Genesis 1:26-28 (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 of the field, and over all the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. 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."
Jesus is God and Man, and as a Man He took back the complete authority, dominion, and Blessing that the Father pronounced on His family, in the beginning. Hebrews 1:2 (Amplified) says, "But in the Last of these days He has spoken unto 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."
Romans 8:16-17,18 (Amplified) says, "The Spirit Himself thus testifies together with our own spirit, assuring us that we are children of God. And if we are His children, then we are His heirs also; heirs of God and fellow heirs (joint heirs) with Christ, sharing His inheritance with Him, only we must share His suffering if we are to share His Glory."
The suffering Jesus bore on Calvary's cross was ours and not His. Jesus bore this suffering, so that we would no longer owe the penalty for sin and death. The suffering we share with Him, is the rejection and misunderstanding by the world and the things of the world. Paul goes onto to explain this suffering in Verse 18, saying, "But what of that? For I consider that the suffering of this present time (this present life), are not worth being compared with the Glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us."
Paul wasn't speaking only about after we leave this earth, but said that it's to be revealed to us, and in us, and for us and conferred on us, while we're still here on earth. We have inherited the Glory, with Jesus. Jesus took back everything Adam lost and He conferred it upon us, while we're still here on earth. Through Jesus, we have the ability to bring many sons and daughters unto Glory for God. Hebrews 2:10 (Amplified) says, "For it was an act worthy of God, and fitting to the Divine nature that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into Glory, should make the pioneer of the salvation perfect, should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His Office as High Priest through suffering."
Jesus suffered as a Man, so we might be made into what the Father intended for us to be and bring many sons and daughters into Glory. Through Jesus, we're now new creations, who are still in the flesh and born of the the Spirit like He was. We have the call on our lives that Adam had to "multiply, be fruitful and fill the earth with God's family." We're to have "complete authority over all the earth, to subdue it," by the Spirit.
This is still God's Original Intent for mankind and it's the fulfillment of the Father's heart. We have a Great High Priest, Who has suffered everything that could be placed on mankind, in order to deliver us back into the Heavenly Father's family. Jesus was tempted in every way, like we are, according to Hebrews 2:13-14,18 (Amplified), where Paul writes, "My trust and assured reliance and confident hope shall be fixed on Him, and yet again, Here I am, I and the children whom God has given me. Since therefore, these His children share in flesh and blood (in the physical nature of human beings), He Himself, in a similar manner partook of the same nature, that by going through death He might bring to naught and make of no effect him who had the power of death, that is the devil."
We read about Christ's suffering in Verse 18, which says, "For because He Himself, in His humanity, has suffered in being tempted, tested and tried, He is able immediately to run to the cry of (assist, relieve), those who are being tempted and tested and tried, and who are therefore being exposed to suffering." The suffering we're to endure, is the same suffering that Jesus endured when satan tried, tempted, and tested His humanity. This is while we're still in these natural bodies. By God's Spirit and His ability, we too can overcome and live in Him by faith, because "He is faithful to deliver us from all the work of the evil one."
God never intended His family to be subject to anyone except Him and that is on the basis of a love relationship and not fear or Law. We're citizens of God's Heavenly Kingdom again, as His sons and daughters and through Jesus. Through Him, we've inherited this earth and are to return it the Father's Plan again. We've been faithful to bring sons and daughters into Glory, by the preaching of God's Word of salvation. We've been slack though, in teaching these new babies in Christ about who they have become in Christ or about the mandate of authority and dominion that God has given them as their inheritance.
We've been given the Name of Jesus, to use as our badge of authority and we must understand that Name. Philippians 2:9-10 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, because He stooped so low, God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name. That in (at) the Name of Jesus, every knee should (must) bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth." God had many Names in the old covenant and each Name had a purpose. His Name was Provider, Healer, Deliverer, and our Peace. All these Names are now wrapped up in One Name that is above every name and that is the Name of Jesus. He is now all these things in One. Jesus is our Peace, our Healer, our Provider, our Redeemer, our Deliverer and our Lord. He is the Firstborn from the dead and He's our Door back to our Father. The Father has placed all things and provided all things to us, by the Power of His Name. We're only required to believe in His Name. All of God's Promises are already paid for and done, by faith in the Name of Jesus Christ.
We don't end our prayers with "In the Name of Jesus, Amen," as a P.S. We do so, because it's the very essence of who we are and Who He is to the world, to the heavens and to the enemy. 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." We are in that Name. We have His Power of Attorney to use His Name, for whatever is out of place on this planet. All of Heaven is behind us and all the angels in God's Army of Heavenly Hosts, when we use that Name.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Monday, March 30, 2020
Lesson 87 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Genesis 1:26,28 (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 (tame) beasts, and over all the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth." Verse 28 says, "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 God's Original Intent for mankind and the earth He created for them. God's great Love desired a family to share in His Goodness and to fellowship with Him. After Adam's fall, God worked for many years to bring Jesus into the earth, so He could restored everything back to His Plan. God made covenant with various different people throughout the years, in order to keep His man from being completely destroyed. A blood covenant was cut in the Garden, when God killed animals and shed their blood to cover Adam and Eve.
Adam's disobedience brought sin into the world, along with the consequences of death or separation from God, Who is Life. God set in motion a sacrifice of animals that would shed their blood, in payment for sin and as a covering of man's sin, so He wouldn't be completely separate from His family. Sin demanded death as a result, so the blood of animals signified a covering and temporary payment for death. The sacrifice of animals didn't cleanse the people of their sin, but it covered them until God could get a Man, Jesus into the earth, Who would be the total payment for sin and death.
Many Christians don't distinguish between the old and new covenants and believe God still punishes mankind like He did under the old covenant. This has left us open to the enemy's deception and not knowing God's will for mankind. This makes us insecure in our faith.
It's difficult to preach healing in many of today's churches, because the people don't know whether or not healing is God's will. It's nearly impossible to have your faith be secure enough to receive from God, when you don't know His will for you. We read in John 8:19 (Amplified), "Then they said to Him, Where is this Father of Yours? Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as you know Me, if you knew Me, you would know My Father also." In order to know God's will for us today, we must first know Jesus. In John 14:7 (Amplified), Jesus said, "If you had known Me, had learned to recognize Me, you would also have known My Father. From now on, you know Him and have seen Me."
We've confused the God of the old covenant, with the Saving Father of the new covenant. We've heard many good men and women of God, preach about how "God does certain things in order to teach and lead us." This mostly comes from their not really knowing Jesus. If we know Jesus and have received Him as our Lord and Savior, then we should know that our Heavenly Father doesn't put things on His new creation family in order to teach us something. We know this, by watching Jesus.
The people of the old covenant were great and sincere, but they weren't born-again, Spirit-filled, redeemed by the Blood and weren't sons and daughters. They were only living in the Promise of Messiah. We're not living in a Promise that's to come, but is now fulfilled in Jesus, the Messiah. 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) says, "For as many as are the Promises of God, they all find their Yes Answer in Him, Christ. For this reason we also utter the Amen (So be it), to God through Him, in His Person and by His Agency, to the Glory of God."
These are still Promises to the unsaved world, but they are fulfilled Truth (So be it), to the new creation family of God. Healing was a Promise, but it's now a fact and Truth. If it wasn't God's will, then He would never make a Promise that He didn't intend to keep. Once your faith is in His Promise, nothing can keep it from coming to pass. We've had trouble trusting in what God has Promised. I've seen many people who weren't healed, but I've also witnessed many who have been healed. Were those who were healed "special?" Or, were they the ones who finally realized it was God's will all along? We're not waiting for our healing. He's waiting for us to put our faith in the Truth that He's already given it and it's already ours.
We never read about Jesus refusing to heal anyone who came to Him. Jesus said that, "When you see Me, You have seen the Father." If Jesus healed them, then it must have been the Father's will and if Jesus and the Father are One (and they are), then it must be God's will today for us to be healed. We can't allow carnal sermons and worldly ideas about God, to make us double-minded about the Super-natural display of God's Love for us.
Jesus was ministering to a group of people, when a paralyzed man was lowered in front of Him from the rooftop, in Mark 2:5,9 -12 (Amplified). Jesus said to the man, "Son your sins are forgiven." The people were aghast at this and asked, "Who can forgive sin but God?" We should pay close attention to what Jesus said about God's will for our healing in Verses 9-12. Thus, He said, "Which is easier; to say to the paralyzed man, Your sins are forgiven and put away, or to say, Rise, Take up your bed or mat, and start walking, and keep on walking. But that you may know and positively and beyond doubt that the Son of Man has the right and authority and power on earth to forgive sins, He said to the paralyzed man, I say to you, arise, pick and carry your sleeping pad or mat, and be going home. And he arose at once and picked up his sleeping pad and went out before them all."
How many today, believe He can forgive or remove sin from our lives, but still not believe He can heal our body? Those around Jesus had witnessed Him heal and believed that, but they couldn't believe He could forgive sin. Many are sadly still like that today. We believe He can forgive our sins, but not that He can heal us. Jesus asked, "Which is easier? To forgive or heal?" Both were the same Jesus and both were easy for Him. We haven't believed that these were the perfect will of God for us today.
Don't take someone else' word on this, but go to God's Word and study Jesus very closely. If you do this, then you'll see it's God's will to heal, deliver, set free and forgive. You'll see that one isn't more difficult for God to do, than the other is.
This was God's Original Intent for mankind and the earth He created for them. God's great Love desired a family to share in His Goodness and to fellowship with Him. After Adam's fall, God worked for many years to bring Jesus into the earth, so He could restored everything back to His Plan. God made covenant with various different people throughout the years, in order to keep His man from being completely destroyed. A blood covenant was cut in the Garden, when God killed animals and shed their blood to cover Adam and Eve.
Adam's disobedience brought sin into the world, along with the consequences of death or separation from God, Who is Life. God set in motion a sacrifice of animals that would shed their blood, in payment for sin and as a covering of man's sin, so He wouldn't be completely separate from His family. Sin demanded death as a result, so the blood of animals signified a covering and temporary payment for death. The sacrifice of animals didn't cleanse the people of their sin, but it covered them until God could get a Man, Jesus into the earth, Who would be the total payment for sin and death.
Many Christians don't distinguish between the old and new covenants and believe God still punishes mankind like He did under the old covenant. This has left us open to the enemy's deception and not knowing God's will for mankind. This makes us insecure in our faith.
It's difficult to preach healing in many of today's churches, because the people don't know whether or not healing is God's will. It's nearly impossible to have your faith be secure enough to receive from God, when you don't know His will for you. We read in John 8:19 (Amplified), "Then they said to Him, Where is this Father of Yours? Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as you know Me, if you knew Me, you would know My Father also." In order to know God's will for us today, we must first know Jesus. In John 14:7 (Amplified), Jesus said, "If you had known Me, had learned to recognize Me, you would also have known My Father. From now on, you know Him and have seen Me."
We've confused the God of the old covenant, with the Saving Father of the new covenant. We've heard many good men and women of God, preach about how "God does certain things in order to teach and lead us." This mostly comes from their not really knowing Jesus. If we know Jesus and have received Him as our Lord and Savior, then we should know that our Heavenly Father doesn't put things on His new creation family in order to teach us something. We know this, by watching Jesus.
The people of the old covenant were great and sincere, but they weren't born-again, Spirit-filled, redeemed by the Blood and weren't sons and daughters. They were only living in the Promise of Messiah. We're not living in a Promise that's to come, but is now fulfilled in Jesus, the Messiah. 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) says, "For as many as are the Promises of God, they all find their Yes Answer in Him, Christ. For this reason we also utter the Amen (So be it), to God through Him, in His Person and by His Agency, to the Glory of God."
These are still Promises to the unsaved world, but they are fulfilled Truth (So be it), to the new creation family of God. Healing was a Promise, but it's now a fact and Truth. If it wasn't God's will, then He would never make a Promise that He didn't intend to keep. Once your faith is in His Promise, nothing can keep it from coming to pass. We've had trouble trusting in what God has Promised. I've seen many people who weren't healed, but I've also witnessed many who have been healed. Were those who were healed "special?" Or, were they the ones who finally realized it was God's will all along? We're not waiting for our healing. He's waiting for us to put our faith in the Truth that He's already given it and it's already ours.
We never read about Jesus refusing to heal anyone who came to Him. Jesus said that, "When you see Me, You have seen the Father." If Jesus healed them, then it must have been the Father's will and if Jesus and the Father are One (and they are), then it must be God's will today for us to be healed. We can't allow carnal sermons and worldly ideas about God, to make us double-minded about the Super-natural display of God's Love for us.
Jesus was ministering to a group of people, when a paralyzed man was lowered in front of Him from the rooftop, in Mark 2:5,9 -12 (Amplified). Jesus said to the man, "Son your sins are forgiven." The people were aghast at this and asked, "Who can forgive sin but God?" We should pay close attention to what Jesus said about God's will for our healing in Verses 9-12. Thus, He said, "Which is easier; to say to the paralyzed man, Your sins are forgiven and put away, or to say, Rise, Take up your bed or mat, and start walking, and keep on walking. But that you may know and positively and beyond doubt that the Son of Man has the right and authority and power on earth to forgive sins, He said to the paralyzed man, I say to you, arise, pick and carry your sleeping pad or mat, and be going home. And he arose at once and picked up his sleeping pad and went out before them all."
How many today, believe He can forgive or remove sin from our lives, but still not believe He can heal our body? Those around Jesus had witnessed Him heal and believed that, but they couldn't believe He could forgive sin. Many are sadly still like that today. We believe He can forgive our sins, but not that He can heal us. Jesus asked, "Which is easier? To forgive or heal?" Both were the same Jesus and both were easy for Him. We haven't believed that these were the perfect will of God for us today.
Don't take someone else' word on this, but go to God's Word and study Jesus very closely. If you do this, then you'll see it's God's will to heal, deliver, set free and forgive. You'll see that one isn't more difficult for God to do, than the other is.
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Lesson 86 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Genesis 1:26,28 (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 (tame) beasts, and over all the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth." Verse 28 says, "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 God's Original Intent for His family (mankind). Mankind lost the Blessing and the dominion over the earth, becoming subject to death and satan, when Adam transgressed in the Garden. The Blessing was now a Curse upon man and upon the earth. This wasn't something the Father did, but was the result of Adam's actions. Genesis 3:17 (Amplified) tells us, "And to Adam [God] said, Because you have listened and given heed to the voice of your wife and have eaten of 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."
The Curse came because of Adam and not because of the Father. God had given Adam complete authority and dominion over all the earth and everything that creeps upon it. In Genesis 3:18-19 (Amplified), God says, "Thorns and thistles shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the plants of the field. In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread until you return to the ground; for out of it you were taken, for dust you are and to dust you shall return."
God didn't stop the Blessing, Adam did. Adam could have used his God given authority and dominion, to cast satan out of the Garden and protect his inheritance. When God gave his earthly creation to Adam and his wife, it was now Adam's domain and he had the responsibility to keep and dress the Garden, according to Genesis 2:15 (Amplified) which says, "And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it."
