1Peter2:2(Amp) says, "Like newborn 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 unto completed salvation." I can't stress how important it is that Christians be in God's Word. Jesus said in John6:63(Amp), "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."
The new Life we receive in our spirit, when we are born-again, can only grow and mature into completed salvation, by the Word of God. We can't grow in the fullness of what God has for us, by only hearing the Word on Sunday mornings from our pastors. We must learn to feed ourselves by reading and meditating on the Word ourselves, so that we know what God wants to do for and through us. If we follow the masses and "go with the flow," then we will remain babes in Christ, making it difficult for God to use us. These might be born-again believers and are saved children of God, but they lack the Truth of God's Word and are unable to step out on their faith, in order to be used by Him. Every Christian has the Holy Spirit living in us and if we have faith in His Word, God's Spirit will do mighty works through us. Jesus is the Word of God and we must learn to hear and obey God's Word, in order to know Him and His ability in our lives.
Many spend more time in their prayer lives, than in God's Word. Our prayers haven't come to pass, because we don't know what God's Word says and His will is, when we pray. Chris Tomlin sing, "I'm not just hoping; I'm not just wishing. I know I'm praying to a God Who listens." So many struggle to know God's will when they pray. Many don't understand the difference between how God dealt with those under the First and Last covenants.
Those in the old covenant were brought into captivity to their flesh, because they weren't born-again. The flesh couldn't keep the Law and was still subject to captivity by the Curse of the Law. Today, we have God's Own Spirit living in us and the Curse of the Law has been removed by the Blood of our Sacrifice Lamb, Jesus. Gal.3:13-14(Amp) says, "Christ purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the Curse, doom of the Law, and it's condemnation by Himself becoming a Curse for us; for it is written in the scriptures, Curse is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified); To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus (the Messiah), the Blessing Promised to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we, through faith [not Law] might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."
In order to understand what the above scripture means in the life of this new creation, we must learn who we've now become in this new birth and by the Word of God, receive what Jesus died to give us. In the above scripture, the Holy Spirit reveals the Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ, where Jesus leaves all He gained on Calvary to us, by sealing His will with His Own Blood. We're the recipients of Jesus' Last Will and Testament and that can't be changed by anyone or anything, nor can it be defaulted. It is forever settled in Heaven!
The recipient of a will receives the inheritance, after the Testator dies. When Jesus left this will, it became valid for all believers when He died and rose again. It's now ours by the Blood covenant made between Jesus and the Father. Carnal man/woman couldn't uphold their end of the old covenant, so God didn't make the new covenant with carnal, natural man. The new covenant was between God and Jesus and when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we became heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus. This covenant is unchangeable and unbreakable and stands through all eternity. God can't break it and Jesus wouldn't break it.
Learning from God's Word and His Spirit, is much different than learning it by carnal minded men. If we don't renew our minds by the Truth of God's Word, even after being born-again, then we'll remain carnal minded and won't have faith in the Promises of God. Jesus told us in John 6:63(Amp), "The Words (Truths) I speak are Spirit and Life" and "the flesh (carnal mind) has no benefit whatever." Our natural, carnal minds can't understand the Spirit Realm of God and must be renewed by God's Word, which is Spirit.
Many traditions in today's Church, came from well-meaning Christian people who interpreted God's Word with carnal minds. There will never be Power in a carnal understanding of God's Word. The importance of reading and meditating on God's Word is left up to the individual and becomes the sole responsibility of each believer. Jesus admonished in Mark4:24(Amp), "Be careful what you are hearing." All words are seeds and we must not allow seeds of doubt, carnality, or fear be sown and grow in our new creation spirits. We must only allow the Seeds of God's Word and the Holy Spirit to grow in us.
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