2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) tells us, "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)."
We find the Holy Spirit looking to the cross and resurrection and speaking both to and about the new creation people of God. As Isaiah speaks forth God's Word, it is sown into the earth and cannot be removed. This is who and what we (the Church) are to know and understand now, about our relationship with our Father. This should be what distinguishes what the world has told us about God and what He has said about Himself.
Thus Isaiah 54:13-15 (Amplified) says, "And all your (spiritual) children shall be disciples (taught by the Lord and obedient to His will); and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children. You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness, in conformity with God's will and order) You shall be far from oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Behold, They may gather together and stir up strife, but it is not from Me. Whoever stirs up strife against you shall fall and surrender to you."
Somehow, we (the new creation) have believed and been taught, that the strife and oppression which comes on us, is from the Father (just like in the old covenant). God Himself says this is not true, in the above scripture. Verses 16-17 go on, "God indeed created satan (the destroyer who blows on the fire of coals and who produces a weapon for its purposes, and I have created the devastor to destroy (God has taken responsibility for satan and what he has done to mankind) But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This (peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition) is the heritage of the servants of the Lord (those in whom the ideal servant of the Lord is reproduced); this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me (this is that which I impart to them as their justification) says the Lord."
Although God created satan and he is loosed upon this earth (in whatever way he tries bringing guilt, condemnation, or strife upon God's children), God says, "It is not from Me." As new creation family, we aren't subject to what the old covenant people were subject too. The Church has been in the dark and has failed to make this distinction, for many years. We've erroneously believed that all our problems comes from God, in order to teach us something. I'm sure we can learn from trials and hardships, but this isn't how the Father teaches His family.
Jesus tells us how the Father will teach His children, in John 10:10 (Amplified). Jesus clearly distinguishes the difference between satan and God, saying, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy; I come that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." We just read Isaiah 54:15 about the things that kill, steal and destroy and God says about these things, "Behold, they may gather together and stir up strife, but it is not from Me."
Let's distinguish the differences in our lives first of all, between the Father and "the thief." The "thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy," and not to teach, correct and enhance the Church. Jesus tells us how the Father will teach and correct His new creation family, in John 16:13-15 (Amplified) saying, "But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-Giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth) For He will not speak His Own Message (on His Own authority) but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father; He will give the Message that has been given to Him) and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future). He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine, and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He (the Spirit) will take the things that are Mine, and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you."
This is one of the most dynamic ways that the Father teaches, corrects, guides and matures His family. Ephesians 4:11-12 (Amplified) says, "And His Gifts were varied, (He Himself appointed and gave men to us) some to be apostles (special messengers) some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders) some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries) some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers."
2Timothy 3:16 (Amplified) says, "Every scriptures is God breathed (given by His Inspiration) and is profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, (and) for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action)."
These three methods of teaching His "spiritual" children, are all by and through the Spirit and God's Word. In order to know and yield to God's will, we must know the Word of God, not man's interpretation of the Word, but the Holy Spirit's interpretation of it. After all, was it not the Holy Spirit and the Word, Who created us? Why then, would it not be the Holy Spirit and the Word, Who mature and train us up in righteousness?
If the thief can cause us to believe that all strife, confusion, trials and hardships befalling us, come from God, then we will not hear the Voice of God's Word to walk like He created us to walk. Jesus speaks about the Holy Spirit in John 16:8-11 (Amplified) saying, "And when He comes (speaking of the Holy Spirit) He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and righteousness ( uprightness of heart and right standing with God and about judgment. About sin, because they do not believe in Me (trust in, rely on, and adhere to Me). About righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) because I go to My Father, and you will see Me no longer. About judgment, because the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world (satan) is judged and condemned and sentence is already passed upon him."
We have sadly, never become the astute students of God's Word and the Spirit, like God intended us to be. We've followed the world's interpretation of God's Word, instead of listening to and learning the Truth of what the Father is saying to us. We've received religion over reality and have based our faith and trust in man's traditions, instead of the Truth from the Holy Spirit. Even satan couldn't keep the truth of the new birth confined, but he has managed to keep the Church carnal in most areas of our lives. We've based our teachings on sense knowledge and tradition, instead of on Spirit and revelation. We've allowed the Super-natural Presence of the Holy Spirit and Spiritual operations, to be stolen from us, leaving us functioning in the carnal. It's a waste of time, trying to defeat satan in the carnal realm and with carnal weapons.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 (Amplified), "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood (contending only with physical opponents) but against the despotisms, against the powers, against (the master spirits who are) the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the Heavenly (Super-natural) sphere."
1Corinthians 10:3-4 (Amplified) says, "For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical (weapons of flesh and blood) but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds." The Church must once again, learn who we are in the Lord, as new creation people. We must learn to use the ability that was granted us through our union with Jesus and learn to walk in the Spirit, by the Word. We must take our place as God's family, in this earth.
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