God gave man the job of tending, guarding and keeping the Garden. God gave Adam the ability to keep satan out of the Garden and to prevent satan from taking it from him. Christians sometimes think that everything that happens to us, "Is God's will and He must have allowed it or sent it to us." Jesus said in Matthew 18:18 (Amplified), "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in Heaven."
God gave believers the ability to bind and loose, declare proper or improper, lawful or unlawful. We have the ability through our words and deeds. God has Spiritual Laws in Heaven, that we're to use to govern our lives and things of this earth. If believers would do like God directed Adam and use the authority and dominion God gave us over the earth and everything that creeps upon it, then we could and should declare many things unlawful and nonproductive in our lives.
Once God gave all authority over to Adam, God never interfered or took back the authority. He allowed Adam to have rule over his own life. Religion has taught us that God will do whatever He wants to and we can't do anything except watch and wait. This wasn't and isn't God's will or His Intention for His family. Jesus didn't tell the Leper, "It's God's will for you to have leprosy," Jesus used the authority given to man at the beginning and didn't allow it to stay on that man. Jesus knew that sickness and disease weren't lawful in Heaven, so He had dominion over it here on earth.
Jesus loosed a woman who was bound and couldn't stand straight in Luke 13:12 (KJV) and Matthew 18:18 (KJV). The Amplified Bible used the words, "Improper, or proper and lawful." The infirmity was already declared to be forbidden and unlawful in Heaven, so Jesus brought the Heavenly Laws of the Kingdom, down to earth and set the woman free.
The Spirit realm has Laws that govern and set things in place. Jesus has restored the ability to bind or loose, declare proper or unlawful on earth back to us, giving us the authority over the earth and everything on it again. These are Kingdom Laws and they always work, but we've misunderstood them. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at, and strive after first of all His Kingdom and His Righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."
God's way of doing and being right, begin with His Righteousness, which is the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Romans 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For in the Gospel a Righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith, disclosed thought the way of faith, that arouses to more faith." God's way of doing and being right or righteous, is faith in the righteousness we've received in Christ Jesus. Until you accept this by faith, you're not sure of your righteousness or your own authority to bind or loose and you won't know God's will for you.
Jesus has restored us back to God's Original Intent and has placed the ability to declare and take authority back to us. If like Adam, we don't take that authority over the enemy, then we'll reap the same results. You might be saved, born-again, filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues, but still not understand the Laws that govern the Kingdom you've been born into. We keep waiting for God to do something, not understanding that through Jesus, He has already done everything that needed to be done and restored us back into God's Original Intent for His family. We're not waiting for our healing, but He's waiting for us to receive what Jesus has already done for us.
We tolerate and put up with things that aren't and never have been God's Intention, when He created man and gave him authority. As a Man, Jesus took back the authority satan conned Adam out of and restored it back to the born-again man and woman. We now have Jesus' Name, His Righteousness, His authority, His Word and His Promise. We're free from the bondage of sin, death, satan, sickness and over anything that has held us back. You're not God and you're not Jesus, but you are an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus. You're a son or daughter, just like Jesus, because you were born of the Same Seed, Who is the incorruptible Word of God. You are family and family has God's way of doing and being right by Kingdom Law, here on earth.
This was God's Original Intent for His family (mankind). Mankind lost the Blessing and the dominion over the earth, becoming subject to death and satan, when Adam transgressed in the Garden. The Blessing was now a Curse upon man and upon the earth. This wasn't something the Father did, but was the result of Adam's actions. Genesis 3:17 (Amplified) tells us, "And to Adam [God] said, Because you have listened and given heed to the voice of your wife and have eaten of 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."
The Curse came because of Adam and not because of the Father. God had given Adam complete authority and dominion over all the earth and everything that creeps upon it. In Genesis 3:18-19 (Amplified), God says, "Thorns and thistles shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the plants of the field. In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread until you return to the ground; for out of it you were taken, for dust you are and to dust you shall return."
God didn't stop the Blessing, Adam did. Adam could have used his God given authority and dominion, to cast satan out of the Garden and protect his inheritance. When God gave his earthly creation to Adam and his wife, it was now Adam's domain and he had the responsibility to keep and dress the Garden, according to Genesis 2:15 (Amplified) which says, "And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it."
God gave man the job of tending, guarding and keeping the Garden. God gave Adam the ability to keep satan out of the Garden and to prevent satan from taking it from him. Christians sometimes think that everything that happens to us, "Is God's will and He must have allowed it or sent it to us." Jesus said in Matthew 18:18 (Amplified), "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in Heaven."
God gave believers the ability to bind and loose, declare proper or improper, lawful or unlawful. We have the ability through our words and deeds. God has Spiritual Laws in Heaven, that we're to use to govern our lives and things of this earth. If believers would do like God directed Adam and use the authority and dominion God gave us over the earth and everything that creeps upon it, then we could and should declare many things unlawful and nonproductive in our lives.
Once God gave all authority over to Adam, God never interfered or took back the authority. He allowed Adam to have rule over his own life. Religion has taught us that God will do whatever He wants to and we can't do anything except watch and wait. This wasn't and isn't God's will or His Intention for His family. Jesus didn't tell the Leper, "It's God's will for you to have leprosy," Jesus used the authority given to man at the beginning and didn't allow it to stay on that man. Jesus knew that sickness and disease weren't lawful in Heaven, so He had dominion over it here on earth.
Jesus loosed a woman who was bound and couldn't stand straight in Luke 13:12 (KJV) and Matthew 18:18 (KJV). The Amplified Bible used the words, "Improper, or proper and lawful." The infirmity was already declared to be forbidden and unlawful in Heaven, so Jesus brought the Heavenly Laws of the Kingdom, down to earth and set the woman free.
The Spirit realm has Laws that govern and set things in place. Jesus has restored the ability to bind or loose, declare proper or unlawful on earth back to us, giving us the authority over the earth and everything on it again. These are Kingdom Laws and they always work, but we've misunderstood them. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at, and strive after first of all His Kingdom and His Righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."
God's way of doing and being right, begin with His Righteousness, which is the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Romans 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For in the Gospel a Righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith, disclosed thought the way of faith, that arouses to more faith." God's way of doing and being right or righteous, is faith in the righteousness we've received in Christ Jesus. Until you accept this by faith, you're not sure of your righteousness or your own authority to bind or loose and you won't know God's will for you.
Jesus has restored us back to God's Original Intent and has placed the ability to declare and take authority back to us. If like Adam, we don't take that authority over the enemy, then we'll reap the same results. You might be saved, born-again, filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues, but still not understand the Laws that govern the Kingdom you've been born into. We keep waiting for God to do something, not understanding that through Jesus, He has already done everything that needed to be done and restored us back into God's Original Intent for His family. We're not waiting for our healing, but He's waiting for us to receive what Jesus has already done for us.
We tolerate and put up with things that aren't and never have been God's Intention, when He created man and gave him authority. As a Man, Jesus took back the authority satan conned Adam out of and restored it back to the born-again man and woman. We now have Jesus' Name, His Righteousness, His authority, His Word and His Promise. We're free from the bondage of sin, death, satan, sickness and over anything that has held us back. You're not God and you're not Jesus, but you are an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus. You're a son or daughter, just like Jesus, because you were born of the Same Seed, Who is the incorruptible Word of God. You are family and family has God's way of doing and being right by Kingdom Law, here on earth.
Friday, March 27, 2020
Lesson 85 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Genesis 1:26,28 (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, over the birds of the air, and over the (tame) beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth." Verse 28 says, "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."
These two short Verses from God's Word, tell us that God created, gave His Blessing and authority over this planet, to just one man and his wife. God's Intent for mankind, was that they'd multiply and be fruitful and fill the earth. All of this was when there was just one man and his wife. God's Intention was for family and that He would provide everything man would ever need. 1Peter 3:18 (Amplified) tells us the full reason Jesus came to earth, saying, "For Christ the Messiah Himself, died for since once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous, the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty, that he might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the Spirit."
The most important thing in the Father's heart, was and is the return of His family to Himself. We've somehow missed how much the Father wishes to spend time with us in fellowship and relationship. We've gone through many rituals, rites and traditions, in order to approach the Father, but He mostly desires our love and fellowship with Him. I don't mean that we shouldn't be aware that He is the Almighty God, but that we shouldn't always stand on formality, instead of family.
My children never forget that I'm their father, but they also never forget that I'm their friend and companion. Above all, my children are never uneasy or afraid in my presence, no matter what goes on. They always have the liberty to come to me for any reason. If they need wisdom or understanding, then they can always feel welcome with me and expect to have what they expect from me. My house is always open and my time is always theirs, whenever they need me. God's House and His time are always open too. God gets the most pleasure from our simply spending time with Him.
I wonder how many of God's children feel truly comfortable and at ease in His Presence. How many of us simply want to spend time with Him, in conversation and fellowship? When we seek Him, everything He has is ours, without our having to earn it. It was for this purpose that God created it in the beginning. He wanted to see us learn, grow, and enjoy what He had provided for us. Nothing is being held back from us by Him, but our lack of knowing.
The Name of Jesus doesn't just give us authority over satan and disease, but it's our place of entrance and fellowship with the Father. By His Name, we have unreserved and unrestricted entry into the very Presence of the Almighty God. Our Heavenly Father has watched His children be deceived, killed, run over and lied to, for about as long as He intends to put up with. The time of His Presence and His Glory upon the earth on behalf of His family, is about here.
Many of God's children are afraid in His Presence and His Spirit. I've been in services where people become frightened and leave the meeting, when the Glory of God's Presence was made manifest. He is a Super-natural God and He has begotten a Super-natural people, who should recognize Him for Who He is. The miraculous things God did in the early Church days, are nearly completely lost to the modern day Church. Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) tells us that, "Jesus Christ, the Same yesterday, today, and forever." If God ever did these things, then He still does. God hasn't changed, but we have. We've allowed ourselves to believe that God is the problem, instead of THE ANSWER.
We're not Old Testament servants, but are New Testament family. God doesn't deal with us like He did in the Old covenant, but as He children. He doesn't deal with our flesh, but with our spirit. When we only move by our senses, instead of our spirit, we're subject to the enemy's deception and devices. Satan is a master of dealing with mankind's emotions and feelings. This is why our Father must deal with us by His Word and His Spirit.
It's imperative that God's family learns to recognize His Voice and His leading. During His earthly ministry, Jesus tells us that He "Only did and said what He heard the Father say and do." Jesus said that, "The Words (Truths) I speak are not Mine, but the Fathers." Over the years, we've been trained to believe we can only trust the testimony and experience of others, instead of trusting in God's Word. When we trust more in others, we can't hear God's Voice any longer, but are lead mostly by the flesh. Adam never failed in his walk with God, until he yielded to the voice of his flesh.
Adam walked in perfect peace and provision for eons, by his spirit and union with his Father. Adam only failed when the master of deception was allowed to speak and Adam listened. Adam has complete authority, so he had no business even allowing satan into the Garden of Eden. When he yielded to his senses, Adam lost everything, including God's Own family, until Jesus. We've allowed the enemy to do the same thing, in our lives. Satan said to Adam and Eve, "Yea! did God say." This very question has placed today's Church in the same state.
The time is at hand when the Presence of the Lord is going to be revealed in power and Glory. It's going to be essential in these Last Days, for us to know and be led by God's Word and His Spirit. Many will be touched by His Spirit, but not all will be able to be used by His Spirit, only "those who have ears to hear." The world will say, "These things aren't so" and even many of God's Own children will doubt and turn away from this call, but those who know His Voice will do mighty things in His Name and Spirit.
Jesus spent three and one half years training men to follow His teaching. He sent them forth with the Same Spirit, to teach others and continue the work He started. In the first century after Jesus left, the Church walked in the power of His teaching. These things only stopped after the world and the senses took over the Gospel and shut down the Super-natural flow of the Holy Spirit. The time is at hand when the restoration of the Holy Spirit will bring the Church into the Glory of the Father and reveal Him to the whole world.
We must talk to and listen to the Spirit of the Lord, in these times. We can't get caught up in the world's idea of Who He is, but must know Him for ourselves. The enemy is content with entertainment, but God is only content when His family is restored with His Spirit. We're not servants to man's idea, but are those who hear His Voice to cast out devils, speak with new tongues, lay hands on the sick and preach and display the Gospel in Power.
These two short Verses from God's Word, tell us that God created, gave His Blessing and authority over this planet, to just one man and his wife. God's Intent for mankind, was that they'd multiply and be fruitful and fill the earth. All of this was when there was just one man and his wife. God's Intention was for family and that He would provide everything man would ever need. 1Peter 3:18 (Amplified) tells us the full reason Jesus came to earth, saying, "For Christ the Messiah Himself, died for since once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous, the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty, that he might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the Spirit."
The most important thing in the Father's heart, was and is the return of His family to Himself. We've somehow missed how much the Father wishes to spend time with us in fellowship and relationship. We've gone through many rituals, rites and traditions, in order to approach the Father, but He mostly desires our love and fellowship with Him. I don't mean that we shouldn't be aware that He is the Almighty God, but that we shouldn't always stand on formality, instead of family.
My children never forget that I'm their father, but they also never forget that I'm their friend and companion. Above all, my children are never uneasy or afraid in my presence, no matter what goes on. They always have the liberty to come to me for any reason. If they need wisdom or understanding, then they can always feel welcome with me and expect to have what they expect from me. My house is always open and my time is always theirs, whenever they need me. God's House and His time are always open too. God gets the most pleasure from our simply spending time with Him.
I wonder how many of God's children feel truly comfortable and at ease in His Presence. How many of us simply want to spend time with Him, in conversation and fellowship? When we seek Him, everything He has is ours, without our having to earn it. It was for this purpose that God created it in the beginning. He wanted to see us learn, grow, and enjoy what He had provided for us. Nothing is being held back from us by Him, but our lack of knowing.
The Name of Jesus doesn't just give us authority over satan and disease, but it's our place of entrance and fellowship with the Father. By His Name, we have unreserved and unrestricted entry into the very Presence of the Almighty God. Our Heavenly Father has watched His children be deceived, killed, run over and lied to, for about as long as He intends to put up with. The time of His Presence and His Glory upon the earth on behalf of His family, is about here.
Many of God's children are afraid in His Presence and His Spirit. I've been in services where people become frightened and leave the meeting, when the Glory of God's Presence was made manifest. He is a Super-natural God and He has begotten a Super-natural people, who should recognize Him for Who He is. The miraculous things God did in the early Church days, are nearly completely lost to the modern day Church. Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) tells us that, "Jesus Christ, the Same yesterday, today, and forever." If God ever did these things, then He still does. God hasn't changed, but we have. We've allowed ourselves to believe that God is the problem, instead of THE ANSWER.
We're not Old Testament servants, but are New Testament family. God doesn't deal with us like He did in the Old covenant, but as He children. He doesn't deal with our flesh, but with our spirit. When we only move by our senses, instead of our spirit, we're subject to the enemy's deception and devices. Satan is a master of dealing with mankind's emotions and feelings. This is why our Father must deal with us by His Word and His Spirit.
