Developing the New Creation Lesson 4

      Proverbs 18:14 (Amp) says, "The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?"  Proverbs 25:28 (Amp) says, "He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls."

     The new creation person was born when we received Jesus as our Savior and must be fed on the Spiritual food of God's Word, in order to develop into what he/she was born to be.  Babies born in the natural world has all the attributes of their father, but these are undeveloped while still a children.  Healthy babies have the same organs, muscle, bone structure and brain capacity that their father has, but these must be developed.  1Peter 2:2 (Amp) says, "Like new born babies you should crave (thirst for, eagerly desire) the pure, unadulterated Spiritual milk [of the Word], that you may be nurtured and grow unto completed salvation."  The KJV says, "Desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby."

     As a child grows into maturity, he no longer requires someone else to feed him/her, because he/she learns how to feed itself.  When they are small and depend on someone else to feed them, then the person feeding them chooses what to feed them.  As they grow though, they can choose what they eat.  Proverbs 22:6 (Amp) says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and in keeping with his individual gift or bent, and when he is old [mature], he will not depart from it."

     Many Christians have tried raising up new babies in Christ, "in the way they should go," from our own denominational understanding of God's Word.  This isn't wrong, but sometimes it's not what makes the spirit strong and mature.  Many of us have been trained up by the world's view of Christianity, instead of the Biblical view of the Word.    So many of the old traditions have been passed on from generation to generation and prevail still today.

     God's people have been taught from these traditions that "Sometimes God will hold back on His Word, in order to teach us something."  Or, some have been taught that, "God doesn't perform miracles and healings, these things were only for the early Church" or that, "You never know what God will do."  Believing we were doing the right thing, we trained our children in these traditions, which created Christian people who have no knowledge of the "pure and unadulterated milk of the Word."  Children can only "take in"" what is fed to them, until we're old enough to determine their intake for ourselves.  When we're older, "we will not depart from it."  Thus, each generation teaches the old traditions and rituals of the past, instead of handing down the pure milk of the Word.

     Traditions won't be enough to build strong walls that are capable of withstanding the enemy's onslaught.  Many in today's Church have no idea how to combat the Spiritual warfare going on in the world around us.  We keep trying to use what we've been trained up in, with very little results.  This leads to doubt and unbelief, as well as feeling defeated, into the lives of many Christians.  We've been taught to "hang on," instead of "going through the Valley of the Shadow of death."  A soldier who doesn't know how to use his/her weapons and armor, is lost in battle.  

     God says in Hosea 4:6 (Amp), "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you, the priestly nation have rejected knowledge."  Jesus instructs us in Matthew 6:33 (Amp), "Seek first of all (aim at, strive for) God's Kingdom and His Righteousness."  There is a way that God's Kingdom works and there is no other way to make it work.  We keep trying to "make it work," by our own traditions and rituals, but we won't prevail in today's age, by doing this.  The kingdom of darkness has declared war and the weapons of natural man will not prevail against it.  Only the weapons of our warfare through God, will prevail.  I'm not implying that our confession of salvation is void, but we're still babies, who haven't grown up into the full grown potential in Christ Jesus.

     God still loves us and we're still saved, but we've allowed ourselves to become victims instead of victors, by not knowing how to use what God has given us.  Many believers don't spend much time reading God's Word and if we do, then our hearts are clouded by the traditions we've been taught and we're unable to see the Truth of what God's Word is saying to us.  Upon entering the army, the drill instructor taught us how to use the weapons provided to us, so that we would prevail against the enemy.  Pastors are the Church's drill instructors, but many have failed to teach God's people how to use the weapons of our warfare, leaving us unable to prevail against the kingdom of darkness.

     We must develop a strong spirit, by understanding God's Kingdom and the weapons He has provided us with.  Ancient cities were walled for protection, but Proverbs 25:28 (Amp) says, "He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls."  A city with broken down or is without walls, is defenseless under the enemy's attacks.  Some don't realize that we have an enemy who is out to "steal, kill and destroy" them.  We must learn God's way of doing and being right, by reading His Word and not tradition.  

     Ephesians 6:10-18 lists the armor that God has provided for us and tells us that God's Word is the "Sword of the Spirit" or weapon.  We are instructed to put on the Armor of God, but baby Christians can't do this for him/herself, only the developed new creation child of God can do this.  As we grow up into Christ Jesus, we learn to do like we're instructed by His Word and are "Strong in the Lord and the Power of His Might."  The Armor of God isn't a metaphor or Parable, but is a real Armor God provides for our protection in warfare against the devil.  We're instructed to "Go from milk to meat," so we can grow from babies into mature children of God.  We can only do this, by feeding our new creation spirits on God's Word.  Jesus said that, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God."  Our new creation man/woman is made in God's Image and will only develop and grow, by reading His Word and listening to His Holy Spirit, Who will reveal the Truth of God's Word to us.

