Genesis 1:26-27 (Amplified) says, "God said, Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), make mankind in Our Image (after Our Likeness), and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him, He created them."
God's Original Intent, was for the man He created to be lord over the earth and everything in it. Psalm 8:4-8 (Amplified) 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 mane him a little lower than God, and You have created him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the fields, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and what ever passes along the paths of the sea."
Romans 8:19-20 (Amplified) says, "For even the whole of creation (all nature), waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known (waits for the revealing and disclosing of their sonship). For the creation (nature), was subjected to frailty, to futility, condemned to frustration, not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of him who subjected it, yet with the hope."
Luke 4:6-7 (Amplified) says, "And [satan] said to [Jesus], To You I will give all this power and authority and their glory (all their magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, and grace), for it has been turned over to me, and I will give it to whomever I will."
Who did God give all the authority and dominion to, in Genesis 1:26-27? Who did God crown with glory and honor and give over all the works of His hands to, in Psalm 8:19-20? Who subjected all of nature in the earth, causing it to groan under this authority? Who gave this authority over to satan's hands, resulting in satan daring to offer it back to Jesus? Adam had dominion over all the earth and everything that creeps upon it and Adam subjected it into satan's hands. It wasn't God.
Jesus is the Son of man and the Son of God. Jesus took back the the Promise and mandate that God gave Adam. Jesus delivered them back into the hands of God's sons, who are the heirs of God and the joint heirs of Jesus. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:18 (Amplified), "All authority, all power of rule, in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me." As the Son of Man, Jesus took back the mandate God gave to the First Adam. As the Last Adam, Jesus divided it equally among those who would become sons of God, as joint heirs. Everything God Promised the First Adam, has now become the dominion and authority of the Last Adam, Jesus.
Jesus took dominion and authority of the fish of the sea, nearly sinking Peter's boat with the weight of so many fish in the nets. Jesus took authority and dominion over the weather, stopping a storm in the Sea of Galilee. He took dominion over the Fig tree and it died from the roots. Jesus took dominion over lack and fed the multitude with five loaves and two fishes. He even took authority over the laws that governed the earth, when He defied gravity and walked on water.
We're sons and daughters of God, through the Last Adam Jesus, and we've been restored into God's Original Intent. This is why all creation (nature) is waiting for the manifestation of God's sons. We've inherited, through Jesus, not just His Righteousness and His inheritance, but all the pledge and mandate the Father gave to the First Ada, "I havem. Some say, "Yes, but Jesus was born without sin." You were born not of "corruptible seed, but bu the Seed of God, which is incorruptible and without born anew, without sin. 1Peter 2:23 (Amplified) says, "You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from One that is Immortal by the Ever Living and Lasting Word of God." 1Peter 2:9 (Amplified) says, "But you are a chosen race: a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, God's Own purchased special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of the darkness into His marvelous light."
Our inheritance isn't all laid up in Heaven. God's Original Intent when He created man in His Own Image and Likeness, was for him to be inheritors as His sons and daughters. Our inheritance is as the inheritance of our Savior and Lord, in which we are now joint heirs of Christ. We have His authority in this redeemed planet, or at least the part of it we live in. During His earthly ministry, Jesus didn't take dominion over all the storms on earth, all the trees on earth or all the fish in the oceans, but only over those things in His jurisdiction. If the whole Body of believers would learn to walk in the mandate God gave to Jesus, then through Him, we could set many things aright on this earth.
We believe that Jesus paid for our sins and bought us back, with His Blood, but we believe that much of what He paid for is for "when we die and get to Heaven." What are we going to do with the laying hands on the sick, in Heaven? There are no sick people in Heaven. No one will need to be set free in Heaven, because everyone there is already free and well. Jesus gave this mandate and command to the joint heirs, to do while we're still on this earth. There's no devil in Heaven, who will make us sick, tired, discouraged and bound. We need the power here on earth, in order to set the captives free.
We have the Same Father living in us, Who lived in Jesus here on earth. Jesus said that, "It's the Father in Me, Who does the work" and we have the Same Father living in us, to do the work, if we allow Him to do the work,
1John 4:16-17 (Amplified) says, "And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of), by observation and by experience, and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the Love God cherishes for us. God is Love, and he who dwells and continues in Love, dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him. In this union and communion with Him, Love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment with assurance and boldness to face Him, because as He is, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD."
This was and still is, God's Plan, His Intent and His purpose, from the beginning. We are to be His family and our inheritance gives us dominion and authority over all the earth and everything on it. If this isn't so, then He wouldn't have redeemed us and raised us up into His place of rule and Grace and dominion and honor and glory. Jesus prayed in John 17:22 (Amplified), "I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are One. I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and definitely recognize that You sent Me, and that You have Loved them even as You have Loved Me."
God told Adam in Genesis 3:17 (Amplified), "Because you have listened and given heed to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it, the ground is under a Curse because of you; in sorrow and toil shall you eat of the fruits of it all the days of your life."
Where did the "Curse that is on all of nature and creation" come from" Was it God Who subjected it to the Curse? God gave the dominion over the earth to Adam and he gave it over to satan. God told Adam in the above scripture, "You listened to your wife and took heed to her voice, and you ate from the tree, which I commanded you not to eat from. The ground is under a Curse, because of YOU, Adam!" It was cursed, because of Adam and not because of God. The Last Adam, Jesus restored God's Original Intent, to those who will believe. The Curse is gone and the Blessing that God pronounced on the First Adam is back in order, according to God's Plan and His Original Intent. Don't give that authority away again, because of what someone tells you. Don't be like Esau and give your inheritance away, for a pot of soup. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Friday, November 22, 2019
Lesson 32 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Genesis 1:27-28 (Amplified) says, "So God created man in His Own Image (in the Image and Likeness of God), He created him; male and female He created them. And God Blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, using all its vast resources in the service of God and man; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth."
When God created mankind, this was His Original Intent for what was to be His Own family. In In 3:17 (Amplified), God speaks to Adam, after his transgression, saying, "Because you have listened and given heed to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the Tree which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it, the ground is Cursed because of you; in sorrow and toil shall you eat of the fruits of it all the days of your life."
The above scripture tells us that the Curse came, because of Adam and not because of God. God's Intention for His family, hasn't changed, nor will it ever change. Ephesians 1:27-28 (Amplified) says, "For we are God's Own handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, born anew, that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand), for us, taking paths which He prepared ahead of time, that we should walk in them, living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live."
Luke 4:6 (Amplified) says, "And [satan] said to [Jesus], To You I will give all this power and authority and their glory (all their magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity and grace), for it has been turned over to me, and I give it to whomever I will."
Adam obeyed satan, instead of following God's Word and he transferred his authority and dominion over to the hands of satan, who God exiled from Heaven. Thus, satan became "the god of this world," instead of the man God gave it to. 2Corinthians 4:4 (Amplified) says, "For the god of this world has blinded the unbeliever's minds, that they should not discern the Truth, preventing them from seeing the Illuminating Light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God."
The carnal mind cannot conceive the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because satan has blinded the minds of men, so they cannot discern the Truth. The Father's Original Intent was restored to His new creation man again, when Jesus was raised from the dead into Glory. The new creation people (us), have lost sight of this Truth and are waiting to go to Heaven, in order to have this Great Promise made ours. 1John 4:17 (Amplified) says, "In this union and communion with Him, Love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment with assurance and boldness to face Him, because as He is, so are we in this world."
Jesus was never under satan's dominion, during His earthly ministry, because Jesus was without sin. Jesus took back the Blessing and authority and dominion over this earth again. Jesus directed the weather, defied gravity, fed multitudes, subdued the fish of the sea, and received God's Original Intent again, for mankind. Through Jesus, we are also without sin and have the Blessing working in our lives again, just like Jesus did. Jesus prayed in John 17:18 (Amplified), "Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."
Matthew 28:18 (Amplified) tells us, "Jesus approached and breaking the silence, said to them, All authority, all power of rule in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me." The Father's Intention for His family to have dominion and rule, has now been restored back to His children again, through and by Jesus Christ. This Original Blessing God placed on the First Adam, has now been reinstated by the Last Adam, Jesus. Galatians 3:14 (Amplified) says, "To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing Promised to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, So that we through faith might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."
The Promise of the Holy Spirit is the Power and ability of God, to take back what satan negotiated Adam out of. It's the same Power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus used, during His earthly ministry. The Gift of the Promise of the Holy Spirit, is that now God's family has been reinstated to His "prearranged Plan" for us. We're new creations in Christ Jesus and have the God of Heaven and earth living in us. John 5:19 (Amplified) says, "So Jesus answered them by saying, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His Own Accord), but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way (in His turn)."
When God created mankind, this was His Original Intent for what was to be His Own family. In In 3:17 (Amplified), God speaks to Adam, after his transgression, saying, "Because you have listened and given heed to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the Tree which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it, the ground is Cursed because of you; in sorrow and toil shall you eat of the fruits of it all the days of your life."
The above scripture tells us that the Curse came, because of Adam and not because of God. God's Intention for His family, hasn't changed, nor will it ever change. Ephesians 1:27-28 (Amplified) says, "For we are God's Own handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, born anew, that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand), for us, taking paths which He prepared ahead of time, that we should walk in them, living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live."
Luke 4:6 (Amplified) says, "And [satan] said to [Jesus], To You I will give all this power and authority and their glory (all their magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity and grace), for it has been turned over to me, and I give it to whomever I will."
Adam obeyed satan, instead of following God's Word and he transferred his authority and dominion over to the hands of satan, who God exiled from Heaven. Thus, satan became "the god of this world," instead of the man God gave it to. 2Corinthians 4:4 (Amplified) says, "For the god of this world has blinded the unbeliever's minds, that they should not discern the Truth, preventing them from seeing the Illuminating Light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God."
The carnal mind cannot conceive the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because satan has blinded the minds of men, so they cannot discern the Truth. The Father's Original Intent was restored to His new creation man again, when Jesus was raised from the dead into Glory. The new creation people (us), have lost sight of this Truth and are waiting to go to Heaven, in order to have this Great Promise made ours. 1John 4:17 (Amplified) says, "In this union and communion with Him, Love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment with assurance and boldness to face Him, because as He is, so are we in this world."
