He is Risen!

Lesson 20 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing, and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     John 1:1-5,14-16 (Amplified) says, "In the beginning (before all time), was the Word (Christ) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it (put it our, or absorbed it, or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it)."
     Verses 14-16 tell us, "And the Word (Christ), became Flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of Flesh), lived awhile among us; and we actually saw His Glory, His honor, His majesty, such Glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of Grace, favor, Loving-kindness, and Truth. For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received (all had a share and were all supplied with) one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor, and Gift heaped upon Gift."
     We don't often connect the following scripture to the above ones, but I think we should.  John 1:14 (Amplified) says, "The Word became Flesh."  In Isaiah 55:11-13 (Amplified) God gives one of the Greatest and most Glorious Promises to us, in Jesus, saying, "So shall My Word be that goes forth out of My Mouth, it shall not return to Me voice (without producing any effect, useless), but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the things for which I sent it. For you shall go out from the Spiritual exile caused by sin and evil into the homeland with joy and be led forth by your Leader (the Lord Himself) and His Word, with peace; the mountains and hills shall break forth before you into singing and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the Cypress tee, and instead of the briar shall come up the Myrtle tree, and it shall be to the Lord for a name of renown, for an everlasting sign of jubilant exaltation and memorial to His Praise which shall not be cut off."
     The "Word that became Flesh" is the Same Word that will "not return to the Father" without accomplishing exactly what He sent It forth to do.  All God's Promises to us are fulfilled in this Indestructible Word.  Some say, "These Promises aren't for us today," but with God, these Promises are fulfilled when His Word (Jesus) returned to Him at His resurrection.  The Father said this about His Word returning to Him in Philippians 2:6-11 (Amplified), "Who, although Being essentially One with God and in the Form of God, possessing the fullness of attributes which make God, God, did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, But stripped Himself of all privileges and rightful dignity, so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in Human Ford, He abased and humbled Himself still further and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross."  Verses 9-11 go on, "Therefore, because He stooped so low, God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name. That in (at) the Name of Jesus every knee should, MUST BOW in Heaven, and on earth and under the earth And every tongue frankly and openly confess and acknowledge, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father."
     The Word didn't return to God void or without accomplishing everything the Father sent Him here to accomplish.  When we understand the power of God's Word, we receive the Promise the Father made to us by His powerful, Almighty and Everlasting Word and give the Name of Jesus full authority in our lives.  It only take faith in God's Word, Jesus.  To see the full extent of the exaltation of God's Word (Jesus), we need to look at Psalm 138:2 (Amplified) which says, "I will worship toward Your Holy Temple and praise Your Name for Your Loving-kindness and Your Truth and faithfulness. For You have exalted above all else Your Name and YOUR WORD and You have magnified YOUR WORD above all Your Name."  Philippians 2:10 (Amplified) says, "That at the Name of Jesus, every knee should, must bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth."  Jesus' Name is the NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES.
     John writes in Revelations 19:11-13 (Amplified), "After that I saw Heaven opened, and behold, a white horse appeared! The One Who was riding it is called Faithful, Trustworthy, Loyal, Incorruptible, Steady and True, and He passes judgment and wages war in righteousness, holiness, justice, and uprightness. His eyes blaze like a flame of fire: and on His Head are many kingly crowns (diadems), and He has a Title (Name inscribed) which He Alone knows or can understand. He is dressed in a robe dyed by dipping in Blood, and the Title by which He is called is, THE WORD OF GOD."
     We'll soon be celebrating Resurrection Sunday and I want you to know and understand the full scope of what we're about to celebrate.  This is the Event that changed the entire universe.  Jesus' Resurrection didn't just make a way for us to go to Heaven when we die, but it was the complete of The Word returning in fulfillment of the will, purpose, heart and Promise of our Heavenly Father.  Jesus' Resurrection fulfilled the Promise of God and returned everything back to His Original Intent, from the beginning.
     Through Jesus, the Word, Heaven is restored back to the sons of God.  Earth has been placed under their dominion and satan has lost his grip over all who will believe the Word of God.  In Heaven, on earth and under the earth, everything has now been made subject through Jesus Christ, Who is the Living, Exalted, Everlasting, Word of God.  Although some will not accept or acknowledge the Power of that Name, in the end, everyone will bow their knee and proclaim that "Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father."  HE IS RISEN.  ALLELUIA.  AMEN. 
     
    

Lesson 19 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:17 (Amplified) tells us, "For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     The Church has been successful at leading others to Christ and getting them born-again, but we haven't been good at nourishing and maturing those new creation beings, who were given Life at the new birth.  We haven't fully understood the full Truth of the removal of sin in the believer's life, which leads us to teach about curtailing sins of the flesh.
     God gave the Law through Moses, in order to curtail and discipline the sins of the flesh.  God did this because man was spiritually dead and had no control over his death ruled spirit.  God established the Law, in order to deal with man's sins and covering those sins by the blood of bulls and goats.  Grace and Truth came through Jesus and God was no longer hindered by the flesh and the sins of fleshly men.  God now again had access to the Life of Christ being within mankind.
     The Church has laid down rules and laws, in order to govern the sins of the flesh, but we haven't been successful in doing so.  Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (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."
     We've been trying to control sin in the flesh and by the flesh, which leaves us in constant turmoil.  Jesus said that, "A house divided cannot stand."  We've divided the spirit from the flesh and tried leading a spirit life by the rules of the flesh.  This is a house that is divided.  When we train up the Spirit of God in our spirit, then by faith in His Life within, we can bring the flesh into subjection to the Spirit and God's Word.  Jesus said that, "The flesh conveys no benefit whatever."  That's because it is constantly opposing the spirit.
     The flesh has ruled most all mankind from Adam on.  We've walked in the appetites and controls of the flesh for millennium.  The flesh only does what it knows to do from past habits, because that's all it knows.  It hears right things, but has no power to do the right things.  Laws needed to be placed in the earth, with penalties for breaking them.  Killing, robbing or breaking these man-made laws, results in prison time or even death.  For some, the thought of penalty kept the flesh in line, but didn't work for everyone.
     The Church has been dealing with the flesh, by the flesh.  We've failed to teach the things and Promises of the Spirit, to the spirit.  This has left the new creation spirit to remain in childlike state.  The compassion we have for others who are being tormented by the appetites of their flesh, is real, but it doesn't change anything.  Meaning well, we try "being there for others," but the same problems seem to constantly reoccur.  That's when we decide, "It must be God's will for us to struggle in these weaknesses."  We deal with spiritual problems, with the external, carnal reasoning and sympathy.  The problems of the flesh are provoked by the spirit of a fallen nature.
     We seldom recognize that the fleshly warfare is actually "the spiritual wickedness in high places."  Sickness and disease come from the same spirit who has controlled mankind since Adam's transgression in the Garden of Eden.  Oppression and depression are spiritual clouds over mankind.  We've looked at these things from the point of view of the natural man, which tells us "these things are just natural."  It was never God's will for His children.  We've been trying to win a spiritual battle, by earthly carnal weapons, which leads to failure.
     The Church doesn't have any idea about who we are and who the Father has born us to be.  We believe that Heave is our home, but don't believe much else has changed in our earthly lives.  We've taken a stand against sin and wrong doing, but have a difficult time holding sin at bay in our lives.  When pushed hard enough with hardship, most of us will resort back to the flesh.
     All the power, ability, authority, Blessing and relationship with the Father come by, and through, His Spirit being united spirit within us.  When we don't have knowledge of Who is living in and through our spirit, we act and respond as mere men and women.  We are helpless, if we don't have God's Wisdom and knowledge in our spirit.  The flesh cannot be ruled by the flesh.  Without the Holy Spirit, the flesh has no ability to do what it should.  That's why God brought about the new covenant, according to Romans 7:14-25 (Amplified).  Paul was raised under the Law and now is dealing with himself by the Holy Spirit's revelation of Grace.  Paul writes about the Law being spiritual, but because of the Law, he is a "creature of the flesh and sold into slavery by the control of sin."  There wasn't anything wrong with the Law, it was perfect, but carnal man couldn't live it perfectly by his carnal mind and simple flesh.
     Paul speaks about his walk with the Lord and the Revelation Jesus gave him.  He spoke about struggling to do what was right, but how the impulses of the flesh opposed him at every turn.  Many will read about Paul's struggles and say, "Paul never overcame them."  If you allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the Grace and Truth that came through Jesus, then you will see and hear how Paul obtained victory over sin in his life.
     Paul cries out in Verse 24 saying, "Oh unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from the shackles of this body of death?"  Pay attention to the Light of deliverance Paul was given in Verse 25 which says, "Oh thank God! He will! Through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the Law of sin."
     Paul didn't start a new chapter, but most of us stop reading there and fail to read the rest of his letter.  Paul continued answering his question (and ours too), "Who will deliver me? in Romans 8:1-4 (Amplified) saying, "Therefore (since God has delivered me through Jesus) There is now no condemnation, no adjudging of guilt or wrong for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit."  It wasn't that Paul's flesh wouldn't try dictating its desires to him, but now the Holy Spirit can dictate Grace and Truth from Paul's spirit, and the spirit controls the flesh.  Verse 2 says, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus, the Law of my new being, has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
     Paul stopped trying to conquer sin and the flesh, by his works of the flesh.  He allowed the Law of his new being, to take authority over his flesh, by the Spirit.  He continues in Verses 3-4, "For GOd has done what the Law could not do, it's power being weakened by the flesh, the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit, Sending His Own Son, in the Guise of sinful flesh and as an Offering for sin, God condemned sin in the flesh (subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power) over all who accept that Sacrifice. So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit, our lives not governed by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit."
     Before Jesus, man only had his flesh to try walking in a Spiritual Law.  Man's flesh was weak in sin and couldn't live up to the perfection of the Law.  Paul struggled with this very thing in his life, until he met Jesus and declared, "God has done what the Law could not it, it's [Law's] power being weakened by the flesh."  Through Jesus and the fulfillment of the Promise of the Holy Spirit, we have been given Life and power over sin and death.  As new creation people, we've been endued with the authority, ability, power and Wisdom of God, because His Spirit is infused with our spirit.  This restoration has brought our spirit being into a place of supremacy over the flesh.  Our spirit takes dominion over our carnal selves, so we can walk in the victory of Jesus.
     We've missed so much Truth, concerning what Jesus did for us.  We sing, shout, lift our hands and listen to a 30 minute "Feel Good" sermon on Sunday, and then we fall under the same things the world walk in the next day.  We declare "None are righteous, no not one" and moan about how "We're so unworthy" or "That's just how things are."  We don't learn to contain our vocabulary.  We aren't selective about what we hear and say and walk like none of God's Promises are True.
     We've mostly been taught from people who are led by the carnal mind, instead of the new creation.  This isn't saying that they're not good people or don't have good hearts.  But, we haven't been weaned from milk to meat, from baby to maturity and from flesh to Spirit.  We run into the same opposition that Jesus endured from religious people, who opposed His earthly ministry.  Jesus' Message was new to those who heard it and was in opposition to man's ways and ideas, which resulted in anger, disbelief, and their fear of the unknown.  We haven't progress much from that time, or so it seems.
     Those of us who are born-again (even if we don't understand it), are the perfection of God's new creation.  The lack of understanding, doesn't disqualify us, but it does hold us back from seeing the Promise of the Spirit.  The Promise has been restored and is available to all who are born-again and will simply receive it by faith.  We are being perfected for a work that this world has never yet seen.  We're being groomed to bring in the End Time Harvest of God's family, by and through the Super-natural Spirit of God.

