2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) by 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."
2Corinthians 5:2 (Amplified) says, "Here indeed, in the (present abode, body) we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over (we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out) with our Heavenly dwelling."
We are new creation people who are still living in the old house (dwelling) that we did before we were born-again. Many of us still have an affection for the "old homestead," the flesh (or house) we now live in was fashioned by the former tenant.
Jesus said that, "In this world, you will have tribulation," but He continued, "Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." Even though we are in the world, we are not "of the world." In Him, we can walk through this world, as "over comers." I've been watching the hurricanes on the Weather Channel, as the wind destroy everything in the wake of the hurricanes and water floods people's homes and cars. While watching these storms, I was reminded of something the Lord told me years ago. He said to me, "You may not be able to stop all the storms that come to this world, but if you will only walk in the eye of the hurricane, then you can still be at peace."
In the eye of the hurricane, the weather is calm. The hurricane's outer bands hold the destructive winds, tornadoes and pounding rains. As God told me this, I was reminded of Psalm 91:7-8 (Amplified) which says, "A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only a spectator shall you be (yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High) as you witness the reward of the wicked."
In order to walk in the eye of the hurricane, one must keep moving with the storm and not simply wait for it to pass over. To do this, you must learn to hear the Voice of the Lord and move as He says to move. I'm not speaking literally about your walking across the Atlantic Ocean during a hurricane, but in life's storms, we must stay at peace, in the Presence of God. In John 14:27 (Amplified), Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My (Own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)."
Jesus tells us that we have a say about whether we will be fearful and afraid. Jesus is the EYE of the hurricane. If we will walk in Him during the storms of life, then we can walk in Psalm 91 and be safe in Him. After all, He is our PEACE.
In order to do this, we must renovate the old things that the former tenant left in this house. The old man had no inkling of Who Jesus really is or what the Word says to do. In Ephesians 5:24-25 (Amplified) Paul says, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ Loved the Church, and gave Himself up for her. So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word."
The Word will wash out and cleanse the senses. When God's Word is fed into the carnal mind of man, and changes and cleans the thinking of the old man, thus renewing the thinking to the Holy Spirit. We don't have a problem with the body, only where you tell the body and allow the body to go. I can't do or go anywhere, my head didn't tell it too. It won't even get up and go to work, unless I tell it too. When Paul speaks about the flesh, he's speaking about the senses and a carnal mind, not the house. I built a house 35 years ago and I'm still living there. It has never moved from the foundation. Not once. It doesn't move without help.
Our walk with God has been determined by how many of the old man's possessions we have kept in the house we now live in. The amount of renovation is determined by the new occupant. Some seem to like the old recliner and have decided to keep it in the house. This is the place we make ourselves comfortable and allow ourselves to relax. This is as far as some will take the renovating process. Others, though, will renovate the entire house. As long as the house is painted and welcoming on the outside, many will be satisfied. That's alright, I guess, because it is their house and they're the ones who have to live there.
Don't get tired and decide that your house is "as good as the house down the road." We often judge ourselves by what the other churches are doing or not doing, and then we can justify sitting down in that recliner. Some preach about the Holy Spirit and speaking in unknown tongues, while others do not. Because the other churches aren't teaching about these things, doesn't mean we've arrived and can sit and relax because we do. Speaking in tongues is a starting point to greater things of God and not a completion. It's a place in the renovation process of the old house, by the Spirit of God. Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified), "For one who speaks in an (unknown) tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret Truths and hidden things (not obvious to the understanding)."
This is a starting place to receiving the revelation knowledge (the hidden things of God) from the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 4:7 (Amplified) says, "The beginning of Wisdom is; get wisdom (skillful and Godly wisdom) (For skillful and Godly wisdom is the principal thing) And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation)." This is what speaking in tongues is for..."TO GET WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING."
This is the language of the new creation man and is speaking in the Spirit for the Wisdom and the counsel of God. If this is used properly, then it will open revelation and insight into the mysteries of GOd. Since they are Spiritual insight and wisdom, they must be received in your spirit and transferred into your mind and put into control of the senses that once led us the wrong way.
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