2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Himself)."
Most of us attended twelve years of school, before graduating. Many of us believe that this is all the education required for a successful life, but some desire to gain a fuller education. We don't use everything we learned throughout our twelve years of learning, but no day goes by without our using something we learned at school. It might be something as trivial as counting our change or reading a restaurant menu, but these are a pertinent part of our daily life.
We have so many, many things of God to learn about the new creation life, our Heavenly Father and His way of doing things. Many believers only wish to gain knowledge of those things that are necessary for daily living, just like some in the world. Many of us have received Jesus, began living a more prosperous life and then began to be comfortable in our walk, just like some in the world. It seems like many have become content with just being saved and going to Heaven when we die. That's enough for them.
I find that there is need for continued learning, even after living more than seven decades on earth. My generation was brought up without computers, cell phones, Facebook, apps, or many of the things that younger people consider a common part of today's life. Man can get by without some of these things, but many would suffer separation anxiety if they had to live without these things. Some of these modern marvels separate us from personal interactions.
I have always found that purposely seeking out the wisdom of God, has opened many doors to the Kingdom, that I would never have known if I had stopped at just being saved. I don't look at a checklist every morning that leads me through the Word, just like I don't look at a checklist to walk daily in this realm. However, I do use the things the Holy Spirit shows me, at any point, during my daily life here. There are only two ways of dealing with anything in life. We either go the way of the Word or we go the way of the world.
Every situation that arises in our everyday life, will be dealt with either of these two ways. If we continue dealing with these situations like we did before being born-again, then we will get the same results we had before being born-again. Someone said that, "Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over, and expecting different results." If the things that didn't work before, are the things we keep doing after being saved, then why do we think things will change?
The door to God's wisdom has been opened to "whosoever will." There is no place where the Lord has determined we should not come to know Him better. There are many ways we can come to know Him better, but all of them are by the Spirit. We don't and never will know Him by the flesh and our natural senses, because GOD IS A SPIRIT. When we were born-again, our spirit was made like unto Him and that's how we know Him.
I recently shared with the congregation, one of the most important things I have adopted in my own life, after being born-again. It's really a very simply thing, but it's of the upmost importance. After being saved, we bought the entire Bible on CD and played the Word nightly. The last thing I heard before going to sleep, was the Word of God that was being directly fed into my spirit. This brought peace to my body, so my flesh could actually rest, it brought rest and strength to my spirit and it brings health and healing to my flesh. Proverbs 4:22 (Amplified) says that, "God's Words are Life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh."
When I wake up in the morning, my mind is clear, my flesh is rested and my awareness of the Lord is sharper than when I went to bed. I've also discovered that I know the Word from the inside and not just from memory. As I sleep, the Lord is able to reveal Himself to me, in ways that the noise and confusion of the world doesn't always let me hear. Some might say this is foolish thinking, but hearing the Word while sleeping, has been a great source of strength and revelation in my life.
There's nothing that says you must do this to be saved, but it is essential to my spiritual growth. I've never been a Christian who's content with just being saved. I've always wanted to know the One Who created all things. Hearing the Word during the night, is like having my Heavenly Father reading me a bedtime story. The Word feeds straight into my spirit, without my mind interfering with the process. This has become a way for Truth and Life to enter my spirit.
I previously blogged about "How far is too far, with our walk with God?" Some might say, listening to the Bible every night, is too far, but it is a great way to learn the Word and build up your faith in God's Word. This isn't a religious chore or a duty we must perform for the Lord but it's a way to know Him better, because "Faith comes by hearing" according to Romans 10:17. Hearing God's Word throughout the night while I sleep, builds my faith in God's Word when I'm awake.
In Joshua 1:8 (Amplified) God told Joshua, "This Book of the Law (or God's Word) shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success." If this would work for Joshua, then it will also work for us, especially now that we are a new creation.
It's not always easy to find the time, stop everything you're doing and then reading God's Word Satan will make sure that a million things will come up. Jesus said in Mark 4:18-19 (Amplified), "And the ones sown among the thorns are others who hear the Word then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasures and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness and passionate desires for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word and it becomes fruitless."
Notice how the things that arise aren't always sinful things, but are everyday things of life in this realm. It can be something so simple as attending your child's softball games, going camping or many other things that steal time with the Word. These are things we enjoy in life, but they are often distractions from spending time in the Word. Listening to the Word while I sleep, allows me to enjoy these things and still meditate on God's Word. I can still do all the things like being a husband, father, friend and grandfather while I'm awake, while not neglecting time for the Word.
You might ask, "Am I still a good Christian, even if I don't do this?" Yes, you're still a good Christian. It only means that you don't do this. I want to know the Father and the secret things of His heart, so I use my sleep time as hearing time. Since my spirit never sleeps and my body does, I can strengthen my spirit and my body simultaneously. My soul (my mind, my will and my emotions) is also restored, according to Psalm 23:3 (Amplified) which says, "He restores my soul."
This little tidbit might aid in your attempt to have more time in God's Word. You can buy the entire Bible online for about $60.00 and in many different translations and languages. Try it and see for yourself.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Monday, February 13, 2017
Lesson 169 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
The above scripture tells us that our previous (old) moral and spiritual condition has passed away and that "all things have become new." We seem to have have difficulty truly believing this is true in our own lives, because we still live mostly in our carnal nature and are more aware of that nature, than we are in our new creation identity. We've been so tied down to our own past failures, that it's hard for us to see ourselves in the victory that Jesus has delivered us into, by His death and resurrection.
This has left us trying to function simultaneously, in two very separate realms of existence. Jesus told His followers in John 17:11 (Amplified) that, "They are in this world, but they are not of this world, even as I am not of this world." We're no more a "part" of this world, than Jesus is. We've have two-thousand years of culture and teachings, that fostered out identity as being "part of this world," but now we are suddenly removed from all we'd been taught and placed into an entirely new identity. We still know how to operate as "mere men," but somehow have failed to develop our new nature to operate in it. And, this has led to our returning to a religious mode, that we function in totally without the spirit man.
We keep the rituals and fleshly observances of the Law, but we cannot seem to grasp what the new nature and spirit truly means. We try hearing the Voice of God with great difficulties and then we don't trust our new man to lead us into the Truth. We've seen how such men as Jim Jones and others, led men into foolish things and their destruction, that we don't dare to enter into anything that seems unfamiliar. Satan has used this as a mighty weapon to keep the new creation living in the same carnal existence for millenniums.
As long as he can rule us with this fear, satan can still rule over the new creation people, like he has for too long. Some brave believers have tried stepping into the Super-natural things of the Holy Spirit, but we viewed them as "special people God chose for such things. Very few believers realized that this is the place where all God's people are called to be living and doing the work. We are truly a new creation family in God and the Father wishes to "Do the work in us," just like He did in Jesus. We read this about Jesus, but believe that the miracles only happened because He was Jesus.
We've never developed faith in the fact that this same Father now lives in each and every new creation being, on this planet. Denoting that we can walk like Jesus walked, brings outcries of rage from God's people and some even accuse us of blaspheming God. We believe that Jesus' Words were Truth, but then we put His Words into such categories as being "passed away" or "for another time" or for "when we get to Heaven."
Have you ever wondered why we would need the power to heal the sick or raise the dead or cast out devils when we get to Heaven? There are no sick, dead, or demons in the New Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus instructed us to set people from satan's grip, while we are here on earth. Our faith has been retrained by our fear, to where we're not very successful in our prayer lives. We're still debating about what God's will is for mankind, when this should be settled in the believer's heart after reading Jesus saying, "When you have seen Me, you have seen the Father."
Jesus came to do the will of the Father and everything He did was God's will. Did Jesus heal the sick? Then that's God's will. Did He cast out demons? Then that's God's will. We could continue with these examples, but you get the idea. We console ourselves with religious ideas of what God's will is and it relives us from the responsibility of walking in the Super-natural realm of the new creation, because it is the "Father in you," that is to do the work.
Why do we look at our own incapability, instead of His capability? We feel like our pride is at stake, when we fail at what we're doing or not doing. We think to ourselves, "What if laying hands on so-and-so doesn't work?" If the Father is doing the work, then how can it not work? Learning to trust the Father to work both in and through us, like He did in Jesus, is what separates us from the world and unites us with our new identity.
If we could realize that it's not only the Father's will, but also the Father's ability, then we can enter int without fear of failure. We've been so fearful of making a mistake, but the biggest mistake we could make if doing nothing at all. We will never succeed, unless we first try. How can we hurt anyone by praying for them anyway? Jesus said "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." The only thing we're required to do, is to lay hands on them and it's His responsibility to heal them. We're simply releasing God in us, by following instructions from His Word.
People have lived thousands of years without airplanes, because no one ever made one that could fly. The people who laughed and mocked the Wright Brothers, after they failed to fly their planes again and again. But, the laughter stopped when the plane flew. Now air travel is the number one mode of travel, for most people. Aren't you glad that someone didn't quit, because of prior failures?
The above scripture tells us that our previous (old) moral and spiritual condition has passed away and that "all things have become new." We seem to have have difficulty truly believing this is true in our own lives, because we still live mostly in our carnal nature and are more aware of that nature, than we are in our new creation identity. We've been so tied down to our own past failures, that it's hard for us to see ourselves in the victory that Jesus has delivered us into, by His death and resurrection.
This has left us trying to function simultaneously, in two very separate realms of existence. Jesus told His followers in John 17:11 (Amplified) that, "They are in this world, but they are not of this world, even as I am not of this world." We're no more a "part" of this world, than Jesus is. We've have two-thousand years of culture and teachings, that fostered out identity as being "part of this world," but now we are suddenly removed from all we'd been taught and placed into an entirely new identity. We still know how to operate as "mere men," but somehow have failed to develop our new nature to operate in it. And, this has led to our returning to a religious mode, that we function in totally without the spirit man.
We keep the rituals and fleshly observances of the Law, but we cannot seem to grasp what the new nature and spirit truly means. We try hearing the Voice of God with great difficulties and then we don't trust our new man to lead us into the Truth. We've seen how such men as Jim Jones and others, led men into foolish things and their destruction, that we don't dare to enter into anything that seems unfamiliar. Satan has used this as a mighty weapon to keep the new creation living in the same carnal existence for millenniums.
As long as he can rule us with this fear, satan can still rule over the new creation people, like he has for too long. Some brave believers have tried stepping into the Super-natural things of the Holy Spirit, but we viewed them as "special people God chose for such things. Very few believers realized that this is the place where all God's people are called to be living and doing the work. We are truly a new creation family in God and the Father wishes to "Do the work in us," just like He did in Jesus. We read this about Jesus, but believe that the miracles only happened because He was Jesus.
We've never developed faith in the fact that this same Father now lives in each and every new creation being, on this planet. Denoting that we can walk like Jesus walked, brings outcries of rage from God's people and some even accuse us of blaspheming God. We believe that Jesus' Words were Truth, but then we put His Words into such categories as being "passed away" or "for another time" or for "when we get to Heaven."
Have you ever wondered why we would need the power to heal the sick or raise the dead or cast out devils when we get to Heaven? There are no sick, dead, or demons in the New Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus instructed us to set people from satan's grip, while we are here on earth. Our faith has been retrained by our fear, to where we're not very successful in our prayer lives. We're still debating about what God's will is for mankind, when this should be settled in the believer's heart after reading Jesus saying, "When you have seen Me, you have seen the Father."
Jesus came to do the will of the Father and everything He did was God's will. Did Jesus heal the sick? Then that's God's will. Did He cast out demons? Then that's God's will. We could continue with these examples, but you get the idea. We console ourselves with religious ideas of what God's will is and it relives us from the responsibility of walking in the Super-natural realm of the new creation, because it is the "Father in you," that is to do the work.
Why do we look at our own incapability, instead of His capability? We feel like our pride is at stake, when we fail at what we're doing or not doing. We think to ourselves, "What if laying hands on so-and-so doesn't work?" If the Father is doing the work, then how can it not work? Learning to trust the Father to work both in and through us, like He did in Jesus, is what separates us from the world and unites us with our new identity.
If we could realize that it's not only the Father's will, but also the Father's ability, then we can enter int without fear of failure. We've been so fearful of making a mistake, but the biggest mistake we could make if doing nothing at all. We will never succeed, unless we first try. How can we hurt anyone by praying for them anyway? Jesus said "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." The only thing we're required to do, is to lay hands on them and it's His responsibility to heal them. We're simply releasing God in us, by following instructions from His Word.
People have lived thousands of years without airplanes, because no one ever made one that could fly. The people who laughed and mocked the Wright Brothers, after they failed to fly their planes again and again. But, the laughter stopped when the plane flew. Now air travel is the number one mode of travel, for most people. Aren't you glad that someone didn't quit, because of prior failures?
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Lesson 168 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
There has never existed a people on this planet before, like the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. This Body of Christ (the Anointed One, and His Anointing) is the most powerful force, that the world has ever seen. The Body of Christ is exactly that---His Body. We are His hands, His feet, His Voice, His nature and the manifestation of His Love and character. The only hands Jesus has to lay hands on the sick today, are in His Body. Jesus doesn't come back into this earth and lay His hands on everyone who is sick. He expects you and I to do that in His Name.
Jesus meant it when He said that, "It is the Father in Me, Who does the work." Now, by and through the Holy Spirit, we have the Father living in us too. Jesus still does only what the Father tells Him to do, but now we are to be taking instructions from Him in doing it. We've become so self-conscience over our own weaknesses (what if I lay hands on that person, and it doesn't work?), that we've forgotten to be God-conscious and remembering it's His power.
Many believe this is being prideful and puffed up and begin persecuting you, like they did in Jesus' day. This is part of suffering for His Name, as He suffered. Religion and deception have relinquished to being "as mere men," in satan's sight. God is now raising up this Joshua generation, in order to take the land and enter into "the rest." After God rescued the Israelites out of Egypt, the spies saw the giants in the Promised Land and reported, "We looked like mere ants in their sight" and didn't believe it was possible to enter the Land God promised them.
Hebrews 4:9-11 (Amplified) says, "So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath-rest reserved for the (true) people of God. For he who has once entered (God's) rest also has ceased from (the weariness and pain) of human labors, Just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His Own. Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest (of God) (to know and experience it for ourselves) that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience (into which those in the wilderness fell)."
The Israelites couldn't enter this "rest," because they couldn't see themselves supplying for their needs and because they forgot that it was God with them, doing the work. They couldn't rest in faith at God's provision for them (even after He delivered them from Pharaoh, parted the Red Sea & on & on). We've fallen into this same trap, when it comes to the Super-natural things of God. We know that we can't do these things of ourselves and have fallen into the same pattern of the Israelites.