    

Lesson 18 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:17 (Amplified) tells us, "For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing, and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     The "Spiritual Blessing," from the above scripture, is the "Life" Jesus spoke about in John 10:10 (Amplified).  Thus, He says, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy Life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
     For years, the Church has debated about the spiritual death that Adam brought forth in his Garden transgression.  Many have tried comprehending this death in the carnal mind, like the religious people of Jesus' days.  Jesus' statement that, "I came that you may have Life," provoked such a debate among those who were listening.  Those who were present when Jesus said this, were alive and hearing His Words, but most had no idea what He was talking about.
     Today's Church is trying to comprehend our new creation man and our new covenant or relationship with the Father.  Since we don't understand it in our finite minds, we've missed so much of the Blessing of the Spirit.  Paul writes to the Church in Galatians 3:14 (Amplified) saying, "To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing Promised to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."
     Many believe Paul was speaking about the Day of Pentecost, when they received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues, "as the Spirit gave them utterance."  This is true, but this isn't the full understanding of what came unto mankind  The actual Promise entailed God's indwelling His Own children and restoring mankind back to His original intent.  Before Jesus came, God could only deal with spiritually dead men from the outside, through their flesh.  Now, God can actually live in man again, by giving His Life to us through His Spirit Who lives inside us.
     Paul was speaking about an Old Testament prophecy found in Habakkuk 2:2-3 (Amplified) which says, "And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may be able to read it easily and quickly as he hastens by. For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end fulfillment; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait earnestly for it, because it will surely come, it will not be behind hand on its appointed day."
     Thus, Paul quotes the above scripture in Hebrews 10:37-38 (Amplified) saying, "For still a little while, a very little while and the Coming One will come and He will not delay. But the just shall live by his conviction respecting man's relationship to God and Divine things, and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it; and if he draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him."
     Paul speaks about "living by faith" and quoting the same prophet Habakkuk, in Romans 1:17 (Amplified) saying, "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."
     The Life we know in our body, isn't the Life which God gave by His Spirit.  In Galatians 2:20 (Amplified) Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ; in Him I have share His crucifixion: It is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the Life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherance to and reliance on and complete trust in), the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
     Now, we can understand what the Word is saying about "living by faith."  When we received Jesus Christ by faith, we also received the Life and Promise of Life, through the Holy Spirit of God, by that same faith.  Paul says, "And the Life in now live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God."  Now that we have by faith, been granted Grace, the Life of the Spirit (the Promise of the Spirit) can be fulfilled within us.
     God's Promise of the Spirit couldn't be fulfilled in a man who was spiritually dead.  When we received Life through Jesus, all God's Promises can now be fulfilled and appropriated, but only through faith.  This is why Paul writes in Romans 1:17 (Amplified), "For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith [we were made the righteousness of God by faith] and leading to faith [all the other Promises in this righteousness are also ascribed through God by faith too] disclosed through the way of faith [only the Holy Spirit can reveal them to us and must be appropriated by faith as well] that arouses to more faith [the more we understand by faith, the more assurance we have in this Life of faith] as it is written, The man who through faith is just [we are justified and upright and righteous before God by our faith in Jesus] shall live and shall live by faith."
     Without faith in the life we receive in Jesus, we are still dead to the spirit.  Now, in Him, all the Promises God made to mankind, can be manifested by our new life in the Spirit.  These are the Promises of the Spirit.  When God Blessed mankind, he was a spirit.  Only in the spirit, did man have these Promises of God.  Through his spirit, man had dominion and provision in every aspect of his life (spirit, soul and body).  When man died in his spirit, he could no longer receive or fulfill God's Promises to him.
     Through our faith in Jesus, Life has now been restored again in our spirit.  His Life and His Spirit now live in our spirit.  God's Promises of the Spirit are ours and can be once again be activated by our new Life.  We have dominion over our flesh and soul, in this Life, to fulfill God's Promises by and through the Holy Spirit.  That is our Life.  Trying to make these Promises true in our carnal minds and flesh, without the faith in the Spirit, is futile and has no life in it.  All of our strength, hope, ability and Life, comes only through our faith in the Spirit.
     God took care of the sin problem which brought spiritual death, so He could now indwell in us, be a Father to us and do what His heart has longer to do from the beginning.  We were and still are made in His Image and Likeness, according to John 4:24 (Amplified) where Jesus said, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (reality)."  All God's Promises came form the Spirit, are upheld by His Spirit and are activated by faith in His Spirit.  They overflow into the flesh and soul, into this natural realm, but they are empowered by the spirit.
     Trying to become righteous by the work of the flesh, is useless.  Righteousness that God ascribes or accepts, is by faith in the righteousness He impart to us through Jesus.  This righteousness and justification can only be received by faith in the One Whom He sent to justify us.  Though they might be well meaning, man-made efforts cannot establish righteousness before God.  The Promise of the Spirit was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost and is only realized by faith in Jesus Christ.  This Promise encompasses all the Heavenly and earthly ability God Promised before the foundation of the earth.  We haven't understood this enough, to allow it to work in our lives that are in Christ Jesus.
    

