John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "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. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
The authority and dominion God decreed over Adam, was lost to us when Adam gave it over to satan in the Garden of Eden. Until that time, Adam had control and dominion through his authority God gave him. Adam was to use this authority and dominion, in order to bless all that God had given him. Adam had dominion and authority over everything over the earth and was to use them to bless everything in and on the earth. This dominion and authority was transferred over to satan, at Adam's fall in the Garden. This meant that man lost his fellowship and identity he held in the Lord. It also meant mankind lost his authority and dominion rights to the enemy.
Jesus is the Last Adam and restored all that the first Adam had. Jesus also issued all power and authority both in Heaven and in earth. This Blessing was Promised to Jesus through Abraham. God Promised it to the "Seed of Abraham" and it's our Blessing now too, through Jesus. One of the greatest fears that satan has, is that God's people will discover our true identity. Satan has obscured the true depth of what the new birth and the new creation people is, for two-thousand years. Religion describes us as being "poor Pilgrims," who should be pitied and run over, but this isn't the Father's image of His children.
God created man in His Own Image and Likeness and mankind was to be God's under-rulers over the works of His hands, according to Psalm 8:4-9 (Amplified) which says, "What is man that You are mindful of him and the son of earth born man that You care for him? Yet You have made him but a little lower than God, or Heavenly beings, and You have crowned him with Glory and honor You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet All sheep and oxen, yes, and all the beasts of the field; The birds of the air and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes along the paths of the seas O Lord, our Lord, how excellent, majestic and Glorious is Your Name in all the earth."
The above scripture show the True Image of God's creation, at the birth of His children. When Adam lost his authority and dominion over to satan, man lost his authority. The enemy has used man's own authority and dominion on mankind. Satan has used what God meant for a Blessing, making it into a curse. Jesus has redeemed us from the Curse that came through the First Adam. We've now received the Promised Blessing again, through Jesus Christ, the Last Adam.
Many only teach the Church about the Curse and the Law, instead of teaching God's children about our true identity in Christ Jesus. Our true identity has been lost to the lies of carnal men. In Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) Paul writes, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging of guilty of wrong), for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus, the Law of our new being, has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
We must understand what the above scripture is saying to us today. It's not being prideful to say, "I am God's son or daughter." It's foolishness when we deny this awesome Truth. We confess that we're God's children, but then refuse to accept our place in His family. God never intended for His children to be subject to an outlaw spirit who would steal, kill, and destroy them. No father give life to his children, so they could live in starvation, sickness, bondage and death. Every earthly father desires more than tat, for his own offspring. Do we really think that our Heavenly Father wants less for His children?
This is a lie that has ruled over most of God's children and that lie was designed by satan, in order to bring grief and hurt to the heart of our Heavenly Father. The enemy cannot get to God, so he uses God's children as weapons against Him, bringing sorrow and hurt to the Father's great heart. When God's children are hurting, then God's heart is hurting too. Hebrews 4:15 (Amplified) says, "For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning."
Many read the above Verse as being about temptation to what we believe is sin, but most of the temptations Jesus faced, were more in the realm of taking back authority and dominion on behalf of those who were hurting and bound. Everything Jesus came against, was against Him. The people Jesus grew up with, were under the Law and satan and his demons, understood that every person was under satan's control. Jesus had to fave the temptation of His refusing to die on the cross and taking our penalty for sin. Jesus had faith in God's Truth and gave Himself over to the death, that we should have had.
We sometimes only think of "temptation," as sin in the flesh. Jesus faced a much greater force of temptation than we could ever imagine, so we could be free once again. Here we are though, still living mostly under bondage, not knowing the full force of what Jesus did on our behalf.
When we deny healing or dominion or authority and think of ourselves as "old sinners, saved by Grace," we're denying the greatest temptation Jesus was victorious over. Jesus didn't do what He did, just to forgive our sins, but He did it to restore us back to royalty, in our Father. Satan has lied to us, saying, "God doesn't do these things any longer" or "These things are only for after you die and go to Heaven." Jesus came that we would have Life, not only when we get to Heaven, but NOW. Jesus came so that we would have the God kind of Life, now on this earth.
God never intended for us (His children), to be ruled over by anything, except Himself and that was a Rule of Love. We have subjected ourselves to Him, out of Love and not fear. Paul describes the Love God has for His family as between a man and his wife in Ephesians 5:21-32 (Amplified). Verse 32 says, "This Mystery is very great, but I speak concerning the relationship of Christ and the Church." The intimacy and union Paul writes about, was and is, a position of Love and giving, on an equal basis. Paul says, "The two became one."
My wife took my name, my identity and an equal share of everything I am and have, when we were married. We have become as one, in every aspect of our lives. If I don't understand this relationship like God intended, then my wife would suffer under the bondage of misused authority and dominion. Religion tries it's hardest, to put wives under the bondage of her husband. Religion teaches Law, instead of Grace, leaving God's children to miss out on our ability to pray in agreement, as one. Religion teaches that the wife is less than her husband and this might be why, we "feel" like less, than what the Father has made us to be.
Galatians 3:28-29 (Amplified) says, "There is now no distinction, neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ (are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed), then you are Abraham's offspring and Spiritual heirs according to Promise."
Monday, February 25, 2019
Friday, February 22, 2019
Lesson 157 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "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. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
All who are born-again in Christ Jesus, have become new creation and all are equal in Him. We are all considered to be made in the Righteousness of God and are joint heirs with Christ. "There is no longer bond or free, Jew nor Gentile, male nor female, but we are all one in Jesus," according to Galatians 3:28 (Amplified). Paul writes through the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 4:7 (Amplified) saying, "Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant), but a son, and if a son, then it follows that you are an heir by the aid of God, through Christ."
God made man in His Own Image and Likeness in the Garden of Eden. God Blessed mankind and gave them dominion over the earth, everything in it and everything on it, according to Genesis 1:22-31. One of the things satan wanted more than anything, was man's dominion over everything. If he could gain dominion, then he could rule over everything God had placed into the authority of His chosen family. When satan deceived Even and brought Adam down with his lies and deception, he gained what he was after, which was the control over God's creation. Satan could rule everything from nature to mankind. God intended man to rule through love and spirit, but satan became the overlord and taskmaster, by deceiving Adam and Eve and gained control of man himself.
Adam never had dominion over other men, but over what God had given him. Satan perverted this decree of authority and dominion, so that it included dominion over mankind. This residue of dominion would now be used to bring all mankind into slavery to the demonic ruler, who was satan himself.
From the very beginning, satan used this gift of dominion to incite man to sin, leading to the Flood that destroyed all but eight souls. He continued his plight of dominion, putting man into the bondage of sin and death and away from God. History is riddled with corrupt and evil rulers and murderers, who were never satisfied with what they had and who took from others. The war of dominion can be found in today's headlines, from around the planet.
History is littered with such evil persons as Genghis Khan to Adolf Hitler and their atrocities are numerous. Even today, there are such evil dictators as Maduro in Venezuela, who his starving, killing and subjugating the citizens. Even here, there are politicians who keep writing new laws, that will bind citizens and keep them from being free. The only true liberty comes through Jesus Christ and that's why satan tries to prevent the Gospel from being spread and freeing man. Satan tries keeping mankind is poverty, sickness, perversion, mental distress, hunger and death. There have been many sermons taught about how "God puts sickness on you" or that "God allows sickness to befall you." There are many who teach God's people that, "You must be sick or poor, in order to be holy."
These things are the residue of perverted dominion from the hands of a demented and ungodly genius. Satan stole and usurped the dominion God gave to Adam. That dominion was to be a Blessing for mankind, but satan has used it to keep mankind in the slavery of sin and death. The wealth that was meant to Bless mankind, now has became an addiction to the mind of men, so that many will even murder others to gain that wealth. Satan took the abundance of provision and supply that God had given, and used it as a tool to rule over nations.
Satan tries to blind mankind from seeing and understanding that Jesus restored dominion to mankind, in His Name. This is at the root of everything satan attacks God's Church with. He tries keeping the Church from walking in the faith and dominion Jesus has restored to us. If we used these together in our lives, then satan would have no power over the new creation child of God. Much can be found in God's Word about this authority and restored dominion, but it's been diminished in the Church.
Jesus delivered us, but if we don't walk in the restoration and redemption that Jesus gave to us, then God's children will remain in bondage, until we leave this earth. Many Christians can only see victory, in their lives in Heaven. We have already received dominion and victory in God's eyes and heart, bought by the Blood of our Sacrifice Lamb and our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He was placed us back like Adam was. Jesus was the Last Adam, Who restored all things by His Own Blood.
Before He was crucified, the Name of Jesus and the authority Jesus delegated even to fallen, man at the time, according to Luke 10:8-9 (Amplified) where Jesus tells His disciples, "Whenever you go into a town and they receive and welcome you, eat what is set before you And heal the sick in it and say to them, The Kingdom of God has come close to you." Luke 10:17-19 (Amplified) continues, saying, "The seventy returned with joy saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name. And He said to them, I saw satan falling like a lightening flash from Heaven. Behold, I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and physical and mental strength and ability over all the power that the enemy possesses, and nothing shall in any way harm you."
The above scriptures tell us that it wasn't only restored to out spirit, but also to our body and minds. Out natural man was restored back to what it was in the Garden and as was the natural body of Jesus Himself. Paul wrote about renewing our minds in Romans 12:1-2, remembering what Jesus said in Luke 10:19. Paul wrote about thining as a man did before the fall and thinking like Jesus spoke about, when He sent forth the seventy. We also read about the same restored dominion in 2Corinthians 10:3-5 (Amplified) which says, "For though we walk (live in this flesh), we are not carying 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 destructions of strongholds. In as much as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the ovedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
This is the restored dominion mandate that God Blessed Adam with, in order for Adam to be a blessing to this planet and all who would be born from him in the future. The dominion and authority God gave to the first Adam, was the very same dominion and authority that the Last Adam, Jesus walked in. This restored dominion and authority had ability over the storms, the fish, the trees, the fallen state of disease, death and demons. It was more than enough to turn around everything satan had used it for to pervert nature and mankind.
The Truth of this restored state of dominion, is what satan fears more than anything. When the Church believes and accepts this restored authority, then satan can have no more control of her. Satan cannot control the spirit, soul or body of God's Church, when we realize that this is Redemption and not just a buying back, but the restoring back of dominion and authority. Our just being born-again doesn't threaten satan's kingdom of darkness, unless the born-again child takes his/her place in our redemption. If we're born-again, but without knowledge, then we're still vulnerable to the same deception we were under before being saved, except our eternal destiny has changed. Satan has used the dominion stolen from Adam, to rule over everyone who doesn't know any differently. Adam had dominion, but allowed satan to take it from him and use it on him and his family. You've been restored to dominion, but you can also give it over to and allow satan to actually use it against you, if you don't know any differently and/or blame it all on God.
All who are born-again in Christ Jesus, have become new creation and all are equal in Him. We are all considered to be made in the Righteousness of God and are joint heirs with Christ. "There is no longer bond or free, Jew nor Gentile, male nor female, but we are all one in Jesus," according to Galatians 3:28 (Amplified). Paul writes through the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 4:7 (Amplified) saying, "Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant), but a son, and if a son, then it follows that you are an heir by the aid of God, through Christ."
God made man in His Own Image and Likeness in the Garden of Eden. God Blessed mankind and gave them dominion over the earth, everything in it and everything on it, according to Genesis 1:22-31. One of the things satan wanted more than anything, was man's dominion over everything. If he could gain dominion, then he could rule over everything God had placed into the authority of His chosen family. When satan deceived Even and brought Adam down with his lies and deception, he gained what he was after, which was the control over God's creation. Satan could rule everything from nature to mankind. God intended man to rule through love and spirit, but satan became the overlord and taskmaster, by deceiving Adam and Eve and gained control of man himself.
Adam never had dominion over other men, but over what God had given him. Satan perverted this decree of authority and dominion, so that it included dominion over mankind. This residue of dominion would now be used to bring all mankind into slavery to the demonic ruler, who was satan himself.
From the very beginning, satan used this gift of dominion to incite man to sin, leading to the Flood that destroyed all but eight souls. He continued his plight of dominion, putting man into the bondage of sin and death and away from God. History is riddled with corrupt and evil rulers and murderers, who were never satisfied with what they had and who took from others. The war of dominion can be found in today's headlines, from around the planet.
History is littered with such evil persons as Genghis Khan to Adolf Hitler and their atrocities are numerous. Even today, there are such evil dictators as Maduro in Venezuela, who his starving, killing and subjugating the citizens. Even here, there are politicians who keep writing new laws, that will bind citizens and keep them from being free. The only true liberty comes through Jesus Christ and that's why satan tries to prevent the Gospel from being spread and freeing man. Satan tries keeping mankind is poverty, sickness, perversion, mental distress, hunger and death. There have been many sermons taught about how "God puts sickness on you" or that "God allows sickness to befall you." There are many who teach God's people that, "You must be sick or poor, in order to be holy."
These things are the residue of perverted dominion from the hands of a demented and ungodly genius. Satan stole and usurped the dominion God gave to Adam. That dominion was to be a Blessing for mankind, but satan has used it to keep mankind in the slavery of sin and death. The wealth that was meant to Bless mankind, now has became an addiction to the mind of men, so that many will even murder others to gain that wealth. Satan took the abundance of provision and supply that God had given, and used it as a tool to rule over nations.
Satan tries to blind mankind from seeing and understanding that Jesus restored dominion to mankind, in His Name. This is at the root of everything satan attacks God's Church with. He tries keeping the Church from walking in the faith and dominion Jesus has restored to us. If we used these together in our lives, then satan would have no power over the new creation child of God. Much can be found in God's Word about this authority and restored dominion, but it's been diminished in the Church.
Jesus delivered us, but if we don't walk in the restoration and redemption that Jesus gave to us, then God's children will remain in bondage, until we leave this earth. Many Christians can only see victory, in their lives in Heaven. We have already received dominion and victory in God's eyes and heart, bought by the Blood of our Sacrifice Lamb and our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He was placed us back like Adam was. Jesus was the Last Adam, Who restored all things by His Own Blood.
Before He was crucified, the Name of Jesus and the authority Jesus delegated even to fallen, man at the time, according to Luke 10:8-9 (Amplified) where Jesus tells His disciples, "Whenever you go into a town and they receive and welcome you, eat what is set before you And heal the sick in it and say to them, The Kingdom of God has come close to you." Luke 10:17-19 (Amplified) continues, saying, "The seventy returned with joy saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name. And He said to them, I saw satan falling like a lightening flash from Heaven. Behold, I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and physical and mental strength and ability over all the power that the enemy possesses, and nothing shall in any way harm you."
The above scriptures tell us that it wasn't only restored to out spirit, but also to our body and minds. Out natural man was restored back to what it was in the Garden and as was the natural body of Jesus Himself. Paul wrote about renewing our minds in Romans 12:1-2, remembering what Jesus said in Luke 10:19. Paul wrote about thining as a man did before the fall and thinking like Jesus spoke about, when He sent forth the seventy. We also read about the same restored dominion in 2Corinthians 10:3-5 (Amplified) which says, "For though we walk (live in this flesh), we are not carying 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 destructions of strongholds. In as much as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the ovedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
This is the restored dominion mandate that God Blessed Adam with, in order for Adam to be a blessing to this planet and all who would be born from him in the future. The dominion and authority God gave to the first Adam, was the very same dominion and authority that the Last Adam, Jesus walked in. This restored dominion and authority had ability over the storms, the fish, the trees, the fallen state of disease, death and demons. It was more than enough to turn around everything satan had used it for to pervert nature and mankind.