It's imperative that God's family learns to recognize His Voice and His leading. During His earthly ministry, Jesus tells us that He "Only did and said what He heard the Father say and do." Jesus said that, "The Words (Truths) I speak are not Mine, but the Fathers." Over the years, we've been trained to believe we can only trust the testimony and experience of others, instead of trusting in God's Word. When we trust more in others, we can't hear God's Voice any longer, but are lead mostly by the flesh. Adam never failed in his walk with God, until he yielded to the voice of his flesh.
Adam walked in perfect peace and provision for eons, by his spirit and union with his Father. Adam only failed when the master of deception was allowed to speak and Adam listened. Adam has complete authority, so he had no business even allowing satan into the Garden of Eden. When he yielded to his senses, Adam lost everything, including God's Own family, until Jesus. We've allowed the enemy to do the same thing, in our lives. Satan said to Adam and Eve, "Yea! did God say." This very question has placed today's Church in the same state.
The time is at hand when the Presence of the Lord is going to be revealed in power and Glory. It's going to be essential in these Last Days, for us to know and be led by God's Word and His Spirit. Many will be touched by His Spirit, but not all will be able to be used by His Spirit, only "those who have ears to hear." The world will say, "These things aren't so" and even many of God's Own children will doubt and turn away from this call, but those who know His Voice will do mighty things in His Name and Spirit.
Jesus spent three and one half years training men to follow His teaching. He sent them forth with the Same Spirit, to teach others and continue the work He started. In the first century after Jesus left, the Church walked in the power of His teaching. These things only stopped after the world and the senses took over the Gospel and shut down the Super-natural flow of the Holy Spirit. The time is at hand when the restoration of the Holy Spirit will bring the Church into the Glory of the Father and reveal Him to the whole world.
We must talk to and listen to the Spirit of the Lord, in these times. We can't get caught up in the world's idea of Who He is, but must know Him for ourselves. The enemy is content with entertainment, but God is only content when His family is restored with His Spirit. We're not servants to man's idea, but are those who hear His Voice to cast out devils, speak with new tongues, lay hands on the sick and preach and display the Gospel in Power.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Lesson 84 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Genesis 1:26,28 (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 (tame) beasts, and over all the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth." Verse 28 goes on, "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."
Notice that Adam had nothing to do, in order tot be Blessed and be in God's Presence. All of these Blessings and authority were given by God, without man's doing nothing to deserve them. This was God's Plan for His family, from the very beginning. The only thing God wanted from His man, was fellowship and to have someone to show His Love to. We though, continue trying to deserve God's Blessing and Love, by our own works. We've misunderstood God's Purpose and Intent, when He made man. We no longer know Him, but only know about Him from what others say or have taught us.
This Blessing has already been given to those who are God's family, through Jesus. We don't have to do anything to get it, but only receive what Jesus has already done for us, when He restored us to God. We keep trying to do things, in order to have God Bless us and heal or touch us, when we have everything the Father gave to His family, when He brought us into existence. We call God, "Father," but act like we're still old covenant people who are still separated from Him by sin. Jesus was the Sacrifice for our sins and there is no more Sacrifice for sin needed. Once you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the only sacrifice left is the sacrifice of praise and present your whole self in worship for what He's already done.
We seem to miss why God sent Jesus to us. The reason Jesus came was to bring God's family back to Him, without any barrier between us. We can now come boldly to His Throne of Grace at any time. In Jesus, we have access into the very Presence and face of our Father, at any time. My children don't do things for me on Father's Day, because they think I'll give them a gift. They do special things on Father's Day, to show their love and appreciation for my love and provision, which are already theirs. My children aren't afraid of me, but in love with me. They don't bring gifts to appease me, but to express how they feel about me. The greatest gift my children give me, is when they spend family time with me in fellowship.
How much time do you spend just talking with and in fellowship with your Heavenly Father? It's important to read His Word, but I'm talking about just spending time with Him. I don't just seek Him, when I need or want something from Him. I do so, in order to know Him and to be with Him. Everything He has is already mine.
We read "The Parable of the Prodigal Son," in Luke 15:21,22-24,31 (Amplified). The prodigal son came to his father, not to receive anything except his father's acceptance. He wasn't seeking anything, but to be a simple servant in his father's house. Verses 22-24 tell us that the father brought out everything he had and restored all his son's inheritance back to him. The other son, who had stayed and was still working for his father, became upset because his brother had all these things and he had none. The father said to the other son in Verse 31, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours."
The prodigal son came only to seek his father's love and his acceptance, while the other was already with the father. This son only saw himself as being a servant in his father's eyes, without knowing that all was his already. Both sons belonged to the same father, but one received by Grace, what the other didn't receive by works. That son didn't really know his father's heart and the love his father had for him. It seems like we're always in one of these camps, when it comes to our Father. One camp teaches us from religious minds, laying out rules we must follow in order to qualify for the Father's Blessings and Love. The other camp teaches God's Word about wealth, without relationship, like the other son did in the Parable. Everything was already his, but he didn't know it. The prodigal son only wanted to come and he didn't care if he would be only a servant there. Both were wrong. Everything the Father had was already theirs, as family.
God's Original Intent for His family was in the peace that both the First and Last Adam walked with Him in. I don't believe the First Adam ever thought about his own provision, but that he trusted his Father and His way of providing. The Last Adam Jesus, also walked in such a relationship with the Father, so He never thought of lack for anything. Jesus was teaching His followers about provision in Matthew 6:26-33 (Amplified). He said in Verse 26, "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?"
Like today, these listeners had families, bills to pay, food to buy, shelter and clothing to provide. Jesus didn't tell them that they "didn't need" these things or that it was wrong to seek these things. He told them what to seek, in order to have them in their lives. Jesus told them in Verse 33, "But seek, aim at and strive after First of all His Kingdom and His Righteousness (His way of doing and being right) AND THEN all of these things taken together will be given you besides."
Jesus didn't say it was wrong to have these things, but that we're to seek God and not just His Provision. After being saved, we go along for while, until something goes wrong. The doctor tells us we have a disease or ailment and we seek God for our healing, but we don't know if it's His will or if God still heals today. Jesus instructed us to "Seek first, God's way of doing and being right and all the things we have need of on this earth, are also provided."
Many Christians don't know Him for ourselves, well enough to know whether or not God still does heal or will heal or if He cares if we get healed. Many don't know Him well enough and wonder if God's putting this on them, in order to teach them something. If you don't know God for yourself, especially in this tech age, then it will only add confusion about what God's will is for you. You must establish yourself in Him, so you're not swayed by every wind of doctrine that's available.
The Holy Spirit speaks to us through John in 1John 2:27 (Amplified), saying, "But as for you, the Anointing, the Sacred appointment, the unction which you have received from Him, abides permanently in you, So then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His Anointing teaches you concerning everything and is True and is no falsehood, so you must abide in, live in, never depart from Him, being rooted in Him, knit to Him, just as His Anointing has taught you to do."
The above phrase, "That you have no need that anyone should instruct you," doesn't mean you're so super smart you know it all. It means that when you do hear things that aren't of the Holy Spirit, you'll know enough to guard your heart and not allow them to undermine your faith and understanding with the Father. There are many winds of doctrine being preached and these have undermined the faith of many, but once you establish your heart in God's Word then you'll be able to stand on the Rock and not sink in the sand. Jesus said, "My sheep know My Voice." This comes by spending time with Him in fellowship and not following the voice of a stranger.
Notice that Adam had nothing to do, in order tot be Blessed and be in God's Presence. All of these Blessings and authority were given by God, without man's doing nothing to deserve them. This was God's Plan for His family, from the very beginning. The only thing God wanted from His man, was fellowship and to have someone to show His Love to. We though, continue trying to deserve God's Blessing and Love, by our own works. We've misunderstood God's Purpose and Intent, when He made man. We no longer know Him, but only know about Him from what others say or have taught us.
This Blessing has already been given to those who are God's family, through Jesus. We don't have to do anything to get it, but only receive what Jesus has already done for us, when He restored us to God. We keep trying to do things, in order to have God Bless us and heal or touch us, when we have everything the Father gave to His family, when He brought us into existence. We call God, "Father," but act like we're still old covenant people who are still separated from Him by sin. Jesus was the Sacrifice for our sins and there is no more Sacrifice for sin needed. Once you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the only sacrifice left is the sacrifice of praise and present your whole self in worship for what He's already done.
We seem to miss why God sent Jesus to us. The reason Jesus came was to bring God's family back to Him, without any barrier between us. We can now come boldly to His Throne of Grace at any time. In Jesus, we have access into the very Presence and face of our Father, at any time. My children don't do things for me on Father's Day, because they think I'll give them a gift. They do special things on Father's Day, to show their love and appreciation for my love and provision, which are already theirs. My children aren't afraid of me, but in love with me. They don't bring gifts to appease me, but to express how they feel about me. The greatest gift my children give me, is when they spend family time with me in fellowship.
How much time do you spend just talking with and in fellowship with your Heavenly Father? It's important to read His Word, but I'm talking about just spending time with Him. I don't just seek Him, when I need or want something from Him. I do so, in order to know Him and to be with Him. Everything He has is already mine.
We read "The Parable of the Prodigal Son," in Luke 15:21,22-24,31 (Amplified). The prodigal son came to his father, not to receive anything except his father's acceptance. He wasn't seeking anything, but to be a simple servant in his father's house. Verses 22-24 tell us that the father brought out everything he had and restored all his son's inheritance back to him. The other son, who had stayed and was still working for his father, became upset because his brother had all these things and he had none. The father said to the other son in Verse 31, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours."
The prodigal son came only to seek his father's love and his acceptance, while the other was already with the father. This son only saw himself as being a servant in his father's eyes, without knowing that all was his already. Both sons belonged to the same father, but one received by Grace, what the other didn't receive by works. That son didn't really know his father's heart and the love his father had for him. It seems like we're always in one of these camps, when it comes to our Father. One camp teaches us from religious minds, laying out rules we must follow in order to qualify for the Father's Blessings and Love. The other camp teaches God's Word about wealth, without relationship, like the other son did in the Parable. Everything was already his, but he didn't know it. The prodigal son only wanted to come and he didn't care if he would be only a servant there. Both were wrong. Everything the Father had was already theirs, as family.
God's Original Intent for His family was in the peace that both the First and Last Adam walked with Him in. I don't believe the First Adam ever thought about his own provision, but that he trusted his Father and His way of providing. The Last Adam Jesus, also walked in such a relationship with the Father, so He never thought of lack for anything. Jesus was teaching His followers about provision in Matthew 6:26-33 (Amplified). He said in Verse 26, "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?"
Like today, these listeners had families, bills to pay, food to buy, shelter and clothing to provide. Jesus didn't tell them that they "didn't need" these things or that it was wrong to seek these things. He told them what to seek, in order to have them in their lives. Jesus told them in Verse 33, "But seek, aim at and strive after First of all His Kingdom and His Righteousness (His way of doing and being right) AND THEN all of these things taken together will be given you besides."
Jesus didn't say it was wrong to have these things, but that we're to seek God and not just His Provision. After being saved, we go along for while, until something goes wrong. The doctor tells us we have a disease or ailment and we seek God for our healing, but we don't know if it's His will or if God still heals today. Jesus instructed us to "Seek first, God's way of doing and being right and all the things we have need of on this earth, are also provided."
Many Christians don't know Him for ourselves, well enough to know whether or not God still does heal or will heal or if He cares if we get healed. Many don't know Him well enough and wonder if God's putting this on them, in order to teach them something. If you don't know God for yourself, especially in this tech age, then it will only add confusion about what God's will is for you. You must establish yourself in Him, so you're not swayed by every wind of doctrine that's available.
The Holy Spirit speaks to us through John in 1John 2:27 (Amplified), saying, "But as for you, the Anointing, the Sacred appointment, the unction which you have received from Him, abides permanently in you, So then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His Anointing teaches you concerning everything and is True and is no falsehood, so you must abide in, live in, never depart from Him, being rooted in Him, knit to Him, just as His Anointing has taught you to do."
The above phrase, "That you have no need that anyone should instruct you," doesn't mean you're so super smart you know it all. It means that when you do hear things that aren't of the Holy Spirit, you'll know enough to guard your heart and not allow them to undermine your faith and understanding with the Father. There are many winds of doctrine being preached and these have undermined the faith of many, but once you establish your heart in God's Word then you'll be able to stand on the Rock and not sink in the sand. Jesus said, "My sheep know My Voice." This comes by spending time with Him in fellowship and not following the voice of a stranger.
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Lesson 83 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Genesis 1:26 (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."
God has never varied from this commitment and His Original Intention for His children. Mankind was never meant to be under bondage to anyone or anything. The relationship we have with our Heavenly Father was not one of bondage, but of family. It was meant to be a Love relationship between God and His children, as family. The relationship I have with my wife, children, siblings, grandchildren and great-grandchildren isn't one of bondage, but of love. They don't stay with me out of fear, but they stay with me out of their love for me and my love for them.
My part in this family is to enjoy, provide and care for them, to the very best of my ability, so they'll grow into fine adults and bring forth seed to replenish the generations. They will learn how to love their family, by watching and learning from their own experience in life. My sons learned how to love their wives, by watching how I treated and loved their mother.
The way we do this in God's family, is by watching our Heavenly Father and His Example for His family. If I don't have the correct picture of Him and His family, then I don't have the right picture for myself and my family. When I promise my children something, I'm assured they believe me, because I don't lie to them or promise things I can't deliver. Sadly, we look at the Promises our Heavenly Father has made and then wonder if He really means what He says.
God's Word tells us that, "All of God's Promises are Yes and Amen of us in Christ Jesus." He is able to provide everything He Promises in His Word, because HE IS THE FATHER. We draw our ideas of Him, from the experiences we had with our earthly fathers, and these aren't always good images. We haven't all had good earthly fathers and the image we have of our Heavenly Father is clouded by our experiences. The relationship we have with our spouses are sometimes clouded by our not understanding the True relationship between Christ and His Bride, the Church. Ephesians 5:32 (Amplified) says, "This Mystery is very great, but I speak concerning the relation of Christ and the Church."
My wife could have chosen another man to be her husband, but she chose me. She doesn't stay with me out of fear, but out of love. I don't need to threaten her and force her to stay. She stays because she loves me and for no other reason. Even when I can't provide the very best and we've endured hard times, I can trust in her to remain faithful to me and remain with me, out of love.
Even as Christians, my wife and I struggle sometimes and have some hard times, but during these times, we can depend on one another, lean on one another and remain in love with one another. She doesn't love me for my money or for all I can provide, but she just loves me. Many are upset with God for various reasons and think He's holding out on them or isn't doing His part. We don't love God for only His Provision, but for Who He is. This is unconditional love and will always remain.
If God only loved us when we did everything right, then His Love wouldn't remain unconditional. There's a way to walk with God, according to the principles of the family, which will allow Him to provide all He's Promised us in Jesus. Most of us don't take the time to learn or understand the family into which we were born-again. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at and strive after, first of all His Kingdom and His Righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all of these things taken together will be given you besides."
