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."
Let's consider "The Beatitudes," in light of the new creation. Jesus speaks about "The Golden Rule" while expounding on "The Beatitudes." In Matthew 5:48 (Amplified), Jesus says, "You therefore, must be perfect (growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity), as your Heavenly Father is perfect."
In Verse 44 Jesus says, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." These are instructions for living in the new creation life, that Jesus came to give through His sacrifice. We cannot reach the realm of maturity or love, without the birth of this new creation. The principles Jesus instructed us to do, were impossible without the new birth. We've tried living "The Golden Rule" in the natural man and then found ourselves not measuring up to what God wants us to do. Even after being born-again, these simple teachings will evade us, unless our minds are renewed by God's Word and by submitting to the Holy Spirit.
In the natural, man cannot "love his enemy," like Jesus instructed. We have difficulties sometimes, even loving the brethren like Jesus said to do. We argue among ourselves about differences in our doctrines and denominations. We argue about things that some believe and do, because some believe these things have "passed away." There is no part of the new creation, that we can or are called to do, in the natural man. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified) that, "It is the Spirit Who gives Live (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."
Have you ever wondered about the things concerning Love, the Apostle Paul spoke of in 1Corinthians 13? The Love he spoke of is what Jesus was speaking about in "The Beatitudes." We can give to many charities and do good works by the flesh, but it profits us nothing in God's Kingdom. It's not what we do, as much as why we do it and how we do it. Even our church offerings aren't always acceptable to God, because do didn't give in Love or from the heart.
Your tithes and offerings aren't charitable donations, that help pay the light bill in your church or give the preacher some money. These are Spiritual Gifts to God, given in Thanks and gratitude for Who He is and to honor Him for His Truth. Everything we do after being born-again, takes on a new life of its own. The manner in which we raise our children and treat our spouses, is to be ruled now by the Spirit and the Word. It changes everything about our lives, because now our lives are not our own, but His.
This isn't some sort of bondage that religion imposes on us, but it is a liberty and blessing of the Spirit, that empowers us to live. After becoming new creations, everything we say or do, is all about the Spirit and not the flesh. Many have perverted the tithe and offerings, by relating "hard luck" stories and pressuring the people to give. This is strictly of the flesh, and not the Spirit. Tithes and offerings manifest from the heart (the new creation man) and expresses our love and honor for the Father. The dependence and honor you have for our Heavenly Father, are expressed in how much you honor Him for what He has (and is) doing in you.
It's not wrong to give to charities, but we are required when we give, to know where and what our giving is doing. There are many "good" things, that can use the blessing of God in them, but in order to involve the blessing, we must use and invoke the blessing of our new covenant, into the giving. The things we do in the new covenant, aren't religious things, but "living" things we are now able to do. Attending service on Sunday morning, isn't an obligation of religion, but an expression of our Love for the Father and the brethren. This should be an opportunity for the believer to bring their gifts (tithes, offerings, praise, Thanksgiving, worship and gratitude) for the Father, as family. It shouldn't be a "duty," but a privilege.
We've come to the place in our walk with God, where we've view religion as bondage, instead of liberty. I don't go to church on Sunday morning because it's my "job," but because it's my privilege. I suppose that people only think about the preacher's studying God's Word, in order to have something to preach. Most have probably never given much thought about the importance of the people praying and preparing their hearts, in order to "hear and receive" what is being taught.
It doesn't do much good to "sow seed on stony ground, according to what Jesus said in Mark 4:16
(Amplified). It's as important for the people to prepare their hearts to receive the seed, as is the importance for the preacher to prepare to sow the seed. Preachers are not acting or performing for an audience, but we are family at our Father's House. Worship isn't just singing some "slow" son, but it's a heart song. We don't have praise and worship service, in order to get everything in the mood, but to join as one in the Spirit of Worship. The word "worship," derives from "worth-ship." How much is He worth to you"
I've heard some say, "Well, I don't know these songs, that's why I'm going somewhere else, where I do know them." "Worth-ship" is not limited to knowing the words, but knowing the Lord. I love going to church in Mexico, when I'm with Gary and Steve Brewer. I don't understand or speak a word in Spanish, but I understand the people's hearts. When they enter into praise and worship, I simply sing in the Spirit and enter in with them. Those who still walk only in the flesh, cannot know His Presence unless they "feel" Him present. If He is only God when we feel His Presence, then most of the time He must not be God to us, because we don't "feel" Him in our lives.
Feelings are great when you get them, but they change and don't always determine God's Presence in your life, because they are of the flesh. If you allow your feelings determine whether God is present in your life, then 98% of the time, you will miss Him. When we live by faith, we will understand that God is always there, whether or not we feel Him. I've heard some people say, "I really feel the Lord, during praise and worship," that's because they are expressing their love. For others, though, worship is simply a move of their flesh and their emotions (that are gone as, soon as they've left the parking lot).
Worship is "doing the will of the Father and it is a way of life, not feelings. I'm thankful that feelings do arise sometimes when I worship, but Jesus said that, "[He] will never leave you or forsake you." This isn't a feeling, but a Truth. Worship is a way of life, for the new creation people. Our lives are to be a worship and revelation of Him, manifested to the world. We don't stop cussing and drinking because the church says we must, but we stop doing these things because it doesn't please the Father and we want to please Him.
Some things we do are religion, and some things are revelation. The revelation things we do, please Him, because they manifest as worship and honor towards Him. Doing the things outlined in "The Beatitudes" without God, are good things to do, but it's doing them mostly as an act of the flesh. When we rely on God, His Word and His Spirit to deliver us, we can always find worth-ship in our worship that comes from the heart. I love singing songs to Him, more than about Him. Both are good, but when I sing to Him, then I can sing in the Spirit and receive Spirit and revelation, that my understanding cannot express. When I sing about God, I am limited in my own intellect, as what to say. In my spirit, I am unlimited in my worship, because my spirit knows Him like my flesh has never achieved.
You might be reading this and wondering where you are in your own walk with Him. Our gathering together on Sunday morning (or whenever you get together) might not always be about your receiving, but for the sake of someone else. The Lord might wish to use you in the life of someone else, but you're so caught up in your own life that you are never there when He needs you. Or, you might believe there's nothing anyone can teach you, because you're so smart. Both of these things are of the flesh and not the spirit. Man loves to be religious, because he can fulfill all of the requirements and then feel "alright." God's requirement is for us to be His vehicle into the lives of others.
Your entire life (spirit, soul, and body) are a spiritual sacrifice for and to Him. We are to be available to God at all times in our worship, giving, offerings, tithes, praying, doing, and going. You are a worship at all times, in this world. You are the one who brings God into the presence of others, because He lives in you and walks in you. You are His hands, His feet, His Voice, and His love towards others.
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