Jesus was never under satan's dominion, during His earthly ministry, because Jesus was without sin. Jesus took back the Blessing and authority and dominion over this earth again. Jesus directed the weather, defied gravity, fed multitudes, subdued the fish of the sea, and received God's Original Intent again, for mankind. Through Jesus, we are also without sin and have the Blessing working in our lives again, just like Jesus did. Jesus prayed in John 17:18 (Amplified), "Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."
Matthew 28:18 (Amplified) tells us, "Jesus approached and breaking the silence, said to them, All authority, all power of rule in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me." The Father's Intention for His family to have dominion and rule, has now been restored back to His children again, through and by Jesus Christ. This Original Blessing God placed on the First Adam, has now been reinstated by the Last Adam, Jesus. Galatians 3:14 (Amplified) says, "To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing Promised to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, So that we through faith might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."
The Promise of the Holy Spirit is the Power and ability of God, to take back what satan negotiated Adam out of. It's the same Power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus used, during His earthly ministry. The Gift of the Promise of the Holy Spirit, is that now God's family has been reinstated to His "prearranged Plan" for us. We're new creations in Christ Jesus and have the God of Heaven and earth living in us. John 5:19 (Amplified) says, "So Jesus answered them by saying, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His Own Accord), but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way (in His turn)."
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Lesson 31 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Genesis 1:26,28,31 (Amplified) tells us, "God said, Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), make mankind in Our Image (after Our Likeness), and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame beasts, and over all the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth."
Verse 28 goes on, "God Blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, using all its vast resources in the service of God and man; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth."
This was and is, God's Original Intent for the man He created. We've been somehow sold the idea that God always intended for mankind to fail, become separated from Him, and live in the realm of sickness, death, misery, and heartache, for all the days of his life. Verse 31 says, "And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant), and He approved it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day."
Genesis 2:2 (Amplified) says, "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done." God only rested, after His work was completed and He had finished His Original Intent for mankind. Genesis 3:6 (Amplified) tells us about what happened after Adam's transgression, where God set in place the Plan of Redemption through Jesus, to restore man back to His Original Plan and Intent for His family.
God's Plan or Intent for man, has never once changed or varied from these scriptures. Some believe that God always planned for Adam to fail, in order to show His Love and mercy to a fallen, helpless mankind. Mankind was created helpless or fallen, but God had given him complete authority and dominion over everything in the earth, according to the above scriptures. God had Blessed man and gave His authority and dominion over to man, to use.
The Father's Love was so great, that even after Adam's fall, He was determined to never lose the precious family He had created. God's Love was so great, that it would take the surrender of Jesus over to death, in order to restore Life again to His family. Mankind was estranged and separated from God, Who is Life and was trapped into the enemy's hands, which brought sickness, death, evil and calamity. These things ruled over the man, God created to rule His earth. The Blessing God had Blessed man with, now would be traced down from one to another, until it came to rest on and in, God's Only Son again.
No loving Father would deliberately bring children into this world, just to see them suffer and die, especially One Who is Love Himself. It was God's great heart of Love that moved Him to create a family at the beginning. This Love wouldn't give into final separation from His Own children. God's planned Redemption had to be according to Heaven's rule of justice and Truth. God couldn't violate His Own Laws of Truth and still remain Just.
The very moment Adam fell, our Heavenly Father set the Plan of Redemption into place, in order to bring Life and total Redemption to mankind again. God would see His family back in His House, as thought the transgression never occurred. Being true to His nature of creation, God began speaking His Plan into the earth. From Genesis 3:15 to John 1:14, God spoke Jesus into the earth, just like He spoke Light into the darkness. God spoke Jesus into this world and little by little, God formed Jesus by His Word, until He was Perfect and Legal, by Heaven's standards of justice.
John 1:14 (Amplified) says, "And the Word (Christ), became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled, fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile among us; and we actually saw His Glory, His Honor, His Majesty, such Glory as an Only Begotten Son receives from His Father, full of Grace, favor, loving kindness, and Truth." God carefully outlined Jesus, Word by Word, from "His heel bruising satan's head," in Genesis 3:16, until finally, "The Word became flesh," in John 1:14. until Jesus was complete in every way, as God's Redeemer and Savior to mankind.
God spoke the place where Jesus would be born, to the woman who He'd been born from. God spoke the place where Jesus would suffer and die and the place He would rise again into Glory. Not one of God's Word would fail or become void. Isaiah 53 tells us that, "By Jesus' stripes we would be healed." Hebrews 1:1-2 Amplified) says, "In many separate Revelations, each of which set forth a portion of the Truth, and in different ways GOD SPOKE of old to our forefathers in and by the prophets But in the Last of these days, He has spoken to us in the Person of a Son, Whom He appointed Heir and Lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time, He made, produced, built, operated and arranged them in order. The Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled, fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile among us."
The Father formed Jesus, Word by Word, until He had completed Jesus and Jesus became flesh. God didn't leave anything out when He spoke Jesus into this earth, that would completely return His family back to His Original Intent of perfect fellowship with Himself. In Jesus, the Living Word, is our Life, Blessing, Righteousness and family relationship with our Heavenly Father. In Jesus, is everything that the Father's heart held, when He brought forth His family in the beginning. 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore if any person is ingrated 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've somehow missed Our Heavenly Father's Original Intent for man, because of man's ideas and theories. Love doesn't purposely bring children into existence, only to see them suffer and die in misery. We should rejoice in what God has done to reclaim His Own family and then, trust in His Word, Jesus, Who is the Door which leads us back to the Father's House, which He ordained from the beginning. You are not an "after thought," but you're His Original Intent, when He created all things at the beginning. You were always the reason for His creation. God created everything for His children to enjoy and without them, there would be no reason for creation.
Verse 28 goes on, "God Blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, using all its vast resources in the service of God and man; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth."
This was and is, God's Original Intent for the man He created. We've been somehow sold the idea that God always intended for mankind to fail, become separated from Him, and live in the realm of sickness, death, misery, and heartache, for all the days of his life. Verse 31 says, "And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant), and He approved it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day."
Genesis 2:2 (Amplified) says, "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done." God only rested, after His work was completed and He had finished His Original Intent for mankind. Genesis 3:6 (Amplified) tells us about what happened after Adam's transgression, where God set in place the Plan of Redemption through Jesus, to restore man back to His Original Plan and Intent for His family.
God's Plan or Intent for man, has never once changed or varied from these scriptures. Some believe that God always planned for Adam to fail, in order to show His Love and mercy to a fallen, helpless mankind. Mankind was created helpless or fallen, but God had given him complete authority and dominion over everything in the earth, according to the above scriptures. God had Blessed man and gave His authority and dominion over to man, to use.
The Father's Love was so great, that even after Adam's fall, He was determined to never lose the precious family He had created. God's Love was so great, that it would take the surrender of Jesus over to death, in order to restore Life again to His family. Mankind was estranged and separated from God, Who is Life and was trapped into the enemy's hands, which brought sickness, death, evil and calamity. These things ruled over the man, God created to rule His earth. The Blessing God had Blessed man with, now would be traced down from one to another, until it came to rest on and in, God's Only Son again.
No loving Father would deliberately bring children into this world, just to see them suffer and die, especially One Who is Love Himself. It was God's great heart of Love that moved Him to create a family at the beginning. This Love wouldn't give into final separation from His Own children. God's planned Redemption had to be according to Heaven's rule of justice and Truth. God couldn't violate His Own Laws of Truth and still remain Just.
The very moment Adam fell, our Heavenly Father set the Plan of Redemption into place, in order to bring Life and total Redemption to mankind again. God would see His family back in His House, as thought the transgression never occurred. Being true to His nature of creation, God began speaking His Plan into the earth. From Genesis 3:15 to John 1:14, God spoke Jesus into the earth, just like He spoke Light into the darkness. God spoke Jesus into this world and little by little, God formed Jesus by His Word, until He was Perfect and Legal, by Heaven's standards of justice.
John 1:14 (Amplified) says, "And the Word (Christ), became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled, fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile among us; and we actually saw His Glory, His Honor, His Majesty, such Glory as an Only Begotten Son receives from His Father, full of Grace, favor, loving kindness, and Truth." God carefully outlined Jesus, Word by Word, from "His heel bruising satan's head," in Genesis 3:16, until finally, "The Word became flesh," in John 1:14. until Jesus was complete in every way, as God's Redeemer and Savior to mankind.
God spoke the place where Jesus would be born, to the woman who He'd been born from. God spoke the place where Jesus would suffer and die and the place He would rise again into Glory. Not one of God's Word would fail or become void. Isaiah 53 tells us that, "By Jesus' stripes we would be healed." Hebrews 1:1-2 Amplified) says, "In many separate Revelations, each of which set forth a portion of the Truth, and in different ways GOD SPOKE of old to our forefathers in and by the prophets But in the Last of these days, He has spoken to us in the Person of a Son, Whom He appointed Heir and Lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time, He made, produced, built, operated and arranged them in order. The Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled, fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile among us."
The Father formed Jesus, Word by Word, until He had completed Jesus and Jesus became flesh. God didn't leave anything out when He spoke Jesus into this earth, that would completely return His family back to His Original Intent of perfect fellowship with Himself. In Jesus, the Living Word, is our Life, Blessing, Righteousness and family relationship with our Heavenly Father. In Jesus, is everything that the Father's heart held, when He brought forth His family in the beginning. 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore if any person is ingrated 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've somehow missed Our Heavenly Father's Original Intent for man, because of man's ideas and theories. Love doesn't purposely bring children into existence, only to see them suffer and die in misery. We should rejoice in what God has done to reclaim His Own family and then, trust in His Word, Jesus, Who is the Door which leads us back to the Father's House, which He ordained from the beginning. You are not an "after thought," but you're His Original Intent, when He created all things at the beginning. You were always the reason for His creation. God created everything for His children to enjoy and without them, there would be no reason for creation.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Lesson 30 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Throughout the years, the carnal minds of men/women, along with the leading of the enemy, have undermined God's Word by their wishing, instead of believing. We believed that their is a God, but we seemingly couldn't reach Him, in our religions and doctrines. We tried to reach Him by the manner in which we dressed, our not wearing make-up or jewelry and some have even used self-abasement. We've tried crying, cajoling, begging and taking vows of poverty, along with many other measures, in order to "get God to do thing and intervene in our lives." For the most part though, these things didn't work.
