Lesson 86 The Church's Identity Crisis

      2Cor. 5:17 (Amp) tells us that any person "who is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), is a new creation (a new creation altogether)."  Most believers believe that they are forgiven sinners after being born-again in Jesus, but don't understand that we are new creations in Him.  We continue to identify more with our old selves, instead of new creation beings.  We believe we are saved and going to Heaven when we die, but don't believe we are new creatures altogether while we're in these bodies and are here on earth.  God's Word tells us that we have become citizens of God's Kingdom, as heirs and children of God.

     Jesus instructed His followers in Matt. 6:33 (Amp) to, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness (His way of doing and being right)."  This is completely out of character for most of today's Church.  We keep trying to establish our own righteousness, by our own works and how we live.  Many believe it's "sacrilegious," to even think we're righteous.  God made us to be the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, when He made us new creations.

     We are no longer who we used to be, because Jesus has made us new.  Our Heavenly Father and His Kingdom have a way we're now to live here on earth,  that is completely new to us.  We're to "seek first, God's Kingdom and His way of doing and being right."  We can only be right or righteous before God, by being made righteous by the new creation in Christ Jesus.  Rom. 3:10 (Amp), says, "None is righteous (just and truthful and upright and conscientious), no, not one."  When we try to be righteous by our own works and efforts, then we will fail.

     God's Kingdom has Spiritual Laws that govern it, just like those on earth have laws to govern us.  The Laws of Physics that govern here, are also Spiritual Laws that God created.  He created gravity and other laws that govern this entire planet.  These laws came under the influence of a fallen angel (satan), after Adam's transgression.  Satan is "the god of this world", according to 2Cor.4:4 (Amp).  The Laws that God created are still present, but they've been perverted by the demonic forces in high places, according to Eph. 6:13 (Amp), which says, "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood, contending only with physical opponents, but against the despotism, against the powers, against the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly supernatural sphere." 

     We must fight against these spiritual forces, by Spiritual Laws and means.  We must seek first,  God's Kingdom and His way of doing and being right.  The tornadoes, hurricanes, plagues and other things that we have on earth, weren't present at God's creation and they don't belong here now.  Jesus calmed storms, cured sickness and disease, and cast out demons by God's way of doing and being right.  Both Good and evil spiritual things, can only be dealt with by Spiritual Laws.  The Laws of God's Kingdom aren't like the Law of Moses.  The Law of Moses was Spiritual,but the people were not.

     The Laws that God gave to Moses, are still in effect today, but they don't carry the threat of punishment.  God's Grace has given the new creation people, the ability to walk them Laws out.  Adultery is just as wrong now, as it was in the old covenant, but we can rise above what those in the old covenant couldn't overcome, if we seek God's way of doing and being right and walk in His Grace.  God's way says that by His Grace and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the new creation persons can overcome the lies and forces of satan.  We dwell in God and He dwells in us, when we seek His way of doing and being right and are made righteous in Christ Jesus.

     Everything of earth was created by Words and still reacts to the Words that created them.  The Fig tree reacted by Words, the storm on the Sea of Galilee reacted to Words, sickness and disease reacted to Words and the dead reacted to Words.  Heb. 11:3 (Amp) says, "By faith we understand that the worlds during the successive ages were framed, fashioned, put in order and equipped for their intended purpose by the Word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible."  I wonder how many of us are conscience of the power our words hold, in our everyday life.  

     Jesus is our Example and as the First Born of many brethren, but He needed to learn how to function as the First Spirit-filled man in a physical form, in order to govern what God sent Him to do, by God's way of doing and being right.  John 3:34 (Amp) says, "For since He Whom God has sent speaks the Words of God (proclaims God's Own Message). God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the Gift God  makes of His Spirit."

     Do you suppose that if God could trust fully in the words we speak, then the Gifts of His Spirit might be more boundless in our lives?  What do you suppose would happen in our lives, if everything we spoke was as powerful as Jesus' Words?  How many dead trees or people might come to life?  How many storms would cease to form, if instead of repeating what the news media says, we spoke God's Words, saying, "Peace be still?"  Many think it's foolish to watch our words, but God's way of doing and being right, is and always was, by His Words.

     We are now new creations, made in the Image and Likeness of our Father.  So, do you suppose that the words we speak are our powerful as the Words Jesus spoke?  We should say, "By Jesus' striped, I am healed," instead of speaking fear about Covid-19 and other ailments which are promoted by the god of this world.  We believe that it's lying to speak healing when we are sick, but is it lying when God says we're healed?

     Jesus gave "The Parable of the Sower," in Mark 4:14 (Amp) and tells us that, "The Sower sows the Word."  Did this Word work for us, when we were dead in trespass and sins?  Didn't this Word make us new creations in Christ, when we were saved and born-again?  Even when we showed no sign of being new creation persons at that time, the Word still created exactly what it said it would.  We don't look any different, but we are new creations and are new creatures altogether, because we simply believed what God says.  Do you think salvation is the only way God's Word works for us?  If we believed God's Word made us new creations, when we asked Jesus to come into our hearts and forgive our sins, then we should believe that all of God's Word will work.  