Developing the New Creation Lesson 3

     God's Church has been fighting a spiritual battle from the outside-in, instead of from the inside-out.  We've tried disciplining our flesh by willpower and ritual, instead of strengthening the spirit man by God's Word and His Spirit, so it can rule the flesh.  It seems like we've nearly lost sight of the Super-natural ability of the new creation person altogether.  We were created a new creation in the Image of God, by the new birth.  We've established traditions, rituals and our own way of doing things, in order to satisfy ourselves.  We're like those Paul writes about in Romans 10:2-3 (Amp), where he says, "I bear them witness that they have a certain zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to correct and vital knowledge. For being ignorant of the Righteousness God ascribes which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought and deed, and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) on their own they did not obey or submit themselves to God's Righteousness."

     Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33 (Amp), "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."  We try making ourselves righteous, but the flesh can never become righteous by ritual or by following man-made  traditions.  The flesh must be ruled by the new creation spirit man/woman who was made Righteous by Jesus' Righteousness, in order to submit to the Righteousness of God.

     The new creation is strengthened and ruled by God's Word and His Spirit, not by man-made rules or by works.  Our spirit became a new creation, not our flesh.  Proverbs 25:28 (Amp) says, "He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls."  Ancient cities were protected and built behind walls.  If the walls protecting a city weren't strong, then that city could be easily overtaken.  The wall protecting us, is the strength of our spirit man/woman through the new creation by God's Word and reliance on God and His way of doing and being right.

     We must step out of the carnal thoughts of the flesh, in order to accept the Truth that we are truly Righteous in God's eyes.  We must accept the Truth of God's Word in our spirit.  The flesh will say, "You're not really righteous, but you can become righteous by your works."  This lie of the devil keeps us under condemnation and will keep us trying to become righteous by our works.  This keeps our walls broken down and open to the enemy's attack.  We must build strong walls from the inside and not the outside.

     Many of the traditions we've learned over the past two-thousand years, are based more on the Law and not on God's Grace.  We're fighting with our flesh and trying to make it Righteous, which is something we will never accomplish, when we are to strengthen the inner man/woman by the Truth of God's Word and the indwelling of His Spirit.  We're to build strong walls by faith in what God says and not in the ideas of man.  We're to abstain from sin,of course, but this is better done from the strength of our spirit, instead of constantly trying to make the flesh behave by willful discipline.  Our walls are made strong by the spirit and not the rituals of man.

     The only thing that can make our spirit man/woman stronger, is God's Word.  Nothing can replace God's Word and the Spiritual discernment of His Word by the Holy Spirit, in the development of the new creation man/woman.  Reading God's Word in a carnal mind, only brings about more carnal, religious rituals and traditions.  We miss the Revelation of His Truth, when we try to read God's Word with a carnal mind.  We each have the responsibility to spend time reading God's Word.

     The Holy Spirit inspires Peter to write in 1Peter 2:2 (Amp), "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire), the pure unadulterated Spiritual milk that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto completed salvation."  The King James Version says, "Desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby."  The only thing that brings maturity and growth, is God's Word.  This isn't found by only hearing a weekly church service, but through privately seeking and spending personal time in God's Word.

     Our carnal mind can't comprehend that there is a God, so the only way to "know" God is by His Word and His Spirit.  Our senses certainly can't encompass Him.  Only our spirit man/woman can receive Him and only His Word can reveal Him to us.  Growing into complete maturity in our Spiritual lives and building strong walls, requires God's Word and the Revelation His Spirit gives us about His Word.

Developing the New Creation Lesson 2

     Have you ever wondered why we have so many different denominations and beliefs, based the same Bible?  Some belief one thing, while others believe something else.  Which is right and which one is not? You  cannot know which voice to follow, unless you do as Romans 12:2 (Amp) says and "Not conformed to the world or this age" or haven't renewed your mind by God's Word?  We have been trained to learn, instead of being trained to think.  We must renew our minds by God's Word and stop listening to what the world says.

     American children are being taught an entirely foreign history in public schools, than the one we were taught.  The history books of today, read nothing like the true history of our nation.  They're being trained to learn, but not to think and seek out the truth for themselves.  Every believer must seek God for him/herself and renew our minds with His Word, so that we can know and follow the Voice of the Shepherd.  We each have the responsibility of seeking and hearing Him for ourselves.  If we know His Voice, then we won't be led astray or follow a "Judas goat," who is leading some sheep to the slaughter house, instead of the Master's House.

