:9 (Amplified) saying, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation. (God's) Own special purchased people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His Marvelous Light."
Paul (another brother of mine) writes in 2Corinthians 5:21 about my being an "ambassador sent from my Father's Kingdom into this other land, in order to bring others into my Father's House." He shed more light into my heritage in a letter to part of our family in Rome. Thus, he writes in Romans 8:17 (Amplified), "And if we are (His) children, then we are (His) heirs also; (heirs) of God, and fellow heirs with Christ (sharing His inheritance with Him)."
My Father's will and custom establishes that the "firstborn son will inherit the blessing." Jesus is the First Born Head of my Father's family and He has agreed to share this blessing with me and the entire family, according to Galatians 3:28-29 (Amplified) saying, "There is (now no distinction) neither Hew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ (are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed) then you are Abraham's offspring and (spiritual) heirs according to the Promise."
We have been made the recipients of the Father's will through Jesus, because of the Promise and blessing placed upon Him. Ephesians 2:19 (Amplified) tells us, "Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants and aliens) excluded from the rights of citizens, but you now share citizenship with the saints (God's Own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself) and you belong to God's (Own) household."
My Father explained many things to me, in some letters He wrote to me and the rest of our family. As His children (and being royalty), we are to conduct our lives in accordance to that birthright. Everything we say and do, reflects on Him as not only our Father, but as King over His Kingdom. We bear His Name and we are expected to live our lives accordingly. We are to watch our Brother Jesus' Example and pattern our lives after Him. Like most other older brothers, Jesus is the Protector Who watches over us.
The Father instructs us to listen very closely to Jesus, whenever He speaks. As the older brother, Jesus has already gone through many things and we need to learn from Him. Romans 8:14 (Amplified) says, "For all that are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God." Jesus taught us what conduct the Father expects from our lives. As part of the royal family, we are not to do anything that brings reproach on His Name.
The Kingdom business of salvation, was given over to God's new creation family, telling others about His Love for them. We must learn the family business, by listening and trusting in what our older Brother Jesus said and did. As God's sons and daughters, we are to take and expand the Father's business globally. 1Corinthians 3:9 (Amplified) says, "For we are fellow workers (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God' you are God's garden and vineyard and field under cultivation (you are God's building)."
The family business we inherited from our Father, is to be run by our older Brother Jesus (He is the Head of the business). We cannot know how to run the business without Him, because He is the First Born and built it up from the beginning. We are not to change or make decisions in this business, without first checking with Jesus. We are new to the company and we need Jesus to teach us how to operate properly within the family business. In John 14:26 (Amplified) Jesus says, "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Stand-by) The Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My Place, to represent Me and act on My behalf) He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."
The Father appointed a Supervisor, to the family and His business. He is the One Who will always be with us, while we are learning how to operate to the fullness of our Father's business. This Supervisor will take what Jesus has received from our Father and will teach us how to walk in them. We are a global family and are to be representatives of our Father, as His ambassadors in the Kingdom. Our older Brother Jesus, as Head of the family business, sent us a Supervisor to teach us the family business of bringing salvation to the world.
If we run into things we don't understand, don't know or cannot handle, then our Supervisor (the Holy Spirit) will fill in for us, to get the job done despite our weaknesses. In 2Corinthians 12:9 (Amplified) Paul writes, "Therefore I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me." Jesus takes charge and gets the job done, that I couldn't complete on my own. He will get the job done right, so I am watching and learning from Him.
My family tree (the Tree of Life), is filled with heroes and such marvelous things, that make me so glad of my heritage in Him. While I am always learning about my Father and my family, I strive to show the world His Goodness and His Glory. Because I bear His Name and I am a reflection of Him, the world makes judgements about Him, because of the things I do. 2Corinthians 6:3 (Amplified) says, "We put no obstructions in anyone's way (we give no offense in anything) so that no fault may be found and our ministry blamed and discredited."