What is God's way of doing and being right? We can't become in right standing or become righteous before Him, by our works or traditions. We do so, by accepting the Righteousness He provided for us in Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:5 (Amplified), "I Am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me." Romans 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For in the Gospels, a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith, disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live, and shall live by faith."
We are righteous by faith in His Righteousness and not of our own doing. This is "His way of doing and being right or righteous. This is the Kingdom's way of being in right standing with the Father. The above scripture tells us that, "We accept His Gift of Righteousness and realize we're righteous in His eyes and Kingdom by faith." The rest of His Promises are easy to accept, when we put our faith in this Truth. Most of us see our own faults and think of our unrighteousness, instead of considering His Righteousness, which He ascribes, by faith in Jesus.
Many believers don't know what the cleansing of our sins, really means. Even though we're born-again, the full meaning of this eludes us. God didn't just forgive our sin, but He eradicated it as though it never existed. He declared us Righteous, by being in Jesus and as His very Own family. He sees us as being clean.
We're still working out and walking out this righteousness, while we're in this body, but God only counts the steps we take and not how many times we might fall down, while we're learning to walk. Most children spend more time on their Pampers, than on their feet, while learning how to walk. We never doubted that they'd eventually learn to walk. Like children, we make mistakes that we learn to overcome, as we grow. Don't you think our Heavenly Father knows we'll learn to overcome these things?
Don't just look at your failings and think you'll never arrive, on this side of Heaven. You're already in God's family and you'll learn how to do "His way of doing and being right or righteous." the Kingdom has spiritual Laws that govern it and God cannot change the Laws, but He will teach us how to walk in them. These aren't rituals, like in the old covenant. They're Laws that hold the universe in place. If God changed these Laws, then all of creation would be displaced, so we must learn to observe His way of doing and being right.
We must spend time in His Presence and listen to the Voice of the Holy Spirit. Just prior to His Ascension, Jesus told His followers about the Holy Spirit, in John 16:13 (Amplified), "But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth Giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole full Truth), For He will not speak His Own Message (on His Own authority), but He will tell whatever He hears from the Father (He will give the Message that has been given to Him); and He will announce it and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future)."
Jesus wasn't speaking just about "the End," when He spoke about the "things that will happen in the future," but about the things that may happen in our lives tomorrow. Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will show us how to deal with these things. Today, the world is wrapped up in the Coronavirus. We must listen to the Voice of the Holy Spirit and He will direct us how to deal with even this, by His way of doing and being right. Don't step out in presumption or fear, but step out in faith in God's Righteousness and in His way of doing and being right. He will direct you.
God has never varied from this commitment and His Original Intention for His children. Mankind was never meant to be under bondage to anyone or anything. The relationship we have with our Heavenly Father was not one of bondage, but of family. It was meant to be a Love relationship between God and His children, as family. The relationship I have with my wife, children, siblings, grandchildren and great-grandchildren isn't one of bondage, but of love. They don't stay with me out of fear, but they stay with me out of their love for me and my love for them.
My part in this family is to enjoy, provide and care for them, to the very best of my ability, so they'll grow into fine adults and bring forth seed to replenish the generations. They will learn how to love their family, by watching and learning from their own experience in life. My sons learned how to love their wives, by watching how I treated and loved their mother.
The way we do this in God's family, is by watching our Heavenly Father and His Example for His family. If I don't have the correct picture of Him and His family, then I don't have the right picture for myself and my family. When I promise my children something, I'm assured they believe me, because I don't lie to them or promise things I can't deliver. Sadly, we look at the Promises our Heavenly Father has made and then wonder if He really means what He says.
God's Word tells us that, "All of God's Promises are Yes and Amen of us in Christ Jesus." He is able to provide everything He Promises in His Word, because HE IS THE FATHER. We draw our ideas of Him, from the experiences we had with our earthly fathers, and these aren't always good images. We haven't all had good earthly fathers and the image we have of our Heavenly Father is clouded by our experiences. The relationship we have with our spouses are sometimes clouded by our not understanding the True relationship between Christ and His Bride, the Church. Ephesians 5:32 (Amplified) says, "This Mystery is very great, but I speak concerning the relation of Christ and the Church."
My wife could have chosen another man to be her husband, but she chose me. She doesn't stay with me out of fear, but out of love. I don't need to threaten her and force her to stay. She stays because she loves me and for no other reason. Even when I can't provide the very best and we've endured hard times, I can trust in her to remain faithful to me and remain with me, out of love.
Even as Christians, my wife and I struggle sometimes and have some hard times, but during these times, we can depend on one another, lean on one another and remain in love with one another. She doesn't love me for my money or for all I can provide, but she just loves me. Many are upset with God for various reasons and think He's holding out on them or isn't doing His part. We don't love God for only His Provision, but for Who He is. This is unconditional love and will always remain.
If God only loved us when we did everything right, then His Love wouldn't remain unconditional. There's a way to walk with God, according to the principles of the family, which will allow Him to provide all He's Promised us in Jesus. Most of us don't take the time to learn or understand the family into which we were born-again. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at and strive after, first of all His Kingdom and His Righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all of these things taken together will be given you besides."
What is God's way of doing and being right? We can't become in right standing or become righteous before Him, by our works or traditions. We do so, by accepting the Righteousness He provided for us in Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:5 (Amplified), "I Am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me." Romans 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For in the Gospels, a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith, disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live, and shall live by faith."
We are righteous by faith in His Righteousness and not of our own doing. This is "His way of doing and being right or righteous. This is the Kingdom's way of being in right standing with the Father. The above scripture tells us that, "We accept His Gift of Righteousness and realize we're righteous in His eyes and Kingdom by faith." The rest of His Promises are easy to accept, when we put our faith in this Truth. Most of us see our own faults and think of our unrighteousness, instead of considering His Righteousness, which He ascribes, by faith in Jesus.
Many believers don't know what the cleansing of our sins, really means. Even though we're born-again, the full meaning of this eludes us. God didn't just forgive our sin, but He eradicated it as though it never existed. He declared us Righteous, by being in Jesus and as His very Own family. He sees us as being clean.
We're still working out and walking out this righteousness, while we're in this body, but God only counts the steps we take and not how many times we might fall down, while we're learning to walk. Most children spend more time on their Pampers, than on their feet, while learning how to walk. We never doubted that they'd eventually learn to walk. Like children, we make mistakes that we learn to overcome, as we grow. Don't you think our Heavenly Father knows we'll learn to overcome these things?
Don't just look at your failings and think you'll never arrive, on this side of Heaven. You're already in God's family and you'll learn how to do "His way of doing and being right or righteous." the Kingdom has spiritual Laws that govern it and God cannot change the Laws, but He will teach us how to walk in them. These aren't rituals, like in the old covenant. They're Laws that hold the universe in place. If God changed these Laws, then all of creation would be displaced, so we must learn to observe His way of doing and being right.
We must spend time in His Presence and listen to the Voice of the Holy Spirit. Just prior to His Ascension, Jesus told His followers about the Holy Spirit, in John 16:13 (Amplified), "But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth Giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole full Truth), For He will not speak His Own Message (on His Own authority), but He will tell whatever He hears from the Father (He will give the Message that has been given to Him); and He will announce it and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future)."
Jesus wasn't speaking just about "the End," when He spoke about the "things that will happen in the future," but about the things that may happen in our lives tomorrow. Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will show us how to deal with these things. Today, the world is wrapped up in the Coronavirus. We must listen to the Voice of the Holy Spirit and He will direct us how to deal with even this, by His way of doing and being right. Don't step out in presumption or fear, but step out in faith in God's Righteousness and in His way of doing and being right. He will direct you.
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Lesson 82 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
We read in Genesis 1:26 (Amplified), "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."
The reason God created man, was for fellowship. Love must have a way to give, in order to fulfill it's own demands. Without having someone or something to express itself, Love is unfulfilled in itself. 1John 4:16 (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 that dwells and continues in Love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him."
The great heart of God sent Jesus into this earth to die in our place, in order to bring us back to Him. 1Peter 3:18 (Amplified) says, "For Christ, the Messiah Himself, died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous, the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty, that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the Spirit." Jesus gave Himself as an act of Love, in order to bring us back to God's Love and fellowship with Him.
All of the Blessing and authority that God gave mankind in the beginning, has been restored back to God's family, through Jesus. The greatest thing that has been restored, is our relationship with the Father. We've allowed our relationship with the Father to become religion, with a list of do's and don'ts we must follow, in order to be in good standing with "a God," like the world. It's not a religion, but a relationship we have with a Father Who loves us and desires that we be family with Him again.
Worship isn't just singing, bowing and dancing before Him, but it's fellowshiping with Him in our daily lives. God had worship in Heaven before man was created. The angels and all of the Heavenly beings, were always before Him in worship, but they weren't in His Image and Likeness. God didn't have anyone on His level of life, who could fellowship and walk with Him as family. The Father desires a family who He could to teach, who could walk with Him, and who could spend time in His Presence. We worship Him as God, but we also fellowship with Him as Father. There's a difference in this relationship. Worship is a way of life for the family of God.
We're not going to spend eternity, sitting in a field of grass and singing to God, but we'll be learning, walking, fellowshiping and being His children. I don't believe that Adam spent all of his time, on his face before God. I believe the Father took Adam into the earth, so he could name all the animals. God taught him about the trees and seeds and how to live in this natural earth, God had created for him. God intended to watch His family grow before Him and enjoy them. God would see to it that His family would never have a need or a want, that He as a Loving Father, wouldn't meet.
God sees His family as being the greatest thing in this vast universe He created. What good would this planet be, without family? Do the animals understand and know why God made all things? Do they enjoy all of the flowers and beauty of this creation, as God made it? Only mankind can truly appreciate the glory of the flowers, the difference between all the species of life, and the beauty of God's Plan. There are still things of beauty in the depths of the seas and in the universe, that would please and demonstrate the depths of God's creation and Glory to mankind.
I don't believe the animals understand all of the glory of what God did on this planet, but man was to be excited and Blessed by the splendor of the home God made for us. Man had access to God's Own Throne Room and the Glory of His Presence and Love, at all times, before Adam's fall. I remember watching TV, when President JFK had gathered some of the most important men in the world, together in the Oval Office. Everyone was focused on what he would say, when his son John-John crawled out from under the President's desk. He was the President's son and wasn't to be denied or cast out of the room, even during the most important thing the President had to do.
Do you know that there's nothing in this great universe, as important to the Father, than you? Do you understand that we've been bought and restored back into His constant fellowship? The most important thing in God's Life, is spending time with His children. He is our Father. He is God, but this Awesome God is also our Father. Nothing is big enough or important enough to keep Him from us or keep us from Him, even if it was sin and death. He Himself removed the barrier of sin and death from between us and restored us back, as though it had never existed. This is the Love that we're to know, like 1John 4:16 says.
We've sought God in our times of need and we've called on Him when things go wrong. He, in His Love, always answers us, but what He really desires is that we simply live with Him Presence and lavish us with His Love. He doesn't want us to come only when we need help, but to talk and spend time with Him, as our Father. I don't want my kids to come home for Thanksgiving dinner and lavish me with praise, but to come to the table and share in God's Blessing with me, as family. I know my kids love me and they tell me that all the time. It's much more important to me, if I can enjoy their love for me by their spending time in fellowship with me. That's more a part of that love, as anything I desire for them.
God doesn't have an ego that needs our telling Him "How great He is" and we must do this, or He'll get mad at us. Like me, God knows His children love Him, when they spend time with Him. This might sound strange to your ears, but not to your spirit. Do I worship God? Yes, a thousand times Yes, but more than that, I spend time getting to know Him and spending time in His Presence. This is why Jesus came; to bring us back to the Father. Not just to take us to Heaven, but to open the door both ways in our lives. Jesus not only opened the door, but He became the Door, according to John 10:9 (Amplified), where Jesus says, "I Am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved, will live; He will come in and he will go out freely, and will find pasture."
This Door doesn't only allow us into the Father's Presence, but allows the Father to once again, come into our presence. This was His Intention from the beginning. Until Jesus, God was shut off from living in and through, His Own family. He could come upon men for a time, but He couldn't live in them, like before Adam's transgression.
We've been taught many things about our Father, some were good, while other things weren't good. Even if you've learned good things about Him, don't exchange "what you know" for Who you know. If you don't know Him, then it's only religion and not relationship. We already have been given everything that Heaven has, when we received Jesus. We will not understand what we have, until we understand the One Who gave it and the reason He did it.
We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus. This is God's Plan to restore us back to Himself. We have lost nothing, but gained everything. God created mankind in order to have a family and that family has been reinstated and Love is the result. Don't seek what the Father can do for you, but seek the Father and everything He has already done for you. Spend time just talking to Him and learning at His feet. He will show you things you'll never learn without fellowship with Him.
Am I saying, "Don't worship Him?" No! John 4:23-24 (Amplified) says, "A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers. God is a Spirit (a Spirit Being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (reality)."
The reason God created man, was for fellowship. Love must have a way to give, in order to fulfill it's own demands. Without having someone or something to express itself, Love is unfulfilled in itself. 1John 4:16 (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 that dwells and continues in Love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him."
The great heart of God sent Jesus into this earth to die in our place, in order to bring us back to Him. 1Peter 3:18 (Amplified) says, "For Christ, the Messiah Himself, died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous, the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty, that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the Spirit." Jesus gave Himself as an act of Love, in order to bring us back to God's Love and fellowship with Him.
All of the Blessing and authority that God gave mankind in the beginning, has been restored back to God's family, through Jesus. The greatest thing that has been restored, is our relationship with the Father. We've allowed our relationship with the Father to become religion, with a list of do's and don'ts we must follow, in order to be in good standing with "a God," like the world. It's not a religion, but a relationship we have with a Father Who loves us and desires that we be family with Him again.
Worship isn't just singing, bowing and dancing before Him, but it's fellowshiping with Him in our daily lives. God had worship in Heaven before man was created. The angels and all of the Heavenly beings, were always before Him in worship, but they weren't in His Image and Likeness. God didn't have anyone on His level of life, who could fellowship and walk with Him as family. The Father desires a family who He could to teach, who could walk with Him, and who could spend time in His Presence. We worship Him as God, but we also fellowship with Him as Father. There's a difference in this relationship. Worship is a way of life for the family of God.
We're not going to spend eternity, sitting in a field of grass and singing to God, but we'll be learning, walking, fellowshiping and being His children. I don't believe that Adam spent all of his time, on his face before God. I believe the Father took Adam into the earth, so he could name all the animals. God taught him about the trees and seeds and how to live in this natural earth, God had created for him. God intended to watch His family grow before Him and enjoy them. God would see to it that His family would never have a need or a want, that He as a Loving Father, wouldn't meet.