God never intended for the people in the wilderness to take care of themselves, but to trust Him to meet their needs. They were more aware of their own weaknesses, than they were of His ability. They could only see self and it angered God, because they wouldn't trust Him to be God, in their midst. We have nearly forgotten that, "It's not [us], but the Father in us, Who does the works." It is the Father in us, Who still provides all that we need, through Christ Jesus.
We've read Philippians 4:19 (Amplified) as only being about our needs. We have even limited this scripture to our finances and wealth. Paul didn't even say it was about finances. He said that because of the people's love and giving to Paul's ministry, God would supply all their needs. Thus, Paul says, "And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Are we not "in Christ Jesus" and He is us?
Your every need is to be met, by the same power that met the needs of those in the wilderness. Now though, we are in Christ Jesus, we have His Name, we are His Body, we share His anointing, and we have the Father promise that He will meet our every need. You may have "need" of His ability to heal someone. You have have "need" to cast a demon out of someone. You may have "need" to raise someone from the dead. Paul said, "My God will meet your every need." We are to rest in this promise and not think that we have to do this alone or on our own.
2Corinthians 4:7 (Amplified) says, "However, we possess this precious treasure (the divine Light of the Gospel) in (frail human) vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves." We must remember that the Father in us will do the work and "enter into the rest." God never intended for you to do these things on your own, but to rest in Him, to do the work. We take our eyes off of Him and then the only thing we can see, is ourselves. Without Him, we can do nothing. Even Jesus made this statement about "the work" in John 5:30 (Amplified) saying, "I am able to do nothing from Myself (independently, of My Own accord-but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders)."
Jesus was always conscious of the Father in Him, to do the work. He walked in the rest of God in Him, at all times. The same Father Who did the work through Jesus, is the same Father Who wants to work through us. We are more conscious of our frail, human body of earth, that we won't rest and allow God's glory to be seen through us. Don't be deceived. Anyone who ever knew you, knows that you cannot do miracles then or now. They don't expect you too. When they see miracles and healings done through you, they know it is God the Father in you, Who does the work.
They Body of Christ is called to "enter into this rest,"trust that we have in Him living in us and that He will do the work. God did the work through the flesh and blood body of Christ Jesus, when He was on earth as a Man and He still does the same thing through the flesh and blood Body of Christ here and now. We are not to fall short by unbelief, like those in the wilderness. We are to enter into the rest in Him, to do the work.
There has never existed a people on this planet before, like the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. This Body of Christ (the Anointed One, and His Anointing) is the most powerful force, that the world has ever seen. The Body of Christ is exactly that---His Body. We are His hands, His feet, His Voice, His nature and the manifestation of His Love and character. The only hands Jesus has to lay hands on the sick today, are in His Body. Jesus doesn't come back into this earth and lay His hands on everyone who is sick. He expects you and I to do that in His Name.
Jesus meant it when He said that, "It is the Father in Me, Who does the work." Now, by and through the Holy Spirit, we have the Father living in us too. Jesus still does only what the Father tells Him to do, but now we are to be taking instructions from Him in doing it. We've become so self-conscience over our own weaknesses (what if I lay hands on that person, and it doesn't work?), that we've forgotten to be God-conscious and remembering it's His power.
Many believe this is being prideful and puffed up and begin persecuting you, like they did in Jesus' day. This is part of suffering for His Name, as He suffered. Religion and deception have relinquished to being "as mere men," in satan's sight. God is now raising up this Joshua generation, in order to take the land and enter into "the rest." After God rescued the Israelites out of Egypt, the spies saw the giants in the Promised Land and reported, "We looked like mere ants in their sight" and didn't believe it was possible to enter the Land God promised them.
Hebrews 4:9-11 (Amplified) says, "So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath-rest reserved for the (true) people of God. For he who has once entered (God's) rest also has ceased from (the weariness and pain) of human labors, Just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His Own. Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest (of God) (to know and experience it for ourselves) that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience (into which those in the wilderness fell)."
The Israelites couldn't enter this "rest," because they couldn't see themselves supplying for their needs and because they forgot that it was God with them, doing the work. They couldn't rest in faith at God's provision for them (even after He delivered them from Pharaoh, parted the Red Sea & on & on). We've fallen into this same trap, when it comes to the Super-natural things of God. We know that we can't do these things of ourselves and have fallen into the same pattern of the Israelites.
God never intended for the people in the wilderness to take care of themselves, but to trust Him to meet their needs. They were more aware of their own weaknesses, than they were of His ability. They could only see self and it angered God, because they wouldn't trust Him to be God, in their midst. We have nearly forgotten that, "It's not [us], but the Father in us, Who does the works." It is the Father in us, Who still provides all that we need, through Christ Jesus.
We've read Philippians 4:19 (Amplified) as only being about our needs. We have even limited this scripture to our finances and wealth. Paul didn't even say it was about finances. He said that because of the people's love and giving to Paul's ministry, God would supply all their needs. Thus, Paul says, "And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Are we not "in Christ Jesus" and He is us?
Your every need is to be met, by the same power that met the needs of those in the wilderness. Now though, we are in Christ Jesus, we have His Name, we are His Body, we share His anointing, and we have the Father promise that He will meet our every need. You may have "need" of His ability to heal someone. You have have "need" to cast a demon out of someone. You may have "need" to raise someone from the dead. Paul said, "My God will meet your every need." We are to rest in this promise and not think that we have to do this alone or on our own.
2Corinthians 4:7 (Amplified) says, "However, we possess this precious treasure (the divine Light of the Gospel) in (frail human) vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves." We must remember that the Father in us will do the work and "enter into the rest." God never intended for you to do these things on your own, but to rest in Him, to do the work. We take our eyes off of Him and then the only thing we can see, is ourselves. Without Him, we can do nothing. Even Jesus made this statement about "the work" in John 5:30 (Amplified) saying, "I am able to do nothing from Myself (independently, of My Own accord-but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders)."
Jesus was always conscious of the Father in Him, to do the work. He walked in the rest of God in Him, at all times. The same Father Who did the work through Jesus, is the same Father Who wants to work through us. We are more conscious of our frail, human body of earth, that we won't rest and allow God's glory to be seen through us. Don't be deceived. Anyone who ever knew you, knows that you cannot do miracles then or now. They don't expect you too. When they see miracles and healings done through you, they know it is God the Father in you, Who does the work.
They Body of Christ is called to "enter into this rest,"trust that we have in Him living in us and that He will do the work. God did the work through the flesh and blood body of Christ Jesus, when He was on earth as a Man and He still does the same thing through the flesh and blood Body of Christ here and now. We are not to fall short by unbelief, like those in the wilderness. We are to enter into the rest in Him, to do the work.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Lesson 167 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous spiritual and moral condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
Let's consider "The Beatitudes," in light of the new creation. Jesus speaks about "The Golden Rule" while expounding on "The Beatitudes." In Matthew 5:48 (Amplified), Jesus says, "You therefore, must be perfect (growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity), as your Heavenly Father is perfect."
In Verse 44 Jesus says, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." These are instructions for living in the new creation life, that Jesus came to give through His sacrifice. We cannot reach the realm of maturity or love, without the birth of this new creation. The principles Jesus instructed us to do, were impossible without the new birth. We've tried living "The Golden Rule" in the natural man and then found ourselves not measuring up to what God wants us to do. Even after being born-again, these simple teachings will evade us, unless our minds are renewed by God's Word and by submitting to the Holy Spirit.
In the natural, man cannot "love his enemy," like Jesus instructed. We have difficulties sometimes, even loving the brethren like Jesus said to do. We argue among ourselves about differences in our doctrines and denominations. We argue about things that some believe and do, because some believe these things have "passed away." There is no part of the new creation, that we can or are called to do, in the natural man. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified) that, "It is the Spirit Who gives Live (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."
Have you ever wondered about the things concerning Love, the Apostle Paul spoke of in 1Corinthians 13? The Love he spoke of is what Jesus was speaking about in "The Beatitudes." We can give to many charities and do good works by the flesh, but it profits us nothing in God's Kingdom. It's not what we do, as much as why we do it and how we do it. Even our church offerings aren't always acceptable to God, because do didn't give in Love or from the heart.
Your tithes and offerings aren't charitable donations, that help pay the light bill in your church or give the preacher some money. These are Spiritual Gifts to God, given in Thanks and gratitude for Who He is and to honor Him for His Truth. Everything we do after being born-again, takes on a new life of its own. The manner in which we raise our children and treat our spouses, is to be ruled now by the Spirit and the Word. It changes everything about our lives, because now our lives are not our own, but His.
This isn't some sort of bondage that religion imposes on us, but it is a liberty and blessing of the Spirit, that empowers us to live. After becoming new creations, everything we say or do, is all about the Spirit and not the flesh. Many have perverted the tithe and offerings, by relating "hard luck" stories and pressuring the people to give. This is strictly of the flesh, and not the Spirit. Tithes and offerings manifest from the heart (the new creation man) and expresses our love and honor for the Father. The dependence and honor you have for our Heavenly Father, are expressed in how much you honor Him for what He has (and is) doing in you.
It's not wrong to give to charities, but we are required when we give, to know where and what our giving is doing. There are many "good" things, that can use the blessing of God in them, but in order to involve the blessing, we must use and invoke the blessing of our new covenant, into the giving. The things we do in the new covenant, aren't religious things, but "living" things we are now able to do. Attending service on Sunday morning, isn't an obligation of religion, but an expression of our Love for the Father and the brethren. This should be an opportunity for the believer to bring their gifts (tithes, offerings, praise, Thanksgiving, worship and gratitude) for the Father, as family. It shouldn't be a "duty," but a privilege.
We've come to the place in our walk with God, where we've view religion as bondage, instead of liberty. I don't go to church on Sunday morning because it's my "job," but because it's my privilege. I suppose that people only think about the preacher's studying God's Word, in order to have something to preach. Most have probably never given much thought about the importance of the people praying and preparing their hearts, in order to "hear and receive" what is being taught.
It doesn't do much good to "sow seed on stony ground, according to what Jesus said in Mark 4:16
(Amplified). It's as important for the people to prepare their hearts to receive the seed, as is the importance for the preacher to prepare to sow the seed. Preachers are not acting or performing for an audience, but we are family at our Father's House. Worship isn't just singing some "slow" son, but it's a heart song. We don't have praise and worship service, in order to get everything in the mood, but to join as one in the Spirit of Worship. The word "worship," derives from "worth-ship." How much is He worth to you"
I've heard some say, "Well, I don't know these songs, that's why I'm going somewhere else, where I do know them." "Worth-ship" is not limited to knowing the words, but knowing the Lord. I love going to church in Mexico, when I'm with Gary and Steve Brewer. I don't understand or speak a word in Spanish, but I understand the people's hearts. When they enter into praise and worship, I simply sing in the Spirit and enter in with them. Those who still walk only in the flesh, cannot know His Presence unless they "feel" Him present. If He is only God when we feel His Presence, then most of the time He must not be God to us, because we don't "feel" Him in our lives.
Feelings are great when you get them, but they change and don't always determine God's Presence in your life, because they are of the flesh. If you allow your feelings determine whether God is present in your life, then 98% of the time, you will miss Him. When we live by faith, we will understand that God is always there, whether or not we feel Him. I've heard some people say, "I really feel the Lord, during praise and worship," that's because they are expressing their love. For others, though, worship is simply a move of their flesh and their emotions (that are gone as, soon as they've left the parking lot).
Worship is "doing the will of the Father and it is a way of life, not feelings. I'm thankful that feelings do arise sometimes when I worship, but Jesus said that, "[He] will never leave you or forsake you." This isn't a feeling, but a Truth. Worship is a way of life, for the new creation people. Our lives are to be a worship and revelation of Him, manifested to the world. We don't stop cussing and drinking because the church says we must, but we stop doing these things because it doesn't please the Father and we want to please Him.
Some things we do are religion, and some things are revelation. The revelation things we do, please Him, because they manifest as worship and honor towards Him. Doing the things outlined in "The Beatitudes" without God, are good things to do, but it's doing them mostly as an act of the flesh. When we rely on God, His Word and His Spirit to deliver us, we can always find worth-ship in our worship that comes from the heart. I love singing songs to Him, more than about Him. Both are good, but when I sing to Him, then I can sing in the Spirit and receive Spirit and revelation, that my understanding cannot express. When I sing about God, I am limited in my own intellect, as what to say. In my spirit, I am unlimited in my worship, because my spirit knows Him like my flesh has never achieved.
You might be reading this and wondering where you are in your own walk with Him. Our gathering together on Sunday morning (or whenever you get together) might not always be about your receiving, but for the sake of someone else. The Lord might wish to use you in the life of someone else, but you're so caught up in your own life that you are never there when He needs you. Or, you might believe there's nothing anyone can teach you, because you're so smart. Both of these things are of the flesh and not the spirit. Man loves to be religious, because he can fulfill all of the requirements and then feel "alright." God's requirement is for us to be His vehicle into the lives of others.
Your entire life (spirit, soul, and body) are a spiritual sacrifice for and to Him. We are to be available to God at all times in our worship, giving, offerings, tithes, praying, doing, and going. You are a worship at all times, in this world. You are the one who brings God into the presence of others, because He lives in you and walks in you. You are His hands, His feet, His Voice, and His love towards others.
Let's consider "The Beatitudes," in light of the new creation. Jesus speaks about "The Golden Rule" while expounding on "The Beatitudes." In Matthew 5:48 (Amplified), Jesus says, "You therefore, must be perfect (growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity), as your Heavenly Father is perfect."
In Verse 44 Jesus says, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." These are instructions for living in the new creation life, that Jesus came to give through His sacrifice. We cannot reach the realm of maturity or love, without the birth of this new creation. The principles Jesus instructed us to do, were impossible without the new birth. We've tried living "The Golden Rule" in the natural man and then found ourselves not measuring up to what God wants us to do. Even after being born-again, these simple teachings will evade us, unless our minds are renewed by God's Word and by submitting to the Holy Spirit.
In the natural, man cannot "love his enemy," like Jesus instructed. We have difficulties sometimes, even loving the brethren like Jesus said to do. We argue among ourselves about differences in our doctrines and denominations. We argue about things that some believe and do, because some believe these things have "passed away." There is no part of the new creation, that we can or are called to do, in the natural man. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified) that, "It is the Spirit Who gives Live (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."
Have you ever wondered about the things concerning Love, the Apostle Paul spoke of in 1Corinthians 13? The Love he spoke of is what Jesus was speaking about in "The Beatitudes." We can give to many charities and do good works by the flesh, but it profits us nothing in God's Kingdom. It's not what we do, as much as why we do it and how we do it. Even our church offerings aren't always acceptable to God, because do didn't give in Love or from the heart.
