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)."
1Corinthians 3:1-2 (Amplified) says, "However, Brethren, I could not talk to you as to spiritual (men) but as to non-spiritual (men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates) as to mere infants (in the new life) in Christ (unable to talk yet) I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough (to be ready for it) but even yet you are not strong enough (to be ready for it)."
Paul wrote the above letter to the Church in Corinth, nearly two-thousand years ago, and even now we are still carnal in our thinking and actions. This isn't a "put-down," but an encouragement for us to see what the new creation family is and what lies ahead, for those who will step into it. Romans 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For in the Gospel a righteousness (which God ascribes is revealed), both springing from faith and leading to faith (disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith) as it is written. The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith (Hab. 2:4)."
As new creation people, we are "living by faith" already. We were dead in sin and trespass, but God has made us "alive in Christ Jesus, by faith." Galatians 5:25 (Amplified) tells us, "If we live by the Holy Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit (If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit)."
For many years, we've been taught the carnal things of Christianity (like what's good and right), but nothing about how to develop our spirit man. Behaving properly and doing good things, are things that should derive from a developed mature spirit, instead of a restraint of the senses. I'm sure those who received Jesus as Lord, are sincere about walking with Him. We've never been taught how to develop our new creation man, but to simply subdue the outward man.
Although the outward man certainly needs to be brought into subjection to the things of God, it shouldn't be a battle to keep him out of sin. Galatians 5:16 (Amplified) says, "But I say, walk and live (habitually) in the Holy Spirit (responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit; the you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God)."
We've been taught to control the old man, by laws and rituals that have no power to control him, and have bound ourselves from enjoying the liberty of Christ. In order to develop our new creation spirit man, we must feed faith by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit into our new creation spirit. With the exception of those who are disabled or handicapped from birth, most humans have the ability to walk. We had needed to learn how to master this ability. It was easier for some to learn how to walk, than it was for others, but we all needed determination and encouragement and live, to do so.
Many have heard things teachings about faith and the walk of faith. Some have dismissed this as "foolishness" or "not for everyone." Walking by faith in the spirit realm, isn't any more strange than walking in the natural realm. This is something we must individually determine. Faith isn't something that one person has and another doesn't have, but is the Life of the new creation being. It was and is how, the new creation being exists, because it is only by faith that we can receive Life and salvation (by grace).
Every believer is born-again by faith in Christ Jesus. This faith doesn't stop at being born, but continues into the progression of maturity into love, fellowship with the Father and receiving and giving life to those around us, as well as having our prayers answered.
Faith is the Nature of God that has now come alive within the heart of every Christian. It's what connects us to the Super-natural ability and realm, from which we are now born. Everything in this natural world came from the Spirit world (or realm of God). When the Spirit of God and the Word of God, went forth from the beginning, matter and substance were formed from the Spirit realm, into the natural realm.
Faith is as "natural" to the new creation child of God, as walking is to the natural child of man. This is the way we hear, talk, walk, and receive guidance and revelation from the Father. Through the years, we've tried connecting with the Holy Spirit by our natural senses and have failed miserably. Spiritual things come and are revealed by and through the Spirit. Some might see the results of what the Spirit has done and have actually been drawn into this by natural faith After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, the believers "saw and heard" the Word that was preached and received the Holy Spirit.
This was as far as faith went for some, but for others like Phillip and Stephen (who were deacons), this faith grew into much more in their lives. Miracles, healings and sharing God with the people happened because of their faith. Today, most of the Church's faith has come by "showing restraint," from the old way of life. This is a wonderful witness for unsaved and saved alike. I'm convinced though, that our Father wants us to seek Him, like never before. He wants to develop Himself within us, so that even the unsaved (who have no faith in Him), can "see" Him, with just the natural eyes. The Father is searching for those who will use this Super-natural faith, to reveal Him to the world, as He really is.
King Saul could have done like David did and killed Goliath, but even as King, he lacked the faith to declare that "the God of Israel was God and not just a God of history." There's always been people who would go a little further with God, than others before. They were ridiculed and even shammed by the mainstream population, but we're not seeking the praises of men, only the praises of God. You and you alone, can determine how far you will dare believe and walk with the Father. No man call tell you where you must stop growing in your faith in God. You might be like Joshua and Caleb, who were the only two of two million men, who believed that God was still true in His Promise. Let God be True and every man a liar.
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