God sees His family as being the greatest thing in this vast universe He created. What good would this planet be, without family? Do the animals understand and know why God made all things? Do they enjoy all of the flowers and beauty of this creation, as God made it? Only mankind can truly appreciate the glory of the flowers, the difference between all the species of life, and the beauty of God's Plan. There are still things of beauty in the depths of the seas and in the universe, that would please and demonstrate the depths of God's creation and Glory to mankind.
I don't believe the animals understand all of the glory of what God did on this planet, but man was to be excited and Blessed by the splendor of the home God made for us. Man had access to God's Own Throne Room and the Glory of His Presence and Love, at all times, before Adam's fall. I remember watching TV, when President JFK had gathered some of the most important men in the world, together in the Oval Office. Everyone was focused on what he would say, when his son John-John crawled out from under the President's desk. He was the President's son and wasn't to be denied or cast out of the room, even during the most important thing the President had to do.
Do you know that there's nothing in this great universe, as important to the Father, than you? Do you understand that we've been bought and restored back into His constant fellowship? The most important thing in God's Life, is spending time with His children. He is our Father. He is God, but this Awesome God is also our Father. Nothing is big enough or important enough to keep Him from us or keep us from Him, even if it was sin and death. He Himself removed the barrier of sin and death from between us and restored us back, as though it had never existed. This is the Love that we're to know, like 1John 4:16 says.
We've sought God in our times of need and we've called on Him when things go wrong. He, in His Love, always answers us, but what He really desires is that we simply live with Him Presence and lavish us with His Love. He doesn't want us to come only when we need help, but to talk and spend time with Him, as our Father. I don't want my kids to come home for Thanksgiving dinner and lavish me with praise, but to come to the table and share in God's Blessing with me, as family. I know my kids love me and they tell me that all the time. It's much more important to me, if I can enjoy their love for me by their spending time in fellowship with me. That's more a part of that love, as anything I desire for them.
God doesn't have an ego that needs our telling Him "How great He is" and we must do this, or He'll get mad at us. Like me, God knows His children love Him, when they spend time with Him. This might sound strange to your ears, but not to your spirit. Do I worship God? Yes, a thousand times Yes, but more than that, I spend time getting to know Him and spending time in His Presence. This is why Jesus came; to bring us back to the Father. Not just to take us to Heaven, but to open the door both ways in our lives. Jesus not only opened the door, but He became the Door, according to John 10:9 (Amplified), where Jesus says, "I Am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved, will live; He will come in and he will go out freely, and will find pasture."
This Door doesn't only allow us into the Father's Presence, but allows the Father to once again, come into our presence. This was His Intention from the beginning. Until Jesus, God was shut off from living in and through, His Own family. He could come upon men for a time, but He couldn't live in them, like before Adam's transgression.
We've been taught many things about our Father, some were good, while other things weren't good. Even if you've learned good things about Him, don't exchange "what you know" for Who you know. If you don't know Him, then it's only religion and not relationship. We already have been given everything that Heaven has, when we received Jesus. We will not understand what we have, until we understand the One Who gave it and the reason He did it.
We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus. This is God's Plan to restore us back to Himself. We have lost nothing, but gained everything. God created mankind in order to have a family and that family has been reinstated and Love is the result. Don't seek what the Father can do for you, but seek the Father and everything He has already done for you. Spend time just talking to Him and learning at His feet. He will show you things you'll never learn without fellowship with Him.
Am I saying, "Don't worship Him?" No! John 4:23-24 (Amplified) says, "A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers. God is a Spirit (a Spirit Being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (reality)."
Monday, March 16, 2020
Lesson 81 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Genesis 1:16 (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 birds of the air, the fish of the sea, the (tame) beasts, and over all the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth."
Whether you know it or not, we've been created new creations through Jesus and have been restored to God's Original Intent. We're now living in a fallen world and a place that's still under the Curse that befell this planet at Adam's transgression, but God has elevated those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, above this fallen planet. Many today, read the Truth of what God has done for us in Jesus and find it hard to believe it.
Many believe these are for when they die and go to Heaven, even though the things Jesus has done for us, is for while we're still here on earth. We won't need healing, Blessing or redemption, after we're home with the Father, because there's no Curse there. Their not accepting this Truth, doesn't mean it's not True for us today. What good would healing be, in a Kingdom where there's no sickness?
The world has been taught by the fallen nature of man for so long and has influenced the Church to think in the same manner. This doesn't mean that the Church isn't God's children or don't love the Lord, but that deception has permeated the Church too. Those who dare believe God's Word is for today, are still looked on by some, as being "extreme."
Those found in the "Faith Hall of Fame" in Hebrews 11, were probably also viewed as being "extreme" and maybe "crazy." Jesus was looked upon as being "of the devil," in the Gospels. We've lived below the place that God has elevated us to, causing it to become the norm for the Church. God never saw His Church as being "normal," but as being in His Image and Likeness. We're not like the old covenant children who could only stand in the outer court of the Temple. Through Jesus, we've become the very living Ark of the Covenant and have the Glory and Presence of God Himself living in us. We've become the Temple of the Holy Spirit, according to 1Corinthians 6:19 (Amplified), which 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."
It's easy to apply man's wisdom to the above scripture and believe it doesn't apply to us today, but that doesn't change the Truth of it. These might sound strange to today's Church, but they are God's Word to us. Paul wrote about the renewing of our minds in Romans 12:2 and warned the Church to "Not be conformed to this age and the world's way of thinking." Most of us would never consider that we'd begun to think in the way of the world. After all, we stopped sinning, drinking, cussing and doing the external things of the world. We didn't though, renew our minds with God's Word.
The Church has learned to think about God's Word, like the world thinks about it and have decided it's not for us today. We've clung to the Truth of being with the Lord when we die in this body, but have overlooked the Truth that He is living in us now. The Plagues of Egypt didn't befall the children of God. Was this greater than what God has done for His people through Jesus? Is the Blood of Jesus less than the blood of the lambs that shed their blood for the Passover?
These Truths have become more like stories rather than Truth, for us today. Has the God Who created man in the beginning, less than the Father Who has brought forth the new creation? The new creation has more need of God than the first man, Adam, did. Before his fall, Adam lived in a world without the Curse, but we live in a fallen world. Everything that Adam had (and more), has come upon us by the Last Adam Jesus. We don't only have authority over all the earth and everything that creeps upon it, but we have authority over all the enemy who has ruled it by lies and corruption, since the fall. Adam lost this authority, but Jesus has restored it in even a greater way, through His Name and our new creation identity.
The Church has been elevated into a new place as God's family, as Heirs of God and as Joint heirs with Jesus. We've been given a Name above every name to us, in order to walk as a Light to this world and to set things back into order on this planet. Most of the world is unimpressed and could care less that we've stopped drinking, cussing and outwardly sinning. We suffer the same things they suffer, endure the same things they endure and our children go into bondage, just like their children do. They see little difference between the Church and the world.
The world feared the men and women of the early Church, because of the Power and Calling of God that was on them. Satan saw the believers in the Book of Acts as threats to his world and control, but not so much any longer. This change isn't how God's Church was born into this earth. We hear such statements as, "These things were only for the early Church and the Apostles" and "We no longer need these things in the modern age."
God's Original Intent was that His family was to have complete authority over all the earth and everything in it and everything that creeps upon it. God's Intent for His family hasn't changed. God's family was never to be ruled over or kept under, anything or anyone but the Father Himself. We are children of the Almighty God, the Creator of Heaven and earth. We were born of His Spirit, made in His Image and Likeness. We are to be ambassadors of the Kingdom, bringing the Father's will to pass on this planet, which is ruled by an outlaw spirit who's opposed to God's Kingdom. We're to bring God's liberty and Blessing upon those who are in bondage to fear, sin, death, and a spirit that has no Truth in him. This was and still is, God's Plan for His family and His planet.
Whether you know it or not, we've been created new creations through Jesus and have been restored to God's Original Intent. We're now living in a fallen world and a place that's still under the Curse that befell this planet at Adam's transgression, but God has elevated those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, above this fallen planet. Many today, read the Truth of what God has done for us in Jesus and find it hard to believe it.
Many believe these are for when they die and go to Heaven, even though the things Jesus has done for us, is for while we're still here on earth. We won't need healing, Blessing or redemption, after we're home with the Father, because there's no Curse there. Their not accepting this Truth, doesn't mean it's not True for us today. What good would healing be, in a Kingdom where there's no sickness?
The world has been taught by the fallen nature of man for so long and has influenced the Church to think in the same manner. This doesn't mean that the Church isn't God's children or don't love the Lord, but that deception has permeated the Church too. Those who dare believe God's Word is for today, are still looked on by some, as being "extreme."
Those found in the "Faith Hall of Fame" in Hebrews 11, were probably also viewed as being "extreme" and maybe "crazy." Jesus was looked upon as being "of the devil," in the Gospels. We've lived below the place that God has elevated us to, causing it to become the norm for the Church. God never saw His Church as being "normal," but as being in His Image and Likeness. We're not like the old covenant children who could only stand in the outer court of the Temple. Through Jesus, we've become the very living Ark of the Covenant and have the Glory and Presence of God Himself living in us. We've become the Temple of the Holy Spirit, according to 1Corinthians 6:19 (Amplified), which 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."
It's easy to apply man's wisdom to the above scripture and believe it doesn't apply to us today, but that doesn't change the Truth of it. These might sound strange to today's Church, but they are God's Word to us. Paul wrote about the renewing of our minds in Romans 12:2 and warned the Church to "Not be conformed to this age and the world's way of thinking." Most of us would never consider that we'd begun to think in the way of the world. After all, we stopped sinning, drinking, cussing and doing the external things of the world. We didn't though, renew our minds with God's Word.
The Church has learned to think about God's Word, like the world thinks about it and have decided it's not for us today. We've clung to the Truth of being with the Lord when we die in this body, but have overlooked the Truth that He is living in us now. The Plagues of Egypt didn't befall the children of God. Was this greater than what God has done for His people through Jesus? Is the Blood of Jesus less than the blood of the lambs that shed their blood for the Passover?
These Truths have become more like stories rather than Truth, for us today. Has the God Who created man in the beginning, less than the Father Who has brought forth the new creation? The new creation has more need of God than the first man, Adam, did. Before his fall, Adam lived in a world without the Curse, but we live in a fallen world. Everything that Adam had (and more), has come upon us by the Last Adam Jesus. We don't only have authority over all the earth and everything that creeps upon it, but we have authority over all the enemy who has ruled it by lies and corruption, since the fall. Adam lost this authority, but Jesus has restored it in even a greater way, through His Name and our new creation identity.
The Church has been elevated into a new place as God's family, as Heirs of God and as Joint heirs with Jesus. We've been given a Name above every name to us, in order to walk as a Light to this world and to set things back into order on this planet. Most of the world is unimpressed and could care less that we've stopped drinking, cussing and outwardly sinning. We suffer the same things they suffer, endure the same things they endure and our children go into bondage, just like their children do. They see little difference between the Church and the world.
The world feared the men and women of the early Church, because of the Power and Calling of God that was on them. Satan saw the believers in the Book of Acts as threats to his world and control, but not so much any longer. This change isn't how God's Church was born into this earth. We hear such statements as, "These things were only for the early Church and the Apostles" and "We no longer need these things in the modern age."
God's Original Intent was that His family was to have complete authority over all the earth and everything in it and everything that creeps upon it. God's Intent for His family hasn't changed. God's family was never to be ruled over or kept under, anything or anyone but the Father Himself. We are children of the Almighty God, the Creator of Heaven and earth. We were born of His Spirit, made in His Image and Likeness. We are to be ambassadors of the Kingdom, bringing the Father's will to pass on this planet, which is ruled by an outlaw spirit who's opposed to God's Kingdom. We're to bring God's liberty and Blessing upon those who are in bondage to fear, sin, death, and a spirit that has no Truth in him. This was and still is, God's Plan for His family and His planet.
Friday, March 13, 2020
Lesson 80 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING -Original Intent
Genesis 1:26 (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 (tame) beasts, and over all the earth, and everything that creeps upon the earth."
Notice that man did nothing to deserve or to motivate the Father, to do all these things for him/her. God made all these things, along with the authority over them, for His family to inherit and enjoy, because He loved them. We get caught up in trying to earn or deserve things from the Father, but He didn't create these things, to make us love Him. He created them because He Loved us. Love must give, in order to have satisfaction in it's purpose. Love gives, even when it knows it won't receive any response from those to whom it gives.
When Adam transgressed in the Garden, Love didn't just "write him off," but went to the greatest length to gain him back. God didn't just do this so man would only be free, but because with the freedom, mankind would be free to respond to Love and return to his/her Father. We do things with the wrong nature after we get saved, because we feel obligated or to make up for all the dumb things we did in the past. We don't realize that when we do this, we're trying to obligate God to do what He would already do, because of His Great Love for us. I don't seek God for things, I see, God out of love. Jesus said, "Seek ye first, the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added to you besides," in Matthew 6:33 (KJV). When we seek the Father instead of seeking things, He will add the things He created for us, out of the mutual Love we have for one another.
Paul likens the marriage relationship to the relationship Christ has with His Church in Ephesians 5:27-32. How secure would you feel in your marriage, if your spouse had only married you for your money or property, instead of for love? We sometimes, sadly, only seek God for what He can do for us, instead of wanting to know Him more. When we seek Him, everything He has, is already yours. In marriage, a woman takes her husband's name, his authority, and has his Power of Attorney to operate in his very own place, by this relationship. If there's mutual love between your wife and yourself, then you won't be concerned about her having access to your property, because it's no longer yours, but ours.
Jesus made us joint heirs with Himself. By Love, Jesus decided to marry us, giving us His Name to us and walk in Love with Him, in the fellowship and relationship of marriage. Healing, peace, Redemption, Blessing and all of God's Promises aren't tied to our deserving them, but are given in Love, by Grace to His beloved family. We don't need to earn or work for them, because they come by relationship. The only thing the Father required or wanted when bringing His family into existence, was fellowship and love. It's hard to have faith for anything, without first having faith or trust, in the One Who gives everything. It would be futile to have the Blessing, without knowing the One Who is the Blessing.
Many have been disappointed, because they didn't receive things they believed they were supposed to have or receive. They prayed for something that didn't manifest in their lives and they stopped believing in prayer altogether. You can't believe in prayer, unless you first believe in the One you're praying to. If the Lord doesn't return in my lifetime, then everything He has Blessed me with in this life, will go to my children. It would break my heart, to think the only thing my children wanted from me, was an inheritance. While I'm alive on this earth, everything I have is theirs to enjoy. When I leave this life, its theirs and their children's. They don't love me because of what I have, but because of who I am, the rest is already theirs.
Knowing Him, is the greatest thing any human could ever hope for! For many years, mankind was separated from Him, by the sin and death Adam's transgression brought. Now, in these Last Days, Jesus has opened the way back into His Presence and His way into our presence. I've never been able to understand, why more of His children don't spend time fellowshiping and learning from Him. The greatest part of our salvation, is having the privilege of being able to come into His Presence again.