The Truth of this restored state of dominion, is what satan fears more than anything. When the Church believes and accepts this restored authority, then satan can have no more control of her. Satan cannot control the spirit, soul or body of God's Church, when we realize that this is Redemption and not just a buying back, but the restoring back of dominion and authority. Our just being born-again doesn't threaten satan's kingdom of darkness, unless the born-again child takes his/her place in our redemption. If we're born-again, but without knowledge, then we're still vulnerable to the same deception we were under before being saved, except our eternal destiny has changed. Satan has used the dominion stolen from Adam, to rule over everyone who doesn't know any differently. Adam had dominion, but allowed satan to take it from him and use it on him and his family. You've been restored to dominion, but you can also give it over to and allow satan to actually use it against you, if you don't know any differently and/or blame it all on God.
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Lesson 156 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "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. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Proverbs 22:6 (Amplified) says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and in keeping with his individual gift or bent, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
Even though God is telling us train up our children in the right way, I believe He is also telling us to train up Christian children in the way they should go. 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies, you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire), the pure unadulterated Spiritual mile (the Word of God), that by it you may be nurtured and grow into completed salvation."
I was one of those kids who was frustrated at learning to read, write, work math and complete the required school tasks. I would never had done any of these things, if left on my own volition. My parents made me complete my homework, otherwise it would never have gotten done. I found it to be overwhelming at first, to learn many things and in my childish thinking, believed it was a waste of my time. I would rather be outside playing, than inside doing homework.
Now that I'm grown, I don't need to think about "how to form a letter in the alphabet" or think about what letter the word "apple" begins with. These were difficult in preschool, but now I do them without thought. I would find it disastrous, if I was unable to read or write now, even though I once thought there was no need for these things in life.
Many Christians today believe, "I don't need to know all these things to go to Heaven" and they are correct. All one must know or do, in order to become a child of God, is have faith in God's Son Jesus Christ. I didn't need to know how to read or write, in order to become a human being, because I was a human at birth. However, my adult life has certainly been made easier, by knowing these things.
Our Heavenly Father has a Kingdom that is governed by Spiritual Laws and Spiritual understanding. One doesn't have to learn these things, in order to be His child, but it makes it easier to walk with Him and be pleasing to God, when we know them. There are ways to pray, that make it easier to receive answers from Heaven. There are also Laws of loosing and binding, that work here on earth and these are very helpful, when we know how to apply them. Understanding God's will and His Grace are simply things we must be taught, when we become citizens of God's Kingdom. These don't randomly work, like many think.
There's a difference between teaching and preaching. If my teachers had told, "You should know how to write," instead of teaching me how to write, then I would be illiterate now. It requires more than someone simply telling me that I "should know how to do it." There are Laws telling us that our words matter, but many don't believe this, because they were never taught these things. It might seem difficult to learn these things initially, but they will begin to get easier as you study God's Word.
Everything we learn as baby Christians seem difficult at first, but then they will come naturally Super-natural. I can walk with God, without needing to stop and think about it, because it's now part of who I am. I don't think about my prayer time with God, because it's become a way of living in His Presence and knowing that He doesn't only hear my prayer, but that I have the petitions that I desire of Him. 1John 5:14-15 (Amplified) tells us, "And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him; we are sure that if we ask anything (make any request), according to His will (in agreement with His Own Plan), He listens to and hears us. And if since we positively know that He listens to us whatever we ask, we also know with settled and absolute knowledge, that we have granted us as our own present possessions the requests made of Him."
The Apostle John isn't making the bold statement just for himself, but so that we should know and have this same kind of boldness in our prayers. This comes by teaching in the Word, by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us that prayer is absolute and not just indifferent speaking and saying, "It it be Your will." We can learn, understand and receive knowledge of God's will and purpose, which will make our prayers roadways into our lives and the lives of others (even other nations).
John goes on writing to the Church in 1John 1:3 (Amplified) saying, "What we have seen and ourselves heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And this fellowship that we have which is a distinguishing mark of Christ is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."
Imagine your having the understanding and fellowship with the Lord, that the Apostles had, even before they were born-again. Jesus didn't just preach to and at the twelve Apostles, but He actually spent 31/2 years teaching them the principles of the Kingdom, so they could carry on His ministry after His Ascension. Some things He was teaching them, were difficult and might have seemed unnecessary at the time, but after these things became part of who they were, once they learned them.
It takes patience and a teachable spirit, for us to be humble and learn the things that are so valuable to our Christian lives. Jesus said that, "If you are to spoil the strong man's house, you first must bind the strong man." How do you bind the strong man? Jesus answers this in Matthew 18:18 (Amplified) saying, "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in Heaven." Binding and strong man and spoiling his house, must be done according to the things that are already declared unlawful in Heaven and are now unlawful in the earth. Do you know what is lawful or unlawful in Heaven? If not, then how can you in faith, bind or loose anything and make it work?
Jesus asked His disciples in Matthew 13:51-52 (Amplified), "Have you understood all these things (Parables), taken together? They said to Him; Yes Lord. He said to them, Therefore every teacher and interpreter of the Sacred Writings who has been instructed about and trained for the Kingdom of Heaven and has become a disciples is like a householder who brings forth out of his storehouse treasure that is new and treasure that is old, the fresh as well as the familiar."
There are many things that are familiar in the Church, but it's sometimes difficult to bring forth the new, to them. They're like the school children who don't believe they need to know how to read, write and work math. If the baby Christians don't learn these things, then they must rely on others to do the reading and interpreting to them. If someone reads the Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ to you, then can you count on what they say as being your own inheritance? Or, would you rather be able to read it for yourself?
I prefer to know what God's will is for myself and pray accordingly, instead of relying on others to tell me what His will is concerning my prayer. John informed me that, "I can have assurance that God hears me and I can have the petitions I ask of Him." One of these comes by preaching and one comes by teaching. 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 your getting, get understanding, discernment, comprehension, and interpretation."
Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:10 (Amplified) where He prayed to our Heavenly Father, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Jesus was speaking about that which is lawful and unlawful in Heaven, being done on earth. If you don't know what God's will is in Heaven, then how can you know what to bind (loose) on earth, with any degree of faith or assurance? When we pray, "If it be Your will," then we're acknowledging we have no idea what God's will is in Heaven. How can we bind the strong man and spoil his house, if we don't know what's lawful in Heaven?
My school teachers were responsible to teach his/her students, but we are the ones who determine if we're willing to learn. Having a teachable spirit is one of the greatest things a Christian can have. Without it, we're led astray by every wind of doctrine, like those who Jesus taught. We make God's Word of no effect in our lives, with our traditions. Then we're like those who "have ears, but don't hear." We must humble ourselves and learn the Mysteries and Secret Counsels of God.
Proverbs 22:6 (Amplified) says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and in keeping with his individual gift or bent, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
Even though God is telling us train up our children in the right way, I believe He is also telling us to train up Christian children in the way they should go. 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies, you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire), the pure unadulterated Spiritual mile (the Word of God), that by it you may be nurtured and grow into completed salvation."
I was one of those kids who was frustrated at learning to read, write, work math and complete the required school tasks. I would never had done any of these things, if left on my own volition. My parents made me complete my homework, otherwise it would never have gotten done. I found it to be overwhelming at first, to learn many things and in my childish thinking, believed it was a waste of my time. I would rather be outside playing, than inside doing homework.
Now that I'm grown, I don't need to think about "how to form a letter in the alphabet" or think about what letter the word "apple" begins with. These were difficult in preschool, but now I do them without thought. I would find it disastrous, if I was unable to read or write now, even though I once thought there was no need for these things in life.
Many Christians today believe, "I don't need to know all these things to go to Heaven" and they are correct. All one must know or do, in order to become a child of God, is have faith in God's Son Jesus Christ. I didn't need to know how to read or write, in order to become a human being, because I was a human at birth. However, my adult life has certainly been made easier, by knowing these things.
Our Heavenly Father has a Kingdom that is governed by Spiritual Laws and Spiritual understanding. One doesn't have to learn these things, in order to be His child, but it makes it easier to walk with Him and be pleasing to God, when we know them. There are ways to pray, that make it easier to receive answers from Heaven. There are also Laws of loosing and binding, that work here on earth and these are very helpful, when we know how to apply them. Understanding God's will and His Grace are simply things we must be taught, when we become citizens of God's Kingdom. These don't randomly work, like many think.
There's a difference between teaching and preaching. If my teachers had told, "You should know how to write," instead of teaching me how to write, then I would be illiterate now. It requires more than someone simply telling me that I "should know how to do it." There are Laws telling us that our words matter, but many don't believe this, because they were never taught these things. It might seem difficult to learn these things initially, but they will begin to get easier as you study God's Word.
Everything we learn as baby Christians seem difficult at first, but then they will come naturally Super-natural. I can walk with God, without needing to stop and think about it, because it's now part of who I am. I don't think about my prayer time with God, because it's become a way of living in His Presence and knowing that He doesn't only hear my prayer, but that I have the petitions that I desire of Him. 1John 5:14-15 (Amplified) tells us, "And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him; we are sure that if we ask anything (make any request), according to His will (in agreement with His Own Plan), He listens to and hears us. And if since we positively know that He listens to us whatever we ask, we also know with settled and absolute knowledge, that we have granted us as our own present possessions the requests made of Him."
The Apostle John isn't making the bold statement just for himself, but so that we should know and have this same kind of boldness in our prayers. This comes by teaching in the Word, by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us that prayer is absolute and not just indifferent speaking and saying, "It it be Your will." We can learn, understand and receive knowledge of God's will and purpose, which will make our prayers roadways into our lives and the lives of others (even other nations).
John goes on writing to the Church in 1John 1:3 (Amplified) saying, "What we have seen and ourselves heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And this fellowship that we have which is a distinguishing mark of Christ is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."
Imagine your having the understanding and fellowship with the Lord, that the Apostles had, even before they were born-again. Jesus didn't just preach to and at the twelve Apostles, but He actually spent 31/2 years teaching them the principles of the Kingdom, so they could carry on His ministry after His Ascension. Some things He was teaching them, were difficult and might have seemed unnecessary at the time, but after these things became part of who they were, once they learned them.
It takes patience and a teachable spirit, for us to be humble and learn the things that are so valuable to our Christian lives. Jesus said that, "If you are to spoil the strong man's house, you first must bind the strong man." How do you bind the strong man? Jesus answers this in Matthew 18:18 (Amplified) saying, "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in Heaven." Binding and strong man and spoiling his house, must be done according to the things that are already declared unlawful in Heaven and are now unlawful in the earth. Do you know what is lawful or unlawful in Heaven? If not, then how can you in faith, bind or loose anything and make it work?
Jesus asked His disciples in Matthew 13:51-52 (Amplified), "Have you understood all these things (Parables), taken together? They said to Him; Yes Lord. He said to them, Therefore every teacher and interpreter of the Sacred Writings who has been instructed about and trained for the Kingdom of Heaven and has become a disciples is like a householder who brings forth out of his storehouse treasure that is new and treasure that is old, the fresh as well as the familiar."
There are many things that are familiar in the Church, but it's sometimes difficult to bring forth the new, to them. They're like the school children who don't believe they need to know how to read, write and work math. If the baby Christians don't learn these things, then they must rely on others to do the reading and interpreting to them. If someone reads the Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ to you, then can you count on what they say as being your own inheritance? Or, would you rather be able to read it for yourself?
I prefer to know what God's will is for myself and pray accordingly, instead of relying on others to tell me what His will is concerning my prayer. John informed me that, "I can have assurance that God hears me and I can have the petitions I ask of Him." One of these comes by preaching and one comes by teaching. 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 your getting, get understanding, discernment, comprehension, and interpretation."
Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:10 (Amplified) where He prayed to our Heavenly Father, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Jesus was speaking about that which is lawful and unlawful in Heaven, being done on earth. If you don't know what God's will is in Heaven, then how can you know what to bind (loose) on earth, with any degree of faith or assurance? When we pray, "If it be Your will," then we're acknowledging we have no idea what God's will is in Heaven. How can we bind the strong man and spoil his house, if we don't know what's lawful in Heaven?
My school teachers were responsible to teach his/her students, but we are the ones who determine if we're willing to learn. Having a teachable spirit is one of the greatest things a Christian can have. Without it, we're led astray by every wind of doctrine, like those who Jesus taught. We make God's Word of no effect in our lives, with our traditions. Then we're like those who "have ears, but don't hear." We must humble ourselves and learn the Mysteries and Secret Counsels of God.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Lesson 155 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "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. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Many see the four Gospels as being New Testament books, but Jesus was still operating under the old covenant, speaking to and with people who were still under Law. The New Testament didn't begin for us in earnest, until Jesus Resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Everything Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit and the Father, was still a Mystery to those He ministered with and spoke too.
We've been born-again through the new birth in Christ Jesus. We have the New Testament, in which to read and understand what Jesus taught. To only real knowledge we have of the new creation family of God, comes from the letters Paul wrote to the Church. These are all Revelation knowledge and Spiritual understanding about our new birth, but without the Holy Spirit interpreting these letters, we still know very little about who we are in Christ.
We continue seeing ourselves like those Jesus spoke to under the old covenant. We can only know who He has made us to be, by Revelation. This is one of the main reasons there is so much division in today's Church. We've tried blending what Jesus said to those who were still under the Law, with the new and try walking both covenants simultaneously. If the Old Testament saints couldn't even walk under the Law, then how can we expect to walk under the Law and the new covenant at the same time?
We've not understood Grace and try "making" Grace help us keep the Law, but this can't happen without our losing sight of both Grace and Law. If we move by the Law, then we're not depending upon Grace and if we try making Grace do what the Law dictates, then we can't walk the Law. Thus, we've become annulled by both, because the Law can't make us righteous. Our righteousness comes by Grace, through faith in Jesus Christ and His Righteousness.
We've had difficulty accepting our righteousness, because it is by Grace and we feel like we don't deserve it. The Truth is that we don't deserve it, it's a Gift of Grace. This struggle has befallen the Church since it's beginning. Many believers continually quote Romans 3:10 (Amplified) which says, "As it is written; None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no, not one." we do this, because we know that we haven't always been or acted righteous. Grace provided our righteousness, by faith in Christ Jesus. It's not because we were always doing right, but because He Is Right. We can only have righteousness and be able to stand upright again in God's Presence, by faith in Jesus Christ. Righteousness can only come by faith in the Finished Work of Jesus.
Jesus did for us, what we could never do for ourselves and it requires faith in that, to make us righteous. Paul received Revelation from Jesus Himself and when we read Paul's letters, it's difficult for us to see ourselves the way the Word sees us, because we know that we don't deserve to be what God has made us to be in Christ. It must be by faith, because we don't deserve it. I am what I am, because of who and what Jesus did for me and it's by faith in Him, that I allow His Grace to transform me.