     This seems so contrary to what we learned before being saved, but we must now speak God's way of doing and being right.  John 1:1-3 (Amp) says, "In the beginning (before all time), was the Word, Christ, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not one thing made that has come into being."

Lesson 85 The Church's Identity Crisis

     2Cor. 5:17 (Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether)."  The new creation person has been delegated the Laws of God's Kingdom, in order to override the authority satan has here on this earth.  Through Jesus, we've been redeemed and restored back to the authority God gave the First Adam.  All the dominion, authority and Blessing that God placed on Adam, has been restored and more than that, through the Last Adam, Jesus.

     Most of the teaching and preaching God's Church has heard, focus on abstaining from sin and waiting to go and be with the Lord.  Most of the Church's ministry has been about getting people born-again and while this is undoubtedly the most important thing, it doesn't address Jesus' instructions to "make disciples out of the new believers."  Jesus spent much of His earthly ministry of three and a half years, teaching His disciples how to walk in the Super-natural authority, so they could teach others, who would in turn teach more people, how to walk in this.

     Most of the people we lead to the Lord Jesus in salvation, know very little about the Super-natural Life of the new creation being.  Most of them have probably been taught that "These things aren't for us today" and/or "These things have passed away."  Much of the Body of Christ no longer walk in the authority over this present darkness.  We've been told that we "must suffer" these things, in order to be made right enough to go to Heaven.  There is much suffering in today's world, but it's not because Jesus didn't do His job of teaching His disciples, but because we've believed the enemy's lies.  

     Like children, we've become complacent and are barely holding onto what Jesus gave us at His Resurrection.  Jesus didn't tell the world to come to the church and hear the Gospel, but He told the Church to "Go into all the world and preach the Good News of the Gospel."  "The world" here, is anyone who is not born-again.  These could be your family members, neighbors or co-workers.  Jesus said that He "will confirm the Word by the attesting signs and wonders."  Not everyone is called into the five-fold ministry, but every believer is called into full-time ministry in this world.

     Paul writes about the Gifts of the Spirit in 1Cor. 12:11 (Amp) saying, ""All these Gifts (achievements, abilities), are inspired and brought to pass by One and the Same Holy Spirit, who apportions to each person individually exactly as He chooses."  If you're ministering the Gospel to people and leading them to the Lord, then the Holy Spirit will deliver whatever is needed to set them at liberty.  The Baptism of the Holy Spirit will heal their bodies.  

     Jesus said that "These signs will follow those who believe" in Mark 16.  He didn't say these signs will follow those with special callings or those in the five-fold ministry.  Jesus said, These signs will follow those who believe. In My Name they will cast out devils, lay hands on the sick" and much more.  The Holy Spirit administrates these gifts as He chooses.  He is here to deliver, heal and do whatever is needed today, just like He's always done.  We've been taught that only certain people can do these things, but the Truth is that no one can do these things, without the Holy Spirit.  No natural man/woman has the ability to do these things, but if we're new creation beings, then we have the Holy Spirit living in us.  We must allow Him to do the work He was sent to do.  

     We must only believe that the Holy Spirit still chooses to set the captives free, like He's never stopped doing since being sent on Pentecost.  If it wasn't His choosing, then we wouldn't have seen the signs and wonders in the early Church, because He is the One Who does the work.  Jesus said that, "It's not Me, but the Father in Me, that does the work."  Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit to perform the miracles and healing, during His earthly ministry.  

     1John 2:20 (Amp) says, "But you have been Anointed by (you hold a Sacred Appointment from, you have been given and unction from), the Holy One and you know the Truth, or you know all these things."  The Holy Spirit has Anointed the Body of Christ, to do the ministry Jesus called us into, prior to His Ascension.  Are there still lost people in today's world?  Are there still sick or lame people on this earth today?  If there are, then as believers, we're called to preach the Gospel, lay hands on the sick, cast out devils, and the things Jesus Commissioned, by and through the Same Holy Spirit Who did these things through Christ.

     How does He do it?  The Word says, "As He chooses."  To whom does He choose to administrate these Gifts?  "To those who believe."  If you don't believe that He will do these things through you, the He will find another who does believe and do these things through them.  This is where the saying, "Not everyone can do these things" came from.  Everyone who believes and has the Holy Spirit living in them, not only can, but should be doing these things.  It's time for signs and wonders to be done, in the Name of Jesus Christ.  This world desperately needs to see what we've been preaching.