Your tithes and offerings aren't charitable donations, that help pay the light bill in your church or give the preacher some money. These are Spiritual Gifts to God, given in Thanks and gratitude for Who He is and to honor Him for His Truth. Everything we do after being born-again, takes on a new life of its own. The manner in which we raise our children and treat our spouses, is to be ruled now by the Spirit and the Word. It changes everything about our lives, because now our lives are not our own, but His.
This isn't some sort of bondage that religion imposes on us, but it is a liberty and blessing of the Spirit, that empowers us to live. After becoming new creations, everything we say or do, is all about the Spirit and not the flesh. Many have perverted the tithe and offerings, by relating "hard luck" stories and pressuring the people to give. This is strictly of the flesh, and not the Spirit. Tithes and offerings manifest from the heart (the new creation man) and expresses our love and honor for the Father. The dependence and honor you have for our Heavenly Father, are expressed in how much you honor Him for what He has (and is) doing in you.
It's not wrong to give to charities, but we are required when we give, to know where and what our giving is doing. There are many "good" things, that can use the blessing of God in them, but in order to involve the blessing, we must use and invoke the blessing of our new covenant, into the giving. The things we do in the new covenant, aren't religious things, but "living" things we are now able to do. Attending service on Sunday morning, isn't an obligation of religion, but an expression of our Love for the Father and the brethren. This should be an opportunity for the believer to bring their gifts (tithes, offerings, praise, Thanksgiving, worship and gratitude) for the Father, as family. It shouldn't be a "duty," but a privilege.
We've come to the place in our walk with God, where we've view religion as bondage, instead of liberty. I don't go to church on Sunday morning because it's my "job," but because it's my privilege. I suppose that people only think about the preacher's studying God's Word, in order to have something to preach. Most have probably never given much thought about the importance of the people praying and preparing their hearts, in order to "hear and receive" what is being taught.
It doesn't do much good to "sow seed on stony ground, according to what Jesus said in Mark 4:16
(Amplified). It's as important for the people to prepare their hearts to receive the seed, as is the importance for the preacher to prepare to sow the seed. Preachers are not acting or performing for an audience, but we are family at our Father's House. Worship isn't just singing some "slow" son, but it's a heart song. We don't have praise and worship service, in order to get everything in the mood, but to join as one in the Spirit of Worship. The word "worship," derives from "worth-ship." How much is He worth to you"
I've heard some say, "Well, I don't know these songs, that's why I'm going somewhere else, where I do know them." "Worth-ship" is not limited to knowing the words, but knowing the Lord. I love going to church in Mexico, when I'm with Gary and Steve Brewer. I don't understand or speak a word in Spanish, but I understand the people's hearts. When they enter into praise and worship, I simply sing in the Spirit and enter in with them. Those who still walk only in the flesh, cannot know His Presence unless they "feel" Him present. If He is only God when we feel His Presence, then most of the time He must not be God to us, because we don't "feel" Him in our lives.
Feelings are great when you get them, but they change and don't always determine God's Presence in your life, because they are of the flesh. If you allow your feelings determine whether God is present in your life, then 98% of the time, you will miss Him. When we live by faith, we will understand that God is always there, whether or not we feel Him. I've heard some people say, "I really feel the Lord, during praise and worship," that's because they are expressing their love. For others, though, worship is simply a move of their flesh and their emotions (that are gone as, soon as they've left the parking lot).
Worship is "doing the will of the Father and it is a way of life, not feelings. I'm thankful that feelings do arise sometimes when I worship, but Jesus said that, "[He] will never leave you or forsake you." This isn't a feeling, but a Truth. Worship is a way of life, for the new creation people. Our lives are to be a worship and revelation of Him, manifested to the world. We don't stop cussing and drinking because the church says we must, but we stop doing these things because it doesn't please the Father and we want to please Him.
Some things we do are religion, and some things are revelation. The revelation things we do, please Him, because they manifest as worship and honor towards Him. Doing the things outlined in "The Beatitudes" without God, are good things to do, but it's doing them mostly as an act of the flesh. When we rely on God, His Word and His Spirit to deliver us, we can always find worth-ship in our worship that comes from the heart. I love singing songs to Him, more than about Him. Both are good, but when I sing to Him, then I can sing in the Spirit and receive Spirit and revelation, that my understanding cannot express. When I sing about God, I am limited in my own intellect, as what to say. In my spirit, I am unlimited in my worship, because my spirit knows Him like my flesh has never achieved.
You might be reading this and wondering where you are in your own walk with Him. Our gathering together on Sunday morning (or whenever you get together) might not always be about your receiving, but for the sake of someone else. The Lord might wish to use you in the life of someone else, but you're so caught up in your own life that you are never there when He needs you. Or, you might believe there's nothing anyone can teach you, because you're so smart. Both of these things are of the flesh and not the spirit. Man loves to be religious, because he can fulfill all of the requirements and then feel "alright." God's requirement is for us to be His vehicle into the lives of others.
Your entire life (spirit, soul, and body) are a spiritual sacrifice for and to Him. We are to be available to God at all times in our worship, giving, offerings, tithes, praying, doing, and going. You are a worship at all times, in this world. You are the one who brings God into the presence of others, because He lives in you and walks in you. You are His hands, His feet, His Voice, and His love towards others.
Friday, February 3, 2017
Lesson 165 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
As I read through God's Word, I cannot help but wonder how we lost sight of the power of Jesus' Name. The modern Church uses the Name, but somehow it doesn't seem to hold the power that it did in the early Church. Many have simply dismissed this by saying, "God no longer does the miracles and healings that He did then," but that's not true according to Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) which says, "Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is (always) the same, yesterday, today, (yes) and forever (to the ages)."
Jesus told His followers in Mark 16:17- 20 (Amplified), "He who believes (who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth) and is baptized will be saved (from the penalty of eternal death); but he who does not believe (who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth) will be condemned. And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; they will pick up serpents and (even) if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them, they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied (it) Amen (So be it)."
Jesus also said in Luke 10:17-19 (Amplified) that, "The servant returned with joy, saying, Lord even the demons are subject to us in Your Name! And He said to them, I saw satan falling like a lightning (flash) from Heaven. Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and physical and mental strength and ability over all the power that the enemy (possesses) and nothing shall in any harm you."
Jesus made the above statements even before His resurrection saying, "My Name is above all names." How much more is it higher now, in the new creation people? Peter and John used the Name of Jesus at the Gate Beautiful and stunned the people with it's power, in Acts 3:16 (Amplified) which says, "And His Name, through and by faith in His Name, has made this man whom you see and recognize well and strong. (Yes) the faith which is through and by Him (Jesus) has given the man this perfect soundness (of body) before all of you."
Has Jesus' Name lost it's power or have we lost the sight of that Name? We use His Name in prayer and preaching, but then argue among ourselves as to what that Name is capable of doing. We've denied the Super-natural ability of His Name, in almost every aspect of its Super-natural authority. We no longer cast out demons, but medicate them into submission. We've all but forgotten healings and miracles, recommending good doctors instead. Thank God for good doctors, but they still haven't taken the place of His Name and faith in His Name.
As the new creation, we not only have His Name to use in authority and power, but we are actually "in Him," too. What have we lost in our modern Church that has take His place, as far as the Super-natural is concerned? We still believe for the new birth, but have almost limited the Name to only that. Are we afraid to teach the miraculous to the people any longer, or are we more afraid of our own failures? Even Jesus said that, "It is not Me, but the Father in Me Who does the works." We have this Father , in the form of the same Holy Spirit, living in us.
The Name of Jesus is "above all names." It is above the name of cancer, Aids, or any other disease that satan has brought upon humanity. As far as God's concerned, it's not hard to heal any disease. We have lost sight of the Word and it hasn't lost any power, because Jesus is the Word and He doesn't change. We've allowed our own government to determine when and where we can speak the Word. The early believers ran into the same world government in Acts 4:17 (Amplified) which tells us, "But in order that it may not spread further among the people and the nation, let us warn and forbid them with a stern threat to speak any more to anyone in this Name (or about this Person)."
We are bold enough to speak the Name of Jesus in church, but we are warned not to "offend others, other gods, or ideas by speaking His Name in public places." I'm not advocating becoming obnoxious about religion, but about being bold enough to speak His Name and to have faith in His Name. The world will never consent to the use of Jesus' Name and His is the only Name that will change the world. Even in many Christian circles we have bowed a knee to political correctness instead of Biblical Truths, so we won't offend other believers. We've allowed the Name of Jesus and God to be removed from our schools, public places and now from the Pledge of Allegiance and perhaps our money. Some schools won't allow staff or students to say "Merry Christmas" or to celebrate Easter and Christmas.
Even if the Church doesn't realize the power of Jesus' Name, satan does and he's trying his best to silence the use of Jesus' Name among the people. As new creation people, we were made to herald the Name of Jesus and prove His Name with signs, power, and wonders. We name holidays and street signs after famous political persons and it's frowned upon to disgrace or defame those names. Why are we so intimidated by the world's idea about where we might speak His Name?
Society doesn't care if you speak of God, because this can mean their god, or any god, but the Name of Jesus causes even the timidity in Christians. The masses are in religion, but the power IS IN HIS NAME. It doesn't matter what name if above denominational church doors, because without the Name of Jesus and faith in His Name in their doctrine, it's only a religious bunch of people.
As new creation people, let's understand that we are "ingrated" not only in Jesus, but into His Name as well. The potential of who we are in Him and His Name, has yet to be revealed to the world.
As I read through God's Word, I cannot help but wonder how we lost sight of the power of Jesus' Name. The modern Church uses the Name, but somehow it doesn't seem to hold the power that it did in the early Church. Many have simply dismissed this by saying, "God no longer does the miracles and healings that He did then," but that's not true according to Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) which says, "Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is (always) the same, yesterday, today, (yes) and forever (to the ages)."
Jesus told His followers in Mark 16:17- 20 (Amplified), "He who believes (who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth) and is baptized will be saved (from the penalty of eternal death); but he who does not believe (who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth) will be condemned. And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; they will pick up serpents and (even) if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them, they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied (it) Amen (So be it)."
Jesus also said in Luke 10:17-19 (Amplified) that, "The servant returned with joy, saying, Lord even the demons are subject to us in Your Name! And He said to them, I saw satan falling like a lightning (flash) from Heaven. Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and physical and mental strength and ability over all the power that the enemy (possesses) and nothing shall in any harm you."
Jesus made the above statements even before His resurrection saying, "My Name is above all names." How much more is it higher now, in the new creation people? Peter and John used the Name of Jesus at the Gate Beautiful and stunned the people with it's power, in Acts 3:16 (Amplified) which says, "And His Name, through and by faith in His Name, has made this man whom you see and recognize well and strong. (Yes) the faith which is through and by Him (Jesus) has given the man this perfect soundness (of body) before all of you."
Has Jesus' Name lost it's power or have we lost the sight of that Name? We use His Name in prayer and preaching, but then argue among ourselves as to what that Name is capable of doing. We've denied the Super-natural ability of His Name, in almost every aspect of its Super-natural authority. We no longer cast out demons, but medicate them into submission. We've all but forgotten healings and miracles, recommending good doctors instead. Thank God for good doctors, but they still haven't taken the place of His Name and faith in His Name.
As the new creation, we not only have His Name to use in authority and power, but we are actually "in Him," too. What have we lost in our modern Church that has take His place, as far as the Super-natural is concerned? We still believe for the new birth, but have almost limited the Name to only that. Are we afraid to teach the miraculous to the people any longer, or are we more afraid of our own failures? Even Jesus said that, "It is not Me, but the Father in Me Who does the works." We have this Father , in the form of the same Holy Spirit, living in us.
The Name of Jesus is "above all names." It is above the name of cancer, Aids, or any other disease that satan has brought upon humanity. As far as God's concerned, it's not hard to heal any disease. We have lost sight of the Word and it hasn't lost any power, because Jesus is the Word and He doesn't change. We've allowed our own government to determine when and where we can speak the Word. The early believers ran into the same world government in Acts 4:17 (Amplified) which tells us, "But in order that it may not spread further among the people and the nation, let us warn and forbid them with a stern threat to speak any more to anyone in this Name (or about this Person)."
We are bold enough to speak the Name of Jesus in church, but we are warned not to "offend others, other gods, or ideas by speaking His Name in public places." I'm not advocating becoming obnoxious about religion, but about being bold enough to speak His Name and to have faith in His Name. The world will never consent to the use of Jesus' Name and His is the only Name that will change the world. Even in many Christian circles we have bowed a knee to political correctness instead of Biblical Truths, so we won't offend other believers. We've allowed the Name of Jesus and God to be removed from our schools, public places and now from the Pledge of Allegiance and perhaps our money. Some schools won't allow staff or students to say "Merry Christmas" or to celebrate Easter and Christmas.
Even if the Church doesn't realize the power of Jesus' Name, satan does and he's trying his best to silence the use of Jesus' Name among the people. As new creation people, we were made to herald the Name of Jesus and prove His Name with signs, power, and wonders. We name holidays and street signs after famous political persons and it's frowned upon to disgrace or defame those names. Why are we so intimidated by the world's idea about where we might speak His Name?
Society doesn't care if you speak of God, because this can mean their god, or any god, but the Name of Jesus causes even the timidity in Christians. The masses are in religion, but the power IS IN HIS NAME. It doesn't matter what name if above denominational church doors, because without the Name of Jesus and faith in His Name in their doctrine, it's only a religious bunch of people.
As new creation people, let's understand that we are "ingrated" not only in Jesus, but into His Name as well. The potential of who we are in Him and His Name, has yet to be revealed to the world.
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Lesson 164 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
In this new creation, we've been now created from the same Seed (the Word of God) as the Last Adam, Who is Jesus. We were created new in His Likeness and Image. Jesus was the first to be infused with the Holy Spirit and actually had the Holy Spirit dwelling in Him. The Holy Spirit dwelt within a born-again human spirit for the first time ever and Jesus was the First Born of many brethren. We've been born anew by the Holy Spirit Himself.
Jesus said in John 14:17 (Amplified) that, "The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart) because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you (constantly) and will be in you." Jesus was saying something about the new creation, that He couldn't explain in full at the time. He was speaking about the new creation man, who was to come into being after His death and resurrection. Jesus couldn't fully explain this, because He didn't want the enemy to understand and prevent His crucifixion and no play into the Father's plan. In 1Corinthians 2:7-8 (Amplified) Paul says, "But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden (from the human understanding) and now revealed to us by God-(that wisdom) which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification (to lift us into the glory of His presence). None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this; for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of Glory."
Jesus could only reveal small segments of the new birth and new creation to His disciples, at that time. If God revealed the entire plan in the enemy's presence, then that would be inviting the enemy to prevent Jesus' death and resurrection and all would be lost before it began. Jesus was speaking about the new creation people, who would be born after His ascent to the Father in John 14:12 (Amplified) saying, "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and even greater things than these, because I go to the Father."