Paul wrote about renewing our minds and being transformed in Romans 12:1-3 (Amplified) saying, "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies, presenting all your members and faculties as a living sacrifice, holy, devoted, consecrated, and well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable, rational, intelligent, service and Spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age, fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs), but be transformed, (changed) by the entire renewal of your mind, by its new ideals and new attitude, so that you may prove for yourselves what is that Good and acceptable and Perfect will of God, even the thing which is Good and acceptable and Perfect in His sight for you. For by the Grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you, not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought (not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance, but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him)."
You must have a very high and exaggerated opinion of yourself, if you believe you can make yourself righteous enough to stand in God's Presence on your own. Jesus is the Only One Who ever fulfilled the Law and was Righteous before God! We stand before God, based on our faith that God has apportioned to us, to receive His Grace and make you righteous. It's only Pride that would say, "You're not subject to God's Grace to make you righteous. You can do it on your own, external, superficial customs."
We can see why Paul instructs the Church to "Renew your minds and way of thinking." The carnal mind is at enmity (is hostile) to God's way of thinking and cannot be reconciled to Him, according to Romans 8:7 (Amplified) where Paul writes, "That is because the mind of the flesh with its carnal thoughts and purposes is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law; indeed it cannot." Your carnal mind (the mind of the flesh), will not accept God's Righteousness, without your needing to earn and deserve it, by its own works. That is pride at it's best.
We can only walk in God's Promises by being righteous in His eyes and the only way of being righteous in His eyes, is by Grace. The only way to be righteous in God's eyes by Grace, is by faith. Hebrews 11: 6 (Amplified) says, "But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must necessarily believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him out." Without having faith in God's Grace to make you in right standing with Him, you cannot come near or have the right to stand in His Presence. It's only by Grace through faith, that we can stand in God's Presence. It's not by works, external customs or the ways of the carnal mind with it's fleshly way of pride and thinking.
You were made righteous when you were born-again, but if you don't renew your mind by the Truth of God's Word, then your flesh will hold you back from Him, because it is hostile to God and will never submit to Grace. This is the "pride of life," John writes about in 1John 2:16 (Amplified) saying, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, craving for sensual gratification, and the lust of the eyes, greedy longing of the mind, and the pride of life, assurance in ones own resources or in the stability of earthly things, THESE DO NOT COME FROM THE FATHER."
When we don't understand righteousness, then nearly all of God's Promises made to us in Christ Jesus, are not available to us, even though they're already ours. Our sense of being unworthy and not righteous, will prevent our believing and receiving. Our faith will never reach out for these things, because we feel like we don't deserve them, in the mind of the flesh. This is one of the reasons why healing, tongues, Blessing and fulfilled Promises are so lacking in today's Church. The mind of the flesh wants to "make us righteous enough to deserve them."
The only response to a Gift, should be, "Thank you." Grace and Righteousness are Gifts from God and so it the faith to receive these Gifts. Let's Thank Him and allow Him to Bless us, like He desires to. The only thing holding back His Promises to you, is you.
Many see the four Gospels as being New Testament books, but Jesus was still operating under the old covenant, speaking to and with people who were still under Law. The New Testament didn't begin for us in earnest, until Jesus Resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Everything Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit and the Father, was still a Mystery to those He ministered with and spoke too.
We've been born-again through the new birth in Christ Jesus. We have the New Testament, in which to read and understand what Jesus taught. To only real knowledge we have of the new creation family of God, comes from the letters Paul wrote to the Church. These are all Revelation knowledge and Spiritual understanding about our new birth, but without the Holy Spirit interpreting these letters, we still know very little about who we are in Christ.
We continue seeing ourselves like those Jesus spoke to under the old covenant. We can only know who He has made us to be, by Revelation. This is one of the main reasons there is so much division in today's Church. We've tried blending what Jesus said to those who were still under the Law, with the new and try walking both covenants simultaneously. If the Old Testament saints couldn't even walk under the Law, then how can we expect to walk under the Law and the new covenant at the same time?
We've not understood Grace and try "making" Grace help us keep the Law, but this can't happen without our losing sight of both Grace and Law. If we move by the Law, then we're not depending upon Grace and if we try making Grace do what the Law dictates, then we can't walk the Law. Thus, we've become annulled by both, because the Law can't make us righteous. Our righteousness comes by Grace, through faith in Jesus Christ and His Righteousness.
We've had difficulty accepting our righteousness, because it is by Grace and we feel like we don't deserve it. The Truth is that we don't deserve it, it's a Gift of Grace. This struggle has befallen the Church since it's beginning. Many believers continually quote Romans 3:10 (Amplified) which says, "As it is written; None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no, not one." we do this, because we know that we haven't always been or acted righteous. Grace provided our righteousness, by faith in Christ Jesus. It's not because we were always doing right, but because He Is Right. We can only have righteousness and be able to stand upright again in God's Presence, by faith in Jesus Christ. Righteousness can only come by faith in the Finished Work of Jesus.
Jesus did for us, what we could never do for ourselves and it requires faith in that, to make us righteous. Paul received Revelation from Jesus Himself and when we read Paul's letters, it's difficult for us to see ourselves the way the Word sees us, because we know that we don't deserve to be what God has made us to be in Christ. It must be by faith, because we don't deserve it. I am what I am, because of who and what Jesus did for me and it's by faith in Him, that I allow His Grace to transform me.
Paul wrote about renewing our minds and being transformed in Romans 12:1-3 (Amplified) saying, "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies, presenting all your members and faculties as a living sacrifice, holy, devoted, consecrated, and well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable, rational, intelligent, service and Spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age, fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs), but be transformed, (changed) by the entire renewal of your mind, by its new ideals and new attitude, so that you may prove for yourselves what is that Good and acceptable and Perfect will of God, even the thing which is Good and acceptable and Perfect in His sight for you. For by the Grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you, not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought (not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance, but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him)."
You must have a very high and exaggerated opinion of yourself, if you believe you can make yourself righteous enough to stand in God's Presence on your own. Jesus is the Only One Who ever fulfilled the Law and was Righteous before God! We stand before God, based on our faith that God has apportioned to us, to receive His Grace and make you righteous. It's only Pride that would say, "You're not subject to God's Grace to make you righteous. You can do it on your own, external, superficial customs."
We can see why Paul instructs the Church to "Renew your minds and way of thinking." The carnal mind is at enmity (is hostile) to God's way of thinking and cannot be reconciled to Him, according to Romans 8:7 (Amplified) where Paul writes, "That is because the mind of the flesh with its carnal thoughts and purposes is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law; indeed it cannot." Your carnal mind (the mind of the flesh), will not accept God's Righteousness, without your needing to earn and deserve it, by its own works. That is pride at it's best.
We can only walk in God's Promises by being righteous in His eyes and the only way of being righteous in His eyes, is by Grace. The only way to be righteous in God's eyes by Grace, is by faith. Hebrews 11: 6 (Amplified) says, "But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must necessarily believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him out." Without having faith in God's Grace to make you in right standing with Him, you cannot come near or have the right to stand in His Presence. It's only by Grace through faith, that we can stand in God's Presence. It's not by works, external customs or the ways of the carnal mind with it's fleshly way of pride and thinking.
You were made righteous when you were born-again, but if you don't renew your mind by the Truth of God's Word, then your flesh will hold you back from Him, because it is hostile to God and will never submit to Grace. This is the "pride of life," John writes about in 1John 2:16 (Amplified) saying, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, craving for sensual gratification, and the lust of the eyes, greedy longing of the mind, and the pride of life, assurance in ones own resources or in the stability of earthly things, THESE DO NOT COME FROM THE FATHER."
When we don't understand righteousness, then nearly all of God's Promises made to us in Christ Jesus, are not available to us, even though they're already ours. Our sense of being unworthy and not righteous, will prevent our believing and receiving. Our faith will never reach out for these things, because we feel like we don't deserve them, in the mind of the flesh. This is one of the reasons why healing, tongues, Blessing and fulfilled Promises are so lacking in today's Church. The mind of the flesh wants to "make us righteous enough to deserve them."
The only response to a Gift, should be, "Thank you." Grace and Righteousness are Gifts from God and so it the faith to receive these Gifts. Let's Thank Him and allow Him to Bless us, like He desires to. The only thing holding back His Promises to you, is you.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Lesson 154 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "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. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (undeserved, unearned favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Many in today's Church, have never accepted many of the things that our Redeemer paid for with His Blood. It's not because these things aren't available or that they're "for certain ones only," but that we were never taught from God's Word, that THEY ARE OURS. The Spiritual Blessings and Gifts are ours through Jesus. They are many and for all who will believe.
Our believing is limited to what we've been taught and have learned, over our Christian lives. We are believers, but there are so many Promises of God, that we're not partaking of. 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) tells us, "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."
There are more than 370 Promises made to us, through our union with Jesus and these each have their "Yes and So be it, to God's Glory." Healing isn't just something we agree or disagree with, but it's a Promise that is Yes and So be it, in Jesus. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the speaking in tongues, isn't just something we preach, while others don't. It is a Promise that is fulfilled to those in Jesus Christ.
They Church has made the reality of God's Promise "to all that will believe", just a doctrine or religion. We were all saved by putting faith in the death and Resurrection of Jesus, thus we are all believers. If you're born-again, then you are a good Christian, because God never birthed a bad Christian.
Paul writes about the growing of our faith, 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." We must continue in faith, so we can receive and partake of God's Promises, that are already ours in Christ Jesus.
God has made our understanding His will, available to us, by His Word. Jesus is the Word made Flesh. He was (and still is), the Perfect will of God, for mankind. We stumble when hearing, "Healing and prosperity are for us today," but Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) says, "Jesus Christ (the Messiah), is always the same, yesterday, today, yes, and forever to the end of the ages." It was God's will for Jesus to heal deliver, prosper and help mankind, while He was here on earth and it's still God's will, through Jesus, to do it now.
Sickness was part of the Curse of the Law and we've been redeemed from that, as a part of the Blessing we've inherited through Jesus. Some believe that God uses sickness and disease to teach them or that "God has chosen them to carry the burden of disease and sickness." It's like we cannot distinguish between what is God's will and the enemy's attempt to destroy us. We've all but accepted a spirit of infirmity to teach us, instead of receiving God's Spirit. When someone accepts satan's lies that, "God is making them sick, in order to teach them something," then sickness becomes an on-going factor in their life.
Are there Christians who are not healed and who are sick? Of course there are, but is that God's will? No, not anymore so than it's God's will for people to remain unsaved. God's will was and is, that "None should perish and come to the knowledge of God," according to 2Peter 3:9 (Amplified). If it's God will that everyone should be saved, then why are so many still unsaved? They're unsaved because they never initiated faith to God's Promise that, "All who call upon the Name of the Lord would be saved." Romans 10:13 (Amplified) says, "For everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord, invoking Him as Lord will be saved."
We've been faith to preach about salvation and being born-again, but we haven't done so about healing and God's Blessing, so the people haven't heard and do not believe. Romans 10:17 (KJV) says, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:14 (KJV) asks, "How will they hear without a preacher?" Jesus taught about the Laws of the Kingdom that both He and we, are subject to, in Matthew 18:18 (Amplified) saying, "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth, must be what is already forbidden in Heaven and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in Heaven."
This scripture tell us that sickness, disease, hunger, being maimed or being in bondage, and the things Jesus did for the people He ministered to, were already forbidden in Heaven. The Spiritual Laws that govern Heaven tell us that, "Sickness, disease and the other things Jesus delivered the people from, are not permitted and are unlawful in Heaven."
Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-10 (Amplified) saying, "Pray therefore, like this, Our Father Who is in Heaven, Hallowed (kept holy), be Your Name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." If we're to expect Kingdom result in our prayers and deeds, then we must know what is Lawful and unlawful in Heaven. Apparently, the things Jesus delivered the people from, were unlawful according to the Spiritual Laws that govern the Kingdom into which we've been born into. Jesus also taught this in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at, and strive after first of all His Kingdom and His Righteousness, His way of doing and being right, and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."
All of these things are given by the Wisdom of God, to every believer, according to 1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified) which says, "But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God." It's not a lack of Wisdom that is holding Christians back, but a lack of understanding and perception. 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."
Without understanding, we reach our own understanding, with our own thoughts, using our own interpretation. We miss the Wisdom of the Kingdom and the Laws that govern it. 2Corinthians 3:14 (Amplified) says, "In fact, their minds [those under the Law] were grown hard and calloused, they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding; for until this present day, when the old covenant is being read, the same veil still lies on their hearts, not being lifted to reveal that in Christ Jesus it is made void and done away with."
Today's Christians are in danger of losing the power of understanding, when it comes to our laws of different doctrines. Anything that comes against what we believed we knew, is either cast away or simply ignored. We've lost the understanding about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in other tongues, because of our own, carnal understanding. Jesus said to, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His way of doing and being right."
Many in today's Church, have never accepted many of the things that our Redeemer paid for with His Blood. It's not because these things aren't available or that they're "for certain ones only," but that we were never taught from God's Word, that THEY ARE OURS. The Spiritual Blessings and Gifts are ours through Jesus. They are many and for all who will believe.
Our believing is limited to what we've been taught and have learned, over our Christian lives. We are believers, but there are so many Promises of God, that we're not partaking of. 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) tells us, "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."
There are more than 370 Promises made to us, through our union with Jesus and these each have their "Yes and So be it, to God's Glory." Healing isn't just something we agree or disagree with, but it's a Promise that is Yes and So be it, in Jesus. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the speaking in tongues, isn't just something we preach, while others don't. It is a Promise that is fulfilled to those in Jesus Christ.
They Church has made the reality of God's Promise "to all that will believe", just a doctrine or religion. We were all saved by putting faith in the death and Resurrection of Jesus, thus we are all believers. If you're born-again, then you are a good Christian, because God never birthed a bad Christian.
Paul writes about the growing of our faith, 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." We must continue in faith, so we can receive and partake of God's Promises, that are already ours in Christ Jesus.
God has made our understanding His will, available to us, by His Word. Jesus is the Word made Flesh. He was (and still is), the Perfect will of God, for mankind. We stumble when hearing, "Healing and prosperity are for us today," but Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) says, "Jesus Christ (the Messiah), is always the same, yesterday, today, yes, and forever to the end of the ages." It was God's will for Jesus to heal deliver, prosper and help mankind, while He was here on earth and it's still God's will, through Jesus, to do it now.
Sickness was part of the Curse of the Law and we've been redeemed from that, as a part of the Blessing we've inherited through Jesus. Some believe that God uses sickness and disease to teach them or that "God has chosen them to carry the burden of disease and sickness." It's like we cannot distinguish between what is God's will and the enemy's attempt to destroy us. We've all but accepted a spirit of infirmity to teach us, instead of receiving God's Spirit. When someone accepts satan's lies that, "God is making them sick, in order to teach them something," then sickness becomes an on-going factor in their life.
Are there Christians who are not healed and who are sick? Of course there are, but is that God's will? No, not anymore so than it's God's will for people to remain unsaved. God's will was and is, that "None should perish and come to the knowledge of God," according to 2Peter 3:9 (Amplified). If it's God will that everyone should be saved, then why are so many still unsaved? They're unsaved because they never initiated faith to God's Promise that, "All who call upon the Name of the Lord would be saved." Romans 10:13 (Amplified) says, "For everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord, invoking Him as Lord will be saved."
