2Corinthians 5:17-19 (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 Christians, we work hard to become what the Father has already made us to be. We've been trying to become Christians by our own standards, instead of learning to develop what was born in us, from God. Jesus spent much time developing (inside Himself), what He was born to be. He never tried "becoming the Son of God," but instead began to develop the qualities that were already within Him. Jesus spent a lot of time learning and reading the Law and the Blessing. He learned through studying the scriptures, how to walk in the Blessing and how to avoid the curse.
Jesus walked by the Word of God, instead of yielding to the flesh and bending to what others thought about the scriptures. He walked in a place where the Blessing was always operating in His life. This didn't happen because He was the Son of God, but because He obeyed the Word. Many of God's people have been robbed of the Blessing that belonged to them (by being born-again), because of man-made religious teachings and traditions. Many have allowed man's opinions to rule, instead of following God's Truth found in His Word.
Developing our new creation identity, isn't something left for the pastors or denominations to do, but comes from the individual. Just because some believe that, "God doesn't do these things anymore," doesn't mean that they're right. Under the Law, Priests were given the authority and were commanded to heal and cleanse the people. There were obligations in the Law, that were to be met in order for the Blessing to operate, like God intended. It seemed easier to men to make their own rules and regulations, so the curse entered their midst.
Religion has taught us many things and given us various reasons why "the Blessing doesn't work anymore."We've made the Blessing something that doesn't apply to this life, but is only for Heaven. I'm not sure how we were ever convinced to believe this. We won't need to operate in the Blessing when we get to Heaven. God's Blessing will flow there on it's own, because the curse doesn't operate there.
We operate in God's Blessing, by simply obeying God's Word. We have an enemy who wishes to destroy us and prevent us from becoming what God intended, here on earth. Satan uses strategies and deceits to confuse us, trying to make us give-up until we reach Heaven. In order to do what God created us to do, we must allow the Holy Spirit to direct us. Then, the Blessing will provide us what we need, to fulfill what God intended for us to do on earth. We must develop our new creation spirit, to listen and learn the Truth between the Law and the Grace of the new covenant. We must develop certain skills, in order to live in this natural body, while on earth. This is why God gave us the senses that govern our flesh.
Man needed to develop skills, in order to walk, talk distinguish words and people, and to develop love and integrity in our lives. All these things were already in us when we were born, but they had to be developed in our lives. When we became the new creation family of God, everything needed to walk with Him, were provided in our being born-again. The Fruit of the Spirit was deposited into our new living spirit, as the Character and Likeness of our Father. It requires practice and endurance on our part, to develop these things in our lives.
There are some in the flesh and in the new creation spirit, who choose the path of least resistance and only develop enough to "get by." They're not interested in excelling and becoming what they have the potential to be. This is why there will always be, those who stand out in God's Kingdom, just like they stand out in this world. With God, there's no limit in what we can accomplish, but the world puts limits on people through divisions and prejudices. We've placed limits on people, according to their sex, color, weight, and height. We tell people which schools they will be allowed to attend, because of who and where their family came from. This causes people to feel trapped in their lives, without any way of escaping. They're left believing they're "not as smart as other people," "don't fit in with other people" and "don't belong with others in society."
God has removed all of these limits from mankind, through faith in Jesus. Now, for the first time, men really have been created equal. It's no longer a problem of not having enough, but only that we develop what has been given to us, in Christ. When we develop the Gift of Love or the other Gifts of the Spirit in our lives, we become candidates for whatever the Holy Spirit needs done. Paul writes in 1Corinthians 12:31 (Amplified), "But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best Gifts and Graces (the Higher Gifts and the Choicest Graces) and yet I will show you still more excellent way (one that is better by far and the highest of them all - LOVE)."
Paul is saying that, "in order to obtain the way to operate in the Gifts of the Spirit, we must develop the Gift of Love." The only way these Gifts can operate in and through you, like the Holy Spirit wills, is by having Love. It's true that God chooses some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These are by His choosing, but God doesn't choose those who have no interest in developing their spirits, to the conformity of the Holy Spirit.
When a coach chooses someone for his team, he doesn't choose from those who don't wish to play. He chooses from those who turn out for the tryouts. Many Christians never show up, when God is choosing those to send. Developing our spirit to obey the Spirit and the Word, is a requirement that brings about the real you, God created you to be. Every individual born-again believer, has the same Lord and the same Holy Spirit and the same Father. God never short-changed any of His children. Development rests on the individual and his/her desire to glorify the Father, in his/her life.
You don't need to try obtaining God's favor, because you belong to Him and are already favored. We must simply believe this Truth and allow it to flow. You are "highly favored," because of Jesus. You are already in right standing or righteous, by His Righteousness. You must develop your faith in His Word and believe what God says about you, instead of what others say about you.
Even Jesus spent time in God's Word. When Jesus was twelve, His parents couldn't find Him. After searching, they found Him teaching and learning in the Synagogue. Jesus told them that, "He was about His Father's business." Jesus came to teach the almost forgotten Blessing of the Lord. This was the first time many heard about the Blessing and this is why the people rejoiced and followed Jesus. They heard Jesus restoring hope in them. We've preached sin and punishment for so long, that we've lost hope of ever being who God created us to be. Instead, we put our hopes in the time, when we get to Heaven.
When we develop Love in our lives, we become vessels that the Master will use. God will use these vessels, not only in our own lives, but to bring the Blessing into the lives of others like Jesus did. This Blessing will reach the saved and the unsaved. This Love will still heal the sick, cleanse the leper and set at liberty all who are bound, just like it did in Jesus' ministry. This is the Blessing and the Promise of the Holy Spirit. It's not a display of power, but one of the power of Love. Love cannot stand to see the people under bondage.
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