Revivals have broken out, as God moved in His Spirit to awaken and move in the natural lives of men/women. Again, we tried to harness the Super-natural move of His Spirit, making it another form of religion. We always try to bring the Super-natural into another realm of carnal interpretation. God always seemed to be outside the way we thought He would be. Those who dared reaching into the realm of the Spirit, were looked upon as "fanatics, fools, or even demonic." Jesus said in John 4:24 (Amplified), "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth (reality),"
We've tried everything, except the Spirit, to reach God. We read what God says to do and the things we're to live by, in His Word, but we've never thought of those things as Truth and the way God expected to live by. We've tried walking by the Spirit, with natural works, like those under the Law did. We've read God's Word, interpreting it as being only laws and natural ways of walking. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are SPIRIT AND LIFE."
We've somehow never viewed God's Word as being Spirit. We read about the Word in John 1:1 (Amplified), which says, "In the beginning (before all time), was the Word, Christ, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself." One cannot get more Spirit, than that. We read God's Word as rules and regulations to live by, like under the old covenant. We've tried to become good enough to deserve the things we knew God could do, but this didn't work.
God had to establish rules and Laws for the old covenant people, because they were only flesh and blood persons. Under the new covenant today, those who have received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, are no longer only flesh and blood, but we've now become spirit. Jesus said that, "The flesh conveys no benefit whatever and there's no profit in it." We try to "make the Spirit work," by observing the flesh. This is the Law, which was determined more by men, than God. God was always ready to provide mankind's every need, but under Law, it was determined by the works of men. If a person could and would do what the entire Law demanded, then he/she could reap the benefits of the Spirit, because the Law or Word was Spirit.
No man ever fulfilled the Law, except Jesus. He said in Matthew 5:17 (Amplified), "Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them." The Law can't be done away with, because the Law was and is Spirit. The flesh couldn't accomplish what the Spirit demanded. Jesus fulfilled the Law, making all that the Law Promised available to us, through and by our new creation spirits, that can fulfill the Spiritual Word in our hearts. Romans 10:4 (Amplified) tells us, "For Christ is the End of the Law (the Limit at which it ceases to be), for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of it's types, and in Him the purpose for which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him as the means of Righteousness (Right relationship to God), for everyone who trusts and adheres to and relies on Him."
Jesus removed or fulfilled the flesh's uselessness to fulfill Spiritual things. He removed the flesh from the equation and placed the benefit of God's Word (which is Spirit), into the realm of the spirit. We can now received the benefits of the Spirit and the Word, without performing the rituals and religions of the flesh.
God always intended and wanted to fulfill all His Promises, from the time of Adam, until now. Man was spiritual dead and was no longer righteous or had a right to come into God's Presence, without the blood or life or animals covering his nakedness of God's Glory on himself, UNTIL JESUS. Through Jesus, we've now been restored and brought back into God's Original Intent. God Blessed man and crowned him with Glory, according to Psalm 8:4-8 (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 littler 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."
Adam's transgression caused mankind to be cut-off from and separated from God and dead in his spirit. God is Life and Adam's spirit became dead, after being separated from God. Through Jesus, Spiritual Life was restored to mankind again, according to John 17:22 (Amplified), where Jesus prays, "I have given to them the Glory and Honor which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are One." Jesus has restored us back into the Glory and Honor, that the Father clothed us with in the Garden of Eden. We're once again where we belong, in the Father's House and at His table, as His family.
There's no need for rituals, traditions, self-abasement or any of the fleshly things religion tells us to do, in order to "get God to do something on our behalf." We have His Word and His Promises. His Word is Spirit and Life again, in our newborn, righteous spirit, through Jesus. Jesus has taken the flesh out of the way, by nailing it to the cross. He has restored God's Intention of His Spirit, back to his Original Intent.
Remember when reading God's Word, that you might be understanding it by your intellect, without understanding it by and through your spirit. It's only Laws, rituals and traditions, instead of what the Life-giver has in His mind for you, until you until it becomes Spirit to you. Jesus said that, "The flesh conveys no benefit whatever." You don't "wish God would do something," because you, "Know by His Word you have the petitions that you desire of Him," according to 1John 5:15 (Amplified). All we're required to do, is to accept what He has already done. The third Great Awakening began nearly fifty years ago, and God's raised up the Joshuas and Calebs who will take the land.
Monday, November 18, 2019
Lesson 29 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Genesis 1:26 (Amplified) tells us, "God said, Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), make man in Our Image (after Our Likeness)."
The above scripture tells us that we were made after God's Image and Likeness, in the beginning. John 4:24 (Amplified) says, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth (reality)." In the beginning, we were created spiritual beings, in God's Image and Likeness. Genesis 2:7 (Amplified) says, "God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the Breath or Spirit of Life, and man became a living being."
We've not only been created a spiritual being like our Heavenly Father, but now, as new creations, we're created in Him and like Him. 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore if any person is ingrafted in Christ (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old previous moral and spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come." Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying in John 17:21 (Amplified), "That they may all be one, just as You, Father are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me."
When Jesus said that, "It was not Me, but the Father in Me Who does the work," we've missed how He was talking about the new creation man who was to come after His Resurrection. The Same Father has now been made One in us, as well as One in Jesus, through Jesus. If we are in Christ Jesus, like the Word tells us we are, then we are One with God, altogether in His Spirit. We are not a separate spirit, but are one in His Spirit, with Him.
Paul writes in Romans 3:26 (Amplified), "It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season), that He Himself is Righteous and that He justifies and accepts us as him who true faith in Jesus." 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) says, "For our sake He made Christ virtually to be sin Who knew no sin, So that in and through Him we might become endued with (viewed as being in, and examples of), the Righteousness of God. What we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His Goodness."
We received the Righteousness of God Himself, when we were made one in Christ Jesus. We've been made one with and in Jesus, and through Him, we've been created with the right, to once again come into the Father's Presence, without sin or fault.
This is Grace in it's fullness. Hebrews 4:16 calls it, "God's Throne of Grace." This is where Grace has taken us and where we meet with our Father of Grace. We can only enter into God's Presence, through Grace and we can only receive the great Truth of His act of Love for us, by faith. We keep "trying to be good enough to enter in," but it's only by Grace and faith in His Grace, that we can receive the right to once again stand in His Full Presence.
The Father doesn't see us (Christians) as mere men and women of the flesh, but as people who've been infused and united in Himself and as part of Himself. This isn't saying that we should allow our flesh to do whatever it desires. We're to use His Presence that is united with our own spirit, to bring the flesh and senses into the subjection of our new creation person. We now have the same ability to walk above sin in the flesh, that Jesus had. You might say, "Yes, but Jesus was without sin." God's Word says that, "We're also without sin in God's eyes."
Hebrews 7:27 (Amplified) says, "He, Jesus, had no day by day necessity as do each of these other high priests, to offer sacrifice first for all of his own personal sins and then for those of the people, because He brought Himself as a Sacrifice which He offered up." In Hebrews 8:12 (Amplified) God says, "For I will be merciful and gracious towards their sins, and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more."
We all know that we were all sinners and that we didn't deserve what God in His great Love for us, has done for us. But, we must also accept what He has done and rejoice in it in His Presence, like He has planned. This isn't being proud and boastful, but being grateful and thankful for His Grace and Mercy. If God says, "You're now righteous," then who are you to tell Him that, "He is wrong?" After all, it was Jesus Who did it and pronounced it over us, when we came to Jesus. Jesus said that, "I Am the Door to bring us back to the Father. We must not close the Door into God's Presence, by religious tradition and false pride. You are invited by God Himself, into unbroken fellowship with Him.
Your carnal mind is at enmity with God's Word and it cannot be submitted. Romans 8:7 (Amplified) says, "That is because the mind of the flesh, with its carnal thoughts and purposes is hostile toward God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law; indeed it cannot." Romans 8:16 (Amplified) says, "The Spirit Himself thus testifies together with our own spirit, assuring us that we are children of God."
We've failed to understand all that the Father did for us, when He sent Jesus on our behalf. We still don't know who are now, in Christ Jesus and must learn who He has now made us to be.
The above scripture tells us that we were made after God's Image and Likeness, in the beginning. John 4:24 (Amplified) says, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth (reality)." In the beginning, we were created spiritual beings, in God's Image and Likeness. Genesis 2:7 (Amplified) says, "God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the Breath or Spirit of Life, and man became a living being."
We've not only been created a spiritual being like our Heavenly Father, but now, as new creations, we're created in Him and like Him. 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore if any person is ingrafted in Christ (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old previous moral and spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come." Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying in John 17:21 (Amplified), "That they may all be one, just as You, Father are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me."
When Jesus said that, "It was not Me, but the Father in Me Who does the work," we've missed how He was talking about the new creation man who was to come after His Resurrection. The Same Father has now been made One in us, as well as One in Jesus, through Jesus. If we are in Christ Jesus, like the Word tells us we are, then we are One with God, altogether in His Spirit. We are not a separate spirit, but are one in His Spirit, with Him.
Paul writes in Romans 3:26 (Amplified), "It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season), that He Himself is Righteous and that He justifies and accepts us as him who true faith in Jesus." 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) says, "For our sake He made Christ virtually to be sin Who knew no sin, So that in and through Him we might become endued with (viewed as being in, and examples of), the Righteousness of God. What we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His Goodness."
We received the Righteousness of God Himself, when we were made one in Christ Jesus. We've been made one with and in Jesus, and through Him, we've been created with the right, to once again come into the Father's Presence, without sin or fault.
This is Grace in it's fullness. Hebrews 4:16 calls it, "God's Throne of Grace." This is where Grace has taken us and where we meet with our Father of Grace. We can only enter into God's Presence, through Grace and we can only receive the great Truth of His act of Love for us, by faith. We keep "trying to be good enough to enter in," but it's only by Grace and faith in His Grace, that we can receive the right to once again stand in His Full Presence.