We've been faith to preach about salvation and being born-again, but we haven't done so about healing and God's Blessing, so the people haven't heard and do not believe. Romans 10:17 (KJV) says, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:14 (KJV) asks, "How will they hear without a preacher?" Jesus taught about the Laws of the Kingdom that both He and we, are subject to, in Matthew 18:18 (Amplified) saying, "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth, must be what is already forbidden in Heaven and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in Heaven."
This scripture tell us that sickness, disease, hunger, being maimed or being in bondage, and the things Jesus did for the people He ministered to, were already forbidden in Heaven. The Spiritual Laws that govern Heaven tell us that, "Sickness, disease and the other things Jesus delivered the people from, are not permitted and are unlawful in Heaven."
Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-10 (Amplified) saying, "Pray therefore, like this, Our Father Who is in Heaven, Hallowed (kept holy), be Your Name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." If we're to expect Kingdom result in our prayers and deeds, then we must know what is Lawful and unlawful in Heaven. Apparently, the things Jesus delivered the people from, were unlawful according to the Spiritual Laws that govern the Kingdom into which we've been born into. Jesus also taught this in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at, and strive after first of all His Kingdom and His Righteousness, His way of doing and being right, and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."
All of these things are given by the Wisdom of God, to every believer, according to 1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified) which says, "But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God." It's not a lack of Wisdom that is holding Christians back, but a lack of understanding and perception. 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."
Without understanding, we reach our own understanding, with our own thoughts, using our own interpretation. We miss the Wisdom of the Kingdom and the Laws that govern it. 2Corinthians 3:14 (Amplified) says, "In fact, their minds [those under the Law] were grown hard and calloused, they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding; for until this present day, when the old covenant is being read, the same veil still lies on their hearts, not being lifted to reveal that in Christ Jesus it is made void and done away with."
Today's Christians are in danger of losing the power of understanding, when it comes to our laws of different doctrines. Anything that comes against what we believed we knew, is either cast away or simply ignored. We've lost the understanding about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in other tongues, because of our own, carnal understanding. Jesus said to, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His way of doing and being right."
Monday, February 18, 2019
Lesson 153 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "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. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (undeserved, unearned favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Hebrews 4:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, while the Promise of entering His Rest still holds and is offered today, let us be afraid to distrust it, lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of reaching it. For indeed, we have the glad tidings (Gospel of God), proclaimed to us just as truly as they (the Israelites of old) did when the Good News of deliverance from bondage came to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith, with the learning of the entire Personality of God in absolute trust and confidence in His Power, Wisdom and Goodness, by those who heard it. Neither were they united in faith with the ones, Joshua and Caleb who heard and did believe."
Psalm 78:41-42 (Amplified) says, "And time and again [the Israelites] turned back and tempted God, provoking and incensing the Holy One of Israel. They remembered not, seriously the miracles of the working of His hands, nor the day when He delivered them from the enemy."
The King James Version says, "They limited the Holy One of Israel." After witnessing and benefiting from everything God had done for them, what more would God have given, if they hadn't limited Him? If they had removed limits from God, then what and would He have done for them? Hebrews 4:1-2,3 says there is still, "The fulfillment of His Promise to those who do not limit God." Listen to what the Holy Spirit says in Verse 3, "For we who have believed, adhered to, and trusted in and relied on God do enter that Rest, in accordance with His declaration that those who did not believe should not enter when He said, As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My Rest; and this He said although His works had been completed and prepared and waiting for all who would believe, from the foundation of the world."
Have we today, limited God in His Plan for our deliverance, like those in the wilderness did? Hebrews 4:1 said, "Therefore, while the Promise of entering His Rest still holds and is offered today, let us be afraid to distrust it." 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) says, "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."
The Promise of Rest that is being offered today, comes by Grace and must be received by faith. Hebrews 4:2 told us, "But the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith." Has today's Church limited God, by not mixing faith with the Promises He has given us? What would God do for believers, who would mix faith with His Promises of healing, peace, deliverance, and Grace?
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 (Amplified), "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to Rest, I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I Am gentle, meek and humble, lowly in heart, and you will find Rest, relief, and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome, useful, Good-not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable, gracious and pleasant, And My burden is light and easy to be borne."
Jesus is our Rest and Promise, and when we entered into Him, the Promise of Rest is became assured through Him. The only thing required of us, is the same requirement of those in the Wilderness, that we mix the Promise with faith. All of God's Promises are after all, Yes and Amen in Jesus, so why do we limit our Father from His fulfillment, with our unbelief?
Like the Israelites in the Wilderness were free from the Egyptian bondage, we are free from the bondage the world held us under. The Father brought us out from under that bondage and He wants to take us into His Rest. The only thing limiting Him, is our not putting faith in His Promises. The Israelites couldn't enter into the Promised Land and God's Rest, because of their unbelief. Hebrews 4:1 told us, "Therefore, While the Promise of entering His Rest still holds and is offered today, let us be afraid to distrust it, lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of reaching it."
Many in today's Church say, "God's Promises were only for the early Church" or "God's Promises aren't for everyone." We haven't come too late and we haven't missed God's Promise of Resting. God prepared these for us, before the foundation of the world. God would never had prepared His Rest for us, if He had never intended that we enter into it.
Many believe that the things God did in the old covenant, are greater than what He wishes to do in the new covenant. Don't be deceived into distrusting His Promises, given through Jesus. God delivered those in the old covenant from plagues and slavery. He delivered us by His Own Blood and has raised us higher than those who were held by Pharaoh. Pharaoh was only a man who was in charge and satan was really the one holding them. We've been delivered from satan. Don't limit God in His deliverance from all that satan tries doing. Don't believe his lies that, "God's Promises and Rest are for another people and another time."
The Lord was angry with those in the Wilderness, because they limited Him. God couldn't do the things He wanted for them, because they didn't believe Him and thus limited His Grace. We've yet to see the delivering hand of God on our behalf, because of our unbelief. Let's take the limits off of God and let Him be God.
Hebrews 4:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, while the Promise of entering His Rest still holds and is offered today, let us be afraid to distrust it, lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of reaching it. For indeed, we have the glad tidings (Gospel of God), proclaimed to us just as truly as they (the Israelites of old) did when the Good News of deliverance from bondage came to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith, with the learning of the entire Personality of God in absolute trust and confidence in His Power, Wisdom and Goodness, by those who heard it. Neither were they united in faith with the ones, Joshua and Caleb who heard and did believe."
Psalm 78:41-42 (Amplified) says, "And time and again [the Israelites] turned back and tempted God, provoking and incensing the Holy One of Israel. They remembered not, seriously the miracles of the working of His hands, nor the day when He delivered them from the enemy."
The King James Version says, "They limited the Holy One of Israel." After witnessing and benefiting from everything God had done for them, what more would God have given, if they hadn't limited Him? If they had removed limits from God, then what and would He have done for them? Hebrews 4:1-2,3 says there is still, "The fulfillment of His Promise to those who do not limit God." Listen to what the Holy Spirit says in Verse 3, "For we who have believed, adhered to, and trusted in and relied on God do enter that Rest, in accordance with His declaration that those who did not believe should not enter when He said, As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My Rest; and this He said although His works had been completed and prepared and waiting for all who would believe, from the foundation of the world."
Have we today, limited God in His Plan for our deliverance, like those in the wilderness did? Hebrews 4:1 said, "Therefore, while the Promise of entering His Rest still holds and is offered today, let us be afraid to distrust it." 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) says, "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."
The Promise of Rest that is being offered today, comes by Grace and must be received by faith. Hebrews 4:2 told us, "But the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith." Has today's Church limited God, by not mixing faith with the Promises He has given us? What would God do for believers, who would mix faith with His Promises of healing, peace, deliverance, and Grace?
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 (Amplified), "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to Rest, I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I Am gentle, meek and humble, lowly in heart, and you will find Rest, relief, and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome, useful, Good-not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable, gracious and pleasant, And My burden is light and easy to be borne."
Jesus is our Rest and Promise, and when we entered into Him, the Promise of Rest is became assured through Him. The only thing required of us, is the same requirement of those in the Wilderness, that we mix the Promise with faith. All of God's Promises are after all, Yes and Amen in Jesus, so why do we limit our Father from His fulfillment, with our unbelief?
Like the Israelites in the Wilderness were free from the Egyptian bondage, we are free from the bondage the world held us under. The Father brought us out from under that bondage and He wants to take us into His Rest. The only thing limiting Him, is our not putting faith in His Promises. The Israelites couldn't enter into the Promised Land and God's Rest, because of their unbelief. Hebrews 4:1 told us, "Therefore, While the Promise of entering His Rest still holds and is offered today, let us be afraid to distrust it, lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of reaching it."
Many in today's Church say, "God's Promises were only for the early Church" or "God's Promises aren't for everyone." We haven't come too late and we haven't missed God's Promise of Resting. God prepared these for us, before the foundation of the world. God would never had prepared His Rest for us, if He had never intended that we enter into it.
Many believe that the things God did in the old covenant, are greater than what He wishes to do in the new covenant. Don't be deceived into distrusting His Promises, given through Jesus. God delivered those in the old covenant from plagues and slavery. He delivered us by His Own Blood and has raised us higher than those who were held by Pharaoh. Pharaoh was only a man who was in charge and satan was really the one holding them. We've been delivered from satan. Don't limit God in His deliverance from all that satan tries doing. Don't believe his lies that, "God's Promises and Rest are for another people and another time."
The Lord was angry with those in the Wilderness, because they limited Him. God couldn't do the things He wanted for them, because they didn't believe Him and thus limited His Grace. We've yet to see the delivering hand of God on our behalf, because of our unbelief. Let's take the limits off of God and let Him be God.
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Lesson 152 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "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. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
After reading the above scripture, I was left wondering where we ever got the idea that our Father's will is for us to be sick, downcast, poor, struggling and overrun by the world and the enemy. We read this Truth in Romans 8:7 (Amplified), "That is because the mind of the flesh with its carnal thoughts and purposes is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law; indeed it cannot."
Without Revelation from the Holy Spirit, our carnal mind can't see the things of God in this life, because these things are Spiritually discerned. The Super-natural intervention of God into our lives here on earth, has somehow become nonexistent for today's Church. We've been taught and believe that God can only bring forth His Promises, after we leave this earth. We all know that He can, but we're not convinced that He will. God's will has been veiled in obscurity by the world and the enemy, so we've had a difficult time determining what His will is for us. Every believers wants to be in God's will and wishes to never violate His will. This has never been a question. The real question is and has been, "What is His will for us today?"
The Father makes is clear that He wants us to know His will in Colossi ans 1:9-10 (Amplified), which says, "For this reason we also from the day we heard of it [their love in the Holy Spirit] have not ceased to pray and make special request for you, asking that you may be filled with the full (deep, clear, knowledge) of His will in all Spiritual Wisdom (in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and in understanding and discernment of Spiritual things. That you may walk, live and conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God, with fuller, deeper and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition."
Paul wasn't praying here, for only those that were in Colossus, but he was praying for all who love God (the brethren) and the lost. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write the above scripture, so it must be for us today too.
Many in today's Church confess that, "You never know what God will do" and "If it be Your will." These hold us back from the fulfillment of Paul's Spirit Inspired prayer. We're supposed to know God's will and by knowing it, we can walk with Him and be pleasing to Him. God's will doesn't change and hasn't changed since the first mention of Him, in Genesis 1:1. God's will was and is, to have family that He can Bless, walk with,and fellowship with, in peace. Even though man messed up his part of God's Plan, God has never ignored or changed His Plan.
It required the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, to bring God's will back into the lives of mankind. God's will towards us, has never been changed. We act like God deliberately messed-up His Own Plan, so that He could deliver us. How silly. If man hadn't messed-up his end of the plan, then there would have been no need for Jesus to die, in order to deliver us. Throughout God's Word, God makes His will revealed and available. Jesus was the Perfect will of God, manifested in human Form, so there would be no misunderstanding about it. We though, continue to misunderstand it.
Many consider Jesus and the Father to be separate, even though we read in John 8:9 (Amplified), "Then they said to [Jesus], Where is this Father of Yours? Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as you know Me; if you knew Me you would know My Father also."
Jesus stated many times and in many ways that, "He and the Father are One and that He came to do His Father's will." Jesus said that, "He could only do what the Father told Him to do." Every miracle, healing, comforting, delivering, showing of compassion, friendship and companionship that Jesus gave, was the will of God, our Father. How could we have devised such foolish ideas about who our Heavenly Father really is?
If the Church got the Revelation of the Truth about God's will in this earth, then the work of satan would be ended. The Truth about sickness, would destroy the lies that, "God chose you to carry this burden" or "God put this sickness on you, to teach you something." These lies have left the Church to be double-minded and because we're so double-minded about Who our Heavenly Father is, there is no faith in what we pray. We have no faith in our prayers, because we don't even know whether it's God's will to answer our prayers.
The enemy has lied to and spread propaganda, which the Church has received as, "Truth." We've heard carnal sermons and have become carnal Christians, because we haven't gone to the Lord to find out if He is for us or against us. It's easier to walk without having responsibility in our walk, saying, "Whatever happens must be God's will for us." In Proverbs 6:9-11 (Amplified) God says, "How long will you sleep, O Sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down and sleep. So will your poverty come like a robber or one who travels with slowly but surely approaching steps, and your want like an armed man making you helpless."
We're asleep and saying, "It must be God's will," until our inactivity becomes futility and our faith is all but gone. We have a better chance at playing the lottery, than getting an answer to the foolish things we pray. We must stop identifying with how God dealt with the Old Testament saints and begin living by Grace, in this New Testament family of God. You're not King Saul or Job or any other character from the Old Testament. You're God's son or daughter and when the Father deals with you, it's from the perspective of Grace and Truth, through the Blood of Jesus Christ, Himself.
The people under the old covenant, were spiritually dead and God had to deal with them through their fleshly obedience to external Laws. This isn't true for us, who are born by God's Word and filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Your Heavenly Father will deal with His children, who are spiritually alive, by His Word and His Spirit. We must mature to the place, where we can hear and live in God's Grace, by faith. Our righteousness doesn't depend on us or our performance, but it depends on Jesus and His Righteousness and His Performance. If you miss the mark, then Grace will guide you into all Truth. We must listen to the Holy Spirit.
After reading the above scripture, I was left wondering where we ever got the idea that our Father's will is for us to be sick, downcast, poor, struggling and overrun by the world and the enemy. We read this Truth in Romans 8:7 (Amplified), "That is because the mind of the flesh with its carnal thoughts and purposes is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law; indeed it cannot."
Without Revelation from the Holy Spirit, our carnal mind can't see the things of God in this life, because these things are Spiritually discerned. The Super-natural intervention of God into our lives here on earth, has somehow become nonexistent for today's Church. We've been taught and believe that God can only bring forth His Promises, after we leave this earth. We all know that He can, but we're not convinced that He will. God's will has been veiled in obscurity by the world and the enemy, so we've had a difficult time determining what His will is for us. Every believers wants to be in God's will and wishes to never violate His will. This has never been a question. The real question is and has been, "What is His will for us today?"