Jesus went on speaking about the new creation, saying, "It's not Me, but the Father in Me that does the work." He was telling His followers that the same things that enable Him to do the work, is going to be in them. And, He went on to tell them that through the Holy Spirit, they would be empowered by the same Holy Spirit of God. We've been taught and have believed that Jesus could perform miracles and healings, simply because He was Jesus, but He said that "It's not Me, but the Father in Me that does the work." He was revealing how he same force and power (the Father), Who lived in Him, would make His home in us too.
In Acts 1:8 (Amplified) Jesus says, "But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth."
Satan has tried his be to keep this revelation about the new creation, hidden from the Church. He has no defense against those who will walk in the Spirit and who will take this warfare into the Heavenlies. If satan can keep us bound by simple human understanding, he can maintain a hold over us. Ephesians 6:10-12 (Amplified) says, "In conclusion, be strong in the Lord (be empowered through your union with Him) draw your strength from Him (that strength which His boundless might provides. Put on God's whole armor (the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies) that you may be able successfully to stand up against (all) the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood (contending only against physical opponents) but against the powers, against (the master spirits who are) the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the Heavenly (supernatural) sphere."
We've been trying to fight against the "spirit forces" in the "super-natural," with simple, carnal weapons and have been limited by "satan's strategies and deceits." What do you suppose would happen in a bullfight, if the bull stopped chasing the red cape and came after the matador? The bull is deceived into thinking the red cape is his problem and he doesn't concentrate his efforts against the matador. If the bull ever figured this out, then the bullfight would last only a few minutes. This is the same sort of deception, that satan employs against us. He causes us to keep our eyes on the problem, instead of the answer. We become so enthralled with the red cape, that we don't see the one who is holding the cape and we look foolish chasing it. Jesus always addressed the spirit and not the natural.
Paul spoke to the Church in Corinth in 2Corinthians 13:4 (Amplified) saying, "For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He goes on living by the power of God. And though we too are weak in Him (as He was humanly weak), yet in dealing with you (we shall show ourselves) alive and strong in (fellowship with) Him by the power of God." In the flesh, Paul was just a man, but in fellowship with the Father, Paul was walking in the power of his new creation relationship, through the Holy Spirit. In the natural, Paul was no stronger than any other man, but in the union of his spirit with the Holy Spirit, he had power over satan and the world around him.
Many view Paul's trials and have concentrated more on those things, than with his victories. Of course, you will be opposed by the enemy (while we're here on earth), but we are to go beyond them onto victory. Paul was never defeated in his calling, despite whatever rose against him. In 2Timothy 4:6-7 (Amplified) Paul says, "For I am already about to be sacrificed (my life is about to be poured out as a drink offering) the time of my (spirit's) release (from the body) is at hand and I will soon go free. I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith." Paul never viewed death as a defeat, but as a release from his work on earth and as his entry into the Father's Presence.
Throughout the struggles satan put against him, Paul never stopped to look only upon his circumstances, but upon the Lord. And, as a result, he was given as revelation directly from the Lord. We've majored on his trails, instead of Paul's great faith. Some even believe that the trials he endured, came from God, Who was trying to discourage Paul from doing his ministry. This is one of the main deceits and strategies, a cunning and lying enemy uses against God's people. Why would God give Paul a revelation about the new creation, commission him to take this revelation to all the world, hold him responsible for the preaching of this Gospel, and then, try stopping Paul at every turn? We act like God lost sight of what He called Paul to do.
What kind of God would it take to give you a task and then try vehemently to stop you and even go as far as chastising you when you failed? Really? Paul was forewarned about the enemy's trying to prevent the completion of his God-given ministry, even before he accepted his calling, according to Acts 9:16 (Amplified) which says, "For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My Name's sake." 2Corinthians 12:10 (Amplified) says, "So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities, and distresses; for when I am weak (in human strength) then am I (truly) strong (able, powerful in divine strength)."
If we do nothing, then we are more deceived than anyone and the afflictions still come anyway. They come simply because we are "not of this world" any longer. You're already a target of the enemy, because you bear the Name and Likeness of Jesus. The more we do for God's Kingdom, the greater the trials will be, that come against you. If anyone thinks he can make a peace treaty with satan (one that says,"I will leave you alone, if you leave me alone"), then he has already fallen for one of satan's greatest deceits. You were created to rule and not be ruled. You were created new to walk as Christ's ambassador of God's Kingdom and not to "hide your light under a bushel."
If you do not know which side you're on, then you have a problem waging a warfare on the enemy. The world would have you believe that everyone is God's children, but this is not so! Only those who have been born-again into His Kingdom, are His. The entire world is at warfare against the Lord, whether of not they understand it. Sometimes, it seems like we don't see satan as the enemy, but would rather trying to make a peace treaty with him, in order to further our cause. No one can make peace with the devil and still walk in clear conscience with our Father.
In this new creation, we've been now created from the same Seed (the Word of God) as the Last Adam, Who is Jesus. We were created new in His Likeness and Image. Jesus was the first to be infused with the Holy Spirit and actually had the Holy Spirit dwelling in Him. The Holy Spirit dwelt within a born-again human spirit for the first time ever and Jesus was the First Born of many brethren. We've been born anew by the Holy Spirit Himself.
Jesus said in John 14:17 (Amplified) that, "The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart) because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you (constantly) and will be in you." Jesus was saying something about the new creation, that He couldn't explain in full at the time. He was speaking about the new creation man, who was to come into being after His death and resurrection. Jesus couldn't fully explain this, because He didn't want the enemy to understand and prevent His crucifixion and no play into the Father's plan. In 1Corinthians 2:7-8 (Amplified) Paul says, "But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden (from the human understanding) and now revealed to us by God-(that wisdom) which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification (to lift us into the glory of His presence). None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this; for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of Glory."
Jesus could only reveal small segments of the new birth and new creation to His disciples, at that time. If God revealed the entire plan in the enemy's presence, then that would be inviting the enemy to prevent Jesus' death and resurrection and all would be lost before it began. Jesus was speaking about the new creation people, who would be born after His ascent to the Father in John 14:12 (Amplified) saying, "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and even greater things than these, because I go to the Father."
Jesus went on speaking about the new creation, saying, "It's not Me, but the Father in Me that does the work." He was telling His followers that the same things that enable Him to do the work, is going to be in them. And, He went on to tell them that through the Holy Spirit, they would be empowered by the same Holy Spirit of God. We've been taught and have believed that Jesus could perform miracles and healings, simply because He was Jesus, but He said that "It's not Me, but the Father in Me that does the work." He was revealing how he same force and power (the Father), Who lived in Him, would make His home in us too.
In Acts 1:8 (Amplified) Jesus says, "But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth."
Satan has tried his be to keep this revelation about the new creation, hidden from the Church. He has no defense against those who will walk in the Spirit and who will take this warfare into the Heavenlies. If satan can keep us bound by simple human understanding, he can maintain a hold over us. Ephesians 6:10-12 (Amplified) says, "In conclusion, be strong in the Lord (be empowered through your union with Him) draw your strength from Him (that strength which His boundless might provides. Put on God's whole armor (the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies) that you may be able successfully to stand up against (all) the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood (contending only against physical opponents) but against the powers, against (the master spirits who are) the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the Heavenly (supernatural) sphere."
We've been trying to fight against the "spirit forces" in the "super-natural," with simple, carnal weapons and have been limited by "satan's strategies and deceits." What do you suppose would happen in a bullfight, if the bull stopped chasing the red cape and came after the matador? The bull is deceived into thinking the red cape is his problem and he doesn't concentrate his efforts against the matador. If the bull ever figured this out, then the bullfight would last only a few minutes. This is the same sort of deception, that satan employs against us. He causes us to keep our eyes on the problem, instead of the answer. We become so enthralled with the red cape, that we don't see the one who is holding the cape and we look foolish chasing it. Jesus always addressed the spirit and not the natural.
Paul spoke to the Church in Corinth in 2Corinthians 13:4 (Amplified) saying, "For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He goes on living by the power of God. And though we too are weak in Him (as He was humanly weak), yet in dealing with you (we shall show ourselves) alive and strong in (fellowship with) Him by the power of God." In the flesh, Paul was just a man, but in fellowship with the Father, Paul was walking in the power of his new creation relationship, through the Holy Spirit. In the natural, Paul was no stronger than any other man, but in the union of his spirit with the Holy Spirit, he had power over satan and the world around him.
Many view Paul's trials and have concentrated more on those things, than with his victories. Of course, you will be opposed by the enemy (while we're here on earth), but we are to go beyond them onto victory. Paul was never defeated in his calling, despite whatever rose against him. In 2Timothy 4:6-7 (Amplified) Paul says, "For I am already about to be sacrificed (my life is about to be poured out as a drink offering) the time of my (spirit's) release (from the body) is at hand and I will soon go free. I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith." Paul never viewed death as a defeat, but as a release from his work on earth and as his entry into the Father's Presence.
Throughout the struggles satan put against him, Paul never stopped to look only upon his circumstances, but upon the Lord. And, as a result, he was given as revelation directly from the Lord. We've majored on his trails, instead of Paul's great faith. Some even believe that the trials he endured, came from God, Who was trying to discourage Paul from doing his ministry. This is one of the main deceits and strategies, a cunning and lying enemy uses against God's people. Why would God give Paul a revelation about the new creation, commission him to take this revelation to all the world, hold him responsible for the preaching of this Gospel, and then, try stopping Paul at every turn? We act like God lost sight of what He called Paul to do.
What kind of God would it take to give you a task and then try vehemently to stop you and even go as far as chastising you when you failed? Really? Paul was forewarned about the enemy's trying to prevent the completion of his God-given ministry, even before he accepted his calling, according to Acts 9:16 (Amplified) which says, "For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My Name's sake." 2Corinthians 12:10 (Amplified) says, "So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities, and distresses; for when I am weak (in human strength) then am I (truly) strong (able, powerful in divine strength)."
If we do nothing, then we are more deceived than anyone and the afflictions still come anyway. They come simply because we are "not of this world" any longer. You're already a target of the enemy, because you bear the Name and Likeness of Jesus. The more we do for God's Kingdom, the greater the trials will be, that come against you. If anyone thinks he can make a peace treaty with satan (one that says,"I will leave you alone, if you leave me alone"), then he has already fallen for one of satan's greatest deceits. You were created to rule and not be ruled. You were created new to walk as Christ's ambassador of God's Kingdom and not to "hide your light under a bushel."
If you do not know which side you're on, then you have a problem waging a warfare on the enemy. The world would have you believe that everyone is God's children, but this is not so! Only those who have been born-again into His Kingdom, are His. The entire world is at warfare against the Lord, whether of not they understand it. Sometimes, it seems like we don't see satan as the enemy, but would rather trying to make a peace treaty with him, in order to further our cause. No one can make peace with the devil and still walk in clear conscience with our Father.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Lesson 163 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
When you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you were made a new creation in Him. We don't need to struggle, in order to become a new creation, you have already become one. We've spent many years trying to become that which we already are. We now must learn what this new creation is designed to be and how to function in it. When my children were born into the world, they were already human beings and were already my children. They didn't need to try to become my children, because they were born into that. They didn't need to try to become human beings, because they were born human beings.
As Christians, we are already new creations, already the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, already sons and daughters of God, already citizens of the Kingdom of God, already in unbroken fellowship with God, and already heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. We no longer need to struggle to become what the Lord has made us to be already, but we need to do like babies in the natural life and learn how to live in our new creation life.
We didn't need to learn how to be human beings, but we did need to learn how to walk, talk, dress, eat, listen, learn and grow up into the knowledge of adulthood. We needed to learn responsibility for the liberty we received when we were born. I didn't have to reestablish my liberties, but I needed to learn what they were and then to walk in what was already mine by birth.
We've already been made free from the Law of sin and death, by the liberty which is in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore (there is) NOW no condemnation (adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of Life (which is) in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being) has freed me from the Law of sin and of death." We cannot walk in who we are, by trying to remain who we were. You were dead before receiving Jesus as your Savior and now in Him, is your new life.
Can you imagine how ridiculous it would be, if you believed you came from the family of apes and then, because you believed that was your lineage, you tried becoming one? Can you imagine how ridiculous it would seem if you climbed trees, lived in the branches, swung from tree branch to tree branch, picked bugs off yourself, wore no clothes and only spoke "monkey speak." You could never enjoy being a human and could never master being an ape (no matter how hard you tried). You would live in a frustrating manner, by trying to live a dual lifestyle and not living either one very well.
Many have never accepted our identity as Spirit beings and new creations. We've lived under the world's confines and have never allowed our true identity to be made manifest in us. We've tried to live like apes, even though we were born humans. In a sense, this is what we've done in the new birth, too. We've been born of the Spirit of God and been made in His Image and Likeness, but we try developing our identity by the flesh we live in.
We cannot truly enjoy who we are in Christ, because we continue trying to live like someone else says we should be. Our true identity, the spirit man, is limited in his life withing us, by our trying to make him live like a flesh and blood being. He cannot do what he is born to do and the flesh can't accomplish what it was subjected to be, which is the servant to the spirit. The spirit man doesn't take charge and the body of flesh has no ability to do what it should. We've ended up with a war between the two, because we have no knowledge of who we really are in Him.
We must be in God's Word on a daily basis, because that is the only thing that can correctly separate the soul, flesh, and spirit. When we listen to a man preach what he may think is God's Word, we must weigh it by our new creation spirit and then judged according to God's Word. If we don't know what God's Word actually says, then we have no way to judge what is being said. We must remember that, until we were born-again, our spirits were dead and our souls had been taught and trained by a fallen world. Your soul couldn't teach your brain or flesh how, to do anything it hadn't learned from the world.
We've have devised many things that don't pertain to our new creation man, because we haven't listened to the true Voice of God's Word. It's like believing in evolution and trying to walk in creationism. One belief mistakenly claims that you evolved from a lower animal form and that you still maintain animal instincts, while the Truth of God's Word says that God designed and formed us and that we can bring the animal instincts under the subjection of God's Word and His Spirit.
So, we've been trapped in this dual life-role, with no way of separating the two, other than God's Word. His Word can separate and divide the spirit, soul, and body, into their different ways of functioning in our lives. Our brain can only record the information we put into it and only what we allow to be put into it, because it has no mind of its own. Our soul can only receive truth from our spirit and then transfer it to the brain. Our body can only function in what the brain directs it to do. The flesh can only do what we have taught and allowed it to do. The body cannot go and do what it wants , without first receiving direction from the brain This is why a person who is brain dead and put on a ventilator to keep the body alive, cannot walk or talk or move their body.
There are people saying that we are to do this or that, and we know they're saying the correct thing. When we're born-again, we also know that some of the things we do, are wrong. We live in guilt and condemnation for our wrongdoings, but we still don't seem to have the victory we were given through Christ.