The Father doesn't see us (Christians) as mere men and women of the flesh, but as people who've been infused and united in Himself and as part of Himself. This isn't saying that we should allow our flesh to do whatever it desires. We're to use His Presence that is united with our own spirit, to bring the flesh and senses into the subjection of our new creation person. We now have the same ability to walk above sin in the flesh, that Jesus had. You might say, "Yes, but Jesus was without sin." God's Word says that, "We're also without sin in God's eyes."
Hebrews 7:27 (Amplified) says, "He, Jesus, had no day by day necessity as do each of these other high priests, to offer sacrifice first for all of his own personal sins and then for those of the people, because He brought Himself as a Sacrifice which He offered up." In Hebrews 8:12 (Amplified) God says, "For I will be merciful and gracious towards their sins, and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more."
We all know that we were all sinners and that we didn't deserve what God in His great Love for us, has done for us. But, we must also accept what He has done and rejoice in it in His Presence, like He has planned. This isn't being proud and boastful, but being grateful and thankful for His Grace and Mercy. If God says, "You're now righteous," then who are you to tell Him that, "He is wrong?" After all, it was Jesus Who did it and pronounced it over us, when we came to Jesus. Jesus said that, "I Am the Door to bring us back to the Father. We must not close the Door into God's Presence, by religious tradition and false pride. You are invited by God Himself, into unbroken fellowship with Him.
Your carnal mind is at enmity with God's Word and it cannot be submitted. Romans 8:7 (Amplified) says, "That is because the mind of the flesh, with its carnal thoughts and purposes is hostile toward God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law; indeed it cannot." Romans 8:16 (Amplified) says, "The Spirit Himself thus testifies together with our own spirit, assuring us that we are children of God."
We've failed to understand all that the Father did for us, when He sent Jesus on our behalf. We still don't know who are now, in Christ Jesus and must learn who He has now made us to be.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Lesson 28 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old, previous moral and spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
Most Christians have never fully understood what God made the new creation man to be. Genesis 1:26 (Amplified) tells us, "God said, Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our Image (after Our Likeness)." Mankind was created in God's Likeness. Jesus said in John 4:24 (Amplified), "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth (reality)."
Adam was created a spirit being, like God. Ephesians 2:4 (Amplified) says, "Even when we were dead (slain by our own shortcomings and trespasses), He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; He gave us the very Life of Christ Himself, the same new Life with which He quickened Him." We've been created in God's Likeness and Image, but we've also been created in Him. Our natural body has become His Temple. 1Corinthians 6:19,17 (Amplified) says, "Do you not know that your body is the Temple (the very Sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you; Whom you have received as a Gift from God? You are not your own." Verse 17 says, "But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him." We're no longer sons of Adam, but we're sons and daughters of God Himself.
Our old body of sin or our m, was s and crucified with Jesus. We were born anew by His Spirit, in Righteousness and pure holiness. Through Jesus, we've been elevate to a higher place than the First Adam and we're seated together in heavenly places, with the Last Adam,Jesus. We're no longer like God, Who is a Spirit, but we're now in God, One Spirit, according to Ephesians 1:13 (Amplified), which says, "In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth (the glad tidings of your salvation), and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long Promised Holy Spirit."
Our spirit man is no longer dead to God, but is now alive in Christ Jesus. We've been made one with Him. Sin doesn't have dominion over us any longer, because our life in God is settled. The enemy can only test or try our flesh, using circumstances to make us falter. So long as we don't yield to satan's tests and trials, then our faith in God's Blessings will deliver us to God's safe place of landing. Our spirit isn't dead or under satan's control any longer.
When Adam fell in the Garden of Eden, he forfeited Life from God, for death in satan. His spirit was cut-off from the Father, so the only way God could deal with mankind, was from the outside. Through Jesus, our spirit has been restored to life and God Himself resides in our spirit and we reside in His Spirit. The control satan had over the First Adam, has been taken from him. We've been bought and paid for, by the Sacrifice of our Lamb Jesus. Through Jesus, our union with God has been restored and we've been restored to God's Original Intent and to dominion and authority.
1Corinthians 6:20 (Amplified) says, "You were bought with a Price (purchased with a Preciousness and paid for), made His Own. So then, honor God and bring Glory to Him in your body." 2Timothy 2:21 (Amplified) says, "So whoever cleanses himself from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupt influences, will then himself be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work."
1Timothy 6:12 (Amplified) says, "Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the Eternal Life to which you were summoned and for which you confessed the good confession of faith before many witnesses." When the enemy comes to pressure you, you must hold fast your faith in the Holy Spirit within you. God will deliver you, if you stand fast and don't back down. You're no longer under satan's control, but are under the control of the Holy Spirit Who lives in you. You've been made one with Him, the Holy Spirit of God and "Greater is He Who is in you, than he who is in the world."
Don't allow satan to pressure you and cause you to lose your faith in God's ability to deliver and fulfill your prayer and petition. We often fold and surrender to the outside pressure, which makes our faith dormant. Satan no longer has access to our spirit, like he did with fallen man. He can only put pressure on our flesh, along with our soulish minds, to try you. God sees you as still pure and in unbroken fellowship with Him, by your new creation man.
Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and it's vital that we don't allow the enemy to violate that temple. This doesn't just mean that we don't sin, but that we don't allow the enemy to sow seeds of doubt in our lives. Your spirit is infused with God's Holy Spirit and your body can only do what it is told to do or allowed to to. Your carnal mind (soul) will be the testing place for the enemy, in your life. This is why Paul instructed us to "renew our mind, by the Word of God." Adam allowed his carnal mind to rule over his spirit, which caused him to lose everything.
Most Christians have never fully understood what God made the new creation man to be. Genesis 1:26 (Amplified) tells us, "God said, Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our Image (after Our Likeness)." Mankind was created in God's Likeness. Jesus said in John 4:24 (Amplified), "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth (reality)."
Adam was created a spirit being, like God. Ephesians 2:4 (Amplified) says, "Even when we were dead (slain by our own shortcomings and trespasses), He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; He gave us the very Life of Christ Himself, the same new Life with which He quickened Him." We've been created in God's Likeness and Image, but we've also been created in Him. Our natural body has become His Temple. 1Corinthians 6:19,17 (Amplified) says, "Do you not know that your body is the Temple (the very Sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you; Whom you have received as a Gift from God? You are not your own." Verse 17 says, "But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him." We're no longer sons of Adam, but we're sons and daughters of God Himself.
Our old body of sin or our m, was s and crucified with Jesus. We were born anew by His Spirit, in Righteousness and pure holiness. Through Jesus, we've been elevate to a higher place than the First Adam and we're seated together in heavenly places, with the Last Adam,Jesus. We're no longer like God, Who is a Spirit, but we're now in God, One Spirit, according to Ephesians 1:13 (Amplified), which says, "In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth (the glad tidings of your salvation), and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long Promised Holy Spirit."
Our spirit man is no longer dead to God, but is now alive in Christ Jesus. We've been made one with Him. Sin doesn't have dominion over us any longer, because our life in God is settled. The enemy can only test or try our flesh, using circumstances to make us falter. So long as we don't yield to satan's tests and trials, then our faith in God's Blessings will deliver us to God's safe place of landing. Our spirit isn't dead or under satan's control any longer.
When Adam fell in the Garden of Eden, he forfeited Life from God, for death in satan. His spirit was cut-off from the Father, so the only way God could deal with mankind, was from the outside. Through Jesus, our spirit has been restored to life and God Himself resides in our spirit and we reside in His Spirit. The control satan had over the First Adam, has been taken from him. We've been bought and paid for, by the Sacrifice of our Lamb Jesus. Through Jesus, our union with God has been restored and we've been restored to God's Original Intent and to dominion and authority.
1Corinthians 6:20 (Amplified) says, "You were bought with a Price (purchased with a Preciousness and paid for), made His Own. So then, honor God and bring Glory to Him in your body." 2Timothy 2:21 (Amplified) says, "So whoever cleanses himself from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupt influences, will then himself be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work."
1Timothy 6:12 (Amplified) says, "Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the Eternal Life to which you were summoned and for which you confessed the good confession of faith before many witnesses." When the enemy comes to pressure you, you must hold fast your faith in the Holy Spirit within you. God will deliver you, if you stand fast and don't back down. You're no longer under satan's control, but are under the control of the Holy Spirit Who lives in you. You've been made one with Him, the Holy Spirit of God and "Greater is He Who is in you, than he who is in the world."
Don't allow satan to pressure you and cause you to lose your faith in God's ability to deliver and fulfill your prayer and petition. We often fold and surrender to the outside pressure, which makes our faith dormant. Satan no longer has access to our spirit, like he did with fallen man. He can only put pressure on our flesh, along with our soulish minds, to try you. God sees you as still pure and in unbroken fellowship with Him, by your new creation man.
Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and it's vital that we don't allow the enemy to violate that temple. This doesn't just mean that we don't sin, but that we don't allow the enemy to sow seeds of doubt in our lives. Your spirit is infused with God's Holy Spirit and your body can only do what it is told to do or allowed to to. Your carnal mind (soul) will be the testing place for the enemy, in your life. This is why Paul instructed us to "renew our mind, by the Word of God." Adam allowed his carnal mind to rule over his spirit, which caused him to lose everything.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Lesson 27 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Genesis 1:17 (Amplified) says, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them."
John 4:24 (Amplified) tells us, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth (reality)."
Jesus took on the identity of man, so He could birth us back into God's Image, which is His Spirit. We've identified more with our body, than with our spirit. God is a Spirit and we're now created again into His Likeness. We need to become more aware of God's dealing in our spirit, instead of our flesh. God dealt with people in the old covenant, by their flesh and not their spirit. Until Jesus came, man was dead in his spirit, like he was in his flesh. When Adam transgressed in the Garden, he lost life and was separated from God in his spirit.