The Father makes is clear that He wants us to know His will in Colossi ans 1:9-10 (Amplified), which says, "For this reason we also from the day we heard of it [their love in the Holy Spirit] have not ceased to pray and make special request for you, asking that you may be filled with the full (deep, clear, knowledge) of His will in all Spiritual Wisdom (in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and in understanding and discernment of Spiritual things. That you may walk, live and conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God, with fuller, deeper and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition."
Paul wasn't praying here, for only those that were in Colossus, but he was praying for all who love God (the brethren) and the lost. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write the above scripture, so it must be for us today too.
Many in today's Church confess that, "You never know what God will do" and "If it be Your will." These hold us back from the fulfillment of Paul's Spirit Inspired prayer. We're supposed to know God's will and by knowing it, we can walk with Him and be pleasing to Him. God's will doesn't change and hasn't changed since the first mention of Him, in Genesis 1:1. God's will was and is, to have family that He can Bless, walk with,and fellowship with, in peace. Even though man messed up his part of God's Plan, God has never ignored or changed His Plan.
It required the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, to bring God's will back into the lives of mankind. God's will towards us, has never been changed. We act like God deliberately messed-up His Own Plan, so that He could deliver us. How silly. If man hadn't messed-up his end of the plan, then there would have been no need for Jesus to die, in order to deliver us. Throughout God's Word, God makes His will revealed and available. Jesus was the Perfect will of God, manifested in human Form, so there would be no misunderstanding about it. We though, continue to misunderstand it.
Many consider Jesus and the Father to be separate, even though we read in John 8:9 (Amplified), "Then they said to [Jesus], Where is this Father of Yours? Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as you know Me; if you knew Me you would know My Father also."
Jesus stated many times and in many ways that, "He and the Father are One and that He came to do His Father's will." Jesus said that, "He could only do what the Father told Him to do." Every miracle, healing, comforting, delivering, showing of compassion, friendship and companionship that Jesus gave, was the will of God, our Father. How could we have devised such foolish ideas about who our Heavenly Father really is?
If the Church got the Revelation of the Truth about God's will in this earth, then the work of satan would be ended. The Truth about sickness, would destroy the lies that, "God chose you to carry this burden" or "God put this sickness on you, to teach you something." These lies have left the Church to be double-minded and because we're so double-minded about Who our Heavenly Father is, there is no faith in what we pray. We have no faith in our prayers, because we don't even know whether it's God's will to answer our prayers.
The enemy has lied to and spread propaganda, which the Church has received as, "Truth." We've heard carnal sermons and have become carnal Christians, because we haven't gone to the Lord to find out if He is for us or against us. It's easier to walk without having responsibility in our walk, saying, "Whatever happens must be God's will for us." In Proverbs 6:9-11 (Amplified) God says, "How long will you sleep, O Sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down and sleep. So will your poverty come like a robber or one who travels with slowly but surely approaching steps, and your want like an armed man making you helpless."
We're asleep and saying, "It must be God's will," until our inactivity becomes futility and our faith is all but gone. We have a better chance at playing the lottery, than getting an answer to the foolish things we pray. We must stop identifying with how God dealt with the Old Testament saints and begin living by Grace, in this New Testament family of God. You're not King Saul or Job or any other character from the Old Testament. You're God's son or daughter and when the Father deals with you, it's from the perspective of Grace and Truth, through the Blood of Jesus Christ, Himself.
The people under the old covenant, were spiritually dead and God had to deal with them through their fleshly obedience to external Laws. This isn't true for us, who are born by God's Word and filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Your Heavenly Father will deal with His children, who are spiritually alive, by His Word and His Spirit. We must mature to the place, where we can hear and live in God's Grace, by faith. Our righteousness doesn't depend on us or our performance, but it depends on Jesus and His Righteousness and His Performance. If you miss the mark, then Grace will guide you into all Truth. We must listen to the Holy Spirit.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Lesson 151 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "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. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
The Spiritual Blessings that have been reserved for us at this time, were withheld from those under the Law of Moses, because they were spiritually dead and separated from God in their spirit, through Adam's transgression. Now, since the Resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we're born-again of the Spirit and can receive these Spiritual Blessings and Gifts. Through the new birth and by Jesus Christ, we can receive these things.
The Father hasn't withheld any of the inheritance from His children, but His children haven't matured to where we understand who and what God has made us to be. It's not the fault of God's children and it's certainly not God's fault. God isn't holding out on us. Paul was Blessed by a Revelation from the Lord Himself, with understanding the new creation family of God, like no other person has understood since. Paul was taken into the Very Presence of the Lord and the Lord Himself explained the new creation to him.
The Church is to learn the Truth of the new creation and who we are now in Jesus, from and by the Holy Spirit. God gave the Revelation and ministry to Paul, in order to reveal it to the new creation family of God. This is to be a pattern for all of God's family and is meant for all who are in Christ Jesus. Those of us who are born-again, are all recipients of the same family and Seed. We're fellow heirs with the Firstborn Son of God.
If we're looking to blame someone for not teaching the Truth to God's family, then let's not place fault on man, but on the one who has deceived mankind since the Garden. Man can only teach what he knows and he only knows from what other have taught him. The enemy only needed to corrupt the Seed of Truth and sow it into the heart of the teachers. God's covenant once, only belonged to the Jew and not the Gentiles (the Church).
When I grew up in Illinois, there was what we called, "Volunteer Corn." This was seed that had been missed, when they picked the corn from the previous season. This corn survived, until the next harvest of soybeans was planted. We could see the corn stalks, among the soybeans. These volunteer cornstalks had grown-up among the soybeans and produced ears of corn at their maturing.
Even though God's family is supposed to walk in His Grace, today's Church still has seeds being planted from the Law of Moses, that are growing up like the volunteer crop of corn. This is seed that still lives in man's hearts, from the previous crop, or harvest, or covenant. This seed still produced, because it hadn't been tilled under or dried up when the old covenant was fulfilled. We now have a crop of mixed seed being sown in the Church, which produces corn and soybeans in the same field.
Only those who were Gentiles, had the seed of Grace sown without the seed of the Law of Moses. God Himself excluded them, from the Law of Moses. The covenant was only for the Jew, when the seed of covenant was sown. It became easier for the Gentile to walk by Grace, than it was for the Jews. Paul spoke about this in Galatians 3:1-3 (Amplified) saying, "O you poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated (or bewitched or cast a spell) over you, unto whom-right before your very eyes, Jesus Christ (the Messiah), was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified? Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit as a result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing the Message of the Gospel and believing it? Was it from observing a Law of rituals or from a Message of faith? Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun your new life spiritually with the Holy Spirit, are you now reaching perfection by your dependence on the flesh?"
Paul expounds in Galatians 4:16-17 (Amplified) saying, "Have I then become your enemy by telling the Truth to you and dealing sincerely with you? These men (the Judaizing teachers), are zealously trying to dazzle you, paying court to you (making much of you), but their purpose is not honorable or worthy or for any good. What they want to do is isolate you from us that oppose them, so that they may win you over to their side and get you to court their side."
One might ask, "What makes the difference anyway?" Paul explains the difference to the Church in Galatia and to us, in Galatians 4:1-3 (Amplified) saying, "Now what I mean is that as long as the inheritor (heir), is a child and underage, he does not differ from a slave, although he is the master of all the estate. But he is under guardians and administrators and trustees until the date fixed by his father. So we, Jewish Christians also, when we were minors, were kept like slaves under the rules of the Hebrew rituals and subject to the elementary teachings of external observations and regulations."
Paul was saying that, "If we allow ourselves to be placed back under the Law of Moses, even though we're the joint heirs of Christ, then we don't receive the inheritance granted us by the new birth, by faith. We're kept under the old teachings and regulations of the "mixed seed" of the Law of Moses. If we walk under the Law and do something wrong, then God can't Bless us. This has kept the true heirs of God in confinement of the enemy, for centuries.
The lesson from Galatians, is something that God's sons and daughters should all take into observance. Paul taught a correction for not only those in Galatia, but to us today. Proverbs 22:6 (Amplified) says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and in keeping with his individual gift (or bent), and when he is old he will not depart from it." Paul restates this in 1Corinthians 13:11 (Amplified) saying, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside."
Paul was referring to the lesson he gave to the Church in Galatians 4:1-2, 4-5 (Amplified) which says, "As long as the heir is just a child and underage, he doesn't differ from a slave, even though he is the master of the estate. But he is under guardians and administrators or trustees until the date fixed by his father." Paul concluded in Verses 4-5 saying, "But when the proper time had full come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, to purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us and be recognized a God's son."
We are no longer "children under guardians," but we are sons of God and joint heirs with Jesus. The "date fixed by the father," has come and we're no longer subject to the trustees. We've been released as being full heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. There are still those who would release our inheritance as they deem we can handle it, but the Truth is that we're to be trained up in righteousness, capable of handling our inheritance.
1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire), the pure and unadulterated spiritual milk (the Word) that by it you may be nurtured and grow into completed salvation." In order to handle our inheritance, we must grow into maturity by God's Word and the Holy Spirit. Satan's sowed deception into the hearts of God's children, which has held us back from being who the Father birthed us to be.
In Mark 4:24 (Amplified), Jesus aid, "Be careful what you are hearing." We must not allow the volunteer seed from the previous, old crop, to seep into our new seed of Truth. Paul writes in Galatians 4:1 (Amplified), "Now what I mean is the inheritor (heir) is a child and underage, he does not differ from a slave, although he is the master of all the estate." If we allow others to be trustees over our estate, then we will never grow up. There comes a time when we should become the master over all the estate that Jesus died to give us. This doesn't mean that we don't need one another or that we don't need teachers, but we must "Be careful what we hear!"
Those who've been Christians for awhile, have been exposed to many teachings over the years. We've not always done our homework, studying God's Word and listening to the Father, for ourselves. God's Church has been taught many things that have held us back, for centuries. Many things that are the Wisdom of God have been dismissed, because of a lack of understanding. Our learning, knowing and understanding God's Wisdom doesn't mean that we must separate from the brethren. God's children must grow up.
Many administrators of the Church haven't introduced God's Wisdom to us, for centuries. Proverbs 16:25 (Amplified) says, "There is a way that seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death." Jesus spoke about His Words in John 6:33 (Amplified) saying, "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."
Man has devised many things throughout the years, that aren't always Spirit and Life. Many of the things leftover from the Law of Moses, have not brought forth Life, but have brought death, condemnation, guilt and many other things of the flesh instead.
We're supposed to have the new creation spirit man, rule the flesh and not have the flesh rule the spirit man. We've catered to the flesh and have been ruled by both good and bad feelings and emotions. These are the shackles of the old man, who was under the Law, and not those of the new creation family of God. Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong), for those who are in Christ Jesus who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit." The dictates of the flesh are condemnation and guilt from our past and present actions. They are the residue or dregs from the old Law of Moses and not things from the master of the estate. Verse 2 continues, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being), has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
The god of this world has deceived mankind from the Garden of Eden until now. He can't stop the new birth and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, so he tries to deceive mankind. If he can restrain God's Church by that deception, then he can hold onto his earthly kingdom for awhile longer. In these Last Days, the Lord is giving His Church understanding, like we haven't seen for a long time. Some will cling onto the traditions of men, like they did during Jesus' ministry, but there will others who go on with the Power of the Lord and bring His Power to the world.
Paul was the messenger God used to bring forth the Revelation that we're God's family. The enemy has been working hard, trying to discredit the Revelation Paul received from the Lord. Without understanding of the Spirit, the Church has been bogged down in traditions and teachings of man. The people who established these traditions and teachings, were probably good men and wished to serve God, but they could only serve and teach from the understanding they had.
We need understanding of the new Revelation, which unveils what was already there. Paul received Revelation from the Lord Himself, which was the unveiling and uncovering of the Word. The Holy Spirit has removed the veil from our eyes and given us the ability to see and understand what God has always had for us. The Revelation Jesus gave to Paul, is the same Revelation that the Holy Spirit wrote to us in God's Word. This isn't a new thing, but it's the revealing of Jesus with understanding.
There will be more miracles, healings and deliverance's in this coming time, then the world and God's Church have ever seen, since Jesus' ministry and the birth of the Church. This is the time called, "The End of Days" and the soon coming of the Lord.
The Spiritual Blessings that have been reserved for us at this time, were withheld from those under the Law of Moses, because they were spiritually dead and separated from God in their spirit, through Adam's transgression. Now, since the Resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we're born-again of the Spirit and can receive these Spiritual Blessings and Gifts. Through the new birth and by Jesus Christ, we can receive these things.
The Father hasn't withheld any of the inheritance from His children, but His children haven't matured to where we understand who and what God has made us to be. It's not the fault of God's children and it's certainly not God's fault. God isn't holding out on us. Paul was Blessed by a Revelation from the Lord Himself, with understanding the new creation family of God, like no other person has understood since. Paul was taken into the Very Presence of the Lord and the Lord Himself explained the new creation to him.
The Church is to learn the Truth of the new creation and who we are now in Jesus, from and by the Holy Spirit. God gave the Revelation and ministry to Paul, in order to reveal it to the new creation family of God. This is to be a pattern for all of God's family and is meant for all who are in Christ Jesus. Those of us who are born-again, are all recipients of the same family and Seed. We're fellow heirs with the Firstborn Son of God.
If we're looking to blame someone for not teaching the Truth to God's family, then let's not place fault on man, but on the one who has deceived mankind since the Garden. Man can only teach what he knows and he only knows from what other have taught him. The enemy only needed to corrupt the Seed of Truth and sow it into the heart of the teachers. God's covenant once, only belonged to the Jew and not the Gentiles (the Church).
When I grew up in Illinois, there was what we called, "Volunteer Corn." This was seed that had been missed, when they picked the corn from the previous season. This corn survived, until the next harvest of soybeans was planted. We could see the corn stalks, among the soybeans. These volunteer cornstalks had grown-up among the soybeans and produced ears of corn at their maturing.
Even though God's family is supposed to walk in His Grace, today's Church still has seeds being planted from the Law of Moses, that are growing up like the volunteer crop of corn. This is seed that still lives in man's hearts, from the previous crop, or harvest, or covenant. This seed still produced, because it hadn't been tilled under or dried up when the old covenant was fulfilled. We now have a crop of mixed seed being sown in the Church, which produces corn and soybeans in the same field.
Only those who were Gentiles, had the seed of Grace sown without the seed of the Law of Moses. God Himself excluded them, from the Law of Moses. The covenant was only for the Jew, when the seed of covenant was sown. It became easier for the Gentile to walk by Grace, than it was for the Jews. Paul spoke about this in Galatians 3:1-3 (Amplified) saying, "O you poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated (or bewitched or cast a spell) over you, unto whom-right before your very eyes, Jesus Christ (the Messiah), was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified? Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit as a result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing the Message of the Gospel and believing it? Was it from observing a Law of rituals or from a Message of faith? Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun your new life spiritually with the Holy Spirit, are you now reaching perfection by your dependence on the flesh?"
Paul expounds in Galatians 4:16-17 (Amplified) saying, "Have I then become your enemy by telling the Truth to you and dealing sincerely with you? These men (the Judaizing teachers), are zealously trying to dazzle you, paying court to you (making much of you), but their purpose is not honorable or worthy or for any good. What they want to do is isolate you from us that oppose them, so that they may win you over to their side and get you to court their side."