Lesson 17 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing, and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     John 6:29 (Amplified) tells us, "Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God requires (asks of you); that you believe in the One Whom He has sent (that you cleave to,trust in, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger)."
     Grace and Truth have now come through Jesus Christ, and we're no longer required to do what the Law required, in order to receive God's Blessing and favor.  The only thing required, is that we believe Jesus met all the requirements ever needed for us to receive.  We don't need to continually make sacrifice and burn offerings for our sins and trespasses.  We must only believe that Jesus was the Last Sacrifice for all time.  This doesn't mean we can sin without consequence, but that all our sin has been dealt with at the cross.  1John 1:9 (Amplified) says, "If we freely admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just, True to His Own nature and Promises, and will forgive our sins (dismiss our lawlessness), and continually cleanse us from all unrighteousness, everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought and action."
     We haven't been given a license or permission to sin, but if (and when we do) sin, we approach God in faith of His Word and "trust in, rely on, and have faith in Jesus for our cleansing.  In order to receive our cleansing, we must believe in the One Whom God has sent.  This is the requirement that God asks of us today.  This is the rest that the Holy Spirit speaks about in Hebrews 4:10 (Amplified) which says, "For he who has once entered God's rest also has ceased from the weariness and pain of human labors, just as God rested from those labors, peculiarly His Own."
     Many have fallen under oppression and condemnation from past sin, believing God cannot use them.  This has led to their believing God will not hear them or that they can approach Him in faith.  We have a difficult time entering into worship and praise, because we believe satan's lies and feel unworthy and unrighteous.  Grace isn't a license or endorsement to sin, but is God's favor and mercy to deliver us, in the event that we do sin.
     The misunderstanding of God's Grace, has led many into disobedience and lack of Truth.  Grace doesn't cover rebellion and disregard for Truth.  Our rest comes by not condemning and dismissing ourselves from God's Presence, but trusting in His Cleansing in Jesus by faith.  Our rest comes from not having to make sacrifice under the Law any longer, because Jesus is the Last Sacrifice.
     In Mark 4:23-24 (Amplified) Jesus said, "If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening, and let him perceive and comprehend. And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing, The measure of thought and study you give to the truth you hear, will be the measure of virtue and knowledge that comes back to you, and more besides will be given to you who hear."
     Notice how Jesus first said, "Be careful what you are hearing" and then He said, "To the truth you hear."  In John 8:31-32 (Amplified) Jesus said, "If you abide in My Word (hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them), yo are truly My disciples And you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."  He also said in Mark 4:24 (Amplified), "Be careful what you are hearing, the measure of thought and study to the Truth you hear."  We hear so many things that are not "Truth" or "rest," according to Grace.
     We've heard so many things taught, that hold us int bondage, instead of freeing us from it.  Grace has come to reveal the Truth.  We keep "feeling like we need to do something," in order to relieve the guilt of wrongdoing.  This puts rest, into a place of our own labors and sacrifice, instead of receiving by Grace, the Truth that sets us free.  Jesus said, "Be careful what you hear."  He wasn't only referring to the conversations of the world, but about the religious order of our time, too.
     We find the perfect example of "Being careful what we hear" and how the "Truth is measured out, by what we hear," in Numbers 13-14.  God instructed the Israelites to go into the Land He had given them, but when they saw the Land God had Promised, the people doubted God could take them into that Land.  Twelve men went into the "Land flowing with milk and honey."  Ten men came out with what the Lord called, "Evil reports."  They didn't abide in the Word and  their ears heard something different from Truth.
     Two million Israelites weren't "careful what they heard" and never entered into God's Rest.  We must become very selective about what we hear.  Some around us will say, "well meaning things," but if those things aren't Truth, then they will not receive the "30, 60 hundred fold Harvest," Jesus spoke about in Mark 4:24 (Amplified).  The Truth is what sets us free.  The good or bad things we hear, bring forth a harvest, but only Truth will bring forth God's Promised Harvest.  The Israelites received a harvest, that wasn't what God intended, but was according to what they heard and accepted as "truth."
     We read about this in Hebrews 4:6-11 (Amplified) which says, "Seeing then that the Promise remains over from past times for some to enter that rest, and that those who formerly were given the Good News about it and the opportunity, failed to operate in it and did not enter in because of disobedience."  Verses 7-11 continue, "Again He sets a definite day, a new today, and gives another opportunity of securing that rest, saying through David after so long a time in the Words already quoted, TODAY, if you would hear His Voice and when you hear it do not harden your hearts This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan, For if Joshua had given them rest, He, God would not speak afterward about another day. So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath rest reserved for the true people of God. For he who has once entered God's rest also has ceased from the weariness and pain of human labors, just as God rested from those labors, peculiarly His Own. Let us there be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest of God (to know and experience it for ourselves), that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience into which those in the Wilderness fell."
     The simplicity of God's Promised Truth and Grace have already been done in Jesus.  Jesus did everything required for us to be righteous, cleansed, holy, blessed, sanctified, heirs, healed, exalted, consecrated and accepted by God.  By faith, we must stop striving to make things happen and rest in what Jesus has done for us.
     We must take the Truth and receive it into our hearts, allowing it to abide in us.  We must then, allow ourselves to abide in Jesus.  We will then "Know the Truth (the Word) and it will make us free."  2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "Every scripture is God-breathed (given by His Inspiration) and 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. So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
     When we give thought and study to the Truth of God's Word, then it will be measured back to us 100 fold.  We must be careful in what we hear.  The only we're required to do, is believe what the Father sent Jesus to do for us and allow that Word to make us free.  We no longer offer sacrifices, perform rituals and traditions, do our own works, because Grace is sufficient for every need.  If we sin, then we must confess it before Jesus and leave it there, rest in God's Grace and continue running the Good race.   