Spiritual death isn't a place of our not existing, but is existing without God. Jesus told His followers in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy Life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." The people Jesus was speaking in front of, were alive. They were eating, drinking, working , talking and bearing children, but only in the flesh, otherwise the Life that Jesus offered to them was already there. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
When we were born-again, the very Spirit of God was infused into our then dead spirit and Life came into us again. We were created back into God's Original Intent for His family and were once again in His Image and Likeness. God no longer had to deal with man as only a flesh and blood creature, but could now speak to men face to face, like He did at the very beginning. God could now correct, discipline, reprove and direct His children, by and through their now living spirit.
Remember Jesus' Words, "The Words I have been speaking are Spirit and Truth." We see how the Father now instructs His children by His Spirit, in 2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified), which says, "Every scripture is God-Breathed (given by His Inspiration), and profitable for instruction, for reproof, and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience and for training in Righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action. So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
We've forgotten or never knew who we've become in Christ Jesus. God dealt with the old covenant people by their flesh and the Law, because they were spiritually dead, until Jesus came and made them alive again. We have a new and better covenant, which is based on better Promises and those Promises are "Yes and Amen, in Christ Jesus to the Glory of God our Father." We've been accepting sickness, trials, tribulation and disease, as being God's way of correcting and disciplining us. That was true before Jesus, but it's a lie that satan uses against the new creation person, in order to keep God's family down to his level.
It's true that we will have trials and tribulations while on this earth, but they don't come from the One Who Loved us enough to die for us. We must become sensitive to the leading, instructing and guiding of the Holy Spirit and God's Word. We're instructed in 2Timothy 3:16-17 , "Allow God's Word to reprove and correct, and keep us proficient, well-fitted, and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Even Jesus endured trials and tests, that were meant to stop and discourage Him. It's most certain that Paul went through many tests and trials, in order to bring this Revelation of God's new covenant, to us. Satan tried to stop and discourage Paul constantly, but Paul continued i his mission to reveal this new covenant people, to us. We've associated ourselves more with the old covenant and the Law to receive discipline, instead of the new covenant's method of God's Word and His Spirit. This doesn't mean that trials won't come, but when you know where those trials came from, God's Word and His Spirit will lead you out of them.
1Corinthians 10:13 (Amplified) says, "For no temptation, no trial regarded as enticing to sin, no matter how it comes or where it leads, has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man, that is no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that not adjusted and adapted and beyond human experience and such as man can bear. But God is faithful to His Word and to His compassionate nature, and He can be trusted not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will always provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently."
God is saying that He "will not allow the devil to come up with something new or is already common to man, to use against you." God won't allow satan to do something new, that He hasn't already provided the way out to a landing place of safety, by His Word. We've submitted to the enemy's trials, thinking it was God testing us. This allows the enemy to have full reign into our lives, for destruction and despair, while we blame the hardships on the Father.
1Peter 4:12 (Amplified) says, "Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange, unusual and alien to you and your position were befalling you. But insofar as you are sharing Christ's suffering; rejoice, so that when His Glory (full radiance and splendor) is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph (exultantly)."
Jesus suffered every kind of temptation, trial and test from the enemy, during His earthly walk and He overcame them all, even to His trial in the Garden of Gethsemane. The enemy will never test us to that point, but we are more than conquerors in Christ Who Loves us, and in Him, we can overcome the enemy's tests and trials.
John 4:24 (Amplified) tells us, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth (reality)."
Jesus took on the identity of man, so He could birth us back into God's Image, which is His Spirit. We've identified more with our body, than with our spirit. God is a Spirit and we're now created again into His Likeness. We need to become more aware of God's dealing in our spirit, instead of our flesh. God dealt with people in the old covenant, by their flesh and not their spirit. Until Jesus came, man was dead in his spirit, like he was in his flesh. When Adam transgressed in the Garden, he lost life and was separated from God in his spirit.
Spiritual death isn't a place of our not existing, but is existing without God. Jesus told His followers in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy Life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." The people Jesus was speaking in front of, were alive. They were eating, drinking, working , talking and bearing children, but only in the flesh, otherwise the Life that Jesus offered to them was already there. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
When we were born-again, the very Spirit of God was infused into our then dead spirit and Life came into us again. We were created back into God's Original Intent for His family and were once again in His Image and Likeness. God no longer had to deal with man as only a flesh and blood creature, but could now speak to men face to face, like He did at the very beginning. God could now correct, discipline, reprove and direct His children, by and through their now living spirit.
Remember Jesus' Words, "The Words I have been speaking are Spirit and Truth." We see how the Father now instructs His children by His Spirit, in 2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified), which says, "Every scripture is God-Breathed (given by His Inspiration), and profitable for instruction, for reproof, and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience and for training in Righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action. So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
We've forgotten or never knew who we've become in Christ Jesus. God dealt with the old covenant people by their flesh and the Law, because they were spiritually dead, until Jesus came and made them alive again. We have a new and better covenant, which is based on better Promises and those Promises are "Yes and Amen, in Christ Jesus to the Glory of God our Father." We've been accepting sickness, trials, tribulation and disease, as being God's way of correcting and disciplining us. That was true before Jesus, but it's a lie that satan uses against the new creation person, in order to keep God's family down to his level.
It's true that we will have trials and tribulations while on this earth, but they don't come from the One Who Loved us enough to die for us. We must become sensitive to the leading, instructing and guiding of the Holy Spirit and God's Word. We're instructed in 2Timothy 3:16-17 , "Allow God's Word to reprove and correct, and keep us proficient, well-fitted, and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Even Jesus endured trials and tests, that were meant to stop and discourage Him. It's most certain that Paul went through many tests and trials, in order to bring this Revelation of God's new covenant, to us. Satan tried to stop and discourage Paul constantly, but Paul continued i his mission to reveal this new covenant people, to us. We've associated ourselves more with the old covenant and the Law to receive discipline, instead of the new covenant's method of God's Word and His Spirit. This doesn't mean that trials won't come, but when you know where those trials came from, God's Word and His Spirit will lead you out of them.
1Corinthians 10:13 (Amplified) says, "For no temptation, no trial regarded as enticing to sin, no matter how it comes or where it leads, has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man, that is no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that not adjusted and adapted and beyond human experience and such as man can bear. But God is faithful to His Word and to His compassionate nature, and He can be trusted not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will always provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently."
God is saying that He "will not allow the devil to come up with something new or is already common to man, to use against you." God won't allow satan to do something new, that He hasn't already provided the way out to a landing place of safety, by His Word. We've submitted to the enemy's trials, thinking it was God testing us. This allows the enemy to have full reign into our lives, for destruction and despair, while we blame the hardships on the Father.
1Peter 4:12 (Amplified) says, "Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange, unusual and alien to you and your position were befalling you. But insofar as you are sharing Christ's suffering; rejoice, so that when His Glory (full radiance and splendor) is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph (exultantly)."
Jesus suffered every kind of temptation, trial and test from the enemy, during His earthly walk and He overcame them all, even to His trial in the Garden of Gethsemane. The enemy will never test us to that point, but we are more than conquerors in Christ Who Loves us, and in Him, we can overcome the enemy's tests and trials.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Lesson 26 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Genesis 1:26-27 (Amplified) reads, "God said, Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our Image (after Our Likeness), and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame beasts, and over all the earth, and everything that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them."
God's Original Intent was to have a family, whom He would call His children and His offspring. Adam and Eve were to have the Wisdom of God, the faith of God and the authority God had given them, over all the earth and everything in it. The God-Head was to be man's teacher and was to show man all things that their Father God had made for them.
Genesis 2:7 (Amplified) says, "Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the Breath or Spirit of Life, and man became a living being." Man was a spirit being, just like God is, and was made in God's Image and Likeness. Adam only knew his Father and followed His instructions. It was only after God formed man from the dust of the ground, that Adam even thought about trespassing against God.
Through Jesus, we've been created and made back into God's Image and Likeness again. We've also been transfigured into what Adam was in the beginning. Adam's spirit was perfect, clean and holy before God. We've been made new and born-again, according to 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified), which 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 mostly see ourselves still as flesh and blood beings, who have God's Spirit living inside us. God sees us as being like Adam was, before he was made flesh and blood. We see ourselves after Adam's transgression. God sees us like He saw Adam, prior to his transgression. Through Jesus, God has restored us back to His Original Intent. Jesus paid the Price of Adam's transgression, so God sees us as free from sin and whole again.
This has been the downfall for what we now know as Christianity. We've become fearful and hide from God, like Adam was after he sinned and was separated from God. We've been brought back to like Adam was, before sinning. It's hard for us to imagine our being pure and holy in God's Presence, after being the persons we were before receiving Jesus and were created new creatures altogether. The old moral and spiritual condition still holds us captive.
As long as your carnal nature can rule your spirit man, it will hold on and control you. This is why Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2 (Amplified), "I appeal to you therefore brethren, and beg 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 it's external (superficial) customs, but be transformed (changed), by the entire renewal of your mind, by it's new ideals and it's new attitude, So that you may prove for yourselves what is the good and acceptable and the perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect in His sight for you."
We can only see ourselves after God's Original Intent, by renewing our minds with the mind of Christ. Most of us have been led more by the carnal mind or what Paul calls, "the dictates of the flesh," instead of the dictates of the Spirit. We've been fearful we'll displease God, instead of believing what Jesus has actually done for us. We've yet to discover the difference between carnal pride and Spiritual Truth. You'll never know or understand God's Perfect will for you, until you truly believe the totality of what Jesus has done to return us back to God's Original Intent for mankind.
Boasting about our God, instead of ourselves, puts things in a different light. Jesus didn't think it boastful or prideful, when He said, "I and the Father are One." He didn't think it was prideful to say that, "God was His Father." We declare that, "God is our Father," but we seem afraid to declare that "We are His sons and daughters." This is the carnal mind's refusing to release the flesh, to the Spirit. God is not offended when we say we're His sons and daughters. If He calls us His beloved, then how can we offend Him, when we declare our love to Him, as His children?