We find both the wrongdoing and the answer to bringing the body and soul, back under subjection to our new living spirit man in Hebrews 4:12 (Amplified) which says, "For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power (making it active, operative, energizing, and effective) it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and (the immortal) spirit, and the joints and marrow (of the deepest parts of our nature) natural man exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart." Remember, Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified) that, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it) The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
When we allow God's Word to enter into our spirit, it will "judge, analyze, and expose: the things we learned before we were born-again and reveal what it was we've learned before knowing Jesus as our Lord. It will show those thoughts and deeds to be "wrong" and will reveal the new thoughts and purposes of our heart (new creation man).
Change doesn't come, without having every person making this a priority in their individual lives. I know other Christians who do these things and stop the voice of the accuser of the brethren. Those who simply accept these things and don't at least attempt to put them away, are those who spend absolutely no time in God's Word. Or, they read it, but don't allow God's Spirit to show them "Truth and Spirit" by these words.
We hear God's Word from someone who doesn't have the Truth of it in their spirit, thus making them unable to minister the Truth of it, to your spirit either. We must read God's Word with a personal direction from the Holy Spirit and allow Him to reveal the Truth to us. We've allowed others to "chew" our food for us, so that we only need to swallow. There is no effort on our part to eat for ourselves. Only babies should require their food to be processed for them. We should grow some spiritual teeth and eat the "Strong Meat of the Word" for ourselves.
Nothing in the life of the new creation, can replace seeking the Spirit and Truth of God's Word for himself. We are each required to seek God on our own. When you attend church, then you should bring your own Bible, in order to read along and learn the Word. Then, you do not need to take the word of someone else, because you will have firsthand knowledge of what the Word says. This isn't meant to have something to argue over, but to have Truth and Life from the Spirit of God feeding your spirit.
Simply reading the Words from natural intellect, doesn't always feed your spirit. We must meditate on what the Spirit meant when He proclaimed the Word and then, draw strength and Life from the Meat of the Word and process it into our spirit. It's better to read one chapter of scripture, meditate on it throughout the day and then allow the Holy Spirit to speak this Truth into your spirit, than it is to read ten chapters just to fulfill your "Godly duty to read His Word." It doesn't matter how many chapters are read, but how much Truth and Life are gleaned from what it read.
Many times, we pray the problem (as if God doesn't already know the problem) at prayer time. God doesn't need us to tell Him the problem, He needs us to stand united with His Word in the answer to the problem. After all, God's Word tells us that, "God watches over His Word to perform it"---not my words. When my words are His Words, He can bring it to pass by our faith in His Word. Thankfully, God doesn't bring "all words" to pass in our lives or most of us would be dead (and have taken many others with us). Read Matthew 12:33-37 (Amplified where Jesus tells where the good things and evil things come from in our lives. People who foolishly say, "God put these things on you," wouldn't say that if they read these Verses and learned that hard times come out of their own hearts and mouths.
We are a new creation, we come from a new Kingdom and we are required to speak the language of this New Kingdom and our King, instead of the old words of the enemy's fallen kingdom and the words he taught us, in order to keep us in bondage. God's Words are Spirit and Life; speak them. The Word tells us that, "From the abundance of your heart, your mouth speaks." We must put the Word of God into our hearts in abundance.
When you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you were made a new creation in Him. We don't need to struggle, in order to become a new creation, you have already become one. We've spent many years trying to become that which we already are. We now must learn what this new creation is designed to be and how to function in it. When my children were born into the world, they were already human beings and were already my children. They didn't need to try to become my children, because they were born into that. They didn't need to try to become human beings, because they were born human beings.
As Christians, we are already new creations, already the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, already sons and daughters of God, already citizens of the Kingdom of God, already in unbroken fellowship with God, and already heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. We no longer need to struggle to become what the Lord has made us to be already, but we need to do like babies in the natural life and learn how to live in our new creation life.
We didn't need to learn how to be human beings, but we did need to learn how to walk, talk, dress, eat, listen, learn and grow up into the knowledge of adulthood. We needed to learn responsibility for the liberty we received when we were born. I didn't have to reestablish my liberties, but I needed to learn what they were and then to walk in what was already mine by birth.
We've already been made free from the Law of sin and death, by the liberty which is in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore (there is) NOW no condemnation (adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of Life (which is) in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being) has freed me from the Law of sin and of death." We cannot walk in who we are, by trying to remain who we were. You were dead before receiving Jesus as your Savior and now in Him, is your new life.
Can you imagine how ridiculous it would be, if you believed you came from the family of apes and then, because you believed that was your lineage, you tried becoming one? Can you imagine how ridiculous it would seem if you climbed trees, lived in the branches, swung from tree branch to tree branch, picked bugs off yourself, wore no clothes and only spoke "monkey speak." You could never enjoy being a human and could never master being an ape (no matter how hard you tried). You would live in a frustrating manner, by trying to live a dual lifestyle and not living either one very well.
Many have never accepted our identity as Spirit beings and new creations. We've lived under the world's confines and have never allowed our true identity to be made manifest in us. We've tried to live like apes, even though we were born humans. In a sense, this is what we've done in the new birth, too. We've been born of the Spirit of God and been made in His Image and Likeness, but we try developing our identity by the flesh we live in.
We cannot truly enjoy who we are in Christ, because we continue trying to live like someone else says we should be. Our true identity, the spirit man, is limited in his life withing us, by our trying to make him live like a flesh and blood being. He cannot do what he is born to do and the flesh can't accomplish what it was subjected to be, which is the servant to the spirit. The spirit man doesn't take charge and the body of flesh has no ability to do what it should. We've ended up with a war between the two, because we have no knowledge of who we really are in Him.
We must be in God's Word on a daily basis, because that is the only thing that can correctly separate the soul, flesh, and spirit. When we listen to a man preach what he may think is God's Word, we must weigh it by our new creation spirit and then judged according to God's Word. If we don't know what God's Word actually says, then we have no way to judge what is being said. We must remember that, until we were born-again, our spirits were dead and our souls had been taught and trained by a fallen world. Your soul couldn't teach your brain or flesh how, to do anything it hadn't learned from the world.
We've have devised many things that don't pertain to our new creation man, because we haven't listened to the true Voice of God's Word. It's like believing in evolution and trying to walk in creationism. One belief mistakenly claims that you evolved from a lower animal form and that you still maintain animal instincts, while the Truth of God's Word says that God designed and formed us and that we can bring the animal instincts under the subjection of God's Word and His Spirit.
So, we've been trapped in this dual life-role, with no way of separating the two, other than God's Word. His Word can separate and divide the spirit, soul, and body, into their different ways of functioning in our lives. Our brain can only record the information we put into it and only what we allow to be put into it, because it has no mind of its own. Our soul can only receive truth from our spirit and then transfer it to the brain. Our body can only function in what the brain directs it to do. The flesh can only do what we have taught and allowed it to do. The body cannot go and do what it wants , without first receiving direction from the brain This is why a person who is brain dead and put on a ventilator to keep the body alive, cannot walk or talk or move their body.
There are people saying that we are to do this or that, and we know they're saying the correct thing. When we're born-again, we also know that some of the things we do, are wrong. We live in guilt and condemnation for our wrongdoings, but we still don't seem to have the victory we were given through Christ.
We find both the wrongdoing and the answer to bringing the body and soul, back under subjection to our new living spirit man in Hebrews 4:12 (Amplified) which says, "For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power (making it active, operative, energizing, and effective) it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and (the immortal) spirit, and the joints and marrow (of the deepest parts of our nature) natural man exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart." Remember, Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified) that, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it) The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
When we allow God's Word to enter into our spirit, it will "judge, analyze, and expose: the things we learned before we were born-again and reveal what it was we've learned before knowing Jesus as our Lord. It will show those thoughts and deeds to be "wrong" and will reveal the new thoughts and purposes of our heart (new creation man).
Change doesn't come, without having every person making this a priority in their individual lives. I know other Christians who do these things and stop the voice of the accuser of the brethren. Those who simply accept these things and don't at least attempt to put them away, are those who spend absolutely no time in God's Word. Or, they read it, but don't allow God's Spirit to show them "Truth and Spirit" by these words.
We hear God's Word from someone who doesn't have the Truth of it in their spirit, thus making them unable to minister the Truth of it, to your spirit either. We must read God's Word with a personal direction from the Holy Spirit and allow Him to reveal the Truth to us. We've allowed others to "chew" our food for us, so that we only need to swallow. There is no effort on our part to eat for ourselves. Only babies should require their food to be processed for them. We should grow some spiritual teeth and eat the "Strong Meat of the Word" for ourselves.
Nothing in the life of the new creation, can replace seeking the Spirit and Truth of God's Word for himself. We are each required to seek God on our own. When you attend church, then you should bring your own Bible, in order to read along and learn the Word. Then, you do not need to take the word of someone else, because you will have firsthand knowledge of what the Word says. This isn't meant to have something to argue over, but to have Truth and Life from the Spirit of God feeding your spirit.
Simply reading the Words from natural intellect, doesn't always feed your spirit. We must meditate on what the Spirit meant when He proclaimed the Word and then, draw strength and Life from the Meat of the Word and process it into our spirit. It's better to read one chapter of scripture, meditate on it throughout the day and then allow the Holy Spirit to speak this Truth into your spirit, than it is to read ten chapters just to fulfill your "Godly duty to read His Word." It doesn't matter how many chapters are read, but how much Truth and Life are gleaned from what it read.
Many times, we pray the problem (as if God doesn't already know the problem) at prayer time. God doesn't need us to tell Him the problem, He needs us to stand united with His Word in the answer to the problem. After all, God's Word tells us that, "God watches over His Word to perform it"---not my words. When my words are His Words, He can bring it to pass by our faith in His Word. Thankfully, God doesn't bring "all words" to pass in our lives or most of us would be dead (and have taken many others with us). Read Matthew 12:33-37 (Amplified where Jesus tells where the good things and evil things come from in our lives. People who foolishly say, "God put these things on you," wouldn't say that if they read these Verses and learned that hard times come out of their own hearts and mouths.
We are a new creation, we come from a new Kingdom and we are required to speak the language of this New Kingdom and our King, instead of the old words of the enemy's fallen kingdom and the words he taught us, in order to keep us in bondage. God's Words are Spirit and Life; speak them. The Word tells us that, "From the abundance of your heart, your mouth speaks." We must put the Word of God into our hearts in abundance.
Monday, January 30, 2017
Lesson 162 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
How many of us previously thought of ourselves as new creations? We've mostly thought of ourselves as being forgiven and saved, but we still believed we were unrighteous and outside the righteousness of God. We read in God's Word that we've been made, "the righteousness of God in Jesus," but we still fail to accept it as "real."
We've been trained by the world and it's way of thinking and this makes it difficult for us to think differently. We've had scriptures quoted to us for such a long time telling us, "None are righteous," and makes it's hard for us to think differently, as well. Just like those in the Wilderness, we have limited God, by not being obedient to "believe" what He says. God wasn't testing the Israelites in the Wilderness, but the people were testing God by their unbelief.
Our Heavenly Father only asks that we believe that what He says in His Word is Truth and that He Himself will bring what His Word says, come to pass. God's Word says that we are "new creations." Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) says that we have "Been raised together with Christ Jesus, and seated together with Him in Heavenly places." We find God's plan for our lives, after we are born-again into His Kingdom in Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified) which says, "For we are God's (Own) handiwork (His workmanship) recreated in Christ Jesus (born anew) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live)."
Ephesians 2:19 (Amplified) says, "Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens); but you now share citizenship with the saints (God's Own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself) and you belong to God's (Own) household."
For many, the above scriptures share only religious content and not revelation. We've read what God says, but then won't allow ourselves to believe it. We've somehow thought these scriptures (along with many others) pertain to when come (spirit, soul, and body) into God's Presence. Similarly, we've accepted Jesus as our Savior, but have struggled to allow Him to be Lord. We can believe that we'll go to the Father when we die, but don't believe He Himself already lives inside us. We direct most of our prayers, to a God Who is millions of light years away, instead of as close as our next breath.
We've been so conditioned throughout the years, that it seems sacrilegious to think of ourselves in any other way. We are afraid to believe we are what God's Word says we are. Just like those in the wilderness, we have limited God, by not believing He can ,and will do, the things He said He would do. In Hebrews 3:8-9 (Amplified) God says, "Do not harden your hearts as (happened) in the rebellion (of Israel) and their provocation and embitterment (of Me) in the day of testing; Where your fathers tried (My patience) and tested (My forbearance) and found I stood their test, and they saw My works for forty years."
Even after witnessing miracle after miracle that God had performed, whenever any new situation presented itself, the Israelites who were led out of Egypt by Moses, forgot those things and failed to believe God could (and would) care for them. They tested and doubted Him and His covenant and truth, on every count. They grumbled and asked, "Can God do this?" and "Can God take care of us now?"
Hebrews 3:15 (Amplified) says, "Then while it is (still) called Today, if you would hear His Voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion (in the desert, when the people provoked and irritated and embittered God against them)." The world's idea of Christianity has trained us to "harden our hearts" against the Truth. We believe God can no longer do, everything He wants to do in our lives, because of these teachings. It seems like everything in the Spirit realm, has either "passed away" or "reserved for when we get to Heaven."
According to God's Word, we are already spirit and citizens of Heaven and the sole purpose for our remaining here on earth (in our natural body), is to further God's Kingdom as ambassadors for Christ Jesus. 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) says, "So we are Christ's Ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us; We (as Christ's personal representatives) beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor (now offered you) and be reconciled to God."
We are now to be part of a Royal family and act as personal representatives of God and His Kingdom. We've been endowed with all the things in His Kingdom, in order to reveal Him to the world. We're not supposed to be like those in the Wilderness, who wouldn't believe God would (and could) do what He said. The problem has never lied with Him, but always with us. Ever time we encounter another problem, we begin acting like those in the wilderness, and complain, murmur and doubt. We ask, "Can our God get water, food, or manna, here in the Wilderness?"
God can still heal, still speak, still perform miracles, still cast out demons, still speak in tongues, still overcome sickness, still send angels, still use His Blood to cause the destroyer to pass over us and still have "His Word performed on earth, as it is in Heaven" for us. God can still work in this 21st century. Have we become so intelligent, that we've made His Word "foolishness?" We have so limited the Super-natural ability of who we've been created to be, that the Church has become carnal in their thinking, like the world is.
Why would we allow the world to determined who we are, instead of the Word? We are what God has made us to be. You might never walk in it, you may never believe in it, and you may do like those in the Wilderness who tempted and tried God with their unbelief, but you are still what God made you to be.