     Peter writes about a lame man begging at the Gate Beautiful outside the Temple, in Acts 3:15-16 (Amp), "But you killed the very Source, the Author of Life, Whom God has raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And His Name, through and by faith in His Name, has made this man whom you see and recognize well and strong."  We witness many such believers as Stephen and Philip, who weren't Apostles, preaching the Gospel with signs following, by and through faith in His Name."  This is the Holy Spirit showing Himself, through those He chooses. 

     When giving The Great Commission, Jesus said that, "These signs will accompany those who believe in My Name."  If you don't believe this, then how can the Holy Spirit work these signs and wonders through you?  We're only required to believe in the Name of Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to move as He chooses, demonstrating God's Power and Love through us, to a dying world.

Lesson 84 The Church's Identity Crisis

     Ephesians 5:8-10 (Amp) says, "For once you were darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light, lead the lives of those native-born to the Light. For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light, or the Spirit consists in every form of kindly Goodness, uprightness of heart and truthiness of life; and try to learn in your experience what is pleasing to the Lord, let your lives be constant proof of what is most acceptable to Him."

     1John 1:7 (Amp) says, "But if we really are living and walking in the Light, as He Himself is in the Light, we have true unbroken fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt, keeps us cleansed from sin in all it's forms and manifestations."

     Paul tells us in the first scripture that, "we were once darkness, but now we are Light in the Lord."  Paul didn't say that we were in darkness, but that we were darkness, and that we are now Light in the Lord.  We've never walked in this Light before and we still don't understand how to walk as Light.  The Psalmist writes in Psalm 23:4 (Amp), "Yes, though I walk through the deep, sunless valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me. Your rod to protect me and Your staff to guide, they comfort me."  

     This world is the "valley of the shadow of death."  Jesus said that He "came that we might have Life," but most haven't fully understood His Words.  We now live in the Light which illuminates our paths, as we walk through the valley.  Satan is the god of this world and too many succumb to premature death, because his entire mission is to "steal, kill, and destroy."  Only Light can show us how to walk through this life, instead of being swallowed up in the darkness.

     The only way we can live in the valley of the shadow of death, is by the guiding Light and the Holy Spirit.  We will of course live on with the Lord after we leave this valley, but we still have a place and purpose here, so we must learn how to navigate in this hostile world.  We need to know how to walk in the Light.  Psalm 119:130 (Amp) says, "The entrance and unfolding of Your Words gives Light, their unfolding gives understanding, discernment and comprehension to the simple."

     We must know and understand God's Word, in order to "walk in the Light as He is in the Light."  Jesus said, "I only do what I hear My Father say."  The Word of God was His Light and showed Jesus the way.  Many today have disregarded much of God's Word and have fallen back into walking in the darkness.  This doesn't mean that the darkness is in them, but that they are in the darkness.  There is no darkness in their spirit man/woman, but is in the old man/woman who hasn't renewed his/her mind.  They've allowed themselves to walk in the natural, rather than the Super-natural things of God.  Proverbs 16:25 (Amp) says, "There is a way that seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death."  If we don't have the Light of God's Word guiding us, then we might not be able to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, in the natural.

     Many things in the natural life don't provide Light to show us where to walk.  We've been taught many things about God's Word that come from a carnal viewpoint, so they don't bring Light.  Man's ideas of what they think God's Word says, can leave us in the darkness.  Psalm 119:30 tells us that, "The entrance and unfolding of God's Word gives Light."  The True Light will actually illuminate our pathway, only when the Word enters into us.  Some ridicule readers of God's Word, but I would rather be ridiculed for being a man of God's Word, rather than being a blind man.

     Jesus said that, "They have ears, but they don't hear and have eyes, but don't see."  These are those who still walk in the darkness of a carnal mind and not in the Light.  Religion and reality aren't the same thing.  Religion isn't truly Light, bit is still a shadow.  The prince of darkness, satan, comes only to steal, kill and destroy and he depends on darkness to hide his work and strategies from us.  Light will stop satan in his tracks.  If you're unaware of his strategies, then you're still in darkness and without Light to see by.  The Psalmist prays in Psalm 119:133 (Amp), "Establish my steps and direct them by means of Your Word; let not any iniquity have dominion over me."

     Some would say, "I don't think I need to do all of that, in order to get to Heaven."  They're right of course, but they might get there sooner than they thought, by not allowing the Word to keep them walking in the Light.  It shouldn't be a chore to read God's Word.  God says that we are to "Delight ourselves in His Word."  If it's a chore, then it's religion and if it's joy, then it's truly Light to our paths.  This isn't something everyone is doing, but is individual worship and precious fellowship with the Father, as He directs our paths.  Some believers will read God's Word and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, while others won't.  The choice is ours.  Both might be saved, but both aren't walking in the Light of that salvation.  It's healing to some, but those walking in the darkness believe "God is testing me."  Which are you?  James 1:17 (Amp) says, "Every Good Gift and every perfect Gift comes down from the Father of all that gives Light."