     Many believers today, learn and trust the mainstream news media, instead of learning from God's Word for themselves.  The only way we can really "know" God, is by knowing Jesus.  Jesus said, "When  you see Me, you see the Father. I only do what I see Him do, say what I hear Him say, go where He tells Me to go. He and I are One."  Jesus also said, "It's not Me, but the Father in Me, Who does the work." 

     Many today are still walking under the Law, while trying to obtain the Grace that Jesus has brought, because they have failed to see that Jesus was, and still is, the revealed will and Presence of God Himself.  God didn't change what He said, He fulfilled it in Jesus.  Paul tells us in Romans 12:2, "Be not conformed to the world's way of thinking, but renew your minds by God's Word."  This is pertinent to who we are in Christ Jesus.  Everything we know and have heard about our Father before being born-again, came through the knowledge of the world's point of view.  We were taught to learn, but not to think.  Sadly, many learned to the point where they no longer believe God exists.

     Many public schools teach evolution, instead of creation.  Prayers and Bibles have been removed from our schools today.  Paul says in 2Corinthians 10:5 (Amp), "In as much as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings, every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the True knowledge of God, and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."

     We must think with the mind of Christ, instead of being conformed to the world's mindset.  We are a new creation people, who are born of the Spirit of God and we must renew our minds by the Word, in order to bring our previous understanding into subjection to the Word and God's Spirit.  Paul instructs us to "Lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ."  "Lead away captive" implies that what is held captive, doesn't have freedom to think it's own way.  We must renew the old thoughts and ways we followed before being born-again, so we can follow "God's way of doing and being right," like Matthew 6:33 says.

     Some of the things we've been taught are right, but other things might not be.  Before we knew and were called to walk by the Word, we didn't know what which was right.  Now that we're born-again, we have the Holy Spirit living in our own spirit and can rightly divide the Word, by renewing our mind in Truth.  This is an individual responsibility every believer has.  We won't be able to say to the Lord, "I'm sorry I did this, but that is what so and so said to do and I believed him."  We must know and follow the Voice of the Good Shepherd, so we can hear Him say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant," when we come before Him.

     We each have been given "the measure of faith."  Romans 12:3 (KJV) says that "You are responsible to develop your own faith, which is the faith of Jesus Himself."  Paul writes in Galatians 2:20 (Amp), "I have been crucified with Christ, in Him I have shared His crucifixion; it is no longer I who lives, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the Body I live by faith in the adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in, the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

     We are part of the Body of Christ, but we have different parts to play, so the Body can function properly.  We're all called to adhere to certain things, but we each have an individual part to play.  You must hear the Voice of the Shepherd for yourself, so you can know His will for you.  We've relied on someone else's faith, in our walk with Jesus.  God freed the people from Egypt's bondage, but the people depended on the faith of ten spies to hear His Voice, causing them to die in the Wilderness, instead of entering the Promised Land, in Numbers 13-14.

     You've been given God's Own faith, which is a Spiritual force that came with receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  God didn't give you a lesser amount of faith than He gave others, but you received enough faith to do everything He asks of you.  Thank God for the men and women who hold crusades where miracles and healings are performed.  Don't put your faith in their faith though, but develop your own faith to do His will and help others in doing so.  All God has ever needed is someone who has enough faith to hear the Voice of the Shepherd for him/herself and who will follow that Voice.

     When God called me to move or follow His Voice, not all the sheep heard that Voice.  It wasn't for everyone to hear, but for the one He called.  Many called me crazy or misled, when I told them what God called me to do.  I could have followed the rest of the sheep, instead of hearing the Shepherd's Voice for myself, but I chose to follow Him.  We must train our spirit to know, trust and follow His Voice, so we can fulfill the calling and purpose God has for each of us.

     In Galatians 1:11-12 (Amp) Paul says, "For I want you to know brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not a man's gospel (a human invention), according to or patterned after any human standard For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through a direct Revelation given by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."  Many voiced their disagreement with Paul, but He knew the Voice of the Good Shepherd for himself and followed that Voice.  Peter had a confrontation with Paul, because Peter taught that salvation is for the Jew and not the Gentile. Paul knew the Voice of God and adhered to His Voice though, because he received the Revelation directly from Jesus and followed His Voice.