Lesson 16 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     Psalm 85:10-11 (Amplified) says, "Mercy and Loving-Kindness and Truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring up from the earth, and righteousness shall look down from Heaven."
     John 6:28-29 (Amplified) says, "Then they said, What are we to do, that we may habitually be working the works of God? What are we to do to carry out what God requires?"  This is the same question we ask today, "What must we do to do His works and what does God expect of me?"  Jesus answers in Verse 29, "This is the work, service that God asks of you; that you believe in the One Whom He has sent (that you cleave to, trust in, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger)."
     Everything I've been writing about in these lessons, is something to believe and not something we must do.  The Body of Christ is divided by so many teachings today, that we can't seem to understand Jesus answered this for us, in His one statement.  He said, "This is the work God asks of you; that you believe in Me."  Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified) says, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed), of things we hope for, being proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality, faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses."
     We either ignore the Promises of God and believe they're "For when we leave this life" or we invent excuses why they're not being manifested in our lives.  We speak about healing, like it's the lottery and "My number didn't win."  We're divided about righteousness and sanctification, and believe they're unattainable in this life.  We've established man-made rituals and laws, that must be performed in order to "qualify" for things from God.
     We've tried earning and deserving things that God has freely given to us, through Christ Jesus.  We've decided that "These things must not be God's will for our lives," because we don't see them working in our own lives or the lives of others.  Many have spoken to me about these lessons on Grace and Truth, saying, "These things aren't for everyone" or "These things are for only a few people God has chosen."
     Tradition and opinion have caused God's Word to be of no effect in the lives of most of His children.  We either believe that "God is hard to please" or "It didn't work for that person, so he must be in sin."  We try making the Word work for us, according to our own ideas.  We don't allow the Word to work by simple faith.  We've labeled some people as "Faith people," some as "Word people," some as "Fanatics" and some as "Cult people" simply because they believe in a different way or in a way that others don't understand.
     There's no "Formula" for healing, prosperity, peace or any other Promise of God.  We're still trying to "make it work," instead of letting it work.  One is by our own man-made religion and ideas, while the other is by faith in God's Grace.  The above scripture tells us that, "Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ and through Jesus Christ."  All that is need to make it work, is found in John 6:29 where Jesus said, "This is the work that God asks of you, that you believe in the One Whom God sent."
     Paul writes in 2Corinthians 1:18-22 (Amplified), "As surely as God is Trustworthy and Faithful and means what He says, our speech and message to you have not been Yes that might mean No. For the Son of God, Christ Jesus (the Messiah) Who has been preached among you by us (by myself and Silvanus, and Timothy), was not Yes and No, but in Him it is always the Divine Yes. For as many as are the Promises of God, they all find their Yes answer in Him, Christ. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it), to God through Him, in His Person and by His Agency to the Glory of God."  Verse 21-22 go on, "But it is God Who confirms and makes us steadfast and establishes us in joint fellowship with you in Christ, and has consecrated and anointed us with enduing us with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. He has also appropriated and acknowledge us as His by putting His Seal upon us and giving us His Holy Spirit in our hearts as the security deposit and guarantee of the fulfillment of His Promise."
     The only way these scriptures make a difference in your life, is by Grace and Truth that is in Christ Jesus.  Through the Holy Spirit, Paul declares to us above, that "All of God's Promise to us through Jesus, are Yes and Amen to the Glory of God."  We don't "make God honor His Promises," He has already fulfilled and honored them through Jesus.  We need only to declare they are "Yes and Amen" by faith.  Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified) says, "Now faith is the assurance, confirmation, title deed of the things we do not see and the conviction of their reality."
     God isn't "moved by the majority," like a democracy.  He is Sovereign and moves only by faith in His Word.  If one man believes, even though someone else doesn't, then God will honor His Promise to the one who does believe.  John 3:16 tells us that, "God loved the whole world and gave Jesus for our deliverance."  The Promise was "Yes and Amen," to "whosoever believes."
     God's Promise of healing, the removal of transgression and the chastisement our peace, found in Isaiah 53:4-5, was placed on Jesus for us.  These Eternal Promises were made ours, through the One Sacrifice of Jesus.  There's nothing I must do, in order to make them true.  I'm only required to honor God's Promise of Grace, by Truth and accept it as True in my life.  God made us more Promises in Jesus.
     The Lord says in Isaiah 54:17 (Amplified), "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."
     The above Promises are "Yes and Amen to the Glory of God" and must be received by Grace through faith.  Everyone who has received Jesus as his/her Lord and Savior, has received these Promises as the new creation child of God, but many still don't accept these Promises in the natural body they live in.  They are already ours by birth, but we continue trying to earn them, by works.
     These Promises include salvation, according to Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) which says, "For it is by FREE GRACE (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through your faith. And this salvation is not of yourselves, of your own doing, it came not through your own striving, but it is the Gift of God."  Grace and Truth came through Jesus.  We must only believe God's Promise that, "All who call upon the Name of the Lord will be saved."
     The Promise of salvation is "Yes and Amen" to all who believe and accept God at His Truth.  Why is it, that we can believe only certain things and not others?  We cannot prove our salvation by seeing it, because it came into our spirit.  We've tried dressing a certain way, observing days, and eating only certain meats just like those under the Law, in order to "prove" our salvation.  I've discovered that I can wear my cowboy boots, hat, and Levis, and still be saved.  Some might not believe that, but God never told me to wear a suit.
     I can walk naturally Super-natural by His Truth, by having faith in His Promises and receiving the Grace He gave to me to have faith.  I don't need to accept what the majority thinks about this.  I only have to accept what my Heavenly Father says.  Most of the Israelites disagreed with Joshua and Caleb, but God didn't stop His Promise because of their unbelief.  God fulfilled His Promise to those who did believe.  If you will simply accept His Yes and Amen to His Promises, then God will honor His Word for you, even though others disagree.
     We still deny God's Promise of righteousness through Christ Jesus, instead of accepting our Gift of righteousness by His Promise.  You are already righteous, by receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior, but refusing to believe in this Promised Gift has hindered our fellowship with the Father.  In Isaiah 61:1-2 (Amplified) God reveals His Great Promise, saying, "To grant consolation and joy to those who mourn in Zion, to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem of beauty) instead of ashes, to give the oil of joy instead of mourning; the garment expressive of praise instead of a heavy burdened and failing spirit-that they may be called oaks of righteousness (lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice and right standing with God) the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." 
     
     
    

Lesson 15 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     Acts 3:3-5 (Amplified) says, "So when he saw Peter and John about to go into the Temple, he asked them to give him a gift. And Peter directed his gaze intently at him, and so did John, and said, Look at us! And the man paid attention to them, expecting that he was going to get something from them."
     Today's Church is missing the expectation that we will receive anything from the Father.  Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified) says, "Now faith is the assurance, the confirmation, the title deed, of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality, faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses."
     The Concordance #1679 says that word "hope" means to "expect or confide; have, thing hope for, trust."  #1680 says "hope" means, "to anticipate, usually with pleasure, expectation or confidence-faith, hope."
     It seems like we don't expect God to do what we've petitioned Him for.  Our faith, hope, trust and confidence is being held back by our senses, because we're waiting for "proof," before we believe or trust God to do it for us.  We wait for our senses to reveal it to us, before we will believe.
     Jairus asked Jesus to come, lay hands on and heal his sick daughter in Mark 5:35-36 (Amplified).   Jesus was dealing with the woman with the issue of blood when Jairus requested this and his daughter passed away before Jesus could reach her.  Thus, it says, "While He, Jesus, was still speaking, there came some from the ruler's house who said to Jairus, Your daughter has died. Why bother and distress the Teacher any further? Overhearing but ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing."
     Surely, the above scriptures are about a time when faith and trust were tested.  Jairus couldn't "see" what he had hoped for, but faith in Jesus would bring hope or expectation in the face of total failure to his senses.  Jesus didn't apologize for expending too much time on the woman with the issue of blood, but simply directed Jairus to "Keep on believing."  The hope or expectation of Jairus had to come by faith and trust in what Jesus said.  He didn't "see" his daughter healed, nor did he have hope in what the men said to him.  Jairus only had hope, the favorable and confident expectation and faith as proof of things he couldn't see.
     The woman with the issue of blood, placed all of her faith into simply "touching His garments."  Her hope and expectations were so strong, that she put her life in jeopardy and went into public with her unclean flow of blood.  This woman's hope was so strong, that when (and only when) she touched Jesus, her flow of blood was dried and then she felt that she was made whole from her disease.  She fully expected, that when she touched Jesus' garments, her healing was there.
     We don't define hope as a sense of expectation, but "wishing it might be."  Most of our hope isn't faith based, but wishing or dreaming of something far away that might happen someday.  We find God's account of Abraham in Romans 4:16-20.  God was so impressed by this man's trust and faith and expectation, that God called Abraham "the father of us all" and "the father of our faith."
     Abraham was 100 years old and his wife Sarah was in her nineties and had been barren her entire life.  God's giving them a son at their age, was so far beyond the natural senses, that it was impossible for men.  Verses 18-20 says, "For Abraham, human reason for hope being gone, hope in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been Promised, so numberless shall your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the utter impotence of his own body which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's deadened womb. No unbelief or distrust made him waver, doubtingly question concerning the Promise of God, but he grew strong and was empower by faith as he gave praise and glory to God. Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He had Promised."
     In Genesis 17:21-22 (Amplified) God said, "But My covenant (My Promise and pledge), I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year. And God stopped talking with him and went up from Abraham."  There was no proof of Abraham's son Isaac, there was no sign of a child, and there was no reason to think Abraham and Sarah would have one.  There was only hope based in faith and the expectation that God's Word and Promises were true that, "This time next year, she will bear you a son."
     After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His followers in John 20:29 (Amplified).  One of His disciples, Thomas, would't believe in Him, until he could see Jesus.  "Jesus said to him, Because yo have seen Me, Thomas, do you now believe (trust) have faith? Blessed, happy and to be envied are those who have never seen Me and yet have believed and adhered to and trusted in and relied on Me."
     Most of us have never seen Jesus, except by the Word, but we believe that He is.  We don't differ much from Thomas, when it comes to the manifestation of His Presence in our lives though.  If we can see healings, miracles and the manifestation of Jesus, then we will "believe," like Thomas did.  After all, the old saying, "Seeing is believing" got it's start somewhere.  We have yet to use our hope as expectation of our faith and see the Truth of Him in the Word.
     The Word doesn't say, "Faith comes by seeing."  Romans 10:17 (Amplified) tells us that "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God."  The Israelites in the Wilderness, saw more miracles than anyone could ever hope to see, but their seeing grew dim.  Their faith was no longer enough.  We go from revival to revival, in order to see the manifestation of His Truth, but after awhile, the revival and seeing begin to wear off.  This is mostly sense faith and not necessarily Word faith.  Only Word faith will hold onto Truth.  When Abraham couldn't see a tangible sign or tangible reason for hope by the senses, his faith in God's Promise made it come to pass.
     Every person has his own faith and hope in God and His Word.  Many have fought long and hard to hold onto hope that will bring the manifestation of faith into their lives.  "Faith is the substance of things hoped for."  When there's no hope, faith no longer has a goal or a finish to manifest itself in.  Now, you can better understand "The Parable of the Sower" in Mark 4:16-17 (Amplified)  where Jesus said, "And in the same way the ones sown on stony ground are those who, when they hear the Word, at once receive and accept and welcome it with joy; And they have no real root in themselves, and so they endure for a little while; then when trouble and persecution arises on account of the Word, they immediately are offended, become displease, indignant, resentful and they stumble and fall away."
     Hope has been destroyed by the destroyer satan and faith is left impotent in manifestation of that hope.  Jesus said in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy."  Jesus meant this and He wasn't only speaking about the physical realm, but about the spiritual realm.  Faith, hope and Love are all in the Spirit realm.  Satan will steal your hope, kill your faith for whatever hope has laid out and destroy your confidence in God's ability to do what He said in this realm.  Our hope has been transferred into the life after death and our faith is placed into after we leave this earth.  Our love is holding onto "When we die and enter our new home in Heaven."  This has happened because, our root in ourselves isn't Word based, but sense based.
     Sense knowledge is unreliable in the spirit realm.  It can be rooted out by another word or display of sense knowledge.  Many have their faith destroyed, through seeing and hearing about what has happened to other believers.  We don't have any idea what others truly believe.  We might hear them speak about faith, but we still don't know what they truly believe.  We must put our faith in God and His Word.  We must not be moved by what others believe or don't believe.  You must guard your heart  from words (seeds) of doubt, unbelief, and the testimony of those who testify against God's Word.  Make your walk with God, your own.  Be selective about the things you watch, hear and believe.  Heed Jesus' Words in Mark 4:19-24 (Amplified) where He said, "Be careful what you are hearing."  Word Seeds that are contrary to God's Word Seeds, will produce and become the "thorns
 and weeds that crowd out the Word in your life."