When Jesus walked on earth as a Man, He had a privilege that is now ours to enjoy. During His time on earth, He was the only Person Who had that privilege. We have the same and honored privilege to "Come boldly before His Throne of Grace." We don't do this to receive favors, but to enjoy His Presence. I sometimes come to find Grace and mercy, but I mostly come to be with Him in fellowship. When I come in that way, Grace and mercy are mine anyway, because I am there.
This was and is, God's Original Intent for His family, when He created them. God's heart was to have fellowship, Love, and unity with one another. He created all the Blessings of life, before He created life. We were not just "after thoughts," but the very purpose of creation to begin with. It was ours from the start and has always been our inheritance in His eyes. It's not by works or chance or struggle, but by LOVE.
Notice that man did nothing to deserve or to motivate the Father, to do all these things for him/her. God made all these things, along with the authority over them, for His family to inherit and enjoy, because He loved them. We get caught up in trying to earn or deserve things from the Father, but He didn't create these things, to make us love Him. He created them because He Loved us. Love must give, in order to have satisfaction in it's purpose. Love gives, even when it knows it won't receive any response from those to whom it gives.
When Adam transgressed in the Garden, Love didn't just "write him off," but went to the greatest length to gain him back. God didn't just do this so man would only be free, but because with the freedom, mankind would be free to respond to Love and return to his/her Father. We do things with the wrong nature after we get saved, because we feel obligated or to make up for all the dumb things we did in the past. We don't realize that when we do this, we're trying to obligate God to do what He would already do, because of His Great Love for us. I don't seek God for things, I see, God out of love. Jesus said, "Seek ye first, the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added to you besides," in Matthew 6:33 (KJV). When we seek the Father instead of seeking things, He will add the things He created for us, out of the mutual Love we have for one another.
Paul likens the marriage relationship to the relationship Christ has with His Church in Ephesians 5:27-32. How secure would you feel in your marriage, if your spouse had only married you for your money or property, instead of for love? We sometimes, sadly, only seek God for what He can do for us, instead of wanting to know Him more. When we seek Him, everything He has, is already yours. In marriage, a woman takes her husband's name, his authority, and has his Power of Attorney to operate in his very own place, by this relationship. If there's mutual love between your wife and yourself, then you won't be concerned about her having access to your property, because it's no longer yours, but ours.
Jesus made us joint heirs with Himself. By Love, Jesus decided to marry us, giving us His Name to us and walk in Love with Him, in the fellowship and relationship of marriage. Healing, peace, Redemption, Blessing and all of God's Promises aren't tied to our deserving them, but are given in Love, by Grace to His beloved family. We don't need to earn or work for them, because they come by relationship. The only thing the Father required or wanted when bringing His family into existence, was fellowship and love. It's hard to have faith for anything, without first having faith or trust, in the One Who gives everything. It would be futile to have the Blessing, without knowing the One Who is the Blessing.
Many have been disappointed, because they didn't receive things they believed they were supposed to have or receive. They prayed for something that didn't manifest in their lives and they stopped believing in prayer altogether. You can't believe in prayer, unless you first believe in the One you're praying to. If the Lord doesn't return in my lifetime, then everything He has Blessed me with in this life, will go to my children. It would break my heart, to think the only thing my children wanted from me, was an inheritance. While I'm alive on this earth, everything I have is theirs to enjoy. When I leave this life, its theirs and their children's. They don't love me because of what I have, but because of who I am, the rest is already theirs.
Knowing Him, is the greatest thing any human could ever hope for! For many years, mankind was separated from Him, by the sin and death Adam's transgression brought. Now, in these Last Days, Jesus has opened the way back into His Presence and His way into our presence. I've never been able to understand, why more of His children don't spend time fellowshiping and learning from Him. The greatest part of our salvation, is having the privilege of being able to come into His Presence again.
When Jesus walked on earth as a Man, He had a privilege that is now ours to enjoy. During His time on earth, He was the only Person Who had that privilege. We have the same and honored privilege to "Come boldly before His Throne of Grace." We don't do this to receive favors, but to enjoy His Presence. I sometimes come to find Grace and mercy, but I mostly come to be with Him in fellowship. When I come in that way, Grace and mercy are mine anyway, because I am there.
This was and is, God's Original Intent for His family, when He created them. God's heart was to have fellowship, Love, and unity with one another. He created all the Blessings of life, before He created life. We were not just "after thoughts," but the very purpose of creation to begin with. It was ours from the start and has always been our inheritance in His eyes. It's not by works or chance or struggle, but by LOVE.
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Lesson 79 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Genesis 1:26 (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 (tame) beasts, and over all the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth."
Genesis 3:1 (Amplified) says, "Now the serpent was more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And he, satan, said to the woman, Can it really be that the Lord has said, You shall not eat from every tree of the Garden?" There have been many questions raised about the serpent in the Garden, but let me ask one more, "According to the first scripture above, who had authority over all the earth and everything that creeps upon the earth?" Why did Adam allow the serpent into the Garden to begin with? Why did Adam allow the serpent to remain in the Garden, instead of using the authority God gave him, over the serpent?
We too, have failed to use the authority that has been delegated to us, through Jesus and His Name. Many things happen, because even though we have authority again, we fail to recognize and use it on our own behalf or on behalf of others. The Last Adam Jesus, didn't use this authority only on His behalf, but mostly on behalf of others. The Church has done the same as the First Adam, failing to take God's Word as being Truth, in every realm of life. The serpent uses the same question against today's Church, asking, "Yea! Did God say that by His stripes you were healed and made whole?" Or, "Yea, Did God say that you've been made to be the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus? And, "Yea, Did God say that you've been given authority over sickness, disease, demons, and all things by His Name?"
We've been taught to tolerate most of the serpent's lies, so that we don't "get people's hopes up." Paul writes in Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified), "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed), of the things we hope for, for being proof of the things we do not see and the conviction of their reality, faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses." If we could already see it, then it wouldn't take faith to believe for it. The senses have no concept of faith, without renewing the mind by God's Word.
Many today, are fearful about teaching the Fullness of God's Promises, believing people would be discouraged if they don't see them. How do we know it won't work, unless we hope for it or try it in our lives. Have we come to the place where we encourage God's people to believe these things aren't for here, but are only for when we go to Heaven? If we don't trust God for anything, then I suppose we won't be disappointed when we don't receive anything. We won't be disappointed in prayer, if we don't pray. Romans 10;14 (Amplified) says, "But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed (in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance)? And how are they to believe in Him (adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him of Whom they have never heard)? And how are they to hear without a preacher?"
Our job isn't to make it work, but to preach it until people begin going from faith to faith and have God's Word work in their lives. Healing is as much a part of God's Word, as it the forgiveness of sin, in our lives. We read about a paralyzed man, whose friends lowered him down from the roof, in order to get close to Jesus, in Mark 2:5-,7,9-12(Amplified), where Jesus said to the man, "Son your sins are forgiven you." Many in the crowd had a problem with Jesus' dismissing sin, making a fuss about it in Verse 9, where Jesus asked them, "Which is easier; To say to the paralyzed man, Your sins are forgiven and put away, or to say, Rise, take up your sleeping pad (or mat), and start walking about and keep on walking?" The rest of the account tells us that, the man rose from his bed and took that bed and walked away.
If Jesus did away with our sins, when we were born-again, then is it any more difficult for Him to heal our body? Jesus told the people in the above scripture, "It takes no more ability to heal, than it does to save from sin." Did Jesus deliver us from sin? Can Jesus still heal the sick? The people in around Jesus then, could see that He could heal, but they couldn't believe for the forgiveness of sin. We, on the other hand, teach that Jesus can forgive sin, but teach that He doesn't heal any longer or won't heal anymore. Jesus tells us in the above scripture that, "It's no more difficult to forgive than it is to heal." The problem isn't that Jesus won't do what He said, but that we don't believe what He said.
Paul asked, "How can they hear without a preacher?" Could it be that the Church is weak in faith, because we (the preachers) have been negligent in the preaching of God's Word? The Lord speaks to the shepherds or pastors, through the Prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 34:1-4 (Amplified), saying, "And the Word of the Lord came to me saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them; even to the spiritual shepherds, Thus says the Lord God, Woe to the spiritual shepherds of Israel who feed themselves, should not the shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you kill the fatlings, but you do not feed the sheep. The diseased and weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the hurt and cripples you have not bandaged."
How are the shepherds to "feed God's sheep?" Not by bread alone, but by the Word of God. We've failed to feed them the Words of healing, redemption, and things that pertain to life here in these flesh and blood bodies and not only for when we leave this earth.
We won't need to preach about healing in Heaven, because there's no sickness there. The Bread of healing is to be fed to God's sheep or family, here and now. Teaching that "God no longer does these things," is lying against the Truth of God's Word and failing to do what we're called to do. We don't see much healing or deliverance today, because God's people haven't heard and they haven't heard, because we don't preach it.
How did we lose the Truth and Power of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the speaking of tongues, the healing of our bodies, and the healing of the nations? When did believing God's Word become so contrary to what many teach in church? 1Kings 18:21 (Amplified) says, "Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you halt and limp between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word."
If our God is God, then what is there that He can't do? Can He still heal, raise up the dead, cast out devils, open blind eyes, cause the deaf to hear, and do all the things He says? How long will we halt and limp between two opinions? Let's put aside the fear of the people and stay with God's Word, so we will see the fire fall from Heaven, like it did with Elijah!
Genesis 3:1 (Amplified) says, "Now the serpent was more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And he, satan, said to the woman, Can it really be that the Lord has said, You shall not eat from every tree of the Garden?" There have been many questions raised about the serpent in the Garden, but let me ask one more, "According to the first scripture above, who had authority over all the earth and everything that creeps upon the earth?" Why did Adam allow the serpent into the Garden to begin with? Why did Adam allow the serpent to remain in the Garden, instead of using the authority God gave him, over the serpent?
We too, have failed to use the authority that has been delegated to us, through Jesus and His Name. Many things happen, because even though we have authority again, we fail to recognize and use it on our own behalf or on behalf of others. The Last Adam Jesus, didn't use this authority only on His behalf, but mostly on behalf of others. The Church has done the same as the First Adam, failing to take God's Word as being Truth, in every realm of life. The serpent uses the same question against today's Church, asking, "Yea! Did God say that by His stripes you were healed and made whole?" Or, "Yea, Did God say that you've been made to be the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus? And, "Yea, Did God say that you've been given authority over sickness, disease, demons, and all things by His Name?"
We've been taught to tolerate most of the serpent's lies, so that we don't "get people's hopes up." Paul writes in Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified), "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed), of the things we hope for, for being proof of the things we do not see and the conviction of their reality, faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses." If we could already see it, then it wouldn't take faith to believe for it. The senses have no concept of faith, without renewing the mind by God's Word.
Many today, are fearful about teaching the Fullness of God's Promises, believing people would be discouraged if they don't see them. How do we know it won't work, unless we hope for it or try it in our lives. Have we come to the place where we encourage God's people to believe these things aren't for here, but are only for when we go to Heaven? If we don't trust God for anything, then I suppose we won't be disappointed when we don't receive anything. We won't be disappointed in prayer, if we don't pray. Romans 10;14 (Amplified) says, "But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed (in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance)? And how are they to believe in Him (adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him of Whom they have never heard)? And how are they to hear without a preacher?"
Our job isn't to make it work, but to preach it until people begin going from faith to faith and have God's Word work in their lives. Healing is as much a part of God's Word, as it the forgiveness of sin, in our lives. We read about a paralyzed man, whose friends lowered him down from the roof, in order to get close to Jesus, in Mark 2:5-,7,9-12(Amplified), where Jesus said to the man, "Son your sins are forgiven you." Many in the crowd had a problem with Jesus' dismissing sin, making a fuss about it in Verse 9, where Jesus asked them, "Which is easier; To say to the paralyzed man, Your sins are forgiven and put away, or to say, Rise, take up your sleeping pad (or mat), and start walking about and keep on walking?" The rest of the account tells us that, the man rose from his bed and took that bed and walked away.
If Jesus did away with our sins, when we were born-again, then is it any more difficult for Him to heal our body? Jesus told the people in the above scripture, "It takes no more ability to heal, than it does to save from sin." Did Jesus deliver us from sin? Can Jesus still heal the sick? The people in around Jesus then, could see that He could heal, but they couldn't believe for the forgiveness of sin. We, on the other hand, teach that Jesus can forgive sin, but teach that He doesn't heal any longer or won't heal anymore. Jesus tells us in the above scripture that, "It's no more difficult to forgive than it is to heal." The problem isn't that Jesus won't do what He said, but that we don't believe what He said.
Paul asked, "How can they hear without a preacher?" Could it be that the Church is weak in faith, because we (the preachers) have been negligent in the preaching of God's Word? The Lord speaks to the shepherds or pastors, through the Prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 34:1-4 (Amplified), saying, "And the Word of the Lord came to me saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them; even to the spiritual shepherds, Thus says the Lord God, Woe to the spiritual shepherds of Israel who feed themselves, should not the shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you kill the fatlings, but you do not feed the sheep. The diseased and weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the hurt and cripples you have not bandaged."
How are the shepherds to "feed God's sheep?" Not by bread alone, but by the Word of God. We've failed to feed them the Words of healing, redemption, and things that pertain to life here in these flesh and blood bodies and not only for when we leave this earth.
We won't need to preach about healing in Heaven, because there's no sickness there. The Bread of healing is to be fed to God's sheep or family, here and now. Teaching that "God no longer does these things," is lying against the Truth of God's Word and failing to do what we're called to do. We don't see much healing or deliverance today, because God's people haven't heard and they haven't heard, because we don't preach it.
How did we lose the Truth and Power of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the speaking of tongues, the healing of our bodies, and the healing of the nations? When did believing God's Word become so contrary to what many teach in church? 1Kings 18:21 (Amplified) says, "Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you halt and limp between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word."
If our God is God, then what is there that He can't do? Can He still heal, raise up the dead, cast out devils, open blind eyes, cause the deaf to hear, and do all the things He says? How long will we halt and limp between two opinions? Let's put aside the fear of the people and stay with God's Word, so we will see the fire fall from Heaven, like it did with Elijah!
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Lesson 78 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Genesis 1:26 (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, over the (tame) beasts, and over all the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth."
The entirety of God's creation was based upon fellowship and relationship between the Father and His family. There was only one Law and that "Don't eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil." The relationship was based on Love, and Love alone. Love was the bond that would cement the family together, so there would never be division between the Father and His family. The same thing is required in God's family today. It's no longer works or Law, but relationship.
All of God's Promises are to be received by faith in His Grace and Love for His family. These Promises aren't based on man's performance, but on relationship. We don't receive God's Promises by a formula or the following of Laws, but on knowing our Father. Today's Church doesn't seemingly understand the real relationship we have with our Heavenly Father. Many still believe God deals with us like He did with the Old Testament people, instead of understanding the New Testament covenant of Grace, that God deals with us now. We learn things from God's Word about His Blessing and Promises, and then we "try to make them work" by our own standards, instead of realizing that they're already ours in Christ Jesus.