Paul writes in 1Corinthians 13:12 (Amplified), "For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection (of reality as in a riddle or enigma), but then (when perfection comes) we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly) but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood (by God)."
The above scripture is a promise that we will know Him just like He knows us, in the fullness of this age. All of the doubt and unbelief that we've walked in here, will be revealed to us in that time. We don't need to wait until we get to Heaven, in order to know these things. We will all have many things to learn when we get there, but many of these things are meant for us to know and experience here, so we can represent Him and His Kingdom in the True Light of Who and What He is here.
2Corinthians 2:9-10 (Amplified) says, "But on the contrary, as the scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, (all that) God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him (who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed. Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the Holy Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God (the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny)."
There are things that will remain unlearned while we're here on earth, but the Holy Spirit will reveal and unveil things to us, that we seek out to know and walk in. Not knowing is no excuse for unbelief, because we are all called into fellowship and the full wisdom of His will and purpose. We might not know it all, but we should always be learning and receiving from the Holy Spirit. Some might say, "I tried, but that didn't work." My answer is, "I tried and it did work." The first time you tried to walk as a toddler, you probably didn't succeed, but you kept trying to walk and probably do walk now. Don't give up on God just because someone says something, trying to cause you to not believe. Remember, the Word says that "whosoever will" believe. If you will believe it will work, then it will work. If you don't believe it will work, then it won't work. Whether or not we believe it, IT IS TRUTH. We've been created new creations, in order to believe.
How many of us previously thought of ourselves as new creations? We've mostly thought of ourselves as being forgiven and saved, but we still believed we were unrighteous and outside the righteousness of God. We read in God's Word that we've been made, "the righteousness of God in Jesus," but we still fail to accept it as "real."
We've been trained by the world and it's way of thinking and this makes it difficult for us to think differently. We've had scriptures quoted to us for such a long time telling us, "None are righteous," and makes it's hard for us to think differently, as well. Just like those in the Wilderness, we have limited God, by not being obedient to "believe" what He says. God wasn't testing the Israelites in the Wilderness, but the people were testing God by their unbelief.
Our Heavenly Father only asks that we believe that what He says in His Word is Truth and that He Himself will bring what His Word says, come to pass. God's Word says that we are "new creations." Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) says that we have "Been raised together with Christ Jesus, and seated together with Him in Heavenly places." We find God's plan for our lives, after we are born-again into His Kingdom in Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified) which says, "For we are God's (Own) handiwork (His workmanship) recreated in Christ Jesus (born anew) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live)."
Ephesians 2:19 (Amplified) says, "Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens); but you now share citizenship with the saints (God's Own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself) and you belong to God's (Own) household."
For many, the above scriptures share only religious content and not revelation. We've read what God says, but then won't allow ourselves to believe it. We've somehow thought these scriptures (along with many others) pertain to when come (spirit, soul, and body) into God's Presence. Similarly, we've accepted Jesus as our Savior, but have struggled to allow Him to be Lord. We can believe that we'll go to the Father when we die, but don't believe He Himself already lives inside us. We direct most of our prayers, to a God Who is millions of light years away, instead of as close as our next breath.
We've been so conditioned throughout the years, that it seems sacrilegious to think of ourselves in any other way. We are afraid to believe we are what God's Word says we are. Just like those in the wilderness, we have limited God, by not believing He can ,and will do, the things He said He would do. In Hebrews 3:8-9 (Amplified) God says, "Do not harden your hearts as (happened) in the rebellion (of Israel) and their provocation and embitterment (of Me) in the day of testing; Where your fathers tried (My patience) and tested (My forbearance) and found I stood their test, and they saw My works for forty years."
Even after witnessing miracle after miracle that God had performed, whenever any new situation presented itself, the Israelites who were led out of Egypt by Moses, forgot those things and failed to believe God could (and would) care for them. They tested and doubted Him and His covenant and truth, on every count. They grumbled and asked, "Can God do this?" and "Can God take care of us now?"
Hebrews 3:15 (Amplified) says, "Then while it is (still) called Today, if you would hear His Voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion (in the desert, when the people provoked and irritated and embittered God against them)." The world's idea of Christianity has trained us to "harden our hearts" against the Truth. We believe God can no longer do, everything He wants to do in our lives, because of these teachings. It seems like everything in the Spirit realm, has either "passed away" or "reserved for when we get to Heaven."
According to God's Word, we are already spirit and citizens of Heaven and the sole purpose for our remaining here on earth (in our natural body), is to further God's Kingdom as ambassadors for Christ Jesus. 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) says, "So we are Christ's Ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us; We (as Christ's personal representatives) beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor (now offered you) and be reconciled to God."
We are now to be part of a Royal family and act as personal representatives of God and His Kingdom. We've been endowed with all the things in His Kingdom, in order to reveal Him to the world. We're not supposed to be like those in the Wilderness, who wouldn't believe God would (and could) do what He said. The problem has never lied with Him, but always with us. Ever time we encounter another problem, we begin acting like those in the wilderness, and complain, murmur and doubt. We ask, "Can our God get water, food, or manna, here in the Wilderness?"
God can still heal, still speak, still perform miracles, still cast out demons, still speak in tongues, still overcome sickness, still send angels, still use His Blood to cause the destroyer to pass over us and still have "His Word performed on earth, as it is in Heaven" for us. God can still work in this 21st century. Have we become so intelligent, that we've made His Word "foolishness?" We have so limited the Super-natural ability of who we've been created to be, that the Church has become carnal in their thinking, like the world is.
Why would we allow the world to determined who we are, instead of the Word? We are what God has made us to be. You might never walk in it, you may never believe in it, and you may do like those in the Wilderness who tempted and tried God with their unbelief, but you are still what God made you to be.
Paul writes in 1Corinthians 13:12 (Amplified), "For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection (of reality as in a riddle or enigma), but then (when perfection comes) we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly) but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood (by God)."
The above scripture is a promise that we will know Him just like He knows us, in the fullness of this age. All of the doubt and unbelief that we've walked in here, will be revealed to us in that time. We don't need to wait until we get to Heaven, in order to know these things. We will all have many things to learn when we get there, but many of these things are meant for us to know and experience here, so we can represent Him and His Kingdom in the True Light of Who and What He is here.
2Corinthians 2:9-10 (Amplified) says, "But on the contrary, as the scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, (all that) God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him (who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed. Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the Holy Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God (the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny)."
There are things that will remain unlearned while we're here on earth, but the Holy Spirit will reveal and unveil things to us, that we seek out to know and walk in. Not knowing is no excuse for unbelief, because we are all called into fellowship and the full wisdom of His will and purpose. We might not know it all, but we should always be learning and receiving from the Holy Spirit. Some might say, "I tried, but that didn't work." My answer is, "I tried and it did work." The first time you tried to walk as a toddler, you probably didn't succeed, but you kept trying to walk and probably do walk now. Don't give up on God just because someone says something, trying to cause you to not believe. Remember, the Word says that "whosoever will" believe. If you will believe it will work, then it will work. If you don't believe it will work, then it won't work. Whether or not we believe it, IT IS TRUTH. We've been created new creations, in order to believe.
Friday, January 27, 2017
Lesson 161 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
We seem to disagree with one another or we simply don't understand that God needs a person with faith (to believe Him), in order to fulfill, complete, and have His will manifest on this earth. If God could do anything He wanted and anytime He wanted, then He would simply make every person get saved, then we could forgo the millennium and have this whole thing done with. We know what God's will is, from His Word. 2Peter 3:9 (Amplified) says, "The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance."
The above scripture tells us that, God's will is that "all should be saved," but there are many unsaved people existing on earth today and many, many more people who died while unsaved. Why didn't God simply make us get saved? Why would He even need anyone to preach the Gospel? Why is anyone bothering to pray, if God was going to do whatever He wanted anyway?
What we deem, "Thy will be done," has become nothing more than a religious denial of faith and responsibility, for Christians. We have decided what His will is, which has led to the true will of God, not being done. We continue to "send" the Holy Spirit, like He's our "Messenger boy," instead of going ourselves. Then, we've excused our failures, by saying, "It must be God's will."
This is the very thing that displeased and angered the Lord, when the Israelites came out of bondage from Egypt. They wouldn't believe God to do what He wanted and what He said. In order to relieve their consciences, the people placed all blame and responsibility on Moses and they blamed their lack of trust on him. If the Israelites had no water, then they blamed Moses for bringing them out of Egypt and leaving them without water. They grumbled and limited God, with their unbelief. It was only God's grace, that prevented their being destroyed.
Jesus never lacked results while performing miracles and healings, except when He was limited by the people's unbelief. Jesus was constantly reaching out and trying to get the people to believe Him and God. Since Jesus knew and yielded to God's will, there were no limits put on His faith. Jesus knew it was God's will to heal, God was never limited in expressing His will through Jesus. We make excuses about our unbelief and why their are no signs following us. We say, "Oh, it must not be God's will for so-and-so to get healed," when our will wasn't submitted to God's will of healing. We concoct religious alibis, in order to conceal our unbelief. We use these alibis in praying, healing, in performing miracles and even walking in love and unity with one another.
We have limited the promises of God by human reasoning and cause the Word of God to "be of no effect," just like the Iraelites in the Wilderness. We don't come right out and say, "God cannot do it," but we leave it for others to go forth in faith. Can God do what He says? Of course He can, but what gets done and who does it, depends more on us rather than it does on Him. With God "All things are possible." Right?
Mark 16:15-18 (Amplified) says, "And [Jesus] said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the Good News (the Gospel) to every creature (of the whole human race). He who believes (who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Who it sets forth) and is baptized will be saved (from the penalty of eternal death) but he who does not believe (who does not adhere to, and trust in, and rely on the Gospel and Him Who it sets forth) will be condemned. And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; They will pick up serpents, and (even) if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them, They will lay their hands on the sick and they will get well."
Notice, that only "those who believe, will do these things." What about those who do not believe? These things will not work or operate in their lives. Is it God's will for their not doing these things? NO!! It is their will or lack of belief in God's ability, that won't allow these things to function in their lives.
This is the exact scenario that played out in the Wilderness, when the people limited the Holy One of Israel. The people refused to believe God, and by so doing, God was limited in what He wanted to do. We're so self-conscious of what others might believe or think about us, we've become so very careful not to be seen as foolish. Our pride blinds our faith and makes God impotent in our lives. We've limited God from showing Himself in His True Person, to the world. We've only portrayed a religious idea of an Almighty and Living God, to the world.
Religion always confines God to our personal limits. We've never seem to understand that God lives in us and that it's not us, but "the Father in us, Who does the work." Jesus never gave Himself over to what others thought, but only what the Father thought. He never judged Himself on His Own merits, but only by the Greater One, Who lived in Him. We need to erase all the old teachings and the images others taught us that God is. We need to see Him today, in our lives. We must stop comparing God to past times and receive Him as He is now. We need to confess and believe that, "Greater is He Who is in me, than he who is in the word."
We seem to disagree with one another or we simply don't understand that God needs a person with faith (to believe Him), in order to fulfill, complete, and have His will manifest on this earth. If God could do anything He wanted and anytime He wanted, then He would simply make every person get saved, then we could forgo the millennium and have this whole thing done with. We know what God's will is, from His Word. 2Peter 3:9 (Amplified) says, "The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance."
The above scripture tells us that, God's will is that "all should be saved," but there are many unsaved people existing on earth today and many, many more people who died while unsaved. Why didn't God simply make us get saved? Why would He even need anyone to preach the Gospel? Why is anyone bothering to pray, if God was going to do whatever He wanted anyway?
What we deem, "Thy will be done," has become nothing more than a religious denial of faith and responsibility, for Christians. We have decided what His will is, which has led to the true will of God, not being done. We continue to "send" the Holy Spirit, like He's our "Messenger boy," instead of going ourselves. Then, we've excused our failures, by saying, "It must be God's will."
This is the very thing that displeased and angered the Lord, when the Israelites came out of bondage from Egypt. They wouldn't believe God to do what He wanted and what He said. In order to relieve their consciences, the people placed all blame and responsibility on Moses and they blamed their lack of trust on him. If the Israelites had no water, then they blamed Moses for bringing them out of Egypt and leaving them without water. They grumbled and limited God, with their unbelief. It was only God's grace, that prevented their being destroyed.
Jesus never lacked results while performing miracles and healings, except when He was limited by the people's unbelief. Jesus was constantly reaching out and trying to get the people to believe Him and God. Since Jesus knew and yielded to God's will, there were no limits put on His faith. Jesus knew it was God's will to heal, God was never limited in expressing His will through Jesus. We make excuses about our unbelief and why their are no signs following us. We say, "Oh, it must not be God's will for so-and-so to get healed," when our will wasn't submitted to God's will of healing. We concoct religious alibis, in order to conceal our unbelief. We use these alibis in praying, healing, in performing miracles and even walking in love and unity with one another.
We have limited the promises of God by human reasoning and cause the Word of God to "be of no effect," just like the Iraelites in the Wilderness. We don't come right out and say, "God cannot do it," but we leave it for others to go forth in faith. Can God do what He says? Of course He can, but what gets done and who does it, depends more on us rather than it does on Him. With God "All things are possible." Right?
Mark 16:15-18 (Amplified) says, "And [Jesus] said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the Good News (the Gospel) to every creature (of the whole human race). He who believes (who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Who it sets forth) and is baptized will be saved (from the penalty of eternal death) but he who does not believe (who does not adhere to, and trust in, and rely on the Gospel and Him Who it sets forth) will be condemned. And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; They will pick up serpents, and (even) if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them, They will lay their hands on the sick and they will get well."
Notice, that only "those who believe, will do these things." What about those who do not believe? These things will not work or operate in their lives. Is it God's will for their not doing these things? NO!! It is their will or lack of belief in God's ability, that won't allow these things to function in their lives.
This is the exact scenario that played out in the Wilderness, when the people limited the Holy One of Israel. The people refused to believe God, and by so doing, God was limited in what He wanted to do. We're so self-conscious of what others might believe or think about us, we've become so very careful not to be seen as foolish. Our pride blinds our faith and makes God impotent in our lives. We've limited God from showing Himself in His True Person, to the world. We've only portrayed a religious idea of an Almighty and Living God, to the world.
Religion always confines God to our personal limits. We've never seem to understand that God lives in us and that it's not us, but "the Father in us, Who does the work." Jesus never gave Himself over to what others thought, but only what the Father thought. He never judged Himself on His Own merits, but only by the Greater One, Who lived in Him. We need to erase all the old teachings and the images others taught us that God is. We need to see Him today, in our lives. We must stop comparing God to past times and receive Him as He is now. We need to confess and believe that, "Greater is He Who is in me, than he who is in the word."