I've been looking into my family tree, to see where I came from and who I am. My lineage has everything to do with who I really am. Some people wish to discover relatives they never met and that's what I wanted too. To do this, I began my search with my older Brother Jesus, because from Him, I could found out about my Father and what He's all about. Imagine my astonishment, when I found out that He is a King and has a vast Kingdom. I also found out about my Royal Bloodline and that I am a "King and priest" in this new family. My brother Peter writes about this in 1Peter 2:9 (Amplified) saying, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation. (God's) Own special purchased people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His Marvelous Light."
Paul (another brother of mine) writes in 2Corinthians 5:21 about my being an "ambassador sent from my Father's Kingdom into this other land, in order to bring others into my Father's House." He shed more light into my heritage in a letter to part of our family in Rome. Thus, he writes in Romans 8:17 (Amplified), "And if we are (His) children, then we are (His) heirs also; (heirs) of God, and fellow heirs with Christ (sharing His inheritance with Him)."
My Father's will and custom establishes that the "firstborn son will inherit the blessing." Jesus is the First Born Head of my Father's family and He has agreed to share this blessing with me and the entire family, according to Galatians 3:28-29 (Amplified) saying, "There is (now no distinction) neither Hew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ (are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed) then you are Abraham's offspring and (spiritual) heirs according to the Promise."
We have been made the recipients of the Father's will through Jesus, because of the Promise and blessing placed upon Him. Ephesians 2:19 (Amplified) tells us, "Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants and aliens) excluded from the rights of citizens, but you now share citizenship with the saints (God's Own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself) and you belong to God's (Own) household."
My Father explained many things to me, in some letters He wrote to me and the rest of our family. As His children (and being royalty), we are to conduct our lives in accordance to that birthright. Everything we say and do, reflects on Him as not only our Father, but as King over His Kingdom. We bear His Name and we are expected to live our lives accordingly. We are to watch our Brother Jesus' Example and pattern our lives after Him. Like most other older brothers, Jesus is the Protector Who watches over us.
The Father instructs us to listen very closely to Jesus, whenever He speaks. As the older brother, Jesus has already gone through many things and we need to learn from Him. Romans 8:14 (Amplified) says, "For all that are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God." Jesus taught us what conduct the Father expects from our lives. As part of the royal family, we are not to do anything that brings reproach on His Name.
The Kingdom business of salvation, was given over to God's new creation family, telling others about His Love for them. We must learn the family business, by listening and trusting in what our older Brother Jesus said and did. As God's sons and daughters, we are to take and expand the Father's business globally. 1Corinthians 3:9 (Amplified) says, "For we are fellow workers (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God' you are God's garden and vineyard and field under cultivation (you are God's building)."
The family business we inherited from our Father, is to be run by our older Brother Jesus (He is the Head of the business). We cannot know how to run the business without Him, because He is the First Born and built it up from the beginning. We are not to change or make decisions in this business, without first checking with Jesus. We are new to the company and we need Jesus to teach us how to operate properly within the family business. In John 14:26 (Amplified) Jesus says, "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Stand-by) The Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My Place, to represent Me and act on My behalf) He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."
The Father appointed a Supervisor, to the family and His business. He is the One Who will always be with us, while we are learning how to operate to the fullness of our Father's business. This Supervisor will take what Jesus has received from our Father and will teach us how to walk in them. We are a global family and are to be representatives of our Father, as His ambassadors in the Kingdom. Our older Brother Jesus, as Head of the family business, sent us a Supervisor to teach us the family business of bringing salvation to the world.
If we run into things we don't understand, don't know or cannot handle, then our Supervisor (the Holy Spirit) will fill in for us, to get the job done despite our weaknesses. In 2Corinthians 12:9 (Amplified) Paul writes, "Therefore I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me." Jesus takes charge and gets the job done, that I couldn't complete on my own. He will get the job done right, so I am watching and learning from Him.