One might ask, "What makes the difference anyway?" Paul explains the difference to the Church in Galatia and to us, in Galatians 4:1-3 (Amplified) saying, "Now what I mean is that as long as the inheritor (heir), is a child and underage, he does not differ from a slave, although he is the master of all the estate. But he is under guardians and administrators and trustees until the date fixed by his father. So we, Jewish Christians also, when we were minors, were kept like slaves under the rules of the Hebrew rituals and subject to the elementary teachings of external observations and regulations."
Paul was saying that, "If we allow ourselves to be placed back under the Law of Moses, even though we're the joint heirs of Christ, then we don't receive the inheritance granted us by the new birth, by faith. We're kept under the old teachings and regulations of the "mixed seed" of the Law of Moses. If we walk under the Law and do something wrong, then God can't Bless us. This has kept the true heirs of God in confinement of the enemy, for centuries.
The lesson from Galatians, is something that God's sons and daughters should all take into observance. Paul taught a correction for not only those in Galatia, but to us today. Proverbs 22:6 (Amplified) says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and in keeping with his individual gift (or bent), and when he is old he will not depart from it." Paul restates this in 1Corinthians 13:11 (Amplified) saying, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside."
Paul was referring to the lesson he gave to the Church in Galatians 4:1-2, 4-5 (Amplified) which says, "As long as the heir is just a child and underage, he doesn't differ from a slave, even though he is the master of the estate. But he is under guardians and administrators or trustees until the date fixed by his father." Paul concluded in Verses 4-5 saying, "But when the proper time had full come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, to purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us and be recognized a God's son."
We are no longer "children under guardians," but we are sons of God and joint heirs with Jesus. The "date fixed by the father," has come and we're no longer subject to the trustees. We've been released as being full heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. There are still those who would release our inheritance as they deem we can handle it, but the Truth is that we're to be trained up in righteousness, capable of handling our inheritance.
1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire), the pure and unadulterated spiritual milk (the Word) that by it you may be nurtured and grow into completed salvation." In order to handle our inheritance, we must grow into maturity by God's Word and the Holy Spirit. Satan's sowed deception into the hearts of God's children, which has held us back from being who the Father birthed us to be.
In Mark 4:24 (Amplified), Jesus aid, "Be careful what you are hearing." We must not allow the volunteer seed from the previous, old crop, to seep into our new seed of Truth. Paul writes in Galatians 4:1 (Amplified), "Now what I mean is the inheritor (heir) is a child and underage, he does not differ from a slave, although he is the master of all the estate." If we allow others to be trustees over our estate, then we will never grow up. There comes a time when we should become the master over all the estate that Jesus died to give us. This doesn't mean that we don't need one another or that we don't need teachers, but we must "Be careful what we hear!"
Those who've been Christians for awhile, have been exposed to many teachings over the years. We've not always done our homework, studying God's Word and listening to the Father, for ourselves. God's Church has been taught many things that have held us back, for centuries. Many things that are the Wisdom of God have been dismissed, because of a lack of understanding. Our learning, knowing and understanding God's Wisdom doesn't mean that we must separate from the brethren. God's children must grow up.
Many administrators of the Church haven't introduced God's Wisdom to us, for centuries. Proverbs 16:25 (Amplified) says, "There is a way that seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death." Jesus spoke about His Words in John 6:33 (Amplified) saying, "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."
Man has devised many things throughout the years, that aren't always Spirit and Life. Many of the things leftover from the Law of Moses, have not brought forth Life, but have brought death, condemnation, guilt and many other things of the flesh instead.
We're supposed to have the new creation spirit man, rule the flesh and not have the flesh rule the spirit man. We've catered to the flesh and have been ruled by both good and bad feelings and emotions. These are the shackles of the old man, who was under the Law, and not those of the new creation family of God. Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong), for those who are in Christ Jesus who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit." The dictates of the flesh are condemnation and guilt from our past and present actions. They are the residue or dregs from the old Law of Moses and not things from the master of the estate. Verse 2 continues, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being), has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
The god of this world has deceived mankind from the Garden of Eden until now. He can't stop the new birth and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, so he tries to deceive mankind. If he can restrain God's Church by that deception, then he can hold onto his earthly kingdom for awhile longer. In these Last Days, the Lord is giving His Church understanding, like we haven't seen for a long time. Some will cling onto the traditions of men, like they did during Jesus' ministry, but there will others who go on with the Power of the Lord and bring His Power to the world.
Paul was the messenger God used to bring forth the Revelation that we're God's family. The enemy has been working hard, trying to discredit the Revelation Paul received from the Lord. Without understanding of the Spirit, the Church has been bogged down in traditions and teachings of man. The people who established these traditions and teachings, were probably good men and wished to serve God, but they could only serve and teach from the understanding they had.
We need understanding of the new Revelation, which unveils what was already there. Paul received Revelation from the Lord Himself, which was the unveiling and uncovering of the Word. The Holy Spirit has removed the veil from our eyes and given us the ability to see and understand what God has always had for us. The Revelation Jesus gave to Paul, is the same Revelation that the Holy Spirit wrote to us in God's Word. This isn't a new thing, but it's the revealing of Jesus with understanding.
There will be more miracles, healings and deliverance's in this coming time, then the world and God's Church have ever seen, since Jesus' ministry and the birth of the Church. This is the time called, "The End of Days" and the soon coming of the Lord.
Monday, February 11, 2019
Lesson 150 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "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. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
The above scripture tells us explicitly that, "Out of God's fullness, we have all received." His fullness wasn't reserved for the early Church only, or "for certain ones," or for the Apostles only, but God's Word says, "we have all received." Today's Church has heard so many different teachings, doctrines and different "Gospels," that not all have received. God's fullness was intended for everyone, but we've decided that this isn't true for some.
The Truth came through Jesus Christ, according to the above scripture, but I'm persuaded that the Truth of the Gospel is still not received today. We've all been given the opportunity to receive, but some either don't know or have chosen not to receive. Romans 10:17 (Amplified) says, "So faith comes by hearing what is told, and what is heard comes by the preaching of the Message that came from the lips of Christ, the Messiah Himself."
Sadly, much of what is being preached today, never came from the lips of Jesus, the Christ. Surely faith came by hearing, but much of what we've heard and placed our faith in, are not the Words of Jesus. This might be what the Father meant, when He told me "This is the Year of Understanding." Since the New Testament was written over two-thousand years ago, we've developed hundreds of differing denominations and thousands of different doctrines that we call, "truth." We've mostly ignored Proverbs 4:5-8 (Amplified) where God says, "Get skillful and Godly Wisdom, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the Words of My mouth. Forsake not [Wisdom], and she will keep, defend, and protect you; love her, and she will guard you. 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]."
We've replaced the Wisdom of God, with man's wisdom, because we lacked understanding. 1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified) says, "But it is from Him (God) that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God. Revealed to us a knowledge of the Divine place of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as our Righteousness, thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God; and our Consecration, making us pure and holy; and our Redemption, providing our Ransom from eternal penalty for sin."
The above scripture tells us that we've been provided with Wisdom, through our union with Jesus. We have fulfilled Proverbs 4:7 by "Getting Wisdom," because Jesus is our Wisdom. This tells us that today's Church is lacking Wisdom, but that we've lacking understanding, comprehension and the interpretation of Wisdom.
When carnal-minded men, interpret the Wisdom of God, it becomes religion and not restoration. God's plan was complete restoration to what His plan for His family was from the foundation of the world. God's plan for His family, has never changed. God's plan was never for His children to be sick, depressed or "lorded over" by His enemy. We've never reached the potential of Who He made us to be, because we've lacked understanding of it. Proverbs 29:18 (Amplified) says, "Where there is no vision (no redemptive Revelation of God), the people perish; but he who keeps the Law or Word of God, which includes that of man, Blessed (happy, fortunate and happy) is he."
Today's Church has lost sight of "the Redemptive Revelation of God." God is our Redeemer and according to Proverbs 21:30 (Amplified), "There is no human wisdom or understanding or counsel that can prevail against the Lord." Whatever man's wisdom has devised, it cannot prevail against the Wisdom and understanding of the Lord. Proverbs 14:8 (Amplified) goes on, "The Wisdom (Godly Wisdom), which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God of the prudent is to understand His way, but the folly of self-confident fools is to deceive."
Many of God's children dismiss the things Jesus endured the cross for. He went there, in order to deliver them back into the lives of God's Own children. Many say they are "foolish." Do you really believe that a God Who can raise you from the dead, can't heal your body? Do you really believe that the Same Holy Spirit Who was on Elijah and causing Elijah to do great things, can't do the same things now that He not only is "on you," but He lives within you?
Have we allowed satan to deceive us, like he did in Eden and talk us out of our total redemption, so that we're no threat to him? We've somehow, come to believe that "God only does these things, after we die." Who is supposed to lay hands on the sick and cast out devils, here and now, on earth? Who is to display the Glory of God here, if He can only do these things after we die and go to Heaven?
Paul stood against those under the Law, who opposed him and the Gentiles who worshiped demon gods, but he never backed down in his ministry because others rejected him. Paul's commitment to the Lord, meant more to him, than the praise and adulation of men. Is God's Word still Truth to us? Why would God allow these things to be written in His Word, if He didn't intend to "back" His Word and His Promise?
We've been sold a Bill of Goods, that is only "partial Truth." Satan tried telling Jesus a partial Truth in Matthew 4:6-7 (Amplified) saying, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, He will give His angels charge over you, and they will bear you up on their hands; lest you strike your foot against a stone." Satan was quoting God's Word from Psalm 91, but it was only a half Truth. Jesus replied in Verse 7, saying, "It is written also, You shall not tempt the Lord your God."
We've been deceived by man's wisdom and taught only half scriptures, like the Israelites in the Wilderness, who received what God called, "An evil report." How many evil reports, have we believed? How many times have we believed the gospel of men, instead of God's Gospel? The reports the spies gave about the giants, weren't lies, but they were lies about God's ability to do what man couldn't do without God. Most things in this Gospel can't be done in our own power, but we're to "Be strong in the Lord, and the Power of His Might."
The Bible is a Super-natural Book, written by a Super-natural God to a Super-natural people. It was never intended for natural man to be able to do or even understand, without the Super-natural Spirit of God in us. When the Church reduces God to a natural place, the Power of the Gospel is all but lost to the world, as a sign of God in the earth.
We must, "With all our getting, GET UNDERSTANDING!" Just prior to His Ascension to the Father, Jesus told His followers about the Holy Spirit in John 16:13 (Amplified),saying, "But when He (the Spirit of Truth, the Truth Giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His Own Message, on His Own authority, but He will tell whatever He hears from the Father (He will give the Message that has been given to Him), and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future)."
The above scripture tells us explicitly that, "Out of God's fullness, we have all received." His fullness wasn't reserved for the early Church only, or "for certain ones," or for the Apostles only, but God's Word says, "we have all received." Today's Church has heard so many different teachings, doctrines and different "Gospels," that not all have received. God's fullness was intended for everyone, but we've decided that this isn't true for some.
The Truth came through Jesus Christ, according to the above scripture, but I'm persuaded that the Truth of the Gospel is still not received today. We've all been given the opportunity to receive, but some either don't know or have chosen not to receive. Romans 10:17 (Amplified) says, "So faith comes by hearing what is told, and what is heard comes by the preaching of the Message that came from the lips of Christ, the Messiah Himself."
Sadly, much of what is being preached today, never came from the lips of Jesus, the Christ. Surely faith came by hearing, but much of what we've heard and placed our faith in, are not the Words of Jesus. This might be what the Father meant, when He told me "This is the Year of Understanding." Since the New Testament was written over two-thousand years ago, we've developed hundreds of differing denominations and thousands of different doctrines that we call, "truth." We've mostly ignored Proverbs 4:5-8 (Amplified) where God says, "Get skillful and Godly Wisdom, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the Words of My mouth. Forsake not [Wisdom], and she will keep, defend, and protect you; love her, and she will guard you. 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]."
We've replaced the Wisdom of God, with man's wisdom, because we lacked understanding. 1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified) says, "But it is from Him (God) that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God. Revealed to us a knowledge of the Divine place of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as our Righteousness, thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God; and our Consecration, making us pure and holy; and our Redemption, providing our Ransom from eternal penalty for sin."
The above scripture tells us that we've been provided with Wisdom, through our union with Jesus. We have fulfilled Proverbs 4:7 by "Getting Wisdom," because Jesus is our Wisdom. This tells us that today's Church is lacking Wisdom, but that we've lacking understanding, comprehension and the interpretation of Wisdom.
When carnal-minded men, interpret the Wisdom of God, it becomes religion and not restoration. God's plan was complete restoration to what His plan for His family was from the foundation of the world. God's plan for His family, has never changed. God's plan was never for His children to be sick, depressed or "lorded over" by His enemy. We've never reached the potential of Who He made us to be, because we've lacked understanding of it. Proverbs 29:18 (Amplified) says, "Where there is no vision (no redemptive Revelation of God), the people perish; but he who keeps the Law or Word of God, which includes that of man, Blessed (happy, fortunate and happy) is he."
Today's Church has lost sight of "the Redemptive Revelation of God." God is our Redeemer and according to Proverbs 21:30 (Amplified), "There is no human wisdom or understanding or counsel that can prevail against the Lord." Whatever man's wisdom has devised, it cannot prevail against the Wisdom and understanding of the Lord. Proverbs 14:8 (Amplified) goes on, "The Wisdom (Godly Wisdom), which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God of the prudent is to understand His way, but the folly of self-confident fools is to deceive."
Many of God's children dismiss the things Jesus endured the cross for. He went there, in order to deliver them back into the lives of God's Own children. Many say they are "foolish." Do you really believe that a God Who can raise you from the dead, can't heal your body? Do you really believe that the Same Holy Spirit Who was on Elijah and causing Elijah to do great things, can't do the same things now that He not only is "on you," but He lives within you?
Have we allowed satan to deceive us, like he did in Eden and talk us out of our total redemption, so that we're no threat to him? We've somehow, come to believe that "God only does these things, after we die." Who is supposed to lay hands on the sick and cast out devils, here and now, on earth? Who is to display the Glory of God here, if He can only do these things after we die and go to Heaven?
Paul stood against those under the Law, who opposed him and the Gentiles who worshiped demon gods, but he never backed down in his ministry because others rejected him. Paul's commitment to the Lord, meant more to him, than the praise and adulation of men. Is God's Word still Truth to us? Why would God allow these things to be written in His Word, if He didn't intend to "back" His Word and His Promise?
We've been sold a Bill of Goods, that is only "partial Truth." Satan tried telling Jesus a partial Truth in Matthew 4:6-7 (Amplified) saying, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, He will give His angels charge over you, and they will bear you up on their hands; lest you strike your foot against a stone." Satan was quoting God's Word from Psalm 91, but it was only a half Truth. Jesus replied in Verse 7, saying, "It is written also, You shall not tempt the Lord your God."
We've been deceived by man's wisdom and taught only half scriptures, like the Israelites in the Wilderness, who received what God called, "An evil report." How many evil reports, have we believed? How many times have we believed the gospel of men, instead of God's Gospel? The reports the spies gave about the giants, weren't lies, but they were lies about God's ability to do what man couldn't do without God. Most things in this Gospel can't be done in our own power, but we're to "Be strong in the Lord, and the Power of His Might."