 

    

Lesson 14 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

      John 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     The Truth, Grace and Blessing that came through Jesus, are for all who will believe in the redemptive power of His Sacrifice.  Grace has been granted to everyone who is saved and the same faith in God's Grace that gave us new life and salvation, is also appropriated by the same faith in that Grace.
     Salvation has been offered to the whole world, according to John 3:16, but each person must put faith in this salvation.  We receive from our Heavenly Father, what we accept by faith.  A great hindrance to receiving from our inheritance has been what we believe is or isn't ours through Jesus.  Many have expressed faith in their salvation entails, saying such things as, "I don't believe in this confession thing" or "I don't believe in speaking in tongues."
     We speak our faith (or lack thereof) by the things we've learned (or haven't learned) through the years.  Jesus was beside a lake, teaching people in Mark 4:1-41 (Amplified), when the crowd grew to such a size that He stepped into a small ship to teach them.  He taught a Parable that many consider to be His most important, concerning how the Kingdom of Heaven operates.  Many just believe "it's just another Parable," but to those who have ears to hear, it was a Revelation of the Laws that govern our new Life in Him.
     Verse 11 tells us, "And He said to them, To you has been entrusted the Mystery of the Kingdom of God which are hidden from the ungodly; but for those outside our circle everything become a parable."
     Verse 13 continues, "And He said to them, Do you not discern and understand this Parable? How then is it possible for you to discern and understand all the Parables?"  In other words, Jesus said that "This Parable is the key to understanding the Mystery of God's Kingdom."  We can receive Revelation of this Seed to the opening of the doors of the Kingdom and can understand what has been a Mystery until now.
     The Spiritual Laws that govern the Kingdom are upheld and administered by Words or Seeds.  The entire planet and the regions of the universe are governed and held in place, by Words.  Jesus was "The Word made Flesh," according to John 1:14 (Amplified) which says, "And the Word, Christ, became flesh (Human, Incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lives awhile) among us; and we actually saw His Glory, His Honor, His Majesty; such Glory as an Only Begotten Son receives from His Father, full of Grace, favor, Loving-Kindness and Truth."
     Jesus is the Harvest of the Seed or Word, that was sown into Mary's womb.  This Seed or Word is a great part of understanding the Mystery and secret counsel of God and His Kingdom.  1Peter 1:23 (Amplified) says, "You have been regenerated (born again) not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm) but from One that is Immortal by the Ever Living and Lasting Word of God."
     The Holy Spirit reveals in the above scripture, that the Word and Seed of God are One and the Same.  It wasn't just the Word that was spoke into Mary's womb, but was the Seed.  This is what Jesus was communicating to the people in Mark 4 and this is the Mystery of the Kingdom of God.  The people didn't discern or understand Jesus' Parable and we dismiss it and never adhere to it as being "important.  Only the Seed or Word that is sown into good (fertile) soil of the heart, will bring forth a harvest.  We've failed to discern and understand that all words are seeds.  This doesn't mean only God's Words.  All words will produce, if we accept them into our hearts or spirit.
     We've heard many teachings about the "Confession of our mouths."  We've dismissed much of them as being foolishness and error, but if we discern and understand what Jesus said, then we will see this is the Revelation to the Mystery and secret counsel of God and His Kingdom we're now part of.  We will see this is how the Kingdom works.
     In Jesus' Parable about the Sower, He taught that the seed are words, saying "The sower sows the Word."  In other words, what we hear and understand by God's Word, will produce in the spirits of God's children.  Jesus said that the words we speak out of our mouths, are seed that will produce.  All words will produce fruit, not just God's Words.  Jesus spoke about the actions of good and evil men in Matthew 12:37 (Amplified) saying, "For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced."
     If the words that come out of our hearts (spirit) are seeds that produce in our lives, then what we say and what we hear and believe, will produce in our lives and the lives of those we sow seeds into  We are both the soil and the sower.  Our hearts determine what we produce, from seeds we allow to be sown into it.  Whatever seeds (words) we all to be sown into our lives, will result in a harvest in our lives and the lives of others.
     We sow seeds in other's lives, that come from the harvest of our hearts.  Jesus said in Matthew 12:34 (Amplified) that, "From the abundance of our heart, the mouth speaks."  We've misunderstood His Parable and missed out on many things in our lives.  And, we've sowed some seeds into the lives of others, that brought forth a harvest that was contrary to the harvest of God's Kingdom.
     The Holy Spirit tells us about Jesus' earthly ministry in John 3:34 (Amplified) which says, "For since He Whom God has sent speaks the Words of God (proclaims God's Own Message), God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the Gift God makes of His Spirit."  Why was the Spirit given without measure?  Because Jesus only sowed Good Seed, only spoke God's Word.  Jesus spoke Kingdom Seed and it brought forth Kingdom Harvest, which was sons into Glory and Life and health to men.
     Jesus Christ was the Fruit or Harvest of the Seed, which was sown into Mary's womb.  We are the fruit (harvest) of the Word or Seed that was sown into our hearts.  The Seed of the Kingdom,which is God's Word, has brought forth fruit to Him.  We're sowers and Kingdom soil (born-again spirits), who have the ability to bring forth fruit.  We've been given the mandate to "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel" or "sow the Seeds of the Kingdom by words (seeds)."
     Jesus gave another Parable in Mark 4:23-24 (Amplified) saying, "If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend. And He said to them; Be careful what you are hearing. The measure of thought and study you give to the Truth you hear, will be the measure of virtue and knowledge that comes back to you, and more besides will be given to you who hear."  Jesus was speaking about "The secret counsels of God" that comes only by "being careful about what we hear and speak."
     We can receive bad seed and bring forth a wrong harvest, by speaking or sowing from that harvest.  Or, we can be careful what we hear, bring forth good things and sow good seed from that harvest, into the soil of other people's hearts (spirits).  Some would make light of what I'm teaching and disregard it.  Those who're seeking to grow and be used of the Master will be careful of what seeds (words) they allow to be sown in their hearts.
     All words are seeds.  God's Word in our hearts, will bring forth fruit and Blessing from God's Kingdom.  The words (seeds) of the world and the enemy, will also bring forth fruit into the kingdom of darkness and the misery of satan's harvest.  Good or bad seed will grow and produce in the heart of the believer, just as quickly as in the heart of an unsaved person.  Adam was instructed to "tend the garden."  We're to tend the garden of our hearts.
     We live with either good or bad, Blessing or cursing in our own lives, according to the choices we make about what we hear.  Jesus said in Mark 4:23-24 (Amplified), "If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend."  You are the gardener and overseer of what you allow to be sown in your heart.  Galatians 6:7 (Amplified) tells us, "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at, scorned or mocked by mere pretensions or professions or by His precepts being set aside; He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God. For whatsoever a man sows, that and only that is what he will reap."  Whether we speak and believe God's Word or the world's words, we will reap what we sown and have allowed into our hearts.
     James 1:26 (Amplified) says, "If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of the flesh) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this persons religious service is worthless (futile, barren)."
     All the external works we might do for faith, will come to no profit and will not produce the things we seek after, if our mouth and heart receives and sows wrong seed.  In 2Timothy 2:1-7 (Amplified) Paul writes, "So you, my son, be strong, strengthened inwardly in the Grace and Spiritual Blessing that is to be found in Christ Jesus. And the instructions which you have heard from me along with many witnesses, transmit and entrust as a deposit to reliable and faithful men who will be competent and qualified to teach others also Take with me your share of the hardships and sufferings which you are called to endure as a good first-class soldier of Jesus Christ."  Verses 4-8 go on, "No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of civilian life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him And if anyone enters competitive games, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully( fairly), according to the rules laid down. It is the hard-working farmer who labors to produce who must be the first partakers of the fruits. Think over these things I am saying, understand them and grasp their application, for the Lord will grant you full insight and understanding in everything."
     Keep the thought about farmers who sow seeds and how according to the operating rules laid down "they're to be the first partakers of the fruits" in mind and return to Mark 4:23-24 (Amplified) where Jesus gives the Parable of the Sower, saying, "If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend (the Lord will grant the full insight and understanding in everything) And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing, the measure of thought and study you give to the truth you hear, will be the measure of virtue and knowledge that comes back to you-and more besides will be given to you who hear."  2Timothy 2:6 (Amplified) says, "It is the hard-working farmer who labors to produce who must be the first partaker of the fruits."
     You become what you allow yourself to hear, whether good or bad.  You can only produce from seed (words) that have been sown in your heart.  You can only reap a good harvest, if you compete by the rules that have been laid down.  We reap either good or bad harvests, from the words we speak or sow after being saved.  If we sow God's Word in our lives, then we will produce Blessing.  If we receive and sow the words of the world in our hearts (spirits), then we'll reap them in our lives.  The farmer who labors is the first partaker of the fruits.
     It doesn't matter whether or not anyone else believes "We can have what we say."  As the hardworking farmer, you will be the first to enjoy the harvest  of your words, because you're "bringing forth good things from the abundance of your heart."  You are responsible for what you allow to be sown in your heart and you're the one who will be the first partaker of the Good Fruit of the Harvest.
     Jesus' statement of,  "Be careful what you hear," might be the most important one, concerning Kingdom rules.  You are the person who tends the heart.  In Proverbs 4:23-24 (Amplified) God says, "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow springs of Life. Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you."
     We must not just take it for granted, that everything we hear preached is Kingdom Seed, that will bring forth good fruit in our lives.  Paul tells us in Romans 10:3 (Amplified), "For being ignorant of the righteousness of God that ascribes which makes one acceptable to Him in word and deed, and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness."  2Timothy 2:5 says this about such persons, "He is not crowned unless he competes lawfully according to the rules laid down."