     Every believer is required to know the Father's Voice for our own lives.  If God calls you to go to minister to a certain person, then He shouldn't need to tell the whole flock of sheep.  If you keep putting your faith in someone else's faith to hear from God, then you might miss when He speaks to you.  God gave you the faith, which makes you able to hear Him.  Don't let the faith he gave you be determined by someone else's faith.  We must have faith in the faith He gave us and learn to hear the Shepherd's Voice over the bleating of the sheep that are still in the sheep fold.

     There are many people who need Jesus and you might be the one they will hear.  In order for them to hear, you must first hear Him.  Put faith in your faith and be led by the Voice that guides it.  Many marvel at the ability of other Christians and put their faith in their ability to pray, heal, and hear from God.  They follow the voice of others and use their faith, instead of relying on their own God-given faith.  We must use the measure of faith God has given us and listen to the Voice that activates it.    

     

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Developing the New Creation Lesson 1

       We're back again in 2021!  Thank you for all the prayers.  God is Good.

     1Peter 2:2 (Amp) says, "Like new born babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire), the pure, unadulterated Spiritual milk of the Word, that by it you may be nurtured and grow into completed salvation."

     Jesus speaks about the Good Shepherd in John 10:4-5 (Amp), "When He has brought His Own sheep outside, He walks on before them, and the sheep follow Him because they know His Voice, they will never (on any account), follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers and recognize their call."  I've heard many believers say, "God never speaks to me, like He does with others."  And, even if they're told, "God told me to do this," then they don't believe it or sarcastically ask, "Oh, God speaks to you?"

     I witnessed many Israeli citizens who have a sheep fold, which is like a parking lot for the sheep.  Many shepherds leave their sheep there, when arriving in town to shop for supplies.  There might be only 15 or 20 sheep in the sheep fold at any time.  When the shepherds have finished their business and are ready to return home, they call their sheep out of the flock.  Every sheep raises it's head and looks around, but only the sheep belonging to the shepherd who calls out, separates from the flock and follows the shepherd out.  His sheep, by association, know and trust his voice.  This was such a simple illustration to me and I realized it came from "knowing Him" in a way that is more intimate than a casual relationship.

     Every individual sheep builds this relationship with the Good Shepherd, because His Voice never changes and they come to know His Voice.  The shepherds didn't call each sheep by name and didn't need to call each one with a different voice, because each sheep knew it for itself.  Christians too, must come to a place in our own lives where we don't need someone else to recognize God's Voice, but can recognize it for ourselves.

     The Church still somehow sees God the Father and Jesus, as being two different Persons.  Many see Jesus in His earthly ministry, as being different from God in the first covenant.  We see God in one Light and Jesus in a different light.  We've tried to fit both into our lives, but have failed to know the Voice of the One Who calls us.  Jesus encountered the same problem when preaching Grace to people under the Law.  They didn't know the Voice that called them.  God didn't change, the people did. 

     Prior to Jesus' ministry, God required certain things of His people, in order to be able to do what He had always desired to do.  His people were still carnal and couldn't do what was needed to walk and follow His people.  God placed Laws in their midst, so they could follow by the flesh, until He could get Jesus into the earth.

     The sheep in the sheep fold didn't follow the other sheep, because they had learned to know and follow the Voice of the Master.  Today, we try following other sheep, instead of the Voice of the Master.  If some of the sheep don't recognize His Voice and refuse to follow it, then we choose to stay behind with those sheep.  Each sheep must become familiar with the Voice of the Master, instead of relying on someone else.  Every flock of sheep is made up of individuals and must know the Shepherd's Voice for him/herself.

     Many are still confused by trying to please and walk before two different Gods.  They see the God of the first covenant and God of the last covenant, and don't know which to follow.  They follow other sheep instead of listening to the Voice of the Shepherd and remain in the sheep fold, instead of the "green pastures and still waters" of Psalm 23.  We must know the Truth that the Voice of Jesus is the Voice of God for our lives.  We must recognize and listen to God's Voice and know His will for our lives, as we walk with Him.

     Romans 12:2 (Amp) says, "Do not be conformed to this world (age), fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs, but be transformed (changed), by the entire renewal of your mind (by it's new ideals and it's new attitude), so that you may prove for yourselves what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect in His sight for you."  Do you know what God's will for your life is?

     We know that, as a whole, God's will is that "All should be saved and come to the knowledge of the Lord," but we also know that not all are saved or have the knowledge of God.  Can God's will be ignored and passed over in someone's life?  Yes, it can be.  Was it God's will that millions of unborn babies be aborted?  No, the Word says that God had plans for them from the womb, but those plans never came to pass.  If we don't know or choose not to follow the Voice of the Shepherd, then the Plans God has for our lives might not come to pass.