The Bible is a Super-natural Book, written by a Super-natural God to a Super-natural people. It was never intended for natural man to be able to do or even understand, without the Super-natural Spirit of God in us. When the Church reduces God to a natural place, the Power of the Gospel is all but lost to the world, as a sign of God in the earth.
We must, "With all our getting, GET UNDERSTANDING!" Just prior to His Ascension to the Father, Jesus told His followers about the Holy Spirit in John 16:13 (Amplified),saying, "But when He (the Spirit of Truth, the Truth Giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His Own Message, on His Own authority, but He will tell whatever He hears from the Father (He will give the Message that has been given to Him), and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future)."
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Lesson 149 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "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. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessings and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Many Christians don't know what God's will and His Plan is for our lives. Since the time God spoke all things into place (including man), His plan and His will for mankind on this earth, have never changed. God's plan is to bring the entire existence into conformity, to His original plan. We have a Plan B, but God doesn't. God's Plan A is always His agenda. He created all things by His Word and Jesus is His Word. As a Man, Jesus brought everything back to God's original plan.
Neither the world or most of the Church, have never really understood God's Plan A. We've heard so many things through the years, that it's difficult to distinguish Truth from error. We've looked at the things surrounding us, instead of the things of God's Promise. JESUS IS THE PROMISE. We read about the Spiritual Blessing in the above scripture, but many have taught that, "These things are for when we get to Heaven." God Blessed mankind with His Blessing in the Spiritual realm, even before He placed man in this earthly realm. God has also Blessed man with His Spiritual Blessing, even in this earthly realm. These Blessings were never intended for Heaven, but from the heavens to the earth. Heaven doesn't need to be Blessed, because the One Who Blesses is already there.
These Blessings came down from the One Who isn't only Blessed, but the Only One Who can Bless. The Blessing was put on hold at the fall of man in the Garden, until the Fullness of Jesus could be manifest in the earth. God intended His Blessing to rule and prosper the earth, like Heaven on earth.
The Church has spent more time teaching the Law and the Curse, instead of the Truth and the Blessing. Is it any wonder that things aren't working like God's Plan and His will is for us? This was what Jesus came to preach and teach. He was always on the wrong side of those who opposed the Truth. The devil hasn't changed his tactics from the beginning, like he did with Eve, asking, "Did God say?"
Most believers agree that God's Word is True, but like the spies who came back from Canaan, we consider the giants more than the Promise. There are still "giants" in the land, but our God is much bigger than any giant. Do we hold our place like David did or do we submit in fear, at the giants? David wasn't blind to the size of Goliath, but his sight was on his place and covenant with the Most High God!
We've looked at the Promises, but like the Israelites in Numbers 13-14, we've listened to the voice of those who see themselves as grasshoppers in the eyes of the giants and have only seen ourselves on our own, without God. If we don't see ourselves as being in Christ and Christ in us, then we've still grasshoppers in this world, not only in our own eyes, but in the eyes of the enemy. Satan knows who is trusting in Jesus and who is trusting in something else.
The seven sons of a certain Jewish priest were trying to cast out devils in Acts 19:14-16 (Amplified) which says, "Seven sons of a certain Jewish priest named Sceva were doing this but one evil spirit retorted, Jesus I know and Paul I know about, but who are you? Then the man in whom the evil spirit dwelt leaped upon them, mastering two of them, and was so violent against them that they dashed out of the house in fear, stripped naked and wounded."
This scripture clearly tells us that in the spirit, the enemy knows who is trusting in and is moving in the Holy Spirit and who isn't. He can only devour those who are in fear and not those who are walking in faith and unity with God's Word. You never approach a giant by yourself, but only in the faith of your place in Christ Jesus. 1Peter 5:8-9 (Amplified) says, "Be well-balanced (temperate and sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours (the devil), roams around like a lion roaring in fierce hunger, seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him: be firm in faith against his onset (rooted and established, strong, immovable and determined), knowing that the same identical sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole Body of Christians throughout the world)."
Notice how the above scripture doesn't say that the devil is going about "devouring everyone," but that he is "seeking someone to devour." You might not be able to stop him from roaring and seeking, but you can withstand him in the faith and remain in taking God's Promise, in spite of the giants around you. Don't be discouraged, because of his attacks. Remember, Peter says that satan "goes around like a lion roaring in fierce hunger, seeking someone to devour." Satan isn't earing up everyone, but he's seeking someone to devour.
Satan came up against Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, John and everyone who walks in faith in God. You're not alone and you're not defeated. Peter even stated that, "Knowing this same thing, comes against the entire Church." It's up to each of us, to stand or fall under satan's roaring. The roar of a lion, can do nothing. It can frighten us, but it cannot eat us.
The "grasshopper vision" was in the hearts of the Israelites in the Wilderness. They saw themselves as grasshoppers. The Israelites turned back from spying out the Promised Land in Joshua 2:10-11 (Amplified), where Joshua says, "For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the east side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed When we heard it, our hearts melted, neither did spirit or courage remain anymore in any man because of you. For the Lord your God, He is god in Heaven above and on earth beneath."
We've done like those Israelites, doing exactly what Jesus tells us not to do, in Mark 4:24 (Amplified), where Jesus says, "Be careful what you hear." We've considered the evil report of those who only heard the roar of the one who thought himself a lion. Peter didn't say that satan "is a lion," but that he goes about "like a lion." There is only One Lion in our lives and He is the Lion of Judah, our Lord Jesus Christ. Don't let grasshopper vision guide your life. Allow the Word of God to do so.
There are so many things being taught in today's Church, but you must seek the Truth of God's Word for your life. The majority might believe the word of their being grasshoppers, but that doesn't mean it is Truth. The majority of the Israelites in the Wilderness opposed the words of Joshua and Caleb, but Joshua and Caleb were the only ones from that generation, that God allowed to enter into the Promised Land. You might be standing against the roar of the enemy, while others don't, but that doesn't mean that the enemy hasn't come to "all the brethren." The roar is only successful against those who don't stand.
Take note that Peter didn't say,"God is the One testing your faith," but the lie of the enemy is looking for someone to devour. When you see the giant instead of the Lord, you become no more than a grasshopper in the eyes of the enemy.
Many Christians don't know what God's will and His Plan is for our lives. Since the time God spoke all things into place (including man), His plan and His will for mankind on this earth, have never changed. God's plan is to bring the entire existence into conformity, to His original plan. We have a Plan B, but God doesn't. God's Plan A is always His agenda. He created all things by His Word and Jesus is His Word. As a Man, Jesus brought everything back to God's original plan.
Neither the world or most of the Church, have never really understood God's Plan A. We've heard so many things through the years, that it's difficult to distinguish Truth from error. We've looked at the things surrounding us, instead of the things of God's Promise. JESUS IS THE PROMISE. We read about the Spiritual Blessing in the above scripture, but many have taught that, "These things are for when we get to Heaven." God Blessed mankind with His Blessing in the Spiritual realm, even before He placed man in this earthly realm. God has also Blessed man with His Spiritual Blessing, even in this earthly realm. These Blessings were never intended for Heaven, but from the heavens to the earth. Heaven doesn't need to be Blessed, because the One Who Blesses is already there.
These Blessings came down from the One Who isn't only Blessed, but the Only One Who can Bless. The Blessing was put on hold at the fall of man in the Garden, until the Fullness of Jesus could be manifest in the earth. God intended His Blessing to rule and prosper the earth, like Heaven on earth.
The Church has spent more time teaching the Law and the Curse, instead of the Truth and the Blessing. Is it any wonder that things aren't working like God's Plan and His will is for us? This was what Jesus came to preach and teach. He was always on the wrong side of those who opposed the Truth. The devil hasn't changed his tactics from the beginning, like he did with Eve, asking, "Did God say?"
Most believers agree that God's Word is True, but like the spies who came back from Canaan, we consider the giants more than the Promise. There are still "giants" in the land, but our God is much bigger than any giant. Do we hold our place like David did or do we submit in fear, at the giants? David wasn't blind to the size of Goliath, but his sight was on his place and covenant with the Most High God!
We've looked at the Promises, but like the Israelites in Numbers 13-14, we've listened to the voice of those who see themselves as grasshoppers in the eyes of the giants and have only seen ourselves on our own, without God. If we don't see ourselves as being in Christ and Christ in us, then we've still grasshoppers in this world, not only in our own eyes, but in the eyes of the enemy. Satan knows who is trusting in Jesus and who is trusting in something else.
The seven sons of a certain Jewish priest were trying to cast out devils in Acts 19:14-16 (Amplified) which says, "Seven sons of a certain Jewish priest named Sceva were doing this but one evil spirit retorted, Jesus I know and Paul I know about, but who are you? Then the man in whom the evil spirit dwelt leaped upon them, mastering two of them, and was so violent against them that they dashed out of the house in fear, stripped naked and wounded."
This scripture clearly tells us that in the spirit, the enemy knows who is trusting in and is moving in the Holy Spirit and who isn't. He can only devour those who are in fear and not those who are walking in faith and unity with God's Word. You never approach a giant by yourself, but only in the faith of your place in Christ Jesus. 1Peter 5:8-9 (Amplified) says, "Be well-balanced (temperate and sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours (the devil), roams around like a lion roaring in fierce hunger, seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him: be firm in faith against his onset (rooted and established, strong, immovable and determined), knowing that the same identical sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole Body of Christians throughout the world)."
Notice how the above scripture doesn't say that the devil is going about "devouring everyone," but that he is "seeking someone to devour." You might not be able to stop him from roaring and seeking, but you can withstand him in the faith and remain in taking God's Promise, in spite of the giants around you. Don't be discouraged, because of his attacks. Remember, Peter says that satan "goes around like a lion roaring in fierce hunger, seeking someone to devour." Satan isn't earing up everyone, but he's seeking someone to devour.
Satan came up against Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, John and everyone who walks in faith in God. You're not alone and you're not defeated. Peter even stated that, "Knowing this same thing, comes against the entire Church." It's up to each of us, to stand or fall under satan's roaring. The roar of a lion, can do nothing. It can frighten us, but it cannot eat us.
The "grasshopper vision" was in the hearts of the Israelites in the Wilderness. They saw themselves as grasshoppers. The Israelites turned back from spying out the Promised Land in Joshua 2:10-11 (Amplified), where Joshua says, "For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the east side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed When we heard it, our hearts melted, neither did spirit or courage remain anymore in any man because of you. For the Lord your God, He is god in Heaven above and on earth beneath."
We've done like those Israelites, doing exactly what Jesus tells us not to do, in Mark 4:24 (Amplified), where Jesus says, "Be careful what you hear." We've considered the evil report of those who only heard the roar of the one who thought himself a lion. Peter didn't say that satan "is a lion," but that he goes about "like a lion." There is only One Lion in our lives and He is the Lion of Judah, our Lord Jesus Christ. Don't let grasshopper vision guide your life. Allow the Word of God to do so.
There are so many things being taught in today's Church, but you must seek the Truth of God's Word for your life. The majority might believe the word of their being grasshoppers, but that doesn't mean it is Truth. The majority of the Israelites in the Wilderness opposed the words of Joshua and Caleb, but Joshua and Caleb were the only ones from that generation, that God allowed to enter into the Promised Land. You might be standing against the roar of the enemy, while others don't, but that doesn't mean that the enemy hasn't come to "all the brethren." The roar is only successful against those who don't stand.
Take note that Peter didn't say,"God is the One testing your faith," but the lie of the enemy is looking for someone to devour. When you see the giant instead of the Lord, you become no more than a grasshopper in the eyes of the enemy.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Lesson 148 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:6-17 (Amplified) says, "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. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
I was told, both before and after being born-again, that, "You can't know the will of God" and "You never know what God will do." God's Word though, doesn't say these things to and for us. Paul writes through the Holy Spirit's Inspiration in Colossi ans 1:9-13 (Amplified), "For this reason [their love] we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make special request for you, asking that you may be filled with the full (deep, clear) knowledge of His will in all Spiritual Wisdom, in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God, and in understanding and discernment of Spiritual things." Paul gives the reasons the Church must know God's will and purpose in Verse 10, saying, "That you may walk, live and conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God, with fuller, deeper and clearer insight, acquaintance and recognition." Paul writes in Verse 11 saying, "We pray that you be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His Glory, to exercise every kind of endurance and patience, perseverance and forbearance with joy."
2Timothy 3:16 (Amplified) tells us that, "All scripture is God-breathed (given by His Inspiration and is profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience and for training in righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God's will, in thought, purpose and action."
So, we know that Paul's writings from Colossi ans 1:9-13 is God-breathed and that God's desire is that we should know His will. If we don't know God's will, then it's because we haven't understood that it's God's will for us to know His will or we've believed something other than His Word. It's difficult to please God or to be pleasing to Him, if we are outside of His will.
The above scripture tells us that we are "To know God's will concerning healing, salvation, the Holy Spirit and all of the things He has provided for us, through Jesus." If it wasn't God's will, then there would have been no need for Jesus to have borne these things for us. The traditions of men, have weakened the Truth of God's Word and have brought about confusion in the Church. Jesus brought many Truths to us about the Mysteries of the Kingdom and the Secret Counsels of God, in Mark 4:11 (Amplified), where He gave "The Parable of the Sower." Thus it says, "And He said to them; To you has been entrusted the Mystery of the Kingdom of God, that is the Secret Counsels of God which are hidden from the ungodly; but for those outside of our circle (the family of God) everything becomes a Parable." Those who don't know Jesus, don't understand the Word of God.
We know the Truth that "All words are seeds. These don't just include the Word of God, but the worlds of the world (which are usually contrary to God's Word). Jesus admonished in Mark 4:24 (Amplified), "Be careful what you are hearing." He knew the danger of words (seeds) doubt, fear, anxiety, death and unbelief. Jesus knew that these seeds will produce in good soil. When we were born-again, our heart (spirit) became good soil, which will grow whatever seed we allow to be sown in it.
Jesus continues speaking about the seeds in Mark 4:19 (Amplified), "Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches and the cravings and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and make it fruitless."
The things that "creep in" are the words of the world and this age, that bear fruit of the world. This is the main reason Jesus said, "Be careful what you are hearing." We read about the serpent's speaking words of doubt and unbelief to Eve in the Garden of Eden, in Genesis 3:4-5. Eve allowed those words to be sown into her heart and they brought forth death and separation from God, for herself and others after her.
Moses sent ten spies into Canaan Land to spy it out, eight of whom returned with what God calls, "An evil report," in Numbers 13:32. The Israelites refused to go into the Promised Land, after hearing the report of the spies. They even wished to stone Joshua and Caleb, for their good report in Numbers 4:11 (Amplified), which says, "And the Lord said to Moses, How long will this people provoke, spurn, despise Me? And how long will it be before they believe Me (trusting in, relying on, clinging to Me), for all the signs which I have performed among them."
The Israelite people weren't "Careful what they heard" and remained in the Wilderness until they died. They could have heard the words of Joshua and Caleb, which was God's Word. They chose to hear and receive the lying words of the other spies, which were the words from the enemy. Both word (seeds) produced a harvest. Some words produced death, but Joshua and Caleb's words produced the Promised Land for them.