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Lesson 160 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
As new creatures in Christ, we have a greater depth of understanding and knowledge about the ability of God, granted to us. We had previously discussed things that displease God and one of those things is our limiting God from doing the things He desires in our lives. God is only to bring those things we can and will believe for to pass in our lives. We've been taught to limit the things we ask God for.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (Amplified) says, "Now to Him Who by (in consequence of) the (action of His) power that is at work within us, is able to (carry out His purpose and) do super abundantly, far over and above all that we (dare) ask or think (infinitely) beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams To Him, be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen (so be it)."
We have so limited out God and Father, by not believing Him to show Himself as He really is. We've stifled His power and ability, by being carnal in our thinking and limiting Him to our own realm, instead of allowing Him to lift us into His realm of Super-natural might. The healings and miracles (both now and in the old covenant) were only done by men and women who believed God to do what only He could do. We read about Abraham and his wife, who were both beyond their child bearing age, in Romans 4:18-22 (Amplified) which says, "For Abraham, human reason for hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the Father of many nations as he had been promised, 'So (numberless) shall your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the (utter) impotence of his own body which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or (when he considered) the bareness of Sara's (deadened) womb. No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly, question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave glory and praise to God. Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He promised." Verse 22 says, "This is why is faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God)."
Abraham was not even a born-again man, but he removed any limits from God and believed God to do "abundantly more than he could ask or think." God pronounced that Abraham's "faith made him in right standing with God Himself." Because Abraham didn't limit God, the promise God made to Abraham, has now become ours through Jesus, according to Galatians 3:14 (Amplified) which says, "To the end that through (their receiving) Christ Jesus the (blessing promised) to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might (all) receive (the realization of) the promise of the Holy Spirit."
Abraham was a natural man, who had enough faith in God's ability, that he not only believed for a son, but for a multitude of children. This impressed God so much, that He declared Abraham to be "righteous" and in "right standing with Himself," by faith. Because Abraham believed God to do something that only God could do, his faith brought forth Jesus and through Jesus, has has brought forth a new creation.
Abraham removed the limits of his natural mind and put faith in the fact that God could (and would) make good on His promise. Now we enter the promise in our day and age. How much of God's promise do we limit in our lives, today? Do we believe God can prosper us, like He did Abraham? Do we believe God will grant us long life here on earth? Do we limit God's promise of the Holy Spirit, by denying the Gifts of the Spirit, the Super-natural works of the Spirit, the language of the Spirit (speaking in other tongues) and the very Super-natural ability of God in our lives? We can only get the job done, on and in this earth, through faith in God's ability.
Man's ability without God, has brought forth somethings, but not always "God things." Do we dare take the limits off from God and allow Him to BE GOD, today? When the people ran out of provisions in the wilderness, they believed God either didn't care or couldn't provide for them. This displease and grieved God, to the point where He finally left them to their own devises.
The spies in Numbers 13 couldn't trust in God, more than the giants they could see. They refused to enter the Land God had given them. And, God called their limiting Him and His ability, an "evil report." We read in Proverbs 29:18 (Amplified), "Where there is no vision (no redemptive revelation of God) the people perish, but he who keeps the Law (of God, which includes that of man) blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he."
Until we can see into what our redemption encompasses, we will only allow God to what we believe, instead of what He wants done. Somehow, we have arrived at a place where we think God will simply do whatever He wants to do and that He doesn't need our faith. Or we believe God doesn't want us to have unlimited knowledge about His will and intent in earth. Why would God have us preach the Gospel, if men and faith weren't required to get people born-again? Why would God ask Mary's permission to bring forth Jesus? Why would God need men and women to remove their limits and just let Him BE GOD?
As Christians, we believe in God and confess that we believe in Jesus and this is how faith brings about the new creations. Why then does our faith in an Almighty God, stop at simply just being born-again? Why do we believe God to get us in Heaven, but then limit Him and His ability to work here on earth" I truly believe that what pleases the Lord more than anything, is our removing any limits we put on Him and believing Him to move in His Own will as He chooses. Isn't this what Jesus did? God's response concerning Jesus was, "This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased."
As new creatures in Christ, we have a greater depth of understanding and knowledge about the ability of God, granted to us. We had previously discussed things that displease God and one of those things is our limiting God from doing the things He desires in our lives. God is only to bring those things we can and will believe for to pass in our lives. We've been taught to limit the things we ask God for.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (Amplified) says, "Now to Him Who by (in consequence of) the (action of His) power that is at work within us, is able to (carry out His purpose and) do super abundantly, far over and above all that we (dare) ask or think (infinitely) beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams To Him, be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen (so be it)."
We have so limited out God and Father, by not believing Him to show Himself as He really is. We've stifled His power and ability, by being carnal in our thinking and limiting Him to our own realm, instead of allowing Him to lift us into His realm of Super-natural might. The healings and miracles (both now and in the old covenant) were only done by men and women who believed God to do what only He could do. We read about Abraham and his wife, who were both beyond their child bearing age, in Romans 4:18-22 (Amplified) which says, "For Abraham, human reason for hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the Father of many nations as he had been promised, 'So (numberless) shall your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the (utter) impotence of his own body which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or (when he considered) the bareness of Sara's (deadened) womb. No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly, question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave glory and praise to God. Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He promised." Verse 22 says, "This is why is faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God)."
Abraham was not even a born-again man, but he removed any limits from God and believed God to do "abundantly more than he could ask or think." God pronounced that Abraham's "faith made him in right standing with God Himself." Because Abraham didn't limit God, the promise God made to Abraham, has now become ours through Jesus, according to Galatians 3:14 (Amplified) which says, "To the end that through (their receiving) Christ Jesus the (blessing promised) to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might (all) receive (the realization of) the promise of the Holy Spirit."
Abraham was a natural man, who had enough faith in God's ability, that he not only believed for a son, but for a multitude of children. This impressed God so much, that He declared Abraham to be "righteous" and in "right standing with Himself," by faith. Because Abraham believed God to do something that only God could do, his faith brought forth Jesus and through Jesus, has has brought forth a new creation.
Abraham removed the limits of his natural mind and put faith in the fact that God could (and would) make good on His promise. Now we enter the promise in our day and age. How much of God's promise do we limit in our lives, today? Do we believe God can prosper us, like He did Abraham? Do we believe God will grant us long life here on earth? Do we limit God's promise of the Holy Spirit, by denying the Gifts of the Spirit, the Super-natural works of the Spirit, the language of the Spirit (speaking in other tongues) and the very Super-natural ability of God in our lives? We can only get the job done, on and in this earth, through faith in God's ability.
Man's ability without God, has brought forth somethings, but not always "God things." Do we dare take the limits off from God and allow Him to BE GOD, today? When the people ran out of provisions in the wilderness, they believed God either didn't care or couldn't provide for them. This displease and grieved God, to the point where He finally left them to their own devises.
The spies in Numbers 13 couldn't trust in God, more than the giants they could see. They refused to enter the Land God had given them. And, God called their limiting Him and His ability, an "evil report." We read in Proverbs 29:18 (Amplified), "Where there is no vision (no redemptive revelation of God) the people perish, but he who keeps the Law (of God, which includes that of man) blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he."
Until we can see into what our redemption encompasses, we will only allow God to what we believe, instead of what He wants done. Somehow, we have arrived at a place where we think God will simply do whatever He wants to do and that He doesn't need our faith. Or we believe God doesn't want us to have unlimited knowledge about His will and intent in earth. Why would God have us preach the Gospel, if men and faith weren't required to get people born-again? Why would God ask Mary's permission to bring forth Jesus? Why would God need men and women to remove their limits and just let Him BE GOD?
As Christians, we believe in God and confess that we believe in Jesus and this is how faith brings about the new creations. Why then does our faith in an Almighty God, stop at simply just being born-again? Why do we believe God to get us in Heaven, but then limit Him and His ability to work here on earth" I truly believe that what pleases the Lord more than anything, is our removing any limits we put on Him and believing Him to move in His Own will as He chooses. Isn't this what Jesus did? God's response concerning Jesus was, "This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased."
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Lesson 159 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
In fellowshiping with my Father, I try finding His will and His pleasure, for my life andnfor his family as a whole. We've heard so many things and have been taught so many different ways of walking with Him, but although most of the people teaching these things were well-meaning, they have placed us back under Law and not grace. We've been taught that grace means we can live any way we wish and it doesn't matter. Some have even taught how the Father had planned that only a certain amount of people can be saved and that God has chosen only these people. They believe that if you were not chosen, then you cannot be saved.
It's little wonder that faith has nearly disappeared from God's people and that many believers simply decide to "Hold on until the end (when the rapture comes or we go to Heaven)." Those believers who are determined to break out of the bondage of religious and traditional teachings and walk naturally super-naturally, are ridiculed. They are considered "weird or flaky" and other Christians believe that walking in the super-natural is something "strange." I've never considered Jesus as being "weird, flaky or strange." Jesus must have been a Man Who laughed and enjoyed life, if the little children were drawn to Him.
Paul received a prayer for the Church, from the Holy Spirit in Colossians 1:10 (Amplified). If this prayer was given for the Church of that time, then it is still relavent for today's Church and we can expect it to be answered when we pray it. Thus, it says, "That we 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 and by the knowledge of God (with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance and recognition)." Verse 11 goes on, "(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 find what pleases God, I must also find out what doesn't please Him. We are instructed to do some things, while instructed not do other things. I must go to the Word, in order to know what pleases God, because if I go to the people, then I will get thousands of different answers and not all of these answers have any bearing on my walk with God. The Church has made grace, faith and fellowship, to be Law. Jesus said that we "Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." If you cannot pass a gnat, then you shouldn't eat a camel. There are things that no one should eat.
As I fellowship with God and read His Word with the Holy Spirit guiding me, I find that the thing that seems to displease God most, is our not letting Him be God in our lives. We confess that "He is Lord" and that "we believe God," but it's difficult to stand on these things when we're being taught that "God doesn't do these things today." I found a sample of what I think displeases God most, in Psalm 78:37-42 (Amplified) which says, "For their hearts were not right or sincere with Him, neither were they faithful and steadfast to His covenant, But He, full of (merciful) compassion, forgave their iniquities and destroyed them not; yes, many a time He turned His anger away and did not stir up His wrath and indignation. For He (earnestly) remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that goes and does not return. How often they defied and rebelled against Him in the wilderness and greived Him in the desert And time and again they turned back and tempted God provoking and incensing the Holy One of Israel. They remembered not (seriously the miracles of the working of) His hand, nor the day He delivered them from the enemy."
The King James Version says in Verse 41, "That they (limited) God," while The Amplified Bible translated if as "They (tempted) God." We've all read and heard about our "wilderness eperience" and how the Israelites were "tested in the wilderness." While studying this, I believe that God was the One Who was tested and limited in the wilderness. God could never complete His will for them, while leading them out of bondage, because they would not believe Him. They limited Him and He couldn't complete His plan for them, after delivering them from bondage.
They "grieved God in His heart," by their murmuering and being short-sighted. God has plans for us, both as individuals and corporately for today's Church. More than anything, God is searching out those who will remove any limitations, that we have placed on Him. We've somehow believed, that only the "special ones" can have certain things. We have walked in unbelief, by asking for only small things or things we think (with human thinking) are of God. I can do natural things by myself. When I do not limit God by my unbelief and believe Him for the Super-natural things, that gives Him joy and glory.
Is the God of our new covenant, less than the God of the old covenant? Is He not THE SAME GOD? Is He not OUR FATHER? The Father is pleased when we release His ability and allow Him to be our God and our Father. Those people we read about in the Word, were not so much "special people", but they were especially people who didn't limit God.
David was special, when he removed the limitations from God and defeated Goliath in "The Name of the Lord." David didn't approach the Giant in strength, but in God's strength. The King and his entire army (that included David's brothers) had limited God, by their fear and unbelief. King Saul or any other person present, could have destroyed Goliath, if they had done what David did and had not limited God.
Any of the spies in Numbers 13 could have done what Joshua and Caleb dd, if they had removed their limits off what God could and did do, in "the Land of the Giants." Joshua and Caleb never planned to defeat the giants on their own, but they planned to do it only through God. Every one of these spies witnessed God's parting the Red Sea and providing manna for them daily. They had seen God take out Pharoah's entire army, with His unlimited ability and power.
The heroes of the Bible and through the ages, are people who did not limit the Holy One. In Isaiah 51:7-8 (Amplified) God says, "Listen to Me, you who know rightness and justice and right standing with God, the people in whose heart is My law and My instruction; fear not the reproach of men, neither be afraid nor dismayed at their revilings. For (in comparison with the Lord they are so weak that things as insignificant as) the moth shall eat them up as a garment and the worm shall eat them like wool. But My rightness and justice (and faithfull fulfilled promise) shall be forever, and My salvation to all generations."
In our walk with God, it's not so much who you are, as it is who you limit Him to be. We've become of one family and One Father, in our new creation walk. There is nothing in this covenatn of Promise, that is limited to any one person and not another. The difference is what you limit Him to do for you, in this new covenant. God is always searching for someone who will believe Him to do great and mighty things, here and now. You don't need to do the greats works, but only unlimit God to do them.
Moses didn't need to part the Red Sea, he was only required to "hold up the staff." It wasn't the staff that did the miracle, it was the unlimited faith of the man holding the staff. Moses removed all limits and allowed God to be God. By murmuring and complaining, the Israelites limited God every time something new came up. They continually ask, "Can God do this" or "Can God do that?" They asked, "Did God bring us here to die?" This was the "testing" that the wilderness was. God wasn't testing man, but man was testing God.
Hebrews 3:7-9 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, Today if you hear His Voice, Do not harden your hearts, as (happened) in the rebellion (of Isreael) and their provocation and embitterment (of Me) in the day of testing in the wilderness Where your forefathers tried (My patience and tested My forebearance) and found I stood their test. And they saw My works for forty years."
In fellowshiping with my Father, I try finding His will and His pleasure, for my life andnfor his family as a whole. We've heard so many things and have been taught so many different ways of walking with Him, but although most of the people teaching these things were well-meaning, they have placed us back under Law and not grace. We've been taught that grace means we can live any way we wish and it doesn't matter. Some have even taught how the Father had planned that only a certain amount of people can be saved and that God has chosen only these people. They believe that if you were not chosen, then you cannot be saved.
It's little wonder that faith has nearly disappeared from God's people and that many believers simply decide to "Hold on until the end (when the rapture comes or we go to Heaven)." Those believers who are determined to break out of the bondage of religious and traditional teachings and walk naturally super-naturally, are ridiculed. They are considered "weird or flaky" and other Christians believe that walking in the super-natural is something "strange." I've never considered Jesus as being "weird, flaky or strange." Jesus must have been a Man Who laughed and enjoyed life, if the little children were drawn to Him.