My family tree (the Tree of Life), is filled with heroes and such marvelous things, that make me so glad of my heritage in Him. While I am always learning about my Father and my family, I strive to show the world His Goodness and His Glory. Because I bear His Name and I am a reflection of Him, the world makes judgements about Him, because of the things I do. 2Corinthians 6:3 (Amplified) says, "We put no obstructions in anyone's way (we give no offense in anything) so that no fault may be found and our ministry blamed and discredited."
Monday, January 9, 2017
Lesson 150 The New Creation
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. Behold, the fresh and new has come."I saw so many commercials for Ancestry.com over this holiday season and decided to delve into God's Word and find out about my DNA. Because I am "In this world, but not of it" and my citizenship is of Heaven, I wondered what my DNA truly is.
One must begin his search at Ancestry.com with one person and I needed to begin my heritage search with Jesus, because He is the First Born of many brethren. Since Jesus is the First, then my number was in His lineage somewhere. The Law of Genesis declares that, "everything produces after kind," so if Jesus was the Firstborn, then the ones following Him must be like Him. I wanted to discover where I came from and what type of people my ancestors were.
The original source of information, was the seed from which I came. 1Peter 1:23 (Amplified) tells us, "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." This gives me an Origin to build my family tree on and that is Jesus, the Firstborn. I found how nearly everyone of my early family had the same ability that the Firstborn had.
In The Book of Acts, I found that my early brothers performed the same miracles and healings that Jesus performed. The same spiritual Gifts, abilities, healings, and powers, worked through the outer reaches of my family in Corinth to Galatia. Even in the letter to the Hebrews, I found the same family traits running throughout my entire family, just like they did in my older Brother, Jesus.
I read the letter my brother Paul wrote to my family in Corinth, where he spoke about the Gifts of the Spirit. The same DNA operated like it did in other persons of the same lineage I come from. This strong Blood-line and ability will operate in our new creation family, once we find out who we are.
I have friends who have traced their roots back to Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, as well as other places. They then sought out the customs and traditions of their ancestors, in order to better relate to them. We all want to learn from the past and find our place in it. When I began my journey to find my lineage and the family I was born into, I realized how many in my modern day family members, had lost sight of who they were. They seemed to stray far from the family line and the Firstborn's DNA.
My family tree dates back to a time in Jerusalem, beginning with my Father and older Brother Jesus. My family tree was rooted when my Father and older Brother Jesus, began a record of the family, in what they called a new covenant. I never fully understood my inheritance, until I read the Last Will and Testament of Jesus when He died. Jesus left me, all of the inheritance my Heavenly Father left and gave to Him. I was made an "heir of God" and a "joint-heir with Christ."
I could trace my inheritance and family tree, as well as the authority and far reaches of the Family Name by which I am called. Some have inherited the wealth and name of Rockerfeller, Rothchilde, and Hilton. Both prominence and authority came with those family names. I too, inherited wealth and the authority of my family Name.
Some people inherited artistic or musical abilities from their descendants. My daughter inherited her artistic ability from my family and passed them down to her daughter. They call it "fake ability," because they can make anything they see. I found that the authority and ability to lay hands on sick people, expecting them to be made whole, came from my family lineage and Name (of Jesus). The authority that comes with my birth and family Name carries into all aspects of my life, even now.
Since I am a new creation, I must find out who my new creation family is and what was passed down to me. I didn't need to purchase or go nearly as far with my study, as many people do today. Some people must go all the way back to their great, great, great, grandparents, just to find any information about their past. My family tree goes only to my Father and continues on to today. His generation is still an ongoing thing, from the First Born until now.
I found that my true home and family are from a Source and Kingdom, that I had never seen until now. My family tree tells me that I'm a royal descendant of The King and Kingdom of Heaven. The wealth and power of my Father, the King, transcends all other peoples and nations. The entire universe came out of Him. I love studying my heritage and new creation family!
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