Lesson 13 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For though the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing, and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     God poured His long awaited favor and Blessings out on His family, by His Spirit, through Jesus.  We've limited the Blessings God desires to lavish upon us, to the senses or the natural realm.  The Same Spirit Who created all the natural realm around us, is the Same Spirit Who want to invade this natural realm and Bless us.  God's will for His family has always been to Bless and provide.  Most of all (if not all) that God wants for us, is still in the Spirit realm and because we don't understand this or are perhaps afraid to accept it, we struggle in the flesh to make His Blessing work.
     We see all the natural things in Jesus' ministry, that were provided by God's Spirit.  When the multitude needed food, Jesus went into the Spirit realm for provision.  When the storm was about to sink their ship, Jesus went to the Spirit realm and stopped the storm.  When people needed sight, cleansing, healing, deliverance or comfort, Jesus always drew from the Spirit realm.  At Lazarus' tomb, Jesus called for "Life," in the Spirit, saying, "Father, I thank You that You always hear Me."
     We've created multitudes of excuses for why He doesn't hear us.  We've seemingly drifted back into a semi-conscious mode of Christianity and have fallen asleep.  We've gone into a place of  entertainment, instead of intimacy with the Father, forgetting that our God is Super-natural.
     Hollywood and media are training the minds and senses of America, to the place that the Super-natural is a joke.  We have "Ghost Whisperers," "Ghost Brothers," "Supernatural," and "Lucifer" crowding our media programming.  The reality of God outside the four walls of our church buildings has been relegated to a debate.  We debate about whether or not "God still does these things."
     Many preachers are replacing the Gospel, with this new age, believing the Gospel is old fashioned.  After all, "This is the 21st century and we are more enlightened than previous generations," they say.  Do you honestly believe that the 21st century is ahead of God and that our technology is more advanced than He is?  The tares and wheat seem to be growing together, more than ever before.  There are things the Church has endorsed, that are completely against God's Word, but we consider them to be "Okay, because of Grace."
     God's Grace never intended the way some try using it today.  Grace was, and still is, the mercy and favor of Love, that Blesses us even when we don't deserve it.  Grace was never to "cover" deliberate, willful sinning or complete disregard for His Word.  Many see the Super-natural as being all demonic or just foolishness.  The only way of actually seeing what we were created to be, is by learning and accepting the Super-natural work of the Spirit of God in our daily lives.
     Paul taught the Church of Ephesus about the warfare, the enemy and the Armor of God.  We look at the natural things that come against us, as being "just the way things are," but satan's warfare and strategies are always calculated and deliberate and meant to oppress, deceive and distress the world and the Church.  Satan is an outlaw spirit, who is determined to steal, kill and to destroy.
     Acts 10:38 (Amplified) says, "How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with strength and ability and power; how He went about doing good and in particular, curing all who were harassed and oppressed by the power of the devil, for God was with Him." The things that harass, oppress and need cured, aren't "just the way life is," but are the strategies of satan.  It's not God "testing us," but is the deliberated work of an outlaw spirit, used to destroy your faith and belief in God.  We've failed to see the enemy for who he is, deciding "there's nothing we can do about it."  In 2Corinthians 12:7-10 (Amplified) Paul teaches about God's choosing him to bring the Revelation of His family and the new creation and about his being tormented by a "messenger of satan to buffet or harass him."  In Verses 9 God says to Paul, "My Grace is more than enough to deliver you."  Paul received the message in the next Verse, that he was defenseless as a mere man, but when he could nothing in himself, Grace stepped in and delivered him time and time again.
     Many read these scriptures to be about God testing and deliberately trying Paul, but Paul received a fuller Revelation of Grace from the Holy Spirit.  Paul stated that he looked for opportunities of his own weakness, in order to see the Power of God move on his behalf.  Many today, only see the weakness of our own mortal selves and accept those weaknesses, instead of reaching into the Higher place of Grace for our success.
     Paul went further in 2Corinthians 10:3-5 (Amplified) saying, "For though we walk (live in the flesh, are still living in this body), 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 In as much as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself against the True Knowledge of god, and we lead every though and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
     We hear the "lofty arguments, theories and reasonings" all the time about the natural things that beset us.  How many times have we heard the arguments about "This is just how life is" or "This isn't the work of the enemy, but it's God testing you?"  These are proud and lofty things that have set themselves up against the True Knowledge of God.  Some might say, "You act like everything is some sort of spiritual attack against you, Jim."  Well, according to Paul, they are!
     Not all demonic attacks are "spooky," but seem "natural," because we're unaware of the strategies of satan and don't see them as such.  There are only two kind of Spiritual sources at work on this planet.  One is God, the other is satan.  One is for your destruction, while the other for your good.  We need to get our hearts right on which is God and start putting faith in Him and His Grace, for our deliverance.  Don't be afraid of spiritual things, but be aware of which source the derive from.  The world has a "boogeyman complex," which causes us to deny nearly all the Spiritual Blessings that come through the Holy Spirit.
     I've witnessed the anointing and Presence of the Holy Spirit, frighten people in the Church, because it's so strong.  I've seen the things of satan enter into God's people and they don't recognize it as being from him.  I've heard false prophecies go forth and the Church doesn't even recognize they're false.  I've seen sin operate openly and unnoticed in the Church, resulting in the people hearing sermons about sin, without feeling uncomfortable.  This is the work of an unseen enemy, who we've nearly forgotten.
     One of satan's greatest moves against mankind, is his being unseen.  God's people still read horoscopes, visit fortune tellers, and have their palms read, without seeing anything wrong with doing these things.  Satan is subtle and cunning with his lies, which results in our being taken into captivity without even knowing it.
     I'm not proposing that we cast out a demon over everything that happens.  But, we are to discern what is evil and what is Good.  Paul speaks about those who had gone from milk to meat in Hebrews 5:14 (Amplified) saying, "But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to Divine or human law."
     Today, men are passing laws that are both morally wrong, evil, and contrary to God's Laws.  We're not supposed to simply accept these laws into our culture and way of thinking and believe they're from God.  We must train our senses and mental faculties to discern the difference.  I'm certainly not condoning the burning of abortion clinics and you don't have to demonstrate in the streets.  You don't have to knock over idols, but don't accept them as being alright.  This is one of satan's strategies, but it doesn't matter that society accepts these things, they're not always God's way.
     We must each take a stand in our individual lives for ourselves and our family, to stay in the Truth.  Doing this might not be popular with the people, but it is with the Father.  You don't have to cram it down someone's throat, but you must walk your walk with Him.  We must allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, in our walk with Him. 
      