When we do this, then we're walking by works and not Grace. You can't make them work, anymore than you can make yourself righteous. It all comes by faith in God's Grace and that faith comes by fellowship and truly knowing Him. We can't have faith in someone we don't trust. The only way to have faith in God, is by knowing Him for Who He truly is. If you have know the True Love God has for you, then you can built faith in your relationship with Him. Love is based on Trust.
All God's Promises in both the Old and New Testament, are based on faith or Trust in His Word and His Love. If you don't fellowship with Him and know Him, then you'll be double-minded according to James 1:5-8 (Amplified), which says, "If any of you is deficient in Wisdom, let him ask of the Giving God, Who gives to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or fault finding, and it will be given him. Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting), For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts), is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything he asks for from the Lord. For being as he is, a man of two minds, hesitating (dubious, irresolute), he is unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything he thinks, feels, and decides."
Double-mindedness comes by our not knowing God on a personal basis, through fellowship. A double-minded believer doesn't know whether or not God's Promises and Blessing is for him/her or doesn't understand what Grace has done what God says it has done for them. This lack of trust or faith, is the double-minded believer's enemy. It leads to our questioning, "Does God still require some of the Law" and "Is there still certain things I must do to qualify for God's Blessing and Promises?" It leads to questioning, "Can I really rely on God to do what He said He would do" and "Is there still something else I need to do?"
All God requires of us to do now, is to, by faith, receive what He's Promised. The harder we try to perform, the further we'll be from His Grace. If Jesus couldn't do it for you, then you can't do it on your own. We have a place in God's family by our trusting Jesus to save us, but we haven't pursued our family relationship through fellowship and knowledge of His Person. We continue trying to perform, in order to obtain. There's no formula or doing certain things, in order to make them work. We must only receive by faith, what Jesus has already done. The only way of knowing what He has done and Promised, is to read His Word and heed the leading of His Holy Spirit.
We've struggled with our righteousness, as though we can improve on it, instead of just receiving it. We've obtained His Righteousness, by trusting and placing our faith in what Jesus has already done. You can walk in His Righteousness, but you can't make yourself righteous. We've failed to understand that Jesus has already done everything needed to make us Righteous, healed, Blessed and delivered and in God's favor. All that's required of us is to trust Him, in it. You can't work for it, but must simply receive it by faith.
Today's Church has misunderstood faith. We can't take faith and force God into doing something, because we were good and He owes us. We're foolish though, if we don't put our faith in and receive what He's already provided for us. Even in the Old Testament, God only required the people to trust Him to do what He said He would do. The Israelites didn't trust God, concerning His deliverance for them and the Promise of entering the Promised Land in the Book of Numbers. Hebrews 4:1-3 (Amplified) tells us, "Therefore, while the Promise of entering His rest still holds and is offered today, let us be afraid to distrust it lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of reaching it. For indeed we have had the glad tidings (Gospel of God), proclaimed to us just as truly as they (the Israelites of old) did when the Good News of deliverance from bondage came to them; but the Message they heard did not benefit them because it was not mixed with faith (or trust) with the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute Trust and confidence in His Power Wisdom, and Goodness, BY THOSE WHO HEARD IT, neither were they united in faith with the ones (Joshua and Caleb), who heard and did believe. For we who have believed (adhered to, and trusted in, and relied on God), do enter that rest, in accordance with His declaration that those who did not believe should not enter when He said, As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My Rest; and this He said although His works had been completed and prepared and waiting for all who would believe from the foundation of the world."
God only requires that we believe in the Finished Word of Jesus' salvation and redemption and to enter into His Rest, by trust or faith in His Person. You can never rest in God's Promises, if you don't know Him in personal fellowship. We were created for fellowship with the Father, from the beginning. Jesus has brought us back to God's Original Intent, which is fellowship. I'm not talking about reading the Word, but about taking time talking and listening to His Spirit. How can you know His Voice, if you don't spend time listening and fellowshiping with Him? At His death, Jesus left everything to us in His Last Will and Testament. We don't have to work for it, but only trust and receive what He has done. The harder we try working to earn it, the further you remove ourselves from the Grace that provides it.
Galatians 5:4 (Amplified) says, "If you seek to be justified and declared Righteous and given a right standing with God through the Law (or good works), you are brought to nothing and so severed from Christ, You have fallen away from Grace (from God's Graciousness, favor and unmerited Blessing)."
It's been difficult for today's Church to walk in Grace and Trust and having our prayers answered, because we mix Law and works with Grace. We've fallen away from God's Gracious favor and Blessing. John 8:19 (Amplified) says, "Then they said to Him, Where is this Father of Yours? Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as You know Me, if you knew Me, you would know My Father also." The Church can't be double-minded about Law and Grace. We must distinguish between the manner which God dealt with the Old Covenant saints and how He deals with us now in the New Covenant, as family. We must first know the Father, by the Son. This comes by our fellowshiping with Him, spending time with Him, listening to Him and then moving by faith and trust in His Word and Promises. Let's enter into His Rest.
The entirety of God's creation was based upon fellowship and relationship between the Father and His family. There was only one Law and that "Don't eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil." The relationship was based on Love, and Love alone. Love was the bond that would cement the family together, so there would never be division between the Father and His family. The same thing is required in God's family today. It's no longer works or Law, but relationship.
All of God's Promises are to be received by faith in His Grace and Love for His family. These Promises aren't based on man's performance, but on relationship. We don't receive God's Promises by a formula or the following of Laws, but on knowing our Father. Today's Church doesn't seemingly understand the real relationship we have with our Heavenly Father. Many still believe God deals with us like He did with the Old Testament people, instead of understanding the New Testament covenant of Grace, that God deals with us now. We learn things from God's Word about His Blessing and Promises, and then we "try to make them work" by our own standards, instead of realizing that they're already ours in Christ Jesus.
When we do this, then we're walking by works and not Grace. You can't make them work, anymore than you can make yourself righteous. It all comes by faith in God's Grace and that faith comes by fellowship and truly knowing Him. We can't have faith in someone we don't trust. The only way to have faith in God, is by knowing Him for Who He truly is. If you have know the True Love God has for you, then you can built faith in your relationship with Him. Love is based on Trust.
All God's Promises in both the Old and New Testament, are based on faith or Trust in His Word and His Love. If you don't fellowship with Him and know Him, then you'll be double-minded according to James 1:5-8 (Amplified), which says, "If any of you is deficient in Wisdom, let him ask of the Giving God, Who gives to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or fault finding, and it will be given him. Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting), For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts), is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything he asks for from the Lord. For being as he is, a man of two minds, hesitating (dubious, irresolute), he is unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything he thinks, feels, and decides."
Double-mindedness comes by our not knowing God on a personal basis, through fellowship. A double-minded believer doesn't know whether or not God's Promises and Blessing is for him/her or doesn't understand what Grace has done what God says it has done for them. This lack of trust or faith, is the double-minded believer's enemy. It leads to our questioning, "Does God still require some of the Law" and "Is there still certain things I must do to qualify for God's Blessing and Promises?" It leads to questioning, "Can I really rely on God to do what He said He would do" and "Is there still something else I need to do?"
All God requires of us to do now, is to, by faith, receive what He's Promised. The harder we try to perform, the further we'll be from His Grace. If Jesus couldn't do it for you, then you can't do it on your own. We have a place in God's family by our trusting Jesus to save us, but we haven't pursued our family relationship through fellowship and knowledge of His Person. We continue trying to perform, in order to obtain. There's no formula or doing certain things, in order to make them work. We must only receive by faith, what Jesus has already done. The only way of knowing what He has done and Promised, is to read His Word and heed the leading of His Holy Spirit.
We've struggled with our righteousness, as though we can improve on it, instead of just receiving it. We've obtained His Righteousness, by trusting and placing our faith in what Jesus has already done. You can walk in His Righteousness, but you can't make yourself righteous. We've failed to understand that Jesus has already done everything needed to make us Righteous, healed, Blessed and delivered and in God's favor. All that's required of us is to trust Him, in it. You can't work for it, but must simply receive it by faith.
Today's Church has misunderstood faith. We can't take faith and force God into doing something, because we were good and He owes us. We're foolish though, if we don't put our faith in and receive what He's already provided for us. Even in the Old Testament, God only required the people to trust Him to do what He said He would do. The Israelites didn't trust God, concerning His deliverance for them and the Promise of entering the Promised Land in the Book of Numbers. Hebrews 4:1-3 (Amplified) tells us, "Therefore, while the Promise of entering His rest still holds and is offered today, let us be afraid to distrust it lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of reaching it. For indeed we have had the glad tidings (Gospel of God), proclaimed to us just as truly as they (the Israelites of old) did when the Good News of deliverance from bondage came to them; but the Message they heard did not benefit them because it was not mixed with faith (or trust) with the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute Trust and confidence in His Power Wisdom, and Goodness, BY THOSE WHO HEARD IT, neither were they united in faith with the ones (Joshua and Caleb), who heard and did believe. For we who have believed (adhered to, and trusted in, and relied on God), do enter that rest, in accordance with His declaration that those who did not believe should not enter when He said, As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My Rest; and this He said although His works had been completed and prepared and waiting for all who would believe from the foundation of the world."
God only requires that we believe in the Finished Word of Jesus' salvation and redemption and to enter into His Rest, by trust or faith in His Person. You can never rest in God's Promises, if you don't know Him in personal fellowship. We were created for fellowship with the Father, from the beginning. Jesus has brought us back to God's Original Intent, which is fellowship. I'm not talking about reading the Word, but about taking time talking and listening to His Spirit. How can you know His Voice, if you don't spend time listening and fellowshiping with Him? At His death, Jesus left everything to us in His Last Will and Testament. We don't have to work for it, but only trust and receive what He has done. The harder we try working to earn it, the further you remove ourselves from the Grace that provides it.
Galatians 5:4 (Amplified) says, "If you seek to be justified and declared Righteous and given a right standing with God through the Law (or good works), you are brought to nothing and so severed from Christ, You have fallen away from Grace (from God's Graciousness, favor and unmerited Blessing)."
It's been difficult for today's Church to walk in Grace and Trust and having our prayers answered, because we mix Law and works with Grace. We've fallen away from God's Gracious favor and Blessing. John 8:19 (Amplified) says, "Then they said to Him, Where is this Father of Yours? Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as You know Me, if you knew Me, you would know My Father also." The Church can't be double-minded about Law and Grace. We must distinguish between the manner which God dealt with the Old Covenant saints and how He deals with us now in the New Covenant, as family. We must first know the Father, by the Son. This comes by our fellowshiping with Him, spending time with Him, listening to Him and then moving by faith and trust in His Word and Promises. Let's enter into His Rest.
Friday, March 6, 2020
Lesson 77 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
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, and the (tame) beasts, and over everything that creeps upon the earth."
Verse 27 goes on, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them." Jesus says 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)."
When He created Adam in the beginning, God created him in the Spirit. God made mankind in His Image and Likeness and GOD IS A SPIRIT. 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."
Adam was first created a spirit, then God formed a natural body for this spirit man to dwell in and be able to contact the natural elements of this earth. The spirit man and the natural man, were one single unit. Adam ruled his natural man, by his spirit man and he wasn't aware that they were anything other than one body. Adam never thought of himself like we do today, as being natural (carnal) or spirit, but as one body.
When Adam yielded to his natural man and decided to believe satan's lie, he separated his own self into three separate units. Adam was in the fallen state and became separated from the Life of God and he realized for the first time, that he was a natural man. Today, we've learned from God's Word that we are actually three separate units. We are a spirit, we live in a body, and we have a soul or carnal nature.
Adam only thought and knew from his spirit, when God formed him from the beginning. Adam's soul and body were always subject to his spirit and his spirit was always subject to the Spirit of God/ We've operated by the carnal man and the world for so long, that we think of ourselves as being three different degrees of people, unlike the first man. Adam's body and soul were always in line with his spirit, which was always in line with God's Spirit, because he was made in the Image and Likeness of God, Who is a Spirit-being.
We haven't seen ourselves as being in God's Likeness and as a spirit. We continue living by the dictates of the flesh, instead of our real identity, in the spirit. We struggle keeping the carnal man in line by the means of our flesh, instead of the true life that is spirit and the one who's in control.
Jesus, being born of a woman and being flesh, learned to live His Life by the Spirit, instead of His flesh, to the place where He could declare that, "He and His Father were One." He didn't do this because He was the Son of God, but because He knew that the Spirit Man was the True Identity. Hebrews 4:15 (Amplified) says, "For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with out weaknesses and infirmities and liabilities to the assaults of the temptations, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning."
Jesus had to learn to live by His Spirit Man, just like we must learn that our spirit man is the true us, in God's Image and Likeness. We still see ourselves mostly after the flesh, thinking this is the real us, instead of feeding and growing in our true identity made in God's Image and Likeness. We don't know how long Adam walked in God's Presence as a flesh and blood being, before he yielded to his carnal nature. Until that time, Adam never thought of himself as three different people, but only as one, which was his spirit man.
Prior to yielding to satan's temptation, Adam needed to bypass his spirit and go to his carnal nature. Adam saw himself after his spirit and not his flesh, in God's Image and Likeness. Adam lived out of his spirit.
We've lived in the realm of the flesh and the world, so we've still been subjected to the thoughts and feelings of the natural realm and we don't see ourselves as who we really are, spirit beings. The "real" you, has been created a new creation again and into a living spirit, in God's Own Likeness. We must realize that we are in this same form and relationship with God that the First and Last Adam were. All of our instructions are in and through our spirit.
Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong), for this who are in Christ Jesus (who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit." If we train our spirit man to dictate the things of God to us, then our spirit man will control the dictates of the flesh. Verse 2 goes on, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of the new being) has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death." Our new being walks after the Law of the Spirit of Life, which is in Christ Jesus and walks like Adam and Jesus did, by the spirit man made in God's Image. The Law of our new being is the Word of God and we must learn what this Law says, so we can walk in it.
Sadly, many of God's people haven't spent much time learning and listening to this Law of our new being, so we still live by the dictates of the flesh. We've made our own laws as to "Why things aren't working" and have been taught that these "Aren't God's will for us," instead of listening to what God's will really is. Paul earnestly prayed for us to know God's will in Colossi ans 1:9-11 (Amplified), saying, "For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make special request for you, asking that you may be filled with the full, deep and clear knowledge of His will in all Spiritual Wisdom (in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God, and in understanding and discernment of Spiritual things). That you may walk, live and conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Lord (fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him) in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God with fuller and deeper and clearer insight, acquaintance and recognition. We pray that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the Might of His Glory, to exercise every kind of endurance and patience, perseverance and forbearance with joy."