When we understand this, then we can come boldly before His Throne of Grace. The dictates of the flesh, will keep us in the outer courts. Through Jesus, we can now enter into the Holy of Holies and worship in Spirit and Truth. This is the boldness of Righteousness, that we obtained through Jesus. You are now right with God and are upright before Him, because of Jesus. Because of Jesus, we now have the right to come into God's Presence again. We've been made one with Jesus, by the Holy Spirit and are in His Righteousness, not our own. It's only by faith in God's Word, that we can enter by Grace again. Jesus is the Door, and it's been opened into God's Own Presence to us again.
God's Original Intent was to have a family, whom He would call His children and His offspring. Adam and Eve were to have the Wisdom of God, the faith of God and the authority God had given them, over all the earth and everything in it. The God-Head was to be man's teacher and was to show man all things that their Father God had made for them.
Genesis 2:7 (Amplified) says, "Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the Breath or Spirit of Life, and man became a living being." Man was a spirit being, just like God is, and was made in God's Image and Likeness. Adam only knew his Father and followed His instructions. It was only after God formed man from the dust of the ground, that Adam even thought about trespassing against God.
Through Jesus, we've been created and made back into God's Image and Likeness again. We've also been transfigured into what Adam was in the beginning. Adam's spirit was perfect, clean and holy before God. We've been made new and born-again, according to 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified), which 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 mostly see ourselves still as flesh and blood beings, who have God's Spirit living inside us. God sees us as being like Adam was, before he was made flesh and blood. We see ourselves after Adam's transgression. God sees us like He saw Adam, prior to his transgression. Through Jesus, God has restored us back to His Original Intent. Jesus paid the Price of Adam's transgression, so God sees us as free from sin and whole again.
This has been the downfall for what we now know as Christianity. We've become fearful and hide from God, like Adam was after he sinned and was separated from God. We've been brought back to like Adam was, before sinning. It's hard for us to imagine our being pure and holy in God's Presence, after being the persons we were before receiving Jesus and were created new creatures altogether. The old moral and spiritual condition still holds us captive.
We've lived from the outside-in, instead of the inside-out for so long and judge ourselves after Adam, instead of Jesus Christ. So long as we see ourselves after the First Adam, instead of the Last Adam Jesus, we will continue living under the condemnation of the flesh and senses. This will hold us back from the things our Father really wants to do in our lives. Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, there is now 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."
Many of us continue to walk in the dictates of the flesh, instead of the dictates of the Spirit. We remember more about who we were, instead of who Jesus has made us to be. The flesh will always remind you of who you once were and dictate that to you, while the Spirit will dictate who you've been made to be in Jesus. Paul writes about the dictates of the flesh in Romans 8:7 (Amplified), saying, "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."As long as your carnal nature can rule your spirit man, it will hold on and control you. This is why Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2 (Amplified), "I appeal to you therefore brethren, and beg 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 it's external (superficial) customs, but be transformed (changed), by the entire renewal of your mind, by it's new ideals and it's new attitude, So that you may prove for yourselves what is the good and acceptable and the perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect in His sight for you."
We can only see ourselves after God's Original Intent, by renewing our minds with the mind of Christ. Most of us have been led more by the carnal mind or what Paul calls, "the dictates of the flesh," instead of the dictates of the Spirit. We've been fearful we'll displease God, instead of believing what Jesus has actually done for us. We've yet to discover the difference between carnal pride and Spiritual Truth. You'll never know or understand God's Perfect will for you, until you truly believe the totality of what Jesus has done to return us back to God's Original Intent for mankind.
Boasting about our God, instead of ourselves, puts things in a different light. Jesus didn't think it boastful or prideful, when He said, "I and the Father are One." He didn't think it was prideful to say that, "God was His Father." We declare that, "God is our Father," but we seem afraid to declare that "We are His sons and daughters." This is the carnal mind's refusing to release the flesh, to the Spirit. God is not offended when we say we're His sons and daughters. If He calls us His beloved, then how can we offend Him, when we declare our love to Him, as His children?
When we understand this, then we can come boldly before His Throne of Grace. The dictates of the flesh, will keep us in the outer courts. Through Jesus, we can now enter into the Holy of Holies and worship in Spirit and Truth. This is the boldness of Righteousness, that we obtained through Jesus. You are now right with God and are upright before Him, because of Jesus. Because of Jesus, we now have the right to come into God's Presence again. We've been made one with Jesus, by the Holy Spirit and are in His Righteousness, not our own. It's only by faith in God's Word, that we can enter by Grace again. Jesus is the Door, and it's been opened into God's Own Presence to us again.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Lesson 25 YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Jesus said in John 4:24 (Amplified), "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (reality)."
Genesis 1:26 (Amplified) tells us, "God said, Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our Image; after Our Likeness."
The First Adam was created a spirit being, in God's Own Image, according to Genesis 2:7 (Amplified), which says, "The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the Breath or Spirit of Life; and man became a living being."
God's Original Intent included creating man, first of all, a spirit being. We were to be led and learn how to live in God's family, from our Spiritual Father. God formed a natural body for His son Adam and created a soul or way of making contact with this earth, so Adam could function in this natural earth. Adam could be in contact with the natural by his senses, while his spirit was to direct, give wisdom to and rule over his flesh, because it was in constant contact with God.
Jesus was made flesh by the Word, but He walked by His contact with God, by His Spirit, according to John 5:30 (Amplified) where He said, "I am able to do nothing from Myself (independently, of My Own accord)-but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders. Even as I hear, I judge, I decide as I am bidden to decide, as the Voice comes to Me, so I give a decision, and My judgment is right, just, and Righteous, because I do not seek or consult My Own will. I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself (My Own aim, My Own Purpose), but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me."
Jesus had a natural body and soul, that were in contact with the natural world, but He was led only by His Spirit. Jesus' natural Body got tired, hungry, and required sleep, but He followed His Spirit for instructions. Jesus never consulted His body or senses, instead of His Spirit. When we were born-again, we were filled with the Spirit of God and now have a spirit in His Own Image and Likeness, again.
We mostly continue to consult our senses or carnal nature, instead of our spirit. Before being born-again, we were unfamiliar with Spiritual things, so we fall back into the things of the world. Most of the understanding we have of God's Word, comes from the sense knowledge and carnal nature of our earthly man. When tempted in the Garden of Eden, Adam listened to his carnal mind, instead of the Spirit of God. Adam witnessed the change that happened to Eve, when she surrendered to her soulish voice, and tried to redeem here on his own, without consulting God.
Many in today's Church consult our own senses or carnal minded way of life, thinking we can overcome by ourselves, like Adam did. 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, and earnestly desire), the pure unadulterated Spiritual milk (the Word) THAT BY IT you may be nurtured and row unto completed salvation." We can only be led by the Spirit and know the Father's will, when we know God's Word. Romans 8:14 (Amplified) says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God," or "mature sons of God."
We read in 1Peter 2:2 that, "The Word will make us to be nurtured and grow into completed salvation." Romans 8:14 says that, "We become mature sons of God, by His Spirit and His Word." We remain babies in Christ Jesus, when we don't know God's Word or hear His Spirit. Paul writes a lot about the carnal nature and the Spiritual nature, in Romans 8. He tells us that, "The carnal mind is our trusting more in what we know, rather than trusting God's Holy Spirit. We're familiar with what we know, so we continue trusting in our own ways, rather than learning His ways.
Most of our Christian walk continues to be dictated by our flesh or senses. We spend tons of time trying to control our fleshly desires, by the dictates and rules of religion. We should control our fleshly desires, but we shouldn't forsake hearing what the Spirit of God is telling us. We don't want our walk with God to be by our own efforts only, but we want to be led by His Spirit. We should abstain from the sins of the flesh, but we still need to learn and listen to His Spirit, so we can mature into what He intended us to be.
When reading about the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4:1-13, we notice that every time satan approached Him with temptation, Jesus always answered by the Spirit or Word of God. Jesus never consulted His natural mind or knowledge, but He listened to the Word that was directing Him. Satan offered Jesus what He came to possess, but the price tag didn't include Jesus' being led by the Holy Spirit. Whenever the enemy comes, the thing he offers comes with a price tag that only leads to our being in more bondage to him.
We see the glaring difference between the mind of the flesh and the mind of the Spirit, in Romans 8:5 (Amplified) which says, "For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires, set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things that gratify the Holy Spirit." It's left up to the individual, whether or not, to set his/her mind on the things of the Lord.
Paul writes in 2Corinthians 3:18 (Amplified), "And all of us, as with unveiled face, because we continue to behold in the Word of God as in a mirror the Glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very Own Image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of Glory to another: for this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit." It' futile to try increasing in the Lord, without being led by God's Spirit and His Word. Our carnal exercises are lost in futility and failure in God's eyes. The people under the Law, could never be satisfactory to God, because their efforts were by the flesh and their own works. When we try walking by our own efforts and works, it's dismissing faith and Grace and the works Jesus did for us.
Baby Christians are of course saved, but haven't grown into the mature sons of God by His Word and His Spirit yet. We still regulate our lives by doctrines of the flesh, instead of the Revelation of God's Word and Spirit. A baby born in America, is a citizen of this country. Those who have grown up in America have learned to walk in her citizenship, have become good citizens and blessings to others in the nation.
Genesis 1:26 (Amplified) tells us, "God said, Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our Image; after Our Likeness."
The First Adam was created a spirit being, in God's Own Image, according to Genesis 2:7 (Amplified), which says, "The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the Breath or Spirit of Life; and man became a living being."
God's Original Intent included creating man, first of all, a spirit being. We were to be led and learn how to live in God's family, from our Spiritual Father. God formed a natural body for His son Adam and created a soul or way of making contact with this earth, so Adam could function in this natural earth. Adam could be in contact with the natural by his senses, while his spirit was to direct, give wisdom to and rule over his flesh, because it was in constant contact with God.
Jesus was made flesh by the Word, but He walked by His contact with God, by His Spirit, according to John 5:30 (Amplified) where He said, "I am able to do nothing from Myself (independently, of My Own accord)-but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders. Even as I hear, I judge, I decide as I am bidden to decide, as the Voice comes to Me, so I give a decision, and My judgment is right, just, and Righteous, because I do not seek or consult My Own will. I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself (My Own aim, My Own Purpose), but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me."