Lesson 12 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     John 4:24 (Amplified) says, "God is a Spirit, a Spiritual Being, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (reality)."
      In John 6:63 (Amplified), Jesus tells His followers, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life, 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."
     I'm reluctant to speak about the Super-natural things of God, because satan and the world have programmed us to think of the super-natural in terms of the boogieman, ghosts, and goblins.  We've been taught that most all the super-natural, is either fake or demonic, so that those who believe in the super-natural must be "unbalanced or strange."
    God's realm is the Super-natural realm, which is a Higher realm that man could ever reach or even imagine before.  Most think otherwise though and believe it includes witches, fortune tellers, ghosts, even entities and hauntings.  So, when we talk about the Spirit or Super-natural things of God, it brings the age old dread of things we don't wish to think about.  The Super-natural is anything that is above the natural way of thinking.  Fear has left us in a place, where many are even afraid to receive the Holy Spirit, His Gifts or His language.  We've tried walking with a Spiritual, Super-natural Father, by our own intellect.  This limits God and leaves us to our own means.
     We acknowledge that God is a Spirit Being, but we don't trust the Spirit realm which He abides in.  We continue trying to accept the Truth of the Spirit realm, by limiting it to sense knowledge.  Jesus was speaking to His followers in John 6:28-29 (Amplified), "Then they said, What are we to do, that we may habitually be working the works of God? What are we to do to carry out what God requires? Jesus replied; This is the work (service) that God asks of you, that you believe in the One Whom He has sent (that you cleave to, trust in, rely on and have faith in His Messenger)."
     We can seemingly believe that Jesus did the Super-natural, but we've never carried them into this natural realm and making it possible for anyone to do now."  The Super-natural or Spirit realm is where we must contact our Heavenly Father, hear His Voice and do what He has called us to do.  Many have accepted the Super-natural as being for salvation, but have left the rest of the Spirit realm untouched.  Jesus stated more than once that, "It is the Father in Me, Who does the works."  We've lost sight of the Truth that the Same Spirit Who indwell ed Jesus, now lives in the beleiver.
     1Corinthians 7:19 (Amplified) says, "Do you not know that your body is the Temple, the very Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received as a Gift from God? You are not your own."  The Super-natural being you've now become through Jesus, is no different from the Natural Body Jesus lived in, while He was on earth.  You might say, "Yes, but Jesus was sinless and that's why God lived in Him."  Have you forgotten what Jesus told Paul in his revelation?
     2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore if any person is ingrafted in Christ (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."  We don't think about our being a spirit being, except for when it applies to our leaving this natural realm.  Then we believe, "we will become a spirit being."  The Truth is, you are NOW a spirit being like God, who is now living in a body that God declared "dead."  The only Life a Christian has in him today, is the Life Jesus spoke about in John 6:63 (Amplified) where He said, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life, He is the Life-Giver, the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths) I speak to you are Spirit and Life."
     It's been difficult for us to see ourselves as being a Spirit, like our Father.  Only the spirit realm can contact and rule over another spirit realm or class of being.  This is why the Church has been relatively unsuccessful over an enemy.  He has kept us intimidated by spooky thoughts and stories about the Super-natural realm.  When the Church understands that all these "spooky things" are satan's way of intimidating the flesh and senses.
     Satan moves around in people's homes, making strange things appear as real, in order to intimidate the senses.  This has put fear in the people's hearts, causing Christians to stay away from the things they don't understand in the sense realm.  You don't contact God by your senses and feelings, but by the Spirit and the Word (which is Spirit).  I've heard people say, "Speaking in tongues is of the devil."  They say this, because we've been taught that super-natural things all come from satan.  We fear the super-natural, because of this.
     God's will has always been to communicate with His children, by and through their spirit.  Your spirit is supposed to be in charge of the natural body and direct your body in this natural realm of creation.  Everything in this natural realm was created by the Spirit of God and still responds to the Spirit.  Jesus proved this in His ministry, when He spoke to storms, trees, gravity, sickness and even death. The spirit realm is where we were to live, with our Father.
     We've heard reports of people's long dead relatives "coming back to haunt them."  These are spooky things that have found a place, in our natural man's senses.  Satan has used these things to bring fear of the unknown realm of the spirit, into people's lives.  It has always seemed strange to me, that even Christians believe in some of these weird things, while they deny the Super-natural moves of the Spirit of God.
     Today, we're returned to following a Spiritual Father, by the natural confines of the senses.  God wants to be revealed through His children (the Church), by and through His Spirit and Power.  Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified) says, "The purpose is, that through the Church, the complicated, many sided Wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities, principalities and powers in the Heavenly sphere."
     This can only be done in the Super-natural realm and by His Spirit.  Satan isn't impress by large, lavish buildings and denominations, but only by the Might and Power of God, in the Spirit realm.  Even the world isn't impressed by large church building.  We've many religions raise up their grand places of worship.  They've done this, in order to impress their gods (whoever they might be), but I never thought their god was real because of these buildings.
     Most of the world's religions were based on some super-natural display in the spirit realm.  This was usually some terrible and fearful things, cooked up by evil spirits, in order to intimidate and frighten the people to the point where they would even make human sacrifice to appease their god.  These evil spirits needed to make themselves seen by human senses, in order to bring fear.  This isn't the Spirit of our Father, Who draws us by Love and peace, with Him.  Do not fear the Spirit realm, if you're born-again by the Holy Spirit.  You've been given authority over them and power to rule over them by the Holy Spirit.  We must allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the Super-natural Presence in our lives.  We must all the Super-natural Holy Spirit to fulfill Ephesians 3:10, through our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. 
      