In order to understand what manner of man/woman God has made us to be in Jesus, will take time in His Presence, listening to Him. Then, we'll understand God's Original Intent for His children. We are a new creation spirit man/woman, made in God's Image and Likeness. God deals with us by our spirit and His Word, which is Spirit and Truth, according to what Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified). Thus, Jesus said, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths), that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
We must learn to discern what is being preached and spoken, concerning the Father and His will for us, in this realm. We can't take everything as being Truth, without listening to God's Spirit. We can't take carnal interpretation of Spiritual things. Let's learn to walk after the Spirit and see ourselves as being like the First and Last Adam. We must control our flesh by our spirit and control our spirits, by God's Word and His Spirit. We must stop seeing ourselves as only human, excusing our actions by saying, "We all make mistakes." Psalm 23 tells us that, "God will lead you in paths of righteousness for His Own Sake." He is the Good Shepherd.
Jesus didn't see Himself as a Man Who had a spirit living in Him, but as a Spirit that was clothed in a Body. Jesus did the things He did, out of His Spirit, regardless of the objections of His Body. This was how mankind was created to be and how both the First and Last Adam were created. Jesus denied the suggestions of His Flesh and dominated His Flesh by His Spirit. He withstood against His Flesh in the Garden of Gethsemane, to the point where He was bleeding.
Verse 27 goes on, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them." Jesus says 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)."
When He created Adam in the beginning, God created him in the Spirit. God made mankind in His Image and Likeness and GOD IS A SPIRIT. 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."
Adam was first created a spirit, then God formed a natural body for this spirit man to dwell in and be able to contact the natural elements of this earth. The spirit man and the natural man, were one single unit. Adam ruled his natural man, by his spirit man and he wasn't aware that they were anything other than one body. Adam never thought of himself like we do today, as being natural (carnal) or spirit, but as one body.
When Adam yielded to his natural man and decided to believe satan's lie, he separated his own self into three separate units. Adam was in the fallen state and became separated from the Life of God and he realized for the first time, that he was a natural man. Today, we've learned from God's Word that we are actually three separate units. We are a spirit, we live in a body, and we have a soul or carnal nature.
Adam only thought and knew from his spirit, when God formed him from the beginning. Adam's soul and body were always subject to his spirit and his spirit was always subject to the Spirit of God/ We've operated by the carnal man and the world for so long, that we think of ourselves as being three different degrees of people, unlike the first man. Adam's body and soul were always in line with his spirit, which was always in line with God's Spirit, because he was made in the Image and Likeness of God, Who is a Spirit-being.
We haven't seen ourselves as being in God's Likeness and as a spirit. We continue living by the dictates of the flesh, instead of our real identity, in the spirit. We struggle keeping the carnal man in line by the means of our flesh, instead of the true life that is spirit and the one who's in control.
Jesus, being born of a woman and being flesh, learned to live His Life by the Spirit, instead of His flesh, to the place where He could declare that, "He and His Father were One." He didn't do this because He was the Son of God, but because He knew that the Spirit Man was the True Identity. Hebrews 4:15 (Amplified) says, "For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with out weaknesses and infirmities and liabilities to the assaults of the temptations, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning."
Jesus had to learn to live by His Spirit Man, just like we must learn that our spirit man is the true us, in God's Image and Likeness. We still see ourselves mostly after the flesh, thinking this is the real us, instead of feeding and growing in our true identity made in God's Image and Likeness. We don't know how long Adam walked in God's Presence as a flesh and blood being, before he yielded to his carnal nature. Until that time, Adam never thought of himself as three different people, but only as one, which was his spirit man.
Prior to yielding to satan's temptation, Adam needed to bypass his spirit and go to his carnal nature. Adam saw himself after his spirit and not his flesh, in God's Image and Likeness. Adam lived out of his spirit.
We've lived in the realm of the flesh and the world, so we've still been subjected to the thoughts and feelings of the natural realm and we don't see ourselves as who we really are, spirit beings. The "real" you, has been created a new creation again and into a living spirit, in God's Own Likeness. We must realize that we are in this same form and relationship with God that the First and Last Adam were. All of our instructions are in and through our spirit.
Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong), for this who are in Christ Jesus (who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit." If we train our spirit man to dictate the things of God to us, then our spirit man will control the dictates of the flesh. Verse 2 goes on, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of the new being) has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death." Our new being walks after the Law of the Spirit of Life, which is in Christ Jesus and walks like Adam and Jesus did, by the spirit man made in God's Image. The Law of our new being is the Word of God and we must learn what this Law says, so we can walk in it.
Sadly, many of God's people haven't spent much time learning and listening to this Law of our new being, so we still live by the dictates of the flesh. We've made our own laws as to "Why things aren't working" and have been taught that these "Aren't God's will for us," instead of listening to what God's will really is. Paul earnestly prayed for us to know God's will in Colossi ans 1:9-11 (Amplified), saying, "For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make special request for you, asking that you may be filled with the full, deep and clear knowledge of His will in all Spiritual Wisdom (in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God, and in understanding and discernment of Spiritual things). That you may walk, live and conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Lord (fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him) in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God with fuller and deeper and clearer insight, acquaintance and recognition. We pray that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the Might of His Glory, to exercise every kind of endurance and patience, perseverance and forbearance with joy."
In order to understand what manner of man/woman God has made us to be in Jesus, will take time in His Presence, listening to Him. Then, we'll understand God's Original Intent for His children. We are a new creation spirit man/woman, made in God's Image and Likeness. God deals with us by our spirit and His Word, which is Spirit and Truth, according to what Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified). Thus, Jesus said, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths), that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
We must learn to discern what is being preached and spoken, concerning the Father and His will for us, in this realm. We can't take everything as being Truth, without listening to God's Spirit. We can't take carnal interpretation of Spiritual things. Let's learn to walk after the Spirit and see ourselves as being like the First and Last Adam. We must control our flesh by our spirit and control our spirits, by God's Word and His Spirit. We must stop seeing ourselves as only human, excusing our actions by saying, "We all make mistakes." Psalm 23 tells us that, "God will lead you in paths of righteousness for His Own Sake." He is the Good Shepherd.
Jesus didn't see Himself as a Man Who had a spirit living in Him, but as a Spirit that was clothed in a Body. Jesus did the things He did, out of His Spirit, regardless of the objections of His Body. This was how mankind was created to be and how both the First and Last Adam were created. Jesus denied the suggestions of His Flesh and dominated His Flesh by His Spirit. He withstood against His Flesh in the Garden of Gethsemane, to the point where He was bleeding.
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Lesson 76 THE YEAR OF UNDERSTANDING - Original Intent
Genesis 1:26 (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 (tame) beasts, and over all the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth."
God made mankind as an act of Love. God produced a family that He could fellowship with and raise in His Own House of Blessing. The earthly home God created, was to be the place where His family would be increased and raised, in His Own Presence and protection. God gave mankind the responsibility of tending the Garden, as a way of teaching His family the labor of Love, for what they had. The Garden would be reproduced, until it covered the whole earth, by their tending and keeping it.
Everything in the earth was for the use and fulfillment of God's family. There was never to be any shortage of food, because the trees and plants would reproduce and replenish the earth, for eternity. The Curse wasn't present when God created the earth, so reproduction would have been perpetual and continue for eternity. The weather and earth's temperature were regulated by God's Own design, so His family would never have suffered cold, extreme heat or need water or food. As God was to the tribes of Israel in the desert, so would He be in the beginning with His family. They could rest in His provision and guidance for their lives, until they grew in understanding, wisdom, and adulthood in His House.
Man didn't have any knowledge or understanding about life, because he just came into being. Like any father, God would teach and guide man into the newness of Life. God presented Adam with the animals He created, and Adam named them all. Genesis 2:20,23 (Amplified) says, "And Adam gave names to all of the livestock and to the birds of the air and to every wild beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a helper meet (suitable, adapted, complimentary) for him." God presented Eve to Adam in Verse 23 which says, "Then Adam said, This creature is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man."
Everything was created with it's seed in it, making it able to reproduce. With the seed and with this Woman, Adam and Eve produced what was to be God's family. Every child born of Eve, the seed of Adam as God's Son, would produce after kind and would bring forth man like himself, into God's house. The Seed Principle was still a Spiritual Law in God's Kingdom, even after Adam's fall. Adam continued bringing forth descendants, who bore the wages of sin and death to all generations following him---until Jesus.
Love doesn't force Himself on anyone or make them stay, so God's man must have the ability to choose to stay or choose not to stay. The "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" was in the Garden the entire time before Adam and Eve ate from it, but they chose to remain in God's understanding and guidance. If God made man stay, then that would produce only bondage, instead of liberty. If man only stayed, because he had too, then it wouldn't produce a family of Love, but one of bondage. Choosing to stay, is Love. Love is a choice, not a Law. If man didn't have the liberty to choose, then God would only have created a puppet, who had no life or liberty to make decisions for himself.
We see that Love is a choice, throughout the entire new covenant, which tells us that, "God so Loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever would believe should not perish but have Eternal Life," in John 3:16. Love gave. It's only by accepting that Love, that you can be saved. God doesn't make you believe and He will never force you to accept Jesus as your Lord. If you were forced or made to believe, then you weren't in liberty, but still in bondage. We must respond to Love by choice, in order to walk in the liberty of the new creation. Adam didn't have to eat from the Tree, he had a choice. Love always gives you a choice.
We read about Love in Galatians 5:6 (Amplified), which says, "For if we are in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through Love." Serving God isn't something we're "compelled to do," by ritual laws or traditions.
God will never "make" you get saved, unless you express faith in His Love. Salvation has been offered to all men, but many haven't put faith toward that Love or responded to Love by faith. God is Love and He will never make you be healed or make you do anything. It's our place to respond to Love, by faith in Love, to make it work as God intended. Love has offered all things to mankind in Jesus, but Love will never force Himself on anyone. God's will, is Love and Love has given all it has, in Jesus. If you refuse to believe that God Loves you, enough to do all He says, then you stop Love from working in your life. Faith works by Love.
Love has produced, faith receives. Love is the force by which the two (faith and receiving) com together. Without faith in His Love, you'll always be in a place of doubt and will continue trying to make yourself worthy to receive His Love. The only thing we need to do, is put faith in the Love and the Finished Work of Jesus Christ. The more you understand the fullness of God's Love for you, the stronger your faith in Him will be. You can trust your entire life to the One Who Loves you enough to die in your place. It's your choice though. By Love, Adam had been given the freedom of choice. He could either stay or go. Love didn't make him stay and Love will never stop bringing us to the place, where we can choose to respond to Love, by love or choose not to respond. This is why faith works by Love. The more we understand Love, the stronger our faith in Him will be.
1John 4:16-17 (Amplified) says this to us today, "And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of), by observation and 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 Love dwells in 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, for as He is, so are we in this world." Faith works by Love and the more you know God's Love for you, the stronger your faith will be in His ability to hear and respond to your prayers and fellowship. When we understand His Love towards us, then have assurance in Him. You can't have faith in Someone you don't trust!!!
God made mankind as an act of Love. God produced a family that He could fellowship with and raise in His Own House of Blessing. The earthly home God created, was to be the place where His family would be increased and raised, in His Own Presence and protection. God gave mankind the responsibility of tending the Garden, as a way of teaching His family the labor of Love, for what they had. The Garden would be reproduced, until it covered the whole earth, by their tending and keeping it.
Everything in the earth was for the use and fulfillment of God's family. There was never to be any shortage of food, because the trees and plants would reproduce and replenish the earth, for eternity. The Curse wasn't present when God created the earth, so reproduction would have been perpetual and continue for eternity. The weather and earth's temperature were regulated by God's Own design, so His family would never have suffered cold, extreme heat or need water or food. As God was to the tribes of Israel in the desert, so would He be in the beginning with His family. They could rest in His provision and guidance for their lives, until they grew in understanding, wisdom, and adulthood in His House.
Man didn't have any knowledge or understanding about life, because he just came into being. Like any father, God would teach and guide man into the newness of Life. God presented Adam with the animals He created, and Adam named them all. Genesis 2:20,23 (Amplified) says, "And Adam gave names to all of the livestock and to the birds of the air and to every wild beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a helper meet (suitable, adapted, complimentary) for him." God presented Eve to Adam in Verse 23 which says, "Then Adam said, This creature is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man."
Everything was created with it's seed in it, making it able to reproduce. With the seed and with this Woman, Adam and Eve produced what was to be God's family. Every child born of Eve, the seed of Adam as God's Son, would produce after kind and would bring forth man like himself, into God's house. The Seed Principle was still a Spiritual Law in God's Kingdom, even after Adam's fall. Adam continued bringing forth descendants, who bore the wages of sin and death to all generations following him---until Jesus.
Love doesn't force Himself on anyone or make them stay, so God's man must have the ability to choose to stay or choose not to stay. The "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" was in the Garden the entire time before Adam and Eve ate from it, but they chose to remain in God's understanding and guidance. If God made man stay, then that would produce only bondage, instead of liberty. If man only stayed, because he had too, then it wouldn't produce a family of Love, but one of bondage. Choosing to stay, is Love. Love is a choice, not a Law. If man didn't have the liberty to choose, then God would only have created a puppet, who had no life or liberty to make decisions for himself.
We see that Love is a choice, throughout the entire new covenant, which tells us that, "God so Loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever would believe should not perish but have Eternal Life," in John 3:16. Love gave. It's only by accepting that Love, that you can be saved. God doesn't make you believe and He will never force you to accept Jesus as your Lord. If you were forced or made to believe, then you weren't in liberty, but still in bondage. We must respond to Love by choice, in order to walk in the liberty of the new creation. Adam didn't have to eat from the Tree, he had a choice. Love always gives you a choice.
We read about Love in Galatians 5:6 (Amplified), which says, "For if we are in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through Love." Serving God isn't something we're "compelled to do," by ritual laws or traditions.
God will never "make" you get saved, unless you express faith in His Love. Salvation has been offered to all men, but many haven't put faith toward that Love or responded to Love by faith. God is Love and He will never make you be healed or make you do anything. It's our place to respond to Love, by faith in Love, to make it work as God intended. Love has offered all things to mankind in Jesus, but Love will never force Himself on anyone. God's will, is Love and Love has given all it has, in Jesus. If you refuse to believe that God Loves you, enough to do all He says, then you stop Love from working in your life. Faith works by Love.
Love has produced, faith receives. Love is the force by which the two (faith and receiving) com together. Without faith in His Love, you'll always be in a place of doubt and will continue trying to make yourself worthy to receive His Love. The only thing we need to do, is put faith in the Love and the Finished Work of Jesus Christ. The more you understand the fullness of God's Love for you, the stronger your faith in Him will be. You can trust your entire life to the One Who Loves you enough to die in your place. It's your choice though. By Love, Adam had been given the freedom of choice. He could either stay or go. Love didn't make him stay and Love will never stop bringing us to the place, where we can choose to respond to Love, by love or choose not to respond. This is why faith works by Love. The more we understand Love, the stronger our faith in Him will be.
1John 4:16-17 (Amplified) says this to us today, "And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of), by observation and 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 Love dwells in 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, for as He is, so are we in this world." Faith works by Love and the more you know God's Love for you, the stronger your faith will be in His ability to hear and respond to your prayers and fellowship. When we understand His Love towards us, then have assurance in Him. You can't have faith in Someone you don't trust!!!
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