Jesus had a natural body and soul, that were in contact with the natural world, but He was led only by His Spirit. Jesus' natural Body got tired, hungry, and required sleep, but He followed His Spirit for instructions. Jesus never consulted His body or senses, instead of His Spirit. When we were born-again, we were filled with the Spirit of God and now have a spirit in His Own Image and Likeness, again.
We mostly continue to consult our senses or carnal nature, instead of our spirit. Before being born-again, we were unfamiliar with Spiritual things, so we fall back into the things of the world. Most of the understanding we have of God's Word, comes from the sense knowledge and carnal nature of our earthly man. When tempted in the Garden of Eden, Adam listened to his carnal mind, instead of the Spirit of God. Adam witnessed the change that happened to Eve, when she surrendered to her soulish voice, and tried to redeem here on his own, without consulting God.
Many in today's Church consult our own senses or carnal minded way of life, thinking we can overcome by ourselves, like Adam did. 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, and earnestly desire), the pure unadulterated Spiritual milk (the Word) THAT BY IT you may be nurtured and row unto completed salvation." We can only be led by the Spirit and know the Father's will, when we know God's Word. Romans 8:14 (Amplified) says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God," or "mature sons of God."
We read in 1Peter 2:2 that, "The Word will make us to be nurtured and grow into completed salvation." Romans 8:14 says that, "We become mature sons of God, by His Spirit and His Word." We remain babies in Christ Jesus, when we don't know God's Word or hear His Spirit. Paul writes a lot about the carnal nature and the Spiritual nature, in Romans 8. He tells us that, "The carnal mind is our trusting more in what we know, rather than trusting God's Holy Spirit. We're familiar with what we know, so we continue trusting in our own ways, rather than learning His ways.
Most of our Christian walk continues to be dictated by our flesh or senses. We spend tons of time trying to control our fleshly desires, by the dictates and rules of religion. We should control our fleshly desires, but we shouldn't forsake hearing what the Spirit of God is telling us. We don't want our walk with God to be by our own efforts only, but we want to be led by His Spirit. We should abstain from the sins of the flesh, but we still need to learn and listen to His Spirit, so we can mature into what He intended us to be.
When reading about the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4:1-13, we notice that every time satan approached Him with temptation, Jesus always answered by the Spirit or Word of God. Jesus never consulted His natural mind or knowledge, but He listened to the Word that was directing Him. Satan offered Jesus what He came to possess, but the price tag didn't include Jesus' being led by the Holy Spirit. Whenever the enemy comes, the thing he offers comes with a price tag that only leads to our being in more bondage to him.
We see the glaring difference between the mind of the flesh and the mind of the Spirit, in Romans 8:5 (Amplified) which says, "For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires, set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things that gratify the Holy Spirit." It's left up to the individual, whether or not, to set his/her mind on the things of the Lord.
Paul writes in 2Corinthians 3:18 (Amplified), "And all of us, as with unveiled face, because we continue to behold in the Word of God as in a mirror the Glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very Own Image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of Glory to another: for this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit." It' futile to try increasing in the Lord, without being led by God's Spirit and His Word. Our carnal exercises are lost in futility and failure in God's eyes. The people under the Law, could never be satisfactory to God, because their efforts were by the flesh and their own works. When we try walking by our own efforts and works, it's dismissing faith and Grace and the works Jesus did for us.
Baby Christians are of course saved, but haven't grown into the mature sons of God by His Word and His Spirit yet. We still regulate our lives by doctrines of the flesh, instead of the Revelation of God's Word and Spirit. A baby born in America, is a citizen of this country. Those who have grown up in America have learned to walk in her citizenship, have become good citizens and blessings to others in the nation.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Lesson 24 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
God created all things for His family's enjoyment from the beginning. Genesis 1:31 (Amplified) says, "And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant), and He approved it completed; And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day." Genesis 1:27 (Amplified) says, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them."
Genesis 2:7 (Amplified) says, "Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the Breath or Spirit of Life, and man became a living being."
When God created man in His Own Image and Likeness, He created him a spirit being. Then, God later gave him a physical or natural body to live in. We were restored back to God's Original spirit being, in our new birth or our new creation man/woman. When Adam transgressed in the Garden of Eden, his sin caused his spirit to die or became separated from God, Who is Life. We were restored back to God's Original spirit being, when we were born-again and became new creations in Christ Jesus. Adam's sin brought death that was transferred to every natural man, born from Adam's seed. Romans 3:23 (Amplified) says, "All have sinned and come of the Glory of God."
Romans 5:12 (Amplified), "Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, no one being to escape it's power, because all men sinned." Jesus said in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy Life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." The Life Jesus spoke of here, is the new creation man we read about in 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) which 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."
When we were born-again, our old dead sinful spirit was cleansed and made alive again on God. We were restored back to God's Original Intent for His children. John 4:24 (Amplified) says, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (reality)." The only way to contact or learn about God's Spirit, is by our spirit man, who has been made alive to Him again, in Christ Jesus. We have mostly depended on our flesh and soul, in order to contact and worship Him. Jesus said that we "must worship Him in Spirit and Truth." We've limited much of our walk with God to our soul and emotions. We've used our emotions for worship and Truth, so that when emotions run high, what we've perceived as "truth," isn't always Truth.
When man was first created, he was a spirit being, just like his Father. He walked, talked, learned and was raised by the Spirit of God. It was only after Adam and Eve were given a natural body, that the enemy had the ability to deceive them. Until that time, there was no soulish pull against their spirit. Adam's fall caused mankind to be separated from the Holy Spirit, so man could only walk by and was ruled by, his natural, soulish, emotion self. We've been born-again and made new, but we've mostly walked in our soulish realm, instead of our spirit man.
Having the Living Spirit of God living and infused into our new creation spirit, is the greatest things we could hope for. Now, we have the ability and privilege of hearing, walking and being led by God's Holy Spirit, like He intended for us at the beginning. There is no fear, no retreat or surrender, in our new creation person, but our soul isn't in agreement with our new creation person. Paul explains the difference between the soul or carnal man and the new creation man in 1Corinthians 14:2, 13-14 (Amplified) which says, "For one who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret Truths and hidden things, not obvious to the understanding." Paul continues in Verses 13-14 saying, "Therefore, the person who speaks in an unknown tongue should pray for the power to interpret and explain what he says. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit, by the Holy Spirit within me prays, but my mind is unproductive, it bears no fruit and helps nobody."
We've been restored back to God's Original Intent and can now, through the Holy Spirit, contact, hear from, learn about and worship in Spirit and Truth. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it)! The Words that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
If the Holy Spirit isn't living in us and the new creation man isn't in fellowship with the Father, then the "secret Truths and hidden things" from God's Word aren't obvious to our understanding. The flesh or soulish part of man, cannot and doesn't understand God, Who is a Spirit. God's original man, Adam spoke with the Father, using a language that brought both Revelation and understanding. Adam and the Father communicated by the Father's speaking directly into the very heart of Adam. Today, we find it difficult to comprehend The Bible, even though it's written in the language we use, by our spirit. We can read the words, without discerning their Truth.
If we can only pray and worship in our own intellect, then we are limited in our ability to know the secret counsels and hidden things of God, because they are higher than our intellect. But, if I can pray and worship in the spirit, then I can reach into the realm of God's Wisdom and receive Revelation from Him, that my mind or intellect can't reach. Our carnal minds are so far below God's Wisdom, that without praying in the spirit, we are vastly limited in our walk where we're to be led by the Holy Spirit. God says in Isaiah 55:8-9 (Amplified), "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, My ways; says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."
Genesis 2:7 (Amplified) says, "Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the Breath or Spirit of Life, and man became a living being."
When God created man in His Own Image and Likeness, He created him a spirit being. Then, God later gave him a physical or natural body to live in. We were restored back to God's Original spirit being, in our new birth or our new creation man/woman. When Adam transgressed in the Garden of Eden, his sin caused his spirit to die or became separated from God, Who is Life. We were restored back to God's Original spirit being, when we were born-again and became new creations in Christ Jesus. Adam's sin brought death that was transferred to every natural man, born from Adam's seed. Romans 3:23 (Amplified) says, "All have sinned and come of the Glory of God."
Romans 5:12 (Amplified), "Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, no one being to escape it's power, because all men sinned." Jesus said in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy Life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." The Life Jesus spoke of here, is the new creation man we read about in 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) which 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."
When we were born-again, our old dead sinful spirit was cleansed and made alive again on God. We were restored back to God's Original Intent for His children. John 4:24 (Amplified) says, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (reality)." The only way to contact or learn about God's Spirit, is by our spirit man, who has been made alive to Him again, in Christ Jesus. We have mostly depended on our flesh and soul, in order to contact and worship Him. Jesus said that we "must worship Him in Spirit and Truth." We've limited much of our walk with God to our soul and emotions. We've used our emotions for worship and Truth, so that when emotions run high, what we've perceived as "truth," isn't always Truth.
When man was first created, he was a spirit being, just like his Father. He walked, talked, learned and was raised by the Spirit of God. It was only after Adam and Eve were given a natural body, that the enemy had the ability to deceive them. Until that time, there was no soulish pull against their spirit. Adam's fall caused mankind to be separated from the Holy Spirit, so man could only walk by and was ruled by, his natural, soulish, emotion self. We've been born-again and made new, but we've mostly walked in our soulish realm, instead of our spirit man.
Having the Living Spirit of God living and infused into our new creation spirit, is the greatest things we could hope for. Now, we have the ability and privilege of hearing, walking and being led by God's Holy Spirit, like He intended for us at the beginning. There is no fear, no retreat or surrender, in our new creation person, but our soul isn't in agreement with our new creation person. Paul explains the difference between the soul or carnal man and the new creation man in 1Corinthians 14:2, 13-14 (Amplified) which says, "For one who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret Truths and hidden things, not obvious to the understanding." Paul continues in Verses 13-14 saying, "Therefore, the person who speaks in an unknown tongue should pray for the power to interpret and explain what he says. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit, by the Holy Spirit within me prays, but my mind is unproductive, it bears no fruit and helps nobody."