Paul received a prayer for the Church, from the Holy Spirit in Colossians 1:10 (Amplified). If this prayer was given for the Church of that time, then it is still relavent for today's Church and we can expect it to be answered when we pray it. Thus, it says, "That we 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 and by the knowledge of God (with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance and recognition)." Verse 11 goes on, "(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 find what pleases God, I must also find out what doesn't please Him. We are instructed to do some things, while instructed not do other things. I must go to the Word, in order to know what pleases God, because if I go to the people, then I will get thousands of different answers and not all of these answers have any bearing on my walk with God. The Church has made grace, faith and fellowship, to be Law. Jesus said that we "Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." If you cannot pass a gnat, then you shouldn't eat a camel. There are things that no one should eat.
As I fellowship with God and read His Word with the Holy Spirit guiding me, I find that the thing that seems to displease God most, is our not letting Him be God in our lives. We confess that "He is Lord" and that "we believe God," but it's difficult to stand on these things when we're being taught that "God doesn't do these things today." I found a sample of what I think displeases God most, in Psalm 78:37-42 (Amplified) which says, "For their hearts were not right or sincere with Him, neither were they faithful and steadfast to His covenant, But He, full of (merciful) compassion, forgave their iniquities and destroyed them not; yes, many a time He turned His anger away and did not stir up His wrath and indignation. For He (earnestly) remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that goes and does not return. How often they defied and rebelled against Him in the wilderness and greived Him in the desert And time and again they turned back and tempted God provoking and incensing the Holy One of Israel. They remembered not (seriously the miracles of the working of) His hand, nor the day He delivered them from the enemy."
The King James Version says in Verse 41, "That they (limited) God," while The Amplified Bible translated if as "They (tempted) God." We've all read and heard about our "wilderness eperience" and how the Israelites were "tested in the wilderness." While studying this, I believe that God was the One Who was tested and limited in the wilderness. God could never complete His will for them, while leading them out of bondage, because they would not believe Him. They limited Him and He couldn't complete His plan for them, after delivering them from bondage.
They "grieved God in His heart," by their murmuering and being short-sighted. God has plans for us, both as individuals and corporately for today's Church. More than anything, God is searching out those who will remove any limitations, that we have placed on Him. We've somehow believed, that only the "special ones" can have certain things. We have walked in unbelief, by asking for only small things or things we think (with human thinking) are of God. I can do natural things by myself. When I do not limit God by my unbelief and believe Him for the Super-natural things, that gives Him joy and glory.
Is the God of our new covenant, less than the God of the old covenant? Is He not THE SAME GOD? Is He not OUR FATHER? The Father is pleased when we release His ability and allow Him to be our God and our Father. Those people we read about in the Word, were not so much "special people", but they were especially people who didn't limit God.
David was special, when he removed the limitations from God and defeated Goliath in "The Name of the Lord." David didn't approach the Giant in strength, but in God's strength. The King and his entire army (that included David's brothers) had limited God, by their fear and unbelief. King Saul or any other person present, could have destroyed Goliath, if they had done what David did and had not limited God.
Any of the spies in Numbers 13 could have done what Joshua and Caleb dd, if they had removed their limits off what God could and did do, in "the Land of the Giants." Joshua and Caleb never planned to defeat the giants on their own, but they planned to do it only through God. Every one of these spies witnessed God's parting the Red Sea and providing manna for them daily. They had seen God take out Pharoah's entire army, with His unlimited ability and power.
The heroes of the Bible and through the ages, are people who did not limit the Holy One. In Isaiah 51:7-8 (Amplified) God says, "Listen to Me, you who know rightness and justice and right standing with God, the people in whose heart is My law and My instruction; fear not the reproach of men, neither be afraid nor dismayed at their revilings. For (in comparison with the Lord they are so weak that things as insignificant as) the moth shall eat them up as a garment and the worm shall eat them like wool. But My rightness and justice (and faithfull fulfilled promise) shall be forever, and My salvation to all generations."
In our walk with God, it's not so much who you are, as it is who you limit Him to be. We've become of one family and One Father, in our new creation walk. There is nothing in this covenatn of Promise, that is limited to any one person and not another. The difference is what you limit Him to do for you, in this new covenant. God is always searching for someone who will believe Him to do great and mighty things, here and now. You don't need to do the greats works, but only unlimit God to do them.
Moses didn't need to part the Red Sea, he was only required to "hold up the staff." It wasn't the staff that did the miracle, it was the unlimited faith of the man holding the staff. Moses removed all limits and allowed God to be God. By murmuring and complaining, the Israelites limited God every time something new came up. They continually ask, "Can God do this" or "Can God do that?" They asked, "Did God bring us here to die?" This was the "testing" that the wilderness was. God wasn't testing man, but man was testing God.
Hebrews 3:7-9 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, Today if you hear His Voice, Do not harden your hearts, as (happened) in the rebellion (of Isreael) and their provocation and embitterment (of Me) in the day of testing in the wilderness Where your forefathers tried (My patience and tested My forebearance) and found I stood their test. And they saw My works for forty years."
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Lesson 158 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
The new creation reality is that, we are no only called to believe, but we are equipped to believe as well. Faith isn't an option, but a necessity for the new creation people that Jesus brought forth. Faith was also a requirement of God, in the old covenant. God was able to do awesome things, for those who would simply trust Him and He was likewise limited in the lives of those who wouldn't trust Him.
God not only requires faith in the new covenant, but it is an absolute necessity in the new birth. Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified) says, "But without faith it is impossible t please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (out)."
Many in today's society look upon the belief of God's being able to do the super-natural as foolishness. Many have been mocked and ridiculed for believing God for the "impossible." Faith is required to become a new creation. We've been equipped with God's Word and His Spirit, We've been given all of His grace, in order to keep and guide us, but we've also been given His faith. Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "For it is by grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through (your) faith. And this (salvation) is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came not through your own striving) but it is a Gift of God."
The salvation that we enjoy today, came not by any other way, but by believing and trusting in the impossible works of God. God performed even a greater miracle than the Red Sea for this new creation son-ship relation. Our Father has less patience with (more than anything else), is limiting Him from performing His Own Word in our lives. The same pattern of grieving the Holy Spirit and our Father, is our limiting Him by our unbelief.
Everything we need to know about how our Father feels when we remove limits from Him to do what He says, is by studying Abraham. We read about Abraham's having faith and trusting God in Romans 4:3 (Amplified) which says, "For what does the scriptures say? Abraham believed in (trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living and right standing with God)." Trusting God for Super-natural right standing came as a credit and reward to Abraham and for us too, because of the Promise that came through Abraham's Seed (Jesus). We have this same blessing bestowed on us, by faith.
There have been times when we grieved God, by not believing Him to do the same things He did in Abraham's life, He will do in our lives. Both Abraham and his wife Sarah were past child bearing age and were in no position to have a son. It was no simple thing for Abraham to believe he would have a son. But, the impossible things are what our Heavenly Father does best. We can accomplish the possible things on our own and think we don;t need the impossible any longer. Romans 4:18-20 (Amplified) says, "(For Abraham, human reasoning for) hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So (numberless) shall your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the (utter) impotence of his own body, which was as good as deed because he was about a hundred years old, or (when he considered) the bareness of Sarah's (deadened) womb. No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God."
Abraham's "faith and trust" gave "glory to God." Our Heavenly Father doesn't only desire that we become born-again, but He wants us to believe Him to do the Super-natural (both through and for us) and He wants us to give Him glory in it. We seemingly believe (at least to some extent), that we are saved by faith, but when we begin speaking about the blessing of Abraham coming upon us, we fall back from our faith. Hebrews 3:7-10 (Amplified) tells us, "Therefore, as the (Holy Spirit says) Today, if you will hear His Voice Do not harden your hearts as (happened) in the rebellion (of Israel) and their provocation and embitterment (of Me) in the day of testing in the wilderness. Where your fathers tried (My patience) and tested (My forbearance) and found I stood their test, and they saw My works for forty years. And so I was (provoked and surely grieved, displeased) with that generation, and said, They always err and are led astray in their hearts."
We've always been taught that the wilderness is our "time of testing." When we reread the above scriptures, we discover that it was the people who were testing God, and not God Who was testing the people. In this present age, do we test God's willingness and ability to perform His desired will in our lives? God's will was to bless them in the wilderness, but they doubted Him. It wasn't that God failed to do as He said He would for them.
In this new creation, it's only man's idea of God that can stop His plan of blessing in our lives. It was never God's plan to leave us, like a deadbeat dad does. It was that we didn't believe God had the ability to work in our lives, that prevented the blessing. We have faith to receive salvation by believing in Jesus Christ, like the Israelites believed God to deliver them out of bondage, but then we stop trusting Him for our everyday needs, like they did. This is what "grieved the heart of God."
Those in today's Church, who believe for Manna from Heaven, or for writing on a rock, or for the parting of the Red Sea, or any other Super-natural thing that God did when He brought them out of Egypt, will run into the same unbelief that the Israelites had.
When we limit God in our lives, this displeases Him more than any other thing on the planet. God still wants to show Himself strong and glorified in (and through) His family. Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified) says, "(The purpose is) that through the Church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all it's infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the Heavenly sphere."
God wants to perform miracles and signs and wonders in our lives and the lives of others. This is His natural character and Life. He is Supernatural and works in the realm of His Spirit, in order to bring about the super-natural here. Perhaps, the greatest reason we do not see or experience the super-natural here, is that we "test and try" the patience of the Holy One. This is just like those in the wilderness asking, "Can the Lord supply meat and water here in the wilderness?" after God just parted the Red Sea for them to walk through on dry land.
Our cries have been, "Can the Lord supply healing, miracles and meet our needs here?" When did the God Who created the universe become so small in His ability, in the eyes of His children? When did we decide that all the things God did for those Moses led out of Egypt, have either passed away or were for another time? When did we learn to distrust God for His Promise and His blessing? We are a new creation, who were created to believe and walk in the Super-natural things of God on this earth!
The new creation reality is that, we are no only called to believe, but we are equipped to believe as well. Faith isn't an option, but a necessity for the new creation people that Jesus brought forth. Faith was also a requirement of God, in the old covenant. God was able to do awesome things, for those who would simply trust Him and He was likewise limited in the lives of those who wouldn't trust Him.
God not only requires faith in the new covenant, but it is an absolute necessity in the new birth. Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified) says, "But without faith it is impossible t please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (out)."
Many in today's society look upon the belief of God's being able to do the super-natural as foolishness. Many have been mocked and ridiculed for believing God for the "impossible." Faith is required to become a new creation. We've been equipped with God's Word and His Spirit, We've been given all of His grace, in order to keep and guide us, but we've also been given His faith. Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "For it is by grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through (your) faith. And this (salvation) is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came not through your own striving) but it is a Gift of God."
The salvation that we enjoy today, came not by any other way, but by believing and trusting in the impossible works of God. God performed even a greater miracle than the Red Sea for this new creation son-ship relation. Our Father has less patience with (more than anything else), is limiting Him from performing His Own Word in our lives. The same pattern of grieving the Holy Spirit and our Father, is our limiting Him by our unbelief.
Everything we need to know about how our Father feels when we remove limits from Him to do what He says, is by studying Abraham. We read about Abraham's having faith and trusting God in Romans 4:3 (Amplified) which says, "For what does the scriptures say? Abraham believed in (trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living and right standing with God)." Trusting God for Super-natural right standing came as a credit and reward to Abraham and for us too, because of the Promise that came through Abraham's Seed (Jesus). We have this same blessing bestowed on us, by faith.
There have been times when we grieved God, by not believing Him to do the same things He did in Abraham's life, He will do in our lives. Both Abraham and his wife Sarah were past child bearing age and were in no position to have a son. It was no simple thing for Abraham to believe he would have a son. But, the impossible things are what our Heavenly Father does best. We can accomplish the possible things on our own and think we don;t need the impossible any longer. Romans 4:18-20 (Amplified) says, "(For Abraham, human reasoning for) hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So (numberless) shall your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the (utter) impotence of his own body, which was as good as deed because he was about a hundred years old, or (when he considered) the bareness of Sarah's (deadened) womb. No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God."
Abraham's "faith and trust" gave "glory to God." Our Heavenly Father doesn't only desire that we become born-again, but He wants us to believe Him to do the Super-natural (both through and for us) and He wants us to give Him glory in it. We seemingly believe (at least to some extent), that we are saved by faith, but when we begin speaking about the blessing of Abraham coming upon us, we fall back from our faith. Hebrews 3:7-10 (Amplified) tells us, "Therefore, as the (Holy Spirit says) Today, if you will hear His Voice Do not harden your hearts as (happened) in the rebellion (of Israel) and their provocation and embitterment (of Me) in the day of testing in the wilderness. Where your fathers tried (My patience) and tested (My forbearance) and found I stood their test, and they saw My works for forty years. And so I was (provoked and surely grieved, displeased) with that generation, and said, They always err and are led astray in their hearts."
We've always been taught that the wilderness is our "time of testing." When we reread the above scriptures, we discover that it was the people who were testing God, and not God Who was testing the people. In this present age, do we test God's willingness and ability to perform His desired will in our lives? God's will was to bless them in the wilderness, but they doubted Him. It wasn't that God failed to do as He said He would for them.
In this new creation, it's only man's idea of God that can stop His plan of blessing in our lives. It was never God's plan to leave us, like a deadbeat dad does. It was that we didn't believe God had the ability to work in our lives, that prevented the blessing. We have faith to receive salvation by believing in Jesus Christ, like the Israelites believed God to deliver them out of bondage, but then we stop trusting Him for our everyday needs, like they did. This is what "grieved the heart of God."
Those in today's Church, who believe for Manna from Heaven, or for writing on a rock, or for the parting of the Red Sea, or any other Super-natural thing that God did when He brought them out of Egypt, will run into the same unbelief that the Israelites had.
When we limit God in our lives, this displeases Him more than any other thing on the planet. God still wants to show Himself strong and glorified in (and through) His family. Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified) says, "(The purpose is) that through the Church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all it's infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the Heavenly sphere."
God wants to perform miracles and signs and wonders in our lives and the lives of others. This is His natural character and Life. He is Supernatural and works in the realm of His Spirit, in order to bring about the super-natural here. Perhaps, the greatest reason we do not see or experience the super-natural here, is that we "test and try" the patience of the Holy One. This is just like those in the wilderness asking, "Can the Lord supply meat and water here in the wilderness?" after God just parted the Red Sea for them to walk through on dry land.
Our cries have been, "Can the Lord supply healing, miracles and meet our needs here?" When did the God Who created the universe become so small in His ability, in the eyes of His children? When did we decide that all the things God did for those Moses led out of Egypt, have either passed away or were for another time? When did we learn to distrust God for His Promise and His blessing? We are a new creation, who were created to believe and walk in the Super-natural things of God on this earth!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)