Lesson 11 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     John 3:16 (Amplified) is probably the most quoted and most misunderstood scripture.  Thus, it says, "For God so greatly Loved and dearly prized the world, that He gave up His Only Begotten Son, So that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost), but have eternal (everlasting) Life."
     The above scripture tells us that God's Love, God's will, God's Grace and God's Purpose moved Him to deliver His Only Son up, on our behalf.  God's will was that everyone would accept what Love had done on their behalf.  God's Grace made it available, without man having nothing to do except to believe.  God's Purpose was to bring His family home and back into righteousness or right standing with Him, according to Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) which says, "For it is by free Grace (God's unmerited favor), that you are saved (delivered from judgment) and made partakers of Christ's salvation through your faith. And this salvation is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came not through your own striving), but is the Gift of God."
     When we speak of "Christ's salvation," we speak about everything included in Jesus' Sacrifice.  John 1:17 (Amplified) tells us that, "Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."  We've viewed "salvation" as meaning "Going to Heaven when we die."  It's certainly true that Jesus' Sacrifice has obtained this for us by Grace.  But, there is so much more to salvation.
     Our healing and deliverance are also part of salvation.  Sickness and disease came into the body, through the spiritual death that occurred at Adam's fall in the Garden.  Both sickness and disease are spiritual in origin and the Spiritual Blessing that came through Jesus, takes are of these things.  The Spiritual Blessing that came through Jesus, is revealed through the Truth that came through Jesus.  Sadly, this Truth hasn't been taught to much of today's Church.
     We've overlooked Grace and Truth, replaced it with man's ideas of salvation and ignored the Spiritual Blessing that has been restored to us by faith in Grace.  This Spiritual Blessing has everything to do with our righteousness, justification, sanctification and holiness through Jesus.  It includes our son-ship privileges and fellowship with our Heavenly Father.  These, along with many other benefits, are ours through God's Grace and faith in His Grace.  All these things are activated through Love.
     By carnal thinking, we've dismissed most of the Spiritual Blessings, other than "going to Heaven when we die."  We mostly preach about "how to abstain from the sins of the flesh," and never allow the Truth of the Indwelling Spirit to strengthen us, so we can overcome the flesh by the Spirit.  A lack of faith in God's Grace has left a vacuum of Grace, in the earthly lives of His family.  Understanding what God's Grace has made available to us, is above everything we can even think.
     All of these Blessings have been made ours by God's Grace through Jesus.  When we submit ourselves unto God, then we can resist the devil.  The Power of Attorney in the Name of Jesus, has been given us by Grace, but it must be received by faith.  Salvation and everything is holds, is received by Grace through faith.  Each part of the Truth is a Word of His Grace and each Grace must be received by faith.
     When we don't have faith in healing, we make the Promise of God's Grace of no effect in our lives.  This doesn't mean we're not saved, but we're not in all Truth.  The unclaimed riches of Grace are so beyond anything we've been taught or learned, that we have no idea what Grace is truly about.  God's Grace was given by His Love, in order to restore us back to where man was before Adam's fall.  God's Grace took care of Adam while he was on earth.  God's Spiritual Blessing renewed anything and everything on earth, by the Spirit.  Adam never had need of anything in his spiritual or natural life.
     Most of the things we lack are Spiritual in origin, whether it's healing, peace strength.  All these are the Fruit of the Spirit, in wisdom and Love, according to Philippians 4:13 (Amplified) which says, "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empower me, I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency."
     The above scripture was written by a man, who had more trials and hardships than perhaps anyone other than Jesus Himself, but nothing could stop Paul from finishing the race and keeping the faith.  Grace was made sufficient for all Paul might need in his walk with God.  Paul says in 2Corinthians 12:9 (Amplified), "And He said to me, My Grace (My favor and Loving Kindness) and Mercy is enough for you, sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully; For My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in your weakness."  This is faith in God's Grace and Paul allowed Grace to do what he wasn't able to do in his own natural strength and ability.  This is when faith in God's Grace is at it's best.

Have a Blessed Saint Pattys Day

Lesson 10 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing, and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     Many view the Gospel of Grace, as being different from The Gospel, when the Truth is that God has always dealt with mankind in His Grace.  From the first, God's Grace provided everything needed to Bless mankind on this earth.   God's will, intent and purpose from before the foundation of the earth, was unearned, undeserved, Spiritual Blessing for His family.
     If you look at the Creation from God's viewpoint, you'll see how the heavens and earth were placed here for His family and everything placed here was done so as an act of His Grace through Love.  God's Grace allowed for and accepted the sacrifice of goats and bulls to cover mankind, when God could have destroyed man.  Adam's transgression resulted in the loss of Spiritual Blessing that had been man's from the time God breathed the Breath of Life in them.
     God's Grace continued from the first Adam to the Last Adam, Jesus.  The restoration of the fullness of Grace and Truth is manifest in Jesus, for all who will receive it.  This unearned, unmerited favor and Spiritual Blessing must be received through faith in Jesus.  Grace was limited under the Law, but it allowed mankind into the limited favor of God.
     God never had to make covenant with man, but because of His Great Love and Grace, He did so anyway.  Grace allowed man into God's Blessing, even though it had to be earned by the limits of the Law.  If man walked in the Law, then God could have some access into His creation, but if man broke the Law, then death resulted.  Grace made it possible for men to sacrifice bulls and goats if he violated the Law and resulted in God's covering them, instead of destroying them.
     The Israelites in the Wilderness were finally destroyed, because they wanted to be their own gods and refused to received deliverance by God's Grace.  Paul makes a very serious statement, when addressing a Christian group of believers in Galatians 5:4 (Amplified), "If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so severed (separated) from Christ. You have fallen away from Grace (from God's Gracious Favor and unmerited Blessing)."
     Through man's religion and carnal minded ways of thinking, we're allowed ourselves to be brought again into a state of Law.  We observe such religious laws of man as worshiping, dressing and even praying in certain ways and because of this, Grace doesn't flourish or flow in our lives, like it was meant to.  We've been taught that healing and Blessing cannot "come upon us, because we're still sinners and unworthy of God's Goodness."  The more we try to become worthy, the more we remove ourselves from Grace.
     I'm not saying we shouldn't try living right and cut off the works of the flesh, but that we're not to rely on our good works for God to Bless us.  Salvation is an act of Grace and it must be received by faith.  If we needed faith for Grace, when we were still in our sin, then how can we not rely on Grace for continued Blessing, if we maintain our faith in it?
     Everything we receive and will ever receive from our Heavenly Father, is given by an act of His Grace through Love.  We can learn how certain Kingdom Principles work, but they work by faith in the Grace that gave these principles.  Learning to walk in these Kingdom Principles, comes from studying the Word.  Seeing what is ours through the Word, is the result of Wisdom.  Receiving these great Promises is an act of faith and all is by Grace.
     I have two options, when reading in the Word that, "I've been created in righteousness."  By faith, I can believe what Grace has done for me.  Or, I can use man's religious laws and believe that, "None are righteous" and try become righteous by works.  It sounds boastful and self-righteous to man's religious ears, if I receive my right standing by faith in God's Grace.  If I try becoming righteous by man's ideas of righteousness, I've fallen from Grace and continue in my own strength, which is of no avail.
     We've failed to receive so many things Grace has provided for us through faith in God's finished Word in Jesus, because our faith in His Grace doesn't seem to be enough to "make it true."  We continue thinking "There must be something I can do, to deserve it."  We're still seeing the results of the Curse in our lives, because we won't allow Grace to flow to the Blessing.  Why do we have trouble believing that Grace has delivered us from the Curse of the Law?
     How many Christians do you know who believe God deals with His people, through sickness and disease?  Jesus bore the Curse of the Law for us, so we could inherit the Blessing of Abraham by faith.  This is Grace, not works and must be received by simple faith in Him.  We know that "Faith comes by hearing" and we've heard how "God uses sickness and disease to deal with His people," that we've placed our faith in the wrong thing.  Adhering to the teachings that "God makes us sick," puts fear into our spirit, instead of faith in Truth.  People say, "That's how God dealt with David, Solomon and other old covenant people."  Those people were under the Law and in order to have Grace provide for them, they needed to keep the Law.  If they violated the Law, then Grace couldn't work for them.  We're now under Grace.  Returning under the Law, means we violate the faith of Grace and prevents it from working on our behalf.
     We're required to obey the Spirit, not the Law.  Those under the old covenant, couldn't obey the Spirit like we can, because their spirits were dead within them.  God's Grace by His Law, could discipline the flesh and give Grace a place to work for the old covenant people.  We're made alive in the Spirit and our flesh was crucified with Christ.  This is God's Grace in action.  God can now deal with us by His Spirit, in our spirit.  Grace can flow again in our lives, like it did in Jesus.  Jesus never lacked anything for Himself or others, because He put His faith in the Father and the Father's Grace.
     Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ.  When you accept Grace, make sure you accept Truth, because one cannot work without the other.  Having Truth, reveals Grace and that is by faith.  We must revise our thinking about faith and believe in Grace, so the Blessing will flow in our lives.  Don't make it work, but allow it to work.  This is Grace.  This is God's will.