We've been restored back to God's Original Intent and can now, through the Holy Spirit, contact, hear from, learn about and worship in Spirit and Truth. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it)! The Words that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
If the Holy Spirit isn't living in us and the new creation man isn't in fellowship with the Father, then the "secret Truths and hidden things" from God's Word aren't obvious to our understanding. The flesh or soulish part of man, cannot and doesn't understand God, Who is a Spirit. God's original man, Adam spoke with the Father, using a language that brought both Revelation and understanding. Adam and the Father communicated by the Father's speaking directly into the very heart of Adam. Today, we find it difficult to comprehend The Bible, even though it's written in the language we use, by our spirit. We can read the words, without discerning their Truth.
If we can only pray and worship in our own intellect, then we are limited in our ability to know the secret counsels and hidden things of God, because they are higher than our intellect. But, if I can pray and worship in the spirit, then I can reach into the realm of God's Wisdom and receive Revelation from Him, that my mind or intellect can't reach. Our carnal minds are so far below God's Wisdom, that without praying in the spirit, we are vastly limited in our walk where we're to be led by the Holy Spirit. God says in Isaiah 55:8-9 (Amplified), "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, My ways; says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."
Friday, November 1, 2019
Lesson 23 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Genesis 1:27-28 (Amplified) says, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God Blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful (multiply), and fill the earth, and subdue it using all its vast resources in the service of God and man; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth."
This was and still is, God's Original Plan and intention for mankind. The Blessing was perverted, after Adam transgressed and gave it to satan. Satan took the dominion that was meant for God's man and turned it into what we see as the Curse, which plagues the entire planet. Romans 8:19 (Amplified) says, "For even the whole creation (all of nature), waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known (waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship)."
We know that satan had total dominion over what God had given to Adam and Eve, in the beginning. Satan tried tempting Jesus in Luke 4:6 (Amplified), which says, "And he, satan, said to Jesus, To You I will give all this power and authority and their glory (all their magnificence, excellence, pre-eminence, dignity and grace), for it has been turned over to me and I give it to whomever I will." Satan wasn't making an idle declaration, because Adam had given it to him. Now we see the effects of those to "whomever he wills." We see satan delegating to governments and certain persons, this power of his dominion to rule by demonic forces in the earth.
Jesus was without sin, so He could still walk in God's Blessing and authority in His earthly ministry. Jesus preached the Blessing instead of the Curse, in Luke 4:18-19,21 (Amplified), where He says, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me (the Anointed One, the Messiah), to preach the Good News (the Gospel), to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed, who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed and broken down by calamity. To proclaim the accepted and accepted year of the Lord (the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound."
Jesus was preaching the Original Intent God had for mankind, from the beginning. Jesus came to redeem and restore man back to God, in His fullness. Through faith in Jesus, man could once again have Life in his/her spirit. We could come back to God without sin or even the memory of sin in God's sight, just like we were "made in His Image and Likeness" in the beginning. God tells His people in Isaiah 61:11 (Amplified), "For as surely as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring forth, so surely the Lord God will cause rightness and justice and praise to spring forth before all the nations, through the self-fulfilling power of His Word."
Jesus continued His Message about the "Acceptable Year of the Lord," in Luke 4:21, saying, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled while you are present and hearing." It was fulfilled on that day and it continues being fulfilled today. The Blessing has been restored and God's Original Intent has come to pass, in Jesus. Sadly, God's children haven't been taught this and can't believe it's "Truth" today.
The Holy Spirit tells Daniel in Daniel 12:4 (Amplified), "But you O Daniel, shut up the Words and seal the Book until the time of the end. Then many shall run to and fro and search anxiously through the Book, and knowledge of God's Purposes as revealed by His prophets shall be increased and become Great."
The Lord says in Malachi 2:6 (Amplified), "The Law of Truth was in Levi's mouth and unrighteousness was not fond in his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness and turned many away from iniquity."
Isaiah 62:6-7 (Amplified) says, "I have set watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem, who will never hold their peace day or night; you who are His servants and by your prayers put the Lord in remembrance of His Promises, keep not silent And give Him no rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her a praise in the earth."
God doesn't instruct us to, "Put the Lord in remembrance of His Promises," so that He won't forget them. He does this, so we don't forget His Promises to us. Our calling to remembrance His Promises about redemption, activates our faith in His integrity and Promise to and for us. In Isaiah 65:16 (Amplified) God says, "So it shall be that he who invokes a Blessing on himself in the land shall do so by saying, May the God of Truth and fidelity (the Amen), Bless me and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of Truth and Faithfulness to His Promises (the Amen), because the former troubles are forgotten and because they are hidden from My eyes."
Isaiah 58:20-21 (Amplified) says, "He shall come as a Redeemer to Zion and to those in Jacob (Israel), who turn from transgression, says the Lord. As for Me, this is My covenant or league with them, says the Lord. My Spirit, Who is upon you and Who writes the Law of God inwardly on your heart, and My Words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth or out of the mouths of your children says the Lord, from henceforth and forever."
The "Words" God puts in our mouths and the mouths of our children, are His Promises to us through Jesus and our new creation being. Psalm 107:2 (Amplified) says, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary." Galatians 3:13 (Amplified) says, "Christ purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the Curse, doom of the Law and its condemnation by Himself becoming a Curse for us, for it is written in the scriptures, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified)."
God has put His Words in our mouths and instructs us to "remember His Promises and to bring Him to remembrance of them." We need to declare that, "I am delivered from the hand of the adversary" and "I am the redeemed of the Lord." This is a Promise that is fulfilled in Jesus, just as truly as, "All who call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved." What is our confession of God's Promises? Do we receive the Blessing or do we still confess the Curse on ourselves? We must keep God's Words in our mouths and remember the self-fulfilling Word He speaks.
This was and still is, God's Original Plan and intention for mankind. The Blessing was perverted, after Adam transgressed and gave it to satan. Satan took the dominion that was meant for God's man and turned it into what we see as the Curse, which plagues the entire planet. Romans 8:19 (Amplified) says, "For even the whole creation (all of nature), waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known (waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship)."
We know that satan had total dominion over what God had given to Adam and Eve, in the beginning. Satan tried tempting Jesus in Luke 4:6 (Amplified), which says, "And he, satan, said to Jesus, To You I will give all this power and authority and their glory (all their magnificence, excellence, pre-eminence, dignity and grace), for it has been turned over to me and I give it to whomever I will." Satan wasn't making an idle declaration, because Adam had given it to him. Now we see the effects of those to "whomever he wills." We see satan delegating to governments and certain persons, this power of his dominion to rule by demonic forces in the earth.
Jesus was without sin, so He could still walk in God's Blessing and authority in His earthly ministry. Jesus preached the Blessing instead of the Curse, in Luke 4:18-19,21 (Amplified), where He says, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me (the Anointed One, the Messiah), to preach the Good News (the Gospel), to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed, who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed and broken down by calamity. To proclaim the accepted and accepted year of the Lord (the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound."
Jesus was preaching the Original Intent God had for mankind, from the beginning. Jesus came to redeem and restore man back to God, in His fullness. Through faith in Jesus, man could once again have Life in his/her spirit. We could come back to God without sin or even the memory of sin in God's sight, just like we were "made in His Image and Likeness" in the beginning. God tells His people in Isaiah 61:11 (Amplified), "For as surely as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring forth, so surely the Lord God will cause rightness and justice and praise to spring forth before all the nations, through the self-fulfilling power of His Word."
Jesus continued His Message about the "Acceptable Year of the Lord," in Luke 4:21, saying, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled while you are present and hearing." It was fulfilled on that day and it continues being fulfilled today. The Blessing has been restored and God's Original Intent has come to pass, in Jesus. Sadly, God's children haven't been taught this and can't believe it's "Truth" today.
The Holy Spirit tells Daniel in Daniel 12:4 (Amplified), "But you O Daniel, shut up the Words and seal the Book until the time of the end. Then many shall run to and fro and search anxiously through the Book, and knowledge of God's Purposes as revealed by His prophets shall be increased and become Great."
The Lord says in Malachi 2:6 (Amplified), "The Law of Truth was in Levi's mouth and unrighteousness was not fond in his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness and turned many away from iniquity."
Isaiah 62:6-7 (Amplified) says, "I have set watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem, who will never hold their peace day or night; you who are His servants and by your prayers put the Lord in remembrance of His Promises, keep not silent And give Him no rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her a praise in the earth."
God doesn't instruct us to, "Put the Lord in remembrance of His Promises," so that He won't forget them. He does this, so we don't forget His Promises to us. Our calling to remembrance His Promises about redemption, activates our faith in His integrity and Promise to and for us. In Isaiah 65:16 (Amplified) God says, "So it shall be that he who invokes a Blessing on himself in the land shall do so by saying, May the God of Truth and fidelity (the Amen), Bless me and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of Truth and Faithfulness to His Promises (the Amen), because the former troubles are forgotten and because they are hidden from My eyes."
Isaiah 58:20-21 (Amplified) says, "He shall come as a Redeemer to Zion and to those in Jacob (Israel), who turn from transgression, says the Lord. As for Me, this is My covenant or league with them, says the Lord. My Spirit, Who is upon you and Who writes the Law of God inwardly on your heart, and My Words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth or out of the mouths of your children says the Lord, from henceforth and forever."
The "Words" God puts in our mouths and the mouths of our children, are His Promises to us through Jesus and our new creation being. Psalm 107:2 (Amplified) says, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary." Galatians 3:13 (Amplified) says, "Christ purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the Curse, doom of the Law and its condemnation by Himself becoming a Curse for us, for it is written in the scriptures, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified)."
God has put His Words in our mouths and instructs us to "remember His Promises and to bring Him to remembrance of them." We need to declare that, "I am delivered from the hand of the adversary" and "I am the redeemed of the Lord." This is a Promise that is fulfilled in Jesus, just as truly as, "All who call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved." What is our confession of God's Promises? Do we receive the Blessing or do we still confess the Curse on ourselves? We must keep God's Words in our mouths and remember the self-fulfilling Word He speaks.
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