It doesn't matter who or what you are. Everyone has the responsibility to "Be careful what we hear." No other person can be responsible for what you allow to be planted in your heart and the harvest those seeds produce. What you allow into your heart, will produce. We read in Genesis 2:15 (Amplified), "And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to TEND and GUARD and KEEP IT." We previously read Proverbs 4:23 (Amplified) where God says, "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life."
The Holy Spirit continues in Proverbs 5:1-2 (Amplified) saying, "My son, be attentive to My Wisdom learned by actual and costly experience, and incline your ear to My understanding of what is becoming and prudent for you. That you may exercise proper discrimination and discretion and your lips may guard and keep knowledge and the wise answer to temptation."
Many might believe that it makes no difference, what words they speak, but it matters to the Father. Proverbs 8:13 (Amplified) says, "The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the Lord includes the hatred of evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate." Proverbs 21:30 (Amplified) says, "There is no human wisdom or understanding or counsel that can prevail against the Lord."
One might say with human wisdom, "My words don't matter" or "I don't believe that what I say counts," but human wisdom will not prevail against God's Wisdom. Our not believing it, doesn't change the Truth of God's Word. There are millions of unsaved persons in today's world, because they have chosen not to believe God's Word of salvation. They've sadly allowed the words (seeds) of the world and the kingdom of darkness to tell them that, "God's Word is foolishness."
God's Word tells us this about Jesus in John 3:34 (Amplified), "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."
I was told, both before and after being born-again, that, "You can't know the will of God" and "You never know what God will do." God's Word though, doesn't say these things to and for us. Paul writes through the Holy Spirit's Inspiration in Colossi ans 1:9-13 (Amplified), "For this reason [their love] we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make special request for you, asking that you may be filled with the full (deep, clear) knowledge of His will in all Spiritual Wisdom, in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God, and in understanding and discernment of Spiritual things." Paul gives the reasons the Church must know God's will and purpose in Verse 10, saying, "That you may walk, live and conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God, with fuller, deeper and clearer insight, acquaintance and recognition." Paul writes in Verse 11 saying, "We pray that you be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His Glory, to exercise every kind of endurance and patience, perseverance and forbearance with joy."
2Timothy 3:16 (Amplified) tells us that, "All scripture is God-breathed (given by His Inspiration and is profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience and for training in righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God's will, in thought, purpose and action."
So, we know that Paul's writings from Colossi ans 1:9-13 is God-breathed and that God's desire is that we should know His will. If we don't know God's will, then it's because we haven't understood that it's God's will for us to know His will or we've believed something other than His Word. It's difficult to please God or to be pleasing to Him, if we are outside of His will.
The above scripture tells us that we are "To know God's will concerning healing, salvation, the Holy Spirit and all of the things He has provided for us, through Jesus." If it wasn't God's will, then there would have been no need for Jesus to have borne these things for us. The traditions of men, have weakened the Truth of God's Word and have brought about confusion in the Church. Jesus brought many Truths to us about the Mysteries of the Kingdom and the Secret Counsels of God, in Mark 4:11 (Amplified), where He gave "The Parable of the Sower." Thus it says, "And He said to them; To you has been entrusted the Mystery of the Kingdom of God, that is the Secret Counsels of God which are hidden from the ungodly; but for those outside of our circle (the family of God) everything becomes a Parable." Those who don't know Jesus, don't understand the Word of God.
We know the Truth that "All words are seeds. These don't just include the Word of God, but the worlds of the world (which are usually contrary to God's Word). Jesus admonished in Mark 4:24 (Amplified), "Be careful what you are hearing." He knew the danger of words (seeds) doubt, fear, anxiety, death and unbelief. Jesus knew that these seeds will produce in good soil. When we were born-again, our heart (spirit) became good soil, which will grow whatever seed we allow to be sown in it.
Jesus continues speaking about the seeds in Mark 4:19 (Amplified), "Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches and the cravings and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and make it fruitless."
The things that "creep in" are the words of the world and this age, that bear fruit of the world. This is the main reason Jesus said, "Be careful what you are hearing." We read about the serpent's speaking words of doubt and unbelief to Eve in the Garden of Eden, in Genesis 3:4-5. Eve allowed those words to be sown into her heart and they brought forth death and separation from God, for herself and others after her.
Moses sent ten spies into Canaan Land to spy it out, eight of whom returned with what God calls, "An evil report," in Numbers 13:32. The Israelites refused to go into the Promised Land, after hearing the report of the spies. They even wished to stone Joshua and Caleb, for their good report in Numbers 4:11 (Amplified), which says, "And the Lord said to Moses, How long will this people provoke, spurn, despise Me? And how long will it be before they believe Me (trusting in, relying on, clinging to Me), for all the signs which I have performed among them."
The Israelite people weren't "Careful what they heard" and remained in the Wilderness until they died. They could have heard the words of Joshua and Caleb, which was God's Word. They chose to hear and receive the lying words of the other spies, which were the words from the enemy. Both word (seeds) produced a harvest. Some words produced death, but Joshua and Caleb's words produced the Promised Land for them.
It doesn't matter who or what you are. Everyone has the responsibility to "Be careful what we hear." No other person can be responsible for what you allow to be planted in your heart and the harvest those seeds produce. What you allow into your heart, will produce. We read in Genesis 2:15 (Amplified), "And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to TEND and GUARD and KEEP IT." We previously read Proverbs 4:23 (Amplified) where God says, "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life."
The Holy Spirit continues in Proverbs 5:1-2 (Amplified) saying, "My son, be attentive to My Wisdom learned by actual and costly experience, and incline your ear to My understanding of what is becoming and prudent for you. That you may exercise proper discrimination and discretion and your lips may guard and keep knowledge and the wise answer to temptation."
Many might believe that it makes no difference, what words they speak, but it matters to the Father. Proverbs 8:13 (Amplified) says, "The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the Lord includes the hatred of evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate." Proverbs 21:30 (Amplified) says, "There is no human wisdom or understanding or counsel that can prevail against the Lord."
One might say with human wisdom, "My words don't matter" or "I don't believe that what I say counts," but human wisdom will not prevail against God's Wisdom. Our not believing it, doesn't change the Truth of God's Word. There are millions of unsaved persons in today's world, because they have chosen not to believe God's Word of salvation. They've sadly allowed the words (seeds) of the world and the kingdom of darkness to tell them that, "God's Word is foolishness."
God's Word tells us this about Jesus in John 3:34 (Amplified), "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."
Friday, February 1, 2019
Lesson 147 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "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. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
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)."
Jesus is the Word and is Wisdom. When you received Jesus, you received Wisdom. 1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified) says, "But it is from Him (God) that you have your Life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, revealed to us a knowledge of the Divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as our Righteousness thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God, and our Consecration, making us pure and holy, and our Redemption, providing our Ransom from eternal penalty for sin."
Most of us have probably read the above scripture many times and from various translations, but we've lacked understanding of it. Many believers have gone through the new birth and then went home to the Father in Heaven, without ever knowing or enjoying the righteousness of full fellowship with Him, while they were on earth.
The enemy has held the Church in an infant stage, because we haven't had understanding. We continue thinking, "If we could only be righteous enough before God, then we could and would do better." Or we feel like "we're not holy or pure enough to deserve being healed or Blessed by God". Some even believe they're not totally redeemed and free. These things comes from lack of Spiritual understanding. We did nothing to become righteous, but Jesus imputed His Righteousness to us. God declared us righteous, because of Jesus and not of ourselves.
John 1:17 tells us that, "Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ." Truth has been here since Jesus came. Understanding Truth has been the problem since then. Man's wisdom says that "we are still sinners," "none are righteous," or that "God isn't pleased with who and what we are." We are who and what we are, because of Jesus. The natural man has no understanding of who and what he/she really is. Understanding the Truth of God's Word will reveal to you, exactly who and what you are. 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) tells us who and what we are in God's sight, through Jesus. Thus, it 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 try "making it come to pass by our own works," because we don't understand the Wisdom of God. This isn't Wisdom or understanding, but is prideful, trying to do through our own efforts, what only God could do through Jesus. We are only required to have faith, according to Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified), which says, "But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must necessarily believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him out."
God never intended for us to "make it come to pass," but only to accept, by faith, that Grace can do it's work in you. This doesn't mean that we do nothing with our lives here on earth, but instead of spending our entire lives "trying to become righteous so we can be used by God." We must, by faith, accept the Righteousness of God and allow Him to use us, NOW.
Pride is a lying and deceiving spirit, that comes in many different ways. Declaring that we are "righteous in God's eyes," sounds boastful and prideful to some. Saying that "we're not righteous in God's eyes," is prideful. Jesus, Who is Wisdom, has made us righteous in God's eyes. We're not righteous in God's eyes, because of anything that we did. It's because of what Jesus did for us. We were created righteous, in the new creation. It wasn't something we "become over the years," but is what we became at our new birth.
We must renew our minds with God's Word to the understanding of Truth, and bring our minds and bodies in line with the new creation man/woman we became. We don't do this, in order to make ourselves righteous. We this because we are righteous in Him and to bring ourselves into compliance with our new nature. When we were made righteous, our new creation spirit man that is in God's Image, will not allow unrighteousness to continue any longer. It's not to become righteous, but because we are righteous.
We've believed that if we could only become righteous, then God could use us. By doing this, we hold back God's desire to use us more. When we yield to His Righteousness in faith and allow Grace to direct us, then He can lead us into His desire. Psalm 23:3 (Amplified) says, "He refreshes and restores my life (myself). He leads me in the paths of righteousness (uprightness and right standing with Him), not for my earning it, but for His Name's sake."
It's His Righteousness that God upholds and not our righteousness. We've been confused between the teachings of men and the teachings of the Holy Spirit. Man has tried teaching the new covenant saints, by old covenant standards. One cannot walk in both covenants and still function in faith. If your faith says, "God can't use me, if I fail," then you've lost sight of Grace. If you try walking where you have no responsibility, leaving everything to God, then you've lost sight of both Grace and faith.
We shouldn't listen to the pastor's telling us what's right and wrong, on a weekly basis. It's not a pastor's job. We already know what's right and wrong and need to know how to walk in faith above it and grow in understanding. When we understand righteousness, the battle over sin in our lives, is over. Most of the struggle in ourselves, stem from condemnation over things that we're dealing with, in order to "become righteous."
Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong), for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being), has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
Without understanding, we walk by the dictates of the flesh. The flesh will never allow you to be righteous before God, because it is hostile to God's Word and Paul says in the above scripture that it "cannot be reconciled to it." If you walk in the flesh, then the flesh or natural man's senses will never allow you to receive and walk in the righteousness that came upon you at the new birth. Only the Spirit will reveal to you, your true place in the Father. Even though we're born-again and have been made righteous in Christ, if we don't have understanding, then the flesh will hold us back from what God wants to do in and through us. The lack of understanding that God has brought us back into righteousness or right standing with Himself will hold us back from His purpose and Presence.
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)."
Jesus is the Word and is Wisdom. When you received Jesus, you received Wisdom. 1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified) says, "But it is from Him (God) that you have your Life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, revealed to us a knowledge of the Divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as our Righteousness thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God, and our Consecration, making us pure and holy, and our Redemption, providing our Ransom from eternal penalty for sin."
Most of us have probably read the above scripture many times and from various translations, but we've lacked understanding of it. Many believers have gone through the new birth and then went home to the Father in Heaven, without ever knowing or enjoying the righteousness of full fellowship with Him, while they were on earth.
The enemy has held the Church in an infant stage, because we haven't had understanding. We continue thinking, "If we could only be righteous enough before God, then we could and would do better." Or we feel like "we're not holy or pure enough to deserve being healed or Blessed by God". Some even believe they're not totally redeemed and free. These things comes from lack of Spiritual understanding. We did nothing to become righteous, but Jesus imputed His Righteousness to us. God declared us righteous, because of Jesus and not of ourselves.
John 1:17 tells us that, "Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ." Truth has been here since Jesus came. Understanding Truth has been the problem since then. Man's wisdom says that "we are still sinners," "none are righteous," or that "God isn't pleased with who and what we are." We are who and what we are, because of Jesus. The natural man has no understanding of who and what he/she really is. Understanding the Truth of God's Word will reveal to you, exactly who and what you are. 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) tells us who and what we are in God's sight, through Jesus. Thus, it 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 try "making it come to pass by our own works," because we don't understand the Wisdom of God. This isn't Wisdom or understanding, but is prideful, trying to do through our own efforts, what only God could do through Jesus. We are only required to have faith, according to Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified), which says, "But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must necessarily believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him out."
God never intended for us to "make it come to pass," but only to accept, by faith, that Grace can do it's work in you. This doesn't mean that we do nothing with our lives here on earth, but instead of spending our entire lives "trying to become righteous so we can be used by God." We must, by faith, accept the Righteousness of God and allow Him to use us, NOW.
Pride is a lying and deceiving spirit, that comes in many different ways. Declaring that we are "righteous in God's eyes," sounds boastful and prideful to some. Saying that "we're not righteous in God's eyes," is prideful. Jesus, Who is Wisdom, has made us righteous in God's eyes. We're not righteous in God's eyes, because of anything that we did. It's because of what Jesus did for us. We were created righteous, in the new creation. It wasn't something we "become over the years," but is what we became at our new birth.
We must renew our minds with God's Word to the understanding of Truth, and bring our minds and bodies in line with the new creation man/woman we became. We don't do this, in order to make ourselves righteous. We this because we are righteous in Him and to bring ourselves into compliance with our new nature. When we were made righteous, our new creation spirit man that is in God's Image, will not allow unrighteousness to continue any longer. It's not to become righteous, but because we are righteous.
We've believed that if we could only become righteous, then God could use us. By doing this, we hold back God's desire to use us more. When we yield to His Righteousness in faith and allow Grace to direct us, then He can lead us into His desire. Psalm 23:3 (Amplified) says, "He refreshes and restores my life (myself). He leads me in the paths of righteousness (uprightness and right standing with Him), not for my earning it, but for His Name's sake."
It's His Righteousness that God upholds and not our righteousness. We've been confused between the teachings of men and the teachings of the Holy Spirit. Man has tried teaching the new covenant saints, by old covenant standards. One cannot walk in both covenants and still function in faith. If your faith says, "God can't use me, if I fail," then you've lost sight of Grace. If you try walking where you have no responsibility, leaving everything to God, then you've lost sight of both Grace and faith.
We shouldn't listen to the pastor's telling us what's right and wrong, on a weekly basis. It's not a pastor's job. We already know what's right and wrong and need to know how to walk in faith above it and grow in understanding. When we understand righteousness, the battle over sin in our lives, is over. Most of the struggle in ourselves, stem from condemnation over things that we're dealing with, in order to "become righteous."
Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong), for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being), has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
Without understanding, we walk by the dictates of the flesh. The flesh will never allow you to be righteous before God, because it is hostile to God's Word and Paul says in the above scripture that it "cannot be reconciled to it." If you walk in the flesh, then the flesh or natural man's senses will never allow you to receive and walk in the righteousness that came upon you at the new birth. Only the Spirit will reveal to you, your true place in the Father. Even though we're born-again and have been made righteous in Christ, if we don't have understanding, then the flesh will hold us back from what God wants to do in and through us. The lack of understanding that God has brought us back into righteousness or right standing with Himself will hold us back from His purpose and Presence.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)